Jfyi Sikura hasn't played center in a few years iirc. Maybe that changes in the next two years but I feel like typically if a player is off center in college or juniors, he probably won't be used/good there in the NHL.
- L_B_R

For sure, I think that just highlights that the Hawks will need some help at C.

Sikura is def not the right fit there, you could maybe insert Ejdsell instead... but hopefully someone else who isn't currently on the roster.

Saw Soderland live at the WJCSS in Plymouth, MI last yr. A chance for coaches to wittle down their WJC rosters vs like competition between FIN, SWE,USA and Canada.

Anyway, even with Dahlin on the ice Soderland stood out. A Vegas style hair on fire forecheck, elite compete, ++ speed and a motor that never stopped.

I couldn't find it in the blog.

When does Bergevin return to the Hawks organization?

Saw Soderland live at the WJCSS in Plymouth, MI last yr. A chance for coaches to wittle down their WJC rosters vs like competition between FIN, SWE,USA and Canada.

Anyway, even with Dahlin on the ice Soderland stood out. A Vegas style hair on fire forecheck, elite compete, ++ speed and a motor that never stopped.
- Mr Ricochet

And, Boy Howdy, do the Blackhawks NEED that!!

Interesting reading lately that Kevin Hayes may be traded by the Rangers, the team he chose over us.
Hope he ends up where he least wants to go.
- 67hawks

I would like him back here, and then draft Cousin Brady ! The kid got some bad advice, and as I commented in my post moments ago that current lineup, and no disrespect to whoever posted it, has Mike Smith smelly European flavor all over it. That is why I said back to the late 1990 and early 2000’s.

Was reading (can't remember where) that the Canes are a leery about dealing with the Hawks again because they feel they came out on the losing end of the majority of trades they've done with Chicago.

Off topic.

Chicago - O'Reilly, Rights to Lehner ($7,500,000 total cap hit),
Buffalo - 8th pick in this years draft, 3 round pick (Toronto's pick), Anisimov, Forsberg, Hossa contract, and a "b" level prospect, ($10,575,000 total cap hit),

Then spend cap money on Brodziak or Filppula $2mil 2 years, DeHaan $5 mil 5 years, Khudobin $2 mil 1 year. Maybe Wingels.

Saad, Toews, Hino
Dcat, ROR, Kane
3rd line of Schmaltz, Brodziak/Filppula, +RW
Fill out the 3rd line and create a 4th line out of Hayden, Edjsell, Martinsen, Kampf, Sikura, Duclair, Highmore etc.......
- -Doh-

Lehner is terrible. So pass there. ROR is slow as it is and getting slower. Add in the fact the guy is a huge part of two fractured locker rooms plus doesn't score much 5v5 so pass there. Also. Buffalo doesn't have a lot of cap room to waste Hossa's cap hit in their salary structure.

Filippula is just plain bad at this point and Brodziak is 35. Schmaltz would be wasted on that 3rd line.

I would pass

Sorry but Edjsell is not a NHL player.

I would like him back here, and then draft Cousin Brady ! The kid got some bad advice, and as I commented in my post moments ago that current lineup, and no disrespect to whoever posted it, has Mike Smith smelly European flavor all over it. That is why I said back to the late 1990 and early 2000’s.
- wonthecup10

I had nothing against K Hayes choosing the Rangers.

While I think it's lame that a lot of these dudes do the waiting game and jump ship, the rules allow them to.

It was funny how many people took it so personal on here, though.

I think that is a tough comparison to make, given that Chara is such a different player than Keith. I mean, Chara is huge, long strides + long reach (plus long stick), and I think that helps him maintain his level of play longer.

If Keith is going to be a top pair D in two more years, I think it will have to be a similar situation to Boston where all the D are playing near 20 minutes a night.
- breadbag

The comparison was just that age of elite defenders doesn't necessarily follow the typical age curve. And typically, larger defenders do not last as long + he was 3 years older this past season than Keith will be in two seasons.

The Hawks did have more players at / near 20 minutes last season btw. Keith still had the most at almost 24, but 4 other defenders were within a minute of 20 (Oesterle, Seabrook, Rutta, and Forsling). Gus was almost 19. They had decently similar TOI split to Boston tbh - Keith had a few minutes more than Chara but otherwise the rest of the defenders were not far off.

The time management will depend more on who can help out on special teams than anything else imo. Like for Boston, their overall TOI was tight through their top 5 but there was more spread for 5v5. Chara, for example, didn't play on the PP because Krug and McAvoy are so good there. If the Hawks have other on special teams (PP or PK, doesn't matter), they can take another couple of minutes off his overall TOI right there if they needed to do it.

Was reading (can't remember where) that the Canes are a leery about dealing with the Hawks again because they feel they came out on the losing end of the majority of trades they've done with Chicago.
- Hank3Henshaw

That came from Ek so you can just dismiss it as a fever dream.

I think this is a tougher choice than most people think. The Sens could get a game changer at #4 this year, or do they wait for a shot at a superstar next year (Hughes)? Whatever the Sens do with this pick will tip their hand for the upcoming season, If they give the pick to Colorado then it would appear they are in full rebuild mode.

Also...does that Duchene trade look terrible for Ottawa now. Damn....
- DarthKane

It was terrible the day it was made.

Sorry but Edjsell is not a NHL player.
- Elbows15

Dude. Guy played extremely minimal minutes.

Let him marinate in the North American game down in the Rock for a bit.

I'm not writing off a Center with his age and size. You'd be crazy to dog anyone after such a small sample size.

That came from Ek so you can just dismiss it as a fever dream.
- L_B_R

Was it EK? Thought I read it on another Hawks blog, too.

Thanks for the heads up. Hockey overload these past few days

Dude. Guy played extremely minimal minutes.

Let him marinate in the North American game down in the Rock for a bit.

I'm not writing off a Center with his age and size. You'd be crazy to dog anyone after such a small sample size.
- Hank3Henshaw

He wasn't even playing center in Rockford. He was playing LW. He is too slow. Lacks quickness. He already went back to Sweden once because he struggled on the smaller ice surface while part of the Predators' organization.

At 23 he is no longer a prospect.

“I’ll listen, I’m open,” Bergevin said about possibly trading the No. 3 pick when he met with the media Saturday morning at the Bell Centre to discuss Friday night’s deal that sent Alex Galchenyuk to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Max Domi. “I’ve told teams if they want to make me an offer, I’ll look at it. But again, sometimes teams don’t want to move up. As much as a team wants to move back or move up, if there’s no takers or buyers then you just sit where you’re at.”

I had nothing against K Hayes choosing the Rangers.

While I think it's lame that a lot of these dudes do the waiting game and jump ship, the rules allow them to.

It was funny how many people took it so personal on here, though.
- Hank3Henshaw

Same here! That’s why I would love to see Stan Bowman trade back for Kevin Hayes, and then draft his cousin. I think those would be two solid big young strong forward for a lot of years. And some very good pedigree in the family bloodlines.

Nice topic, Jason.

But we don't know where the Hawks will be as far as going for it, rebuilding, retooling or in a sense rudderless (hybrid/retooling) as they are now in 2 yrs. My hope is a new prez, GM and coach.

The D prospect pipeline is full of solid maybes, a good thing. Gus, Forsling, Krys, Hillman, Gilbert, Carlsson, Joki, Oesterle, Jakub Galvas.

Keith, Seabs, Murphy, Joki, Forsling, Krys, Gilbert, Oesterle, Ruuta would be my "guess" as to the D roster in 2 yrs.

Forwards pipeline solid maybes not as much.

Toews, Kane, Dcat, Schmaltz, Saad, Hino, AA, Kayumov, Sikura, Johnson, Hayden, Barratt, Soderland, Altybarmakyan, Highmore, Edjsall.

He wasn't even playing center in Rockford. He was playing LW. He is too slow. Lacks quickness. He already went back to Sweden once because he struggled on the smaller ice surface while part of the Predators' organization.

At 23 he is no longer a prospect.
- Elbows15

It's interesting that a slower guy would struggle on smaller ice. I guess that's where the lack of quickness is exposed.

But I'm still open to him. I mean, the Hawks got a steal in that Hartman trade IMO. Somehow Hartman gets you a first round pick and Center prospect? Unreal

And, Boy Howdy, do the Blackhawks NEED that!!
- 35Tony0

Q is a possession neophyte and would frown on Soderland's style. Controlled entries or press box as the first step out of town. ......... If Q is gone and a new coach is in you'd see a lot of Soderland jerseys in the stands, I can promise you that.

I had nothing against K Hayes choosing the Rangers.

While I think it's lame that a lot of these dudes do the waiting game and jump ship, the rules allow them to.

It was funny how many people took it so personal on here, though.
- Hank3Henshaw

You can't jump a ship you were never on: just because he was drafted by Chicago
(through no effort of his own) doesn't mean he was ever on, or part of, the team.

Saw this posted on a Mock draft.


8. Montreal Canadiens (via Chicago Blackhawks): Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C
*Mock Trade: Blackhawks receive No. 3 pick. Canadiens receive No. 8, No. 27, No. 87.


3. Chicago Blackhawks (via Montreal Canadiens): Filip Zadina, RW


Saad Toews Zadina

JVR AA Kane

Cat Schmaltz Sikura

Wingles Johnson Hayden

Dude. Guy played extremely minimal minutes.

Let him marinate in the North American game down in the Rock for a bit.

I'm not writing off a Center with his age and size. You'd be crazy to dog anyone after such a small sample size.
- Hank3Henshaw

I think Ejdsell is acquitting himself decently so far in his limited time so far in North America so I can see him breaking into the NHL with at least a cup of coffee as early as latter part of this season but knocking on the door for a starting job as early as next season. Center may not be where he ultimately lands, but a big winger with scoring ability would be welcome.

Ejdsell also has a desire to improve and knows where he needs to get better, so it bodes well for him to develop under Colliton who has proven to not only be a good developmental coach but someone who has experience with Swedish players.

If they can somehow land ROR...he be a very good pickup, IMO - but not worth the 8th

The 27th pick + Rutta or Gus + prospect ..sure.

(I think Rutta or Gus get moved this off season in a trade)

But the Hawks need that #8 skill and salary control

If they got ROR, and moved Hossa's money somewhere..I think they'd be set at forward in the top 9

20-19-xx (Walstom..if he can play right away)
8-90-88
××-15-12 - whoever wins LW battle in camp

Before people get mad about ABD on 3rd line...its about scoring depth

Same here! That’s why I would love to see Stan Bowman trade back for Kevin Hayes, and then draft his cousin. I think those would be two solid big young strong forward for a lot of years. And some very good pedigree in the family bloodlines.
- wonthecup10

K HAyes is a proven NHL Center, too. Would be awesome to get him.