Spot on analysts of of our defense stands as of now. I'll be curious to see which ones the Hawks pin point and decide to keep and which ones they float out there for a potential or established Top 6 forward.

Idk why but I kinda get the feeling that Boqvist might be the one that they end up trading in the long run. His concussion history and the certain hype that would surround him when called up makes for a recipe of potential disaster IMO. Where as Joki, Beaudin, Mitchell, and Carlsson (the four I think are most likely to make up our Top 4) were all later picks that don't/won't have nearly as much hype surrounding them and thus can slide into the team much easier and grow into their own very well. Better make sure you know what you have in all those guys and especially Boqvist with his high ceiling before you trade him though. Last thing we need is like a reverse EDM-NJ trade where we trade the stud thinking we're getting an awesome forward back who's meh while Boqvist goes on to win a Norris lol
- Savetheembers33

I've had a similar feeling as well that Boqvist could end up being the odd one out. The numbers game (i.e. not enough slots to give to all of the D prospects who could hit their potential or at least prove to be serviceable everyday NHLers) could have any of them be trade bait. Boqvist could be because he could fetch a high return yet not handcuff the Hawks since Forsling, Jokiharju, Beaudin, and Mitchell are not consolation prizes. Having any of those in your top 3 is still really good.

Beaudin - Jokiharju
Hillman - Mitchell
Forsling - Carlsson
Krys

(Carlsson is LH but playing RHD in Rockford)

Again, this doesn't take into account future drafts, trades, and signings plus the fact that Keith and Seabrook are likely to play out their contracts as Blackhawks with Keith possibly re-upping a few more years at hopefully a hometown discount (thinking back on his comments about wanting to play until he's 45).

Whether Boqvist or another D prospect, the Hawks could do a Jones for Johansen swap to shore up on top 6 forward or even a Weber for Subban swap to acquire a different type of blueliner, particularly a shutdown defender.

Spot on analysts of of our defense stands as of now. I'll be curious to see which ones the Hawks pin point and decide to keep and which ones they float out there for a potential or established Top 6 forward.

Idk why but I kinda get the feeling that Boqvist might be the one that they end up trading in the long run. His concussion history and the certain hype that would surround him when called up makes for a recipe of potential disaster IMO. Where as Joki, Beaudin, Mitchell, and Carlsson (the four I think are most likely to make up our Top 4) were all later picks that don't/won't have nearly as much hype surrounding them and thus can slide into the team much easier and grow into their own very well. Better make sure you know what you have in all those guys and especially Boqvist with his high ceiling before you trade him though. Last thing we need is like a reverse EDM-NJ trade where we trade the stud thinking we're getting an awesome forward back who's meh while Boqvist goes on to win a Norris lol
- Savetheembers33

Whaaat? Boqvist is the Hawks best D prospect. There are not 4 other D ahead of him - in fact there is not one ahead of him.

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."- The Who
- I Am The Breadman

“ The King is Dead. Long Live the King.”

+30 SOG is unacceptable and unjustifiable in any system. Crawford is playing out of his mind and every hockey player says "oh the team around me is doing great gee doncha know".

That STL game was utterly dreadful but to give up + 30 against the Kings and then get railed by Minnesota is no bueno.

The games this weekend are going to be rough.
- fattybeef

As I said Crow is making the saves but the Hawks are limiting the type of chances he is facing. Hard to limit any team to 15 to 25 shots for a game. If the Hawks give up 30 shots but no break-aways, odd-man breaks, low-down cross-ice tap-ins I’ll take it.

Saw this comment elsewhere, would be pretty awesome
if it happened.

Here is my crazy proposal, Nylander and Matthews for McDavid. Would solidify 2 lines for the Oil while McDavid would be a god in T.O. Toronto would probably win the cup this year with this trade and McDavid would get them 150 pts with that supporting cast.

This has been my though for awhile now with Bowman stocking the cupboard with D prospects and teams ALWAYS looking to upgrade there to get it.
- Savetheembers33

The Hawks have not been drafting D-Men by design. Quite the opposite - the Hawks have been clearly drafting the player they believe is the best player available, with the highest up-side, whether D-Man or Forward.

Saw this comment elsewhere, would be pretty awesome
if it happened.

Here is my crazy proposal, Nylander and Matthews for McDavid. Would solidify 2 lines for the Oil while McDavid would be a god in T.O. Toronto would probably win the cup this year with this trade and McDavid would get them 150 pts with that supporting cast.
- gazza53

Before the Oilers do this they better ensure that the Municipal and Provincial Governments have tabled the “Report Concerning the Re-Building of Downtown Edmonton.”

Before the Oilers do this they better ensure that the Municipal and Provincial Governments have tabled the “Report Concerning the Re-Building of Downtown Edmonton.”
- Z3Hawk

Maybe one more good asset will turn the political table

Whatever works to make it happen so teams don't get screwed with bad contracts that will become more frequent with the way players are wanting more and more money. Look at Tom Wilson's contract for a PERFECT example of that and how that is gonna screw the caps over.

And while we're at it, can we remove the retired players salary counting again the cap as well. It's a joke that the Yotes are a dumping ground for non-retired "retired" players to hit the cap floor. Granted, it helped us out with the Hossa contract at the expense of Hino but it would have been much better to let him retire as a Hawk and walk away with some grace instead of being traded to another team and never playing for them.
- Savetheembers33

I bet Hossa gets a one day contract with the hawks after his current contract expires so that he can retire as a hawk.

Chia Pet taking the heat off me

Have the best offensive player in the world, hire a coach known for sucking the life out of his offenses

I bet Hossa gets a one day contract with the hawks after his current contract expires so that he can retire as a hawk.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

And get his number retired.

And get his number retired.
- Flying Puck

Not sure Hossa is blackhawks number retirement category. Great all around player here, but there a few more in line well ahead of him that should have their numbers retired first.

I would retire Chelios, Keith, Larmer, and Roenick before considering retiring Hossa

Great contributor when here, but 415 pts in 534 games isnt exactly jersey retirement worthy

Not sure Hossa is blackhawks number retirement category. Great all around player here, but there a few more in line well ahead of him that should have their numbers retired first.

I would retire Chelios, Keith, Larmer, and Roenick before considering retiring Hossa

Great contributor when here, but 415 pts in 534 games isnt exactly jersey retirement worthy
- Stan_Bowman

Would have to agree. Not sure if 81 gets retired. The next numbers to be retired are likely 2, 7, 19, and 88. 7 for both Chelios and Seabrook like 3 for Magnuson and Pilote. 2 for Mironov and Quint. I mean, for Keith.

Don't know if 27 or 28 will ever be retired for Roenick and Larmer. One would think they would have done it by now. Could be wrong but don't think Savard was that long retired before 18 went to the rafters.

Not sure Hossa is blackhawks number retirement category. Great all around player here, but there a few more in line well ahead of him that should have their numbers retired first.

I would retire Chelios, Keith, Larmer, and Roenick before considering retiring Hossa

Great contributor when here, but 415 pts in 534 games isnt exactly jersey retirement worthy
- Stan_Bowman

Strongly disagree! 63 points per 82 games played, while also playing Selke Caliber defense. I think it was PatShart who said last year that Hossa is calling Toews for half of his $10.5mil paycheck LOL. No Hossa, ZERO cups. Keith's #2 will for sure be retired.

Not sure Hossa is blackhawks number retirement category. Great all around player here, but there a few more in line well ahead of him that should have their numbers retired first.

I would retire Chelios, Keith, Larmer, and Roenick before considering retiring Hossa

Great contributor when here, but 415 pts in 534 games isnt exactly jersey retirement worthy
- Stan_Bowman

Larmer + Chelios + Roenick = 0 cups

Larmer + Chelios + Roenick = 0 cups
- Flying Puck

Not sure Hossa is blackhawks number retirement category. Great all around player here, but there a few more in line well ahead of him that should have their numbers retired first.

I would retire Chelios, Keith, Larmer, and Roenick before considering retiring Hossa

Great contributor when here, but 415 pts in 534 games isnt exactly jersey retirement worthy
- Stan_Bowman

With all due respect, Chelios, Larmer and Roenick won exactly ZERO Stanley Cups in Chicago. If my math is correct, Hossa was significantly involved in 3 SCs. He's much more important to the franchise than anyone other than Hull, Hall, Mikita, Toews & Kane (looking only at the modern era).

With all due respect, Chelios, Larmer and Roenick won exactly ZERO Stanley Cups in Chicago. If my math is correct, Hossa was significantly involved in 3 SCs. He's much more important to the franchise than anyone other than Hull, Hall, Mikita, Toews & Kane (looking only at the modern era).
- scottak

So its their fault they ran into a Mario Lemieux in his prime team when he was scoring over 2 ppg? Or that we traded arguably the best goalie ever away in Hasek who could probably helped win a cup or two

Larmer + Chelios + Roenick = 0 cups
- Flying Puck

Just retire 5 for Rundblad and be done with it. He won a Cup!

So its their fault they ran into a Mario Lemieux in his prime team when he was scoring over 2 ppg? Or that we traded arguably the best goalie ever away in Hasek who could probably helped win a cup or two
- Stan_Bowman

But it's not Hossa's fault that they didn't - and it's significantly due to his contributions that his Hawks teams won three.

Hossa (IMO) is a lock to be inducted into the HOF - along with Kane, Toews, and Keith. Only Chelios of the three mentioned (Roenick and Larmer) is so enshrined. Perhaps the other two should be - perhaps there is politics involved with the selection process - but still - they aren't.

Certainly a case could be made for all four, but Chelios and Hossa should have their uniform numbers retired before Roenick and Larmer.

So its their fault they ran into a Mario Lemieux in his prime team when he was scoring over 2 ppg? Or that we traded arguably the best goalie ever away in Hasek who could probably helped win a cup or two
- Stan_Bowman

Funny coming from the guy who overpays players by 50% due to winning cups!!

So its their fault they ran into a Mario Lemieux in his prime team when he was scoring over 2 ppg? Or that we traded arguably the best goalie ever away in Hasek who could probably helped win a cup or two
- Stan_Bowman

Come on the goalie the Hawks kept, Belfour, to trade Hasek wasn't exactly chopped liver. And if you were a GM, ummm sorry, would you have kept the prospect who consistantly turned his back to the shooter, threw his stick away and made many other unorthodox moves or would you have kept the other guy who played the game how 99.99999% of goalies approach the game? In hindsight Hasek was incredible but few would have predicted he'd be as successful as he turned out to be.

Except for the exceptional players, I prefer that teams honour players instead of retiring numbers. All the names you mention including Hossa, Kane and Toews could be honoured.

Strongly disagree! 63 points per 82 games played, while also playing Selke Caliber defense. I think it was PatShart who said last year that Hossa is calling Toews for half of his $10.5mil paycheck LOL. No Hossa, ZERO cups. Keith's #2 will for sure be retired.
- EnzoD

Golden era of hockey for the Hawks..I think the following players have their numbers retired... Keith, Hjalmarsson, Seabrook, Sharp, Toews, Hossa, Kane...maybe crawford. Would not surprise me one bit to see all of those guys going up in the rafters. Not saying any should or shouldn't. Just what I suspect.

Just retire 5 for Rundblad and be done with it. He won a Cup!
- AEL_Fox

BIG difference. Rundblad was on a team that won a Cup. Hossa was a primary force in his team winning a Cup, X3.

Chia Pet taking the heat off me

Have the best offensive player in the world, hire a coach known for sucking the life out of his offenses
- Stan_Bowman

Seguin had arguably the best year of his career last year under Hitch.........