Well done!!

The Hawks are out of wild card spot by 6 points. If Crow was healthy and played the whole year would the Hawks have been 6 points better and made the playoffs?

With minimal changes would the below group make the playoffs next year.
9 Forwards - Kane, Toews, ADB, Strome, Kampf, Kahun, Saad, Caggiula, AA
6 Dmen - Keith, Joki, Murphy, Forsling, Gus (RFA), Seabs,
1 goalie - Crow

That is 16 players. Then you add a top 4 dman, a really good 3C (play AA on the wing), a 4th line winger through trade and/or free agency.

That would bring the total to 19.

Choose a backup goalie (Forsberg or Delia)
Choose 2 forwards from Sikura, Hayden, Perlini, or prospects/draft picks to fill out the team.

If you have to trade an NHL player off of our roster (instead of prospects and/or picks) to get a top 4 dman than you would need to add one other player.

I would be ok with that, and save a little cap space just in case you need to add someone at the TDL.
- -Doh-

I think AA is gone 7/1 after we pay his bonus. The problem with that is finding his replacement without paying as much or more than AA makes.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/blackhawks-jeremy-colliton-choose-culture-over-draft-position/

Chicago Tribune article about the Blackhawks "choosing culture over draft position" this season. From the article:

‘‘Draft position will work itself out,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘There’s a lottery. There’s a bunch of things you can’t control. We can only control our own performance, our own mentality, how we come to work every day, and that will be our focus.’’

That’s a polite way of telling everyone where they can stick their draft talk.
- AEL_Fox

What is sad is that he really had to say this.

And even sadder is some are shocked to hear it.

I think AA is gone 7/1 after we pay his bonus. The problem with that is finding his replacement without paying as much or more than AA makes.
- tvetter

Cody Eakin from Vegas. 1 year at 3.85M who is an UFA that can be flipped at the TDL. Placeholder until Entwhistle is ready the following year.

Panarin-Zibanejad-Chytill sounds like a new line of high-priced pharmaceuticals. Top 6 forwards lines:

Panarin-Zibanejad-Chytill
Latuda-Zoloft-Xanax
- AEL_Fox

It causes headached. Prescription includes a measurevof toughness, speed and dedicated checkers. The RX generic version not too good .



nu\iijji up

Krys played much better in his 2nd and 3rd games. Simple, smart plays. Jokiharju was more engaged in the past two games as well. Both were the QBs on the PP: Krys on the 1st unit and Jokiharju on the 2nd unit.

I was really impressed by the debuts of Hagel and R Johnson. Hagel generates a lot of scoring chances. Seemed like at least one per shift. He's relentless on the forecheck and the puck always seems to find him.

Johnson plays physical and throws his body at every chance he can get but plays a smart defensive game. Very good on faceoffs, too.

That all sound's great for the future, but am a bit puzzled why Krys is getting
the 1st unit PP as opposed to Joki getting it. I wonder if Joki is not long for
being a Hawk, considering where/how he started and played this season, why
the 2nd unit, why not back up here?

2/7 are beginning to block talent, Stan has a major problem on his hands
with 2/7 and their contracts. Actually the whole logjam at D is starting to
present problems.
- gazza53

Good to see that the kid played a little better, think about this, regarding number two and number seven, it’s not really a log jam, those guys will be a number five and number six defenseman down the road, the exact same type of players they had a playoff team looks for at the trade deadline. When it comes to defense we will already have them. At least going into next season I can’t tell you three or four years down the road.
Things can change especially regarding DUNCAN Kieth, he could be back in Edmonton this summer and want to spend more time with his kid, and you never know what Ken Hitchcock and that Oilers brass could be up to.

Cody Eakin from Vegas. 1 year at 3.85M who is an UFA that can be flipped at the TDL. Placeholder until Entwhistle is ready the following year.
- boilermaker100

I wonder what Vegas would want for Eakin and/or McNabb. I think Gus would be a part of the package. Not many 50-60 point Dmen at a salary of $1.2M.

Good to see that the kid played a little better, think about this, regarding number two and number seven, it’s not really a log jam, those guys will be a number five and number six defenseman down the road, the exact same type of players they had a playoff team looks for at the trade deadline. When it comes to defense we will already have them. At least going into next season I can’t tell you three or four years down the road.
Things can change especially regarding DUNCAN Kieth, he could be back in Edmonton this summer and want to spend more time with his kid, and you never know what Ken Hitchcock and that Oilers brass could be up to.
- wonthecup10

This summer is huge as far as the future of the organization goes, can
Stan pull it off, I'm not sure.

Can 2/7 be effective as a 3rd pairing?

The concern I have with a high draft pick this summer is they will go for an offensive guy, and we all know the defense is the biggest area of need. If the Blackhawks get, say the 7th pick, will they pick the best defensive prospect on the board, or will they pick the best prospect? I woud like to see them possibly trade the pick for a top defensive guy (depending if the pick is 6/12 range), and maybe a lower #1 pick. The defense should be the #1 priority, and I don't think they look there if they are in the top 5 picks. Does anyone else agree?

The concern I have with a high draft pick this summer is they will go for an offensive guy, and we all know the defense is the biggest area of need. If the Blackhawks get, say the 7th pick, will they pick the best defensive prospect on the board, or will they pick the best prospect? I woud like to see them possibly trade the pick for a top defensive guy (depending if the pick is 6/12 range), and maybe a lower #1 pick. The defense should be the #1 priority, and I don't think they look there if they are in the top 5 picks. Does anyone else agree?
- powerenforcer

The most recent mock drafts on Tankathon and DraftSite have the Hawks selecting Defense-man.



Phillip Broberg and Victor Söderström

The most recent mock drafts on Tankathon and DraftSite have the Hawks selecting Defense-man.



Phillip Broberg and Victor Söderström
- EnzoD

I’d rather have them take Byram

College free agent centre Nico Sturm signed with the Wild.

Stan swings and misses yet again.

This summer is huge as far as the future of the organization goes, can
Stan pull it off, I'm not sure.

Can 2/7 be effective as a 3rd pairing?
- gazza53

Possibly but I think a critical question and concern is if you are paying your 3rd pair over $12M collectively, then is there enough cap space to pay the top 4 not to mention whoever else needs to get paid at forward and in net. Granted, some of the top 4 may still be in their ELC depending on when they graduate to the NHL so that would help a little.

The concern I have with a high draft pick this summer is they will go for an offensive guy, and we all know the defense is the biggest area of need. If the Blackhawks get, say the 7th pick, will they pick the best defensive prospect on the board, or will they pick the best prospect? I woud like to see them possibly trade the pick for a top defensive guy (depending if the pick is 6/12 range), and maybe a lower #1 pick. The defense should be the #1 priority, and I don't think they look there if they are in the top 5 picks. Does anyone else agree?
- powerenforcer

I'd like them to keep the pick and draft a center. We have Joki, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Krys, Hillman and Gilbert. We don't really have any high end offensive prospects.

Krys played much better in his 2nd and 3rd games. Simple, smart plays. Jokiharju was more engaged in the past two games as well. Both were the QBs on the PP: Krys on the 1st unit and Jokiharju on the 2nd unit.

I was really impressed by the debuts of Hagel and R Johnson. Hagel generates a lot of scoring chances. Seemed like at least one per shift. He's relentless on the forecheck and the puck always seems to find him.

Johnson plays physical and throws his body at every chance he can get but plays a smart defensive game. Very good on faceoffs, too.

That all sound's great for the future, but am a bit puzzled why Krys is getting
the 1st unit PP as opposed to Joki getting it. I wonder if Joki is not long for
being a Hawk, considering where/how he started and played this season, why
the 2nd unit, why not back up here?


2/7 are beginning to block talent, Stan has a major problem on his hands
with 2/7 and their contracts. Actually the whole logjam at D is starting to
present problems.
- gazza53

I do not think that is out of the realm of possibilities. Joki, Beaudin, Boquist and Mitchell will not all be Hawks at the same time. Not with 2 and 7 on the roster. Something will have to give and it is apparent that Q liked Joki a whole lot more than Colliton.

I could see the Vegas scenario happening. Gus for Mcnabb would save Vegas $1.3M, and if we took Clarkson, that would be another $5.25M. That would help Vegas resign Karlsson while not creating any holes in their lineup. Taking Clarkson should get us a high pick or top prospect.

Joki can step into a top 4 role next year, and we have:
Keith-jokiharju
McNabb-Murphy
Forsling-Seabrook
Dahlstrom
- tvetter

Why do we want Clarkson when we gave up Hinostroza to get rid of Hossa's cap hit?

I wonder what Vegas would want for Eakin and/or McNabb. I think Gus would be a part of the package. Not many 50-60 point Dmen at a salary of $1.2M.
- tvetter

So Vegas will trade good players or pics for him because he's cheap this year and then lose him for nothing when his play demands a big raise?

Why do we want Clarkson when we gave up Hinostroza to get rid of Hossa's cap hit?
- KMFDMLight

The hawks don't it's a bad idea.

So Vegas will trade good players or pics for him because he's cheap this year and then lose him for nothing when his play demands a big raise?
- GPHawksfan

If it's a Eakin and McNabb for Gus trade. Vegas also gets about 5M in valuable cap space. If they don't want to resign Gus they can flip him at the TDL.

Why do we want Clarkson when we gave up Hinostroza to get rid of Hossa's cap hit?
- KMFDMLight

Because Clarkson only has one year left on his contract, so his money will be gone before they need to sign ADB and Strome. I want the Hawks to improve their team, both for next season and the future. If taking Clarkson for 1 year helps us in the future, why not do it? We have a little space next year, I want to see Stan take advantage of a cap-strapped team like Vegas, Toronto or TB.

Because Clarkson only has one year left on his contract, so his money will be gone before they need to sign ADB and Strome. I want the Hawks to improve their team, both for next season and the future. If taking Clarkson for 1 year helps us in the future, why not do it? We have a little space next year, I want to see Stan take advantage of a cap-strapped team like Vegas, Toronto or TB.
- tvetter

Signing Stralman as a UFA might be a better move

I’d rather have them take Byram
- DarthKane

Projected 4th overall on Tankathon

Canes will try to trade Harvard’s Adam Fox, Dundon says! Interesting read!


https://amp.newsobserver....__twitter_impression=true

Hawks in warmups:

Caggiula-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Perlini
Saad-Anisimov-Sikura
Kahun-Kruger-Hayden

Keith-Gusafsson
Forsling-Seabrook
Dahlstrom-Murphy

Crawford
Ward

I like.

Signing Stralman as a UFA might be a better move
- KMFDMLight

I've supported that in the past as well.

So Vegas will trade good players or pics for him because he's cheap this year and then lose him for nothing when his play demands a big raise?
- GPHawksfan

I said Gus is part of the package, there could be more.