If the Hawks want to improve D:

1) Hope Crow plays 55+ games at an elite level. I like Lankinen as a backup playing 25+ games.

2) Get two 200' lines
Saad - Toews - Kahun - 200' line
ADB - Strome - Kane - all offense line
Kubalik - Filpula ($2.5mil)- Sikura/Perlini - line with potential
Caggiula - Kampf - Tanev ($2.5mil) - 200' line

3) Improve personnel on D.
Keith, Seabs, Koekkoek, Murphy, Forsling, Gus, Dahlstrom

This above team has a $70 mil cap hit. It is a borderline playoff team. Stan has $13 mil to improve this roster to make it a cup contender.

Carolina would never do this. Why trade a #1 in Slavin for the 3rd pick who could be a flop. I get your point though.

The fact is.....no team is going to trade their top dmen because they're few and far between.

Do you think Edmonton would trade Darnell Nurse to us for Brandon Saad ????
Not a chance.
We'd be lucky to get a number 4 dman for him.
- Hawkytalk

nurse is a number 4 at best so no can nurse devlop into better d man yes but it also could be that he is Edmonton so there is that

(if no trades)
Sikura-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Kahun
Saad-AA-Kubalik
Caggiula-Kampf-Perlini
- EbonyRaptor

That looks accurate to me given your preface if no trades are made and only fielding a roster from current assets (assuming RFAs like Sikura and Perlini are resigned). Not sure if others are seeing that preface.

Most of us know that there will be transactions whether trades, free agent signings, draft picks, and prospect development. While some signings have happened, it's still "pre-season" to the off-season so the bulk of movement is yet to come.

Weighing in on the Saad-Kessel debate, not sure why one has to be trash for the other to be gold. Both are good players to have as they bring different strengths to the rink so it depends on what your team needs.

The Hawks are fine in the scoring department but sorely need to ramp up team defense and the PK. Saad is a cog that can help fulfill both quotients while also providing scoring at a 20-25 goal clip in an average season and 30ish if he can bang on all cylinders for most of the season.

Saad is one of the better PK forwards with his speed and defensive game. He creates turnovers to flip the ice. While it would be cool if he could convert more SH chances, the primary purpose of those ice-flipping moments is to shave time off the clock which he has shown he can routinely do (sometimes twice in the same PK shift). Scoring a SHG is icing on the cake.

Kessel would be really helpful for a team that needs primary scoring help. Again, that's not the Hawks. Sure, the Hawks could use more secondary scoring but you don't bring in a primary scorer like Kessel to provide secondary scoring. That's where someone like Miller, Killorn, or Frolik could come in.
- AEL_Fox

Miller i would persue so don't know what the trade would look like but i tell tampa we ll take callhan contract along with miller.

Anyone watching the game, were the fans chanting bullpoop?

(if no trades)
Sikura-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Kahun
Saad-AA-Kubalik
Caggiula-Kampf-Perlini
- EbonyRaptor

I don’t think Perlini survives if it’s not in a top 6 role.

Sikrua is not a top 6 player plus hawks won't make it out of the 1st round with that lineup imo.
- Scott1977

Is there a top-6 player that I missed who you would put in Sikura's place?

I'm glad you're not the GM !!
- Hawkytalk

You're not the only one.

It’d be funny if the Blues get swept for the fourth time in their four final appearances.

Koekkoek’s underlying numbers were significantly better than Forsling and Dahlstrom. Sea brook too, for that matter. He’s a cheap 6-7 that allows you to move Forsling for something at the draft.
- scottak

Bowman is not afraid to move on from mistakes or trials. Coaches immeorable think they might be able to get something more out of an athlete than previous coaches. Sometimes it actually happens. Koekkoek was a first round choice and he will sometimes actually really commit a check. Our future defense does not have heavy hitters, not many anyway so Koekkoek could become a nice blend of puck mover descent skating and will check. Can even be a bit nasty.

Whether he works out is in one way immaterial because 1). He is cheap depth who might develop; and 2) one or more depth guys can eventually be included in trades or traded for even a late round draft choice. Teams need depth on defense.

Anyone watching the game, were the fans chanting bullpoop?
- I Am The Breadman

I would be...this game is a mess. Both teams (again) getting away with all types cheap poop with non calls...

It’d be funny if the Blues get swept for the fourth time in their four final appearances.
- walleyeb1

oh so sweet...

I would be...this game is a mess. Both teams (again) getting away with all types cheap poop with non calls...
- bogiedoc

Blues been going after Rask a lot, all of those have been called. The slashes haven't been called & wtf was Parayko doing to Debrusk?

another coach recycle: tippet to the oil...

it so tiring to see the nhl coaching shuffle...same guys getting hired and fired...

honestly i like what the hawks did with hiring JC instead of some retread coach..its bold and refreshing

For 3C my preference would be Adam Lowry.
- DarthKane

Agree 110%....wish we could get Danault back also 👍🏻

I agree here if the Hawks could scoop up a center from one of cap teams they will have three solid lines
What are your thoughts on Kadri
Or as others have suggested Miller from Tampa
I think either one would look good playing with Saad.
- HamiltonHawk

Say the Hawks trade for Miller and Callahan sending Forsling, Hayden, and draft pick(s) to the Lightning (or whatever package), consider these forward duos to build around:

LW - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - RW
Saad - Miller - RW
Caggiula - Kampf - RW
Callahan (13th)

Then as a sample lineup assuming other acquisitions including trading Anisimov for draft pick(s) and/or prospect(s):

Kahun - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Perlini/Kubalik
Saad - Miller - Sikura
Caggiula - Kampf - Tanev
Callahan (13th)

Sage gets his ot game.

Sage gets his ot game.
- I Am The Breadman

Now we need a Blues win to get into a long series.

Say the Hawks trade for Miller and Callahan sending Forsling, Hayden, and draft pick(s) to the Lightning (or whatever package), consider these forward duos to build around:

LW - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - RW
Saad - Miller - RW
Caggiula - Kampf - RW
Callahan (13th)

Then as a sample lineup assuming other acquisitions including trading Anisimov for draft pick(s) and/or prospect(s):

Kahun - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Perlini/Kubalik
Saad - Miller - Sikura
Caggiula - Kampf - Tanev
Callahan (13th)
- AEL_Fox

That's a good start. Now...how to upgrade the D? I assume we'd have to package the picks acquired in the Anisimov trade you mentioned along with some other assets. Gus? One of the younger D prospects?

Now we need a Blues win to get into a long series.
- StLBravesFan

they have taken it to the bruins BUT rask and a post said NO!

bruins get this one over in the 1st 5 minutes

Now we need a Blues win to get into a long series.
- StLBravesFan

There ya go.

they have taken it to the bruins BUT rask and a post said NO!

bruins get this one over in the 1st 5 minutes
- bogiedoc

Yeah ... about that ...

Blues came out and just owned the Bruins for the first four minutes of OT for the win. Fun game to watch.

Hoping this series goes to game 7...

they have taken it to the bruins BUT rask and a post said NO!

bruins get this one over in the 1st 5 minutes
- bogiedoc

damn it...wrong team...