The 2nd period of game #8 of the 2018/19 regular season will forever be remembered as the beginning of the Great Tank

While a generally accepted explanation (excuse), there are exceptions to that. Take a look at Tampa Bay's roster and look at where Kucherov, Alex Killorn, Brayden Point, Vasilevskiy, Cedric Paquette and Anthony Cirelli were taken in their draft years. That is some serious good work by Yzerman and his scouts.

And how about Sebastian Aho (35), Miles Wood (100), Arvidsson (112) to name a few more.

By comparison, the Hawks have drafted quite poorly thru their great success years and have not so much in the pipeline now.
- RickJ

We gave up picks and prospects for immediate help for our cups. Recently, past 2-3 years, (debatable) we have been drafting well. Tampa might have good players and some cost control, but 0 cups.

- DarthKane

Add Joki to the list. He isn't showing hall of fame play at age 19. 8 games into his rookie campaign and not hall of fame worthy!!!! Trade him!

Guess we forget how much Duncan Keith sucked his first few years....

Actually the more I think about it, it’s 11:00 central.
- walleyeb1

You're right, 11 central, 12 eastern. Every gm needs to keep their grubby paws off of Forsberg.

- DarthKane

I am a fan of blowing it up.

I doubt they will.....but they should.

Hopefully at the deadline Bowman can move AA, Murphy, and Kunitz to name a few.

We gave up picks and prospects for immediate help for our cups. Recently, past 2-3 years, (debatable) we have been drafting well. Tampa might have good players and some cost control, but 0 cups.
- I Am The Breadman

In response to Chicago Hope's post, the point was that there are some outstanding players that are available well past the first round in many draft years.

No shame last night - they were playing a top cup contender.
- Garn.

I'd say giving up a record 33 shots in a period is cause for shame -- wouldn't you?

Gus is good? He makes 3-4 incredibly bad turn overs per game. Now, they may not all be as bad as the one early in the first period in Columbus, when he threw a blind, weak backhand defensive zone pass into the slot, right on to the stick of a Blue Jacket. CC made the save, but that's something guys in Pee Wee and Bantam do.

He's at best a 6-7.

In response to Chicago Hope's post, the point was that there are some outstanding players that are available well past the first round in many draft years.
- RickJ

It's a total crap shoot, developing, and the drive in players that get passed up until the last round, etc. I wonder if there are studies on kids drafted, how they turn out, when or why they do or don't?I'd be curious to know.

This isn't directed at you, but...

At the beginning of the season people were excited about Schmaltz and calling for Stan to lock him him long term (with a few exceptions). Now 8 games in he has 6 points, which is above his PPG from last year, and now the Hawks should give up on him? Maybe #8 is a better winger than centre, there's no issue with that. Schmaltz may not be the must physical forward but so what, that's not his role. Schmaltz is still developing and needs to improve in some aspects of his game (i.e. face-offs and shooting more), but he has top 6 talent.

Sometimes teams need to take a chance on a player and lock him up long term early in their career to get a break on the cap hit. Look at Josi and Klingberg as examples. For me, I would take a chance on Schmaltz's long term potential.
- DarthKane

This is a very good point. My issue is, however, do you want to take a chance by giving him a 7x6 contract? I wouldn't, not with what I've seen.

If the team is willing to go 'all in' on Schmaltz then they need to 'help' him with some linemates that can do the things that he can't/won't, like winning a faceoff, fighting for pucks and getting dirty. Maybe he can eventually learn those skills and maybe he won't. Is that a risk your willing to take for 7 mil a year?

While a generally accepted explanation (excuse), there are exceptions to that. Take a look at Tampa Bay's roster and look at where Kucherov, Alex Killorn, Brayden Point, Vasilevskiy, Cedric Paquette and Anthony Cirelli were taken in their draft years. That is some serious good work by Yzerman and his scouts.

And how about Sebastian Aho (35), Miles Wood (100), Arvidsson (112) to name a few more.

By comparison, the Hawks have drafted quite poorly thru their great success years and have not so much in the pipeline now.
- RickJ

Arvidsoon was also at one of our prospect camps I believe. he was not drafted in at least 1 of his years eligible. we got a good look at him and then did not draft him.

Gustav Forsling assigned to Rockford.

He's back before schedule and heading there to get some games in I heard.

That is, until the Hawks can figure out who their top 7 defencemen are... a trade may be coming.

Wow, more idiots on here calling for Schmaltz's head.

Newsflash: Schmaltz is a young player still on his ELC while this team struggles through more cap issues. He had as many points as Toews last year, led the team in takeaways, and has great qualities for a young player (speed, defensive responsibility, great passing).

If your biggest issue is you're bad at faceoffs... you're likely a good player. Schmaltz could shoot more and be more physical, but he's still one of the most dynamic 'new NHL' guys we have on the team.

Folks calling for a trade of one of our top young players (Panarin, Saad, Terravainen anyone?)... you are hilariously stupid.
- ObeseOprah

So we wait until he has no trade value, got it.

Gustav Forsling assigned to Rockford.

He's back before schedule and heading there to get some games in I heard.

That is, until the Hawks can figure out who their top 7 defencemen are... a trade may be coming.
- Justin Lowe

Stan said in an interview that he'll likely look to make a move once all the d-men are healthy. Which makes total sense.

Forsling and Murphy may not be superstars but they are better than Rutta, Davidson, Gustafsson and Manning. Once healthy the Hawks D will be much improved. I would Keep Gus and trade/waive two of Rutta, Davidson and Manning.

Gus may not be a stud on defense, but the team should keep him as an offensive minded 3rd pairing.

Gustav Forsling assigned to Rockford.

He's back before schedule and heading there to get some games in I heard.

That is, until the Hawks can figure out who their top 7 defencemen are... a trade may be coming.
- Justin Lowe

Scott Powers seems to think he's staying down there for now and going to have to really play well to steal a spot or wait for an injury... Steal a spot? Manning, Rutta and Davidson shouldn't even sniff the ice!

But but but but he doesn't hit, he's too small and he's made a few mistakes. May as well trade Schmaltz and Boqvist (another smurf who won't be physical) for a big, tough player .... I hear Loooooooocchhhh is available
- paulr

Well i don't know anything about Boqvist, but if he doesn't play with any courage than it was a bad draft pick. Don't want hits i want courage from Schmaltz which are 2 entirely different things, but unfortunately many of you throw the neanderthal card out for the sake of argument which is crap

Stan said in an interview that he'll likely look to make a move once all the d-men are healthy. Which makes total sense.

Forsling and Murphy may not be superstars but they are better than Rutta, Davidson, Gustafsson and Manning. Once healthy the Hawks D will be much improved. I would Keep Gus and trade/waive two of Rutta, Davidson and Manning.

Gus may not be a stud on defense, but the team should keep him as an offensive minded 3rd pairing.
- DarthKane

Keith Joki
Forsling Murphy
Gus Seabrook

Stan said in an interview that he'll likely look to make a move once all the d-men are healthy. Which makes total sense.

Forsling and Murphy may not be superstars but they are better than Rutta, Davidson, Gustafsson and Manning. Once healthy the Hawks D will be much improved. I would Keep Gus and trade/waive two of Rutta, Davidson and Manning.

Gus may not be a stud on defense, but the team should keep him as an offensive minded 3rd pairing.
- DarthKane

thats the good news..sure as hell can't get worse: a team with 5 6-7 dman and a 19 year old rookie is deep poop...

So we wait until he has no trade value, got it.
- BetweenTheDots

If you think that Schmaltz has no trade value, just get off the boards. We have enough crap flying around here from know-nothing fans ready to unleash a lifetime's worth of frustration out on one player (Last week it was Saad, this week it's Schmaltz, next week it'll be Keith or Kane).

Nick Schmaltz is one of the few 'future' players of the Hawks, where you can say 'in five years who will be a big time player for the team?'. He's our only 1st round forward of the last ten years on the team right now. He's still on his ELC and is in his second full year in the league. He tied Toews in points in his first full season, and led the team in takeaways. There's 30 other teams ready and willing to take us to the cleaners if we decide he 'doesn't fit the mold' of what the team is.

Gustav Forsling assigned to Rockford.

He's back before schedule and heading there to get some games in I heard.

That is, until the Hawks can figure out who their top 7 defencemen are... a trade may be coming.
- Justin Lowe

Just for picks you think? Cap space as well as free roster spot are implied.

How did we get to this place? I can't imagine that simply losing two players turns our team into a complete dumpster fire defensively. How did a system that worked so well defensively (shot suppression in particular) turn so bad? Has the system changed? Are these new players really that bad?

I'm asking on a technical level since I can't personally pinpoint if anything is actually different in their structure or if the players are simply not executing.

While I'm at it, what the heck to the coaches see in the "push-em-back" entry that they love so much? It works once or twice per game when they actually use it with speed, but they have this recurring (and terrible) habit of kind of coasting up, trying to find an opening, get caught up on the wall and the puck kicks back out or is going the other way shorthanded.

If you think that Schmaltz has no trade value, just get off the boards. We have enough crap flying around here from know-nothing fans ready to unleash a lifetime's worth of frustration out on one player (Last week it was Saad, this week it's Schmaltz, next week it'll be Keith or Kane).

Nick Schmaltz is one of the few 'future' players of the Hawks, where you can say 'in five years who will be a big time player for the team?'. He's our only 1st round forward of the last ten years on the team right now. He's still on his ELC and is in his second full year in the league. He tied Toews in points in his first full season, and led the team in takeaways. There's 30 other teams ready and willing to take us to the cleaners if we decide he 'doesn't fit the mold' of what the team is.
- ObeseOprah

Ill ignore the snarky first paragraph since you neither know me nor what I know about hockey.

None of the reasons you give for why Schmaltz has value are good enough reasons to give him a 7 year x too much per year deal. And THIS is my point. Still not enough sample size or game count to know what this kid has or could be.

The worst reason of all may be he is the only first round forward in the last ten years on the team. Not only because that is not a reason to keep him, but it is a commentary on the draft skills of the FO.

Jury is still out from where I sit. Still need to see more from him to know where/if he fits long term.

If you think that Schmaltz has no trade value, just get off the boards. We have enough crap flying around here from know-nothing fans ready to unleash a lifetime's worth of frustration out on one player (Last week it was Saad, this week it's Schmaltz, next week it'll be Keith or Kane).

Nick Schmaltz is one of the few 'future' players of the Hawks, where you can say 'in five years who will be a big time player for the team?'. He's our only 1st round forward of the last ten years on the team right now. He's still on his ELC and is in his second full year in the league. He tied Toews in points in his first full season, and led the team in takeaways. There's 30 other teams ready and willing to take us to the cleaners if we decide he 'doesn't fit the mold' of what the team is.
- ObeseOprah

I didn't say he didn't have trade value, his value is at its highest right now. It doesn't matter where he was drafted, who (frank)ing cares, many first round picks that don't even make the NHL. I may be wrong, you think im completely wrong, but i bet as Kanes production drops so will Schmaltz, and really this is a debate board so if you don't like what i have to say don't (frank)ing read it. I mean if you know everything then why are you even here. Entitled people i tell ya.

Just a hypothetical - would you rather have Panarin at $9M or Schmaltz at $6M?

Now, Panarin is probably going to get more than $9M, but just for the sake of argument - let's say Columbus and the Hawks work out a deal where Columbus signs Panarin for $9M with the arrangement that he gets traded to the Hawks for Schmaltz.

What do you think? Reunite Panarin-Anisimov-Kane to go along with DCat-Toews-Kahun.