Others have noted the Blackhawks have interest in Justin Faulk which with a rumored return of a first-round pick and Nick Schmaltz going the other way

If Bowman does this bullpoop he should be fired immediately. I wouldn't give them Schmaltz straight up for Faulk.
- kwolf68

I like the idea of you wearing a Stan mask better. Never say never, but there is no way that trade happens. That's a ridiculous rumor.

I just don't see a fit for a Faulk, Panarin, Pacioretty, or Skinner.

Nobody is taking 1 of 6 #5 d man and a 5th round pick. it will take a Schmaltz+. It may take a Debrincat or Saad. God only knows.

Save the money.

Play the kids. Deal valuable/expendable assets in February and keep adding pieces to ensure long term success.

Others have noted the Blackhawks have interest in Justin Faulk which with a rumored return of a first-round pick and Nick Schmaltz going the other way

If Bowman does this bullpoop he should be fired immediately. I wouldn't give them Schmaltz straight up for Faulk.
- kwolf68

I can't see Bowman trading away 1st rounders, at least not yet. He might be trying to save his job, but it is entirely possible that the team stays at the bottom of the Central and high 1st round picks are paramount to fix that. And no one is giving Schmaltz away for UFAs with contracts expiring in next year or two, that is insane.

Honestly, I don't know what Blackhawks have to offer other than bunch of not so shiny D prospects. Murphy and AA aren't going to bring anything special, more like Cody Eakin types.

I just don't see a fit for a Faulk, Panarin, Pacioretty, or Skinner.

Nobody is taking 1 of 6 #5 d man and a 5th round pick. it will take a Schmaltz+. It may take a Debrincat or Saad. God only knows.
- SteveRain

Agree. Plus Schmaltz is a center, at least in this lineup, and moving him to bring in Top 6 winger only creates another hole.

I like the idea of you wearing a Stan mask better. Never say never, but there is no way that trade happens. That's a ridiculous rumor.
- HawkintheD

Most of these rumors are crazy. So because the Hawks free up 8.5 and had Panarin the conclusion is drawn he's coming back? Imagine what it will take to get him back....No way in hell Columbus is taking back just Saad. Just nuts.

NUtzo E5.

We don't really fully know the Pacioretty situation, or if you do, please tell me what really happened.
I know there was a deal in place through his agent (at the time Pat Brisson, a friend of GM Marc Bergevin) to San Jose, where Pacioretty would sign an extension there.
It was originally believed that the Habs and his rep Brisson were in initial talks of reaching a contract extension with Pacioretty....
Minutes after the trade rumours of the 28-year-old moving to San Jose were debunked, or the press was told there was no agreement of a final deal, it was revealed that Allan Walsh would be Pacioretty's new representative.
(he the guy And I'd like him to rep me, b/c he got Drouin that 5.5 mil deal!

The parting with Brisson was quickly feed to the press as mutual, and the reason supposedly was his friendship with GM Bergevin...

So trade no trade to SJ and poof, new agent.

I wonder if Brisson brokered a deal with SJ that less than what Pacioretty hooping for either by way of term or dollar.

With that being said, (and me already far past the point of no return with my speculations) maybe the new rep looks around and goes back to Pacioretty and says your age and situation maybe you need to temper your expectations on what your next salary should be, and the payday you thought was coming may not be quite as large?

So, Pacioretty says he wants to stay, does he adjust his expectations to stay?

I just see the hawks and their resigns are their priority and maybe they are not in the one year rental mode either, despite the possible win now pressure.

If they make a new move, for a more impactful player, I suspect they are gonna want so sign him long term right away like they did Anisimov....not rent a guy.

I really hope they don't bring the Bread Man back.

But the on ice product is largely mediocre so how much does that really matter?
- fattybeef

Must admit, a good point. Plenty of stinker games.

I like the idea of you wearing a Stan mask better. Never say never, but there is no way that trade happens. That's a ridiculous rumor.
- HawkintheD

I agree HawknD. It's bizarre bloggers would even print that crap. Absolute non-sense. I was not aware Justin Faulk was this generations bobby orr. The ask for that guy has been laughable. If he was so damn good Carolina wouldn't be trying to dump him off on someone else.

Would I like him? Yes, he would help, especially the PowerPlay, but he'd be just like most of our D-men in the D-zone....not great. Stralman IS a guy who can play blue line back, he would interest me.

Somewhat true, which means for all those pining for Hinostroza they need to take a step back and look at the big picture.

1) Getting rid of Hossa's cap hit was huge.
2) You effectively swapped out Hinostroza (a 6th rd. pick), who at 24, at his size, etc. is more or less at the ceiling of his abilities. In Entwhistle (a 3rd rd. pick) and 18 years old you get a kid who may turn out to have a higher ceiling.
3) Oesterle, at 26 not a kid anymore, not really needed in Rockford and blocking kids that have more upside. Time to let one of the many D-prospects get a shot.
4) removing Oesterle and Hinostroza is another $2.1mil in salary off the roster
- TheTrob

Good post.

I get that this happens a bunch, but it seems to me that it should be illegal to trade a dead contract. It goes around (loophole) the nature if a CBA. The Hawks signed him longterm and he “quit”. Many other examples if this, so please don’t see me going at the Hawks, just the deal.

I also don’t think Kovalchuk should be allowed to “quit” the devils and be allowed to return to the NHL.

That said, I know the rules allow it so suck it up, but just doesn’t seem right.
- Doogs

Pronger was employed by the league office and his contract was still being traded...that pretty much sets the precedent for all other teams.

The idea that the Hawks can go into next years UFA with 20+ mil available could be interesting looking at some of the names possibly available
- PatShart

especially if they don't open the purse quite so far when the resign Schmaltz.

Until I see it with my own eyes, I too like Schmaltz Debrincat and others but there has to be a reasonable number behind the re-ups not simply paying them high salaries before they have completely rounded their games.

In two year DeBrincat poses a problem in that his numbers are basically going to put him in line for win in arbitration, if it comes to that.

Sure I think Nicky Schmaltz is great at taking away pucks using his speed, but I need to see more goals this season before I don't at least attempt to bridge him.
21 goals / 50 plus points is a nice start, but....not enough that I feel comfortable he solidifies the hawk line up in his two way role.

Not to mention, you don’t ever win through free agency. Ever.

The goal of teams should be to lock their own players in. If the Hawks have that much cap space truly available, it’s a problem. Schmaltz, ADB, etc. should all be locked in way before then, and whatever is available should be allocated towards plugging last remaining holes.
- TommyHawk

You do remember Hossa right?

Pronger was employed by the league office and his contract was still being traded...that pretty much sets the precedent for all other teams.
- Ogilthorpe2

yes and he was traded how many times? I think it was a few.

I believe Hossa and Luongo's are the last of the old cba contracts.

especially if they don't open the purse quite so far when the resign Schmaltz.

Until I see it with my own eyes, I too like Schmaltz Debrincat and others but there has to be a reasonable number behind the re-ups not simply paying them high salaries before they have completely rounded their games.

In two year DeBrincat poses a problem in that his numbers are basically going to put him in line for win in arbitration, if it comes to that.

Sure I think Nicky Schmaltz is great at taking away pucks using his speed, but I need to see more goals this season before I don't at least attempt to bridge him.
21 goals / 50 plus points is a nice start, but....not enough that I feel comfortable he solidifies the hawk line up in his two way role.
- wiz1901

playing devil's advocate....would you pay them a combined 13 million a year? I read somewhere that Schmaltz was lining up for a 6.5 AAV and per Powers hasn't started negioating yet.

Somebody has to play in their place. Oesterle was paid league minimum at 650K and 0.5 PPG from Hinostroza isn't bad at 1.5M. With two guys at 650K replacing these two, that saves 0.85M, not 2.15M. And no one playing at league minimum isn't going to give you 0.5 PPG anyway.
- stonefire

Yes, they have to be replaced, but whether its by league minimum guys, or the space is used for someone more expensive at this point it is still usable cap space. No one playing at league minimum will score 0.5 PPG? What do you think Hinostroza was? He was a kid on his entry level contract.

Why would we waste this teams window of 2 to 3 years to win a 4th cup with guys like vermette , Gustafson hamhus,,rutta . Stan needs to go big or go home he has puzted,around for 3 years.

Bring in Pac, Skinner, and s tralman.



Trade anisomov, rutta, Gustafson


Bring up edsel,forsling , , johki,kampf.
- Taylorst1

1) There is a cap limit. So getting Skinner, Pac and Stalman would be unaffordable and the Hawks may not have the assets to acquire them.
2) I am not sure it is the best thing to rush kids to the bigs. Let them learn in Rockford and then earn a spot.

You do remember Hossa right?
- -Doh-

You do remember that the Hawks were an ascending team who made it to the WCF led by a 20-year-old Toews and 19-year-old Kane, and the team was finally beginning to ascend and was a bonafide veteran stud away from being serious contenders? They were like the Cubs in 2014 when they signed Lester to be that piece (even though they won in 2016, they still went from bottom of the league to NLCS in 2015).

You use free agency to shore up what you’re missing as a final piece. You don’t build your team through it.

as long as Seabs goes to Montreal as a place filler for Weber haha
- ikeane

yeah no one is talking about the hold in the hats dee, even with the Mike Reilly (Minn wild) acquisition and the fat money being dole out to some real stiffs there.

Jeff Petry (a player posters here were crying we needed!) at 5.5 mil
Karl Alzner at $ 4.625

I know they have a kid they want to try and work in,Noah Juulsen, but Seabrook looks better than the guys there now.
I know that doesn't get you Pacioretty, but it's a nice sweetener.

I could see Anisimov leaving despite that making a hole.

Just noir sure where he fits with Carolina or Montreal...

Yes, they have to be replaced, but whether its by league minimum guys, or the space is used for someone more expensive at this point it is still usable cap space. No one playing at league minimum will score 0.5 PPG? What do you think Hinostroza was? He was a kid on his entry level contract.
- TheTrob

D. Sikura, come on down!!

In all seriousness, He may be able to have as good or higher point totals that Hino. My concern with him is that he may get knocked off the puck (this is based only on the few games I saw of him in a Hawks sweater). He has really good moves and vision, so I think he can carve out a good role on the team. The key will be how he plays D.

You do remember that the Hawks were an ascending team who made it to the WCF led by a 20-year-old Toews and 19-year-old Kane, and the team was finally beginning to ascend and was a bonafide veteran stud away from being serious contenders? They were like the Cubs in 2014 when they signed Lester to be that piece (even though they won in 2016, they still went from bottom of the league to NLCS in 2015).

You use free agency to shore up what you’re missing as a final piece. You don’t build your team through it.
- TommyHawk

I think we would both agree it takes good drafting supplemented by good trades and free agent signings and sound cap management.

I know I’m in the minority but I would rather have Skinner. He’d be worth a contract extension as well.
- DarthKane

I will say he fits the hawk style better and he looks to be able to play iwtrh Toews or Kane or without, as long as his concussion issues are past him...

I normally don't put a lot of stock in offseason depth charts, but Powers has now repeatedly placed Edjsell as the LW for Kane and Schmaltz in his prognostications. I wasn't upset with the initial look we got with him, but I'm intrigued by what he may become.

Prospect camp and training camp will be very interesting. There are a lot of young guys that have a chance to make the big club (again) and it's always neat to see who puts the best foot forward.

How about Quenville?
- 6628

I just went with Scotty v Phil, as they've both been coaches and execs, and took over stacked teams, then didn't have quite the success upstairs when they were the shot-caller.

By NHL standards most often by 23 you are what you are. Especially for forwards
- Takemedrunkimhome

yeah, but no...

if you were brought in at 20 and at 23 it's your third season, you should start to reach a higher level of impact, but

if you are a guy brought in later, maybe a bigger guy, you need more time.

Dallas has a slew of guys that fit what I am saying, and I don't see them trading our giving up win them because they haven't filled the back of the net....yet.