Blackhawks Recall Forsling, Place Kruger On IR
The Blackhawks made a couple roster adjustments on Tuesday morning.
Defenseman Gustav Forsling is apparently ready to go and was recalled from his rehab stint in Rockford.
To make hypothetical room for Forsling on the roster, the Hawks placed forward Marcus Kruger on IR, retroactive to Nov. 9.
The Blackhawks have eight (8) defensemen on the NHL roster: Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Henri Jokiharju, Erik Gustafsson, Brandon Manning, Brandon Davidson, Jan Rutta, and, now, Forsling.
From the seven who were active to this point, Jokiharju has been arguably the most consistent – and has received significant ice time earned by his quality play. The 19-year-old rookie has nine assists in 18 games this season and ranks third on the Blackhawks averaging 21:41 on ice per game (behind Keith and Gustafsson).
And, at some point, Connor Murphy is going to return. Which begs the question: why did Stan Bowman sign so many defensemen in the first place?
Hope is ready to help, brings speed, plus can handle big minutes if his head is in the right place.
He signed so many because he had a pretty good idea none of them were any good. So the hope was if you sign too many maybe someone will surprise and be better than expected. Guess what? It didn’t happen.
Here comes the Calvary !
Manning will be waived.
Good to see him up. Hopefully he can secure a spot game in and out.
But it will be much better for me as a fan to watch him then manning,davidson and Rutta.
Still looking forward to seeing a trade or 2 to just start clearing up the log jam. I understand the return will be next to nothing.
GUESS WHAT? Anyone surprised these signings are all busts? Of course not, especially with Bowman’s lack of vision and abundance of arrogance.
Nothing should shock us about Bowman’s inability to build a supporting cast for the vets…he has not done it for 10 years.
And with a puppet coach in place who is showing his lack of fortitude and experience, this as everyone knows is going to get real ugly.
I vote for:
Keith and Seabrook
Forsling and Jokijharu
Gus and Ruuta/Davidson
Agree with other posters that we need to thin out the defense options and pick a direction soon. Find the kids you want and move forward. Remove the logjam and let them learn. Hopefully by end of month management makes some moves to set our defense.
I feel for Manning, but it just hasn’t worked.
Offense – shuffle and play a new hand. Will Saad be back in the mix?
42 and 5 will boost the D. To where is should have been/injurys happen.
That gave Buckaroo extra time to play 1st pair with Dunks. Which is great for his development. Going to be a big difference in D from game 1 of 19 season and game 41 and on of 20 season.
Agree with those D pairs, hopefully Murphy back soon to play on 3rd pair with Gus though.
Only have ability to put 2 lines out there that can score, might as well put 2 forwards and 3 dmen on other 2 lines might make them better defensively and allow the offensive blueliners more leeway and might even have a better chance to score. Kane double shifts with 4th alot of the time anyways.
Forsling isn’t the cavalry so let’s not set our expectations too high. He doesn’t have great speed – very similar to Jokiharju in that he has adequate speed but not fast. He has a good shot, like Joki, but neither would be considered an “offensive d-man”. Hopefully Forsling comes in with confidence because he can be better than Rutta, Gustafsson, Manning and Davidson – no doubt, but he can’t revert back to playing tentative like he did last season because then he’s just another Gustafsson or Rutta.
I’m happy he got the call up. Looking forward to seeing him in the lineup (and one of those other shlepps out of the lineup).
Forsling needs to COMPETE harder. Muck, grind, battle, whatever you want to call it. If he can do this he should win a job. If not, then he’s had enough chances. Let’s hope he gets it and is willing to step up.
I prefer players who don’t bail out on the boards. Doing so invites a game-plan by the opposition of ramping up the intensity during the final 2 min. of each period. The Hawks have wilted during this critical part of the game this year.
Leafs now saying instead of a top pair defensemen for Nylander they want a top 4 defenseman and top 9 forward. Wonder if Saad and Gus would get any interest.
Toronto is trying to lower their payroll. The Hawks would have to retain salary
If Saad were to go to Toronto. I don’t see Gus as a player that many teams would want. How about Keith with dollars retained plus something else for Nylander?
One of the guys here said a wk ago and mths ago about getting a good player by retaining/taking on some salary/when we can, like now/when were not using it.
If we are going to eat some salary to get Nylander, I prefer that Keith leave (helps thin out the moving parts on defense) and Saad stay. But I can’t find anyone on our roster that would fit a top 9 player for Toronto that would also fit their budget. We are so weak there. We have a bunch of decent potential bottom 3, but not really proven top 9 that are cheap. Maybe we would need a 3-way. Can we find someone to take AA now and give us someone we could flip? Can dream!
I don’t think it is time to give up on Schmaltz yet, but agree he needs to prove something in a hurry or re-signing him is gonna be a PITA. He’s gonna want more than he is worth.
I just want to see Forsling get some confidence back and be steady. He looked so good for 2 months and then… wow. Give us 55 consistently respectable games and get your feet planted at this level. Please!
SAAD is a proven playoff performer and as much as we all miss Panarin especialy Kane, unless we package him with AA for Nylander and Johansson, why trade SAAD. Bowman had lots of opportunites to spend the money correctly. I would have tried to get Jeff Skinner instead of giving Ward 3million and Manning 2 million. That money could have been spent on one really good NHL winger instead of the ragtag players he signed. All busts obviously.
Jeff Skinner is up to 13 goals. Vinnie is a having a solid season offensively with the Yotes. Danault and Duclair as well. AA is the player that needs to be moved. His salary is way to high for a player who has always been a 3rd line centre at best in the NHL.
Package him with Murphy if we have to. Two big salaries for average players. I think we all forget how horrible Murphy is? He is an expensive 5th or 6th dman on a bad team like Chicago.
And the new coach needs to realize Nick Schmalt is our 2nd line centre, not Kampf, not AA and certainly not Luke Johnson. I thought Coach Q mistreeted #8 but here we are and no one realies the games he had last year at centre where he dominated. We will realize this when Bowman, if he is still there, trades him away for nothing and #8 shines elsewhere.
Stop the nonsense JC: Stop treating a 1st round pick like #8 as a wnger or a 3rd line player. He is the most gifted playmaking center on this team which means he has chemistry with KANE!
Look back at the start of the season when the HAWKS won games, their second line was 20 8 88, until Q started the dog house routine with 20 and 8. AA at centre with Kane, they have not won a single game!!! Get 24 64 94 together as a 3rd line and start trading out the deadwood. And then, fire the GM.
84 19 12
20 8 88
24 64 94
14 15 40
waivers: 23, 22, 16, 29, 14
trade: 15, 30, 5 (way too much money for average players)
Call up: 94 (nothing else in Rockford anyway…)
Too bad: Too bad Bowman did not draft a winger in the top 2 rounds the last 2 years instead of 4 dmen, another example of a lack of smarts and vision by this GM.
Silent Spot Saad could fit Leafs wishes 6m caphit they want and under control for 3 years. Gus a low cost offensive dman who can play top 4 minutes and 2 years control and allow them leeway to add there. Nylander a high end forward who can play center or wing with Kane, plus allow Bowman to sign a fa in summer plus maybe a high draft pick who is ready. A big upgrade to top 9.
Not sure about retaing salary as it would be every year until contract expires not just this year.
If signing Nylander, cap friendly showed that to sign him today vs end of month, for 7m and 6 years hit woukd be 8.7m today or 9.6m at end of month this year and 6.6 or 6.7m hit for next 5 years. Doable without retained salary but tough with. A 3 year 5m was lower mid 6s this year and mid 4s next 2.
Another thing is Leafs need a goalie in ahl for callups, theirs are under ahl contracts not able to be. Rockford has 3 now who can, maybe Forsberg added and a pick/ prospect comes back too.
Toronto wants a d-man—stop the Saad for Nylander talk. Toronto has some smart people and they know that Saads’ play is trending in the wrong direction-they need a good back end player and won’t waste this chip. Gus would only hurt their defense, and they already have a rover named Gardiner. (who the fans complain about)
Not happening!
If Keith was younger, Babcock would be very interested.
Noonan the sn panel said last night between periods they are open to taking offers for a top 9 forward and top 4 D now to get a deal done.
Poor Gustav.
Might have been better to remain injured.
noonan96 – if Keith were younger, no team would even consider giving him up.
Not disagreeing with you.
I would be first to say Bowman sucks, if he and Crew actually think that guys like Bouma, Wingels, Manning, War and Knutz are better or as good a players like Skinner and others we didn’t want to sign.
These guys are here on purpose, temporarily, while we reload. You cant reload if you sign guys for 5/6 yrs contracts. We might want certain player that aren’t ufas yet. Waiting for them, while young guys get ready/and established.
Bowman still have every opportunity to do what these guys are planning for, adding certain ufas/when their ufas and possible trade. Making the space was done before Hoss, then 81 contract cleared another 5m and no player bonuses will clear more/cap goes up. 8 doesn’t deserve 6m like people thought just because hes a like player to Larkin. 8 should do bridge, because he didn’t earn it like Saader did.
I agree with keeping Saad.
I was JUST thinking about a possible Nylander trade and hopped on here and everyone’s already talking about it. I was thinking try to drop off Keith or Seabrook. They are still great players (seabrook actually having an up year) and can provide leadership going into the post season. Pair one of them with someone else who needs to go over the next few years AA possibly? I feel like Toronto’s pipeline has to be loaded anyways so getting great experienced players is probably more important than holding onto Nylander. Plus, they will have to resign other guys over the next few years at which point they let whoever they picked up in the meantime go. Window is WIDE open for them. Makes sense to me.
Go to cap friendly and look at Toronto’s salary cap position.
How would they pay Seabrook or Keith’s salary next year after signing Matthews and Marner?
They wouldn’t be able to. So it makes no sense. That’s why they want talented young guys.
If we aren’t giving them Joki and Dcat, they probably hang up on us without saying goodbye.
Stocking up on good Defensemen like that is best way to get a roster like NAS, a top 3 team. Sure we also need FW, we didn’t draft 81 or 10 or 72.
Mo I am not advocating to trade Saad, just alot of people mentioned Nylander and playing devils advocate to maybe show what it would take. Usually it leaks out if a player such as Keith is asked to waive a nmc so until you hear that happened it’s hard to assume anything involving them is happening. Also Murphy is injured and Leafs deep at center so AA unlikely option too. Schmaltz or Sikura don’t give enough cap room to sign Nylander comfortably.
Mike they also have 5.3m in ltir in Horton contract next year too, but agree probably be in the 20 to 25m range to resign Matthews and Marner.
https://www.hockeybuzz.com/boards/thread.php?thread_id=155928&forum_id=1%22
From the Toronto side of things no one is even considering Chicago as any type of trading partner. We just don’t have anything anyone wants. We are where we are and Stan has made the bed we will be sleeping in for a good long while.
Send Boqvist or Beaudin to Leafs…Add Forsberg and Edjsell for Nylander and Holl.
Seabrook and Keith have earned their stop in the Blackhawks Legacy. No one here questions that (/scans comment section for disagreement).
Many point out the failures of the Nashville series; let’s reeaxmine. Offensive output-near nonexistent. Game one; close game; this is when the coaching should have made changes-it was obvious what both teams were doing after the first period and the Blackhawks stuck with it. I suppose having lost game 1 by only a goal (though being dominated throughout the game) they decided to keeep the same gameplan for game 2. Bad idea; they were blown out. They looked slow overall compared to the Predators, espeically games 1, 2, and 4. Game 3; overtime loss on a bad Hossa giveaway. Might I add Hossa looked like the most dominant Blackhawk in this series. He was playing on a higher level than he normally did. He was marvelous to watch…until that really bad giveaway in overtime. Heck, even on that shift he looked great …until the giveaway. Heck Nashville even had some luck to get to OT of that game; the one shot bounced off the glass behind Crawford then back to the front of the net for an easy easy goal. Game 4 I don’t remember. So this is really the measuring stick of what happened to Q and what players the team still has a bright future (despite miles and age). We should also add the Blackhawks coasted to the playoffs almost winning the presidents trophy. A player interview in the offseason states they were not really prepared for the playoffs.
Let’s take a retrospect on that season as well. In my humble opinion this almost president’s trophy winning season was the season young players should have seen big minutes; whether they worked out or not at least it would have brought up thier trade value; Instead we saw Dano go for nothing (he’s been on waivers since and now is in colordo) and who was that defenseman we got for Leddy; Pokka never got a shot. He’s in the khl now. These are players who could have been put with the stars on the team and at least looked better than they were; not a bad strategy for building up value of players.
Then there was last year. How can you blame Seabrook and Keith for slowing down and phoning it in at times. The goaltending was atrocious. ATROCIOUS!
Ever play beer league hockey where the players are blocking more shots than the goalie? Half the time the goalies were making saves last year the opposing team was just shooting the puck into the goalie (sometimes it’s good positioning sometimes it’s “luck”) It’s not terribly motivating from a “win” standpoint; if you’re just trying to get a good drip that’s fine.
So do Keith and Seabrook still have “it”. “It” being the ability to step up when it matters-the playoffs? My opinion-the first thing I look back on is the Nashville series and think “not to the level they were during the cup era”. However of course other players need to step up; they always did; Leddy, Oduya, Hjarlmasson, Campbell, Sopel, certainly I”m leaving out other valuable contributors, Heck they did it in 2015 with that one retiring veteran (who I guess they got to make Teuvo comfortable) who gave me a heart attack anytime he was even on the ice. My points is anyone who thinks two defenseman can carry this team is out of thier mind. Joker has started off very nicely. Manning I think has been a nice addition on the defensive side of things, though not an offensive difference maker, but I’m seemingly alone on this opinion.
So does Keith and Seabrook have “it”? Seabrook has had a nice season thus far; outside a few bonehead plays (find me a defenseman who doesnt; find me any player who doesn’t from time to time). I feel they are being put under a microscope-the one line of logic I follow with the new coach (though there are levels of acceptability of course).
I’ve said it time and time again; actual players over prospects and picks almost everytime. Where would you rank Seabrook and Keith compared to defenders on other teams? If they were in the lineup on everyother team where would they fall in terms of rank? I don’t watch enough hockey anymore to give you an answer, 16 years ago I may have been able to give the best opinion on these boards for the answer to this question; not today. Yes yes, let’s leave salary out of this question; we all know Seabrook makes too much (especially long term) and Keith seems maybe a little over fair. Negate this; where would they rank team by team?
The Blackhawks should not give up anything decent to move a contract; it’s silly. I loved Bickell; Just my eyesight but I thought something was wrong with him medically from pictures in game. Was his contract too big? I don’t think so he was a force in the 2013 playoffs and honestly while not perfect he was a factor in the 2015 playoffs as well. Might not have got out of the Western conference final without him. Giving Teuvo was too much; i know thier hand was a bit forced…which brings me to the point; their hand is NOT forced this time. I keep reading “package Dcat and seabrook” are you out of your mind??? for what ? Two first round picks and a second round pick and a top end prospect? while overpaid Seabrook would still be a top 3 defense-man on most teams ( See question in last paragraph-I really dont know but my eyes tell me watching his play without comparing this is probably the case) it’s more the issue of his contract I get that; but still !!! and DCat!! CMON! NO WAYYYY. If anything this season the blackhawks should eat contracts from teams along with picks(so long as they don’t last longer than this year/possibly next).
So what would I do? I would take the weakest players and put them with the top players possible to make them look better than they are and attempt to trade them. Would it work? I have no clue depends on who in tune scouts and the gm and anyone involved is on the other team.
Who of if any of the stars to trade? My bet is someone will ask to be traded; no need to ask them….then again that is probably a big reason for the coaching change. Some teams like the Jets will be hard up aginst the cap. Keith for Byfuglien anyone? jk. okay lunch is over.
Wow, forgot about that Bowman classic: Timmo for a 2nd rounder! Timmo who had not payed in a year, over 40 years old and washed up for the last 7 years!!! Thx Mr. GM
Let’s get swerious and clean house with AA, Murphy, Ward who are over priced for a bottom centre, a bottom dman and a bottom goalie. The problem we have nothing in Rockford but I would rather lose with more bad draft picks dfrom Rockford than super bad free agent signings!
And fire the GM before he pulls a Bob Pulford or Mike Keenan trade frenzy like when we lost JR, Belfour, Wilson, Chelios….
This guy will save his ass and his father’s ass and trade Toews, Kane, Keith or Seabs which is wrong!!!
84 19 12
20 8 88
24 15 94
14 64 40
2 28
56 7
42 ???
@Hull65 not sure if you read my post but this is exactly what I’m getting at. You don’t replace proven players with nothing-prospects and picks are huge gambles compared to proven players; even if they are in a slump. How would you rank our current defenseman based on their performances this year so far?
here is how I would. At an eyeballs glance it would be nice to have a faster defenseman in the top 4 but speed doesn’t always translate to all the needs of the game.
#1 Seabrook
#2 Keith
#3 Joker
#4 Manning
#5 everyone else
so go ahead and trade Keith or Seabrook; who fills those roles? How long will it be before someone does? Or are they more an indicator of the reason why the team is bad. So who is to blame here? Let’s point fingers. Who is bringing the team down on a consistent basis? ???
I guess I’m doing this out of order because I just went from bargaining to anger and it should be the other way around for the five stages of grief.
I do not think its wise to trade 50 or 20.
Trade no stars eventually turn into the Dead Wings.
Vancouver kept Henrik and Daniel Sedin and could have traded them a few years earlier for those so called nothing picks.
Instead they kept them until they they were no good and got absolutely nothing for them.
How about Andrew Shaw for two 2016 2nd rounds pick 39 and pick 45
Number 39….Alex Debrincat…..Number 45 Chad Krys
Hopefully these nothing picks will help the Hawks for a long time.
Chicago has ageing stars, better to pick up something good in trade now while they still have good value as apposed to getting absolutely nothing if management holds onto them for to long.
If the goal is to win with core guys again, then the time is now, gotta shit or get off the pot. The way i see you gotta go all in while you can, if thats the goal. Too late this season but gota for it next, just can’t expect the core guys to contribute forever.
@Stape I see and agree with your point; however Shaw was a scenario where they really couldn’t sign him and he had quite a few injuries (he’s having a good start to this season). I maintain Players over picks most of the time. Look over the list of first round picks from the past few years; go back as far as you like. See the results; and that’s the first round! Debrincat was a steal in the 2nd round thus far. Chad hasn’t played an NHL game; we’ll see.
It’s my understanding (though I could be wrong) the Sedins were never even approached about removing their no trade clause….which….was a no trade clause so even if they asked them they may have said no.
@stape going back to my previous post where would you place Keith/Seabrook on rank on a few teams (I don’t watch enough to even list defenseman on most teams currently). Say Florida Panthers; you know where Dale Tallon is around. Where would they rank there; oh they have Barkov that sounds familiar.
My biggest issue is people saying we have to throw in picks or prospects of our own to move Seabrook or Keith (when the team is not hard up against the cap to do so anyway). It’s just crazy; we are talking about the 1-2 defenseman on this team and 2 is a former playoff MVP!! If they get moved big contract or not the return should be quality not firesale.
@ian exactly. I agree; rebuilding year is fine. Look at the year Bergeron is having. I mean we are talking about 3 playoff MVPs here….and Brent Seabrook…and Crawford who arguably was a playoff MVP including in the eyes of the winner of the MVP Kaner.
So we have to ask….is the stars the problem???? Or is it the supporting cast????
How can we blame Seabrook/ Keith for mailing it in last year?
Simple, being professionals making millions of dollars to perform.
The Sedin’s were not approached to wave there no trade contracts.
In my opinion, bad management at its finest.
Is it not managements job to try to improve their hockey club?
Same goes for the Islanders with Tavares. How dumb was that?
Let him walk for nothing.
Everyone talks about how dumb Ottawa management was trading Karlsson.
At least they got something. As apposed to keeping him and letting him walk for nothing.
Just a guess but probably at least ninety percent of NHL players were once drafted.
Would that not mean having many draft picks is extremely important going forward? You know…Luck….Lottery tickets. More chances, better odds.
I get the impression a lot of hawk fans think that if you trade a player like Keith
that you don’t get anything in return. Well you do if you don’t wait until he is fourty.
How about a Webber for Subban type trade?
Hawks make a trade to get a younger core before we have the over the hill gang.
@stape all that sounds reasonable. Ultimately though I think one of the stars may request a trade. How about Seabrook with the Game Winning Goal last night? They don’t ask how. Looked like he forgot to skate out for the 2nd star of the game. Or maybe no one told him or maybe he didn’t want to. Or he did and I missed it.
Wonder if 7 will be a shared retired number down the line…..
Trading a player who is going to walk is different. That’s why I can’t get too upset about the Panarin trade…..too upset…..
Same goes for Hjarlmasson. I thought for sure his next contract would have commanded more money. Before the trade I was thinking he would get 8+million+. Why not?? Well probably because his first year after the trade he spent most of it injured. You think about how he was injured for a good period of time after the trade and how otherwise he may have commanded big bucks= from that perspective maybe not a bad idea to trade him.
Not trading Tavares (who was going to walk) is not quite a great example compared to players who are infact locked up and performing with a proven track record. It’s apples and oranges.
Yes making millions is a reason to play but do you think had they stepped it up it would have made a tremendous difference. Even if they made the playoffs one of the goalies would have had a “flip a switch” with their play to get anywhere. They tanked.
Seabs and Keith are going NOWHERE ! Case closed ,.,.stop the blabber .
And who ever was saying trade Crow ,.,.,stop being silly .
We have what we have on this team ,.,.suck it up . Rebuilding year ,.,.,take a deep breath . Players will be moved but ………..not in the near future .
I was originally hoping the Hawks would have signed Panarin to a long term deal
while trading someone from the core that was older.
Thus getting a younger core that would have a longer shelf life.
Why would the Hawks do that when we will now be able to grow old together
with our Blackhawk heroes.
I laugh when Ranger fans are told the Rangers are in a rebuild and the Rangers have more points than the Hawks.
I laugh even harder when guys like HALKTALK would rather go down with the ship than trade any veteran players that actually have some value.
If Chicago was going to have a chance for the cup this year wouldn’t they be in the top third of the standings?
What is a realistic goal for the Hawks?
If 10 million dollar players have to get double shifted for us to be a bottom 10 team
we are screwed.
What should the Hawks do WALL?
Well STAPE , Keith and Seabs have n.t.c. or n.m.c. so i really think they are here for the long haul .Could they be moved ? ,.,.,perhaps ,.,.,.the trade deadline ? It`s not nice to laugh at people either Stape,.,.you hurt my one last feeling ,.,.,I can tell your a silly silly person because you talk of things that did not even happen as if they were facts .
Never base a post on things that have never occurred ,.,.,i like facts over pulp fiction . P.S Stape ,did you see who we had in net last year ? P.S Stape the Sedin`s said no to a trade because they had enough pride to retire as Nucks . It was their choice ,.,.just as it`s Seabs and Keiths .
HALKTALK, I totally understand that we had terrible goaltending last year leading to extre losses.
I would like you to know that the Sedin’s in fact never said no to wave their no trade contracts.
Canucks management decided that would not ask them out of respect for the Sedin’s. In my opinion that was a dumb move. I am basing this strictly on my logic that management’s job should be to at least try to improve their hockey team.
As for what seems to be with pretty much the norm for every Blackhawk player
the n.t.c. or n.m.c. comes somewhat into play. I think at some point management should try to unload some big money core players.
To get assets to try to get younger or to straight out trade for younger players.
I totally understand that we have had a great run and our core has lead us to winning three Stanley cups.
I also realize that was the past, our core is ageing and as time goes on the value of possibly trading a Keith or Seabrook will go way down.
So, even if it’s Seabs and Keith’s choice at some point is it not managements responsibility to try to improve the team by at least asking them if they would be willing to move?
It’s managements choice weather or not to ask the players with the no trade trade or no move if they would wave the no trade. I for one would hope at some point that management would look to add some assets moving forward.
maybe it’s negligible but wouldn’t some of these players want to play in a state where they are taxed less?
Again my biggest point is Keith Seabs like it or not are still 1-2 on this team and should yield a quality return. Seabs is having a darn good year especially given the circumstances (will someone on this team besides the top players score a goal already!) . Gus is 1-2 as in twelve. Still love the interview where he talks about how in jrs or somewhere before the NHL he was responsible for a giveaway that cost his team the series. Gus says he learned a lot from that; to me that statement translates to “he learned how to do it all the time” I read somewhere Erik Gustafsson cost the Blackhawks the 2016 series against the Blues. I know that lousy TVR was out there for almost every goal. I’m telling ya if TVR was replaced on that team by…..almost any not terrible defenseman the Blackhawks could have gone far in the 2016 playoffs.
That game 7 is a sad box score to look at; Goals by Shaw and Hossa in game 7 against the Blues. I recall Seabrook hitting the post late in that game.
Hawks activate Marcus Kruger from IR. Place Brandon Davidson on IR. Matthew Highmore out 4-6 months with shoulder injury.
Recliner, Seabrooks shot went off both posts and out again. Brouwers went off post and right back on his stick and he had an open net for game winner. The difference in game 7 and the series.
All good points.
The stars mentioned from 8 to 50 to …… all of them. Their input into Hawk winning culture is already written into the history books.
BUT the Hawks are nothing going nowhere for this year and probably a number of years to come – especially if we hang on to aging players who once were superstars – still with gas in the tank but high hard mileage engines. By the time the current youth might start getting better the stars will be but mere shadows of themselves and unable to contribute in any meaningful way. If the Hawks get an offer with anything reasonable in return then accept it – but the return has to be 1) young and 2) with potential – ” You don’t replace proven players with nothing-prospects and picks are huge gambles” – well you do because the proven players have a very limited shelf life and the prospects do have potential and years ahead of them.
Time to distance ourselves from emotions and look at this analytically. Take the best we can get now and allow our glorious proven players of days gone bye one more chance at another Stanley Cup. We will relish in their glory. And we will at least give ourselves a chance at a future.
Imagine if Toronto took Keith in exchange for Nylander to help with a Cup run? If Keith helped accomplish that I would feel pride. It’s far fetched but possibilities like that are out there – don’t ignore them, embrace them.
@Garn
No doubt I would be rooting for Keith if he were to go anywhere