OK but he wasn't even in Pitts top six at the end of the playoffs
- HamiltonHawk[/quotbig I jury, not enough recuperation time one season on the bench...

I just hope this doesn't signal that the team is NOT taking Byram now.
- TommyHawk

a risky pick for a guy who is looked upon as a great defender only inside the hype...

I will continue to be what imo, is the voice of reason on him.

a risky pick for a guy who is looked upon as a great defender only inside the hype...

I will continue to be what imo, is the voice of reason on him.
- wiz1901

Wiz Turcotte or cozens who would pick at 3?

Sorry Wiz, most Penguins fans smelled the stink of the Jack Johnson deal from day one - no one I read was rejoicing that move.
- Chief4Feathers

Is HE NOT the guy that played the top 4 minutes when Maatta was out?

that was really my point, not the expansion fans in Pittsburgh!

(whooooo...that was some real old pent up resentment to the hockey knowledge in the "expansion" cities....)

Our old friend JJ over at The Rink has a fairly positive take about the Maatta acquisition.
- boilermaker100

I am glad I am not alone...

So is the next move/trade...

Prior to Friday?
On Friday?
Post draft?

If the consensus is he's more of a 5D/PK specialist, maybe Stan realizes this and he is still looking for a top 4D.
- boilermaker100

Maybe...

but the Pk and blocks stats just got better....

So is the next move/trade...

Prior to Friday?
On Friday?
Post draft?
- PatShart

Yes!

I don’t think this move impacts who the Hawks will want to draft. Stan has said more than once that drafting a player in this spot is for the next 10+ years.
- DarthKane

starting in 2 years if they make the Byram pick...this year would be a disaster and next year he still doesn't know the defensive zone.

he gets his real chance in two years...just that as the reality, please!

I’m done final rankings:

1. Dylan Cozens
2. Kirby Dach
3. Bowen Byram
4. Alex Turcotte
5. Trevor Zegras

so as I had expected stanbow pulls a bit of surprise with this trade...how many of you had Matta on your trade speculation radar...
- bogiedoc

I guess none, because he sucked so bad according to the comments...

Decent trade Maatta trade, I hope it does not stop us from taking Breaks as third. It's unreal how Justin's prior draft years show the lemons in hindsight even in first round. Equally amazing how we got a steal in CAT with no first round pick. CAT was one the best in that draft. THis will be a great 7 days coming for Blackhawk and fans

They have 17 million plus according to cap friendly plus the cap is going up probably 3 to 4 million.
- Scott1977

Is a certain Russian LW coming home?

Stay tuned.

I saw the mock draft/trade on this website. It made me think what Tallon/Q might want to do. All we heard has been Panarin and Bob. Wonder if they would even entertain moving Ekblad.

If Hawks FO wants to win NOW, in the 5 year window with Kane/Toews... then Ekblad would be only 1 of the few I would entertain moving the #3 overall pick for.

We’ve all pretty much said Keith will be here until he wants out....whether it’s for family up near Vancouver ...or to win now. Wonder if he would want to play for Q in Florida....as rumors had him pegged for Philly when that was the Q rumor and Hawks were in the bottom 5.

Wonder RHD Ekblad, LHD Matheson, 13th overall, and 2nd 2019 for #3 overall, Keith, Murphy, and 2nd 2020 would be similar “value”. Hawks get top pairing RHD and Florida can get #1 rated D prospect or C of their choosing. The Hawks could still then pick up C’s Lavoie or Krebs, or LHD Broberg, or even G Knight if they rate him that high on their board.

I would have kept Sikura over Kahun, but not Perlini.
- DarthKane

The question os more did Pens want Kahun and not Perlini?

Wiz Turcotte or cozens who would pick at 3?
- Scott1977

I like both, but Cozens

So is the next move/trade...

Prior to Friday?
On Friday?
Post draft?
- PatShart

they are done until June 1st unless they add picks for one of their surplus defenders...

starting in 2 years if they make the Byram pick...this year would be a disaster and next year he still doesn't know the defensive zone.

he gets his real chance in two years...just that as the reality, please!
- wiz1901

Which reminds me - Maatta is another poor sole who - at 19 - seems to have skipped North American professional development in the “A” to go directly from international play to the Show.

How much was his development held back by that impatience?

I’m in a wait and see mode with Maatta. Some good skills and experience to build from but some negatives as well. In the end the former may outweigh the latter.

Also would like to play the long game to see how the rest of the off season plays out to improve not just the blueline but also overall team defense especially the PK.

Far from over. Hopefully.

Is a certain Russian LW coming home?

Stay tuned.
- wiz1901

Hope not

As far as Kahun being the forward sent over, I’m in the camp that is happy it was him than Sikura. Once he pots a few goals and the output begins, I believe Sikura will be an overall stronger contributor than Kahun.

That’s not to say Kahun is trash as I would’ve liked both. But if it was down to those two, I would’ve kept Sikura hands down. I know we all have our favorites and many loved Kahun but I just wasn’t that enamored with him as much as I am with Sikura. To each their own.

Kahun vs Perlini? I would’ve kept Kahun.

Decent trade Maatta trade, I hope it does not stop us from taking Breaks as third. It's unreal how Justin's prior draft years show the lemons in hindsight even in first round. Equally amazing how we got a steal in CAT with no first round pick. CAT was one the best in that draft. THis will be a great 7 days coming for Blackhawk and fans
- holyJumpin_NL

should have been Bryams as third

Which reminds me - Maatta is another poor sole who - at 19 - seems to have skipped North American professional development in the “A” to go directly from international play to the Show.

How much was his development held back by that impatience?
- StLBravesFan

Hmmm... I didn’t know that. I’d say for most defensive prospects that would hurt their development.

A consistent thread on Maatta seems to be he plays to the level of his partner. He did well with Letang but struggled with lessor partners. My, and others here, thoughts were perhaps Maatta and Jokiharju would be a good pair - but perhaps that might not be the best course of action right away. JC will need to see what works during camp and the preseason.

Also, I think the closeness of Kahun and Kubalik is a bit overblown. I’m sure they’re friends but not besties like DeBrincat and Strome. Doubt the Kahun trade impacts Kubalik’s goal to make the Blackhawks roster.

And if it does and he goes sour like Kevin Hayes after big bro Jimmy was traded, then good riddance.

I like both, but Cozens
- wiz1901

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