Hawks make 2019 playoffs IF.

1) Crawford is healthy and plays 50 games

2) Hawks add John Moore and Calvin De Haan. While not stars, Moore/DeHaan > >Gustafson/Forsling/Oesterle

3) Hawks add a middle 6 Winger winger with size

4) Saad + Toews remember how to handle the puck, create consistent offense, and put it past the goaltender more often.

5) Debrincat and Schmaltz are at least as good as last year with 50+ points each

6) Seabrook and Keith get back to at least 2016 form

7) Rutta looks like he did the first 20 games last year but for the entire year

8) Hayden + Martinsen provide grit on the bottom line

9) Hinostroza drives offense on whatever ends up being line 3

10) Q picks 6 Dmen and plays them consistently. No more 8 man rotation BS.

11) someone steps up to be a reliable and consistent 4C


LOTS of IFs people....
- EnzoD

The 8 man rotation is the woooooorst.

I think Forsling could surprise. I'd settle for Keith 2017 form.

Ok Justin, JJ ,

Ive got the twitter machine set up to alert me when y’all tweet. Lets hear about some stuff today fellas.

@mrploves33

Ok Justin, JJ ,

Ive got the twitter machine set up to alert me when y’all tweet. Lets hear about some stuff today fellas.

@mrploves33
- mrpaulish

DANG!!!! Hoping for some action today C'mon Stan put the chips down and do something. It's been Soooooooo Boring

Would Joe Colborne be worth a look?

Hawks need to sign Paul Stastny for center instead of Derek Grant, Stastny would be a perfect fit for the Hawks the Jets don't have any cap room to keep him they would need to trade off some players in order to do so.
- BlackHawksMan8588

^This.

Ok Justin, JJ ,

Ive got the twitter machine set up to alert me when y’all tweet. Lets hear about some stuff today fellas.

@mrploves33
- mrpaulish

Yes please! But realistically thinking that we won’t see much from anyone until Tavares makes a decision. Gotta be contingent deals in discussion all over the league depending on where Tavares lands.

Would be nice to have a JVR on the wing for Kane, but as Enzo outlined you don’t necessarily need a JVR IF (lotta of those) you have a defense that can drive an offense and maybe a mid 6 F or a lower C. IMO the F core last year was the least of the problems in the Hawks lineup.

Ok Justin, JJ ,

Ive got the twitter machine set up to alert me when y’all tweet. Lets hear about some stuff today fellas.

@mrploves33
- mrpaulish

Mr P loves goalie 33???

Hahaha

Mr P loves goalie 33???

Hahaha
- hocktock

Mornin Hock!

Mornin Hock!
- Marlowe

Morn

Mornin Hock!
- Marlowe

We sure can talk about nothin, eh?

Go hocks

We sure can talk about nothin, eh?

Go hocks
- hocktock

Yup. Wish there was something to talk about...

Powers:

James van Riemsdky likely out of Blackhawks' financial league

Mr P loves goalie 33???

Hahaha
- hocktock

No. I love
....


♥️Tom Wilson♥️

Yes please! But realistically thinking that we won’t see much from anyone until Tavares makes a decision. Gotta be contingent deals in discussion all over the league depending on where Tavares lands.

Would be nice to have a JVR on the wing for Kane, but as Enzo outlined you don’t necessarily need a JVR IF (lotta of those) you have a defense that can drive an offense and maybe a mid 6 F or a lower C. IMO the F core last year was the least of the problems in the Hawks lineup.
- Marlowe

We’ll see.

Gotta think if the Hawks are going to clear some salary that today is the day. Hopefully Tavares picks by noon today.

Hawks make 2019 playoffs IF.

1) Crawford is healthy and plays 50 games

2) Hawks add John Moore and Calvin De Haan. While not stars, Moore/DeHaan > >Gustafson/Forsling/Oesterle

3) Hawks add a middle 6 Winger winger with size

4) Saad + Toews remember how to handle the puck, create consistent offense, and put it past the goaltender more often.

5) Debrincat and Schmaltz are at least as good as last year with 50+ points each

6) Seabrook and Keith get back to at least 2016 form

7) Rutta looks like he did the first 20 games last year but for the entire year

8) Hayden + Martinsen provide grit on the bottom line

9) Hinostroza drives offense on whatever ends up being line 3

10) Q picks 6 Dmen and plays them consistently. No more 8 man rotation BS.

11) someone steps up to be a reliable and consistent 4C


LOTS of IFs people....
- EnzoD

Hey Enzo...hope you're well. As I mentioned earlier in the blog - there's a lot of fixes to be made to give this team a chance this season.

An actual NHL caliber backup - Ward you're hoping he's got something left in the tank and more importantly we still don't know what Crawford's situation is.
2 vet dmen de Haan, Moore?
depth center - Beagle - on his way to van
power forward - JVR too rich for the Hawks

That's a lot of needs and just where the heck is that cap space coming from? Hossa cap hit is still on the books and teams aren't exactly lining up to take that contract unless the Hawks give them a big time sweetener. Do you trade AA's deal and if so then who will actually go to the net on this team? Shaw is no longer here.

I keep hearing everyone is content to let the kids play - until they start b-tching halfway through the year. And what does that say to the season ticketholders for starters or the fan base...when the mantra continues to be ONE GOAL...is this team trying to take one more shot at a Cup with this core or not? Otherwise they should sell off what they can - of course I'd want anyone other than Bowman to do that work (new Pres of hockey ops) with Stan's trade track record being what it is.

We'll see what happens when the fun starts tomorrow.

We’ll see.

Gotta think if the Hawks are going to clear some salary that today is the day. Hopefully Tavares picks by noon today.
- mrpaulish

Really wish they could move Hossa’s contract for a reasonable price.

Powers:

James van Riemsdky likely out of Blackhawks' financial league
- mrpaulish

Was hearing the same, this the more realistic roster I put together in the blog.

It's fun to think about adding guys like JVR or even role guys pike Roussel but not as fun/ relief when we see how much they sign for on July 1st.

Really wish they could move Hossa’s contract for a reasonable price.
- Marlowe

Heard they aren't having much luck there.

If they were able to that would have made them more open to signing JVR.

Really wish they could move Hossa’s contract for a reasonable price.
- Marlowe

If they don’t do it soon, it won’t matter if they do it later - not much left to make good use of the reclaimed cap space after July 15 - not worth losing the asset accompanying the Hossa move over.

Heard they aren't having much luck there.

If they were able to that would have made them more open to signing JVR.
- Justin Lowe

Hearing anything about other F or D options - like maybe a Letestu (just throwing another UFA out there, not advocating) if you can’t afford a Beagle? Or if there could be a trade for Faulk or is CAR’s asking price still too rich for the Hawks (Saad)? Wingels news? Anything!?!??

If they don’t do it soon, it won’t matter if they do it later - not much left to make good use of the reclaimed cap space after July 15 - not worth losing the asset accompanying the Hossa move over.
- StLBravesFan

Agreed. In the short term (ie this free agency season) anyway, but there are 2 more summers of this so anytime they can get out from under would be good by me.

DANG!!!! Hoping for some action today C'mon Stan put the chips down and do something. It's been Soooooooo Boring
- BGKarras

If you're one of the #blackhawks fans that is hoping for a Justin Faulk acquisition then today would be the day.

Faulk has a NTC that kicks in July 1st which would limit the Canes to where he goes.

Let's see if there is any movement on those conversations.

If you're one of the #blackhawks fans that is hoping for a Justin Faulk acquisition then today would be the day.

Faulk has a NTC that kicks in July 1st which would limit the Canes to where he goes.

Let's see if there is any movement on those conversations.
- Justin Lowe

Yup. But here’s hoping the Hawks would still have the cache to be on that dang NTC list...

Hearing anything about other F or D options - like maybe a Letestu (just throwing another UFA out there, not advocating) if you can’t afford a Beagle? Or if there could be a trade for Faulk or is CAR’s asking price still too rich for the Hawks (Saad)? Wingels news? Anything!?!??


Agreed. In the short term (ie this free agency season) anyway, but there are 2 more summers of this so anytime they can get out from under would be good by me.
- Marlowe

Certainly - depending on what other asset they have to give up.

Since I’m bored, what are the ripple effects of the Tavares decision? If he leaves NYI? Then NYI would be hard pressed to hit the cap floor. If the Leafs get him, can they keep all the young forward talent? If the NYI keep him what other pieces will they look to add? Is Tavares waiting for an assurance that the NYI will have a solid player in goal?

if the Hawks lose out on Neal and JVR, is Matthias paraded as the big power forward signing. It seems Stan wants some size on LW. Just a thought