No he won't but that's ok. Ogi'd rather skate around to Ryan Adams or some other melancholy, introspective singer/songwriter type. It's fine for folding clothes to but won't shake the rafters like something off "Highway to Hell".

Prefer the Bon Scott to the Brian Johnson years. Never saw them live but hear they were a fun live act from pretty much everyone I knew who'd ever seen them.
- HawkintheD

Heard Ogi likes the BeeGees.

And you forgot Special K.

Dach and Boqvist are the only untouchables. Everyone else is up for sale. Some would require a huge overpay like Saad and Murphy. Some can't won't be moved like Kane, Toews and Keith. Crow and Lehner both should be available on the open market.

No one wants guys like Kampf, Highmore and Carpenter. Or at least what I have read.

Dinky isn't going anywhere and Strome I just can't figure out if he being moved or not.


TRADE EM ALL.
- Elbows15

Sikura's got to go...

I lobbied hard for Chicago to pick Dach. I also said he wouldn't be ready this season. I'm not sure why teams even bother to have good prospects almost learn on the fly in the NHL.

Just look at Draisital or Scheif. They got a few games and went back and now they are studs.

His 15 points haven't done much for the team.
- manvanfan

The only place he could play was NHL or junior which wouldn't do anything for him.

I lobbied hard for Chicago to pick Dach. I also said he wouldn't be ready this season. I'm not sure why teams even bother to have good prospects almost learn on the fly in the NHL.

Just look at Draisital or Scheif. They got a few games and went back and now they are studs.

His 15 points haven't done much for the team.
- manvanfan

Dach playing in Chicago isn't going to hurt his development. He has not looked oout of place at all.

It is not like he is blocking a better player from being in the line-up.

Special K had one huge mistake last night, however he has been playing some decent hockey the last ten games or so. He has 130 games in the show and seems to be trending up, for the cap hit he’s okay in my book as a #6. When Gus was pressured last night, he threw one in front of the net at Saad’s skates, when Saad got back to the bench, he leaned over and said something to whoever was next to him, I read his lips, he said something like “what the xxxx was he doing?”
- Angotti

4K's a bargain we need guys like that.

Honestly as for whom to trade or retain - you have the right call for the most part

I feel everyone should be in agreement since it should be obvious, however, to try to keep Lehner here.

Lehner is a top younger goaltender and one less position to have a crying need to fill in the rebuild on the fly. As everyone knows the biggest obstacle should be the dollars he will agree to play for in Chicago.

Bowman needs to try to convince Lehner to want to play in this central market for an up and coming team. I would even agree to a slight dollar overpay but I suggest guaranteed money for 4-5 years and a player and team opt out after that. So Lehner could be given for example a six year contract with said provision.

This appears fair; if this seems unfair I know the board will sound off

I willing to allow even a Laakinen/Delia rotation as back up next season. We will learn if one develops enough to demand or seek a trade. Raanta is a past example of how this could turn out.

And we do have a pretty good prospect in Gravel -;better than Delia or Laakinen were at the same age.

Special K needs to play regularly and hopefully by mid point of next season we feel comfortable to label just how valuable he would become. I do not suspect he will become bad Special K again. But just how much might his performance be up and down and does he show good signs of becoming a reliable steady dman.

I love his hockey talent skill set package and wonder ultimately if he might be a better choice on a bottom pair than Matte, Gilbert and Carlsson. I hope he establishes himself also as solid in the mental and preparation areas so that next season by trading deadline we can ascertain if Carlsson, Beaudin and Kyrs get a trial.
- jhawk59

Overpaying for Lehner will set any rebuild back at least two seasons. Signing him for term and cap hit will end up costing the Hawks young players like Saad, Strome or Kubalik. Maybe even useful players like Caggiula, Kampf or Highmore.

Special K was traded for Jan Ruutta. His decision making is below average. For a guy who is touted as a good skater, Garland just left him in his dust. I don't believe he will ever be more than what he is right now. A marginal NHL player.

4K's a bargain we need guys like that.
- rpeters01

He needs to go.

JC not playing Boqvist in the 3rd period last night was a joke.

He needs to go.
- Elbows15

Much better than Gilbert.

I lobbied hard for Chicago to pick Dach. I also said he wouldn't be ready this season. I'm not sure why teams even bother to have good prospects almost learn on the fly in the NHL.

Just look at Draisital or Scheif. They got a few games and went back and now they are studs.

His 15 points haven't done much for the team.
- manvanfan

Every player/situation is different/unique but if there were one sign that indicates a player should be sent back to JRs/AHL - it's if the player plateaus and isn't improving. Watching Dach play every game this season convinces me he has not plateaued and is continuing to improve. Your argument would carry more weight if Dach could be sent to the AHL to play against grown men but he is ineligible to play in the AHL so it would have to be JRs where the argument falls short that he is better served to play against 17/18/19 year old to improve his game than against grown men in the NHL.

Overpaying for Lehner will set any rebuild back at least two seasons. Signing him for term and cap hit will end up costing the Hawks young players like Saad, Strome or Kubalik. Maybe even useful players like Caggiula, Kampf or Highmore.

Special K was traded for Jan Ruutta. His decision making is below average. For a guy who is touted as a good skater, Garland just left him in his dust. I don't believe he will ever be more than what he is right now. A marginal NHL player.
- Elbows15

You need to bring in a goaltender at some point whom is going to be your #1; whether Lehner at a fair price or not is interesting especially with expansion only one season away. Maybe Bowman makes a gamble or two. Keith and Seabrook on books though for as much as three years.

You may be correct in Special K but he needs more time to show us what his level will be. I do not feel one play where he was beat on speed is telltale. You don't know how gased he was or any of several other things which may have left him in the dust. Beside, only one instance ...let us see if this happens regularly

for all of us classic rock fans

@CRoumeliotis
#Blackhawks blasting AC/DC’s “It's a Long Way to the Top” after a big win in Arizona. Playoff vibes are real.
- pdx2ord

If it ain't got bagpipes, it ain't rock and roll, baby!

You need to bring in a goaltender at some point whom is going to be your #1; whether Lehner at a fair price or not is interesting especially with expansion only one season away. Maybe Bowman makes a gamble or two. Keith and Seabrook on books though for as much as three years.

You may be correct in Special K but he needs more time to show us what his level will be. I do not feel one play where he was beat on speed is telltale. You don't know how gased he was or any of several other things which may have left him in the dust. Beside, only one instance ...let us see if this happens regularly
- jhawk59

One play where he made the wrong decision at the blue line. Turned the wrong way. Then stopped chasing and hung his partner out to dry. He gets beat in the corners pretty much regularly and even worse, his stick is up in the air so he can't even delay a pass once he is beat. His pinches are Gus like. He is not good.

Lehner isnt a guy you overpay to keep. The Hawks do not have problems finding goaltenders. What good is a #1 goalie if the rest of the team blows?

Much better than Gilbert.
- rpeters01

That doesn't change the fact he needs to go. He is the very definition of replaceable.

I lobbied hard for Chicago to pick Dach. I also said he wouldn't be ready this season. I'm not sure why teams even bother to have good prospects almost learn on the fly in the NHL.

Just look at Draisital or Scheif. They got a few games and went back and now they are studs.

His 15 points haven't done much for the team.
- manvanfan

What he did or didn’t do for a middle of the road team is irrelevant. The question is what was best for his development, another season of junior or playing in the NHL as an 18 year old? He wasn’t a great scorer in junior and he’s struggling offensively in the NHL but can he get better? He’s above average defensively for an 18 year old and that’s what kids generally have to learn. I think he should have played another season in Saskatoon but that’s water under the bridge now. Hopefully he can learn the offensive side of the game playing in Chicago.

Hey Elbows, tell me again about this line (from Powers in The Athletic).

Kirby Dach looks like he might be a great fit for the second line alongside Saad and Patrick Kane. The line was on the ice for both of the Blackhawks’ goals and had a 54.17 Corsi percentage and a 60.32 expected goals percentage in 11:28.

That doesn't change the fact he needs to go. He is the very definition of replaceable.
- Elbows15

I'm not sure getting a 4th rounder or worse who doesn't play for a cheap guy who does play qualifies as being replaced.

Area of concern, from Powers.

Just watching them play, Boqvist and Duncan Keith look like they’re playing well. On paper, though, they’ve been drowning in shots. They were on the ice for seven shot attempts for and 18 against on Saturday. It’s been that way often as of late. Two games ago, they were on the ice for seven shot attempts for and 16 against. Three games ago, it was 15 for and 29 against. In the past 10 games, they have a 41.83 Corsi percentage. The good news for the Blackhawks is they’re not on the ice for a lot of goals against. In the past 10 games, they’ve been on the ice for five goals for and six against.

IF the blackhawks are in the playoff position at the tdl i would like see the hawks try and acquire Coleman from NJ also see what the asking price for wood would be.

One play where he made the wrong decision at the blue line. Turned the wrong way. Then stopped chasing and hung his partner out to dry. He gets beat in the corners pretty much regularly and even worse, his stick is up in the air so he can't even delay a pass once he is beat. His pinches are Gus like. He is not good.

Lehner isnt a guy you overpay to keep. The Hawks do not have problems finding goaltenders. What good is a #1 goalie if the rest of the team blows?
- Elbows15

I don't expect we will be going back and forth over this.

On Special K: since I watch and f.forward replay and usually hear more radio than watch, I trust a lot of what the straight up honest radio guys say. But watching in person and on the tube regularly is the best way to form an opinion. That said, I will be focusing a lot on Special K since I like the positive good attributes he brings. I am not doubting your review but I want to judge myself.

As for Lehner it is highly unlikely Bowman finds somehow somewhere a young netminder or we have Rockford guys to develop to be as good as Lehner. So you have to decide what your budget is and whom you could pare or live eithout. This entails that (one example) a Rockford prospect could replace Saad within one year.

The savings goes to pay Lehner.

As for Saad's replacement, the new kid might not be a carbon copy but would bring a desireable replacement. So is Saad worth the higher salary for how he slots into the line up? Current price yes but not the higher salary he could command.

Now I know you aren't totally serious when you say the team blows so don't go sign Lehner.

Actually with Dach and Boqvist improving plus Mitchell should be fairly good by the end of next season, this team is on the upswing. Add another good #1 this 2020 draft maybe within 1-2 years he is in the NHL plus Kubalik and bottom line forwards/third pair dmen prospects like Beaudin and this team is enviable for it's young talent.

You could choose to go either way with Lehner; he may want too much $ or term but you would be nuts to not want to see if you could keep him here. What would it cost to trade or sign a different top goaltender if Lehner is headlights.

You certainly don't want to surrender top prospects or #1 draft choices for a top goaltender. So for that reasoning I would CONSIDER a slight overpay. Moving Saad Gus, Crawford, Smith helps a lot if you take prospect or draft choices in return. It would not be too difficult to keep everyone else - not talking a big salary cap problem.

In another post you mentioned not playing Boqvist in period three was a joke. It goes to show that Colliton is more worried about the points and a playoff run than Boqvist development. Maybe job security or even orders from his boss Bowman as well?

IF the blackhawks are in the playoff position at the tdl i would like see the hawks try and acquire Coleman from NJ also see what the asking price for wood would be.
- Scott1977

Coleman would be a decent addition, but if the Hawks add anyone I expect they’ll be on an expiring contract. I don’t think they want to bring on any more salary commitments for next season.

Every player/situation is different/unique but if there were one sign that indicates a player should be sent back to JRs/AHL - it's if the player plateaus and isn't improving. Watching Dach play every game this season convinces me he has not plateaued and is continuing to improve. Your argument would carry more weight if Dach could be sent to the AHL to play against grown men but he is ineligible to play in the AHL so it would have to be JRs where the argument falls short that he is better served to play against 17/18/19 year old to improve his game than against grown men in the NHL.
- EbonyRaptor

He wasn't the best player in the WHL last season. Didn't win nothing. The CHL sucks for their players agreement with the NHL and you talk about plateauing but what's the rush? To get their feet wet a bit?

Rather have a player ready to walk on water, not tread water

He wasn't the best player in the WHL last season. Didn't win nothing. The CHL sucks for their players agreement with the NHL and you talk about plateauing but what's the rush? To get their feet wet a bit?

Rather have a player ready to walk on water, not tread water
- manvanfan

Be very careful generally speaking do not trade for a young goaltenders without much pro experience. Develop your own instead.

He wasn't the best player in the WHL last season. Didn't win nothing. The CHL sucks for their players agreement with the NHL and you talk about plateauing but what's the rush? To get their feet wet a bit?

Rather have a player ready to walk on water, not tread water
- manvanfan

Idk, watch some games and decide if he's having any impact or not. Besides, how many guys do what you suggest?

Coleman would be a decent addition, but if the Hawks add anyone I expect they’ll be on an expiring contract. I don’t think they want to bring on any more salary commitments for next season.
- DarthKane

Colman and Simmonds are both ufa's after this season.