Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh just starting on NBCSN.
- boilermaker100

TB down 3-zip in the 1st. With the fragile Matt Murray in goal this one ain't close to being over.

Al is not a fraud.
- TrueGrit

Of course he isn't, that's my point. Helluva hockey mind and a great resource for a fan of the Hawks.

If he says VAN and the Hawks have talked Keith they have.

Consider this: Wirtz owned Blackhawks going as far back as Pulford run affairs....always wanted to be competitive. They also wanted fans in the stands.
- jhawk59

Man, I still remember Pulford offer sheeting Keith Tkachuk. One of the gutsier moves of the organization, too bad Winnipeg matched. Actually seems it would have costed 5 1st round picks back then. Well, looking at those picks from '95-'00 makes me sick to my stomach. Bell was OK I guess....

Of course he isn't, that's my point. Helluva hockey mind and a great resource for a fan of the Hawks.

If he says VAN and the Hawks have talked Keith they have.
- Mr Ricochet

10-4

Sorry missed the prelude.

Of course he isn't, that's my point. Helluva hockey mind and a great resource for a fan of the Hawks.

If he says VAN and the Hawks have talked Keith they have.
- Mr Ricochet

The thing about reports that GMs talked about a player could mean anything from working on details of a pending trade to something along the lines where one GM asks the other GM if they would be interested in so and so and the other GM says no. Technically they talked about the player but it isn't going to go anywhere.

TB down 3-zip in the 1st. With the fragile Matt Murray in goal this one ain't close to being over.
- Mr Ricochet

Big 2 man pk by TB. Could shift the momentum.

I know that there are some waiting practicly with baited breathe for at least one Blackhawk trade. One major trade especially gets their imagination running at high speed.

After being through this situation with your favorite team or looking with a passing interest which is more out of curiosity than anything else when it comes to other teams, we are able to decipher a few things. It allows us to stand on firm ground and accept that maybe that great prospect or moving D Keith is not happening. At least not yet.

Consider this: Wirtz owned Blackhawks going as far back as Pulford run affairs....always wanted to be competitive. They also wanted fans in the stands.

Move Keith and the dmen remaing at least this season have to step up a spot in the rotation. In short, the blueline corps is not going to manage really well. More like on the porous side of being even acceptable. This is in regards to the three pairs employed, not just Murphy or the gambler Gus.

We should also temper our enthusiasm for some of these kids coming in like a mythical savior riding a white horse...victories are not going to be easy when you trade your most capable dman. Notice that I choose "most capable" because Keith on this team right now is really all about whom can carry the load as the top dman

Keith may not be performing like an all star but we need him now because no one else fills well the void once he is shipped away. Murphy yes YES okay he is solid enough but he is more like your solid second pair guy.

I say the thing you want most whether you trade Keith now or down the road, is the best prospect or highest draft pick coming out way.

In that Leafs trade they received Toronto #1. Wahoo. A late first round. Not a likely star, but maybe a solid NHL player usually is the good outcome of that late a pick. Think Danault or the middling ( but higher slot choice) E Moreau.

I do not want three players if I was LA.....I want a more likely really good player from an earlier #1 or a blue chip prospect.

When I asked wiz earlier this season what to expect from Bowman once he starts moving players, wiz said try for #2 round as renumeration. So there is that to chew on.

That might be for Gus.
I think a #3 is fair for AA. He does carry a higher salary.

If you are really high on some of these Blackhawk prospects, maybe some of them should not be rushed but play at AHL and do well/gain confidance there. Think Forsling and Jokiharju should play a lot in Rockford while we give Koekoek a fair trial and give some youngsters like Carlsson a cup of coffee.

All with Keith here until one of the kids steps up and shows he can be a top two pair. That means Keith is here probably at least to next trade 2020 deadline. And if by then Keith is not as highly valued or sought by other teams, so be it.
- jhawk59

Finally, some sense on a Blackhawk blog. Good on you sir!

Big 2 man pk by TB. Could shift the momentum.
- boilermaker100

Not if the Lightning insist on being stupid. PE will tell you the Pens get all the calls. Should be fun cause they pissed Malkin off.

Man, I still remember Pulford offer sheeting Keith Tkachuk. One of the gutsier moves of the organization, too bad Winnipeg matched. Actually seems it would have costed 5 1st round picks back then. Well, looking at those picks from '95-'00 makes me sick to my stomach. Bell was OK I guess....
- DrewDawg

How about the so called kid line: Bell, Arnason, Calder.

We appear to have a tremendously deeper, better quality prospect pool going forward.

Hanging on to Keith and Seabrook does not help this team nor does it get this team any closer to contending again. Prospects, picks and cap space to fully utilize however Chicago feels is necessary.

Even Toews should be considered in a trade if the offer is huge.

A salary cap that rises on average of 2.8 million a year is not enough to cover future players salaries if your holding onto 2 well past their prime defenseman who eat up over 12 million. Chicago can't do anything unless they agree to a trade and if they do that limits Chicago's option for a return.
- Taylorst1

Here we go again with the same ship. ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE NMC!!!!!!!!
There leaving when they want more a less where they want IF THEY WANT.

Stan would get a 3rd for Keith, maybe a 2nd if he retained salary.
- DarthKane

you are right Darth, I'm liberal but gesus some of the crowd here really overstate value of our assets. there is a reason why we want to move about ten out

Keith if traded is going to a contender or closer to home to be with his kid. Next few should be interesting bowman job is on the line so we'll see he pull off something be nice to get another 1st round pick. Hypothetical. Keith to Vancouver for 1st granlund and lind or depeitro.

The thing about reports that GMs talked about a player could mean anything from working on details of a pending trade to something along the lines where one GM asks the other GM if they would be interested in so and so and the other GM says no. Technically they talked about the player but it isn't going to go anywhere.
- EbonyRaptor

No doubt, and IMO if I'm VAN I don't want Keith if I'm looking for a Dman. Doesn't mean they don't want him and considering how poor their D is (Luke Schenn, Stetcher, Hutton, Gudbranson, Pouliot, Tanev) you just never know.

Good point about zone starts, this is where LBR was helpful digging inside the numbers 9 steps to give context to a fancy stat.

Murphy has an incredible 65% non offensive zone start and Dahlstrom an even tougher 66% non offensive zone start................. Indeed they are used in a shutdown role.
- Mr Ricochet

I miss LBR. I wish she'd come back.

I miss LBR. I wish she'd come back.
- tvetter

tru dat

How about the so called kid line: Bell, Arnason, Calder.

We appear to have a tremendously deeper, better quality prospect pool going forward.
- jhawk59

The hawks could use a guy like Calder. He regularly went into a corner with 2 or 3 opposing players and came away with the puck. And he could win a faceoff. He was never fast, but he had skills that would be welcome.

The hawks could use a guy like Calder. He regularly went into a corner with 2 or 3 opposing players and came away with the puck. And he could win a faceoff. He was never fast, but he had skills that would be welcome.
- 6628

The ABC Line era also included Daze and Ruutu. Never cared for Arnason but wonder how Calder and Bell would have fared if they were properly slotted as 3rd liners rather than top 6 due to lack of elite forwards. Consider that along with a hypothetical scenario of Daze and Ruutu having clean bills of health, would they fit in with today's top 6?

Saad - Toews - Daze
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane
Ruutu - Calder - Bell
Perlini - Kampf - Caggiula

I remember before Ruutu made his debut, he was considered in some hockey circles as the best player not in the NHL. Loved the way he played but just wasn't consistent enough and had his ailments.

The ABC Line era also included Daze and Ruutu. Never cared for Arnason but wonder how Calder and Bell would have fared if they were properly slotted as 3rd liners rather than top 6 due to lack of elite forwards. Consider that along with a hypothetical scenario of Daze and Ruutu having clean bills of health, would they fit in with today's top 6?

Saad - Toews - Daze
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane
Ruutu - Calder - Bell
Perlini - Kampf - Caggiula

I remember before Ruutu made his debut, he was considered in some hockey circles as the best player not in the NHL. Loved the way he played but just wasn't consistent enough and had his ailments.
- AEL_Fox

Bell had a great snap shot, but all he did was stand around waiting for a pass. Mostly he was useless. Arnason wasn't all he was cracked up to be.

you are right Darth, I'm liberal but gesus some of the crowd here really overstate value of our assets. there is a reason why we want to move about ten out
- holyJumpin_NL

Keith is worth far more on the Hawks then any return Stan would get for him.

Bell had a great snap shot, but all he did was stand around waiting for a pass. Mostly he was useless. Arnason wasn't all he was cracked up to be.
- 6628

Sullivan and Daze had some point scoring capability. Lots of lean years and far too much poor first round drafts into the 2000's. Uncle Dale made some poor choices.
Later I always wondered who gets credit for Versteeg coming over from the B's. Did Tallon scout him but it was Dudley's find? Versteeg wasn't all that good but he looked promising his first two years. Originally he was a dman in junior.

And Doug Lecuyer could shoot from either side. What a disappointment, E Sanipass. I better stop before it sounds like a soap opera on ice.

Keith is worth far more on the Hawks then any return Stan would get for him.
- DarthKane

Bottom line correct. For once no sarcasm Darth.

Bottom line correct. For once no sarcasm Darth.
- jhawk59

I know.... it feels strange.

Tie up cap space? Apparently im missing something if they are rebuilding what difference does it make if he holds out for the best deal? I guess Blake determined what Muzzin was worth and felt the deal was fair, from now till the trade deadline will all playoff dmen stay healthy? I guess Blake figured they all will. I wonder if he even shopped him around the league? You assume yes but i don't know? I think he was scared he wouldn't get another offer like that, and let fear make his decision for him.
- BetweenTheDots

The odds of Muzzin or any other non-playoff team d-man staying healthy until the trade deadline are the same as for a playoff team d-man, aren't they?

Trade 'em before they get injured.

I know.... it feels strange.
- DarthKane

New year's resolution?

Sullivan and Daze had some point scoring capability. Lots of lean years and far too much poor first round drafts into the 2000's. Uncle Dale made some poor choices.
Later I always wondered who gets credit for Versteeg coming over from the B's. Did Tallon scout him but it was Dudley's find? Versteeg wasn't all that good but he looked promising his first two years. Originally he was a dman in junior.

And Doug Lecuyer could shoot from either side. What a disappointment, E Sanipass. I better stop before it sounds like a soap opera on ice.
- jhawk59

Sanipass started the greatest brawl ever. World junior tournament Canada vs Russia. They had to turn out the lights to stop it, and when they turned them back on there were several Russians still laying on the ice. He once was stretching while slowly skating before practice with his stick behind his head. He tripped and drove his nose into the ice breaking the hell out of it all by himself. That guy was a piece of work.