Another left-handed D? Have you heard any other names being floated out there (specifically forwards)?
- tvetter

... and no. Honestly, haven't heard of any other than Brouwer was maybe going to be an option they looked at.

I think we will see a couple forwards (at least 1 centre) brought in like last year (Jon Mitchell was one they brought in + Franson... think there were a couple others).

LHD, correct. He's a depth guy but big (6'2 / 217 lbs) and relatively mobile for that size.

I know the Hawks liked him a few years back when he was in Edmonton.

According to Jim Matheson (out of Edmonton), Davidson has a 1-year / 1-way contract offer on the table if the Hawks like him. I guess that was more reassurance than most PTO offers he got because he received 10 of them.
- Justin Lowe

Apparently it was the one-way part that he liked because he supposedly had a couple of two-way contract offers as well, according to Matheson back on 8/21. Which is understandable because that's more money regardless of where he ends up.

Makes sense. If Jokiharju and Hillman don’t make the team out of camp they only have 6 NHL d-men.
- DarthKane

Yep - makes total sense.

If Jokiharju is too good to send down, then they can opt to still keep Davidson and look to move Rutta or Murphy at the start of the season.

Apparently it was the one-way part that he liked because he supposedly had a couple of two-way contract offers as well, according to Matheson back on 8/21. Which is understandable because that's more money regardless of where he ends up.
- L_B_R

Makes sense.

He's proven he can play in the NHL and could get a great opp with a shaky Hawks defence set up right now.

I would say this move would suggest that the Hawks aren't looking at Sbisa anymore.

Makes sense.

He's proven he can play in the NHL and could get a great opp with a shaky Hawks defence set up right now.

I would say this move would suggest that the Hawks aren't looking at Sbisa anymore.
- Justin Lowe

Yep - makes total sense.

If Jokiharju is too good to send down, then they can opt to still keep Davidson and look to move Rutta or Murphy at the start of the season.
- Justin Lowe

I feel like one or the other has to be gonzo. Kind of redundant keeping them both. I'd prefer Murphy but well see.

Toews isn't that bad. Not 10.5 million dollars good but still a legit #1 center in the league. He'll be somewhere around 30/30 this year which is fine for what he brings.

Saad is a top line player. Maybe 1b if you're going to stretch but aside from last years aberration 50 points is a top line player.

Keith is still a number one defender. You pair him with anyone not named Jordan Osterle and he will be fine. I think hes +50 points this year.

Debrincat cant hit a sophomore slump and if they get 30/30 out of Schmaltz they won't be terrible.

I'd say around 90ish points this year. That can either be slogging it out for the 8th seed or a handful of points out of a playoff spot. I think this year is going to be kind of screwy and the bottom feeders wont be as horrific as they have been and you'll see a tighter grouping between with the bottom 3 seeds and 3 teams just below the cut off.
- fattybeef

I understand what Toews does, but this year he has to produce offensively. I don't care how many faceoffs he wins, or what have you....this team is going to lack scoring and he has to contribute. If he duplicates the previous 2 years, the Hawks would be fools NOT to shop him at the trade deadline (if they are out of it) or next summer.


Keith? Debatable. He was dominated as badly by Johansson (spell) as Toews was in the Nashville series. With his knee and speed still a factor, the NHL cracking down on stick work, Keith's lack of physicality is an issue. His best asset has always been his speed.


Agreed on DeBrincat. Have to caution here just like last summer with Hartman. The NHL will adjust and DeBrincat has to adapt to the adjustments the league makes.


If everything goes right.....meaning 19/2/7/20 all rebound, 50 starts 60 games, no injury to 88, and 12/8 provide some depth....this team's ceiling IMO is a 6th-8th seed. That's asking a lot out of a lot of guys, and we still have NO clue when CC will be right.....if ever.

Makes sense.

He's proven he can play in the NHL and could get a great opp with a shaky Hawks defence set up right now.

I would say this move would suggest that the Hawks aren't looking at Sbisa anymore.
- Justin Lowe

Good they're not looking at Sbisa, though Davidson is kind of a meh 6/7 guy at best so far in his career.

Yep - makes total sense.

If Jokiharju is too good to send down, then they can opt to still keep Davidson and look to move Rutta or Murphy at the start of the season.
- Justin Lowe

I really don't know anything about Davidson. I assume he's a bottom pairing/7th D-man player. I looked up his (basic, because I'm not LBR) stats, and he seems like he's an ok possession player with almost 50% DZS. You noted that his pretty mobile for his size, is he a stay at home type, or will he get caught pinching? He doesn't seem to have a lot of hits considering his size/mobility with only 229 in 152 games.

I feel like one or the other has to be gonzo. Kind of redundant keeping them both. I'd prefer Murphy but well see.
- fattybeef

I'm not sure how it's redundant to keep both when they're 2 of the 3 NHL ready RDs in the Hawks org. Unless Jokiharju is absolutely ready and/or one of the many many LDs can play well on the right, they need both Murphy and Rutta just to fill out a defense period.

Can't remember where it was, but someone on the team (might have been a coach) said about Kunitz, "he brings cup winning experience". I think we can all admit, that is not something this team lack.

I know they can't do it for obvious reasons, but for them to say anything other than "we signed him so it looked like we actually tried to improve the team, but struck out on the guys we wanted" is BS.

This is also why I didn't understand the interest in Brouwer. If you are going to sign a free agent, sign ones that actually do something better than what you have on the team. I don't see anything that Brouwer can do (right now) that Hayden, Martinsen, or Kunitz can't.
- Chunk

Agreed. This team has plenty of cup winning "experience" WEll said.

The Kunitz signing makes no sense to me. A local guy who wants 1 last year in the league has been tried and failed with Campbell and Sharp.

I agree on Brouwer. I would prefer they play kids and find out what they have then patch in washed up, injury prone veterans.

I can't stand the band aid approach by teams. The Ward signing was their most important because they need somebody they can rely on. Forsberg isnt' it. I get that. I think it's hilarious they gave him a NTC but that's Stan's MO.

The biggest story of camp will be the health of CC. If he still isn't right they are in deep, deep trouble.

I feel like one or the other has to be gonzo. Kind of redundant keeping them both. I'd prefer Murphy but well see.
- fattybeef

Id keep Rutta

Murphy is a steaming pile of crap. I know he's the infamous Captain America from the worlds of years past, but for all that....he looks horrid on the ice.

The fact they traded Hammer for this kid......I need somebody to explain how that makes any sense. Think it's a coincidence the year they deal their best PURE defensemen, that whole unit goes to hell? I think not.

I really don't know anything about Davidson. I assume he's a bottom pairing/7th D-man player. I looked up his (basic, because I'm not LBR) stats, and he seems like he's an ok possession player with almost 50% DZS. You noted that his pretty mobile for his size, is he a stay at home type, or will he get caught pinching? He doesn't seem to have a lot of hits considering his size/mobility with only 229 in 152 games.
- tvetter

50% is kind of two-zone split but his zone deployment was fairly even - 31.82% OZ, 33.63% DZ, and 34.55% NZ and more on the fly than faceoff starts. Middle tier quality of comp but bottom pair TOI; some time on the PK, not great offensive mirco stats or production - likely means he's considered more defensive/stay-at-home kind of guy.

Id keep Rutta

Murphy is a steaming pile of crap. I know he's the infamous Captain America from the worlds of years past, but for all that....he looks horrid on the ice.

The fact they traded Hammer for this kid......I need somebody to explain how that makes any sense. Think it's a coincidence the year they deal their best PURE defensemen, that whole unit goes to hell? I think not.
- SteveRain

Rutta or Murphy, I really don't care, just want one of them to play well.....okay, how about average. Push comes to shove, Murphy is a little bigger and 3 years younger. If you are going to Rebuild, the 25 year old d-man may be better to keep than the 28 year old one.

Speaking of a tear down/rebuild, this isn't like Baseball or Basketball where you can just tank and think that in 3-4 years you will accumulate enough talent and be competitive again. Because of development time, cap constraints and a bunch of different variables, Rebuilding in the NHL is a whole lot tougher than people make it out to be. How are all those top picks working out for EDM? How about BUF? NYI?, etc. Heck you could name a whole bunch of teams that have tried (sometimes multiple times) and failed. It takes a certain amount of good drafting, good development, good timing, good coaching and some luck thrown into the mix to catch that lightning in a bottle. On top of it all to do it while still answering to a fan-base that will not necessarily stomach a rebuild is another factor.

I smell a trade or two coming soon involving young D guys.

https://www.easports.com/...-19-player-ratings-top-50

Kane #8 Overall at 91 rating
Toews #50 overall at 87 rating
- EnzoD

While I think the ratings are about right, I think Toews should be very highly ranked on everything but shooting. At 10.5 AAV, he should do everything he does AND score 70+ points per 82 games. His puck possession numbers are great. His defense is great. His faceoff percentage is great. His leadership is great. He's very good on the PK. He can fight if needed (not my preference). His shooting percentage and point production has been down the last 3 years, but I wonder how much of that is people not finishing, or giving him a good pass when he's in position to score. I would like to see Saad/Toews/Sikura (if he's ready), and see what 19 can do with 2 top 6 caliber players.

That being said, I also hope he comes back stronger this year. I know last summer he said he was trying to get faster, and I think the loss of muscle contributed to his weak play last year. I think if he bulks up a little this off season, the falling down when exposed to a light breeze will stop, and we can see the Toews of a few years ago.

I smell a trade or two coming soon involving young D guys.
- Return of the Roar

I agree. It would be assured if they signed him to a contract, but the fact that he had 10 PTO offers, and signed with us, to me, means he's going to make the team.
Once he does, someone is gone.

Brandon Davidson being brought into Chicago on a PTO.

There's our first one ladies and gentlemen.
- Justin Lowe

BTW... I fully expect Kane to give up #88 for Davidson if he makes the team. It’s the right thing to do.

Davidson sucks. He is even worse than Manning.

BTW... I fully expect Kane to give up #88 for Davidson if he makes the team. It’s the right thing to do.
- DarthKane

Ha. Nice. Forgot he wore #88 as well.

Id keep Rutta

Murphy is a steaming pile of crap. I know he's the infamous Captain America from the worlds of years past, but for all that....he looks horrid on the ice.

The fact they traded Hammer for this kid......I need somebody to explain how that makes any sense. Think it's a coincidence the year they deal their best PURE defensemen, that whole unit goes to hell? I think not.
- SteveRain

But you forgot to mention that Hjalmarsson was traded at just the right time. He played in only 48 games - and sat out injured a few times during the season.

You like to think of what he was 4 years ago - but he is no longer that. He was overused and burned out during the 2015 cup run. He will never return to that form again.

So just let it go

Davidson sucks. He is even worse than Manning.
- Elbows15

Well aren’t you just a ray of (frank)ing sunshine

Hiya Nester. Good evening.

*NEW* blog up: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=94509