So Bovquist > Byram?
- LAHawk

We'll know in 5 years

Cap going down (actually, of course, not increasing as much as originally projected) - especially if it's a two-year dip - is not good for a team that will have a couple of big RFA contracts to negotiate - AdB and Strome. If it's the true projection, it would really limit what the Hawks could do in free agency and trades this summer.

And if it's true that the number won't be released until Saturday, I think that will limit the number and quality of moves that teams will make today or tomorrow: how can they do deals before knowing what the cap will be for the coming season?

Poll couldn't be more Canadian...."at cottage".....
- Beaver-Warrior

"Hey bud... you going to be going to the NHL draft or you gonna be at the cottage?"

... said every Canadian.

Here I was hoping the blog title would be “Hold on to your butts”!
- walleyeb1

* missed opportunity *

MAINLAND Canada....here in Newfoundland we "Goes up to da cabin"!!!
- hawk35

True... It's Cabin out West too.

Marner asking for $11 million, Leafs say if $11 mil., must sign for 8 years, Marner saying nope, you only signed Matthews for 5, both sides just fired their first shots. So much for the home town discount the Leafs fans were expecting Marner to agree to.

Turcotte is the pick according to his mom.

If they let Gustafsson walk for nothing then Stan should be literally and quickly fired into the Sun.

I dont care who they draft, just so long as they manage their D prospects and make some damn trades.

They should be trading assets and working to get another 1st round pick. There is no reason to sit pat and do nothing.
- Poultryman

Why should Stan be fired if they let Gustafsson walk? It's not like it cost us anything to get him. If the team is nowhere near a playoff spot (or close but not likely to make any noise) then I can see it being a bit of a failure not to move him at the deadline. Otherwise if he walks for nothing it is not the end of the world.

We'll know in 5 years
- paulr

Ain’t that the truth. We’re all just guessing with minimal information, time will tell.

The best choice at 3 is Cozens. He is the best and fastest skater by far. He just flies around the ice. Can’t teach this. Isn’t just a playmaker, can score goals and can be a shoot first player. Huge motor - plays great hard D. Intense always. Has great shot. Centre or wing. Also shoots right. Could be Kane’s right shot LW right away. Also believes he can make NHL next year. Won Rookie of the Year over loads of other quality players in very tough WHL. Leader. Assistant Captain for Team Canada. Left home in Yukon at 14 to play hockey in Victoria BC.

In comparison Dach is slow and not a goal scorer. Players like Turcotte, Zegras are playmakers first - can’t draft at 3. Caulfield rated too low. Think it is hard to judge the group of US players as all play together and often running up scores. As a team didn’t have success at the Worlds. Byram may have been drafted after Dobson at 12 last year. I can see Dach and Byram falling.

Interesting podcast by MacKenzie, that the unintended consequences of the current CBA agreement is, you get punished by drafting well, and trying to sign your own players. (citing Toronto). Best way to build a cup winning team is with trades (How St. Louis did it this year).

https://www.tsn.ca/radio/...argets-and-more-1.1325015

I'm so excited for the draft, the hawks are going to get a very good and maybe great player.

I just wanted to a step back and appreciate the position that the Blackhawks are in right now.

With the emergence of Strome and Debrincat as really good NHL players, the lineup is suddenly looking a lot better than we thought it would just 1-2 years ago, in my opinion.

Additionally, with the Matta addition, looking at the Blackhawks defense lineup to me it looks like a pretty solid top 6. Seabs and Keith have slowed down but I feel like they get a little bit too much flak, and I actually really like Murphy and he is signed at a great cap hit. Gus has his shortcomings, but the PP looked really dangerous for a lot of the year and that is largely due to him.

So I feel like the lineup as it is currently composed is very solid and played really good hockey for the later half of last year. Additionally, after this draft, the talent pipeline is going to pretty stacked, and the Blackhawks have a lot of cap space to add a few really good players to the lineup.

So while Bownman gets dumped on a lot around here, I think the Blackhawks are in a strong position right now and moving forward for the next couple of years.

TC, I would love to see a blog about the Panarin and Hammer trades now that we have 2 years of hindsight. Honestly, I think the hammer trade has worked out. I feel like Murphy is really coming into his own and has a great contract. The Saad for Panarin trade I don't think has worked out, Panarin is just so dynamic and was a big lost. Having said that, if Panarin is on the team, the Blackhawks probably don't pick 8 last year getting Boqvist and 3 this year getting a foundational player, so in the long run maybe it works out, especially if management really didn't believe there was a chance of winning in the playoffs with the team as composed.

Anyways, I think the Hawks are in a very good position right now, and depending on how the rest of the offseason goes, they could be a solid contender next year with a stacked farm system. The one huge problem I think is the Seabrook contract, but I feel you can get away with one bad contract, and I love Seabrook and will never talk badly about him.
- LaheysBRandy

Interesting... I have an overall Stan Bowman blog slated to come out this summer. I may work that into there or might dedicate it's own blog.

The best choice at 3 is Cozens. He is the best and fastest skater by far. He just flies around the ice. Can’t teach this. Isn’t just a playmaker, can score goals and can be a shoot first player. Huge motor - plays great hard D. Intense always. Has great shot. Centre or wing. Also shoots right. Could be Kane’s right shot LW right away. Also believes he can make NHL next year. Won Rookie of the Year over loads of other quality players in very tough WHL. Leader. Assistant Captain for Team Canada. Left home in Yukon at 14 to play hockey in Victoria BC.

In comparison Dach is slow and not a goal scorer. Players like Turcotte, Zegras are playmakers first - can’t draft at 3. Caulfield rated too low. Think it is hard to judge the group of US players as all play together and often running up scores. As a team didn’t have success at the Worlds. Byram may have been drafted after Dobson at 12 last year. I can see Dach and Byram falling.
- Z3Hawk

I thought Cozens was a good pick but after seeing its who you like they shouldn't take him.

Marner asking for $11 million, Leafs say if $11 mil., must sign for 8 years, Marner saying nope, you only signed Matthews for 5, both sides just fired their first shots. So much for the home town discount the Leafs fans were expecting Marner to agree to.
- LAHawk

Pierre McGuire was talking to GMs last night and he said the chatter is that there will be offer sheets this year and there's a really good chance that someone takes a run at Marner.

Kapanen, to a lesser degree could be targeted as well.

The best choice at 3 is Cozens. He is the best and fastest skater by far. He just flies around the ice. Can’t teach this. Isn’t just a playmaker, can score goals and can be a shoot first player. Huge motor - plays great hard D. Intense always. Has great shot. Centre or wing. Also shoots right. Could be Kane’s right shot LW right away. Also believes he can make NHL next year. Won Rookie of the Year over loads of other quality players in very tough WHL. Leader. Assistant Captain for Team Canada. Left home in Yukon at 14 to play hockey in Victoria BC.

In comparison Dach is slow and not a goal scorer. Players like Turcotte, Zegras are playmakers first - can’t draft at 3. Caulfield rated too low. Think it is hard to judge the group of US players as all play together and often running up scores. As a team didn’t have success at the Worlds. Byram may have been drafted after Dobson at 12 last year. I can see Dach and Byram falling.
- Z3Hawk

Today’s post of the day. Spot on.

If they let Gustafsson walk for nothing then Stan should be literally and quickly fired into the Sun.

I dont care who they draft, just so long as they manage their D prospects and make some damn trades.

They should be trading assets and working to get another 1st round pick. There is no reason to sit pat and do nothing.
- Poultryman

If they are not going to make the playoffs, then he would go for a decent return, but let's hope that is not the case.

Pierre McGuire was talking to GMs last night and he said the chatter is that there will be offer sheets this year and there's a really good chance that someone takes a run at Marner.

Kapanen, to a lesser degree could be targeted as well.
- Tyler Cameron

Is he worth 2 firsts, a second and a third if the Hawks offered $10.5mil?, especially since the Hawks have drafted 8th and 3rd the last two years? Anything over $10.5 is 4 firsts, which I think is too rich a price.

Listened to a podcast by Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis, all three had the Blackhawks taking Byram. But then again they all thought he could play in Rockford next season, so what do they know?

Tyler - where's the rumor(s) you teased us with last night? We want rumors. If ya ain't got any - just make one up.

Interesting podcast by MacKenzie, that the unintended consequences of the current CBA agreement is, you get punished by drafting well, and trying to sign your own players. (citing Toronto). Best way to build a cup winning team is with trades (How St. Louis did it this year).

https://www.tsn.ca/radio/...argets-and-more-1.1325015
- LAHawk

Funny, where was this at when the Blackhawks had to constantly purge their home grown talent?

Tyler - where's the rumor(s) you teased us with last night? We want rumors. If ya ain't got any - just make one up.
- EbonyRaptor

That's been done before

Same as BC.
- DarthKane

Definitely the way we say it in the West.

That's been done before
- paulr

Kane for Miller

Tyler - where's the rumor(s) you teased us with last night? We want rumors. If ya ain't got any - just make one up.
- EbonyRaptor

The info in the blog is all I can share right now. I have heard a lot of whispers around the Hawks but nothing validated.

No, I won't make any rumors up.

As Bowman said yesterday, 95% of trades don't go anywhere.

Lots of chatter out there but when I get something solid, I will post on here or update!

I honestly think there will be a few trades today around NHL and the Hawks make at least 1 trade from now until tomorrow night based on what I'm hearing.

MAINLAND Canada....here in Newfoundland we "Goes up to da cabin"!!!
- hawk35

Duly noted and thanks for the clarification!