Saad?
- Theo Fox

Baby Jagr himself…..Fro

One reason why I am (overly) optimistic about this season and the Hawks chances for a non-wild card playoff spot is Fleury. On paper, the blueline looks better but we'll see how it holds up.

But Fleury can at least keep the Hawks in games. The rest of the team needs to pull their weight by defending well and executing on the

If they don't, then Fleury standing on his head can only take a team so far.

That 3rd place prediction is the optimist in me. The realist says fighting for a wild card.
- Theo Fox

Agreed all points

Also just noticed that Calgary re-signed Zadorov for one year $3.75. Sutter will like him

Seems like that’s the case with most goalies, at least when compared to their skating peers.
- Ogilthorpe2

Which if that's the case, then I like how the Hawks pursue older free agents (young 20s) like Lankinen and Soderblom rather than teenage draftees.

Same with college free agents like Delia and Morris.

Great points and reasons why adding a lottery ticket like Soderblom is a big plus.

There's the argument, too, that if he's so good then why was he never drafted. Late bloomer, I guess.

But as you pointed out, he's further along than a draft pick which is what the Hawks need, i.e. a viable goalie sooner than later.

If he clicks, it then buys time for Commesso to develop at the right pace and not rush him.
- Theo Fox

That's why I added the comment about the development curve. It makes more sense to me to let goalies develop on a longer timeframe and then get them under contract, instead of trying to project them when they are in their teens.

MacKenzie Entwistle is a kid I want to see more of. While I understand the label of him being a "4th liner" I think he still can potentially hit that 3rd line output. The role player who does their job but still has a nose for the net to get that 12-15 goals and 30-35 points. Maybe he doesn't get there, but I don't think that ship has sailed yet when he is just 22 years old.

Saad?
- Theo Fox

I thought he may be the missing link for the Aves but he obviously wasn’t that guy. Now I’m not suggesting or proposing a trade but Toews could be that guy provided he can still play at a high level and is healthy. Obviously though there is zero chance for the Aves to make it work for many reasons.

That's why I added the comment about the development curve. It makes more sense to me to let goalies develop on a longer timeframe and then get them under contract, instead of trying to project them when they are in their teens.
- Chunk

Exactly. My thoughts to the T.

MacKenzie Entwistle is a kid I want to see more of. While I understand the label of him being a "4th liner" I think he still can potentially hit that 3rd line output. The role player who does their job but still has a nose for the net to get that 12-15 goals and 30-35 points. Maybe he doesn't get there, but I don't think that ship has sailed yet when he is just 22 years old.
- breadbag

I agree, not just Entwistle but also Hardman, Slavin, Barratt, and Altybarmakian can project to the 3rd line if they can produce offensively at the NHL level. If not, then the Hawks would still have a very good 4th line.

Derek King does say that Entwistle needs to flex his offensive muscles more because he's definitely got the skill.

It could be that Entwistle is just so defensively wired and doing the other things that help teams win that pushing his own pace offensively is a lower priority for him.

I thought he may be the missing link for the Aves but he obviously wasn’t that guy. Now I’m not suggesting or proposing a trade but Toews could be that guy provided he can still play at a high level and is healthy. Obviously though there is zero chance for the Aves to make it work for many reasons.
- paulr

I thought so, too, about Saad to be honest.

That would be an interesting proposition for the Avs to pursue Toews. The return wouldn't be great unless he plays a majority of the season and at the same or slightly lower clip than before he sat out last season.

My greedy self would still ask for a 1st round pick then go from there. Sakic is a shrewd GM, though, so he'd play hardball.

I thought so, too, about Saad to be honest.

That would be an interesting proposition for the Avs to pursue Toews. The return wouldn't be great unless he plays a majority of the season and at the same or slightly lower clip than before he sat out last season.

My greedy self would still ask for a 1st round pick then go from there. Sakic is a shrewd GM, though, so he'd play hardball.
- Theo Fox

If Sakic thought Toews, or another player, could elevate the team from contender to favorite he’d be more than willing to part with a huge return, provided the GM Sakic negotiates with is just as shrewd.

And I wouldn’t stop at a first round pick which would late anyway. I’d want Byram at the very least.

I thought so, too, about Saad to be honest.

That would be an interesting proposition for the Avs to pursue Toews. The return wouldn't be great unless he plays a majority of the season and at the same or slightly lower clip than before he sat out last season.

My greedy self would still ask for a 1st round pick then go from there. Sakic is a shrewd GM, though, so he'd play hardball.
- Theo Fox

If I recollect correctly Saad had a good playoff run for them, although obviously it was short lived. I thought that he was a good complimentary player for them. They’re a great team, but like Paul mentioned something is missing there. One thing for sure, Makar is definitely worth the price of admission, what a great skater.

If Sakic thought Toews, or another player, could elevate the team from contender to favorite he’d be more than willing to part with a huge return, provided the GM Sakic negotiates with is just as shrewd.

And I wouldn’t stop at a first round pick which would late anyway. I’d want Byram at the very least.
- paulr

I don’t believe that the Hawks will ever trade Toews, he’s worth more to the Hawks than the return they’ll get for him. Hey, I’ve been wrong before(once I think), but doubt that they would move him.

A true #1 goalie may be the most important player on the team. Maybe why Montreal (Price), Vegas (Fleury), Tampa (Vasilevskiy) were in the final 4. (You can make the case that the Islanders were there because the goaltending for Boston, Washington, and Pittsburgh was not exactly stellar.)

However you only need to find one or develop one and then hold onto them. You do not need be 4 or 6 or 10 deep in your system. One elite goalie can block a 2nd elite goalie for several seasons.

Do the Hawks have an elite goalie? At times last year Lankinen looked elite with a defense in front of him resembling the keystone Cops. Crawford was 26 when he became the #1 goalie and won his first cup at 28. Lankinen is 25, Soderblom 22, Commesso 19. Are any of the 4 elite? Not sure. Could they be good enough to win a cup? Since 2000 Raanta was, Crawford was, Cam Ward was, Giguere was, Murray was, Khabibulin was, Osgood was, Thomas was, etc... As important as the goalie position is, it is still a team game and like the Hawks with Niemi and Crawford, you need a good team around them and you need them to be really good in most of the playoff games.

If I recollect correctly Saad had a good playoff run for them, although obviously it was short lived. I thought that he was a good complimentary player for them. They’re a great team, but like Paul mentioned something is missing there. One thing for sure, Makar is definitely worth the price of admission, what a great skater.
- Angotti

Vegas forechecked and checked the Colorado defenseman to submission. Only big defenseman they had was Graves (who is now in New Jersey). Vegas hit Sam Girard like they hit Bovquist in the bubble, with the same result.

I don’t believe that the Hawks will ever trade Toews, he’s worth more to the Hawks than the return they’ll get for him. Hey, I’ve been wrong before(once I think), but doubt that they would move him.
- Angotti

I wasn’t really suggesting they trade Toews. I was more suggesting the type of player. Like you I don’t see him being traded and like you I’ve been wrong before. Unlike you I’m wrong much of the time. IF Toews or Kane were ever to be traded, I’d hope Colorado would be the type of team they’d go to.

If I recollect correctly Saad had a good playoff run for them, although obviously it was short lived. I thought that he was a good complimentary player for them. They’re a great team, but like Paul mentioned something is missing there. One thing for sure, Makar is definitely worth the price of admission, what a great skater.
- Angotti

He had 8pts in 10 games (7 goals). Yeah, he wasn't the problem and is a really good piece during a playoff run. I think their problem is that they don't have the right players in their bottom 6. I also think they really missed having Kadri on the ice during the playoffs. He's a knucklehead, but he is a very effective hockey player.

If Sakic thought Toews, or another player, could elevate the team from contender to favorite he’d be more than willing to part with a huge return, provided the GM Sakic negotiates with is just as shrewd.

And I wouldn’t stop at a first round pick which would late anyway. I’d want Byram at the very least.
- paulr

Toews to Col, 50% retained, and then trade him back to Chicago after the Aves raise the Cup.

BTW, if we retain 50%, and then end up with him (or any player) before the contract expires, how is that on the books? Do we get the ability to retain salary back?

Ya. Right.

Those 4 are Top six on virtually every team in the league. Pick any one of them....put them on any of the other 31 teams and I bet 27 or more of the 31 teams would use them in the Top 6.

Don't be a twat just to be a twat. Those 4 guys are Top 6 forwards. Period.
- hawk35

I'm not thinking of next year I'm looking long term and not liking what I see upfront compared to goalie. Lankinen and Subban did not hold us back last year.

On what the Avalanche are missing. I read in the Avs blog here on hockey buzz, one time, that McKinnon is reallly strict about his routines and off season. Hires a nutrionalist in the offseason, is kind of hard on players in practice, like Michael Jordan use to be, and several other things too. He did not have a good playoff this year and he is the leader. Excellent player, but maybe he needs to loosen up some. Focused and serious is good but one cannot let it take you over. Remember, he is the captain and they presumably follow his lead. Even "Captain serious" has over the years gotten away from that character, but when watching Toews throughout the years, he still remains focused and is fiere competitor.

He had 8pts in 10 games (7 goals). Yeah, he wasn't the problem and is a really good piece during a playoff run. I think their problem is that they don't have the right players in their bottom 6. I also think they really missed having Kadri on the ice during the playoffs. He's a knucklehead, but he is a very effective hockey player.
- Chunk

You have a legit point about the bottom six but I look at the leadership of the Aves compared to the Hawks in their hey day and there’s no comparison. If that idiot Kadri would grow up and stop getting suspended in the playoffs that would be huge. I look at Toews, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook etc and think they’d work with a guy like Kadri to play on the edge but not over it similar to Shaw, Eager, Buff etc.

I'm not thinking of next year I'm looking long term and not liking what I see upfront compared to goalie. Lankinen and Subban did not hold us back last year.
- rpeters01

Really? You don't remember that one game where Lankinen let in that softie and turned the momentum of the....

You have a legit point about the bottom six but I look at the leadership of the Aves compared to the Hawks in their hey day and there’s no comparison. If that idiot Kadri would grow up and stop getting suspended in the playoffs that would be huge. I look at Toews, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook etc and think they’d work with a guy like Kadri to play on the edge but not over it similar to Shaw, Eager, Buff etc.
- paulr

Stop right there! I just want to bask in that one. Don't think I'll ever hear it again.

Vegas forechecked and checked the Colorado defenseman to submission. Only big defenseman they had was Graves (who is now in New Jersey). Vegas hit Sam Girard like they hit Bovquist in the bubble, with the same result.
- LAHawk

Maybe they needed Zadorov.

Maybe they needed Zadorov.
- Angotti

Or Jones.

Stop right there! I just want to bask in that one. Don't think I'll ever hear it again.
- Chunk

You have a legit point.