I will always appreciate Nik's contributions to 3 Cups. Especially being part of the incredible performance in 15 along with Keith, Seabs and Oduya. The reality is his play has fallen. He also really dragged Keith down. I haven't seen much of Murphy but it sure seemed like he played well against the Hawks. From what I HAVE seen of him is he will offer more in a push the pace type of style. He also has a physical edge to him.

Panarin and Saad are both excellent players who bring different attributes to a team.
Panarin was a joy to watch but I would be lying if his performance in the PO didn't leave me a bit irritated. He also had some serious Versteeg in him around his own blue line.

Saad bring a more complete game and the ability to play the PK. Which the Hawks need with the loss of Hossa.

I think its a trade where both teams got something they need.
- TTtime

Per Scott Powers in his Athletic article:

Blackhawks have made Qualifying Offers to:
- Pokka
- Rasmussen
- Jurco
- Gustafssos

Did not QO:
- Latta
- Valleau
- Helgesen

Per Scott Powers in his Athletic article:

Blackhawks have made Qualifying Offers to:
- Pokka
- Rasmussen
- Jurco
- Gustafssos

Did not QO:
- Latta
- Valleau
- Helgesen
- matt_ahrens

No power moves this year.

I take it you disagree...
- ArlingtonRob

No, that's not it.

Not sure if this is at all plausible, and it may not go with the faster movement at all. Thornton and Marleau have both proven they can produce even at their age. I dont see why the hawks wouldnt try and sell both of them on the chance to win and try and get both of them to sign cheap. Neither has ever won, clock is ticking on their careers and the Sharks probably are not gonna win one. They get to stay together and play a role with the Hawks to try and go for it. They would have to be cheap contracts and short term obviously, maybe not more than a year which is a hard sell but ya never know.
With that I would try and move Anisimov+ for Galchenyuk

Saad-Toews-Panik
Galchenyuk-Schmaltz-Kane
Marleau-Thornton-Hartman
Hayden-Dauphin-Jurco/Kero/Rasmussen

Obviously low chance of all that but you would be really comfortable with that.

Not sure if this is at all plausible, and it may not go with the faster movement at all. Thornton and Marleau have both proven they can produce even at their age. I dont see why the hawks wouldnt try and sell both of them on the chance to win and try and get both of them to sign cheap. Neither has ever won, clock is ticking on their careers and the Sharks probably are not gonna win one. They get to stay together and play a role with the Hawks to try and go for it. They would have to be cheap contracts and short term obviously, maybe not more than a year which is a hard sell but ya never know.
With that I would try and move Anisimov+ for Galchenyuk

Saad-Toews-Panik
Galchenyuk-Schmaltz-Kane
Marleau-Thornton-Hartman
Hayden-Dauphin-Jurco/Kero/Rasmussen

Obviously low chance of all that but you would be really comfortable with that.
- kevndevries

Not sure if they can do that under the cap.

Not sure if they can do that under the cap.
- KMFDMLight

If they both took less than 2 mil like 3 combined i think they could

If they both took less than 2 mil like 3 combined i think they could
- kevndevries

Why would either, much less both of them, take that little to play here? San Jose has as good or better of a chance to win it all than the Blackhawks, who had the weakest performance of any of the 16 playoff teams last spring.

The Hawks played slower last season than at any time since Toews/Kane arrived....And I'm not only referring to skating speed-but the ability to turn a play from defense to offense wiith effective passing as well.

Not sure if this is at all plausible, and it may not go with the faster movement at all. Thornton and Marleau have both proven they can produce even at their age. I dont see why the hawks wouldnt try and sell both of them on the chance to win and try and get both of them to sign cheap. Neither has ever won, clock is ticking on their careers and the Sharks probably are not gonna win one. They get to stay together and play a role with the Hawks to try and go for it. They would have to be cheap contracts and short term obviously, maybe not more than a year which is a hard sell but ya never know.
With that I would try and move Anisimov+ for Galchenyuk

Saad-Toews-Panik
Galchenyuk-Schmaltz-Kane
Marleau-Thornton-Hartman
Hayden-Dauphin-Jurco/Kero/Rasmussen

Obviously low chance of all that but you would be really comfortable with that.
- kevndevries

If Thornton and Marleau are going to do cheap, short term contracts to chase a Cup, there isn't much logic to them doing it with Chicago. You don't go to a team less successful than your own the last 2 years to chase a Cup, when the team that's won the Cup the last 2 years in a row would love to have you and can offer more $$.

Is there something wrong with PR? You do know every team in every major league sport does the same thing correct?

No, never said is anything wrong with PR. I noticed there were four Blackhawks articles in the first three pages of Sunday's Tribune sports section. That's good and I bet McD was happy to see that, too. Aside from the Cup winning years that was probably the most column inches of print published about the Hawks on any day in June.

...and IMO if Thornton were "Cup hunting" he has better options than next years Hawks club.
- ArlingtonRob

I think more so about being able to wear flip-flops to the rink everyday.

I will always appreciate Nik's contributions to 3 Cups. Especially being part of the incredible performance in 15 along with Keith, Seabs and Oduya. The reality is his play has fallen. He also really dragged Keith down. I haven't seen much of Murphy but it sure seemed like he played well against the Hawks. From what I HAVE seen of him is he will offer more in a push the pace type of style. He also has a physical edge to him.

Panarin and Saad are both excellent players who bring different attributes to a team.
Panarin was a joy to watch but I would be lying if his performance in the PO didn't leave me a bit irritated. He also had some serious Versteeg in him around his own blue line.

Saad bring a more complete game and the ability to play the PK. Which the Hawks need with the loss of Hossa.

I think its a trade where both teams got something they need.
- TTtime

Couldn't agree more

David Haugh in today's Tribune related this incident at (I guess) yesterday's presser:

According to David Haugh in today's Trib: As Blackhawks first-round draft pick Henri Jokiharju entered a room full of reporters late Friday night at the United Center, he felt someone grab his arm.

Jonathan Toews wanted to pull Jokiharju aside briefly to do what good captains do. Toews made eye contact. Then he left a lasting impression. "They will give you my number so call me if you need anything at all,'' Toews told the 18-year-old who appeared in awe of his future teammate.

Very captain-like.
- StLBravesFan

My first thought when reading this was Toews is giving up number 19 to this kid? Then I realized he was talking about his phone number.

The Hawks played slower last season than at any time since Toews/Kane arrived....And I'm not only referring to skating speed-but the ability to turn a play from defense to offense wiith effective passing as well.
- Al

Noticed the same. Really think getting some structure and reinforcing roles should help. Fresher legs too.

Seems the balance between rest/hands off approach and being a taskmaster got out of whack last year

Why would either, much less both of them, take that little to play here? San Jose has as good or better of a chance to win it all than the Blackhawks, who had the weakest performance of any of the 16 playoff teams last spring.
- Davewn

It's never gonna happen, so it's a moot point anyway, but the Hawks + those two would most certainly have a better chance at a cup than the Sharks - those two.

Noticed the same. Really think getting some structure and reinforcing roles should help. Fresher legs too.

Seems the balance between rest/hands off approach and being a taskmaster got out of whack last year
- grinder10

....And a consequence of leaning so heavily on the same handful of players every year has caught up as all are older now.

That's why Toews can't be asked to puck hunt every shift and Keith/Seabrook need help on special teams.

Per Scott Powers in his Athletic article:

Blackhawks have made Qualifying Offers to:
- Pokka
- Rasmussen
- Jurco
- Gustafssos

Did not QO:
- Latta
- Valleau
- Helgesen
- matt_ahrens

So Moose got a QO. Huh. Wonder what the plans are for Jurco? Is he just a bottom 9 energy guy or what?

I am all about speed. BUT, great hands and hockey IQ with strong skating, not necessarily the quickest, but quick enough is huge. I love the Breadman's game. I am sorry Saad is not as scary of a player to me. When you can open up the ice horizontally at the NHL WOW!

Yes you need speed on your team but not every player needs to be blazing. Tarasenko is slow. But get him the puck to score. Jagr and Hossa both became slow but their strength on their skates, hands, vision and hockey IQ allowed them to overcome their loss of speed. Changing speed and direction with or without the puck trumps straight line speed everday of the week.

Speed is important because it can get to the open spaces the game tries to create. The game is on ice so anything at high speed that causes skate blades to change directions is huge. McDavid is amazing because he has speed in all aspects of his game.

The best dman to play the game--Lidstrom was slow as dirt even back in the 90s when he was drafted. But he saw the game faster than anyone else so he did not need to be so fast. Kane is not that fast of a player either. He has some flaws in his skating but I know of no player who sees the ice as well as him, except maybe Panarin.

The Hawks played slower last season than at any time since Toews/Kane arrived....And I'm not only referring to skating speed-but the ability to turn a play from defense to offense wiith effective passing as well.
- Al

which had much more to.do with I think the number was 9 of the 14 forwards at the beginning of this year had 1yr or less in the team and several were making their first year pro.

You can't value continuity enough, especially in trying to play a fast system the Hawks do. While the playoffs were a disappointment, it is rather impressive they won the conference with that many new faces

Not sure if they can do that under the cap.
- KMFDMLight

Marleau is all about the Benjamins, so don't see it. Marleau is a bit of an odd bird too - was stripped of his Captaincy in the prime of his career and then re-signed as if meant nothing. However, I don't see either coming to the Hawks for what the Hawks would like to pay.

I am all about speed. BUT, great hands and hockey IQ with strong skating, not necessarily the quickest, but quick enough is huge. I love the Breadman's game. I am sorry Saad is not as scary of a player to me. When you can open up the ice horizontally at the NHL WOW!

Yes you need speed on your team but not every player needs to be blazing. Tarasenko is slow. But get him the puck to score. Jagr and Hossa both became slow but their strength on their skates, hands, vision and hockey IQ allowed them to overcome their loss of speed. Changing speed and direction with or without the puck trumps straight line speed everday of the week.

Speed is important because it can get to the open spaces the game tries to create. The game is on ice so anything at high speed that causes skate blades to change directions is huge. McDavid is amazing because he has speed in all aspects of his game.

The best dman to play the game--Lidstrom was slow as dirt even back in the 90s when he was drafted. But he saw the game faster than anyone else so he did not need to be so fast. Kane is not that fast of a player either. He has some flaws in his skating but I know of no player who sees the ice as well as him, except maybe Panarin.
- BluemanGuruu

.

Unfortunately, Panarin only sees the ice well in the offensive end. Also Hossa got older while maintaining his skating speed at the upper level.

So Moose got a QO. Huh. Wonder what the plans are for Jurco? Is he just a bottom 9 energy guy or what?
- z1990z

LW with Anisimov and Kane.

especially if you're a woman. allegedly.
- TTtime

- 93Joe

A jab at my post on the last blog? Hilarious..really funny...speaking as a woman.

There is a lot of debate presently concerning the Hammer trade. One of the things that seems to be getting lost a bit is someone can at the same time 1) respect Hammer and what he accomplished with the Hawks and 2) like the trade that StanBo made for Hammer.

Another thing that is getting lost a bit is how freakin' dominant Saad was when with the Hawks. He was very young then too - he is still young. I personally couldn't be happier he is back. Those predicting Panarin is going to do so well in Columbus. Under Torts? A Nightmare on Blue Jacket Street. Panarin is going to wish he never left Russia.