Assume you will before the end of the year. Remember, I believe the Kurashev is actually a C and I believe I read that they see him as one down the road.

Don't get all the Strome stuff, he's fine for now, my god, they are going to win like 5 games, probably 10 next year, whats the big deal.
- vabeachbear

Kool Aid Drinker!

The #2C isn't on this roster yet. He will be coming in one of the next two drafts.
- Elbows15

Two time Norris winners are never overrated. While he’s not as productive as say 2015, he’s still a good #3-4 on a good team. Pro athletes are very competitive, and Keith is extra competitive, unfortunately playing on a bad team could affect this type of player from losing some of that edge. In my opinion, the best case scenario for both Keith and the Hawks is to move him to a contender. Although his cap hit is only $5M, in today’s NHL that is a big hit on a contending team, as most good teams are against the cap.
- Angotti

He's got 4 assists in 4 games, right? Unless I counted wrong, that's a point per game at the moment. Not entirely sure how a guy with 4 assists on a team that really cannot score, is 'not productive'.

That's pretty much what I meant by luxury of time. If Strome can put a little meat/muscle on his giraffe frame and become a guy who is a bit tougher to play against and provide some scoring, even with the skating deficiencies...

To Elbow's point though, maybe they acquire another center in the next couple drafts that makes him expendable via trade.

I think he's looked ok this year and am hoping to see some growth in his game even with the weird offseason.
- HawkintheD

I'm only disagreeing to the point that he doesn't need to be a 1C/2C inorder to end up being useful. Time will tell. Zus was a slow skinny stork but knew how to use his size.

I'm only disagreeing to the point that he doesn't need to be a 1C/2C inorder to end up being useful. Time will tell. Zus was a slow skinny stork but knew how to use his size.
- rpeters01

Did we have a 2nd line center during our SC years? Wasn't that one of the main discussions on these boards throughout the Stanley Cup years?

is anybody else befuddled why we signed Janmark for 2.25? Wennberg got the same as is 2 years younger. or kahun is 3 years younger and got 975K. Wennberg was noticalble and would probably be top 3 center on this team and also a guy you might want to bring back. carpenter, janmark and kampf are just not good enough fourth liners on a playoff team IMO. for the same price you could have had wallmark, wennberg and kahun. 25 year old 4th line that can play D but also maybe put a few goals in the net. that is one thing I have noticed is other teams 4th line not only plays good top D Vs top lines but also gets some scoring chances. Kampf, and janmark I cannot think of any. carpenter(who is the best of the group) might have had 1 or 2. I just dont understand how you can say we are going young and then pay 2.25 for a 28 year old 4th liner in the flat cap era. I would rather see entwhistle, barrett, J que or Cam morrison out there. at least those guys are 21-24 and could be part of the team in 2 years.

Did we have a 2nd line center during our SC years? Wasn't that one of the main discussions on these boards throughout the Stanley Cup years?
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah, we had Handzus, Brad Richards, neither of which would be considered remotely close to a plus skater

Correct, and I've said my piece about that. I didn't understand that at all, but I would guess that Colliton was trying to play safe and get the 2 pts in stead of just the one. I'm not defending that move.

They were in the exact same system during the play in series, and the mistakes were not as egregious. There can be a litany of reasons for the issues with 2 and 5 (and 44 to a degree). Maybe they realize that there isn't a chance at the playoffs this year and are just going through the motions. Maybe they are overreacting to not trusting their partners.

I will fully admit that coaching has something to do with it. I would say that it has less to do with the overall system and more to do with how it is implemented, and/or who is buying in.
- Chunk

Pretty bad. Crawford hid a lot and luckily the Oilers blue line is meh and their goaltending was bad. Ultimately the score is the most important stat but it was fairly obvious they weren't getting through another round.

They won but that doesn't mean they weren't doing a lot of the same stupid crap they are now. Lots of high danger chances, defenders leaving the front of the net to chase (both at the same time), forwards looking confused, its messy. Unless you have a HOF goalie and can score close to 4 goals per game its going to be tough to sustain success.

Yeah, we had Handzus, Brad Richards, neither of which would be considered remotely close to a plus skater
- LAHawk

Being a plus skater is more important now than it was 10 years ago though.

Yeah, we had Handzus, Brad Richards, neither of which would be considered remotely close to a plus skater
- LAHawk

Sharp centered the second line with Kopecky and Hossa in 2010. That top 9 was stupid good.

I'm only disagreeing to the point that he doesn't need to be a 1C/2C inorder to end up being useful. Time will tell. Zus was a slow skinny stork but knew how to use his size.
- rpeters01

Not sure I see a slow, defensively challenged guy being a good bottom six center. But, it is about what the Hawks see. Maybe they think he can be a solid part of a contender. If so, they should keep him. If not, they should trade him if someone else values him more than the Hawks. Just like with any asset.

is anybody else befuddled why we signed Janmark for 2.25? Wennberg got the same as is 2 years younger. or kahun is 3 years younger and got 975K. Wennberg was noticalble and would probably be top 3 center on this team and also a guy you might want to bring back. carpenter, janmark and kampf are just not good enough fourth liners on a playoff team IMO. for the same price you could have had wallmark, wennberg and kahun. 25 year old 4th line that can play D but also maybe put a few goals in the net. that is one thing I have noticed is other teams 4th line not only plays good top D Vs top lines but also gets some scoring chances. Kampf, and janmark I cannot think of any. carpenter(who is the best of the group) might have had 1 or 2. I just dont understand how you can say we are going young and then pay 2.25 for a 28 year old 4th liner in the flat cap era. I would rather see entwhistle, barrett, J que or Cam morrison out there. at least those guys are 21-24 and could be part of the team in 2 years.
- kmw4631

Is Detroit rebuilding? Look at their roster. "Yzerman the Great" made plenty of veteran signings this year. Jon Merrill?, Bobby Ryan?, Sam Gagner? Why are they on a Detroit's roster?

is anybody else befuddled why we signed Janmark for 2.25? Wennberg got the same as is 2 years younger. or kahun is 3 years younger and got 975K. Wennberg was noticalble and would probably be top 3 center on this team and also a guy you might want to bring back. carpenter, janmark and kampf are just not good enough fourth liners on a playoff team IMO. for the same price you could have had wallmark, wennberg and kahun. 25 year old 4th line that can play D but also maybe put a few goals in the net. that is one thing I have noticed is other teams 4th line not only plays good top D Vs top lines but also gets some scoring chances. Kampf, and janmark I cannot think of any. carpenter(who is the best of the group) might have had 1 or 2. I just dont understand how you can say we are going young and then pay 2.25 for a 28 year old 4th liner in the flat cap era. I would rather see entwhistle, barrett, J que or Cam morrison out there. at least those guys are 21-24 and could be part of the team in 2 years.
- kmw4631

Wow, I did not realize we were paying Janmark that much. Thought we were paying him similar to Wallmark who is the better player. Unfortunately, he will not have any value at the TDL with his current play and salary. Good thing it is only one year.

Being a plus skater is more important now than it was 10 years ago though.
- Ogilthorpe2

Also, that team had Toews, Kane, Hossa and Sharp on the Top Siz. Three HOF guys and another excellent player. Strome could be 2C on that team; so if they replicate that... Thing is, that they picked up Richards and Zus from the scrap heap. No need to save Strome for that.

Wow, I did not realize we were paying Janmark that much. Thought we were paying him similar to Wallmark who is the better player. Unfortunately, he will not have any value at the TDL with his current play and salary. Good thing it is only one year.
- 67hawks

And beacause of that he'll have some value. He is also fine piece in a good team. Some play off team will bite on him.

Is Detroit rebuilding? Look at their roster. "Yzerman the Great" made plenty of veteran signings this year. Jon Merrill?, Bobby Ryan?, Sam Gagner? Why are they on a Detroit's roster?
- LAHawk

Cap floor and there's something to be said for guys who have been around teaching other guys who have not been around as long to be pros.

Cap floor and there's something to be said for guys who have been around teaching other guys who have not been around as long to be pros.
- fattybeef

The combined $3.3 mil. they are paying the 3 has nothing to do with cap floor, especially since they are still carrying Zetterberg at $6 mil. plus. Your second point is my point, you still need veterans to teach the new players how to be pro's. Especially as last year ended as not normal, so the one's in Rockford did not even experience a full season nor a playoffs down there. Reason why Carptenter is playing a regular shift. Why is it most good 4th lines have at least 1 or 2 veterans on them? Because being a shut down line is a skill in itself, putting 3 rookies out there is a recipe for disaster, especially if you try and match them up with a top 6 line from the other team.

Yeah, we had Handzus, Brad Richards, neither of which would be considered remotely close to a plus skater
- LAHawk

Strome's offensive skill set is similar to Brad Richards. Both not the greatest skaters, but do have good vision and hockey sense. Given the right wingers to compliment each other, they can be useful but do lack some attributes that you would like to see.

The Hawks resigned Strome to a nice little extension so they can really see what they have in him. It's not looking like he will ever match the hype of his being 3rd overall pick in the very deep first round of 2015. He could still be useful if he starts to round out his game better. He was looking expendable at the end of last season but with the Toews (and Dach) situation, that changed. Whatever happens further with Toews could leave the door open for him in the top 6.

That said, what was with his pass on the 3rd goal against?

That whole play started with his weak pass right across the zone, which Florida tipped ahead to start the play. I get that maybe he expected Shaw to be there, but those types of passes are the ones where you need to be 100% sure. I think Keith just assumed the puck was going to be frozen by Lankinen rather than trickle through him. Overall, Keith has been struggling, and I have more of an issue with that OT goal, where it seemed he was just standing there watching. He didn't get a stick on the pass or bother the shooter one bit.

Here's what will change things:

They will make a big trade of the old core,opening enough space to grab a big UFA, to add to the next two early draft picks.

Only a re-tool is going to replace the amount of chance and improvement of the youngsters they have here and in the system.

And at this point, I am not willing to project anyone as Kane / Toews / Keith replacement pieces. Dach (and I love the kid) is a really good NHL prospect just as Mitchell and Boqvist are already.

That doesn't guarantee the growth/maturation/health of any of them that places them on any path except decent NHL players.

I don't know about future #2 center on s contender, but I can definitely see him as a contributor on a cup team. Yeah, he's not a great skater, so what, the league is filled with guys who are not great skaters who contribute. He is 23 and has some skills that a whole bunch of others on the squad don't.
- TheTrob

The issue is on quick transitions he's painfully slow entering the zone so you essentially dont have that support for at least 2-3 seconds and causes the puck carrier to fight off the opposition D until cement shoes can get in the zone.

He flashes some skill at times, and he should given where he was drafted.....but IMO, he's a 7-9 guy who chips in 10-15 as a depth guy and you better make sure you have an above average skill guy playing with him to get him going.

IMO...top 6 guys make those around them better.....i haven't seen that yet with strome, outside of his arrival for a very small sample size.

The other thing to keep in mind here is how long it took Bowman to sign this kid. If he were a long term answer he would have been prioritized and it makes me stop and think.....if toews and Dach are healthy is Strome on this team? I don't think he is.

Again let's see where he's at once he gets 250 NHL games under him, this really seems like a very difficult thing to understand
- BetweenTheDots

Asking for a friend....but what is an additional 80 games going to show us that the 1st 170 haven't? Is Strome REALLY going to find it? I mean for a kid drafted 3rd overall to be on pace 0.50 points a game and be a top 6 player might be a nice on a team like this....but a team with cup aspirations? NO.

This isn't about him finding the mental side of the game.....I just don't see the physical tools necessary to be a consistent top 6 guy......does he have an above average shot? Does he routinely create scoring chances? Does he make those on his line better?

I really need to understand why so many are willing to hitch their wagon to this kid.....even as a bigger kid, he doesn't use his size to his advantage....he plays small.

I just don't see it.....again he's babysitting a hole but if the light dims in his head at all, Bowman needs to sell high and run away.

He's got 4 assists in 4 games, right? Unless I counted wrong, that's a point per game at the moment. Not entirely sure how a guy with 4 assists on a team that really cannot score, is 'not productive'.
- SC116

I was actually backing up Keith’s play, not demeaning his play. That being said he’s no longer a #1 defenseman on a cup contender, Father Time catches up with all of us. I still think he’s a top four on a cup contending team, unfortunately we are 3-4 years away from that and Keith will be over forty years old by then.

The issue is on quick transitions he's painfully slow entering the zone so you essentially dont have that support for at least 2-3 seconds and causes the puck carrier to fight off the opposition D until cement shoes can get in the zone.

He flashes some skill at times, and he should given where he was drafted.....but IMO, he's a 7-9 guy who chips in 10-15 as a depth guy and you better make sure you have an above average skill guy playing with him to get him going.

IMO...top 6 guys make those around them better.....i haven't seen that yet with strome, outside of his arrival for a very small sample size.

The other thing to keep in mind here is how long it took Bowman to sign this kid. If he were a long term answer he would have been prioritized and it makes me stop and think.....if toews and Dach are healthy is Strome on this team? I don't think he is.
- SteveRain

Question for you and the board. Not a shot at any other posters here, in case anyone is extra sensitive today....

Can a player increase speed significantly after age 23? How about short area quickness?

My sense is that it is rare. But there's been huge advances in training and fitness, so maybe it is possible.

Yeah, we had Handzus, Brad Richards, neither of which would be considered remotely close to a plus skater
- LAHawk

I'll venture to suggest that Handzus before he blew out his knee and a young Brad Richards on Tampa were a lot quicker than Strom at 23.

Richards was also an elite play maker.

THe game is quicker now than it was 10+ years ago....if this was the late 90s or early 00s with the traps and 2 line pass bs, Strome would be fine....in a wide open league, he's exposed....badly