Typical
- SimpleJack

Someone else explained it much better but they can't say more than that.

I also had a bit of an epiphany recently, or maybe it was too much to drink, but would it be crazy to seriously consider taking Byfield at 1-1 if you’re the Hawks? AL is a lock to be an impact player, we know this. You’d be foolish to even think elsewhere with this kind of talent available to you.

But from the Hawks perspective, imagine having two 6’4” two-way towers with speed and stride coming at you on two different lines? It would be a new age Crosby-Malkin domination; and we’ve seen how good McDavid-Draisaitl have been and carried Edmonton this year. Two elite 2C’s makes some sense. And of course Toews makes a hell of a 3C by that point.
- TommyHawk

No. You take Lefreniere. He is the best player in the draft. Kid has had nothing but pressure since he was 15 and he has done nothing but perform.

I do like Byfield. He reminds me of a LH Dach.

Who would you rather see moved. Maatta and Smith or Saad?
Saad obviously would bring a better return but there is no one currently that brings what he does to the Hawks.

Maatta and Smith can be replaced in house, easily.
- Elbows15

Remember trading Saad likely brings $6m back. He's not so easy to trade.

100%.

There will be a lot of 1 and 2-year deals.

There will be deals for players that you will have to do a double take to wonder why "he signed for so little".

There will be NHL-quality players who will find themselves out of a job and heading oversees or to the minors because teams simply do not have cap space for them.

These next few years will be the years of cheap contracts and GMs being extremely creative to form their team.
- Tyler Cameron

You are spot on with your analysis.

The big unonown in the context of the conversation, however, reaches deeper to beyond what you reference.

We do not know with any degree of certainty how the Covid19 could impact in a worse fashion than we are maybe guessing about in our upcoming couple of seasons

Certainly we might expect society experiences Covid19 as less of a threat to our health AFTER reaping its destructive nature. Society smartens up, has a fear and takes preventative measures to stay healthy.

Right! In our own world we may not see the people infectedd or dieing at current record level due to the continuing spike levels indicated.

Reality check is that many people are not wearing masks and or as careful as they should. Front page headlines decry young people taking the threat not too seriously - I believe The Chicago Tribune had a front page picture of youth at the beach and was no one wearing a face mask. Not only that, buy Pritzker sounds like he will close down bars if the Covid reports daily keep.high.

I just don't know how minor league seasons get played. Moreover what level occurs of MIA if a greater number of players opt out or are infected during the season.

An inoculation appears likely but it has its own set of implication. I mean, how does government get everyone innoculated. There is a lot of poor, of homeless whom doubtfully are innoculated - what to do, round them up? And does each business with patrons selectively have paid security taking temperatures of some customers whom do not look sound act dress nicely

This Covid19 is not easily going away.
Teams need to develop young players in the AHL too

I welcome point of view which perhaps could enligjten on this dreary subject. Unfortunately the topic falls in the realm of sporting events. I personally believe pro football and basketball have a rougher path to travel than hockey and baseball

People are not looking at trades properly ie. Maata, Saad, whomever... Whatever you trade away you are getting back in similar salary. It's a new world.

I'm the first one to bang the "we need more players like Saad not less" drum, but with the cap situation and the fact that they have added a number of cheaper players, I think the writing is on the wall for Saad. Especially since they signed ADB to a higher dollar extension, I think they start to run out of cap room quick. Strome and Kubalik are going to take a sizeable bite as well.

I think the answer to your question will ultimately be all of the above. They have guys in the pipeline that can replace what Maatta brings right now (we don't have to discuss Smith). Heck, Gilbert almost did that and he is probably at the bottom of the prospect list at this point.
- Chunk

If I'm Saad and Stan offers 3 x $5 I jump at it but I don't think Stan can even go that high?

Funny thing is that Kahun for Maatta is the worse trade at this point value for value.
- Chunk

With all the injuries to D-men, no Maata and Chicago is not in this farce of a playoffs.

A two-tier league - stars/superstars, and cheap ELCs and bottom-level vets.

No middle-class - where teams get their depth.

The quality of play will not be nearly as good as it should be.
- StLBravesFan

It will be the same middle class at lower pay....

I could have swore other teams have actually come out and said “so and so has tested positive” and not just kept it at “so and so is unfit to play”. Maybe some teams are saying it and some aren’t.
- SimpleJack

If the person consents they can...

With all the injuries to D-men, no Maata and Chicago is not in this farce of a playoffs.
- rpeters01

I believe you will be proven correct. This position - dmrn- will need to be well stocked for each team

If the person consents they can...
- rpeters01

Heard

Watching the 2/11/20 Hawks vs. Oilers game on NHL network. Our defense is going to be so much better now that #56 will not be around.

By all accounts, I would say he's on the team next year in TOR.

The Leafs media are raving about this guy and for good reason. He's got a ton of skill.

The Leafs are in it tough against the cap as well. Robertson will offer a cheap top 9 option in 2020-21.
- Tyler Cameron

Like Robertson for the Leafs, Jack Rathbone is getting similar fanfare in Vancouver. He could be on the Canucks blueline very soon and be affordable, too, for the next 3 seasons.

Not to be outdone, the Hawks future got more exciting lately as well with the official signings of Mitchell and Kalynuk plus bringing the highly coveted Suter aboard.

Great blog today to summarize these signings!

A “shuffling” is a rearranging of personnel...what chicago did was a blood letting because they’re now turning back the clock to when the team was cheap....and lousy!

I grew up with the 80’s chicago team...god they were awful.

Those 3 cups are gonna seem like a billion years ago pretty soon.
- bruceflyers

Are you sure about that???
Now go kick rocks brucy…..

Maybe that will scare off teams from drafting them and one will fall to the Hawks?
- DarthKane

I can't see either of them falling all the way to 31st just for one year

Major storm in Edmonton.

Major flooding inside Rogers Place.

League and city said it won’t affect play in two weeks.

Remember trading Saad likely brings $6m back. He's not so easy to trade.
- rpeters01

I’m in the keep Saad camp, his two way game is essential for this team. It is also imperative that his next contract be reasonable, or the Hawks will have to move on from him.

I’m in the keep Saad camp, his two way game is essential for this team. It is also imperative that his next contract be reasonable, or the Hawks will have to move on from him.
- Angotti

Tell his old man

I wonder how wiz would rank these three prospects in terms of whom he guesses will produce more NHL points. In other words the more prolific scorer.

M Rossi
C Perfetti
C Caufield

This is not an attempt to rile our hockeybuzz post friend Darth

Are you sure about that???
Now go kick rocks brucy…..
- BGKarras

He may have grown up with them but he apparently never spent a minute actually watching them play.

He must be confusing the Hawks with the pre-Stevie Y Red Wings (Dead Things).

I wonder how wiz would rank these three prospects in terms of whom he guesses will produce more NHL points. In other words the more prolific scorer.

M Rossi
C Perfetti
C Caufield

This is not an attempt to rile our hockeybuzz post friend Darth
- jhawk59

I'll make it easy for you.

1. Cole Caufield
2. The rest

Shalunov is officially staying the the KHL for another season. Stan's mismanagement cost the team another top quality prospect.

Hmmm... Crawford returning?

"Corey Crawford has been absent for the first three days of training camp 2.0 after being ruled "unfit" to practice by the Blackhawks, but there could be some positive news on the horizon.

If all goes well, there's a chance Crawford could join the team for Phase 3 by early next week, NBC Sports Chicago has learned. "

(Source: Charlie Roumeliotis // @CRoumeliotis of NBC Chicago)

Shalunov is officially staying the the KHL for another season. Stan's mismanagement cost the team another top quality prospect.
- DarthKane

Just posted about that on Twitter.

Somewhere Scott Powers is crying.

I would say Shalunov is gone for good now. There's no way the KHL will have an opt-out clause for next year like some other leagues are doing.

Maybe the Pius Suter signing gave Shalunov the green light to sign back in the KHL. It doesn't appear there wouldn't be a lot of room for Shalunov on the Hawks' roster next year.

Like Robertson for the Leafs, Jack Rathbone is getting similar fanfare in Vancouver. He could be on the Canucks blueline very soon and be affordable, too, for the next 3 seasons.

Not to be outdone, the Hawks future got more exciting lately as well with the official signings of Mitchell and Kalynuk plus bringing the highly coveted Suter aboard.

Great blog today to summarize these signings!
- AEL_Fox

Thanks Theo.