Well, there is an argument and it has been posted by multiple posters multiple times - you just don't agree with it. I didn't necessarily want AA run out of town and I appreciated his game, but I think he is very replaceable and the $1.3M cap savings is enough for me to like the trade. That we got a serviceable player back tips the needle into the "like" category.
- EbonyRaptor

The arguments are not based in fact or statistically based.

He is replaceable, I’ve always said that...he hasn’t been replaced yet. That’s a problem.

Would you rather have Delia and Anisimov or Lehner and Smith?
- EbonyRaptor

Option A please...unless there’s a 3C still to come.

People need to stop stressing about this.

Take a longer term view of things, because while the team may be better on paper, and may not be done with deals yet this off season, once you accept they aren't going to win the cup next season

They also have a new CBA to get through.

And the expansion draft.

And re-signing ADB and Strome.

And developing the future defensive group.

None of these things are going to happen this year, so they are doing the best with what they have to work with cap and contract wise to be better than last year. A reasonable and achievable goal.

So they lost AA and Joki. Would keeping them win them a Cup this year? No.

This year's team is an all in just to make the playoffs to recapture some public relevance, and most importantly setting themselves up to be more flexible with shorter term deals until then, as the real rebuild takes shape over the next two years.

Patience.

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

Does Toronto do this?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

He might and this might work

Also maybe to Flames for Frolik, 1st and a prospect

and if either one goes down a Cup goes to Canada, eh.

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?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I'd do that, but I doubt the Leaves would.

I'd do that, but I doubt the Leaves would.
- mohel

Why not, leaves gain cap space if nothing else

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

Does Toronto do this?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Even if both CC and TOR would agree to this, the Hawks should not. CC's money is only a hit for this year. Nylander's deal is terrible - more AAV than CC and for like five more years afterward. I'd rather they settle with 12/17 with that money and look to see what else is on the market at the appropriate time.

Again - they cannot build a cup contender this year, nor should they take on any big dollar long term contracts.

I'd do that, but I doubt the Leaves would.
- mohel

I actually doubt Crawford gets moved...if we are questioning his health, than so are all the GMs in the league.

People need to stop stressing about this.

Take a longer term view of things, because while the team may be better on paper, and may not be done with deals yet this off season, once you accept they aren't going to win the cup next season

They also have a new CBA to get through.

And the expansion draft.

And re-signing ADB and Strome.

And developing the future defensive group.

None of these things are going to happen this year, so they are doing the best with what they have to work with cap and contract wise to be better than last year. A reasonable and achievable goal.

So they lost AA and Joki. Would keeping them win them a Cup this year? No.

This year's team is an all in just to make the playoffs to recapture some public relevance, and most importantly setting themselves up to be more flexible with shorter term deals until then, as the real rebuild takes shape over the next two years.

Patience.
- Return of the Roar

Scares me how rational this is

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

Does Toronto do this?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

We need Craws cap to help sign Strome + Cat next season. If we replace Craw cap hit with Nylander, it makes signing both of them impossible. Also, I don't think Craw is what they need (even though Anderson is one of the most overrated goalies in the league).

I think they need a top 4 D. They are gambling on Ceci (who was terrible for OT) + the Dermott (Was average and injured last year) to step up.

Scares me how rational this is
- Ogilthorpe2

Wait until I get skewered for proclaiming them a non-Cup contender this season

Thank you though.

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.
- mohel

No, plan B is the bunch of other 'guys' they've accumulated over the summer. And carryovers. Smith, Carpenter, Kampf, Shaw. And, believe it or not, they can also make trades during the season, if needed.

But my read is that they are fully committed to Dach as Plan A.

Somewhat off the point, but you're pretty black and white in your posts. I say they're planning on Dach, and your next post is that they don't have a plan B?

The 2 things are not mutually exclusive.

Wait until I get skewered for proclaiming them a non-Cup contender this season

Thank you though.
- Return of the Roar

The skewer is omnipresent here, eh? He'll, even Elbows gets skewered.....

People need to stop stressing about this.

Take a longer term view of things, because while the team may be better on paper, and may not be done with deals yet this off season, once you accept they aren't going to win the cup next season

They also have a new CBA to get through.

And the expansion draft.

And re-signing ADB and Strome.

And developing the future defensive group.

None of these things are going to happen this year, so they are doing the best with what they have to work with cap and contract wise to be better than last year. A reasonable and achievable goal.

So they lost AA and Joki. Would keeping them win them a Cup this year? No.

This year's team is an all in just to make the playoffs to recapture some public relevance, and most importantly setting themselves up to be more flexible with shorter term deals until then, as the real rebuild takes shape over the next two years.

Patience.
- Return of the Roar

I agree with the long term view and patience. To say this isn't a SC team well the past 3 years we've seen 3 teams win the Cup with really good goalie play. MAF lights out, if the bottom 2 lines can play with the same energy LVGK did 2 years ago to get to the Finals a Cup is possible. I did not see the Blues winning the Cup this year but they did in spite of what we thought.

No, plan B is the bunch of other 'guys' they've accumulated over the summer. And carryovers. Smith, Carpenter, Kampf, Shaw. And, believe it or not, they can also make trades during the season, if needed.

But my read is that they are fully committed to Dach as Plan A.

Somewhat off the point, but you're pretty black and white in your posts. I say they're planning on Dach, and your next post is that they don't have a plan B?

The 2 things are not mutually exclusive.
- scottak

Black and white? Here? On HB? Never!

I just happen to think the guys you mentioned = no plan B. Good point on midseason trades.

People need to stop stressing about this.

Take a longer term view of things, because while the team may be better on paper, and may not be done with deals yet this off season, once you accept they aren't going to win the cup next season

They also have a new CBA to get through.

And the expansion draft.

And re-signing ADB and Strome.

And developing the future defensive group.

None of these things are going to happen this year, so they are doing the best with what they have to work with cap and contract wise to be better than last year. A reasonable and achievable goal.

So they lost AA and Joki. Would keeping them win them a Cup this year? No.

This year's team is an all in just to make the playoffs to recapture some public relevance, and most importantly setting themselves up to be more flexible with shorter term deals until then, as the real rebuild takes shape over the next two years.

Patience.
- Return of the Roar

I agree with everything you say except the bolded...Why can't they win the cup this year. They are pretty set to get into the playoffs this year, and then anything is possible...look at the blues last year. I think they can be contending for a cup and be building for the future at the same time, which is exactly what I think they are trying to do this year.

Wait until I get skewered for proclaiming them a non-Cup contender this season

Thank you though.
- Return of the Roar

...I just did before I even saw this...

I agree with the long term view and patience. To say this isn't a SC team well the past 3 years we've seen 3 teams win the Cup with really good goalie play. MAF lights out, if the bottom 2 lines can play with the same energy LVGK did 2 years ago to get to the Finals a Cup is possible. I did not see the Blues winning the Cup this year but they did in spite of what we thought.
- BetweenTheDots

Requirements for a Cup:

1. Lights out goalie
2. Relentless forecheck from all four lines
3. Defense that gets the puck back quickly and transitions well
4. Stay healthy

Hawks still need work on the middle two - defense now more than forecheck - and the fourth is in the province of Lady Luck.

Requirements for a Cup:

1. Lights out goalie
2. Relentless forecheck from all four lines
3. Defense that gets the puck back quickly and transitions well
4. Stay healthy

Hawks still need work on the middle two - defense now more than forecheck - and the fourth is in the province of Lady Luck.
- Return of the Roar

And Perlini 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Requirements for a Cup:

1. Lights out goalie
2. Relentless forecheck from all four lines
3. Defense that gets the puck back quickly and transitions well
4. Stay healthy

Hawks still need work on the middle two - defense now more than forecheck - and the fourth is in the province of Lady Luck.
- Return of the Roar

You forgot good PK, strong center depth, bottom 6 that is tough to play against, and the list goes on and on and...

I agree with everything you say except the bolded...Why can't they win the cup this year. They are pretty set to get into the playoffs this year, and then anything is possible...look at the blues last year. I think they can be contending for a cup and be building for the future at the same time, which is exactly what I think they are trying to do this year.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

1. No one standing out as 1LW, 2RW (those two lines need a board basher) or 3C. Even with the additions, they will need to do a fair amount of shuffling to find fits here with who they have.

2. Defense still has to be very suspect - going to have to develop a new scheme from scratch, hope Maata and DeHaan are healthy, and that Seabrook's play is helped by playing in a slower paced scheme with a veteran partner.

Not a fan of Maata and DeHaan?
- EnzoD

DeHaan fine if his shoulder stays attached.

Matta not so much.

I don't think they've solved the problem of zone exits as neither of those fellers is going to carry it or make the home run pass.

Keith is the only defender at this point as far as i can tell who can complete a zone exit and that is not a good thing. Maybe Gus too since he can go forward. But they play together soooo two pairs are fixing to get buried. Yikes.

Probably still a playoff team but I'd look at this as another build year to prep for the next group of talent possibly working their way in next year unless another few bodies flip.

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.
- mohel

That's what I'm hoping, just not sure if Dach plays center right away even if he does crack the starting lineup.

If Dach does make the team, one scenario is that he starts out at wing on the 3rd line to get his feet wet with lower QOC. Then if he passes the first test of the initial 9 games, over the course of the season he moves up to top 6 playing wing.

Assuming he plays his first season this year, I don't think he plays center until later in the year at the earliest. More realistically next season, IMO.

Another scenario is that he does start at 3C, of course.

That's what I'm hoping, just not sure if Dach plays center right away even if he does crack the starting lineup.

If Dach does make the team, one scenario is that he starts out at wing on the 3rd line to get his feet wet with lower QOC. Then if he passes the first test of the initial 9 games, over the course of the season he moves up to top 6 playing wing.

Assuming he plays his first season this year, I don't think he plays center until later in the year at the earliest. More realistically next season, IMO.

Another scenario is that he does start at 3C, of course.
- AEL_Fox

I'd rather see him audition at 1LW or 2RW. Show him the game he needs to play and address developmental tasks based upon the gap in his play today versus where they need him to be.

Yes.

If he wants $2MM - no, see ya, cut the cord, let him sit until 11/30.

$1.5MM? Unfortunately, seems to be in the market range for someone with good potential and a couple of years experience.
- StLBravesFan

I’m not sure they sign him at this point. They may see what they can get in trade for his rights. If they do sign him I’d say one year at the league minimum!

He’s really stuck, Bowman just needs to not do something stupid like overpaying when he holds all the cards!