Not saying for this guy but if they can get a good haul for Saad I'd be ok with that.
- 6628

I would be ok with moving anyone if it makes the Hawks better. IMO, replacing Saad won't be as easy as some seem to think. He is a possession driver. Sure advanced metrics aren't the whole story but it does indicate when a player is putting his team in a position for positive outcomes. Saad does that and does it very well.

If someone wants to overpay for his services, then move him. The only thing is the Hawks will have to find someone to replace him. Guys that consistently put up strong metrics across the whole top 9 aren't easy to find.

I keep wondering how are the Hawks going to become Cup contenders again

I do know some guys are getting older but

Guys we need to replace
Hossa, Bickell, Shaw, Sharp

Does Cat replace Sharp
Does Caggiula replace Shaw

Strome isn't Hossa but
Bickell= no one

Defensively
Nik = no one
Oduya= possibly Joki
Rozy = today's Seabrook
Seabrook = no one

So many holes to fill no wonder we give up so many goals against

I don't get moving Saad and AA, at times Saad doesn't use his head but Saad has shown his style of hockey is effective in the playoffs. It's not like we will be able to trade them for better players.

I keep wondering how are the Hawks going to become Cup contenders again

I do know some guys are getting older but

Guys we need to replace
Hossa, Bickell, Shaw, Sharp

Does Cat replace Sharp
Does Caggiula replace Shaw

Strome isn't Hossa but
Bickell= no one

Defensively
Nik = no one
Oduya= possibly Joki
Rozy = today's Seabrook
Seabrook = no one

So many holes to fill no wonder we give up so many goals against
- BetweenTheDots

The Cup winning teams are like a drug. We need to stop trying to chase what we had. There is no “one way” to win a cup.

The Devils did it with D. The Hawks did it with Posession. The Pens (recently) did it with an incredible ability to counter (and really good goaltending).

You need some skill, and some size, but most of all you need to have everyone understand an buy-in to the system you are running.

The Cup winning teams are like a drug. We need to stop trying to chase what we had. There is no “one way” to win a cup.

The Devils did it with D. The Hawks did it with Posession. The Pens (recently) did it with an incredible ability to counter (and really good goaltending).

You need some skill, and some size, but most of all you need to have everyone understand an buy-in to the system you are running.
- Chunk

All im saying is like it or not we don't have the parts especially at the blue line.

It's interesting how they trade for Caggiula, after a while the K T Caggiula line is formed and they take off, Caggiula gets hurt and it cools off.

You need complimentary hockey pieces, to win the SC. honestly the Pens defense wasn't as bad as everyone thinks they were.

Just like last year, don't get me wrong MAF played great, but the defense including the forwards did their fair share of the work to get to the SCF

I don't get moving Saad and AA, at times Saad doesn't use his head but Saad has shown his style of hockey is effective in the playoffs. It's not like we will be able to trade them for better players.
- BetweenTheDots

Here' a tip to understanding. Their guys are always better than our guys.

The Cup winning teams are like a drug. We need to stop trying to chase what we had. There is no “one way” to win a cup.

The Devils did it with D. The Hawks did it with Posession. The Pens (recently) did it with an incredible ability to counter (and really good goaltending).

You need some skill, and some size, but most of all you need to have everyone understand an buy-in to the system you are running.
- Chunk

A hot goalie, luck and health, too.
Or depth to withstand some injuries.

I don't get moving Saad and AA, at times Saad doesn't use his head but Saad has shown his style of hockey is effective in the playoffs. It's not like we will be able to trade them for better players.
- BetweenTheDots

SAAD would be traded for D help. Much better options on the UFA for Forwards then D. IE sign a similar player with cap space. lets call it Kevin hayes or Dzingel and trade SAAD for a top 4 D player.

With AA we cannot afford to pay him 4.55 the next 2 years to be our 4th line Center but another team like Carolina would happily pay him 2.5 per year in actual cash to do that, Always better to be a year early getting rid of salary. you wait to long and you get Sharp for Scudari. or Leddy for nothing.

AA has more value to a Budget team then to a Cap team like Chicago. SAAD is the only asset that we have other then prospects to get D help and it makes sense to trade some salary because we are going to inherit some salary.

I don't have the cheat sheet and can't remember what "fine" means in Q speak. I think Lazerus or someone in the Athletic wrote about it not too long ago.
- HawkintheD

Someone posted that here (or maybe made up their own Q lingo cheat sheet). Thought it was amusing.

SAAD would be traded for D help. Much better options on the UFA for Forwards then D. IE sign a similar player with cap space. lets call it Kevin hayes or Dzingel and trade SAAD for a top 4 D player.

With AA we cannot afford to pay him 4.55 the next 2 years to be our 4th line Center but another team like Carolina would happily pay him 2.5 per year in actual cash to do that, Always better to be a year early getting rid of salary. you wait to long and you get Sharp for Scudari. or Leddy for nothing.

AA has more value to a Budget team then to a Cap team like Chicago. SAAD is the only asset that we have other then prospects to get D help and it makes sense to trade some salary because we are going to inherit some salary.
- kmw4631

I don't know if the new Carolina owner feels the same way? I hear he's all about winning. But i get what you're saying.

I think it's a pipe dream someone trades their top 4dman for a forward. Unless it's a player like Murphy who to me really isn't a top 4 dman

*NEW* blog up: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=99057

Cannot understate this last part enough. I’m completely in agreement with you here, regardless of how others clamor that StanBo needs to do whatever it takes to get that “top-4”.

The Hawks have enough talent already to win. We can see that based on the talent on this roster. You just need to continue to develop from within and supplement the roster with finishing touches. A true stay-at-home consistent d-man, and improving your bottom six, along with the team as a whole improving defensively whether it’s scheme-wise or defensive personnel being added (assuming Craw is fully healthy headed into next season), and this team is ready to roll.

We don’t need to spend this offseason for the sake of spending.
- TommyHawk

Agree, organic improvements individually plus marked improvement on team defense would make it possible for the team to pursue non-elite talent to fill spots on the blueline and bottom 6 (even middle 6). Smart, consistent, and fundamentally sound play by everyone is the key.

SAAD would be traded for D help. Much better options on the UFA for Forwards then D. IE sign a similar player with cap space. lets call it Kevin hayes or Dzingel and trade SAAD for a top 4 D player.

With AA we cannot afford to pay him 4.55 the next 2 years to be our 4th line Center but another team like Carolina would happily pay him 2.5 per year in actual cash to do that, Always better to be a year early getting rid of salary. you wait to long and you get Sharp for Scudari. or Leddy for nothing.

AA has more value to a Budget team then to a Cap team like Chicago. SAAD is the only asset that we have other then prospects to get D help and it makes sense to trade some salary because we are going to inherit some salary.
- kmw4631

Anisimov wouldn't be the 4C, though. Kampf would. Although getting a cheaper 3C would help the pocketbook to pay other players, $4.55 for a 3C isn't bad either.