If a choice had to be made between Hagel and Suter, which I doubt was the case, then Hagel is the right choice.

I don't think losing Suter is the end of the world, he can be replaced by Reichel, Borgstrom or a free agent (i.e. Ritchie). What seems odd is losing Suter for nothing. I'm sure the Hawks have know Suter's salary demands for a while now, why not deal him?
- DarthKane

Maybe we can get Olli Matta back, which was the return for Kahun (who we can have again for just about free)

What direction are the Hawks going? Rebuilding was the word last year, now we go out and trade a 20 year old defenseman for 2 first round draft picks and let a 25 year old winger walk with the ability to provide secondary scoring which is needed in today’s NHL. Find a plan and stick with it, as constructed right now, the Hawks are worse than they were last year with no first round pick to boot!!

Stan has had a pretty good track record of finding and signing Euros that step in and contribute. Curious pattern emerging though that he doesn’t seem interested in keeping them around after they show what they can do in North America. Is he only looking for “lightning in a bottle” potential superstars or something? Solid role players need not apply? I wonder if he’s at all concerned that European free agents stop showing interest in Chicago because of it?

It’s weird.

What direction are the Hawks going? Rebuilding was the word last year, now we go out and trade a 20 year old defenseman for 2 first round draft picks and let a 25 year old winger walk with the ability to provide secondary scoring which is needed in today’s NHL. Find a plan and stick with it, as constructed right now, the Hawks are worse than they were last year with no first round pick to boot!!
- ChicagoHope

The angina on this board for potentially losing Suter rivals leaving Gaudette exposed for the expansion draft. Really?

We have a bunch of bottom six forwards.

Connolly
Carpenter
Borgstrom
Hardman
Entwhistle
Suter
Gaudette

Hagel
Hinostoza
Strome
Kampf
Free agent (s) ??

Where are you going to put them all?

Stan has had a pretty good track record of finding and signing Euros that step in and contribute. Curious pattern emerging though that he doesn’t seem interested in keeping them around after they show what they can do in North America. Is he only looking for “lightning in a bottle” potential superstars or something? Solid role players need not apply? I wonder if he’s at all concerned that European free agents stop showing interest in Chicago because of it?

It’s weird.
- Ogilthorpe2

They come over here a couple of years older than draftees after having played successfully in European pro leagues, which means they’re more ready to play in The Show - but also (I think) they get to FA (R or U) quicker and have arbitration rights quicker.

A good showing first season or two and they’re ready for bigger contracts - which, in a cap strapped league, presents problems.

Especially for teams like Chicago, whose GM seems to like being up against the cap. Maybe he thinks he thrives under the pressure of having to make deals to stay cap complain, or he thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room and likes to make trades that most people can write “SMH” about, convinced that the future will prove him correct.

The angina on this board for potentially losing Suter rivals leaving Gaudette exposed for the expansion draft. Really?

We have a bunch of bottom six forwards.

Connolly
Carpenter
Borgstrom
Hardman
Entwhistle
Suter
Gaudette

Hagel
Hinostoza
Strome
Kampf
Free agent (s) ??

Where are you going to put them all?
- LAHawk

I think a Gaudette, Connolly, Suter line would be nice. All 3 can skate and provide secondary scoring. Strome can be dealt, and that would not hurt my feelings at all. Maybe the Hawks feel Borgstrom and Reichel are ready for the show. Don’t know. I just don’t get the “plan” right now at all.

They come over here a couple of years older than draftees after having played successfully in European pro leagues, which means they’re more ready to play in The Show - but also (I think) they get to FA (R or U) quicker and have arbitration rights quicker.

A good showing first season or two and they’re ready for bigger contracts - which, in a cap strapped league, presents problems.

Especially for teams like Chicago, whose GM seems to like being up against the cap. Maybe he thinks he thrives under the pressure of having to make deals to stay cap complain, or he thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room and likes to make trades that most people can write “SMH” about, convinced that the future will prove him correct.
- StLBravesFan

You can say that about 90% of the GM's, and the other 10% have to deal with an owners salary cap.

I think a Gaudette, Connolly, Suter line would be nice. All 3 can skate and provide secondary scoring. Strome can be dealt, and that would not hurt my feelings at all. Maybe the Hawks feel Borgstrom and Reichel are ready for the show. Don’t know. I just don’t get the “plan” right now at all.
- ChicagoHope

the plan right now is not to pay Suter $3 mil. a year.

BTW in powers article yesterday it said Gaudette is planning on a big off season and ahs already been on the ice and been impressive per a source.

I think a Gaudette, Connolly, Suter line would be nice. All 3 can skate and provide secondary scoring. Strome can be dealt, and that would not hurt my feelings at all. Maybe the Hawks feel Borgstrom and Reichel are ready for the show. Don’t know. I just don’t get the “plan” right now at all.
- ChicagoHope

Your bottom 6 need to be able to play some defense, this line would be a disaster defensively.

the plan right now is not to pay Suter $3 mil. a year.
- LAHawk

And also TO pay Zadorov $3+ a year

Always late to the dance and wrecking Theo's early morning west coast hard work and prep for each new blog, but, here goes:

No doubt. Look back at any draft and there are tons and tons of good and bad surprises. ............ And that's the saving grace about Jones. We know he's not a bust but don't know that for certain about any draft pick/prospect.
- Mr Ricochet
- Mr Ricochet

I think you have to put the doings of the last week in perspective:
Jones is an elite level grab that hardly anyone thinks any of this draft's defenseman except Powers (and that is way far down the line.) can be. If you want meet go into that at depth, I am more than willing. He will be the anchor each and every Hawk defender will have as their example. You don't get chances at this kind of player no matter where you perceive the Blackhawk retool/rebuild is.
The only pick at this point that you can try to compare Jones with is the Cole Sillinger.
You can convince yourself he going to be a better pro.
I cannot take that opinion, knowing this draft class and what I have gauged as their upside. The stipulation that let's the Hawks Keep the pick if it raises them into the top six OR Higher to the top picks) of the much better draft class. I have no qualms seeing Shane Wright, Ivan Miroshnichenko (oh no a Russian!), Conor Geekie, Matthew Savoie, Brad Lambert, USA's Logan Cooley, all forwards that are better bets as top liners, and I am willing to throw the mean Czech we saw in World Junior U-20, David Jiricek.
All this is preliminary but our GM had good foresight on adding the provision.(MY QUESTION in the phrasing Lottery win mean the ten slot jump or just if the jump into top two you seem to be saying IS agreement.
Here is the wording:
2022 conditional 1st round pick* (CHI)
*Conditions: If Chicago wins one of the the 2022 draft lotteries, the pick becomes their 2023 1st round pick.. They could be the #16 worst team and win a ten slot drop...
There is no provision if the Blackhawks make the playoffs.
Until I see who the Columbus 2022 Blackhawk traded pick is prospect-wise, I still see the top player you rarely get to draft: a bit nasty defenseman who is effortless on his pins and HAS offensive prowess he was willing to harness to be a set up man.
This isn't Buffalo's #1 puck Dahlin still figuring it out. This is not a Gustav Forsling (who I really liked) who "gets it" but can't handle bigger bodies with regularity.

And for all the Stan-moans, I see a guy holding back $$ from his roster guys if they inflate their value in the plan. Z will have value at the deadline because of his dirty snarl and blind-sides.

Jones is a UFA guy you pay, not a fair to middlin' UFA defender whose name the sports writers have "iconned."

This Hawk draft was based on hope that each and every of their long term developmental picks in time improve and hammer out their armor's chinks. They clearly like them targeted them, not as short term answers.

Another thing: trading two years of first rounders does, is not having any of these 2nd 3rd 4th rounders guys thinking, after a nhl season, they deserve what Pius Suter wants.
All year I wonder what the attraction was. I wouldn't pay to see him, and he may find out that's the case here & elsewhere.

I think a Gaudette, Connolly, Suter line would be nice. All 3 can skate and provide secondary scoring. Strome can be dealt, and that would not hurt my feelings at all. Maybe the Hawks feel Borgstrom and Reichel are ready for the show. Don’t know. I just don’t get the “plan” right now at all.
- ChicagoHope

DeBrincat Dach Kane
Kubalik Toews/Strome Nylander/Hagel
Hagel/Conolly Strome/Borgström Gaudette/Kurashev
Hardman Entwistle/Kampf Gaudette/Conolly

Extras: Hinostroza, Carpenter.

Where does Pius play?

They come over here a couple of years older than draftees after having played successfully in European pro leagues, which means they’re more ready to play in The Show - but also (I think) they get to FA (R or U) quicker and have arbitration rights quicker.

A good showing first season or two and they’re ready for bigger contracts - which, in a cap strapped league, presents problems.

Especially for teams like Chicago, whose GM seems to like being up against the cap. Maybe he thinks he thrives under the pressure of having to make deals to stay cap complain, or he thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room and likes to make trades that most people can write “SMH” about, convinced that the future will prove him correct.
- StLBravesFan

GM's like being up against the cap because it means they possess a lot of good players.

DeBrincat Dach Kane
Kubalik Toews/Strome Nylander/Hagel
Hagel/Conolly Strome/Borgström Gaudette/Kurashev
Hardman Entwistle/Kampf Gaudette/Conolly

Extras: Hinostroza, Carpenter.

Where does Pius play?
- CSKA1981

I’d rather have him over Conolly, Nylander, Hardman, Hino, Carpenter, or Gaudette

Stan has had a pretty good track record of finding and signing Euros that step in and contribute. Curious pattern emerging though that he doesn’t seem interested in keeping them around after they show what they can do in North America. Is he only looking for “lightning in a bottle” potential superstars or something? Solid role players need not apply? I wonder if he’s at all concerned that European free agents stop showing interest in Chicago because of it?

It’s weird.
- Ogilthorpe2

I don't get it either, sure seems Stan doesn't know what's going on. If you weren't going to qualify him why didn't you trade him for something at the trade deadline, same goes with Kampf? Without McD Stan seems very unorganized or confused.

GM's like being up against the cap because it means they possess a lot of good players.
- mohel

At least in their minds

The rumour has been circulating but last night Elliotte is suggesting Chicago is after Fleury.

https://youtu.be/xi2q9f03-aM

I’d rather have him over Conolly, Nylander, Hardman, Hino, Carpenter, or Gaudette
- Ogilthorpe2

Carpenter and Hino are 13/14 at best. Hardman is a 4th liner, at least at this point. Conolly is playing due to his salary. Nylander has a much higher ceiling and should at least be given a chance.

Gaudette and Nylander also play (or should be playing) a more physical game compared to Pius whose skillset does not fit the 3rd/4th line.

The rumour has been circulating but last night Elliotte is suggesting Chicago is after Fleury.

https://youtu.be/xi2q9f03-aM
- paulr

Murray Bannerman was a great Blackhawks goaltender? WTF. And of course he omits Crawford.

I’d rather have him over Conolly, Nylander, Hardman, Hino, Carpenter, or Gaudette
- Ogilthorpe2

So you want Suter b/c he helps the Hawks win? But you also want a rebuild? If Suter wants 3 mil or more for multiple years why would the Hawks sign him?

The rumour has been circulating but last night Elliotte is suggesting Chicago is after Fleury.

https://youtu.be/xi2q9f03-aM
- paulr

Lehner would be a better option.

If the Hawks are looking to add a free agent netminder they should go with Ullmark. His numbers were solid considering the team he played on.

They come over here a couple of years older than draftees after having played successfully in European pro leagues, which means they’re more ready to play in The Show - but also (I think) they get to FA (R or U) quicker and have arbitration rights quicker.

A good showing first season or two and they’re ready for bigger contracts - which, in a cap strapped league, presents problems.

Especially for teams like Chicago, whose GM seems to like being up against the cap. Maybe he thinks he thrives under the pressure of having to make deals to stay cap complain, or he thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room and likes to make trades that most people can write “SMH” about, convinced that the future will prove him correct.
- StLBravesFan

Also to maximize LTIR, the club needs to be at or as close to the cap as possible.

BTW in powers article yesterday it said Gaudette is planning on a big off season and ahs already been on the ice and been impressive per a source.
- kmw4631

If Powers is reporting something that factually happens, I'm fine, if he reports something involving his opinion, I tend to dismiss him, simply because of his Shalunov love. Gaudette might be good, but I'll come to that conclusion.

On Suter, I don't see it as a big loss. If Bowman could have gotten something for him, then I might be a little upset. I just didn't see the greatness that most people on this board saw.

The rumour has been circulating but last night Elliotte is suggesting Chicago is after Fleury.

https://youtu.be/xi2q9f03-aM
- paulr

Interesting that Panger and includes Bannerman on his list of great Hawk goalies and not Rodney.