I disagree about his skating. He may have been a bit better but he still struggles getting up to speed. Once he is going, he is okay-ish.
- Elbows15

Agree - his skating on offense is fine. His lack of first step quickness and lateral movement is the problem he has checking his man on defense. A Selke winner he will never be.

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).
- HawkintheD

Yep pretty much D!

Hope you and the family are doing well stay safe

Agree - his skating on offense is fine. His lack of first step quickness and lateral movement is the problem he has checking his man on defense. A Selke winner he will never be.
- EbonyRaptor

How much better is (was) Anisimov's skating to Strome? They are both approximately the same size. Arty never fulfilled his promise as a dominating power forward, but was known as defensively responsible/relied upon at times to take on the other teams offensive threat. To me Strome is much better offensively than Arty ever was, but is his skating that much more deficient that he could at least become defensively responsible (and i am not inferring about a lack of care, I don't see him taking many shifts "off")

I think with the Bruins announcing that Pastrnak and Kase are "unfit to practice" that is confirmation of the new NHL code for a positive COVID test. There were practicing together during the break. So, given that and the news from NBCSports, I think we are just waiting for Crawford to get a couple negative tests.

I think Bowman has knocked it out of the park with the signings. Like Tyler mentioned, low cost high reward signings are what this team needs. Hopefully Suter has come into his own because he beat his career high in points by 14. We have been patiently waiting for Mitchell to come in and potentially be on the top pairing with Boqvist. Kalynuk is maybe just a guy, but we will see what he can do in Rockford.

Tell his old man
- 6628

He's going to be lucky to get $5AAV in the "new world order."

How much better is (was) Anisimov's skating to Strome? They are both approximately the same size. Arty never fulfilled his promise as a dominating power forward, but was known as defensively responsible/relied upon at times to take on the other teams offensive threat. To me Strome is much better offensively than Arty ever was, but is his skating that much more deficient that he could at least become defensively responsible (and i am not inferring about a lack of care, I don't see him taking many shifts "off")
- LAHawk

That's a good question LA. AA certainly wasn't fleet of skate but he didn't seem to have the same problem checking his man defensively. I agree it isn't a matter of effort with Strome - he get's it and gives good effort but has a tough time staying with his man in the d-zone. It's probably more nuanced than attributing it solely to skating.

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

That about does it for the yeti on ever coming to the hawks. Can't say I'm surprised at all.

He's going to be lucky to get $5AAV in the "new world order."
- rpeters01

Agree with you here, because the stagnant cap, & a point you made earlier in this thread about trading Saad's 6 mil means that 6 mil is coming back. I'll hold onto Saad, because equal value is not coming back to us. We need more players like Saad, not less. But our crop of incoming players is looking pretty good. I'm excited.

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

YAWN (and that from a "Shalunov guy"). Enough already - (hope I never) see ya Max.

That's a good question LA. AA certainly wasn't fleet of skate but he didn't seem to have the same problem checking his man defensively. I agree it isn't a matter of effort with Strome - he get's it and gives good effort but has a tough time staying with his man in the d-zone. It's probably more nuanced than attributing it solely to skating.
- EbonyRaptor

Maybe it is the "man to man" JC plays that exposes his lack of first step/mobility as opposed to a more zone type of coverage?

How much better is (was) Anisimov's skating to Strome? They are both approximately the same size. Arty never fulfilled his promise as a dominating power forward, but was known as defensively responsible/relied upon at times to take on the other teams offensive threat. To me Strome is much better offensively than Arty ever was, but is his skating that much more deficient that he could at least become defensively responsible (and i am not inferring about a lack of care, I don't see him taking many shifts "off")
- LAHawk

I think Strome is a better skater, his only issue is his size takes a bit of time to get going from stop/start.

I don't know if you all saw the CHL Prospects game back around Christmas time a year and half ago, Robertson was easily one of the best player on the ice.

I figured he would linger into the second round because her is not 5'9", I believe.

https://www.draftsite.com...yer/nick-robertson/31920/


He just has solid offensive and defensive strengths that over ride the size concerns.

Agree with you here, because the stagnant cap, & a point you made earlier in this thread about trading Saad's 6 mil means that 6 mil is coming back. I'll hold onto Saad, because equal value is not coming back to us. We need more players like Saad, not less. But our crop of incoming players is looking pretty good. I'm excited.
- I Am The Breadman

I've said all along, trading Saad does nothing to help us. You can't have too many bonefide NHL two way players, kills penalties, puts up ~50pts. a year. Great at going to the net for rebounds.

Hopefully he takes what he can get from Chicago after "next" season ha ha and chalks it up to he was probably overpaid this last contract but really not by much. He's got a lot of mileage on his body. Not sure where he's going to fall off? It happens in hockey quickly.

I've said all along, trading Saad does nothing to help us. You can't have too many bonefide NHL two way players, kills penalties, puts up ~50pts. a year. Great at going to the net for rebounds.

Hopefully he takes what he can get from Chicago after "next" season ha ha and chalks it up to he was probably overpaid this last contract but really not by much. He's got a lot of mileage on his body. Not sure where he's going to fall off? It happens in hockey quickly.
- rpeters01

To me Chris Kreider is a perfect comp. for Saad and he got $6.75 X 7 before the cap fallout. I would not give Saad $6.75 X 7, maybe $6.75 X 3 or $5.5 X 7. Soo tricky, cause he is a talent that any team covets, but what could he get as a FA with a stagnant cap?

To me Chris Kreider is a perfect comp. for Saad and he got $6.75 X 7 before the cap fallout. I would not give Saad $6.75 X 7, maybe $6.75 X 3 or $5.5 X 7. Soo tricky, cause he is a talent that any team covets, but what could he get as a FA with a stagnant cap?
- LAHawk

I don’t see Saad sticking around after his current contract expires. The following season Dach and Boqvist’s contracts expire. Plus Suter (if he works out), and possible Strome and/or Kubalik. Nylander would require a new contract at the end of 20/21 too, but his next deal should be reasonable.

To me Chris Kreider is a perfect comp. for Saad and he got $6.75 X 7 before the cap fallout. I would not give Saad $6.75 X 7, maybe $6.75 X 3 or $5.5 X 7. Soo tricky, cause he is a talent that any team covets, but what could he get as a FA with a stagnant cap?
- LAHawk

I don't think anywhere near those numbers. I keep thinking 3 x $5 unfortunately for him

I don’t see Saad sticking around after his current contract expires. The following season Dach and Boqvist’s contracts expire. Plus Suter (if he works out), and possible Strome and/or Kubalik. Nylander would require a new contract at the end of 20/21 too, but his next deal should be reasonable.
- DarthKane

Can't have too many good players and Saad kills penalties.

I think with the Bruins announcing that Pastrnak and Kase are "unfit to practice" that is confirmation of the new NHL code for a positive COVID test. There were practicing together during the break. So, given that and the news from NBCSports, I think we are just waiting for Crawford to get a couple negative tests.

I think Bowman has knocked it out of the park with the signings. Like Tyler mentioned, low cost high reward signings are what this team needs. Hopefully Suter has come into his own because he beat his career high in points by 14. We have been patiently waiting for Mitchell to come in and potentially be on the top pairing with Boqvist. Kalynuk is maybe just a guy, but we will see what he can do in Rockford.
- biskit67

Unfit to play is being used for any injury or covid test so players privacy can be kept if they really do have covid. Unless you're one of those the NHL conspiracy people t
like that annoying old (frank) that post here non stop.

I don’t see Saad sticking around after his current contract expires. The following season Dach and Boqvist’s contracts expire. Plus Suter (if he works out), and possible Strome and/or Kubalik. Nylander would require a new contract at the end of 20/21 too, but his next deal should be reasonable.
- DarthKane

Not that I'm not an optimist, but you have too much up in the air with Strome, Kubalik, Suter, & Nylander. They're too uncertain to definitevly rule Saad out, imo. I have no clue what Dach & Boq will get, but I think buyouts & players like Caggiula & Smith don't get re-upped before letting Saad go.

Can't have too many good players and Saad kills penalties.
- rpeters01

Don’t get me wrong, Saad is great and I want him to stick around. But the current cap situation will make it difficult (read, impossible) to keep everyone.

Not that I'm not an optimist, but you have too much up in the air with Strome, Kubalik, Suter, & Nylander. They're too uncertain to definitevly rule Saad out, imo. I have no clue what Dach & Boq will get, but I think buyouts & players like Caggiula & Smith don't get re-upped before letting Saad go.
- I Am The Breadman

Agreed, but at some point they’ll have to make a decision I wouldn’t expect it until the TDL at the earliest. Do they lock in with Saad and risk losing on of their young guns or do they take their chances on the youth? There’s no easy answer.

Agreed, but at some point they’ll have to make a decision I wouldn’t expect it until the TDL at the earliest. Do they lock in with Saad and risk losing on of their young guns or do they take their chances on the youth? There’s no easy answer.
- DarthKane

But I know 1 thing for sure, Bowman will screw it up. & the timing will be suspect.

But I know 1 thing for sure, Bowman will screw it up. & the timing will be suspect.
- I Am The Breadman

Well... that just goes without saying.

Also, add into the mix the uncertainly with the goaltending situation. Depending on who’s the Hawks address that will impact the cap space let for Saad too.

The BCHL has announced a tentative start for the 20/21 season - December 1, 2020. It will be interesting to see how the various leagues handle the upcoming season.

Unfit to play is being used for any injury or covid test so players privacy can be kept if they really do have covid. Unless you're one of those the NHL conspiracy people t
like that annoying old (frank) that post here non stop.
- GPHawksfan

And you are naive enough to think it means injury? What happened to the "upper body" or "lower body" lingo? It just went out the window?

I think Strome is a better skater, his only issue is his size takes a bit of time to get going from stop/start.

I don't know if you all saw the CHL Prospects game back around Christmas time a year and half ago, Robertson was easily one of the best player on the ice.

I figured he would linger into the second round because her is not 5'9", I believe.

https://www.draftsite.com...yer/nick-robertson/31920/


He just has solid offensive and defensive strengths that over ride the size concerns.
- wiz1901

AA is a better skater than Strome. AA covers a lot of ground with his stride so he never looks like he is moving quickly. At top speed it may be close but AA gets to top speed quicker.