Hey Rick - all of those guys are RHD. The Hawks were mostly talking to teams about LHD as it is their bigger need.

With you on Maatta and we'll see what he can do in a Hawks sweater.
- Tyler Cameron

Lots of teams out there in need of RHD, a position of strength for the Hawks. Will be v interesting next couple of weeks. Trying to trust, be patient, look at the finished product, yada, yada. Did the same last year and all that got me was disappointed and proved correct - last year’s team in OCT was not good and not playoff level. Hoping for better this season.

Sure could have waited and brought in mediocre Nikita Zaitsev from the Leafs.

Or pursued 33 year old Matt Niskanen and his $5.7M contract to help the Capitals clear some cap space. Flyers beat Stan to the punch, where the hell was he - playing golf somewhere?

Or waited to see what Tampa was going to do with 33 year old Anton Stralman.

Sitting around waiting for the market to come to you rarely works for any company or salesman. Acquiring Maatta ultimately may not bring much of a payoff, but he is still only 24 with lots of NHL experience playing for a winning organization. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
- RickJ

I have a wait and see attitude with Maatta and with his injury history we may have to wait and see to just see him on the ice. I think If Maatta helps the penalty kill, and serves as a mentor for the young defensemen then I'm good with the acquisition. Better overall defense and penalty killing is what would have allowed Chicago to get into the playoffs last year. If Maatta along with a better defensive system can improve the team's defense, next season should be an interesting, if not fun season to watch. So long as our expectations are realistic. ie: we aren't expecting a contending team but instead a competitive one I'm hoping next season our board discussions will be a little more upbeat .... on second thought this is the BOD where even winning brings out the negative in some.

Well as you know the scouts on this board know far more than Bowman and his Hockey Ops staff.

Maatta isn't a game changer for the organization but when it comes to foot speed I just look at guys who played important roles in the playoffs that aren't cheetahs on ice - ROR, Bouwmeester, Chara, Steen, even Bergeron. Positioning and knowing how to play the game is far more important that being Eric Heiden. If Maatta can stay healthy and bring hockey smarts to the back end the Hawks will be a better team.
- RickJ

Agreed, Rick. Plus, should be a better team with a couple more acquisitions.

Why does Stan have this weird fetish for guys who can’t skate?

Lots of teams out there in need of RHD, a position of strength for the Hawks. Will be v interesting next couple of weeks. Trying to trust, be patient, look at the finished product, yada, yada. Did the same last year and all that got me was disappointed and proved correct - last year’s team in OCT was not good and not playoff level. Hoping for better this season.
- Marlowe

Agreed. Hawks will be in a great spot when Jokiharju, Mitchell and Boqvist are proven NHL assets, should they make it all.

I'm with you Marlowe... I was optimistic last year until July 1st happened.

I am nore optimism this year as Bowman can't mess up like that again this offseason.

I am not too concerned about cap space and Olli's 4M salary. Per cap friendly Hawks have 17 players signed (not including Joki) and 17.2M in cap space. Assume Sikura, Kampf and Perlini sign for a combined 4M leaving 13.2M with 20 players signed. Assume Joki replaces Koekkoek or Dahlstrom at a wash in salary.

So Hawks have 13.2M to sign 2-3 players. Perhaps a veteran backup goalie for a year at 3M? Maybe another D in place of Murphy at a salary wash? Maybe a depth forward or two for 6M total offset by Anisimov trade = 1.5M cap gain? That leaves Hawks with about 8M banked for next year to go toward extending Cat and Strome.

From a Pen's poster:

"Maata's better than most Pens fans understand. He's not "slow". He's a solid skater. He just doesn't have that first quick step. It's honestly his only real weakness. But, on a Pens team who were all pushing north and forgetting to bring the F3 high in the zone to help the Dmen, that initial step stood out BIG time last season.

Basically, if he's looking up ice and someone turns it over, he just doesn't react in time to that quick transition. And, the Pens are constantly making those turnovers at the absolute wrong time.

He'll be fine in the future."

Agreed. Hawks will be in a great spot when Jokiharju, Mitchell and Boqvist are proven NHL assets, should they make it all.

I'm with you Marlowe... I was optimistic last year until July 1st happened.

I am nore optimism this year as Bowman can't mess up and keep his job like that again this offseason.
- Tyler Cameron

Fixed it for you! Stan’s shown he’s perfectly capable of messing up! But what gives me hope is last year he recognized it and fixed it with some deft hockey trades (Manning for Cagguila and Ruuta for Koekoek). Hope this year we can simply leave out the messing up and simply make the deft trades, acquisitions, and good picks at the draft!

I am not too concerned about cap space and Olli's 4M salary. Per cap friendly Hawks have 17 players signed (not including Joki) and 17.2M in cap space. Assume Sikura, Kampf and Perlini sign for a combined 4M leaving 13.2M with 20 players signed. Assume Joki replaces Koekkoek or Dahlstrom at a wash in salary.

So Hawks have 13.2M to sign 2-3 players. Perhaps a veteran backup goalie for a year at 3M? Maybe another D in place of Murphy at a salary wash? Maybe a depth forward or two for 6M total offset by Anisimov trade = 1.5M cap gain? That leaves Hawks with about 8M banked for next year to go toward extending Cat and Strome.
- boilermaker100

That cap number will change. One of the current D is on the way out.

Chicago just got another extremely hard worker in Maata. Just because he's not as fast as Kahun doesn't mean he doesn't get exception effort.

Maatta is known for be dedicated on and off the ice to his game, as well as a great teammate.
- Tyler Cameron

Sorry TC but I vehemently disagree here. I've posted for days on end that Bowman has a loaded hand to work with and "look out" for move #1.

Well Sir, if this is what our genius GM has for moves to get us as possible contenders next year and beyond, I am thoroughly disgusted.

Brandon Manning may have been a "great teammate" that worked hard as well. Would anybody alive trade Dominik Kahun for him ? To me, as well as a ton of Pittsburgh people I know say that's exactly what we're getting back here. Yes he's younger and has experience, but the other deficiencies are glaring, especially the money. 4mil for another 5/6 dman when we have the 2 best bottom 6 guys for the next 3 years in the league already is moronic. (Keith and Seabrook).

My main problem with this is Kahun. This team desparately needs players that have hockey smarts that play a fast game. He did, and contributed on any line he played, all be it as a rookie.

Again, sorry to disagree but I think that if this is where Bowman is taking us down the road, this to me is failure #1 this summer.

I do not mind the 3 years. It is the $4M+ part of his deal that I do not. Also if it means that Murphy gets moved, our defence just got softer than it already was.

Oh well, looks like we probably got ourselves a new whipping boy for next season.
- 67hawks

Best line of the day!

That cap number will change. One of the current D is on the way out.
- z1990z

Oh yeah it definitely will depending on future trades. I also forgot to include Kubalik and Wedin in the lineup and their 2M. If they are expected to make the team, their addition will basically complete the forward roster and make things crowded there. If the Hawks still want to add to the forward group another F may be shipped out.

One way or another I don't see Stan going after any of the big name free agents and expect the Hawks to enter the season with about 8M in cap space.

Mitchell will not sign now...would the Denver captain be looked upon favorably by bailing on his present team?....but should be man like in his conditioning and "could" get time before th year is out, and maybe edge out a guy who will be playing, IF he shines.

Can anybody see the future...Olli Maata gets exposed to Seattle.
He fills the hawks part of the expansion draft requirement at dee...
- wiz1901

First thing I thought, when all the potential trades were being discussed, my first thought was watch for someone who could take that slot as the guy most likely to go to Seattle a bit down the road.

I am not too concerned about cap space and Olli's 4M salary. Per cap friendly Hawks have 17 players signed (not including Joki) and 17.2M in cap space. Assume Sikura, Kampf and Perlini sign for a combined 4M leaving 13.2M with 20 players signed. Assume Joki replaces Koekkoek or Dahlstrom at a wash in salary.

So Hawks have 13.2M to sign 2-3 players. Perhaps a veteran backup goalie for a year at 3M? Maybe another D in place of Murphy at a salary wash? Maybe a depth forward or two for 6M total offset by Anisimov trade = 1.5M cap gain? That leaves Hawks with about 8M banked for next year to go toward extending Cat and Strome.
- boilermaker100

Forget the backup goalie will ya. We have 75 of them in the system already. If what Bowman has in camp already doesn't pan out, then that's more reason to get him fired as well.

There's no reason to focus on more backup goaltending. Let's please develop what we have already.

Tyler and others out there,

Happy Father's Day. Hope you have a good one.

Maatta is far from a guy who hits and has grit. He blocks shots for sure(too slow to get out of the way) but he is not "physical" in that sense.

His speed is an issue, Seriously, Rozy was faster.
- Elbows15

LOL!

Didn’t we say the Strome trade was a bad trade also.Why do we always have to crap on Bowman when he makes a trade.Lets just see how this plays out.Lets see who he play with,and what kind of roll he has with the Hawks before we throw Bowman under the bus.
- Tatoo

Obviously, you are new here

First thing I thought, when all the potential trades were being discussed, my first thought was watch for someone who could take that slot as the guy most likely to go to Seattle a bit down the road.
- vabeachbear

Murphy, if he is still around, fills the bill too for expansion draft exposure.

Tyler and others out there,

Happy Father's Day. Hope you have a good one.
- boilermaker100

Thanks Boilermaker100.

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there as well!

That cap number will change. One of the current D is on the way out.
- z1990z

Seabrook?

Sure could have waited and brought in mediocre Nikita Zaitsev from the Leafs.

Or pursued 33 year old Matt Niskanen and his $5.7M contract to help the Capitals clear some cap space. Flyers beat Stan to the punch, where the hell was he - playing golf somewhere?

Or waited to see what Tampa was going to do with 33 year old Anton Stralman.

Sitting around waiting for the market to come to you rarely works for any company or salesman. Acquiring Maatta ultimately may not bring much of a payoff, but he is still only 24 with lots of NHL experience playing for a winning organization. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
- RickJ

Especially given the grief Stan took (including lots from me) by waiting too long before moving Leddy, Sharp....

Sorry TC but I vehemently disagree here. I've posted for days on end that Bowman has a loaded hand to work with and "look out" for move #1.

Well Sir, if this is what our genius GM has for moves to get us as possible contenders next year and beyond, I am thoroughly disgusted.

Brandon Manning may have been a "great teammate" that worked hard as well. Would anybody alive trade Dominik Kahun for him ? To me, as well as a ton of Pittsburgh people I know say that's exactly what we're getting back here. Yes he's younger and has experience, but the other deficiencies are glaring, especially the money. 4mil for another 5/6 dman when we have the 2 best bottom 6 guys for the next 3 years in the league already is moronic. (Keith and Seabrook).

My main problem with this is Kahun. This team desparately needs players that have hockey smarts that play a fast game. He did, and contributed on any line he played, all be it as a rookie.

Again, sorry to disagree but I think that if this is where Bowman is taking us down the road, this to me is failure #1 this summer.
- Hawkytalk

You're allowed to disagree with me! Ha.

I'm just notnas low on Maatta as some and not as high on Kahun as you.

He's a fine player but in my brain he's already been replaced with Dylan Sikura who plays a similar game and should be up all year next year.

Or... Kahun is replaced by Tanev or UFA X.

I want to see how the team shakes out before I get too high or too low.

I was one of the many who liked the Strome trade, not for the Schmaltz hate, but I saw it as a great value for both teams and a new scenery. I don't like this trade because I don't like Maatta. Idk if I would call Kahun expendable, he needed to improve on last season, which I saw as a high possibility. Plus, he could have played with his good buddy, Kubalik. I thought that was the point... but new scenery.

This could work out, I have to give it time to sit more and calm my few shades of red down. I can only hope as a fan it works out & JC knows how to best utilize this "hard worker." I really want to be proved wrong! I really want to eat my words.

As far as Bowman waiting longer to fleece a cap strapped team, that's not his style & I'm not upset at that. Bowman doesn't go out of his way to burn bridges with teams that he's traded with before ... or ever.

Happy Father's day, fellas!

You're allowed to disagree with me! Ha.

I'm just notnas low on Maatta as some and not as high on Kahun as you.

He's a fine player but in my brain he's already been replaced with Dylan Sikura who plays a similar game and should be up all year next year.

Or... Kahun is replaced by Tanev or UFA X.

I want to see how the team shakes out before I get too high or too low.
- Tyler Cameron

Tyler, can you share anything about any upcoming moves?

From a Pen's poster:

"Maata's better than most Pens fans understand. He's not "slow". He's a solid skater. He just doesn't have that first quick step. It's honestly his only real weakness. But, on a Pens team who were all pushing north and forgetting to bring the F3 high in the zone to help the Dmen, that initial step stood out BIG time last season.

Basically, if he's looking up ice and someone turns it over, he just doesn't react in time to that quick transition. And, the Pens are constantly making those turnovers at the absolute wrong time.

He'll be fine in the future."
- SoftServe

Sounds like a Kool Aid drinker to me! Jk. What's up, Softie? How have you been?