So is Luke Johnson. 3 goals in the last 3 games (a couple really clutch ones).
- Justin Lowe

Luke Johnson is a product of the Michael Frolik trade....of course he'll be awesome!

So is Luke Johnson. 3 goals in the last 3 games (a couple really clutch ones).
- Justin Lowe

Yes, Johnson has proven to be a tough SOB with offensive instincts in his 2nd AHL season and especially these playoffs. He really could challenge Kampf for the 4C spot. Smaller than Kampf but quite strong for his size. Johnson doesn't shy from the rough stuff and will go to the corners and slot to fight for pucks. Good leader, too.

Good post and hard to argue woth your comments here.

The bolded part is interesting because I hear they are loving the Rockford success now and are watching Colliton's system very closely.

The players obviously love playing for Colliton and that includes the way they are playing.

The ultimate goal would be to play similar styles between the NHL and AHL club.
- Justin Lowe

Wonder how common it is for management to tell the NHL team to emulate the AHL team? If that happens, that can't bode well for the job security of the coaches of the big club.

I dont think Seabrook is declining. I think he is still a fine defenceman. Chicago as a whole did not play well last year but Seabrook did have positive stats in the first half. Hawks went downhill in the 2nd half, partly due to Crawford's injury but Seabrook has never been an offensive Dman. He is more of a defensive Dman with some offensive upside. I think in past years he benifited from playing with some highly skilled players.

What I can say is that Seabrook is definitely overpaid. Hawks would not be stupid to keep him however they do need to improve their cap situation. Marian Hossa retiring is not going to help. The fact is someone needs to go and no matter who it is, the hawks are heading for rebuild mode. Toews has been mentioned in rumours and while he frees up a lot of space in a deal, you also lose a #1 center and a fantastic faceoff man. Same is said with Kieth and Seabrook, those are really the only two legit top 4 NHL Dmen right now. No other guy on that team can handle those minutes.

Saad for Panarin was just an awful deal and I dont think Saad is tradable at this point. Crawford is up there in cap hit as well but again to deal him creates a hole at D. Kane is the last guy left and I personally think he is a guy you cant trade even think about trading unless someone blows you away with a crazy deal.

I dont think Seabrook is declining. I think he is still a fine defenceman. Chicago as a whole did not play well last year but Seabrook did have positive stats in the first half. Hawks went downhill in the 2nd half, partly due to Crawford's injury but Seabrook has never been an offensive Dman. He is more of a defensive Dman with some offensive upside. I think in past years he benifited from playing with some highly skilled players.

What I can say is that Seabrook is definitely overpaid. Hawks would not be stupid to keep him however they do need to improve their cap situation. Marian Hossa retiring is not going to help. The fact is someone needs to go and no matter who it is, the hawks are heading for rebuild mode. Toews has been mentioned in rumours and while he frees up a lot of space in a deal, you also lose a #1 center and a fantastic faceoff man. Same is said with Kieth and Seabrook, those are really the only two legit top 4 NHL Dmen right now. No other guy on that team can handle those minutes.

Saad for Panarin was just an awful deal and I dont think Saad is tradable at this point. Crawford is up there in cap hit as well but again to deal him creates a hole at D. Kane is the last guy left and I personally think he is a guy you cant trade even think about trading unless someone blows you away with a crazy deal.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Stan over stepped in some recent deals. The Panik contract was awful and he was lucky to move it. Seabs? Yeah too much money for the amount of years in the extension. Can he move that contract? Maybe

Yes, Johnson has proven to be a tough SOB with offensive instincts in his 2nd AHL season and especially these playoffs. He really could challenge Kampf for the 4C spot. Smaller than Kampf but quite strong for his size. Johnson doesn't shy from the rough stuff and will go to the corners and slot to fight for pucks. Good leader, too.
- AEL_Fox

I think that a lot of guys will be challenging Kampf next year. One point in 12 games during these playoffs? I thought he would dominate at this level considering he looked pretty decent with the big club this year.

Yes, Johnson has proven to be a tough SOB with offensive instincts in his 2nd AHL season and especially these playoffs. He really could challenge Kampf for the 4C spot. Smaller than Kampf but quite strong for his size. Johnson doesn't shy from the rough stuff and will go to the corners and slot to fight for pucks. Good leader, too.
- AEL_Fox

What about face-offs?

Answered my question lol. Very encouraging !


Talent Analysis
Johnson is a skilled but hard-nosed center who relishes play in small areas and will go into tough spaces to create chances or retrieve pucks. Playing on a team with high profile scorers like fellow Blackhawks' prospect Nick Schmaltz at North Dakota, Johnson flies under the radar at times but is willing to do the dirty jobs that have led to success for the Fighting SIoux. He is capable at both ends of the ice well and is strong on the face-off dot. With a quick shot and a willingness to drive the slot, Johnson has the potential to score goals. Johnson has steadily improved his consistency — both in terms of engaging physically and and creating scoring chances — at the college level.

I think that a lot of guys will be challenging Kampf next year. One point in 12 games during these playoffs? I thought he would dominate at this level considering he looked pretty decent with the big club this year.
- 67hawks

You're right. Not sure how Kampf has been defensively and on draws, but that could be his saving grace to keep him as a front runner to make the team out of camp this fall.

Hog centers like Johnson, Kero, DiDomineco, and Highmore are likely to challenge for the 4C spot. Kero has the most NHL experience. DiDomineco has limited NHL games but is a veteran with leadership capacity plus has a reputation of being strong on draws. Highmore is a poor-man's Danault (non-stop motor, likely a defensive forward with some offensive jam) who could stand a 2nd year of AHL seasoning.

Not too high on Louis. He's fast and tenacious like Hinostroza (maybe faster than 48) but smaller in comparison. IMHO, I'd rather not have more than one of those type of forwards on the team, and at this point Hinostroza has earned his stripes.

Ejdsell is listed as a center but I see him growing to be a power winger more so in the skill and finesse style like Saad rather than the physical, tough as nails style like a Simmonds or Maroon.

Answered my question lol. Very encouraging !


Talent Analysis
Johnson is a skilled but hard-nosed center who relishes play in small areas and will go into tough spaces to create chances or retrieve pucks. Playing on a team with high profile scorers like fellow Blackhawks' prospect Nick Schmaltz at North Dakota, Johnson flies under the radar at times but is willing to do the dirty jobs that have led to success for the Fighting SIoux. He is capable at both ends of the ice well and is strong on the face-off dot. With a quick shot and a willingness to drive the slot, Johnson has the potential to score goals. Johnson has steadily improved his consistency — both in terms of engaging physically and and creating scoring chances — at the college level.

- SoftServe

Thanks for sharing this!

Seabrook for Lucic

Washes hands, goes home

You have said that you watch a lot of hockey or NHL hockey in relation to a particular point or comment you make, often late night I recall duch comments

So beside the fact that either Lamorello for NYI or some other team will overpay, we do not want an older average skater on the payroll. Let some other team have him. Our first concern had to be to improve the defense. Then to see kids developing and bring in a new coach. Must get more push back throughout the lineup. I happen to believe a lot if our prospects can make it to the NHL and dome of them have higher skill ceiling than some players currently here. We shall see. Farm system is a team"s life line
- jhawk59

What is duch comments?

What about face-offs?
- SoftServe

He's been pretty bad in the playoffs at the dot but has shown flashes on being capable.

Don't think Winnipeg would do that still not sure Seabrook gets traded unless a team like Toronto comes calling. In the playoffs when I watched the Toronto's defense they look unsettle and panic mode at times. I know they had Polak and Hainsey but a guy like Seabrook who has been through the wars of playoffs countless times I thought would've been a calming influence and his leadership would ve made a difference
- Scott1977

Toronto wouldn’t take Seabrook for free, Seabrook to Toronto will never happen, period.

Other than that your piglets need to hurry up and get the finals and see what they can do to stop Johnsson - Aaltonen - Grundström.

Stan over stepped in some recent deals. The Panik contract was awful and he was lucky to move it. Seabs? Yeah too much money for the amount of years in the extension. Can he move that contract? Maybe
- z1990z

So -

Seabrook (at 33) has declined dramatically as a defenseman - and presumably will further decline going forward - a 4/5/6 defenseman now....

He has six years left on a contract with a cap hit of $6.875MM per season.

He has a total cash payout of $37MM over the remaining 6 years.

Even if Rocky would be willing to absorb 50% of all of that....

Some other team is going to pick all of that up this summer?

So -

Seabrook (at 33) has declined dramatically as a defenseman - and presumably will further decline going forward - a 4/5/6 defenseman now....

He has six years left on a contract with a cap hit of $6.875MM per season.

He has a total cash payout of $37MM over the remaining 6 years.

Even if Rocky would be willing to absorb 50% of all of that....

Some other team is going to pick all of that up this summer?
- StLBravesFan

Said M.A.Y.B.E.

No, he's not, he comes into camp in better shape this year and plays a couple less minutes a night hell be ok. The last guy that wore #7, played dam good at 33-34 years old. It's all about being in shape in today's game. They trade him for some of the bullShlit I saw proposed(fantasy trades) , then come December, people will be crying for another D man.
Some of the current D that Q trotted out there couldn't make 28 of the 31 NHL rosters but yet they are supposed to just Dump Seab's.
I'm a broken record but Osterle belongs no where near an NHL roster, same with Gusteffson, Ruutta, and a couple of others but yet Bowman lined their pockets like candy. And the guy he should have kept is probably gonna win a cup in Washington.
Your a leafs guy, outside of Kieth and Seab's, can any of the other crap we trotted out there last year make the Leafs? Babcock would laugh!
I'm not opposed to trading one of the core if we're gonna get something fair back. Not none of this salary retained crap or 7 th round pick or what ever dumbass crap has been proposed. Bowman isn't stupid, yes he should be grilled on some of his past deals but trading Keith or Seabrooke , ya better have Bugjstad , Petrovic or Huberdeaux coming back this way. It would be Seab's will help you now, give us a couple of young guys back that can play .
I am sure they will address the D this summer, what they have now is garbage.
Everyone thinks Bowman will take A D with the #8 pick, I bet he takes a big strong forward and then either trades for A D or signs a couple of decent D man this summer to help. Well see , but the stupid rumored out there that were just gonna give away Seabs, Toews, Crawford , for crap, is just that......a bunch of BULL!
- wonthecup10

Lol Hawks are not getting those types players for Seabrook.

Seabrook is almost 10 years older than those guys with a terrible contract. I doubt Keith gets you one of those players, but definitely not Seabrook.

Said M.A.Y.B.E.
- z1990z

Wasn’t aimed at you in particular - but at all of us here (me included) who have been pining for relief from Seabrook’s contract burden.

Toronto wouldn’t take Seabrook for free, Seabrook to Toronto will never happen, period.

Other than that your piglets need to hurry up and get the finals and see what they can do to stop Johnsson - Aaltonen - Grundström.
- Blazed

What are talking about piglets aaltonen etc..

Wasn’t aimed at you in particular - but at all of us here (me included) who have been pining for relief from Seabrook’s contract burden.
- StLBravesFan

I know you have reservations but based on history, relief buy out looms next cba

I know you have reservations but based on history, relief buy out looms next cba
- BetweenTheDots

History shows buyout relief at tha last CBA because it mandated a cap reduction of about $5MM going from 2013 into the next (2013-14) season.

I wouldn’t count on that this time around.

History shows buyout relief at tha last CBA because it mandated a cap reduction of about $5MM going from 2013 into the next (2013-14) season.

I wouldn’t count on that this time around.
- StLBravesFan

How many years left on 7's deal?

How many years left on 7's deal?
- z1990z

Six - thru 2023-24.

Six - thru 2023-24.
- StLBravesFan

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

History shows buyout relief at tha last CBA because it mandated a cap reduction of about $5MM going from 2013 into the next (2013-14) season.

I wouldn’t count on that this time around.
- StLBravesFan

A lot of teams are (and will be) carrying bad contracts like us during the next round. I could see teams wanting compliance buyouts. And the players union will not object because it throws more money into the pot and they know that GM's will have more crazy money to throw around and quickly get into cap trouble again.