People will choose to hate who they want to. We are all guilty of it.

Any GM in the league would explore trading for Matthews if he were available this summer. Now what price he costs, etc...could deter some teams but I don't see people nit picking his game.

Great call on Tampa. STL as well. Yzerman had that stigma for YEARS until he won.
- SteveRain

Only as a player though when there was no cap..........

Do you want a consistent 40 plus goal scorer or a player who’s shown he knows how to win? Do you sacrifice that much cap for 40-50 or 60 regular season goals then see he’s unable to bring his game to the next level?
- paulr

Again, you are arguing semantics here. His numbers show he does bring it come playoff time.....44 points in 48 games and 22 goals? 5 gwg? For a team that just finally won round 1? yeah....I'll roll my dice. If his numbers were Marner or Nylander? Not a chance in hell. The leafs aren't advancing because of Matthews. There are others who are more to blame.

So are you telling me Matthews has scored all his playoff goals from the outside, and empty nets? No greasy goals? All 22? Never has won a 50/50 battle at any point? I get you have an axe to grind with him....but this seems over the top.

How much do you want out of your 1C? What if they had a more defensive minded 2c, and your typical checking 3C and 4C? Not all 1Cs have to play the PK.....

The Toews/Kopitars of the world are unicorns.


And again....the kid will be 27 IF he is an UFA in 2 years. 27. Still plently of years left to get massive ROI on this deal. toronto would be dumb to let him walk.

Yes, but they aren't trading him as a liability. Garland is a solid all around player that has a reasonable cap hit and no contract restrictions. Vancouver could definitely at least get net value on a trade for him. So why would they package an asset and trade him at a loss? Maybe if Benning or another retard like Hextall were there.
- jfkst1

Teams know Vancouver is in a bind with the cap, they’re paying to move a contract one way or another.

I wouldn’t be opposed to trading for Garland, but the Hawks could get the same production from Domi for the same price, without giving up an asset.

Last year I thought Marner was a really good two way player but like Matthews he has demonstrated over seven years he’s unable to elevate his game when it matters. He’s another guy I’d prefer to let another overpay for.
- paulr

People said the same thing about Ovechkin, Stamkos, and countless others....and they were wrong.

All 32 gms would be on the phone instantly if Dubas made him available. Some have zero shot (cap room and asking price) but he would be coveted.

I'd 100% sign Matthews if he hit the market. They have 41 million in cap space this year and 71+ million after that. All the hype around the Nazar's of the world is cool.....but not every prospect will HIT. Some get a look and get dealt for other needs (ruutu for ladd)....some get sold high (Bochenski for Versteeg) or Eillison for Sharp

How many Jack Skille's have there been?

Unless there is a CAN NOT MISS player they are 100% confident hits and are willing to risk their jobs on it (forget bedard) then I am not in favor of blowing draft capital to slide up to #5. Because of if that player becomes Kirby Dach 2.0, I would fire Davidson in a heartbeat for that blunder. Makes no sense to trade draft capital when you are rebuilding.

NOw....the major riddle begins to unwind. How much pressure is Faulkner going to push on Danny Wirtz after getting all those tickets sold and does ownership force Davidson to fast forward his plan now? That's what scares me the most. We saw it with McEgo.....so we can't dismiss it........Hell I received an email from a ticket rep at 906 pm Monday night asking if I wanted to "come back".........
- SteveRain

Matthews hits the market in 2 yrs at 27 yrs old and in his prime. He'll cost 13-14 mil per for 7 yrs. 4 yrs from now Bedard will cost around 13 mil per assuming he clicks. If the cap is 90 mil then their yearly hit will be 27 mil which is 30% of the cap.

You want a top heavy roster 4 yrs from now?

IMO you will not get around having to draft well not only for talented players but talented players on cost effective contracts. IMO it is then that you look to add a difference maker from outside the organIzation be it thru free agency or a trade and then make a real run at the cup in 4-5 yrs.

haha right going to be a lot of fun!
- Zach Jarom

Like I said on Monday night, who really won the lottery, Hawks or Zach

I think he'll follow suit. 5-10 and 200 pounds (I realize he's not there yet) is a fire hydrant on wheels and with hands as fast as Bruce Lee makes him a dangerous player in any era.
- Dirk33Graham

Charlie R from NBC Sports Chicago has been talking about his legs (a little creepy) since they won the lottery, he listed him at 195 right now.

Last year I thought Marner was a really good two way player but like Matthews he has demonstrated over seven years he’s unable to elevate his game when it matters. He’s another guy I’d prefer to let another overpay for.
- paulr

It's also a really tough league. Florida has a good team and is getting crazy lucky in terms of goaltending. They're also doing a good job parking the bus.

I think it's more a function of the cap being the cap vs anything else and in the playoffs goofy stuff happens. Everyone kinda knows they suck past their first two lines and their blue line is mediocre.

Putting it all on Marner and Matthews is kinda like saying it was Kane and Panarin's fault they couldn't get past STL or Nashville.

Again, you are arguing semantics here. His numbers show he does bring it come playoff time.....44 points in 48 games and 22 goals? 5 gwg? For a team that just finally won round 1? yeah....I'll roll my dice. If his numbers were Marner or Nylander? Not a chance in hell. The leafs aren't advancing because of Matthews. There are others who are more to blame.

So are you telling me Matthews has scored all his playoff goals from the outside, and empty nets? No greasy goals? All 22? Never has won a 50/50 battle at any point? I get you have an axe to grind with him....but this seems over the top.

How much do you want out of your 1C? What if they had a more defensive minded 2c, and your typical checking 3C and 4C? Not all 1Cs have to play the PK.....

The Toews/Kopitars of the world are unicorns.


And again....the kid will be 27 IF he is an UFA in 2 years. 27. Still plently of years left to get massive ROI on this deal. toronto would be dumb to let him walk.
- SteveRain

Better look up the word semantics.

Steve, forget his goals for a moment. He’s been on teams that have underachieved at least three of the last seven seasons. This year could be the fourth. And yes there are others to blame. But against Tampa last season, Montreal two seasons ago and Columbus before that and really Florida this year, the Leafs, based on regular season play are heads and tails the better team. Why would you want the Hawks to take a chance on him when he hasn’t proven he can drive his team? Like I said if his asking price wasn’t top dollar I’d be all for it, but based on his overall game, performance and successes I’m not sure he’s worth it.

I like Gallant, i think the gm was trying to save his job, keep in mind though they made the playoffs again. Can't help it the gm got the wrong pieces for the playoffs

I remember Bowman trading for Fleischman and Weise for Danault, and those players weren't even used in the playoffs, i think Q was fired first
- BetweenTheDots

The Rangers underperformed in the first half of the season, also. We remember how they turned it around for a bit after their loss to the Hawks. Something was amiss before that run, beyond whatever personnel they needed at the deadline. We could argue that they didn't get the right pieces for the postseason, but if they stopped responding to Gallant, or there was untenable friction in the clubhouse, it matters less.

Whoever coaches the Rangers next needs to get more buy-in from Panarin, just as Trotz did with Ovechkin.

One could also argue that the Rangers ran into a hot goalie after NJ switched goalies, and never could regain their mojo after that. It was crazy how the series turned on a dime. The Rangers were headed for a sweep before that change.

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed goaltender Arvid Soderblom to a two-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.
The deal carries an average annual value of $962,500.

It's also a really tough league. Florida has a good team and is getting crazy lucky in terms of goaltending. They're also doing a good job parking the bus.

I think it's more a function of the cap being the cap vs anything else and in the playoffs goofy stuff happens. Everyone kinda knows they suck past their first two lines and their blue line is mediocre.

Putting it all on Marner and Matthews is kinda like saying it was Kane and Panarin's fault they couldn't get past STL or Nashville.
- fattybeef

Four out of seven years? And yes the leafs do have deficiencies but why are they consistently a top regular season team and then suck in the playoffs? Do Marner, Matthews and Nylander get credit in the regular season and absolved in the playoffs?

Charlie R from NBC Sports Chicago has been talking about his legs (a little creepy) since they won the lottery, he listed him at 195 right now.
- vabeachbear

I don't get equating height to size or strength.

Certainly if their head is lower that opens up to head injuries - I buy that argument but him @ 185 vs I dunno say Kirby Dach at 195 (and 6 inches taller) who do you think is going to end up on their ass more?

Four out of seven years? And yes the leafs do have deficiencies but why are they consistently a top regular season team and then suck in the playoffs? Do Marner, Matthews and Nylander get credit in the regular season and absolved in the playoffs?
- paulr

They're a good regular season team. The capitals have won their division 10 times in the last 15 years (9 +100 point seasons) and only have one cup with 0 conference finals appearances.

Does that mean its all OV's fault and that he's not relevant because of their lack of success in terms of cups or finals appearences?

You know Zach when you came aboard last year i thought what a poopty time to be covering the Blackhawks, amazing how all that changed in one night.
- BetweenTheDots

I see it the other way, Dots. Zach got in on the ground floor of a whole new management group, new coaches, new plan and a total tear down. A new era. Man, that is a lot of material for a blogger to tackle and yrs and ys of it.

To me it's more interesting than a cup run. Speaking for myself I've never visited this site more than when they started with the hiring of KD and the subsequent tear down. Now that Bedard has been won I'm on this site more than ever including the cup yrs and I've been here since 2009.

Fascinating time to be a Hawk's fan even more so than the cup yrs. Hindsight, and age, shows the journey is the best part of life's best things and Hawk's fans are on that journey.

Then the Hawks should not have signed Hossa? They were a rebuilding team at that time? the 3 cups was not worth the cap issues in subsequent years? i bet the players will say differently.
- LAHawk

You guys have a much better memory than me but IIRC the Hawks were loaded when they signed Hossa as the missing piece, no?

IMO it's waaaaaaay too early to be looking for a high priced long term FA. Maybe after Korchinski, Nazar types have a couple yrs in the Bigs and Vlasic, Kaiser and Phillips have 3-4 yrs in and are the core of the defense. And al the while you keep drafting and developing. That's when you add a Hossa type.

Teams know Vancouver is in a bind with the cap, they’re paying to move a contract one way or another.

I wouldn’t be opposed to trading for Garland, but the Hawks could get the same production from Domi for the same price, without giving up an asset.
- DarthKane

My point is Garland has no trade protections so multiple playoff teams would definitely value him for futures straight up. Which is a much better offer to Vancouver than trading down in the draft.

I think he'll follow suit. 5-10 and 200 pounds (I realize he's not there yet) is a fire hydrant on wheels and with hands as fast as Bruce Lee makes him a dangerous player in any era.
- Dirk33Graham

Bobby Hull was 5' 10' 180

Matthews hits the market in 2 yrs at 27 yrs old and in his prime. He'll cost 13-14 mil per for 7 yrs. 4 yrs from now Bedard will cost around 13 mil per assuming he clicks. If the cap is 90 mil then their yearly hit will be 27 mil which is 30% of the cap.

You want a top heavy roster 4 yrs from now?

IMO you will not get around having to draft well not only for talented players but talented players on cost effective contracts. IMO it is then that you look to add a difference maker from outside the organIzation be it thru free agency or a trade and then make a real run at the cup in 4-5 yrs.
- Mr Ricochet

Hawks had a pretty top heavy team from 2009-now and it did OK.......

Ok...so if they draft somebody next year and get lucky and get the 2nd or 3rd overall pick and said player becomes another super star.....they;ll have to pay said player almost an identical wage.

If people think you are going to get away with just Bedard and then have an army of guys making 6 million....you can enjoy 1st and 2nd round exits yearly.

Better look up the word semantics.

Steve, forget his goals for a moment. He’s been on teams that have underachieved at least three of the last seven seasons. This year could be the fourth. And yes there are others to blame. But against Tampa last season, Montreal two seasons ago and Columbus before that and really Florida this year, the Leafs, based on regular season play are heads and tails the better team. Why would you want the Hawks to take a chance on him when he hasn’t proven he can drive his team? Like I said if his asking price wasn’t top dollar I’d be all for it, but based on his overall game, performance and successes I’m not sure he’s worth it.
- paulr

Are the playoffs a smaller sample size than the regular season?

Again...what else can the guy do? I am asking.....I try and watch the leafs and stomach it....but I don't see Matthews not giving it his all during the playoffs. He produces. He's 1 out of 18 to blame when they implode before you look at coaching and how the lineup is constructed. Are they scoring enough to win games? Is he producing enough to win games? IMO.....the last few years....yes, yes he is.

This isn't a Panarin situation when he disappears and doesn't produce.

Again, what is top dollar? It's relative to whatever the cap is.....he's won the hart, calder and richard x 2.

The guy produces and if he has won a MVP.....odds are he made somebody better at some point.

If you want to argue he wasn't won....I get it but I don't put it on him. He's producing come playoffs.

Like I said on Monday night, who really won the lottery, Hawks or Zach
- vabeachbear

Chicago won

Should be targeting Myers or Boeser. That'll likely be moved as liabilities where Chicago can weaponize their cap space.
- jfkst1

Eww. Myers would drive you nuts in about a week and Boeser is not the type of player KD is targeting at all.

So valuable they want to dump his contract
- BetweenTheDots

Take a look at their cap situation. They are at the cap already with 17 players. They tried moving Boeser at the TDL and there isn't much interest at his cap hit. JT miller just signed a new deal which kicks in when he is 31.

People said the same thing about Ovechkin, Stamkos, and countless others....and they were wrong.

All 32 gms would be on the phone instantly if Dubas made him available. Some have zero shot (cap room and asking price) but he would be coveted.
- SteveRain

See this is when GMs get in trouble, having tunnel vision, hate to say it Steve but you do for Matthews.

Why would i want to sign a guy who will be 27 and my team won't be ready for the playoffs probably when he's 30.

I don't struggle, i just disagree that you can build a team waiting for your homegrown draft choices to hopefully all pan out, and in the exact positions/type of players that you need at the time.

you wouldn't have traded for Fiala or Meier, i would. I can say you struggle with how I believe the next chapter should be built.
- LAHawk

I already posted the timing isn't right to get a top FA IMO but Matthews at 15 mil per is much different than a Fiala type at 8 mil per or a Meir type at say 10 mil per.

Isn't SEA showing us the advantages of going 4 lines deep? Or to a lesser degree FLA with rugged players like Tkachuk at 9,5 per, Bennet at 4.5 per, Gudas at 2.5 per, even a rugged depth guy like Cousins at 1.5 per and solid centers like Lundell and Loustarinen on entry level deals. Mixed in with non elite skill besides Barkov?

KD is building a puzzle and it seems the league is showing us that top heavy squads struggle........ Again, KD was on the inside when the Hawks won cups and thru cap hell. My hope is he can build that puzzle to win as long as possible and avoid cap hell. Seems to me you can't win being top heavy and without depth.