In the very (very) off chance the Hawks don't win the draft lottery there's a good chance Wahlstrom will be available for the Hawks. Dahlin, Zadina, Svechnikov and Tkachuk should easily be the top 4. Boqvist, Bouchard, Hughes, and Dobson could conceivably go next, leaving Wahlstrom available.
- DarthKane

If the Hawks draft at 7, I'd go with the big Swede Wahlstrom or one of the Canadian Dmen Bouchard/Dobson. I expect Bowman to draft Hughes, though.

In the very (very) off chance the Hawks don't win the draft lottery there's a good chance Wahlstrom will be available for the Hawks. Dahlin, Zadina, Svechnikov and Tkachuk should easily be the top 4. Boqvist, Bouchard, Hughes, and Dobson could conceivably go next, leaving Wahlstrom available.
- DarthKane

There is going to be a great player for them available with their 1st pick.

Should be a fun draft day. Everyone lock in June 22nd in their calendars now.

There is going to be a great player for them available with their 1st pick.

Should be a fun draft day. Everyone lock in June 22nd in their calendars now.
- Justin Lowe

4/28 to watch the Hawks win the lottery for Rasmus Dahlin!

There is going to be a great player for them available with their 1st pick.

Should be a fun draft day. Everyone lock in June 22nd in their calendars now.
- Justin Lowe

The playoffs are obviously more fun, but I'm looking forward to the draft lottery then the draft itself. With their first pick the Hawks will likely draft an impact player, I full expect them to move their other (Nashville) first round pick.

If the Hawks draft at 7, I'd go with the big Swede Wahlstrom or one of the Canadian Dmen Bouchard/Dobson. I expect Bowman to draft Hughes, though.
- EnzoD

Assuming the Hawks don't win the draft lottery (which they will) the guy who seems more intriguing is Boqvist, but I don't know if he lasts to 7-8.

The playoffs are obviously more fun, but I'm looking forward to the draft lottery then the draft itself. With their first pick the Hawks will likely draft an impact player, I full expect them to move their other (Nashville) first round pick.
- DarthKane

Can you elaborate?

Can you elaborate?
- EnzoD

I think the pick can be utilized in a couple of different ways:

- an incentive to move Hossa's contract (i.e. Hossa + 1st to Ottawa for ???); or
- acquire more draft picks (i.e. 1st + 3rd to Montreal for two 2nds, one of which would be Chicago's)

I think the pick can be utilized in a couple of different ways:

- an incentive to move Hossa's contract (i.e. Hossa + 1st to Ottawa for ???); or
- acquire more draft picks (i.e. 1st + 3rd to Montreal for two 2nds, one of which would be Chicago's)
- DarthKane

If they move Hossa, I'd hope they get a deal comparable to when the Wings moved Datsyuk or when the Flyers moved Pronger.

Wings moved Datsyuk and a first (16th) for a 1st(20th) and a 2nd (53rd).

Flyers moved Pronger and an overpaid 6/7th dman (Grossman) for Sam Ganger and a pick (3rd or 4th, don't remember which it ended up being).

I'd hope they could move Hossa + Oesterle (or a prospect) and maybe get something in return.

I think the pick can be utilized in a couple of different ways:

- an incentive to move Hossa's contract (i.e. Hossa + 1st to Ottawa for ???); or
- acquire more draft picks (i.e. 1st + 3rd to Montreal for two 2nds, one of which would be Chicago's)
- DarthKane

Those are reasonable outcome. Then, too, what if there had yet to be a goaltender taken by last first pick. Or some player M Kelly and Bowman like. Trade down to acquire an extra pick. How much do they like a pick meaning gamble he might be there later or take now

I think the pick can be utilized in a couple of different ways:

- an incentive to move Hossa's contract (i.e. Hossa + 1st to Ottawa for ???); or
- acquire more draft picks (i.e. 1st + 3rd to Montreal for two 2nds, one of which would be Chicago's)
- DarthKane

Just curious what you would consider the ??? return from Ottawa to be. Current roster players, prospects, draft picks? Some or all of the above?

If they move Hossa, I'd hope they get a deal comparable to when the Wings moved Datsyuk or when the Flyers moved Pronger.

Wings moved Datsyuk and a first (16th) for a 1st(20th) and a 2nd (53rd).

Flyers moved Pronger and an overpaid 6/7th dman (Grossman) for Sam Ganger and a pick (3rd or 4th, don't remember which it ended up being).

I'd hope they could move Hossa + Oesterle (or a prospect) and maybe get something in return.
- breadbag

Some team might bite on a Hossa/Gustufsson/3rd for their mid #2? What side on defense is Edm hurting ...would be getting Gus essentially just exchange picks....for a team that has more than one second round choices. I dk maybe Edm has salary cap issues but the cap is going up. Just saying Gus could be sacrificed; he is more desirable than Oesterle or Dahlstrom. Maybe the other team actually likes Rutta more. Why Bowman wanted to play these dmen, to determine their value as sooner or later they are moved. Lots of equally good or better dmen ceiling than weak sisters we have been watching.

In the very (very) off chance the Hawks don't win the draft lottery there's a good chance Wahlstrom will be available for the Hawks. Dahlin, Zadina, Svechnikov and Tkachuk should easily be the top 4. Boqvist, Bouchard, Hughes, and Dobson could conceivably go next, leaving Wahlstrom available.
- DarthKane

I'm thinking the same thing about the likely Hawks draft position and that Wahlstrom may likely be the best draftee available at that point. Yes, would be ideal to pick higher but this would not be a bad position to be in either.

It will be interesting if some how the hawks win the lottery and move up into the top 4. When reading many draft website there is a clear distinction between the top 4 ( Dahlin, Svechnikov, Zardina, and Tzachuk) Then there is the next group that is 5 to say 12. What will Stan do? If you are in the top 4 lets say 3 you take the player that you favor between who is left. Lets say it is Zardina and Tzachuk. You take the player your scouts like the best. You do not reach and take a dmen you like over a player who is rated much higher. Stan and MCego have always given the impression that they are smarter than everyone else. Lets say they hawks move up to 4 and Tzachuk is still on the board. Do you reach and take a dmen or do you take Tzachuk. If the hawks some how move into to the top 4 ( lets say 3 or 4) we will see how smart stan and his staff are. I would take the best player on the board.

It will be interesting if some how the hawks win the lottery and move up into the top 4. When reading many draft website there is a clear distinction between the top 4 ( Dahlin, Svechnikov, Zardina, and Tzachuk) Then there is the next group that is 5 to say 12. What will Stan do? If you are in the top 4 lets say 3 you take the player that you favor between who is left. Lets say it is Zardina and Tzachuk. You take the player your scouts like the best. You do not reach and take a dmen you like over a player who is rated much higher. Stan and MCego have always given the impression that they are smarter than everyone else. Lets say they hawks move up to 4 and Tzachuk is still on the board. Do you reach and take a dmen or do you take Tzachuk. If the hawks some how move into to the top 4 ( lets say 3 or 4) we will see how smart stan and his staff are. I would take the best player on the board.
- Rayipsd

Dahlin is the unanimous #1 overall, but things could be interesting after #1.....

If the hawks are lucky and get walhstom tkachuck boqvist bouchard any one of those four would be a major win and impact player. Would anyone do this deal hossa osterle rights to duclair or hino and Nashville's 1st to ottawa for ceci or pague or Seabrook, which i don't see going, Nashville's 1st for sutter. Look at some free agents that the might want take a look at.

Goalies:
Grubauer**
Hutchsin*
Hammond
Centers:
Shaller*
Beagle**
Brickley*
Vermette
Bozak*
LW:
Perron
Kane E.**
JVR
RW:
Wingles**
Reaves
Martinsin*
Stafford

Blackhawks need a tough gritty scoring wing or center up front. This player does not sound is exactly like that. Eventually Sikura will be established enough so that we conceivably have one skill forward to consider trading. Ideally a trade straight up for that tough gritty forward who also can score some. Up front if you draft the Tzachuck type then you have two of the type forwards necessary to spread throughout lineup. Martinsen and Hayden should be here next year; Samuelson's kid would be worth an investment if Phoenix doesn't get silly with renumeration
- jhawk59

Were you thinking of a Simmonds or JVR veteran power forward? Or a young budding power forward on the cusp of his prime years?

Agree that Martinsen and Samuelsson should hopefully be in the mix for a L4 role. Wingels hopefully re-signs as well for a veteran presence in that banger line. As for Hayden, I like him in a bottom-6 winger role ideally on L3.

Of course Bowman probably is wise to grab an elite dman....keep drafting the dmen until one or two develop and stick in Chicago. Really need an established push back pro dman too; i don't know how you get one. While Forsling and Jokiharju have nice offensive skill set, some of the elite dmen in top picks are special, better more skill than our prospects.

You can see Snuggerud and, hopefully, Tuulola, play in person vs @ Wolves on a Sat April 11 i think is the date. One of them, perhaps Krys in a couple years might be the offensive third pair guy. Each of the third pair level or depth guys currently masquerading otherwise do eventually go in a trade (likely for draft choice). The way i see it, you have hope in a possible 2018 #1 dman and or Forsling/Jokiharju could become second pair calibre.
- jhawk59

This may be overly simplistic but I know others have suggested the same thing, but an ideal situation would be to have a defensively minded and experienced blueliner + a offensively minded puck mover on each D pair. Candidates for the latter are in abundance (i.e. Oesterle, Gustafsson, Dahlstrom, Forsling, Jokiharju, Snuggerud, Krys, Mitchell, Galvas) while candidates for the former are not so much (i.e. Carlsson, Hillman, Gilbert). Not sure which mold Tuulola and Laavainen fit.

With these prospects, you have to see where they fit with the assumed fixtures in Keith, Seabrook, and Murphy. This also doesn't account for future trades and draft picks.

Bowman drafted a lot of dmen and they are too skilled not to advance to NHL. Question is where they all might slot .....down the road. One of them shows enough, there goes Oesterle for a draft choice to give an example how Bowman will handle a glut of dmen. Only Hillman and Carlsson look to be the not too slight or soft dmen. Matsson is your d Keith lite.
- jhawk59

Did you mean Mitchell as Keith lite?

[quote=AEL_Fox]
Of course

Some team might bite on a Hossa/Gustufsson/3rd for their mid #2? What side on defense is Edm hurting ...would be getting Gus essentially just exchange picks....for a team that has more than one second round choices. I dk maybe Edm has salary cap issues but the cap is going up. Just saying Gus could be sacrificed; he is more desirable than Oesterle or Dahlstrom. Maybe the other team actually likes Rutta more. Why Bowman wanted to play these dmen, to determine their value as sooner or later they are moved. Lots of equally good or better dmen ceiling than weak sisters we have been watching.
- jhawk59

I don't think they will part with Gus considering they just resigned him and he has contributed offense from the blueline more than anyone else they have on the roster since he was recalled. He has been their best PP option on the point recently.

He shouldn't see the PK or be expected to be part of any shutdown pair, but if he can continue to put up points and contribute to the offense I think that outweighs his defensive lapses. Q seems to like to have a pair that can drive offense to deploy in the Ozone and Gus should be part of that unit if they put him with a stay at home type who can compliment him.

Edit: just to add, I think Edmonton needs Right Defense more than Left and their issues are similar to the Hawks, in that they need defensive minded D more so than offensive D.

4/28 to watch the Hawks win the lottery for Rasmus Dahlin!
- EnzoD

Pipe Dream

Kinda like Bowmans getting fired Pipe Dream



JL still want to trade Cat for KlefBUST?
Worst idea all year


Stone Hands Saad & Duclair to DET for Mantha & Bertuzzi

I don't think they will part with Gus considering they just resigned him and he has contributed offense from the blueline more than anyone else they have on the roster since he was recalled. He has been their best PP option on the point recently.

He shouldn't see the PK or be expected to be part of any shutdown pair, but if he can continue to put up points and contribute to the offense I think that outweighs his defensive lapses. Q seems to like to have a pair that can drive offense to deploy in the Ozone and Gus should be part of that unit if they put him with a stay at home type who can compliment him.

Edit: just to add, I think Edmonton needs Right Defense more than Left and their issues are similar to the Hawks, in that they need defensive minded D more so than offensive D.
- breadbag

I think you got this right and Gus is here for one season before likely a newbie draft choice should replace him..There is no rush, just when a new guy is ready. I gave Edm as an example, though i sort of backtracked a bit because i did not know which side defense or if they had more than one #2. There may be a team willing to make that sort of trade; i wanted to stress it woukd probably take Gus not the other guys. Before hiscrecall i believe Gus was namedcannAHL all star. I could imagine another team might like Ruttu but i am not suggesting he works as well in the exact trade idea.

I also am aware goaltenders take longer -:usually - to develop. Who knows when the first goaltender goes off the board or if Kelly and company really like the guy a lot.

They have Delia and i doubt Tompkins is highly regarded. They may want another goaltender prospect but not willing to use a high choice, rather see if some netminder they like can be had later. There is the (is he) the polish kid who was in the USHL but he probably is not ready for AHL.

If you go to Charlie Roumeliotis and draft capsules you can see both Stan and Mark Kelly remarks about each player taken the 2017 draft. I think it was a good draft

I think you got this right and Gus is here for one season before likely a newbie draft choice should replace him..There is no rush, just when a new guy is ready. I gave Edm as an example, though i sort of backtracked a bit because i did not know which side defense or if they had more than one #2. There may be a team willing to make that sort of trade; i wanted to stress it woukd probably take Gus not the other guys. Before hiscrecall i believe Gus was namedcannAHL all star. I could imagine another team might like Ruttu but i am not suggesting he works as well in the exact trade idea.

I also am aware goaltenders take longer -:usually - to develop. Who knows when the first goaltender goes off the board or if Kelly and company really like the guy a lot.

They have Delia and i doubt Tompkins is highly regarded. They may want another goaltender prospect but not willing to use a high choice, rather see if some netminder they like can be had later. There is the (is he) the polish kid who was in the USHL but he probably is not ready for AHL.

If you go to Charlie Roumeliotis and draft capsules you can see both Stan and Mark Kelly remarks about the 2017 draft. I think it was a good draft
- jhawk59

I think the Hawks are going to take a serious run at ND goalie, Cale Morris, once their season is done at the Frozen Four.

Just curious what you would consider the ??? return from Ottawa to be. Current roster players, prospects, draft picks? Some or all of the above?
- AEL_Fox

To be honest I don't know. These situations where a player is on LTIR is traded are different each time. My guess, draft picks and a b-level prospect and maybe an AHLer.

TSN guys all saying Q is gunna get fired next week....I simply cannot understand how Q's track record doesn't hold more weight than Stan Bowman's. It should be Stan, or both, but not only Q IMO.

TSN guys all saying Q is gunna get fired next week....I simply cannot understand how Q's track record doesn't hold more weight than Stan Bowman's. It should be Stan, or both, but not only Q IMO.
- EnzoD

Q will be unemployed for as long as it takes for him to choose between multiple offers.

If I had to chose between Q and Stan I would pick Q. Sadly, firing a coach is generally one of the first moves for a struggling team.

TSN guys all saying Q is gunna get fired next week....I simply cannot understand how Q's track record doesn't hold more weight than Stan Bowman's. It should be Stan, or both, but not only Q IMO.
- EnzoD

I don't think Stan can do this without going through McDonough.

I really do believe that Stan could say he tried to milk the core group as long as possible, and some of his moves we criticize here were gambles which did not work out. like waiting too long to pull the trigger, then the return in long run was not equitable. This i bet McDonough can understand. What MAYBE he doesn't understand is how a HOF coach cannot get his troops mentally prepared all too often.

To that i say although left almost between a rock and hard place, a good coach manages well good times and bad times. You did well, Joel, thank you. You probably will do well again should you continue to coach. But moving in a new direction. Would be classy to ask him to step down and finish as a scout....give him the option, he is still under contract.

I am not one for turmoil and the sneak melodrama portrayed in back biting daytime soap operas. But i will toss this idea into the ring....McIsaac sits with Stan at home games, right. Maybe MacIsaac when asked for his input by McDonough also suggested time for Joel to move along.

Ironicly if the team does not show much better effort and a few more wins, Bowman could be next. Could be....do not overlook Stan goes, so does venerable sage successful daddy too. And McDonough surely respects him. Remember his tips in the one Cup year? McD remembers.

Anywho i really want new voice and rule on powerplay, more physicality from at least one dman. I also want to see If Bowman makes us tougher to play against throughout lineup....if he does not address these issues properly, he will fall from the tightrope.