Correct. He's 24 and 24+ players can only sign 1 year ELC.
- L_B_R

Nice because it also makes him waiver exempt.

Nice because it also makes him waiver exempt.
- 67hawks

Yes, though to note, he apparently does have a Euro clause like Panarin/Kempny did where he can opt to go back to Germany if he doesn't make the NHL team. Dunno if he'll use it, obvs.

Tom Wilson is a total poser...anyone see the dive he took when Reaves tickled him with a glove? Don't ever promote that chump again....

he takes advantage of dirty hits, smaller players....but when a big boy come to dance he turtles like a turd. Tom Wilson is absolute trash. NEVER speak about him being a part of the Hawks.

Wilson is a total joke, no better than Matt Cooke level losers
- kwolf68

I'd take Tom Wilson in a Hawks sweater in a heartbeat.

That's uncalled for...
- riozzo

Whats uncalled for?

I'd take Tom Wilson in a Hawks sweater in a heartbeat.
- Hank3Henshaw

Q would duck tape him to the bench for throwing body checks. Dale Weise was a hammer and Q neutered him the first week he was here. Aint nothing gonna change next season folks with Q and Co. behind the bench. Same PP units that run the same back door BS set up and cant score. Same D philosophy that is a dumpster fire. Zero on ice fire. Showing up to games not prepared/checked out.

Q is very Ditka like. Too stubborn for his own good and unable to change/adapt to the league. Hope isnt a tactic. Its putting off the inevitable. To think Q will totally change how he runs things at this stage in his career?

Hmm I don't think they were terrible, but they shouldn't have been deployed as shutdown guys together. Initially, they were really solid in that role but it tapered off after about 15 games and Q/Ulf stuck with them too long past that. It also feels like revisionist history to ignore that both were playing well to start the season.

Rutta is like many pick-ups lately in that he started out strong but waned as the season went. Gus in 2015-16 and Kempny in 2016-17 were exactly the same. I have no idea if Rutta will be able to stay strong through an entire season again or be better, just that as an RD, they'll keep him because they have no other options atm.

Forsling's issue is consistency but in that that he only played in extremes - he either has a really good or really bad game. Being only 20/21, that kind of inconsistency is to be expected imo. I'm on record as saying I think he was rushed to the show a bit, and the Hawks somewhat admit it cause he was supposed to play another season in Sweden, but he certainly has shown enough potential to warrant given more time to see how he plays out. There are a lot of things to like about Forsling's game imo.

I don't dislike Kempny as a player or anything, I just think he was superfluous to the Hawks in many ways and wasn't going to resign, so I don't really understand the angst over his loss just because he's working in a better defensive group on a better overall team now. Not saying you specifically are angsting or anything, just people in general.

I do think the Hawks need to figure out a system that works best with their players and really get them to all play into it. If they want to play aggressive, they have to work with Gus/Oesterle/Forsling/whoever to be aggressive in all way, including using their bodies. If they want to play safer, then just work it out.
- L_B_R

I am fine that Kempny was traded. Hope Hawks draft a nice player even if it is very late in the 3rd Round. Regarding Forsling and Rutta not being revisionist - cracks were showing early about the total collapse to come. It is similar to Nature/Nurture - how much was the player how much was the system?

In response to Wiz saying I rip off ISS and other sites, please site a single instance of this.

I did my (albeit crappy and not nearly as in-depth as someone who's actually putting their crap up for money) homework on each guy, and wrote from there. I never once copied and pasted, and certainly haven't tried to pass off my haphazard work as anything other than a conversation starter and exactly that, haphazard work.

So with regards to you thinking I'm stealing content... blow that opinion right out your @ss.

I do hope to see you posting more draft stuff, because the #8 and #27 picks are two of the biggest picks we've had in years.
- ObeseOprah

Obese Oprah thought it was unfair that the “Wiz” attacked you for no reason. The “Wiz” obviously has some issues he is working through beginning, I would think, with the fact that his nickname is the “Wiz.” Makes me think of the famous pompous idiot character on Seinfeld. Maybe the “Wiz” can explain what he does in rating players that is simply so organic, simply so superior to what others do. Is he going to hundreds of games a year directly scouting players? Including in Europe? I’d think not. Or is he reading Bob McKenzie like we all do? I have read the “Wiz” and his ratings of players aren’t organic at all as they say all the same things that other raters do. Hmmm isn’t that what he accused you of.

Q would duck tape him to the bench for throwing body checks. Dale Weise was a hammer and Q neutered him the first week he was here. Aint nothing gonna change next season folks with Q and Co. behind the bench. Same PP units that run the same back door BS set up and cant score. Same D philosophy that is a dumpster fire. Zero on ice fire. Showing up to games not prepared/checked out.

Q is very Ditka like. Too stubborn for his own good and unable to change/adapt to the league. Hope isnt a tactic. Its putting off the inevitable. To think Q will totally change how he runs things at this stage in his career?
- z1990z

Love Mad Dog Weise.

I'm a big Q fan. I don't think he's the problem and you'll never convince me he is.

Hmm I don't think they were terrible, but they shouldn't have been deployed as shutdown guys together. Initially, they were really solid in that role but it tapered off after about 15 games and Q/Ulf stuck with them too long past that. It also feels like revisionist history to ignore that both were playing well to start the season.

Rutta is like many pick-ups lately in that he started out strong but waned as the season went. Gus in 2015-16 and Kempny in 2016-17 were exactly the same. I have no idea if Rutta will be able to stay strong through an entire season again or be better, just that as an RD, they'll keep him because they have no other options atm.

Forsling's issue is consistency but in that that he only played in extremes - he either has a really good or really bad game. Being only 20/21, that kind of inconsistency is to be expected imo. I'm on record as saying I think he was rushed to the show a bit, and the Hawks somewhat admit it cause he was supposed to play another season in Sweden, but he certainly has shown enough potential to warrant given more time to see how he plays out. There are a lot of things to like about Forsling's game imo.

I don't dislike Kempny as a player or anything, I just think he was superfluous to the Hawks in many ways and wasn't going to resign, so I don't really understand the angst over his loss just because he's working in a better defensive group on a better overall team now. Not saying you specifically are angsting or anything, just people in general.

I do think the Hawks need to figure out a system that works best with their players and really get them to all play into it. If they want to play aggressive, they have to work with Gus/Oesterle/Forsling/whoever to be aggressive in all way, including using their bodies. If they want to play safer, then just work it out.
- L_B_R

I thought there were a number of those extremes for Forsling and Rutta when paired together and that earned Forsling the demotion. They would have a great game or so but they had a few real awful ones. Some games against NYI, Dallas, Vancouver they weren't so good. I'm just going off memory, but they may have been paired together too when Rutta really struggled trying to contain the NJD and Taylor Hall specifically. I think Rutta could become a very decent player for the Hawks and Forsling has potential, but they just had some really tough outings as a unit.

Never thought even for a second that Rutta and Forsling slotted ahead of Kempny as neither had any idea what to do in the D end. Having said this Kempny was traded because Q left no alternative. Kempny has done something right in helping Caps get to the Final by shutting out the Lightning for 8 periods straight.
- Z3Hawk

He’s playing as their 3rd Dman ATOI 17:43 over 21 games!

Love Mad Dog Weise.

I'm a big Q fan. I don't think he's the problem and you'll never convince me he is.
- Hank3Henshaw

I think Q, like anyone, has his drawbacks and makes mistakes. His record as an NHL coach is great and the players really seem to respect him. I don't think you easily walk away from him. The team is really only 1 year into this mini-rebuild that Stan set them on and with the roster turnover, I think you need to give the coaching staff some more time.

Are there things Q probably could have done better? Likely. It is difficult to go too far with the criticism when the guy got a lot out of this team over the years and he has more experience coaching an NHL team than anyone who isn't Scott Bowman. (#2 in games coached all time both regular season and playoffs). He knows what he is doing.

Obese Oprah thought it was unfair that the “Wiz” attacked you for no reason. The “Wiz” obviously has some issues he is working through beginning, I would think, with the fact that his nickname is the “Wiz.” Makes me think of the famous pompous idiot character on Seinfeld. Maybe the “Wiz” can explain what he does in rating players that is simply so organic, simply so superior to what others do. Is he going to hundreds of games a year directly scouting players? Including in Europe? I’d think not. Or is he reading Bob McKenzie like we all do? I have read the “Wiz” and his ratings of players aren’t organic at all as they say all the same things that other raters do. Hmmm isn’t that what he accused you of.
- Z3Hawk

Yeah I don't know why he's so pissy that I was posting my own crappy reviews of players.

Last time I checked none of us have been hired as scouts or consultants for any NHL team, ever. I watch an unhealthy amount of hockey, as he likely does too. You would think he'd be glad to stumble upon someone else who gives way too much of a crap about players who might never step foot on NHL ice.

Maybe he got banned for being grumpy instead of this site's weird 'no outside links, unless it's a link to one of our proud boner-pill/lingerie sponsors, or JJ' policy.

He does have a good point about how the site is filled with enormous garbage ads. The experience on desktop is decent, the experience on laptop and mobile honestly makes me want to use a different site it is so bad.

He’s playing as their 3rd Dman ATOI 17:43 over 21 games!
- walleyeb1

He is really in that 4/5 role. Carlson, Niskanen, Orlov are taking the heavy load playing 26-24 minutes a night. Kempny at 17:43, Orpik right there with 16:59 and Jerabek/Djoos rounding them out at 10-12 minutes.

Kempny would get more time on ice if he got some special teams minutes, but he isn't playing on either the PK or the PP really for the Caps. Kempny is giving them the depth in that 4/5 spot depending how you look at it.

He is really in that 4/5 role. Carlson, Niskanen, Orlov are taking the heavy load playing 26-24 minutes a night. Kempny at 17:43, Orpik right there with 16:59 and Jerabek/Djoos rounding them out at 10-12 minutes.

Kempny would get more time on ice if he got some special teams minutes, but he isn't playing on either the PK or the PP really for the Caps. Kempny is giving them the depth in that 4/5 spot depending how you look at it.
- breadbag

Kind've wish we made that pick conditional on 'if he gets you to the cup it becomes a first' haha.

He’s playing as their 3rd Dman ATOI 17:43 over 21 games!
- walleyeb1

Hmm Kempny is their 4th d-men for TOI overall and 5v5. Carlson, Niskanen, and Orlov all above by about 3 minutes 5v5 and 8 minutes overall. Kempny was 4th in 5v5 TOI and 5th in overall TOI until part way through the Lightning series.

Niskanen-Orlov are getting a similar deployment that Hjammer-Oduya got in 2013/14/15 but with more 5v5 time as they're the highest on the Caps plus they play significant time on the PK. Carlson edges them out for overall TOI because he plays on both special teams and especially a lot on the PP.

Orpik did have more overall TOI than Kempny thanks to being the top PK d-man, but his time has lowered since he was banged up in like game 2/3 agains the Lightning and missing some time in game 7. Kempny now has about a 4 minute lead over Orpik 5v5 but they're less than a minute apart overall still because Kempny does not play on any special teams.

So Kempny is playing more of a 4/5 role that is elevated a little due to Orpik being run down a bit. Good, solid addition for them but not a true top 3. The Caps top 3 of Niskanen, Orlov, and Carlson have been outstanding and remind me a bit of how the big 4 for the Hawks carried them in the 2015 plays - the Caps #4 isn't as good but their bottom pair is much better than the hodgepodge of the ashes of Timonen/Rundblad/Cuminsky/just got healed TVR.

Yeah I don't know why he's so pissy that I was posting my own crappy reviews of players.

Last time I checked none of us have been hired as scouts or consultants for any NHL team, ever. I watch an unhealthy amount of hockey, as he likely does too. You would think he'd be glad to stumble upon someone else who gives way too much of a crap about players who might never step foot on NHL ice.

Maybe he got banned for being grumpy instead of this site's weird 'no outside links, unless it's a link to one of our proud boner-pill/lingerie sponsors, or JJ' policy.

He does have a good point about how the site is filled with enormous garbage ads. The experience on desktop is decent, the experience on laptop and mobile honestly makes me want to use a different site it is so bad.
- ObeseOprah

Maybe he doesn't like Oprah but prefers Sally Jessie Rafael?

Q would duck tape him to the bench for throwing body checks. Dale Weise was a hammer and Q neutered him the first week he was here. Aint nothing gonna change next season folks with Q and Co. behind the bench. Same PP units that run the same back door BS set up and cant score. Same D philosophy that is a dumpster fire. Zero on ice fire. Showing up to games not prepared/checked out.

Q is very Ditka like. Too stubborn for his own good and unable to change/adapt to the league. Hope isnt a tactic. Its putting off the inevitable. To think Q will totally change how he runs things at this stage in his career?
- z1990z

Do you really think Q has a problem with body checks? That 2010 team was hard hitting, so he obviously is fine with it, and he gave players like Shaw, Bollig, and Bouma longer leashes than others that were also quite physical.

What Q wouldn't put up with is crossing the line to being predatory and/or going for so smart with his hits - they always had a purpose. Most of the time Wilson is fine, but sometimes he goes out of his way for a hit that leaves his team exposed. The latter is what Q would have an issue with - not the actual physicality.

I'm not sure it's fair to say Q doesn't adapt, either. 2010 to 2013 was quite a big change in style for the team and the forward system due to changes in personnel (one of which was size/physicality). If what works in the NHL now is something different, then we'll have to see if Q can do it again.

I am fine that Kempny was traded. Hope Hawks draft a nice player even if it is very late in the 3rd Round. Regarding Forsling and Rutta not being revisionist - cracks were showing early about the total collapse to come. It is similar to Nature/Nurture - how much was the player how much was the system?
- Z3Hawk

I agree, I think Forsling-Rutta were kept together too long and should have been split to be with other partner or at least given different usage. But as individual players, they both have merit and warts, the same way Kempny does. Whether they'll end up being useful in a way that leads to team success is yet to be seen.

Also, it doesn't really matter where in the 3rd round the pick is - the value is pretty much the same there through the end of the draft. A late 1st round pick (#25 or later) is closer to value to a 3rd than it is to a top 10 pick, for example.

Do you really think Q has a problem with body checks? That 2010 team was hard hitting, so he obviously is fine with it, and he gave players like Shaw, Bollig, and Bouma longer leashes than others that were also quite physical.

What Q wouldn't put up with is crossing the line to being predatory and/or going for so smart with his hits - they always had a purpose. Most of the time Wilson is fine, but sometimes he goes out of his way for a hit that leaves his team exposed. The latter is what Q would have an issue with - not the actual physicality.

I'm not sure it's fair to say Q doesn't adapt, either. 2010 to 2013 was quite a big change in style for the team and the forward system due to changes in personnel (one of which was size/physicality). If what works in the NHL now is something different, then we'll have to see if Q can do it again.
- L_B_R

2010 Q....no. Post 2013 Q. 100% yes. He wants or is stuck with a lineup of non-physical "speedy" midgets or aging vets which puts us at where we are now which is a team that would have gotten destroyed with the physical demands of playoff hockey (were we to even make it that far).

I agree, I think Forsling-Rutta were kept together too long and should have been split to be with other partner or at least given different usage. But as individual players, they both have merit and warts, the same way Kempny does. Whether they'll end up being useful in a way that leads to team success is yet to be seen.

Also, it doesn't really matter where in the 3rd round the pick is - the value is pretty much the same there through the end of the draft. A late 1st round pick (#25 or later) is closer to value to a 3rd than it is to a top 10 pick, for example.
- L_B_R

Yes I am aware how the Draft works but thanks.

Yes I am aware how the Draft works but thanks.
- Z3Hawk

I didn't mean to come off condescending or anything - if that's how it read I apologize. My way of responding is just robotically spitting out info that pops into my head and that may or may not be completely relevant lol.

He is really in that 4/5 role. Carlson, Niskanen, Orlov are taking the heavy load playing 26-24 minutes a night. Kempny at 17:43, Orpik right there with 16:59 and Jerabek/Djoos rounding them out at 10-12 minutes.

Kempny would get more time on ice if he got some special teams minutes, but he isn't playing on either the PK or the PP really for the Caps. Kempny is giving them the depth in that 4/5 spot depending how you look at it.
- breadbag

Yeah, somehow I overlooked Orlov when I was looking at their ice time. That said Kempny appears to have worked out quite well for the Caps.

I think that the Hawks should strongly consider trading for Islanders' back-to-back 1st round picks. Hawks could then target both Ty Smith/Dobson and Kotkaniemi.

Interesting news from Carolina:

Can Scott Darling be that guy for you?

“I think Scott’s got to prove it to us. He had a very up and down year last year. Don’t think he was fully prepared to be a No. 1 guy last year. He knows physically he’s got to be in much better shape. He probably played 15 pounds heavier than he did the year before in Chicago. I know he’s already starting on a program this summer, he’s back in Raleigh here in the next week, he’s committed to an offseason workout with our strength and conditioning coach. But he’s got to prove it to us now. Nothing is going to be given to him. Hopefully we’ll have other guys competing with him for a job. Competition usually is good for everybody.”

Will Cam Ward return?

“We’re still talking about Cam [Ward can be an unrestricted free agent July 1]. Depending on what we do here, if you look at what Cam’s done for the organization, he’s had a great career. His numbers were pretty good last year. He was put in some tough situations, and for the most part responded to that role. Great locker room guy, great guy to have around the team, especially a young team. We haven’t made the decision yes or no yet. But if everything worked out, it would be nice to have him around.”