Very possible. I'm not advocating that as a move it was just a suggested team.

The Isles are one to watch to add to their lineup as per the hockey insiders. Maybe they leave the goalie tandem amd add elsewhere but they have assets and money to acquire.
- Justin Lowe

Thoughts on offer sheeting Kevin Fiala at 2.3 per for 3 years?

Good afternoon DK. Not sure why you have something against Saad having 19 goals but he does, and did the other day when you said he had 17. Twenty five isn't a done deal but definitely within reach.

Actually at the time that deal was made, most thought it was a good deal. It was only after Saad had his worst season and Panarin his best when people began trying to categorize it as the worst in Hawk history, though it's still light years behind the Phil Esposito deal.

Edit - I also like how people look at only current playoff teams like CBJ and BOS as a measuring stick but ignore wins vs NYI, WAS and PGH.
- HawkintheD

Saad has been better, but is still an inferior player.

Breadman - 67 points in 55 games
Manchild - 34 points in 57 games



No worries, Breadman will be a Blackhawk again on 7/1

Good afternoon DK. Not sure why you have something against Saad having 19 goals but he does, and did the other day when you said he had 17. Twenty five isn't a done deal but definitely within reach.

Actually at the time that deal was made, most thought it was a good deal. It was only after Saad had his worst season and Panarin his best when people began trying to categorize it as the worst in Hawk history, though it's still light years behind the Phil Esposito deal.
- HawkintheD

Correct me if I am wrong, but Saad has accepted a leadership role on the third line making it dangerous. The puck runs thru him on that line and it has been fairly productive. Additionally, he kills penalties, plays PP and is responsible in his own end. Him playing the third line is not a demotion to me, it is indicative of his growth as a pro. As I have said for a long while now, the NHL is no longer about top 6, it is top 9. You need three lines that can score or play in the offensive zone.

Saad goes absolutely nowhere. He is part of the solution. Ironically, the optics of everything point to Panarin wanting to come to Chicago. Should that happen...

Unless I'm missing something, I don't see too many "quality dmen" who are UFAs. People have mentioned Stralman, and I suppose Tyler Myers would be an option. Who else (assuming Karlsson is off the table) is worth looking at?

If we go the "trade for a top 4 dman" route, the only team I see willing to do that would be Carolina, and they would probably ask for Saad.
- Ron Swanson

Just throwing this out there. What do you think the Coyotes would want for Hammer? He is signed for 2 more years at 5M which is what a UFA would cost and would be a veteran stay at home defenseman the Hawks need to stabilize their D.

Keith-Joki
Hammer-Koekkoek
Murphy-Dahlstrom
Seabrook

Include Forsling and or Gustaffson in trade back to ARI?

Just throwing this out there. What do you think the Coyotes would want for Hammer? He is signed for 2 more years at 5M which is what a UFA would cost and would be a veteran stay at home defenseman the Hawks need to stabilize their D.

Keith-Joki
Hammer-Koekkoek
Murphy-Dahlstrom
Seabrook

Include Forsling and or Gustaffson in trade back to ARI?
- boilermaker100

Murphy for Hjalmarsson.

The 2019 draft more closely resembles the 2018 draft at #1 + 2. Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick are solid 2nd liners, but not franchise changing players. That is what Hughes and Kappo are looking more like based on the scouting reports I'm reading.
- EnzoD

You meant 2017 and Canucks got superstar with that fifth pick Pettersson. I've seen Kakko enough to say that he has more potential than Rantanen. And Kakko might already be better than Kotkaniemi.

Murphy for Hjalmarsson.
- DarthKane

Then you can dress brookbank and play him on the wing....

You meant 2017 and Canucks got superstar with that fifth pick Pettersson. I've seen Kakko enough to say that he has more potential than Rantanen. And Kakko might already be better than Kotkaniemi.
- MjulQvist

You are proving my point that drafting 1 or 2 is not the only spot to draft elite impact players. Hawks likely end up #5-16 in the draft and can still add a high end forward talent to the prospect pool. Rantanen was #10 overall pick.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Saad has accepted a leadership role on the third line making it dangerous. The puck runs thru him on that line and it has been fairly productive. Additionally, he kills penalties, plays PP and is responsible in his own end. Him playing the third line is not a demotion to me, it is indicative of his growth as a pro. As I have said for a long while now, the NHL is no longer about top 6, it is top 9. You need three lines that can score or play in the offensive zone.

Saad goes absolutely nowhere. He is part of the solution. Ironically, the optics of everything point to Panarin wanting to come to Chicago. Should that happen...
- TrueGrit

Good post. Like your perspectives on Saad.

TRADING SAAD would make no sense. We need stronger forwards who play some D. and he does. Also SAAD has 3 shorthanded goals. those should count as 2 pts. 2nd assists should count as a 1/2. pan is the better player but once we did not extend him long term moving him made sense.

Murph is a solid 4/5 D and at 3.8 mil that is fine. the problem is he is in our top 2 and he is not that good.

You meant 2017 and Canucks got superstar with that fifth pick Pettersson. I've seen Kakko enough to say that he has more potential than Rantanen. And Kakko might already be better than Kotkaniemi.
- MjulQvist

From what I’ve seen of Hughes/Kakko, I can say with confidence that if I had the #1 overall pick, I would take Kakko.

I think his fit with the Hawks team is absolutely incredible. Slot him on a line with Toews next season, and KK takes home the Calder. We need Carolina-like luck for this lottery, but that would be a big, BIG step in continuing to form this team’s core moving forward.

Logic dictates that we take a forward this year, but if Bowen/Broberg are also viable pieces moving forward (especially since they play the left side I believe), then I would have no qualms with Stan and Co. taking yet another young d-man.

Saad has been better, but is still an inferior player.

Breadman - 67 points in 55 games
Manchild - 34 points in 57 games



No worries, Breadman will be a Blackhawk again on 7/1


- EnzoD

Saad will never put up the kind of numbers little Artie does but they are different kinds of players.

Saad playing like he had every year except last season has this deal not looking anywhere near as bad it did last year. To me, about the only thing that doesn't make it a push or close is Forsberg not becoming what they'd hoped.

If there was no Cap, I'd say, sure bring AP back...but if they do spend, I'd rather they look for D help and some on the bottom 6 as well, like a 3C...just me though.

Q is going to the Seattle Sockeyes/Kraken/whatever else is in the mix.
- BlackhawkMike

I think Q goes someplace where he can win right away. Don't seen Seattle being able to replicate the Knights' success and don't see A as a coach good at building the team up for a couple of years before he retires. Think he wants to go out on his terms and on top..

Saad has been better, but is still an inferior player.

Breadman - 67 points in 55 games
Manchild - 34 points in 57 games



No worries, Breadman will be a Blackhawk again on 7/1


- EnzoD

Statistically that is correct but don't think it's fair to compare Panarin to Saad. They are not the same type of player. Not going to doubt that Panarin is the superior offensive talent as an elite winger.

Saad's ceiling is 55 points, give or take. He's on pace for 49ish points and could eclipse 50 if he plays at his current pace, all while playing a 200-foot game and being a solid PKer.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Saad has accepted a leadership role on the third line making it dangerous. The puck runs thru him on that line and it has been fairly productive. Additionally, he kills penalties, plays PP and is responsible in his own end. Him playing the third line is not a demotion to me, it is indicative of his growth as a pro. As I have said for a long while now, the NHL is no longer about top 6, it is top 9. You need three lines that can score or play in the offensive zone.

Saad goes absolutely nowhere. He is part of the solution. Ironically, the optics of everything point to Panarin wanting to come to Chicago. Should that happen...
- TrueGrit

Great post.

Saad is going no where, and the Hawks would be shooting them selves in the foot by moving their best two-way winger in order to try to plug another hole.

Forget Panarin, this team needs to spend money to shore up the third line desperately. As I’ve alluded to recently, if you bring in a guy like Eric Staal (two-years), and Jakob Silfverberg (four-years) to slot into your third line with Saad, you’ve got a very dangerous third line (better than anything you’ve ever had during the dynasty days) that can play both ways.

Caggiula, Kampf, and a veteran addition for the fourth line, and you’ve got a much deeper and tougher to play against lineup.

The best defense is a good offense. It’s extremely difficult to improve your defense from outside the organization. The team is going to have to build from within and hope that experience can alleviate some of the issues going on right now. But having great goaltending (Craw) can help mask it as well. If Joker takes a big step next season, Murphy continues to play well, and Seabs/Keith don’t completely plummet even further in play, the defense will be much improved.

Seattle


- EnzoD

Would never fly for the obvious sexual innuendo jokes that would follow. But its a good one.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Saad has accepted a leadership role on the third line making it dangerous. The puck runs thru him on that line and it has been fairly productive. Additionally, he kills penalties, plays PP and is responsible in his own end. Him playing the third line is not a demotion to me, it is indicative of his growth as a pro. As I have said for a long while now, the NHL is no longer about top 6, it is top 9. You need three lines that can score or play in the offensive zone.

Saad goes absolutely nowhere. He is part of the solution. Ironically, the optics of everything point to Panarin wanting to come to Chicago. Should that happen...
- TrueGrit

I like the idea of Saad driving the 3rd line and if they can get him a center for next season, it would help with the overall depth.

Everything I've read recently says the optics are actually not good in terms of Panarin coming back to Chicago, and I'm hoping they are accurate.

This screams tank to me. I’m sorry but Forsling has been atrocious. Put the team in the best position to succeed FFS. I’m fine if they want to tank but don’t half ass it. Either sell Anisimov and Gus to play a development project like Forsling, or keep the gang together and play your 6 best defenders which includes Dahlstrom.
- EnzoD

They can tank all they want it they sell off players and compete strongly with a lesser roster. Just don't want to see the players themselves lose on purpose.

Saad will never put up the kind of numbers little Artie does but they are different kinds of players.

Saad playing like he had every year except last season has this deal not looking anywhere near as bad it did last year. To me, about the only thing that doesn't make it a push or close is Forsberg not becoming what they'd hoped.

If there was no Cap, I'd say, sure bring AP back...but if they do spend, I'd rather they look for D help and some on the bottom 6 as well, like a 3C...just me though.
- HawkintheD

I'm half joking about Panarin and I agree that money could potentially be spent elsewhere like on Defense. But, there are no real smart Top Pair signings on Defense this summer and I just have this funny feeling that the stars are aligning for a Panarin-Kane reunion. Hawks will have Cap Space for the 1st time in a decade, and the fan-base obviously loves Panarin given his warm reception on Saturday night at the UC. They have a hole in the top 6 forwards too... McDonagh would love the opportunity to make a big splash on both the local and national level as he will be the #1 UFA talked about in hockey this summer.

My predictions....

AA + Forsling to Carolina for B. Pesce and a 3rd.
- Hockey trade on both side, Carolina is thin at center and AA is a guy who will be better with ice time and linemates. Chicago needs a reliable stay at home puck-mover. Forsling balances out the trade, is the odd-man out in Chicago.

E. Gustaffson + Kruger to Tampa for Paquette and T. Raddysh.
- Paquette is an UFA and there is next to no chance that Toronto resigns him. Kruger places what he brings this year, meanwhile Hawks get a younger version at the same cap hit(they'll resign him). The price for Tampa here is Gus. Taylor Raddysh balances the trade in a sellers market.

I'm on board with that. Priority #1 is solidifying the blueline, then after that strengthen the bottom 6.

The bottom 6 needs to have solid 200-foot players who are tough to play against with a clear distinction between the 3rd and 4th lines. The personnel on the 3rd line should each be capable of 35-45 points to give the Hawks 3 lines that can score.

For the 4th line start with Kampf as center, Caggiula as one of the wingers, and lock down the other winger either in house (Hayden, Perlini) or transaction.

Bonus would be landing a top 6 winger.

Any in-season transactions is tinkering around the edges with minor deals, if any, of players like Kunitz, Hayden, Kruger, and Anisimov who have been rumored to be on the block anyway especially before the team vastly improved to get back into the playoff race.
- AEL_Fox

Totally agree with these priorities. Has as people say their top 6 is, they are two decent lines that many teams would like to have.

Agreed 100%. I would add that after addressing the blue line, that finding a solid 3rd line center should be priority #2.
- Ron Swanson

Nah. They have Kampf (currently on IR). If they lose Kruger and AA you keep him as your #3 and one of the Hogs slides into #4.

Yes, indeed! Was waiting for someone to pounce on that. Glad you did. Those NYI goalies ain't seen nothing yet. That said, I wish them well along with Trotz.
- gabriel

Trotz would be an interesting story getting to the finals. They are my first preferred choice; not saying they are the best in the east.

You are proving my point that drafting 1 or 2 is not the only spot to draft elite impact players. Hawks likely end up #5-16 in the draft and can still add a high end forward talent to the prospect pool. Rantanen was #10 overall pick.
- EnzoD

That is true. Hughes is putting good numbers again but Kakko has developed more this year. I really like Podkolzin and Turcotte too. And there is still Dach, Cozens, Zegras, Boldy, Suzuki, Lavoie, Krebs etc..

I'm half joking about Panarin and I agree that money could potentially be spent elsewhere like on Defense. But, there are no real smart Top Pair signings on Defense this summer and I just have this funny feeling that the stars are aligning for a Panarin-Kane reunion. Hawks will have Cap Space for the 1st time in a decade, and the fan-base obviously loves Panarin given his warm reception on Saturday night at the UC. They have a hole in the top 6 forwards too... McDonagh would love the opportunity to make a big splash on both the local and national level as he will be the #1 UFA talked about in hockey this summer.
- EnzoD

Yeah, figured that. While some of the things you suggest, make it sound like it's not out of the realm of possibility, I was reading an article in the Herald that seems to feel some recent events make it less likely. I think there was one in the Athletic too.

If they are targeting a top 4 dman they may need to go the trade route and I wouldn't have any issue with it, if it was similar to the Strome for Schmaltz swap.