McDonagh isn't better than Keith. Plus Keith is far more durable. Grabner is just a guy this season. Don't be fooled by his goal total last season. His shooting % was ridiculous.
- TTtime

They are both Elite level 25 minute per night NHL Dmen, but McDonagh is 28 years old vs 34yr old Duncs. If you can acquire a guy like McDonagh, IMO, you make every reasonable attempt to acquire him.


EDIT: With that being said, IDK why the Rangers would ever trade him unless they are going in to full #TANK Mode

Welcome Justin! So far I am liking your approach, analysis, and writing, so keep it up!!

I think the hawks should package Forsling and Debrincat, plus a 1st round draft pick to Col for Duchene with half salary retained. Move Schmaltz to left wing and your top 6 should be the strongest in the league: Toews, Saad, Panik, Duchene, Schmaltz, Kane.

I think it should work cap wise, but just barely...

Thoughts?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

To Edmonton for RNH? Mc David might like his partner in crime back?
Might be able to do it with a 2nd depending on salary retained?

yep..i think it was kevin weeks who was highly praise worthy of CC. After that 2012 meltdown he...he showed what he is made of coming back incredibly strong mentally and physically...nothing bothers him. He is the not the most athletic nor will will he give you a seasons worth of highlight reel saves but that's because his positioning and technique and goalie smarts keep him out of those situations..

but when called upon he can deliver the WOW save(s) how about this quadruple beauty vs habs a few years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTPH9yZju7Y
- bogiedoc

exactly right. you don't need to be fancy or flamboyant when you're in position. Subban will learn that if he survives in the NHL

To Edmonton for RNH? Mc David might like his partner in crime back?
Might be able to do it with a 2nd depending on salary retained?
- gazza53

EDM needs some speed on the LW and finishing ability overall.

Debrincat doesn't exactly fit that, but McDavid is a hard guy to play with because he's sooooo much better than everyone else. So that makes sense due to their history.

However, I think it's going to take more than Debrincat to get Edmonton excited. That is, unless McDavid goes to Chiarelli and asks for help. Which, I've spent quite a bit of time with the kid, and he's too nice to do that. He'll just go about his business.

They are both Elite level 25 minute per night NHL Dmen, but McDonagh is 28 years old vs 34yr old Duncs. If you can acquire a guy like McDonagh, IMO, you make every reasonable attempt to acquire him.


EDIT: With that being said, IDK why the Rangers would ever trade him unless they are going in to full #TANK Mode
- EnzoD

Well, here is where we drift apart. McDonagh isn't elite. Add in he only has one year after this left on his contract and Keith is still the better value. IMHO!!

exactly right. you don't need to be fancy or flamboyant when you're in position. Subban will learn that if he survives in the NHL

- weakglovehand

Subban was a shutdown machine in the PO last season. I think he will survive.

EDM needs some speed on the LW and finishing ability overall.

Debrincat doesn't exactly fit that, but McDavid is a hard guy to play with because he's sooooo much better than everyone else. So that makes sense due to their history.

However, I think it's going to take more than Debrincat to get Edmonton excited. That is, unless McDavid goes to Chiarelli and asks for help. Which, I've spent quite a bit of time with the kid, and he's too nice to do that. He'll just go about his business.
- Justin Lowe

You going to spill the beans how you became a Hawks fan?

Well, here is where we drift apart. McDonagh isn't elite. Add in he only has one year after this left on his contract and Keith is still the better value. IMHO!!
- TTtime

Keith is a steal at $5.5mil/year, no doubt about it. Can you name 10 defense-men who are better than McDonaugh right now? I'd argue he's a unanimous lock as a Top 20 Dman in the NHL.

Keith is a steal at $5.5mil/year, no doubt about it. Can you name 10 defense-men who are better than McDonaugh right now? I'd argue he's a unanimous lock as a Top 20 Dman in the NHL.
- EnzoD

Won't argue top 20 but in my opinion it doesn't make him elite. He may make my top 10. It would be close. i reserve the term elite for the truly special.

JL! Welcome brotha! Look forward reading more from you in the future!

As for the game.....NICK SCHMALTZ WAS NEVER TAUGHT DEFENSE AND DEFENDING ON THE BACKCHECK. This was very clear last night and makes me cringe.

Matt Duchene please!
- nickmo2699

I am with you 100% on that one, first I want to welcome Justin and let you know right out of the gate buddy, I am your “ stuck in the 70s, long time season ticket holder, get rid of the instigator rule, crow magnum hockey fan ”I am still waiting for the BLACKHAWKS to find the next Al Secord and Bob Probert and Dave Manson”! Looking forward to your blogs Justin!

Sorry Nick, now back to you, I will buy Nick Schmaltz plane ticket if he is part of a trade for Matt Duchenne! Not going to beat the drum anymore on him, definitely a wasted first round pick, will not compete for pucks,peels off when it goes near the boards, and you could see Patrick Kane getting pissed off some of the time! I am sure they’re gonna let it play out a little longer for another 10 to 12 games and then get on the phone if need be .

Keith is a steal at $5.5mil/year, no doubt about it. Can you name 10 defense-men who are better than McDonaugh right now? I'd argue he's a unanimous lock as a Top 20 Dman in the NHL.
- EnzoD

All of the Preds top 4 fosh. And half the kids on Carolina and Philly. But here's a list. By no means comprehensive but a mix of players that would fit on the hawks better than him and many are certainly better at hockey in general.

PK Subban
Erik Karlsson
Mattias Ekholm
Roman Jossi
Seth Jones
Victor Hedman
Ryan Suter
Kris Letang
Drew Doughty
Duncan Keith
Brent Burns
Alec Martinez
Cam Fowler
Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Torey Krug
Mark Giordano
Shea Weber
Aaron Ekblad
John Klingberg
Dougie Hamilton
Nick Leddy

plus young guys who are playing better now and have a way higher ceiling

Rasmus Ristolainen
Ivan Provorov
Jaccob Slavin
Justin Faulk
Shayne Gostisbehere
Noah Hanifin

The dawn of a new era is upon us...

I'm excited and i hope everyone else is too!

All of the Preds top 4 fosh. And half the kids on Carolina and Philly. But here's a list. By no means comprehensive but a mix of players that would fit on the hawks better than him and many are certainly better at hockey in general.

PK Subban
Erik Karlsson
Mattias Ekholm
Roman Jossi
Seth Jones
Victor Hedman
Ryan Suter
Kris Letang
Drew Doughty
Duncan Keith
Brent Burns
Alec Martinez
Cam Fowler
Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Torey Krug
Mark Giordano
Shea Weber
Aaron Ekblad
John Klingberg
Dougie Hamilton
Nick Leddy

plus young guys who are playing better now and have a way higher ceiling

Rasmus Ristolainen
Ivan Provorov
Jaccob Slavin
Justin Faulk
Shayne Gostisbehere
Noah Hanifin
- fattybeef

That name looks familiar....I feel like I know this guy from somewhere but i can't quite put my finger on it....



Is there a single name on that list that is available via trade? Eklund reported that McDonagh was on the trading block along with Nash and Zuccarello, hence the initial trade proposal that I responded to. While you may not view him as a Top 20 Dman, and I haven't watched the Rags this year, he is the prototype 200ft Defense-First 25 minute/night guy that is a pillar on your team. McDonagh-Seabs 2nd pair??

The dawn of a new era is upon us...

I'm excited and i hope everyone else is too!
- SimpleJack

Interesting times lay head, can't wait.

That name looks familiar....I feel like I know this guy from somewhere but i can't quite put my finger on it....



Is there a single name on that list that is available via trade? Eklund reported that McDonagh was on the trading block along with Nash and Zuccarello, hence the initial trade proposal that I responded to. While you may not view him as a Top 20 Dman, and I haven't watched the Rags this year, he is the prototype 200ft Defense-First 25 minute/night guy that is a pillar on your team. McDonagh-Seabs 2nd pair??
- EnzoD

Meh, doesn't help their zone exits. The puck retrieval, poor neutral zone play and inability to transition quickly isn't helped by McDonagh. The forwards need to be more available and working as a cohesive unit or they need guys who can push the play with their feet. They also need to do a better job covering the neutral zone and creating turnovers before entries take place.

Quite a few system things, especially with the forwards, that aren't solved by another stay at homeish defender.

However, I think it's going to take more than Debrincat to get Edmonton excited

My bad, I meant to add the package of Forsling, Cat, and
a 2nd, maybe a another pick depending on $ retained.

Meh, doesn't help their zone exits. The puck retrieval, poor neutral zone play and inability to transition quickly isn't helped by McDonagh. The forwards need to be more available and working as a cohesive unit or they need guys who can push the play with their feet. They also need to do a better job covering the neutral zone and creating turnovers before entries take place.

Quite a few system things, especially with the forwards, that aren't solved by another stay at homeish defender.
- fattybeef

38 points/year average over the last 4 seasons but yes there is not a "quick fix" for this team. Many areas that need improvement, but adding Ryan McDonagh to this team would greatly improve their chances of competing for a Cup the next 2 seasons.

Welcome JL, all the best with the blogs, I'm from just down a way from your neck, Niagara, Thorold, St. Catharines area..look forward to your spin on all things Hawks.

I agree, it is really frustrating to watch at times. I tweeted an example last night that at the end of the 1st period, in the dying seconds... on the Power Play, no one crashed the net.

Toews was coming off the wall and threw a quick pass to the net. Ideally not the best play but I think he was expecting 1, 2... maybe even 3 guys to be barreling down on Elliott. No one was in sight when the puck arrived.

You're taught throughout hockey and gain these instincts to rush the net on an offensive chance like that as there will be no time for the opposing team to counter.

Maybe they were tired. Who knows? Just wish the Hayden's, Panik's and Saad's would set up shop more regularly in front and cause a disruption.
- Justin Lowe

Saw that tweet and agree. Panik stood at the high circle with Toews coming off the end wall with a few seconds left. I'm a Panik guy but I wonder if it's plays like that that had Babcock wondering about his awareness.

Also saw your tweet saying Franson has a booming shot but is no PP QB. Agree, his hands are stone in the open ice. Gonna be a lot of plays going the other way and loss off possession with him on an island at the Bline on the PP.

Many have wondered about Toews the last couple years. Wonder your thoughts on that? Lost a step, minutes have caught up to him, he's just not healthy anymore?

Appreciate the feedback.

Listen, I love Duchene as a player and what he brings in terms of skill. He had a down year last year but he's also in a bad, reoccurring movie in COL. They need to, and should have, traded him by now.

With that being said, I personally would like to see a little more from both of the guys (Debrincat & Forsling) you mentioned.

Unless Hawks scouts and management (who see these guys on the ice everyday and know their character) deem these 2 player disposable, the Hawks should be reluctant to trade off assets like this in their current state.

With that being said, if the Hawks start to turn it around and look like a team that has potential to challenge for a cup this year, then 100% look at a move like this.

There are a lot of kinks to be ironed out at the moment and I think they stand pat until they have a larger sample size of games with these young and new faces.
- Justin Lowe

Thanks for the response! I actually hope that the poor play so far is a system thing (all of these new faces still getting acclimated to the style of play that the hawks want to employ). I still am not sold that debrincat and/or Forsling will get it all put together by the end of the season, though. And I think that these two are the Hawks biggest trade chips this season to bolster the roster. I also hope that they don't wait until the trade deadline to make a big trade, as it is asking a lot for the new player(s) to acclimate quickly and be ready for the playoffs. I would like to see them make some sort of trade(s) by January.

However, I think it's going to take more than Debrincat to get Edmonton excited

My bad, I meant to add the package of Forsling, Cat, and
a 2nd, maybe a another pick depending on $ retained.
- gazza53

I hear ya.

You know what would be interesting would be a swap of former line mates (obviously not 1-for-1 but some variation) :

Debrincat to EDM to play with McJesus

Drake Caggiula to CHI to play with Schmalz


Caggiula, Schmaltz and Brock Boeser (VAN prospect) were an electric line for U of ND a couple years ago when they won the D-1 Championship.


#justsaying

Welcome JL, all the best with the blogs, I'm from just down a way from your neck, Niagara, Thorold, St. Catharines area..look forward to your spin on all things Hawks.
- Butcherboy66

Nice. Love the NOTL area. I frequent there often.

I hear ya.

You know what would be interesting would be a swap of former line mates (obviously not 1-for-1 but some variation) :

Debrincat to EDM to play with McJesus

Drake Caggiula to CHI to play with Schmalz


Caggiula, Schmaltz and Brock Boeser (VAN prospect) were an electric line for U of ND a couple years ago when they won the D-1 Championship.


#justsaying
- Justin Lowe

JL, you said earlier that there are a lot of things happening. Is this a trade you are hearing about from your sources? Also, just wondering if Detriot has interest in Debrincat, a local kid for them? You know, with the new stadium and all, might be interesting to bring him in for the locals.

Hi Justine glad to see ya step right in .. Last nights game was not a lot to get over excited about ,HAWKS had a little more jump .Maybe Q running a real practice for the 1st time in forever Helped !! .Still think the lines are off . Would like to see DBC with AA and Kane ,he needs that big man and set up man to work off IMO .Panick with Towes and Saad will do just fine given time . Then Hartman Schmaltz and Vinny ,they played well last year during the HAWKS best run ,till the IL faded Jurco trade . Then U have Sharp Hayden Winngles ,could give U some offence and be tough to play against . Just my two cents and that is about all it worth .. Crow was the show again last night ..