Grabner flies, I think he would be great for outlet passes from the d to transition up ice. He is one player I would like to see Stan sign.
- ikeane

Absolute rocket ship, as fast as anyone in the league last I saw him but he's 30 now........ Top 9 or 6? Left shot assume he's a RW. Saad-Toews-Grabner if they spend on a top 4 UFA Dman?

What does this team really need?

Better collars for their jerseys.
- DarthKane

D**n Adidas jerseys are the whole reason for our struggles

The way I see it is there’s a higher floor for Tkachuk but maybe a lower ceiling. Lower floor (like never being a consistent NHLer) but higher ceiling for the smaller but skilled/speedy guys. I don’t see any way Brady Tkachuk with his physical attributes and nasty does not crack an NHL lineup next spring when his NCAA season is over. Tkachuk could fill a void in the Hawks top 6 that hasn’t been there since Big Buff in 2010....a guy who can play with skill guys, but is big, mean, and establishes residence in the opponent’s blue paint. I will be very happy with any one of Wahlstrom, Tkachuk or the Finnish Center.
- EnzoD

I'd add Boqvist and Hughes to this too although the organIzational depth at forward is weaker than D. Add Kotkaniemi and you fill at least the #2 C they've needed for yrs. Add Wahlstrom you fill the #1 RW they've needed for yrs. Add Tkachuk and you get the #1 RW they've needed for yrs and some nasty they've also needed for yrs. Add Boqvist or Hughes and you add what MIGHT be a difference making 50-60 point Dman, can be an entry machine that breaks down defenses and run the PP.

In theory of course cuz a prospect is just that until he proves otherwise.

NYI comes and offers the 11th and 12th for the Hawks' 8th and 27th, you do it? Valeno at 11th and Merkley at 12th? A draft like 2003 where ANA gets both Getzlaf and Perry in rd 1. https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/draft-history/2003/

The way I see it is there’s a higher floor for Tkachuk but maybe a lower ceiling. Lower floor (like never being a consistent NHLer) but higher ceiling for the smaller but skilled/speedy guys. I don’t see any way Brady Tkachuk with his physical attributes and nasty does not crack an NHL lineup next spring when his NCAA season is over. Tkachuk could fill a void in the Hawks top 6 that hasn’t been there since Big Buff in 2010....a guy who can play with skill guys, but is big, mean, and establishes residence in the opponent’s blue paint. I will be very happy with any one of Wahlstrom, Tkachuk or the Finnish Center.
- EnzoD

Enzo - well if the Hawks do draft Tkachuk I’ll certainly be hoping that you are right about him. Me? - I want Merkley and I don’t care what the Hawks have to do to accomplish this.

If Tkachuk has the chance of being a 3rd liner with 15 goals for me that just isn’t good enough for this pick. Also if Tkachuk falls to 8, 7 other teams have said no for a reason.
- Z3Hawk

Isn't that the case with everyone who's available at #8? I hear you, this line of thinking maybe was the reason for guys like Fowler or Terävainen slipping in their draft years, but... There is also a reason why Tkachuk, Bouchard, Dobson and others are ranked so high and not somewhere in the 30s at best. Trust your scouts and don't go emulate what others are doing, just because.

What does this team really need?

Better collars for their jerseys.
- DarthKane

They really are horrible. I'm hoping corporate greed in the form of new iteration of the jersey corrects a great injustice.

The way I see it is there’s a higher floor for Tkachuk but maybe a lower ceiling. Lower floor (like never being a consistent NHLer) but higher ceiling for the smaller but skilled/speedy guys. I don’t see any way Brady Tkachuk with his physical attributes and nasty does not crack an NHL lineup next spring when his NCAA season is over. Tkachuk could fill a void in the Hawks top 6 that hasn’t been there since Big Buff in 2010....a guy who can play with skill guys, but is big, mean, and establishes residence in the opponent’s blue paint. I will be very happy with any one of Wahlstrom, Tkachuk or the Finnish Center.
- EnzoD

Given what I know about Tkachuk (which is mainly from you guys here), I’m ok with him at 8.

But - higher floor, lower ceil8ng, if so - Hawks don’t have many young high ceiling guys anymore - in Chicago or the system - front end or back - AdB, I think, Jokiharju, I guess - maybe #8 should be used on a potential Kane / Toews / Keith replacement - not a possible complementary top-6 skater.

improved face-offs too
- matt_ahrens

Yep - I see at least 1x Centre coming in this off-season in some fashion as well.

I guess my question is will they be able to aquire players to fit the system they play or do they change/modify the system based on who they can get.

What does the team need.
1) Crow to be healthy. (and really the entire core to be healthy)
2) Q to slow down his blender (dramatically)
3) To move the Hossa contract for cap space
4) A right wing to play with Saad and Toews (other than Kane who is needed on line 1A)
5) A shut down center that can win faceoffs (other than Toews) and provide a little offense/tenacity (think Bolland, Madden, Vermette)
6) A Dman with some physicality and meanness (think Pronger)
7) Debrincat to improve (not a given, we all thought Hartman would have an upward trajectory in 2017/18. Didn't happen.)
8) Major improvements for Duclair (RFA), Rutta, Gus, Kampf, Hayden (RFA)
9) A surprise breakout season from one of the young guys. (Dahlstrom)
10) Patience with the kids (Jokiharju, Sikura, Ejdsell, Carlssson, #8 and # 27 draft picks). If they do not outright win a spot in camp, let them figure it out in Rockford.
11) Increased physicality all over the ice, but especially by our Dmen in front of our net and in the corners.
12) Never to see Oesterle in the indian head sweater again. (See if Colliton can do anything with him in Rockford). The guy just does not have the guts to play D. (See Nick Leddy.) Avoids contact and physicality, dodges instead of blocks shots, floats in all 3 zones, etc... (Same for Jurco - bye bye or Rockford)
13) I am not sure how to put maybe the biggest need. But if Ulfie has a system we need to see it and the team needs to buy into it, forwards and defenders. I am hoping in the 2nd year we see some great strides in this area. Because year one was a Chinese fire drill.

Isn’t it true that NHL teams can exceed the salary cap by 10% until the first day of the season, which is also the day that players are placed on LTIR? Doesn’t this mean that the Blackhawks can be over the cap by Hossa’s cap hit in the offseason knowing they can place him on LTIR on day 1, and are therefore effectively free to use the entirety of his cap hit?

This was also true last year, but last year there may have been less certainty around Hossas situation which would explain not using his cap hit.

Where am I misunderstanding how this works?

Isn’t it true that NHL teams can exceed the salary cap by 10% until the first day of the season, which is also the day that players are placed on LTIR? Doesn’t this mean that the Blackhawks can be over the cap by Hossa’s cap hit in the offseason knowing they can place him on LTIR on day 1, and are therefore effectively free to use the entirety of his cap hit?

This was also true last year, but last year there may have been less certainty around Hossas situation which would explain not using his cap hit.

Where am I misunderstanding how this works?
- LaheysBRandy

They have to be cap compliant on day 1 before they can put Hossa on LTIR.

The way I see it is there’s a higher floor for Tkachuk but maybe a lower ceiling. Lower floor (like never being a consistent NHLer) but higher ceiling for the smaller but skilled/speedy guys. I don’t see any way Brady Tkachuk with his physical attributes and nasty does not crack an NHL lineup next spring when his NCAA season is over. Tkachuk could fill a void in the Hawks top 6 that hasn’t been there since Big Buff in 2010....a guy who can play with skill guys, but is big, mean, and establishes residence in the opponent’s blue paint. I will be very happy with any one of Wahlstrom, Tkachuk or the Finnish Center.
- EnzoD

Enzo, Tkachuk is playing against his peers which are kids. You draft him at 8 and he steps into the lineup and starts his rough stuff with a bottom 6 grinder who has been in the league 5 or 6 years and gets his ass tuned up by a man. Then what? Does he go into a shell and waste you a #8 pick, or does he take it like a man. Being tough isn't all about giving it, it's about taking it too. Even the baddest ass in the league has a tough day at the office once in a while. I'd prefer to know how he'd handle an ass kickin before I spend a #8 pick on him. To me he has risk. Just like Toews might still be a good center he's not a 10.5 million center at this point. This kid might be an NHL player, just not worth a #8 pick. I'd draft skill/speed/IQ that can't be taught with the #8. Then work something out for Walt's kid after that.
And it should be noted that he is related to the Hayes brothers, so there's that.

Hayden just re-signed for 2 years, waiting on the AAV.

Hayden just re-signed for 2 years, waiting on the AAV.
- DarthKane

Good news!

I wonder if the Canes would buy-out Darling, then he could return to Chicago on a Richards-type deal.

I guess my question is will they be able to aquire players to fit the system they play or do they change/modify the system based on who they can get.
- jhawk159

NFW (no (frank)ing way) with Q manning the rudder.
Blowman will attempt to find players to fit into Q's pegs and when they aren't quite the perfect match, Q will attempt to hammer in those pegs before giving up and pressboxing or otherwise shunning said players.

Oh and the conversation about the jersey collars?
There are a few here old enough -- reminds me of Buster Brown's getup.

Darth and Wally... great work getting on the Laz and Tracey Myers podcast. ha.

Listened this morning and had a chuckle on the train when I heard you guys announced at the end of the show as putting your trade requests through.

NFW (no (frank)ing way) with Q manning the rudder.
Blowman will attempt to find players to fit into Q's pegs and when they aren't quite the perfect match, Q will attempt to hammer in those pegs before giving up and pressboxing or otherwise shunning said players.

Oh and the conversation about the jersey collars?
There are a few here old enough -- reminds me of Buster Brown's getup.
- savvyone-1

I live in a shoe....

Given what I know about Tkachuk (which is mainly from you guys here), I’m ok with him at 8.

But - higher floor, lower ceil8ng, if so - Hawks don’t have many young high ceiling guys anymore - in Chicago or the system - front end or back - AdB, I think, Jokiharju, I guess - maybe #8 should be used on a potential Kane / Toews / Keith replacement - not a possible complementary top-6 skater.
- StLBravesFan

Would rather have Tkachuk fall to 8 than Bouchard. Bouchard screams Cam Barker to me.

Hayden just re-signed for 2 years, waiting on the AAV.
- DarthKane

Beautiful.

Interested to see his $$.

I'm think 1.2M(ish).

I live in a shoe....
- StLBravesFan

Sage, nice!

Beautiful.

Interested to see his $$.

I'm think 1.2M(ish).
- Justin Lowe

Super pumped on the Hayden resign! Great move. Big fan of his game and I think he has a ton of potential

Darth and Wally... great work getting on the Laz and Tracey Myers podcast. ha.

Listened this morning and had a chuckle on the train when I heard you guys announced at the end of the show as putting your trade requests through.
- Justin Lowe

Did they announce both or just the joint effort between Wally and I (I made a 2nd proposal)?

Beautiful.

Interested to see his $$.

I'm think 1.2M(ish).
- Justin Lowe

According to Powers:
1-way deal, $750K cap hit.