Taking the contracts out of it, and basing it strictly on play, how many of our young D (excluding Jokiharju) would you play in front of Seabrook? I personally don't hink he has played terribly this year, and has been quite good in the last 10 games he played.
- Chunk

That's part of the problem, they need to upgrade the defence.

Seabrook hasn't been terrible, but he will be even better when he's in a true bottom pairing, PP2, 16-17 mins game type role.

It's been fun as hell to watch. It's remarkable how this team can score at will. The way the Hawks top 9 is shaping up is really promising moving forward.

If it were my, I would look to move AA in the summer after his NTC is up and his bonus is payed. If you can get out from his contract, I would spend it on a top 6 forward, grab some depth at Centre and then search the trade market for a top 4 LHD.

Caggiula-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-??
Saad-??-Kahun
- Justin Lowe

Interesting... full complement of healthy players, do you expect Caggiula to stay in the top 6?

Correct.

I still think we may see Forsling moved.

The Hawks can't bring back the same defencemen and think next year will be different.

I think if anything he could get moved to free up room for Jokiharju to come back up. He would be help significantly right now in the defensive end IMO.
- Justin Lowe

Seabrook and Keith are coming back, Jokiharju too. Anyone else is in jeopardy. Murphy shouldn’t return, but it’s not guaranteed.

I agree about Forsling, he’s as good as gone. I think Gus is gone too, likely in the summer.

Not sure about Dahlstrom and Koekkoek.

Hey Everyone - I'm going to do a Friday Mailbag: NHL Trade Deadline edition.

Send me your Hawks TDL questions and I'll incorporate as many I can for Friday's blog.

Dahlstrom seems to have hit a wall. Koekkoek started to get his minutes tonight and might be a trend moving forward.

I think Dahlstrom is a guy you keep, but is more a 6-7 on a real good team.
- Justin Lowe

I've been saying for awhile he would be a very effective 6-7 on a good team. Seems like the Hawks have at three solid D-men in Keith, Murphy, and Joki and a host of average D-men. My question is do they spread their better guys out or pair them together to try n play more solid as a unit? Or do they go more top heavy?

Interesting... full complement of healthy players, do you expect Caggiula to stay in the top 6?
- Chunk

I don't but for now... he stays. Having a guy like that who can add energy, win puck battles and play with some skill on Toews and Kane is alright by me at this time.

I don't but for now... he stays. Having a guy like that who can add energy, win puck battles and play with some skill on Toews and Kane is alright by me at this time.
- Justin Lowe

Why wouldn't he stay? Dude has kicked ass and that line has been great.

LAST Thing I worry about is the top 6.

Seabrook and Keith are coming back, Jokiharju too. Anyone else is in jeopardy. Murphy shouldn’t return, but it’s not guaranteed.

I agree about Forsling, he’s as good as gone. I think Gus is gone too, likely in the summer.

Not sure about Dahlstrom and Koekkoek.
- DarthKane

Curious, what don't you like about Murphy's game?

Taking the contracts out of it, and basing it strictly on play, how many of our young D (excluding Jokiharju) would you play in front of Seabrook? I personally don't hink he has played terribly this year, and has been quite good in the last 10 games he played.
- Chunk

That is tough to say. Only Dalstrom and Murphy (maybe koekoek a little) can play Seabrooks style.

I believe if you look at the minutes per game, you will see that it is more balanced then ever.

While it has not been pretty, I like how they have managed the defense.

Since the start of the 2014/15 season Kane leads the NHL in points with 427. Crosby is 2nd with 420. Kucherov 3rd with 415. Those 3 are pretty far above the rest of the pack too. And Kane has played the fewest games of the 3(has the highest PPG).

Seabrook and Keith are coming back, Jokiharju too. Anyone else is in jeopardy. Murphy shouldn’t return, but it’s not guaranteed.

I agree about Forsling, he’s as good as gone. I think Gus is gone too, likely in the summer.

Not sure about Dahlstrom and Koekkoek.
- DarthKane

The thing about Gustafsson is, if you find yourself complaining about how terrible he is away from the puck now @ 1.2M, what will you be saying when he doesn't improve defensively and starts making $5M+ per year for multiple years.

It's a scary thought.

Also, is there a universe where Erik Gustafsson and Adam Boqvist are on the same NHL team? Personally, I think not.

Didn't the sox coin the phrase, WINNING UGLY
This should be the Blackhawks new slogan
- BetweenTheDots

The Sox did go with that phrase. It was actually a comment made by an opposing manager who commented that the Sox were winningtheir games ugly. Not sure whether he meant it as a compliment or was being derisional.

Seabrook and Keith are coming back, Jokiharju too. Anyone else is in jeopardy. Murphy shouldn’t return, but it’s not guaranteed.

I agree about Forsling, he’s as good as gone. I think Gus is gone too, likely in the summer.

Not sure about Dahlstrom and Koekkoek.
- DarthKane

Seriously...what is with the whole fascination that Gus will be gone with everyone?

Choke on your Latte's but he is part of the solution.

The thing about Gustafsson is, if you find yourself complaining about how terrible he is away from the puck now @ 1.2M, what will you be saying when he doesn't improve defensively and starts making $5M+ per year for multiple years.

It's a scary thought.

Also, is there a universe where Erik Gustafsson and Adam Boqvist are on the same NHL team? Personally, I think not.
- Justin Lowe

Technically there’s a universe where every possible outcome is happening, so yes there is. There’s even a universe where you and me are on the same NHL team.

Where did I learn this? Watching Rick and Morty.

I don't but for now... he stays. Having a guy like that who can add energy, win puck battles and play with some skill on Toews and Kane is alright by me at this time.
- Justin Lowe

Agree. On a team lacking top 9 players he fills the role on Toews-Kane's line just fine to bring energy and spread the talent our. However, on a real good team you would want him playing a role in your bottom six. I think if the Hawks could somehow add two top 9 talents they could have something legit going. Saad-Toews-Kane looked very good together tonight. Seems to me like the pieces to being a Playoff team are there but they are still missing a few pieces that Stan will need to find/sign to get them there in addition to improving the D

Since the start of the 2014/15 season Kane leads the NHL in points with 427. Crosby is 2nd with 420. Kucherov 3rd with 415. Those 3 are pretty far above the rest of the pack too. And Kane has played the fewest games of the 3(has the highest PPG).
- SimpleJack

So you are saying he's good...

He had the two monster years with Panarin, but last year was "down" by his standards. It really looks like he keeps finding new ways to improve his shot and set up others for prime chances.

Agree. On a team lacking top 9 players he fills the role on Toews-Kane's line just fine to bring energy and spread the talent our. However, on a real good team you would want him playing a role in your bottom six. I think if the Hawks could somehow add two top 9 talents they could have something legit going. Saad-Toews-Kane looked very good together tonight. Seems to me like the pieces to being a Playoff team are there but they are still missing a few pieces that Stan will need to find/sign to get them there in addition to improving the D
- Savetheembers33

The hawks are a top 10 scoring team, but lack top 9 forwards?

I get the obsession with building another olympic team, but that was an anomaly.

when does Kamph get back?

Agree. On a team lacking top 9 players he fills the role on Toews-Kane's line just fine to bring energy and spread the talent our. However, on a real good team you would want him playing a role in your bottom six. I think if the Hawks could somehow add two top 9 talents they could have something legit going. Saad-Toews-Kane looked very good together tonight. Seems to me like the pieces to being a Playoff team are there but they are still missing a few pieces that Stan will need to find/sign to get them there in addition to improving the D
- Savetheembers33

The hawks are a top 10 scoring team, but lack top 9 forwards?

I get the obsession with building another olympic team, but that was an anomaly.

when does Kamph get back?

Pretty impressive this team finally has as many wins as regulation losses. To me it really is considering the struggle in our own zone. Is this scoring sustainable? We'll see, ugly or not this team is beating teams they should be beating. 8-2 since the all star break
- BetweenTheDots

Doesn’t impress me; they’re still under .500. When they’ve won as many as they’ve lost, I’ll be a believer

Doesn’t impress me; they’re still under .500. When they’ve won as many as they’ve lost, I’ll be a believer
- Spec41971

The thing about Gustafsson is, if you find yourself complaining about how terrible he is away from the puck now @ 1.2M, what will you be saying when he doesn't improve defensively and starts making $5M+ per year for multiple years.

It's a scary thought.

Also, is there a universe where Erik Gustafsson and Adam Boqvist are on the same NHL team? Personally, I think not.
- Justin Lowe

Seems you are making a lot of assumptions about an 18 year old kid here. Why not though. The game is changing. A lot depends on if the forward group can play a modicum of team defense.

Its easy to push all the blame on the D-men, yes, they have their issues. However, this forward group does them no favors, either.

To be fair, Forsling has amassed his -7 in fewer than half the games. Perlini is the runaway "leader" among forwards at -17 in only 29 games.
- Davewn

Impressive....that would be hard to do even if you were trying to do it.

Seriously...what is with the whole fascination that Gus will be gone with everyone?

Choke on your Latte's but he is part of the solution.
- TrueGrit

Only if they get a top 4 figured out and he plays 3rd pairing. In the mean time I think he is worth more in the trade market.

Impressive....that would be hard to do even if you were trying to do it.
- Spec41971

Someone suggested putting him on the PK earlier. I almost choked on my drink.

- kwolf68

These last 12 games or so have been the hawks steppingstone.