- HawkintheD

Stan has one of these in his office. I see him using it all the time.

There is no reason Jokiharju should start the season in Rockford. He was one of the 2 best defensemen on the team in his early stint, played well with Keith. Plus, he made every guy he played with better.

Then he went to World Juniors, and teamed with Kakko to lead his team to the gold medal.

Unfortunately, the Tier 2 Swedish coach couldn’t figure out that he was better than Gus, Dahlstrom, Forsling, Koekkoek, Seabrook & Murphy.

It’s a crime if he doesn’t start the season in top 4, paired with either Keith or de Haan.

I'm shocked Sikura made it to the 7th round the way people love him.

Imagine when he scores a goal!! Might have to take the C off of Toews and raise his jersey to the rafters right after the game.

I wonder if they'll stop the game immediately to honor him or wait until after?
- PatShart

Better yet if he scores it in Chicago, fans should boo him. Just to fudge with him.

There is no reason Jokiharju should start the season in Rockford. He was one of the 2 best defensemen on the team in his early stint, played well with Keith. Plus, he made every guy he played with better.

Then he went to World Juniors, and teamed with Kakko to lead his team to the gold medal.

Unfortunately, the Tier 2 Swedish coach couldn’t figure out that he was better than Gus, Dahlstrom, Forsling, Koekkoek, Seabrook & Murphy.

It’s a crime if he doesn’t start the season in top 4, paired with either Keith or de Haan.
- scottak

#Colliton hates young guys too.

Great news:
McKenzie on TSN690 says Jake Gardiner is looking for $7M per year on a long-term deal

Means Stan can't afford him
- ikeane

Tbd there wasn't any real report beyond pure speculation from McGuire that he wouldn't be shocked if Gardiner didn't end up on Chicago or Minnesota. Doubt either of those things happen.

From Powers latest article:

* Not going to sign Nalimov
* Have not contacted Lee’s camp
* Perry could still be an option (gross)
* Doesn't expect Hawks to pursue any of the bigger names in the coming weeks

Tbd there wasn't any real report beyond pure speculation from McGuire that he wouldn't be shocked if Gardiner didn't end up on Chicago or Minnesota. Doubt either of those things happen.
- L_B_R

The same Pierre that said Chicago made a grave mistake and Byron Bowen is going to be a first ballot hall of famer?

#Colliton hates young guys too.
- LAHawk

Colliton is a young guy! Irony!

I really have a bad feeling that Joki may be included in some kind of deal. It is clear that Colliton is not a fan. If the coach doesn't want him, no point in letting him lose value in AHL. I believe it would be a huge mistake though.

Colliton is a young guy! Irony!

I really have a bad feeling that Joki may be included in some kind of deal. It is clear that Colliton is not a fan. If the coach doesn't want him, no point in letting him lose value in AHL. I believe it would be a huge mistake though.
- KMFDMLight

How is this clear?

Colliton is a young guy! Irony!

I really have a bad feeling that Joki may be included in some kind of deal. It is clear that Colliton is not a fan. If the coach doesn't want him, no point in letting him lose value in AHL. I believe it would be a huge mistake though.
- KMFDMLight

Pssssssst, not sure how to break this to you. Players don't lose value in the AHL, they develop in the AHL. Not sure if you know but a guy who's a sure fire, first ballot hall of fame defenseman who still plays for the Hawks "someone named Duncan Keith", you know that guy who wears number 2? He spent two full seasons in the AHL learning how to play defense before he earned a position on the Blackhawks.

And how is it clear Colliton is not a fan of his?

I'm surprised that Toews was drafted in the first round the way you hate him.

I think if you read people's post more clearly you'll see that most posters see the upside to Sikura's game and are willing to be patient. He has many elements to his game that are strong but he had difficulty and bad luck scoring a goal, which seems to be the only issue you and some other posters have with him. If there is another player who outperforms him in camp I think anyone would agree Sikura doesn't deserve a spot on the roster. But if Sikura were to outperform other prospects, would you agree he deserves a spot in the roster?
- paulr

Because POINTS!

The same Pierre that said Chicago made a grave mistake and Byron Bowen is going to be a first ballot hall of famer?
- LAHawk

Pierre is an excellent talent evaluator, just ask Ottawa or Hartford.

Pierre is an excellent talent evaluator, just ask Ottawa or Hartford.

- John McDonough

And why he has interviewed for every open GM post and never been hired?

From Powers latest article:

* Not going to sign Nalimov
* Have not contacted Lee’s camp
* Perry could still be an option (gross)
* Doesn't expect Hawks to pursue any of the bigger names in the coming weeks
- L_B_R

Bullet points:
1. Not surprising - stay over in Russia and eat borscht the rest of your life for all I care.
2. Good - Lee's too expensive.
3. Don't even joke about Perry playing for the beloved.
4. Good - not enough cap room to sign a big sexy.

Colliton is a young guy! Irony!

I really have a bad feeling that Joki may be included in some kind of deal. It is clear that Colliton is not a fan. If the coach doesn't want him, no point in letting him lose value in AHL. I believe it would be a huge mistake though.
- KMFDMLight

Sheesh! I'm pretty sure whether JC liked him, or not, had nothing to do with his demotion.

Colliton is a young guy! Irony!

I really have a bad feeling that Joki may be included in some kind of deal. It is clear that Colliton is not a fan. If the coach doesn't want him, no point in letting him lose value in AHL. I believe it would be a huge mistake though.
- KMFDMLight

Of there could have been other circumstances that dictated Joki was sent down to Rockford ... just food for thought.

No - Marealu has a full NMC and only wants to play for San Jose who cannot afford him at even partial of his cap hit. Instead, Carolina will buy out him out so that Marleau can sign a new contract with San Jose. Carolina doesn't care that they'll have the full cap hit against them - they have a ton of cap room.

This is exactly what happened with Orpik just last season - Caps traded him to the Avs, Avs bought him out, and the Caps resigned him for only $1m.
- L_B_R

Okay, I get it. Fun and exciting ways to reach the cap floor....

From Powers latest article:

* Not going to sign Nalimov
* Have not contacted Lee’s camp
* Perry could still be an option (gross)
* Doesn't expect Hawks to pursue any of the bigger names in the coming weeks
- L_B_R

I still think we should get Pavelski. By trading AA would free up cap space to get him.

I still think we should get Pavelski. By trading AA would free up cap space to get him.
- gifman

It sounds like Pavelski didn't put Chicago on his list of teams to visit. Friedman said they were likely to try to convince him to come but that Pavelski had turned down several team - only Dallas and Tampa are known destinations for him.

I still think we should get Pavelski. By trading AA would free up cap space to get him.
- gifman

If you belive Pavelski would sign a 1-year deal - then trading Anisimov will make it work. However, if you're doubtful that Pavelski would sign a 1-year deal, like I am, then you can make the decision to have Pavelski in 2020/21 or DeBrincat for many more years. Your call.

Sheesh! I'm pretty sure whether JC liked him, or not, had nothing to do with his demotion.
- Acur81

Compare TOI when he played for Q and for Colliton. I think with his demotion last year and the tea leaves are leading to another one this season, shows that Colliton does not think of him as highly as Q. Joki belongs on the top 4 in Chicago, not Rockford. All this talk of another demotion to Rockford gives me a bad feeling. Just my opinion.

If you belive Pavelski would sign a 1-year deal - then trading Anisimov will make it work. However, if you're doubtful that Pavelski would sign a 1-year deal, like I am, then you can make the decision to have Pavelski in 2020/21 or DeBrincat for many more years. Your call.
- EbonyRaptor

I would hold on to AA, I think he would be worth more at the TDL, and if the Hawks are in it, he is a valuable commodity to have.

From Powers latest article:

* Not going to sign Nalimov
* Have not contacted Lee’s camp
* Perry could still be an option (gross)
* Doesn't expect Hawks to pursue any of the bigger names in the coming weeks
- L_B_R

Shortly Stan will lock Corey Perry, Wayne Simmonds and Marcus Kruger in a room under the UC and tell them he has $2M total to spend and roster room for only 2 of them. Whoever signs first gets invited to the Convention all expenses paid.

I'm trying to understand why Stan didn't qualify Kampf but is negotiating with him on a new deal. Correct me if I'm wrong - but doesn't qualifying an RFA mean offering him his previous salary plus 10%? Kampf made $925K last season so the qualifying offer would have been a little less than $1.2M. Can is be that Stan is trying to get him to sign for less than $1.2M?
- EbonyRaptor

My guess is that they are so close to a deal that he feels confident he will be able to be signed before Monday.

I do not understand why everybody wants AA out. Perhaps you could tell me. We all ask for size and but on the other hand if we get rid of AA and/or Connor Murphy and/or Brandon Saad you're doing exactly the opposit. What's wrong in fact with AA at 4,5? Roughly 20 goals a year for 40 points it looks to me that is the price to pay nowadays. Look at Hayes with that ridiculous contract. Is he really so much better than AA?
- contracom

I think most would like a little more speed and someone a little better at faceoffs at the 3C position.