IR players don’t get replaced, they stay on the roster. So calling up a player adds to the cap hit and the daily savings are reduced, not increased.
- John McDonough

Thanks John.
Makes sense now.

Do you think seeing Dach play one day of development camp really had anything to do with it? They couldn't move AA fast enough once the bonus was paid.

I don't get this Smith is a 4th line plug narrative either. He hasn't really played 4th line minutes for a number of seasons now.
- breadbag

I didn’t say they did - I just commented on “if....”

I'm curious Saarela what's his ceiling potential
- Taylorst1

Middle 6 scoring winger but his play and compete level without the puck is not good at all. That may prevent him from holding down a regular starting job in the NHL.

I didn’t say they did - I just commented on “if....”
- StLBravesFan

Right. I was just expressing that it seems like an unlikely "if". I think this move has been planned out for a while now just waiting for that bonus payment to clear so they could make the deal. I just can't see anyone buying into Stan making the move based on 1 day of prospect camp. He doesn't seem that impulsive IMO.

Shaw played 3C in 2013, Bolland was hurt most of the year. When he came back, he played wing with Krueger and Frolik.
- LAHawk

Whatever. Not incompetent and pretty solid up the middle either way.

They have a good 1-2 punch with Toews and Strome and a few guys who are good enough to split the other 25 mins between them if KD goes back to junior. The center situation isn't the end of the world.

I still think the blue line is garbage but the goaltending and pk should be better and that should be worth enough points to get to the post season.

Exactly, they would rather have AA and Delia/Lainkenin than Lehner Smith that's lunacy.
- rpeters01

Personally I would rather have lehner and anisimov. I don't think having one means you cant have the other. That million in cap space could have been found elsewhere

Whatever. Not incompetent and pretty solid up the middle either way.

They have a good 1-2 punch with Toews and Strome and a few guys who are good enough to split the other 25 mins between them if KD goes back to junior. The center situation isn't the end of the world.

I still think the blue line is garbage but the goaltending and pk should be better and that should be worth enough points to get to the post season.
- fattybeef

Not a fan of Maata and DeHaan?

Toews, Sharp, Bolland, Madden in 2010 was pretty dope up the middle.

Toews, Zues, Bolland, Kruger in 2013 on the best team end to end in the league was neat.

Toews, Richards, Vermette, Kruger also pretty strong.

With Kane you can get by with a slower and heady veteran but every team to lift the Cup post lockout has had 4 competent centers at a minimum and been in most cases pretty sick up the middle.

STL wasn't super great but solid down the pipe. Boston strong up the middle. LA when winning was strong up the middle. Pens, Detroit and Hawks obviously.

The Hawks should be fine there. Their success more hinges on killing penalties, getting outstanding goaltending and Kane hitting triple digits again then anything else which all should improve enough to get them into the playoffs at this point.

Is this team way better then last year? Nahhhhh. Is it marginally better enough to be more successful in a league with a lot of parity? For sure on paper at least.

They made a money move to remedy an extension they should have waited on. Not a whole lot more to read into that.
- fattybeef

I think that this team is WAY better than the team they started out with last year. They are either upgraded or the same at every single position on the ice, with perhaps the exception of 3C, although really I think Anisimov was basically playing at a replacement level at that position.

When you upgrade basically every position, I don’t know how you can say it isn’t a substantially improved team.

I think that this team is WAY better than the team they started out with last year. They are either upgraded or the same at every single position on the ice, with perhaps the exception of 3C, although really I think Anisimov was basically playing at a replacement level at that position.

When you upgrade basically every position, I don’t know how you can say it isn’t a substantially improved team.
- LaheysBRandy

A lot of Hawks fans on here are overly negative. I remember when we won the 2015 cup and they were upset. Like if you're upset when we win, then you're impossible to please.

You can't please everyone. I've learned to ignore the posters who are always negative.

A lot of Hawks fans on here are overly negative. I remember when we won the 2015 cup and they were upset. Like if you're upset when we win, then you're impossible to please.

You can't please everyone. I've learned to ignore the posters who are always negative.
- RedRevenge

Ehhhh this guy gets it! Right there with ya. Some people choose to live negatively and can't enjoy things when they're at their best cuz they wanna nit pick the little things

Ehhhh this guy gets it! Right there with ya. Some people choose to live negatively and can't enjoy things when they're at their best cuz they wanna nit pick the little things
- Savetheembers33

Well it took St. Louis a half year to get things together. Lots of new faces next year for Hawks.

I thought the Hawks wanted three lines that could score, with the third being defensively sound and capable of taking advantage of good matchups. So, the centers is a solid all-around player who can help his line score. I think AA can do that, and the 4th line centers can't.
- mohel

My sentiments exactly. To me, the 3rd line should be solid on defense but also contribute quite a bit of secondary scoring with ideally 35-45 points per forward. While I really do like Smith, he's not going to deliver that type of offense. Neither will Kampf nor Carpenter. Maybe Caggiula can get to 35 points but he's not a center.

Lehner will be the number one goalie this year, hasn't management always
had a problem w/Corey?

I think Corey is who get's traded next, but it'll be a sad day for me if
when that happens. Say what one will but Corey was the most under rated
goalie of the past decade and if I was a GM and wanted a goalie for one game
7 to win, Corey would be my pick
- gazza53

Crawford to Toronto for Sparks and Nylander...think Corey waives to go to Toronto?

Does Toronto do this?

My sentiments exactly. To me, the 3rd line should be solid on defense but also contribute quite a bit of secondary scoring with ideally 35-45 points per forward. While I really do like Smith, he's not going to deliver that type of offense. Neither will Kampf nor Carpenter. Maybe Caggiula can get to 35 points but he's not a center.
- AEL_Fox

And if Kampf, Carpenter or Smith is 3C, it will cause a decrease in the output of the wings on that line. Maybe Dach can be the guy.

As long as the crystal ball is open, what's the plan if Dach goes back to Juniors after 9 games?
- mohel

They didn't pass on 9+ other options, including what some think to be a #1 defenseman, to draft someone they'd be sending back to the OHL.

Stan & JC have their Blackhawk careers on the line. Another playoff miss and the pitchforks, tar and feathers will come out on Madison St. They drafted Dach because they thought he had the highest ceiling, and was ready to play in the NHL this season.
Perhaps I'm incorrect, but I think my analysis will play out.

Crawford to Toronto for Sparks and Nylander...think Corey waives to go to Toronto?

Does Toronto do this?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Chicago would go way over the cap, wouldn't they?

Whatever. Not incompetent and pretty solid up the middle either way.

They have a good 1-2 punch with Toews and Strome and a few guys who are good enough to split the other 25 mins between them if KD goes back to junior. The center situation isn't the end of the world.

I still think the blue line is garbage but the goaltending and pk should be better and that should be worth enough points to get to the post season.
- fattybeef

The more and more I hear about Dach, the more I think that it would be a waste to send him back to juniors. He can't go to the AHL, so I am betting that he actually sticks the entire year. He can learn more from the veterans on the Hawks than going back to juniors.

My sentiments exactly. To me, the 3rd line should be solid on defense but also contribute quite a bit of secondary scoring with ideally 35-45 points per forward. While I really do like Smith, he's not going to deliver that type of offense. Neither will Kampf nor Carpenter. Maybe Caggiula can get to 35 points but he's not a center.
- AEL_Fox

Didn't Shaw do that with Bickell and Stalberg? I know Bolland missed a lot of games that year

They didn't pass on 9+ other options, including what some think to be a #1 defenseman, to draft someone they'd be sending back to the OHL.

Stan & JC have their Blackhawk careers on the line. Another playoff miss and the pitchforks, tar and feathers will come out on Madison St. They drafted Dach because they thought he had the highest ceiling, and was ready to play in the NHL this season.
Perhaps I'm incorrect, but I think my analysis will play out.
- scottak

So their careers are on the line and they're gonna rely on a kid who has never played against men, with no plan B. Ballsy.

Chicago would go way over the cap, wouldn't they?
- mohel

I guess I should have checked capfriendly first...I didn't realize nylander made that much...I guess I missed it when he actually signed last year. replace him with kapenan then, would we like that?

The more and more I hear about Dach, the more I think that it would be a waste to send him back to juniors. He can't go to the AHL, so I am betting that he actually sticks the entire year. He can learn more from the veterans on the Hawks than going back to juniors.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

It would make sense if he wasn't physically mature, but the dude is a beast and I bet he could hold his own against most guys in the league. Having him go back to score 100 points against 16 year olds seems like a waste of everyone's time.

Toews, Sharp, Bolland, Madden in 2010 was pretty dope up the middle.

Toews, Zues, Bolland, Kruger in 2013 on the best team end to end in the league was neat.

Toews, Richards, Vermette, Kruger also pretty strong.

With Kane you can get by with a slower and heady veteran but every team to lift the Cup post lockout has had 4 competent centers at a minimum and been in most cases pretty sick up the middle.

STL wasn't super great but solid down the pipe. Boston strong up the middle. LA when winning was strong up the middle. Pens, Detroit and Hawks obviously.

The Hawks should be fine there. Their success more hinges on killing penalties, getting outstanding goaltending and Kane hitting triple digits again then anything else which all should improve enough to get them into the playoffs at this point.

Is this team way better then last year? Nahhhhh. Is it marginally better enough to be more successful in a league with a lot of parity? For sure on paper at least.

They made a money move to remedy an extension they should have waited on. Not a whole lot more to read into that.
- fattybeef[/quote]

Remember this Madden added during season, Zues added during season
and Vermette added during the season

Watch for a 2c to come at the tdl?

Chicago would go way over the cap, wouldn't they?
- mohel

No cause we could easily trade aa for the extra space needed. Oh wait

I'm excited to see what Kurashev brings to training camp this fall. I think him and Entwistle have a future as 3rd line players in the NHL.
- breadbag

I agree and think both might make it outta camp
if not and they play well in the Rock they'll be first
called up.

[quote=fattybeef]Toews, Sharp, Bolland, Madden in 2010 was pretty dope up the middle.

Toews, Zues, Bolland, Kruger in 2013 on the best team end to end in the league was neat.

Toews, Richards, Vermette, Kruger also pretty strong.

With Kane you can get by with a slower and heady veteran but every team to lift the Cup post lockout has had 4 competent centers at a minimum and been in most cases pretty sick up the middle.

STL wasn't super great but solid down the pipe. Boston strong up the middle. LA when winning was strong up the middle. Pens, Detroit and Hawks obviously.

The Hawks should be fine there. Their success more hinges on killing penalties, getting outstanding goaltending and Kane hitting triple digits again then anything else which all should improve enough to get them into the playoffs at this point.

Is this team way better then last year? Nahhhhh. Is it marginally better enough to be more successful in a league with a lot of parity? For sure on paper at least.

They made a money move to remedy an extension they should have waited on. Not a whole lot more to read into that.
- gazza53[/quote]

Remember this Madden added during season, Zues added during season
and Vermette added during the season

Watch for a 3c to come at the tdl?

Fixed it for you...I thought the 2C was Strome...I have really liked Strome there so far...actually now thinking about it, wasn't it discussed that Strome was actually deployed more as a 3rd line center time wise?...so maybe you are right...