Soooooo 1 good forward prospect? Got it.
- FinnGod

Considering that three of our best "prospects" are already in the NHL, I would say the numbers are skewed a bit.

Joel Quenneville bringing in Ulf Samuelsson as an assistant coach for the Panthers.

Soooooo 1 good forward prospect? Got it.
- FinnGod

Just 1 man's opinion. And if you want to live your life around that one man's opinion, you may not be living a happy life.

So, by week 3 or 4?????
- hawk35

Well, I wasn't going to say it, but I'm glad you did!

Joel Quenneville bringing in Ulf Samuelsson as an assistant coach for the Panthers.
- boilermaker100

Remember when Samuelson replaced Kitchen in Chicago? Bobrovsky is going to earn that $10 mil.

One other factor to consider is that Dent and Quenneville didn't seem to be on the same page. That could've been a communication issue between the big club and the farm team, not because those two had a conflict.

After being fired, Dent made comments that alluded to dissension between him and what the Hawks were doing.

Today, King and Colliton are on the same wavelength mainly because they coached the Hogs together for a season+ before Colliton was promoted to Hawks head coach.

That doesn't mean King can miraculously create 1st liners and 1st pair defenders. He can at least get prospects ready to play the Hawks systems upon recall and not waste time floundering.
- Theo Fox

Agree, with your first point and on your second, you would have thought the farm system would have produced at least a few more bottom 6 type forwards or 3rd pairing dmen.

But none of that was happening and could have been related a possible disconnect between the parent club and farm.

The prospect list seems like one full of depth ... which you need to win in the NHL.
If you have a big talent in the minors, something might be wrong, as those players are usually on the roster alreay or in the process of cracking the lineup. THEO; do you see any of these guys possibly surprising and taking a bigger leap ? I was thinking back in the days of let's say Steve Larmer, he came up through the system, and don't recall any big hype or expectations when he came up. He was kind of a "boring" player when he came up ... nothing flashy what so ever, just very sound fundamentally. Yet we he cracked the lineup, he was quite the goal scorer. Do you see any of these guys making that kind of an impact ? You could say, making the team as big surprise, when nobody saw that coming. My gut tells me that Phillip Kurashev as that possibility or maybe Pious Suter. What do you think ?

So, by week 3 or 4?????
- hawk35

Week 3 or 4 for the Hawks to be out of playoff contention? Somebody’s feeling very optimistic about the upcoming season.

The prospect list seems like one full of depth ... which you need to win in the NHL.
If you have a big talent in the minors, something might be wrong, as those players are usually on the roster alreay or in the process of cracking the lineup. THEO; do you see any of these guys possibly surprising and taking a bigger leap ? I was thinking back in the days of let's say Steve Larmer, he came up through the system, and don't recall any big hype or expectations when he came up. He was kind of a "boring" player when he came up ... nothing flashy what so ever, just very sound fundamentally. Yet we he cracked the lineup, he was quite the goal scorer. Do you see any of these guys making that kind of an impact ? You could say, making the team as big surprise, when nobody saw that coming. My gut tells me that Phillip Kurashev as that possibility or maybe Pious Suter. What do you think ?
- chuckdahammer

To answer your question, dark horse candidates for the top 6 are Kurashev, Barratt, and Teply.

Kurashev may not necessarily start out as a top 6 player and may earn his keep first as a 3C but could surprise with more pro experience and confidence to thrive on the 2nd line.

Barratt could end up as a 4th liner or he could put it all together and be a Shaw-like player. While not a prototypical 1st liner like say Gallagher is for the Habs, Barratt could contribute anywhere he is slotted including the top line.

Teply has the goal scoring and playmaking skill you expect out of a top 6 winger. Not sure if he'd fit well in the bottom 6 similar to Strome.

Suter perhaps plays top 6 this season but I wouldn't be surprised if he did compared to the others.

Blackhawk up did a mock trade. Not a fan of giving up the 3rd, but love the overall idea: https://blackhawkup.com/2...-with-him-still-unsigned/

Blackhawk up did a mock trade. Not a fan of giving up the 3rd, but love the overall idea: https://blackhawkup.com/2...-with-him-still-unsigned/
- ikeane

Can’ t see Vegas doing this. Strome is the antithesis of how DeBoer teams play. He is a worse fit for Vegas than he is for the Hawks.

Blackhawk up did a mock trade. Not a fan of giving up the 3rd, but love the overall idea: https://blackhawkup.com/2...-with-him-still-unsigned/
- ikeane

That would be a steal for the HAWKS .

That would be a steal for the HAWKS .
- oldduffman

Maybe, maybe not. Many are upset that ADB had a down year and is making $6 mil. Tuch is making $4.75mil. For 6 more years. He has had one good year, and one bad year. What happens if he has another bad year? Plus, he would be a third line RW here also (behind Kane and Kubalik. Hawks can t afford a $4.75 AAV third line RW.

Maybe, maybe not. Many are upset that ADB had a down year and is making $6 mil. Tuch is making $4.75mil. For 6 more years. He has had one good year, and one bad year. What happens if he has another bad year? Plus, he would be a third line RW here also (behind Kane and Kubalik. Hawks can t afford a $4.75 AAV third line RW.
- LAHawk

Yes all good points I did not research it much .Boy I like that Tuch kid a lot every time I see him he looks Great !! , I had hope the Hawks might grab his brother Luke at the draft but am glad Hawks got a goalie . I was also under the impression from the article that Tuch would be playing with Toews possibly. Yes that contract is a bit steep . I hope Strom takes a step forward this season maybe put that tricky ankle injury behind him .

Blackhawk up did a mock trade. Not a fan of giving up the 3rd, but love the overall idea: https://blackhawkup.com/2...-with-him-still-unsigned/
- ikeane

I don't mind the basis of the trade but the Hawks should be the one to gain additional assets, not sending them the other way given that Tuch has the heftier contract to take on (AAV and term).

Plus, the Hawks or any other team shouldn't be helping out Vegas. Let Vegas pony up if they need to get rid of salary.

The prospect list seems like one full of depth ... which you need to win in the NHL.
If you have a big talent in the minors, something might be wrong, as those players are usually on the roster alreay or in the process of cracking the lineup. THEO; do you see any of these guys possibly surprising and taking a bigger leap ? I was thinking back in the days of let's say Steve Larmer, he came up through the system, and don't recall any big hype or expectations when he came up. He was kind of a "boring" player when he came up ... nothing flashy what so ever, just very sound fundamentally. Yet we he cracked the lineup, he was quite the goal scorer. Do you see any of these guys making that kind of an impact ? You could say, making the team as big surprise, when nobody saw that coming. My gut tells me that Phillip Kurashev as that possibility or maybe Pious Suter. What do you think ?
- chuckdahammer

His name is Kubalik the lucky surprise guy. Before him the surprise was DeBrincat. I don't think either of those guys were expected to score the goals they have scored. Time will tell if it continues? Unfortunately, Strome to some extent and Perlini, Nylander, you could say Schmaltz when we had him have not reached expectations.

Week 3 or 4 for the Hawks to be out of playoff contention? Somebody’s feeling very optimistic about the upcoming season.
- DarthKane

Week 4 Hawks 2-8, Toews 3 total points. After week 5 Hawks 5-9, Toews 15 total points.

Blackhawk up did a mock trade. Not a fan of giving up the 3rd, but love the overall idea: https://blackhawkup.com/2...-with-him-still-unsigned/
- ikeane

If you think Strome could be a poor man's P Statsny?
O don't believe that Vegas wants to pick up any salary. They prefer to keep Tuch and they are pretty close to cap compliant now, correct? The Vegas team had a couple forward/center prospects close to NHL ready. They go with them and Tuch is their style kind of guy.

If you think Strome could be a poor man's P Statsny?
O don't believe that Vegas wants to pick up any salary. They prefer to keep Tuch and they are pretty close to cap compliant now, correct? The Vegas team had a couple forward/center prospects close to NHL ready. They go with them and Tuch is their style kind of guy.
- jhawk59

Strome has a long way to go to be a poor mans Stasny. Stasny is good at the dot and good defensively.

In addition to Dach and DeBrincat, there's also Kubalik as a top 6 talent who has 3 or less years of NHL experience.

If Strome and Nylander can bust through to start reaching potential, then that's a few more. Big if with these two but still hope.

Add in Reichel and say 1-2 more possibly on the horizon in the 2011 and/or 2022 drafts, then it's not so bad.
- Theo Fox

Not only that Theo...but no NHL team has a stable of young stud forwards AND a crap load of stud young D-men.

The organisation for 2-3 years was focused (rightly) on drafting and acquiring good young D-man. Boqvist, Mitchell, Beaudin, Carlsson, Krys, Vlassic and Regula.

I know that is another blog...but when you consider the young defencemen we have, the forward group aint so bad, since they were an afterthought until the last year or so....

Strome has a long way to go to be a poor mans Stasny. Stasny is good at the dot and good defensively.
- LAHawk

I meant that is the role or how he would fit if he was on Vegas.

Statsny and Strome are both glacier slow skaters.

I meant that is the role or how he would fit if he was on Vegas.

Statsny and Strome are both glacier slow skaters.
- jhawk59

One of Cody Glass Nicolas Roy or Chandler Stevenson will slot in as #2,3, 4 center (not necessarily in that order)

One of Cody Glass Nicolas Roy or Chandler Stevenson will slot in as #2,3, 4 center (not necessarily in that order)
- LAHawk

Krebs is also 1-2 years away so that's something for Vegas to look forward to.

Before they traded him to the Habs, they also had Suzuki who will be a gem in Montreal with Kotkaniemi, Danault, and Evans. Poehling likely shifting to wing given Suzuki's arrival and Evans' emergence.

Not only that Theo...but no NHL team has a stable of young stud forwards AND a crap load of stud young D-men.

The organisation for 2-3 years was focused (rightly) on drafting and acquiring good young D-man. Boqvist, Mitchell, Beaudin, Carlsson, Krys, Vlassic and Regula.

I know that is another blog...but when you consider the young defencemen we have, the forward group aint so bad, since they were an afterthought until the last year or so....
- hawk35

Another part of the new direction of the franchise is not being top heavy again during the previous decade. Try to build a more sustainable model with solid all-around players who compete hard in spots 1 to 23 on the roster.

That isn't to say the team shouldn't or won't have its superstars. But they will be in a better long-term situation if they can avoid albatross contracts handcuffing their ability to sustain depth again.

The Indy Fuel (ECHL affiliate) is scheduled to start their season on December 11 with training camp opening right after Thanksgiving.

The AHL is scheduled to start on February 5, at least that's the current plan.