If the rumor has any merit to it, Saad IMO heads to Pittsburgh along with one of the defensemen such as Murphy.
- ChicagoHope

Saad for Kessel?

Hard pass.

The internet is a crazy place...

Saad for Kessel ??????

I fear that it will have to include Saad for 2 reasons. Cap hits are similar, and Saad is from Pittsburgh. I'm not sure I want to lose Saad anymore, unless another FA was brought in to help on the PK.

As for Pavelski. .....he is going to be 35 next month, so unless the term is for a couple years tops, I would pass. I honestly don't think Doug Wilson will let him go anywhere. GREAT Captain.
- Hawkytalk

AA ++ for kessel. Agree kessel not what
Hawks need.

If the rumor has any merit to it, Saad IMO heads to Pittsburgh along with one of the defensemen such as Murphy.
- ChicagoHope

No way they give away Saad when they don't need to, the offer would have to be outstanding, like including Matt Murray or Dumoulin, which i don't see happening

I do like how Bowman is always open for business

The CHL/NHL age limit rule doesn't apply to Boqvist because he was drafted out of his Euro team.
- EbonyRaptor

Technically, he is considered on "loan" to London from his Swedish club.

If the rumor has any merit to it, Saad IMO heads to Pittsburgh along with one of the defensemen such as Murphy.
- ChicagoHope

Moving Saad for Kessel would be plain stupid. Kessel scores, and then scores, but he’s not the two way player Saad is and that’s what this team needs.

But the point is for this upcoming season we need that top end offensive Dman because there’s nobody else to fill that role on the roster. Jokiharju and Boqvist still a few years away from reaching that potential, Gus is already in his prime.
- SimpleJack

Agreed. Gus is needed for the PP or we'll have to do a re-do with #2 on the 1st unit...No Please.

Keep Gus for now and see where the team is come trade deadline and decide then. His value may be at his highest then as well.

Enter Adam Boqvist at that point.
- Tyler Cameron

Hey Tyler I think we're starting to see why stanbo didn't draft BB and drafted Duch instead

I mostly like Phil Kessel - but I think he would be a mistake to add to this current roster. Both in terms of play and salary cap.
- Chief4Feathers

Kessel is the best forward available via trade this offseason.

Otherwise you are looking at signing guys like Hayes for too many $ long term. Or Panarin or Duchene. And compared to the deals given out to Jeff Skinner and Jordan Eberle, 3 years of Kessel would be a bargain.

The CHL/AHL age limit rule doesn't apply to Boqvist because he was drafted out of his Euro team.
- EbonyRaptor

Thanks just read about it. Imagine that’s in there to persuade Euro players to come over sooner. Thanks.

LHD: Keith, Gustafsson, de Haan, Maatta, Koekoek, Dahlstrom
RHD: Seabrook, Murphy, Jokiharju


Let's look at this more closely. 9 defensemen listed above plus Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Carlsson, Gilbert etc. waiting in the wings. It's time to cull the herd and improve weak spots in the system and the roster.

De Haan out for a few months reduces the above "NHL" defensemen to eight. Even with him on the IR for a couple of months, who's expendable and can garner the best return? My guess Murphy and Gustaffson.

There are bound to be teams missing out on signing a UFA defenseman or obtaining a D in trade, and lo and behold the Hawks have an excess of defenseman. Move Murphy and Gus for a forward prospect or two or a high pick. Move Dahlstrom for another pick/prospect.

Give Boqvist a chance to make the team and QB the PK. Can he be defensively worse than Gus? Have Gilbert and Beaudin as the first call ups in case of injury or if Koekkek isn't doing the job.

Mitchell, Carlsson, and Vlasic still a couple of years away and provide even more depth and possible trade scenarios.

Let's forget the love for Gus and Murphy and thank them for their service. The Hawks have not made the playoffs the past two years with them and it's a prime time for moving them this summer. .

Wow just logged in . Stan not messing around.
Just worry about the injuries DE Haan and Maatta have had but I like this move.
Also what's with the Kessel rumours are they from legit sources.
I don't think I would want to give up Saad for him only because of the age difference.
Whats are cap situation looking like for next year hope we will still have enough for Cat and Strome
- HamiltonHawk

We spent over $8.5M on 2 defencemen. That is a lot of dough, not a bargain as people are suggesting for a couple of marginal top 4 D with recent injury questions. Might we not have been better off to get one good one (Subban) for the same money?

Man, Bowman has really put his neck on the line if this does not pan out.

Moving Saad for Kessel would be plain stupid. Kessel scores, and then scores, but he’s not the two way player Saad is and that’s what this team needs.
- Bjm84

Maybe they're trying to outscore everyone again and for defense just block everything..

One thing I will note..

Bowman's transactions since the start of this past season:

- Strome/Perlini acquisition
- Caggiula for Manning
- Koekkoek (+ 5th rounder) for Rutta (up in the air)
- Acquiring Kubalik (for a 5th rounder)
- Maatta + de Haan look great on paper but obviously remains to be seen.

All of these trades occurred AFTER Q was fired. Did Q have a bigger say in the deals than we may have been led on to believe? Or perhaps Stan has finally been able to put together a roster of his choosing (and Colliton for that matter) without having Q's preferences/Q's standing in the organization to impact how Bowman went about business.

Because if this is a sign of things to come then Bowman will obviously be here for a very long time.

Moving Saad for Kessel would be plain stupid. Kessel scores, and then scores, but he’s not the two way player Saad is and that’s what this team needs.
- Bjm84

Exactly. This team is trying to get better defensively. Why would they even contemplate moving Saad, who is one of the best defensive forwards on the team? It's counter-intuitive. Saad isn't going anywhere.

Saad for Kessel?

Hard pass.

The internet is a crazy place...
- Chief4Feathers

The Pens don't want equivalent salary back for Kessel. They need young players on ELC's and draft picks. If I was them I wouldn't trade Kessel for Saad anyway.

And there will be no trade unless #87 and Mario tell Rutherford they are OK with it.

LHD: Keith, Gustafsson, de Haan, Maatta, Koekoek, Dahlstrom
RHD: Seabrook, Murphy, Jokiharju


Let's look at this more closely. 9 defensemen listed above plus Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Carlsson, Gilbert etc. waiting in the wings. It's time to cull the herd and improve weak spots in the system and the roster.

De Haan out for a few months reduces the above "NHL" defensemen to eight. Even with him on the IR for a couple of months, who's expendable and can garner the best return? My guess Murphy and Gustaffson.

There are bound to be teams missing out on signing a UFA defenseman or obtaining a D in trade, and lo and behold the Hawks have an excess of defenseman. Move Murphy and Gus for a forward prospect or two or a high pick. Move Dahlstrom for another pick/prospect.

Give Boqvist a chance to make the team and QB the PK. Can he be defensively worse than Gus? Have Gilbert and Beaudin as the first call ups in case of injury or if Koekkek isn't doing the job.

Mitchell, Carlsson, and Vlasic still a couple of years away and provide even more depth and possible trade scenarios.

Let's forget the love for Gus and Murphy and thank them for their service. The Hawks have not made the playoffs the past two years with them and it's a prime time for moving them this summer. .
- boilermaker100

I agree with your thinking that the Hawks have a certain strategic reserve of dmen that could prove advantageous once the UFA market settles. However, I don’t believe Boqvist is ready for time in the show this year. He realistically needs a season at Rockford before making the jump.

LHD: Keith, Gustafsson, de Haan, Maatta, Koekoek, Dahlstrom
RHD: Seabrook, Murphy, Jokiharju


Let's look at this more closely. 9 defensemen listed above plus Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Carlsson, Gilbert etc. waiting in the wings. It's time to cull the herd and improve weak spots in the system and the roster.

De Haan out for a few months reduces the above "NHL" defensemen to eight. Even with him on the IR for a couple of months, who's expendable and can garner the best return? My guess Murphy and Gustaffson.

There are bound to be teams missing out on signing a UFA defenseman or obtaining a D in trade, and lo and behold the Hawks have an excess of defenseman. Move Murphy and Gus for a forward prospect or two or a high pick. Move Dahlstrom for another pick/prospect.

Give Boqvist a chance to make the team and QB the PK. Can he be defensively worse than Gus? Have Gilbert and Beaudin as the first call ups in case of injury or if Koekkek isn't doing the job.

Mitchell, Carlsson, and Vlasic still a couple of years away and provide even more depth and possible trade scenarios.

Let's forget the love for Gus and Murphy and thank them for their service. The Hawks have not made the playoffs the past two years with them and it's a prime time for moving them this summer. .
- boilermaker100

So if we cancel out Murphy and Gustaffson after adding Maata and Dehaan, are we really better than we were last year?

Saad for Kessel ??????
- ge1002

These random twitter accounts are always a riot. The same guy claims rhe hawks are shopping Keith and willing to eat 1 million Which is hilarious.

Keiths cap hit is a steal. Period. No reason to eat 1 million.

And btw....previous blogger pimped a guy to follow who was dead wrong on Tavares. Had Tavares back to islanders 100% and well.....

Unless he has a blue check mark I’d be very careful believing anyone else during this time of year and next February when the deadline approaches.

Now that the William Karlsson deal is official - Vegas' cap is at $89M. if my math is correct ($81.5M + $8.15M = $89.65M) - Vegas is only $650K from the off season tagging limit which means they will have to offload salary before they can make any other off season additions - such as signing their own RFAs. One of those RFA's is Nikita Gusev who would be a very nice offer sheet target if Vegas doesn't get him signed before July 1st. And then they still have to get down to $81.5M by opening day.

C'mon Stan - go get Eakin and Gusev for Koekkoek and a mid round draft pick.

So if we cancel out Murphy and Gustaffson after adding Maata and Dehaan, are we really better than we were last year?
- 67hawks

If our PK is better, than yes

The Pens don't want equivalent salary back for Kessel. They need young players on ELC's and draft picks. If I was them I wouldn't trade Kessel for Saad anyway.

And there will be no trade unless #87 and Mario tell Rutherford they are OK with it.
- RickJ

You also add Kessel to that list as well. He declined going “home” to Minnesota where he played college.

If our PK is better, than yes
- BetweenTheDots

But if the PP and 5v5 offense is worse, then no.

The Pens don't want equivalent salary back for Kessel. They need young players on ELC's and draft picks. If I was them I wouldn't trade Kessel for Saad anyway.

And there will be no trade unless #87 and Mario tell Rutherford they are OK with it.
- RickJ

Very true, people always think there's a connection since Saad is from Pitt, just like the Hawks were going to draft Turcotte since he was from the Chicagoland area

LHD: Keith, Gustafsson, de Haan, Maatta, Koekoek, Dahlstrom
RHD: Seabrook, Murphy, Jokiharju


Let's look at this more closely. 9 defensemen listed above plus Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Carlsson, Gilbert etc. waiting in the wings. It's time to cull the herd and improve weak spots in the system and the roster.

De Haan out for a few months reduces the above "NHL" defensemen to eight. Even with him on the IR for a couple of months, who's expendable and can garner the best return? My guess Murphy and Gustaffson.

There are bound to be teams missing out on signing a UFA defenseman or obtaining a D in trade, and lo and behold the Hawks have an excess of defenseman. Move Murphy and Gus for a forward prospect or two or a high pick. Move Dahlstrom for another pick/prospect.

Give Boqvist a chance to make the team and QB the PK. Can he be defensively worse than Gus? Have Gilbert and Beaudin as the first call ups in case of injury or if Koekkek isn't doing the job.

Mitchell, Carlsson, and Vlasic still a couple of years away and provide even more depth and possible trade scenarios.

Let's forget the love for Gus and Murphy and thank them for their service. The Hawks have not made the playoffs the past two years with them and it's a prime time for moving them this summer.
- boilermaker100

Dahlstrom can go back to Rockford, unless I’m wrong? So we have 8 Dmen. With de Haan he may or may not be ready by camp or the start of the season. Worst case scenario he won’t debut till November. So we have 7. We don’t need to move anyone right now.

We are in the position of power. Let the desperate come to us.