He is too tall for Stan's plan.
- riozzo

The kid can put the puck in the net. That much is for sure. He scores from all over too.
If the Hawks didn't have Dinky, I would be okay with Caufield.

ICYMI, my guy is Turcotte.

They aren't moving Tuch. They will move other spare parts long before him. Unless, of course an offer wows them and i don't think the Hawks are in a position to WOW another team.

McNabb is okay at that price. He would be good to pair with Murphy. There are some parts of his game I don't like so much. He doesn't move the puck all that great. Meaning he doesn't make quick decision with the puck. I would still take him, tho.
- Elbows15

You would think they wouldn't move Tuch, but they have to move some significant salary (even if they unload Clackson's cap hit) to be able to fill out their 23 man roster.

You would think they wouldn't move Tuch, but they have to move some significant salary (even if they unload Clackson's cap hit) to be able to fill out their 23 man roster.
- LAHawk

They are going to have to move a few somebodies. However, they just signed Tuch to that extension during this season. Maybe acquiring Stone and signing him changed it, but I think there are other players they can move before Tuch. Guys with his size, shot, speed and consistent effort are hard to find. Add in his age and I think it would take a huge offer to get them to move him. It would have to be NHL ready prospects and picks.

For those keeping track, Anisimov is also playing in the World Championships. Adding on to Tyler's list:

USA - Kane and DeBrincat
FIN - Jokiharju and Lankinen
SWE - Gustafsson and Kruger
RUS - Anisimov

When all was lost or seem to be .I continued to hope this team would make the playoff draft be dammed .The reason is there are only so many tomorrows ,and you have to grab today and make the best of it . Also anything can happen in a 7 game series as we see today .
Goaltending is concerned I would not be surprised to see Forsberg give the team the big middle finger ,and who can blame him the way he has been mishandled .Maybe with Q being gone he may rethink it . Otherwise the HAWKS should be checking out some of the young back ups out their as FA targets ,finding the next Kudoben would be idea .
As for the draft it Cousins for me right now ,any kid coming out of the Yukon at 14 to play is the kid for me . There is still a lot of time to figure that out .My early favorite is Cousins . .FA wonder if the HAWKS could look at a kid like Sam Bennett .

They are going to have to move a few somebodies. However, they just signed Tuch to that extension during this season. Maybe acquiring Stone and signing him changed it, but I think there are other players they can move before Tuch. Guys with his size, shot, speed and consistent effort are hard to find. Add in his age and I think it would take a huge offer to get them to move him. It would have to be NHL ready prospects and picks.
- Elbows15

I would take Eakin also instead of Tuch at $3.8 mil. Smith and Marsicheault both have NTC's, so they are probably not moving.

I would take Eakin also instead of Tuch at $3.8 mil. Smith and Marsicheault both have NTC's, so they are probably not moving.
- LAHawk

Vegas may be more willing to move him. On a side note, Evan Barratt returning to Penn State for another year! So this may actually make some sense.

More on Barratt, credit Scott Powers at The Athletic:

Barratt took some time after the season to decide whether he wanted to turn pro, but the decision was ultimately made for him. He will return to Penn State for his junior season after recently having an undisclosed surgery, according to a source. He is expected to be out 2-3 months and should be 100 percent come August and be ready for next season, the source said.

Or Nathan MacKinnon is just that damn good...
- wiz1901

2nd best player in the league, in my opinion....

They aren't moving Tuch. They will move other spare parts long before him. Unless, of course an offer wows them and i don't think the Hawks are in a position to WOW another team.

McNabb is okay at that price. He would be good to pair with Murphy. There are some parts of his game I don't like so much. He doesn't move the puck all that great. Meaning he doesn't make quick decision with the puck. I would still take him, tho.
- Elbows15

You must have enjoyed that hit on Donskoi last night tho.

Or Nathan MacKinnon is just that damn good...
- wiz1901

Pretty much beat the Flames nearly by himself with some help from Rantanen.

You must have enjoyed that hit on Donskoi last night tho.
- RickJ

Not sure about him, bit I did

Not sure about him, bit I did
- 6628

He is better than any other left side defenseman we have not named Duncan Keith, and cheap. I would take him over Ben Chariot that is going to get at least $3 mil. in FA.

Pretty much beat the Flames nearly by himself with some help from Rantanen.
- RickJ

Some help? Rantanen had 9pts, including 5 goals. Landeskog was pretty damn solid too.

More on Barratt, credit Scott Powers at The Athletic:

Barratt took some time after the season to decide whether he wanted to turn pro, but the decision was ultimately made for him. He will return to Penn State for his junior season after recently having an undisclosed surgery, according to a source. He is expected to be out 2-3 months and should be 100 percent come August and be ready for next season, the source said.
- walleyeb1

Thank you for the update on Barratt. Hoping for a nice recovery so he can have an even stronger junior year at Penn State. See both him and Mitchell in the pros a year from now!

Pretty much beat the Flames nearly by himself with some help from Rantanen.
- RickJ

Speaking of Rantanen he's going to get paid.

Not sure about him, bit I did
- 6628

There were quite a few nice clean hits last night, great hockey game

Trader David Poile is running out of racetrack in his efforts to win a Cup. Brian Boyle and Wayne Simmonds aren't going to put him over the top, he's got a 37 yr old #1 goaltender, Kyle Turris isn't what he thought he would be and he is going to have to pay Roman Josi a zillion dollars.

Avs are the coming superpower in the Central. The Preds and Jets have had their chances and failed.
- RickJ

not sure what you are seeing...a powerhouse??

that plenty of cap room; a suspect they let varlomov walk with the way grubs is playing; they look pretty avg to me with plenty of holes

When all was lost or seem to be .I continued to hope this team would make the playoff draft be dammed .The reason is there are only so many tomorrows ,and you have to grab today and make the best of it . Also anything can happen in a 7 game series as we see today .
Goaltending is concerned I would not be surprised to see Forsberg give the team the big middle finger ,and who can blame him the way he has been mishandled .Maybe with Q being gone he may rethink it . Otherwise the HAWKS should be checking out some of the young back ups out their as FA targets ,finding the next Kudoben would be idea .
As for the draft it Cousins for me right now ,any kid coming out of the Yukon at 14 to play is the kid for me . There is still a lot of time to figure that out .My early favorite is Cousins . .FA wonder if the HAWKS could look at a kid like Sam Bennett .
- oldduffman

I'll say this, for as big (tall) as he is, he can skate like the wind.

First time I've seen him, pretty impressive.

When is Ek going to change your "by line" from Justin Lowe. Do we need to send it to Ek as a rumor first?
- -Doh-

You mean change from Justin to Tyler?

It's coming soon.

For those keeping track, Anisimov is also playing in the World Championships. Adding on to Tyler's list:

USA - Kane and DeBrincat
FIN - Jokiharju and Lankinen
SWE - Gustafsson and Kruger
RUS - Anisimov
- AEL_Fox

Thanks AEL!

I thought Saad was going for US but maybe he declined.

not sure what you are seeing...a powerhouse??

that plenty of cap room; a suspect they let varlomov walk with the way grubs is playing; they look pretty avg to me with plenty of holes
- bogiedoc

Well they do have the 4th pick in the draft.....so that should help even more.

It should be very interesting to see the additions and subtractions.

Nilsson-Kurashev-Ejdsell
Hagel-Entwistle-R. Johnson
Soderlund-L. Johnson-Louis
Fortin-Noel-Knott
My guess is that Perlini, Hayden, Sikura, and Highmore all will be under contract. Then there could be Kubalik and Wedin. Not all of them will make the NHL roster, especially if the #3 pick makes the team and they sign a 3C FA and a couple of agitators for the 3rd and 4th lines. Some of these could return to Europe or juniors or start at the Rock if they are not part of a trade.

Beaudin-Carlsson
Gilbert-Krys
Hillman-Tuulola
I think the Hawks will sign, Koekkoek and Forsling. If the Hawks acquire a top 4 dman one or two of them could start at the Rock if they are not traded.

Lankinen
My guess is they also have Forsberg and Delia under contract. They could also resign Ward. But I doubt it.

The Hawks could also sign a veteran forward or Dman for leadership/experience at the Rock.
It should be interesting.

You mean change from Justin to Tyler?

It's coming soon.
- Justin Lowe

Is that an Ek rumor or fact?

I would take Eakin also instead of Tuch at $3.8 mil. Smith and Marsicheault both have NTC's, so they are probably not moving.
- LAHawk

A lot of Eakins metrics are pretty disturbing. Take a look at them. His are not just bad but are probably below replacement levels.

Obvs, its not the be-all end-all but it does give a cause for concern. Especially on a team that plays a hard forechecking, pressure the puck system.

Not saying i wouldn't want him at a good cost. Just there are some things behind the obvious numbers that seem to be inconsistent.

https://www.hockey-refere.../players/e/eakinco01.html