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Forums :: Blog World :: Justin Lowe: The Case For Trading Jonathan Toews
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Tyler Cameron
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 10.31.2017

Jun 14 @ 6:11 PM ET
Hate to break up these awesome discussions - I actually waited all day to put this out because you guys and gals were going to town on the message board today.

HOWEVER, I have this NEW BLOG - http://www.hockeybuzz.com...eam-Really-Need/253/93380 - ready to rock.

Some off-season Hawks chat.


Edit: link updated
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

Jun 14 @ 6:13 PM ET
I hear you Z but outside of usually 1-2 guys in every draft class, there are risks with any draft pick, even those rated in the Top 15. I view a worst case scenario for Tkachuk as Tom Wilson and best case....he's like his father. With small defenseman like Hughes/Boquist, or big bodies but slow mind/feet dmen like Bouchard/Dobson.....I think there is as much risk if not more that they bust. Tkachuk has NHL size and I do not see any skating issues with him. He's at worst a 3rd line crash and banger that can score 15 goals. At best hes a consistent 30/30 big, mean and nasty power forward on your top line.
- EnzoD


Valid points Enzo. We actually agree on lots, just different approaches. I do not want Bouchard or Dobson for the same reasons I’d shy away from Tkachuk. Watched Dobson recently at the Memorial Cup. His team won but he didn’t separate himself from anyone. He certainly did not jump out at you as you might think such a highly rated player should.

With high draft choices I would always only draft players with high-end skill and high-end skating as these players will be the ones most likely to really excell, to become NHL stars. This #8 pick is very important to the Hawks. It cannot be wasted. I think you need to draft someone that has a true ability to become an elite player. I just don’t think you can draft someone who could track high up the line-up or could track way down the line-up. We’re just looking at it differently. If Tkachuk has the chance of being a 3rd liner with 15 goals for me that just isn’t good enough for this pick. Also if Tkachuk falls to 8, 7 other teams have said no for a reason.

If you draft a player with high-end skill and high-end skating and it proves to be a mistake it is harder to question the choice. Now if you draft a player without high-end skill and high-end skating and it proves a mistake it is easier to question the choice as one of the possible results going in is that the skillset was not going to transfer to the NHL. If that is the case the player could be a conplete disappointment.

I don’t think the Hawks go for Bouchard or Dobson as they now emphasize skill and skating - if they are thinking about D-Men. I would think that Quinn and Boquist would interest them. I also think the Hawks should do whatever it takes to get Merkley, trading to get in position if necessary. I have seen Merkley in the top 10 on some rating boards. Some team is going to be smart with him. The thinking from many is it would be nice to have Merkley as a 2nd choice - maybe it should be that it would be nice to have Merkley as a 1st choice. He has incredible skills and skating ability and I for one don’t put much stock in a 16 year-old having attitude. Who didn’t?





Mr Ricochet
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Joliet, IL
Joined: 04.19.2009

Jun 14 @ 6:22 PM ET
The worst possible scenario for me is Bouchard, Dobson sitting there with Adam Boqvist, because I have sick feeling I know who they would take, but I ma not jinxing things....
- wiz1901


They take Boqvist if somehow Wahlstrom and Kotkaniemi are gone and he's there. .. They're thinking he's another Karlsson.
Mr Ricochet
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Joliet, IL
Joined: 04.19.2009

Jun 14 @ 6:27 PM ET
Valid points Enzo. We actually agree on lots, just different approaches. I do not want Bouchard or Dobson for the same reasons I’d shy away from Tkachuk. Watched Dobson recently at the Memorial Cup. His team won but he didn’t separate himself from anyone. He certainly did not jump out at you as you might think such a highly rated player should.


- Z3Hawk


I watched the Memorial Cup too and agree Dobson didn't jump out per say but certainly showed flashes of being elite as he put up 7 points in 4 games..... I remember watching Seth Jones in the in the WJC U-20 and saying the same thing, he's not jumping out, as he put up a point per game.
Murph76
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 12.07.2011

Jun 15 @ 10:54 AM ET
Do not get me wrong, I don't dislike Martinsen at all and think he could potentially be useful on a checking line. I think he has pretty good defensive positioning and awareness, is better with timing his hits rather than just going for a boom, and works hard when on a dump/chase situation.

My issue is not with Martinsen himself, but in that I do not want Q to run with a grinder 4th line like last season. It doesn't work and hasn't worked for cup teams in a while. Teams either run two offensive top lines and then a checking and bumslaying line in the bottom 6. More often than not, the 4th line is the checking/shutdown line - was with the Hawks 2013 & 2015, both Pens years, and for the Caps this year. The Jets and Knights were similarly stacked. Grinder/energy lines, those that only face other 4th lines, are not useful like they used to be in the NHL.

So, to make sure that isn't an option, the Hawks need a checking center capable of transitioning well. I want guys that are physical like Martinsen to be more than just a grinder, more than Bouma, that's all.

PS. I think Wingels was good when they moved him to be with Kampf some. He is another I thought could have been a checking winger but Q just never really tried them in that way.

- L_B_R


I'm totally fine not having an all grinder line, I think both Martinsen and Hayden have the speed to be on either the 3rd or 4th lines and would actually prefer they be split up...so now I'm picking up what you're putting down
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