MC moves into head coaching position by christmas if hawks falter under JC. Seems kinda (and i mean kinda) like the Q hire 10 years ago when Savvy was head coach.

People need to stop considering Saad a 3rd liner because he really isn't.

He may have lined up on the 3rd line for part of the year, but the truth is he averaged 4th in minutes for Blackhawks forwards last season behind Kane/Toews/Debrincat (essentially tied Debrincat as only one second separated them). He was 3rd behind Kane and Toews for Even Strength ice-time up front.

Saad is one of the more important forwards for the Hawks, even if he moves up and down the lineup. It would be like calling Kane a second line player when he doesn't play on line 1. Or calling AA a first line C when he has Kane on his wing. It just isn't so. Saad is quickly becoming one of the more under appreciated players on this roster. 4th in goals for the Hawks over the last 2 seasons (that is with his poor production in that first season back) and tied with Kane with 11 Game Winning Goals. Add in the fact that he was one of the only forwards who didn't suck on the PK. If they trade him away, I hope it isn't at a discount, because this team needs guys like him.
- breadbag

Saad should be the Hossa replacement and complement Toews, but I just don't see the consistency to warrant it.

The entire PK sucked. We can blame the system, blame the D, blame whoever, but he was part of that dumpster fire unit.

I doubt he gets traded......so I wouldn't lose too much sleep.

Moving Anisimov, Saad and Keith will free up 16M in cap space but will create 3 more holes on the roster (in addition to the current need of a veteran top 4 D and a couple of bottom six defensive minded forwards).

Anisimov will only return a 3rd round 2020 draft choice or B level prospect. No immediate help there.

Saad + an asset for someone like Carolina's Pesce?

Keith to Florida to reunite with Q for ????

Hopefully use some of that cap space for to sign a couple of Brandon Tanev and Ben Chiarot types.
- boilermaker100


I’d rather it be Seabrook!

I would've said the same thing for the first 1/2 to 2/3 of last season, but seabs actually played pretty well and much better than DK from about Jan or so on. Plus, DK contract more palatable since its roughly 5.3 and not 6.8 and some organizations may still be under the delusion that he's still an nhl caliber defenseman.

MC moves into head coaching position by Christmas if hawks falter under JC. Seems kinda (and i mean kinda) like the Q hire 10 years ago when Savvy was head coach.
- Nmbr1

Throw me in the not a fan of that guy crowd. Hated him and the Avs during the 90's and that has not changed. If he were to take over in the event of a JC failure, expect a major on ice mentality change. His teams tend to play a heavier style.

Saad should be the Hossa replacement and complement Toews, but I just don't see the consistency to warrant it.

The entire PK sucked. We can blame the system, blame the D, blame whoever, but he was part of that dumpster fire unit.

I doubt he gets traded......so I wouldn't lose too much sleep.
- SteveRain

If you are expecting him to be a Hossa replacement then you need to adjust your expectations. He has some of the 2 way qualities, but will never have the dominance, game breaking ability or shot to match Hossa. Hossa was the most well rounded winger of this Hawks generation.

Saad had up and down play with Toews, but 2 guys don't make a 5 man unit work unless you have the right mix. When it was Saad + Toews + A play making Winger....things were pretty darn good. Saad + Toews + Bottom 6 plug was too often the mix and it didn't work.

About the PK, you can go ahead and just lump everyone together, but when Saad was on the ice, the Hawks actually had a counter attack and were more aggressive which resulted in less pressure. There were 5 forwards that took the bulk of the PK time Toews/Saad/AA/Kampf/Kruger and Saad seems the most consistent.

I'm not saying the guy is perfect and maybe he would be better at 5 to 5.5 million, but he ain't no 3rd liner.

If you are expecting him to be a Hossa replacement then you need to adjust your expectations. He has some of the 2 way qualities, but will never have the dominance, game breaking ability or shot to match Hossa. Hossa was the most well rounded winger of this Hawks generation.

Saad had up and down play with Toews, but 2 guys don't make a 5 man unit work unless you have the right mix. When it was Saad + Toews + A play making Winger....things were pretty darn good. Saad + Toews + Bottom 6 plug was too often the mix and it didn't work.

About the PK, you can go ahead and just lump everyone together, but when Saad was on the ice, the Hawks actually had a counter attack and were more aggressive which resulted in less pressure. There were 5 forwards that took the bulk of the PK time Toews/Saad/AA/Kampf/Kruger and Saad seems the most consistent.

I'm not saying the guy is perfect and maybe he would be better at 5 to 5.5 million, but he ain't no 3rd liner.
- breadbag

Bread, Hoss is in the convo as a top 5 Hawk of all time IMO

Brandon Saad made the Athletic's top 20 trade candidates.

Maybe they read my blog? Hmmmm....
- Tyler Cameron

If they didn't it's their loss.

People need to stop considering Saad a 3rd liner because he really isn't.

He may have lined up on the 3rd line for part of the year, but the truth is he averaged 4th in minutes for Blackhawks forwards last season behind Kane/Toews/Debrincat (essentially tied Debrincat as only one second separated them). He was 3rd behind Kane and Toews for Even Strength ice-time up front.

Saad is one of the more important forwards for the Hawks, even if he moves up and down the lineup. It would be like calling Kane a second line player when he doesn't play on line 1. Or calling AA a first line C when he has Kane on his wing. It just isn't so. Saad is quickly becoming one of the more under appreciated players on this roster. 4th in goals for the Hawks over the last 2 seasons (that is with his poor production in that first season back) and tied with Kane with 11 Game Winning Goals. Add in the fact that he was one of the only forwards who didn't suck on the PK. If they trade him away, I hope it isn't at a discount, because this team needs guys like him.
- breadbag

Coaches often spread out their talent to improve the team's overall depth. Saad is not a 3rd line forward. Sharp and Hossa each played on the 3rd line at points in their careers for the same reasons. Saad (and his contract) are not a problem. Sure, if dealing him improves the team then go for it. But that could be said about anyone on the team. There is absolutely not reason to proactively trade Saad. As somebody else pointed out in a previous blog, these next two seasons are the reason Stan re-acquired Saad.

Bread, Hoss is in the convo as a top 5 Hawk of all time IMO
- nickmo2699

No man...not even close.

No man...not even close.
- TommyHawk

Hossa and Larmer are my two favorite Hawks.

Bread, Hoss is in the convo as a top 5 Hawk of all time IMO
- nickmo2699

I agree. He was special. Often the best Hawk on the ice for any given game. He didn't always score the winning goal, but the plays he made night after night were HUGE.

I agree. He was special. Often the best Hawk on the ice for any given game. He didn't always score the winning goal, but the plays he made night after night were HUGE.
- breadbag

There’s no denying his impact on the team, but he was only here for 8 seasons. Not enough time to warrant being a team all-time great.

Kane, Toews, Savard, Mikita, Hull, and Esposito are all players that have cemented themselves as all-time greats in the organization.

No man...not even close.
- TommyHawk

Not even close? The guy has three cups and played in an era where athleticism and skill was at a premium. Not only that, he was the Hawks best player and I say that because he played all situations and produced.

These finals have been quite boring and horrid hockey all around. Pretty much why the NHL cant grow.

Anyway, would be cool to see the hawks get nuts for the entertainment factor alone.

Terrible signing in Marc Crawford. Shows no faith in JC and that guy kinda sucks anyway. But at least hell tell dudes to try hard and encourage deliberate injuring.

There’s no denying his impact on the team, but he was only here for 8 seasons. Not enough time to warrant being a team all-time great.

Kane, Toews, Savard, Mikita, Hull, and Esposito are all players that have cemented themselves as all-time greats in the organization.
- TommyHawk

I know what you are saying and I don't disagree in those context. I just think it depends on your measuring stick for who is an all-time great.

I think Hossa is in the conversation because of how good he was but everyone will have a different interpretation of what the criteria is. Hossa being a huge part of 3 cups should be part of the discussion for all time great players IMO. Does he make the cut..maybe, but I think that gets subjective. That's all I'm saying.

Not even close? The guy has three cups and played in an era where athleticism and skill was at a premium. Not only that, he was the Hawks best player and I say that because he played all situations and produced.
- nickmo2699

No Hossa = No Cups.

I know it was Sean Avery, but he is saying that Trouba is headed to Toronto for Kadri. I dont put much belief in it, but if it is in fact true, I dont see how this helps Toronto's cap issues unless they are for sure moving Marner or Nylander.

I keep going back and forth on this draft. A part of me thinks that drafting an elite forward will be needed soon because 19 and 88 are getting older. However, I drool when I think of a top 5 "D" consisting of Byram (if drafted here), Boqvist, Jokiharju, Beaudin, and Mitchell. That is an incredible 5 going forward. Will they all pan out? Who knows, but it would be very interesting to see, man would the Hawks have an incredible transition game if these 5 do turn out to be as good as some think they can be. Shoud be fun offseason to see what the Hawks do in terms of direction and also how they re-tool the team as well.

I know what you are saying and I don't disagree in those context. I just think it depends on your measuring stick for who is an all-time great.

I think Hossa is in the conversation because of how good he was but everyone will have a different interpretation of what the criteria is. Hossa being a huge part of 3 cups should be part of the discussion for all time great players IMO. Does he make the cut..maybe, but I think that gets subjective. That's all I'm saying.
- breadbag

Difficulty is, and I'm not discounting Hull, Mikita, etc., but as far as success and impact on the franchise, it's hard not to put the entire core for the three cups as all time greats. This is the most successful era of Hawks hockey and they all were important in it.

I keep going back and forth on this draft. A part of me thinks that drafting an elite forward will be needed soon because 19 and 88 are getting older. However, I drool when I think of a top 5 "D" consisting of Byram (if drafted here), Boqvist, Jokiharju, Beaudin, and Mitchell. That is an incredible 5 going forward. Will they all pan out? Who knows, but it would be very interesting to see, man would the Hawks have an incredible transition game if these 5 do turn out to be as good as some think they can be. Shoud be fun offseason to see what the Hawks do in terms of direction and also how they re-tool the team as well.
- ChicagoHope

Are you saving the 6 spot for Seabs since we will never be able to move him?

Are you saving the 6 spot for Seabs since we will never be able to move him?
- nickmo2699

Too funny, but sadly true!! Love Seabs, but he is burnt toast man.

Difficulty is, and I'm not discounting Hull, Mikita, etc., but as far as success and impact on the franchise, it's hard not to put the entire core for the three cups as all time greats. This is the most successful era of Hawks hockey and they all were important in it.
- nickmo2699

Yes. I think all of us will have some bais too. Folks who grew up watching Hull or Mikita will look at it differently than someone who grew up watching Toews/Kane.

In some regards I hate things like this. Kind of like the NHL awards or hall of fame induction. It can really come down to a matter of perspective.

Hossa was a force while he was here. From his attitude off the ice, in the locker room, on the bench and on the ice, he was a real special guy. Glad we got to watch him play so much.

Kings trading for 3OA is just plain stupid!

People need to stop considering Saad a 3rd liner because he really isn't.

He may have lined up on the 3rd line for part of the year, but the truth is he averaged 4th in minutes for Blackhawks forwards last season behind Kane/Toews/Debrincat (essentially tied Debrincat as only one second separated them). He was 3rd behind Kane and Toews for Even Strength ice-time up front.

Saad is one of the more important forwards for the Hawks, even if he moves up and down the lineup. It would be like calling Kane a second line player when he doesn't play on line 1. Or calling AA a first line C when he has Kane on his wing. It just isn't so. Saad is quickly becoming one of the more under appreciated players on this roster. 4th in goals for the Hawks over the last 2 seasons (that is with his poor production in that first season back) and tied with Kane with 11 Game Winning Goals. Add in the fact that he was one of the only forwards who didn't suck on the PK. If they trade him away, I hope it isn't at a discount, because this team needs guys like him.
- breadbag

And Saad actually jumps Debrincat to be 3rd on the team when you look at 5v5 time - and 5v5 is what matters when you're discussing line roll-out.

Part of the issue with perceiving Saad as a 3rd liner is that the Hawks didn't run a traditional middle 6. It was much more like a 2A/2B in terms of TOI as Anisimov-Strome are within 5 seconds of each other 5v5 and Saad-Debrincat are within 20. In the last 20 games, Saad averaged more TOI 5v5 and all than Debrincat and Anisimov did the same over Strome.

Saad-Anisimov also saw higher quality of competition, facing 1-2 lines of other teams, esp when Kahun was on their line. They had similar deployment/usage to Sharp-Bolland/Handzus-Kane of 2013. Strome-Debrincat saw lower QOC, skewed OZ deployment, and were essentially used in a bumslayer line by the end of the season, esp when with Perlini. They were more close to Shaw-Bickell-Stalberg at that point - just way (frank)ing better lol.

Honestly, the way JC was rolling his lines last year is why I thought the Hawks were interested in a player like Hayes because then Saad-Hayes would be 2A to Debrincat-Strome 2B with the latter getting higher OZS to optimize their offensive production.

Yes. I think all of us will have some bais too. Folks who grew up watching Hull or Mikita will look at it differently than someone who grew up watching Toews/Kane.

In some regards I hate things like this. Kind of like the NHL awards or hall of fame induction. It can really come down to a matter of perspective.

Hossa was a force while he was here. From his attitude off the ice, in the locker room, on the bench and on the ice, he was a real special guy. Glad we got to watch him play so much.
- breadbag

Completely unrelated, but what if the Hawks offer sheet Kyle Connor?