It is a hockey trade...need for need. We need a guy like Hyman. They need a young cost controlled defenseman. Makes sense in my Armchair GM world...
- hpk90

Toronto aren't giving Hymen away unless they get something they really want. Remember, there are 29 other teams to deal with to find any need they may have. Hymen is similar in value to Toronto as ADB is to the Hawks, would you settle for a defenseman you didn't really want in exchange for ADB? I didn't think so.

Seabrook isnt retiring early to become a coach

Nor is he going to fake an injury to walk away.

What, based on his character that he has shown through his career, tells anyone that he would fake an injury to simply walk away from a game he has dedicated his whole life to?

If the Hawks want to get rid of him, they will have to buy him out, or have him agree to a trade he and his family will want to move to. And to a team willing to trade for him. Those are the only 2 scenarios.
- PatShart

With what we’ve seen in the NHL, I don’t think anyone can say with definitive certainty that those are the only two scenarios. No one saw the Hossa situation coming, just like no one thought the league would let Pronger work in the NHL offices while still under contract and on LTIR. You just never know.

I like the trades. But I also liked Kahun, Forsling and Forsberg. We are acting like these deals are grand theft by Bowman. But if Maatta and DeHaan are oft injured or Kahun, Forsling, and/or Forsberg turn out to be studs it will not be looking so great in a couple of years.

Personally I liked Forsberg more than Delia. Now I am hoping Lankinen vaults over Delia in camp.

Do you think Bowman is targeting players with double "A's" in their name?
Maatta
DeHaan
Saarela

All you wanted to know about ELC performance bonuses.

https://puckpedia.com/sal...level-performance-bonuses
- boilermaker100

Thanks

That's a nice problem to have if he accomplishes both bonuses

I like the trades. But I also liked Kahun, Forsling and Forsberg. We are acting like these deals are grand theft by Bowman. But if Maatta and DeHaan are oft injured or Kahun, Forsling, and/or Forsberg turn out to be studs it will not be looking so great in a couple of years.

Personally I liked Forsberg more than Delia. Now I am hoping Lankinen vaults over Delia in camp.

Do you think Bowman is targeting players with double "A's" in their name?
Maatta
DeHaan
Saarela
- -Doh-

Yeah, just to piss Elbows off.

This Aleksi Saarela guy put up pretty decent numbers at Charlotte of the AHL the past two seasons. 55 goals and 42 assists in 138 games to be exact. Also 15 points in 17 playoff games this past season. He's 22 year old and will be on the last season of his ELC, then he becomes a RFA.

Hawks quietly putting together some forward depth at Rockford.... Saarela, Entwhistle, Kurashev, Hagel, Soderlund, Haakarainen to name a few.

This Aleksi Saarela guy put up pretty decent numbers at Charlotte of the AHL the past two seasons. 55 goals and 42 assists in 138 games to be exact. Also 15 points in 17 playoff games this past season. He's 22 year old and will be on the last season of his ELC, then he becomes a RFA.

Hawks quietly putting together some forward depth at Rockford.... Saarela, Entwhistle, Kurashev, Hagel, Soderlund, Haakarainen to name a few.
- boilermaker100

Agreed, and there is some decent defensive depth... and a few goalie prospects of note.

I’d prefer we had one or two more blue chip forward prospects aside from Dach - but all in all - not a bad restocking of the cupboard.

I wonder how oldduffman is feeling about the Forsberg trade. Hopefully Forsberg gets a fresh start in Carolina, but doesn't turn into a Dominic Hasek or a Tony Esposito.

I wonder how long the talks have been going on to get Maata and DeHaan and how big of a role thstvplayed in not drafting Bynum.

I think either Gus or Murphy are moved

As well as AA

Which potentially frees up an additional 5.75-8mil - pending on the return.

After singing the RFA's, that could leave the Hawks around 11-14mil to spend.

I think with DeHaan starting on LTIR, the Hawks NEED to be close to the cap ceiling to get the most out of that space, so anticipate them spending to the cap.

I could see a Lee signing and then a bottom 6 guy - pending on the next trade

I wonder how oldduffman is feeling about the Forsberg trade. Hopefully Forsberg gets a fresh start in Carolina, but doesn't turn into a Dominic Hasek or a Tony Esposito.
- boilermaker100

More like Antii Niemi without the cup

That’s part of the catch-22 with Gustafsson, he’s valuable enough to the Hawks to keep now as opposed to trading for a lower or mid-round pick, but probably isn’t valued enough by another team to warrant a higher pick.

So what then, keep him? Ok, perhaps he’s more valuable later in the season as the trade deadline approaches?

It’s a dilemma.
- Chief4Feathers

A lot hinges on
if the hawks actually contend and ARE IN the playoffs,

if they think Adam Boqvist & Ian Mitchellare guys who look like 2021 line-up are a future guys.

When the teams start loading up in the playoff, Gus is a very good add and even though first rounders are SO valuable, I don't doubt some team would play to get him down the stretch.

This idea the "Gus just needs time to adjust to being a better defensively aware is akin to me thinking Bowen Byram is aware enough to make the Avs and be a sound defender. I has got to happen, kinda be showing before you can keep saying it over and over each year as the media does.

Long relationship with Jeremy or not, Seabs has got to be thinking that he might get a while lot more ice time with he goes to some place like Vancouver (or Florida)...I am not sure when he makes that determination, but the biggest component of nHL players is....THEY WANT TO PLAY, every night, lots of minutes, in all situations...it is what the need, their life, and when the line-up starts squeezing further, they see the what they must do to get tick...move on.

You have to wonder if they send two line-up guys packing one way and get a CAP-Strapped team's guy in another.
But they simply based on the cap and the magnitude of issues others have that they are simply done...they got two defenders improved the area of need and will eventually take late picks when the defenders who do not make the lineup have their agents calling to ask for trades so THWEY can play.

Can we agree that the Carolina trade was one made by ONE agent and two GMs?

three of the guys who switched hands had the same agent, and obviously goalie Forsberg was unhappy with his place (or lack thereof) in the pecking order, and Forsling also felt the log jam (and that Rockford demotion) were against his interests with all these defenders lining up in the locker room corridor.

Carolina kept their fan interest and momentum going on the draft floor and Mrazek and their net WAS an area of continued attempts at improvement, and you know what? ....... Forsling still could end up a really nice NHLer, and IF the Carolina team IS moving another Defender, he can compete with Jake Bean and Hayden Fluery to round out their backside attack too.

Even as mentioned if Maatta/Seabrook/Murphy/Jokijharu?Dahlstrom/Koekoek see press box or minor league time or WAVIERS, the defense is better and the cost was manageable....

Where are the Blackhawks sitting now $ wise ?

Leave the current roster as is and add Pavelski or Lee , thats a pretty competitive team , no?
- mrpaulish

Pavelski- I'd go 2-3 years tops (I don't see him wanting to leave though)
Lee- I'd go longer, but not the 7 years that he wants.

It's only 10am. Ha.

Hey Brooks Orpik retired. That's something.

Also, yes... all focus on RFAs right now.
- Tyler Cameron

Assuming after 4:00p.m central there could be a flurry of moves around the league.

This Aleksi Saarela guy put up pretty decent numbers at Charlotte of the AHL the past two seasons. 55 goals and 42 assists in 138 games to be exact. Also 15 points in 17 playoff games this past season. He's 22 year old and will be on the last season of his ELC, then he becomes a RFA.

Hawks quietly putting together some forward depth at Rockford.... Saarela, Entwhistle, Kurashev, Hagel, Soderlund, Haakarainen to name a few.
- boilermaker100

Yeah he is sniper, and his brother is a strong go get the puck guy, and Aleksi has really strong plus numbers in season and post season...

Stan Bowman on a the Score just said Keith and Gus aren't going anywhere. He will look m for PK forward help in free agency or via trade.

With what we’ve seen in the NHL, I don’t think anyone can say with definitive certainty that those are the only two scenarios. No one saw the Hossa situation coming, just like no one thought the league would let Pronger work in the NHL offices while still under contract and on LTIR. You just never know.
- Chief4Feathers

Everyone saw Hossa not playing once his contract dropped to 1mil. Same as Pronger and soon to be same as Luongo.

It is no coincidence all their "injury retirements" coincide with the exact same year their contract actuals go to 1mil

Yeah he is sniper, and his brother is a strong go get the puck guy, and Aleksi has really strong plus numbers in season and post season...
- wiz1901

This dude is going to play in the NHL right.? Hes only 22?
Hes not just some throw in? Hes a legit piece right?
I mean the discussions was probably Aleksk and de Haan (who just had surgery) or Faulk and a lesser prospect right?

StanBow was on the Score 670.. want to know his next moves:

Stan Bowman said they kind of wore out their offensive players, and they'd like to add "a player or two" to fill the role.

But with that said....

"(Debrincat and Strome) need new deals a year from now, so any free agent we bring in, if it's beyond one season, we're going to be in that tough spot again." -Stan Bowman

Wiz - the Carolina trade screams of agent driven trade

Yeah he is sniper, and his brother is a strong go get the puck guy, and Aleksi has really strong plus numbers in season and post season...
- wiz1901

Don't know about his 200 foot game, but scoring wise, maybe he can pick up Saad's production in a year or two.

Also, the Hawks had the Hull brothers in the 60's. Now they'lll have the Saarela brothers in the 20's. LOL

Stan Bowman on a the Score just said Keith and Gus aren't going anywhere. He will look m for PK forward help in free agency or via trade.
- mrpaulish

it makes sense..Gus goes at the deadline if they can't agree to a deal for the future...

I watched Dach's press conference and he reminds me a bit of Toews in his demeanor and matuirty. I was saying to D that he could conceivably max out in the 220-230 range and if he is able to keep his current skating and mobility he'll be a nightmare to opposing defenders as he's skating into the offensive zone or camped in front of the net. I just hope Hawk fans aren't disappointed when they find he's unlikely to put opponents through the boards or get into fights. I think he'll use his size to play mor e of a finesse game similar to Toews.

Everyone saw Hossa not playing once his contract dropped to 1mil. Same as Pronger and soon to be same as Luongo.

It is no coincidence all their "injury retirements" coincide with the exact same year their contract actuals go to 1mil
- PatShart

But Seabrooks payouts for the next 5 years are 7.5M, 5M, 6M, 5M and 4.5M.

That’s part of the catch-22 with Gustafsson, he’s valuable enough to the Hawks to keep now as opposed to trading for a lower or mid-round pick, but probably isn’t valued enough by another team to warrant a higher pick.

So what then, keep him? Ok, perhaps he’s more valuable later in the season as the trade deadline approaches? But I imagine the Hawks expect (and I hope they are) to be pushing for the playoffs. Doesn’t seem like the right time to be trading away one of your best (if not the best) powerplay defenseman.

So what, still keep him for the playoffs? Ok, but then his contract is up at the end of the season as a UFA, so you’re faced with either signing him to potentially a sizable contract (which is the market for offensive defensemen - whether we agree with it or not), or letting him walk for no return at all.


It’s a dilemma.
- Chief4Feathers

Kinda like order your favorite at the restaurant...but you have it all the time, or try something new, but you may not like as much...or might like more.

Either way, it's a risk. Ya....a dilemma!

I wonder how long the talks have been going on to get Maata and DeHaan and how big of a role thstvplayed in not drafting Bynum.

I think either Gus or Murphy are moved

As well as AA

Which potentially frees up an additional 5.75-8mil - pending on the return.

After singing the RFA's, that could leave the Hawks around 11-14mil to spend.

I think with DeHaan starting on LTIR, the Hawks NEED to be close to the cap ceiling to get the most out of that space, so anticipate them spending to the cap.

I could see a Lee signing and then a bottom 6 guy - pending on the next trade
- PatShart

Just because of the timetable given at the time of his injury doesn't mean he will for sure miss some time. He might be progressing ahead of schedule.