My sources tell me you're also partial to Chef B's mini ravioli's scratch made and fresh out of the can, and wash it all down with a Yoohoo. They also mentioned some stuff about Schmaltz but I felt this was more important.
- HawkintheD

Oh Dear you have sources too! Everyone has a source! He wouldn't be named 'Bob' would he?

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

Your "theory" about the benefit of playing in the AHL" isn't really a theory, it is a proven fact going back decades. With proper coaches down on the farm, that league produces more good NHL players than any other league in the world.

But as you know, it's all about the money. What player, agent or parent wants the paltry salary that is paid by that league, it is totally insulting? All 21 year old pros should be earning multi millions on long term deals, just ask William Nylander and his daddy.

And part of the problem with these expectations can be traced to GMs like Bowman. He is already dreaming that his problems on D will be fixed next year by Bovqist, Mitchell and the other kid they just drafted.

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?
- Z3Hawk

Addition by subtraction means that the piece you're removing is so bad that by getting rid of it you make the team better. You're essentially saying that Schmaltz was so bad that he made the entire team worse, and by simply removing him we are a better team.

So you're telling me that every ineffective forward on this team (Hayden, Kunitz, Kampf, Fortin, Martinsen, Kruger, Johnson) is better than Schmaltz. A guy who puts up 52 points on one of the worst teams in the league is somehow worse than the guys I mentioned. Guys who would be a revelation if they hit 25 points this year.

Your blind hatred of Schmaltz is so absurd that you think removing one of the more talented players on the team, in a vacuum, makes this team better. You should call up Stan and see if he can bring back Bouma for us, or maybe we can ship Keith's Elm Tree attitude out of town too because he's another possible addition-by-subtraction. What a ridiculous analysis.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there are so many things he could say but he made it quite clear when asked directly about it. I'm not saying Schmaltz couldn't have played better but I don't buy for a minute that they wanted to lose him that badly. He didn't play well enough that the had to keep him. The team is struggling a lot right now and things need to change He is a developing young player with speed and they got a decent return. This was more about getting two guys with talent/potential for one.
- breadbag

A GM who has just traded a player NEVER talks honestly about why the player was traded. NEVER or that person is not a GM for long. Especially when the player is traded to a team you trade with a lot. The proof is in the trade. You don’t trade a player you are happy with and you view as a cornerstone piece moving forward. You trade a player you are not happy with and that you view as expendable. At the end of the day it is all just spin but no matter how you spin it the one fact that is etched in stone is the player got traded.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there are so many things he could say but he made it quite clear when asked directly about it. I'm not saying Schmaltz couldn't have played better but I don't buy for a minute that they wanted to lose him that badly. He didn't play well enough that the had to keep him. The team is struggling a lot right now and things need to change He is a developing young player with speed and they got a decent return. This was more about getting two guys with talent/potential for one.
- breadbag

So do you think Stan took the first offer he got for Nick or did he have the kid on the market for a while after Hockey Ops decided he didn't have a future in Chicago.

I suspect the latter but obviously don't know.

I'm one who is mostly wrong, and my way of thinking might be in an ideal hockey world, but I thought gm and coach work together, along with scouts. I thought the gm works with scouts and they have info around the league on players. Then there are other scouts for drafting, slightly different animal. The coach then sees the lists and says, he would be nice to have. The gm makes it happen. I thought the coach makes suggestions and gm tries to trade for them. When it comes to free agency the coach makes suggestions as well, while managing the cap and rewarding other players. It makes sense to me that they cooperate because the coach has to coach players that they want. If I'm dead wrong, tell me and I will admit I'm wrong. Honestly, I just want to know.
- I Am The Breadman

You're not mostly wrong Breadman. Everyone here is mostly wrong. We just speculate on some little tidbit of information that we heard or read on the internet. We all have some opinion that must be the correct one and anyone that disagrees with us should be banished from the planet or isn't a true Blackhawks fan. I think that the people on here that seem so upset with the Schmaltz trade just bought a Schmaltz Winter Classic jersey this last weekend instead of a Gustafsson or Manning Winter Classic jersey.

To answer your question about scouting, I heard of a new book on NHL Radio. It's called The Art of Scouting or something like that. I haven't read it, but it talks about the life of a scout and what they look for and what they tell management. You can get it at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Hey insiders, any word on any line combos this morning?

Addition by subtraction means that the piece you're removing is so bad that by getting rid of it you make the team better. You're essentially saying that Schmaltz was so bad that he made the entire team worse, and by simply removing him we are a better team.

So you're telling me that every ineffective forward on this team (Hayden, Kunitz, Kampf, Fortin, Martinsen, Kruger, Johnson) is better than Schmaltz. A guy who puts up 52 points on one of the worst teams in the league is somehow worse than the guys I mentioned. Guys who would be a revelation if they hit 25 points this year.

Your blind hatred of Schmaltz is so absurd that you think removing one of the more talented players on the team, in a vacuum, makes this team better. You should call up Stan and see if he can bring back Bouma for us, or maybe we can ship Keith's Elm Tree attitude out of town too because he's another possible addition-by-subtraction. What a ridiculous analysis.
- ObeseOprah

You have to relax Obese One or it is going to get unhealthy. It is just Hawkey Talk after all. Of course Schmaltz’s trade is not just addition by subtraction. The Hawks obviously also get a recent 3 and a recent 12. However, there is also the benefit of getting rid of a player that was a constant source of aggravation. Wouldn’t train, wouldn’t check, wouldn’t shoot, not producing, questionable passion, no indication that will ever be a leader for the next wave, wants big money. Yes not having these issues to worry about any longer is a positive for the team. When Hartman got traded it was similar. Both players where headaches for the team. Trade them - headaches gone.

Knew you’d give an answer just like this because as a person living a fantasy life you are totally predictable. Sorry to tell you but I am actually a Lawyer married to another Lawyer, so your immaturity assertions are like everything else you type - nonsense. Reading you is actually easier than reading a novel. Knew you’d also say the Coyotes were clueless. Priceless.

Hockey Insider Man please tell us all about how you became Hockey Insider Man and your little “sources.” We understand you can’t name them of course. However, you can give characteristics though. Are your “sources” humans or animals or inanimate objects? Or are they just voices that you hear?
- Z3Hawk

One source is a Wirtz family member - not named Rocky.

Another would be considered a scout. And a few in the media - that actually know something about the inner workings of the front office.

And a player's agent - not named Brisson.

These people are various friends of the family - and seen at several events around the area from time to time. I am not a fan boy of the team - I was told things about the team for decades - whether I wanted to hear about it or not. I still respect who they are and what they do - and would never throw any of them under the bus.

Of course the info became more interesting as the team became relevant. I thought sharing what little I hear would be of some interest, but asswipes like you make me think otherwise.

A GM who has just traded a player NEVER talks honestly about why the player was traded. NEVER or that person is not a GM for long. Especially when the player is traded to a team you trade with a lot. The proof is in the trade. You don’t trade a player you are happy with and you view as a cornerstone piece moving forward. You trade a player you are not happy with and that you view as expendable. At the end of the day it is all just spin but no matter how you spin it the one fact that is etched in stone is the player got traded.
- Z3Hawk

I saw a brief clip on NHL Network last night and Chayka threw a bit of shade on Perlini and Strome on their way out of the desert. I'm paraphrasing here, but he basically said they did their best to develop them but got tired of waiting. He came off as a really arrogant d-bag

Pumped for tonight's game!

Oh Dear you have sources too! Everyone has a source! He wouldn't be named 'Bob' would he?
- paulr

How'd you know?

One source is a Wirtz family member - not named Rocky.

Another would be considered a scout. And a few in the media - that actually know something about the inner workings of the front office.

And a player's agent - not named Brisson.

These people are various friends of the family - and seen at several events around the area from time to time. I am not a fan boy of the team - I was told things about the team for decades - whether I wanted to hear about it or not. I still respect who they are and what they do - and would never throw any of them under the bus.

Of course the info became more interesting as the team became relevant. I thought sharing what little I hear would be of some interest, but asswipes like you make me think otherwise.
- dahawks8819

But are you a lawyer?

I saw a brief clip on NHL Network last night and Chayka threw a bit of shade on Perlini and Strome on their way out of the desert. I'm paraphrasing here, but he basically said they did their best to develop them but got tired of waiting. He came off as a really arrogant d-bag
- Davewn

His explanation focused on patience vs hope.

I think the 28 year old analytics guru GM is finding his job difficult these days.

One source is a Wirtz family member - not named Rocky.

Another would be considered a scout. And a few in the media - that actually know something about the inner workings of the front office.

And a player's agent - not named Brisson.

These people are various friends of the family - and seen at several events around the area from time to time. I am not a fan boy of the team - I was told things about the team for decades - whether I wanted to hear about it or not. I still respect who they are and what they do - and would never throw any of them under the bus.

Of course the info became more interesting as the team became relevant. I thought sharing what little I hear would be of some interest, but asswipes like you make me think otherwise.
- dahawks8819

You're quite thin skinned for an "insider".

How'd you know?
- HawkintheD

Wild guess!

A GM who has just traded a player NEVER talks honestly about why the player was traded. NEVER or that person is not a GM for long. Especially when the player is traded to a team you trade with a lot. The proof is in the trade. You don’t trade a player you are happy with and you view as a cornerstone piece moving forward. You trade a player you are not happy with and that you view as expendable. At the end of the day it is all just spin but no matter how you spin it the one fact that is etched in stone is the player got traded.
- Z3Hawk

I would say that is not true at all. Bowman and most GMs will sugarcoat things a bit, but generally they will give you the impression behind it. I know for some fans everything is spin spin spin, but the GM doesn't just stand there and lie to everyone about everything. You do sometimes trade away players you like to get the return you want because the opportunity is there. Bowman was upfront about it. They wanted more depth and so they had to give up a guy with talent to get that. I'm not saying Schmaltz was without flaws but he wasn't so badly thought of. Who said anything about cornerstone piece?

Hey insiders, any word on any line combos this morning?
- wonthecup10

I heard they just pulled LOOCH off the ice at practice and Stan Bowman was spotted eating a box of Boston Baked Beans the other day. Coincidence? D5!!!

66, Hjalmarsson isn't a little guy, are you thinking of someone else?
Even when he came up, he was pretty well filled out and if IIRC, he's about 6'3". Met him early on (in the old Edge days), stood eye-to-eye (about my size) and would have guessed at the time he went about 200-210.
- savvyone-1

Ya Savvy, Hammer was broad as you look at him face to face, but real thin if you look from the side. He was tight as most athletes are, but he did wear huge shoulder pads.

So do you think Stan took the first offer he got for Nick or did he have the kid on the market for a while after Hockey Ops decided he didn't have a future in Chicago.

I suspect the latter but obviously don't know.
- RickJ

I don't know how many offers or discussions they had. I'd have to think Schmaltz has probably come up in trade talks before, but I think Stan was pretty clear that at this quarter poll, he is re-evaluating where the team is and what changes he wanted to make and that many GMs are in the same boat. They have a better idea of what their roster needs are and he admitted they need more depth in the top 9, so they went for a 2-1 deal. The Yotes have two guys who failed to grab the reigns and live up to their hype so far, so a deal was made. I don't know if it would ever be so black and white that he doesn't have a future in Chicago, just that he is now a piece they would move for a return if it is there. They weren't in a situation where they "had" to trade him.

I like to stir the pot.

And I am tired of all the douchebags on this site that chase away anyone that knows anything with their arrogance and ignorance.

I totally understand why John left - and it wasn't all about a better offer. He had a real thick skin to deal with all the children here for as long as he did.
- dahawks8819

Were some of the posters on here part of the reason JJ moved on?

Ya Savvy, Hammer was broad as you look at him face to face, but real thin if you look from the side. He was tight as most athletes are, but he did wear huge shoulder pads.
- 6628

Other than Seabs, they all seem pretty small, or at least narrow out of their pads, at least for the stereotypical professional athlete.

@MarkLazerus
Blackhawks on the ice early, getting some actual practice in before the morning skate. This is becoming common under Colliton.

@CRoumeliotis
#Blackhawks power play units...
PP1: Toews-Saad-DeBrincat-Kane-Gustafsson
PP2: Anisimov-Strome-Kane-Forsling-Seabrook

Me likey - no Keith on the PP (though I would like Joker to get a shot)

But are you a lawyer?


- PatShart

I never claimed to be one - or act like one on tv....

PP1: Toews - Saad - Cat - Kane - Gus
PP2: Anisimov - Strome - Kane - Forsling - Seabrook

Thank the heavens that 2 is not out there.

Hey insiders, any word on any line combos this morning?
- wonthecup10

They are practicing right now.

Lines coming up!