Hey Rain, would you include Toews, or Kane in these discussions? In general, my mantra is that you can trade anyone as long as the return is worth it. The return would have to be huge in my book for either of those two.
- Chunk

My only untouchables would be Kane and DeBrincat at this point.

I think Strome is somebody to build off of.

I would definitely listen on 2,7,19,20 and I think 2,19,20 would have potential to bring back the largest packages. I just dont' see how they escape 7's deal and not take back a steaming pile of high priced crap. I would rather stay with what we know, then get a guy who is possibly worse.

hawks are in a tough spot. No question.

The guy I would love to see them deal is Saad. Sorry.....I remember what a beast he was in 2015 but that guy is long gone. Now we have an overpriced guy who sometimes shows up, but mainly is a ghost.....not for 6 AAV. Sure an eastern conference team looking to add some depth scoring and a guy with a playoff resume would be interested.

- DarthKane

That's where my bewilderment came from.

In terms of who to recall from Rockford if that's coming up:

- If a center, then Johnson or Nilsson; my guess is Johnson.
- If a winger, then Knott but could see Colliton wanting Fortin again.
- If the best player available, then Sikura.

If a total recall, then this guy:


- AEL_Fox

You're on fire with pics and gifs today. You're giving DK and me a run for our money, haha.

I wrote a paper for college on my pet turtles, descriptive essay. I got a thumbs up for my title, Turtle Recall.

What the flying heck?

Mark Lazerus‏Verified account @MarkLazerus · 15m15 minutes ago

Perlini takes Kampf's spot, with Kruger moving to center. Forsling in for Dahlstrom. Delia in net.

So Saad-Kruger-Perlini
Kunitz-AA-Hayden?
- Chunk

Or

Saad-Kruger-Hayden
Perlini-Anisimov-Kunitz

What the flying heck?

Mark Lazerus‏Verified account @MarkLazerus · 15m15 minutes ago

Perlini takes Kampf's spot, with Kruger moving to center. Forsling in for Dahlstrom. Delia in net.

So Saad-Kruger-Perlini
Kunitz-AA-Hayden?
- Chunk

After tonight, Hawks off til Sunday. Possibly Kane to be double shifted some with about 28 minutes TOI.

My only untouchables would be Kane and DeBrincat at this point.

I think Strome is somebody to build off of.

I would definitely listen on 2,7,19,20 and I think 2,19,20 would have potential to bring back the largest packages. I just dont' see how they escape 7's deal and not take back a steaming pile of high priced crap. I would rather stay with what we know, then get a guy who is possibly worse.

hawks are in a tough spot. No question.

The guy I would love to see them deal is Saad. Sorry.....I remember what a beast he was in 2015 but that guy is long gone. Now we have an overpriced guy who sometimes shows up, but mainly is a ghost.....not for 6 AAV. Sure an eastern conference team looking to add some depth scoring and a guy with a playoff resume would be interested.
- SteveRain

In general, I am with you on most of this. I just don't think you get rid of Toews unless you have a real #1 center on the team behind him. They are not easy to find.

Be interesting to see the bottom six tonight.

Saad - AA - Perlini
Hayden - Kruger - Kunitz???

I don't pay attention to sides, so not sure if that even works. I kind of would like to see Saad - AA - Hayden for half a game just to see if they could pin teams in their own zone.
- Chunk

Wouldn't mind seeing Martinssen brought up and paired with Hayden and Kruger. Don't think he's part of the Hawks future, but maybe a decent spot to showcase him.

This is where my head is at with how the Hawks may be proceeding with the approaching TDL and fight for a playoff berth. Stay the course with deals they were expected or at least rumored to make prior to the surge, i.e. trading off Kunitz, Kruger, maybe Hayden. Any big moves will be this summer. And any surprise moves would be of the no brainer, win-win hockey trade variety.

With the Hawks surging and not far behind a wildcard spot, generally try to win with who you have now on the roster with tinkering around the edges (see above). This would give the youth the experience to be in the hunt, and if fortunate to get in to the tourney, experience to be in the playoffs. That will make them hungrier for years moving forward, regardless of whether or not they make the dance.


- AEL_Fox

I'm ok with Deila playing as Crawford continues to battle concussion issues and they need to find a long term solution there. Either in house and cheap, or they are going to have to get creative and make a trade or spend money in free agency.

However to continue to bank on CC at this point, is not a reliable option. I hope CC finds a way back and if not, go retire and enjoy your life. Nothing else to prove.

100% with you on everything else......they have won 5 straight and that's great....but they still need to leap frog 5 teams. Very tough to do. A loss, and a few wins by teams in front of them with games in hand and it separates very quickly.

Stay the course....shop whoever you can for the best long term deal.

In general, I am with you on most of this. I just don't think you get rid of Toews unless you have a real #1 center on the team behind him. They are not easy to find.
- Chunk

I don't disagree but Toews at times is very erratic. Do we know, or better yet, do the HAWKS truly know this IS the Toews they should expect or is the guy from the last 2 years?

That;s my beef there. It would take a lot to move Toews, but I wouldn't hang up the phone on another GM like I would if they called about Kane.

You're on fire with pics and gifs today. You're giving DK and me a run for our money, haha.

I wrote a paper for college on my pet turtles, descriptive essay. I got a thumbs up for my title, Turtle Recall.
- I Am The Breadman

I got a new gif machine from Amazon this morning so just testing it out.

Awesome title for your essay!

I'm ok with Deila playing as Crawford continues to battle concussion issues and they need to find a long term solution there. Either in house and cheap, or they are going to have to get creative and make a trade or spend money in free agency.

However to continue to bank on CC at this point, is not a reliable option. I hope CC finds a way back and if not, go retire and enjoy your life. Nothing else to prove.

100% with you on everything else......they have won 5 straight and that's great....but they still need to leap frog 5 teams. Very tough to do. A loss, and a few wins by teams in front of them with games in hand and it separates very quickly.

Stay the course....shop whoever you can for the best long term deal.
- SteveRain

I don't think Cro will retire and walk away from $6 milliion. Would any of us?

Unfortunately, I think the Hawks will be in the same goalie predicament as this year.

Is Crawford going to be fully recovered from his latest concussion to play next year?

If so, Crawford and Delia splitting duties maybe 50-50.

If not, do the Hawks sign a veteran for a year as insurance ala Ward this year, or start the season with a young Delia/Forsberg-Laniken duo until/if Cro returns.

I got a new gif machine from Amazon this morning so just testing it out.

Awesome title for your essay!
- AEL_Fox

Very, very nice!

Thanks.

I'm ok with Deila playing as Crawford continues to battle concussion issues and they need to find a long term solution there. Either in house and cheap, or they are going to have to get creative and make a trade or spend money in free agency.

However to continue to bank on CC at this point, is not a reliable option. I hope CC finds a way back and if not, go retire and enjoy your life. Nothing else to prove.

100% with you on everything else......they have won 5 straight and that's great....but they still need to leap frog 5 teams. Very tough to do. A loss, and a few wins by teams in front of them with games in hand and it separates very quickly.

Stay the course....shop whoever you can for the best long term deal.
- SteveRain

Yeah, even with the news that Crawford is practicing here and there, I'm not banking on him to be the starter anytime soon.

May be far from the ideal tandem but, again, try to win with what they have now including in net. Address the goalie situation this summer.

What the flying heck?

Mark Lazerus‏Verified account @MarkLazerus · 15m15 minutes ago

Perlini takes Kampf's spot, with Kruger moving to center. Forsling in for Dahlstrom. Delia in net.

So Saad-Kruger-Perlini
Kunitz-AA-Hayden?
- Chunk

To me this a good thing, they are focusing on themselves and trying to figure out what they have. This is exactly what i want them to continue to do. I was wondering when i was going to see Forsling on the left side.

Watched him struggle horribly his first year and then gave him another shot after he stayed in Raleigh all summer to work with the team trainers and goalie coaches every day.

Then he was even worse.
- BINGO!

Time for new trainers and Goalie coach?

Very interesting read on the tax ramifications of Austin Matthews signing bonus laden contract:

http://www.mondaq.com/can...ts+And+Scores+Tax+Savings

Time for new trainers and Goalie coach?
- powerenforcer

They're both new. Goalie coach was the Pens guy a couple years ago when they won the cup.

They're both new. Goalie coach was the Pens guy a couple years ago when they won the cup.
- BINGO!

Maybe it's more mental and he needs a sports psychologist. I wish him the best.

I was also thinking for next year
Keith Joki
Dahlstrom Murphy
Gusto and Seabs/Boqvist?


Then you have a pipeline of defensive prospects. This is interesting how all of this unfolds. How long before 7 does become a healthy scratch

I heard somewhere Joki wants to play in the NHL so bad he worked his ass off over the summer. Gotten a taste of it i have to believe he will do it again and hopefully he will be a permanent fixture in the Hawks line up.

Can you imagine Strome, Cat and Kahun working out in the off season and coming back next year, this line is producing already just from Cats and Stromes chemistry.

I really questioned the FA signings by Bowman especially Manning, but this team is beginning to show some promise.

100% agreed. They are 3 points from the 2nd wild card spot and 3 points from the Kings for last place. They have to leap frog 5 teams and only Vancouver has played as many games as the Hawks.. The other 4 teams have games in hand.

So while it's exciting to see them play exciting hockey, the young guys develop, it's hard to think the playoffs are a reality. Especially when you have the worst the PK in the league and are close to the bottom in goals against per game.

Sell the veterans you can to clear cap room, take on younger players and picks, and don't lose sight of what this team really is......not a true bottom feeder, but not a playoff team either.

The last this team needs is Stanley dumping picks and prospects to Philly for Wayne Simmonds.

28 games to go.....95 points usually gets you in...so the Hawks need to average 1.57 pts a game the rest of the way.
- SteveRain

yep...they can score and the pp has been resurrected from the dead...the pk: they have real tough time getting to pucks and making clears, watching seabs skate in sand chasing a puck is


poor shot blocking and really poor defending the slot and when the puck is behind their net

ducks have imploded, wild just lost koivu and cant score, the oil can't play defense, the nucks are nothing special...

just ugh

To me this a good thing, they are focusing on themselves and trying to figure out what they have. This is exactly what i want them to continue to do. I was wondering when i was going to see Forsling on the left side.
- BetweenTheDots

Good point. I fall into the same issue I warn others about (especially before the deadline), don't be surprised with some of the lineups that they trot out.

Very interesting read on the tax ramifications of Austin Matthews signing bonus laden contract:

http://www.mondaq.com/can...ts+And+Scores+Tax+Savings
- walleyeb1

Is there a readers digest version? Glad I am not a CPA...

Very interesting read on the tax ramifications of Austin Matthews signing bonus laden contract:

http://www.mondaq.com/can...ts+And+Scores+Tax+Savings
- walleyeb1

I may be wrong but he'll still get taxed around 37%, interesting how they side step the Canadian tax by giving him the bonus.

I guess they don't have to give Marner the bonus since he's Canadian but if i were his agent I'd want all that cash up front as well.

Holy poop the Canadian tax rate tops out 53%, damn

yep...they can score and the pp has been resurrected from the dead...the pk: they have real tough time getting to pucks and making clears, watching seabs skate in sand chasing a puck is


poor shot blocking and really poor defending the slot and when the puck is behind their net

ducks have imploded, wild just lost koivu and cant score, the oil can't play defense, the nucks are nothing special...

just ugh
- bogiedoc

the west bottom teams are big pile of steaming crap

Was hoping for a lottery pick....still holding out hopes.