THat's kind of my point....I can't figure out what their MO is for '18-'19.....too early until free agency. If the roster isn't drastically improved before training camp, I think they are in no-man's-land or free fall again
- phantasmo

You could always sprinkle pixie dust over yourself and envision:

-Toews becoming a 70 point player again, combining with a 65 point Saad for a dominant line 1
-Schmatlz takes the next step to being a top 6 center, winning 46% of his draws, scoring 60+ points with 88 at his right flank
-Players like Vinnie, Highmore, Hayden, etc...form the nucleus of a formidible bottom 6. "Someone" is found to kill penalties and win faceoffs

-Keith returns to form despite his 35 year age
-Seabrook stumbles into the fountain of youth and his demise is put on hold
-Murphy, Gustaffson, Forsling, Rutta or X, or Y or Z round out the defensive pairing in competent fashion.

Basically, 4 players have to be much better than they have been the last two years....another 4 players must make huge strides as young players...and yet another 3-4 players must continue their current trajectory.

Oh yea...if ALL THAT works out, who tends net?

This team is in disarray right now. BUT, lets see what magic Stan can come up with. I can't wait.

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Artem Anisimov must submit a list of 10 teams he'd be willing to accept a trade to, by July 1. Doesn't mean he'll necessarily be traded, though. Agent Todd Diamond: "I do not believe Stan wants to trade Artem, but he might do so if it is in the long term interests of the Hawks."

You could always sprinkle pixie dust over yourself and envision:

-Toews becoming a 70 point player again, combining with a 65 point Saad for a dominant line 1
-Schmatlz takes the next step to being a top 6 center, winning 46% of his draws, scoring 60+ points with 88 at his right flank
-Players like Vinnie, Highmore, Hayden, etc...form the nucleus of a formidible bottom 6. "Someone" is found to kill penalties and win faceoffs

-Keith returns to form despite his 35 year age
-Seabrook stumbles into the fountain of youth and his demise is put on hold
-Murphy, Gustaffson, Forsling, Rutta or X, or Y or Z round out the defensive pairing in competent fashion.

Basically, 4 players have to be much better than they have been the last two years....another 4 players must make huge strides as young players...and yet another 3-4 players must continue their current trajectory.

Oh yea...if ALL THAT works out, who tends net?

This team is in disarray right now. BUT, lets see what magic Stan can come up with. I can't wait.
- kwolf68

All of that is true. All of it.


If you want to cheer up just remember Seabrooks deal has has 6 years left on it ($41,250,000)

If the pace of the NHL does not overwhelm any or all of Bouchard, Dobson or Tkachuk I will tip my hat to you and I will do this even though I don’t wear hats. I have made the same promise to wiz regarding Tkachuk.
- Z3Hawk

I have very little doubt that Dobson, Tkachuk can play at an NHL pace, Boqvist too. This is what intrigues me about Bouchard. No doubt a tad heavy footed but he's agile, nimble and balanced. If NHL types say yes I'll go along with them but still I wanna see it.

I see a lot of Klingenberg in Dobson in both size, skating and style. I'm a fan but don't mind one bit the Hawks taking the Swede ahead of him. Would have if Hughes was on the board though........

Not too bad a prospect list is it? Gonna take some getting used to as a Hawks fan, no? However that shakes out it's great there will be competition for spots and choices for management.

I'm really hoping Soderland can crack the NHL lineup sometime. High energy high compete type, a fan favorite in a bottom 6 guy.
- Mr Ricochet

Yeah, for a few years the Hawks were trending downward in terms of prospect pipeline. They seem to be trending upward now, especially after this draft.

I agree about Soderlund. If Q wants relentless, Soderlund is a good prospect to fit that bill. He's got offensive skills to boot. I'm guessing 3rd line winger. Nilsson is similar; small but relentless and decent skill. According to Colliton, Nilsson hates to lose and gives maximum effort. Need more prospects like that to crack the lineup.

At the U-18s you might want to check who won Best D-Man.
- Z3Hawk

Yeah, I know Hughes won, and he was really good, really really good, and he did't he get selected before the Boqvist?, I have no problem with that, and I won't even go o about the process of how they pick these MVP and all-star line-ups...

It is a great stage to see the same age guys play against each other.

Thus tourney also was the showcase for Jesperi Kotkaniemi at centre, and that worked out too.
The swedes got the bronze and a player who is MVP usually but not always comes from the the winner...USA was the silver winner.

Hawks dont have enough depth and physical players to be a contender maybe the playoffs.
- Scott1977

I think a lot can change from now until the start of the season.

The "I don't expect many changes" quote by Stan was a long time ago and less-a-threat-from-Rocky ago.

I think we could see as many as 5 new bodies in the active lineup come October from trades and signings.

All of that is true. All of it.


If you want to cheer up just remember Seabrooks deal has has 6 years left on it ($41,250,000)
- mrpaulish

Seabrook is a warrior, a class act, and a hockey god in Chicago, but his play is simply far below the value of his contract, Seabrook's days as a Top 4 are about done. Paying a guy 6.8 to man the third pairing is part of the reason the Hawks are in demise...PART of the reason, there are many other issues other than 1 bloated contract.

Renaud Lavoie
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Anthony Duclair will be a UFA soon. The @NHLBlackhawks didn’t send him his QO.
- TommyHawk

Yeah, let Jurco go too...

Jurco was a gamble that cost a pick.

Duclair has always been able to score, but alway from the puck not so, and has enough size to be more demonstrative, just hasn't figured out that back size pressure, or more intensity.

and Chaput went Caput.

They can't keep everyone with one way deals...and try add some players...

THat's kind of my point....I can't figure out what their MO is for '18-'19.....too early until free agency. If the roster isn't drastically improved before training camp, I think they are in no-man's-land or free fall again
- phantasmo

What we do know is StanBow did not mortgage the future on draft day. For that I think all fans should be grateful. I have new respect for the guy with Rocky "allegedly" breathing down his neck. The pipeline legitimately looks better than it has in 10 or so yrs.

I'm not sure StanBow knows what the club will look like. I think he realizes how good it is to have cap space and with it comes a lot of options, even better he's not living his life with a gun to his head giving up a Johns just to ice a team on game day.

What I'm most sure of is he'll never leave himself so exposed at the goalie position. He'll address the backup but that also means they may lose Forsberg to waivers.
Kid is 25 and has won a cup in the AHL.

IMO he finds the most reasonable top 6 guy and top 4 Dman in FA without overpaying anymore than one is forced to, if possible. I prefer a center, Bozak(?), so Schmaltz slots where he's better at this stage at wing. IMO the team is just better at both ends if Schmaltz plays wing and of course better at the dot.

Still holding out hope for left shot, 27 yr old De Haan. Solid player and giving him term is reasonable.

That's not me saying so Z, that's fact. Nobody had the Swede ahead of Hughes a month out from the draft, or even after the World Championships.

Zadina 1 goal and 1 assist? Indeed it ain't easy for a 17/18 yr old kid to compete vs men, that's why what Hughes did vs them had him ranked waaaaay higher than Boqvist, by everyone.

Didn't know, or read, or hear Hughes was sheltered and watched(?). Take your word for that.

Did not know Boqvuist won the Best Dman at the Hlinka and WJC, that's good. Mentioned I liked what I saw from him at the Hlinka vs Canada and was horrified by what I saw at the WJC vs Canada, a series you say he won an award. And yes I know how old he is.
- Mr Ricochet

Hughes was jumping all over but there were always some who had Boqvist ahead of him. I always thought he was. The Scouts nailed little this year. McKenzie’s geniuses had Dobson 6, Bouchard 7. Not even close. Merkley 32 I think. Others even lower. I knew he’d be taken higher. Wilson basically said we didn’t care what certain Scouts or hockey people said.

We should just be happy that over a short period of time Boqvist fell from possibly a 2 overall pick - yes 2 in the whole Draft - to where he was available to the Hawks. Same thinking for Wise. In a very short time he went from predicted top 5, top 10 to being drafted 69. Potentially a HUGE STEAL.

What we do know is StanBow did not mortgage the future on draft day. For that I think all fans should be grateful. I have new respect for the guy with Rocky "allegedly" breathing down his neck. The pipeline legitimately looks better than it has in 10 or so yrs.

I'm not sure StanBow knows what the club will look like. I think he realizes how good it is to have cap space and with it comes a lot of options, even better he's not living his life with a gun to his head giving up a Johns just to ice a team on game day.

What I'm most sure of is he'll never leave himself so exposed at the goalie position. He'll address the backup but that also means they may lose Forsberg to waivers.
Kid is 25 and has won a cup in the AHL.

IMO he finds the most reasonable top 6 guy and top 4 Dman in FA without overpaying anymore than one is forced to, if possible. I prefer a center, Bozak(?), so Schmaltz slots where he's better at this stage at wing. IMO the team is just better at both ends if Schmaltz plays wing and of course better at the dot.

Still holding out hope for left shot, 27 yr old De Haan. Solid player and giving him term is reasonable.
- Mr Ricochet

Agree much on how Stan Bowman played it here with the draft and restocking the pipeline.
Also holding hope for a De Haan.

You could always sprinkle pixie dust over yourself and envision:

-Toews becoming a 70 point player again, combining with a 65 point Saad for a dominant line 1
-Schmatlz takes the next step to being a top 6 center, winning 46% of his draws, scoring 60+ points with 88 at his right flank
-Players like Vinnie, Highmore, Hayden, etc...form the nucleus of a formidible bottom 6. "Someone" is found to kill penalties and win faceoffs

-Keith returns to form despite his 35 year age
-Seabrook stumbles into the fountain of youth and his demise is put on hold
-Murphy, Gustaffson, Forsling, Rutta or X, or Y or Z round out the defensive pairing in competent fashion.

Basically, 4 players have to be much better than they have been the last two years....another 4 players must make huge strides as young players...and yet another 3-4 players must continue their current trajectory.

Oh yea...if ALL THAT works out, who tends net?

This team is in disarray right now. BUT, lets see what magic Stan can come up with. I can't wait.
- kwolf68

I think you could very well be right on except for Saad. The others will bounce back. This team was not that bad before 50 went down. If he makes it back to where he was the Hawks will make the playoffs.

San Jose did not qualify Demelo. would like to see him on the bottom pairing.

Yakupov will be a UFA. worth a shot?

We should just be happy that over a short period of time Boqvist fell from possibly a 2 overall pick - yes 2 in the whole Draft - to where he was available to the Hawks. Same thinking for Wise. In a very short time he went from predicted top 5, top 10 to being drafted 69. Potentially a HUGE STEAL.
- Z3Hawk

I do agree...

Yeah, let Jurco go too...

Jurco was a gamble that cost a pick.


- wiz1901

Dammit Wiz, dontcha know Blowman was after him for 6 weeks before he got his man?!

San Jose did not qualify Demelo. would like to see him on the bottom pairing.

Yakupov will be a UFA. worth a shot?
- ikeane

I don't mind Demelo, but if he's a bottom pairing d-men, then he's not useful the Hawks still they have so many.

No really directed at you, I feel like bottom pairing d-men are like Pokemon to some people. Gotta collect 'em all?

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Added to Team @GVNPerformance/@ProdigyHockey:
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Hughes was jumping all over but there were always some who had Boqvist ahead of him. I always thought he was. The Scouts nailed little this year. McKenzie’s geniuses had Dobson 6, Bouchard 7. Not even close. Merkley 32 I think. Others even lower. I knew he’d be taken higher. Wilson basically said we didn’t care what certain Scouts or hockey people said.

We should just be happy that over a short period of time Boqvist fell from possibly a 2 overall pick - yes 2 in the whole Draft - to where he was available to the Hawks. Same thinking for Wise. In a very short time he went from predicted top 5, top 10 to being drafted 69. Potentially a HUGE STEAL.
- Z3Hawk

You mean the 10 paid NHL scouts that McKenzie draws his list from and Wiz publicly says he tries to beat every yr?

You can keep posting away if you choose, Z. I'm done on the subject unless you post something not factual. I know your position and its timeline and that's all I wanted.

No need to attempt devalue those fellas cuz they didn't have your guy on top.

This is my "one trick pony" topic:

He went straight to the Rags after amateur hockey at 19 - he should have spent a year or two (more?) in the AHL to learn how to play the game, learn how to play the pro game, learn how to play both ends, learn how....
- StLBravesFan

Absolutely, greeat post...Rangers were desperate for scoring, he was scoring in the initial 9 game trial, so instead of sending him back, to develop, they made a decision that kinda affected things for him.

But once he's with the rangers, all the facilities, and guidance, and means were there to help him improve.
Too much, too fast applies in this case...then getting traded to Arizona probably didn't help matters either.

This is more about one way contracts, agents being reasonable and the Blackhawks maybe on the hunt for better established NHL talent to belnd with the high end kids there.
Again...don't think that the Vegas year, playoff run and STYLE didn't open everyone to what they want in their starting 12

I think a lot can change from now until the start of the season.

The "I don't expect many changes" quote by Stan was a long time ago and less-a-threat-from-Rocky ago.

I think we could see as many as 5 new bodies in the active lineup come October from trades and signings.
- Justin Lowe

Bowman is on the clock to and my opinion if the hawks want to compete for a cup next year hawks have to get Bozak DeHann Moore rousell and brodizak or riley nash plus a veteran back goalie like Lerner thats a lot plus neec unload hossa's contract and still have money to do something at tdl. Also towes seabrook keith need bouce back years in a big way the there is the crow situation a lot of ifs and hope.

Agree much on how Stan Bowman played it here with the draft and restocking the pipeline.
Also holding hope for a De Haan.
- 35Tony0

I really like how he did what Ryan Pace of the Bears has done now for 3 years, see a player falling and traded up to snag them.

A little timehop memory that came up on my Facebook today. All them feelz man. The greatest 17 seconds, and finish to a game in all of sports! To capture a second cup in 3 years, what a run! The city was so electric. Let's get splashy in UFA Bowman, and get the magic back!


https://www.facebook.com/...6MTAyMDEzODQ3MjAzNjI4MTQ/
- SoftServe

My facebook background picture is the 1`7 seconds hawk jersey...

The Oilers are a perfect example of that. Drafting as high as they have for 10 years, they were pushing these kids in as saviors. Other than McDavid for now, it was a disaster.

These kids who were used to dominating at all levels are thrown into a situation where they are in over their heads. They suffer confidence issues and their bodies are not mature enough to go up against fully developed men. Watching the kids walk up to the podium at the draft, it was quite evident that these are the bodies of kids -not men. All of the high Oiler picks (including McDavid) suffered through major injuries within 2 years.
- 67hawks

THIS !

That's not me saying so Z, that's fact. Nobody had the Swede ahead of Hughes a month out from the draft, or even after the World Championships.

Zadina 1 goal and 1 assist? Indeed it ain't easy for a 17/18 yr old kid to compete vs men, that's why what Hughes did vs them had him ranked waaaaay higher than Boqvist, by everyone.

Didn't know, or read, or hear Hughes was sheltered and watched(?). Take your word for that.

Did not know Boqvuist won the Best Dman at the Hlinka and WJC, that's good. Mentioned I liked what I saw from him at the Hlinka vs Canada and was horrified by what I saw at the WJC vs Canada, a series you say he won an award. And yes I know how old he is.
- Mr Ricochet

Will Bowbist be an 18 yr old at WJC this year and would he qualify again to play WJC the following year. Let,'s concentrate on seeing improvement in his defensive understanding and application in WJC. Really need to see how far he has come in a full season as a 19 yr old. Then we can start predicting his NHL timetable.