It was Alex Stalok they picked up on waivers. Not likely the answer but can't be worse than Koskinen.
- RickJ

oops right, the Devils picked up Dell

Stan Bowman's going to be around for a while if he keeps drafting like this. I know it's short-sighted to say these are all great prospects already. But the rookies on the team are playing great and with the pipeline to the show being bright, I can't see Bowman getting let go anytime soon.

I even say most of his trades are quality. Some trades his hands are tied due to salary cap issues and I think people don't realize that.

For example, getting anything for Perlini was miracle work.

The only outright egregious trade was the Nylander trade. I'm a passive follower of hockey, but there's no way Bowman couldn't have gotten a draft pick with Nylander. Henri had more NHL experience and looked better overall.
- snakeyes0007

Didn't you get the memo? Stan's bad at drafting and the only deals he's ever made are horribad.

The Euro Scouts are credited for that found money and any move (however few) that has panned out for the Hawks is credited to Scotty.

Gonna have to play 3 games in 4 days vs the Bolts. This will be really interesting, hope it doesn't ruin my weekend

Gonna have to play 3 games in 4 days vs the Bolts. This will be really interesting, hope it doesn't ruin my weekend
- BetweenTheDots

What is your expectation? What result would ruin your weekend?

I would be very happy if they got 3 points.

This may be a little off topic.

I love the way Hagel plays. But I hope the Hawks management, team doctors, and veteran players caution Hagel about playing physical but not being too reckless. He needs to pick his spots and protect himself. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Colliton, Toews, Seabs, Shaw in particular can provide counsel. They can use themselves, Bolland, Bickell and others as examples of players that played that style and it shortened their careers.
- -Doh-

watched him in the Western league. he will be all right. gonna be a good one. Glad old players are looking out for our organization good on sutter to call stan on Hagel!

Gonna have to play 3 games in 4 days vs the Bolts. This will be really interesting, hope it doesn't ruin my weekend
- BetweenTheDots

Just look for growth. Don't sweat the results. They are a developing team. I'm still trying to concentrate on individual performances. Obviously, you can't fully take that out of the team equation, but it makes the games much more interesting that just following the score. My expectation is that they go 0-Florida again. I also expect that the games will be much closer and there will be a better team effort in front of the goalies.

Not surprising, but it doesn't mean it sucks any less:

Colliton says no update on Strome, Shaw or Seabrook.

What is your expectation? What result would ruin your weekend?

I would be very happy if they got 3 points.
- LAHawk

6 points (all in regulation) or heavy drinking for me.

Well, probably heavy drinking no matter what.....

How's the Achilles?

Not surprising, but it doesn't mean it sucks any less:

Colliton says no update on Strome, Shaw or Seabrook.
- Chunk

Wonder how long Strome was playing with a concussion? I don't remember seeing a defining hit in his last game.

6 points (all in regulation) or heavy drinking for me.

Well, probably heavy drinking no matter what.....

How's the Achilles?
- mohel

Hopefully get in a boot and start PT next week. 3 Casts in 4 weeks kinda sucks. Since I can't do anything, I almost feel like i am in hospice.

Thanks for asking.

Wonder how long Strome was playing with a concussion? I don't remember seeing a defining hit in his last game.
- LAHawk

Colliton mentioned he got hit a few games before he actually went to the team and said something was wrong. No symptoms initially, but they apparently came on hard during/before a practice and he was in protocol.

What is your expectation? What result would ruin your weekend?

I would be very happy if they got 3 points.
- LAHawk

If they battle along the walls, net front presence, sustain some pressure, good puck support, crisp passes out of the zone, really concentrate on playing team defense I'll be pleased. Maybe the PK can try to keep the passes from Stamkos. Glad you asked the question, if they keep playing pretty much the way they have been just more responsible on defense I'll be very happy whatever the results are. Now all bets are off once the game starts

If they battle along the walls, net front presence, sustain some pressure, good puck support, crisp passes out of the zone, really concentrate on playing team defense I'll be pleased. Maybe the PK can try to keep the passes from Stamkos. Glad you asked the question, if they keep playing pretty much the way they have been just more responsible on defense I'll be very happy whatever the results are. Now all bets are off once the game starts
- BetweenTheDots

I thought so, why I asked. Nothing wrong with being passionate.

Not surprising, but it doesn't mean it sucks any less:

Colliton says no update on Strome, Shaw or Seabrook.
- Chunk

do we miss any of them?

2013 cap: $70.2
2015 cap: $69

*it dropped to 64.3 in 2014 with the new CBA.

Kane and Toews contracts didn't kick in until after the 2015 cup.

So in 2013 they were 17.8% of the cap, 2015 they were 18.2%

The argument is that if 88/19 didn't take bridge deals they wouldn't have the cups in 13, 15. They Hawks needed every drop of the cap in each year to win the cup. depending on how you extrapolate their contracts without a bridge they take somewhere between 3-6M more out of the cap than what they actually did. Without that cash, they don't get guys like Richards (FA), Handzus (acquired for a pick), retained Bickell, and likely a number of other moves.

------------This is the point. Hockey is a team sport, and no matter how good an individual player is, he shouldn't be taking up more than, let's say 8%-9% of the cap (whatever). When you have two players getting 25% of the cap, the team suffers. And when a player insists on getting an outsized share and then team can't compete, that player should have to lie in the bed he made, not whine about winning and try to get traded.

Having a small amount of players contributing such a large percentage of the cap makes it extremely difficult, bordering on impossible, to put together a winning team. No one player is bigger than the team.
------------------------

Not sure if it was a bridge deal - 6mil for 4 years coming off of a entry deals. And only a few players making over 7mil. And at that time, they had only one stanley cup. Yes, they could have gotten more, but not much more. And bridge deals are usually shorter in time and less cash, But if you saying bridge, in hindsight = Yes, because their next contract was huge (supposedly a home town discount ) and it came off of several additional years of success and high level of play as well as one additional stanley cup. The point, those two contracts have strained the salary cap for the hawks for years to come. Teams win championships

do we miss any of them?
- glennjpawlak22

PP1 was a lot better with Strome and Shaw out there. No Strome means more Highmore, which I think is a big net loss. Highmore is like Fortin was. Gets a look see because he is a plus skater, but the hands and the brain are far behind.

2013 cap: $70.2
2015 cap: $69

*it dropped to 64.3 in 2014 with the new CBA.

Kane and Toews contracts didn't kick in until after the 2015 cup.

So in 2013 they were 17.8% of the cap, 2015 they were 18.2%

The argument is that if 88/19 didn't take bridge deals they wouldn't have the cups in 13, 15. They Hawks needed every drop of the cap in each year to win the cup. depending on how you extrapolate their contracts without a bridge they take somewhere between 3-6M more out of the cap than what they actually did. Without that cash, they don't get guys like Richards (FA), Handzus (acquired for a pick), retained Bickell, and likely a number of other moves.

------------This is the point. Hockey is a team sport, and no matter how good an individual player is, he shouldn't be taking up more than, let's say 8%-9% of the cap (whatever). When you have two players getting 25% of the cap, the team suffers. And when a player insists on getting an outsized share and then team can't compete, that player should have to lie in the bed he made, not whine about winning and try to get traded.

Having a small amount of players contributing such a large percentage of the cap makes it extremely difficult, bordering on impossible, to put together a winning team. No one player is bigger than the team.
------------------------

Not sure if it was a bridge deal - 6mil for 4 years coming off of a entry deals. And only a few players making over 7mil. And at that time, they had only one stanley cup. Yes, they could have gotten more, but not much more. And bridge deals are usually shorter in time and less cash, But if you saying bridge, in hindsight = Yes, because their next contract was huge (supposedly a home town discount ) and it came off of several additional years of success and high level of play as well as one additional stanley cup. The point, those two contracts have strained the salary cap for the hawks for years to come. Teams win championships
- Topshelf2010

So do you go bridge deal and hope you win in the 2 year window you have the player on the bridge deal, or do you identify the player as being your long term core, and you buy up some FA years with a longer term contract (at a higher AAV), and try and build for the long term.

Do you gamble like Toront did and sign Mathews shorter term to become a FA at 27? Will Toronto win a cup in the next 3 years? That is what Toronto is banking on.

What is Matthews (barring injury or illness) going to ask for when he is a FA right in his prime?

I just ran a quick comparison of Boqvist vs. Bouchard vs. Dobson on NaturalStatTrick. Interesting results:

They are all above water on (most of) the fancy stats (granted, Boqvist gets a bit more OZ starts). Dobson has the same number of points (8) as Boqvist in 9 more games (Bouchard has 4 in the same number).

They are all different types of D-men, but are making their way. Good to see from guys that all were drafted within 5 picks of each other.

Good read Theo on this next wave of prospects that are 2,3, or 4 years out. Hopefully they continue to develop at the Europe/college level, stay injury free, and be able to contribute in the NHL.

IMO the Hawks still could use another top forward and a #1 D going forward. I don't see any in the pipeline.

The way the hawks are playing so far this season, looks like their pick won't be in the top ten so there is no guarantee they find a stud in the next draft. Besides there are stories out there that the 2021 entry draft won't take place until the summer of 2022 and whoever is picked may be a year behind development.

Other ways to obtain a top forward in the coming years...

- Continue to mine the undrafted European players (hats off to their Euro scouting department BTW).

- Sign a top free agent, maybe after the Kane, Toews, Keith and Seabrook contracts expire and cap space is available.

- Make a trade similar to the one that brought Patrick Sharp to town. Stan tried with the Joki for Nylander trade which looks like it isn't going to pan out. Maybe he again tries wrangle some top forward prospect form another team using the young depth he is developing.
- boilermaker100

Not saying you did but just wanted to use your post to springboard a point. I wouldn't close the book on the Nylander/Joi trade just yet. Joki is struggling in Buffalo and I suspect Nylander gets a cheap one year deal for next season. Nylander isn't blocking anyone at the moment, will be cheap and does have skill. If he can pot 15G and 15A he will provide great value at that contract.

I recall vabeach raving about Ian when he played in college, he has been such a pleasant surprise, not va but Ian to be clear, now i hear Elbows singing the praises of Kaiser, of course we will have to endure the will he sign won't he sign period, so i have to say when he's ready to take the leap hopefully with us looking forward to seeing him in the future.
- BetweenTheDots

I was on the Mitchell train back in his freshman year, FTR. lol. Reichel wasn't my choice at the time but I am really high on him after getting a chance to explore his game.

do we miss any of them?
- glennjpawlak22

Of that group Shaw doesn't get enough credit for being a really solid hockey player. I really like him on the PK his stick coverage and anticipation was part of the reason the PK was doing so well. Hard to get a clean shot on goal with him near you.

I was on the Mitchell train back in his freshman year, FTR. lol. Reichel wasn't my choice at the time but I am really high on him after getting a chance to explore his game.
- Elbows15

I know there were a couple of you. Watching Kaiser where do you think he ranks compared to Mitchell?

I believe it was Elbows who made this analogy but I also liken Reichel to Teravainen as a comparable. Similar shrimpy frame as a teen but top-shelf skill.

One difference I see now that Reichel has a leg up on Teravainen at the same stage is Lukas isn't risk averse and will play in the rough areas. He's willing to take a hit to make a play and is resilient by bouncing back up to rejoin the action.

Like Teravainen, Reichel will naturally grow into his body while also gaining strength through a workout regimen designed by Goodman and crew. That added muscle will aid an already great skill set.

Reichel is also verstaile playing center right now but can play either wing position as well. He's like Kurashev in having a subtle but impactful compete level and work ethic. They always keep their legs pumping.
- Theo Fox

Kurashev is bigger than people think. He is built similar to a guy like Crosby. Not tall but very thick. Both Konroyd and Edzo have mentioned how big his legs are. Both mentioned they believe he is closer to 200lbs than his listed weight.

Kurashev is bigger than people think. He is built similar to a guy like Crosby. Not tall but very thick. Both Konroyd and Edzo have mentioned how big his legs are. Both mentioned they believe he is closer to 200lbs than his listed weight.
- Elbows15

I say that about myself to the babes. Unfortunately, they seem to believe my listed weight.

I know there were a couple of you. Watching Kaiser where do you think he ranks compared to Mitchell?
- BetweenTheDots

TBF, I have only watched Kaiser twice so far. So take it with a barge of salt. Mitchell's hockey IQ was the first thing I noticed. Mitchell was more rounded right off the bat.

Kaiser is bigger than I thought from the scouting reports. I like Kaiser and my first thought was whoa, the Hawks may have something here. You definitely know he is on the ice. His defense is solid for a freshman. Offensively he is smart and aggressive. Not in a reckless way tho.

Funny part of this is when I go to watch a Hawk prospect I mute the TV for awhile to see if anyone stands out to me. It took me awhile to figure out which player was Kaiser because I was expecting a smaller dude. I kept wondering who the heck is this guy wearing #5.