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.
- Chief4Feathers

Wasn't he one of the last cuts in camp last year? And back to my original question, is he any worse than Gus defensively?

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

Not really. A lot depends on if Maatta can return to his play of two seasons ago.

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

Who da fudge wants to play in Minnesota, unless their names are Parise and Suter.

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

Won't be any worse. Besides, moving Murphy helps pay for Maatta or De Haan.

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

What if it's the same? It could be

Don't forget Strome was a significant addition to the PP and he's not going anywhere

This trade works on many fronts:

1. No roster players or significant prospects were given up for a solid 2nd pairing defensive defenseman
2. In combination with the Maatta Trade the PK should be drastically improved
3. The overall defensive depth is greatly improved
4. De Haan and Maatta are signed for 3 years, this gives the current boatload of defensive prospects time to develop, no need to rush them

In all likelihood there’s more deals to me made and a d-man from last years roster is on the move. There seems to be some debate about Gustafsson or Murphy. For me there is no debate, Gus is sent packing on the bus. I like Gus’ game and I have no issues with him. However, it’s a question of Gus for one year or Murphy for three. Murphy was solid last year so he stays. Plus, Gus is a perfect trade chip for a cash strapped team looking to unload a forward.
- DarthKane

Well said... all of this.

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

The trade with Minnesota was for Zucker. 5.5 mil back.

The trade with Minnesota was for Zucker. 5.5 mil back.
- gifman

You are right. And Phil looked at the Wild roster and gave Rutherford the middle finger.

You are right. And Phil looked at the Wild roster and gave Rutherford the middle finger.
- RickJ

You are right. And Phil looked at the Wild roster and gave Rutherford the middle finger.
- RickJ

I'd be for the trade if AA and a prospect went the other way

You are right. And Phil looked at the Wild roster and gave Rutherford the middle finger.
- RickJ

Haha.

What’s going to get interesting is if Kessel is still
On this team come September as Rutherford is out there announcing that Kessel is bonging trades.

Speaking of which I would have loved it if Phil drove down town Toronto with the cup giving that fan base the finger. Same idiots who keyed versteegs car.

Toronto is now a basketball City. Remind any leaf fan that. 😆😆😆😆😆

Keith, Gus, Jokiharju, Maata, de Haan, and Murphy - Solid 6

When compared to last year and some of the hopeful band-aids like Dahlstrom and Koekoek, the Hawks now have some proven NHL Dmen. Injuries aside to Maatta and de Haan, this blueline looks substantially better already. Think Dahlstrom and Koekoek can both be buried in Rockford if need be. The biggest issue is Seabrook sadly, great leader and warrior, but his time has past. Don't know what the Hawks are going to do with #7, but I love the fact that Bowman is not sitting still, he is really trying to improve this team in a big-time way!!

What if it's the same? It could be

Don't forget Strome was a significant addition to the PP and he's not going anywhere
- BetweenTheDots

Gus had the second highest shot and point contribution on the PP after Kane last season and then it was Cat-Toews-Strome. And considering there needs to be at least one d-man manning the point and none of the others on the roster come close, it's a bit hit. That's not even taking into consideration 5v5 impact...

I'm not against moving Gus - I just think they'd need to be sure they can replace his offense. Getting better defensively is nice but even the best defensive teams have 40-30-20-20 point d-men on their rosters. Without Gus, the Hawks are at 30-25-15-15 maybe (unless Jokiharju or Boqvist somehow make it up but that's a big risk).

Gus had the second highest shot and point contribution on the PP after Kane last season and then it was Cat-Toews-Strome. And considering there needs to be at least one d-man manning the point and none of the others on the roster come close, it's a bit hit. That's not even taking into consideration 5v5 impact...

I'm not against moving Gus - I just think they'd need to be sure they can replace his offense. Getting better defensively is nice but even the best defensive teams have 40-30-20-20 point d-men on their rosters. Without Gus, the Hawks are at 30-25-15-15 maybe (unless Jokiharju or Boqvist somehow make it up but that's a big risk).
- L_B_R

I hear you but i don't have Gusto gone, 67 Hawks does, i just said they are a better team if their pk is better. He's assuming Gusto is gone but fortunately once Dehaan gets back Gusto can be the#5 defender right where he belongs

Keith, Gus, Jokiharju, Maata, de Haan, and Murphy - Solid 6

When compared to last year and some of the hopeful band-aids like Dahlstrom and Koekoek, the Hawks now have some proven NHL Dmen. Injuries aside to Maatta and de Haan, this blueline looks substantially better already. Think Dahlstrom and Koekoek can both be buried in Rockford if need be. The biggest issue is Seabrook sadly, great leader and warrior, but his time has past. Don't know what the Hawks are going to do with #7, but I love the fact that Bowman is not sitting still, he is really trying to improve this team in a big-time way!!
- ChicagoHope

This. I don't understand why we would trade Murphy now that we've acquired Maatta and de Haan - that seems like one step forward and one step back to me. Maatta, de Haan and Murphy give the Hawks a solid 3/4/5 for the next 3 years. Why subtract from that rather than build on it? In 2019, we have Keith and Jokiharju to go with that 3/4/5 defensive core and then we add in Boqvist and Beaudin over the next couple years. By the time those 3-year contracts are over, at least 2 or 3 of the 4-horsemen will be established and ready to take over more responsibility.

So by January we might actually have 4 top 4 dmen, Keith, Maata, De Haan and Joki, then you got the PP specialist Gusto, and Murphy and Seabrook as #6 & 7dmen

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
- BetweenTheDots

I remember back in the day when people were convinced Brett Hull was eventually destined to play for the Hawks.

This. I don't understand why we would trade Murphy now that we've acquired Maatta and de Haan - that seems like one step forward and one step back to me. Maatta, de Haan and Murphy give the Hawks a solid 3/4/5 for the next 3 years. Why subtract from that rather than build on it? In 2019, we have Keith and Jokiharju to go with that 3/4/5 defensive core and then we add in Boqvist and Beaudin over the next couple years. By the time those 3-year contracts are over, at least 2 or 3 of the 4-horsemen will be established and ready to take over more responsibility.
- EbonyRaptor

Perfectly put!! The Hawks are setting themselves up very nicely when the young stud blueline prospects are truly ready to make a big time impact!!

I'd be for the trade if AA and a prospect went the other way
- BetweenTheDots

The only reason Kessel is on the block is because the Pens have 2 untradeable contracts - Hornqvist and Jack Johnson chewing up about $10M against the cap. And they don't have much on the farm because they haven't had a 1st round pick since 2014 who was Kasperi Kapanen who they traded to get Kessel.

AA would be a throw in, they really don't want a guy like him unless it was a way to get a good young cheap player back too.

Quick clarifying question. I understand Anisimov’s no movement clause goes away on (or after) 7/1. Can he waive it beforehand so the team and AA can move forward?

Can you imagine a forward group of:

Toews
Kane
Pavelski
Kessel
Cat
Strome

Dach would be going to school on a level never seen.

I know it unrealistic but the thought is exciting to think about.

Gus had the second highest shot and point contribution on the PP after Kane last season and then it was Cat-Toews-Strome. And considering there needs to be at least one d-man manning the point and none of the others on the roster come close, it's a bit hit. That's not even taking into consideration 5v5 impact...

I'm not against moving Gus - I just think they'd need to be sure they can replace his offense. Getting better defensively is nice but even the best defensive teams have 40-30-20-20 point d-men on their rosters. Without Gus, the Hawks are at 30-25-15-15 maybe (unless Jokiharju or Boqvist somehow make it up but that's a big risk).
- L_B_R

I was on the "trade Gus" bus because I thought he could be used in a sell high trade chip either at the draft or in this trade week before free agency starts, plus I thought that he'll either have another high scoring season which means we wouldn't be able to afford him or he'll regress and won't be worth anything on the trade front and walk away for nothing at the end of the season.

But that was before (1) we acquired Maatta, (2) we didn't draft Byram who I thought had a chance to play in the NHL next season, and (3) we acquired de Haan. The defensive landscape looks different now and therefore I've changed my mind on trading Gustafsson. We don't have anyone that can take over his PP role and therefore I want the Hawks to use him kind of like a season-long TDL pickup - a mercenary that will walk at the end of the season but will contribute to us making the playoffs, and hopefully making some noise in the playoffs.

We'll have a better understanding of how close Boqvist is to coming in and replacing Gustafsson on the PP after seeing how Boqvist does in Rockford all season. If Boqvist is ready - let Gustafsson walk. If Boqvist is not ready - consider re-signing Gustafsson.

LOVE this trade for the Hawks. We traded spare parts for legit NHL D-Man with a decent contract compared to what guys in FA are gonna get (thank the hockey gods Bowman decided not to go that route). Health concerns are gonna be there with de Haan and Matta too but both fit the bill of what this team needed BADLY.

I'm leary about this Kessel rumor BUT if we're talking AA + for Kessel that's something that they should seriously consider doing. Helps Pittsburgh get some cap relief and we get the better player on top of it.

Next thing to do is hit up Vegas and see what we could poach from them as well...

Cags-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Kessel
Saad-Eakin-???
???-Kampf-???

Keith-Gus
Matta-Joki
Murphy-Seabrook

Crow
???

That's starting to look more like a playoff roster. Exciting times for Hawks fans

Quick clarifying question. I understand Anisimov’s no movement clause goes away on (or after) 7/1. Can he waive it beforehand so the team and AA can move forward?
- golfbard

Yes AA can, but starting to get a feeling they’ll keep him to groom Dach. They have $12 mil in cap space for 5 spots I believe and one will be Dach on an ELC. Even without moving AA, they could grab a ufa for the top 6 and still make it work financially.

Quick clarifying question. I understand Anisimov’s no movement clause goes away on (or after) 7/1. Can he waive it beforehand so the team and AA can move forward?
- golfbard

Yes, Anisimov could waive his NTC now for a team that isn't on his 10 team list or the Hawks could trade him to one of those 10 teams. They'd probably wait until 7/1 though - it's only a week away.

Personally, I would like to keep him unless they're getting an update at center. Dach would be better optioned starting out at wing if they're planning on him being on the team next season imo.