Agreed...if Forsling is nothing more than an AHL defenseman then this trade is a wash. Anything more and the trade is a win for Stan.

More and more I really like the Morin/Panik trade. The jury is still out on where Panik will fit in with the team (bottom 6 or top 6), but this trade has already been a big win.
- DarthKane

One of those is going to need to be big win. In part to help with the cap problems and in part to help with the other bad trades. I think it will be the Panik trade. Anyone have a scouting report on Forsling? Any potential there?

Another Stan mistake...(sorry for the sarcasm, I'm in a mood).



NHL on NBCVerified account
‏@NHLonNBCSports
Report: Forsling signs with Blackhawks
- DarthKane

There will be lot of Swedes in Rockford if Gustav won´t be heading back to Sweden next fall.

Agreed...if Forsling is nothing more than an AHL defenseman then this trade is a wash. Anything more and the trade is a win for Stan.

More and more I really like the Morin/Panik trade. The jury is still out on where Panik will fit in with the team (bottom 6 or top 6), but this trade has already been a big win.
- DarthKane

Will be interesting to see if StanBo can pry a Panik-like asset via trade, but on defense. Plenty of "almost" prospects in Rockford and maybe there is a fringe NHL dman that a team has given up on the Stan can give a look on the 3rd pair. I am pretty excited for Kempny if he signs on the dotted line...making the Czech National team is no small feat for young, non-NHLer.

I was being sarcastic...hence the advanced apology for sarcasm.
- DarthKane

Sorry, inept reading skills today......

When your 2 best players make 21 and 3rd D and 4th line center make 10 mil. that's 31 mil that leaves 35 mil for the other 16 skaters which include 7 of you top 9 and your best 2 Defenders. Deduct 6 mil for 2 4th line and 13 forward and 1 mil 4-7 D. now you are at 29 Mil left for 1 of your top line 2 and your 2nd line, and your whole 3rd line. and your top pairing.

Top parings are $10-$12 mil $11
top line winger is $6
2nd line is probably $14 mil
3rd line is probably $8 mil

that puts you at $39 mil and $10 mil over the cap. Of which $4 mil is for kruger and seabs. 1.6 figuring (1.5 is a 4th line center) and 2.4 (4.5 for 3D)

Will be interesting to see if StanBo can pry a Panik-like asset via trade, but on defense. Plenty of "almost" prospects in Rockford and maybe there is a fringe NHL dman that a team has given up on the Stan can give a look on the 3rd pair. I am pretty excited for Kempny if he signs on the dotted line...making the Czech National team is no small feat for young, non-NHLer.
- EnzoD

Me too.

I'm not sorry worried if he'll be the #4 or #5. If he's solid and the 4/5 spots can be held down by him and TvR the defense will be improved over last season.

I'm not a fan of Gustafsson or Svedberg, but I am preparing myself that one or maybe both of them are back next season.

You get a gold star for one of most sensible posts on here in weeks. the hyperbolic 20-20 hindsite stanbow/Q narratives is way over the top...

the gm wannabees are all knowing about what went into every move...one of the reasons i will mostly stay way during the summer...i luv hanging out here during the season....great guys/gals posting here but the trade/cap/personnel banter/bashing i will do with out
- bogiedoc

^^^^this!!

Moving forward the hawks need to get lucky and have a few guys that are way under paid and that way for 3-4+ years. I would extend Panik, TVR, and Darling as soon as I can for as long as they are willing. Darling and panic 5 years 7-8mil total and TVR 5 x 11-12. we are screwed until the cap hits over 80 Mil which will be probably 3 years.

sky isn't falling....reality Is setting in.

To correct the flaws you will need $$ and you don't have $$$ to spend without moving a WANTED asset, not a POS like Bickell. Could they move Bickell, possibly but it will cost them $$ in RSA and a pick or prospect. If they buy him out money hits this year and next year.

This isn't March with CC having 2 bad games in a row and being lit in on the board. This is a major problem facing this team and a GM who has a history of not doing so great in buyer's markets.

As somebody else posted you will need a 1LW and 1RW...hossa is older and more suited for 3rd line duty and Panik, if signed, is still an unknown.

You also have 1 4th line player signed in Desjardin.

You have 4 D, and a LOT of question marks on the backend.

So yeah....these are logical concerns, and people who think Bickell is getting magically flipped and the cap will go up to 78 million with ZERO Canadian playoff teams, a sagging Canadian $$, need to keep sniffing glue.

Oh and the vaunted rest of the core argument.....Which is all well and nice until the core is taxed.....again...in March having to log heavy minutes because the depth of the roster is inferior.
- SteveRain

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeI5ke0BENw

Moving forward the hawks need to get lucky and have a few guys that are way under paid and that way for 3-4+ years. I would extend Panik, TVR, and Darling as soon as I can for as long as they are willing. Darling and panic 5 years 7-8mil total and TVR 5 x 11-12. we are screwed until the cap hits over 80 Mil which will be probably 3 years.
- kmw4631

What about any bought-out vets that would sign for cheap like Brad Richards two years ago? Any word on contracts that teams are planning on buying out?

Moving forward the hawks need to get lucky and have a few guys that are way under paid and that way for 3-4+ years. I would extend Panik, TVR, and Darling as soon as I can for as long as they are willing. Darling and panic 5 years 7-8mil total and TVR 5 x 11-12. we are screwed until the cap hits over 80 Mil which will be probably 3 years.
- kmw4631

I would guess Panik is re-signed this off-season, I would expect a 2 year deal for around $850,000 - $1,000,000 per season. He's an RFA so I would expect he'd sign soon or be dealt.

TvR was already extended, 2 years at $850,000. He can't sign his next extension until July 1, 2017.

Darling can be re-signed July 1, 2016 and I hope they do. A deal similar to Raanta's recent contract would be fair.

Will be interesting to see if StanBo can pry a Panik-like asset via trade, but on defense. Plenty of "almost" prospects in Rockford and maybe there is a fringe NHL dman that a team has given up on the Stan can give a look on the 3rd pair. I am pretty excited for Kempny if he signs on the dotted line...making the Czech National team is no small feat for young, non-NHLer.
- EnzoD

http://www.letsgohawks.ne...sal-to-add-defensive-dep/

"Dennis Wideman would fit as a player but it would have to be a dollar-in, dollar-out deal. Would they trade Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell for Wideman, who has one year left at $5.5 mil?”

Cmon it's fun to rehash trades or what could have been . Hawk fans here love the Hawks that's why we have over 300 comments on here n we have been eliminated for over a week n some other teams that are still playing can't come up with more then 10 or 12 comments on these boards. I think we all appreciate what the Hawks have accomplished.

The greatest player ever produced from Missouri:

(drumroll)

Bran-don BOLLLLLLLL-IG!!!!!

(drops mic)
- John Jaeckel

Hey my only shot at providing true "insider" (or second-hand recollection) of Bollig's days before pro hockey.

A co-worker of mine was a goalie in some sort of travel team (jr. team??? not familiar with the name of the leagues) based out of the St. Charles, MO, area. This team was "loaded" for the level of hockey. Three guys made the NHL. Two (whose names escape me) are #5-6D type guys. One of the least talented guys on the squad?: Bollig

My buddy, who is a good-natured fellow (despite being a Blues fan), said that he was found obnoxious by all. On one occasion, he set off a brawl by loafing behind the play and slapping opponents on the helmet as they were on the bench. No one gave the guy a chance to do anything. Pretty amazing he parlayed a good professional hockey career out of his limited God-given abilities.

http://www.letsgohawks.net/2016/05/04/an-interesting-trade-proposal-to-add-defensive-dep/
- Marlowe

Wideman has NMC so we would have to wait and hear what is going on with EXP draft. They have to announce it before the draft if they are going to have it the following year, and how guys with expiring contracts and NTC/NMC clauses are effected. IE the draft will happen before the league year starts.

Me too.

I'm not sorry worried if he'll be the #4 or #5. If he's solid and the 4/5 spots can be held down by him and TvR the defense will be improved over last season.

I'm not a fan of Gustafsson or Svedberg, but I am preparing myself that one or maybe both of them are back next season.
- DarthKane

Dallas D made the Hawks D look great by comparison last night. Perhaps Nill could use #5?

A 2nd rounder should do it...

Moving forward the hawks need to get lucky and have a few guys that are way under paid and that way for 3-4+ years. I would extend Panik, TVR, and Darling as soon as I can for as long as they are willing. Darling and panic 5 years 7-8mil total and TVR 5 x 11-12. we are screwed until the cap hits over 80 Mil which will be probably 3 years.
- kmw4631

This x 1000.

Cheap contracts by Cup Year:

2010 Cup: Toews, Kane, Brouwer, Ladd, Kopecky, Hjalmarsson, Byfuglien, and Keith (and Versteeg and Bolland coming off ELCs)

2013 Cup: Shaw, Kruger, Saad, Bickell, Smith, Leddy, Crawford, and even Stalberg

2015 Cup: Shaw, Kruger, Saad, Teravainen, van Reimsdyk, Darling


Look at how sick the 2010 roster is... Even 2013 and 2015 still have almost as much young talent. Can we re-tool with some younger talent for 2017 or 2018? Or do we need a mini-rebuild to acquire that new talent and plan for several years down the road.

In other words: if Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, and Crawford are the core, then I put Toews, Kane, and Keith in the supercore. If the supercore can get one or two more Cups several years down the road at the expense of the other core members being traded as part of a mini-rebuild, then I think that should be looked at seriously.

Dallas D made the Hawks D look great by comparison last night. Perhaps Nill could use #5?

A 2nd rounder should do it...
- grinder10

Trade Crawford and Rundblad for Niemi, Oduya, and Johns.

What is Bickell's cost if they buy him out?
What is the cost if they bury Bickell again in Rockford?
Pros/Cons for this.

Perhaps Stan when signing the wonder twins thought that the salary cap would have been higher by now at this time.

I guess I'd rather be in the Hawks skates with the problems they have any day with 3 Cups and salary cap hell year in and year out then go through watching them in the early 2000s again.

The cap and players you lose are the price you pay for success. I'm glad to be a Hawks fan through this. Did anyone really anticipate the year they had with all of the changes they absorbed? They lost to a very good ST Louis team. Game 4 was the dagger in my eyes, they hold on to win that game, they're playing game 4 tomorrow at the UC.

Moving forward the hawks need to get lucky and have a few guys that are way under paid and that way for 3-4+ years. I would extend Panik, TVR, and Darling as soon as I can for as long as they are willing. Darling and panic 5 years 7-8mil total and TVR 5 x 11-12. we are screwed until the cap hits over 80 Mil which will be probably 3 years.
- kmw4631

I have a couple suggestions regarding those players:
Dano
Danault
Johns

With the salary cap and the state of the Hawks roster, somebody will have to go. New deals needed for Panik and the Bread Man, but 72's deal could wait a year. We need a legit #4 D as well. With Bowman Sr. bringing up the Detroit model of a deep/solid D core in front of a above average netminder, it opens the door to CC being traded. Darling is not CC, but we are in a serious bind this off season. Darling had a rough start to the year, but looked alot better when he got more playing time.

You cant move 7. Just cant. This playoff was way off the norm for him as it was for 2 and 4. They were all flat exhausted. A legit #4 allows TVR/Gus to be slotted back. I think TVR will develop into a #4, but he is not there yet. If moving CC brings back a #4 D and some cap help, I think you have to do it. I also think a trade of CC may allow Stan to resign Shaw along with Panik.

Panik is a priority resigning. He brings a skill set to the top 6 we need since the loss of Saad and what will be the loss of Ladd come FA. He brings good speed and size to the forecheck and the will to go hit someone. A big name will have to go. Common sense money says its CC. Buying Bickell out also MUST be done..

I think moving Crawford is worth it but only if it lands us a legit #4D AND allows us to resign Shaw, Panik, and Weise. Not sure how all those numbers would work out, but something like this looks like a Cup contender as long as Darling holds his own:

Panik-Toews-Kane/TT
Panarin-AA-Kane/TT
XXX-Kruger-Hossa
Desjardins-Shaw-Weise

Keith-Seabrook
Hammer-new 4D
cheap vet/Gus/Svedberg-TVR

Darling
cheap vet backup

Much better defensive depth, the core guys and TVR won't have to play nearly as many minutes, a much more solid bottom pairing, and assuming the new 4D is effective in his role we will have solved our issues on the back end. Add in the fact that i expect Keith, Hammer, and Seabs to all come back rested and looking like they've got an extra jump in their step.

Only question would be how to fill the XXX open spot on the 3rd line with Kruger and Hossa. Not gonna find another Ladd, but if you would have asked us during the first few months of this past regular season if we would be able to add Andrew Ladd somehow we would have said no way in hell. Ya never know what can happen leading up to the TDL, and maybe Stan finds a way to crunch some numbers and fills that same hole again, or maybe a guy like Schmaltz or Motte is ready to take the next step in their game. Another option would be simply sliding Shaw up to 3rd line LW and replacing him with Moose/Hartman/Baun on the 4th line with Desi and Weise.

Either way, its a very tough call, but i think if we are able to strengthen the overall roster depth to the point that the forward depth(which was looking very impressive)is relatively in tact, and the defensive depth is noticeably improved, it might just be worth moving Crawford. But ONLY if we are able to do all those things, mainly building up a Dcore that can make any goalie look good any given night.

With the salary cap and the state of the Hawks roster, somebody will have to go. New deals needed for Panik and the Bread Man, but 72's deal could wait a year. We need a legit #4 D as well. With Bowman Sr. bringing up the Detroit model of a deep/solid D core in front of a above average netminder, it opens the door to CC being traded. Darling is not CC, but we are in a serious bind this off season. Darling had a rough start to the year, but looked alot better when he got more playing time.

You cant move 7. Just cant. This playoff was way off the norm for him as it was for 2 and 4. They were all flat exhausted. A legit #4 allows TVR/Gus to be slotted back. I think TVR will develop into a #4, but he is not there yet. If moving CC brings back a #4 D and some cap help, I think you have to do it. I also think a trade of CC may allow Stan to resign Shaw along with Panik.

Panik is a priority resigning. He brings a skill set to the top 6 we need since the loss of Saad and what will be the loss of Ladd come FA. He brings good speed and size to the forecheck and the will to go hit someone. A big name will have to go. Common sense money says its CC. Buying Bickell out also MUST be done..
- z1990z

Putting Bicks on LTIR is a must!

I think moving Crawford is worth it but only if it lands us a legit #4D AND allows us to resign Shaw, Panik, and Weise. Not sure how all those numbers would work out, but something like this looks like a Cup contender as long as Darling holds his own:

Panik-Toews-Kane/TT
Panarin-AA-Kane/TT
XXX-Kruger-Hossa
Desjardins-Shaw-Weise

Keith-Seabrook
Hammer-new 4D
cheap vet/Gus/Svedberg-TVR

Darling
cheap vet backup

Much better defensive depth, the core guys and TVR won't have to play nearly as many minutes, a much more solid bottom pairing, and assuming the new 4D is effective in his role we will have solved our issues on the back end. Add in the fact that i expect Keith, Hammer, and Seabs to all come back rested and looking like they've got an extra jump in their step.

Only question would be how to fill the XXX open spot on the 3rd line with Kruger and Hossa. Not gonna find another Ladd, but if you would have asked us during the first few months of this past regular season if we would be able to add Andrew Ladd somehow we would have said no way in hell. Ya never know what can happen leading up to the TDL, and maybe Stan finds a way to crunch some numbers and fills that same hole again, or maybe a guy like Schmaltz or Motte is ready to take the next step in their game. Another option would be simply sliding Shaw up to 3rd line LW and replacing him with Moose/Hartman/Baun on the 4th line with Desi and Weise.

Either way, its a very tough call, but i think if we are able to strengthen the overall roster depth to the point that the forward depth(which was looking very impressive)is relatively in tact, and the defensive depth is noticeably improved, it might just be worth moving Crawford. But ONLY if we are able to do all those things, mainly building up a Dcore that can make any goalie look good any given night.
- SimpleJack

Dont forget big Moose. 70 will have a role next year in the bottom 6.

Welcome aboard Jack!