You don't move a former Norris/Conne Smythe winner with a cap hit of ~5M for "cap relief" - Keith at 40 is still better on the 3rd pairing than ANYONE we have currently slotted there...
You keep him around to make sure Boquist/Beaudin/Joki turn into the next Lindstroms/Karlssons instead of the next Ekholm/Larsson.
No disrespect to those two, but they're not superstars...

You ONLY move Keith if another contender is willing to over-pay in picks/prospects/whatever to gear up for a cup run (hello, this is Kyle Dubas calling...)
Any middling 2nd pairing d-man is going to cost at least 5M against the cap...
- Slofire94

You can dream about a first round choice in return. That pick is actually not a great return if it is one of the last picks in round one. Which dispels a Toronto rumor. Most likely not going see his wearing another original six splendid Leafs sweater. However Keith is an asset they could use.

Keith, Crawford, and Kane to Buffalo for their next 10 years of 1st Round picks.

-E5

And a bonus for the hockey world as we get to watch Buffalo beat Toronto in the playoffs before the team is blown up by the Matthews/Marner contracts!!

I'll admit that I don't know much about either, but what is the infatuation with uniting the Hughes brothers? One's a center, the other a D-man. I hear that Jack is really good. If that's the case, great, draft and develop him. Is Quinn demonstrably better than Boqvist, Mitchell, Beaudin, Joki (in the NHL)? If not, why would we want to trade for him just because we (theoretically) have his brother.

Sign, trade for, or draft good players. Develop them and get them all on the same page regarding the system. Was anyone here clamoring for Hossa's brother? How about Bure, Toews, ? I know that Quinn was drafted high, but there is no reason to give up anything extra of value just to bring him on board to play with his brother.
- Chunk

I would think that brothers would have really good chemistry, doesn't matter the position. Plus Quinn was regarded very highly, and wanted to be drafted by Chicago and play with Kane.

I think there's a few posters on here who'd crap their pants if we 'got another smurf' in Quinn Hughes. Maybe you guys don't remember the pre-draft days this year, everyone was marking the Hawks down for Hughes in their mock drafts, and people on here were losing their minds.

I really like Boqvist, I'm glad we went with him over Hughes. Kid can shoot the lights out and has some serious hands. Hughes should also be good, just in a different way. I'd love to get Jack Hughes, but even the last place team only has a 16% chance of the #1 pick, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.
- ObeseOprah

You atr correct let's not hold our breathe since the odds is an unknown and it is a long way until draft day.

Plans are made, what if scemarios

Even after the WJC and collegiate season whom knows if Mitchell could tansition immediately. A late season look could be in his contract. It may or may not be a good thing with the size and style played for Mitchell, Forsling, Keith in same line up.

Add an inexperienced Jokiharju to that line up. I get a headache just imagining Jokiharju too. When and not if Boqvist, Beaudin come aboard - construct the pairings! Sooner or later Keith is gone even if one of the prospects is not quite ready or is traded

The future defense promises to be special but I wonder if all the elite skill offensive talented guys can fit together. Maybe.

Lot of dreaming and planning scenarios regarding Keith and the future defense

You atr correct let's not hold our breathe since the odds is an unknown and it is a long way until draft day.

Plans are made, what if scemarios

Even after the WJC and collegiate season whom knows if Mitchell could tansition immediately. A late season look could be in his contract. It may or may not be a good thing with the size and style played for Mitchell, Forsling, Keith in same line up.

Add an inexperienced Jokiharju to that line up. I get a headache just imagining Jokiharju too. When and not if Boqvist, Beaudin come aboard - construct the pairings! Sooner or later Keith is gone even if one of the prospects is not quite ready or is traded

The future defense promises to be special but I wonder if all the elite skill offensive talented guys can fit together. Maybe.

Lot of dreaming and planning scenarios teyarfing Keith and the future defense
- jhawk59

Until any player comes along and proves me very wrong, Duncan Keith is the best defenseman on the team.

As we look at this team, caution when it comes to trading the entire core, and banking on signing one or two big UFAs with the cap space. What if no one comes here? Then what? And that is a very, very real possibility.

What we are discounting is illustrated by a highlight of the Red Wings second straight cup from the late 1990s. Heard it on NHL radio yesterday. As they brought the Cup to injured teammate Vladimir Konstantinov (he was paralyzed in a car crash I believe) some of the players were interviewed saying they would have done anything to win the Cup that year, and that they loved the guy.

I see zero of the unity required in team chemistry to even be competitive on the Hawks right now. Until they fix that you can't even accurately assess the talent and what it can do. It is hampering them to a great degree right now.

Remember when they all used to have video game tournaments on the road and hang out together when they were winning Cups? The churn of roster turnover has eliminated that aspect and now, with the core guys older and some with kids, and the new players all about ten years younger than them, there is this divide there and you have two groups on the team with very little in common.

People often don't fully realize how tiny the margin is in the NHL between winning and losing.
- hereismike1

I think the bolded part is a pivotal factor in the current state of affairs with team chemistry. There was a season after the 2010 Cup (not necessarily the 2010-11 season) when some of the players described the lack of team cohesion on the road where everyone would just retreat to their hotel rooms, eat meals by themselves or smaller cliques, or do their own thing socially. It's not that players hated each other but more so there was no natural and consistent bonding time which can impact how they are on the ice.

As a related example, it is rumored that the reason why Dougie Hamilton is constantly trade bait and been on so many teams in his young career is because he doesn't hang out with the rest of the team and does his own thing. I'm sure there's more to it than that but his being traded and in the trade winds so much isn't for lack of talent. Every fan base would love to have him anchoring their team's #1 pair.

Team cohesion and chemistry count. Seems to be lacking with this Hawks team. Is age gap a factor? Probably. I'm sure there are other factors, too.

You make a good point. As we've talked about, the roster is going to be a very fluid situation where some guys we expect to be on the team (Sikura, Kahun, Perlini even) could end up being traded at some point. Ya never really know.

Maybe it would be best to put Kahun with Toews-Saad or with Strome-Cat because of his offensive ability and move Perlini down to the 4th line to go with Kampf and they go out and sign a veteran defensively responsible guy (funny we say that when we basically have that with Kruger but a fresh face would be welcomed I'm sure). Like you said though, moving Sikura off of the Toew-Saad line removes a playmaker for them. Lots of moving parts that can and will change over the next few months.

The main part is that there are a lot of pieces on this team that can fit in certain spots with a few other key moves that could get this team back to being competitive without completely blowing up the team. I'm not saying we should or shouldn't trade anyone on this team, because i can see a path in which trading a Core player like Keith, Seabrook, Crow could help we gain assets back to rebuild a little quicker. I also see a way in which those guys can be apart of a "retool" in which a high draft pick, a high profile FA scorer signing, a depth signing or two, and one or two defensive prospects come up to play can spark the team and get them to be a better overall team.
- Savetheembers33

Agree with your post particularly the bolded part. Several good pieces already on the roster and in the system to work with so one perspective is that it's just a matter of complementing those pieces both with top 6 forward and top 4 blueline talent as well as with role players. Factor in that each player needs to have a defined role, or in the case of prospects, groom them for specific roles.

So once all assets are in place, then it's up to Colliton and his staff (fingers crossed that his assistants aren't named Smith and Granato next season) to slot them properly by position and line. Or in the case of the defense, by LH/RH and pair.

Of course, a team also needs flexibility for many players to slide up and down the lineup based on need such as injuries, illnesses, etc.

I think you meant personnel decisions but hopefully Rocky does put Bowman into a situation where he has to make personal decisions after the Winter Classic.
- 67hawks

Correct sorry for the misspelling

So Arizona is going to move to the Central? AZ would be half a continent away from most of the Central teams. Wouldn't it make more sense to move Colorado to the Pacific and move Calgary and Edmonton to the Central?
- EbonyRaptor

Could it be that the NHL is foreseeing a move of the Coyotes to KC?

Could it be that the NHL is foreseeing a move of the Coyotes to KC?
- JPBurke27

Sounds like Houston is more likely for them

Agree with your post particularly the bolded part. Several good pieces already on the roster and in the system to work with so one perspective is that it's just a matter of complementing those pieces both with top 6 forward and top 4 blueline talent as well as with role players. Factor in that each player needs to have a defined role, or in the case of prospects, groom them for specific roles.

So once all assets are in place, then it's up to Colliton and his staff (fingers crossed that his assistants aren't named Smith and Granato next season) to slot them properly by position and line. Or in the case of the defense, by LH/RH and pair.

Of course, a team also needs flexibility for many players to slide up and down the lineup based on need such as injuries, illnesses, etc.
- AEL_Fox

Agreed. Easier said than done to get top six and top 4 talent lol BUT there are a lot of promising blueline prospects in Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, etc. to go with Joki and Forsling which is why I think it makes more sense to spend on ONE key piece to the top 6 in Panarin and build out from there. Just my opinion but who know's how much things will change in the next six months or year for that matter

Looks like the Bulls are doing some changing of the guard too.

Anyone want to take a crack at categorizing the play styles of the dmen in Rockford?

I would think that brothers would have really good chemistry, doesn't matter the position. Plus Quinn was regarded very highly, and wanted to be drafted by Chicago and play with Kane.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I get where you are going. I just don’t think it is necessary unless the trade is a substantial win for the Hawks. We have plenty of well thought of defensive prospects. I wouldn’t give up anything notable simply to unite brothers.

How have they done in the past playing together (like I said, I don’t know much about either)?

Agreed. Easier said than done to get top six and top 4 talent lol BUT there are a lot of promising blueline prospects in Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, etc. to go with Joki and Forsling which is why I think it makes more sense to spend on ONE key piece to the top 6 in Panarin and build out from there. Just my opinion but who know's how much things will change in the next six months or year for that matter
- Savetheembers33

Definitely.

Team chemistry and cohesion matter as well. So the ideal lineup on paper could be assembled but could be all for naught if they don't play for and stick up for each other and their coaches.

I am, too. They are really inappropriate, and it's clear Stan is uncomfortable a few times.
- pdx2ord

yes, the interviewers were "inappropriate" at times, but they asked many tough questions that no local reporters ever ask. I thought it was a great interview.

Definitely.

Team chemistry and cohesion matter as well. So the ideal lineup on paper could be assembled but could be all for naught if they don't play for and stick up for each other and their coaches.
- AEL_Fox

Great point and something was broken when Q was fired and Smith brought in as an assistant coach. That was a really poor decision when you factor in how much the players loved Q and how much Q hated Smith trying to meddle with the power play.

No wonder the core at this point can't be feeling that management is too trustworthy. Remember when all the players surprisingly showed up at Tallon's (mom or dad can't recall) funeral? He was in tears that they all showed up.

Think they would do the same for Bowman now?

[quote=ObeseOprah]Until any player comes along and proves me very wrong, Duncan Keith is the best defenseman on the team.

Doubtful that he is traded until at least one probably two kids show they can handle a regular role. For this to occur the kids need a minimum one season to improve. At the NHL level. I would expect only Mitchell could be close to stepping straight to NHL or little prep time anyway.

Looks like the Bulls are doing some changing of the guard too.
- 35Tony0

Going down the same track as the Hawks: massive bench changes.

Is one of the Hawks’ problems perhaps 3 completely new faces (I know Granato and Smith have been around, but not on the bench) - are they speaking the same language during games? Maybe some conflicting in-game direction?

Is the strategy agreed upon but perhaps some of the tactics inconsistent?

Add to that a new defensive game-plan (poo-pooed by some as a reason).

Could that be par of the reasons for the seeming confusion on the ice?

I gets what your saying burn there’s no ways to rid of ourself of there entire cap hits without either salary retained or some of the talent you speak of being sent out.
- Abadseed

I think everyone would agree that their is no one in Rockford whom anyone is super excited to join this team and become a top 6 player.
We have a lot of young promising defenseman whom have the potential to be rock solid.

What this team lacks is depth and scoring. Toews isn't the same player he once was sure he is having a better year but he is no longer a force and to pay him to be a 2nd or 3rd line center 10.5 it's not good business.


This team needs a legitimate number one center and 2 left wingers who are top 6 .


Saad I won't hold my breathe that he will improve next year, but let's say we keep him he would be a nice piece with strome and d cat.

Sounds like Houston is more likely for them
- Savetheembers33

I heard Houston is a more likely destination if they move.

I don’t think Stan will be here to handle the draft picks in June.
- Colbyboy

We can all pray that Stan is poop canned. His time along with mc D are long over due. Rocky deserves a lot of blame for not stepping in 2 years ago and making the change . He allowed this to get real ugly.

I heard Houston is a more likely destination if they move.
- boilermaker100

Sorry 33. I wanted to reply to the post before yours. Ha you beat me to the pubch.

I think most Hawk fans not named Bowman or McDonaugh would agree the probability of the Hawks making the playoffs is essentially zero. But just to put that reality into concrete terms:

The Hawks have 54 games remaining (82 - 28).
Making the playoffs will probably take 94 points. The Hawks have 23 points.
The Hawks will need to get 71 points (94 - 23) in their remaining 54 games.
That means the Hawks will need to win twice as many games as they lose for a record something like 34-17-3.

This team? Not going to happen.

Anyone want to take a crack at categorizing the play styles of the dmen in Rockford?
- ObeseOprah

I'll take a stab at it.

Raddysh is in the category of offensively gifted but needs to improve with defending. Might be T.J. Brennan 2.0 if he can't work on his positioning and reads on developing plays in the D zone.

Dahlstrom, Carlsson, Hillman, and Gilbert are in the mold of defensive defensemen. If there is one in this pack who can step up with some offense, it's Carlsson who has a good shot from the point. All skate pretty well. Even though they're still learning and can get beat time to time, they don't give up on plays and are willing to play physical. Gilbert is the most physical while Dahlstrom could stand to use his 6'4" 230 lb frame more.

Snuggerud and Tuulola seem to be tweeners so far: not awesome puck movers and offense producers while also not defensively solid like the other 4 defensive defensemen. They're not horrible either, though. Just kind of blah. Snuggerud has the most potential to step it up offensively while I like the physicality that Tuulola can bring. They both have tools but are just inconsistent.

Campbell may bring leadership and experience but is clearly an AHL depth defender and career minor leaguer.