I'll have more on this but sounds like the overall plan for this team is continuing to change and Stan is the man in charge of this movement.

He mentioned in his Powers article that guys like Kunitz and Manning were brought in becauss they fit Joel's style of coaching.

Well, now Joel's gone and Colliton is stuck with these guys.

Hossa was dealt with Hinostroza (who the Hawks could use right now) to free up space in the future to sign DeBrincat and Schmaltz to their next deals.

Well, no Schmaltz is gone and the cap space is still sitting there.

IF this also means of the end of playing of a career AHL and the glacier with four rings then it's a good thing IMO.

If all three reach their maximum potential Schmaltz, with his speed and stickhandling ability will be the best of the bunch.

The two things about Schmaltz's game that concerned me was he played scared and his questionable hockey sense. Could the hockey sense be tied to his timid game? Can he one day overcome his timidness? If he does he has a chance to be an impact player and prove Bowman made a bad trade.

Strome isn't the most fleet of foot but neither are Thornton and Getzlaf (no I am not saying Strome will be as good) and both of them have been and still are not only productive but they impact the game. I still think there is room in the league for guys like this provided they make up for their lack of speed with smarts. Strome was a very good Junior player but sometimes a player can't take the next steps to be an NHL player. As a second line center with the wingers the Hawks have Strome may do very well in Chicago.

I don't know much about Perlini but he has some size and he has great wheels.

I think this was a good trade for the Hawks, it gives them two tries to make up for Schmaltz and if both stick with the Hawks it means more depth, some size and hopefully some two way grit that the team could use.
- paulr

\

If all 3 reach their maximum potential, then this will be a steal of a trade for the Hawks. Schmaltz was the 20th pick in his year, and was picked above his slot on most draft boards. Schmaltz was graded out more in the 25th slot or higher. Many predictions didn't even consider him a 1st round pick. Perlini was drafted 12th the same year, which was pretty much the consensus of where he should go on every prediction. Strome was a consensus top 5 pick in the '15 draft.

So, if you are talking about potential, this trade isn't even close.

22, same amount of points as Toews last year, ELC, fast, lead team in takeaways, still developing...

Yes I’d say that’s quality. He’s everyone’s whipping boy now that Saad has improved. Now we’ll see who the pack mentality moves onto now that scapegoat #2 is gone.
- ObeseOprah

Oh yes Schmaltz’s 2016-2017 “incredible” season, which seemed a mirage after how poor he was this year. Don’t forget that there were still huge holes in Schmaltz’s game last year. Also don’t forget that Kane pushed Schmaltz in the summer, prior to last season, and during last season, but that Schmaltz went back to being lazy this summer and this season, also adding even more gloominess to his personality. Imagine Kane just gave up. Be interesting to see what Schmaltz will do without Kane. Not worried at all about this trade as even if Schmaltz produces some points his other issues will continue.

Agree, nice post.

If all three reach their maximum potential Schmaltz, with his speed and stickhandling ability will be the best of the bunch.

The two things about Schmaltz's game that concerned me was he played scared and his questionable hockey sense. Could the hockey sense be tied to his timid game? Can he one day overcome his timidness? If he does he has a chance to be an impact player and prove Bowman made a bad trade.

Strome isn't the most fleet of foot but neither are Thornton and Getzlaf (no I am not saying Strome will be as good) and both of them have been and still are not only productive but they impact the game. I still think there is room in the league for guys like this provided they make up for their lack of speed with smarts. Strome was a very good Junior player but sometimes a player can't take the next steps to be an NHL player. As a second line center with the wingers the Hawks have Strome may do very well in Chicago.

I don't know much about Perlini but he has some size and he has great wheels.

I think this was a good trade for the Hawks, it gives them two tries to make up for Schmaltz and if both stick with the Hawks it means more depth, some size and hopefully some two way grit that the team could use.
- paulr

Agree, nice post. (whiffed on the last try)

Agree, nice post.
- 6628

Thanks

Justin Lowe: Nick Schmaltz Out, Strome and Perlini In

About 3 weeks ago, I had a Nick Schmaltz article I was working on which broke down his time in Chicago to date and where he might fit into the future.

I parked it because the Joel Quenneville news came down.

Then, I thought it would be a good time this week to re-look at that blog and release it this week. Then, last night's trade happened.

Nick Schmaltz has been sent to Arizona for Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini.
- Justin Lowe

Great piece, JL, the very long awaited, Schmaltz blog. I liked Schmaltz, and very early in the season I said bridge or long term, I don't care he can sign it and I'll be happy. I wasn't against trading him either, it needed to be a lot though. As games piled up, it got harder to defend Schmaltz because as you say, his breakout time is this season, and he wasn't moving past his benchmark last year, not even close. I wish him luck.

Strome sounds like Ejdsell to me, just that he plays center and will get more points. Hopefully he plays with Adb and Kane. Sounds like a younger version of Panarin-Arty with Kane, if that is the route JC goes. Does he park in the blue paint? Perlini is a third line guy with second line potential or something like that. I'm hoping he reaches his potential here. Tomorrow can't come fast enough.

Tanner said, "This could be a trade that the hawks win," and ended on a funny note, "Don't these two know other gm's exist?"

22, same amount of points as Toews last year, ELC, fast, lead team in takeaways, still developing...

Yes I’d say that’s quality. He’s everyone’s whipping boy now that Saad has improved. Now we’ll see who the pack mentality moves onto now that scapegoat #2 is gone.
- ObeseOprah

Serious question here. Are there any statistics which correlates a takeaway with a scoring chance or a goal? So how many of Schmaltz's takeaways are negated if, for example, he stole a puck from a player in center ice, takes it to the O zone and gives it up via an errant pass or from avoiding contact?

Exactly what I was thinking. Who do we drive out next and then fawn over when he finds success when another team?
I was frustrated with Schmaltz often too but recognized that he had elite skills and was very young. We needed to give him more time.
- 67hawks

More time? Schmaltz isn’t 15 years old. When does committment kick in? When does he show passion? When does he show he cares about being a hockey player? When he is 25, 30? Getting his moody, whiny, lazy personality off the team will be addition by subtraction, even if he becomes a point producer, in the dessert, although I don’t see that happening either.

\

If all 3 reach their maximum potential, then this will be a steal of a trade for the Hawks. Schmaltz was the 20th pick in his year, and was picked above his slot on most draft boards. Schmaltz was graded out more in the 25th slot or higher. Many predictions didn't even consider him a 1st round pick. Perlini was drafted 12th the same year, which was pretty much the consensus of where he should go on every prediction. Strome was a consensus top 5 pick in the '15 draft.

So, if you are talking about potential, this trade isn't even close.
- TheTrob

How so? Schmaltz is the only one of the three that has actually proved any real potential.

I have no idea how this will work out, obviously - both players of the return have size, one at least has some speed, one has scored some in the NHL, the other showed scoring punch last season in the "A"....

Too soon (all are 22, I think) to call ANY of the three "busts" - we give up so easily when players can't come directly into the Show and perform as experienced vets.
- StLBravesFan

It was said that Kane doesn't have any guts, and as one of the least physically prepared players to ever come into the league that figures to be the case. BUT, he had the hockey IQ to get the job done despite that. He has made effort on the defense side (though he never will be a shut down guy) and he's put in effort in the summers. Schmaltz is not physically gifted so he needs to improve his anticipation so that when he just completely bails out on a play (constantly) his team can still retain possession moving forward. That instinct or whatever you want to call it has not been part of #8's toolbag. And you don't learn that, either you have it or you don't. So I understand Bowman making a deal for him. When the music stops you don't want him sitting on your bench. In my opinion Stan threw Arizona a grenade.

Saad Toews Perlini
Cat Strome Kane
Kahun AA Sikura
Kampf Kruger Hayden
- SoftServe

I like those forward lines. Maybe switch Hayden and Kampf on the wings so they're playing off wing but whatever they prefer is fine.

Adding Sikura would provide more depth as obtaining Strome and Perlini allow Anisimov to slide down to 3C with Kahun. I like that 3rd line much better because it actually creates a 3rd line, not two 4th lines. Sikura and Kahun are both skilled with vision while Anisimov can create space for them, all while facing lower QOC.

With the new depth by adding Strome and Perlini as well as calling up Sikura, the Hawks could roll 3 offensive lines again and generate secondary scoring.

How so? Schmaltz is the only one of the three that has actually proved any real potential.
- Whiskey-Tango

Didn’t Perlini have 17 goals last year?

Serious question here. Are there any statistics which correlates a takeaway with a scoring chance or a goal? So how many of Schmaltz's takeaways are negated if, for example, he stole a puck from a player in center ice, takes it to the O zone and gives it up via an errant pass or from avoiding contact?
- boilermaker100

A lot of Schmaltz's takeaways were from guys who he refused to battle for the puck. Just let the other guy have it. Initally I was impressed with his takeaway stat so I watched him much more closely. And my conclusion was that he wants to take the easy way out of every situation. He might have won a title at North Dakota, but at this level he's not a winner.

It was said that Kane doesn't have any guts, and as one of the least physically prepared players to ever come into the league that figures to be the case. BUT, he had the hockey IQ to get the job done despite that. He has made effort on the defense side (though he never will be a shut down guy) and he's put in effort in the summers. Schmaltz is not physically gifted so he needs to improve his anticipation so that when he just completely bails out on a play (constantly) his team can still retain possession moving forward. That instinct or whatever you want to call it has not been part of #8's toolbag. And you don't learn that, either you have it or you don't. So I understand Bowman making a deal for him. When the music stops you don't want him sitting on your bench. In my opinion Stan threw Arizona a grenade.
- 6628

👍

Didn’t Perlini have 17 goals last year?
- HawkintheD

I didn't get the chance to say it in the last blog, you picked a poor time to be sleeping. The season is saved. JK!

It was said that Kane doesn't have any guts, and as one of the least physically prepared players to ever come into the league that figures to be the case. BUT, he had the hockey IQ to get the job done despite that. He has made effort on the defense side (though he never will be a shut down guy) and he's put in effort in the summers. Schmaltz is not physically gifted so he needs to improve his anticipation so that when he just completely bails out on a play (constantly) his team can still retain possession moving forward. That instinct or whatever you want to call it has not been part of #8's toolbag. And you don't learn that, either you have it or you don't. So I understand Bowman making a deal for him. When the music stops you don't want him sitting on your bench. In my opinion Stan threw Arizona a grenade.
- 6628

Kane puts up lots of points though so you can live with some floating or shooting the zone early.

I like Strome. Don't think his skating is that egrigious but I guess we will see. Really all he has to do is win draws and bang in tap ins and rebounds from Kane. If Troy Brouwer could get up and down the ice with Kane and Toews and be a 20 goal player then a player like Strome should be able to carve our a nice niche for himself there.

I also think having Toews to show him how to not suck and dinglecat to hang out with will be a welcome change.

Its not like they can get worse.

Id expect AA to move soon probably with a defender and you start to see a Rockford shuffle with guys on the blue line.

I didn't get the chance to say it in the last blog, you picked a poor time to be sleeping. The season is saved. JK!
- I Am The Breadman

LOL! A number of the Hawks have been catching up on zzz’s while on the ice, so I figured, what’s the harm?

Kane puts up lots of points though so you can live with some floating or shooting the zone early.

I like Strome. Don't think his skating is that egrigious but I guess we will see. Really all he has to do is win draws and bang in tap ins and rebounds from Kane. If Troy Brouwer could get up and down the ice with Kane and Toews and be a 20 goal player then a player like Strome should be able to carve our a nice niche for himself there.

I also think having Toews to show him how to not suck and dinglecat to hang out with will be a welcome change.

Its not like they can get worse.

Id expect AA to move soon probably with a defender and you start to see a Rockford shuffle with guys on the blue line.
- fattybeef

Right on Fatty

A lot of Schmaltz's takeaways were from guys who he refused to battle for the puck. Just let the other guy have it. Initally I was impressed with his takeaway stat so I watched him much more closely. And my conclusion was that he wants to take the easy way out of every situation. He might have won a title at North Dakota, but at this level he's not a winner.
- 6628

I asked this question in previous blog is strome a equal better or worse skater than AA. Justin do you predict more trades coming because there is a long jam at defense when Murphy comes back and are the hawks looking for? Sorry for the errors previously power out internet down try writing quickly

Optics are great on this trade. Schmaltz had opportunity to showcase and mentor with elite players, the two boys from the desert did not have that. Two for one, drafted in earlier rounds no long term contract issues with Schmaltz , Strome is good at faceoff, adds size and depth to team. Lastly it may, be a spark for some of vets. It's finally a feel good roster move

Didn’t Perlini have 17 goals last year?
- HawkintheD

Yes. IIRC, Troy Murray has a serious crush on Perlini. Gushes about him all the time on radio when we play the Coyotes.

Justin,

Given the events that transpired as you planned your Q and Schmaltz columns, I’d like to suggest you immediately start workin on a Kunitz column.

How so? Schmaltz is the only one of the three that has actually proved any real potential.
- Whiskey-Tango

The comment was in regards to "Maximum Potential" not what they have already accomplished. Strome was the 3rd pick in the draft because his potential was deemed higher than those picked below him. 2015 was a great draft year, with McDavid, Eichel, Marner, Rantanen, Wrenski, Hanafin, Povorov, etc. Strome graded out as a top 5 pick on pretty much every pre-draft ranking. Those rankings are based on Potential, which take into account skill, size, hockey sense, heart, etc. So Strome can be considered a bust with less than a year of NHL experience, or maybe you can consider AZ a crappy organization that either didn't develop him or put him in the right situation to succeed.

In terms of Perlini, he scored 17 last year, 5 less than Schmaltz did but without Patrick Kane feeding him pucks.