He likes to make stuff up, kinda like someone else we know.
- paulr

Oh....sources, eh?

Well if a lot of deadline and draft day transactions by Chicago THEN we might suppose that Bowman extends his tenure because you need enough time to evaluate the player movement. Perhaps some prospects start to show up....Carlsson, maybe the #1 2019.

If Carlsson sticks from day one, there could be a second dman prospect too say by xmas. ....Beaudin, Mitchell, Hillman. I say play both Forsling and Jokiharju half a season in all situations at Rockford then determine how their development looks.

You cannot give up on them; they do not fetch much. But they fester too longer at NHL level. They had a taste NHL.....now play a lot in Rockford. Need good coaching at AHL too.
- jhawk59

Did you mean Boqvist?

That sucks i was really hoping for a blog today, jk

Nothing like the basement flooding, good luck hope it wasn't finished
- BetweenTheDots

It's coming this afternoon. The clean-up crew just left. Lots of fans and dehumidifiers but I'll put some headphones in and finish it up!

Stay tuned.

Nice assessment of Saad. A 200 foot player good for 50+ points like Saad is around what Wise may project to if he hits potential.
- AEL_Fox

I get the frustration around Saad, because he is a 50 point player, and may not hit that mark for the 2nd straight year. But the bar should be set at 50 for him, not 80. If its set at 80, he will never hit it and he has no chance to succeed in our minds. Its unobtainable.

Oh....sources, eh?
- mohel

Yeah but actually going back to last season I bet if you asked Bowman in retrospect, did he figure to have a glut of NHL dmen - we won't say how quality rated - and he knew a few would need to be moved.

Gus could be next. But maybe not until next season.unless someone overpays at trade deadline.

At some point he went for a player to be named, which turned out to be himself.
- scottak

Reading this at work (an office environment) and laughed out loud. Coworker across the aisle gave me a look. Ah well. Whatever.

Sump pump is working... discharge line froze on me. #funstuff
- Justin Lowe

Frozen discharge line? Palm trees swaying in the warm breeze here in Burlington. But maybe that's because of the hot air BS coming down the QEW from the Toronto Maple Leaf press corps about who they are going to acquire at the TDL without giving up anything other than some used sticks.

Good luck on the clean up.

It would be fun to have the Kane-Panarin magic show come back to Chicago but I think that cap commitment to sign Panarin can probably better spent to improve the team. Kucherov is a (slightly) better player than Panarin and he just signed for $9.5M but the market may drive the price up above that. Even at the forward position there may be a better option for less money (Stone?) in terms of all around 200 foot play. But I think the bigger needs are a top pairing d-man and possibly goalie if Crawford is done.

Realistically the Hawks aren't going to be a Cup contender next season, especially with the current d-corps and a 19 year old Boqvist thrown in. The best case scenario is Joki, Boqvist, Beaudin and Mitchell get eased into the NHL and maybe in a few years they will develop into a top notch d-corps ... but it's unlikely it will be in the next couple seasons which is why the biggest need is a top d-man to anchor the defense. Now, I don't know who that top d-man is but I don't think it's Myers or Hamilton or a couple other names thrown around in potential trade rumors.

Interesting to note regarding Kubalik’s acquisition compared to Kane’s time in the same Swiss league back during the lockout-shortened season

Kubalik: 37 GP - 19 G 23 A (42 P) +10
Kane: 20 GP - 13 G 10 A (23 P) -7

Again, obviously not even close to comparing the two players at the NHL level, but this is a guy that is probably a good flyer to take on.

And considering the Hawks recent successes of bringing in guys from Europe (Panarin, Kempny, Kampf, Kahun, etc.) I think I trust the front office in possibly having picked up another diamond overseas. Not getting too far ahead of myself, but I really do like the way this organization has been accumulating talent over the last year. I think that we are much closer to contending than people believe. Only this time, the Hawks will have a pipeline to work with, rather than simply having to look for pieces externally to complete the roster. Hopefully the talent continues to matriculate through the system. For the amount of success the Hawks have had at the NHL level since 2010, they’ve done so with usually one of the worst farm systems in the NHL. Over the course of the past two seasons, I think they’ve now definitely become one of the best.

I have a feeling and its being reported that Chicago plans on making a lot of trades prior to the deadline.


Saad ,Hayden , Kunitz, anismov, Kruger, Keith, Seabrook , Gustafson all those names have been mentioned and IMO saad anismov and Keith will most likely be moved to clear a roster spot and cap space while building depth.
- Taylorst1

LOL! How is that a lot of trades? That's barely even a third of the roster. Let me know when Stan gets serious and hits double digits in the deadline deal department.

It's coming this afternoon. The clean-up crew just left. Lots of fans and dehumidifiers but I'll put some headphones in and finish it up!

Stay tuned.
- Justin Lowe

Drag. Hope nothing was damaged that can't be replaced. Still a hassle.

anything he does can not be evaluated until 30-40 games in next season...

he has a 10 year body work including the last 4 which have not produced much of anything in terms of winning or player development...
- bogiedoc

2015?

Interesting to note regarding Kubalik’s acquisition compared to Kane’s time in the same Swiss league back during the lockout-shortened season

Kubalik: 37 GP - 19 G 23 A (42 P) +10
Kane: 20 GP - 13 G 10 A (23 P) -7

Again, obviously not even close to comparing the two players at the NHL level, but this is a guy that is probably a good flyer to take on.

And considering the Hawks recent successes of bringing in guys from Europe (Panarin, Kempny, Kampf, Kahun, etc.) I think I trust the front office in possibly having picked up another diamond overseas. Not getting too far ahead of myself, but I really do like the way this organization has been accumulating talent over the last year. I think that we are much closer to contending than people believe. Only this time, the Hawks will have a pipeline to work with, rather than simply having to look for pieces externally to complete the roster. Hopefully the talent continues to matriculate through the system. For the amount of success the Hawks have had at the NHL level since 2010, they’ve done so with usually one of the worst farm systems in the NHL. Over the course of the past two seasons, I think they’ve now definitely become one of the best.
- TommyHawk

I watched video of Kubalik this morning, and he is excellent at drawing defenders to him along the side wall in the offensive zone, and has the vision and playmaking ability to find guys in open spots all over the ice.

He also finds a way to get himself open at the right hash for one-timers and has a good shot.

Not sure what his defensive game is like, but I like that they took a chance on a guy for a low cost.

Has that ever happened in any sport? That would be amazing.... and probably spark an investigation into collusion. But I want someone to be traded for themselves.
- HawksHype

Its happen a couple of times in hockey.

This is such an ignorant comment..
- RedRevenge

Give it time.

LOL! How is that a lot of trades? That's barely even a third of the roster. Let me know when Stan gets serious and hits double digits in the deadline deal department.
- HawkintheD

By game one of next season Stan better have 18 new players in the lineup. During this process he needs to obrain 5+ 1st round picks near the top of the draft. If not....off with his head.

Hey team - FYI ... my blog today will be delayed. My basement flooded and dealing with the clean up.

Just wanted to keep you all posted.
- Justin Lowe

Well, that definitely sucks. Hope the damage isn't too bad.

Where?
- mohel

The voices, man. The voices.

2015?
- Elbows15

Everyone knows those were all Dale's guys.

#stanbumman

Lol
Stan has to be the dumbest GM ever in hockey history to trade a 80 point plus guy forma 50 point at best dud


I'd really like to see panarin back in chicago playing with kane
- Taylorst1

Did Saad steal your girlfriend? Why the constant Saad hate?

Not sure what his defensive game is like, but I like that they took a chance on a guy for a low cost.
- Hawks_49

That is the issue with Kubalik. He is a goal scorer, finisher, has great shot and knack for being in the right place. But he was the last cut from Czech national team at WC twice, with the reasoning being that he is not good enough to be in Top 6 and his talents are wasted in Bottom 6. He went to Ufa in KHL last year, but was unable to crack the lineup because of the foreign players limit (5), didn't dress for a single game and returned to Czech league. More than once he was not put in a position to suceed and when he has been, he delivered. In CZ, in NLA, in national team eventually. I have no idea if he is going to be useful in NHL or not, especially after I thought Jan Kovar's skills on the powerplay will bear him success and look how that turned up. I don't expect much, but he is worth the gamble on 5th rounder, absolutely.

Btw his older brother Tomas played briefly for Columbus.

Frozen discharge line? Palm trees swaying in the warm breeze here in Burlington. But maybe that's because of the hot air BS coming down the QEW from the Toronto Maple Leaf press corps about who they are going to acquire at the TDL without giving up anything other than some used sticks.

Good luck on the clean up.
- RickJ

Kinda like what too many here are suggesting.

It's coming this afternoon. The clean-up crew just left. Lots of fans and dehumidifiers but I'll put some headphones in and finish it up!

Stay tuned.
- Justin Lowe

No worries. Take care of things at home 1st.

The inmates are running the asylum just fine right now. Hawks now own Malkin, 5 3rd round picks and the rights to a Bulgarian rover (they play 6 skaters there).

Maybe too much criticism of his skating is reported.

I have listened much more than watched a lot of the games last year and this season as well. Troy and Wideman (radio)are very good. Bodin between periods is no dumb non hockey voice. But I will reserve judgment on Murphy skating. For now I am going to believe you are probably correct with your assessment...still I plan to watch Murphy closely hereafter
- jhawk59

I think he is limited in his ability to turn and change direction but he is a big kid that is usually the case. a 6'4" guy is always going to have trouble with a speedy 5'11" forward unless he is in a good position. His length and position should make up for it. Force faster players to the outside. Overall I think he is a good skater for his size. Very smooth. Taller guys always look weird skating. He skates well enough to be able to keep up once he forces a forward to the outside.

No worries. Take care of things at home 1st.

The inmates are running the asylum just fine right now. Hawks now own Malkin, 5 3rd round picks and the rights to a Bulgarian rover (they play 6 skaters there).
- Rota's Rooter

I thought it was McDavid and Malkin? For the rights to Runblad, Rostislav Olesz, Drew LeBlanc and 2 7th rounders.