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.
- Mr Ricochet

Doesn't Montreal need a young dman to step up and moreover there have been a crying call for center help. Would you try to use the #3 overall to get such help - even if a prospect not ready yet - than spend big dollars on Panarin

The Panarin thing doesn't surprise me a bit. He was in Tarasenko's wedding and I'm thinking he'd like to be on a team with his buddy. Heard that Tarasenko was the who told Panarin not to sign in St Louis at first because of Hitchcock. That coast is clear now, so I look to see him try and manipulate a deal to the Blues.

Frank Sevaralli:

Players could vote for same growth inflator (1.35%) used last summer. At $79 million, it is the largest single-season cap jump since 2013-14.

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.
- L_B_R

Ok just throwing out some numbers maybe 6 million per year probably sounds right.

So, you are Dale Tallon (not the brightest bulb as far as I am concerned when he couldn't tell me correctly how many second round picks he had in Columbus during the Kane draft (there was an option)----

do you first call your team captain and tell him what's going to happen, and ask we'll be ok, as a hockey team/family, right?

or you just think oh how I messed up with the Riley Smith- Jonathan Marchessault expansion debacle and this helps fix it...
- wiz1901

Not trying to mess with you, but he might have been distracted wondering who the hell this boisterous guy (your writing makes me think you are booisterous) is exactly. He might have been thinking that he should know you but he didn't remember. Guys in the old boys club usually don't poke their heads out much.

Anybody else see that the NHL Network had Rozy listed as the only key UFA for Chicago?

If you are Montreal, do you trade the #3 for him?
- z1990z

No way. The third pick is someone who should help an organization for 10-15 years. Panarin would most likely jump ship after 1.

Anybody else see that the NHL Network had Rozy listed as the only key UFA for Chicago?
- tvetter

Probably because he is technically the only UFA on the Hawks roster. Everyone else (Bouma, Franson, whoever) are all with the Icehogs.

"The uncertainty around Artemi Panarin's future and the massive contract he's going to get next summer is a big reason the Blackhawks traded him for Brandon Saad's cost-certainty." -Laz

"The uncertainty around Artemi Panarin's future and the massive contract he's going to get next summer is a big reason the Blackhawks traded him for Brandon Saad's cost-certainty." -Laz
- SoftServe

Exactly. Didn't necessarily need to be for Saad (I'm in the camp that is glad it was him), but cost certainty for more years and for an impact player was the goal.

https://blackhawkup.com/2...ck-to-the-top-of-the-nhl/

Proposed trades by BlackhawkUp:

1) Anisimov + 27th to Senators for Smith + 22nd

2) Murphy + 22nd from Senators + 3rd rounder or prospect (not named) for Dougie Hamilton

3) Trade Forsberg or Berube + prospect (not named) for an experienced backup goalie

I'd much rather have Pageau than Smith. Pageau is an ideal checking center with 20-20 potential offensively.

Hamilton may cost more than what was proposed.

For the Forsberg/Berube trade, I'd rather acquire a forward or defender in return then sign a UFA backup goalie like Ward, Bernier, Khudobin, Johnson, etc. at an affordable price for at most 2 years to allow Delia and Lankinen to develop properly in Rockford.

"The uncertainty around Artemi Panarin's future and the massive contract he's going to get next summer is a big reason the Blackhawks traded him for Brandon Saad's cost-certainty." -Laz
- SoftServe

The only certainty is that the Hawks were a worse team without Panarin, could’ve traded him this summer, next trade deadline, or made moves to open up an additional $3mil for his $9mil contract extension. I thought the goal was winning a cup, not having the longest term contracts?

Doesn't Montreal need a young dman to step up and moreover there have been a crying call for center help. Would you try to use the #3 overall to get such help - even if a prospect not ready yet - than spend big dollars on Panarin
- jhawk59

Lotta pressure in MTL and I think that has hurt management with the moving of stud looking Dman Sergachev for Drouin. But IMO that move was made cuz they are so short of centers they risked moving Serg in HOPES that Drouin could play center. Shows how much they need centers.

Now they move a kid like Galchenyuk who they gave up on as a C for Domi who played C in jrs IIRC. So despite numerous needs I think they take Kot with a probable floor as a 2C. Simply said this chance doesn't come around often enough, to add kid who has a chance to be a 1C.

But MTL is a go for it every yr club so nothing would surprise me. I'd think they would throw idiot money at a C in Tavares instead of Panarin.

Hard club to figure, man. Trade a Suban, a Sergachev and now need a young D, they're high on Joulson a 1st rd pick, but they were in a go for it now mode and thought Weber was that guy.

Clearly you try and find the beast.
The 2nd gen kid in Boston Jake DeBrusk great example
The waiting on Jake Virtanen in Vancouver..
Minnesota's Alex Tuch who blossomed late in Vegas.

I think the power forward position takes time and when the results start coming the confidence spikes.

I think Tkachuk is a just what they hawks need, as is Hughes.
I can't believe either is going to be there.

Yeah I can't believe Merkley lingers long, I am not sure if he goes where I him, in slot 16 where I have him or he is gone the 50's.

The thing to remember, is, some teams have taken him completely off their lists, so that means there are some teams you don't have to worry about make him their pick.

I think there may be some talent there at 27 slot so the hawks will have a decision to make between some quality alternatives...
- wiz1901

Bill,
All this crap about " the cousins" influence ,if the Hawks are lucky enough to have Tkachuk drop to them at#8, Wouldn't you think Daddy would have some influence here also instead of listening to 2 drunken cousins per say. It is well documented that Chicago needs big strong players like a Tom Wilson and yet the negativity about this selection persists.I know you have a lot better sources than me, but mine says , The Chicago people have Tkachuk rated really high in their minds, and..... Even though he almost was a Hawk but it never came to be, Dad likes The city of Chicago very much and would have no problem watching his boy play with Toews and Kane in Chicago.

The only certainty is that the Hawks were a worse team without Panarin, could’ve traded him this summer, next trade deadline, or made moves to open up an additional $3mil for his $9mil contract extension. I thought the goal was winning a cup, not having the longest term contracts?
- EnzoD

Didn't happen in a vacuum. Hawks were getting a Saad who they won two cups with and played a different style than Panarin did and got the cost certainty. Understood the move then and now regardless if it was a good move.

Saad at 25 is still a power forward, with ++speed and 2 time cup pedigree.

Kane / Toews golfing with Carbomb today. Looks like Toews may be bulking up again.

Didn't happen in a vacuum. Hawks were getting a Saad who they won two cups with and played a different style than Panarin did and got the cost certainty. Understood the move then and now regardless if it was a good move.

Saad at 25 is still a power forward, with ++speed and 2 time cup pedigree.
- Mr Ricochet

If he goes 30/30 next year, I’ll be glad the trade was made. Saad had 36 points!!! Atrocious is the word that comes to mind

Kane / Toews golfing with Carbomb today. Looks like Toews may be bulking up again.


- pdx2ord

Can't tell who the guy is between Kane and Toews. Desjardins? He's really close to those guys so maybe.

The only certainty is that the Hawks were a worse team without Panarin, could’ve traded him this summer, next trade deadline, or made moves to open up an additional $3mil for his $9mil contract extension. I thought the goal was winning a cup, not having the longest term contracts?
- EnzoD

So Stan waited too long to trade Sharp and/Leddy...or whoever else was a different cap casualty. And now he traded Panarin too early?

Why do I think if Stan waited until this year or midway through, the rally cry would be - "if he knew he wouldn't resign him, he should move him right away while he was under contract?"

If he goes 30/30 next year, I’ll be glad the trade was made. Saad had 36 points!!! Atrocious is the word that comes to mind
- EnzoD

Yea man, I watched it too. Hopefully we can all forget soon..... He shot a career low 7ish%, if he hit his average of 11% he would have hit 26 goals. A rotating 1RW as usual didn't help. .. Hino there this yr?

Didn't happen in a vacuum. Hawks were getting a Saad who they won two cups with and played a different style than Panarin did and got the cost certainty. Understood the move then and now regardless if it was a good move.

Saad at 25 is still a power forward, with ++speed and 2 time cup pedigree.
- Mr Ricochet

Yep was glad Parnarin was moved ,still think Forsberg will be a good NHL goalie . Saad is a better two way player . Also feel moving Jhammer when they did was perfect timing ,Jhammer was a horse for this team but was at the end of the road and owed a big raise .. Looking forward to the Draft ,and a rebound year from the core . A start would be the moving of Coach Q upstairs downstairs anywhere but behind the bench ..

Interesting thought at The Athletic during a Q and A with Custanace asking if an offer sheet may happen this yr. Hmmmm. Fits StanBow's we gotta win now.


Aaron R.
9h ago
1 like
Stone offer sheet seems most likely out of the three. Teams praying on Ottawa’s weakness. Trading 2019 1st, 2nd and 3rd isn’t a bad price.

Yep was glad Parnarin was moved ,still think Forsberg will be a good NHL goalie . Saad is a better two way player . Also feel moving Jhammer when they did was perfect timing ,Jhammer was a horse for this team but was at the end of the road and owed a big raise .. Looking forward to the Draft ,and a rebound year from the core . A start would be the moving of Coach Q upstairs downstairs anywhere but behind the bench ..
- oldduffman

I also understood moving Hammer too and agree with you the timing was very good as Hammer was showing signs of the annihilation he absorbed as a Hawk to win those cups last yr.

No doubt there are things to hope for this coming yr but man there are a lot of questions #1 being Crawford.

The only certainty is that the Hawks were a worse team without Panarin, could’ve traded him this summer, next trade deadline, or made moves to open up an additional $3mil for his $9mil contract extension. I thought the goal was winning a cup, not having the longest term contracts?
- EnzoD

You are not winning a cup with Panarin on your roster.

He disappears when big boy hockey is played.

Can we all please just get over this already!!!!!

There's a trade to consider...I was think today that I was Lincoln Ave. eating lunch next to Biograph the trade(s) flashed on the TV screen.
Now I have been around for JR getting bounced, at the game when one my friends talked to old man Wirtz and he was boasting about the great return they just got (during the game, of Dahlin, back up goalie Chris Terreri and the soon to be star defenseman Mickel (sp) Sykora) but seeing that Panarin and Hammer were traded for players far less than them in Saad & Murphy.

I was a sad day, it really closed the era for me.

All this talk about Tavares and these other signings, hell I am hoping the clear space and bread man comes home.
- wiz1901

That was the return for Eddie Belfour. JR was traded for Zhamnov and a first (or prospect not entirely sure).