Great signing as expected.

I'd rather make no comparisons for now especially with Makar, just give me a Dman that can be effective behind his own blueline and move up the sheet and contribute some offence.

If Makar stays healthy he is going to be all world for 10 years or more.
- RickJ

Oh come on Rick. Make the highest comparison possible and then when he doesn’t live up to that comparison in five games you have The perfect reason to dump all over him as you know Edzo will.

Oh come on Rick. Make the highest comparison possible and then when he doesn’t live up to that comparison in five games you have The perfect reason to dump all over him as you know Edzo will.
- paulr

He signs with the AVS, $11x8 in three years.

Been a while since I've seen it but loved that movie...especially the opening sequence where they show trailers from other fictional movies that the characters of BS, JB and RD Jr are in.
- HawkintheD

Hahaha YES! those trailers are pure genius!

Such a shame Robert Downey Jr didn’t win best supporting actor for that performance. Just the fact he was nominated in a comedy role is almost unheard of..

Do you think that was one of the reasons Stan decided Joki was traceable?
- LAHawk

I do. I think they like the upside of both Boqvist and Mitchell more than what they saw from Joki. They also a chance to add something to the system they didn't have at that point. A highly skilled winger with a lot of potential that they liked in his draft year.

This is just my opinion but i really think it's all about confidence with Nylander. You could see him palying better the last four games or so playing with skilled players and he was producing I hope they leave him there next year.
- GPHawksfan

Yes I agree.

I do. I think they like the upside of both Boqvist and Mitchell more than what they saw from Joki. They also a chance to add something to the system they didn't have at that point. A highly skilled winger with a lot of potential that they liked in his draft year.
- Elbows15

I agree, I think Bowman took a chance and swung for the fences with this deal. Well find out in the next few years if he strikes out, hits a single or does in fact hit a home run. In the meantime we’re gonna hear that Joki is a superstar I’m sure.

So who will end up being the best pro out of Boqvist and Mitchell?

So who will end up being the best pro out of Boqvist and Mitchell?
- Angotti

Good question .I have yet to see Mitchell play ,but have heard a lot of glowing reports . I also believe Boqvist was in a little over his head this year ,and ahead of schedule ,well his personnel schedule anyway . So I will a take at wait and see approach for now .And hope both turn out great !!

Been reviewing a lot of other teams' armchair GM rosters on Capfriendly. Seems that Sabres really covet Strome. Some suggested trades:

BUF: Strome and Smith
CHI Mittelstadt and either Johnson or Asplund

BUF: Strome, Smith, and draft pick
CHI: Mittelstadt and Montour

BUF: Strome and Saad
CHI: Mittelstadt, Thompson, Ristolainen, 2021 1st

Not so sure on Mittelstadt anymore. I think Strome has bigger upside. I'd rather stay the course with Strome.

Johnson is supposed to be a solid defender and Asplund could be a better version of Kampf (i.e. better offensively yet just as good defensively in all zones).

Leafs fans submitting Capfriendly rosters are all trading the 3 forwards who have been rumored to be on the block (in order of most to least frequently in trade proposals):

Kerfoot, Johnsson, Kapanen

If a deal makes sense, I'd take any 3 of them or more if a bigger deal could be had.

Been reviewing a lot of other teams' armchair GM rosters on Capfriendly. Seems that Sabres really covet Strome. Some suggested trades:

BUF: Strome and Smith
CHI Mittelstadt and either Johnson or Asplund

BUF: Strome, Smith, and draft pick
CHI: Mittelstadt and Montour

BUF: Strome and Saad
CHI: Mittelstadt, Thompson, Ristolainen, 2021 1st

Not so sure on Mittelstadt anymore. I think Strome has bigger upside. I'd rather stay the course with Strome.

Johnson is supposed to be a solid defender and Asplund could be a better version of Kampf (i.e. better offensively yet just as good defensively in all zones).
- AEL_Fox

Hawks have a couple of versions of Johnson already in Beaudin and Krys. I like Beaudin a lot better than Johnson. Johnson is a better prospect than Krys.

I want nothing to do with Mittelstadt. The Strome and Saad trade is downright awful for the Hawks. Risto sucks. Mittelstadt is meh. Thompson couldn't make a team in serious need of wingers. The 1st is nice on the surface.

A few Blackhawks fans submitting Capfriendly rosters seem to covet forward Pius Suter from Switzerland (23 years old, 5'11", 176 pounds).

Pretty good numbers in 5 seasons with the Swiss-A league including exploding this season with 30 goals and a PPG.

He also played for Guelph in the OHL for 2 years and I believe on the Swiss national team with Kurashev.

Other than that, don't know much about him (i.e. playing style, strengths, weaknesses) to determine if he is worth a gamble as the next Kubalik gem.

A few Blackhawks fans submitting Capfriendly rosters seem to covet forward Pius Suter from Switzerland (23 years old, 5'11", 176 pounds).

Pretty good numbers in 5 seasons with the Swiss-A league including exploding this season with 30 goals and a PPG.

He also played for Guelph in the OHL for 2 years and I believe on the Swiss national team with Kurashev.

Other than that, don't know much about him (i.e. playing style, strengths, weaknesses) to determine if he is worth a gamble as the next Kubalik gem.
- AEL_Fox

Read about him on the Athletic, that if the Hawks go the Euro route like they have the last couple years that he could be a good target.

In other news, former Cubs 2nd baseman Glenn Beckert dead at 79 (nat causes).

Hawks have a couple of versions of Johnson already in Beaudin and Krys. I like Beaudin a lot better than Johnson. Johnson is a better prospect than Krys.

I want nothing to do with Mittelstadt. The Strome and Saad trade is downright awful for the Hawks. Risto sucks. Mittelstadt is meh. Thompson couldn't make a team in serious need of wingers. The 1st is nice on the surface.
- Elbows15

Yeah, no to Mittelstadt. Strome is better. Kurashev could be, too, or at least just as good with less hype to eventually say he fell considerably short of expectations.

Not a fan of Thompson either. We have our prospects who could be just as good as Thompson.

No to Ristolainen, too. Rather keep Maatta.

Johnson would be fine if part of another trade that made better sense.

I'll take a 1st round pick any day, again, as long as the trade is sensible.

Sounds like Max Shalunov is intending to come over to the NHL as per @BabayezShumi.

Sounds like we will finally see Shalunov in a Hawks sweater... at least in training camp.

Whether he makes the team is another thing.
- Tyler Cameron

Can you really trust a guy named Babayez? Wait ... wasn't he one of those Star Wars characters?

Read about him on the Athletic, that if the Hawks go the Euro route like they have the last couple years that he could be a good target.
- HawkintheD

Sounds good. I'd be good with a Euro free agent gamble like Suter. Found this snippet from the Hockey News:

"Suter does many things well and is a particularly dependable defensive player, but even with his offensive uptick this season, he’ll fit better as an energy guy who can contribute in the neighborhood of a dozen goals per year."

Suter would be better than many of the coveted KHL free agents, i.e. Barabanov who the Leafs just signed and Zub who the Sens are supposedly close to signing.

https://thehockeynews.com...and-nhl-deals-this-summer

Can you really trust a guy named Babayez? Wait ... wasn't he one of those Star Wars characters?
- EbonyRaptor

Pius Suter also sounds like a Star Wars character. Didn't he faceoff against Darth Plaguies?

Would be great if he showed he could stick at this level but like you, have doubts.

He’s supposed to have some skill, so realistically wouldn’t he have to play somewhere in the top 9 in order to click here?
- HawkintheD

Yeah that would be a pleasant surprise - first that he would actually come back to N.A. and play for the Hawks but even a better surprise if he's good enough to help the team. He's got size and not a bad skater and he plays both sides of the puck - I think the main question on him is whether or not he brings adequate effort every shift game in game out. He had a tough time adjusting to playing here last time when he had a cup of coffee in Rockford before spending the rest of the (2013/14?) season in ECHL/Indy. He plays center and wing so that's a plus.

I'll believe it when I see him sign though - not getting suckered again by him and his agent.

I've seen Tropic Thunder and its exactly why i said you live up to your username.
- GPHawksfan

Ya gotta admit it is a hilarious movie though, right?

Maybe the best comedy I’ve ever seen.

So who will end up being the best pro out of Boqvist and Mitchell?
- Angotti

I am just happy the Hawks have both players.

Yeah, no to Mittelstadt. Strome is better. Kurashev could be, too, or at least just as good with less hype to eventually say he fell considerably short of expectations.

Not a fan of Thompson either. We have our prospects who could be just as good as Thompson.

No to Ristolainen, too. Rather keep Maatta.

Johnson would be fine if part of another trade that made better sense.

I'll take a 1st round pick any day, again, as long as the trade is sensible.
- AEL_Fox

TBH, other than draft picks, Buffalo has nothing I would want. That would be available.

Like you, I am really high on Kurashev. I think the Hawks got themselves a steal in the 4th round with him. IMO, he could make Strome expendable. Strome is better offensively for sure, but Kurashev is a more rounded player.

Sounds good. I'd be good with a Euro free agent gamble like Suter. Found this snippet from the Hockey News:

"Suter does many things well and is a particularly dependable defensive player, but even with his offensive uptick this season, he’ll fit better as an energy guy who can contribute in the neighborhood of a dozen goals per year."

Suter would be better than many of the coveted KHL free agent, i.e. Barabanov who the Leafs just signed and Zub who the Sens are supposedly close to signing.

https://thehockeynews.com...and-nhl-deals-this-summer
- AEL_Fox

Nattinen is another player I would take a run at acquiring

I am just happy the Hawks have both players.
- Elbows15

I agree.

In the past evaluations I did for DraftSite in his draft year prior to getting to Denver while playing for Spruce Grove BCHL, He was guilty of lots of overhandling of the puck, and also inadvisable pinches that trapped him out of position, something bg Bryam STILL is guilty of. He has struggled to box out collegians and that is all about size. But there is no denying how well he plays at the top of the umbrella on the power play, he’s as good at shooting on the power play as he is in his relinquishing his shot at the right times putting in their wheelhouses with high success. And of course you cannot deny his wheels and balance and the way he can get shots / passes off while moving backwards. His crisp breakouts and soft hands increase his chances to progress to the pro game. His pro projection is more of a solid new age defender with considerable upside, but his early success will come due to his smarts and ability to play fast in all phases and succeed as a possible second pair guy who might see some PP, but will definitely gain trust for him to play solid minutes at even strength as opposed to some grand projection of him as Cole Maker’s shadow…

Nattinen is another player I would take a run at acquiring
- Elbows15

Both?