On Dzingel, I like him also, Maybe Stan is trying to build a supporting cast with guys like Strome, Perilini, we will see what Cagguilia brings, and add a kid like Dzingel.
No also to trading the cat. Not yet at least.
Let's see if Bowman can snag a big fish this summer .
Sikura is this years version of Drew LeBlanc, bust, let him play in the AHL.
Anything on Edjsell? Delia is going to be solid, we may be set there.
Hayden has looked like he took a step backwards, was hoping he'd turn out to be somewhat like a Billy Guerin type guy.
Agree with others on having a guy like Ryan Reeves who can play somewhat and still hold court if needed. Boys, fighting will always be part of the NHL game .
If Martinson showed just a little more in that department or even being more of an in your face type guy he'd still be here. He's bland for a big guy.
I don't know if swapping bad contracts out this year is the way to go. As much as I like Milan Lucic as was talked about on these boards, he turned into a fat ass as he got older also. Most nights he looks uninterested , a case of , I'm over 30, got my ring, got my big payday, married, when we gonna eat?? Etc. ..... Pass.
Go Bears!
- wonthecup10

Definitely, go Bears!

Fighting may be a part of the game but it isn't anywhere near as big a part as it was in the heyday some of you are harkening back to.

It also doesn't deter goons from taking runs at your best players. Again, watch Matt Cooke run Marc Savard with Looch on the ice. Essentially ended Savard's career. I know you're not advocating for Lucic now (never thought I'd see the day btw) but was just an example.

Having some physicality on the ice would be great, but you don't waste rooster spots for tough guys who either can't play or possibly even marginally so.

So is Joki back for that Flames game tomorrow?
- SoftServe

Should be but he's played quite a few games the last week, might give him a couple days off.

I agree and no we should not be swapping bad contracts.but Stan even if he wants to have any chance at a big fish in free agency Keith , Seabrook, anisomov saad 2 of those guys have to go especially 1 of those defenseman to guarantee 2 roster spots next year in defense.


I'd package sikura, maybe Hayden with Seabrook see if you can get a deal.
- Taylorst1

Yeah - let’s use a 23 year old with top-9 potential (not exactly a crowded field in this system) with 16 games in the Show - let’s use him as a sweetener to clear some cap space.

Glad Stan is the GM instead of some of us here - and I’m not a big fan of Stan.

Second City Hockey
@2ndCityHockey

Jeremy Colliton: #Blackhawks plan to move assistant coach Barry Smith back Director of Player Evaluation role

He was probably scaring the children. . .
- pdx2ord

Good he looked like death warmed over. Get that relic away from those kids.

Rockford has nobody who is either ready or a top 6 player. They have to either trade or use free agency to address those issues. They won't have enough cap space to do so if they don't move out at minimum a Keith or Seabrook and anisomov it's pure numbers.

Also in order to bring up any defenseman next year either , Keith or Seabrook or forsling have to be moved, just looking at the amount of roster positions . Dalhstom, Johki, murphy , Gustafson are 4 spots taken with Seabrook and Keith that's your 6 guys with a low level 7th bench warmer option.

At least moving 1 of those guys gives them room to do so.
- Taylorst1

I have the patience to wait out this rebuild.

I didn't watch the WJC, but read the posts of those who did. It sounds like we have forwards on the way, 1-2 years away, 3 tops. They might be top 6, who knows?

Letting everyone know and early warning of my off-topic posts ... BEARS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS!

So, just ignore me.

I understand your point and it's valid. However for Stan to even pursue say a stone or panarin plus a dzingel or similar not including his resignings and figuring out his goaltending situation.

Chicago does not have enough cap space at this point to do all that.

Stan needs to decide and move out Keith and or Seabrook plus anisomov without moving at least 2 of those players contracts out we won't be players in free agency.

IMO Keith and Seabrook Stan should take whatever he can get and be happy, because he should have known when offering those 2 contracts the length of them was awful knowing that age and decline would surely be a serious factor.
- Taylorst1

Why why why the same story with everyone saying they’d should be traded without realistically looking at the fact that seabrooks contract is a lot and he isn’t playing up to it the max you can hold is half on two contracts. Even if you could find a taker something else would be needed to move him (pick prospect)

Keith would be the easier to move in he is playing better than 7 and has less of a hit. Oh and the part everyone with there nhl19 trades forgets is hey all have nmcs.
They don’t leave unless they want out and I haven’t seen the hawks try and force a guy to go yet. Let alone one of there cornerstone players from the cup years.

A team should never trade a player on his rookie contract and replace him with a ufa player you have no guarantee to sign AA is the easiest to move in his term and pay afternoon 7/1 drop. We aren’t going anywhere this year why trade someone just to trade? All our players will be worth more at the trade dead line if not before the draft. The hawks have sent out to many young players and picks without thinking about the long term. If you want a Ufa get permission to talk to him and sign a deal then trade for him, if the other team or player says no wait till free agency

Letting everyone know and early warning of my off-topic posts ... BEARS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS!

So, just ignore me.
- I Am The Breadman

- HawkintheD

Just lovely! Hahaha!

On Dzingel, I like him also, Maybe Stan is trying to build a supporting cast with guys like Strome, Perilini, we will see what Cagguilia brings, and add a kid like Dzingel.
No also to trading the cat. Not yet at least.
Let's see if Bowman can snag a big fish this summer .
Sikura is this years version of Drew LeBlanc, bust, let him play in the AHL.
Anything on Edjsell? Delia is going to be solid, we may be set there.
Hayden has looked like he took a step backwards, was hoping he'd turn out to be somewhat like a Billy Guerin type guy.
Agree with others on having a guy like Ryan Reeves who can play somewhat and still hold court if needed. Boys, fighting will always be part of the NHL game .
If Martinson showed just a little more in that department or even being more of an in your face type guy he'd still be here. He's bland for a big guy.
I don't know if swapping bad contracts out this year is the way to go. As much as I like Milan Lucic as was talked about on these boards, he turned into a fat ass as he got older also. Most nights he looks uninterested , a case of , I'm over 30, got my ring, got my big payday, married, when we gonna eat?? Etc. ..... Pass.
Go Bears!
- wonthecup10

It's only a matter of time before fighting is regulated out of the game. Hopefully it will be before the NHL has it's Don Sanderson moment, but if a death occurs on the ice due to a fight, and it will, that is what will force the NHL into eliminating fighting.

It's only a matter of time before fighting is regulated out of the game. Hopefully it will be before the NHL has it's Don Sanderson moment, but if a death occurs on the ice due to a fight, and it will, that is what will force the NHL into eliminating fighting.
- paulr

Count me as a guy who uses the opportunity to go to the bathroom during a fight, does nothing for me and never has. But I'm also a guy who says better a broken nose than a halo in a hospital bed.

IMO the best chance to maim/kill is with 220lb men moving at 30 MPH scumbags a guy into the end boards, not punching him in the head. .......... In other words count me as a guy who says taking fighting out makes the game less safe.

Like it or not the instigator has eliminated the guy who can't skate a shift and stopped a Reaves/Lucic/Wilson/Gudas type, who can skate a shift, from simply attacking an opponent.

Can't eliminate all risk but the league with the instigator and suspensions are much closer than ever.

Definitely, go Bears!

Fighting may be a part of the game but it isn't anywhere near as big a part as it was in the heyday some of you are harkening back to.

It also doesn't deter goons from taking runs at your best players. Again, watch Matt Cooke run Marc Savard with Looch on the ice. Essentially ended Savard's career. I know you're not advocating for Lucic now (never thought I'd see the day btw) but was just an example.

Having some physicality on the ice would be great, but you don't waste rooster spots for tough guys who either can't play or possibly even marginally so.
- HawkintheD

Debrincat is a 20 goal scorer and he's extremely streaky, he can be replaced. Give me somebody like Lucic any day, he'll provide the grit and snarl this team is sorely missing. The Oilers still need help on defence, package up DeBrincat and Seabrook to land Lucic and a mid-round pick.

It's only a matter of time before fighting is regulated out of the game. Hopefully it will be before the NHL has it's Don Sanderson moment, but if a death occurs on the ice due to a fight, and it will, that is what will force the NHL into eliminating fighting.
- paulr

Fighting will never be regulated out - it’s too ingrained in the sport and large segments of the fan base.

And if a fight arises dir3ctly and immediately out of an incident on the ice - well, I’m not OK with it, but I can accept it.

But at some point, we need to understand that fighting does not deter the next guy from a heavy hit on your star player, and it isn’t good retaliation for the previous one.

The way to eliminate / reduce fighting is to have the stripes call the penalties on the ice - especially where dangerous hits are concerned - and have the so-called player safety group in the league office hand out meaningful punishments for dangerous hits - including having a team play with one less than the allowed 18 skaters during any suspension. That would get coaches involved in disciplining their players.

All of this is not to minimize the effects of - desireability of - hard hitting legal checks - which certainly should continue to be a major part of the game.

Count me as a guy who uses the opportunity to go to the bathroom during a fight, does nothing for me and never has. But I'm also a guy who says better a broken nose than a halo in a hospital bed.

IMO the best chance to maim/kill is with 220lb men moving at 30 MPH scumbags a guy into the end boards, not punching him in the head. .......... In other words count me as a guy who says taking fighting out makes the game less safe.

Like it or not the instigator has eliminated the guy who can't skate a shift and stopped a Reaves/Lucic/Wilson/Gudas type, who can skate a shift, from simply attacking an opponent.

Can't eliminate all risk but the league with the instigator and suspensions are much closer than ever.
- Mr Ricochet

First of all I'm not a guy who goes to the washroom when a real fight breaks out, the contrived fights that enforcers engage in, I have no use for. That said enforcers don't/can't prevent a "scumbag" from driving a guy head first into the boards they can only beat that "scumbag" up after the fight. Case in point, and a fact no one will address, Lucic and Chara two of the toughest players in the NHL were not able to prevent a scumbag Mike Richards from ending Marc Savard's career.

BTW Don Sanderson didn't wind up with a broken nose from his fight. He didn't even end up in a steel halo. He is now in a cemetery about 6 kilometers from where I live.

The only thing to eliminate scumbaggery on the ice are to teach the game at a young age that these acts will not be tolerated. And to implement rules so drastic no one would consider hitting an opponent into the boards from behind.

What return can be realistically expected for these players with remaining 2018-19 salaries retained?

Kunitz - 5th rounder
AA - prospect & 2nd rounder
Keith - top prospect & 1st rounder
Ward - 5th rounder
Kruger - 4th rounder or middle prospect
- Assman22

The only that doesn't make sense to me is both Ward and Kunitz bringing back a 5th rounder; I wouldn't trade one for the other, how can they have the same value? Maybe Ward's value is more similar to Krugers?

Fighting will never be regulated out - it’s too ingrained in the sport and large segments of the fan base.

And if a fight arises dir3ctly and immediately out of an incident on the ice - well, I’m not OK with it, but I can accept it.

But at some point, we need to understand that fighting does not deter the next guy from a heavy hit on your star player, and it isn’t good retaliation for the previous one.

The way to eliminate / reduce fighting is to have the stripes call the penalties on the ice - especially where dangerous hits are concerned - and have the so-called player safety group in the league office hand out meaningful punishments for dangerous hits - including having a team play with one less than the allowed 18 skaters during any suspension. That would get coaches involved in disciplining their players.

All of this is not to minimize the effects of - desireability of - hard hitting legal checks - which certainly should continue to be a major part of the game.
- StLBravesFan

If/when a death occurs on the ice during a fight, fighting will most certainly be regulated out of the game. If the NHL won't do it after that, the courts will do it for them. Hopefully the NHL does it before it gets to that point.

If/when a death occurs on the ice during a fight fighting will most certainly be regulated out of the game. If the NHL won't do it after that the courts will do it for them. Hopefully the NHL does it before it gets to that point.
- paulr

Sort of related, didn't it take a fan's death for the glass and netting to go around the rink?

Lol. Trade DeBrincat. 21 year olds who bang in 25-30 goals and 50ish points skating anywhere in the line up are not expendable.

He's basically a Patrick Sharp type except cant play center and a way better release.

The lil guy is a really good and it would be foolish to move him.

Free agency won't fix the Hawks. They need to let some of the younger guys develop and get meaningful experience for the kids coming up. 2 years minimum. Get used to a medicore team folks.
- fattybeef

. as usual. right on. beef. on le Cat,and as long as we have toews kane and seabrook and aging,we havel ittle leveredge

First of all I'm not a guy who goes to the washroom when a real fight breaks out, the contrived fights that enforcers engage in, I have no use for. That said enforcers don't/can't prevent a "scumbag" from driving a guy head first into the boards they can only beat that "scumbag" up after the fight. Case in point, and a fact no one will address, Lucic and Chara two of the toughest players in the NHL were not able to prevent a scumbag Mike Richards from ending Marc Savard's career.

BTW Don Sanderson didn't wind up with a broken nose from his fight. He didn't even end up in a steel halo. He is now in a cemetery about 6 kilometers from where I live.

The only thing to eliminate scumbaggery on the ice are to teach the game at a young age that these acts will not be tolerated. And to implement rules so drastic no one would consider hitting an opponent into the boards from behind.
- paulr

Pull out all the examples you want without any context. What happened between these players/teams 30 games before, 30 games after, 2 yrs before, 2 yrs after, was there payback given for "scumbaggery" from 2 yrs before or 40 games later, what was the score, what period, who were the coaches, what was the player told to or not do.

Now once you explain away the above do that with the numerous studies that show the majority of concussions in hockey are not from fighting but from hits to the head by 220lb men moving 30 MPH.

Fighting will never be regulated out - it’s too ingrained in the sport and large segments of the fan base.

And if a fight arises dir3ctly and immediately out of an incident on the ice - well, I’m not OK with it, but I can accept it.

But at some point, we need to understand that fighting does not deter the next guy from a heavy hit on your star player, and it isn’t good retaliation for the previous one.

The way to eliminate / reduce fighting is to have the stripes call the penalties on the ice - especially where dangerous hits are concerned - and have the so-called player safety group in the league office hand out meaningful punishments for dangerous hits - including having a team play with one less than the allowed 18 skaters during any suspension. That would get coaches involved in disciplining their players.

All of this is not to minimize the effects of - desireability of - hard hitting legal checks - which certainly should continue to be a major part of the game.
- StLBravesFan

Indeed, look at the play of Tom Wilson after his 18 game suspension. He admits he doesn't know what might be a clean or bad hit in real time so he's just not hitting as a result.

And I'm ok with the league fining/suspending the coach and GM for sending out a Cooke over and over to target heads. ......... I'm also not ok with players now going after an opponent for a clean big hit. Like to see that whistled every time, maybe a double minor.

The reason all of the "codes"past and present are becuase the players had to police the ice cuz the league didn't. As mentioned the league is doing better at this and understanding you can never eliminate all risk the chance of being left in a heap for filthy play will never, and shouldn't, go away. ...... It helps make the game safer.

Pull out all the examples you want without any context. What happened between these players/teams 30 games before, 30 games after, 2 yrs before, 2 yrs after, was there payback given for "scumbaggery" from 2 yrs before or 40 games later, what was the score, what period, who were the coaches, what was the player told to or not do.

Now once you explain away the above do that with the numerous studies that show the majority of concussions in hockey are not from fighting but from hits to the head by 220lb men moving 30 MPH.
- Mr Ricochet

Players still payback incidents today, do they not? Like Betuzzi attacking Moore for a hit that happened earlier? Didn't Torres have to "answer" for the Hit on Hossa in a subsequent game?

Yes, allot of injuries, not just concussions, occur from big guys having collisions at 30 mph. Let's see rules implemented to remove the dirty hits from behind, the elbows act from the game. The injuries during the course of the game inside the rules will be accepted as part of the sport.

Players still payback incidents today, do they not? Like Betuzzi attacking Moore for a hit that happened earlier? Didn't Torres have to "answer" for the Hit on Hossa in a subsequent game?

Yes, allot of injuries, not just concussions, occur from big guys having collisions at 30 mph. Let's see rules implemented to remove the dirty hits from behind, the elbows act from the game. The injuries during the course of the game inside the rules will be accepted as part of the sport.
- paulr

Jamal Mayers paid Torres back the following year.

Helluva tournament for Kurashev.

*Pats self on back for drafting him*

Why why why the same story with everyone saying they’d should be traded without realistically looking at the fact that seabrooks contract is a lot and he isn’t playing up to it the max you can hold is half on two contracts. Even if you could find a taker something else would be needed to move him (pick prospect)

Keith would be the easier to move in he is playing better than 7 and has less of a hit. Oh and the part everyone with there nhl19 trades forgets is hey all have nmcs.
They don’t leave unless they want out and I haven’t seen the hawks try and force a guy to go yet. Let alone one of there cornerstone players from the cup years.

A team should never trade a player on his rookie contract and replace him with a ufa player you have no guarantee to sign AA is the easiest to move in his term and pay afternoon 7/1 drop. We aren’t going anywhere this year why trade someone just to trade? All our players will be worth more at the trade dead line if not before the draft. The hawks have sent out to many young players and picks without thinking about the long term. If you want a Ufa get permission to talk to him and sign a deal then trade for him, if the other team or player says no wait till free agency
- Abadseed

Keith value is the highest right now it will ever be for the remainder of his contract that's a realistic assessment. If Keith decides to waive his NMC id rather it's to a team he feels is a contender.

Keith won't be tradeable after this season just because of his age at that point.


Seabrook if he could be moved it's late August early September to a team needing to hit the floor or to bring veteran leadership to youth and 2 things are for certain Chicago like past mistakes will have to sweeten the deal and that's the price which I'm okay with to rid this team of that horrible contract and gain cap space and a roster position for 1 of the kids.

Anisomov and saad both would be deadline moves for picks and prospects or as a sweetner if keith gets moved.



Nobody here can name 1 person in Rockford with certainty they believe will be a top 6 player.


That being said Chicago will need to make trades to stock up and free agent signings to address their priorities

Keith value is the highest right now it will ever be for the remainder of his contract that's a realistic assessment. If Keith decides to waive his NMC id rather it's to a team he feels is a contender.

Keith won't be tradeable after this season just because of his age at that point.


Seabrook if he could be moved it's late August early September to a team needing to hit the floor or to bring veteran leadership to youth and 2 things are for certain Chicago like past mistakes will have to sweeten the deal and that's the price which I'm okay with to rid this team of that horrible contract and gain cap space and a roster position for 1 of the kids.

Anisomov and saad both would be deadline moves for picks and prospects or as a sweetner if keith gets moved.



Nobody here can name 1 person in Rockford with certainty they believe will be a top 6 player.


That being said Chicago will need to make trades to stock up and free agent signings to address their priorities
- Taylorst1

Expect the Hawks to work hard to bring Max Shalunov over.