Cannot see how it could hurt to sign Rick Nash
for 1 year

Cannot see how it could hurt to sign Rick Nash
for 1 year
- Colbyboy

Pretty sure the ball is in Nash's court, not Stan's

Cannot see how it could hurt to sign Rick Nash
for 1 year
- Colbyboy

I don't see how it could help. I'd rather give the young guys a chance to see what they can do.

I don't see how it could help. I'd rather give the young guys a chance to see what they can do.
- DarthKane

This.

I would rather see them grow in the rock then thrown into the fire and lose confidence.

I would rather see them grow in the rock then thrown into the fire and lose confidence.
- dirt4949

I think it’s a better option than it had been under Dent. Like with Hayden and others last year, maybe they play up for a while and go back to work on some specific skills.

Hoping Hayden’s time there translated into him being ready this year but there’s no reason he can’t go back to RFD if he needs to.

I think it’s a better option than it had been under Dent. Like with Hayden and others last year, maybe they play up for a while and go back to work on some specific skills.

Hoping Hayden’s time there translated into him being ready this year but there’s no reason he can’t go back to RFD if he needs to.
- HawkintheD

Good perspective. A good example is Schmaltz who earned a spot in the 2016-17 lineup, got sent down for a small set of games to work on a few things, then got recalled and played strong there on out.

I see a similar scenario for Sikura, for instance, if he does happen to get cut. IMHO, he makes the Hawks, but if he doesn't, he'd likely be one of the last cuts if not the last cut and only spend a brief spell in Rockford to round out a few things. Or have the exact same timeline as Schmaltz.

Hillman could have a similar situation as well.

Good perspective. A good example is Schmaltz who earned a spot in the 2016-17 lineup, got sent down for a small set of games to work on a few things, then got recalled and played strong there on out.

I see a similar scenario for Sikura, for instance, if he does happen to get cut. IMHO, he makes the Hawks, but if he doesn't, he'd likely be one of the last cuts if not the last cut and only spend a brief spell in Rockford to round out a few things. Or have the exact same timeline as Schmaltz.

Hillman could have a similar situation as well.
- AEL_Fox

Schmaltz didn't learn anything in the AHL that he didn't already know, though, except that he never wanted to be in the AHL again - the demotion just put fire under his ass to focus on being more consistent in the NHL so he wasn't demoted again. So hockey-skill-wise he didn't learn a thing but it was a kick in the butt motivation to make sure he didn't go back. He pretty much says this and so did Teravainen. Dent was still in charge for both and was terrible so I believe them. I fully believe that a lot of the blame on lack of development with some players was due to him and those that have done well (Danault, for ex) were in spite of him.

Now, with Colliton seemingly much better for actually developing players (though we won't know for sure until more go through his system), I'm much more comfortable saying players could benefit from AHL time even if they're technically skilled enough to play in the NHL. Hayden, Highmore, Johnson, etc etc seem to be learning translatable skill vs the Pirri/Morin/McNeills of the past under Dent.

However, not all younger players need AHL time and it can sometimes be a bad thing to over expose them to the AHL. Luckily, I think the org cares more about the future and is willing to judge the prospects / young players based on where they individually need to be, not necessarily who will just make the NHL team better.

Schmaltz didn't learn anything in the AHL that he didn't already know, though, except that he never wanted to be in the AHL again - the demotion just put fire under his ass to focus on being more consistent in the NHL so he wasn't demoted again. So hockey-skill-wise he didn't learn a thing but it was a kick in the butt motivation to make sure he didn't go back. He pretty much says this and so did Teravainen. Dent was still in charge for both and was terrible so I believe them. I fully believe that a lot of the blame on lack of development with some players was due to him and those that have done well (Danault, for ex) were in spite of him.

Now, with Colliton seemingly much better for actually developing players (though we won't know for sure until more go through his system), I'm much more comfortable saying players could benefit from AHL time even if they're technically skilled enough to play in the NHL. Hayden, Highmore, Johnson, etc etc seem to be learning translatable skill vs the Pirri/Morin/McNeills of the past under Dent.

However, not all younger players need AHL time and it can sometimes be a bad thing to over expose them to the AHL. Luckily, I think the org cares more about the future and is willing to judge the prospects / young players based on where they individually need to be, not necessarily who will just make the NHL team better.
- L_B_R

Great insight. Couldn't agree more and learned a lot.

If all mr 33 does is start nonsense why isn’t he just banned?
- Abadseed

Why can't he dislike 88? I see alot of 19 hate and Q hate and Stan hate. I don't agree with the 88 hate but I don't agree with alot of yous either.

Is this a safe space alladusudden?

Mack on the Bears, White Sox developing some excitement at the end of this season. Ok Blackhawks, your move. Looking forward to the start of the season.

Mack on the Bears, White Sox developing some excitement at the end of this season. Ok Blackhawks, your move. Looking forward to the start of the season.
- kwolf68

Haha right! I'm waiting for that big trade still after what the Bears just did !

Why can't he dislike 88? I see alot of 19 hate and Q hate and Stan hate. I don't agree with the 88 hate but I don't agree with alot of yous either.

Is this a safe space alladusudden?
- hocktock

Don’t really understand what you tried saying but my point was if all he does was spew nonsense and jL answer is ignore him why not just ban him and be done with it.

Mack on the Bears, White Sox developing some excitement at the end of this season. Ok Blackhawks, your move. Looking forward to the start of the season.
- kwolf68

You forgot to mention that the Cubs are about to win the World Series.

You forgot to mention that the Cubs are about to win the World Series.
- tvetter

Anyone think mcego is fuming right now with the sox playing better cubs going the playoffs again and chance to win it again the bears stepping up and making a bold move and the hawks stuck in limbo and losing the popular vote that they held for so long. Its got to be eating away at him. Does anyone believe bowman is capable of pulling off a bold move? With his recent trade record probably not? Does a bold move need to happen IMO yes what that move is don't know but it would have to be getting a top 3 or 4 d man or 2nd line playmaking center or winger. One last does seem strange that there are still quite a lot of rfa's still not signed of significance.

Anyone think mcego is fuming right now with the sox playing better cubs going the playoffs again and chance to win it again the bears stepping up and making a bold move and the hawks


stuck in limbo and losing the popular vote that they held for so long. Its got to be eating away at him. Does anyone believe bowman is capable of pulling off a bold move? With his recent trade record probably not? Does a bold move need to happen IMO yes what that move is don't know but it would have to be getting a top 3 or 4 d man or 2nd line playmaking center or winger. One last does seem strange that there are still quite a lot of rfa's still not signed of significance.
- Scott1977

yes

Don’t really understand what you tried saying but my point was if all he does was spew nonsense and jL answer is ignore him why not just ban him and be done with it.
- Abadseed

Just so everyone is aware... I cannot personally ban anyone. I know some here may think that because it's the comment thread on my blog I can, but that is not the case.

I have reported numourous people on this site and they have been dealt with by HB's higher ups. Like it or not, that's the process here.

For the most part, I feel like we have a great group of smart individuals here which sparks great conversations daily.

If anyone ever has an issue with anyone specifically please feel free to send me a DM and I can speak to the HB bosses. My door is always open.

Great insight. Couldn't agree more and learned a lot.
- AEL_Fox

Wish he learned how to take a hit to make a play.

Just so everyone is aware... I cannot personally ban anyone. I know some here may think that because it's the comment thread on my blog I can, but that is not the case.

I have reported numourous people on this site and they have been dealt with by HB's higher ups. Like it or not, that's the process here.

For the most part, I feel like we have a great group of smart individuals here which sparks great conversations daily.

If anyone ever has an issue with anyone specifically please feel free to send me a DM and I can speak to the HB bosses. My door is always open.
- Justin Lowe

Jeff Glass attending the Flames camp on a PTO... another talent slipping through Stan’s inept fingers.

Jeff Glass attending the Flames camp on a PTO... another talent slipping through Stan’s inept fingers.
- DarthKane

Jeff Glass would’ve helped in the tank for Jack Hughes! C’mon Stan wtf!!

Wish he learned how to take a hit to make a play.
- vandymeer23

Ideally, yes. Yet, Schmaltz brings quite a bit to the table that makes him one of the more valuable players on the team. If he didn't offer much at all and avoided hits to make a play, then he wouldn't be worth having around. Thankfully, he's the former than the latter.

Teravainen is proving the same as well, albeit for the Canes now.

Ideally, yes. Yet, Schmaltz brings quite a bit to the table that makes him one of the more valuable players on the team. If he didn't offer much at all and avoided hits to make a play, then he wouldn't be worth having around. Thankfully, he's the former than the latter.

Teravainen is proving the same as well, albeit for the Canes now.
- AEL_Fox

Cut the kid some slack, last season was his first full season in the NHL, although he played a healthy amount of games the previous year. Schmaltz’s PPG jumped from .48 to .67 last year and he played a solid overall game. Is there room for improvement? Of course there is. Given what we’ve seen from Schmaltz is it realistic to expect improvement next season? Absolutely. The Hawks have several question marks on their roster next season, Schmaltz isn’t one of them.

Cut the kid some slack, last season was his first full season in the NHL, although he played a healthy amount of games the previous year. Schmaltz’s PPG jumped from .48 to .67 last year and he played a solid overall game. Is there room for improvement? Of course there is. Given what we’ve seen from Schmaltz is it realistic to expect improvement next season? Absolutely. The Hawks have several question marks on their roster next season, Schmaltz isn’t one of them.
- DarthKane

I probably wasn't as clear as I could've been in my last post since I definitely place Schmaltz in high regard on the team as an extremely valuable offensive weapon with some decent defense. Being a league leader in takeaways is the oft used example of something he is great at defensively.

Could he improve in certain areas? Sure, everyone has areas they could do better. However, if people are looking for Schmaltz to add a physical dimension to his game and add a ton of muscle, that's just not in the cards nor should it be if his teammates can complement him. (It was reported that he has been adding muscle this off season but he's not going to be a hulk out there this fall or ever.)

Each player brings different strengths and weaknesses to the ice. As long as the entire team isn't averse to taking hits to make plays, then it's not really that big of an issue to me that Schmaltz doesn't do that. He's an offensive force already and will only get better, IMHO.

I agree, Schmaltz isn't a question mark for the Hawks this season (his contract status, maybe, but not what he does on the ice). He plays his role. Everyone else needs to as well.

Cut the kid some slack, last season was his first full season in the NHL, although he played a healthy amount of games the previous year. Schmaltz’s PPG jumped from .48 to .67 last year and he played a solid overall game. Is there room for improvement? Of course there is. Given what we’ve seen from Schmaltz is it realistic to expect improvement next season? Absolutely. The Hawks have several question marks on their roster next season, Schmaltz isn’t one of them.
- DarthKane

Agreed...also why I would slightly overpay now on a 6 year deal (6M AAV). If he improves this season, it will cost us at least 6.5 AAV.