NHLPA survey re: players, coaches, arenas, fans, etc. Coach Q won the "which coach would you most like to play for" question. Blackhawks fans won best fans.

https://www.nhlpa.com/player-poll/2017-18

The more Panarin produces the more you don't make any sense and the more marginalized you become.
- Savoy

You’re the marginalized one there Savoy with this powerful man-love for Panarin. You know your opinion is in complete opposition to all of management and staff of all levels from the top to the scouts. Also do you think players are impressed with a guy who makes it crystal clear he couldn’t care less about getting beat out of the play-offs and actually prefers playing for his Mother Russia? He’s so committed to the the Hawks and the NHL he refuses to learn to speak English. Well that might work for suckers like future Hall of Famer Ovechkin but I’m Panarin the Great. Panarin was clearly despised by Toews and others for his “me, me, me” attitude.

Finally, that unidimensional ball of offensive thunder Panarin might get 25 goals this year - maybe not. Hardly worth all this crying you are doing.

Those are an awful lot of spots to fill with $14 million in cap space at most to work with.
- BINGO!

People were going nuts about Kruger making $3m, but want to keep Anisimov at $4m? I would take whatever picks I could get for him, and take the cap space. I'm also in the camp that he is not a center, and Schamltz has overtaken him.

You’re the marginalized one there Savoy with this powerful man-love for Panarin. You know your opinion is in complete opposition to all of management and staff of all levels from the top to the scouts. Also do you think players are impressed with a guy who makes it crystal clear he couldn’t care less about getting beat out of the play-offs and actually prefers playing for his Mother Russia? He’s so committed to the the Hawks and the NHL he refuses to learn to speak English. Well that might work for suckers like future Hall of Famer Ovechkin but I’m Panarin the Great. Panarin was clearly despised by Toews and others for his “me, me, me” attitude.

Finally, that unidimensional ball of offensive thunder Panarin might get 25 goals this year - maybe not. Hardly worth all this crying you are doing.
- Z3Hawk

Laughable.

People were going nuts about Kruger making $3m, but want to keep Anisimov at $4m? I would take whatever picks I could get for him, and take the cap space. I'm also in the camp that he is not a center, and Schamltz has overtaken him.
- Antz96

Anisimov is way more valuable at $4 million than Kruger is at $3 million.

Hell Kruger isn't even an NHL player anymore.

I still don't buy the Schmaltz-at-center charade, he has looked better recently though. I would love the addition of a top-6 center, but that is really a pipe dream at the moment.


- TexasHawk

What??? Schmaltz has had a great year. He's one of the few bright spots this season. He's almost scoring at a 60 pt pace. He's definitely 2C.

People were going nuts about Kruger making $3m, but want to keep Anisimov at $4m? I would take whatever picks I could get for him, and take the cap space. I'm also in the camp that he is not a center, and Schamltz has overtaken him.
- Antz96

Anisimov will again score 20 goals, plays responsibly at both ends, and is one of the few on this team that understands and can implement the concept of "net front presence." Post injury Kruger would need 20 years to score 20 goals. He was overpaid as a thank you for taking a previously cheap 1 year deal and was wisely traded.

You’re the marginalized one there Savoy with this powerful man-love for Panarin. You know your opinion is in complete opposition to all of management and staff of all levels from the top to the scouts. Also do you think players are impressed with a guy who makes it crystal clear he couldn’t care less about getting beat out of the play-offs and actually prefers playing for his Mother Russia? He’s so committed to the the Hawks and the NHL he refuses to learn to speak English. Well that might work for suckers like future Hall of Famer Ovechkin but I’m Panarin the Great. Panarin was clearly despised by Toews and others for his “me, me, me” attitude.

Finally, that unidimensional ball of offensive thunder Panarin might get 25 goals this year - maybe not. Hardly worth all this crying you are doing.
- Z3Hawk

Wasn't the idea behind getting Saad to get Toews going?

Toews is having one of the least productive years of his career...

I'll take Panarin's 55 points over Saad's 29 100 times out of 100.

has anybody seen GUS is 2 year AAV? unless he played ever game he was going to be a UFA at the end of the year so that might have been part of it. As long as you can bury 90% of his salary I guess I'm fine with it.

Anisimov is way more valuable at $4 million than Kruger is at $3 million.

Hell Kruger isn't even an NHL player anymore.
- BINGO!

Eh, not in the postseason. Kruger shutting down first and second line centers was invaluable to the Hawks during their cup runs. It allowed Q to match up his top two lines better. Kruger was also a good at draws and stabilized the PK. Another two things which are more valuable in the playoffs. Anisimov really doesn't do anything well.

This is glossing over that Kruger isn't a $3m player, but signed that one year deal to help the Hawks out.

Anisimov will again score 20 goals, plays responsibly at both ends, and is one of the few on this team that understands and can implement the concept of "net front presence." Post injury Kruger would need 20 years to score 20 goals. He was overpaid as a thank you for taking a previously cheap 1 year deal and was wisely traded.
- Davewn

That's nice and all, but he won't score 20 goals as a 3C, and he will still be a making $4.5m/year for the next 3 years. No thanks.

Eh, not in the postseason. Kruger shutting down first and second line centers was invaluable to the Hawks during their cup runs. It allowed Q to match up his top two lines better. Kruger was also a good at draws and stabilized the PK. Another two things which are more valuable in the playoffs. Anisimov really doesn't do anything well.

This is glossing over that Kruger isn't a $3m player, but signed that one year deal to help the Hawks out.
- Antz96

He couldn't shut anyone down this year. He's toast. Produces nothing. Our PK was worse this year with him than it's been in years. He's just done.

That's nice and all, but he won't score 20 goals as a 3C, and he will still be a making $4.5m/year for the next 3 years. No thanks.
- Antz96

I'm not sure what you think $4.5 million gets you these days. 20 goals or 40 points is a top 6 player now.

That's nice and all, but he won't score 20 goals as a 3C, and he will still be a making $4.5m/year for the next 3 years. No thanks.
- Antz96

I'm not sure what you think $4.5 million gets you these days. 20 goals or 40 points is a top 6 player now.

3 key additions puts this team back in the playoffs, assuming Wingels is resigned.

Saad - Toews - Kane
Debrincat - Schmaltz - Hinostroza
X - Anisimov - Duclair
Wingels - Kampf - X

Keith - Murphy
Seabrook - X
Rutta - Gustafson

CC
Berube

He couldn't shut anyone down this year. He's toast. Produces nothing. Our PK was worse this year with him than it's been in years. He's just done.
- BINGO!

I have not watched a lot of him this year, so I'm going by what he was on the Hawks. Wasn't he hurt most of the year too?

Wasn't the idea behind getting Saad to get Toews going?

Toews is having one of the least productive years of his career...

I'll take Panarin's 55 points over Saad's 29 100 times out of 100.
- BINGO!

Yes and no the reason getting saad back was to fill hossa position as 200ft player panrin was not. Is it me or did towes seem to have best game of the year last night. If that line can stay together next year and smalzt and dcat can fine a power forward to play with that's 2 scary lines that should produce more offense.

has anybody seen GUS is 2 year AAV? unless he played ever game he was going to be a UFA at the end of the year so that might have been part of it. As long as you can bury 90% of his salary I guess I'm fine with it.
- kmw4631

$1.2 per year and all but $200K can be taken off the books if he is sent down.

People were going nuts about Kruger making $3m, but want to keep Anisimov at $4m? I would take whatever picks I could get for him, and take the cap space. I'm also in the camp that he is not a center, and Schamltz has overtaken him.
- Antz96

Well, AA scores goals in addition to playing well defensively and on the PK. Krugs lacked the goal scoring gene.

I'm not sure what you think $4.5 million gets you these days. 20 goals or 40 points is a top 6 player now.
- BINGO!

Hawks C depth chart
-------------------------------------
1 - Toews
2- Schmaltz
3- Anisimov

Unless he moves to a wing, he will not be a top 6 on the Hawks.

Well, AA scores goals in addition to playing well defensively and on the PK. Krugs lacked the goal scoring gene.
- scottak

Kruger's role wasn't to score, and any scoring from a bottom 2 C is gravy. I was ok with Kruger not scoring.

As for AA, I'd say he's average defensively, and IMO bad on the PK. He doesn't win draws and is too slow. He loses his man too often as well. He's not the sole reason our PK is hot garbage, but he contributes his share.

Kruger's role wasn't to score, and any scoring from a bottom 2 C is gravy. I was ok with Kruger not scoring.

As for AA, I'd say he's average defensively, and IMO bad on the PK. He doesn't win draws and is too slow. He loses his man too often as well. He's not the sole reason our PK is hot garbage, but he contributes his share.
- Antz96

I'm with you on AA. He can put up 2C numbers when he has 1 or 2 world class wingers but otherwise, when he plays with 3rd line guys he plays like a underwhelming 3rd line C. They really should have moved him a long time ago.

In case anyone is interested, the latest from Sportsnet re: draft prospects...

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...-prospect-rankings-march/

I'm with you on AA. He can put up 2C numbers when he has 1 or 2 world class wingers but otherwise, when he plays with 3rd line guys he plays like a underwhelming 3rd line C. They really should have moved him a long time ago.
- breadbag

They did move him for a bit around the deadline. I thought they would keep him there to showcase as a C because they are more valuable at the deadline. Maybe they look to move him to 2LW this summer.

Yes and no the reason getting saad back was to fill hossa position as 200ft player panrin was not. Is it me or did towes seem to have best game of the year last night. If that line can stay together next year and smalzt and dcat can fine a power forward to play with that's 2 scary lines that should produce more offense.
- Scott1977

Panarin had to play some defense on the Blackhawks. If Panarin offered no defense then he would not have been on the ice with no defense Kane. They would both be minus players like Kane is this year while Panarin not only leads his team in scoring with no help until recently, he also leads his team in plus / minus demonstrating at least some defense without a doubt. The only reason people think that Panarin is a complete scoundrel is because there are some hacks on this board who try to constantly push the company line propaganda. They offer up ridiculous notions and claim they are facts designed to disparage Panarin because the trade turned out so completely one sided in favor of Columbus. The more frenzied they do this the more evidence there is to condemn panicky mgt. about this trade. So by now some of those guys are getting hysterical pushing the BS. Example they like to make stuff up and claim Panarin said it. Laughable.