If they sign JVR I can see Saad heading elsewhere.
- RickJ

No then creating another hole unless hawks get a 2nd line center and move smatlz to lw.
Personally I don't want JVR yes he helps the hawks now but he is going to want 6-7 million and 5-7 years so how does that help the hawks in the future just saddle with another big contract plus he going into his 30's. This has McEgo stink all over it.

No then creating another hole unless hawks get a 2nd line center and move smatlz to lw.
Personally I don't want JVR yes he helps the hawks now but he is going to want 6-7 million and 5-7 years so how does that help the hawks in the future just saddle with another big contract plus he going into his 30's. This has McEgo stink all over it.
- Scott1977

Or you acquire the rights to JVR to then package to Columbus for Breadman!

I don't follow. This is well known. McKenzie clearly states that “his” list is only an average of 10 other lists – compiled by 10 unnamed NHL scouts. Nothing more, nothing less, he doesn't have any personal input other than the fact that it's these 10 guys he knows and not somebody else providing their lists. It is “his” only for the marketing purposes of Mr. McKenzie and TSN, no decision making on his part in the sense of evaluating/ranking the players. Button's list, on the other hand…
- stonefire

We are in total agreement, ok?

If they sign JVR I can see Saad heading elsewhere.
- RickJ

Hopefully not but possible I guess. I haven't heard anything specific.

I know Hossa's name/contract has been poppong up a lot lately as well. I can see that move happening sooner than later.

I also think Brady Tkachuck's numbers should be better.
- kmw4631

Did you happen to see the World juniors? Or any of the teams he was on for the USA?
Whether he had Keller or "yeller", he got them the puck, caused havoc over and over and over.


That is enough evidence

my eyeballs, not stats.

oh stats: nine points in 7 games in the actual WORLD junior Under -20. tourney,
7 points in 7 games in the Under -18 tourney.

54 points in 61 games plus 129 pims
or 77 points in 85 games if you wrap the USNTDP Juniors team stats from the USHL in there.

31 points in 40 games in college. John Hayden got 34 pointsbhis final senior year at Yale, and Boston is in a bit higher competition bracket.

Just read ESPN's words on Brady:
Tkachuk comes in with the NHL pedigree, a strong personality and notable leadership qualities. I don't know if an 18-year-old can be a stabilizing force for the whole team, but he's the kind of guy you pick and not worry about how he'll fit. His hockey intelligence and work ethic are hard to match.

We are in total agreement, ok?
- wiz1901

I realized that while reading back

I had JVR as #1 FA target when Justin posted that blog, but I don't see how he fits in salary/term-wise. There is no reason for him to sign anything less than 7 yrs, he will have offers. And that has to be too rich for the Hawks. And there are more pressing needs too.

(oh, if Chicago acquires JVR's rights, they might even convince him to sign for 8 yrs instead!)

Justin,
I understand how you say your projections were made for the future lineup

You have also commented how clisrly you monitor the Rockford Icehogs. You even have people you talk to about their players.

So with the small set of TOI since signed, what do you surmise about Tuesday? The significance that he had either one or one North American game played when Coliton inserted him into the lineup for the final three playoff tllts. Also Colliton inserted Samuelson's son, who had an impressive late season resume with Rockford.

I realized that while reading back
- stonefire

Not any problem....just sitting, waiting for the draft to begin.

I wouldnt be so quick to move Saad. Guy is a beast. He like the rest of that team, just had a schit year.
- z1990z

Me either. Saad did have a bad year, but there were a few things I thought he did well even if he wasn't up to par offensively. When he did score, it was often an important goal. He sat 4th in the NHL in game winning goals with 8. He was the #1 forward in minutes spend killing penalties and in my opinion Saad and Schmaltz were two of the most effective guys on the PK last year. He was decent defensively considering the competition he faced.

Moves like this (if completed), along with his track record since 2015, are why I have zero faith in Stan Bowman re-creating a Stanley Cup Contender. Every asset he has should be used towards rebuilding quite possibly the worst Defense group in the entire NHL last season. Instead, he is going after a 30yr old winger with diminishing footspeed looking to cash in as a UFA..after he re-signed and gave raises to 2 of the key pieces in that dogpoop defense group in Rutta and Gustafson...it makes NO SENSE! DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!
- EnzoD

Can you at least wait until -
1) if this ever happens? Um, EK is reporting it
2) if/when subsequent moves are made, wait until they all happen?

Who knows if they get him. Who know if he would sign here. Who knows what the term will be.

He has pretty good size at 6'3 220lbs and can skate. On 8 & 88's LW, he should hit 30 again easily. If they decide to keep AA, he slides to the 3rd line giving them size

Then, depending on who they draft - a forward or D - can fill another hole for them

Did you happen to see the World juniors? Or any of the teams he was on for the USA?
Whether he had Keller or "yeller", he got them the puck, caused havoc over and over and over.


That is enough evidence

my eyeballs, not stats.

oh stats: nine points in 7 games in the actual WORLD junior Under -20. tourney,
7 points in 7 games in the Under -18 tourney.

54 points in 61 games plus 129 pims
or 77 points in 85 games if you wrap the USNTDP Juniors team stats from the USHL in there.

31 points in 40 games in college. John Hayden got 34 pointsbhis final senior year at Yale, and Boston is in a bit higher competition bracket.

Just read ESPN's words on Brady:
Tkachuk comes in with the NHL pedigree, a strong personality and notable leadership qualities. I don't know if an 18-year-old can be a stabilizing force for the whole team, but he's the kind of guy you pick and not worry about how he'll fit. His hockey intelligence and work ethic are hard to match.
- wiz1901

Dont you know...corsi or fancy stats now are more important then the eyes

Not intended to be the end all be all, but I thought these charts at hockeyviz were a pretty good example of what was wrong with the Hawks last season.

Here is an example of 2009/2010 and in the chart red mean more than average and blue is less.



This is on the PK and the color scheme is similar with purple more than average and green less.



This seems to demonstrate how good the Hawks were at protecting the front of the net compared to average.

Here are the same charts for this last season.





again, this is a bit of a simplistic look, but I think a good visualization of just how much of a problem area the area in front of the net has become.

Dont you know...corsi or fancy stats now are more important then the eyes
- PatShart

According to who?

I dont understand why so many want Pageau

30pts, small center for 3.1mil per??
- PatShart

Exactly!!! But oyu forgot SLOW

That is why these jokers have ZERO clue


Carry on JOKERS.....

According to who?
- Chunk

Draft will be here soon enough. Then we can throw chairs against the wall after Stan makes his pick..

Exactly!!! But oyu forgot SLOW

That is why these jokers have ZERO clue


Carry on JOKERS.....
- Goalie-33

$HIT

I apologize to all. Hawks should get Pageau.

Once this guy agrees with me, I realize I must be wrong and not realize it.

I will keep my Pageau thoughts to myself

Merkley is in a bad situation on a bad, poorly run team in Guelph. If he is on the professionally run London Knights bet he has no problems. Interestingly, he has no problems when he plays internationally. Of course his billets love him. The Hawks must draft Merkley somehow. Just read article dated June 17, 2018 saying Merkley is clearly the too playmaker in entire CHL!
- Z3Hawk

Dude, how many times have I told you I am not trying to sell you or anyone else on a player. Been telling you that for 2-3 blogs now. Save yourself the keystrokes selling me on a guy you've sold to me in 7-8-9 posts. I got that you liked him after the first post.

Same for your dislike of Tkachuk, a player I have opinions on cuz I saw him live 2-3 times. I got it on your first post. My opinion is the kid is a monster and one of a few who can skate with world class talent and battle like monsters in the crease to clean things up who can't skate with world class players.

Other than Bouchard and Kotkaniemi I don't think I posted totals on any prospect. I'm a foundation guy when speaking of kids, not points. It ain't how good a kid is at 18 it's how good he is at 25, that I understand watching 15-16 yr olds trying to make a USHL roster and if he has the foundation to improve to compete at that level. ... But the 87 put up by Dman Bouchard and 1/2 point per game Kot put up vs men has to be mentioned and taken into account.

In the same way I would have to take into account Merkley was the first ever rookie to lead OHL Dmen in points and did so being 16 yrs old for half a season. But despite that and his skills admittedly being 2 or 3rd amongst prospects there is nooooooooooo way if I were running the Hawks use the 8th on a kid that was thrown off his own bench in game TWICE by two different coaches, suspended by his own team for that, AND his defensive zone play by his OWN admission HAS been an after thought.

McKenzie has reported that GM's and some scouts have the kid on their no draft list. Won't draft him period, not the 1st or the SEVENTH rd! These people know things about him besides what is already known, things not made public. There is zeeeeero chance I take a kid like that with the 8th

That 8th is gold and they can't miss, can't. If Merkley is there and the Hawks still have the 27th they have a decision to make based on what their scouts have on the kid.

Still too early for me to have my wish list but feel safe saying I'd love the Finn to drop to me at 8, think if Hughes was 6 ft tall he'd be in the conversation with Dahlin, think Wahlstrom will be a minimum 30+ goal scorer in the bigs, think whomever takes Bouchard in the top 10 has a ton of balls as the kid has the makings of a Doughty with average skating though I'm not sure he gets there and Tkachuk will be a 60+ point 225lb beast that will be a difference maker at the NHL level.

I would be fine today with Kot, Hughes, Wahlstrom or Tkachuk at 8. After looking at the fancy stats on Boqvist at The Athletic, his two concussions this yr, his poor in zone play and his 3 yr projection to get to the bigs I wouldn't take him at 8. ...... Those are my definitives 3 days before the draft.

Love the JVR - TVR combo - great family- character guys -

I’d pass on Panarin and I wouldn’t jump at trading Anisimov just yet- he is versatile and checks boxes at Center -

On the Draft - no opinion- Bottle of expensive Red Wine and watch it unfold
Dobson is from Summerside - population 16,000
As is Coach Gallant-

Hawks need three Top 4 Defenseman and are basically in a rebuild stage. Soooo let's sign a UFA 30 yr old winger....
- EnzoD

They also need a top 6 LW and a checking center. JVR is one of those things. Obviously they're also talking to teams about defenders (Faulk rumors) and centers (Ottawa yardsale), so it makes sense they're also looking into whether they can get the winger they need too.

And honestly, this UFA class is pretty light on good defenders or centers, so I can understand why they might go the trade route there and look at UFA for wing.

TRade Proposal:

Chicago trades hossa AA 2020 1st and 2018 3rd and gus/rutta

Ottawa trades

mark stone Borowiecki pageau

Sign Stone 5 years 4- 5 million per year

Thoughts? Not a chance needs a tweak or two or very good chance it happens and with Ottawa fire sale why would stone sign there.

TRade the 27th pick and 2019 4th for lowery and charoit
- Scott1977

Stone would want to sign for more than $4-5m. Unless he signed for only a season, he is going into his UFA years on this next contract so it'll be his big pay day. Guy coming off 4 consecutive 60+ point seasons (prorate for last year) is better than all but one season for E.Kane who is around the same age but without the locker room issues and Stone doesn't only perform in his contract seasons.

Still some deliberating but sounds like 2018-19 #NHL salary cap has been narrowed down to between $79-80 million. Initial projection is that player escrow withholding starts under 10% for first time since 2011-12.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 19, 2018

Panarin is not the player type I need or most desire if I am in Bergevin's shoes. Also is Paciorety going to be traded? They ne d to bring in players who become a too pair or a producing rman even if he only may reach a second pair ceiling. And they ne r a true center. Just added Domi and subtracted Galyenchuk. If he goes after Panarin I hope Montreal ndia grills him endlessly.
- jhawk59

If it's me? I take Kotkanieme at 3. But IMO the only sure fire bets in this draft are Dahlin and Svech after those two every one is just a prospect. We know what 26 yr old Panarin is and in hockey crazed Montreal giving up the #3 makes sense.

Just read a story in the athletic (from Josh Yohe) that said that Kessel is open to a trade. He preferred AZ due to his relationship with Tocchet, but was turned down as AZ “is only interested in getting to the salary floor this year”.

Pitt also apparently is open to moving Sheary, Rust and Simon.

A lot of interesting possible implications for the Hawks (Hossa to AZ, Kessel, and I like Sheary - as streaky as he is). Just please, for the love of gad, keep Rob Scuderi’s name out of this.

I like Rosenbloom's take. StanBow and Q are in survival mode: http://zestynews.com/post...&utm_medium=Zesty-Twitter