I wonder what Columbus would want in a trade for Ryan Murray? He is an RFA and could be a decent top 4 defenseman

I wonder what Columbus would want in a trade for Ryan Murray? He is an RFA and could be a decent top 4 defenseman
- scott.jackson

Hopefully Dylan Sikura and Forsberg.

What would be the purpose of buying out a guy with about 20 games left in his contract?
- paulr

True.
And we have lots of Cap space this season to eat the rest of these expiring contracts.
Buying someone out this season adds partial Cap hit for next season.

Btw, there are no roster limits after the tdl, so they can call up whoever they want.

I wonder what Columbus would want in a trade for Ryan Murray? He is an RFA and could be a decent top 4 defenseman
- scott.jackson

They (CBJ) are going to lose all their forwards, so it could be. Is he a Top Four guy on a Cup contender?

Btw, there are no roster limits after the tdl, so they can call up whoever they want.
- mohel

Ok - I thought the 23 player limit applied until the en of the season.

Btw, there are no roster limits after the tdl, so they can call up whoever they want.
- mohel

Maybe Elbows will be on the roster? Oh wait! Bowman apparently likes smurfs, so D will make the team for sure. His number will be 1/2.

Hopefully Dylan Sikura and Forsberg.
- RickJ

He is accident prone. Has missed lots time throughout NHL career. Played most of this year, although injured mid Feb had not returned as of a couple games ago. FYI Murray was the #2 overall his draft year. Guesstimate about age 25

They (CBJ) are going to lose all their forwards, so it could be. Is he a Top Four guy on a Cup contender?
- mohel

I am not sure. This is a move that shouldn't cost to much. His ceiling was high when he was drafted so maybe a change of scenery would do him some good.

Maybe Elbows will be on the roster? Oh wait! Bowman apparently likes smurfs, so D will make the team for sure. His number will be 1/2.
- paulr

Elbows would be on the roster in order to trick scouts into seeing the Edsel as a speedster. Remember, Elbows was in school with Ted Lindsay.

Ok - I thought the 23 player limit applied until the en of the season.
- StLBravesFan

The cap does apply through the end of the season, but the Hawks are fine there.

The Hawks never seem to win a game when there is a 3-day or more layoff between games, so with the Buffalo game being a 4-day layoff I thought I would put my power of perception to the test by checking the record. I found my power of exaggeration exceeds my power of perception because the Hawks record this season is 6-12 in games after more than a 2-day layoff. So it's not as bad as I thought but it's still pretty bad and still makes the point I was attempting to make which is they play worse than normal with a layoff longer than normal. Why? It seems counter intuitive. I would think an extra day(s) rest would have more of a recharge the batteries effect and it's not like they would get rusty with only an extra day or two. Is it the same for other teams or is there something in the Hawks culture or whatever that lends to this situation?

Good morning!
Question: What's the deal with Blake Hillman? I was expecting him to get another look after the games he played last year. As a defensive defenseman, I would think that's what the Hawks need.

Theres a scene in the Simpsons where Homer's vehicle is stuck in the mud. He decides to floor the gas in order to get out which in turn puts him deeper in the mud.

He pauses and decides the solution is more gas which puts him deeper.

He repeats this again.

This is the Blackhawks penalty kill.

Maybe Elbows will be on the roster? Oh wait! Bowman apparently likes smurfs, so D will make the team for sure. His number will be 1/2.
- paulr

Like the Thillens Little Leaguers on TV (Jack Brickhouse calling the games) back in the day.

Imo, it's going to be very hard to make large improvement in the defense corps. If they can, great. Otherwise, I'd focus on developing a solid shutdown line that is hell to play against. This would not be Toews' line. They also need a different scheme and culture among the whole team. The other alternative is to go balls out on offense and put together 4 scoring lines. I hope they choose the former. I fear they'll choose the latter.

Ejdsell, Highmore, Carlson, others - who goes down when they come up - singly or as a group - who’s not subject to waivers....
- StLBravesFan

Sikura is the first player that comes to mind. Forsling for Carlson. Hayden. Scratch Kunitz for the rest of the season.

Id get either Doughty or Hedman.
- mohel

Doughty is signed until he is 38 at $11 million per year, no thank you

Doughty is signed until he is 38 at $11 million per year, no thank you
- LAHawk

Tounge in cheek, LA. I've been asking for days for the identity of the stud top pair defenseman, and a method to attain this guy, for a reasonable contract. So far.......

Tounge in cheek, LA. I've been asking for days for the identity of the stud top pair defenseman, and a method to attain this guy, for a reasonable contract. So far.......
- mohel

But we have that already - Seabs.

But we have that already - Seabs.
- powerenforcer

Hello, PE. Seabs is one of my favorite players ever; I'll not partake in making fun of him. Mot saying nobody else should, but not for me.

Hello, PE. Seabs is one of my favorite players ever; I'll not partake in making fun of him. Mot saying nobody else should, but not for me.
- mohel

Unfortunately I do not see a UFA D to go after that will be worth the ontract or that we could afford, would have to be by trade, hopefully Carolina is still interested in Anisimov.

If you look at the dmen UFA's...none of these look to be immediate help and the price tag maybe to much for what you get. it would seem the only way to get those dmen is through trade and they will require a premium trade package

https://www.spotrac.com/n...l/free-agents/defenseman/
- bogiedoc

Stan needs to explore all options. UFA, RFA offer sheet, or trade package. No one said it would be easy.

Tounge in cheek, LA. I've been asking for days for the identity of the stud top pair defenseman, and a method to attain this guy, for a reasonable contract. So far.......
- mohel

They need to grow a pair....I mean, you have to groom and grow a top pair dman internally. As you mentioned, they rarely are traded and seldom become UFAs, except later into their careers when you are going to have to give them way too much term.

I don't see a top pair dman coming to the Hawks from anywhere next year. In fact, Duncan Keith will be our best defenseman still for the foreseeable future. Best bet is Joker's continued development but man he still has a long way to go to just be a consistent guy that doesn't get scratched.

Then you have the young prospects but they all have holes in their games and need to develop further before even taking a shot at the NHL.

Stan needs to explore all options. UFA, RFA offer sheet, or trade package. No one said it would be easy.
- -Doh-

I would say they need to set their sights on something more achievable like having a solid 3-4 pairing. When Murphy and Dahlstrom were playing well and shutting teams scoring lines down, that is when they had that long winning streak.

I am not sure those are the two guys you want to give that job to next season, but if they can improve that pairing that goes a long way toward stabilizing what you are going to ask the rest of the guys do.