Any indicator from Colliton on what the lines will look like tomorrow night??
- EnzoD

None, although he was asked specifically about putting DBC-Strome-Kane together at some point and said "it could happen."

Bowman basically came out and said 3 times today that it wasn't really anything they weren't happy about with Schmaltz just that they wanted to add two players and have to give an asset to get two.
- breadbag

Really? What would you expect Bowman to say right after making a trade with one of his favourite trade partners?

The same things were said about TT. Looks like he grew out of it to me. These two will help the Hawks get a better draft position. Its a tank move. The GM has been after Schmaltz for over a year. Fine. Trade Schmaltz. Get something more useful instead of selling low on a guy. draft picks would have been a far better return
- Elbows15

The talk of TT becoming committed and developing so much after being traded has got to stop. He went from being an average player with potential to an average player without potential. He is on pace for a goal total in the teens on a team where he is high-lighted.

The Schmaltz trade is a great trade. Just Schmaltz leaving is addition by subtraction. That we got a former 3 and former 12 in return is fantastic. Schmaltz will flounder even more in the dessert but thankfully I will only have to watch him when we play the Coyotes.

The talk of TT becoming committed and developing so much after being traded has got to stop. He went from being an average player with potential to an average player without potential. He is on pace for a goal total in the teens on a team where he is high-lighted.

The Schmaltz trade is a great trade. Just Schmaltz leaving is addition by subtraction. That we got a former 3 and former 12 in return is fantastic. Schmaltz will flounder even more in the dessert but thankfully I will only have to watch him when we play the Coyotes.
- Z3Hawk

If you think Schmaltz leaving is addition by subtraction you truly have no grasp on evaluating a player.

If you think Schmaltz leaving is addition by subtraction you truly have no grasp on evaluating a player.
- ObeseOprah

-Schmaltz
+Strome
+Perlini

Addition by subtraction! LOL

None, although he was asked specifically about putting DBC-Strome-Kane together at some point and said "it could happen."
- pdx2ord

For a team that is so deficient in quality talent, it will be a much different looking Top 6 forwards tomorrow. Vegas is playing more like the Western Conference Champs the last 2 weeks so another tough game....

I’d start like this....


Saad-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Perlini
Kahun-Anisimov-Kampf
Hayden-Kruger-Martinsen

If you think Schmaltz leaving is addition by subtraction you truly have no grasp on evaluating a player.
- ObeseOprah

Obese One you clearly don’t know what “addition by subtraction” means. Here’s an example. You have a grove of Elm Trees. One of the Elm Trees is sickly and gets attacked by Dutch Elm Disease and has to be removed before the Disease spreads. Guess which Elm Tree was Schmaltz?

If you think Schmaltz leaving is addition by subtraction you truly have no grasp on evaluating a player.
- ObeseOprah

I would like to chime in on the Schmaltz debate.

Speaking to one of my Hawks sources, Schmaltz was thrown into the NHL fire way too soon. He needed at least two years of AHL seasoning - with a huge emphasis of building upper body strength to handle center responsibilities in the NHL. The fact that Q kept pulling him out of the middle spoke volumes on this point.

Their lack of top 6 centers made them rush him along - and overall hurting his development. And it is very possible the time he missed over the past two years will keep him permanently underdeveloped. This is time he can't make up in the NHL going forward.

And the opinion I got was this was not a Q blunder, or a Bowman blunder, but an organizational one - where both coach and upper management did not listen to their people below them. And this is not lost on the Schmaltz family - or their expectations for his next contract.

I would like to chime in on the Schmaltz debate.

Speaking to one of my Hawks sources, Schmaltz was thrown into the NHL fire way too soon. He needed at least two years of AHL seasoning - with a huge emphasis of building upper body strength to handle center responsibilities in the NHL. The fact that Q kept pulling him out of the middle spoke volumes on this point.

Their lack of top 6 centers made them rush him along - and overall hurting his development. And it is very possible the time he missed over the past two years will keep him permanently underdeveloped. This is time he can't make up in the NHL going forward.

And the opinion I got was this was not a Q blunder, or a Bowman blunder, but an organizational one - where both coach and upper management did not listen to their people below them. And this is not lost on the Schmaltz family - or their expectations for his next contract.
- dahawks8819

Your theory has some holes in it. Schmaltz was brought up and then sent back down to get his act together and when he was recalled back up he performed. He had a great year last year with high expectations and room to improve , yet he has completely regressed back to the player he seems to be. With this being his contract year he had a choice if he wants that big contract of 7 to 8 million he needs to exceed expectations otherwise he won't be able t to negotiate for anything less than 2.5 to 3 million if he is even worthy of that.

Q may of had his issues however he has more experience in evaluating talent.

I would like to chime in on the Schmaltz debate.

Speaking to one of my Hawks sources, Schmaltz was thrown into the NHL fire way too soon. He needed at least two years of AHL seasoning - with a huge emphasis of building upper body strength to handle center responsibilities in the NHL. The fact that Q kept pulling him out of the middle spoke volumes on this point.

Their lack of top 6 centers made them rush him along - and overall hurting his development. And it is very possible the time he missed over the past two years will keep him permanently underdeveloped. This is time he can't make up in the NHL going forward.

And the opinion I got was this was not a Q blunder, or a Bowman blunder, but an organizational one - where both coach and upper management did not listen to their people below them. And this is not lost on the Schmaltz family - or their expectations for his next contract.
- dahawks8819

I would like to agree with you (your source) as it goes along with my pet theory about most players needing (or at least benefiting from) some decent time in the “A” - that would include the likes of AdB. I’m glad that Sikura is getting experience in Rockford - bring him up here a little late rather than too soon - especially since he’s not going to lead this team to tournament success this season anyways.

But I digress: were promises made to get Schmaltz out of the frozen north University he was at after two years? You don’t want to take a chance losing high draft picks to the absurd four year college rule.

I would like to chime in on the Schmaltz debate.

Speaking to one of my Hawks sources, Schmaltz was thrown into the NHL fire way too soon. He needed at least two years of AHL seasoning - with a huge emphasis of building upper body strength to handle center responsibilities in the NHL. The fact that Q kept pulling him out of the middle spoke volumes on this point.

Their lack of top 6 centers made them rush him along - and overall hurting his development. And it is very possible the time he missed over the past two years will keep him permanently underdeveloped. This is time he can't make up in the NHL going forward.

And the opinion I got was this was not a Q blunder, or a Bowman blunder, but an organizational one - where both coach and upper management did not listen to their people below them. And this is not lost on the Schmaltz family - or their expectations for his next contract.
- dahawks8819

Everyone has sources!

Definitely, Kane thinks chemistry is a big part of the game as well as his game.
- I Am The Breadman

Everytime Kane gets chemistry with a guy they move him off his line to carry toews, and then they trade em....

Low Risk move considering what Schmaltz has done away from Kane this year.......NADA! Add a legit 3rd liner in Perlini (with Top 6 physical skills/potential) and a Lottery Ticket in Strome who gets to play with his BFF and the best American Born Winger in NHL History on his line. Even if Colliton goes with Saad-Cat on Strome's wing, that is lightyears more talent than he's played with in AZ.

The contract aspect is speculation, but I think it's fair to assume that Schmaltz's 50 point season puts a $4mil minimum on his next contract. Perlini shouldn't eclipse $3mil next summer and you get nearly 2 full years for Strome to figure it out on his ELC. If not, more cap flexibility to add an impact player. The potential upside of Strome to fill a glaring organizational need makes me like this trade right now.
- EnzoD

Reporting yesterday, Score guy I think, said he heard his camp was asking for waaaaay more than 3 mil.

Jason covered it perfectly in his blog when he said he wasn't convinced Schmaltz wad a guy the Hawks could win with long term. That is what I saw and thought.

And who knows, its a win if Strome cam contribute something on the PP if nothing else.
- RickJ

If he can win a draw it's a win for us!

I would like to agree with you (your source) as it goes along with my pet theory about most players needing (or at least benefiting from) some decent time in the “A” - that would include the likes of AdB. I’m glad that Sikura is getting experience in Rockford - bring him up here a little late rather than too soon - especially since he’s not going to lead this team to tournament success this season anyways.

But I digress: were promises made to get Schmaltz out of the frozen north University he was at after two years? You don’t want to take a chance losing high draft picks to the absurd four year college rule.
- StLBravesFan

Promises were part of it. He wanted his NHL clock started earlier - and Bowman promised him it would - as long as he performed.

I also asked about his workouts since going pro. I was told he trains like any other player, his frame just didn't add a lot of bulk muscle yet. Some guys are like that - it all depends on metabolism and genetics. I used to weight train - I had no neck and was thick throughout my upper body. There were guys I knew that worked out harder than me, but it didn't show as much.

He may be a late bloomer, or maybe he will be a career 180 pound player - it's hard to say at 22. That's why he should have spent two years in the AHL. His body would have time to be ready for the NHL.

A guy like Saad was physically ready at 19 - Schmatz was not.

And from what I was told - they liked his skills and had a major shortage for play making centers. That's the main reason they rushed him. And hindsight being what it is, some in the front office regret doing so. They may have ruined what he could be.

It is difficult to assess a player in year 2 in the league as many struggle in their sophomore season. Schmaltz will likely be an NHL player for a long time.

But at the likely salary demand that was coming for somebody who is a pass-first perimeter player, I really like the move to bring in one underperformer and one up and comer, both young, and both with some size that may actually be able to hold a puck after taking a check, or go into the dirty areas to win a puck or score a goal. Not sure Schmaltz will ever be that player.

This seems like a very smart calculated risk to take.

Caught some of Bowman's interview on the Score this morning.

He broke down the new guys style of play:

Perlini: fast and uses speed to play a North-South game; good/hard shot and loves to shoot, so he'll be noticeable

Strome: more cerebral; great passer; can go unnoticed, but is setting up plays while flying under the radar

I would like to chime in on the Schmaltz debate.

Speaking to one of my Hawks sources, Schmaltz was thrown into the NHL fire way too soon. He needed at least two years of AHL seasoning - with a huge emphasis of building upper body strength to handle center responsibilities in the NHL. The fact that Q kept pulling him out of the middle spoke volumes on this point.

Their lack of top 6 centers made them rush him along - and overall hurting his development. And it is very possible the time he missed over the past two years will keep him permanently underdeveloped. This is time he can't make up in the NHL going forward.

And the opinion I got was this was not a Q blunder, or a Bowman blunder, but an organizational one - where both coach and upper management did not listen to their people below them. And this is not lost on the Schmaltz family - or their expectations for his next contract.
- dahawks8819

Huh? They going to sue somebody? Wake me up when Schmaltz wins something.
I always pull for guys who grew up playing in the area. But at some point a player has to fit into a salary structure and produce at the NHL level. Europe might not pay as much, but I see that as his best chance for success if he doesn't want to get hit. I'd still like to see him have a nice career, but I don't want to hear parents whining about anything. It's a man's league, grow the (frank) up.

Scary thing about this trade was there were flashes where Schmaltz was a 6mil player. At a young age there were a lot of guys who had issues playing a consistent game night in and night out, look no further than 88. The issue with Schmaltz, in my opinion, was that even though he wasn't all over the stat sheet, it looked as though he was completely uninterested in the game. The effort wasnt there. If you look tired that is different from looking like you were there to get a game check.

I am indifferent on the trade, and would like us to maybe look at one of the other 29 teams in the league as a partner. There is a lot of teams that would have given us more proven players for Schmaltz and that ship has now sailed.

So I just got a delivery at my house and it was this sweater my wife bought for me. She said she got it for "Ugly Xmas Sweater" photos. I looked in the mirror and I asked her why she called it ugly?
- breadbag

Your wife is an Oil fan perhaps?

Scary thing about this trade was there were flashes where Schmaltz was a 6mil player. At a young age there were a lot of guys who had issues playing a consistent game night in and night out, look no further than 88. The issue with Schmaltz, in my opinion, was that even though he wasn't all over the stat sheet, it looked as though he was completely uninterested in the game. The effort wasnt there. If you look tired that is different from looking like you were there to get a game check.

I am indifferent on the trade, and would like us to maybe look at one of the other 29 teams in the league as a partner. There is a lot of teams that would have given us more proven players for Schmaltz and that ship has now sailed.
- nickmo2699

How do you know?

Promises were part of it. He wanted his NHL clock started earlier - and Bowman promised him it would - as long as he performed.

I also asked about his workouts since going pro. I was told he trains like any other player, his frame just didn't add a lot of bulk muscle yet. Some guys are like that - it all depends on metabolism and genetics. I used to weight train - I had no neck and was thick throughout my upper body. There were guys I knew that worked out harder than me, but it didn't show as much.

He may be a late bloomer, or maybe he will be a career 180 pound player - it's hard to say at 22. That's why he should have spent two years in the AHL. His body would have time to be ready for the NHL.

A guy like Saad was physically ready at 19 - Schmatz was not.

And from what I was told - they liked his skills and had a major shortage for play making centers. That's the main reason they rushed him. And hindsight being what it is, some in the front office regret doing so. They may have ruined what he could be.
- dahawks8819

Who cares about your glory years in weight training or making obnoxious excuses.


The bottom line with schmaltz he isn't coming close to expectations and his window to impress and perform has closed .

Schmaltz is not worth the money he is demanding and why should the organization continue to hold out hope for a maybe.

Thank God Stan cut bait.

How do you know?
- Hank3Henshaw

He is a 22 year old who has put up 50+ points in the NHL. I think that is a chip teams would be interested in, especially struggling ones.

Huh? They going to sue somebody? Wake me up when Schmaltz wins something.
I always pull for guys who grew up playing in the area. But at some point a player has to fit into a salary structure and produce at the NHL level. Europe might not pay as much, but I see that as his best chance for success if he doesn't want to get hit. I'd still like to see him have a nice career, but I don't want to hear parents whining about anything. It's a man's league, grow the (frank) up.
- 6628

That's not what I meant.

The family has two sons - kind of in the same boat - both up and down early in their pro careers.

The point is - when he and his agent go to negoitiate, they believe how he was mishandled should not be a punishment against his first real contract.

I absolutely agree with what you are saying - I don't think his parents or agent see it the same way.

And it's probably why he has been banished to the desert - where no one will care how he plays.

Who cares about your glory years in weight training or making obnoxious excuses.


The bottom line with schmaltz he isn't coming close to expectations and his window to impress and perform has closed .

Schmaltz is not worth the money he is demanding and why should the organization continue to hold out hope for a maybe.

Thank God Stan cut bait.
- Taylorst1

Just remember, they put him in the position to fail. He was not physically ready for the NHL - and still isn't. He could use some AHL time in AZ - or else he will most likely have the same problems there.