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Forums :: Blog World :: Justin Lowe: Are the Hawks Done?
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Tyler Cameron
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 10.31.2017

Jul 19 @ 10:39 AM ET
Justin Lowe: Are the Hawks Done?
BlazinMike
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 05.08.2013

Jul 19 @ 10:48 AM ET
I think Nash would be a good add because he could fetch a decent return at the trade deadline. Hopefully they're in a position to add at the deadline, but honestly i dont think they will be.
HawkintheD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Sick Bay, MI
Joined: 02.22.2012

Jul 19 @ 10:52 AM ET
I think Nash would be a good add because he could fetch a decent return at the trade deadline. Hopefully they're in a position to add at the deadline, but honestly i dont think they will be.
- BlazinMike


I don't think so either and I think the move you suggest isn't a bad idea. If it is the case, where they aren't vying for a playoff spot, it will be interesting to see what moves they can and are willing to make.
DarthKane
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: 5.13.4.9
Joined: 02.23.2012

Jul 19 @ 10:57 AM ET
Morning JL....great blog to wake up to (I’m on vacation on the west coast).

I agree with your lineup projections, and to me it appears there’s a big hole at LW in the top 6. Maybe Edjsell or Kahun (who I believe will make the team) can step up and take the role, but I would prefer to see them in the bottom 6 to start the season. There are some decent options for bottom 6 guys who could get PTOs but not many for the top 6 (maybe only Nash has that potential). However....Versteeg is still out there too.

I could see Stan moving Forsling (plus) to get somebody like Dzingel or Lowry. That’s about the extent of the moves I’m expecting.
BALUCHA
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 06.22.2015

Jul 19 @ 11:02 AM ET
As long as they stop trading their quality young players before their entry level contract ends they'll be fine....
BlazinMike
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 05.08.2013

Jul 19 @ 11:03 AM ET
I don't think so either and I think the move you suggest isn't a bad idea. If it is the case, where they aren't vying for a playoff spot, it will be interesting to see what moves they can and are willing to make.
- HawkintheD


I dont really like the idea of having Nash on the team honestly, but if he comes in, puts up some points and gets a pick or two at the deadline, (frank) it.
BlazinMike
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 05.08.2013

Jul 19 @ 11:05 AM ET
As long as they stop trading their quality young players before their entry level contract ends they'll be fine....
- BALUCHA


Also helps if those quality young players turn out to actually be quality. Young doesnt always mean good.
walleyeb1
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Petersburg, IL
Joined: 09.25.2014

Jul 19 @ 11:16 AM ET
74_E5_E6_B1_9679_4627_9_C18_908474221094
67hawks
Joined: 08.30.2012

Jul 19 @ 11:25 AM ET
I think Nash would be a good add because he could fetch a decent return at the trade deadline. Hopefully they're in a position to add at the deadline, but honestly i dont think they will be.
- BlazinMike


I have no problem adding Nash because he would not cost us any assets as adding a player through trade would. He probably would ask for some movement protection but I am sure he would be amenable to a trade if it was a preferred destination and a chance for a Cup.
BlazinMike
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 05.08.2013

Jul 19 @ 11:30 AM ET
74_E5_E6_B1_9679_4627_9_C18_908474221094
- walleyeb1


Glad Seabrook took over jersey #7.
riozzo
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Cornwallis Island
Joined: 06.17.2014

Jul 19 @ 11:34 AM ET
Justin,
I don't like this lineup
Saad-Toews-Debrincat
Ejdsell-Schmaltz-Kane
Kahun-Anisimov-Sikura
Kunitz-Kruger-Hayden

Keith-Rutta
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Manning-Murphy

Crawford
Ward

ex: Martinsen, Kampf, Forsling

As drawn up, Scott Mr. 0.00 Foster is out of a job
EbonyRaptor
Joined: 03.28.2013

Jul 19 @ 11:34 AM ET
Whether you agree with it or not, there must be a plan, and the plan must set priorities. Is the top priority to win this season or to build for future success? It seems the top priority is the latter, but Stan and company may still try to hedge their bets a bit and that is where the potential for ending up in "middle-ville" lies. I'm not suggesting the Hawks should tank but I am suggesting they should not mortgage even a smidgen of the future to enhance the 2018/19 team. Pick a plan and stick with it.
67hawks
Joined: 08.30.2012

Jul 19 @ 11:36 AM ET
Glad Seabrook took over jersey #7.
- BlazinMike


Chelios deserves more love from Hawk fans. He did not leave on his own -he was traded. He was one of the most proud and competitive players to ever wear this uniform.
BlazinMike
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 05.08.2013

Jul 19 @ 11:40 AM ET
Chelios deserves more love from Hawk fans. He did not leave on his own -he was traded. He was one of the most proud and competitive players to ever wear this uniform.
- 67hawks


Thats fine, i still like what Seabrook has done more though.
RaleighHawk
Joined: 03.29.2016

Jul 19 @ 12:02 PM ET
Great overview Justin!

If they don't do any more moves, or minimal moves, then the chances are pretty good they are fighting for a final playoff position. If this happens, then it becomes very interesting at the trading deadline. If the playoffs look like a miss, what big names could go? If Crawford is playing regularly and having a good year, then he becomes a valuable trade chip, and would likely be dealt. On the other hand, if they are in the playoff mix, then they could become buyers for a decent name, knowing they could sign them longer term.
EnzoD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Denver, CO
Joined: 02.19.2014

Jul 19 @ 12:07 PM ET
Thanks for the blog Justin! Edjsell has some physical talent, and also some physical deficiencies with his mobility. Kahun I think is more likely to make the team based on the Olympic speed/skill/offense he showed and might replace Hinostroza in the lineup.

TBH, if the Hawks trot out a lineup similar to the one you posted (which I don't think is far off given the current roster), they are going to struggle to win hockey games most nights. I think that Bowman is aggressively pursuing a trade for a "cost controlled" player like Faulk/Skinner but rightfully is not willing to part with 1st round picks of A-level prospects.

I think this is a serious #TANK season for the Hawks, and they use their extra cap space next summer to seriously retool.

Also, saw another Draft Recap last night that compared Boquist to Tyson Barrie, FWIW.
BlazinMike
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 05.08.2013

Jul 19 @ 12:09 PM ET
Thanks for the blog Justin! Edjsell has some physical talent, and also some physical deficiencies with his mobility. Kahun I think is more likely to make the team based on the Olympic speed/skill/offense he showed and might replace Hinostroza in the lineup.

TBH, if the Hawks trot out a lineup similar to the one you posted (which I don't think is far off given the current roster), they are going to struggle to win hockey games most nights. I think that Bowman is aggressively pursuing a trade for a "cost controlled" player like Faulk/Skinner but rightfully is not willing to part with 1st round picks of A-level prospects.

I think this is a serious #TANK season for the Hawks, and they use their extra cap space next summer to seriously retool.

Also, saw another Draft Recap last night that compared Boquist to Tyson Barrie, FWIW.

- EnzoD


Barrie is pretty good. Not Karlsson level obviously but pretty good still.
SteveRain
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Connor Murphy Sucks, IL
Joined: 05.07.2010

Jul 19 @ 12:10 PM ET
There are no guarantees Rick Nash will be back this year as he;s hedging on retirement....Not to mention if he were to come back he probably wants a realistic shot at a cup, and based on this roster...….that is happening here.

I'm sure Bowman is waiting out Carolina like teams waited him out the year he traded Leddy which I believe was very close to opening night. Again, I don't see an addition of Faulk catapulting this team into playoff contention, as you will most likely be subtracting your NHL roster to acquire Faulk.

As far as prospects go....its' nice to lay on eyes on them, but they are just that......prospects. And dominating other prospects in your organization isn't always a tell for how good/bad they could be.

Lastly, I did chuckle at Toews proclaiming that if you put the same guys out there from last year to this year....you get different results. That's the definition of insanity and afraid this organization from top down is hedging on that......
MDGHawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Duesseldorf, Germany
Joined: 06.20.2013

Jul 19 @ 12:13 PM ET
Kahun I think is more likely to make the team based on the Olympic speed/skill/offense he showed and might replace Hinostroza in the lineup.


- EnzoD


Also thought this could be a chance for Kahun replacing Hinostroza, but we'll see how he does in camp. Can't say much about Fortin, but read his latest interview and hopefully coming back stronger. Probably he fits into that role as speedy winger as well.
Beaver-Warrior
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: in my great and unmatched wisdom
Joined: 07.28.2011

Jul 19 @ 12:16 PM ET
74_E5_E6_B1_9679_4627_9_C18_908474221094
- walleyeb1



IMHO He's a bridge burning Deadwing and he go take a flying leap...
wonthecup10
Season Ticket Holder
Joined: 02.05.2008

Jul 19 @ 12:26 PM ET
Justin, just my gut feeling, they are probably going to take a run at a defenseman, and probably ,if he still wants to continue and play, take a run at Rick Nash for possibly a two-year deal. But as we all know Bowman likes to keep his cards close to his chest. So he may come up with something out of left field.
walleyeb1
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Petersburg, IL
Joined: 09.25.2014

Jul 19 @ 12:27 PM ET
Chelios deserves more love from Hawk fans. He did not leave on his own -he was traded. He was one of the most proud and competitive players to ever wear this uniform.
- 67hawks


Totally agree my kids loved to watch Chelios growing up, as did I. Just one of the many goofy things that happened during that era!

“I want to stay in Chicago. I don’t know how I can put it simpler,” Chelios told the Chicago Tribune in January 1999. “Things are going bad here, but I’m not the type of player who is going to quit or ask to be traded. My heart is in Chicago and it’s always going to be in Chicago.”

EnzoD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Denver, CO
Joined: 02.19.2014

Jul 19 @ 12:27 PM ET
There are no guarantees Rick Nash will be back this year as he;s hedging on retirement....Not to mention if he were to come back he probably wants a realistic shot at a cup, and based on this roster...….that is happening here.

I'm sure Bowman is waiting out Carolina like teams waited him out the year he traded Leddy which I believe was very close to opening night. Again, I don't see an addition of Faulk catapulting this team into playoff contention, as you will most likely be subtracting your NHL roster to acquire Faulk.

As far as prospects go....its' nice to lay on eyes on them, but they are just that......prospects. And dominating other prospects in your organization isn't always a tell for how good/bad they could be.

Lastly, I did chuckle at Toews proclaiming that if you put the same guys out there from last year to this year....you get different results. That's the definition of insanity and afraid this organization from top down is hedging on that......

- SteveRain


Rick Nash would be like Patrick Sharp last year....a waste of a roster spot to an over-the-hill veteran. Play the kids, maybe move assets for more prospects/picks at the Trade Deadline, hopefully draft in the Top 5, and make some noise in Free Agency next summer.

On another note, that post from Pxcord with the interview from Toews reads like a guy who is 38 and about to retire, or already mentally retired. 19 hasnt skated all summer? Well guess what Johnny, EVERY other player is working year round on their game while you sit back and bask in past glory and your $10.5million annual salary. Toews seems like he's just here to collect a paycheck these days. I'm not expecting a miracle rejuvenation from the 30yr old who has lost his fire.
pdx2ord
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Portland, OR
Joined: 09.02.2015

Jul 19 @ 12:34 PM ET
Rick Nash would be like Patrick Sharp last year....a waste of a roster spot to an over-the-hill veteran. Play the kids, maybe move assets for more prospects/picks at the Trade Deadline, hopefully draft in the Top 5, and make some noise in Free Agency next summer.

On another note, that post from Pxcord with the interview from Toews reads like a guy who is 38 and about to retire, or already mentally retired. 19 hasnt skated all summer? Well guess what Johnny, EVERY other player is working year round on their game while you sit back and bask in past glory and your $10.5million annual salary. Toews seems like he's just here to collect a paycheck these days. I'm not expecting a miracle rejuvenation from the 30yr old who has lost his fire.

- EnzoD


Yeah, I was operating on the theory of a combination of fear of more injuries leading to lifetime issues and burnout as a reason for our Captain's decline in performance. After his statements and watching him last night, still feel that is a very possible underlying issue. As someone replied in the last blog, the fire seems to have left his belly.

To be fair, he seemed to be enjoying himself during the game, and it obviously wasn't a meaningful game, so proof is in the pudding of the regular season for him. We'll see.

ETA: I actually put the eye-hand coordination issues down to prior head trauma, and if that is true, who can blame him for wanting to avoid more of the same?
onehundredlevel
Joined: 10.27.2015

Jul 19 @ 12:36 PM ET
It would be a shame to deal Hossa contract to free up cap space....and then not use the damn cap space. And I know they need to sign the Cat and Schmaltz...but those are for future years...not this year. I don't see how signing Nash to a one year, $5million deal hurts us. If we suck, we can try to deal him at deadline. If we are good, we keep him for the playoffs. Then you just use his money next year to sign those guys to extensions.

As for trading for Faulk or others...my guess is you would have to shave off salary as well to keep that money for those future signings. So guys like AA, Murphy and Kruger would be the ones having to be dealt. I doubt that gets you Faulk unless you throw in a draft pick and a good minor leaguer (Fortin?).

I personally would like them to keep Fortin. I like his speed and would like to see him up at some point this year just to see exactly what he is. But only time will tell.
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