Stan needs to field a team where JC can start slotting everyone
where they belong.

- gazza53

Very very few coaches have that luxury in a the hard cap era.

Puck down to start the 3rd, America up 2-1 on the Cossacks!

Lol. Ben Eager and Adam Burish were not very good players either though better than Martinsen. That 2010 team was the most talented group of players in the modern era. Rip. The 12-13 group was probably a better 4th line.

None of these bigger guys including Hayden deter anything ever. Nor do they deter anyone from taking a run on any other team. The enforcer role does not exist in the NHL today. Not on any team. Not in any game.
- fattybeef

I was going to bring up Ben Eager ... I used to crack it when people would post lamenting that that joker moved on ....but ... I mean, even I would admit that Eager was a far better hockey player than this guy Martinsen. I mean, seriously, it makes no sense.

That's why Ward was signed. He's proven effective in that he can give a quality start once in awhile, won't be a dumpster fire, will work with other goalies and proved he's a solid vet when he took over the room and said this ain't good enough.

In other words he brought a non-dumpster fire game and intangibles with NO term. Just like Manning (I know he got 2 yrs) and Kunitz.
- Mr Ricochet

Saad for pesche and roy or saad straight up for pesche. AA for pick and prospect keith only if get an offer cannot refuse but hawks are rebuilding then a core member needs to be traded.

Totally agree. Not only should there be a like button, but there should be a dislike button.

They automatically be tallied for each post. So if you post something and 10 people hit the like button there is a "+10" is in the upper right hand corner of your post. If you post something and 15 people like your post and 50 people do not like your post there is a "-35" is in the upper right hand corner of your post.

It would be very informative and it might limit the string of senseless posts.

If they wanted to take it one step further they could accumulate the tallies for each poster. You could then see the posters that are most in sync with the feelings of the readers.

Advanced stats for posters. Why not?
- -Doh-

I haven't posted on the Blackhawks official message board in many years but I believe they used to have a system like that where you could do a + or - or thumbs up or down with a total whether positive or negative. They eventually removed that system.

I will take Ryan Reeves and take my chances, do not like cheap shots, and realize this is not the goon era anymore but someone needs to step up from time to time and remind other teams of that.
- GlennL

Right.
No one will ever convince me that a Reeves or a Tom Wilson on our bench would not make a player think twice about cheap-shotting one of ours. When you field a soft lineup, all the guys on the other side start acting like tough guys.

Count me as a big Kadri fan. Since Babcock has come his game/IQ have really gone up.
- Mr Ricochet

I like Kadri, too. He embraced an evolution of his role in the NHL from a projected top 6 scoring center to a middle 6 checking center who loves to agitate the crap out of the opponent. Tough as nails with scoring punch (not just 10-15 goals but 20+ or even upwards of 30 with the right linemates). Could be wrong but he's good on defense, too.

Thanks, I'm fine with that if it's better for development. What happens with Granato/Smith? They stay?
- I Am The Breadman

Smith doesn’t belong behind the bench, but his between periods comments can be entertaining.

I especially liked the one where he said “we need to stop the dumb a$$ passes in the neutral zone”.

I was going to bring up Ben Eager ... I used to crack it when people would post lamenting that that joker moved on ....but ... I mean, even I would admit that Eager was a far better hockey player than this guy Martinsen. I mean, seriously, it makes no sense.
- steve-hist-sdc

Classic moment in the Hawks-Nucks rivalry. Loved how Eager embarrassed Bieksa and literally undressed him in this fight. For those that remember, this is the Burrows hair pulling incident with Keith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCCR0PcT4_E

Walking dead smith, hahaha!!

Totally agree, get him out, pronto. Pp savior or not, even though it has gotten better of late. I like this move, because of more familiarity with the younger guys. It also eliminates the feeling of the vets being told what to do by a younger assistant coach, because these guys won the 13 cup with him.
- I Am The Breadman

- BGKarras

1 pt, -Doh-

I haven't posted on the Blackhawks official message board in many years but I believe they used to have a system like that where you could do a + or - or thumbs up or down with a total whether positive or negative. They eventually removed that system.
- AEL_Fox

I think the Herald had it when most of were still there with Sassone - totaled a score for each post but not for each poster.

If it’s used properly, it could eliminate a lot of “I agree” or “screw you” posts.

But - if we’re being serious - let’s do this like adults - respond with facts and logic - we don’t need to keep score.

Smith doesn’t belong behind the bench, but his between periods comments can be entertaining.

I especially liked the one where he said “we need to stop the dumb a$$ passes in the neutral zone”.
- walleyeb1

I missed that, hahaha!

Yes.

The FO appears to exclude the grit/size criteria, believing that higher levels of the speed and skill pieces can overcome the lack of sack.

They have failed to prove their theory is correct.
- Return of the Roar

I agree with the forecheck, but i really believe it's more mind set than anything else, what happened to the previous games, they grinded on the Avs, Preds, and others, then last night other than Kampf who had a good solid game, not only did we not make contact worse yet we avoided it.

What's your take on Martinez? Always liked him and think he was available earlier in the season before Quick and the backups started dropping like flies.
- AEL_Fox

He is currently out injured. He is older than Muzzin, he is a good solid depth defenseman,not physical, has some offensive capabilities, he also is around $4 mil. for the next couple of years. I think a contender will pick him up for a draft choice.

John Madden's kid is a nice little player. Kemp is someone I like too. I also liked a couple Russians, the really fast kid missing a tooth, name was something like Steppet and of course that kid who scored, Florida prospect I think.

Interesting fact:

Next summer, assuming no roster changes, the Hawks will have a little over $19MM in cap space, according to CapFriendly today.

But with only 13 players under contract....one goalie (CC), 4 D, (Keith Murphy Seabrook and Gus), and 9 forwards (Kane, Toews, AA, Saad, Kahun, Strome, ADB, Caggiula, and Hayden)

And, Delia, Kampf, Perlini, Sikura, Forsling and Dahlstrom are all RFAs this summer, (with Delia, Kampf and likely Dahlstrom all getting some kind of raise), and ADB, Strome, Caggiula and Hayden all RFAs the following year (at minimum ADB gets a decent raise).

Don't kid yourself if you think they are still not going to be in cap hell, struggling to find serviceable talent for low wages over short terms. That $19MM in space allows less than $2MM per player to get to 23 WITHOUT raises to anyone they keep.

These facts alone should make very clear why moves to get guys like Panarin should never get past the dream stage.
- Return of the Roar

I don't like the idea of bringing Little Arty back either and think the money could be better spent...but to your other point they will have money and are hardly in Cap Hell.

Of all the guys you mention, right now only DeBrincat might get a significant bump.

Agree, whether the wings are DeBrincat, Kahun, and/or Sikura, they need a big or at least rough-n-tumble center to be their complement. Coyle sounds like a good option. So does Jenner.

Even someone like Kadri even though I know a lot of people despise him. Another one would be Koivu. He's getting older but as a 1-2 year option on the 3rd line, might be worth exploring but I imagine he'll retire a Wild.
- AEL_Fox

The big knock on putting Kane, ADB and Schmaltz together was that they would get pushed around. What are your thoughts on bringing ADB back up to that line now that Strome is centering that line. He seems stronger that Schmaltz and will go to the corners and make space for others. I would love for Kane to have a better sniper on his line. Two dangerous lines.

Interesting fact:

Next summer, assuming no roster changes, the Hawks will have a little over $19MM in cap space, according to CapFriendly today.

But with only 13 players under contract....one goalie (CC), 4 D, (Keith Murphy Seabrook and Gus), and 9 forwards (Kane, Toews, AA, Saad, Kahun, Strome, ADB, Caggiula, and Hayden)

And, Delia, Kampf, Perlini, Sikura, Forsling and Dahlstrom are all RFAs this summer, (with Delia, Kampf and likely Dahlstrom all getting some kind of raise), and ADB, Strome, Caggiula and Hayden all RFAs the following year (at minimum ADB gets a decent raise).

Don't kid yourself if you think they are still not going to be in cap hell, struggling to find serviceable talent for low wages over short terms. That $19MM in space allows less than $2MM per player to get to 23 WITHOUT raises to anyone they keep.

These facts alone should make very clear why moves to get guys like Panarin should never get past the dream stage.
- Return of the Roar

Well laid out and I completely agree with your point. The only way Chicago can be a serious player come July 1st is they need to move out anisomov, saad and Keith.

And make some serious upfront changes .

Interesting fact:

Next summer, assuming no roster changes, the Hawks will have a little over $19MM in cap space, according to CapFriendly today.

But with only 13 players under contract....one goalie (CC), 4 D, (Keith Murphy Seabrook and Gus), and 9 forwards (Kane, Toews, AA, Saad, Kahun, Strome, ADB, Caggiula, and Hayden)

And, Delia, Kampf, Perlini, Sikura, Forsling and Dahlstrom are all RFAs this summer, (with Delia, Kampf and likely Dahlstrom all getting some kind of raise), and ADB, Strome, Caggiula and Hayden all RFAs the following year (at minimum ADB gets a decent raise).

Don't kid yourself if you think they are still not going to be in cap hell, struggling to find serviceable talent for low wages over short terms. That $19MM in space allows less than $2MM per player to get to 23 WITHOUT raises to anyone they keep.

These facts alone should make very clear why moves to get guys like Panarin should never get past the dream stage.
- Return of the Roar

Slight adjustment to your numbers (but it certainly changes the conversation a bit), Jokiharju is a 5th defenseman under contract (and a nice one at that), that can play top 4. CapFriendly lists him as "on loan".

Totally agree. Not only should there be a like button, but there should be a dislike button.

They automatically be tallied for each post. So if you post something and 10 people hit the like button there is a "+10" is in the upper right hand corner of your post. If you post something and 15 people like your post and 50 people do not like your post there is a "-35" is in the upper right hand corner of your post.

It would be very informative and it might limit the string of senseless posts.

If they wanted to take it one step further they could accumulate the tallies for each poster. You could then see the posters that are most in sync with the feelings of the readers.

Advanced stats for posters. Why not?
- -Doh-

Then Tanner would say +/- is the worst stat in hockeybuzz

Well laid out and I completely agree with your point. The only way Chicago can be a serious player come July 1st is they need to move out anisomov, saad and Keith.

And make some serious upfront changes .
- Taylorst1

My big concern with moving out Saad is that you have to replace him in the top 6. In theory, sure throw some money at a FA and plug him in. The problem comes when we have to actually convince the FA to play for us over the other teams (with similar offers).

I'm not down on Saad nearly as much as many here. He has times where he plays better or worse, but overall I like what he brings to the team.

I don't like the idea of bringing Little Arty back either and think the money could be better spent...but to your other point they will have money and are hardly in Cap Hell.

Of all the guys you mention, right now only DeBrincat might get a significant bump.
- HawkintheD

IMO if their serious about winning and addressing their upfront top 6 , then Stan needs to move out at minimum Keith and anisomov to have any chance at either a stone , Duchene, Skinner, PANARIN

All 4 of those players are a complete upgrade.

Saad is to inconsistent and he could be useful in moving either Keith or Seabrook in a package .

My big concern with moving out Saad is that you have to replace him in the top 6. In theory, sure throw some money at a FA and plug him in. The problem comes when we have to actually convince the FA to play for us over the other teams (with similar offers).

I'm not down on Saad nearly as much as many here. He has times where he plays better or worse, but overall I like what he brings to the team.
- Chunk

Yeah but if Stan takes that type of approach then for sure he won't get anyone, if he moves out some serious contracts it will I believe make a statement that he is a serious player in free agency.


Saad useless I watched him get knocked off the puck last night.

Talk about soft.

Any Leaf fans/followers here? How do Jake Gardiner and Duncan Keith compare TODAY? I know their point totals are close, but as players and what they bring to the team overall. Just trying to figure out if that would be one way to go in a trade.

I know about the difference in term, and the NMC, and the likelihood is low regardless.