Greene and Nazar both are returning to college. Hayes most likely will go back to juniors cause that and the NHL are his only options.
- Elbows15

Ok, fair, but this shows me how bare the Hawks forward depth is currently. Kids are coming, but not for awhile yet. Bedard excites me, but next year could still be tough to score even with 98. Hate to kill the optimism, but we are definitely not going to be really good for awhile yet. I think when Bedard hits the last year of his ELC, we will see the Hawks start to play how KD and LR want.

I thought so too but not according to CapFriendly. He is a RFA with arbitration rights. Plus, I recall his QO being a talking point before the trade. Its the same as Dinky's or close to it. 9M
- Elbows15

Sportrac has him as UFA but puckpedia has the same as capfriendly. Explains why New Jersey wasn’t in a rush to sign him.

Sportrac has him as UFA but puckpedia has the same as capfriendly. Explains why New Jersey wasn’t in a rush to sign him.
- LAHawk

That’s why San Jose dealt him, pending UFA because they knew he was not coming back to them. He was a rental for NJ.

Yep, and KD would have to be nuts to give up draft capital to that extent, when in middle of rebuild.
- Angotti

If he is UFA, kinda confusing there, you do your job as a GM and take a run at him. He is young enough to still be a factor as the Hawks continue to build.

Miles Wood makes 3.2m? Hard pass on him if he is looking for more than that.
- Elbows15

Alex Killorn would be a great flippable asset on a one year deal, but some playoff team will find room for him. Detroit has plenty of room for him, and there is the Yzerman/Lalonde connection.

Ok, fair, but this shows me how bare the Hawks forward depth is currently. Kids are coming, but not for awhile yet. Bedard excites me, but next year could still be tough to score even with 98. Hate to kill the optimism, but we are definitely not going to be really good for awhile yet. I think when Bedard hits the last year of his ELC, we will see the Hawks start to play how KD and LR want.
- ChicagoHope

LOL. I have been saying pretty much the same thing all season. Their forward group, as far as prospect go, isn't even in RFD. A couple will filter in this upcoming season that have aged out of juniors but most are at least a year away from being in the Rock. Bedard is a great piece to have but he is just the start.


He is the backhoe to start digging the foundation is my analogy.

If he is UFA, kinda confusing there, you do your job as a GM and take a run at him. He is young enough to still be a factor as the Hawks continue to build.
- Elbows15

Thing is guys are going to want to come here sooner than later. Guys will want to play with Bedard, I agree I would reach out to the Meier camp. Bedard, Reichel and Meier would be a nice 1st line for a long time.

LOL. I have been saying pretty much the same thing all season. Their forward group, as far as prospect go, isn't even in RFD. A couple will filter in this upcoming season that have aged out of juniors but most are at least a year away from being in the Rock. Bedard is a great piece to have but he is just the start.


He is the backhoe to start digging the foundation is my analogy.
- Elbows15

This IMO is a make or break year for Kurashev, especially since he will not be the #1 center.

It’s completely unacceptable that the NHL’s only punishment against the Blackhawks for covering up sexual assault was a $2 million fine. A fine that the Blackhawks have since recouped — and then some — in ticket revenue just hours after winning the draft lottery. It was unacceptable then, and it’s even more outrageous now.

The NHL already failed Kyle Beach — John Doe 1 in the case — in the decade it took for his story to come to light. Not to mention Brad Aldrich’s other unnamed victims who were allowed to languish as the Blackhawks kept their sexual assault reports private. And now, every cent the Blackhawks make off of Bedard is yet another black stain on the NHL for failing to enact any semblance of a proper punishments on this organization.
WAKIE UP "LITTLE" GARY BETTMAN, YOU JUST SET THE NATIONAL GARBAGE LEAGUE BACK TO THE OLD DAYS, NOT EVEN RANKED 4TH IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, BUT CLOSER TO 7TH!
- IBleedBlu1

It's disappointing what happened to Shore, but it's time to move on. Almost everyone on the Hawks at the time has been fired (outside of the Wirtz).

I haven't heard anything about this scandal for over a year! And now that the Hawks won the draft, many of fans are demanding the pick be voided as a result of the scandal...

If these fans were so passionate about this subject, they would have demanded the pick be voided BEFORE the hawks won the draft... But really, it's just a bunch of angry fans that won't get to see the next Generational Talent on their team!

Alex Killorn would be a great flippable asset on a one year deal, but some playoff team will find room for him. Detroit has plenty of room for him, and there is the Yzerman/Lalonde connection.
- LAHawk

Agreed. Think he will look to latch on with a contender and at his age, no way would I offer him a multi year deal.

Unless KD offered a VG 1 year deal and the promise he could pick his landing spot to a certain extent, I don't see as in play.

This IMO is a make or break year for Kurashev, especially since he will not be the #1 center.
- LAHawk

Kurashev is a middle 6 forward. Unfortunately, he has to play on the top 2 lines in Chicago. If the Hawks had better top 6 forwards, a 3rd line of Richardinson, Kurashev and Guttman would be nice.
Note: Forgot Richardinson on my forward list earlier. That’s 7 forwards, 9 if you count on the Hawks signing Kurashev and Anderson.

This IMO is a make or break year for Kurashev, especially since he will not be the #1 center.
- LAHawk

Wish he could put it all together. He could be a very nice 3rd liner who could fill in on a 2nd line if need cause of injuries.

He is still worth another year to me. Especially on this team. There are parts to like.

Thing is guys are going to want to come here sooner than later. Guys will want to play with Bedard, I agree I would reach out to the Meier camp. Bedard, Reichel and Meier would be a nice 1st line for a long time.
- ChicagoHope

More important to find the right guys, imo. Guys who fit what KD is trying to build. Vets who will still show up out of passion instead of paycheck

More important to find the right guys, imo. Guys who fit what KD is trying to build. Vets who will still show up out of passion instead of paycheck
- Elbows15

Agreed, but I have confidence in KD and LR, they are setting a culture. They want competitive guys that care and want to be Blackhawks.

That’s why San Jose dealt him, pending UFA because they knew he was not coming back to them. He was a rental for NJ.
- ChicagoHope

Nice to see you back posting regularly.

Have to disagree about Meier. He is a RFA with arb rights. He is due a 10M QO. San Jose either didn't want to pay that or extend him so they moved him to help their tank and receive some picks and prospects to aid their rebuild.

Only way the Hawks get him is to submit an offer sheet or trade for his rights each option costing lots of draft capital.

NJ can keep him for a year by qualifying him while working on an extension with him. If no extension can be worked out NJ would trade him to recover the assets they gave up for him before letting him walk as an UFA next summer.

IMO the timing just isn't right to pursue Meier.

Nice to see you back posting regularly.

Have to disagree about Meier. He is a RFA with arb rights. He is due a 10M QO. San Jose either didn't want to pay that or extend him so they moved him to help their tank and receive some picks and prospects to aid their rebuild.

Only way the Hawks get him is to submit an offer sheet or trade for his rights each option costing lots of draft capital.

NJ can keep him for a year by qualifying him while working on an extension with him. If no extension can be worked out NJ would trade him to recover the assets they gave up for him before letting him walk as an UFA next summer.

IMO the timing just isn't right to pursue Meier.
- boilermaker100

Hey bolier, thought for sure he was a UFA. Thanks for the clarification. Unfortunately, my new job keeps me posting as much as I would like. Thanks for the kind words though.

Hey bolier, thought for sure he was a UFA. Thanks for the clarification. Unfortunately, my new job keeps me posting as much as I would like. Thanks for the kind words though.
- ChicagoHope

I thought he was a UFA also.

Looking at the current roster, who are our 12 forwards? Bedard, Reichel, Raddysh, Katchouk, Johnson, Guttman, Kurashev?, Anderson?, That’s 8, if the Hawks resign Kurashev and Anderson. Any prospects stand out with a shot of playing? Hayes, Greene, Nazar, etc…. There are spots there in the forward ranks, but I don’t see the Hawks rushing any kid that’s not ready. I am sure KD will have to add a couple of FA’s to help him get to the cap floor. Still a ways off before this forward group is really good.
- ChicagoHope

Well there's Entwistle, Bjork. R Johnson and Guttman but you can't put all these along with the ones you mentioned above on the roster because the Hawks will be way under the cap floor. Have to obtain 3 or 4 forwards in the 3M to 5M range either as free agents or via trade as a cap dump.

I thought he was a UFA also.
- LAHawk

Just did some research, boiler and elbows are correct. Sorry guys, you 2 were correct.

Keep on drafting. We don't need a Hossa type until we know we are one piece shy. We need Bolland's AND Versteeg's. We need Sharps and Ladd's. Most of all we need a Crawford or Esposito. We need kids to grow together as a team. I would love to have Toews or Seabrook behind the bench. And not to get off subject but...that was a no on the sliders?
- bjphawkfan

Not sure about Toews and/or Seabs behind the bench but think you are spot on with the rest of your post.

Timing will be critical when adding, and probably over paying in term and or dollars, a top line FA to "get em over the top".

I don't totally disagree with RainMan only on the timing of signing a top guy like Matthews. The toughest thing to do in hockey is to score goals and a guy like Matthews can, BUT is that what the Hawks will need when the time comes to go deep in the playoffs?

They may need some grit, a goalie, a 1st pairing Dman. Think TOR would rather have Tavares or his salary to pay for a 1st rotation Dman and some left over for a legit goalie?

Well there's Entwistle, Bjork. R Johnson and Guttman but you can't put all these along with the ones you mentioned above on the roster because the Hawks will be way under the cap floor. Have to obtain 3 or 4 forwards in the 3M to 5M range either as free agents or via trade as a cap dump.
- boilermaker100

Ready to move on from R. Johnson and Entwhistle. Liked what I saw from Bjork in a small sample size however.

I thought he was a UFA also.
- LAHawk

See the Devils roster on cap friendly or puckpedia. Both show him as a RFA after this season.

Agree to disagree Steve, you don’t see my point and I don’t see yours.
- paulr

Paul, I agree with you but think RainMan's argument has some merit just that the timing is off to get loced into a Matthews type too early. He'd probably be 30ish when the Hawks start to make a push and have developed enough players in the system to make a difference.......... Plus, there is no way of knowing what kind of player(s) will be needed as the final piece(s).

But until then I like Domi, Bunting, Hathaway, Reeves type players to add some skill for Bedard to play with and some muscle to do some policing.

I love it, it's going to take us forever to rebuild. The hockey Gods award us with the 1st pick of a generational player=we can't wait for anyone to develop and we got to sign premium FAs now. As Tom Waddle says slow your roll guys. We don't even know what we got in last years draft, we haven't even drafted this year. Sheesh

See the Devils roster on cap friendly or puckpedia. Both show him as a RFA after this season.
- boilermaker100

Devils were adamant about not spending assets/draft picks on a UFA rental. I think they realized they probably weren't ready to win a cup or get to the Finals this yr so they weren't going the rental route.

If they can't sign Meir they have a choice of trading him at the TDL next yr or keeping him themselves as a rental....... No doubt Mer is an RFA.