Justin Lowe: Back to Work! Blackhawks get back to work now that the All-Star weekend comes to a close. They take on the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

Season Matchup:

Chicago ✓
Nashville ✓✓


29-11-7 = 65 points
2nd in Central Division
Last game: WON vs. New Jersey (3-0) on January 25th
GF: 141 / GA: 119
PP% = 24.0% (3rd in NHL)
PK% = 82.7% (8th in NHL)
Sniper: Craig Smith – 15 goals
Producer: PK Subban – 37 points
Tough Guys: – Austin Watson - 82 PIMs & Alexei Emelin - 123 hits
Expected Starter: Pekka Rinne

Do Kempny or Gustafsson get them anything higher than a 4thor 5th?

Looking for anything better, I think, means moving someone they probably don’t want to move.

I’m (again) thinking they sit out this TDL and have an after-elimination (whenever that happens) evaluation before the draft / free agent period.

BTW - bragging about being “first” on the board is silly, childish, immature, and....

FIRST!!!!!

I second that!At least you wrote a post instead of just claiming 1st.I am hoping for a winning run here but must agree with Justin that losing maybe for the best but I refuse to give up hope.

Justin winning 2 out of 3 for the rest of the season might do it, but look at the last 10 or 12 games and ask yourself is this a team that can put on that type of a winning streak against that lineup of games?

I for one don't see it happening.

Keith to the Rangers for Hayes and a 2nd? good trade for both teams

Justin winning 2 out of 3 for the rest of the season might do it, but look at the last 10 or 12 games and ask yourself is this a team that can put on that type of a winning streak against that lineup of games?

I for one don't see it happening.

Keith to the Rangers for Hayes and a 2nd? good trade for both teams
- weakglovehand

Thats absolutely atrocious value for a #1 dman under contract for eternity at a $5.5 mil cap hit

Justin winning 2 out of 3 for the rest of the season might do it, but look at the last 10 or 12 games and ask yourself is this a team that can put on that type of a winning streak against that lineup of games?

I for one don't see it happening.

Keith to the Rangers for Hayes and a 2nd? good trade for both teams
- weakglovehand

That's a bad deal. No thanks

This stretch coming up can do a lot to help the Hawks playoff push because they play a bunch of conference opponents. 9 in a row against the conference. 5 of which are direct wild card opponents. 2 of the other 4 against bad teams. The other two games against what is probably the two best teams in the conference. A nice 7-2 in this stretch would help a lot.

I really like the way they have played defensively since Anisimov has come back. Just giving up 6 goals in 3+ games. That plus being only 6 seconds. We will see if that new 12/19/91 line can keep generating chances. I also think 15 needs to move up again and play with 8 and 88 or 88 and 20. That line gives up way too many chances with no defensive forward.

Thats absolutely atrocious value for a #1 dman under contract for eternity at a $5.5 mil cap hit
- Stan_Bowman

Keith's days as a true #1 defenseman are over. He is still a good player, but not elite, and not a #1.

Justin winning 2 out of 3 for the rest of the season might do it, but look at the last 10 or 12 games and ask yourself is this a team that can put on that type of a winning streak against that lineup of games?

I for one don't see it happening.

Keith to the Rangers for Hayes and a 2nd? good trade for both teams
- weakglovehand

You better get more than that for Keith. Didn't TVR pull a 2nd from CAR? Hard pass.

Just because Keith isn't a Norris caliber dman anymore doesn't mean he's not still a no.1 dman

Jesus, what is going on here today


He's been dragging around osterle who was an AHL lifer until this year and the ghost of Brent seabrook and people wonder why he isn't elite the last couple years

Keith's days as a true #1 defenseman are over. He is still a good player, but not elite, and not a #1.
- ChicagoHope

Maybe not but a 1st round pick and at least one true blue chip prospect should be their get. Their asking price should be higher.

And what confidence do we have that this front office regime will draft the right player......

And what confidence do we have that this front office regime will draft the right player......
- nickmo2699

What confidence do you they don't? Other than MacNeil what have been their first round misses?

Danault, TT, K. Hayes, Schmaltz, Hartman...Dinky was a 2nd. Hayes wasn't their fault IMHO anyway. Would be nice to still have Danault and TT. That ship has sailed but all these players are playing in the NHL and pretty well while none were a top 10 or even 15 pick.

Overall I'd say that suggests at least they do know how to identify talent.

And what confidence do we have that this front office regime will draft the right player......

You don't. Just as other team's front offices don't know for sure. That's why teams take the "even a blind squirrel will find a nut" approach and draft a lot and scout the obscure areas of Eastern Europe for players.

The Athletic has a 10-point plan for the Hawks https://theathletic.com/2...s-this-season-and-beyond/

I thought this passage was significant - so is it work ethic, confidence, attitude, or bad puck luck? Being on a winning team, playing with 3 HOFers in their prime (Toews, Hossa, Kane) could mask a lot of attitude issues, and we know(?) he was disgruntled with the initial trade:

A lot of Saad’s underlying numbers look good. His 60-minute rates for shots, individual Corsi, individual scoring chances and individual high-danger chances are even better than last season, according to NaturalStatTrick.

Two areas that are noticeably worse are his shooting percentage and assists. In 5-on-5 play, he had a 11.63 shooting percentage last season and it’s at 8.26 percent this season. He’d have about three more goals if he were shooting around 11 percent this season. As for assists, he averaged 1.22 assists per 60 minutes last season, and he’s at 0.79 this season. Panik and Toews’ inconsistencies could play into that.

I turned to one scout who has followed Saad for many years and asked what needed to change. The scout said, “It all starts with work ethic and attitude with him. Confidence is key with him.”

Also on the subject of TDL moves, they have another article about the Central Division leaders all going after the same people. However, this is something that is often overlooked in the process:

Blues defenceman Alex Pietrangelo brought up another trade deadline factor, the delicate equilibrium of a team’s chemistry.

“It’s a tough thing because sometimes less is more in terms of chemistry,” Pietrangelo said. “If you have guys who can fill certain roles and you have a group where everyone knows their role, sometimes to bring an outside piece in and he takes someone else’s spot, it’s hard; as a GM and as a team. It’s a tough job as a GM to find the right pieces that fit.”

Thankfully, with all the line shuffling, no one on the Hawks (other than maybe Kane or Crow) seem to know or be set in their roles. /s

It does not really matter what Bowman would like to do. Because of the cap and a pretty thin group of prospects there is not much he can do. Kane is a keeper. Toews, Seabs have NMC and contracts that are unmovable. Crow and Keith are good to near elite players at reasonable long term contracts. Murphy is a decent 3/4 Dman and has a decent contract. AA is a decent 2C/3C at a decent contract and could be moved. But the Hawks are thin at center and would need a pretty good younger cost controlled center coming back. That is probably not going to happen. Players like Sharp/Wingels could be moved, but you will not get much back. Maybe a late round pick. You probably want to hold on to DeB and Oesterle. The other young guys are probably worth more to the Hawks than to other teams. I agree you could see a young defender moved. Maybe Kempny or Gus but they will not bring a 2nd round pick.

People on this board hate Bowman and Q. But I think they both come back next year. For the first time in about 8 years they will have with nearly the same roster (plus Sikura) for 2 years in a row that they can work with and develop. I would be ok with that.

The Jets have lost Trouba for 6-8 weeks, I wonder if they'd be interested in a slightly used Cody Franson? Maybe for Joel Armia?

Very interested in who the Hawks take in the draft, a spot around #10 seems likely. Do they go for a defenceman that can grow into a top 2-4 guy to replace Seabs or do they take a forward that can provide some more scoring, matchup problems and lighten the load on Toews? What would you do? (First round is heavy on D with few wingers, but centres Walhstrom, Lundestrom, and Kupari could be available to the Hawks and are highly skilled)

Just because Keith isn't a Norris caliber dman anymore doesn't mean he's not still a no.1 dman

Jesus, what is going on here today


He's been dragging around osterle who was an AHL lifer until this year and the ghost of Brent seabrook and people wonder why he isn't elite the last couple years
- Stan_Bowman

Agree. He's not the best in the world anymore, but he is a #1 defenceman no doubt.

It does not really matter what Bowman would like to do. Because of the cap and a pretty thin group of prospects there is not much he can do. Kane is a keeper. Toews, Seabs have NMC and contracts that are unmovable. Crow and Keith are good to near elite players at reasonable long term contracts. Murphy is a decent 3/4 Dman and has a decent contract. AA is a decent 2C/3C at a decent contract and could be moved. But the Hawks are thin at center and would need a pretty good younger cost controlled center coming back. That is probably not going to happen. Players like Sharp/Wingels could be moved, but you will not get much back. Maybe a late round pick. You probably want to hold on to DeB and Oesterle. The other young guys are probably worth more to the Hawks than to other teams. I agree you could see a young defender moved. Maybe Kempny or Gus but they will not bring a 2nd round pick.

People on this board hate Bowman and Q. But I think they both come back next year. For the first time in about 8 years they will have with nearly the same roster (plus Sikura) for 2 years in a row that they can work with and develop. I would be ok with that.
- -Doh-

They could consent to a trade, for example take the "C" off Toews and give it to Kane...then bench him if he doesn't start playing up to his potential. See how long he wants to stay a Hawk then (just sayin', you can make him want to leave). Same scenario minus the "C" with Seabs.

What confidence do you they don't? Other than MacNeil what have been their first round misses?

Danault, TT, K. Hayes, Schmaltz, Hartman...Dinky was a 2nd. Hayes wasn't their fault IMHO anyway. Would be nice to still have Danault and TT. That ship has sailed but all these players are playing in the NHL and pretty well while none were a top 10 or even 15 pick.

Overall I'd say that suggests at least they do know how to identify talent.
- HawkintheD

The continued USHL shoutouts and pumping the tires of this incredible prospect pool. If you think Hartman's a hit at this point, we arent watching the same player. Schmaltz is young and has the skill to play the role he does now. Pleased with Schmaltz, would like to see more consistency. How can anyone here mention TT, when he was here everyone was on his ass. How about on D? anyone of mention? I am shocked we havent seen Snuggerud up yet. He was a dynamic d-man in college.

Kevin Hayes.....who they failed to retain? Mismanaged in that regard.

What is the story with Keith's knee issues? That is a key piece of info when it comes to assessing his trade value and whether or not to move him. I'm sure there is general knowledge on how players perform after the operations he has had, at his age, also. We can talk about trading him and what do we get for him, but we also have to know that variable and its ramifications.

They could consent to a trade, for example take the "C" off Toews and give it to Kane...then bench him if he doesn't start playing up to his potential. See how long he wants to stay a Hawk then (just sayin', you can make him want to leave). Same scenario minus the "C" with Seabs.
- Murph76

Classy approach, piss off one of your team leaders of 3 Stanley cup victories and co-face of the franchise until he demands a trade.

I'm sure that will go over well when trying to acquire new players or re-sign current ones

Recouping that second round pick a priority: Sure it is important to retain your picks and to draft well. Teams once king of the hill normally, usualy rise and fall in the long run due to their success not only in managing the salary cap, but drafting and developing their farm system. A farm system they replenish

So Chicago with late picks has not been able to replenish with but a few eventual top line players. And too much money was given to top players. Now comes along a strong draft and we are missing our #2, which is probably somewhere in the middle of round two.

Whom or what kind of player do you expect is avail able in that slot? Players ranked in the middle to late second round usually have flaws. Maybe they eventually make it to the NHL. They make it yet usually they still have a flaw(s).

So say we obtain that second round pick, or any second round selection after Bowman completes a transaction before the trade deadline or in that period -of- time open for trades prior to The Entry Draft.

How often do you find a talented gem like DeBrincat available......not often.....and he has a flaw which is his size. That may or may not be an issue of concern in his career. I am willing to believe the size factor will not be a deterrent in his achieving success in the NHL for a few years. A long career? Who can say for any player especially until Bettman toughens up the punishment for concussions caused by unsafe, careless checking.

I did not plan to go off on a tangent about concussions, but if a player causes a concussion through deliberate check, then the offender ought to be suspended with pay until the concussed player skates in a game again.

Realize that a player invests years of time and money to reach the NHL Realize that teams invest money to scout, develop a player with the intent to also put a good product on the ice for its paying customers. Then one check and poof that player may never be the same. The offender nowadays gets 20 lashes, right? No, usually a few game suspension. Oh how fair is thar?

Now about that second round choice. Recouping that choice matters. But more often than not you are not going to get a star player from that pick. You could gamble and go for a player who needs to develop or is undersized but may fill out, or a player lacking in one skill area. Maybe you wind up with a player who turns into a Patrick Sharp, Ian Mitchell, Ville Pokka or Gus/Dahlstrom.

Those players with such capability drafted in 2018 are not going to help stop the sinking Blackhawks any time soon. Don't expect another DeBrincat choice. Rejoice if it does happen to scoop up a prize player like that - but the player(s) whom would be another DeBrincat probably get plucked by another team anyway

Classy approach, piss off one of your team leaders of 3 Stanley cup victories and co-face of the franchise until he demands a trade.

I'm sure that will go over well when trying to acquire new players or re-sign current ones
- BlazinMike

Hey Mike...my point wasn't to be classy, my point is that it CAN be done. All this talk of no one can be traded with a NMC is crap, teams can make it happen. So we keep a at best 2nd (perhaps even 3rd line) 10.5 million dollar center for sentimental values? Let see how well that works out. And you're saying that benching an under performing player would be a deterrence as far as trying to acquire a new player or re-sign new ones? I'm pretty sure that's not a new concept as Q does it weekly