JJ, I called it before , hopefully I am wrong here, but does Saad have a NMC, If not, he winds up in St.Louie for Shattenkirk, would that be a kick in the nuts!
Trying to temper expectations on this years deadline, lots of Kool aid being consumed over the 5-1 trip.
I am with you ,I would love to see Matt Duchene here, I think so would the CAPTIAN.
But I some how think at the 2oclock witching hour on march 1st,SB is gonna blow the per verbal "Big Fart" , and wind up either with Iginla, Sharp, or Vanek, While the guys on the dream list may be dealt to other teams, turning out that what teams gave up for them ,SB could have beat. That is what I am Leary about . We will see!
- wonthecup10

Saad is a player you build a team around, not one you shove away for a decent D-man. They have other pieces they can move.

More importantly, he is helping the guys around him be better. That's what true leaders do. It is no coincidence that Panik and Schmaltz are doing better.
- hpk90

He is definitely back. Watch him bull to the net, win board battles, shield the puck, make life hell for opposing puck carriers. His shot percentage is the only thing that isn't up to Toews standards. One of the most accurate shooters in the league his entire career. It'll come.

I could live with a trade for Oduya. Up front let the Kids play.

Any interest in E. Kane LW With Toews & Panik?
- Colbyboy

What does Oduya cost is my question? I'd be all for bringing him back and sitting him til he's 100% since he knows the system already. Haven't won a Cup since he left btw

Isn't Evander Kane constantly injured?

Seems strange for such a beefy guy.

I'm about 90-95% with ya. I go back to what Rain City said a few pages back. They're not as good as they look when they get streaky, nor as bad as when they get sucky. Somehwere in the middle. Which is why point 5 is so important.

Anyway . . .

1) Looks that way, more so Toews than Keith, but Keith is showing some signs of coming around of late.

2) Yup, also of late. Will they or any of them regress somewhat at some point, make mistakes in the playoffs? Could be.

3) Depth, ehhhh, yeah. Campbell really looks like he's on fumes though. Plays smarter than he used to but man he has lost those wheels. And Campbell is really the key to the "improved depth." So yeah, it's better as long as he's playing better than TVR or Rozy. They're OK in transition. Keith, like I said and some others have pointed out, has not been the 'driver" of transition this year that he has been in the past. MAYBE that's coming back now. maybe. Kempny gets caught pinching a lot, but like Oduya, he has the wheels to get back most of the time.

4) Again, I . . . . dunno. Maybe? 14-15 team had a lot of speed. I mean if you're gonna look at a guy like Hinostroza or Panik and say "he's fast," then you can say the same about Kyle Cumiskey. I mean. it's not just foot speed, but mental speed, anticipation that somewhat comes out of experience. Also, you don't have Johnny Oduya playing 25-30 minutes a night on this team. Not to mention Brandon Saad playing big minutes. So I don't buy the speed argument. This team has slowed down somewhat if anything.

5) Yes, agreed 100%.
- John Jaeckel

While forward depth was always a question mark this season, I think it has been that depth on D that hasn't lived up to expectation. We all knew the Hawks offensive production up front would be a challenge, but I think we fans expected a bit more out of #51 and maybe a less rocky transition for Kempny. About #6, I think we all expected an adjustment period, but he just can't manage to stay in the lineup with Q. It will be interesting to see what pieces they move in the next 6 months.

SIBIR losts in OT and now has 2 games left. last week if showed 57 games played and 79 pts. during the game it showed 58 games and 80 pts? Maybe since it was Tied the site gives them 1 pt even though it was not in OT yet. how does the KHL scoring work? I think its 3 PTS for a REG w 2 for a OT W and 1 OT L. Looks like they are down 2 PTS with 2 games to play. 20 W, 7 OW, 6 OL.

Agree on Eaves/Oduya. Both are UFA after season and Eaves only makes 1.0 million per year. Would not take much in return, cap wise, to make the deal happen. Maybe a cap player and a high draft pick gets this deal done.
- onehundredlevel

Caution! I would need to see Oduya play some before buying. An ankle injury could be a slow recovery, months. I would hate to give up something and then have him tweak it. He could eat up cap space and sit in the press box throughout the playoffs.

What does Oduya cost is my question? I'd be all for bringing him back and sitting him til he's 100% since he knows the system already. Haven't won a Cup since he left btw
- Assman22

Oduya makes 3.75 million this year....in the last year of his contract. Not sure what the prorated amount is as that is the amount we would have to pay him. Eaves makes 1.0 million...also in last year of deal.

While forward depth was always a question mark this season, I think it has been that depth on D that hasn't lived up to expectation. We all knew the Hawks offensive production up front would be a challenge, but I think we fans expected a bit more out of #51 and maybe a less rocky transition for Kempny. About #6, I think we all expected an adjustment period, but he just can't manage to stay in the lineup with Q. It will be interesting to see what pieces they move in the next 6 months.
- breadbag

I think we had pretty lofty expectations for this defensive group. I do not think Campbell has lost a step. I think he has lost the fire in his belly. He looks like he is going through the motions, avoiding contact, not standing in the line of fire. He also is playing with different partners all the time and that might be pissing him off. Maybe as we get nearer the playoffs he will get a spark. Kempny and Forsling have made progress since the beginning of the year, but they are still prone to some bonehead plays. Q is trying to spread out the playing time and that might actually make it more difficult for them to get into a rhythm and gain confidence. Tyhey are also playing with different partners. Having said that this defense 1 through 8 is way better than 2016 and 2015.

I think we had pretty lofty expectations for this defensive group. I do not think Campbell has lost a step. I think he has lost the fire in his belly. He looks like he is going through the motions, avoiding contact, not standing in the line of fire. He also is playing with different partners all the time and that might be pissing him off. Maybe as we get nearer the playoffs he will get a spark. Kempny and Forsling have made progress since the beginning of the year, but they are still prone to some bonehead plays. Q is trying to spread out the playing time and that might actually make it more difficult for them to get into a rhythm and gain confidence. Tyhey are also playing with different partners. Having said that this defense 1 through 8 is way better than 2016 and 2015.
- -Doh-

My feeling on #51 is that it is kind of both. To me he looks like he lost a step and is taking it easy at times. That said, I think the last 2 games he has stepped it up. He doesn't look like he will skate it coast to coast too often anymore, but maybe he will up the effort down the stretch here.

Another move I would note is one the Hawks have already made: acquiring in what looked like an afterthought move, Michael Latta for Cameron Schilling. Latta, I'm told, was acquired with an eye toward perhaps packaging Andrew Desjardins somehow—and again, that might be for nothing more than a depth defenseman—and I would not be surprised at all to see Latta in Chicago soon.
- John Jaeckel

Great work as always JJ, your efforts and input are greatly appreciated!

This trade really piqued my curiosity, it seemed to suggest it might be connected to something else than the usual AHL player swap. I'd love to hear any thoughts from anyone who has seen Latta play for Rockford. On paper he has 7 assists in 9 games, is a +2 on a team with players who are mostly minuses, and has racked up some decent penalty minutes in a short time (I think he's 7th in the AHL in overall penalty minutes). Could this be a move to bring in some of Coach Q's "physicality" that's needed for the playoffs?..

Hopefully, I am not breaking any copyright rules, but Elliotte Friedman has this nugget buried in his weekly "30 Things" column on Sportsnet.ca

"22. Always check in on potential NCAA signings at this time of year. There are a few teams hoping John Hayden, a 2013 Chicago Blackhawks pick who is finishing his fourth year at Yale, will go the Jimmy Vesey route — not sign, choosing free agency instead. But two NHL clubs who were looking into it say they are losing hope it will happen.

The Blackhawks are now making room for young players, showing there is a route available. The Bulldogs need a big run to qualify for the NCAAs, so the opportunity is there to play in the NHL this season, which burns a year of his entry-level contract."

Thoughts (if any)?

Saad is a player you build a team around, not one you shove away for a decent D-man. They have other pieces they can move.
- JRoenick97

Saad has a modified NTC that kicks in last year of his deal—therefore pretty unlikely he gets moved before then.

BTW, I checked Crawford's deal again over at nhlscap.com (which is now providing more detail on NTC's).

He has a modified NTC in effect now, as it has been since he signed his deal. He CAN be traded. Terms of the NTC unknown, but my info. has been he needs to submit a list (either of teams he would accept or rule out) if/when asked.

Hopefully, I am not breaking any copyright rules, but Elliotte Friedman has this nugget buried in his weekly "30 Things" column on Sportsnet.ca

"22. Always check in on potential NCAA signings at this time of year. There are a few teams hoping John Hayden, a 2013 Chicago Blackhawks pick who is finishing his fourth year at Yale, will go the Jimmy Vesey route — not sign, choosing free agency instead. But two NHL clubs who were looking into it say they are losing hope it will happen.

The Blackhawks are now making room for young players, showing there is a route available. The Bulldogs need a big run to qualify for the NCAAs, so the opportunity is there to play in the NHL this season, which burns a year of his entry-level contract."

Thoughts (if any)?
- hpk90

0.1% chance he plays this year, but i hope we keep the kid.

i'd put money on Eaves/Oduya and then the depth moves to get ready for who we leave unprotected for the expansion draft.

i hope the vanek nonesense is just a smokescreen
- jt19

Someone explain to me what the terms of an Oduya trade would be, and how THAT deal makes the Hawks better. Especially since Oduya is/has been hurt.

I'm not saying it won't happen (that's apparently the job of others around here). Just staying I haven't heard anything about it and it doesn't seem to make a ton of sense beyond people always saying ex-hawks make sense in Chicago for some reason.

I mean, yeah, you pencil him in next to Hjalmarsson and then I guess Campbell and TVR are third pair, OK, assuming he's healthy. I'm on board. What do you give up to get him and pay him? Kruger?

OK, assuming Nill would even make that deal, who then becomes your primary PK center and secondary FO option after Toews? AA and Kero are pretty bad in the dot.

And do you marginally upgrade the defense at the cost of doing NOTHING about your forward lines where you'd be going into the playoffs with 4 rookies getting regular minutes?

And you have no $ to backfill center either.

I suspect this is why I have heard nothing form a reliable source, or any source, on any Oduya deal.

Doesn't make a lot of sense, guys.

Caution! I would need to see Oduya play some before buying. An ankle injury could be a slow recovery, months. I would hate to give up something and then have him tweak it. He could eat up cap space and sit in the press box throughout the playoffs.
- -Doh-

It doesn't make a lot of sense on any level other than yeah, it would be great to have Oduya back. Same with Saad and Bobby Hull in his prime, I guess.

Great work as always JJ, your efforts and input are greatly appreciated!

This trade really piqued my curiosity, it seemed to suggest it might be connected to something else than the usual AHL player swap. I'd love to hear any thoughts from anyone who has seen Latta play for Rockford. On paper he has 7 assists in 9 games, is a +2 on a team with players who are mostly minuses, and has racked up some decent penalty minutes in a short time (I think he's 7th in the AHL in overall penalty minutes). Could this be a move to bring in some of Coach Q's "physicality" that's needed for the playoffs?..
- jmarducci

They like Latta's energy, physicality and competitiveness. And they like him as a potential add before the playoffs.

Someone explain to me what the terms of an Oduya trade would be, and how THAT deal makes the Hawks better. Especially since Oduya is/has been hurt.
- John Jaeckel

JJ - my point was, they need a 4D and offensive help (Oduya is an option, if he gets healthy, Eaves is a good price and fits the forward slot).

Still, i like Boyle/Palat... but that doesnt allow any D help.

Lots to consider. Lots of options.

JJ - my point was, they need a 4D and offensive help (Oduya is an option, if he gets healthy, Eaves is a good price and fits the forward slot).

Still, i like Boyle/Palat... but that doesnt allow any D help.

Lots to consider. Lots of options.
- jt19

I believe Oduya snapped his ankle and was on a 6-8 week recovery timetable. Hard pass, given how Nill stole StanBo's lunch money in the Sharp fiasco. The price would be high and Oduya has been on IR more than he's been on the ice this season.

I believe Oduya snapped his ankle and was on a 6-8 week recovery timetable. Hard pass, given how Nill stole StanBo's lunch money in the Sharp fiasco. The price would be high and Oduya has been on IR more than he's been on the ice this season.
- EnzoD

Several folks have kicked around the Oduya idea...I think its more of another depth defenseman. We saw how badly the Hawks did without a #4 last season in the playoffs. I think the concern is Soupy. I was all for this signing, but he looks to have lost at least a step. Although in the Jets game the other night he really had one of his better performances of the season. Now does Campbell crank it up as we get closer to the playoffs...as some suggest we'll see. With TVR/Kempny/Forsling you've got a lot more depth this season.

The main play is still a forward or two. Would like to see them get Palat. We'll see what happens.

Several folks have kicked around the Oduya idea...I think its more of another depth defenseman. We saw how badly the Hawks did without a #4 last season in the playoffs. I think the concern is Soupy. I was all for this signing, but he looks to have lost at least a step. Although in the Jets game the other night he really had one of his better performances of the season. Now does Campbell crank it up as we get closer to the playoffs...as some suggest we'll see. With TVR/Kempny/Forsling you've got a lot more depth this season.

The main play is still a forward or two. Would like to see them get Palat. We'll see what happens.
- DK002

Oh, they're mulling a defense add. I will just say I've heard different things: one source saying Stone (as others have reported), who is a more expensive, higher profile type guy, and another source saying that is a smokescreen and Stanley is looking at cheaper options like Connauton and Schenn.

So I don't know. My OPINION is defense is improved already since last year anyway and therefore the bigger need is upfront.

I will be the first to admit the "kids" have come around a bit of late, but this is regular season hockey, the stakes go way up, as does the physicality, in the playoffs. That's where I worry a lot more about Schmaltz (especially), Hinostroza and Kero. And i just don't think the chances are real good to make a deep run with Schmaltz and Panik flanking Toews. Sooner or later, probably no later than the second round, you're gonna run into someone who can stop those guys cold. Then you have a problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl4uUikZzA8

let me know if this works? I could not get it to play on my computer but I did on my phone.

Teams looking into signing Chicago Blackhawks prospect John Hayden as a college free agent this summer are “losing hope,” reports Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Hayden could pass on signing with the Blackhawks to hit the open market in the offseason, but indications are that he’ll pass in order to sign an entry-level deal with Chicago.

It doesn't make a lot of sense on any level other than yeah, it would be great to have Oduya back. Same with Saad and Bobby Hull in his prime, I guess.
- John Jaeckel

I have a Hot Tub, anyone have the plans to turn one into a time machine so we can get the Golden Jet back on ice?

Another well written colum JJ, thanks for your dedication!

Hey Rainman...hope you're well. I hope Stan gets us that forward and I wouldn't be upset about getting a dman either. I'm intrigued about Oduya...don't know if that would work moneywise or not. Plus he's been hurt...he does know the system and could slide back in with Hammer.

As you mention the East is stronger this year - particularly the Metro, but only one team is coming out of the Wales Conference. Caps/Pens/Rags/Jackets etc...The Caps look great right now, but its not April yet.

Wondering if we're better off with Nashville or the Blues. I can't see us catching the Wild, but who knows where we end up at the TDL.
- DK002

Hey DK....good to hear from you.

I agree with Hank on the blues. While many will right them off, that team is basically at the cross roads. This is their last shot to make a run with that group. Armstrong is out of moves other then dealing players after firing Jabba Hitch. They always play the Hawks tough, and just getting in would probably be a load off their minds. Would love to see them play the wild in round 1.

Very curious to see what Stan does, but I don't think many are buying his bluff about standing pat. Not with a wide open west and banking more cap space. Wouldn't be surprised to see him pull the trigger earlier like next week, once they pick up the space and are back playing again. Think he may be closer then we think.