I also don't understand the back up goalie clamoring

Watching CC develop was at times scary. first year solid, then years 2 to 3 at least one soft goal every 3rd game. Let's slow our role maybe just maybe Forsberg will be a solid back up, he just needs a few miles on him

Yeah, for a few years the Hawks were trending downward in terms of prospect pipeline. They seem to be trending upward now, especially after this draft.

I agree about Soderlund. If Q wants relentless, Soderlund is a good prospect to fit that bill. He's got offensive skills to boot. I'm guessing 3rd line winger. Nilsson is similar; small but relentless and decent skill. According to Colliton, Nilsson hates to lose and gives maximum effort. Need more prospects like that to crack the lineup.
- AEL_Fox

Do not overlook Brophy from Penn State. I bet he will fly under the radar but once he goes to AHL, one year and he is that gritty Burrish maybe more ability.u

This is my "one trick pony" topic:

He went straight to the Rags after amateur hockey at 19 - he should have spent a year or two (more?) in the AHL to learn how to play the game, learn how to play the pro game, learn how to play both ends, learn how....
- StLBravesFan

Absolutely, greeat post...Rangers were desperate for scoring, he was scoring in the initial 9 game trial, so instead of sending him back, to develop, they made a decision that kinda affected things for him.

But once he's with the rangers, all the facilities, and guidance, and means were there to help him improve.
Too much, too fast applies in this case...then getting traded to Arizona probably didn't help matters either.

This is more about one way contracts, agents being reasonable and the Blackhawks maybe on the hunt for better established NHL talent to belnd with the high end kids there.
Again...don't think that the Vegas year, playoff run and STYLE didn't open everyone to what they want in their starting 12
- wiz1901

Agree, Wiz. In fact when I read that they weren't offering Duclair a contract it probably means they have better replacements. 22 yr old kid, +NHL speed, good size, 44 point rookie season just 3 yrs ago. Or management thinks he's dumb as rocks. No matter, next man up after taking a swing on a physically gifted 22 yr old who's had some success.

I think a lot can change from now until the start of the season.

The "I don't expect many changes" quote by Stan was a long time ago and less-a-threat-from-Rocky ago.

I think we could see as many as 5 new bodies in the active lineup come October from trades and signings.
- Justin Lowe

A retracted threat! We have a new marketing group now, no more “One Goal” now it’s “Building for a Better Future!”

A retracted threat! We have a new marketing group now, no more “One Goal” now it’s “Building for a Better Future!”
- walleyeb1

Honestly being a Chicago fan so many franchises try to limp the team along, love the acceptance and aggressiveness of this franchise to have the nerve to do what they are doing. Just think about this in 3 to 5 years we may have better defenseman than the Maple Leafs, yikes

Will Bowbist be an 18 yr old at WJC this year and would he qualify again to play WJC the following year. Let,'s concentrate on seeing improvement in his defensive understanding and application in WJC. Really need to see how far he has come in a full season as a 19 yr old. Then we can start predicting his NHL timetable.
- jhawk59

No, he's eligible for the U-20 WJC and my guess is he plays. I think the question is will he play jrs next yr or with men in the SHL. I'd prefer he start in Jrs and if he's ready move him to Swedish pros in season.

No hurry at all. Keep him in Jrs until he can't develop there any longer and move him up to pros.

I think a lot can change from now until the start of the season.

The "I don't expect many changes" quote by Stan was a long time ago and less-a-threat-from-Rocky ago.

I think we could see as many as 5 new bodies in the active lineup come October from trades and signings.
- Justin Lowe

My guess is 2 blueliners, 2 forwards (C + W or 2 C's of Anisimov is traded), and a backup goalie or 1B if Crawford is to miss a large proportion of the season. Maybe something like:

2 of de Haan, Moore, Hickey, Holden, Pateryn

Nash at C and Maroon or van Riemsdyk at W. Or Nash and Pageau both at C if Anisimov is gone. Would've liked Lindholm who can play C or W but not likely after the Canes-Flames trade.

Ward, Johnson, or Bernier as G.

San Jose did not qualify Demelo. would like to see him on the bottom pairing.

Yakupov will be a UFA. worth a shot?
- ikeane

We went through this past season with Yak....just say NO!

Demelo...maybe if TvR isn’t available.

What we do know is StanBow did not mortgage the future on draft day. For that I think all fans should be grateful.

Still holding out hope for left shot, 27 yr old De Haan. Solid player and giving him term is reasonable.
- Mr Ricochet

A blueliner like de Haan and maybe a forward like van Riemsdyk are the only player acquisitions who I'd give term to. Everyone else should be 1-2 years which (a) allows time for prospects to develop until they are ready to graduate to the big club and replace them, and (b) doesn't handcuff the team from re-signing Schmaltz, DeBrincat, Sikura, etc. when their ELCs are over.

Do not overlook Brophy from Penn State. I bet he will fly under the radar but once he goes to AHL, one year and he is that gritty Butrish maybe more ability.
- jhawk59

I think you mean Barratt from Penn State. He does have the making of an agitator destined for the 4th line like Burish and Fraser.

Yeah, let Jurco go too...

Jurco was a gamble that cost a pick.

Duclair has always been able to score, but alway from the puck not so, and has enough size to be more demonstrative, just hasn't figured out that back size pressure, or more intensity.

and Chaput went Caput.

They can't keep everyone with one way deals...and try add some players...
- wiz1901

The best hockey Duclair ever played was with Sam Reinhart and Max Domi on the Canadian Junior team. And then he got off to a hot start as a young NHL'er and popped some goals for the Rangers who got very smart and dumped him on the idiots in Arizona.

He's the perfect example of a young player who needed plenty of time in the AHL in order to learn the pro game and mature physically. And what he became was an AHL minor leaguer who thought he was an NHL'er and then was used as a trade chip based on 'potential' - in the latest case as a way for Bowman to dump the Panik contract.

Good riddance and good luck as a free agent.

The best hockey Duclair ever played was with Sam Reinhart and Max Domi on the Canadian Junior team. And then he got off to a hot start as a young NHL'er and popped some goals for the Rangers who got very smart and dumped him on the idiots in Arizona.

He's the perfect example of a young player who needed plenty of time in the AHL in order to learn the pro game and mature physically. And what he became was an AHL minor leaguer who thought he was an NHL'er and then was used as a trade chip based on 'potential' - in the latest case as a way for Bowman to dump the Panik contract.

Good riddance and good luck as a free agent.
- RickJ

Idk, he's 22, and seems to have some potential. I lean towards extending him a qualifying offer, but I'm not too upset they didn't. My only reason to give him a QO is that he has 40-50 point potential, and he could be signed for a little over $1M. I think that risk/reward should have gotten him resigned. Give him a full year with Q's system, and then let him go.

Idk, he's 22, and seems to have some potential. I lean towards extending him a qualifying offer, but I'm not too upset they didn't. My only reason to give him a QO is that he has 40-50 point potential, and he could be signed for a little over $1M. I think that risk/reward should have gotten him resigned. Give him a full year with Q's system, and then let him go.
- tvetter

A month ago I said they wouldn't qualify him and the response was basically about how many points he 'might' put up. The rudimentary eye test was good enough for me - he stinks. Thats what Dave Tippett thought, Rick Tocchet thought and what Q and Co. thought.

His only salvation as a Blackhawk would have been to go down to Rockford for the playoffs and play his ass off like John Hayden did. But he was injured. He will be playing in Austria

IMHO people who hope the Hawks are going to make a major move will be sady disappointed.

They are not going to sign star players or elite players like Tavares or even JVR. They are going to look for high end complimentary players like the next Bolland, Sopel (who in 2010 playoffs averaged 18 minutes of ice time), Ladd, Bickell, Brouwer, Madden, Versteeg, Handzus, Shaw, Frolik or Oduya.

Look. Every one has a ton of cap room. 27 teams have more cap space than the Hawks. They will over pay. They will give out way too many years. If they want a player the Hawks cannot compete financially. That player would have to want to play in Chicago and probably sign for less term or less dollars.

I would have no problem with them signing a lower lever pair of free agents like either David Perron or Vanek up front and either DeHaan or Moore on the blue line. If they cannot move Hossa before day 1 then they have flexibility at the TDL if they are in the race.

They are rebuilding on the fly. We could see some major steps forward from the younger players. We are building up a pretty good team at the Rock (with a good coach), plenty of players drafted that will still be in juniors, college, Europe.

We had a run of 6 great years. If things fall just right we could be in contention this year. If not we need to be patient and make wise/frugal moves in free agency.

Yeah, I know Hughes won, and he was really good, really really good, and he did't he get selected before the Boqvist?, I have no problem with that, and I won't even go o about the process of how they pick these MVP and all-star line-ups...

It is a great stage to see the same age guys play against each other.

Thus tourney also was the showcase for Jesperi Kotkaniemi at centre, and that worked out too.
The swedes got the bronze and a player who is MVP usually but not always comes from the the winner...USA was the silver winner.
- wiz1901

It really doesn't matter, if Hughes would of fell to the Hawks and they'd taken him, there would just as many people here female doging about his size, don't fool yourself.

Seabrook is a warrior, a class act, and a hockey god in Chicago, but his play is simply far below the value of his contract, Seabrook's days as a Top 4 are about done. Paying a guy 6.8 to man the third pairing is part of the reason the Hawks are in demise...PART of the reason, there are many other issues other than 1 bloated contract.
- kwolf68

I won't argue about the number, but Brent Seabrook is a long way from being the reason this team is where they are.

IMHO people who hope the Hawks are going to make a major move will be sady disappointed.

They are not going to sign star players or elite players like Tavares or even JVR. They are going to look for high end complimentary players like the next Bolland, Sopel (who in 2010 playoffs averaged 18 minutes of ice time), Ladd, Bickell, Brouwer, Madden, Versteeg, Handzus, Shaw, Frolik or Oduya.

Look. Every one has a ton of cap room. 27 teams have more cap space than the Hawks. They will over pay. They will give out way too many years. If they want a player the Hawks cannot compete financially. That player would have to want to play in Chicago and probably sign for less term or less dollars.

I would have no problem with them signing a lower lever pair of free agents like either David Perron or Vanek up front and either DeHaan or Moore on the blue line. If they cannot move Hossa before day 1 then they have flexibility at the TDL if they are in the race.

They are rebuilding on the fly. We could see some major steps forward from the younger players. We are building up a pretty good team at the Rock (with a good coach), plenty of players drafted that will still be in juniors, college, Europe.

We had a run of 6 great years. If things fall just right we could be in contention this year. If not we need to be patient and make wise/frugal moves in free agency.
- -Doh-

Thinking Grabner and Maroon will be 2 targets

A month ago I said they wouldn't qualify him and the response was basically about how many points he 'might' put up. The rudimentary eye test was good enough for me - he stinks. Thats what Dave Tippett thought, Rick Tocchet thought and what Q and Co. thought.

His only salvation as a Blackhawk would have been to go down to Rockford for the playoffs and play his ass off like John Hayden did. But he was injured. He will be playing in Austria
- RickJ

They are going to have some forwards making $1.5M or less on the team. How many of them will be legitimate threats to score 15 goals and 40 points?

Has it been confirmed that Crow is out of rehab for Heroine addiction?
The hawks are totally covering up the problems this young man hasH

They are going to have some forwards making $1.5M or less on the team. How many of them will be legitimate threats to score 15 goals and 40 points?
- tvetter

Doesn't appear they are very worried about replacing those points. They saw all they needed to see in those 23 games.

Did they pass on Jurco too?

Doesn't appear they are very worried about replacing those points. They saw all they needed to see in those 23 games.

Did they pass on Jurco too?
- RickJ

Duclair, Jurco, Clendening and Chaput.

FYI. Saw some report that Bozak is looking for 6M. So scratch him off of your wish list if he is there.

Doesn't appear they are very worried about replacing those points. They saw all they needed to see in those 23 games.

Did they pass on Jurco too?
- RickJ

Dinkycat did it for half that

FYI. Saw some report that Bozak is looking for 6M. So scratch him off of your wish list if he is there.
- Elbows15

Sheeeiiittttttt. That means JvR wants 8 per . Too bad so sad.

No, he's eligible for the U-20 WJC and my guess is he plays. I think the question is will he play jrs next yr or with men in the SHL. I'd prefer he start in Jrs and if he's ready move him to Swedish pros in season.

No hurry at all. Keep him in Jrs until he can't develop there any longer and move him up to pros.
- Mr Ricochet

He can play the huge summer under 18 tourney now called Hlinka Gretsky Cup as will still be 17.