Halfway to 50.

I think i just mentally believe he's older because he's been around a while. Didnt he come in as an 18yr old?
- BlazinMike

This.

This was a fun blog to read.

If reality is anything like Justin has for this year, I can't see them having Rutta be a 7th dman for 2M+.

Landeskog? Really? I feel like he's so old.
- BlazinMike

He was 21 about to be 22 when he signed his current contract, though.

Landeskog 118 GP, 2222 min
31 G, 38 A, 69 P, 0.58 PPG

Schmaltz 139 GP, 2326 min
27 G, 53 A, 80 P, 0.58 PPG

Darth, I assume your red font got messed up when you said the Hawks should trade for Sam Gagner at $3.1mil for 2 years??

Ya...he's played 7 seasons. He's clearly on the wrong side of 24 and his career is going downhill.
- DarthKane

Thats what Im sayin, surprised he wasnt bought out

He was 21 about to be 22 when he signed his current contract, though.

Landeskog 118 GP, 2222 min
31 G, 38 A, 69 P, 0.58 PPG

Schmaltz 139 GP, 2326 min
27 G, 53 A, 80 P, 0.58 PPG
- L_B_R

Interesting. He (landeskog) seemed like he took a few years to bloom a bit. I remember him being meh for a while until he started being boarderline poophead and somewhat effective

Darth, I assume your red font got messed up when you said the Hawks should trade for Sam Gagner at $3.1mil for 2 years??
- EnzoD

Nope....no red font (yes, I know that's shocking).

Gagner and Pageau were just a couple of examples. I don't see the Hawks parting with the assets required to acquire a true top 6 forward. So they would be looking at the next tier of trade options...Gagner and Pageau. Maybe these guys are not ideal, but what happens if Sikura, Ejdsell, Kahun, and Hayden are all not NHL ready? Who is the team left with? Even if only 2 of those guys are NHL ready the roster is still lacking.

We paid for that mistake for years as it was essentially the start of our Cap woes.
- 67hawks

I heard a couple of years ago, the day those QOs were supposed to go out, Tallon was out sick. If true, either he failed to charge someone with doing it, or someone failed to do it. Water under the bridge, but not something that's ever been publicized (if true—and it might be)

Nope....no red font (yes, I know that's shocking).

Gagner and Pageau were just a couple of examples. I don't see the Hawks parting with the assets required to acquire a true top 6 forward. So they would be looking at the next tier of trade options...Gagner and Pageau. Maybe these guys are not ideal, but what happens if Sikura, Ejdsell, Kahun, and Hayden are all not NHL ready? Who is the team left with? Even if only 2 of those guys are NHL ready the roster is still lacking.
- DarthKane

I like Pageau bc he is a gritty player with good speed and can play center. Gagner is a slow, small and perimeter player....you must've recently re-watched the game in 2012 when he put up 8 points against the Hawks

He was 21 about to be 22 when he signed his current contract, though.

Landeskog 118 GP, 2222 min
31 G, 38 A, 69 P, 0.58 PPG

Schmaltz 139 GP, 2326 min
27 G, 53 A, 80 P, 0.58 PPG
- L_B_R

Schmaltz played a lot of those minutes with a guy named Kane. Something to consider.

Schmaltz played a lot of those minutes with a guy named Kane. Something to consider.
- John Jaeckel

A good agent will just say that shows the Hawks see Schmaltz as a top 6 center that works with their best offensive player.

Look to what Larkin gets this summer as Schmaltz will get something in that neighborhood - they have a lot of similarities in age, PPG, position, importance to team, and share an agent.

Chances are that Schmaltz won't sign a deal until into the year or next summer, banking on himself to perform even better and get more money.

Schmaltz played a lot of those minutes with a guy named Kane. Something to consider.
- John Jaeckel

Hence the reason why IMO I wouldn't give Schmaltz a long term deal or $5.5-6M per. He's a nice player, but I need to see a lot more from him for that type of coin. I'd do a 2-3 year bridge for $4M, but not higher than that.

The problem I see with Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane is it doesn't maximize Kane's playmaking ability because neither Schmaltz or Anisimov is a prolific goalscorer. Schmaltz made strides is shooting more as the season went on but is still more of a distributer than sniper and Anisimov is a garbage goal guy off rebounds and tips. Kane does well with a sniper on his line and DeBrincat is that.
- EbonyRaptor

I would have to agree with this. If Schmaltz is moved to wing and Anisimov is still a Hawk, I would consider this a top 6 option:

Saad - Toews - Schmaltz
DeBrincat - Anisimov - Kane

That 2nd line is similar to the Panarin, Anisimov, Kane line the Hawks had for 2 years. As you pointed out earlier, ER, DeBrincat is not at the same level as Panarin but they are both snipers and with great hockey IQ.

Then that 1st line is similar to the Schmaltz, Toews, Panik line two seasons ago that was fairly productive. Swap out Panik for Saad who is much better anyway in all facets of the game. Saad and Toews need a playmaking puck distributor on their line and Schmaltz is the next best guy after Kane.

Nope. On the bright side the draft is in Vancouver next year and I should be able to make it.
- DarthKane

Darth, I fully expect you to rush the stage when it's the Hawks turn to announce their #1 draft pick, rip the mic out of Bowman's hands (or whoever the GM may be next summer if Stan is canned), and just announce who you want the Hawks to pick first instead.

With the draft in Vancouver next year and the front runner for #1 overall pick being Jack Hughes, you'd have to wonder if the Canucks are strategizing early on different scenarios to get that top pick so they can have both Jack and Quinn. That would be a great way to reinvigorate their team and fan base after some tough seasons lately.

I don't think the question is if Schmaltz is a W or C, I think it is just that he can play both. I think the #1 reason he moved to wing last season was to move AA up and out of the 3rd line where he was failing to thrive with the defensive assignment. Schmaltz seems like he is on the cusp of moving out the shadow of his linemates with some of the plays he made, especially beating defenders 1 on 1 like he did at times. I think he will get some credit for just how good he is as he continues to shoot more and play with confidence.

Debrincat showed he is more than a shooter. I know everyone talks about his great shot, but the kid made some fantastic passes and he seems to think the game at a high level like Kane/Toews on the ice. I think this kid could play on either wing on any of the top 3 lines and have success. He had a real positive impact on his linemates all year. I think his goal total could really depend on his icetime and PP time this year. If they find him a spot to shoot from on the 1st (preferably) or 2nd PP unit, he can snipe some goals.
- breadbag

Great post. Agree on both of your points on Schmaltz and DeBrincat.

i think it's going to take a Top 5 Draft pick next year, a top D/F UFA signing, and a Seabrook buyout to get the Hawks back into contention within the next 3 years. You just look at the rosters in the Central Division alone that the Hawks have to matchup with 5x a year in STL, NSH, and WPG, and it's a prayer to think the Hawks can be ahead of them in the division. You add arguably the best player in the world on Colorado in Mackinnon with his "Robin" in Rantanen, and Colorado is probably ahead of the Hawks too. Hawks, at best, are a wild card team...if all those things you mentioned go right.
- EnzoD

I agree here. Not only his is contract terrible...but he is blocking a younger guy from playing and gaining valuable experience. The Hawks won't do that, buy him out, but they should if they want to get better.

Schmaltz played a lot of those minutes with a guy named Kane. Something to consider.
- John Jaeckel

that deal was signed when the cap was 20% less. At times you need to gamble and pay a guy long term that is getting better and hope it continues. Nick is also pretty solid on D and is a great skater. his only weakness is face-offs and of all important things in hockey that is probably the easiest to work on.

Nope....no red font (yes, I know that's shocking).

Gagner and Pageau were just a couple of examples. I don't see the Hawks parting with the assets required to acquire a true top 6 forward. So they would be looking at the next tier of trade options...Gagner and Pageau. Maybe these guys are not ideal, but what happens if Sikura, Ejdsell, Kahun, and Hayden are all not NHL ready? Who is the team left with? Even if only 2 of those guys are NHL ready the roster is still lacking.
- DarthKane

This fits one of the prevailing narratives that the Hawks are not looking to get locked into trading for or signing players for neither high AAV nor term. They may also not be fond about icing a lot of rookies next season. Instead, pursue experienced NHLers who are affordable and willing to sign for one year so that they're off the books a year from now.

Such veterans aren't going to be high end but they're not necessarily the bottom of the barrel either, especially if they're considered as merely stop-gap options for 2018-19 who can also bring additional leadership and mentorship to the youngsters.

The problem I see with Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane is it doesn't maximize Kane's playmaking ability because neither Schmaltz or Anisimov is a prolific goalscorer. Schmaltz made strides is shooting more as the season went on but is still more of a distributer than sniper and Anisimov is a garbage goal guy off rebounds and tips. Kane does well with a sniper on his line and DeBrincat is that.
- EbonyRaptor

Wasnt Kane a pass first guy at first...then over time he became much more of a scorer? maybe Kane can push Schmaltz to be more of a scorer this year - he certainly seemed very apprehensive to shoot the puck last year

Problem I see is the division isn't getting any easier with Nashville, Winnipeg, and St. Louis looking to be at the top. Minnesota and Chicago fighting to get in the wildcard talk and teams like Colorado and Dallas improving and knocking on the door too.

Sometimes its not what we are doing but what are we doing in relation to these other teams in the division? Are we improving at a better pace than the other teams?

A possible option for middle 6 LW is Fortin. He's far from a lock but you have to love the renewed energy he brought to his 3rd prospect camp and desire to impress Hawks brass again. I can see him being a finalist to break the lineup this fall. Let's say he does earn a spot, a possible lineup could be:

Saad - Toews - Sikura
DeBrincat - Schmaltz - Kane
Fortin - Anisimov - Hayden
Kunitz - Kruger - Martinsen

One or two blogs ago, I remember someone else proposing that Toews have DeBrincat and Sikura as his linemates. If that's the case:

DeBrincat - Toews - Sikura
Saad - Schmaltz - Kane
Fortin - Anisimov - Hayden
Kunitz - Kruger - Martinsen

Not sure how that would play out, though, having Toews without a power winger as one of his linemates.

Justin if hawks. Go into next season with the projected line up you came up with hawks will be picking in top ten again. I wouldn't give smaltz 6 for 6 until he can prove he can play center and be a 200ft player win faceoffs consistently. I would be open to trading dcat or sikrua for top 4 dman or 2nd line center.

Interesting. He (landeskog) seemed like he took a few years to bloom a bit. I remember him being meh for a while until he started being boarderline poophead and somewhat effective
- BlazinMike

Opposite of Toews. He was good till he became a borderline poophead.

Talon was not fired for the Hossa contract. One of the reasons he was "reassigned" was because he missed the filing deadline for qualifying offers to Versteeg, Bickell, Cam Barker, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Troy Brouwer, Aaron Johnson and Corey Crawford, which in effect made them UFA's. They subsequently resigned all of the players, but the contracts to Versteeg and Barker wound up at 3 years $9.25 mil, which was considered to be higher than market value and inflated because they were UFA's instead of RFA's.
- TheTrob

Even though it was the assistant gms job to turn those in. And that was Mr. Bowman's job at the time.

Problem I see is the division isn't getting any easier with Nashville, Winnipeg, and St. Louis looking to be at the top. Minnesota and Chicago fighting to get in the wildcard talk and teams like Colorado and Dallas improving and knocking on the door too.

Sometimes its not what we are doing but what are we doing in relation to these other teams in the division? Are we improving at a better pace than the other teams?
- BlackhawkMike

Every mgt around the league is going to try to pull a Las Vegas attitude. The decimated dispirited Hawks really have their work cut out for them.