From TSN:

Smith, who was placed on waivers last September only to go unclaimed by the league's other 30 teams, added nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 45 playoff contests. He registered nine goals and 28 points for the rebuilding Senators in 2018-19

I guess this means we couldn't even make a salary dump trade for AA...
- Popsghostly

Cap space currency is at an incredible premium right now. It will be interesting to see how the Leafs and Knights become cap compliant and keep the guys they want to keep.

Last season AA W332 L394 45.7%

Last season Smith W403 L417 49.1%
- walleyeb1

And this plus cap savings is why they made the deal.

136 hits for Zack Smith last year..."Playoff Type" of bottom 6 guy. It was a Cap-Saving trade and with a Stagnant Cap and Ansimov's career-worst season, obviously not much interest in taking $4.5mil off StanBo's hands.


Shaw, Carpenter, Smith all add some nasty to the Hawks. Plus, if it allows them to Sign Perlini, then it makes even more sense.
- EnzoD

You forgot to mention drake. On paper Chicago has drastically improved both defensively , bottom 6 , and goaltending, with the possibility of filling out some needed top 6 in Nylander and kubalick.

I do believe Dach makes the team and centers the 3rd line

Bowman should have at least got a 2nd or 3rd round pick in this deal or a decent prospect....

This deal makes absolutely no sense at all...

Both players play virtually the same exact role.... Anisimov is just more skilled offensively..

Bowman just did Ottawa a huge favor.... I hope an "I owe you" was tucked in Smith's pocket before they sent him to Chicago.

SMH

136 hits for Zack Smith last year..."Playoff Type" of bottom 6 guy. It was a Cap-Saving trade and with a Stagnant Cap and Ansimov's career-worst season, obviously not much interest in taking $4.5mil off StanBo's hands.


Shaw, Carpenter, Smith all add some nasty to the Hawks. Plus, if it allows them to Sign Perlini, then it makes even more sense.
- EnzoD

Yes to all, but I almost think they have no need to sign Perlini now - at any kind of premium anyway.

Exactly what I've been saying all along. No market for AA.
- Return of the Roar

I just posted the other day that I didn't think they would be able to find a deal for him and he was likely going to be playing with the team next year with the quality of FAs still available currently. I guess the team figured they might as well do what they can to clear cap space to fill out the roster while adding someone with more grit, slightly better on FOs, and can kill penalties.

It's not like we'll be stuck with him if Smith plays bad either. If Stan can trade Brandon Manning he can trade Smith lol

Exactly what I've been saying all along. No market for AA.
- Return of the Roar

. I heard you say that Roar, you were correct

Save your applause for later, I still have a lot of work to do

And this plus cap savings is why they made the deal.
- Return of the Roar

He won 1 more face off per game!
Awesome.

I haven’t been at either of those rinks in a couple of years, but unless someone has done something since then, they have to be 2 of the crappiest rinks in the Chicagoland area. At Carol Stream it had been so long since they had repainted the surface that the blue lines were basically not visible. The Zamboni at Downers was using a bedsheet as the water diffuser. Not a penny has been put into those rinks in years, yet they are still asking premium rental fees.
- TheTrob

Glassford has a touch of alzheimers so the rink is being run by another rink rat. I wouldn't put it past Glassford to have some kind of living will restricting spending on the properties or sommething to that effect. I worked there in the early 70's shortly after it opened and he was really cheap, although the rinks were a huge investment at the time. Years later I took my 4 year old son there because he asked to go public skating and shot the poop with him in the line to get in. He was very cordial and almost excited to see me. But he did charge both me and my 4 year old something like 8 bucks to go for a skate. That was classic Glassford.

You can start with the fact that he’s not a Center
- Ogilthorpe2

Smith played all but 15.73% of his shifts as a Center last season. The only time he was moved to full time wing was when JGP was in the lineup. If Dach doesnt make the team out of camp...and I hope he doesn't...Smith is your 3c next year.

136 hits for Zack Smith last year..."Playoff Type" of bottom 6 guy. It was a Cap-Saving trade and with a Stagnant Cap and Ansimov's career-worst season, obviously not much interest in taking $4.5mil off StanBo's hands.


Shaw, Carpenter, Smith all add some nasty to the Hawks. Plus, if it allows them to Sign Perlini, then it makes even more sense.
- EnzoD

That grit is what AA lacked for the Hawks, despite his size. If he engaged more physically he would be way more effective. I'm sorry, but AA just barely edged Patrick Kane in hits last season. The Hawks just got less easy to play against IMO.

He won 1 more face off per game!
Awesome.
- Ogilthorpe2

Absolutely INcredible actually, Ogi.....since, as you pointed out, he is NOT a center. So, to win MORE face-offs and NOT be a center, the guy is a STUD!!!!!!!

Potentially. Shaw and Saad on the third line has some scoring punch. Will be interesting to see how this roster fills out. Kubaliak is a wild care scoring wise I think. If he comes in and provides a bit more offense than Kahun then the Hawks have plenty of scoring depth. Not holding my breath on Nylander being a top 6 wing suddenly.

Unless there is another move or we see Kampf locked in at 3C (yuck) it seems Dach might be the one that is being given the spot....earned or not.
- bhawks2241

More "ready or not" than "earned or not".

If that is the case, let's hope that in 3 years, we aren't looking at DuClair, Nylander, Perlini, Strome type situations - high draft picks who went directly from juniors to the Show who struggled (or failed) to meet any of the high expectations hoped for them.

I find it a bit curious that the people who usually bash every move Stan makes are suddenly happy.

I guess the irrational Anisimov Haters on this site finally got their way.

The team went from having center being a position of strength, to having a giant ? At 3C. I sure hope Stan isn’t done.

Absolutely INcredible actually, Ogi.....since, as you pointed out, he is NOT a center. So, to win MORE face-offs and NOT be a center, the guy is a STUD!!!!!!!
- hawk35

Great, he’s a stud at the second most irrelevant stat in all of Hockey!

Even if AA was solidly to be the third line center I'd still rather take the cap space in the name of the long term outlook.

Smith will be fine NOT playing with Magnus or Bobby Ryan, and should be a solid add as the new 3C.
- Return of the Roar

Why do you think Smith will be the third line center? He's a left-winger?

I find it a bit curious that the people who usually bash every move Stan makes are suddenly happy.

I guess the irrational Anisimov Haters on this site finally got their way.

The team went from having center being a position of strength, to having a giant ? At 3C. I sure hope Stan isn’t done.
- Ogilthorpe2

To be fair Ogi, I have never been an AA hater. I have thought before they launch him they had better get equal or better value back. When you consider the cap savings I think they did fine, but am open to time telling the truth.

Honestly, at best they make the playoffs this season, as they sure aren't winning the cup this season, but the long term thinking is what has impressed me a bit this summer.

That grit is what AA lacked for the Hawks, despite his size. If he engaged more physically he would be way more effective. I'm sorry, but AA just barely edged Patrick Kane in hits last season. The Hawks just got less easy to play against IMO.
- breadbag

I agree with this. AA can produce better offensively IF he's playing with better players, but Smith brings some grit that this team needs with the ability to win FOs (whether it's slightly better than AA winning one or two extra draws in a game can be a difference in games) and can kill penalties. It's not like we're acquiring Smith to be a top 6 forward on this team. He's a depth add to help fill a role on the team. Our bottom six is greatly better this season than it was last year and that can be huge difference in making the Playoffs or not

I think a lot of Hawks fans are missing the point of this trade:

Smith is much grittier/nastier than AA, does the dirty work, and provides more of a veteran leadership presence to the bottom six. Not to mention, the Hawks have been allegedly tied to him in the past so this isn’t all that surprising of an add by Bowman.

The Hawks now have Smith, Shaw, and Carpenter added up front, coupled with the Maatta and de Haan acquisitions on the back end.

This team is significantly nastier and tougher to play against than they were last season. Scoring goals was the least of the Hawks concerns. I am not worried in the slightest about losing AA. Vastly improving our roster with infusing it with players that can actually play defense was the key this offseason, and Bowman did just that.

The roster is now complete, and we can see what we’ve got. On paper, I like this team as much as any.

Yes to all, but I almost think they have no need to sign Perlini now - at any kind of premium anyway.
- Return of the Roar

If anything they should be exploring what they can get for his rights!

I find it a bit curious that the people who usually bash every move Stan makes are suddenly happy.

I guess the irrational Anisimov Haters on this site finally got their way.

The team went from having center being a position of strength, to having a giant ? At 3C. I sure hope Stan isn’t done.
- Ogilthorpe2

My question was always what was the best way to get cap compliant, especially when numerous teams are struggling to do so? Anisimov's cost made him a likely candidate, regardless of what anybody thought.

You forgot to mention drake. On paper Chicago has drastically improved both defensively , bottom 6 , and goaltending, with the possibility of filling out some needed top 6 in Nylander and kubalick.

I do believe Dach makes the team and centers the 3rd line
- Taylorst1

Yea, but Dach wasn't drafted to be a 3rd line center... I know he's capable, he's a 200 foot player, but ideally you would like to get him into the top 6 from time to time to focus on his offensive side. No doubt if he centers the 3rd line, they'll have him on the 2PP unit if not the 1PP unit for sure just to make sure he gets some offense in.

I just don't want Dach to get too used to defense or playing a shutdown role while neglecting his phenomenal offensive talents...

Then again tho, the Hawks could really run 3 scoring lines and use the 4th line as the shutdown line.... It's hard to match up against teams that have that type of depth and can do that, and IMO that's how the Hawks won their Cups...

"At a rangy 6-foot-2, Smith has an appetite for contact, can play center or wing and is effective on the penalty kill." A quote I found looking for more info on him.
Not a 1st round pick. Stan broke his own trend of 1st round pick ups. I sure hope he is what the quote says he is. I will miss Artie. A solid Hawk. Hawks sure are getting a little more snarl.

I find it a bit curious that the people who usually bash every move Stan makes are suddenly happy.

I guess the irrational Anisimov Haters on this site finally got their way.

The team went from having center being a position of strength, to having a giant ? At 3C. I sure hope Stan isn’t done.
- Ogilthorpe2

I am a proud advocate of trading anismov. I felt he didn't produce offensively, weak on FO bounced around from 2c to 4c soft on hits .

If Stan and co did excellent job of scouting Dach than I don't see how , Ansimov is a improvement.

Let's say the third line is

Saad-Dach-Shaw that's a pretty stable lineup to infuse a rookie into and if Dach ends up with 15 to 20 plus goals and plays solid defensively and improves each game than it's a win win.