Justin Lowe: Back to Work… Kinda The All-Star festivities have wrapped up and the Blackhawks get back to work – well kind of. They are actually off until Friday as they entire they "off-week".

Patrick Kane was the lone representative in San Jose and it looked like fun was had by all.

Who watched the game? The Skills Competition? If you watched it, what were your thoughts?

Justin Lowe: Back to Work… Kinda

- Justin Lowe

So is the gov't...kinda...

So is the gov't...kinda...
- DeflatedPucks

It works both ways.

Here's the Hawk 2nd unit power play in a couple of years - Kahun, Kurashev, Kubalik, Koekkoek, and hopefully Kakko.

Here's the Hawk 2nd unit power play in a couple of years - Kahun, Kurashev, Kubalik, Koekkoek, and hopefully Kakko.
- boilermaker100

One can only hope that Kunitz can get a late round pick, and he'd want to go to that team for a last chance at a Cup. I hope that's not too far-fetched.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves on cleaning house, how many more players can the Hawks call up from Rockford this season? I seem to remember there was some rule limiting how many times a team can call players up from the farm system.

The All-Star weekend is a complete waste of time. How about this instead? Have the NHL guys (plus some USA/Canada women) do the skills competition. Then, for the game, assemble 2 teams from the top prospects of the next summer’s draft, and have them play an actual, competitive hockey game, with 3 periods of actual hockey. It would be much better than the sh*t show the NHL puts on in prime time.

I don't think the Hawks make any major moves before the TDL.
1) Maybe AA, but if they do that I doubt they get anything better than a 3rd round pick or "B" level prospect.
2) They might try to move Kunitz and Kruger for a late round pick or "B" level prospect.
3) They probably have to move 1 or 2 Dmen. Joki is the future. Seabs contract is untradeable, Murphy and Keith are bargains and cost controlled. Gus has too much potential. So I would think Forsling is the odd man out. He might get you a 4th round pick.
4) They could take on a rental with a high salary in order to pick up a prospect or pick in the deal

My fear is that the Hawks play just well enough the remainder of this year to move out of the top 5 in the draft.

The All-Star weekend is a complete waste of time. How about this instead? Have the NHL guys (plus some USA/Canada women) do the skills competition. Then, for the game, assemble 2 teams from the top prospects of the next summer’s draft, and have them play an actual, competitive hockey game, with 3 periods of actual hockey. It would be much better than the sh*t show the NHL puts on in prime time.
- scottak

Then, for the game, assemble 2 teams from the top prospects of the next summer’s draft, and have them play an actual, competitive hockey game, with 3 periods of actual hockey

This already exists in the Cherry/Orr game. 40 CHL draft eligible prospects.

The all-star game will never be competitive, it has no reason to be. Its for the kids.

From previous blog I posted:

1. toews, kane, crow...abs not happening
2. seab...not happening with that contract
3. keith: ya don't move a future HOFer at the TDL and he won't approve it and they won't ask
4. arte: 2 yeras left; tough to move guys with years left at the TDL; 20% chance
5. kunitz = who cares, what are they going to get a 2025 7th round pick
6. ward = nope not with crow out; unless some playoff team is in desperate of a backup and he approves

i don't see the hawks making a big TDL splash; maybe a young dman or 2 are moved

post season trade fireworks are inevitable
- bogiedoc


another poster responded:
In regards to number 3-
A) plenty of future HOF have gotten moved at the deadline. Hell it even happened to Gretzky
B) You KNOW he won’t approve a trade? Has he actually said this?
C) you KNOW the Hawks won’t ask him? They actually said this?

my follow-up response:
everyone trots out the gretsky trade: he wanted to be moved and oil management wanted to move him and that NHL is not todays NHL

i did not say "I know"; i was speculating like everyone else...reading hawk management they want keith, seab, toews, kane and prob crow to retire as hawks

i am not aware of him expressing anything about staying or asking for a trade; nor if the hawks have asked him...

it is my opinion that players of keiths accomplishments with contract years remaining do not want move at TDL; that is why i am skeptical that he would approve a trade and and i don't think the hawks want to move him...

now they get deal they like and a team keith approves...ok then he is gone; just saying its very unlikely...

post season moving keith, seab or saad has higher probability; crow with his injury is untradeable at this point.

From previous blog I posted:

1. toews, kane, crow...abs not happening
2. seab...not happening with that contract
3. keith: ya don't move a future HOFer at the TDL and he won't approve it and they won't ask
4. arte: 2 yeras left; tough to move guys with years left at the TDL; 20% chance
5. kunitz = who cares, what are they going to get a 2025 7th round pick
6. ward = nope not with crow out; unless some playoff team is in desperate of a backup and he approves

i don't see the hawks making a big TDL splash; maybe a young dman or 2 are moved

post season trade fireworks are inevitable
- bogiedoc


another poster responded:
In regards to number 3-
A) plenty of future HOF have gotten moved at the deadline. Hell it even happened to Gretzky
B) You KNOW he won’t approve a trade? Has he actually said this?
C) you KNOW the Hawks won’t ask him? They actually said this?

my follow-up response:
everyone trots out the gretsky trade: he wanted to be moved and oil management wanted to move him and that NHL is not todays NHL

i did not say "I know"; i was speculating like everyone else...reading hawk management they want keith, seab, toews, kane and prob crow to retire as hawks

i am not aware of him expressing anything about staying or asking for a trade; nor if the hawks have asked him...

it is my opinion that players of keiths accomplishments with contract years remaining do not want move at TDL; that is why i am skeptical that he would approve a trade and and i don't think the hawks want to move him...

now they get deal they like and a team keith approves...ok then he is gone; just saying its very unlikely...

post season moving keith, seab or saad has higher probability; crow with his injury is untradeable at this point.
- bogiedoc

With Keith, given his competitive nature, asking if he would waive his NTC to go to Toronto or say Calgary and win a cup, would not rub him the wrong way.

I watched most of the all-star game on Saturday. I liked the puck trails, the ice time stats, and the bubbles with the names of the players on the ice. The puck trails were way better than the last time they tried that, and made tracking the puck much easier.

Supposedly, all of these extra additions is going into full effect next season? If so, does that start to make the play-by-play announcer kind of expendable? I mean if you can see who is who, and follow everything, there isn't a need for a play-by-play person, just two color analysts discussing the game and pointing out certain plays and stats.

Then, for the game, assemble 2 teams from the top prospects of the next summer’s draft, and have them play an actual, competitive hockey game, with 3 periods of actual hockey

This already exists in the Cherry/Orr game. 40 CHL draft eligible prospects.

The all-star game will never be competitive, it has no reason to be. Its for the kids.
- lonnyBohonos

But almost nobody in the USA watches the Cherry/Orr game. I’d wager that casual NHL fans in the States have no idea it exists. Give it a big stage.

And screw the kids. They can watch the skills.

If no one moves off of the current roster (other than UFA's Kunitz, Kruger, and Ward) and Crawford is healthy enough to play next year the Hawks have committed $60,755,128 to 15 players. They probably will try to resign RFA's Kampf and Delia. Being generous that is another $4 mil. If they do not trade RFA Forsling, he will be another $2 mil. So you are up to 18 players and $67 mil. If you draft in the top 5 you may get a player that can make the NHL roster on an entry level contract of $1mil. So then you have 19 players at roughly $68 mil. You do not have enough room to sign a stud forward for $8 to 9 mil and a top 4 defender for $6.5mil. You have enough money to sign one or the other. Not both.

So you trade AA and Forsling for draft picks. The cap savings is $6.5mil. That allows you to get the stud forward and top 4 defender that you need.

That would give you 19 players at $76 mil. If the cap stays at $79.5 mil. You have about $3mil to fill out the roster (Perlini, Dahlstrom, Sikura, or the like.)

Git er done Stan.

Can we talk about that highlight package for Kubalik for a second...

I know it's a bigger ice sheet, but he's got some eyes. Some of those are Kane-like passes. Also, hard low shot from the top of the circle. I wonder what the Kings didn't see. I know it's edited and maybe he doesn't play defense, but man, those highlights were on fire.

And speaking of fire...does anyone know why some of the sweaters and helmets were different with fire logos/prints on them? I could probably research, but y'know...lazy.

EDIT: Never mind...I bit the bullet. Here's what they are:

Top Scorer
You may have heard of European clubs and leagues giving a leading scorer a gold helmet to wear during games to award the player, but the Swiss National Leagues take it a step further. Since 2002, the National Leagues (A and B) top scorers on each team have worn a flaming helmet and jersey with TOP SCORER written in big font on the back. While these players look ridiculous, it's all for a good cause and growing hockey in Switzerland as for each point the top scorer gets means money donated to junior hockey in Switzerland. Since 2002, over 3 million Swiss francs have been raised for Swiss youth hockey which is pretty awesome despite having to look like a jackass in the process.

Justin Lowe: Back to Work… Kinda
The All-Star festivities have wrapped up and the Blackhawks get back to work – well kind of. They are actually off until Friday as they entire they "off-week".

Patrick Kane was the lone representative in San Jose and it looked like fun was had by all.

Who watched the game? The Skills Competition? If you watched it, what were your thoughts?
- Justin Lowe

I never watch the skills competition. Watched some of the all star game, eh it was okay, honestly they should just get rid of it all together rather see a Blackhawks game, even if they suck. With HD TV don't need the puck tracer, hated the name icons.

Justin Lowe: Back to Work… Kinda
The All-Star festivities have wrapped up and the Blackhawks get back to work – well kind of. They are actually off until Friday as they entire they "off-week".

Patrick Kane was the lone representative in San Jose and it looked like fun was had by all.

Who watched the game? The Skills Competition? If you watched it, what were your thoughts?
- Justin Lowe

I remember the format from the pre 1968 expansion years. It was the previous year's Stanley Cup champion versus the all-stars from the other 5 teams. I think they played the game prior to the start of the next regular season.

With Keith, given his competitive nature, asking if he would waive his NTC to go to Toronto or say Calgary and win a cup, would not rub him the wrong way.
- nickmo2699

The problem is I don’t see how either of those teams could afford him due to their cap situation going forward.

Hey Justin. Another good blog.

here is how I see it shaking out.

Hawks make a couple of small moves before the deadline. Maybe Hayden, Kruger, even Kunitz....but nothing like a Seabrook or Keith or any other bigger piece.

I think they wait until the off-season. They see the status of Crawford. If he is LTIR they will have oodles of Cap $$$ to re-stock in the off-season. They will also have an opportunity to see if Keith has any suitors out there. (Nice if it was Seabrook, but can't see it getting done with that contract....unless a bad deal for bad deal kinda thing. i.e L\ucic for Seabrook...yuck).

But bottom line. I expect very little to happen over the next seveAL weeks. Just don't see the fit anywhere.

Now....it IS possible a contender gets trigger happy and gives up a good package for Keith (Leafs?). But, I wouldn't hold my breath.

We head into the summer with much the same roster we have now....but, several moves will be made in the off-season.

Just my take......what y'all think??

The problem is I don’t see how either of those teams could afford him due to their cap situation going forward.
- walleyeb1

Fair enough. What bothers me is the narrative that the Hawks would not tell a player no matter who it is, that a major cup contender is reaching out for their services. Especially one that is nearing the end of his career on a rebuilding team that will now go two years in a row not making the playoffs. I find that to be an asinine thought.

If no one moves off of the current roster (other than UFA's Kunitz, Kruger, and Ward) and Crawford is healthy enough to play next year the Hawks have committed $60,755,128 to 15 players. They probably will try to resign RFA's Kampf and Delia. Being generous that is another $4 mil. If they do not trade RFA Forsling, he will be another $2 mil. So you are up to 18 players and $67 mil. If you draft in the top 5 you may get a player that can make the NHL roster on an entry level contract of $1mil. So then you have 19 players at roughly $68 mil. You do not have enough room to sign a stud forward for $8 to 9 mil and a top 4 defender for $6.5mil. You have enough money to sign one or the other. Not both.

So you trade AA and Forsling for draft picks. The cap savings is $6.5mil. That allows you to get the stud forward and top 4 defender that you need.

That would give you 19 players at $76 mil. If the cap stays at $79.5 mil. You have about $3mil to fill out the roster (Perlini, Dahlstrom, Sikura, or the like.)

Git er done Stan.
- -Doh-

The CAP has already been announced to be in the neighbourhood of 83 million.
That extra 3.5 mollion...(or so) goes a long way to securing an additional Top 6 or Top 4 D-man.

Hawks Cap situation is the best it has been in 5-8 years. They have the ability to manouver many different ways during this off-season....

Here's the Hawk 2nd unit power play in a couple of years - Kahun, Kurashev, Kubalik, Koekkoek, and hopefully Kakko.
- boilermaker100

lol....an announcers nightmare!!!!!

The CAP has already been announced to be in the neighbourhood of 83 million.
That extra 3.5 mollion...(or so) goes a long way to securing an additional Top 6 or Top 4 D-man.

Hawks Cap situation is the best it has been in 5-8 years. They have the ability to manouver many different ways during this off-season....
- hawk35

Even if the cap is at $83 mil they will need to move a decent sized contract (AA) to sign both a top forward ($9 mil) and a top 4 defender ($6.5mil) . Remember if cap increases each team will have more to spend, and the prices will increase accordingly. They are not going to use the increased cap space to throw more money at fringe players. The best players will get it.

Here's the Hawk 2nd unit power play in a couple of years - Kahun, Kurashev, Kubalik, Koekkoek, and hopefully Kakko.
- boilermaker100

please you are giving foley nightmares...

With Keith, given his competitive nature, asking if he would waive his NTC to go to Toronto or say Calgary and win a cup, would not rub him the wrong way.
- nickmo2699

i agree...but my over all point is; he is in control

and at this point i think the hawks want him and the he wants to stay...

but he doesn't have an expiring contract so exchanging him for just picks aint gonna cut it...

you have to get picks and a player or 2 that can contribute now