For a look/see - maybe, as he will be 21 by then, older than most, and likely at least close to fully grown.
- Return of the Roar

Yep, get him signed and a few games under his belt.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Mitchell at the end of the season, when college is finished.
- walleyeb1

This is going to be plan, I believe. He'll have a full season in College as the captain and the #1 D-man which will help will his development and then once the season ends for him he'll sign his ELC and make his debut with the Hawks in the spring, possible to help with a Playoff push and get some experience.

Boqvist may get a cup of coffee at some point depending on his development and if any injuries occur. Otherwise, I'd expect him to be apart of the roster going into next training camp.

Beaudin will likely get his shot when he proves he's ready first and foremost, but also when the spot opens. With Keith, Matta, and de Haan all on the left side ahead of him it gives him the time to develop his game and step in when he's ready for it.

The rest honestly are wildcards that we'll have to wait n see how they develop and whether or not they fit in the Hawks picture long term or not in one way or another.

This is going to be plan, I believe. He'll have a full season in College as the captain and the #1 D-man which will help will his development and then once the season ends for him he'll sign his ELC and make his debut with the Hawks in the spring, possible to help with a Playoff push and get some experience.

Boqvist may get a cup of coffee at some point depending on his development and if any injuries occur. Otherwise, I'd expect him to be apart of the roster going into next training camp.

Beaudin will likely get his shot when he proves he's ready first and foremost, but also when the spot opens. With Keith, Matta, and de Haan all on the left side ahead of him it gives him the time to develop his game and step in when he's ready for it.

The rest honestly are wildcards that we'll have to wait n see how they develop and whether or not they fit in the Hawks picture long term or not in one way or another.
- Savetheembers33

playoffs do NOT count as part of the 9-game plan?

playoffs do NOT count as part of the 9-game plan?
- glennjpawlak22

I believe it does. Not 100% on that. Most of the time guys sign their ELC's at the end of the year do that so that they can burn one of the years to get to FA quicker and its a compromise that the team makes to get them under contract rather than risk having to deal with them getting to the point of hitting the open market where at that point they might as well wait til they can choose where they wanna go.

I'd expect him to sign a 3 year max ELC with the Hawks and burn that first year to end the season so that we have two years of him on the cheap going forward. Hopefully by that time we'd have Matta and de Haan both coming off the books and possible Keith or Seabrook depending on how the Expansion Draft goes, whether or not a better buyout is negotiated in the new CBA (in the case of Seabrook), or the rare case that either decided to call it a career.

yes- he is "called up" or on the team for more than 9 games. Plays or not
- Revco38

Are you sure about that? I thought it was "games played" - not "games on the NHL roster".

I believe it does. Not 100% on that. Most of the time guys sign their ELC's at the end of the year do that so that they can burn one of the years to get to FA quicker and its a compromise that the team makes to get them under contract rather than risk having to deal with them getting to the point of hitting the open market where at that point they might as well wait til they can choose where they wanna go.

I'd expect him to sign a 3 year max ELC with the Hawks and burn that first year to end the season so that we have two years of him on the cheap going forward. Hopefully by that time we'd have Matta and de Haan both coming off the books and possible Keith or Seabrook depending on how the Expansion Draft goes, whether or not a better buyout is negotiated in the new CBA (in the case of Seabrook), or the rare case that either decided to call it a career.
- Savetheembers33

Unless Mitchel (CO) get booted early from the NCAA's he cannot burn the first year. The Frozen 4 ends 4/11, the Hawks final game is 4/4.

Well, I think Colliton will be on a short leash to be honest, I think Crawford was brought in for a reason.. IMO, if JC starts screwing up I would not be shocked of Crawford was named head coach.... Crawford from my perspective was hired as a backup plan, much like Lehner was signed as a backup plan to Crow...

I'm very confident this is a playoff team...

Last season I thought the Hawks could have been a playoff team but I wasn't nearly as confident as I am about this team.... And the truth is the Hawks really could have been a playoff team last season if not for a terrible start and had Crawford had been healthy and we had a decent defense...... But everything that went wrong last season as been addressed this season...

The only thing the Hawks didn't get this off-season (and the off-season isn't over yet) is another top 6 forward, specifically a LW for Toews and Kane to play with - but all the other areas that prevented the Hawks from being a playoff team last year have been addressed..... Our defense is much improved, our goaltending is much better with Lehner and Crawford - that alone will be a huge help, so if the Hawks can continue to score like they did last year and our defense is at least adequate or average and Crow and Lehner can keep pucks out of the net -- this is going to be a pretty damn good team.... They will contend for the Central Division Title, and by December may even be considered a contender.....

And who knows, maybe the Hawks already have the top 6 left wing in the system already and we don't even know it.... Dach could turn out to fit like a glove and light it up, Nylander could come into camp and WOW --- heck Saad could come into camp and be an entirely new man....

So yea, without question in my mind this is indeed a playoff team - the real question is this team "just a playoff team" or is this a team that can make a run??

I mean the addition of Shaw, Carpenter and Lenher is HUGE, the Hawks really needed a faceoff/PK specialist in Carpenter, we all know what Shaw brings is unique and Lehner is very very good when he's on his game..... Not only that but the addition of De Hann and Maatta are huge adds too because what really hurt the Hawks last season, and the 17-18 season is the inexperience on the blue line -- The Hawks had almost no NHL experience on the blue line the last couple of season and it really showed... Now the Hawks have a legitimate veteran top 4 that know their roles and know how to cover for one another etc..... Last season these kids were running around like chickens with their heads cut off...

So yea, I'm not hopeful the Hawks will make the playoffs I'm confident they will...

I mean - not to brag or assert any sort of authority on the matter - but I've been watching hockey for a few decades now and I think I know a playoff team when I see one...... Of course anything can happen, injuries, lack of chemistry , suspensions etc.... But if this team can stay healthy and out of trouble and has the chemistry then I really like this teams chances of not only going to the playoffs but making a run.
- Savard2Secord

Here's what else could happen:

St. Louis, Colorado, Nashville, Winnipeg, Dallas all play well enough to make the tournament. Each is / all are good enough to do it.

The Hawks could be dramatically improved over last season, and STILL not be playing after the first week in April.

It's going to be a fun season for a hockey fan - every point will be important.

"That Tanner blog about Kane was incredible. "

I thought about this - but I think the dude still has some room to go until he jumps the shark --- so call this an (S5) rumour .... it will come that the dude will claim that the Hawks will trade the legacies of Denis Savard, Steve Larmer, and Chris Chelios to the Yotes because ... well Chicago is hopeless ... the deal means that on all hockey cards where it currently lists Chicago -that by rights these will be edited to say Arizona... also - Chelios and Savard now have to be Yotes ambassadors ... effectively this means that their Chicago careers never happened ...

book it.

Unless Mitchel (CO) get booted early from the NCAA's he cannot burn the first year. The Frozen 4 ends 4/11, the Hawks final game is 4/4.
- riozzo

Yes, I forgot to mention that as well. It all depends on when they get eliminated from that whether or not he'll be able to play for the Hawks or not. Thank you for bringing that up.

Yes, I forgot to mention that as well. It all depends on when they get eliminated from that whether or not he'll be able to play for the Hawks or not. Thank you for bringing that up.
- Savetheembers33

Based on normal scheduling they would need to go at least 6 in each series through the WCF. They are better - but not that good.

I just worry he will go the Hayes Vesey route/
- riozzo

Don’t worry, he will.

Here's what else could happen:

St. Louis, Colorado, Nashville, Winnipeg, Dallas all play well enough to make the tournament. Each is / all are good enough to do it.

The Hawks could be dramatically improved over last season, and STILL not be playing after the first week in April.

It's going to be a fun season for a hockey fan - every point will be important.
- StLBravesFan

Not to worry - then we just win the lottery and draft Alexis Lafreniere. Where Dach is iffy to be ready for the NHL in 2019/20 - Lafreniere will be the 1st player taken in the 2020 draft and will immediately play in the NHL. A superstar in the making.

Don’t worry, he will.
- DarthKane

After another year in college perhaps

After another year in college perhaps
- Abadseed

2 more years of college then Mitchell will sign with the Rangers.

Breaking per EK:

William Nylander is looking for a new start after missing training camp, the pre-season and two months of the regular season due to a contract impasse, and symbolic of that change will be switching his jersey number from 29 to 88

Breaking per EK:

William Nylander is looking for a new start after missing training camp, the pre-season and two months of the regular season due to a contract impasse, and symbolic of that change will be switching his jersey number from 29 to 88
- glennjpawlak22

We should worry about his younger brother Alex.

playoffs do NOT count as part of the 9-game plan?
- glennjpawlak22

Can't quote the source, but I read somewhere that playing 10 games, reg season and/or playoffs burns a year off an ELC.

Apparently Barrat stated that he had hip surgery about 3 month and ago. He is expected to be full go when the college season starts (per Tirabassi at the Rink).

He also posted a bunch of drill clips.

You're entitled to your opinion so this isn't a dig at your post. I don't feel sorry for Gustafsson at all. As Obiwan Kenobi said, "Who's the bigger fool? The fool or the fool who follows him?"

Colliton may have given Gustafsson primo minutes but Gustafsson still needs to perform across the entire ice sheet which includes playing defense. Gustafsson can't expect to mail it in defensively just to play 4th forward as often as he wants.

I actually felt like Gustafsson made some strides at defending in the latter part of the season. He has a mean streak, too. He's not that bad if he exerts himself. Therein lies the rub: he just doesn't apply himself consistently enough. Fingers crossed he does so this season.
- AEL_Fox

Another great way of summing things up. I just would have considered reduced minutes in critical situations as a possibility. Realize, too, that it would have probably taxed the remaining D men. There were no answers. The entire season reminded me of ineffective baseball relief pitchers who were getting shelled/pummeled. At some point he has to be shown 'the hook' for the good of the organization. Some of the worst bloodletting I've witnessed in many a moon.

Breaking per EK:

William Nylander is looking for a new start after missing training camp, the pre-season and two months of the regular season due to a contract impasse, and symbolic of that change will be switching his jersey number from 29 to 88
- glennjpawlak22

Maybe. We can trade for him and form a line with his brother.

Maybe. We can trade for him and form a line with his brother.
- gifman

i guess since William has 88, trading Kane to AZ seems all the more plausible

Are you sure about that? I thought it was "games played" - not "games on the NHL roster".
- EbonyRaptor

CBA (Section 9.1.d) states "PLAY". Unless, of course, the CBA defines "play" to mean something else.

(d) (i) In the event that an 18 year old or 19 year old Player signs an SPC with a
Club but does not play at least ten (10) NHL Games in the first season
under that SPC, the term of his SPC and his number of years in the Entry
Level System shall be extended for a period of one (1) year

The Colorado Avalanche have inked one of their restricted free agents, signing Andre Burakovsky to a one-year contract. Burakovsky decided not to file for arbitration earlier this month after being issued a $3.25MM qualifying offer, for which the deadline to accept was today.

Looks like a bunch of RFA’s signed their qualifying offer today.

Krys was a second rounder in 2016. I think gets overlooked. He had a weird last season at Boston.

Hawks just need one of the guys to be a stud and fill Keith's shoes.... no easy task obviously. Keith is the guy that made this team run from the back-end during the Cup run.
- bhawks2241

Hoping for someone to fill Keith's skates may be wishing for the impossible. Keith is a HoF D-man and the best to ever don the Indianhead, IMO.

I don't think a lot of fans are really going to appreciate how Keith good was/is until he is gone.