Theo Fox: Juggling Act Summaries of the Blackhawks vs Red Wings and IceHogs vs Wild games including a spotlight on Dylan Strome who continues to amp up his stock with a hat trick and an apple.

Plus, updates on Bretty Connolly and the GM search process.

Are the Hawks buyers now? The Hawks will be buyers at the trade deadline won't they?

Are the Hawks buyers now? The Hawks will be buyers at the trade deadline won't they?
- Rota's Rooter

The biggest help if acquiring draft choice(s) from trade deadline or anytime, is the higher selections.
So thinking that way, I would prefer packaging two players for higher pick, and not say a 3rd and 4th round

The best case scenario would be if we moved into round one. But maybe you have to send our Second round.

Not too often does a middle round pick become a core player.

Thanks Theo - Not sure what teams I was watching last night. Let's not get too excited about the goals scored, Detroit is still a patchwork team. I do like Strome's improvement overall.
I would like a reported to ask Blashill his thoughts on the play where Hagel scored the goal. Does he think a penalty should have been called there, or does he not think that was interference? That play was the perfect example of Bettman era hockey (parity in the league). It's just too bad a team has to fail the plan.

It will be interesting to see what Fleury decides. He has some control with his partial NTC. I suspect that the Hawks will not send him anywhere he does not want to go. Maybe Fleury and one of our 3rds for a late 1st round pick. Of course we would need to retain 50% salary. But it would not surprise me if Fleury stays the full year in Chicago.

The Hawks will not get any better than a 3rd for deHaan, Kubalik, or Strome. I would move deHaan and extend Strome and Kubalik for 2 or 3 years at just a little more than they are making now. Strome and Kubalik will have more trade value this summer or at next year’s TDL if they are signed and provide some cost certainty to the team they are going to.
I would keep Connolly as the 13th forward if the other choice was to release him.

Are the Hawks buyers now? The Hawks will be buyers at the trade deadline won't they?
- Rota's Rooter

Not buyers but buy-outers!

I can now see the frustration Oilers fans had with C. Jones. Some days he makes plays that you go WTF, and other times he had games like last night, where you see top 4 defenseman wirtten all over him. Man even his bad games though, his skating is beautiful.

I can now see the frustration Oilers fans had with C. Jones. Some days he makes plays that you go WTF, and other times he had games like last night, where you see top 4 defenseman wirtten all over him. Man even his bad games though, his skating is beautiful.
- LAHawk

So he’s the new Nick Leddy? Speaking of that was a nice pass Ledd Pipe made to set up Hagel.

So he’s the new Nick Leddy? Speaking of that was a nice pass Ledd Pipe made to set up Hagel.
- HawkintheD

Never thought of that but interesting comparison

The Wings are what many here wish the Hawks to be. They cleaned house, on the ice and upstairs. Developed a very good farm system. Hired a top end GM almost three years ago to supercharge their rebuild. Now?

After a ten year rebuild the Wings are three points ahead of the Hawks and nine points out of a playoff spot. Now that's progress!

Be careful what you wish for.

I can now see the frustration Oilers fans had with C. Jones. Some days he makes plays that you go WTF, and other times he had games like last night, where you see top 4 defenseman wirtten all over him. Man even his bad games though, his skating is beautiful.
- LAHawk

Your post made me think of Gustav Forsling.

So he’s the new Nick Leddy? Speaking of that was a nice pass Ledd Pipe made to set up Hagel.
- HawkintheD

He's a gem. Hawks shoulda kept that mouth breather instead of Oduya after 2014, according to some.

He's a gem. Hawks shoulda kept that mouth breather instead of Oduya after 2014, according to some.
- mohel

The pizza Nick served up would have made Johnny O proud.

I know Oduya was older at the time but also shows some guys might take a little longer to adapt to the system.

What a warrior too. Guy was playing on one leg in the ‘15 SCF after I think it was Kucherov who pretty much tried to take him out.

As bad as the D has been the last couple years, most all of them could have been plugged in for the rotation of Kimmo, Rundy, Cumiskey and injured TVR.

The pizza Nick served up would have made Johnny O proud.

I know Oduya was older at the time but also shows some guys might take a little longer to adapt to the system.

What a warrior too. Guy was playing on one leg in the ‘15 SCF after I think it was Kucherov who pretty much tried to take him out.

As bad as the D has been the last couple years, most all of them could have been plugged in for the rotation of Kimmo, Rundy, Cumiskey and injured TVR.
- HawkintheD

Seeing "pizza" and "Oduya" together reminds me of one of my favorite posters of a bygone era: Philco. Good guy, and one serious fan. He used to get all fired up at Oduya Pizzas. Unlike some emotional fans, his rants had a humorous edge to them. I'd love to see Philco make a return.

Was at the game there was actually 1 lone hat on the ice. I didn't feel like chucking my Kraken winter hat from the suite level I would have had to put a beer inside and tied it off to even have a chance and that's not safe maybe I think?? Haha.

Not as many Hawks fans there as I would have liked to see and the ones there were pretty quiet.

The Wings are what many here wish the Hawks to be. They cleaned house, on the ice and upstairs. Developed a very good farm system. Hired a top end GM almost three years ago to supercharge their rebuild. Now?

After a ten year rebuild the Wings are three points ahead of the Hawks and nine points out of a playoff spot. Now that's progress!

Be careful what you wish for.
- mohel

I was thinking the same thing as I watched the Wings dominate the first 10 minutes. This is what I hope for, a Stevie Y at the top and then it's only a matter of time as he reworks the organIzation.

Careful what we wish for? Holland started their rebuild, Stevie Y came on 4-12-19. This April will be 3 yrs. If the Hawks could look like the Wings today in 3 yrs I'm on board.

Hoping the following can be said about the new Hawk GM/Prez in 5-6-7 yrs.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...neral-manager/c-306889276

"Steve literally transformed the organization's hockey operations, from our professional and amateur scouting departments to the front office to our coaching and locker room staffs, to our major and minor league rosters," Lightning chairman Jeff Vinik said. "He built one of the finest organizations in the NHL and led us to the playoffs in six of the nine years he was with us, including three conference finals and one Stanley Cup Final. While we are disappointed to see Steve leave for our rival Detroit Red Wings, he leaves our franchise in good shape under the extremely capable leadership of Julien BriseBois, as we continue to pursue that elusive Stanley Cup."

The pizza Nick served up would have made Johnny O proud.

I know Oduya was older at the time but also shows some guys might take a little longer to adapt to the system.

What a warrior too. Guy was playing on one leg in the ‘15 SCF after I think it was Kucherov who pretty much tried to take him out.

As bad as the D has been the last couple years, most all of them could have been plugged in for the rotation of Kimmo, Rundy, Cumiskey and injured TVR.
- HawkintheD

I thought it was his arm/shoulder? He got it injured in the series against Anaheim and pretty much played the finals with one hand on his stick.

I was thinking the same thing as I watched the Wings dominate the first 10 minutes. This is what I hope for, a Stevie Y at the top and then it's only a matter of time as he reworks the organIzation.

Careful what we wish for? Holland started their rebuild, Stevie Y came on 4-12-19. This April will be 3 yrs. If the Hawks could look like the Wings today in 3 yrs I'm on board.

Hoping the following can be said about the new Hawk GM/Prez in 5-6-7 yrs.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...neral-manager/c-306889276
- Mr Ricochet

The Wings are three standings points ahead of the Hawks and are further from a playoff spot. And about 14 years after their last Cup. That pace means the Hawks will be right where the Wings are today in seven years. Yum.

So, yep, careful what you wish for.

I was thinking the same thing as I watched the Wings dominate the first 10 minutes. This is what I hope for, a Stevie Y at the top and then it's only a matter of time as he reworks the organIzation.

Careful what we wish for? Holland started their rebuild, Stevie Y came on 4-12-19. This April will be 3 yrs. If the Hawks could look like the Wings today in 3 yrs I'm on board.

Hoping the following can be said about the new Hawk GM/Prez in 5-6-7 yrs.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...neral-manager/c-306889276
- Mr Ricochet

And he hasn't fired Blashill, as a matter of fact he extended him for 2 more years. Everyone thought Gallant was a shoe-in for that job, considering he was Stevie Y's linemate for quite a few seasons.

The Wings are three standings points ahead of the Hawks and are further from a playoff spot. And about 14 years after their last Cup. That pace means the Hawks will be right where the Wings are today in seven years. Yum.

So, yep, careful what you wish for.
- mohel

Quit being so negative there Sunshine.

Quit being so negative there Sunshine.
- paulr

I could have used the Leaves rebuild as a comparison, eh? Now that would be negative!

Seeing "pizza" and "Oduya" together reminds me of one of my favorite posters of a bygone era: Philco. Good guy, and one serious fan. He used to get all fired up at Oduya Pizzas. Unlike some emotional fans, his rants had a humorous edge to them. I'd love to see Philco make a return.
- mohel

I will second that. I'm sure being on the Oilers and then having Sheldon Brookbank coaching him really helped C. Jones' development......

Have the Oilers developed a legit top 4 defensemen in the last 20 years? I can't think of one off the top of my head.

I don't count Darnell Nurse, as he was destined to be a top 4 guy when they drafted him 7th overall. I actually think he has never fully reach his potential b/c he's been stuck on the Oilers.

The Wings are three standings points ahead of the Hawks and are further from a playoff spot. And about 14 years after their last Cup. That pace means the Hawks will be right where the Wings are today in seven years. Yum.

So, yep, careful what you wish for.
- mohel

Did the Wings really burn it down though? They kind of petered out at the end with Dats and Zetterburg (similar to the Hawks since their last cup) and have been stuck in hell since.

Wings spent years trying to build and win around their two aging stars who were in their early to mid 30s.

My fear is the Hawks keep trying to do this (like this last offseason) and just remain a bubble team around .500 for the next 2-3 years and then decided to burn it down.

Hawks have been in hockey purgatory since 2017.

The Wings are three standings points ahead of the Hawks and are further from a playoff spot. And about 14 years after their last Cup. That pace means the Hawks will be right where the Wings are today in seven years. Yum.

So, yep, careful what you wish for.
- mohel

If the above post is how you understood mine to be let me in this one single post, just the one Mo, cuz you have energy in you for a 27 page back and forth and I don't. And as you did with my last post feel free to characterize this one to support your position, but you only get two sentences to work with.

Period. If the Hawks can get a Stevie Y on board today and look like and have equivalent talent Detroilet has today in 3 yrs I'm in, this is what I wish for. Period. One easily understood sentence.

If asked why? Cuz I like long game thinking. If the past is any indicator, SY runnin TB, whatever pain the Wings have felt in SY's 3 yrs there a foundation is being laid for 10-15 yrs of success. ........ Indeed, I wish for that as long as a Stevie Y type runs the thing.

Two sentences for material, Mo, and no reply from me.... Shoot, shooter.

The Wings are what many here wish the Hawks to be. They cleaned house, on the ice and upstairs. Developed a very good farm system. Hired a top end GM almost three years ago to supercharge their rebuild. Now?

After a ten year rebuild the Wings are three points ahead of the Hawks and nine points out of a playoff spot. Now that's progress!

Be careful what you wish for.
- mohel

The Hawks are already the Wings

To be fair. Detroit didn't clean house until they brought Yzerman back. They're only 3 years into that process and have another 2 or 3 assuming the success in Florida can be replicated there.

The Hawks are on the same trajectory. They've been awful for 5 years and were falling fast the two previous with what were seen as untouchable front office people who knew better than everyone else. Not much different from Detroit and it isn't outlandish to think they are 6-8 years away from returning to the top even with the assumption that they draft well.