So Forsling off IR to become the 7th defenseman, or someone like Hillman or Carlsson brought up to see what they got?

As others posters have mentioned, it could be a combination of showcasing some of them for trade bait, or for evaluation purposes going forward. Hillman is a RFA and I'm sure management wants to know what they have with hm before he is resigned.

As for Joki, give him 20+ minutes a night in Rockford. The Hawks know what they have in him. He'll be in the big league lineup for years to come.

Also, it would be interesting to see what other team's scouts will be watching Hawk games leading up to the deadline.

One other thing about trading Keith...Mitchell idolizes Keith. If Keith is traded, does it lessen the chances of signing Mitchell?

Joki has played 37 games - isn't 40 games some significant number?

I think Joki's game has regressed a little since the first couple months of the season. It's not unusual for rookie players to hit a wall around half way through the season.

One other thing about trading Keith...Mitchell idolizes Keith. If Keith is traded, does it lessen the chances of signing Mitchell?
- tvetter

For sure. Don't underestimate the "Keith factor".

The rubbish that has been thrown Keith's way about being a "bad mentor" has been overblown. From what I've heard, the young guys LOVE being around him and learn a ton form a 2-time Norris Trophy winner like Keith.

He's not the most vocal guy at times but the way he goes about his business is something every athlete would admire.

The only whispers I heard is along with him being disappointed about the Q decision, he really wants to be with his kid more and more whom I took is out West quite a bit with his Ex.

Joki has played 37 games - isn't 40 games some significant number?

I think Joki's game has regressed a little since the first couple months of the season. It's not unusual for rookie players to hit a wall around half way through the season.
- EbonyRaptor

You thinking of the Seattle expansion draft? By the time that rolls along in the summer of 2021, Joki assuming he's still around will have completed his 3rd season, meaning he's eligible for the draft unless he's protected. Players with only 1 or 2 years of NHL experience are draft exempt.

If the Hawks opt to protect 3 d-men, they have to protect Seabs and Keith due to their NMC (unless they waive or are not around by then) and assume they will protect Joki. They have to expose a defenseman who is under contract for 21-22. Right now Murphy fits the bill.

The Hawks will practice in Buffalo today. I will be at the game tomorrow and looking forward to it.

I normally get to 2-3 games a year but it's been a hectic time in my life and kids are expensive... so this will be my first live game of the year.

You thinking of the Seattle expansion draft? By the time that rolls along in the summer of 2021, Joki assuming he's still around will have completed his 3rd season, meaning he's eligible for the draft unless he's protected. Players with only 1 or 2 years of NHL experience are draft exempt.

If the Hawks opt to protect 3 d-men, they have to protect Seabs and Keith due to their NMC (unless they waive or are not around by then) and assume they will protect Joki. They have to expose a defenseman who is under contract for 21-22. Right now Murphy fits the bill.
- boilermaker100

And if Forsling, Dahlstrom and Gustafsson are re-upped, they will be exposed as well as Murphy.

Maybe another reason to move Gustafsson while he's still cheap and his value is high.

Because if he keeps putting up numbers, his next contract might be $4M+. I personally wouldn't want to pay him that after watching his defensive effort on some nights.

You thinking of the Seattle expansion draft? By the time that rolls along in the summer of 2021, Joki assuming he's still around will have completed his 3rd season, meaning he's eligible for the draft unless he's protected. Players with only 1 or 2 years of NHL experience are draft exempt.

If the Hawks opt to protect 3 d-men, they have to protect Seabs and Keith due to their NMC (unless they waive or are not around by then) and assume they will protect Joki. They have to expose a defenseman who is under contract for 21-22. Right now Murphy fits the bill.
- boilermaker100

Maybe Stan can get creative and somehow - through trades or other moves - protect those he wants to protect.

Other GMs did it with VGK....

And if Forsling, Dahlstrom and Gustafsson are re-upped, they will be exposed as well as Murphy.

Maybe another reason to move Gustafsson while he's still cheap and his value is high.

Because if he keeps putting up numbers, his next contract might be $4M+. I personally wouldn't want to pay him that after watching his defensive effort on some nights.
- Justin Lowe

I agree. There will be a lot of roster changes made within the next couple of years so who knows who will be around to be draft eligible.

Probably getting ahead of the game, but 4 of the 7 protected forwards, my guess, would be Kane, Toews, Debrincat, Strome.

And if Forsling, Dahlstrom and Gustafsson are re-upped, they will be exposed as well as Murphy.

Maybe another reason to move Gustafsson while he's still cheap and his value is high.

Because if he keeps putting up numbers, his next contract might be $4M+. I personally wouldn't want to pay him that after watching his defensive effort on some nights.
- Justin Lowe

I believe if they are reupped for only 2 years, for 19-20 and 20-21 and are not under contract for 21-22 they are not eligible for the expansion draft. Of course they will be UFA's at the end of 20-21 and the Hawks may lose them to free agency.

The Hawks will practice in Buffalo today. I will be at the game tomorrow and looking forward to it.

I normally get to 2-3 games a year but it's been a hectic time in my life and kids are expensive... so this will be my first live game of the year.
- Justin Lowe

Hope you enjoy the game.

Maybe Stan can get creative and somehow - through trades or other moves - protect those he wants to protect.

Other GMs did it with VGK....
- StLBravesFan

And convince Seabrook to waive his NMC to become Seattle's captain. Hawks would have to add some sweeteners though to talk Seattle into drafting him.

I believe if they are reupped for only 2 years, for 19-20 and 20-21 and are not under contract for 21-22 they are not eligible for the expansion draft. Of course they will be UFA's at the end of 20-21 and the Hawks may lose them to free agency.
- boilermaker100

Ahhh correct... and that would be a wise move to create more flexibility for the expansion draft protected list for Stan.

And convince Seabrook to waive his NMC to become Seattle's captain. Hawks would have to add some sweeteners though to talk Seattle into drafting him.
- boilermaker100

If Quenneville is the coach... then maybe!

I think it'll be Dave Tippett though. He's already there as an advisor.

Joki had 5 points in his first 3 games of the season.

He's had 7 points in the other 34 games.

He wasn't getting the proper minutes anyways here. The team envisions him a big part of their future, and if he wasn't getting first-pairing minutes here, then he may as well get them in Rockford where he can develop further.

I have absolutely no qualms with sending him down. Let's see what the other pieces (namely Forsling) can bring to the table. Whenever a defense-man is inevitably moved, hopefully we see another kid (not Joki) up here for the remainder of the season on a trial basis (Mitchell possibly? Carlsson? Raddysh?).

For sure. Don't underestimate the "Keith factor".

The rubbish that has been thrown Keith's way about being a "bad mentor" has been overblown. From what I've heard, the young guys LOVE being around him and learn a ton form a 2-time Norris Trophy winner like Keith.

He's not the most vocal guy at times but the way he goes about his business is something every athlete would admire.

The only whispers I heard is along with him being disappointed about the Q decision, he really wants to be with his kid more and more whom I took is out West quite a bit with his Ex.
- Justin Lowe

The only people making up that Keith isnt a good teammate are those he spurned and didnt give an autograph or take a picture with.

The guy is a great pro and hes been helping Joki (Henri had even said sitting by him on planes has been awesome to learn from)...then JC stopped playing them together.

Imagine if Q (3x cup winning HOF coach), sent Joki down. Then the whine would have been "See, Q hates young players"

Maybe Stan can get creative and somehow - through trades or other moves - protect those he wants to protect.

Other GMs did it with VGK....
- StLBravesFan

What the other GM's found is that by trying to keep Vegas from drafting one guy, by giving Vegas draft choices or other players, they ended up screwing themselves and helped Vegas more (florida with Riley Smith, and Marchesseault, Wild with Alex Tuft, and 3 number 1 draft choices and 2 number 2's, they have Cody Glass, Suzuki and Branstrom in the pipeline, all #1's in 2017

You thinking of the Seattle expansion draft? By the time that rolls along in the summer of 2021, Joki assuming he's still around will have completed his 3rd season, meaning he's eligible for the draft unless he's protected. Players with only 1 or 2 years of NHL experience are draft exempt.

If the Hawks opt to protect 3 d-men, they have to protect Seabs and Keith due to their NMC (unless they waive or are not around by then) and assume they will protect Joki. They have to expose a defenseman who is under contract for 21-22. Right now Murphy fits the bill.
- boilermaker100

Maybe that's what is significant about 40 games played - it counts as 1 year (?) If that's true, then keeping him under 40 games this season will mean only next season and the season after would count as "years played" and it would be under 3 years played so they wouldn't have to protect him in the expansion draft.

Can someone with more knowledge how that works than me verify that?

You thinking of the Seattle expansion draft? By the time that rolls along in the summer of 2021, Joki assuming he's still around will have completed his 3rd season, meaning he's eligible for the draft unless he's protected. Players with only 1 or 2 years of NHL experience are draft exempt.

If the Hawks opt to protect 3 d-men, they have to protect Seabs and Keith due to their NMC (unless they waive or are not around by then) and assume they will protect Joki. They have to expose a defenseman who is under contract for 21-22. Right now Murphy fits the bill.
- boilermaker100

Very very good point, BM. I think the Hawks, and every organIzation, having been thru 1 expansion draft and learning from it will make roster decisions 2-3 yrs out with the expansion draft in mind.

Guys like Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell's NHL arrival date will possibly be delayed due to the expansion draft.

For sure. Don't underestimate the "Keith factor".

The rubbish that has been thrown Keith's way about being a "bad mentor" has been overblown. From what I've heard, the young guys LOVE being around him and learn a ton form a 2-time Norris Trophy winner like Keith.

He's not the most vocal guy at times but the way he goes about his business is something every athlete would admire.

The only whispers I heard is along with him being disappointed about the Q decision, he really wants to be with his kid more and more whom I took is out West quite a bit with his Ex.
- Justin Lowe

Sounds like his son is in school in BC based on a video his Keith Relief charity posted a couple of years ago. He helped construct a new playground for Colton's new school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALE8xOqJzvo

And on the right side where he belongs.
- Justin Lowe

I doubt it, they probably will keep him playing on the left to get more comfortable with it

And if Forsling, Dahlstrom and Gustafsson are re-upped, they will be exposed as well as Murphy.

Maybe another reason to move Gustafsson while he's still cheap and his value is high.

Because if he keeps putting up numbers, his next contract might be $4M+. I personally wouldn't want to pay him that after watching his defensive effort on some nights.
- Justin Lowe

Hope you've been taking notes, researching, networking and gathering info for an in depth blog on the expansion draft, what it means to the Hawks, how they might prepare for it (options) and the concerns of what player may be lost.

Finally the Hawks have top end prospects after 10 yrs and along comes an expansion draft.

Maybe that's what is significant about 40 games played - it counts as 1 year (?) If that's true, then keeping him under 40 games this season will mean only next season and the season after would count as "years played" and it would be under 3 years played so they wouldn't have to protect him in the expansion draft.

Can someone with more knowledge how that works than me verify that?
- EbonyRaptor

EB, check out this link.

https://www.wingingitinmo...n-draft-for-the-red-wings

There's a paragraph in italics about half way through which says for a 18-19 year old, 10 games played constitutes a season.

Maybe that's what is significant about 40 games played - it counts as 1 year (?) If that's true, then keeping him under 40 games this season will mean only next season and the season after would count as "years played" and it would be under 3 years played so they wouldn't have to protect him in the expansion draft.

Can someone with more knowledge how that works than me verify that?
- EbonyRaptor

https://www.nhl.com/news/...n-draft-rules/c-281010592

i) One defenseman who is a) under contract in 2017-18 and b) played in 40 or more NHL games the prior season OR played in 70 or more NHL games in the prior two seasons.

Joki has played 37 games - isn't 40 games some significant number?

I think Joki's game has regressed a little since the first couple months of the season. It's not unusual for rookie players to hit a wall around half way through the season.
- EbonyRaptor

I agree with you and I think it isn't a bad thing to let him get some AHL minutes. Curious to see just how well he does in Rockford.