After there were some rumors of Puljujarvi being on the trade block last season, I paid attention to watching him play a couple times and I see the physical talent but I came away with a "what's wrong with that boy" vibe. Small viewing sample but my initial impression is his cranial processing center is a little "dimm".
- EbonyRaptor

I would stay away from Puljujarvi based on the attached article. It states that he is coming off surgery on both hips and that "He does not have NHL hockey sense or, by all accounts, the drive necessary to succeed at this level, though that possibly could be learned."


https://www.sportsnet.ca/...rs-trade-ill-play-europe/

He already did - Hawks are going to let Gus walk at the end of his contract.
- Rota's Rooter

Possible. The key to that tidbit was that the Hawks feel like they have time with Gus with Boqvist in the wings.

The Hawks I'm sure would love to get something for Gustafsson but sounds like they may wait on doing that.

I think the words "we hope" are implied.

All we can do is wait until tomorrow and celebrate whomever they select because we hope it's going to be a damn good player.

- paulr

It will be a damn good player (they all are), just not necessarily a damn good NHL player.

Morning Tyler , enjoyed the update. I hear the hawks are looking at with great interest Anders Lee ? How true is that and how would he impact fit in Chicago's lineup along with what do you see him signing for?


And do you see Stan also going after Joe Thorton ?
- Taylorst1

They are looking at Lee apparently. I'm sure 30 other teams would as well if he hits UFA.

I wouldn't get too excited until it's announced he's not returning to Long Island.

If... IF the Hawks signed him, he would look awfully nice on the LW next to Toews and Kane. With Kane on his line he scores 40+ goals IMO.

He wouldn't come cheap though. 7 years x $7M?

I'm just guessing though.

Morning Tyler , enjoyed the update. I hear the hawks are looking at with great interest Anders Lee ? How true is that and how would he impact fit in Chicago's lineup along with what do you see him signing for?


And do you see Stan also going after Joe Thorton ?
- Taylorst1

... oh and no to Joe Thorton. I can't see it.

I can see him signing a 1-year LOW contact (with bonus incentives) with SJ.

I honestly can't see him going anywhere else.

Do you think it would be better to sign The Cat this year vs next?? If he puts up 90+ will he be asking for more than right now? Same with Strome.... I think you gotta sign them now to know where you stand. A little riskier with Strome but I say roll the dice to try and sign for less now.

I want to know how much cap we TRULY have... I’m not as excited about Gross cap as I am about what we actually will Net after housekeeping

Today’s post of the day. Spot on.
- Return of the Roar

Thanks ROTR.

Possible. The key to that tidbit was that the Hawks feel like they have time with Gus with Boqvist in the wings.

The Hawks I'm sure would love to get something for Gustafsson but sounds like they may wait on doing that.
- Tyler Cameron

The most sense for the Hawks is to wait until the TDL with any decision on Gustaffson. At that time they know whether they are in or not. If they are in, then they keep him and see what happens after that. If they are out, they will still get good value for him because GM's do overpay at that time. In the meantime we keep him on the PP because Keith likely becomes the alternative.

I already hate the pick.
- Ogilthorpe2

We should be questioning Stan's timing with this draft pick, it's all wrong.

@SportsnetSpec
Mark Spector Retweeted Sportsnet
Puljujarvi won’t play for Oilers next season. If he’s not traded, he’ll head for Europe.
- Tyler Cameron

This and a number of other examples is why I don’t buy what Bowman is selling in this comment:

"These are great kids. The one thing I've learned in the last couple months in getting to know each one of them is they're all fantastic players and they're all going to have great NHL careers. We're choosing between great options, and that puts us in a really good position."

This and a number of other examples is why I don’t buy what Bowman is selling in this comment:

"These are great kids. The one thing I've learned in the last couple months in getting to know each one of them is they're all fantastic players and they're all going to have great NHL careers. We're choosing between great options, and that puts us in a really good position."
- walleyeb1

What is it you're not buying? I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

Possible. The key to that tidbit was that the Hawks feel like they have time with Gus with Boqvist in the wings.

The Hawks I'm sure would love to get something for Gustafsson but sounds like they may wait on doing that.
- Tyler Cameron

I know Gus gets a bum rap for his poor defense. And rightly so, for the most part. But, remember it comes with a real good offensive output and the fact that we have a PP point man.

How quick many forget the Keith PP shots to shin pads over and over. At least Gus provided us with another option at the point, and one that was fairly successful.

Watch...Gus will be moved. Our PP will tank...Keith will be crapped on for not getting shots through, and people will be looking for a "Gus" to man the PP.

No, Keep Gus...trade at deadline if not in contention. Or play him to end of contract and let walk. People only expect a moderate return for him anyway. Until our defense has better options....I say keep Gus, at least for the time being...

Agree.

They should decline the pick so they dont disappointment the masses. Dont even trade it, because they would never get full value.

Simply decline
- PatShart

Classic

Byram is my clear and easy choice here. I know he's a D and the Hawks are pretty good in the pipeline, but just as in baseball you can never have too much pitching, so too can you not have too much defense.

I am also not "sold" on the long term D anyway, despite the projections. The current guys are aging, have serious weaknesses, there just isn't tons of projection or upside other than Henri. And prospects are just that prospects, full of hopes and dreams most often unfulfilled promise. Would love another high level elite D prospect to add to the mix.

Take Byram and don't look back. If a bunch of these guys develop and we have "too many", then trade one. Simple. Unless one of the projected top 2 fall to the Hawks, Byram is the man.

I would stay away from Puljujarvi based on the attached article. It states that he is coming off surgery on both hips and that "He does not have NHL hockey sense or, by all accounts, the drive necessary to succeed at this level, though that possibly could be learned."


https://www.sportsnet.ca/...rs-trade-ill-play-europe/
- boilermaker100

Not that I'm that high on Puljujarvi, but maybe taking a flyer on him for Forsling. Both players are rumored to want to go somewhere else, or go overseas to play to try and build their stock up.

A trade like this wouldn't really hurt the Hawks if Puljujarvi didn't work out, because at this point Forsling would be our #8 defensemen, and doesn't really have a spot on the roster.

Both made the same last year and both are RFA; they should be around the same this year.

Looking at the Oilers D, Forsling should be a 3rd pairing starter for that team.

Are there any other Dmen in the draft other than Byram?

Or is he getting all the hype because the rest suck...and hes the best of the bunch?

Byram is my clear and easy choice here. I know he's a D and the Hawks are pretty good in the pipeline, but just as in baseball you can never have too much pitching, so too can you not have too much defense.

I am also not "sold" on the long term D anyway, despite the projections. The current guys are aging, have serious weaknesses, there just isn't tons of projection or upside other than Henri. And prospects are just that prospects, full of hopes and dreams most often unfulfilled promise. Would love another high level elite D prospect to add to the mix.

Take Byram and don't look back. If a bunch of these guys develop and we have "too many", then trade one. Simple. Unless one of the projected top 2 fall to the Hawks, Byram is the man.
- kwolf68

Byram or one of the big Centers in Cozens or Dach.


Guy on the last page posted a potential 3rd line of Saad-Cozens-Kubalik....THAT is a look that the Blackhawks haven't had in a decade with 3 Big, Fast, and Strong guys coming at you.

What is it you're not buying? I'm not sure I understand what you mean.
- paulr

I’m not buying they’re all fantastic players and they’re all going to have great NHL careers! It’s entirely possible one of them if not more doesn’t pan out. You can definitely screw this pick up by selecting the wrong guy!

Are there any other Dmen in the draft other than Byram?

Or is he getting all the hype because the rest suck...and hes the best of the bunch?
- PatShart

Phillip Broberg is a Mattias Ekholm type but less hype bc he's not an offensive stud. That, and the forward group is pegged as exceptional and deep.

Byram is my clear and easy choice here. I know he's a D and the Hawks are pretty good in the pipeline, but just as in baseball you can never have too much pitching, so too can you not have too much defense.

I am also not "sold" on the long term D anyway, despite the projections. The current guys are aging, have serious weaknesses, there just isn't tons of projection or upside other than Henri. And prospects are just that prospects, full of hopes and dreams most often unfulfilled promise. Would love another high level elite D prospect to add to the mix.

Take Byram and don't look back. If a bunch of these guys develop and we have "too many", then trade one. Simple. Unless one of the projected top 2 fall to the Hawks, Byram is the man.
- kwolf68

Was Barker as highly touted as Byram? Think a lot of the fear is we pick another Barker with 3. That said, from a look at the results, Barker's year was pretty weak other than Ovechkin, Malkin, Ladd and Wheeler...

So Bovquist > Byram?
- LAHawk

Yes - Byram is simply the best D-Man in this year’s Draft. Doesn’t mean he is a 5 year or 10 year rated talent. Boqvist had 10 goals in 11 play-off games this year. London was too weak at forward to make a long run. If London had made a long run his stats would’ve been insane. Much of the Byram buzz was created by Vancouver’s long run. He was invisible in some of the games against Prince Albert in the WHL Final though. Also Boqvist was also young as a Draftee.

Was Barker as highly touted as Byram? Think a lot of the fear is we pick another Barker with 3. That said, from a look at the results, Barker's year was pretty weak other than Ovechkin, Malkin, Ladd and Wheeler...
- Popsghostly

I can't recall how much buzz Barker got, but it was pretty clearly a huge dropoff from 2 to 3. And as you said that draft overall wasn't very good. This draft is projected to be a pretty decent draft.

I’m not buying they’re all fantastic players and they’re all going to have great NHL careers! It’s entirely possible one of them if not more doesn’t pan out. You can definitely screw this pick up by selecting the wrong guy!
- walleyeb1

Agreed. But even if you think you are picking the right guy it's still a risk. There are many 'can't miss' prospects who never made it.

Tyler, I am thinking a poll on Saturday asking who DT would have drafted 3rd may be fitting for the club here...

From Meltzer’s Flyers blog:

”Kevin Hayes' new seven-year contract with the Flyers carries a three-year full no-movement clause, followed by a partial no-trade clause (specifically, a list of 12 teams to whom he'd accept a trade) thereafter.”

Initial reports were that there was no NMC/NTC, turns out there is...