Saad is a guy built for the tournament!!! Keep him
- glennjpawlak22

On the other hand, you have to get there first.

If Bowman tried that, he'd be really (frank)ing wrong. I like Dzingel as a player but he doesn't drive possession, he's only average defensively 5v5, and he's not a PK player - all things Saad does that would need to be replaced.
- L_B_R

How about Alex Killorn from the Lighting? Unfortunately he has a NTC.

Darth, Beat me to it, great minds think alike.
- boilermaker100

The problem with obtaining and extending Faulk is you are paying him most of his contract in his 30's. Plus, as LBR mentioned, defense isn't exactly Faulk's strong suit.

Again......

Saad will not be traded. No way.
Bowman gave up 72 for the 2019-2020 2020-2021 Saad seasons he has to see it through now.

Drafting best player available at .
Buying a center and D man on July 1.

Blackhawks should be really competitive this season.

"League sources said Friday the Blackhawks had reached out to the Carolina Hurricanes regarding the availability of a number of their defensemen, especially Justin Faulk, Calvin de Haan and Dougie Hamilton.

The Hurricanes overture hasn’t gone very far just yet. Carolina hasn’t deemed the Blackhawks’ offers as serious. No specific names were mentioned, but the source said the Blackhawks were offering “secondary forwards.”"
- L_B_R

Saad or AA for any of those 3 would be great.

LBR - you’re my hero

Regarding Saad's 2 years left on his contract... Bowman has a history of trading a player in return for players with longer term. He would then know his cap situation farther into the future.

Examples of past trades with contract length at time of trade:

Panarin (2 Years) for Saad (4 years)
Hjalmarsson (2 years) for Murphy (5 years)
Schmaltz(1 year) for Strome (2 year)

Now is it Saad's turn again? His 2 years along with something else for DeHaan's 3 years or Pesce's 5 years?
- boilermaker100

Good break down and thoughts on your posts. I just respectfully disagree with you on this deal. I would rather deal from an area of strength (prospects/picks)to build the from the Defense out I think our forward group is not the problem on this team.

From mynhltraderumors:

Are the Bruins interested in Hayes?

Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now: A source that is close Kevin Hayes has said that there is a “mutual interest” between Hayes and the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins were interested in Hayes at the trade deadline, with the source saying the Bruins were close at the deadline before he was traded to the Jets.

The Bruins could be making some changes this offseason, with center David Krejci as one player who could be traded.

Again......

Saad will not be traded. No way.
Bowman gave up 72 for the 2019-2020 2020-2021 Saad seasons he has to see it through now.

Drafting best player available at .
Buying a center and D man on July 1.

Blackhawks should be really competitive this season.
- mrpaulish

Bowman will definitely trade Saad if there is a deal out there that he feels makes the Hawks better. He won't give him away, though. Hawks have cap flexibility for the first time in years.

Quick twitter hits:
Andrew Macdonald being bought out by the Flyers.


https://www.sportingnews....9dkicfjozue911jv4cxot8ugf

@InsideSource19. 47m

Hearing the #Panthers are quietly shopping Mike Matheson. We will see if this goes anywhere

Saad or AA for any of those 3 would be great.

LBR - you’re my hero
- Assman22

Rather have Pesce than Faulk or de Haan. Hamilton would be too costly.

From mynhltraderumors:

Are the Bruins interested in Hayes?

Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now: A source that is close Kevin Hayes has said that there is a “mutual interest” between Hayes and the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins were interested in Hayes at the trade deadline, with the source saying the Bruins were close at the deadline before he was traded to the Jets.

The Bruins could be making some changes this offseason, with center David Krejci as one player who could be traded.
- boilermaker100

They can have him. He is a younger and slightly better version of AA that won't be worth the difference in salary between the two. IMO

Before anyone makes the suggestion about signing MacDonald, just stop yourself.

Again......

Saad will not be traded. No way.
Bowman gave up 72 for the 2019-2020 2020-2021 Saad seasons he has to see it through now.

Drafting best player available at .
Buying a center and D man on July 1.

Blackhawks should be really competitive this season.
- mrpaulish

The West will be tough this season

CENTRAL
STL defending champ
COL up and coming
WPG and NSH still good
DAL competitive

PACIFIC
CGY and VGK probably locks for the playoffs
SJS should still be good assuming they reup the Joes and sign Karlsson
ARI improving

That's 9 teams the Hawks have to contend with. Let's hope they make some major improvements such as improving their team D, that Crawford stays healthy, that they find a capable backup goalie (not sold on Delia), that Kane, Toews and Debrincat have repeat career years, that Strome and Kahun continue to improve and that Kubalik is a pleasant surprise.

Good break down and thoughts on your posts. I just respectfully disagree with you on this deal. I would rather deal from an area of strength (prospects/picks)to build the from the Defense out I think our forward group is not the problem on this team.
- BGKarras

No problem. I respect your views.

They can have him. He is a younger and slightly better version of AA that won't be worth the difference in salary between the two. IMO
- Elbows15

Agree. I hope that rumor about Hayes to Chicago is just smoke put out by his agent.

Before anyone makes the suggestion about signing MacDonald, just stop yourself.
- Elbows15

I second that emotion

I honestly will be happy with any of them.

BTW I reordered my Draft board once again on DraftSite to keep the hits (and email complaints to me) coming!
- wiz1901

Funny yesterday I ordered my preference as:

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


I had Byram and Cozens as a coin flip. Somehow I talked myself out of Dach. But I was leaning Dach for awhile. So I’m now going back to Dach but al three are a coin flip for me. Turcotte and Zegras are the next tier for me.

Quick twitter hits:
Andrew Macdonald being bought out by the Flyers.


https://www.sportingnews....9dkicfjozue911jv4cxot8ugf

@InsideSource19. 47m

Hearing the #Panthers are quietly shopping Mike Matheson. We will see if this goes anywhere
- ikeane

Wow, Dale signed Matheson for 8 years through 25/26 at 4.875M coming off his ELC, with a NTC kicking in 21/22. Now he wants to trade him? Big red flag to me.

No problem. I respect your views.
- boilermaker100

Same here buddy 👍

Also think Stan may try to sell Dzingel as a Saad replacement. not saying that is accurate, but a gut feeling.
- ikeane

I don’t recal Stan saying anything about Dzingel.

It would be tampering if he did.

https://thehockeynews.com...n-nhl-breakout-in-2019-20

The Hockey News has a recent article about possible AHL prospects who may breakout this season as Binnington did for the Blues this past year. The Blackhawks have 2 prospects in Sikura and Lankinen. Sikura is my pick for breakout player for the Hawks in a top 9 role and Lankinen should give Delia a run for his money as top goalie prospect.

Dylan Sikura, LW/C, 24 (Chicago)
With 11 points in 38 NHL games and a full season of pro hockey under his belt, Sikura looks ready to add his scoring punch to the Blackhawks’ bottom-six next year. Of course, they still have to sign the pending RFA, but that seems like a given after seeing what he can do at all three forward positions. Sikura had a solid 17-goal, 35-point run with Rockford this year and didn’t look out of place as an energy-packed forward in the depths of Chicago’s roster. It’s time for a promotion to full-time NHL work.

Kevin Lankinen, G, 24 (Chicago)
Goaltending has been an issue with the Blackhawks over the past few years, with Corey Crawford’s injury history proving to be a real concern. Alexis Gravel may be pegged as the guy to lead the team in the future, but Lankinen has truly put himself into the conversation as someone who deserves a shot. Lankinen started the year in the ECHL but impressed enough in the AHL with Rockford to warrant a spot on Finland’s World Championship team. Lankinen put on a goaltending clinic, leading Finland to a shocking gold medal over Canada and earning lots of praise for his fantastic effort. Not bad for an undrafted goaltender, but Lankinen may actually be worthy of some starts next year, even if he’s still behind backup Collin Delia on the depth chart.

https://www.secondcityhoc...n-de-hann-dougie-hamilton

Second City Hockey has a decent summary of the trade rumor involving D men from the Canes. Most of the information has been discussed already on these boards but there is a section with the reminder about expansion draft impact of any new acquisitions.

Has anyone thought about a trade for Nikita Zaitzev. He's asked for a trade and he's a pretty solid player. Decent cap hit and locked in for the next 5 years at 4.5m. Reports from Friedman are that the asking price for the 27-year-old blueliner is another defenseman or an asset that could be swapped to another club for a defenseman.

I'll admit that I don't watch a lot of Leafs hockey so I don't know if this guy would be a good fit on the Hawks.

I don’t recal Stan saying anything about Dzingel.

It would be tampering if he did.
- StLBravesFan

it was a prediction, not a quote from Stan.

Rather have Pesce than Faulk or de Haan. Hamilton would be too costly.
- Elbows15

saad and forsling for pesce and 2019 3rd or prospect could be a possible trade that Carolina would want. then have to fill saad hole in the top 6 and saad's game is well suited for the playoffs. Decisions Decisions.