Smart move by Caps, they insured their investment set him up, now he can't go back to Russia.
- rpeters01

Maybe, since, honestly, how stupid do you need to be in today's social media environment to let yourself be filmed in this situation (assuming that really is him in the vid)?

https://russianmachinenev...y-kuznetsov-with-cocaine/

Onwards to Traverse City. Not much to rehash now. There are actually a lot of questions about the system and.the higher talent level competing for jobs. There are a lot of prospects to start watching their path to the NHL

The Blackhawks should have one of the better rosters for Traverse City. Snuggerud and R Press lit up scoring a couple or so years ago and where are they now. Both gone. Snuggerud never got untracked learning how to play defense and his knee injuries forced retirement. Press wasn't able to stick in the AHL

So what we get out of the tournament is just teasing to whet our appetite for the good things to come from our prospects. It is maybe a cut sbove the intra squad rookies camp scrimmage. Emphasis on thise garthest away from making team with a few top prospects mixed in. That used to be the sort of rosters one would see. Until i see rosters for this year, have to believe same sort of lineups.
- jhawk59

I know we love trying to project based on these glimpses again the up n comer stallions the other teams have in their stables, but I don't think there has been a definite Traverse City tourney for awhile. In my humble it was that year we had Danault there, and he showed his quickness and smarts and if my recollection is still correct, the Maple Leaf without a contract Jake Gardiner was out their for their farm team physically abusing everyone is sight.
I guess, my point is these are great challenges are nice indicators, but don't get too high or low by outcomes. (I also recall that promising hawk group was far from successful in winning their games.)

Prospects "who get it" once playing at each higher level step, must dedicate themselves to the improvements that will help assure NHL playing time chances, no matter how much high end vision, hockey IQ and sense, and physical talent that they displayed in the baby leagues of junior, or in any stops in the AHL or Europe along the way.

I know, as fans, we all want to get so excited about the guys that are a bit out of the spotlight that our team has in their system.
The thing is they can give you a taste, and then get swept away in the NHL undertow...that is why you see these "Sikura is hit garbage posts." and wow ______ looks like a real sleeper on the other end of the opinions.

So my turn now:

I think from what I have seen so far, past the strong junior performances, that Kirby Dach can be one of the most dominant players in the class as an NHLer...
I am gonna say that I think he has a chance to surpass the little guy taken first and play bigger than the guy taken second....but all that is tied to development, health, and that hunger to be that best you can be player.

And Sikura had a off season to do what he needs to improve, so we will see.
No one is handing them jobs.

Hot garbage?
- Ogilthorpe2

I would say the over under on either of them being bonefide NHL players is 0.

Rangers Sticking to Their Guns

The New York Rangers don’t appear ready to deviate from the qualifying offers they gave to restricted free agents Brendan Lemieux and Anthony DeAngelo. Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports those offers tendered came in at just over $874K each. That’s where they’ll stay.

Nothing we don't already know. Stan improved the defense with Maatta and de Haan which help overall and specifically on the PK.
- DarthKane

So they do say that the defense is improved, but only good enough for 4 more wins than last year... interesting

I am ok WITH the addition of two top four dmen. But they are nothing great, merely an improvement over last season. Maata will be gone once a couple kids are ready. Probably Murphy but it is a tricky situation with him

He represents one of the two dmen who willingly can physical. Sooner or later dmen will.loose jobs if they are poor skaters
- jhawk59

I am hoping Maatta will be gone before the season even starts. He is a terrible fit for this D group.

Rangers Sticking to Their Guns

The New York Rangers don’t appear ready to deviate from the qualifying offers they gave to restricted free agents Brendan Lemieux and Anthony DeAngelo. Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports those offers tendered came in at just over $874K each. That’s where they’ll stay.
- walleyeb1

(frank) the Rags

Got another hockey pool magazine, The Sports Forecaster, and here are their predictions for the Hawks.

Strome - 67 points (23 goals)
Toews - 65 (28)
Kane - 99 (39)
DeBrincat - 86 (47)
Saad - 47 (22)
Kubalik - 35 (15)
The Drake - 32 (16)
Shaw - 31 (15)
Gustafsson - 53 (13)
Keith - 37 (5)
Smith - 33 (shown still on Ottawa) (13)
Sikura - 27 (7)
Seabrook - 24 (6)
Maatta - 24 (4)
Dach - 20 (7)
Perlini - 19 (10)

Crawford - 20 wins
Lehner - 20 wins
- DarthKane

Or Columbus
- DarthKane

LBH. Anywhere but gliding around the ice for the Hawks is fine by most of us. Take a late round pick for him and send his lazy ass on his way.

I am hoping Maatta will be gone before the season even starts. He is a terrible fit for this D group.
- Elbows15

Couple that with trading away Artem "The Glue" Anisimov and this team is looking at another top 3 pick this season.

I am hoping Maatta will be gone before the season even starts. He is a terrible fit for this D group.
- Elbows15

Maatta will be a top pairing d-man for the Blackhawks by Christmas.

Maatta will be a top pairing d-man for the Blackhawks by Christmas.



- DarthKane

On the brightside, some say its the deepest draft in a few years.

On the brightside, some say its the deepest draft in a few years.
- Elbows15

If you dislike Maata so much then how did he stick around in Pittsburgh. If not mistaken you appear to match Maata with tbe US Carrier "Maata" which travails usually quiet waters (er, um i mean ice). Actually Maata is not a pacifist but no rebel rouser.

Well maybe he has a wife or somehow knows where to purchase nice sweaters. You give him credit for something, eh? Well that is an interesting sweater not that i would wear it though. Maata is an interesting pick up. Not a player whom i would have sought though. He may be alright in some situations. Oh.... Btw I would bet the departed AA could outskate him.

I am hoping Maatta will be gone before the season even starts. He is a terrible fit for this D group.
- Elbows15

Looking out on the ice
Maata sighting
Could he be Pokemon, Darth
Looking back on the ice
Maata barely has moved
He is no Pokemon
Granted he pokes around SLOWLY

HELP WANTED

ELBOWS you may apply
Nasty elbows and Maata will land on the disabled list
Where he seems to spend time frequently
Not enamored even when he is there
Well anyway do not recall Boqvist in his stead
Not ready; would be bad in different way than Maata
Oh it doesn't "Maata" much
He'll be here for the campaign so get used to his game

Interesting excerpt from the Athletic and Joe Smith analyzing Cup teams since the Bruins in 2011. Not sure why the 2010 Hawks team wasn't included but it's not my piece, so ask Joe. Guys like Vandymeer, Wonthecup...you may want to look away.

“(The 2013 and 2015 Chicago teams) had some size — not a ton — but they had a lot of skill,” said Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman, a long-time senior advisor with the Blackhawks.

“Skill guys are going to put up points and they’re going to get paid — it’s a simple equation. The Kings were pretty strong: They were effective and they had big guys. But it then caught up with them later for their lack of speed. They had a couple guys who couldn’t do it anymore, and it went right down the tube.”

The Blackhawks were on the ropes against the Lightning in the 2015 final, as Tampa Bay took a 2-1 series lead before losing in six games. Injuries to goalie Ben Bishop (groin) and Tyler Johnson (broken wrist) hurt a young Lightning squad that was similar to Chicago’s in size. In the end, it was the Hawks’ experience that proved to be the difference, several Lightning players have said.

“Normally you get a pretty good feel for how a series is going to go after a couple games,” said former Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp, now an NBCSN analyst. “You feel if you’re a better team than the opponent, (you know) how it’s going to go. But in 2015, it was a toss-up. I thought they were so fast. They were just on you in so many different ways. They knew where the puck was going before it got there. It wasn’t player speed; more like everyone was on the same page and knew how to play. That’s what made them a fast team.”

Sharp noted that that Blackhawks team played with an edge, with veterans like Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook leading the way. But there was an underlying competitiveness, a desperation that overcame any size deficiency, and it was exemplified by the team’s biggest star, 5-foot-10 winger Patrick Kane.

“Being heavy doesn’t necessarily mean throwing a big body, checking and fighting and being a physical, instigating presence,” Sharp said. “Being heavy is protecting the puck down low, sacrificing to score goals. People won’t look at those (Blackhawks) teams and think ‘heavy,’ but a guy like Kane — who doesn’t get described as a heavy player — there’s not a player in the league that I’d take (over him) in a big moment.

“I think Tampa has guys like that, too, that are tough to play against. Guys like (Yanni) Gourde. They’re on you the whole time.”

- DarthKane

Just curious , but that looms like Crawford's mask from last year ?
He didn't play that much is he bringing back last year's mask design?

I am hoping Maatta will be gone before the season even starts. He is a terrible fit for this D group.
- Elbows15

The numbers disagree with you.

Just curious , but that looms like Crawford's mask from last year ?
He didn't play that much is he bringing back last year's mask design?
- Taylorst1

Yup, looks like he didn't make any changes. In all fairness his mask didn't get much use last season.

I am hoping Maatta will be gone before the season even starts. He is a terrible fit for this D group.
- Elbows15

I don’t agree with this assessment

He’s not the best but he’s an upgrade over guys we had filling out the 4th-6th spots on D last season.

He’s still relatively young but has tons of experience. Can help on the PK and be relied on as a defensive defenseman. Again those are roles we needed to upgrade and we did.

It’s rare for an athlete to test positive for cocaine since it’s typically out of your system in 1-2 days and 4 days at the most. He could’ve said he was unreachable or on vacation to push back the test in order for it to clear. This is just dumb.
- Assman22

I'm not advocating using cocaine or getting help if need be or admitting a mistake when wrong and apologizing to people you let down but I do find it annoying when someone has to come out and do the big apology and meetings with league brass and entering substance abuse programs only after they were caught. Forcing people into programs in such circumstances usually doesn't help. And the perfectly worded apologetic statements seem more patronizing than genuine. And why does the IIHF care what grown adults do unless they consider it performance enhancing

I would say the over under on either of them being bonefide NHL players is 0.
- rpeters01

Well...the GM seems to think otherwise so plan on seeing them in plenty of NHL action. Should be interesting to see how long the decision makers upstairs and the coach tolerate Nylander if he underwhelms.

Yup, looks like he didn't make any changes. In all fairness his mask didn't get much use last season.
- DarthKane

That's what I thought when I saw your photo post. It makes sense to stick with that design since his season was cut short.

What's your take on pre season in regards to JC using Lehner and Crawford more ice time to see where each stands ? Do you think he will do that or wait until the last 2 games to insert them?

Well...the GM seems to think otherwise so plan on seeing them in plenty of NHL action. Should be interesting to see how long the decision makers upstairs and the coach tolerate Nylander if he underwhelms.
- just69sayin

By bonefide, I mean like a Brandon Saad. It will take a while or sadly maybe not.