One handed swing and an "I'm sorry" only gets you a game though, ala Duncan Keith on Jeff Carter. (frank)er had it comin'
- BlazinMike

But it shouldn’t.

If Bowman wants the best case scenario which is the most competitive team next year, then he needs to bring in two veteran dmen. This probably means being creative with the Hossa contract. I would prefer giving J Johnson a nice contract and exploring deHahn as a second dman to reel in. I will not speculate the cost to acquire them because i would just be guessing

Johnson was playing third pair minures and was replaced by R Murray early March. I believe that both Johnson and deHahn could be adequate second pair for us
- jhawk59

If we sign Johnson and DeHaan, and draft Wahlstrom, or even Kotkaniemi, that would be a significant upgrade from last year, IMHO.

Thoughts on Wiz's draft predictions for the Hawks?

https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/chicago/75/

Thoughts on Wiz's draft predictions for the Hawks?

https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/chicago/75/
- tvetter

Not a huge fan of Hughes, but he's supposed to be really good. Otherwise, i wholeheartedly hope he's wrong that the Preds pick will be 31.

https://www.tsn.ca/off-se...lina-hurricanes-1.1075184

A few days ago TSN started it's Off-Season Game Plan articles for each team starting with the Sabres (I'll repost for anyone who is interested). The 2nd team covered is the Hurricanes.

For the Canes, TSN lists as possible trade bait:
F: Skinner, Lindholm, Rask
D: Faulk, Fleury
G: Darling

Lindholm, Rask, Fleury, and Darling are attractive trade targets. Lindholm or Rask could be possible 3C options. Having a high-end D youngster like Fleury who is further along in his development would be nice. And many on this board would love Darling back in the fold. Again the price has to be right, of course.

I like Faulk's offensive package but he doesn't seem to be strong playing defense.

And TSN has no major changes to the Canes projected 2018-19 lineup.

Posted in the last blog for anyone who cares about this type of stuff:

https://www.tsn.ca/off-se...-buffalo-sabres-1.1073301

TSN has started it's Off-Season Game Plan articles for each team starting with the Sabres. In prior years we'd have to wait until late May or even June to see the Hawks article, but they'll likely be featured within a week since they placed 25th in the overall league standings.

For the Sabres, they list as possible trade bait:
F: O'Reilly, Girgensons
D: Ristolainen, Beaulieu, Scandella
G: Lehner

O'Reilly and Ristolainen are attractive trade targets if the price is right. Beaulieu may be worth kicking the tires on.

The projected 2018-19 lineup for the Sabres replaces O'Reilly with Mittelstadt who I didn't realize made his NHL debut this season with 5 points (1-4) in 6 games. TSN also projects Buffalo to acquire Fabbri and Sheary to be their top 2 LWs. Not a Fabbri fan, but do hope he stays healthy next year and can finally play a full season.

Thoughts on Wiz's draft predictions for the Hawks?

https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/chicago/75/
- tvetter

Hope he's wrong on Hughes, the last thing this team needs is another undersized player who according to Wiz "is fast but may need protection and will easily be pushed off the puck by bigger players"...frank that

I saw some commentary on Jack Johnson early in this thread. I just wondered how much of an improvement he would be over anybody not named Duncan Keith right now. One caveat regarding his advanced stats is that his zone starts are in the defensive zone 55-60% since he arrived in Columbus. I haven't watched him play much, tbh, and I don't know what his expected cap hit is going to be. Call me crazy, but I'd think it should be looked into if the terms are right.
- 333inthe3rd

I'm still very bearish on Jack Johnson, it's a known thing that he actually NEEDS big money on his next deal (his parents took him to the cleaners, that whole story).

I'm hesitant to give a player with red flag advanced stats a deal, especially on the wrong side of age 29. Stan also has a tendency to include NTCs in every deal for a guy who's only on an NHL deal.

It smells to me like something we'd be lamenting at the end of next season: 'Paying Jack Johnson $5.5 for the next 3 years?!?!'

Thoughts on Wiz's draft predictions for the Hawks?

https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/chicago/75/
- tvetter

You’re better off looking at his whole list, rather than focusing on projected Blackhawks picks. Too many things can change prior to the actual pick selection:

https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2018/

Why doesn't your post show up?

And PE's?
- StLBravesFan

I was too...thought the deep state got me....

TSN's trade bait list is ridiculous:

Buffalo- not trading Ristolainen just because they have Dahlin. They're also not trading ROR because of one offhanded comment. Without him they'd have Eichel-Mittelstadt-Girgensons-Whoever at C, which would not bode well. Mittelstadt needs time to adjust.

Carolina- They listed 3 of the top 5 forwards that Carolina has, besides Teuvo and Staal. You can't expect a team to trade a position of weakness.

If Bowman wants the best case scenario which is the most competitive team next year, then he needs to bring in two veteran dmen. This probably means being creative with the Hossa contract. I would prefer giving J Johnson a nice contract and exploring deHahn as a second dman to reel in. I will not speculate the cost to acquire them because i would just be guessing

Johnson was playing third pair minures and was replaced by R Murray early March. I believe that both Johnson and deHahn could be adequate second pair for us
- jhawk59

Agree with the need for 2 experienced blueliners who play solid defense. I like de Haan as an option, but like others on this board, am hesitant about Johnson. I'm fine if Johnson is Plan E, F, or G, but not Plan A. I'd rather go for guys like Moore, Hickey, and even someone like Gorges.

https://www.tsn.ca/off-season-game-plan-carolina-hurricanes-1.1075184

A few days ago TSN started it's Off-Season Game Plan articles for each team starting with the Sabres (I'll repost for anyone who is interested). The 2nd team covered is the Hurricanes.

For the Canes, TSN lists as possible trade bait:
F: Skinner, Lindholm, Rask
D: Faulk, Fleury
G: Darling

Lindholm, Rask, Fleury, and Darling are attractive trade targets. Lindholm or Rask could be possible 3C options. Having a high-end D youngster like Fleury who is further along in his development would be nice. And many on this board would love Darling back in the fold. Again the price has to be right, of course.

I like Faulk's offensive package but he doesn't seem to be strong playing defense.

And TSN has no major changes to the Canes projected 2018-19 lineup.
- AEL_Fox

I think Rask would slot directly into the 2C spot. Guys been a real gamer the past few seasons if i remember correctly. Maybe we can unload Captain Albatross and just slot Rask into 1C? The possibilities are endless (kind of)!

TSN's trade bait list is ridiculous:

Buffalo- not trading Ristolainen just because they have Dahlin. They're also not trading ROR because of one offhanded comment. Without him they'd have Eichel-Mittelstadt-Girgensons-Whoever at C, which would not bode well. Mittelstadt needs time to adjust.

Carolina- They listed 3 of the top 5 forwards that Carolina has, besides Teuvo and Staal. You can't expect a team to trade a position of weakness.
- ObeseOprah

Yeah, TSN predictions in these Off Season Game Plans are often head scratchers. I just take them for what they are, even if from the looney bin, and run with what they are suggesting just for sh!ts and giggles to create some new/more banter on this blog.

Rumor chart? OK I’m gonna bite, if, and I repeat if, Stan Bowman in his infinite wisdom, happens to pull off signing Eric Karlsson and Jack Johnson, I would bet that, money aside, they look to swap out Brent Seabrook contract and have to take a shorter term contract of money back namely Milan Lucic type per say.
Talk about fantasy hockey moves, this would be right at the top of the list. But, if there is any truth to what was said yesterday, let’s see how creative they can get. Not that I would not welcome those three new guys in a heartbeat. I think instantly that would make them a better team. LUCIC definitely Would hold court when needed. But then again, he admitted he was fat and out of shape last year, let’s see how it looks this year coming to camp in shape. Like someone else we know.

The Malkin hit to Crawford may have been a blessing in disguise, it started the collapse that got us to the 8th overall pick. Crawford covered up a lot of holes that no one wanted to acknowledge, him going down forced the team to admit that it needed a lot of better players.

The tank probably helped us deal Hartman for a 1st, Wingels for a 3rd.

This is a better outcome than limping into the 7 or 8 seed, and getting ousted. Or missing the playoffs by a few points and getting the 14th or 15th overall

Only one team will finish this year fully satisfied, the Hawks are actually making the most of this down year by getting a higher pick and more picks.

They need to deal Hossa's cap hit, that plus the cap increase should give us roughly $7M to burn on FAs.
- ObeseOprah

Hossa’s Cap Hit will not count against the Hawks’ Cap whether his contract is kept or traded. It just makes it more convenient if the contract is traded.

Hope he's wrong on Hughes, the last thing this team needs is another undersized player who according to Wiz "is fast but may need protection and will easily be pushed off the puck by bigger players"...frank that
- Murph76

Hughes is too tall for the BHawks

I'm still very bearish on Jack Johnson, it's a known thing that he actually NEEDS big money on his next deal (his parents took him to the cleaners, that whole story).

I'm hesitant to give a player with red flag advanced stats a deal, especially on the wrong side of age 29. Stan also has a tendency to include NTCs in every deal for a guy who's only on an NHL deal.

It smells to me like something we'd be lamenting at the end of next season: 'Paying Jack Johnson $5.5 for the next 3 years?!?!'
- ObeseOprah

Jack Johnson would be a nice add but not at that price. I doubt that anyone else would give him 3 x $5.5M.

Thoughts on Wiz's draft predictions for the Hawks?

https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/chicago/75/
- tvetter

Not sure the Hawks take 3 goalies in the draft. Under this regime, that's never been their angle and I don't see that changing.

Some good picks in there though!

I might go with Dobson over Hughes though.

Jack Johnson would be a nice add but not at that price. I doubt that anyone else would give him 3 x $5.5M.
- 67hawks

I have him at 4 x 5.5M.

I would prefer de Haan due to style and age, but moody, singer/song-writer Jack Johnson makes a lot of sense at the right price.

Just because the Hawks have a defence group of 7-8 already signed, please don't get stuck on those individuals.

I think it will look very different in the fall.

I can see a couple guys moved on and guys like Gilbert, Hillman and Jokiharju given a chance to compete.

Agree with the need for 2 experienced blueliners who play solid defense. I like de Haan as an option, but like others on this board, am hesitant about Johnson. I'm fine if Johnson is Plan E, F, or G, but not Plan A. I'd rather go for guys like Moore, Hickey, and even someone like Gorges.
- AEL_Fox

I've watched the Sabres a lot the past couple of years, big NO on Gorges. Even when he was healthy, which was quite rare, he was slow and pretty poor.

Josh Gorges 5 years ago... sure. The game has passed him by I'm afraid.

I think Rask would slot directly into the 2C spot. Guys been a real gamer the past few seasons if i remember correctly. Maybe we can unload Captain Albatross and just slot Rask into 1C? The possibilities are endless (kind of)!
- BlazinMike

He had a bit of a down season but I'm a big Rask fan.

Kane, Toews, 8th overall for TT and Rask?

Jack Johnson would be a nice add but not at that price. I doubt that anyone else would give him 3 x $5.5M.
- 67hawks

6 years x $5 million per and the Hawks have their new #1 d-man! Get it done Stan!

He had a bit of a down season but I'm a big Rask fan.

Kane, Toews, 8th overall for TT and Rask?
- DarthKane

done deal! throw in dCat too

I've watched the Sabres a lot the past couple of years, big NO on Gorges. Even when he was healthy, which was quite rare, he was slow and pretty poor.

Josh Gorges 5 years ago... sure. The game has passed him by I'm afraid.
- ObeseOprah

Thanks for the insights on Gorges. I'll cross him off my shopping list!