If you trade Saad who are you replacing him with?

This team doesn't have a lot of guys buried on line 3 that easily could be playing top 6 minutes. In fact, they have a few guys in their top 6 that really should be on line 3.
- SteveRain

Top six now

Saad, Debrincat, Schmaltz, Toews, Kane, Probably AA at this point. Plenty of high level talent there and I think they have the grinders for most of the wing positions on lines 3 and 4. Really need to add at 3 and 4 C if they're going to stick with that though.

If they add to the top six that makes one or two of AA, Schmaltz, Dinglecat and Sikura expendable for hockey trades so there's that too.

They have cap space and assets for the right moves they just need to hopefully execute which I have my doubts about.

Agreed - Saad is not going anywhere - too important a piece for the Hawks. If more chances had been goals he’d be untouchable. Still should be untouchable. Last year was an out of kilter year team wide not just for Saad.
- Z3Hawk

Nah, if they sign Tavares (I wont let that go until it doesn't happen)

Cat - Toews - Kane (dinglecat is basically a lil Sharp with a better shot in that case)
Schmaltz - Tavares - some guy

Kind of light in the ass but would be fun to watch at least - which the Hawks certainly haven't been as of late.

If they keep Saad I'd like to see him on the right side so he can cut into the middle and start creating his own shots.

Schmaltz Toews Saad would be interesting with Schmaltz's vision and speed. Debrincat banging in one timers from Kane would also be a lot of fun.

it would be great if Kampf can really take that role so that the offensive guys can focus on offense more often. Kruger before he was plagued with that wrist injury and large salary was such a value add to the roster defensively. I don't think it helped Saad/Toews to have to be kinda of play that checking role as much as they did or to be the first two out there on the PK as often as they were last year.

I've been spending time thinking about who they could try to acquire to help the depth and I've posted some names in the past.

I still like the idea of Riley Nash, but some other ideas obviously depending on the $$$ or the asking price. Maybe the Hawks find a deal with a team willing to move a more defensive RFA for one of the Hawks more offensive RFA (Hinostroza or Duclair)

Luke Glendening - Trade a D asset to the Wings
Jay Beagle UFA for the right price.
Blake Coleman RFA from NJD.
Riley Sheahan RFA from Pittsburgh
Leo Komarov UFA (if near league minimum)
Brad Richardson (if near league minimum)
Cizikas, Casey - if some salary retained
- breadbag

Not a bad list though I'd cut a couple.

Glendening has been declining and his transition numbers are poop so I don't think I'd care for him tbh, esp if he cost an asset.

Coleman and Sheahan are both options but the former is better imo. Really liked Coleman this season on the Devils and at Worlds. Will the Pens or Devils want to give up a center when they're both stocked lower on those as well though?

Komarov is kind of meh to me.

Richardson is a bit older but he has been used as a shutdown guy. It's hard to evaluate him on Arizona the last few years. He did miss a lot of time last year which could be concerning at his age. Good at the dot though.

Cizikas is ~okay but yeah his cap hit is way too high for what he does. He struggled against higher comp the last two seasons but then his team isn't that great so he's another that is harder to evaluate fully.

Good to hear from you DK

HOpe all is well with you as well.

Agreed.....CC is the key and I always find it humorous nobody in this great beat coverage with all these sources can ever break a story. You would think a guy would be able to get the scoop on CC to see how/if he is progressing. There is no promise Hawks will divulge that at the grab fest next month either.
- SteveRain

there were pictures of him hiking out west at some point this spring on social media so you'd think there is some kind of improvement.

it would be great if Kampf can really take that role so that the offensive guys can focus on offense more often. Kruger before he was plagued with that wrist injury and large salary was such a value add to the roster defensively. I don't think it helped Saad/Toews to have to be kinda of play that checking role as much as they did or to be the first two out there on the PK as often as they were last year.

I've been spending time thinking about who they could try to acquire to help the depth and I've posted some names in the past.

I still like the idea of Riley Nash, but some other ideas obviously depending on the $$$ or the asking price. Maybe the Hawks find a deal with a team willing to move a more defensive RFA for one of the Hawks more offensive RFA (Hinostroza or Duclair)

Luke Glendening - Trade a D asset to the Wings
Jay Beagle UFA for the right price.
Blake Coleman RFA from NJD.
Riley Sheahan RFA from Pittsburgh
Leo Komarov UFA (if near league minimum)
Brad Richardson (if near league minimum)
Cizikas, Casey - if some salary retained
- breadbag

Dalhstrom for Glendening 3rd 4th line center good on faceoffs shutdown center has some offensive upside. If Detroit is willing to make that trade then done deal.

Debrincat has an incredible shot, moves up the ice well and seems to read the game at a very high level.

Schmaltz is an excellent skater, very good passer and is good at disrupting plays in the neutral zone.

If they need to move one of those guys for a top pairing guy (cause thats what needs to come back) then they can probably get away with it since they have a few lil guys who are really skilled. I'd lump Sikura in that mix just because and maybe Strohs as well.
- fattybeef

They don't have have a few guys that are really skilled though - you just named the only two semi-established top 6 quality forwards under 24 on the team. That's it. Sikura may fall line with that, but we won't know until he plays more than a few games.

Hinostroza and Duclair are the other skilled player you may be thinking about, but neither have actually clicked in the NHL yet. Both show flashes but more as offensive bottom line guys imo. They most definitely are outside the Schmaltz/Debrincat category.

Trading Schmaltz or Debrincat (and esp Saad) for a RD just moves the area of weakness for the Hawks - it does not fix anything, really.

To say the Hawks "are not close"...doesn't really apply, IMO

Theres so much parity in the league, I think the Hawks can make a few moves and get some rebound years an be back in.

Who would ever think Vegas was "close" to anything last June?

I think once they knew Crawford was done and they couldn't put any "run" together, they started playing way more of the younger guys, in and out of the lineup, 8 Dmen, etc...to get long looks and experience for players to evaluate.
- PatShart

Glad someone else said that. Even being terrible at defense and goaling they were only 40ish goals away from a playoff spot and if Toews, Saad and Kane shoot their career averages you got 25 and finding 15 or 20 more should theoretically be very doable with a shrewd acquisition or two and as seen this year all kinds of stupid things happen in the playoffs.

Dalhstrom for Glendening 3rd 4th line center good on faceoffs shutdown center has some offensive upside. If Detroit is willing to make that trade then done deal.
- Scott1977

Glendening has not been very good at shutting anyone down for the last two seasons, and at 29, probably wouldn't bounce back. Also, he can't transition which is needed for a center that starts in the DZ. What is the point of winning a DZ faceoff if he cannot get the puck out of the zone very well? That's not exactly value at almost $2m.

I agree on the young players and it's important they get NHL minutes because until they do....you don't know what you have.

Vegas was good and you're right nobody saw it coming,.....but they played a ferocious game with a great system and an all world goalie. They needed a lot to go right and I don't see how they duplicate that again this upcoming year unless they add some legit pieces.

I think the Hawks can make the playoffs, but my expectation of a championship would be pretty low if they just added some Carolina retreads and got bounce back years.

IMO, their biggest X factor right now is 50. IF CC isn't right, this team is in deep crap and unless Bowman can acquire a goalie, they can add whoever and it wont' matter.

I'm a Q fan, but if this team struggles and is not in a good spot come Thanksgiving, you have to fire Q, and if they miss the playoffs again.....you fire Bowman, which leads to Scotty leaving, and McDonough uploading his resume on monster.com

- SteveRain

Great goaltending and an outlier year for Karlsson. When MAF falls back to earth like he did in the finals and people wonder wtf Karlsson is only scoring 21 goals over the year - barring a big move in the off season or two - they will be a 7-9 seed team.

Pretty sure you are a terrible coach if Reeves is put on as a 6th attacker in any situation.

Glendening has not been very good at shutting anyone down for the last two seasons, and at 29, probably wouldn't bounce back. Also, he can't transition which is needed for a center that starts in the DZ. What is the point of winning a DZ faceoff if he cannot get the puck out of the zone very well?


- L_B_R

Good point. I thought he was still playing better.

Glendening has not been very good at shutting anyone down for the last two seasons, and at 29, probably wouldn't bounce back. Also, he can't transition which is needed for a center that starts in the DZ. What is the point of winning a DZ faceoff if he cannot get the puck out of the zone very well?


- L_B_R

Ok thanks for the info Only propose the trade due the fact the hawks need 1 or 2 centers to take the pressure off of towes. What other centers would be out there through free agency or trade that would makes sense for the hawks also not talking high profile players under the radar type like when got handzeus.

Ok thanks for the info Only propose the trade due the fact the hawks need 1 or 2 centers to take the pressure off of towes. What other centers would be out there through free agency or trade that would makes sense for the hawks also not talking high profile players under the radar type like when got handzeus.
- Scott1977

Bread just posted a few and I replied about the ones of them that I like more than others.

Handzus isn't really a comparable to me cause he got plugged into one of the best teams in the last decade, maybe longer, and he was pretty much the definition of lightning in a bottle. He totally crashed the following year, just like Desjardins did in a winger shutdown/checking role. Whoever they pick now has to be much better than Zus was cause the overall team is weaker. They need a Bolland or Kruger level checking/shutdown center imo.

If I could pick any center for this role via trade that might be available, I'd go with Pageau. There are some other guys that could work but he's pretty ideal. I thought the same thing about Riley Nash a couple of years ago but some kind of dismissed it and now he is quite coveted.

This guy...
- PatShart

See what happens when you smoke CRACK!!!

They don't have have a few guys that are really skilled though - you just named the only two semi-established top 6 quality forwards under 24 on the team. That's it. Sikura may fall line with that, but we won't know until he plays more than a few games.

Hinostroza and Duclair are the other skilled player you may be thinking about, but neither have actually clicked in the NHL yet. Both show flashes but more as offensive bottom line guys imo. They most definitely are outside the Schmaltz/Debrincat category.

Trading Schmaltz or Debrincat (and esp Saad) for a RD just moves the area of weakness for the Hawks - it does not fix anything, really.
- L_B_R

Do you think they will even bother qualifying Anthony Duclair? I don't. He can't play in the Top 6 and he can't play a defensive role. His career is running out of racetrack.

How much do you think JVR gets and the term?

If you can get JVR and package the 8th pick for something really nice of D and depth. Short term we might be looking in decent shape.

Do you think they will even bother qualifying Anthony Duclair? I don't. He can't play in the Top 6 and he can't play a defensive role. His career is running out of racetrack.
- RickJ

They should if only from a purely asset management stand point. I don't particularly have strong feelings one way or another about Duclair (other than I don't care if he plays in the top 6 or not as long as he contributes) but that letting him go for nothing is kind of silly. At least get a late round pick out of him.

Also, Duclair is only 22, so it's kind of early to call him dead in the water. Many guys are getting into the NHL at that age or are just starting to put it together. Arizona rushing him onto a bad team with a bad coach didn't help, either. He's still a project but he's also still not in his prime.

Nah, if they sign Tavares (I wont let that go until it doesn't happen)

Cat - Toews - Kane (dinglecat is basically a lil Sharp with a better shot in that case)
Schmaltz - Tavares - some guy

Kind of light in the ass but would be fun to watch at least - which the Hawks certainly haven't been as of late.

If they keep Saad I'd like to see him on the right side so he can cut into the middle and start creating his own shots.

Schmaltz Toews Saad would be interesting with Schmaltz's vision and speed. Debrincat banging in one timers from Kane would also be a lot of fun.
- fattybeef

Have always wanted Saad to play his offwing RW. DeBrincat earned Top 6 last year without getting it. Must be Top 6 this year. I think Saad is someone you build around - he should not be traded.

They should if only from a purely asset management stand point. I don't particularly have strong feelings one way or another about Duclair (other than I don't care if he plays in the top 6 or not as long as he contributes) but that letting him go for nothing is kind of silly. At least get a late round pick out of him.

Also, Duclair is only 22, so it's kind of early to call him dead in the water. Many guys are getting into the NHL at that age or are just starting to put it together. Arizona rushing him onto a bad team with a bad coach didn't help, either. He's still a project but he's also still not in his prime.
- L_B_R

Panarin didnt sniff the NHL until he was 24. Not sure why people want to dump Duclair at 22

Duclair at 20yrs old, in the NHL with AZ had 20g and 44pts

Panarin at 20, in the $hitty KHL played 40gms and had 11g, 18pts

Why not let Duclair develop with the Hawks?

See what happens when you smoke CRACK!!!
- BGKarras

Crack may enlighten him, actually

If it was simply drafting the highest skilled player Merkley would go 2nd. As I copied and pasted it was said tons and tons and tons of effort is made to show what a player CAN'T do not so much what he can. Honestly I'm ok with that but you can pick at any player and find plenty of flaws, Tkachuk and anyone else. ..... I'll take my chances with a Marchand grit/compete in a 6ft 3in 225lb body while acknowledging the concerns. If I had to bet a dollar though the Hawks would take Wahlstrom if both were on the board.
- Mr Ricochet

MrR - the issue with me is always this - you can teach and practice and improve upon many things - such as conditioning, endurance, positioning, maturity, you can even improve skating to a degree but you cannot improve intrinsic skill. If Tkachuk turns out to be a 4th liner are you OK with that? This might happen as the speed and skill of the NHL might eat him up. I would not be satisfied. Now if you draft someone who has high-end skill and skating and for some reason that player doesn’t pan out hard to question drafting high-end skill and skating

Wahlstrom also has some issues. Committed to BC. How far does he view himself from the NHL? He has also benefitted from playing with very good players recently. If Hawks are taking Wahlstrom they better be very sure of what he's thinking and they better have a plan.

They should if only from a purely asset management stand point. I don't particularly have strong feelings one way or another about Duclair (other than I don't care if he plays in the top 6 or not as long as he contributes) but that letting him go for nothing is kind of silly. At least get a late round pick out of him.

Also, Duclair is only 22, so it's kind of early to call him dead in the water. Many guys are getting into the NHL at that age or are just starting to put it together. Arizona rushing him onto a bad team with a bad coach didn't help, either. He's still a project but he's also still not in his prime.
- L_B_R

To get something for Duclair in trade means they have to qualify him at 10% (I think) over his last salary, which means about $1.3M. Based on what he's done in the last couple of seasons doubtful anybody would spend much to acquire him in trade.

Too bad he got hurt, sending him down to Rockford to play in the playoffs might have helped him a lot and also told the brass something more about whether he had a future in Chicago.

They should if only from a purely asset management stand point. I don't particularly have strong feelings one way or another about Duclair (other than I don't care if he plays in the top 6 or not as long as he contributes) but that letting him go for nothing is kind of silly. At least get a late round pick out of him.

Also, Duclair is only 22, so it's kind of early to call him dead in the water. Many guys are getting into the NHL at that age or are just starting to put it together. Arizona rushing him onto a bad team with a bad coach didn't help, either. He's still a project but he's also still not in his prime.
- L_B_R

Here’s this year’s values:

Watch the Hawks sign defenseman Slava Voynov...

I agree. Fans tend to forget what just a few more wins does. The Hawks uncustomarily blew lots of leads last season. There were many games they could have won with just average rather than poor goaltending. The Hawks also lost lots of games at season’s end when not surprisinly they lost their intensity. The Hawks were 33-39-10. 3 more wins 36-36-10 for .500. 5 more wins 38-34-10. Just 10 more wins 43-29-10 - 96 points. 12 more wins 45-27-10 - 100 points. The Hawks still have loads of talent before any moves - that is why Rocky is so mad.
- Z3Hawk

No, don't be fooled by the NHL's treatment of overtime losses -- in fact 3 more wins and the Hawks would have been 36-46, i.e. a sparkling .439 winning percentage!