Saad back home to Pittsburgh for Olii Maatta?
24 year D signed for 4.1M for next 3 years.

EDIT - Fellow Finn. Give Joki someone to hang with.
- boilermaker100

Pass

Not this year. This year's finalists are Dallas' Ben Bishop, NY Islanders' Robin Lehner and Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy.
- walleyeb1

Lehner deserves it.

Hawks trying to sign Swedish winger Anton Wedin.. per Second City Hockey 511/195

Wedin is down to the Hawks and Yotes in talks.
- z1990z

Stan will mess it up, Wedin to the Yotes.

Wonder what the long term plans are for Anisimov and Saad. They both have two years left at a reasonable 10.5M. Do the Hawks plan to keep them and resign them in 2 years or let them walk. Maybe this summer is the time to trade them.

Assuming Hawks resign Sikura and Perlini for a couple of years (I'm all for that to allow them time to develop), sign Kabulik, and with Entwhistle, the #3 pick and possibly Hagel and Highmore in the wings someone has to be moved out.

Hawks potential forwards the year after next with AA and Saad - Toews, Kane, Strome, Cat, Kahun, Kabulik, Kampf, Caggiula, Sikura, Perlini, Entwhistle, #3 pick, Hagel/Highmore, AA, Saad.

That's 15-16 forwards not counting anybody picked up this off season. Someone has to go. Trade AA and Saad now while they have value and a couple of years term left at a reasonable hit for a top 4 D and a bottom 6 forward. Hayden, Koekkoek and either Dahlstrom/Forsling could be throw ins too.
- boilermaker100

Great question and thoughts.

This rumor of the Hawks being a finalist with the Coyotes for this Wedin guy from Sweden exacerbates the glut of forwards, especially if Wedin and Kubalik both sign and make the team. Let's hope they both are open to starting in Rockford if they don't make the cut or have an out clause that allows them to return to Europe.

Just for argument sake, let's say Wedin and Kubalik sign and make the team, that really leaves no room for a new forward acquisition let alone two which many expect. This also assumes Perlini and Sikura are resigned and those two plus Hayden and Highmore are in the mix:

Saad - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Sikura/Perlini
Kahun - Anisimov - Kubalik
Caggiula - Kampf - Wedin
Hayden/Highmore

A trade or two needs to happen to loosen the belt if new blood from outside the organization is expected. Otherwise, the forward ranks will be 100% internal personnel with a lot of question marks with players like Sikura, Perlini, Kubalik, Wedin, Hayden, and Highmore.

Stan will mess it up, Wedin to the Yotes.
- DarthKane

Guess JC has some knowledge about Wedin when he was over seas coaching.

Heard Ehlers is a game time decision. If Ehlers is not able to go I’d roll with seven Dmen and let Big Buf roll some shifts at forward.

Darth what do you think of Patric Nemeth? he will be a UFA and I think he is a potential top 4 guy he seems to be getting better each year.

Darth what do you think of Patric Nemeth? he will be a UFA and I think he is a potential top 4 guy he seems to be getting better each year.
- Sn1362

He's playing bottom pairing in Colorado. I don't think he's a top 4

Great question and thoughts.re.
- AEL_Fox

Thanks. The thought came to me while out having a beer watching DAL-NSH.

If Wedin does sign along with Kubalik.and the Hawks obtain a veteran forward NHLer via FA or trade there will be a glut of forwards on the roster.

This makes 15 and 20 expendable. Yes, losing one or both would mean relying on some unprovens like Sikura, Perlini. Kubalik, Wedin. ,but you have to give to get a useable piece

Question for the forum - Would a trading partner offer more in return for AA or Saad this summer and have them for 2 years or next summer and have them only 1 year???

Stan will mess it up, Wedin to the Yotes.
- DarthKane

If Wedin signs with us, then logicly less likely would draft Russian Pod.

If Stars close it out, 3 of 4 wildcards advance with Carolina still in the running.
- boilermaker100

Yeah think there is a chance the lower tier team wins every series. No way that has happen before . (Exclude six team league )

Thanks. The thought came to me while out having a beer watching DAL-NSH.

If Wedin does sign along with Kubalik.and the Hawks obtain a veteran forward NHLer via FA or trade there will be a glut of forwards on the roster.

This makes 15 and 20 expendable. Yes, losing one or both would mean relying on some unprovens like Sikura, Perlini. Kubalik, Wedin. ,but you have to give to get a useable piece

Question for the forum - Would a trading partner offer more in return for AA or Saad this summer and have them for 2 years or next summer and have them only 1 year???
- boilermaker100

Obviously Saad

Why exactly did Buffalo trade O'REILLY? ???

Okay. I give. No Saad for Matta trade. Anything we want back from the Pens for Brendan?
- boilermaker100

If you mean Perlini, stick tape? If you mean Saad, nothing.

No to wedin ,we don’need another 4th line player.

Thanks. The thought came to me while out having a beer watching DAL-NSH.

If Wedin does sign along with Kubalik.and the Hawks obtain a veteran forward NHLer via FA or trade there will be a glut of forwards on the roster.

This makes 15 and 20 expendable. Yes, losing one or both would mean relying on some unprovens like Sikura, Perlini. Kubalik, Wedin. ,but you have to give to get a useable piece

Question for the forum - Would a trading partner offer more in return for AA or Saad this summer and have them for 2 years or next summer and have them only 1 year???
- boilermaker100

How does signing two players unproven in the NHL make two productive NHL player expendable? Why not add these guys to the forward mix and increase the depth?

Seems counterproductive to me.

EDIT: Looking at Wedin's numbers doesn't indicate to me a guy who going to be a viable option as a point producer in a top 6 role

Heard Ehlers is a game time decision. If Ehlers is not able to go I’d roll with seven Dmen and let Big Buf roll some shifts at forward.
- walleyeb1

Big Buff with Perreault and another linemmate, jad been scary good putting up poonts in short duration they were a forward line. This has been the case on a few occassions.

Looks like Blues came out with a blitzkrieg first period at home trying to put Jets in a hole early which they cannot score their way out. Judging by hits and shots

Jets are done. They had their chances in that series. If they could have held a lead, the blows would be on the front nine already. Blows are also lucky they have Binnington, he's the main reason they're still in it.

How does signing two players unproven in the NHL make two productive NHL player expendable? Why not add these guys to the forward mix and increase the depth?

Seems counterproductive to me.
- Gramps28

Well if Saad plus a piece or two obtains the top 4 D most people on this board are clamoring for it wouldn't be counter productive.

The FA/trade acquisition veteran forward could replace either AA. If Kabulik/Wedin pan out it's gravy. If not, send them to Rockford or back to Europe.

Forsling + 2nd for Kapanen...

Signing off for the weekend guys and gals. Enjoyed the give and take on trade proposals., roster projections, etc.

Happy Easter and Passover.

Wow Jets six SOG through two periods.

Wow Jets six SOG through two periods.
- walleyeb1

Looks like only one team decided to show.

Signing off for the weekend guys and gals. Enjoyed the give and take on trade proposals., roster projections, etc.

Happy Easter and Passover.
- boilermaker100

Same to you and yours!

Forsling + 2nd for Kapanen...
- mike7076

Rather have johnson IMO