For all those aching to get rid of AA's cap hit for some type of middling draft pick, he's still the second best center on the roster. Tonight's roster looks like the Chicago Black Hogs

- Davewn

Yes and what other useful players can we dump for scraps?

I too cannot understand why some fans continuously advocate player garage sales. Do they want to see a total collapse for this team? Bad trades is one of the reasons that we are in this predicament. Anyone we should trade on tis team is untradeable. And if the tradeables have value to other teams then why is this team which is desperate for talent moving them?

Lastly to complete this rant, do you trust Bowman to make any more trades?

I really like the pairs you are proposing. That would be a plan I think a lot of people could get behind. Then with time as the young D mature we would get improvement on the back end too.
- hereismike1

This is my hope for this team going into next year that we have those eight guys as mainstays on their respective lines with veterans (WHO CAN ACTUALLY PLAY) or young kids put on the rest of the lines to fill them out and complement one another for our forward group.

As for as the backend goes, it's hard to say who is gonna be on this team going into next year. If Keith and Seabrook stay, then you hope they can help bring along guys like Joki, Forsling, and Boqvist next year with another solid vet to round them out. Then you can give Mitchell and Beaudin a little bit of time in Rockford to develop further for the next wave of the backend.

I wonder if the Shaw comparison was a curse for Hartman. He never was nor will he be that level of grit that Shaw is. Hartman can do some good, and that can be valuable to a team, but he is what he is and he isn't Shaw.
- matt_ahrens

I would say so. At least in eyes of the die hard fans who loved Shaw and what he brought. It was going to be hard to replicate his game, but not impossible. Add in the fact that Q and him didn't seem to get along and he never was able to settle into a specific role or spot on the team and was constantly being bounced around.

I wonder if the Shaw comparison was a curse for Hartman. He never was nor will he be that level of grit that Shaw is. Hartman can do some good, and that can be valuable to a team, but he is what he is and he isn't Shaw.
- matt_ahrens

Hartman seemed ok with the pest role in the minors? However, I agree that he never played with the kind of sandpaper Shaw did. Perhaps it’s more attributal to where both were drafted respectively? Maybe being a 1st round pick can create a sense of entitlement?

I'm seeing it that way, too. Either that or he's an "E for Effort" grader and the guys who put in the effort are rewarded with higher placement, even if it's not the best for the team. JC is, after all, part of the "everyone gets a blue ribbon" generation (and, yes, I know I'm stereotyping).
- pdx2ord

Seems like a bit of both.

I would say so. At least in eyes of the die hard fans who loved Shaw and what he brought. It was going to be hard to replicate his game, but not impossible. Add in the fact that Q and him didn't seem to get along and he never was able to settle into a specific role or spot on the team and was constantly being bounced around.
- Savetheembers33

Agreed, Q did not have the same level of patience with Hartman that he did with Shaw. Oh well, it’s all history now.

For Malkin!?!? Please say Malkin.
- Rota's Rooter

That would be great, but highly unlikely. We will end up with a rosival type player , slow , old and just useless but told he is the next best thing since sliced bread.

Agreed, Q did not have the same level of patience with Hartman that he did with Shaw. Oh well, it’s all history now.
- Chief4Feathers

No, and unfortunately he wasn't really able to because the team was expected to be great year in and year out so they needed guys who could step in right away and produce and do what they needed them to do without going through the growing pains. It was a double-edge sword for them because they needed guys to sustain what they were trying to do in being a top team in the West each year BUT they never spent the proper time developing guys to for when they had to let guys go or trade them to replace them and be able to step in to sustain it even longer. Obviously, this is why we are at where we're at now.

Yes and what other useful players can we dump for scraps?

I too cannot understand why some fans continuously advocate player garage sales. Do they want to see a total collapse for this team? Bad trades is one of the reasons that we are in this predicament. Anyone we should trade on tis team is untradeable. And if the tradeables have value to other teams then why is this team which is desperate for talent moving them?

Lastly to complete this rant, do you trust Bowman to make any more trades?
- 67hawks

Your last sentence is MOST RELEVANT here and that answer is an emphatic NO.

AA of oil Maatta would be interesting. he is a bigger D that is not a great skater. he makes less then AA but is signed for 1 year longer. he is 6 years younger. he is kind of like Murphy if he can be a solid 3-4 great value. or a good 5-6 he is probably OK price wise. with the cap going up and 24-25 D only are going to cost $4mil Manning got 2.5 and we all would agree Maata and Murph are better.

Yes and what other useful players can we dump for scraps?

I too cannot understand why some fans continuously advocate player garage sales. Do they want to see a total collapse for this team? Bad trades is one of the reasons that we are in this predicament. Anyone we should trade on tis team is untradeable. And if the tradeables have value to other teams then why is this team which is desperate for talent moving them?

Lastly to complete this rant, do you trust Bowman to make any more trades?
- 67hawks

My plan would be the following.
1. D cub-bard seems to be well stock as ever in last 10 years. Continue to develop and identify the next top 4.

2. Free up cap space to back fill True Top 6 forwards and Top 6 Center and focus upcoming drafts on Top 6

3. If we have an over abundance of Top 6 or Top 4, use those assets to back fill other deficient areas.

4. Be honest with the fans that we this is our plan to bring the team back to contention.

5. Play Crow 60% of the games and see what you have in the pipeline for the other 40%...maybe you have your next goalie or maybe you have someone to flip for another asset.

6. Sign NO free agents that have minimal tread on tire (see Kunitz for example)

All the talk about big Buff, his poor skating, propensity to fall down, switching from defense (what he played in juniors) to forward back to defense and back to forward again, got me to thinking about Seabrook.

If we can't move him, maybe put him on the wing? When he rushes in the O zone, I like how he protects the puck and looks for options. Something tells me he wouldn't be a bad player on the wing.

At some point is lack of speed will make playing defense a non starter as guys like McDavid come flying up the neutral zone. Plus he is smart. Maybe we would have a wing that actually covers the point in our defensive zone for once.
- hereismike1

I like this idea. He might be against it but it couldn't hurt.

I like this idea. He might be against it but it couldn't hurt.
- ObeseOprah

The Sheldon Brookbank option...

trade announced 10 minutes after the plaque is awarded
- glennjpawlak22

and they take plaque away from them on the ice.

That would be great, but highly unlikely. We will end up with a rosival type player , slow , old and just useless but told he is the next best thing since sliced bread.
- Taylorst1

Does Rob Scuderi have a brother there?

For Malkin!?!? Please say Malkin.
- Rota's Rooter

It sounds like possibly Keith and anisomov for kessel. Kessel cap hit is 8 million for 4 more years and it sounds like they want a defenseman.

I'd make that trade kessel is 31 and has good numbers.

AA of oil Maatta would be interesting. he is a bigger D that is not a great skater. he makes less then AA but is signed for 1 year longer. he is 6 years younger. he is kind of like Murphy if he can be a solid 3-4 great value. or a good 5-6 he is probably OK price wise. with the cap going up and 24-25 D only are going to cost $4mil Manning got 2.5 and we all would agree Maata and Murph are better.
- kmw4631

I thought Maatta was a turnover machine?

It sounds like possibly Keith and anisomov for kessel. Kessel cap hit is 8 million for 4 more years and it sounds like they want a defenseman.

I'd make that trade kessel is 31 and has good numbers.
- Taylorst1

Kane also said "best player he's ever played with" back in the Team USA Olympics days FWIW.

Kane also said "best player he's ever played with" back in the Team USA Olympics days FWIW.
- pdx2ord

Heresy, that was pre-Panarin

It sounds like possibly Keith and anisomov for kessel. Kessel cap hit is 8 million for 4 more years and it sounds like they want a defenseman.

I'd make that trade kessel is 31 and has good numbers.
- Taylorst1

Who is saying it? On time for tomorrow's game.

I talked about Kessel as speculation, and was told I have a crack addiction.

It sounds like possibly Keith and anisomov for kessel. Kessel cap hit is 8 million for 4 more years and it sounds like they want a defenseman.

I'd make that trade kessel is 31 and has good numbers.
- Taylorst1

Where did you hear this?

edit: His cap hit is 6.8 million, Leafs are still kicking in the last 1.2. Since I consider this is a lost season for the Hawks anyway, he'd have 3 seasons left after this.

It sounds like possibly Keith and anisomov for kessel. Kessel cap hit is 8 million for 4 more years and it sounds like they want a defenseman.

I'd make that trade kessel is 31 and has good numbers.
- Taylorst1

Yeah...they would score league average, but allow another goal/game. Sounds fantastic.

It sounds like possibly Keith and anisomov for kessel. Kessel cap hit is 8 million for 4 more years and it sounds like they want a defenseman.

I'd make that trade kessel is 31 and has good numbers.
- Taylorst1

Big cap hit for a guy who will be 34 when the Hawks reasonably can expect to be a Cup contender.

So again we get a guy who should be in the AHL on line 1. Line 2 featuring a 3rd liner and a 4th liner.

Line 3 is okay

Line 4 Kruger and two guys that shouldn't be playing NHL minutes.


- breadbag

I get that Hayden’s not a top six player, but don’t see him as an AHL player either. He’s versatile can play all three forward positions and I do like him on the power play. Half of his scoring came on the power play in college.

For all fans of the coulda, woulda, shoulda on here re: Bowman's decisions, you'll love this:

https://theathletic.com/7...the-benefit-of-hindsight/

There are zillions of scenarios that might spin off of each of these decisions so beware the rabbit hole.

ETA: this is the roster that he settles on with his revisionist history :


Saad ($6M) – Toews ($10.5M) – DeBrincat ($778.3K)
Panarin ($6M) – Teravainen ($2.86M) – Kane ($10.5M)
Schmaltz ($925K) – Danault ($3.083M) – Duclair ($1.25M)
Hartman ($875K) – Kampf ($925K) – Hinostroza ($1.5M)
Extras: Kahun ($925K), Hayden ($750K)
Keith ($5.538M) – Jokiharju ($925K)
Kempny ($2.5M) – Hjalmarsson ($4.1M)
Gustafsson ($1.2M) – Seabrook ($6.875M)
Extra: Johns ($2.35M)
Crawford ($6M)
Ward ($3M)
Total cap hit: $79.4 million.
- pdx2ord

It's a good article. And a good roster, actually.
That bottom six al have a couple/few years of NHL experience, that helps.
I still see TT as a RW, but I haven't watched him play much lately but I'd put him on Toews' RW. I'd probably put Danault at 2LC, makes the Schmaltz trade with AZ, put Strome at 3LC with ADB on his LW. I'd probably play Forsling over Gus on 3rd pair D. But overall, that's a solid playoff roster.