This should brighten up everyone's day:

Ben Pope‏Verified account @BenPopeCST · 3h3 hours ago

Pending UFA Erik Gustafsson has had "no talks at all" with the Blackhawks about a contract extension. He's by far the most likely Hawks player to be traded in the next 2 weeks.
- Chunk

Strome may have had a high ankle sprain issue which he came back from a little too soon. Whatever it is, his performance isn't great in a contract year. So anybody thinking his cap hit next year and beyond would be $6M or more can put that fear to rest.
- RickJ

Agreed, he shouldn't cost more than 2-3m per year. His hockey iq and passing ability is exceptional. However, his negatives might neutralize his overall performance. He can't skate and he does not compete for pucks. I would rather have Caggiula over Strome. I know they're two different players but Cagg is only 1m. He gives you a ton of value every night.

Not too mention, hes underrated in just about every category. If this dude was average nhl size, he would be a 6 million dollar winger.

Agreed, he shouldn't cost more than 2-3m per year. His hockey iq and passing ability is exceptional. However, his negatives might neutralize his overall performance. He can't skate and he does not compete for pucks. I would rather have Caggiula over Strome. I know they're two different players but Cagg is only 1m. He gives you a ton of value every night.

Not too mention, hes underrated in just about every category. If this dude was average nhl size, he would be a 6 million dollar winger.
- catrisc

if SB can re-sign Caggs, Strome and Kubalik at around 8-8.5m total, then suddenly the cap will be more manageable.

let Gus walk. Koko should be re-sign no more than 950k, if re-sign.

it will come down to getting rid of Smith+Shaw contracts or Saad's contract to open a caproom for a goalie.
if somehow, a team is willing to give up a pick for Smith AND Shaw retires (LTIR), then there is room for Saad's caphit and also that will give about 7-8mil (depending on the rise of the cap) for a goalie, Lehner?

the question is, do you want the same roster next year as this year? minus Smith, Shaw, Gus and probably either Lehner or CC -but with Seabs and DeHaan

if SB can re-sign Caggs, Strome and Kubalik at around 8-8.5m total, then suddenly the cap will be more manageable.

let Gus walk. Koko should be re-sign no more than 950k, if re-sign.

it will come down to getting rid of Smith+Shaw contracts or Saad's contract to open a caproom for a goalie.
if somehow, a team is willing to give up a pick for Smith AND Shaw retires (LTIR), then there is room for Saad's caphit and also that will give about 7-8mil (depending on the rise of the cap) for a goalie, Lehner?

the question is, do you want the same roster next year as this year? minus Smith, Shaw, Gus and probably either Lehner or CC -but with Seabs and DeHaan
- squishy24

Hopefully Strome: ~$4.5, Kubalik: <$3 and Cagguila: $1

Only untouchable players should be Kane, Dach, and our young defenseman Boqvist, Mitchell, Beaudin, etc.

Everyone else is expendable and worth shopping to improve the future.

This includes Toews and Keith though I’m not sure anyone wants Toews at this point for that price.

And Stan doesn't need to wait on any trade deadline deals...Minny traded a very good player and are still in the race...

I fear he will be the last one at the dinner table and only get the scraps left...would rather see him be proactive and deal soon...we need something big and not a small deal for crappy draft picks...
- Beaks99

Beaks..... Don’t want him doing a goddamn thing other than cleaning out his desk,Having HR hand him his envelope with his severance package and United Center security escorting him to the door.

I agree, but we shouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water. We would never get fair value for ADB in a trade, he is still going to get close to 60 points. These type of players who are cost controlled do not grow on trees. Nylander is a work in progress, but i see the talent, he does make some plays that very few on the Hawks can make. To me he looks like someone who is playing timid and paint by numbers because he is afraid of making a mistake and thinking too much.

Strome stats are not far off from Schmaltz who he was traded for. Schmaltz has 6 more years left at $5.85 million per year. He has 8 goals this year. Where does that put Strome as an RFA next year. Also doesn't make ADB's $6.5 million at 3 years more seem like a horrible contract either.
- LAHawk

I didn't mean sell for the sake of selling. It needs to make sense and be beneficial for the future.

I would not trade Cat because I believe he is in a bit of a funk that he will work his way out of and he'll end up being a very productive winger worthy of his $6M contract. The player I would consider trading are players that don't necessarily fit in future plans. Gustafsson is at the top of that list but there some others too.

I remember when Shaw (or was it Saad) ran into him behind the net in the 2011 playoffs - our guy was trying to skate around him between him and the end board, he skated directly into our guy's path purposely looking for contact - our guy got suspended, IIRC.
- StLBravesFan

I believe it was Shaw and I believe it was the 2012 playoffs. I believe Shaw got suspended for a game too.

It was Shaw. He did get suspended for 3 games
- Elbows15

Was it 3 games? I remember he got suspended but forgot it was 3 games ... and all because Smith is a drama queen. Disgusting.

I didn't mean sell for the sake of selling. It needs to make sense and be beneficial for the future.

I would not trade Cat because I believe he is in a bit of a funk that he will work his way out of and he'll end up being a very productive winger worthy of his $6M contract. The player I would consider trading are players that don't necessarily fit in future plans. Gustafsson is at the top of that list but there some others too.
- EbonyRaptor

I don’t think there is anyone here, or in the media for that matter, that doesn’t think Gus should be traded. That being said I still doubt bowman does it. With his job possibly on the line having seeker play every night and no depth behind him I think he probably holds at the tdl. Same goes for lehner. He may give every indication he doesn’t want to resign here but Stan will keep him anyway cause he knows without him the team will slide so fast it could cost him his job.

Two of the last 3 cup winners traded for a Hawk D-man. Teams should be fighting for Gus

worthhcup, you are not hurting my feelings, I hope I am not hurting yours. We are having an honest disagreement over a management decision, dowsn't mean we are not after the same thing.

Pretend I am the owner, you come in and say my GM and coach has to go. i say who do you got in mind. You say Olczyk. As a director of hockey operations reporting to Rocky/McDonough, I would say GOOD CHOICE. Be like a Shanahan is now with Toronto. Let it be up to Olczyk to decide the fate of Stan/JC.

The management guys I would be looking to launch are these.

i think Mark Kelley (amateur), and Mats Hallin (European) scouting departments are very good. I think the pro scouting has been substandard. these are the guys I would look to replace:

Pierre Gauthier
Director, Player Personnel
Pierre Gauthier is in his sixth season with the Blackhawks as Director of Player Personnel. He previously spent nine seasons with the Montreal Canadiens organization, most recently as General Manager from 2010-12. Gauthier also served as Assistant General Manager and as Director of Professional Scouting during his time with the Canadiens.

Gauthier, a Montreal native, began his career in the Quebec Nordiques organization, where he spent 12 seasons, serving as Amateur Scout from 1981-88 and as Chief Amateur Scout from 1988-93. He then worked with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for six seasons, serving as Assistant General Manager from 1993-95. Following three seasons as General Manager of the Ottawa Senators from 1995-98, he returned to the Mighty Ducks organization as President and General Manager from 1998-2002.


Ryan Stewart
Director, Pro Scouting
Ryan Stewart is in his 12th season with the Blackhawks and his sixth as Director of Pro Scouting. Stewart joined the organization prior to the 2006-07 season as a Video Coach and served as Assistant Coach in 2007-08. He then joined the scouting staff as an Amateur Scout from 2008-10 and as a Pro Scout from 2010-12.

Mark Eaton
Director, Player Development
Mark Eaton is in his fourth season with the Chicago Blackhawks and his second as Director of Player Development. In his current role, Eaton oversees the development of all Blackhawks prospects at both the amateur and minor-league professional levels in North America and Europe. Alongside the club's development coaches, Eaton works specifically with each prospect, on and off the ice, to develop all facets of their game. He previously served as a development coach for defensemen.

Ron Anderson
Director, Player Recruitment
Ron Anderson is in his 19th season with the Blackhawks and his 10th as Director of Player Recruitment. He also currently serves as a Pro Scout after previously serving as an Amateur Scout.
- LAHawk

All but euro scouts should go plus rockford personal all should go. Clean house if bowman is back then the hawks are turning into the bulls.

Does anyone see a scenario where the Hawks keep Corey and trade Robin? Then resign 50 on the cheap.
- TJYTJY

yes that's what most likely to happen.

I'm due for a coaching blog so you may get your wish soon.
- Tyler Cameron

also bowman and company sucks to blog

Oy vey rpeters01...probably should stay off the boards if you have zero clue what you are talking about bud...
- chihawksallday

I'll take that as a compliment.

Didn't Q's Hawks teams always lead or be at the top of the league in TMM penalties every year? I ask you the same question as Fattybeef, JC sucks, only reason why the Hawks are not a playoff team?, who is YOUR coach to replace him?
- LAHawk

Gallant.

and while Gus is here he is a pp weapon not presently contributing like he could on the pp


- jhawk59

Dude is incapable of playing even a peewee hockey version of 2 on 1 defense - and pitches in on every single '50/50' puck, generally missing more than 50% of them - which ends up being a gift-wrapped shorthanded scoring chance.

Two of the last 3 cup winners traded for a Hawk D-man. Teams should be fighting for Gus
- waitforawhistle

Excepting Gus = Rutta ... so some have flamed out spectacularly too.

Good on you man. You wrote two novels and not once mentioned a Tkachuk brother.
- 6628

Just catching up. Even without the obligatory Tkachuk brother mention, sorry Cup, you're right...you do still sound like a broken record.

It's more than ok to be frustrated but turning over more than half a team to win in '13 and '15 constitutes as considerably more than "minor tweaks".

Beaks..... Don’t want him doing a goddamn thing other than cleaning out his desk,Having HR hand him his envelope with his severance package and United Center security escorting him to the door.
- wonthecup10

Yes agree it is time...he is becoming like Gar/Pax and Kenny Williams...our city is great at giving these guys many many years of employment well past the expiration date...too much loyalty!

The Hawks really don’t have a lot to trade at this deadline,unless you trade a Saad or a Strome to get something decent in return.Trading Gus might get you a 3rd or a 4th round pick.Trading one of our goalies might be another way to go,but that I really don’t see happening.I think this is going to be a quiet trading deadline for the Hawks.

The Hawks really don’t have a lot to trade at this deadline,unless you trade a Saad or a Strome to get something decent in return.Trading Gus might get you a 3rd or a 4th round pick.Trading one of our goalies might be another way to go,but that I really don’t see happening.I think this is going to be a quiet trading deadline for the Hawks.
- Tatoo

I’m still not sure why everyone is moving on from Saad and AdB.

One is a proven 20+ goal scorer - good 200 foot player, goes to the net - the other is having his first down year ever - at any level - chances are good he’ll figure it out and be a consistent 30+30=60 point guy (he is only 22j and who has proven he can score in the Show....

Yeah, Saad needs a new deal after next season, and AdB starts a big-money deal next year.

But these are guys you go to the future with - and who are you going to get that’s better?

Not everyone is worth trading away.

Crawford starts. Strome in for Highmore.

I’m still not sure why everyone is moving on from Saad and AdB.

One is a proven 20+ goal scorer - good 200 foot player, goes to the net - the other is having his first down year ever - at any level - chances are good he’ll figure it out and be a consistent 30+30=60 point guy (he is only 22j and who has proven he can score in the Show....

Yeah, Saad needs a new deal after next season, and AdB starts a big-money deal next year.

But these are guys you go to the future with - and who are you going to get that’s better?

Not everyone is worth trading away.
- StLBravesFan

I'm border line on trading Saad only because he probably brings back a nice asset and the Hawks may not be able to afford his $6M. Definitely agree on not trading Cat.

Sorry maybe didn't explain properly. That comment about Stan was more of a motivation tactic vs. whether I think he should actually add to this team.

For the record, I would not add any significant pieces.

If they were close, something like a Dylan Sikura for a "guy" would be the only type of adding I'd do.
- Tyler Cameron

You can add by subtracting in the CBH case. We have the cap room to help other teams with expiring contracts to open cap space for them and in return we can add players we need. Example, Bogosian in Buffalo would help our defense and get us a pick or player.

Also we need to dump our expiring contracts like Gus and Crawford.

I’m not add ing Lehner because he is our future.