Zadorov needs to go, but I disagree with some here that we should just let him go to Seattle. There are teams out there that see value in a defenseman like Zadorov, I think that Stan can get something for him in the trade market, let the Kraken take Connolly or whomever.
- Angotti

I was looking back on a Colorado blog to see what they thought about the Zadorov for Saad trade. Needless to say, they wrote the AVs won it. One article said Boston was interested in him last year before the Hawks trade occurred. And supposedly Bruins were still interested at the recent TDL. Boston seems to be doing ok without Z, but maybe Bowman could resurrect those talks this summer.

I’ve been calling for Stan to sign this kid for months.
- DarthKane

So what you're saying is, if they sign him now, you will question the timing of the deal?

No one cares.
- Elbows15

Powers does

Yes, you can do that when you have Hossa, Toews, and Kane and still be an elite team, but we don’t have that anymore. If we can add a couple of elite forwards in the next couple of years through the draft or trade, then we can slide that type of player(Hagel)to the top six and not miss a beat.
- Angotti

Whether the six better forwards are spread over three lines, you win by having better players than the other team. If Toews comes back, how long will he be a high end player? Will Dach become one? Will Reichel? Cat is one, imo, and Kane will be for a long time. To me, getting another one is more of a necessity than a want.

Whether the six better forwards are spread over three lines, you win by having better players than the other team. If Toews comes back, how long will he be a high end player? Will Dach become one? Will Reichel? Cat is one, imo, and Kane will be for a long time. To me, getting another one is more of a necessity than a want.
- mohel

No doubts, maybe two is more of a necessity than a want.

Powers does
- tvetter

Far too much to be healthy.

Whether the six better forwards are spread over three lines, you win by having better players than the other team. If Toews comes back, how long will he be a high end player? Will Dach become one? Will Reichel? Cat is one, imo, and Kane will be for a long time. To me, getting another one is more of a necessity than a want.
- mohel

They give you a better chance of winning. There have been plenty of times when a team with a lesser roster won in the playoffs.

I’ve been calling for Stan to sign this kid for months.
- DarthKane

Is stan on speed dial?

They give you a better chance of winning. There have been plenty of times when a team with a lesser roster won in the playoffs.
- Elbows15

Getting by with less is Plan B. Winning because of a better roster is Plan A. Just my preference.

Getting by with less is Plan B. Winning because of a better roster is Plan A. Just my preference.
- mohel

Duh.

Finding a true top 6 in a hard salary cap world isn't as easy as some would think. Need at least 4 IF you have a strong bottom 6 but 5 is the most realistic. One or two of them will have to be on ELCs, IMESHO!

I'm sure both will be gone somehow prior to next season.

And you're probably right on a Joki-type trade. Someone needs to compile a list of underachieving, former 1st rounders that could use a change of scenery.
- Rota's Rooter

Said it before and will say it again. I would rather trade Boqvist and get a real player instead of taking a Nylander flyer trading a defensive prospect. Mitchell is fine not easy going from college to the NHL.

Q used that model a lot during his time in Chicago. Bickell filled that role, too. And was very effective at it in the playoffs.
- Elbows15

Currently, there's nobody close to "pre MS" Bickell on the team. That's a problem.

Thanks for the update Theo, but with all due respect, a couple of more 3 or 4th line types?
Seems as if the Hawks have that market cornered and can ice 2 teams worth of them.
- boilermaker100

Agree wholeheartedly tired of endless posts on those types of players and then next sentence is being cup relevant in two years.

Powers does
- tvetter

Powers knows very little about hockey.

Said it before and will say it again. I would rather trade Boqvist and get a real player instead of taking a Nylander flyer trading a defensive prospect. Mitchell is fine not easy going from college to the NHL.
- rpeters01

I just don't understand, he's young he's talented, he's willing to work on his defense? How do you risk having another team developed him and he ends up being top 20 dman in the league?

I just don't understand, he's young he's talented, he's willing to work on his defense? How do you risk having another team developed him and he ends up being top 20 dman in the league?
- BetweenTheDots

He seems fragile, that’s my only concern thus far.

I just don't understand, he's young he's talented, he's willing to work on his defense? How do you risk having another team developed him and he ends up being top 20 dman in the league?
- BetweenTheDots

Because I'm getting a good young "top 6" Forward back. A real, young top 6 Forward (bigger and better than Kubalik to be clear) or else Boqvist remains a Blackhawk. If we lost Boqvist does anything change very much? I think not. If we get a good young Forward does the needle move? I think moreso than keeping Boqvist and not having the Forward. The trade would have to be more complex than one for one but those two bodies would be the center pieces.

Zadorov and deHaan represent about $7.75 mil in cap space. If you can move them both in the expansion draft, free agency (Z), or a trade you gain cap space.

I would be ok going with Keith, Murphy, Kalynuk, Boqvist, Stillman, Mitchell and Beaudin. With others maybe a year or two away. This season the younger defensemen got their feet wet. This summer they get stronger and work on skills. Next year is a 2nd developmental year. Let them play together and yes make mistakes. Then you can reassess.

Because I'm getting a good young "top 6" Forward back. A real, young top 6 Forward (bigger and better than Kubalik to be clear) or else Boqvist remains a Blackhawk. If we lost Boqvist does anything change very much? I think not. If we get a good young Forward does the needle move? I think moreso than keeping Boqvist and not having the Forward. The trade would have to be more complex than one for one but those two bodies would be the center pieces.
- rpeters01

Then you are just kicking the can down the road on developing a defenseman. To me excellent defenseman, something Boqvist might become, is way more valuable than a top 6 forward, unless they are generational players, and that's not going to happen.

Then you are just kicking the can down the road on developing a defenseman. To me excellent defenseman, something Boqvist might become, is way more valuable than a top 6 forward, unless they are generational players, and that's not going to happen.
- BetweenTheDots

You have to give to get. Agree a defenseman is worth more we should do well in that trade or else not make it. We appear to have an over abundance of young defensemen and a shortage of young Forwards. I don't think taking another Nylander flyer is the way to go it's a crap shoot.

Then you are just kicking the can down the road on developing a defenseman. To me excellent defenseman, something Boqvist might become, is way more valuable than a top 6 forward, unless they are generational players, and that's not going to happen.
- BetweenTheDots

A concern I have about Boqvist is his concussion history. Even if he didn't get one recently he's had a few already while playing in Sweden and last season here. Aren't the effects of concussions cumulative? Seems like everytime Shaw gets one he out for longer periods. Yes they can happen to anybody anytime, but a next one to Boqvist could keep him out for a good part of a season. He won't be helping the team while on IR.

Scott Powers knows very little about hockey.
- Ogilthorpe2

I have to totally agree when he called the hawks fifth round defensemen pick Wyatt Kaise as the one organizational guy who "could be a number one defenseman."

Agree wholeheartedly tired of endless posts on those types of players and then next sentence is being cup relevant in two years.
- rpeters01

What choice do you have? Cheer for someone else?
No, you're just tired of no big stud players coming in and lighting up the scoresheet and team. Which is why Stan really needs some top six forwards through the draft next couple of years. What position would you hope gets filled with top players from the draft?

Among forwards, we need at leas one top sixcwho can play cycle game. One big time talent forward too. The top scorers are Kane and DeBrincat. Maybe Kubalik. Need a center.

I see us drafting one top player in '21; 2 in '22. More uncertainty in '22 among teams in the rating of players due to cuts in scouting and cuts in gp by junior players over two seasons MEANS good scouting unearths two choices in first two rounds....at least in '22. In a deep quality '22 draft some teams likely overvalue or undervalue some prospects.

Best player available.
But hope that turns out to be two forwards and a dman. What positions do you hope get shored up?img][/img]

A concern I have about Boqvist is his concussion history. Even if he didn't get one recently he's had a few already while playing in Sweden and last season here. Aren't the effects of concussions cumulative? Seems like everytime Shaw gets one he out for longer periods. Yes they can happen to anybody anytime, but a next one to Boqvist could keep him out for a good part of a season. He won't be helping the team while on IR.
- boilermaker100

Toews had several concussions early in his career missing significant time and then it's hard to say what happened? Urlacher once said he knew how to defeat the concussion test and did so more than once. I would not be surprised if Toews has done the same in the past. It is definitely a real concern.

What choice do you have? Cheer for someone else?
No, you're just tired of no big stud players coming in and lighting up the scoresheet and team. Which is why Stan really needs some top six forwards through the draft next cople of years. What position would you hope gets filled with top players from the draft?

I see one top player in '21; 2 in '22. More uncertainty in '22 among teams in the rating of players due to cuts in scouting and cuts in gp by junior players over two seasons MEANS good scouting unearths two choices in first two rounds.. In a deep quality '22 draft some teams likely overvalue or undervalue some prospects.

Best player available.
But hope that turns out to be two forwards and a dman. What positions do you hope get shored up?img]
- jhawk59[/img]

In a perfect world we would draft Hossa, Toews, Kane and Seabrook. I think we have enough "Keith's" at the moment. I would settle for a good Bickell, Ladd and Byufglien in round 2!