The end is far from neigh. If it is June and the Hawks picked 8th or 9th and did nothing in terms of trades or FA then I'll agree that next season they are a borderline playoff team that probably gets bounced in the first round unless Crow plays out of his mind.
- fattybeef

This part reminded me of something I believe tvetter kept asking, whether the Hawks should retain it's 2 current 1st round picks (top 9 + one of the last picks in the round) or consider trading them to the Islanders for their #10 and #12. I personally would rather keep what we have now since it's the first time in a while that the Hawks have had a top 9 pick who could realistically be #7 (i.e. Dobson, Bouchard, Hughes, Boqvist, Wahlstrom).

Then again, when the Bruins had 3 consecutive #1 draft picks in 2015, they took Zboril at #13, DeBrusk at #14, and Zenyshyn at #15. DeBrusk had a pretty good rookie year while the other two I believe are still highly rated prospects for Boston.

There is something to be said about the scoring he does, but he was tied for 8th in 5v5 scoring this season. He had a great year and I think he grew his game and also found a good fit with CBJ. I think CBJ has helped him up his two way game a bit too, because Coach Q really didn't trust him on the defensive side and I think that was justified.

I still don't have bad feelings about the trade, no matter how good Panarin does. You need guys like Panarin and you need guys like Saad. I think the Hawks are having a harder time on the defensive side of the game. At some point you just wish him well and let it go.

Edit: the you in my statement isn't anyone in particular, just in general.
- breadbag

In spite of what Panarin did this year and his points in the first 2 play-off games I still would not reverse the trade for Saad. Saad kills penalties, is a power forward with speed and will be a huge asset moving forward.

The team needs players that compliment each other. Not everyone has to be a crease crasher and garbage goal collector but it helps to have a few on the team. If everyone is a perimeter player or relies on finesse and fancy plays to generate goals, then that's simply not enough offense and sure is not a winning formula for playoff-style hockey. So, yes, identify the players who will pay the price and acquire more if not enough is in the stable.

In a similar vein (as an example, not singling out #8 specifically), if Schmaltz is a pass-first player, make sure he has shooters on his wing. Also, if he can't win a favorable percentage of faceoffs, either move him to wing or put a winger on his line who is better at winning draws (I prefer the latter because, faceoffs aside, Schmaltz brings a lot to the table to be an effective top-6 center).

And on defense, and as overly simplistic as this may sound, it's best if each D pair has one puck mover or rover and one defensive defenseman. Partners need to compliment each other.
- AEL_Fox

I have always believed in your ideal approach. In the years ahead, once all these drafted guys turn pro, we will see there are a few dmen esse tially competing for the third pair offensive job, and perhaps one or two pwill compeye for a second pair offensive job. I want to see Gilbert, Hillman, Carlsson and Mitchell on our defense. Kryz has to win a third pair or stau on minors. Probably Jokiharju or Forsberg had to progress to second pair pr forst pair if Carlsson and or Mitchell are very good. Don't know where Tuuloloa might turn up

No - I don't think Panarin is as good as Kane - Kane seems to me a better playmaker, better at creating goals, better at running the offense, better at making something out of nothing - at least through Panarin's 3 years in the league.

Just trying to run a middle ground between those here who think Panarin would have been the savior, and those who are glad he was run out of town.

He's a very good player - an excellent offensive player - who could be helping the Hawks - but I think that Saad could very well help the Hawks more if / when he gets back to being the 200 foot player he was.
- StLBravesFan

I wish we still had Panarin, and i think he's a top 6 hockey player but Kane has been the 2nd line RW with misfit parts for years and still thrives in that role.

Panarin can't carry a line like Kane can. I wish him well and i firmly believe if we made the playoffs and we had to face the Preds or LVGK ne would disappear in those gamesas he did in prior years

Kinda starting to look that way.

I know, hard to believe a Russian could be as good as a good old, red-blooded American boy.

Sure he's soft in the corners and stays on the perimeter in board battles because that is not his strength. Just like Patrick Kane.
- Rota's Rooter

Interesting that you brought up place of origin? Are you Russian? I really don't give a poop where a player was born, as i said when they playa real team with a real defense and goalie then I'll happily eat my words but for now have your bromance with Arty

In spite of what Panarin did this year and his points in the first 2 play-off games I still would not reverse the trade for Saad. Saad kills penalties, is a power forward with speed and will be a huge asset moving forward.
- Z3Hawk

I think long term the trade will be fine. Saad likely to produce more points and it would help if they could really find him a role on the PP that he can excel at. That is the one area he hasn't excelled at.

Since 2013 he has 34 Powerplay points which puts him tied for 248th and that is with 860 PP minutes which he is 157th in that span. If he can find a good role and production on the PP, his production will look a lot better.

This part reminded me of something I believe tvetter kept asking, whether the Hawks should retain it's 2 current 1st round picks (top 9 + one of the last picks in the round) or consider trading them to the Islanders for their #10 and #12. I personally would rather keep what we have now since it's the first time in a while that the Hawks have had a top 9 pick who could realistically be #7 (i.e. Dobson, Bouchard, Hughes, Boqvist, Wahlstrom).

Then again, when the Bruins had 3 consecutive #1 draft picks in 2015, they took Zboril at #13, DeBrusk at #14, and Zenyshyn at #15. DeBrusk had a pretty good rookie year while the other two I believe are still highly rated prospects for Boston.
- AEL_Fox

You want to hold onto a pick where the player ceiling is as high as top seven but not taking diminutive Hughes at #8. Dobson at #9 ok. After that the draft is not going to give a really blue chip unless someone improves so much and is a surprise. Bowman hopefully does not try to dig out of his lack of descent nhl dmen by using the early first to obtain an nhl dman. Let him trade a roster player, a prospect, the second #1 ......just do not trade the early pick. If he trades the early pick, he admits to failure as a GM. He ca't do the right thing at the right time. And he should have tried to force Q out IF he believes that Q was trying to circumvent the trades - especially Weisse.

You want to hold onto a pick where the player ceiling is as high as top seven but not taking diminutive Hughes at #8. Dobson at #9 ok. After that the draft is not going to give a really blue chip unless someone improves so muchand is a surprise. Bowman hopefully does not try to dig out of his lack of descent nhl dmen by using the early first to obtain an nhl dman. Let him trade a roster player, a prospect, the second #1 ......just do not trade the early pick. If he trades the early pick, he admits to failure as a GM. He ca't do the right thing at the right time. And he should have tried to force Q out IFhe brlieves that Q was trying to circumvent the trades - especially Weisse.
- jhawk59

I still think Weise (sp?) took much, much too long to "clear his immigration status" to report to the 'Hawks after that trade.

I have always believed in your ideal approach. In the years ahead, once all these drafted guys turn pro, we will see there are a few dmen esse tially competing for the third pair offensive job, and perhaps one or two pwill compeye for a second pair offensive job. I want to see Gilbert, Hillman, Carlsson and Mitchell on our defense. Kryz has to win a third pair or stau on minors. Probably Jokiharju or Forsberg had to progress to second pair pr forst pair if Carlsson and or Mitchell are very good. Don't know where Tuuloloa might turn up
- jhawk59

Hopefully they all develop to be valuable in some way or another to either promote to the Hawks starting defense or use as a trade chip to acquire another need.

With Hillman and Gilbert locked up and possibly Jokiharju and Carlsson soon, next season's Rockford blueline is going to be overflowing with prospects so I imagine some will not be renewed (i.e. Svedberg, Franson), spend time in Indy, or impress enough to earn a roster spot with the Hawks.

Current Hogs blueline + recent signees:
Clendening
Dahlstrom
Forsling
Franson
Gilbert
Hillman
Norell
Raddysh
Snuggerud
Svedberg
Tuulola

Potential signees:
Jokiharju, Carlsson

Indy players:
Press, Anselmini

Hawk players who could be back in Rockford:
Gustafsson, Oesterle

You want to hold onto a pick where the player ceiling is as high as top seven but not taking diminutive Hughes at #8. Dobson at #9 ok. After that the draft is not going to give a really blue chip unless someone improves so muchand is a surprise. Bowman hopefully does not try to dig out of his lack of descent nhl dmen by using the early first to obtain an nhl dman. Let him trade a roster player, a prospect, the second #1 ......just do not trade the early pick. If he trades the early pick, he admits to failure as a GM. He ca't do the right thing at the right time. And he should have tried to force Q out IFhe brlieves that Q was trying to circumvent the trades - especially Weisse.
- jhawk59

If Bowman trades the top-9 pick, I wouldn't count that as an automatic fail on his part. Depends on what the return is like a package deal to move up in the draft to a top-5 pick or to acquire a blue chip prospect or young star player entering his prime.

Or it could end up being a fail. Who knows.

And BOTH adverse to contact - same player to me
- riozzo

Except one has three cups

And so it begins...

Patrick Sharp on nbc

Go Sharpie.

And so it begins...

Patrick Sharp on nbc

Go Sharpie.
- hocktock

Amen, Go Sharpie!

And so it begins...

Patrick Sharp on nbc

Go Sharpie.
- hocktock

Some initial nerves out of the way, and he's doing pretty well. Has the looks, obviously, but has a relaxed and natural style.

I was hoping to see him with Burish on our local broadcasts, but not surprised that NBC national came calling.

Ulf’s Reckless Offence Defensive System was ridiculous. Forget about “protecting the house” the Hawks’ D played as if there wasn’t a house. Effective D systems ALWAYS must be D first systems. Pinch only when it is safe to do so not as a constant strategy. The Hawks gave up an incomprehensible number of odd-man breaks with one D-Man or sometimes both D-Men caught terribly out of position. Simply Not Acceptable.
- Z3Hawk

a
After domi knocked him out you don't protect the crease in his eyes I guess. Why is everyone clamoring for Samuelson in Rockford to be on the big club. Us he a big hitter down there? Just looking at his stats he doesn't have a lot of pims anywhere so it doesn't look as if he plays a physical game.

The point is the Panarin trade was one of the worst in Blackhawks history and inexcusable. This is very inconvenient for the company line fake posters but is backed up by the facts. The Panarin detractors are amusing to read because they have no actual facts on their side and are therefore reduced to rely on trying vainly to sputter out any nonsense whatsoever as gospel no matter how outrageous or uninformed. They'd be a lot better off posting over on a 'wrasslin' board than on a hockey board where most posters know the facts and are not gullible children. I expect anytime now one of those geniuses next post to implore 'who you gonna believe, me or your own lying eyes'
The entire idea of constantly bringing up Panarin is to keep Hawks destroyer Bowman front and center on this site. Fire Bowman now.

The point is the Panarin trade was one of the worst in Blackhawks history and inexcusable. This is very inconvenient for the company line fake posters but is backed up by the facts. The Panarin detractors are amusing to read because they have no actual facts on their side and are therefore reduced to rely on trying vainly to sputter out any nonsense whatsoever as gospel no matter how outrageous or uninformed. They'd be a lot better off posting over on a 'wrasslin' board than on a hockey board where most posters know the facts and are not gullible children. I expect anytime now one of those geniuses next post to implore 'who you gonna believe, me or your own lying eyes'
The entire idea of constantly bringing up Panarin is to keep Hawks destroyer Bowman front and center on this site. Fire Bowman now.
- Savoy

Just to be clear - who are these “company line fake posters”?

Seems like they are those of us who dare to disagree with you.

The last thing the company wants you to realize is that Bowman gave away the equivalent of superstar Patrick Kane. Kane was the very first pick in the draft. Panarin is his equal and head and shoulders above anybody else the Hawks have just as Kane is. How many of those guys can you expect to get on your team in a lifetime? We had two of them and now Panarin is gone for little return and the highest scoring line in the NHL is broken and for no reason. Furthermore Bowman has not replaced either Panarin or Hammer and must be held accountable.

Just to be clear - who are these “company line fake posters”?

Seems like they are those of us who dare to disagree with you.
- StLBravesFan

Not you. I respect your opinion.

What a snipe by Dubois

If little Patrica was doing the same thing you CLUELESS ones would be kissing his rear on how great he is playing

GET A CLUE

88 is overpaid & OVERRATED 1 WAY PLAYER
- Goalie-33

And you are still a colossal moron!!!!

You and your ignorance have been and always will be the biggest joke on this site!!!!

Don't ever change!!!!!

Not you. I respect your opinion.
- Savoy

Well, I don’t respect your opinion of the posters here who disagree with you - but it’s what I expect of the internet in 2018.

Man, if they had six Bobby Orr’s in their prime, I wouldn’t even start the goalie. I’d put all six Orr’s out at one, grab a couple of cold ones and sit back and watch the show!
- Spec41971

Backreading and YES!! I TOTALLY AGREE!!

Well, I don’t respect your opinion of the posters here who disagree with you - but it’s what I expect of the internet in 2018.
- StLBravesFan

Suit yourself.

So here is a survey question. Would Q bench a young Bobby Orr because he rushes up the ice too much?