I do believe Chicago is and will move anismov his stats are horrible and he doesnt live up to the value and expectations of his contract. That's why he is now on the 4th line.

His numbers are a bit inflated. He got most of his points here in chicago when He was healthy playing with 2 dynamic wingers.
- Taylorst1

I agree with moving AA for cap space. I think we could take his cap money and get a better, younger 3C. I also agree with trading Krugs for the same reason.

Let's be realistic about trade potential and the cap.

1. Cap

A. $50MM today in seven guys - 19, 88, 2, 7, 20, 50, 15 - 5 NMCs, 1 L-NTC
B. $79.5MM is today's cap
C. Oil prices and Looney both crashing again
D. Let's be generous - cap goes to $82MM next year.
E. Leaves $32MM with no trades to sign 16 players - avg $2MM per guy
F. Who do the Hawks need/want to pay to keep?

2. Trades

A. Consent - No one with an NMC or NTC will go to a marginally better team with no chance to compete. So cross off ANY deal involving those guys with OTT, EDM, or any other bottom ten team.

B. Value back - Sometimes cap space is all one can get, but moving at least Saad and AA for example gets them $10.4MM. That is very helpful. Better than trading turd deal for turd deal, because that does not solve any problems.

C. Market value - Any meaningful UFA/RFA is going to cost about 30-50% more than they did like 5+ years ago. Adding one guy isn't going to be enough. But at $6MM+ per guy in that crowd, there is not a lot of room to add FAs.

D. Who are the buyers? - Teams that are terrible (consent issues), or teams that don't have enough space to sign the guys the Hawks want to move (playoff/Cup contenders).

Best not to dwell on deals that will never happen with bottom dweller teams that have cap space, or holding out for the moon when at least the cap space can be freed up.

Prospects are two years away to even know if they will stick.
- Return of the Roar

Also the page webpage continues to go to a black page and then back to Hockeybuzz over and over. I am currently using Chrome as my web browser. Any idea? It is annoying and making it difficult to write a post or read any posts.

Am I the only one who doesn't think Saad's cap hit is that insane? I think it's comparable around the league, and with the contracts continuing to rise, it's not bad. Yes... Panarin makes the same, this year. But we know he's not a $6M player. Saad fits that category to me. He may well be under performing, but I still think he fits the mold. He's a top 6. He hasn't been playing top 6, but that's because the Hawks have a complete fall off and you need to spread guys around to have competent lines.
- HawksHype

I'm with ya fwiw, he has intangibles, like playing D, backchecking
and is arguably the best PK option.

He still likes hitting posts/crossbars

I think you trade Saad because there are better options out there and we don't need offense help, we need defense help.
- Hawk4life

I'm fine trading him for top 4 help. However, it would make our forwards weaker on D, and our PK a lot worse.

Also the page webpage continues to go to a black page and then back to Hockeybuzz over and over. I am currently using Chrome as my web browser. Any idea? It is annoying and making it difficult to write a post or read any posts.
- Hawk4life

I had a ton of problems using Chrome. I finally switched to Firefox, and it's been much better.

No one can withstand so many hits. Hits will break you. (insert Ivan Drago pic).
- bhawks2241

Kesler has a huge contract and is too slow. Now if Bob Murray has determined it is time to move on from this player whom is on the down side of a career and he [Murray] is offering a prospect ot pick just to rid his team of Kesler......ok then I might listen. However we do not want a bad contract which has a lot of $ and term (emphasis "term.)"

Bowman has plenty of prospects plus just added Kokooek. There really is not a reasonable 0layer to add unless there is a corresponding player subtraction.

One subtraction .mentioned here is Hayden. He quite likely is never going to be more than a fourth line. But he sits at the right price even next season. I would consider Knott as his replacement so Bowman might take a look at this option.

Just for TC's homework assignment. Current Hawks that I'd want to trade.

Anisimov. He is a guy without a role on this team. Especially for his salary. Strome has replaced him. He isn't a good 3C. When you put AA with 3rd line players....you are gonna have a bad time. He was tried on wing with mixed results. He is way overpaid to be playing minimal minutes. Time to move this guy while he still has some value. I hope he doesn't stick it to the Hawks with his 10 team clause.

Kruger. He hasn't gotten enough traction with the new coach and I don't think he is in the plans going forward. He has a NTC with 7 team no trade list (hey...don't we have 7 teams in Canada?) so he should be movable since the Hawks could retain some of his salary for the rest of the year.

Kunitz. He is a popular answer, but his NMC means he only goes if he wants to.

There are a handful of 4th line guys and depth players in our system that could be included in trades. I don't think there are many untouchables and the Hawks shouldn't trade them all, but they shouldn't shy to move a couple guys to make room for the next group, more European signings, etc... I'm talking Perlini, Kampf, Hayden, Hillman, Tuulola, Louis, Johnson, Nilsson... I'm not saying move them all, but 2-3 of these parts could be moved in larger deals.

Kesler has a huge contract and is too slow. Now if Bob Murray has determined it is time to move on from this player whom is on the down side of a career and he
- jhawk59[Murray] is offering a prospect ot pick just to rid his team of Kesler......ok then I might listen. However we do not want a bad contract which has a lot of $ and term (emphasis "term.)"

Bowman has plenty of prospects plus just added Kokooek. There really is not a reasonable 0layer to add unless there is a corresponding player subtraction.

One subtraction .mentioned here is Hayden. He quite likely is never going to be more than a fourth line. But he sits at the right price even next season. I would consider Knott as his replacement so Bowman might take a look at this option.

Kesler has too many years left. He would still be getting $7M when we have to sign ADB and Strome. The only way it works is if we include a bad contract (I'm looking at you Seabrook). Something like Seabs and Saad for Kesler and Manson? Kesler's contract is up 2 years before Seabrook's, so it may help out our cap situation long term.

I'm fine trading him for top 4 help. However, it would make our forwards weaker on D, and our PK a lot worse.
- tvetter

But Saad is not worth a descent top four.
Also he is too young and valuable to move.

If you would surrender a good top four dman, you are not too smart. Top four dmen are not a commodity easily extracted.

Kesler has too many years left. He would still be getting $7M when we have to sign ADB and Strome. The only way it works is if we include a bad contract (I'm looking at you Seabrook). Something like Seabs and Saad for Kesler and Manson? Kesler's contract is up 2 years before Seabrook's, so it may help out our cap situation long term.
- tvetter

Also, Perlini, Kesler, Hayden could be a PITA 4th line.

Secondary thought, wonder if they would work something like Saad + (Gus maybe?, draft pick, guy on ELC, or not signed yet) for Nurse, Rieder, maybe Spooner as a flyer for a 3C the rest of the year into next
- Savetheembers33

Maybe think bigger in that what would make McDavid happy
Strome/Cat/Keith for Draisitl/Nurse Puljaarvi, it makes the man
CM happy and frees up cap space for Edm.

Go blockbuster send Murphy to Toronto Nylander to Edm and
Kappanen to Chicago

Everyone wins, Tor gets cap relief a RH D man, Chicago gets
depth forwards and Edm gets mentioned above bwtfdik

I think you trade Saad because there are better options out there and we don't need offense help, we need defense help.
- Hawk4life

Well, Saad is a very good defensive forward, and hasn't been scoring a lot. And who are the better options?

I completely agree. That's what chicago is missing is size and grit on the backend. His cap hit is 2.1 million and Gustafson is 1.5 or 1.8.
- Taylorst1

I do that in a heartbeat don't know if Colorado would straight up

Maybe think bigger in that what would make McDavid happy
Strome/Cat/Keith for Draisitl/Nurse Puljaarvi, it makes the man
CM happy and frees up cap space for Edm.

Go blockbuster send Murphy to Toronto Nylander to Edm and
Kappanen to Chicago

Everyone wins, Tor gets cap relief a RH D man, Chicago gets
depth forwards and Edm gets mentioned above bwtfdik
- gazza53

I thought part of Nylander signing was the promise he would not be traded

Personally Edmonton can rot as bottom feeding team they have had so many chance to turn it around and failed. Unless nurse or jesse is on the table then forget about it. Bowman can do better.

Well, Saad is a very good defensive forward, and hasn't been scoring a lot. And who are the better options?
- mohel

I don't think saad is going to get any better though. I think we traded him at his ceiling and acquired him at his ceiling. It's all downhill from here with him. Just because the norm is many offensive players hit their peak at a certain age doesn't mean Saad hasn't already peaked. Think of Jason Heyward of the Chicago Cubs, the Braves traded him to the Cardinals after he peaked, he hasn't replicated those power numbers since he was in his second year with the braves. Some guys just peak sooner and I think Saad Value is only going to go down. If I am Bowman I am searching high and low for a Top 4 defenseman, and I am talking someone young and under control cheaply. I am sure someone out there needs offense while a team has too much defense. I think a lot of what we have on D now are going to be fillers with Beaudin and Jokiharju and the other top D we have in the system get here. We will probably either part with Gustafson and Forsling, and probably trade Murphy down the road, but in about 2 years I see Seabrook and Keith being our 3rd line d pairing, and Jok and the others in the top 4.

Maybe think bigger in that what would make McDavid happy
Strome/Cat/Keith for Draisitl/Nurse Puljaarvi, it makes the man
CM happy and frees up cap space for Edm.

Go blockbuster send Murphy to Toronto Nylander to Edm and
Kappanen to Chicago

Everyone wins, Tor gets cap relief a RH D man, Chicago gets
depth forwards and Edm gets mentioned above bwtfdik
- gazza53

I could MAYBE see the Hawks and Oilers deal going down but I'd have a hard time seeing the Hawks trade Strome and Cat with seeing how well both players are panning out especially trading Keith too and then hoping that Nurse and Puljaarvi "figure it out".

Can't see the Hawks getting Kap for Murphy. No way Toronto trades both Kap and Nylander and the best they get is Murphy. They could get A LOT more like Paryako + for those two. As much as they need a RHD they're not gonna give away anyone to get it.

I thought part of Nylander signing was the promise he would not be traded
- LAHawk

Hmm I don't remember that being apart of the discussions after he signed. I remembered part of the Nylander's camps worries were that he would sign a deal and then be traded right after that, but I don't think there was any agreement that they couldn't trade him at all. They woulda fought for NTC if that were the case

But Saad is not worth a descent top four.
Also he is too young and valuable to move.

If you would surrender a good top four dman, you are not too smart. Top four dmen are not a commodity easily extracted.
- jhawk59

He is to the right team. What you find in value another team GM like Chiraelli may find a steal and trade us a top d. Didn't NJ and Edmonton do a Top 4 D for a top Forward a couple years ago? Same thing I think happened with Columbus or nashville or something

Kesler has a huge contract and is too slow. Now if Bob Murray has determined it is time to move on from this player whom is on the down side of a career and he
- jhawk59[Murray] is offering a prospect ot pick just to rid his team of Kesler......ok then I might listen. However we do not want a bad contract which has a lot of $ and term (emphasis "term.)"

Bowman has plenty of prospects plus just added Kokooek. There really is not a reasonable 0layer to add unless there is a corresponding player subtraction.

One subtraction .mentioned here is Hayden. He quite likely is never going to be more than a fourth line. But he sits at the right price even next season. I would consider Knott as his replacement so Bowman might take a look at this option.

Lol I wasn't advocating for Kesler. He is more than done.

I was referring to his quote about how relentlessly hitting the Hawks in the WCF would eventually lead to the Hawks wearing down and losing to the Ducks.

He said no human could withstand so many hits (or something to that effect).

I could MAYBE see the Hawks and Oilers deal going down but I'd have a hard time seeing the Hawks trade Strome and Cat with seeing how well both players are panning out especially trading Keith too and then hoping that Nurse and Puljaarvi "figure it out".

Can't see the Hawks getting Kap for Murphy. No way Toronto trades both Kap and Nylander and the best they get is Murphy. They could get A LOT more like Paryako + for those two. As much as they need a RHD they're not gonna give away anyone to get it.



Hmm I don't remember that being apart of the discussions after he signed. I remembered part of the Nylander's camps worries were that he would sign a deal and then be traded right after that, but I don't think there was any agreement that they couldn't trade him at all. They woulda fought for NTC if that were the case
- Savetheembers33

https://ca.sports.yahoo.c...m-nylander-181223873.html

Maybe think bigger in that what would make McDavid happy
Strome/Cat/Keith for Draisitl/Nurse Puljaarvi, it makes the man
CM happy and frees up cap space for Edm.

Go blockbuster send Murphy to Toronto Nylander to Edm and
Kappanen to Chicago

Everyone wins, Tor gets cap relief a RH D man, Chicago gets
depth forwards and Edm gets mentioned above bwtfdik
- gazza53

Not happening. You don't trade Cat and Strome when both are turning into top quality offensive forces. Especially when they are both playing so well together and are super young. In a couple years Keith and Seabrook cap hit will be middle of the road. They will be our 3rd line d pairing in 2 years. I don't see either getting traded no matter what. They are hawks4life. We don't need anymore reclamation projects. We need D help. The only guys I am trading is AA, Saad, Kruger, and Gustafson if I get the right deal. Gustafson is really good on offense and could be a force for another team that can hide him on special teams or use him in sporadic occasions but he's just not a good defenseman. Our 3rd pairing will be Keith and Seabrook and we can't hide Gustafson on our team when we don't have any defenseman who can play besides Joki and Murph. If we had 4 top quality defenseman on the backend we could shelter Gustafson to third pairing minutes and special teams, but we don't have that problem currently so you part with Gustafson if someone gives back something of value. And by value I mean something like a 1st rounder or a fringe defensive defenseman who doesn't put any points on the scoresheet like Hjarlmson but plays great defense. I think Gustafson has some value in the right scenario I just don't think with our terrible defense that we can hide his deficiencies to third pairing and strictly Special teams.

But Saad is not worth a descent top four.
Also he is too young and valuable to move.

If you would surrender a good top four dman, you are not too smart. Top four dmen are not a commodity easily extracted.
- jhawk59

I disagree and it sounds like hawks management does as well
Saad has lots of value also Chicago can trade him to any team .
Keith , Seabrook and anismov all have NMC or limited options

Not happening. You don't trade Cat and Strome when both are turning into top quality offensive forces. Especially when they are both playing so well together and are super young. In a couple years Keith and Seabrook cap hit will be middle of the road. They will be our 3rd line d pairing in 2 years. I don't see either getting traded no matter what. They are hawks4life. We don't need anymore reclamation projects. We need D help. The only guys I am trading is AA, Saad, Kruger, and Gustafson if I get the right deal. Gustafson is really good on offense and could be a force for another team that can hide him on special teams or use him in sporadic occasions but he's just not a good defenseman. Our 3rd pairing will be Keith and Seabrook and we can't hide Gustafson on our team when we don't have any defenseman who can play besides Joki and Murph. If we had 4 top quality defenseman on the backend we could shelter Gustafson to third pairing minutes and special teams, but we don't have that problem currently so you part with Gustafson if someone gives back something of value. And by value I mean something like a 1st rounder or a fringe defensive defenseman who doesn't put any points on the scoresheet like Hjarlmson but plays great defense. I think Gustafson has some value in the right scenario I just don't think with our terrible defense that we can hide his deficiencies to third pairing and strictly Special teams.
- Hawk4life

Drasaitli is a stud and He is young and signed long term, also He is better than strome.

Nurse is young

That's a deal Chicago could live with

Hayden is on the table to be traded . It's the right move he has been up here now since 2016 and his performance hasn't grown
- Taylorst1

How about assigning the kid a role? Think he'd be serviceable as a 4th line crasher and banger. Has never been shy to separate guys from the puck along the boards. Keep the expectations simple and stay out of the box. Be open to being a yapping instigator, so we can get back on the PP. Smart guy to teach.

Drasaitli is a stud and He is young and signed long term, also He is better than strome.

Nurse is young

That's a deal Chicago could live with

- Taylorst1

Kruger, Kunitz, AA and a 5th round draft pick for Draisaitl, and Nurse as a sweetener. Get er done Stan!