Sorry Z3, but it is you that must be watching a different game than everyone else. Seabrook has never been a great skater, but has made up for it by being positionally sound and being an excellent passer. His play has declined considerably in the last 2-3 years, and yes, some of it can be attributed to having to baby-sit youngsters, but not all of it. Seabrook regularly gets beat wide, and no longer wins any races to loose pucks. The most concerning thing about his play however is that while once an excellent passer, that seems to have been completely lost. I have seen more icings, passes behind people, in front of people, or made to seemingly no-body from Seabrook this year. That is a sign that he is slowing, as he no longer has the time or space to make a good pass. His ridiculous sliding on his belly to break up plays is also a result of him being beat and behind plays and making a last ditch effort to break things up.

I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt for one more season that maybe he is hurt, maybe he came in out of shape, maybe he has some personal issues affecting his game.....whatever, but the eye test thru the whole season says he has been poor more often than good, and only so much blame can be placed on his playing partner. A lot of the mistakes he makes are NOT because he is covering for someone else.
- TheTrob

While I was an early adopter about being hard on Seabrook. I have to give him some credit for playing a bit better as the season progressed. A few thoughts/questions I have about him.

1) Is he having issues adjusting to the d system changes? Some of the style changes might be hard for him.
2) Is he still dealing with a messed up back? I don't think he ever fully recovered from the 2015/16 playoffs.
3) Can he adjust his passing to what more and more of the league is doing? Not exactly dump and chase, but more and more teams are using less direct passes and more passing where they forward can skate to an area and pick it up. Teams have adjusted and take away too many of those long stretch passes. Seabrook had a lot of turnovers early in the year, but I think he has reeled it in a bit.
4) Can the Hawks afford to have Seabrook if he isn't in the top 4? I think he can play in the second pair (I think his days of being a shutdown D are 3 years gone) but if he struggles they can't pay a guy that much to play 3rd pair IMO.

I kinda see the Hawks D usage kinda like this.

First Pair - plays against the other team's top line and needs to be solid defensively. Generally used with whichever forward group is shutting down the opposing team's top line and is gonna play the hard minutes.

Second Pair - gets put out for Ozone draws (essentially with whatever line Kane is on) for whatever group Q is riding for offense.

3rd Pair - well rounded by not flashy guys that fill the gap.

For me, I'd love to see the Hawks find someone that fits really well with Keith in that top pair. Keith still plays the big minutes and has struggled with some boneheaded plays by his partners this season. He hasn't had his best year either, but man he could use a good partner.

I think ideally they need Seabrook to be a big part of pair 2. He has a big shot and can add offense when he jumps in. Gus is another guy that seems to play well in that more offensive role.

Man, I really want to see what the D will end up being next season. I think there will be some kind of trade or two.

Sikura - let's see....

Sign a two year ELC with the poop storm that is the Hawks and wait until 2020 to be a free agent, or wait until this summer when you become a UFA, can pick the team you want to play for, and hold out for the highest bidder....

Talk amongst yourselves, but you know the answer already.
- Return of the Roar

Entry level deals will all be the same $ amount. There is a maximum Salary and a maximum bonus structure in the CBA for any player on an entry level contract.

Sorry Z3, but it is you that must be watching a different game than everyone else. Seabrook has never been a great skater, but has made up for it by being positionally sound and being an excellent passer. His play has declined considerably in the last 2-3 years, and yes, some of it can be attributed to having to baby-sit youngsters, but not all of it. Seabrook regularly gets beat wide, and no longer wins any races to loose pucks. The most concerning thing about his play however is that while once an excellent passer, that seems to have been completely lost. I have seen more icings, passes behind people, in front of people, or made to seemingly no-body from Seabrook this year. That is a sign that he is slowing, as he no longer has the time or space to make a good pass. His ridiculous sliding on his belly to break up plays is also a result of him being beat and behind plays and making a last ditch effort to break things up.

I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt for one more season that maybe he is hurt, maybe he came in out of shape, maybe he has some personal issues affecting his game.....whatever, but the eye test thru the whole season says he has been poor more often than good, and only so much blame can be placed on his playing partner. A lot of the mistakes he makes are NOT because he is covering for someone else.
- TheTrob

I see some valid points in both your and z3Hawk explanation. While Seabrook has been babysitting and he would become better without that concern, there is no doubt his skating has slipped. It was his skating - not best form - which i always found an issue. Even though wiz has told me in past years that i make too much ado about his skating, the eye test does ptove something is causing him to skate slower. We can debate if skating is the only issue for blown coverage. But i agree to let him see if he can come to camp next fall and be better. I tend to say, nope. But we are not told exactly why he skates worse. We have to give him the benefit of doubt and see how he performs next fall. If i were another GM there is too much unknown to trade for him. Look i really respect z3hawk and he has good points. But i feel it is PRIMARILY a skating issue. Wait and see next fall as there is not another viable alternative.

Has to be a center or draft choice. We need an NHL center. Gerbe is a hanget on and not part of the future at center. Not tertibly concetnef about the salary thing. Might havrcyo tske some on though to get a dedcent return..just my two cents

Oh btw this Sikula not signing stinks. Teams draft him deserve compensation if he goes elsewhere. The penguins likely cannot afford him after one year anyway. They have young plauers, a ton of secondar guys whom will need pay bumps...so many in fact it all adds up. Unless they can kerp btonging in more from farm system, they csnnot afford Sikula wothout cutting somewhere else either now or in a year. Stan needs to sell him on what a great city Chicsgo over Pittsburgh
- jhawk59

Who is Sikula?

The subject of compensation for a draft pick that doesn't sign with you is a tough one. While it may make sense for 1st round picks, for lower round picks, requiring compensation would limit the market. For borderline players, teams are not going to want to give up compensation so it would limit where a player could go in free agency.

Anisimov (50% retained) to Columbus for Gerbe.
- DarthKane

COST. CERTAINTY.

Entry level deals will all be the same $ amount. There is a maximum Salary and a maximum bonus structure in the CBA for any player on an entry level contract.
- TheTrob

My bad on ELC - but he's still going to hold out for the best team to play for. If not, he would have signed with SB already.

Hayden looks good. Since he's returned, I've seen at least 2 goals with him right in front of the net.

Three wishes:

1. Two more top 4 D-Men.

2. Get another Hossa-caliber player. Hossa was a god. He added so much to the Hawks' game it's nuts. One of the best two-way players in history. And nothing was more exciting than when he would fire those nasty laser beams.

3. Saad to score more, and be more like the real Saad.

Anyone see Shaw get knocked out last night against Minny? Landed the big hit and knocked himself out.

My bad on ELC - but he's still going to hold out for the best team to play for. If not, he would have signed with SB already.
- Return of the Roar

He can't sign until his college season is over. The minute he signs a ELC he would no longer be eligible for college play. Northeastern is in the Hockey East semis this weekend, and will most likely get a Tournament bid. He can't sign until they are eliminated.

He can't sign until his college season is over. The minute he signs a ELC he would no longer be eligible for college play. Northeastern is in the Hockey East semis this weekend, and will most likely get a Tournament bid. He can't sign until they are eliminated.
- TheTrob

OK...

He's still not coming to the Hawks.

Many more options out there that will be better for his career long term.

3 of my wishes (relating to the Blackhawks)

1) Get a coach (or change Q) who likes contact.
2) first game with Pitt, knock Malkin out for the season
3) first game with Bahsten, knock Marchant out for the season

1) Trade Larmer, Smith and Belfour for Eric Lindros
2) Block Winnipeg from matching the Tkachuk contract
3) Open up $$ Wirtz wallet during the 90's

OK...

He's still not coming to the Hawks.

Many more options out there that will be better for his career long term.
- Return of the Roar

Explain?

Hayden looks good. Since he's returned, I've seen at least 2 goals with him right in front of the net.

Three wishes:

1. Two more top 4 D-Men.

2. Get another Hossa-caliber player. Hossa was a god. He added so much to the Hawks' game it's nuts. One of the best two-way players in history. And nothing was more exciting than when he would fire those nasty laser beams.

3. Saad to score more, and be more like the real Saad.

Anyone see Shaw get knocked out last night against Minny? Landed the big hit and knocked himself out.
- Popsghostly

against Dallas.....

Head to head, do they issue any games suspension for him, or just say screw it because he knocked himself out?

OK...

He's still not coming to the Hawks.

Many more options out there that will be better for his career long term.
- Return of the Roar

Powers interviewed him recently and he definitely sounds like he intends to sign with the Blackhawks after his season is over.

Wishes
1) Murphy - Agree
2) Hayden - I just want him to play regular minutes on a regular consistent line with the same center and same winger with offensive talent. I also want to see him onthe PP.
3) Sikura - Agree
4) Ejsdell - I hope his team loses in the first round of the playoffs and comes here over to play a few games before the season is over.

Other unrelated comment - I like the way Sharp has played and contributed this year. Still has decent speed and a good shot. Has not been hampered by injuries. Has not had that many points because he has been put through the Q blender 50 times this year with different linemates every night and sometimes playing on his off wing. He always plays with energy, enthusiasm and physicality. Makes a lot of heady plays. Plays a 200' game (almost all of the time). I have to believe younger players could learn a lot by watching him. I would not mind them resigning him. Shooters/snipers are hard to come by. (Kane/Debrincat/???) You could argue he is taking ice time from the younger forwards. But the alternate argument would be that he is allowing some of the "not ready for prime time players" to get some valuable time at the Rock.

My bad on ELC - but he's still going to hold out for the best team to play for. If not, he would have signed with SB already.
- Return of the Roar

He can't sign, he's still playing NCAA.

He can't sign, he's still playing NCAA.
- scottak

Can’t even technically have an agent, but that may be changing:

https://www.sbnation.com/...eball-football-basketball

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OK...

He's still not coming to the Hawks.

Many more options out there that will be better for his career long term.
- Return of the Roar

It is all relative to what he considers a better deal for him. I am sure several things are part of the equation insofar as career long term goes. If he is adamant about having superstar forwards to help him along and likely increase his offensive numbers, he is going overboard in the assessent. Chicago would be a good choice for most everyone to consider. I'll be sure to root against him if he doesn't sign with us.

Hayden looks good. Since he's returned, I've seen at least 2 goals with him right in front of the net.

Three wishes:

1. Two more top 4 D-Men.

2. Get another Hossa-caliber player. Hossa was a god. He added so much to the Hawks' game it's nuts. One of the best two-way players in history. And nothing was more exciting than when he would fire those nasty laser beams.

3. Saad to score more, and be more like the real Saad.

Anyone see Shaw get knocked out last night against Minny? Landed the big hit and knocked himself out.
- Popsghostly

they don't grow on trees...where do you propose to find complete 200 ft player HOF'er like that and hwo do they pay for it...

1) Trade Larmer, Smith and Belfour for Eric Lindros
2) Block Winnipeg from matching the Tkachuk contract
3) Open up $$ Wirtz wallet during the 90's
- resqmed99

Ha ha. I remember that. We got nothing when Larmer left for the Rangers and Smith to Calgary and only Hackett for Belfour. With Hasek in the wings, it would have been an awesome trade.

Powers interviewed him recently and he definitely sounds like he intends to sign with the Blackhawks after his season is over.
- walleyeb1

If you are talking about the interview from the source many reference, i thought he sounded like he also might choose Pittsburgh

against Dallas.....

Head to head, do they issue any games suspension for him, or just say screw it because he knocked himself out?
- TheTrob

My bad. Still confuse the North Stars with the Stars

Powers interviewed him recently and he definitely sounds like he intends to sign with the Blackhawks after his season is over.
- walleyeb1

Don't count on it

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- ObeseOprah

Star Wars makes everything better.