The Carolina Hurricanes Do Not Want The Hossa Contract for (frank)s sake.
- BINGO!

Ok sound good thanks for your opinion

Looking forward.....if there ever was a match-up of teams that could see a 3-1 series lead in the Cup Finals be overcome, you have to think it would be Washington (serial choke artists) and Vegas (the unbelievable underdogs). I think Vegas wins at home tonight and Washington BETTER win game 6 at home or Vegas could do the improbable and come back to win it all.


For the Hawks I think you take Wahlstrom/Tzchuck at forward if available or the top rated D there at 8 whether its Hughes, Boquist, Bouchard or Dobson. The Hawks have holes everywhere, and it seems like a reach for any of the Centers at 8 based on all the pre-draft rankings.
- EnzoD

I heard Wahlstrom just committed to BC, hate to pick someone at #8 that we won’t see for four years.

As far as a center I still like Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

I love it when fans speak for an organization as if their opinion is fact on what will or won't happen. Is it likely Carolina takes Hossa's contract? Odds are in your favor it wont happen. But lets say it like it is...YOU don't want the Hossa contract.. but that doesn't mean there isn't a mutually beneficial trade option between the clubs that results in Carolina taking on Hossa's $1mil in real salary contract.
- EnzoD

I guess. Point is that acquiring Hossa's contract would go in entirely the opposite direction of their stated direction.

I heard Wahlstrom just committed to BC, hate to pick someone at #8 that we won’t see for four years.

As far as a center I still like Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
- walleyeb1

If he's as good as I've read, it's likely he will play 1 year of NCAA and join whatever NHL drafts him next Spring. Casey Mittlestat was the #8 overall pick last year and took that exact same route.....

I guess. Point is that acquiring Hossa's contract would go in entirely the opposite direction of their stated direction.
- BINGO!

In what regard? They get asset(s) in return to help their rebuild. I don't see why it's something you'd be opposed to as a fan....basically free picks/prospects

If he's as good as I've read, it's likely he will play 1 year of NCAA and join whatever NHL drafts him next Spring. Casey Mittlestat was the #8 overall pick last year and took that exact same route.....
- EnzoD

Yeah I suppose that’s something that could be found out before he’s picked, if that’s the case great.

But I still like Jesperi Kotkaniemi:

Kotkaniemi has a lot of desirable elements. He has very good hands that are high-end, if not flashing elite. He can make very skilled plays off an entry, but what impresses me is how well he can control the puck and keep plays alive. With his frame and skill, it’s very hard to strip him of possession. He is also a very smart playmaker. Kotkaniemi sees the ice very well and can be the primary guy to set up along the wall on a power play and move the puck around. He understands how to create chances and isn’t afraid to attempt difficult plays. He prefers to make plays, but when he does shoot, I’ve liked his finishing touch. His skating isn’t amazing, but when I’ve seen him, his speed looks fine but his stride is a bit awkward. Defensively he’ll need to improve, like every young player, but I think he’s reasonably fine in that area and has shown he can be relied on at evens as a 17-year-old versus men. He has the best shot of any prospect in this draft class to be a No. 1 center. - Corey Pronman, The Athletic

K, my turn:

1. “With our 1st selection in the NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks are proud to select Oliver Wahlstrom"
2. My #1 UFA target this off-season is Calvin de Haan (being realistic about this but also would be a huge boost to the D).
3. The current Hawks RFA we need to sign last (or not at all) is Jurco.
4. The Blackhawks backup goalie in October will be Brian Elliott.
5. The most surprising Blackhawks player that makes the team for opening night is Luke Johnson?

K, my turn:

1. “With our 1st selection in the NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks are proud to select Oliver Wahlstrom"
2. My #1 UFA target this off-season is Calvin de Haan (being realistic about this but also would be a huge boost to the D).
3. The current Hawks RFA we need to sign last (or not at all) is Jurco.
4. The Blackhawks backup goalie in October will be Brian Elliott.
5. The most surprising Blackhawks player that makes the team for opening night is Luke Johnson?
- Justin Lowe

What do you think dahann price tag would be?

K, my turn:

1. “With our 1st selection in the NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks are proud to select Oliver Wahlstrom"
2. My #1 UFA target this off-season is Calvin de Haan (being realistic about this but also would be a huge boost to the D).
3. The current Hawks RFA we need to sign last (or not at all) is Jurco.
4. The Blackhawks backup goalie in October will be Brian Elliott.
5. The most surprising Blackhawks player that makes the team for opening night is Luke Johnson?
- Justin Lowe

Elliott?? hmmmm

K, my turn:

1. “With our 1st selection in the NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks are proud to select Oliver Wahlstrom"
2. My #1 UFA target this off-season is Calvin de Haan (being realistic about this but also would be a huge boost to the D).
3. The current Hawks RFA we need to sign last (or not at all) is Jurco.
4. The Blackhawks backup goalie in October will be Brian Elliott.
5. The most surprising Blackhawks player that makes the team for opening night is Luke Johnson?
- Justin Lowe

Agreed Justin....I'm thinking go with Wahlstrom if he's there or the Top Rated D as one of Hughes, Bouchard or Dobson SHOULD be there at 8. It's hard to imagine any of those 3 Dman NOT ending up as reliable Top 4 dmen with Hughes having the highest offensive upside, and Bouchard looking like the safest bet of the 3 given some concerns about Dobson's skating and Hughes' stature. You're paying Toews to be the #1C of the entire NHL, and you have both Schmaltz + Anisimov at Center so, IMO, D and power wing are the more pressing needs. You can probably get a very good developmental Center with #27.

I don't even care that he was traded...I care that he was a capable and quality asset completely misused and mismanaged by the coaching staff. His recent quotes say it all about Q + Ulf's failures with Kempny (and Daley).

Time and time again whether by the coaching staff or General Manager, this team has been terribly managed ever since 2015. The list of errors is so long that there is NO surprise that Rocky Wirtz publicly threatened the job security of Bowman and Quenneville. There is no subtlety to Rocky Wirtz's interview earlier this week. He has seen the ugly results and like many on this board, he doesn't view them as acceptable. Bowman hasn't drafted a good NHL Dman in 10 years and the best one he drafted in 2010, Stephen Johns, he gifted to a Division Rival. Bowman has overpaid every single "Core" player with the exception of Hjallmarsson, and the "illegal" contracts of Hossa+Keith. Combining Bowman's lack of drafting, trading and contract negotiation skills with Quenneville's stubbornness and lack of adjustment in system/usage of players and you have a last place team.

As I said months ago, when Stan Bowman is fired, I will stop complaining about the moves he has made to tank this once great team built primarily on the drafting of his predecessors. Until Q is replaced it is more than fair to question the absurdity of Kempny not being able to crack the Top 6D for the worst team in the Central Division, but being a staple at 4D for the likely Cup Champions (same story different year with Trevor Daley).

With better drafting, cap management, contract negotiation, and trading ability, the Hawks SHOULD have had a Detroit-esque run of many many years in the playoffs and ENTERTAINING HOCKEY. They Hawks were terrible to watch and if they didnt have Patrick Kane I probably wouldn't watch 80 games like I did this year. Instead, they nosedived into the basement, with very little reason to expect much different results next season. Same coaching staff, same GM, and essentially the same players (we will see what, if any, "big changes" are made)...why would you expect a miraculous climb back to Cup Contention?

Every person who comes to this site in (frank)ing June is a die-hard Hawks fan. They watch almost every game, and spend thousands on tickets and merchandise. IMO it is very fair and well within their rights to voice grievances towards those who are responsible for icing a garbage product and generally failing at their job duties for 3 seasons.
- EnzoD

Right On Enzo !!

K, my turn:

1. “With our 1st selection in the NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks are proud to select Oliver Wahlstrom"
2. My #1 UFA target this off-season is Calvin de Haan (being realistic about this but also would be a huge boost to the D).
3. The current Hawks RFA we need to sign last (or not at all) is Jurco.
4. The Blackhawks backup goalie in October will be Brian Elliott.
5. The most surprising Blackhawks player that makes the team for opening night is Luke Johnson?
- Justin Lowe

Good call on Johnson.

better trade for both teams is the hawks and montreal both teams get what they want but don't see Towes waiving his NMT plus who is filling his spot.

Here is a trade proposal or two your opinion is welcome:
Hawks trades
27th a 3rd Hossa Forsling duclair/hino

Carolina Trades
Darling and Faulk

Hawks trades
Crawford

N.Y.Islanders trades
11th pick
- Scott1977

NICE proposal. ...but I'd like to see Jeff Skinner included in on this deal. We need a 30 goal scorer in the top 6.....and he's only 26 years old I believe.
Carolina is definitely a team to work with.

NICE proposal. ...but I'd like to see Jeff Skinner included in on this deal. We need a 30 goal scorer in the top 6.....and he's only 26 years old I believe.
Carolina is definitely a team to work with.
- Hawkytalk

I like skinner to but don't think is willing to give him up plus i think it take more to get him beyond my proposal. Still think picking a center at 8 is needed or a puck moving d man so veleno or boqvist.

Agreed Justin....I'm thinking go with Wahlstrom if he's there or the Top Rated D as one of Hughes, Bouchard or Dobson SHOULD be there at 8. It's hard to imagine any of those 3 Dman NOT ending up as reliable Top 4 dmen with Hughes having the highest offensive upside, and Bouchard looking like the safest bet of the 3 given some concerns about Dobson's skating and Hughes' stature. You're paying Toews to be the #1C of the entire NHL, and you have both Schmaltz + Anisimov at Center so, IMO, D and power wing are the more pressing needs. You can probably get a very good developmental Center with #27.
- EnzoD

Draftsite and several other sites have consistently projected the Hawks to take Ty Dellandrea at 27th. The reports I've read about him fit the description you laid out. Likely not a 1C, but possibly 2C or 3C that needs another few years of development.

I like skinner to but don't think is willing to give him up plus i think it take more to get him beyond my proposal. Still think picking a center at 8 is needed or a puck moving d man so veleno or boqvist.
- Scott1977

Good point. I'd also like to see AA moved as part of that deal....or any other I might add. I'm tired of his lackluster Ho Hum style, his constant injury problems, and his horrific face off %. Move him and his 4M Cap hit to any willing taker if not Carolina. (Montreal)
His value went south as soon as Panarin left town.

Good point. I'd also like to see AA moved as part of that deal....or any other I might add. I'm tired of his lackluster Ho Hum style, his constant injury problems, and his horrific face off %. Move him and his 4M Cap hit to any willing taker if not Carolina. (Montreal)
His value went south as soon as Panarin left town.
- Hawkytalk

AA to montreal for two 2nd rounders? I think also we need to be cautious that maybe as fans over valuing AA. The league and other gms know what type of player AA is.

Draftsite and several other sites have consistently projected the Hawks to take Ty Dellandrea at 27th. The reports I've read about him fit the description you laid out. Likely not a 1C, but possibly 2C or 3C that needs another few years of development.
- AEL_Fox

Love him. Would also fit that character player they are looking for as well.

What do you think dahann price tag would be?
- Scott1977

4 years @ 4.9M per (ish)?!?

Elliott?? hmmmm
- z1990z

3 goalies in PHI... something has to give.

Just heard the Hawks really.... really don't want to run into goalie issues again. It was unfair to them considering the team and effort night-in-and-night-out.

Personally, I would like to see them improve the defence and overall defensive scheme to give someone like Forsberg a better shot a success... but if someone like Elliott is brought in... it signals concerns around Crawford's health.

3 goalies in PHI... something has to give.

Just heard the Hawks really.... really don't want to run into goalie issues again. It was unfair to them considering the team and effort night-in-and-night-out.

Personally, I would like to see them improve the defence and overall defensive scheme to give someone like Forsberg a better shot a success... but if someone like Elliott is brought in... it signals concerns around Crawford's health.
- Justin Lowe

Toews name keeps coming up and link to Montreal and crawford to islanders any validity to these rumors that you may heard from your sources or can not answer that yet due certain factors of agreements with said parties?

Love him. Would also fit that character player they are looking for as well.
- Justin Lowe

Awesome! I recall a poster on this blog has seen Dellandrea play at Flint and really likes his game and character.

Toews name keeps coming up and link to Montreal and crawford to islanders any validity to these rumors that you may heard from your sources or can not answer that yet due certain factors of agreements with said parties?
- Scott1977

This is not coming from the Hawks. Montreal would love to add a #1 center - but the Hawks are not shopping him.

They do listen to calls coming in - but that does not mean they are looking to deal.

3 goalies in PHI... something has to give.

Just heard the Hawks really.... really don't want to run into goalie issues again. It was unfair to them considering the team and effort night-in-and-night-out.

Personally, I would like to see them improve the defence and overall defensive scheme to give someone like Forsberg a better shot a success... but if someone like Elliott is brought in... it signals concerns around Crawford's health.
- Justin Lowe

Those 3 goalies in Elliott, Mrazek, and Neuvirth doesn't even count their prospects particularly Carter Hart who they're really high on.

I would have to agree, if the Hawks acquire a goalie the caliber and experience of an Elliott, then that would hint at Crawford not being 100 percent (and likely not even close to it).