Love to see him on the ice when the opposition scores........
Pekka should worry more about stopping pucks than acting. Crow has got to be beside himself. Rinne barely gets touched and it is goalie interference, and Crow gets beaten up multiple times a game, and play on!. WTF!
- powerenforcer

You are also right that the Refs do not protect Crow and other Hawks’ goalies. You see Crow get hit directly in the head with no call. Directly and clearly in the head.

The Kahun signing was rumored for months (since before the TDL) so not sure what the holdup was.
- AEL_Fox

Number of contracts.,?
)))]]p)

Number of contracts.,?
)))]]p)
- jhawk59

Oh yeah, good call. That's why it's best I remain as an armchair GM.

My gut is that Sparks is amongst the options being considered for backup. The Hawks love the local kids. If no team nabs him this summer, give him a PTO for training camp. I think someone else mentioned that as one part of the strategy this off season: find various players (not just goalie) to invite to camp as tryouts and let the fire in their belly drive them to earn a contract.
- AEL_Fox

Any sparks Sparks to draw fans to the games

It's not very often d-men at the NHL level switch to forward. I'd trade Oesterle for a mid to late round pick if possible. Rutta, Murphy and Gus have all been "good enough" at points during the season but that's not what the team needs if they want to contend. Hoping to see an improvement from one young d-man is fine, but putting your hopes on 3-4 d-men to significantly improve is risky and not a recipe for success.
- DarthKane

DK Oesterle has NO trade value of any kind. I think of Forsling, Rutta and Gus - they are all non-contact, no defence D-Men. The Hawks may want to admit that D-Men who don’t make contact and don’t play defence are useless and attempt to re-tool.

Oh yeah, good call. That's why it's best I remain as an armchair GM.
- AEL_Fox

From the armchair please keep posting about developments or opinion on prospects. So glad to see your interest in prospects working their way here.

Duclair isn't worth a 2nd round pick though IMO.

Trade Schmaltz or Debrincat and Rutta's money for a 2nd round draft pick and a top 4 defender.
- fattybeef

No! Schmaltz and Cat are not going anywhere especially for no return.

Justin thinking about your comparison of Toews and Matthews

I think Matthews has a better shot than Toews and if you placed Matthews on the same line as Kane back in the day holy crap who knows how many goals he would of scored in the playoffs, i know what you're saying but at the same time i think if Matthews and Kane were on the same line today Kane and Matthews wouldbe leading the league in scoring, then put Panarin on that line, DAMN
- BetweenTheDots

Matthews is AWFUL - disappears in the big games - Kane would despise him.

Matthews is AWFUL - disappears in the big games - Kane would despise him.
- Z3Hawk

Matthews is 20 - two years in a “man’s league” (I know he spent a year in a pro league in Europe).

Aren’t we writing him off a bit too soon?

Matthews is AWFUL - disappears in the big games - Kane would despise him.
- Z3Hawk

You would be wise to put an asterik after your comment. Mathews is only a 20 yr old kid. Been hyped and has delivered or shows well each step along the way. Not saying you are wrong long term. But wait and see. He has a coach and surrounded by good young forwards. The team figures to improve. All which helps Mathews achieve

From the armchair please keep posting about developments or opinion on prospects. So glad to see your interest in prospects working their way here.
- jhawk59

DK Oesterle has NO trade value of any kind. I think of Forsling, Rutta and Gus - they are all non-contact, no defence D-Men. The Hawks may want to admit that D-Men who don’t make contact and don’t play defence are useless and attempt to re-tool.
- Z3Hawk

I generally agree with you but we know Bowman likes his offensively minded defensemen who are mediocre to just not good at playing actual defense. He says he is looking for defensive defensemen this summer but let's see if he can follow through.

Start with Keith as 1st pair LD and Seabrook as 2nd pair RD then build from there. While I think Murphy will likely still be on the team next season, I wouldn't be surprised (or upset) if he gets traded this summer. If he stays, which I wouldn't be upset about either, he's best at 3rd pair RD.

Keith - RD
LD - Seabrook
LD - Murphy

LD consider UFAs like de Haan, Moore, Hickey, etc. or else rely on Gustafsson, Oesterle, and Dahlstrom (do not prefer the latter but Bowman does). Hickey had a +20 (de Haan +11) for an Islanders team that was woefully horrible overall at +/- (with Leddy at -42). I know +/- isn't the best stat to gauge a player's overall defensive ability, but it's still worth something as part of a more comprehensive evaluation.

RD could possibly be Jokiharju if he is truly ready but I feel he is best starting in Rockford first if not play a full season there. Then there's potential #1 draft picks like Bouchard or Dobson if the Hawks are able to select either of them and they are NHL ready now as many tout them to be.

I generally agree with you but we know Bowman likes his offensively minded defensemen who are mediocre to just not good at playing actual defense. He says he is looking for defensive defensemen this summer but let's see if he can follow through.

Start with Keith as 1st pair LD and Seabrook as 2nd pair RD then build from there. While I think Murphy will likely still be on the team next season, I wouldn't be surprised (or upset) if he gets traded this summer. If he stays, which I wouldn't be upset about either, he's best at 3rd pair RD.

Keith - RD
LD - Seabrook
LD - Murphy

LD consider UFAs like de Haan, Moore, Hickey, etc. or else rely on Gustafsson, Oesterle, and Dahlstrom (do not prefer the latter but Bowman does). Hickey had a +20 (de Haan +11) for an Islanders team that was woefully horrible overall at +/- (with Leddy at -42). I know +/- isn't the best stat to gauge a player's overall defensive ability, but it's still worth something as part of a more comprehensive evaluation.


RD could possibly be Jokiharju if he is truly ready but I feel he is best starting in Rockford first if not play a full season there. Then there's potential #1 draft picks like Bouchard or Dobson if the Hawks are able to select either of them and they are NHL ready now as many tout them to be.
- AEL_Fox

Most realistic evaluation and i feel like i could have penned exact same thoughts.

Matthews is AWFUL - disappears in the big games - Kane would despise him.
- Z3Hawk

I'm sure this is sarcasm, i know what would he do with a big strong sharp shooting center Haha

Most realistic evaluation and i feel like i could have penned exact same thoughts.
- jhawk59

Keep in mind this is a young team let fruit ripen before we say it tastes like poop

No! Schmaltz and Cat are not going anywhere especially for no return.
- Z3Hawk

Trade Schmaltz and DeBrincat now before they create a cap problem in the future. Package them together for a late first rounder.

It's not very often d-men at the NHL level switch to forward. I'd trade Oesterle for a mid to late round pick if possible. Rutta, Murphy and Gus have all been "good enough" at points during the season but that's not what the team needs if they want to contend. Hoping to see an improvement from one young d-man is fine, but putting your hopes on 3-4 d-men to significantly improve is risky and not a recipe for success.
- DarthKane

Eventually i think only one of those guys remains. Say two years.

I still have LV winning the SC.
- powerenforcer

Anyone other than the Penguins or the Predators 🤮

Looks like the Bruins are heading to victory in Game 1, up 5-2 with 9 minutes left.

It's also very tough on the United Center grounds crew, as they need to spend extra time after each game breaking down and removing the tents opposing teams had pitched in front of the 'Hawks goal.
- 35Tony0

Lots of work taking down pitched tents.

Matthews is 20 - two years in a “man’s league” (I know he spent a year in a pro league in Europe).

Aren’t we writing him off a bit too soon?
- StLBravesFan

After playing hard and handling the pressure from the time he entered the NHL Kane scored the Cup winning OT goal as a 21 year-old. Went 3-5-8 in Cup Final. Matthews in big games doesn’t look like he can handle the pressure - he seems bugged out and invisible. Obviously, he is still young but has been 2 straight years for someone deemed “generational”.

Request for info: Justin’s latest blog showed up on my iPhone yesterday morning within about 10 minutes after he posted it. A couple of hours later I could not find it in any of the hockeybuzz pages, and I couldn’t access it until this morning

Has anyone else experienced this type of problem yesterday or with some other blog in the past?

Was my lost access something I did or was it a hockeybuzz thing?

Thanks

Trade Schmaltz and DeBrincat now before they create a cap problem in the future. Package them together for a late first rounder.
- DarthKane

Assuming you are being sarcastic or facetious. In the event otherwise your comments are simply ridiculous.

You are also right that the Refs do not protect Crow and other Hawks’ goalies. You see Crow get hit directly in the head with no call. Directly and clearly in the head.
- Z3Hawk

I believe malkin’s hit to crows head was brutal and intentional and worth a multi-game suspension. It looked to me like he leaned his upper body to the right, which forced his lower body right into Crawford. I think if he wanted to miss crow he would have leaned hi upper body to the left, forcing his lower body to the right.

Regarding your comment that the ref’s do not protect the hawks goalies, might it be their thinking that if the hawks defense isn’t willing to put in the effort and sacrifice, they (the ref’s) aren’t going to do the hawks’ job For themselves?

Anyone other than the Penguins or the Predators 🤮
- BGKarras

I will take any of the six not named Preds or pens.