Looks like a bunch of RFA’s signed their qualifying offer today.
- walleyeb1

Don't see Perlini on that list, screw him

Nice to see Dach turning the dman inside and out

Nice to see Dach turning the dman inside and out
- BetweenTheDots

His ankles do things they’re not supposed to do, yikes!

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

This.

There's no doubt the Blackhawks improved this off season but they're still a step below Colorado, Nashville, and st Louis which means they're looking at a wildcard spot. Typically only a few point separate a wildcard team from a non playoff team. Should be a fun season. Especially in March.

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.
- Elbows15

Yeah but he didn't skate purdy

Nice to see Dach turning the dman inside and out
- BetweenTheDots

??

??
- EnzoD

https://twitter.com/BHTVe...tatus/1150879127374835712

So what is the next move for the hawks? Its becoming clearer that Perlini is going to be hard to sign so next options wait or trade him in a package deal with AA for something. So what should the hawks being looking for? Plus what teams would interested in these 2 players and what would the return be?

https://twitter.com/BHTVeric/status/1150879127374835712
- pdx2ord

Really excited for the Nintendo Kirby in Blackhawks’ gear merchandise

$874,125

Signed to Standard Contract
Gustav Forsling (D) | CAR#TakeWarninghttps://t.co/DnRPlEo4gV

— CapFriendly Transactions (@CF_Transactions) July 16, 2019

Boqvist. https://twitter.com/Black...tatus/1150905049150885889

Beaudin and Dach together. https://twitter.com/Boden...tatus/1150873424392314881

Mitchell stickhandling https://twitter.com/CRoum...tatus/1150869305833263106

Dach / Nylander together https://twitter.com/CRoum...tatus/1150877684362338304

Yeesh - no pressure kids: https://twitter.com/CRoum...tatus/1150840465165619200

$874,125

Signed to Standard Contract
Gustav Forsling (D) | CAR#TakeWarninghttps://t.co/DnRPlEo4gV

— CapFriendly Transactions (@CF_Transactions) July 16, 2019

- DarthKane

Still like our return better. Nice 1 year prove it deal for Foreskin. Wonder if they’ll sign Forsberg or not.

Vlasic is blogging camp this year. Interesting that they had already given them a class on dealing with the media before the first day of camp.

https://www.nhl.com/black...diary---day-1/c-308263718

on a side note, he looks 12

So what is the next move for the hawks? Its becoming clearer that Perlini is going to be hard to sign so next options wait or trade him in a package deal with AA for something. So what should the hawks being looking for? Plus what teams would interested in these 2 players and what would the return be?
- Scott1977

Cant realistically move AA without bringing in another center (and, no, that's not Dach. At least not yet) Tyler mentioned pageau but I don't know if that really improves the team at all beyond the 1.5 or so in cap space.

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.
- Elbows15

I agree. He was soooo good in all 3 playoff runs. All over the ice for 30 plus a game. A ton of PK minutes and the Hawks really counted on him to start their transition game.

Don’t think we find someone who is as defensively good as Keith but we need someone to fill his shoes as far as driving this team from the backend. All these draft picks are in the “Keith” mold more or less. On the smaller side with great feet and skating ability. Love for Keith to teach the young guys the nuances of an active stick and active feet. Doubt any of them ever match Keith from a fitness level either.

Knopfler did a couple of nice albums with Emmylou Harris recently.
- StLBravesFan

He also did the music for The Princess Bride.

Nice to see Dach turning the dman inside and out
- BetweenTheDots

it is a drill. against another forward, Reese Johnson...

Scott Powers has a good article in The Athletic (which is usually the case) about Development Camp. Mitchell came out and said his plans are to sign with Chicago after one more season in Denver. Mitchell said loyalty is important to him so he doesn’t want to go back on his word to DU (I’m paraphrasing) but he’s also loyal to the Blackhawks because they’ve been great to him.

Taking Mitchell at his word... he seems like a kid with lots of character and the type of guy the Hawks need on the team.

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

Else his team (Colorado College) does not make the final round
Would it be prudent to allow Mitchell to play 3-4 games?

So what is the next move for the hawks? Its becoming clearer that Perlini is going to be hard to sign so next options wait or trade him in a package deal with AA for something. So what should the hawks being looking for? Plus what teams would interested in these 2 players and what would the return be?
- Scott1977

"Time has a way of working things out" is a cliche which will be the case with Perlini. Both sides dig in. Perlini will budge because Bowman is in the drivers seat (hey another cliche). Perlini would be doing himself a disservice to sign after the exhibition training camp has begun.

I agree. He was soooo good in all 3 playoff runs. All over the ice for 30 plus a game. A ton of PK minutes and the Hawks really counted on him to start their transition game.

Don’t think we find someone who is as defensively good as Keith but we need someone to fill his shoes as far as driving this team from the backend. All these draft picks are in the “Keith” mold more or less. On the smaller side with great feet and skating ability. Love for Keith to teach the young guys the nuances of an active stick and active feet. Doubt any of them ever match Keith from a fitness level either.
- bhawks2241

"Doubt any of thrm ever match Keith from a fitness level either."

Oh maybe. But Carlsson really competes, doesn't give up according to reports.

The Edm Oilers drafted Broberg in the first round
His scouting report says that he can skate stride for stride with anyone.

I think there’s truth to that statement. Good post.
- AEL_Fox

I think there is also the fact that he ranked top 10 in points on the backend. He got some of the most favorable starts of those d-man. But bad team or good that is something that can't be ignored. Can push play and score points at the same rate(or pretty close) this year, while also improving his 5v5 considerably? If so it is that crazy to go in on a "proven" commodity.

All very hypothetical, but it's July. If that happens is it too wild to trade another solid d prospect + to shed Seabrook (I'm ignoring NMC's) let Crom/Lehber walk. Then they could sign Cat, Strome, and Gus. Under cap ready to "contend" for at 2yrs minimum.

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.
- gabriel

If the defense is more balanced not only on the blueline but the forwards also invest in consistency and accountability, then reducing Gustafsson's minutes in situations where he is not strong may be possible.

And if that's the case, then that should theoretically not tax his teammates. It did last year given how bad the entire team was at defense. Savetheembers made reference to this in an earlier post.

I think there is also the fact that he ranked top 10 in points on the backend. He got some of the most favorable starts of those d-man. But bad team or good that is something that can't be ignored. Can push play and score points at the same rate(or pretty close) this year, while also improving his 5v5 considerably? If so it is that crazy to go in on a "proven" commodity.

All very hypothetical, but it's July. If that happens is it too wild to trade another solid d prospect + to shed Seabrook (I'm ignoring NMC's) let Crom/Lehber walk. Then they could sign Cat, Strome, and Gus. Under cap ready to "contend" for at 2yrs minimum.
- MinneHawks

It's a tough call on whether to re-sign Gustafsson or trade him to get assets in return. Given the value he brings on offense, especially the PP, I wouldn't just let him walk for nothing. If he does show improvement in his defending, then a contract renewal at reasonable value is worth considering.

One factor to consider is whether the team defense improves this season. And not just marginally improve but significant strides of progress. So if the team continues to flounder defending in all areas of the ice and Gustafsson is still one of the main culprits despite generating offense like he did last season, then I would trade him for valuable pieces and move on to Boqvist at his ELC and use the money that would have gone to Gustafsson on a player (F or D) who plays strong defense.

it is a drill. against another forward, Reese Johnson...
- wiz1901

But he danced the goalie so hard he ended up flat footed clear at the other end of the crease, and Dach is 6ft FIVE inches. ....... Kid was as skilled as anyone left at #3, maybe Zegras had an edge on him but that clip showed a huge reason the Hawks grabbed Dach.

No doubt just a clip but a look at what the NHL exec who was quoted by Powers said of Dach, "talk about physicality all you want but there are only a handful of players in the world that has Dach's combination of size, skating, hands, IQ, vision".