Hawks are putting together a team that has the potential to be very good offensively. The teams that can win can roll 4 lines. Plug away where you see question marks, but I do like the potential of the forward group.

Kubalik - Toews - ?
Debrincat - ? - Kane
Hagel - Johnson - ?
Hardman - Entwistle - ?

We had to carry more than they did last year and we don't know who will get injured between now and the start of the season. Its really not ideal.
- breadbag

Tell that to TB. It allowed them to keep their team together in an ideal way. They get hurt, put em on LTIR. Hawks have enough ELCs for it not to be an issue.

It wouldn't surprise me if Kane re-ups with Hawks similar to Ovi in Washington
- NamedSources

I dont disagree and I think that all depends where he's at in his career AND where the team is at.....he also has a wife from here, and a kid.....so he's got other factors in play.

toews hasn't been ranked a top 20 center the last few years by NHL network or other agencies. Even if healthy, I think he's a LONG Shot to make team Canada unless they take him for a checking role and rely on his intangibles (still valuable)...but hes diminishing a lot quicker than Kane before his health scare.

Don't tell this board about DeBrincat...eveyone had him gone when the fancy charts said so after last year.......ignoring the eye test and just horrible luck and confidence down in the dumps. Huge sack up by him this year and that tells you kid has "it" upstairs.

See if Dach can do something similar....big year ahead for 77
- SteveRain

Still, we've seen Toews can still produce and drive possession with his line. Both Kane and Toews have passed their peak and we've seen both move into roles where the pick their spots more than take over games with individual play. Both players are still the most effective forwards on the team when it comes to winning games and the gap between them isn't as big as some assume. The torch is passing up front with Debrincat starting to become the Hawks biggest offensive threat and hopefully Dach starting to become a legit top 6 or top line C.

Tell that to TB. It allowed them to keep their team together in an ideal way. They get hurt, put em on LTIR. Hawks have enough ELCs for it not to be an issue.
- Elbows15

When a team has enough depth they can pull out off, but we've also seen it hurt the Hawks when they have more LTIR $$ then they can hope to replace. At a certain point is just dead cap if you can't replace the players in season.

I'm still in favor of the Jones move and I also agree it's to much money and for to many assets...I think he does rebound and return to form...I don't get the Fleury move...I don't think the talent is in place to support a guy like that...plus we should've received a number 1 or multiple 2's. I would rather have Suter and/or Danault than Johnson.
- NamedSources

The Jones move was terrible for many reasons. Hamilton is about to sign for less and is still performing at a #1 level. Jones the last two seasons is pretty much at replacement levels.

FFS, the Hawks abused him last season. Signing 28+ forwards to max term is the stupidest thing GMs do.

Hossa was the exception and even he wasn't the offensive force he was in his younger days. He was just so (frank)ing good at everything else, the drop in offense was barely noticeable.

When a team has enough depth they can pull out off, but we've also seen it hurt the Hawks when they have more LTIR $$ then they can hope to replace. At a certain point is just dead cap if you can't replace the players in season.
- breadbag

Sorry, but its changed and teams have figured out how to use it to their advantage or else good teams wouldn't be taking them on.

Hawks are putting together a team that has the potential to be very good offensively. The teams that can win can roll 4 lines. Plug away where you see question marks, but I do like the potential of the forward group.

Kubalik - Toews - ?
Debrincat - ? - Kane
Hagel - Johnson - ?
Hardman - Entwistle - ?
- ChicagoHope

Possible plug ins: Reichel, Borgstrom, Gaudette, Carpenter, Nylander, Strome, and Kurashev.

Obviously Dach, but wing or center?

Possible plug ins: Reichel, Borgstrom, Gaudette, Carpenter, Nylander, Strome, and Kurashev.
- ChicagoHope

What did you trade Dach for?

Possible plug ins: Reichel, Borgstrom, Gaudette, Carpenter, Nylander, Strome, and Kurashev.

Obviously Dach, but wing or center?
- ChicagoHope

Did we trade Dach for Malkin?

Did we trade Dach for Malkin?
- NamedSources

Added at bottom, my bad, thought after post.

Did we trade Dach for Malkin?
- NamedSources

May as well. He is gonna want a new contract next season

What did you trade Dach for?
- Elbows15

He needs time in Rockford to marinate.

May as well. He is gonna want a new contract next season
- Elbows15

Will also need to resign Kubalik. Currently at 3.7. What would you give him looking at some of the mad money being thrown around? Or does he become the next Suter/Panarin situation and has priced himself away from the Hawks?

Would love to see Strome or Nylander gone, and then bring back Suter. A third line of Johnson, Suter and Hagel would be great!!

He needs time in Rockford to marinate.
- DarthKane

Marinated Dach. Is that one of Ogi's recipes? Does it add flavour if you add the second Dach?

Can we also recruit somebody named Hu or Who and put them on a line with The Dach bros? Solely so we can get a call of Dach, Dach, Hu's there!

Will also need to resign Kubalik. Currently at 3.7. What would you give him looking at some of the mad money being thrown around? Or does he become the next Suter/Panarin situation and has priced himself away from the Hawks?
- AusHawk

He scores goals. Wants a new contract. He will be traded. Freebie useful player? Who needs them.

Don't look now. Hawks are at 48M for 9 players for the 2022-2023. Please tell how this team isn't heading for cap hell and sucking?

Can we also recruit somebody named Hu or Who and put them on a line with The Dach bros? Solely so we can get a call of Dach, Dach, Hu's there!
- AusHawk

Or sign Gusev. Dach Dach Goose.

I was thinking that since the Blackhawks drafted Parker Foo a few years ago, they should draft Jack Bar this year. Good things expected from the Foo-Bar combo. Looks like Foo won't be signed anyway.....

He needs time in Rockford to marinate.
- DarthKane

Delia will be playing in Indy next season.

Clearly in the minority but the Hawks got the best player in the Jones trade by a country mile, and till proven otherwise that is how you judge a trade. Plus last I checked that exactly fits to a tee what the Hawks need most - a good 1D.

There is no need to characterize what the team is doing as a rebuild or a retooling, etc... Every team re-evaluates where its at from year to year. Currently you have 19 and 88 not getting any younger. So when you have a change to get guys like Johnson and Fleury for literally nothing, maybe you change course and make a run for it.

Not saying they'll be the favorites, but the Hawks are much better suited for a run now than they were a week ago.

This feels like 2020 all over again. Things being flipped around in bizarro world fashion.

I’m developing a theory that someone developed a time machine and caused a paradox and that’s why everything has been so FUBAR.

Or maybe Wirtz is pulling a Major League (the movie).

New blog! A look at the Blackhawks trades for Marc-Andre Fleury and Tyler Johnson on the eve of today's NHL free agency period.

Plus, thoughts on what could go down with more Hawks transactions to continue reshaping the roster and direction of the franchise.

https://bit.ly/3rHI9Ay

Made a fabulous Thai Green Curry for lunch today. Then I flew an airplane. Did you know I could do that?
- Ogilthorpe2

Aww. Don't be like that.