It’s partly about not moving his feet at partly he’s not interested in getting himself in tough situations. In fact the team as a whole have to get harder to play against.
Ottawa are finishing their checks. It forces the Hawks to make plays more quickly than they want to. It makes the Hawks uncomfortable knowing they’re going to take a hit after each play. I expect to see the Blackhawks play a much more robust game next season.
- paulr

Ottawa’s play and their structure would be a good model for the Hawks.

Totally agree. I think Kaiser’s compete level is very high. Late in the game he seems to always have something left in the tank.
- Ztra

I wish KD could clone Kaiser’s heart to replace the one Reichel allegedly has. Guys who compete hard and play above their talent level are my favourite types of players.

Ottawa’s play and their structure would be a good model for the Hawks.
- Ztra

I was thinking the same but other teams I like how they play are Winnipeg and Florida. They’re like locusts on the puck, they don’t stop. And if you get physical with their players you know someone is going to be on you.

At every level so far, Levshunov has a pattern. Struggles some in knowing what he can and can't get away with at this level. Figures it out and elevates his play. He is fearless and I like that a lot.
- Elbows15

Arty is such a wide gangly attacker who is figuring more out, I agree!

He is yet another weaopn. So that fills three defensive spots with certainty: Rinzel, Arty, and big Vlasic as the all around defender; This kid Schaefer is a lightning in a bottle scorer-generator...If he IS the clear cut racer and ranks heads over the others, he plays a position that having the best wheels in the shibang, you don't pass it by.

Not sure that Lev also isn't a tank at the same time as he is gangly... in that I have seen him just nail people in low - that usually was not happening all that much, especially during the 'Seth era' -barf-- glad that's over with.


Also Schaef being a lefty --- and Lev and Rinzel being righties ... it isn't entirely a matter of not needing D -because if you get him, you're getting a lefty D to go with a couple of ... well, getting ahead of myself but ... yeh can use a top flight LD too - something is going to work out right this draft no matter what.

Donato - I would resign him at a slight overpay and for slightly longer term than a player of his age and caliber normally gets. He just turned 29. A 4 year deal puts him at 33. Probably not a great drop off in production. Will he be a regular 30 goal and 30 assist player every year? Probably not. 5 of his goals and 9 of his assists have been on the power play this year. As the forward group improves his PP time will diminish. However he scored 26 goals and 21 assists at even strength often with less than stellar line mates. He can play up and down the lineup. We will have cap room. I think he is a good guy, smart guy (Harvard), team player, won't cry no matter what line you put him on, and having some roster consistency is important after a lot of turnover the last several years. I would go $4m x 4 years acknowledging that is a slight overpay and a year too much term. He still will have some trade value at TDL's in year 3 and 4.

Looking forward without speculating on trades, FA signings, and without resigning Donato.

Full time Hawks - (12)
Forwards - Bertuzzi, Teravainen, Foligno, D!ckinson, Mikheyev, Veleno, Nazar, Bedard
Dmen - Vlasic, Murphy
Goalies - Knight, Broissoit**

Players who could be riding the Rockford Shuttle (17)
Forwards - Reichel, Greene, Moore, Slaggert, Dach, Lardis, Vanacker, Spellacy, Ludwinski, Anderson,
Dmen - Levshunov, Rinzel, Korchinski, Del Mastro, Nolan, Soderstrom,
Goalies - Commesso

Possible re-signees (5)
Forwards - Donato, (Guttman with intention of him being a veteran at Rockford)
Dmen - Kaiser, Crevier
Goalies - Soderblom

** obviously Brossoit is a total wild card.

Many might think Levshunov and maybe Rinzel and Slaggert are a lock to stay with the big club all season. They could be. But I could see that if their confidence is shaken they could be sent down for a recharge. A little more time in Rockford would not hurt them. There also will be plenty of competition next season, and this does not take into consideration FA signings.

What are the odds that Vlasic is the defenseman to be traded for a legitimate top six scorer?

What are the odds that Vlasic is the defenseman to be traded for a legitimate top six scorer?
- mohel

IMHO other than Bedard, Nazar, and Knight any Hawk could be included in a package for the right top 6 forward. I would say only those three look untouchable. No other player by themselves will get you a very good top 6 forward.

What are the odds that Vlasic is the defenseman to be traded for a legitimate top six scorer?
- mohel

Was thinking this just the other day when i got the first pick overall on tankathon.

Not because i would want to get rid of Vlasic, but thinking with his contract, he would bring the biggest return.

Who has an abundance of F talent, and needs young D talent?

Would a straight up Vlasic for Mactavish be a good trade for both?

Looking forward without speculating on trades, FA signings, and without resigning Donato.

Full time Hawks - (12)
Forwards - Bertuzzi, Teravainen, Foligno, D!ckinson, Mikheyev, Veleno, Nazar, Bedard
Dmen - Vlasic, Murphy
Goalies - Knight, Broissoit**

Players who could be riding the Rockford Shuttle (17)
Forwards - Reichel, Greene, Moore, Slaggert, Dach, Lardis, Vanacker, Spellacy, Ludwinski, Anderson,
Dmen - Levshunov, Rinzel, Korchinski, Del Mastro, Nolan, Soderstrom,
Goalies - Commesso

Possible re-signees (5)
Forwards - Donato, (Guttman with intention of him being a veteran at Rockford)
Dmen - Kaiser, Crevier
Goalies - Soderblom

** obviously Brossoit is a total wild card.

Many might think Levshunov and maybe Rinzel and Slaggert are a lock to stay with the big club all season. They could be. But I could see that if their confidence is shaken they could be sent down for a recharge. A little more time in Rockford would not hurt them. There also will be plenty of competition next season, and this does not take into consideration FA signings.
- Ztra

I don’t think Reichel is waiver exempt. His trade value isn’t great but I think they’d explore that before just losing him should another team claim him.

Early days but like Nazar, both Lev and Rinzel don’t seem short on confidence.

What are the odds that Vlasic is the defenseman to be traded for a legitimate top six scorer?
- mohel

One way I see him getting traded:
1 is for a top line player. So basically a Bedard linemate.

He's really good,and going to get better. He is so cost controlled that it is ridiculous.
The team,depending on how it goes forward,is now short of veteran d men. Vlasic and Murphy are the "veteran d men". You mix in the kids with them two and you've got a nice d group.

Would they draft Schaefer and send Vlasic packing? Especially if Lev,Rinzel and Korch make huge strides during next season? Do they wanna talk things like this over with their new head coach?

Sooo many question marks with this team right now.
Find a good coach,and nail the draft pick.
Free agency,find a bit more help for Bedard,because last offseason they didn't get him anyone

Was thinking this just the other day when i got the first pick overall on tankathon.

Not because i would want to get rid of Vlasic, but thinking with his contract, he would bring the biggest return.

Who has an abundance of F talent, and needs young D talent?

Would a straight up Vlasic for Mactavish be a good trade for both?
- vabeachbear

That makes a lot of sense. I wouldn’t want to get rid of Vlasic either but if they win the lottery and draft Schaefer it at least makes it a possibility.

I get why KK has often been speculated as potential odd man out but at this point what would he bring back in trade.

UFA's
Name, age next year, GP, Pts in 24/25 season, PPG, expiring contract cap hit
Marner, 28, 80, 100, 1.25, $10.9 mil
Duchene, 34, 81, 81, 1.00, $3 mil
Tavares, 34, 74, 74, 1.00, $11 mil
Granlund, 33, 52, 45, 0.87, $5 mil
Ehlers, 29, 69, 63, 0.91, $6 mil
Donato, 29, 80, 62, 0.78, $2 mil
Kane, 36, 70, 58, 0.83, $4 mil
Nelson, 33, 61, 43, 0.7, $6 mil
Bennett, 29, 76, 51, 0.67, $4.43 mil
Marchand, 37, 61, 47, 0.77, $6.13 mil

Hmmm.......

3-3-3-4-1
Season is over.
I hope I am able to watch more Blackhawks' games next year.
From highlights and condensed game watching, they are MUCH faster now than they were at the beginning of the season.

I don’t think Reichel is waiver exempt. His trade value isn’t great but I think they’d explore that before just losing him should another team claim him.

Early days but like Nazar, both Lev and Rinzel don’t seem short on confidence.
- HawkintheD

If they waive Reichel and someone claims him it's no big deal.

Small sample size for Lev (18 games) and Rinzel (9 games). I agree about confidence. But they also have made plenty of pretty bad decisions. With so many young dmen, I think they could easily stay with the Hawks all year. But I also could see just about all the young dmen playing some games at the Rock.

Even if the Hawks add a 30 year old free agent, they could average about 26 years of age next year. That's young.

Seravalli said before the game last night that Carle is choice 1A for the Hawks and they'll try to move fast on it. If they don't get him, they will take their time with the hire.

Sorry, LA.

Even if the Hawks add a 30 year old free agent, they could average about 26 years of age next year. That's young.
- Ztra

Not sure they’ll add a big FA this offseason as the market’s pretty thin but Kaprisov and Necas are UFA next summer. Both would fit nicely in the scheme.

Seravalli said before the game last night that Carle is choice 1A for the Hawks and they'll try to move fast on it. If they don't get him, they will take their time with the hire.

Sorry, LA.
- Chunk

If they sign him hope it works out. If you go by historical results, it does not.

What are the odds that Vlasic is the defenseman to be traded for a legitimate top six scorer?
- mohel

Thinking about this, i don't think they will. I think he's part of the core. A playoff team needs a shut down defenseman and Vlasic showed that very well last year. This week i heard him say he needs to get in better shape because all these minutes this year took a toll on him.

Even if you draft Schaefer, Vlasic is cost controlled and it sure looks like Bedard, Rinzel, Arty and Nazar might get some big paychecks soon.

For now i see

Bedard, Nazar, Rinzel, Levshunov and Vlasic as your core, forgot Knight

Any stars, Bedard for sure, i believe Rinzel and Levshunov will be as well. Nazar even if he isn't he's the type of player that wins you playoff games.

We scored 47 more goals than last year by signing some free agents and trading for a salary dump in Mikheyev.

I would like them to trade for a young top 6 forward but the deal has to make sense, I'm selfish i want to keep what i have except for futures, Blackhawks 1st pick I keep, but all the other futures are in play to make a trade happen.

Seravalli said before the game last night that Carle is choice 1A for the Hawks and they'll try to move fast on it. If they don't get him, they will take their time with the hire.

Sorry, LA.
- Chunk

I guess our favorite Cohen said at first he's not leaving then talked to him later that week and had to walk his statement back, he's actually intrigued with the Blackhawks org and several others with all their young talent.

It's crazy how the Bears and Blackhawks are mirroring each other.

If we do come away with Carle i appreciate a fresh face and not some NHL retread.

Depending on what sites you believe Nazar is 3" shorter, but only 10 lbs lighter than Patrick Sharp. He could easily add those 10 pounds. I see similarities between the two. Speed, shot, tenacity, goes into tough areas, fairly good hockey IQ, feisty, consistent effort.

Sharp really did not start clicking on all cylinders until he was 26. Nazar is 21.

Nazar has some similarities to Debrincat too.

Depending on what sites you believe Nazar is 3" shorter, but only 10 lbs lighter than Patrick Sharp. He could easily add those 10 pounds. I see similarities between the two. Speed, shot, tenacity, goes into tough areas, fairly good hockey IQ, feisty, consistent effort.

Sharp really did not start clicking on all cylinders until he was 26. Nazar is 21.

Nazar has some similarities to Debrincat too.
- Ztra

That Kirby Dach trade is looking better and better

If they sign him hope it works out. If you go by historical results, it does not.
- LAHawk

For the most part I agree, but Carle's background is a little different. So he might be the exception.

I think the Hawks have to look at head coaches and assistant coaches and their support staff at the NHL and AHL level. It seems like there is room for improvement. Carle might be the guy because he has successfully worked with young players. But if he is not THE GUY they could find an upgrade a couple years from now that can take them to the promised land.

I do think the contributions of Luke and Anders are underappreciated on this board.