If they go for Wallinder - who apparently needs significant development time - doesn’t that send the wrong message to Kane, Toews, Keith - that “we’re looking four-five years out, not two or three”?
- StLBravesFan

how about the message Toews and Kane sent when they signed for 10.5M? The message is you get paid every two weeks, so deal with it.

Wasn't that mostly the former blogger who basically liked him better than Crawford? Cause you know...Crow's the Hawk version of Chris Osgood.
- HawkintheD

Alright I am just going to say there is no right or wrong answer to the following question - I have wrote a couple entries about it and there are probably folks who lean a little bit to trying to make some sort of deal, while others won t deal at all

Q: Are you willing to see if we could move up to #14-15 round one. Could even be conditional the player we want is available at #14 -15.

You know well the Osgood option as you have seen and heard him be the man for Detroit. I feel that is the sort of situation Bowman is going to land in. But would you sniff around, trying to move up?

If they go for Wallinder - who apparently needs significant development time - doesn’t that send the wrong message to Kane, Toews, Keith - that “we’re looking four-five years out, not two or three”?
- StLBravesFan

Boqvist was supposed to be 3 years out (and probably should have had at least another year in the AHL). There are no delusions from the "core" about where this team is. If they can't see it, that is their fault. It is quite obvious to everyone else.

They are picking #17. You shouldn't expect that player to make a notable impact for about 3 years. At that point, some or all of the core could possibly be gone.

Boqvist was supposed to be 3 years out (and probably should have had at least another year in the AHL). There are no delusions from the "core" about where this team is. If they can't see it, that is their fault. It is quite obvious to everyone else.

They are picking #17. You shouldn't expect that player to make a notable impact for about 3 years. At that point, some or all of the core could possibly be gone.
- Chunk

100% correct

how about the message Toews and Kane sent when they signed for 10.5M? The message is you get paid every two weeks, so deal with it.
- Elbows15

Then Stamkos sent his message when Tampa said "take $8.5 or don't let the door hit you in the ass" and he took it. That was terrible news when it happened.

how about the message Toews and Kane sent when they signed for 10.5M? The message is you get paid every two weeks, so deal with it.
- Elbows15

They were sending the message - with Bowman, Bettman, and the Canadian oilmen - that the Cap was going to be $100MM within a few years.

Didn’t happen.

If they go for Wallinder - who apparently needs significant development time - doesn’t that send the wrong message to Kane, Toews, Keith - that “we’re looking four-five years out, not two or three”?
- StLBravesFan

I see a few things here. Although it's not a perfect algorithm but you draft someone in the 1st round with the hopes of them being ready in 2-3 years with top 10 prospects sooner if possible.

So if Wallinder has a projection of 4-5 years out, then he's not worth taking in the 1st round, IMO. However, his stock goes up if his ceiling really is that high yet it will take him longer than desired to be NHL ready.

In that case, still, I'd be hesitant to spend a 1st round pick in the teens or even early 20s.

As for the window of the core, that shouldn't be a factor. Centering everything around them limits all other player personnel decisions.

Alright I am just going to say there is no right or wrong answer to the following question - I have wrote a couple entries about it and there are probably folks who lean a little bit to trying to make some sort of deal, while others won t deal at all

Q: Are you willing to see if we could move up to #14-15 round one. Could even be conditional the player we want is available at #14 -15.

You know well the Osgood option as you have seen and heard him be the man for Detroit. I feel that is the sort of situation Bowman is going to land in. But would you sniff around, trying to move up?
- jhawk59

If the Hawks want to move up a few spots it will cost them at least a 2nd round pick or a decent young prospect. Stan would have to be really set on a prospect to make a deal like that. For reference, the Coyotes moved from 14 to 11 last year and it cost them a second round pick (#45).

It seems unlikely trading Saad will get back a mid 1st round pick.

how about the message Toews and Kane sent when they signed for 10.5M? The message is you get paid every two weeks, so deal with it.
- Elbows15

This is a great post. Hawks have to stop with the delusion that they're going win a cup while those two contracts are still around.

The options to play goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks after the next two years are?

An improving young team after two years chooses among whom to be their goaltender?. A veteran, a netminder past his prime, a weak #1 like Elliot if he was thrust into that role, or Mrzack (Carolina). The time to get a young goaltender is when you might have an opportunity to get him And the cost is not one or more of our top young players through trade.

Now I admit we may not pluck our future goaltender even moving up just to #14-15. That is why you can consider conditional trades - but the cost to make such a trade may not be worth it. At least check into it. The odds to draft and develop a goaltender whom one day ascends to a #1 capable NHL goaltender - not too good if this is a mid round drafted player.

Angotti sooner or later you pay a high price to obtain a top goaltender. I understand it is unlikely we could get this Russian kid. I am willing to go with Crawford and in house AHL candidates as back up. Do you think a top goaltender is going to become available via trade or free agency and we can afford him? That is dreaming. Finding a top goaltender to draft is my preference. And because we probably won't get to draft top rated prospect goaltender in any draft unless the cards fall just right, we are not looking at anything but mediocrity to maybe half descent goaltending in the years following Crawford

I guess you can hope to win with an Osgood type.
- jhawk59

Jhawk, no doubt we will need a goalie sooner or later, with the lack of talent currently on the Hawks and also the inexperience of many of our players, this is not the time to sign an expensive #1, or to draft one in the first round. This strategy may not work out, but that’s what I would do. Let’s build a playoff team first, then they should go out and grab a decent goalie, or who knows, maybe one of our young goalies steps up, then we save $6M and/or a 1st round pick.

how about the message Toews and Kane sent when they signed for 10.5M? The message is you get paid every two weeks, so deal with it.
- Elbows15

The message was “we won the cups, now show us the money, and whatever will be, will be”. Hopefully the whatever will be, will be came up, or it should have. Great post.

That sounds like a good way to characterize the 1st round, i.e. deep in forwards to the point of pushing many D prospects to the late 1st round and into the 2nd; otherwise, these blueliners would be taken a lot higher.
- Theo Fox

If the opportunity arises I think the Hawks should move down in the draft. Something like a deal with the Flames, #17 for #19 & #49.

If the opportunity arises I think the Hawks should move down in the draft. Something like a deal with the Flames, #17 for #19 & #49.
- DarthKane

I agree this is the draft that would be great to move back and collect more picks. If for any chance Rossi is still available at 8 I would definitely check in with Sabres to see about a Strome & 17 to be able to draft Rossi. I think he’s going to be elite. I also hope in the 3rd or 4th round the Hawks get a solid Goalie with some upside. There seems to be maybe 4-5 that are in that next tier over Askarov....which still have great potential at being a solid #1 starter. It may take a few years to mature and work their game up however; but that’s like all young prospects.

I agree this is the draft that would be great to move back and collect more picks. If for any chance Rossi is still available at 8 I would definitely check in with Sabres to see about a Strome & 17 to be able to draft Rossi. I think he’s going to be elite. I also hope in the 3rd or 4th round the Hawks get a solid Goalie with some upside. There seems to be maybe 4-5 that are in that next tier over Askarov....which still have great potential at being a solid #1 starter. It may take a few years to mature and work their game up however; but that’s like all young prospects.
- DrewDawg

I doubt Strome and #17 gets us to #16...

If the opportunity arises I think the Hawks should move down in the draft. Something like a deal with the Flames, #17 for #19 & #49.
- DarthKane

If Bowman, Kelley, and crew think the prospect they want is going to go later than 17th, then I'm all for the type of trade you just suggested.

The Hawks would be able to draft the player they want plus gain an extra pick in the 2nd round which is still chockful of pretty good talent.

how about the message Toews and Kane sent when they signed for 10.5M? The message is you get paid every two weeks, so deal with it.
- Elbows15

Totally Agree!

Tired of hearing about those guys feelings being hurt.

Totally Agree!

Tired of hearing about those guys feelings being hurt.
- vabeachbear

Fine - then trade them.

Go to them and tell them (and, BTW, tell the fans, too) that this is a rebuild, that they aren’t likely to be playing for the Cup while they still have quality skills under their current contracts, and if they waive their NMCs, the Hawks will try to move them to wherever they want to go. Retain salary.

Does Kane want to go back to Buffalo? Toews to Winnipeg? Keith to somewhere he can bring a defense up to Cup-contending levels? Let Crawford go. Certainly something could be worked out so all of them could move to teams in contention and be paid.

But stop telling all of us (players included) that we’re “turning the corner” on the losing pandemic and it will just disappear.

It seems unlikely trading Saad will get back a mid 1st round pick.
- EbonyRaptor

Kasperi Kapanen netted one. Heck Ryan Hartman netted one. Saad is certainly worth one.

Kasperi Kapanen netted one. Heck Ryan Hartman netted one. Saad is certainly worth one.
- Chunk

If Saad's cap hit were $4M - maybe, but in this static cap situation I question if a team will commit $6M cap and spend a mid-1st for Saad.

If Saad's cap hit were $4M - maybe, but in this static cap situation I question if a team will commit $6M cap and spend a mid-1st for Saad.
- EbonyRaptor

Fair argument, but his contract is only for one more year.

Well done with the Holloway pick Theo!!

If Saad's cap hit were $4M - maybe, but in this static cap situation I question if a team will commit $6M cap and spend a mid-1st for Saad.
- EbonyRaptor

Hawks could retain money and get another asset back on top of the 1st round pick say retain 2 million maybe gain a prospect or mid round pick also.

Well done with the Holloway pick Theo!!
- Chunk

I second that, we’ll take him. If Holloway is available at 17, I’d grab him as well, second choice is Zary for me.

Fair argument, but his contract is only for one more year.
- Chunk

Fair argument right backatcha.