The Hawks will drop from 12th to 13th.
- DarthKane

I was thinking the 13th, 14th, and 15th teams all get their ping pong balls selected into the top-3 spots so all the other teams move down 3 positions ... and with the 15th selection in the 2019 NHL draft the Chicago Blackhawks selecet ... some Swedish munchkin d-man that is 3 years away from being NHL ready. Stan Bowman, parlaying his success at the draft, announces he has reached agreement with Chris Kunitz on a 3-year deal with $3M AAV AND has re-signed Eric Gustafsson to a 7-year $7M deal.

YAY!

Totally agree. Team defense was not good. Keith may have fallen off a little, but he was a team leading plus 13 on a team with a new coach, a new defensive scheme, a rookie partner (Joki) much of the time, another partner that was pretty awful on defense (Gus), so so goaltending, and forwards that did not help much. He led the team on TOI. AND his play and stats improved toward the end of the year. AND you do not have an all star caliber player waiting in the wings to take his place.

Keep Keith for at least another year and see how the other defenders and prospects progress. I do not see this team being stellar defensively next year, but they will add a top 4 defender, maybe two 200' forwards, and with a full training camp, and hopefully Crow healthy for 55 games, the defensive could be significantly better.
- -Doh-

Yeah - what this says.

Until such time as there is a ready replacement to take the minutes and responsibilities, Keith is going nowhere. He is still probably the Hawks best defenseman, even with some slippage in his game. If the Hawks believe they will contend for a playoff spot, it will be with Keith, not without him, in 2019-2020. The unrestricted free agent pickings aren't all that exciting, and especially if the team has to way overpay for a player like Stralman.
- jrsamu

the blackhawks are really not that concerned about making the playoffs can we compete with the best teams in the west? The UFA market is not good for D. I still think one of Keith or Seabs should go. Keith is fine but he is not a top pairing on a top team and with each year he loses value. I would attempt to move both Keith and AA sign a UFA Froward along kualik and Mitchell. Move a Forward for a D man. I think Q in FL might allow us to get a reasonable return for keith and if that is the case you cannot pass it up.

Assuming Keith is kept, it is also probably worth having Gustafsson on the team for one more year if for no other reason than it keeps Keith off the power play. Personally I would only deal Gustafsson this summer if the team thinks Boqvist is ready (and defensively, he won't be) and they are able to deal one of the other right side defensemen. Assuming no-trade clauses will be waived is a bad assumption.

Assuming Keith is kept, it is also probably worth having Gustafsson on the team for one more year if for no other reason than it keeps Keith off the power play. Personally I would only deal Gustafsson this summer if the team thinks Boqvist is ready (and defensively, he won't be) and they are able to deal one of the other right side defensemen. Assuming no-trade clauses will be waived is a bad assumption.
- jrsamu

Good points. I think they'll see where they are at the TDL. Gus might be a very hot commodity at that point to a team with an injury, especially at his cap hit. Of course, if the Hawks are in the hunt themselves they may keep him. We'll learn a lot from how they handle Gus, imo.

Keith is still one of our top defensemen but there was a real shift in his usage this season. Up until this season, he was playing a lot more match up and shutdown and we saw how that went with his -29 season last year. That shift year over year had a lot to do with taking defensive load off his shoulders. Some of that was his partner, but Keith (like Seabrook) isn't a top shutdown guy anymore.

Murphy was the Hawks most reliable shutdown guy this season and that is fine if the Hawks can find him a solid partner (or if Dahlstrom can become that guy more consistently). Don't believe me, well consider the fact that the Hawks turnaround started about 3 games after Murphy returned from injury and right about the time Dhalstrom was called up. (~Dec 12th)

Trading Gus right now would have to be a nice return because his value is HIGH. He ain't perfect, but he can play an offensive d role very well, and teams pay for that. More than just moving up in the draft.

Unless there is a trade, expect the D to revolve around Keith/Gustafsson/Murphy + whomever they can promote or bring in. Ultimately, if the Hawks want to be competitive again, it is unlikely to be with Keith or Seabrook being the #1 or #2 guys on D. Seabrook was more like the 4-5 guy this year and they need to slot Keith like at about #3 on the blueline given where he is in his career.

Assuming Keith is kept, it is also probably worth having Gustafsson on the team for one more year if for no other reason than it keeps Keith off the power play. Personally I would only deal Gustafsson this summer if the team thinks Boqvist is ready (and defensively, he won't be) and they are able to deal one of the other right side defensemen. Assuming no-trade clauses will be waived is a bad assumption.
- jrsamu

The question then is who is a bigger liability on the back end? Gus or Boq?

The question then is who is a bigger liability on the back end? Gus or Boq?
- riozzo

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is probably "yes"

The question then is who is a bigger liability on the back end? Gus or Boq?
- riozzo

How about Forsling or Seabrook. They are there as bad or worse IMO.

There will be some Panthers waiving their no trade clauses when Q draws them a picture of the D zone they aren't familiar with. Like Mike Hoffman for one. And the matador Keith Yandle will be a welcome greeter at Wal-Mart instead of on his blueline.
- RickJ

And the other is that Q wont be green lighting the resigning of Troy Brouwer.

How about Forsling or Seabrook. They are there as bad or worse IMO.
- breadbag

Seabrook's issues are physical and skating speed (i.e. wear and tear on a Cup warrior). He knows what to do and where to be. He will take the body to make a play, and that is part of the reason he is somewhat broken after multiple years and many playoff runs of doing just that.

Forsling, Gustafsson and presumably Boqvist are still trying to figure out where to be and what to do. Nick Leddy never figured it out in Chicago, and didn't on Long Island until Trotz came to town (sample size of one year on the latter).

Seabrook's issues are physical and skating speed (i.e. wear and tear on a Cup warrior). He knows what to do and where to be. He will take the body to make a play, and that is part of the reason he is somewhat broken after multiple years and many playoff runs of doing just that.

Forsling, Gustafsson and presumably Boqvist are still trying to figure out where to be and what to do. Nick Leddy never figured it out in Chicago, and didn't on Long Island until Trotz came to town (sample size of one year on the latter).
- jrsamu

Last off season we said Toews "issues" were wear and tear on a Cup warrior. I am not saying Seabs will have a turn around year like Toews did, but Seabs was never that fast. So returning to his prior physicality and "speed" is not that big of a leap. An offseason of the proper training, diet, and commitment may not bring Seabs back to his 2010 to 2015 standards, but it could be way better than his 2018/19 performance. That would be HUGE.

Last off season we said Toews "issues" were wear and tear on a Cup warrior. I am not saying Seabs will have a turn around year like Toews did, but Seabs was never that fast. So returning to his prior physicality and "speed" is not that big of a leap. An offseason of the proper training, diet, and commitment may not bring Seabs back to his 2010 to 2015 standards, but it could be way better than his 2018/19 performance. That would be HUGE.
- -Doh-

How do you know Seabrook wasn't training properly, dieting properly or that he wasn't committed?

How do you know Seabrook wasn't training properly, dieting properly or that he wasn't committed?
- paulr

A source told me Seabs ignored all training advice, and focused instead on a tasty high-fat, high-carb diet.

How do you know Seabrook wasn't training properly, dieting properly or that he wasn't committed?
- paulr

Definitely don't know about Seabs training regimen. No one knew about Toews either. That is why I said "could be". I am just suggesting that instead of writing him off, we should allow for the possibility that Seabs can have somewhat of a bounce back season, even if it is not of epic proportions like the Toews comeback year.

Seabrook's issues are physical and skating speed (i.e. wear and tear on a Cup warrior). He knows what to do and where to be. He will take the body to make a play, and that is part of the reason he is somewhat broken after multiple years and many playoff runs of doing just that.

Forsling, Gustafsson and presumably Boqvist are still trying to figure out where to be and what to do. Nick Leddy never figured it out in Chicago, and didn't on Long Island until Trotz came to town (sample size of one year on the latter).
- jrsamu

Doesn't matter why exactly, but Seabrook struggled in his own end. Mobility and stability on his skates were an issue. I'm not saying he doesn't know how to play, but he had issues keeping up.

Edit You know what I mean...a liability is a liability.

Definitely don't know about Seabs training regimen. No one knew about Toews either. That is why I said "could be". I am just suggesting that instead of writing him off, we should allow for the possibility that Seabs can have somewhat of a bounce back season, even if it is not of epic proportions like the Toews comeback year.
- -Doh-

I agree with that but there is a narrative on this board that Seabrook isn't dedicated and isn't training properly. I have no idea where people get their information?

A source told me Seabs ignored all training advice, and focused instead on a tasty high-fat, high-carb diet.
- mohel

So long as your sourcse was backed up by another "credible" source, it must be true.

So long as your sourcse was backed up by another "credible" source, it must be true.
- paulr

No, it was an email from someone I don't know, but I'm running with it, Chief.

So long as your sourcse was backed up by another "credible" source, it must be true.
- paulr

The rumor out of camp was that Seabrook did dedicate to working out last summer, and to my eye for the first couple of weeks he looked like he had a bit more jump.

Fast forward the wear and tear of the games in November and December plus a new man-to-man defensive scheme (which works to #7s disadvantage based on his strengths and weaknesses) and he quickly reverted back to 2017-2018 form.

This is based on no knowledge or inside info, but his body language on the ice suggests a back issue, and perhaps more chronic than not.

It will be Blowman's fault
- paulr

It's Bettmans fault. He hates the Hawks!.

Doesn't matter why exactly, but Seabrook struggled in his own end. Mobility and stability on his skates were an issue. I'm not saying he doesn't know how to play, but he had issues keeping up.

Edit You know what I mean...a liability is a liability.
- breadbag

The bolded part is key. Seabrook was a dominant defender for most of his career because he knew how to play. That hockey acumen is still there but his ability to keep up with the speed of the game has not.

While he can't necessarily get faster, what he can do is maintain if not improve on his conditioning and use both positioning and situational awareness to his advantage more so now than in the past.

This is where being a true stay-at-home defenseman should be his role. I may be oversimplifying things but limit how much end to end skating he needs to do by playing back as the last person standing between the shooter and his goalie.

I was thinking the 13th, 14th, and 15th teams all get their ping pong balls selected into the top-3 spots so all the other teams move down 3 positions ... and with the 15th selection in the 2019 NHL draft the Chicago Blackhawks selecet ... some Swedish munchkin d-man that is 3 years away from being NHL ready. Stan Bowman, parlaying his success at the draft, announces he has reached agreement with Chris Kunitz on a 3-year deal with $3M AAV AND has re-signed Eric Gustafsson to a 7-year $7M deal.

YAY!
- EbonyRaptor

Technically I think the Hawks can only drop to 14th, but leave it to Stan to find a way to drop to 15th.

I think those deals for Kunitz and Gustafsson are fair, but there would also need to be full NMCs.

Technically I think the Hawks can only drop to 14th, but leave it to Stan to find a way to drop to 15th.

I think those deals for Kunitz and Gustafsson are fair, but there would also need to be full NMCs.
- DarthKane

For your viewing pleasures...

Technically I think the Hawks can only drop to 14th, but leave it to Stan to find a way to drop to 15th.

I think those deals for Kunitz and Gustafsson are fair, but there would also need to be full NMCs.
- DarthKane

The odds they drop to 15th are next to nill (less than 1%) but I believe it is possible because they select the top-3 spots via ping pong balls and therefore if the teams that are in the 13th, 14th and 15th spots all have their ping pong balls selected and they move into the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd spots - then all other teams (1-12) move down 3 spots - Colorado (Ottawa) would draft 4th and the Hawks would draft 15th.