Justin Lowe: Fast Friday: 5 Thoughts I thought, surely by now, I would be able to pump out a juicy "Blackhawks have acquired amazing Player X" by now. But alas, we sit here on July 6th with little news to report.

However, here are 5 quick thoughts on the Hawks and happenings around the league.

1st... Somebody wake Stan up!

I wonder if Duclair might have turned out any differently if not for the injury at the hands of scumbag Marchand.

I Love the D!ck Panic reference just outstanding thanks for making me spit up my coffee

Justin you are doing a super job.

There is still going to be a lot of movement in the NHL.
Ottawa.... whether Karlsson stays or goes
Islanders - without Tavares and with Lou
Whichever team gets Karlsson
Still some free agents out there.
Hawks are overloaded with Dmen

I still see the Hawks making a couple of moves. Maybe AA is traded. Maybe they land a 2C or a top 4 dman. Maybe a surprise.

In Stan I trust. He has made a few mistakes and some good moves too.

I like Q also, but he really needs to slow down the blender.

I have asked this a few times now..... Can Forsberg play in Sweden and the Hawks retain his rights?

I wonder if Duclair might have turned out any differently if not for the injury at the hands of scumbag Marchand.
- 333inthe3rd

Don't know think they were thrilled with the hockey IQ. Don't know how much would have changed and to be honest, would rather see what they have in a Kahun or other prospect at this point.

Justin you are doing a super job.

There is still going to be a lot of movement in the NHL.
Ottawa.... whether Karlsson stays or goes
Islanders - without Tavares and with Lou
Whichever team gets Karlsson
Still some free agents out there.
Hawks are overloaded with Dmen

I still see the Hawks making a couple of moves. Maybe AA is traded. Maybe they land a 2C or a top 4 dman. Maybe a surprise.

In Stan I trust. He has made a few mistakes and some good moves too.

I like Q also, but he really needs to slow down the blender.

I have asked this a few times now..... Can Forsberg play in Sweden and the Hawks retain his rights?
- -Doh-

I would think that would be difficult to pull off.

I guess all parties would have to agree to that and he would have to be put on loan.

Maybe the more logical thing would be that the Hawks and Forsberg would have to terminate his contract entirely.

Not sure they are there yet. I expect Forsberg to be in camp ready to rock. There is even talk that the Hawks may keep 3 goalies (#barf). But that might be a thing.

I would think that would be difficult to pull off.

I guess all parties would have to agree to that and he would have to be put on loan.

Maybe the more logical thing would be that the Hawks and Forsberg would have to terminate his contract entirely.

Not sure they are there yet. I expect Forsberg to be in camp ready to rock. There is even talk that the Hawks may keep 3 goalies (#barf). But that might be a thing.
- Justin Lowe

Is CC still not healthy?

Is CC still not healthy?
- z1990z

TBD.

Justin, great facilitation of discussion during a "slow" start to FA.

Saw a report on Barstool (I know, I know) that Carolina wanted Saad for Faulk. Makes no sense that Hawks would trade Saad at all-time low in value.

What would be your "top 5" of Hawks players that would bring the greatest haul on the trade market at this time? Keeping in mind salaries, tradeability, etc. This could include rostered players or prospects

I'd be happy if they lose the Hossa money and come off of at least a defender or two under contract.

Otherwise I'm not as down as everyone else is. I feel like this is the year you get some dumb club like Edmonton or maybe even Philly to take that Seabrook contract and feel good about grit and veteran leadership and all that jazz. Heck, that could be the splash Lou is looking for on the island.

Personally, I think their plan is to lock up guys like Schmaltz and DCat early, tread some water and get first round playoff dollars and that they're banking on one of Mitchell, Boqvist or maybe Jokiharju being a major game changer and building around that moving forward.

Meaning this is another burn year and anything beyond a little playoff revenue is exceeding expectations. And based on the stupid money thrown around this summer I'm ok with that provided they start moving some salary out.

There is nothing really out there suggesting Crow is a for sure go this year. This raises the possibility of LTIR for him. Those $ plus Hossa's LTIR $ pushes $9 million. If they start flat, I could see a package of their not quote top-tier but definite NHL capable prospect talent being dealt for a top-shelf pending UFA or RFA. Come trade deadline time, this becomes another possible chip to be used to get additional high draft picks or needed prospects.
Bowman can pull this off.

Otherwise I'm not as down as everyone else is. I feel like this is the year you get some dumb club like Edmonton or maybe even Philly to take that Seabrook contract and feel good about grit and veteran leadership and all that jazz. Heck, that could be the splash Lou is looking for on the island.

Meaning this is another burn year and anything beyond a little playoff revenue is exceeding expectations. And based on the stupid money thrown around this summer I'm ok with that provided they start moving some salary out.
- fattybeef

Fatty, I thought EDM might be dumb enough last summer to do a trade for Seabrook. I think the book on him is out at this point: wheels are gone. My bet is buyout in 2 yrs.

This is totally a burn year.

Toews and Seabs for McDavid with EDM retaining 75% of McDavid’s Cap hit.

If Stan can pull that off, I might come around on his GM’ing skills. (Red Font)

I will take up the "redeem Stan Bowman" challenge:

Trade 1: Artem Anisimov and Gustav Forsling (or another defenseman) to Montreal for Max Pacioretty and Jacob De La Rose (or Michael Macloud--forgive the spelling)

Rationale: Montreal gets an experienced center and help on the blue line which they need with Shea Weber gone for the forseeable future, and they get rid of their Captain who wants out. Chicago gets a goal scoring winger and a young center prospect with size. If the deal looks unbalanced from the Montreal side I would be willing to add additional prospects/defensemen (Alexander Fortin or Jan Rutta or others).

I also would do this deal without Anisimov/Pacioretty, and go prospect for prospects with Montreal.

I like your three way trade idea with Ottawa/Tampa, and I am not sure I can improve upon it.

I'd be happy if they lose the Hossa money and come off of at least a defender or two under contract.

Otherwise I'm not as down as everyone else is. I feel like this is the year you get some dumb club like Edmonton or maybe even Philly to take that Seabrook contract and feel good about grit and veteran leadership and all that jazz. Heck, that could be the splash Lou is looking for on the island.

Personally, I think their plan is to lock up guys like Schmaltz and DCat early, tread some water and get first round playoff dollars and that they're banking on one of Mitchell, Boqvist or maybe Jokiharju being a major game changer and building around that moving forward.

Meaning this is another burn year and anything beyond a little playoff revenue is exceeding expectations. And based on the stupid money thrown around this summer I'm ok with that provided they start moving some salary out.
- fattybeef

I’d be happy if they lost the Hoss $$$ but I’m not interested in giving up anything too valuable to do it. So if they have to live with it for another season, I wouldn’t be upset.

Could see things playing out like you suggest and am glad they didn’t hand out a ton of lengthy deals that may have helped in the short term but not so much long term.

How much $hit is going to hit the fan when CC is put on LTIR also? How loud are the owners going to cry then?

In past posts, there was this notion that the league was quietly talking about not trading the Hossa contract. IF that is the case, wouldn't the Players Union want to open that up to the media's attention, and rip the league a new one? Wouldn't that go against the CBA? IS Bettman really that stupid?

Ultimately, at the end of the day everything is dependent on the health of Crawford and it’s extremely frustrating with how non-challant the team is about his status. Either state how he’s healthy and how they’re committed to him, or say he’s unhealthy, and rebuild.

If this team continues to stay patient and hope that all is well come Fall, that’s a gamble that they absolutely cannot afford to take considering the current state of the roster. If they know he’s unhealthy then obviously this team is going no where with Ward/Forsberg in net and NOW is the time you trade Keith, etc. and accumulate whatever assets you can and not wait for them to age another year and have their value diminish even more.

The front office continues to show how inept they are with questionable decision making coupled with poor roster management. Pick a lane and stick in it. If you want to reload, do so. If you want to rebuild, do so. But enough of this “wait it out and see what happens” shtick because it’s getting tiresome and irking the fans how pay for an overpriced experience with underwhelming results.

I’m more than fine with Bowman sitting out this free agent market because it was littered with overpriced garbage. COULD some players have made sense? Definitely. But sitting around and acting like their hands are tied the way they were for the previous decade is not acceptable now.

The lust of Chicago is wearing off quick and the way to bring it back is to show promise of a brighter future (rebuilding), or making proactive trades in an attempt to reshape the roster of the disaster it was last season. Right now, they are doing neither. Stan and Co. are just riding this wave out and wherever it takes them is what they deserve.

Justin you are doing a super job.

There is still going to be a lot of movement in the NHL.
Ottawa.... whether Karlsson stays or goes
Islanders - without Tavares and with Lou
Whichever team gets Karlsson
Still some free agents out there.
Hawks are overloaded with Dmen

I still see the Hawks making a couple of moves. Maybe AA is traded. Maybe they land a 2C or a top 4 dman. Maybe a surprise.

In Stan I trust. He has made a few mistakes and some good moves too.

I like Q also, but he really needs to slow down the blender.

I have asked this a few times now..... Can Forsberg play in Sweden and the Hawks retain his rights?
- -Doh-

Just off the top of my head...since Buffalo is on their youth movement getting rid of some of their better older players. That said, how about Zach Bogosian for some combo of our younger D men. Zach has not lived up to his billing coming out of his stacked D man draft but he can provide size, grit, and immediately something on the right side.

Don't know think they were thrilled with the hockey IQ. Don't know how much would have changed and to be honest, would rather see what they have in a Kahun or other prospect at this point.
- Justin Lowe

\

100% agreed! When he got the puck in the neutral zone and/or O zone, he was indecisive and didn't make the right decisions and that's even getting sometime with quality players like Kaner and Tazer; he was even on the PP. He was a dead-puck ender! For his size the fight just was not there on board battles, net battles, etc. He probably will not thrive in a system; his only way is individual talent. But regardless, good luck to him!

How much $hit is going to hit the fan when CC is put on LTIR also? How loud are the owners going to cry then?

In past posts, there was this notion that the league was quietly talking about not trading the Hossa contract. IF that is the case, wouldn't the Players Union want to open that up to the media's attention, and rip the league a new one? Wouldn't that go against the CBA? IS Bettman really that stupid?
- powerenforcer

They're just setting the stage for the next lockout/strike.

No thanks on Bogosian. How high is Buffalo on McCabe? I wouldnt mind grabbing him from there

Too bad there's isn't a way to get Boqvist and Jokiharju on the same Jr team..

Too bad there's isn't a way to get Boqvist and Jokiharju on the same Jr team..
- Beaver-Warrior

Wont be surprised to see them at the UC for the 19-20 season.

Does the NHL have retractable waivers. For example could they put Forsberg on waivers and if someone tries to claim him they can pull him off waivers or trade him.