Stan Bowman really ruined this blog for me.
The purpose of "The Blackhawks Shopping List" is to analyze the Hawks needs and possible UFA and trade targets to improve this team as we head into the free agency frenzy.
Well, Stan has swiftly gone out and had himself a nice summer so far. He's brought in Olli Maatta and Calvin de Haan as key pieces and is not stopping there.
Stan! I was supposed to tell YOU what to do, remember?
As mentioned above by Bowman himself, he's looking for forward help on in the form of strong penalty killers and preferably (if he can) sign guys to 1-year contracts.
In the same interview with Jay Zawaski, Bowman mentioned he's not looking to move Seabrook, Keith or Gustafsson. I do think that the Hawks will Connor Murphy if the deal makes sense. Also, Dahlstrom and Koekkoek would both be candidates to move out. Lastly, the way the depth chart is looking and hearing some of Bowman's comments, I wouldn't be shocked if Henri Jokiharju starts in Rockford.
Jokiharju is a really dedicated player on and off the ice. His summer training in Finland is very impressive and I believe he will come back a bit bigger and motivated to stick with the Hawks… and honestly he should be playing in their top 4 but this logjam on D, I'm not sure it starts that way.
We know Bowman has another move or two before finalizing this roster for training camp, but let's take a step back and look at where we're at right now. This will help identify what is still needed:
Sikura – Toews – Kane
DeBrincat – Strome – Kubalik
Saad – Anisimov – Perlini
Caggiula – Kampf – Wedin
Keith – Gustafsson
Maatta – Jokiharju
de Haan – Murphy/Seabrook
Crawford
Delia
The assumptions above include that Sikura, Perlini and Kampf are all resigned, which they will be according to reports.
As always, I will add the obligatory, "don't get too worked up about the lines" line.
With that lineup in mind, I think it's a foregone conclusion – at least in my mind – that Artem Anisimov is moved after July 1st. He is due a $2M signing bonus on that day which will leave a team owing him just $5M total in real dollars in the next 2 years. Not bad for a $4.55M AAV player that can play top 9 and score 20 goals. He does still have value and will fether a prospect and/or pick on the trade market.
I predict the Hawks will move Anisimov to a team in July that A) struck out with the free agents they targeted or B) one that saw the dollars and term being tossed around for centres like Matt Duchene, Marcus Johansson and Valtteri Filpulla and circle back on AA.
Moving on to what I WOULD have added to my summer shopping list before Stan was so forthcoming with the plan:
* 1-2 veteran defensive defenceman (CHECK: Maatta and de Haan)
* improve the overall team defence and penalty kill (almost there)
* add a centre that is solid on draws (still need)
* acquire/sign a top 6 forward or top 9 depending on the market price (potential to add someone still)
* add some physicality lost in Hayden
With the defence addressed as mentioned above, let's move on to finding that key forward penalty killer (or two).
Here are the top 25 forwards by SH TOI (2018-19 regular season):
Ok, now hear me out. I have an idea that might be so crazy that it works.
I'm not saying this based on anything I've heard, but just a fantasy armchair GM scenario; the Jets are in an interesting spot with key RFAs Laine, Connor, Copp and Poink this year and Morrissey and Roslovic the following year. They have also just lost Myers (to UFA) and Trouba (traded) who were both RHD. This leaves them with just Byfuglien, Poink and unproven youngster Sami Niku on the right-side.
Here's what I propose:
CHI trades Connor Murphy to WIN for Adam Lowry.
Could there be other picks and/or prospects to include to make both sides happy – sure? And don't get me wrong, I don't hate Connor Murphy, I'm just reading the tea leaves and don't see him here long term with Jokiharju, Seabrook, Boqvist and Mitchell all righties that should have a spot in Chicago, if they don't already.
Then, wait for it, the Hawks sign Brandon Tanev to a 3 year / $3M AAV deal.
Lowry, Tanev and Copp were an amazing depth line for Winnipeg over the last couple of years so by bringing in 2/3 of that, you're gaining instant chemistry.
You're also getting 2 really strong penalty killers. You've just actually brought in your PK1 forwards in one swoop.
Lowry ranked 15th in overall SH TOI and Tanev was 18th. More importantly, Lowry was 2nd in the league in SH FO wins with 127. Jonathan Toews was 3rd and 122. I'm not even going to tell you who was #1 because it'll get me worked up just typing his name.
Adam Lowry also offers size (6'5 / 210 lbs), secondary scoring (12 goals) and a nice contract at $2.9M over the next couple of years.
Then, the Hawks ship out Artem Anisimov to "Team X" for a pick and prospect.
Also, I wanted some toughness added, so I've signed Michael Haley (a human wrecking ball and a great dressing room guy) to a cheap 1-year contract and here's how your lineup looks:
Sikura – Toews – Kane
DeBrincat – Strome – Kubalik
Saad – Lowry – Tanev
Caggiula – Kampf – Perlini
Keith – Gustafsson
Maatta – Jokiharju
de Haan – Seabrook
Crawford
Delia
Extras: Wedin, Haley, Dahlstrom/Koekkoek
The other assumption that I made is that the Hawks have left a winger spot open for Kirby Dach if he should make the team.
You could slide him on the LW with Toews and Kane or on the RW with DeBrincat and Strome and move the pieces around.
Another possibility I heard (and you're not going to like this) is that the Hawks are serious about Corey Perry. They have had some chats with him and would maybe bring him in on a 1-year / $1M (ish) type deal.
The Hawks have also been linked to Pavelski, Lee and Nyquist however, those guys really don't fit the "1-year" deal talk Bowman was throwing out there.
Then again, neither did my Brandon Tanev signing, but at $3M per, that one is more digestible than Pavelski/Lee/Nyquist's $6-7M AAV.
There are so many options and theories you can imagine happening from now until September and what I posed above is just one of them.
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What do you think? What's on your shopping list from now until the end of summer?
Get me those Armchair GM lineups and I'll write up something for Friday. I only have 2 so far.
Back with more rumors as they come.
See ya out there!
TC
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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