Justin Lowe: Off-Season Checklist – Goaltending & Defence
Ahhh… every Blackhawks fan favourite off-season topic, "we need to find a top 4 dman."

I can't argue one bit; I've been in that same boat and will address some of this below.

This is the Goaltending and Defence summer to-do list for the Blackhawks from MY perspective. Please note, this could be very different than what Mr. Stan Bowman will do.

First, let's start with the last line of defence, the goalie... then we will move to the defence.

First!

Why not just try to trade Gus and/or Forsling for a few bottom 6 roleplayers/PKers? Someone may see the value in Gus and overlook the defensive deficiencies?!

Well done! Until you got to the pairings.

I’ve never liked having Keith paired with Gustafsson. Keith’s best play was with a stable, solid, defensive minded partner. That was usually Seabrook, but he can’t play 1st pair any more. Find a stable defensive minded partner for him, and Keith will be much better.

And Gus, if he stays, can play sheltered, 3rd pair minutes, and be a PP specialist.

If Gus is playing more than 20 minutes a night, you’ll have the same dumpster fire as this year.

How much do the Hawks really want to invest in the blueline when several young dmen are on the way? I know the "D" was awful this past year, but no way in hell do I go any longer than 3 years for a defenseman unless they are a young defenseman like Trouba. Not saying I necessarily want him, but he is the type of defenseman that will probably still be here when the "D" prospects are playing regularly in the NHL. A veteran defenseman does me know no good if they are signed here for a long term contract. We already have one long term contract that is not going away anytime soon, we definitely do not need 2 bogging down the blueline in Chicago when help at that position is definitely on the way!!

Why not just try to trade Gus and/or Forsling for a few bottom 6 roleplayers/PKers? Someone may see the value in Gus and overlook the defensive deficiencies?!
- timmer2686

I'm with ya... I've debated trading Gustafsson many times in from my armchair, but I just can't see them doing it unless they deem Boqvist is ready for next year or they have another offensive weapon to replace him with.

I feel that Boqvist and Gustafsson cannot exist on the same team. It hurts my brain and frankly it makes this team a trainwreck defensively.

So, the question is, if Boqvist stays another year in London and you trade Gustafsson... who fills in for him on the PP? You could make an argument that Jokiharju could.

I would say you definitely don't trade him for bottom 6ers or role players. If you trade Gustafsson, it better be worth it because 60-point dman don't grow on trees.

Well done! Until you got to the pairings.

I’ve never liked having Keith paired with Gustafsson. Keith’s best play was with a stable, solid, defensive minded partner. That was usually Seabrook, but he can’t play 1st pair any more. Find a stable defensive minded partner for him, and Keith will be much better.

And Gus, if he stays, can play sheltered, 3rd pair minutes, and be a PP specialist.

If Gus is playing more than 20 minutes a night, you’ll have the same dumpster fire as this year.
- scottak

Don't read too much into the pairings as they will change / I'm not the coach.

I am a bit torn though on them because I actually believe Keith IS the stable, solid partner for Gustafsson. It's when he played his best all season.

Gustafsson on the right-side isn't ideal, but what Gus needs is a partner who is defensively minded and one that is FAST. Someone who can get back to cover his butt. Keith was doing an admirable job and oddly was putting up points himself.

I'm with you though... there's some room for debate amongst the pairings.

Have definitely been for getting McNabb from Vegas. He played top 4 minutes at times with the Kings also paired with Doughty., they just had to choose between Forbort and McNabb as their 4th protected defenseman.

Watching the Peg/Blues game last night, would love the Hawks to get any one of Lowry, Tanev, or Copp. That line was dominant last night.

I won’t get into all my delusional armchair trade requests, but here’s a few names I would be interested in:

Trade for RFA Esa Lindell from Dallas. He’s a big LHD Fin who’s more stay at home and plays big minutes and PK. Would be a good pair & mentor for Joki.

LHD Robert Hagg from Philly who had close to 160 blocks and 250 hits. Would be a solid 3rd pairing. Reminds me sort of Hammer or a more mobile Brent Sopel.

If we’re inclined to move the 3rd overall pick in a package with Gustafson (and other assets); for LHD Provorov (offensively gifted but better D than Gus) & C Morgan Frost (or C Nolan Patrick if they would even entertain)

Dunno going McNabb for both SIKURA and FORSLING....let them have time to develop or trade FORSLING but both...for McNabb?

Have definitely been for getting McNabb from Vegas. He played top 4 minutes at times with the Kings also paired with Doughty., they just had to choose between Forbort and McNabb as their 4th protected defenseman.

Watching the Peg/Blues game last night, would love the Hawks to get any one of Lowry, Tanev, or Copp. That line was dominant last night.
- LAHawk

I’m a huge Lowry fan...would love him as our 3C. 6’5” who hits and is 55% at face offs 👍🏻

Nice blog today, TC. I agree with what you proposed as the strategy for goalies: Crawford + Delia/Forsberg + veteran insurance policy (most likely Ward).

If Ward is retained and Crawford is healthy, then the minor league goalies for the Hogs and Fuel are Delia, Forsberg, Lankinen, and Tomkins. Gravel is still only 18 so he should stay in juniors, IMO, unless he is lights out in camps and/or Forsberg decides to bolt elsewhere.

If Ward is gone, then I like the goalie options you listed. I would consider Kinkaid and Pickard, too.

Good blog Justin. Regarding free agent signings I would think Chiarot would be the most reasonably priced free agent signing at 3x3M ? He's young and cheap.a better investment than some of these 30+ year olds that will command more money.

AlsoI hope to see one of those trades work out to bring in a cheaper 2nd defenseman. Either of these two could be exposed in the Seattle draft, making way for a prospect in a couple of years.

If 2 D are obtained this summer. Dahlstrom would play in Rockford and Seabs can sit on the 2nd of back to backs.

Definitely a lot of options and opportunities for Bowman this summer.

Justin....

Biggest question that needs answering is D zone coverage. Does JC stay with his man coverage or go to a zone scheme. Won't matter who is on the ice if they attempt to run that comedy of errors scheme again. How bout a Barry Trotz style system?

I'm with ya... I've debated trading Gustafsson many times in from my armchair, but I just can't see them doing it unless they deem Boqvist is ready for next year or they have another offensive weapon to replace him with.

I feel that Boqvist and Gustafsson cannot exist on the same team. It hurts my brain and frankly it makes this team a trainwreck defensively.

So, the question is, if Boqvist stays another year in London and you trade Gustafsson... who fills in for him on the PP? You could make an argument that Jokiharju could.

I would say you definitely don't trade him for bottom 6ers or role players. If you trade Gustafsson, it better be worth it because 60-point dman don't grow on trees.
- Justin Lowe

Yup, we’ll have plenty of time for pairing discussions during camp. Be well!

Justin....

Biggest question that needs answering is D zone coverage. Does JC stay with his man coverage or go to a zone scheme. Won't matter who is on the ice if they attempt to run that comedy of errors scheme again. How bout a Barry Trotz style system?


- z1990z

Hawks don't have the players to play a Trotz style system, in Nashville, Washington, and now in NY, he had much bigger players, and his teams play a heavy game.

I really don’t get why a lot a people on hear want to trade Gus.We finally have a qb on the pp.Plus he ended up with 60 points.And when paired with Keith,his plus minus when up big time.So let’s trade him.

I really don’t get why a lot a people on hear want to trade Gus.We finally have a qb on the pp.Plus he ended up with 60 points.And when paired with Keith,his plus minus when up big time.So let’s trade him.
- Tatoo

That's how we roll, just when you get good we run you out of town.

Powers reporting Mitchell going back to Denver. Drafting NCAA players introduces that element of risk.

I would rather have Forsberg then Ward at 2 mil he has been better and has a much higher celling in that he could be .920 guy Ward is .90 when he is good which is terrible.

I like Koeke more then forsling because he is faster and more physical. assuming both Gus and Joki are playing having forsling and keith Murphy and seabs is you have no one that is willing to hit and have the speed to play the new NHL pace.

Also when Carolina buys out darling I sign him to a 3 year league min deal. Let him work his way back from the last 2 years in Chicago and Rockford. if he makes it back he is cheap backup for delia so we can resign cat and strome. other wise bury him.

I would look to sign a UFA forward and trade for a D with your depth. Guys I would be open to moving are AA, SAAD (for a good D) Forsling, hayden, Sikura, GUS and keith (depending on the return) hard to have 2 slowing D on the same team if you really think you wan to go deep plus he had a small bounce back year and think he will never have more value. Gus I Like but I'm just not going to pay him 5 mil per year and on a cash strapped team could get you a Plus return. There are 4-5 teams that have a small wondow and Gus would be a huge upgrade for them. We would need the worlds to align for Gus to be the difference between a CUP but still think we can be a playoff team.

I really don’t get why a lot a people on hear want to trade Gus.We finally have a qb on the pp.Plus he ended up with 60 points.And when paired with Keith,his plus minus when up big time.So let’s trade him.
- Tatoo

It truly is mind-boggling. I’ve been refraining from responding to every single ‘trade Gus’ post because I’d be responding to dozens and dozens and dozens of posts and I simply don’t have the willpower to argue anymore.

The best posts are the ones people shopping him for mid-round draft picks or bottom-six skaters. It’s truly comical.

Without Gus and the fresh breath of air that was our PP in the second half of the year, this team would have been fighting with the true bottom of the barrel teams this season.

If you don’t want Bo and Gus to play together? Fine, I understand that POV and respect it. But if you’re trading him for the sake of trading him because you feel you might have some sort of logjam or you don’t want to pay him next season, then that is incredibly shortsighted and illogical.

27-year old d-man who just finished up his first FULL season and doesn’t even have TWO full seasons under his belt, is coming off a 60 point campaign, and is the reason your special teams wasn’t as abysmal as it has been for the good part of the past decade, and fans want him gone as if he’s expendable trash.

If Gus is traded, and this team doesn’t acquire a VIABLE top-4 d-man (and don’t make me laugh by saying 20-year-old Joker is that), this defense is leaps and bounds worse than they were this past season, and we won’t be any better than we were this past season.

Gus, for at least another year, is a keeper. If he improves his defense even slightly, he’s worth the contract extension he will soon be receiving.

Hmmm...Mitchell....play for a team:

1. Second year in a row in last place
2. Second worst goals against in the NHL
3. First full year 33 year old rookie NHL coach
4. 1900 defensemen vying for one open roster spot

Diploma and UFA thank you. Not a hard decision to make.

Just wanted your thoughts on a trade proposal. Edm is a team that appears to have a need at forward and the Hawks seem to have an abundance of forwards and a need to improve their defense. So here I go: To EDM: Anisimov, Saad, Caggiula, Perlini, Murphy, Forsling & Gustaffson; To Hawks: Nugent-Hopkins, Lucic, Nurse and Klefbom. Other minor pieces may have to be included to make it work but its a strong start. Doesn't seem to be a reality but it helps both teams with their needs and the dollars work out even.

Just wanted your thoughts on a trade proposal. Edm is a team that appears to have a need at forward and the Hawks seem to have an abundance of forwards and a need to improve their defense. So here I go: To EDM: Anisimov, Saad, Caggiula, Perlini, Murphy, Forsling & Gustaffson; To Hawks: Nugent-Hopkins, Lucic, Nurse and Klefbom. Other minor pieces may have to be included to make it work but its a strong start. Doesn't seem to be a reality but it helps both teams with their needs and the dollars work out even.
- Bel4-30

No way, another boat anchor contract in Lucic, Saad is greater than RNH, and Nurse and Klefborn although nice players are not dominant enough for the Hawks to give up that much.

Well done! Until you got to the pairings.

I’ve never liked having Keith paired with Gustafsson. Keith’s best play was with a stable, solid, defensive minded partner. That was usually Seabrook, but he can’t play 1st pair any more. Find a stable defensive minded partner for him, and Keith will be much better.

And Gus, if he stays, can play sheltered, 3rd pair minutes, and be a PP specialist.

If Gus is playing more than 20 minutes a night, you’ll have the same dumpster fire as this year.
- scottak

If Gustafsson can improve his defense, even just a little bit, then I'm fine giving him top 4 minutes. Otherwise, yes, 3rd pair ES time and all the PP shifts he can handle.