Theo Fox: Riddle Me This A look at a few rumors circulating that may or may not be tied to the Blackhawks but are some food for thought during this slow stretch of the offseason.

Rumored players: Dylan Strome, Sean Monahan, James van Riemsdyk, and Travis Konecny.

Sad to hear of Jimmy Hayes!!!

On the hockey side, Yes. Deal Strome...get something.....and move on.

Thanks Theo - I was on the train to trade Strome, but now I am thinking we need to see how Toews is. Better going into the pre-season with what you know than what you have to figure out. There could always be moves to make during the pre-season if Toews shows he is back and makes Strome expendable.

Thanks Theo - I was on the train to trade Strome, but now I am thinking we need to see how Toews is. Better going into the pre-season with what you know than what you have to figure out. There could always be moves to make during the pre-season if Toews shows he is back and makes Strome expendable.
- powerenforcer

Assuming Toews is not ready for game 1, where would Strome slot in?

Dach and Johnson would be ahead of Strome, no question about that. Strome isn’t a 4C type of forward so best case scenario he’s a 3C. Even then he’ll compete with Borgstrom, Gaudette and Kurashev (with an outside chance of Reichel making the team too). Regardless of Toews’ health, if Strome is on the team he’ll most likely be a winger.

At issue is, based upon last season, when it was known that Toews would not be available, Colliton still slotted him at wing at times. I don't know that the entire Toews thing, at least insofar as it concerns Dylan Strome is not overly relevant (barring a coaching change).

Theo with the back-to-back daily blogs in the off-season. We are truly spoiled.

As far as Strome is concerned. Aside from his performance after his trade from Arizona he has been less then impressive. Time to move on and use whoever the Hawks have.

Assuming Toews is not ready for game 1, where would Strome slot in?

Dach and Johnson would be ahead of Strome, no question about that. Strome isn’t a 4C type of forward so best case scenario he’s a 3C. Even then he’ll compete with Borgstrom, Gaudette and Kurashev (with an outside chance of Reichel making the team too). Regardless of Toews’ health, if Strome is on the team he’ll most likely be a winger.
- DarthKane

Indisputable logic. Also, Borgy is on the team because he is waiver exempt.

While he was not as prolific a scorer (even last year), I think Kurashev brings much more of what the Hawks are looking for at the center position than Strome did (or does). His face-offs were also brutal, but I think Kurashev is more of the complete package they are looking for.

With or without Toews, I don't see how or where Strome fits on this roster (and it's not even a great roster). If he can prove that he's improved his overall game, then fine, he may have some utility, but I think the Hawks already have better options available to them.

Borgy is such a wild card and unknown commodity. He could be anywhere from potential 2C to playing back in his home country again. I agree with Theo’s statement that the Hasks have so much center depth already that they don’t really need to wait and see on Toews. Reality could be the market has dried up and the waiting game is on, who knows.

At issue is, based upon last season, when it was known that Toews would not be available, Colliton still slotted him at wing at times. I don't know that the entire Toews thing, at least insofar as it concerns Dylan Strome is not overly relevant (barring a coaching change).
- SC116

Yea, i don't think Toews situation has anything to do with Strome's. Strome has to man up this year period, they've been very patient if he doesn't he'll be traded during the season around the trade dead line

Just saying:

Jonathan Toews might be rested and feeling on the right track, start the season game busters, and plays close to his old self, and by the Olympic break, the sit outs and rest days do not help with the return of the post sickness issues.

To me, this is a more likely scenario than an early November or late December revelation he is fading.

So IF Dylan Strome is traded or here, there seems to be no way to tie his fate to Taser's.

Do the Hawks really have center depth? Or just a lot of bodies on the roster. The only centers that have "proven themselves" is Toews (question mark as to what he comes back as), and Johnson (who is probably a #3 center). The rest are prospects and reclamation projects. More question marks than answers if you ask me.

Do the Hawks really have center depth? Or just a lot of bodies on the roster. The only centers that have "proven themselves" is Toews (question mark as to what he comes back as), and Johnson (who is probably a #3 center). The rest are prospects and reclamation projects. More question marks than answers if you ask me.
- LAHawk

No they do not. That is why I don't see any issue trading Strome. He is just another part of the "lot of bodies" group. He also likely has the most (not saying much here) trade value simply due to pedigree and some historical performance.

I think that the Hawks have more than just bodies but they do have question marks that won't be answered until we see them play. Borgy truly is wild card in this. Still waiting for somebody to real bust out .... it may not even happen, but it also may. Watch out for Gaudette, who is over his dietary condition that had him playing at 170 lbs and now he's around 190-195 and shooting for 200 lbs. Strome did have his big chance last year, new contract, Toews and Dach were out of the lineup, and he failed to step up and play like a three million dollar man. Although, I must say, Strome did get better on faceoffs ... slightly last year

Fair point but I don't think losing Strome is going to make the issue any more dire. Fact Hawks routinely try this kid at wing tells me he has limited value at C in the organization's eyes.

If they can deal him for a piece for the future and/or another veteran to man the bottom pairing on D and allow kids like Mitchell and Beaudin to get a season playing top minutes in all situations in the A< I think that works best.

Yea, i don't think Toews situation has anything to do with Strome's. Strome has to man up this year period, they've been very patient if he doesn't he'll be traded during the season around the trade dead line
- BetweenTheDots

This is a true statement, but I am not sure how he gets the opportunity to man up (if we can still say "man up"). Two centers were added to the roster - Johnson and Borgy - and Strome was pushed to the wing even before they were added.

This is a true statement, but I am not sure how he gets the opportunity to man up (if we can still say "man up"). Two centers were added to the roster - Johnson and Borgy - and Strome was pushed to the wing even before they were added.
- mohel

Think you answered your own question....IF bowman can find a suitable return he likely isn't on the roster opening night...otherwise he's competing for a spot at wing as he essentially doesn't do enough to warrant a C spot.

I would rather see a lot more players play ahead of Strome that are currently on this roster.

I woke up this morning and saw a new post by Theo. Being newly retired I thought maybe I lost track of what day of the week it was. lol!! Thanks Theo for working overtime!

I woke up this morning and saw a new post by Theo. Being newly retired I thought maybe I lost track of what day of the week it was. lol!! Thanks Theo for working overtime!
- -Doh-

Happy retirement!

Obviously if the deal is right I would have no problem moving Strome, Connolly, or deHaan to clear cap room. Same with moving Delia, or Subban because they probably not going to make the team.

However if the right deal is not available I would have no problem with keeping Strome, Connolly and deHaan. We may not have a star studded top six and our dmen may be lacking, but with all of these players in camp it would be super competitive. If Nylander and Strome did not come out flying then they just don't have it or they just don't get it. If deHaan, Connolly, Subban had strong camps they may build some trade value.

Obviously if the deal is right I would have no problem moving Strome, Connolly, or deHaan to clear cap room. Same with moving Delia, or Subban because they probably not going to make the team.

However if the right deal is not available I would have no problem with keeping Strome, Connolly and deHaan. We may not have a star studded top six and our dmen may be lacking, but with all of these players in camp it would be super competitive. If Nylander and Strome did not come out flying then they just don't have it or they just don't get it. If deHaan, Connolly, Subban had strong camps they may build some trade value.
- -Doh-

Who would you acquire with this cap space?

Assuming Toews is not ready for game 1, where would Strome slot in?

Dach and Johnson would be ahead of Strome, no question about that. Strome isn’t a 4C type of forward so best case scenario he’s a 3C. Even then he’ll compete with Borgstrom, Gaudette and Kurashev (with an outside chance of Reichel making the team too). Regardless of Toews’ health, if Strome is on the team he’ll most likely be a winger.
- DarthKane

I think the Strome ship has sailed. The thing about waiting for Toews perhaps works in their favor to the reverse of what trade partners are looking at. If Toews is out the Hawks are less desperate to trade him because they can swallow his cap hit more easily and hold out for a better return. With Toews playing he needs to go!

This is a true statement, but I am not sure how he gets the opportunity to man up (if we can still say "man up"). Two centers were added to the roster - Johnson and Borgy - and Strome was pushed to the wing even before they were added.
- mohel

You can add Borgstrom, Gaudette and Nylander to the "Man up" list.

Here is some thinking totally outside the box. Let's say Toews is ready to go, but cannot go 100% all out for 20 minutes. Maybe at the start of the season he can only go all out for 14 minutes. So start him as 4C and have him on the first PK unit and one of the PP units.

Debrincat-Dach-Kane
Nylander-Johnson-Kubalik
Hagel-Borgstum/Gaudette/Kurashev/Strome - Borgstum/Gaudette/Kurashev/Strome
Khaira - Toews - Connolly/Carpenter

The 4th line could be a good shut down line. It could match up against the other teams top lines taking some of the defensive responsibility off the top two lines. It also could take plenty of dzone draws.

That is 15 forwards. So if everyone else is healthy you probably try to move the two highest salaries of the expendable forwards (Strome/Connolly). Maybe with the Shaw contract you could get a decent return.

Maybe Nylander doesn't cut it on the 2nd line. Depending on their play in camp the other wing on the 2nd line could be Hagel, Kurashev, Gaudette (or Connolly or Strome if they are not moved).

I did not include Reichel. I would like to see Reichel start in Rockford, but if he has a great camp I could see him being in the middle six to start the season.

Who would you acquire with this cap space?
- mohel

There are some decent free agents out there. But I would only sign one if they signed a very very team friendly deal. If not, I would not use it. Go through camp and the first 10 to 20 games and figure out what you have and what you need (and who you do not need). Give yourself some cap space for deals later in the season or at the TDL. If we are decent we could be a buyer and take on a one year rental with a high price tag.