I like both Bedard and Nazar carrying the puck. Overall l think they're more dangerous that way.
- rpeters01

Tough to carry the puck when the other team’s taking it from you at the dot more often than not. Bedard is one of the worst in the league the last two seasons.

No but he was ~25th in the NHL for throwing hits in that span of games. I know hits aren't a perfect stat, but he was active on the forecheck and was way above the rest of the team in that regard. He has a big body, something that is often called out as a weakness.

Don't get me wrong, he isn't a superstar but he is only 22 and only just got his first taste of NHL hockey. He might still take another step and be effective around the net. From a speed perspective he was better than Maroon/Foligno/Bertuzzi. I think we need to see him play more hockey and get some more chances to provide size in the lineup.
- breadbag

That would be a win for sure.

No but he was ~25th in the NHL for throwing hits in that span of games. I know hits aren't a perfect stat, but he was active on the forecheck and was way above the rest of the team in that regard. He has a big body, something that is often called out as a weakness.

Don't get me wrong, he isn't a superstar but he is only 22 and only just got his first taste of NHL hockey. He might still take another step and be effective around the net. From a speed perspective he was better than Maroon/Foligno/Bertuzzi. I think we need to see him play more hockey and get some more chances to provide size in the lineup.
- breadbag

I’d like to see him on the 3rd line with Greene and Reichel(if still here). Foligno and D!ckinson on the 4th line. This is Reichel’s first coach with NHL experience, maybe Blashill can make his light bulb go off. Blashill was on NHL radio yesterday, spoke of holding players accountable and developing the young guys, while trying to win more games, however the long term success of the kids was his #1 priority. I liked what he had to say. They actually had Q on just prior to Blashill.

Maybe. It was his first career 25 games from Jan 3rd on to the end of the year.

In those 25 games he put up more 5v5 point per 60 than Tyler Berttuzi and his 5v5 production based on TOI wasn't far behind Nazar or Bedard. With a bit more experience, some time on the PP around the net, he could still end up being okay as a complimentary piece. I think he needs some more opportunity to sink or swim IMO.

He was by far the most physical forward Chicago had in those games he played and actually generated turnovers as a result of his play.
- breadbag

I'm not writing him off at all. Just watching what he does, it's like there's not enough there to make it. Maybe it just takes him a bunch of time. He kind of reminds me of early Hartman.

And San Jose beat the Hawks 2-1. It means literally nothing.

Oh, wait… I stand corrected. The Hawks split the season series vs Florida. I guess that means the Hawks are just as good as the champs. 🤦🏻. There’s nothing fun about bringing that up.
- Chunk

I don't think Kreider was a bad deal for the Ducks. We all have our opinions and mine is i don't like trading young talent for nothing.

Honestly i like Q for what he brought to the Blackhawks but for a young team? Hope it works out for them but i still think, they may just may be like the Habs and the conference has regressed enough for them to make the playoffs, but i don't think they will.

I don't think Kreider was a bad deal for the Ducks. We all have our opinions and mine is i don't like trading young talent for nothing.

Honestly i like Q for what he brought to the Blackhawks but for a young team? Hope it works out for them but i still think, they may just may be like the Habs and the conference has regressed enough for them to make the playoffs, but i don't think they will.
- BetweenTheDots

You are right we all have our opinions. I find it hard to square your opinion that Poehling and two picks is nothing. Or that Fiala is nothing. Especially when both of these teams have ample prospects and picks coming in behind what they gave up to get them.

You are right we all have our opinions. I find it hard to square your opinion that Poehling and two picks is nothing. Or that Fiala is nothing. Especially when both of these teams have ample prospects and picks coming in behind what they gave up to get them.
- Chunk

Fiala? Was there a trade i missed?

Zegras is overpaid and disappeared. Can't play defense, turtles in the dirty areas, and is a turnover machine. What did you think he was going to get for his bum ass?!
- Assman22

AM, are you in the camp that Bedard needs more skill to unlock his game? I'd have thought, especially with the return being a B prospect and a couple low rd picks, that the majority of Hawk fans would have wanted him, again at that price.

Most don't expect the Hawks to make the playoffs and hope Bedard improves and in that context the ultra skilled Zegras is a fit. ..... Wouldn't just 1 yr of Zegras be worth the low price to give Bedard crazy vision/skill to skate with for a yr?

Sure his game has flaws but few in the NHL have Zegras' skill and vision.

If the Hawks draft Frondell are they drafting for his very high floor? I think most would agree his floor is high but his offensive upside isn't.

Looks to have a floor of a top 1/4 in the league at 3C..... If I'm right it doesn't seem like a 3rd overall on a player profile with a high floor is something KD would do.

I think they are much more open to Nazar being a wing after his performance at the Worlds.
- Chunk

I didn't watch a whole lot of the Four Nations and I'm guessing the Hawk fan/writers didn't either. ..... Simply said to my eye Nazar was the most dangerous player on the ice every time I saw him. Expected to hear from Hawk's Nation really excited about his performance but very little said and written about his Four Nations.

Fiala? Was there a trade i missed?
- BetweenTheDots

You're right. My apologies. You haven't been complaining about the Kings trading Faber for Fiala for the last two years.

I didn't watch a whole lot of the Four Nations and I'm guessing the Hawk fan/writers didn't either. ..... Simply said to my eye Nazar was the most dangerous player on the ice every time I saw him. Expected to hear from Hawk's Nation really excited about his performance but very little said and written about his Four Nations.
- Mr Ricochet

Four Nations was in Feb. Nazar played in the IIHF Hockey Championship, but to your point, yes he was one of the best guys on the ice every night if not the best.

You're right. My apologies. You haven't been complaining about the Kings trading Faber for Fiala for the last two years.
- Chunk

Not complaining, it was just a bad move, how old is Doughty now?

All GMs make bad moves, but at least KD didn't trade a young stud RD premium position for a decent LW not premium position player who can score, it amazes me that you think this trade was equal sided, the Wild fleeced the Kings

All they did was kick the can down the road with this really old roster. And now what, throw more money at winning, guess what everyone is going to try that because these GMs can't help themselves

I'd be going crazy right now if the Blackhawks were pretenders this past year and traded Rinzel for a forward that doesn't put you over the top in the playoffs.

AM, are you in the camp that Bedard needs more skill to unlock his game? I'd have thought, especially with the return being a B prospect and a couple low rd picks, that the majority of Hawk fans would have wanted him, again at that price.

Most don't expect the Hawks to make the playoffs and hope Bedard improves and in that context the ultra skilled Zegras is a fit. ..... Wouldn't just 1 yr of Zegras be worth the low price to give Bedard crazy vision/skill to skate with for a yr?

Sure his game has flaws but few in the NHL have Zegras' skill and vision.
- Mr Ricochet

I'd agree that Bedard needs more skill on his line, but I don't think Zegras would be a good add to his line. For all the consternation you have about Bedard's defense, having someone equally as bad on his line is not what you want. Additionally, Zegras has not been able to provide much in the way of points the last two years with better skill around him (McTavish, Carson, Terry, Gauthier, Vatrano, etc).

Honestly it's like all this nonsense about trading Korchinski away before he's near a finished product

If the org really believes he won't grow to be a better hockey player than i get it, but to trade him because you can get a really good forward and pay him a lot of money while KK is on his ELC and not a finished product but the org likes how he's progressing, no way.

Not complaining, it was just a bad move, how old is Doughty now?

All GMs make bad moves, but at least KD didn't trade a young stud RD premium position for a decent LW not premium position player who can score, it amazes me that you think this trade was equal sided, the Wild fleeced the Kings

All they did was kick the can down the road with this really old roster. And now what, throw more money at winning, guess what everyone is going to try that because these GMs can't help themselves

I'd be going crazy right now if the Blackhawks were pretenders this past year and traded Rinzel for a forward that doesn't put you over the top in the playoffs.
- BetweenTheDots

Potato/potahto. Doughty is 35 and was back to his effective self once he came back from injury. The Kings also already had Anderson, Spence and Clark coming up behind him. If you think that all of the Hawks D-men prospects are going to be on this team, you are going to be disappointed.

If the Kings already have guys behind Faber to replace what he does (Clarke), and didn't have enough scoring, then no it's not getting fleeced. It's a smart hockey trade.

LA was smack dab in the middle of the league for average age last year.

What was the biggest issue the Hawks coaching staff asked about last year before the season started? "Where are the goals going to come from"?

If the Hawks draft Frondell are they drafting for his very high floor? I think most would agree his floor is high but his offensive upside isn't.

Looks to have a floor of a top 1/4 in the league at 3C..... If I'm right it doesn't seem like a 3rd overall on a player profile with a high floor is something KD would do.
- Mr Ricochet

When i here his profile and watch his highlights he's got a fantastic shot, I've said this before here, i believe he has similar traits as Eiserman in the offensive zone but he actually plays defense and is playing with men already and not only holding his own but coming out of corners with the puck. As you can tell i really like what i see in this player.

Potato/potahto. Doughty is 35 and was back to his effective self once he came back from injury. The Kings also already had Anderson, Spence and Clark coming up behind him. If you think that all of the Hawks D-men prospects are going to be on this team, you are going to be disappointed.

If the Kings already have guys behind Faber to replace what he does (Clarke), and didn't have enough scoring, then no it's not getting fleeced. It's a smart hockey trade.

LA was smack dab in the middle of the league for average age last year.

What was the biggest issue the Hawks coaching staff asked about last year before the season started? "Where are the goals going to come from"?
- Chunk

You are so right now, i guess the GM was to and yep he's been fired, great move. Losing in the first round of the playoffs every year.

I agree to disagree, but yep i don't like trading young talented players away for nothing.

2nd and 4th if they sniff NHL hockey it'll be years from now, Poehling is 3rd, 4th liner big deal.

Oh and i love this line

Verbeek said. "I made the trade and I got what I thought we wanted

Honestly it's like all this nonsense about trading Korchinski away before he's near a finished product

If the org really believes he won't grow to be a better hockey player than i get it, but to trade him because you can get a really good forward and pay him a lot of money while KK is on his ELC and not a finished product but the org likes how he's progressing, no way.
- BetweenTheDots

They also have Arty, and Rinzel, and Vlasic, and, and, and...

If all these guys hit their ceiling, the Hawks won't be able to fit them all under the cap anyway. KD has to manage everything, not just the talent acquired. You have to consider RFA vs UFA, number of contracts, what you have in the pipeline, player rights, if you have a bunch of players coming up in college they have the ability to go to UFA (like Dominic James and Isaac Howard) if they don't see a spot for themselves.

You are so right now, i guess the GM was to and yep he's been fired, great move. Losing in the first round of the playoffs every year.

I agree to disagree, but yep i don't like trading young talented players away for nothing.

2nd and 4th if they sniff NHL hockey it'll be years from now, Poehling is 3rd, 4th liner big deal.

Oh and i love this line

Verbeek said. "I made the trade and I got what I thought we wanted
- BetweenTheDots

What do you think Zegras brings to a team?

What are you basing that on?

EDIT: Most GM's have to be "right now". The vast majority of owners don't have the stomach for prolonged absences from the playoffs because they want to win, and in many cases, they need the playoff revenue.

The best Verbeek could get in return for Zegras was Poehling and two picks. What does that tell you about how he was viewed across the league and what other teams would give up for him?

They also have Arty, and Rinzel, and Vlasic, and, and, and...

If all these guys hit their ceiling, the Hawks won't be able to fit them all under the cap anyway. KD has to manage everything, not just the talent acquired. You have to consider RFA vs UFA, number of contracts, what you have in the pipeline, player rights, if you have a bunch of players coming up in college they have the ability to go to UFA (like Dominic James and Isaac Howard) if they don't see a spot for themselves.
- Chunk

So you're saying we can't keep the best players?

Who cares about Dominic James, i don't want a guy who doesn't think he can make our roster, I'm more concerned about the guys drafted closer to single digits than the ones drafted in triple digits.

What do you think Zegras brings to a team?

What are you basing that on?
- Chunk

New coach, fresh start, his 20 and 21 year old seasons, it all went to poop when they were negotiating his RFA contract.

So you're saying we can't keep the best players?

Who cares about Dominic James, i don't want a guy who doesn't think he can make our roster, I'm more concerned about the guys drafted closer to single digits than the ones drafted over a triple digits.
- BetweenTheDots

No. I'm saying you can't keep ALL the players for all the reasons, I've laid out that you don't seem able to comprehend.

Is KK the best d-man they have? Do they have other D-men that can do what he does in the system? Do they have additional picks with which to choose new defensemen?

I don't care about Dominic James, but you certainly should if you want to keep every prospect. What was the reason that he left? It was because he thought there would be a better opportunity/path to NHL playing time on another team due to the overabundance of prospects on the Hawks.

New coach, fresh start, his 20 and 21 year old seasons, it all went to poop when they were negotiating his RFA contract.
- BetweenTheDots

Again, what does Zegras bring to a team?

Did he justify the pain in the ass negotiating his RFA contract?

I'd agree that Bedard needs more skill on his line, but I don't think Zegras would be a good add to his line. For all the consternation you have about Bedard's defense, having someone equally as bad on his line is not what you want. Additionally, Zegras has not been able to provide much in the way of points the last two years with better skill around him (McTavish, Carson, Terry, Gauthier, Vatrano, etc).
- Chunk

It's more than consternation about Bedard's defense. I'm sickened looking at it and beyond sickened any coach all the way down to Mites would allow a kid to play that way... They've done the kid no good and I'd include his daddy.

They gonna make the playoffs? If they're not is Bedard's development the top priority? Is he lagging cuz he has no skill? How many NHLers have the skilled kinda and freakish vision Zegras has? Would Zegras' skill for one yr, he's a 1 yr rental for a B prospect and 4th rd pick, help Bedard develop?

Or, a skilled player like Marner good in all 3 zones for 14 mil for 7 yrs?

Reading today Bamford says the Hawks inquired and I'm glad to hear that. Get that kinda skill for 1 yr is my take.