Wonderful more context for a last place club, with the last place GM, the last place coach all back and ready to say the right things. ....... I think the new motto now that's it no longer One Goal or Younger, Faster, Bigger should be But When Put Into Context. They'll roll that one out for 2019/20 cuz this yrs is Relentless Like Vegas!
- Mr Ricochet

You’re babbling.

Question for anyone who cares to answer: with the Hawks likely carrying 3 goalies, I assume that means they can't have both a 13th forward and a 7th defenseman. If that's the case, which would you rather have: 13th forward or 7th defenseman?

Or is it possible to have 3 goalies, 13 forwards, and 7 defensemen?

Question for anyone who cares to answer: with the Hawks likely carrying 3 goalies, I assume that means they can't have both a 13th forward and a 7th defenseman. If that's the case, which would you rather have: 13th forward or 7th defenseman?

Or is it possible to have 3 goalies, 13 forwards, and 7 defensemen?
- AEL_Fox

Isn’t it a roster of 23 max - so 13+7+3 would be OK?

If true then there was NO reason for a No Movement Clause in the deal. I don't think the Hawks actually know what they are doing.
- kwolf68

Remember in the late 2000s when McDonough was with the Cubs, they had the same issue with NTCs? I wonder if he's more to blame than we think.

Giving out NMCs to potential flip candidates is a really dumb thing to do.

David Haugh’s article was spot on, and likely the sharpest assessment of this team by the Chicago “beat writers” in YEARS.
- Return of the Roar

"Stan Bowman is the minivan moseying along in the left lane of the expressway, moving forward but slower than he thinks, getting passed as everyone wonders why he’s not in a bigger hurrry."

C'mon Wiz, tell me how well that worked out for the Islanders (Berube, Halak & Greiss)? No way you give a guy a NTC/NMC if he is "just insurance." As RickJ just highlighted, no way an NHL-caliber goaltender is off the ice for 7 months with an expectation to come back and be what he was by simply going through camp/preseason.

Hawks brass should be straight-up with the fan base. If this isn't a "soft" (like Charmin soft) rebuild, I don't know what is. So why waste $3M on a goalie when you are in rebuild mode except to attempt to fool the casual fan?
- savvyone-1

Because, and I think Rick already said this, Ward is your opening night starter with Forsberg as his backup.

When I saw “baby core”, the names associated with it, and “locking them up” all in the same sentence, I shot the milk from my morning cereal through my nose.
- Return of the Roar

I don't understand it either. The Hawks have Schmaltz locked up for 4 more seasons barring an offer sheet, which almost never happens. And even if it does, they can match. No reason to give him a long term deal right now unless he's giving you a discount.

I don't understand it either. The Hawks have Schmaltz locked up for 4 more seasons barring an offer sheet, which almost never happens. And even if it does, they can match. No reason to give him a long term deal right now unless he's giving you a discount.
- tazer_and_diet

McD needs positive PR for the convention. No better remedy than premature contractulation.

C'mon Wiz, tell me how well that worked out for the Islanders (Berube, Halak & Greiss)? No way you give a guy a NTC/NMC if he is "just insurance." As RickJ just highlighted, no way an NHL-caliber goaltender is off the ice for 7 months with an expectation to come back and be what he was by simply going through camp/preseason.

Hawks brass should be straight-up with the fan base. If this isn't a "soft" (like Charmin soft) rebuild, I don't know what is. So why waste $3M on a goalie when you are in rebuild mode except to attempt to fool the casual fan?
- savvyone-1

What if they try to send Crawford down to Rockford for a conditioning stint and he tells them to shove it?

Again why is hino in the top 6 when he is a depth energy player 4th line player and sikura should never see the nhl ice next year at all no matter what let him develop on rockford instead of rushing players. So here is a question say bowman does not get a top 4 d man a center or 2 whats the backup plan or is the same i like our team quote.
- Scott1977

Cuz Toews makes 10.5 mil per yr and Seabs makes 6.8?

I don't understand it either. The Hawks have Schmaltz locked up for 4 more seasons barring an offer sheet, which almost never happens. And even if it does, they can match. No reason to give him a long term deal right now unless he's giving you a discount.
- tazer_and_diet

The reason is about risk / reward - not about losing the player to an offer sheet, but about him pricing himself out of their cap range vs cost certainty if they sign him to a longer bridge of higher amount. Schmaltz does not have to sign any deals rn, so if he were to reach 60/70 points next season, he'll be arbitration eligible and his comparables in that range are now making $7m+. Look at it this way, Schmaltz had 2 less points than Evander Kane last season, so E.Kane can now be used by Schmaltz as an arbitration example. If Schmaltz maintains or does even better, well, that's a slippery slop to having to pay Schmaltz a pretty damn fine amount.

Of course, if a player or team goes to arbitration, it tends to stain the relationship between player and organization. This is why most teams give out two types of bridge deals: the short 2-3 ones that are typically $2-3.5m, usually for players who top out at about 40 points prorated; and the 6-8 year deals that are typically $5-7m, usually for players with who get 50 or more points prorated. Guess which group Schmaltz falls into.

Usually teams want to lock their RFAs of the second variety up a year before they reach their RFA status because they do not want to risk the potential of them pricing out even higher. The player is usually the one that wants to wait - like Larkin did - because they want to bet on themselves and get more money on their deal. It's much less common now for short, small bridge deals for these higher producing players - Kucherov is the only one I can think of off-hand but he still got a nearly $5m x 3 year deal and he's going to be able to ask for $9-10m if he wants on his next deal. Schmaltz is probably not as good as Kucherov but there lies the risk of waiting. Cost certainty can be really valuable, especially for planning and adding piece in the near future.

And last, if you read any of the reports about possible extensions for Larkin and/or Schmaltz, it's always noted that their agent is Kurt​ Overhardt who is one of the most aggressive.

Again why is hino in the top 6 when he is a depth energy player 4th line player and sikura should never see the nhl ice next year at all no matter what let him develop on rockford instead of rushing players. So here is a question say bowman does not get a top 4 d man a center or 2 whats the backup plan or is the same i like our team quote.
- Scott1977

Personally, I think Hino works better playing second line and using his offensive skill and speed and to me doesn't fit well on the bottom 6. I don't think he has the grit for the bottom 6 and I he can play the high tempo with Schmaltz. I could be wrong, but that is my rational for slotting him where I did.

C'mon Wiz, tell me how well that worked out for the Islanders (Berube, Halak & Greiss)? No way you give a guy a NTC/NMC if he is "just insurance." As RickJ just highlighted, no way an NHL-caliber goaltender is off the ice for 7 months with an expectation to come back and be what he was by simply going through camp/preseason.

Hawks brass should be straight-up with the fan base. If this isn't a "soft" (like Charmin soft) rebuild, I don't know what is. So why waste $3M on a goalie when you are in rebuild mode except to attempt to fool the casual fan?
- savvyone-1

Still think CC may not be being counted on.

Said it yesterday after his interview on the Score, Stan answered that question very weird, and I believe he was lying, or probably more appropriately, not saying what he knows.

I don't know why, I'm not spreading any rumors as I have no info, I'm just telling you he's not telling the truth about CC, and I think its because he can't talk about it.

Isn’t it a roster of 23 max - so 13+7+3 would be OK?
- StLBravesFan

That makes sense. The Hawks did carry 8 d-men last year plus the 13th forward. Let's all hope that the 8-man blueline is a thing of the past.

You’re babbling.
- StLBravesFan

The above is the problem, all these babbling $@*^$ who are tired of context to explain away a last place club........ Tell me how it is, Sage. The context is they signed Ward and Kunitz is why they are the 5th oldest team in the league? Until they are moved out and replaced by the next 35 yr old "bridge" guys next yr? ...... Then the context will be:

Relentless? Of all the years i watched Blackhawk hockey I thought the 2013 team never took a shift off.

I'm disappointed that things didn't work out perfectly for Bowman and Q. Honestly if it was easy to win a championship the Yankees would win every year, but it just isn't.

I'm glad i have the Cubs and the up and coming Bears to enjoy this year. HDTV has made watching hockey wonderful and i will continue to do so, but to get so upset about the current state of the Hawks does me no good. It's not a typical rebuild but that's really what it is. I say this calmly now but in the moment during the game my wife will remind me as she always does, you do know they can't hear you?

That lineup is as realistic as it could get if the status quo is what it is by training camp.

I feel that both Tyler and Dylan Sikura will be pushing for spots in camp. Johnson as well.

Agree that Rutta is likely going to get more responsibility and a chance to prove himself in his 2nd year.

With the Hawks keeping 3 goalies up, that would have Delia and Lankinen in Rockford and Tomkins and whoever in Indy.

Nalimov is good as gone. Good riddance, I say. I know there's a glut of goalies but if you're not willing to compete and win the job you want, then go find a team willing to hand you a job on a platter. Sounds eerily familiar to the Kevin Hayes situation.
- AEL_Fox

I do think it could change a fair bit based on how camp shakes out, injuries, trades, but I think the Hawks can still ice a pretty decent team with some reasonable growth from the guys. The core is aging, but they aren't over the hill where they should be pushed out yet.

I think the Hawks should try to follow a similar course to SJ. To me, the Sharks are one of the best run teams in the NHL and have stayed at least competitive for a long time. They have had guys age, but they also brought along young talent that has been taking over the core.

The reason is about risk / reward - not about losing the player to an offer sheet, but about him pricing himself out of their cap range. Schmaltz does not have to sign any deals rn, so if he were to reach 60/70 points next season, he'll be arbitration eligible and his comparables in that range are now making $7m+. Look at it this way, Schmaltz had 2 less points than Evander Kane last season, so E.Kane can now be used by Schmaltz as an arbitration example. If Schmaltz maintains or does even better, well, that's a slippery slop to having to pay Schmaltz a pretty damn fine amount.

Of course, if a player or team goes to arbitration, it tends to stain the relationship between player and organization. This is why most teams give out two types of bridge deals: the short 2-3 ones that are typically $2-3.5m, usually for players who top out at about 40 points prorated; and the 6-8 year deals that are typically $5-7m, usually for players with who get 50 or more points prorated. Guess which group Schmaltz falls into.

Usually teams want to lock their RFAs of the second variety up a year before they reach their RFA status because they do not want to risk the potential of them pricing out even higher. The player is usually the one that wants to wait - like Larkin did - because they want to bet on themselves and get more money on their deal. It's much less common now for short, small bridge deals for these higher producing players - Kucherov is the only one I can think of off-hand but he still got a nearly $5m x 3 year deal and he's going to be able to ask for $9-10m if he wants on his next deal. Schmaltz is probably not as good as Kucherov but there lies the risk of waiting.
- L_B_R

He is an RFA with a year more under his ELC. Your team has no cap space as it is. He has one nice freshman year. Make him prove its not lightning in a bottle, and maybe win some faceoffs, and then you talk contract. Besides, we could use a few more incentives for players to play harder.

If he takes them to arbitration.....then he is not a team guy. His team needs him to take a bridge deal.

Relentless? Of all the years i watched Blackhawk hockey I thought the 2013 team never took a shift off.

I'm disappointed that things didn't work out perfectly for Bowman and Q. Honestly if it was easy to win a championship the Yankees would win every year, but it just isn't.

I'm glad i have the Cubs and the up and coming Bears to enjoy this year. HDTV has made watching hockey wonderful and i will continue to do so, but to get so upset about the current state of the Hawks does me no good. It's not a typical rebuild but that's really what it is. I say this calmly now but in the moment during the game my wife will remind me as she always does, you do know they can't hear you?
- BetweenTheDots

I think you are 100% right about the 2013 Hawks. They were relentless (especially Saad-Toews-Hossa) and they were ready to go out of the gate. (I recall they were practicing on their own pretty hard.) The team had talent (maybe not as deep as 2010) but they were just a well oiled machine.

Again why is hino in the top 6 when he is a depth energy player 4th line player and sikura should never see the nhl ice next year at all no matter what let him develop on rockford instead of rushing players. So here is a question say bowman does not get a top 4 d man a center or 2 whats the backup plan or is the same i like our team quote.
- Scott1977

In terms of your question about whether Hinostroza is top 6 material, to me it's all about proper slotting of players whether forwards or defense. As it currently stands, Q doesn't have an ideal hand to work with to properly slot everyone that is optimal. Q can't submit a royal flush or full house if all he has is enough for high card or maybe just one pair.

Is Hinostroza the optimal top 6 player? No, but he's serviceable given the present roster. Same with say DeBrincat in the opposite direction. He's a top 6 to me, but he may end up playing 3rd line. D Sikura, too, if he makes the roster out of camp.

Manning is a disaster in his own end. He is at best a 6 and did not have a career year... And this would be readily noticeable by anyone who watched the flyers okay
- bulet13

you flyer fans are no fan of manning that's obvious...sadly the hawks are loaded with #'s 5, 6, 7 dmen...whats one more....

Wow! Am I glad I did not renew my ST's.

The dreaded "R" word? What a waste of #2's last couple good years (FWIW, it seemed to be his barking knee last season), plus a waste of 19/88 talent, not to mention $10.5M twin cap hits. Kane especially has to be pissed.

Glad I got my Cubbies. Gonna be another toasty one at Clark and Addison today.

Happy Independence Day !!

Here is a question for the group. Since Hossa is gone, do the Hawks have a RW that Q really trusts to play some shutdown defense. I know traditionally you think more about C position for defensive assignment, but wings play a part.

I have to wonder if that is the role they see for John Hayden (not replacing Hossa) but challenge him to take the Defensive side of the puck at the RW position.

Rather have Wingels
- Marlowe

Yes. I thought Wingles was coming back. Damn that Stan.

We want Wingles.

Still think CC may not be being counted on.

Said it yesterday after his interview on the Score, Stan answered that question very weird, and I believe he was lying, or probably more appropriately, not saying what he knows.

I don't know why, I'm not spreading any rumors as I have no info, I'm just telling you he's not telling the truth about CC, and I think its because he can't talk about it.
- vabeachbear

Missed it. Any guesses? Vertigo?