Joni Tuulola Headed To Finland
Ironic news: Koekkoek’s gain has led to… KooKoo’s gain.
With the emergence of Slater Koekkoek on the Blackhawks blue line, Joni Tuulola was one of the guys stuck in Rockford over the past two years. He appeared in 108 games with Rockford over the past two seasons but never appeared in an NHL game.
On Tuesday, Tuulola opted to leave the Blackhawks organization to continue his career.
Tuulola, 24, signed a one-year contract with KooKoo in Liiga (Finland’s top division). He was originally drafted by the Blackhawks in the sixth round (181 stoverall) in the 2015 NHL Draft. He was set to become a restricted free agent this offseason.
I met her in a club down in old Soho
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like Tuu-Lola
T-U-U, Lola
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said Tuulola
T-U-U, Lola
La-la-la-la Lola.
Ba-bye now.
I never knew how much I needed this news AND @raptors response.
:)
Now I’ll never hear that song the same way.
Beautiful.
ER – Kinky!
ER:
“Rum and Coca Cola!”
Coca Cola not Pepsi. Yes yes.
So if this Tuulola guy comes back and makes the team, does that Kinks song become his 3 stars of the game song at the UC?
@Perimeter Pete
There is no way that guy is ever playing in the NHL! He has so many deficiencies in his game that he was barely an AHL regular. I will give him this, he was tough in the corners and willing to block shots. However, his skating was below par, his positioning was terrible, and what stuck out to me most, was that he was not a sharp tool. The give-a-ways, the terrible passes, getting caught flat-footed and not being able to recover. The good thing this is that you can make a living playing in Finland until it’s time to get an accounting job! I sure hope this kid finished college, he’s going to need that degree…I did notice that the teammates liked him! He has that going for him!
I think it’s his swan song.
Some would argue the Kinks song would be a welcome relief from more years of Chelsea Dagger. :)
Did anyone notice Kathyrn Tappin say the word Dagger when Hedman scored the OT goal. She said Hedman with the Dagger.
Shes loyal. Bring her back and smoking to. Sizzling slinda sister.
Ian, tankathon got the goalie going 22nd and Holloway 19th.
Wonder what players we like the most that could go anywhere before 17th.
C’mon Eb,
Dagger still gets people dancing around when the Hawks score.
Always fun.
Plus, you the ultimate Canucks hater…..that song drove the Sedins and company crazy.
Google ‘Canucks reaction to Chelsea Dagger’.
Every time I hear that song I think of the Sedins reaction.
The gift that keeps on giving.
Who did we just get from WIS? That Holloway is from there hmmmm.
Ian, its get the goalie of future/1st draft rare or ufa prime yr goalie along with a top pair Defensemen ufa in prime yrs. We need 3 elite players so two of them coming from ufa/or trade 20 12 to get.
That’s the thing, with lack of scouting this winter, nobody knows where teams have them after 1st few picks. So expect draft to look different than mock drafts. Be interesting to see who drops down when Bowan picks. From what Craig was hearing, doesn’t sound like they pass on Askarov if he’s there. Does Crawford bridge the gap until he is ready, probably wishful thinking that he would but could be close.
Crow can be good like this yr until he would be ready. Thomas did it to 40. Just start tripping Fkers who try to hit you in head and watch them going flying head first into boards. Still cannot believe that someone hasnt maimed Racki yet, I mean Malkin. He has karma and it doesnt have to come from our team. Another team player could do it like a buddy of Crows/friend of a friend of Crow on another team.
PP, good point on Chelsea Dagger driving the sisters crazy. I quipped “some would argue” because I’ve heard some Hawks fans complain about it over the years – but I’m not one of them. I think it is kind of tired and probably past its shelf life but there is some nice nostalgia connecting it to the decade of Cup wins.
So I would like to see Eddie O get interviewed for the Danny Wirtz job.
His knowledge of the game and it’s players/coaches is top shelf, so you know he cannot be fooled the way Bowman fooled McDonough, who knew nothing about the above.
There is a reason he is the top analyst for the NHL on NBC, and has been for over 10 years.
He is also very good at handicapping the ponies, so you know he knows how to play the odds and knows the value of a buck.
Another act of foolery Bowman put over on McDonough, with stupid contracts and trades.
We all have our list of Bowman blunders.
There are enough there to populate the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
The kind of blunders a very smart hockey guy who knows how to play the ponies will see right through.
Whether he gets the job or not, who knows?
But his resume deserves an interview.
FYI: The only reason Marc Andre Fleury has had such a good career?
Ed Olczyk.
He knew a young goalie pressed into the NHL too early will ruin that goalie.
(See Jimmy Waite.)
Pens were struggling on the ice and at the gate. Pre Sidney Crosby.
Upper Mgmt wanted top draft choice Fleury on the ice to sell tickets.
Coach Olczyk said no.
It eventually led to his dismissal from the Pens organization
PP i think your rewriting history a bit there. Fleury was released to go to world juniors and then sent back to Chl for rest of year by management to avoid paying his 3m performance bonuses. He even publicly offered to give up his bonuses if they let him stay. The organization denied to let him.
Edward Walter “Eddie” Olczyk Jr.
Coaching record
Year W L T OTL Pts Finish
03-04 23 47 8 4 58 5th in Atlantic
05-06 8 17 – 6 24 FIRED
Qualifies him to be Team President/General Mangler/Head Coach of any NHL team
Jeremy Colliton
Year W L OTL Pts Finish
18-19 30 28 9 69 6th in Central
19-20 32 30 8 72 7th in Central
I guess that makes JC qualified to replace Bettman.
Gotta love statistics.
Something tells me it was more than Fleury not playing that was the problem in Pittsburgh. We KNOW it couldn’t have been Eddie Olczyk.
We still won’t go anywhere in the league until we get a top pair of defensemen that would actually qualify as a top pair on other playoff teams. Heck, we can’t even claim our top pair would be top pair on any other NHL team right now.
On the draft. When it appeared for a short time, the draft might be held in late June, the Hawks were hoping that Askarov would be there at 9th overall.
Now that they are picking at 17, they would consider it like winning the lottery if he was there at 17.
If he is not there. They have Holloway in their 15 to 20 range. They also like Connor Zary.
Vancouver 2, Vegas 1. BOO! HISS!
Sincerely, comparing Olczyk’s coaching record to Colliton’s is one of the most random, worthless & insignificant points I’ve seen made re: his candidacy to be a GM/team President to date. Simply amazing. Kudos!
Hi Ian.
Good points you made.
Fleury was going south after a strong start to 2003.
Olczyk saw this and limited his play time, against the wishes of Uppr Mgmt.
So guess what? Like you said, he went to the Junior tournament then the minors.
It strengthened his game.
The lockout the following year allowed Flurry to further grow his game at a lower level.
Come 2006-07, his game was ready.
Yeah he offered to give up bonus money to stay in 2003.
As an 18 year old, you get a taste of elite level hockey?
Something tells me you want to keep tasting it.
As an 18 year old, Flurry would not know what is best for him.
Did you as an 18 year old?
His coach did.
Hence his progression at a lower level.
So come 2006-07, his game was ready and he was 3 years older.
Then Olczyk got shown the door.
Regarding stats?
Stats schmats.
Winning a Cup trumps stats. Which Olczyk has done.
Stats show Panarin is elite…..til the playoffs start.
So to hell with stats.
Stats don’t go into the corners with a Chris Pronger and win a puck battle in game 7.
Stats don’t fight for rebounds with Zdeno Chara in front of the cage for a long series.
Stats don’t take pain killer injections such that you can’t feel legs, them lace em up and play games 4-5-6 like Marian Hossa.
Look, I am not saying Eddie O is a fit for President of Hockey Operations.
But he is definitely worth a look.
One other relevant point is you cannot evaluate a coach’s performance without looking at the roster he is given to coach. If Q in his prime coached the Hawks before Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabs, Hammer, Hossa came up and had an impact, do you really think the Hawks would have been making the playoffs and competing for championships?
You need the horses to win. A coaching job is measured best relative to expectations for that particular team / roster.
Thanks Tab for agreeing with my point. As did Mike. Opinions are created within the vacuum of our individual minds. Opinions about EO’s ability to coach/GM are like buttholes: They serve an important purpose in our everyday lives, but mostly – they stink.
Ken Harrelson comes to mind for me when people clamor for in-booth know-it-alls to run their favorite sports team. Be careful for what you ask!
What I would really like to hear is a conversation between the Bowman loyalists and the Q loyalists debating the reasons why we consistently brought players onto the team that Q wouldn’t play, or clearly was playing out of position.
Who ultimately was responsible for that disconnect, or was it an ego clash?
We had a couple of years where we appeared more than capable of winning another championship but didn’t get it done. Likewise, I think we actually won a championship despite the best attempts of those 2 to make it nearly impossible to happen. In my opinion.
Happy September everyone. My hope is that all stay healthy.
Silent,
I don’t think young Tab was agreeing you, Bro.
He was wondering about the Colliton- Olczyk comparison and it’s viability to make a decision on Olczyk as front office material.
Regardless,
Maybe Eddie O is not the guy for the Hawks job.
But he is obviously being looked at in the NHL for front office positions.
So somebody in the league must know something.
Interview is definitely worth finding out yay or nay.
Hawk Harrelson? Really man?
Not even close to a valid comparison unless you are using the broadcast booth as the ONLY common denominator.
Olczyk brings more to the game of hockey than Harrelson ever brought to baseball.
But hey, like they say opinions are like a——-.
Everyone has one.
Long live Reto Von Arx.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://smahtscouting.com/2020/09/02/scouting-report-emil-heineman/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwiwt6TcgsvrAhVIlHIEHWDDBk8QFjAFegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw267A95LMc6DGlGvLoK5qdu&cf=1
Looks like a possible good pick with Blackhawks 3rd or 4th in the draft.
PP i have no idea how much Olczyk influenced the decision to send Fleury down but management worried about paying his performance bonuses was clearly cited as a reason, they wanted him back down in juniors. Yes his play tapered off before going to wjc his rookie year and he was playing regularly in 06 after the stoppage from November on.
Can this guy take Colliton back to Europe w him? I’ll pay for the one way ticket. And any baggage fees.
Let’s just all agree that Eddie O is WAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY more qualified than Danny Wirtz for that job.
The Blues goalie trade to Montreal is very interesting. It’s that time when we start to some moves that will spark some good discussion.
Hi Ian
I read that too about bonus payout.
But from what I read and saw, (my job had me in Pittsburgh quite a bit in 2003) his play wasn’t holding water cuz he was 18 having to stare down Messier, Gretzky, Darcy Tucker and all those guys in the East back then.
Lemeiux had just bought into the franchise and the team was playing in an empty Igloo.
The kid was a charismatic teenager with a great smile.
All over local TV.
He sold tickets.
His play struggled and Olczyk went to bat for the kid, getting him time at a lower level, against wishes of his bosses.
Like u said, the kid wanted to stick around.
His coach knew better.
The franchise eventually woke up to that and saved bonus money in the process.
That lockout could not have come at a better time for the Pens franchise.
Come 2006 the kid was ready, Crosby and Malkin were in the horizon, and Olczyk got canned.
Craig, thanks thats why I like trading up for he future top notch goalie if hes there still around 12 I am trading up to the 12-15 area to get him.
I mean its the goalie or a good player like Holloway. We need to add a top pair Defensemen/which will be ufa, a top 6 FW which could be the 21 draft, and a goalie/ufa or this goalie in draft here.
So whats harder to get ufa wise. We know we adding a top pair Defensemen ufa wise/no other way now, so its the goalie or top 6 FW ufa wise. Both seem doable ufa wise although if were ready/young wave wise and there isint a good goalie thatg particular summer then I draft the goalie now.
Maybe the STUPID CONTRACT Given to Seabrook after the 2015 SB WAS Quinneville’s FAULT… Just maybe he Told SB, We NEED Seabrook back-You sign him FOR WHATEVER it takes…. Then gets shitcanned and SB takes the blame as GM.And he doesn’t throw Q under the bus .. Just a thought to all you Q koolaid drinkers.
LOL
Remember Q saying that about Sharpy and having good down the middle. Byby Buff.
And Q also told Bowman to trade Danault, Panarin and Hammer as well. Q wasn’t perfect, but one thing he certainly wasn’t was a contract meddler.
The Hawks need physicality and size at the forward positions,3 quality 2 way Centers,and a couple of shutdown net front clearing Defensemen before going all in on a Goalie.The roster we have now will never make it through more than a series in the playoffs.They have to play a much heavier game.
PP fair enough, that may very well be how it came down.
As for Olcyzk in front office, no reason to believe his knowledge of the game and the traits the made him very good player on the ice and successful in broadcast booth, he wouldn’t be successful there too. As for being hired by Blackhawks, my take on Danny Wirtz’s comnents is whether we like it or not, he has his guy in Bowman to run hockey end of things and he wants a businessman to take organization through these next few years of tougher financial times. Kinda why i believe those big contracts maybe were McDonoughs wishes and what Wirtz sees as needing different approach.
Ian – your take on McD pushing to keep people like Seabs does make some sense because otherwise I can’t really figure out why he got axed and seemingly out of the blue
The Q factor The McD factor and the Bowman factor. It created a dynasty which was only the 7th team in hockey history to do it. When we have the horses it worked and not other team did it since the 80s other then DET. Without a deep roster/HHNL deep they couldnt do it/noone can.
Add those kind of players Tim W said.
So lets get some men on the assemble line.
Haven’t seen anything official but a comment on another board stated Kurashev is going back to play in the Swiss league. It may be that with the uncertainty of AHL season he and other players want to keep playing somewhere so it’s a good idea to go back home to do so. As with everything in this crazy year – we’ll see how it plays out.
I don’t want Eddie O anywhere near the front office of the Blackhawks. Let him leave for Florida, and continue on with the mutual slobbering fest with Foley in the TV booth.
EB teams loaning alot of young players now to make sure they play somewhere and will return to camp when that happens. Assuming Kurashev is in the running for a roster spot next year, expect he comes back to camp.
If 20, 19 and 8 stay together to start season and 12 and 88 are on other lines, would like to see those lines become alot harder to play against without the puck. Dach obviously will help but sooner see guys who have more of an edge, like Kurashev, Suter Shaw/Cagguila get time in those other top 9 spots rather than being force fed a steady diet of Strome and Nylander in what seems like a vain attempt to be competitive in that area. Then with some development from players Barrett, Morrison, Teply and Chalupa, maybe Entwistle who should bolster 4th line for sure to transition middle 6 into a group who can compete in both ends of the ice,with or without puck. A major trade to add some help could happen in off season as well, but flat cap will change the look of trades this year.
Da Windy City put out a good article on the need for removal of the current GM and Coach.
At least we are not alone in our thinking, fellow posters.
Ian,I like your thinking but I really think we have to get away from the Shaw and Cagguila types.I love their respective games but in long playoff runs the undersized little train that could types of players just do not last to the end in today’s game Add in both of their respective concussion issues and it just doesn’t work.In their prime,maybe but not now.
MO,You and I sitting in the Hawks front office filling out the 3rd and 4th lines and the top D Pairing?Now that would be on my Bucket List!
Ian, I readily admit my talent assessment ability is novice level at best, but to me Kurashev doesn’t look like a “tough to play against” type player. He has skills and a good motor but looks more like a butterfly flitting about the ice than a player that will get engaged physically to get the puck. Maybe (hopefully) I’m wrong.
I see a line with skills like Kurachev and nasty two way player like Barratt and someone? else. Now that would be wicked 3rd line.
TimW., making alot off season acquisitions seems unlikely, just meant use who is ready and develop what is in the system for next year to get closer to where they need to be. Small buzz saw forecheckers make life difficult for opponenrs too.
EB Kurashev not a aggravator or big hitter but looks like he can handle the physical game and not shy away from the tough areas of the ice compared to players i mentioned. I call that playing with more of an edge.
Mo that could be making of good 3rd line, i want to get a look at Chapula, decent size, can still grow and very good speed, see what he can bring.
Sounds like Bill Zito from Columbus Blue Jackets gonna get Eddie’s job down in Florida, according to reports I have read.
In other news – Dale Tallon expected back in the booth with Pat and Eddie (that would be a joke, for those who think I am not kidding).
Actually, that wouldn’t bother me at all.
Talking off-season here.
To me, the glaring holes in the Hawks’ process to become relevant again exist in many areas, some much larger than others. Start with offense.
As currently built, I think most here agree we can come up with 2 scoring lines for our top 6, though they may not be top 5 or even top 10 scoring lines within the league. One would be centered by Toews and the other by Dach. For wingers we can choose between Kubalik, Kane, Dcat, Saad for the top 4, and mix in Caggiula, Kneelander and Highmore as possible swaps at times, with Strome being a possible switch at center at times. The bottom 6 are more of a mix of players on the roster and with a look to a possibility that some others may make the roster from within the organization. For me – I think we need a bit more physical toughness in the top 6 and a stronger desire to play both ends of the ice, which ultimately means we can help out at the other end and make life easier back there.
For me – a glaring hole of 2-way desire exists, a mentality many simply don’t have on the team. I believe the bottom 6 is more of a work-in-progress, as we really haven’t seen enough of our system to sort out how we arrive at a thirds and fourth line. For me, that explains why the acquisitions we got last summer of Carpenter and Smith happened. Kampf, for me, works in our bottom 6 right now.
Defensively – yikes. We have some favorite vets that are clearly on the decline in Seabrook and Keith. Neither is near what they were and really can’t figure into a Cup challenge as key parts, but perhaps as complimentary pieces. Maatta and deHaan appear to me to be stop-gaps, like Carpenter and Smith. Murphy is a top 4 guy, stay at home. Can Maatta continue to grow? Koekoek is a 3rd pair guy who definitely improved, but not sure how much more upside he has. Boqvist went backwards as the year went along and we really don’t know what he will be 2 or 3 years from now, but his small glimpses of offensive ability didn’t outweigh his average skating and frequent out-of-position play, let alone being manhandled frequently. Yes – he is VERY young and will improve. How much is the big question. Every time we see a kid drafted with potential, the board immediately puts him at top pair, part of the 4 horsemen. I’m hoping we can temper some of that love for next year’s crop of young ones, as we have yet to have any kid Dman come close to the hype assigned here.
Then we have netminders. Uh, or do we? Corey coming back? Delia? Is Corey a long term answer or just a band aide?
I think the top six is more of a workable situation and isn’t the top priority (except to instill a better work ethic). The bottom 6 is still a mess of names and faces to be determined and can be more easily patched on the fly (and possibly improved by a favorable acquisition of a top 6 guy, bumping down a quality player). So, do the Hawks fix their defense or goaltending first? I’m talking long term – not band aides.
A lot has been written about the kids in the system on the defensive side, and a little about the kids in net. Tell me what we do first, as I believe that if you are to fix the defense by growing youth from our system into the future core, that you need to be more solid with a goalie during that process (think Crawford and Delia (or other kid with highest future). Then clean out the placeholder Dmen and get the kids involved that can learn in a controlled environment (I don’t think that was the case for Boqvist). Kids need to be challenged, yes, but after they have gotten their skates firmly planted and confidence attained. To challenge too hard from the onset leaves more opportunity for failure, loss of confidence and their year ending like we saw for Boqvist, Forsling, Joki, and many others in recent past. Give them pairings that allow them to play safe, positional hockey, and then let them grow into their game. Confidence first. I like the way we grew Dach through the season, and he also responded well to the method.
If we decide we don’t have enough kids on defense to make an obvious move to youth, then keep the band aides and make the move to youth in net. We certainly can’t be counting on Crawford to get us another Cup 3 years from now.
I don’t see it as a healthy move to try fixing both parts – the defense and the net – simultaneously, and still be addressing the offensive side of the team. Too much change creates too much confusion (unless you are the VGK and in your inaugural year!).
Silent until we know for sure what the draft brings, may or may not answer some questions. I’d be happy with drafting Askarov and going with Crawford and maybe if needed sign a veteran goalie to bridge the gap if need be, time will tell on that one though.
As for forward lines, the 4th line was far from bad in playoffs and a leader in what was a pretty good pk. Hope to see Kampf and Highmore back with competition for other spot, but they could bring some trade unterest too. I just want a 3rd line that can survive on its own, not have to break up top 2 lines to support it. If they can help out defensively, show decent possession and pick up the offense in some games where the go to guys are being held in check, be huge. Some guys like Strome, Nylander, Suter, Kurashev, Shaw if healthy, maybe Cagguila back. Later in year maybe a Chalupa, Barrett, Hagel or Entwistle can help.
Defensively Dehaan withstanding VGK gives hope he can stay healthy and Murphy’s improvement, with another year playing together they can provide a decent pairing. Will Seabrook look younger not likely, but with what could be alot more movement in his joints, he could be able to be alot more effective. Keith will be Keith until somebody shows they are better, big year for Boqvist, until he has a fair chance to see what he can do, continually dishing about him is pointless really. Definitely he needs to take a big step. Mitchell will take some time to adapt, hopefully shows alot of promise.
Hopefully some trades within next couple of years bring some good return as until cap starts rising and bigger hits are gone, significant fa signings may not be something they want to do, we’ll see i guess. I see development and improvement next couple of years.
So, do the Hawks fix their defense or goaltending first? I’m talking long term – not band aides.
This is why I was saying do we draft the goalie or a good FW who might be top 6/if not then top 9. Defensemen tahts not band aid is coming ufa wise and thats the top pair Defensemen we need. So goalie or FW for this draft. The 21 draft prob doesnt have a future top 10 or better goalie in 1st and were prob picking higher is Crow retires/or might anyways.
What we are missing is what you and Tim W said. The PK was night and day from those couple off yrs ago by having Carpenter Maata Haan Kampf so they stay untl theres better. Its those positions and being two way tuff mentality and doing that is whats needed change. Young wave players will fill in most spots but we still need some ufa wise/top pair D and another two way FW that top 6.
Thats why I draft the goalie because there isint a top pair D guy in the 12-17 draft area.
I don’t expect much movement from the Hawks – it’ll be a telling year for the development of the young players – Dach, Boquist, Strome, Nylander, DCat, Highmore, Mitchell, maybe Carlsson even Kampf
I think they need to stick with the young guys and move on from Maatta (trade or buyout) and Smith and probably Caggiula (unless you can find a trade partner for Shaw – unlikely)
DeHaan I see as a dark horse trade candidate – I’d like to see if he could bring back a younger 3rd line winger with speed and size who can forecheck and be defensively responsible and play him with 12 and 17 – doesn’t have to be a wizard with the puck but a good puck retriever
Looking ahead and assuming everyone is healthy this is one possible scenario
20-19-8
Suter/Shaw -77 – 88
12-17-new guy with size and speed
Suter/Shaw-64-36
Nylander and Carpenter (this gives Nylander a kick in the butt which he needs and hopefully that motivates him to take advantage of his natural gifts)
Keith Mitchell
Murphy Boquist
Koekoek Seabs/Carlsson
Carlsson/Seabs
Crawford
Delia
Obviously if Suter can play top 6 that’s huge and puts Shaw on 4th line which could be a big plus
If Seabrook after his surgeries can be a good 3rd pair guy that’s also a big plus
And if Mitchell can play right away also big
until cap starts rising and bigger hits are gone, significant fa signings may not be something they want to do
This is why I say were getting top pair D guy from ufa because we wont be drafting top 10 again. Even if we do 21 draft and get a top pair D guy hes 2-3 yrs away which is fine but we still need another so thats why I yfa top pair D guy and draft goalie now because we draft top 6/9 Holloway then were getting goalie ufa wise then/maybe trade? That would waist something so ufa for goalie then when were ready.
All lot of the areas were not good in and need to be quality deep in the young wavers can do those spots just not all of them. Thats where we add top pair D guy, top 6 FW two way style player and goalie. Whatever we donot draft this draft and 21 draft its coming ufa wise or were giving to get and thats just spinning the wheels.
I want keep and add once we have the space.
Wrap, thats sounds right and gets us closer to more young wavers being ready.
Good posts above. I think we all pretty much agree, the Hawks are going the development route in 2020-21. Incremental improvement with the young guys they have while adding a few more into that category/mix (Pius Suter, Ian Mitchell, maybe Kurachev).
I think we will know the buyouts first, then the fate of Corey Crawford, next.
After that here are the 2 things I’m curious about as the draft approaches :
1) Dylan Strome. Its very possible the Hawks issue him a qualifying offer, then just let it sit there. He’s not going to get anything remotely close to $3 Million per year.
Remember back to when the Hawks qualified Brendan Perlini last off-season, then just let him sit there until he signed it and came to camp ? Similar situation.
#2) Brandon Saad. The question is : would Saad bring more in return at the draft OR at the trade deadline ? At the deadline he would be a rental. Teams have recently backed off trading lots of assets for a rental. Saad will not be extended at $6-Million in Chicago. Not going to happen with a Cap Freeze. But he likely would have more value to a team, that wants him for the full year.
We shall see.
Lehner got only 30-60th? cant remember. Saader should be 1st at deadline if early 30-45 pick not sure where its worth it. The whole thing about Saader and any others where is each player in 3yrs when were really ready. A 15-45th pick is that worth Saad. It is if were adding a ufa top 6 FW in that time and in that essence we get an extra good player thats a young waver and still have a good FW like Saad in the ufa add.
Thats the way I like it.
Now we draft a player like Barzal at 17th or in 21 draft 3-12th then good. What Holloway compared to him.
Craig agree on Strome scenario, if he doesn’t sign and holds out a while, could be his bus ticket out of town. Hard to say on Saad if they intennd on moving him. With the cap issues this year teams may have to look to tdl and reduced cap on a rental vs a full year. The other thought though is if Blackhawks in playoff hunt art tdl, how do you justifying moving Saad for a high pick, so maybe draft us best time if not gonna try to resign him.
Wrap that looks like a likely scenario, kinda wonder if Subban is backup, after Colliton made comnents that he won backup competition in camp this summer. May mean Delia is moved if they don’t think he would clear waivers.
To Craigs point of when we should get some answers. The last possible day of playoffs is Oct. 4th, so buyout period is usually open 48 hrs after that, which is Oct. 6th. The draft is slated for Oct. 9th and 10th. Free Agency opens and off season begins mid Oct., likely 15th give or take a day, buyout period would close day or so before and Qualifying offers due between draft and opening of free agency, about 12th or 13th. Camps open Nov. 17th and season starts Dec. 3rd. All tentative if course.
I’m not a big fan of taking a goalie with a first round pick, especially an 18 year old. I understand Askerov may be the real deal – but everyone knows goalies are the ultimate WILD GUESS at that age. Carter Hart was picked 48th I think, and he just turned 22 in August. I remember when the Fliers had him in the system and Hextall refused to bring him up despite pressure from above. Hextall said that if he wasn’t going to start – and he wasn’t – then let him play in the AHL. Hextall refused to give in and eventually got an exit interview – as I understand – a big part of the issue being Hart not getting promoted. Hextall should understand the needs of a young goalie. Hart appears to have adjusted well to being a starter at 22 years of age. This is a very young man being put into the most difficult position in hockey.
Having said that – picking 17 is a lot different than 9 or 10, and if Askerov is still there, MAYBE it is the right thing to do. I honestly have no idea of how good Delia and Lankinen have looked, and if they appear to have any (or how much of) a real shot at the NHL play careers. Delia is 26 and Lankinen 25. They are in prime time to be ready if they are going to make it. Taking Askerov now, a kid from a different country at 18, I don’t know. He sounds 2-3, maybe 4 years off to me, at least. Corey past 3 years is a hope considering his history. Gotta figure it takes him a year to adjust to the USA and living/communicating here. Hockey is going to be an added part of his problems.
Maybe we can catch an available kid out there now, from NYR or someone else. Give him a shot behind Corey and see what he does. But I hate giving up any prospects or high picks. We let our system get pretty lean trying to win – which I understood as the right thing to do at the time. But now the price is being paid.
Gonna be an interesting, and very fast paced, October.
Vancouver 4, Vegas 0. BOO! HISS! Again.
Hawks need to pick up a young goalie from another nhl team that has never actually been given a shot to be a number one nhl goalie
Without being given a chance to be the number one guy in Chicago Corey Crawford himself would probably never have won a Stanley Cup.
What would have happened to Crawfords career had Quenneville given Ray Emery the number one job?
Thatcher Demko type goalie lots of second and third line goalies given the chance might actually succeed.
Do you remember a guy the hawks had many moons ago that was never given the chance to be the number one guy in Chicago… Dominik Hasek
Time to move on from Crawford.
Even if Saad is regarded as a power forward / defensively sound / some skill 3rd liner by a cup challenging team, he is worth a first rounder. Tampa Bay acquired Coleman for their third line and gave up a first. And it is that key depth that has enabled them to get this far into the playoffs. That did not have that element last few years and they have it now, guys that can grind and go to the net.
But that is only if Stan insists on it. I think one thing this playoffs shows is that Vegas due to their depth was clearly better than the Hawks, and Vancouver, with their young skill, is also, along with many other teams. We have a high mountain to climb to be Cup competitive again. There would be no shame in moving Saad for a first next year at the deadline even if we are fighting for a playoff spot ourselves. It would be us being realistic.
If there is a new trend in deadline deals, it is teams paying the price to get a guy that brings the elements they need, even if he isn’t a first line player for them. Especially if Tampa wins it all, even more teams will be willing to do so.
I loved reading the comments above. I would say the perfect scenario for Saad would be back in Columbus. But, they are under the cap constraints and have to sign Pierre-Luc Dubois. I really like that Josh Anderson kid and they are looking to trade him to be able to afford Dubois.
I do think that Saad gets traded, and Maata too. We will not bring back Smith, Cagguila, or Koekoek, and their roles will go to Rockford guys. I do think we keep DeHaan, but Strome could be traded if we can get a really good two-way center.
Shaw and Seabrook are the wild cards. If they are healthy and close to playing their prime, then we will be a solid team; otherwise, we will have to scramble at the trade deadline.
Good calendar Ian.
Stape – On moving on from Crawford. I think the Hawks have their price ( and that’s what the key issue will be money ). Keep in mind a lot affinity for the past nostalgia walked out the door with John McDonough. Danny Wirtz is new to the job and all about the future.
Supposedly the players love Malcolm Subban. Good teammate and always willing to hang around and stop pucks as they work on their shots.
HereisMike : some excellent points about Tampa. They gave up a 1st rounder in order to acquire Blake Coleman. They also gave a 1st rounder for Barclay Goodrow. That bodes well for the Hawks. Stan Bowman has shown ( just recently with Lehner and Gustafson) that he is not going to let guys walk away as UFAs and get nothing in return.
Craig- Did Subban start even start one game since he was traded to Chicago?
If Seabrook, Shaw, de haan, and Crawford start next season why would anyone think these guys will remain healthy for the entire season?
Don’t tell me guys that played 11 playoff games and didn’t get injured will mean they can play a full season without missing time.
These guys are injury prone and not players that can be relied upon.
Seabrook is coming off of surgeries and you have to be very optimistic to think he will much help.
TIME TO REBUILD IS NOW!
The Blackhawks played 5 games, none back to back and season shutdown. Then started up in playoffs, Subban was acquired as a backup and not expected to start any of those games.
If you look at teams that won since Blackhawks won last, Pens who stuck with injury prone often concussed Crosby and an aging Fleury until somebody beat him out, with rest of their core for 2 more cups, instead of doing a rebuild as most were saying, imagine if they didn’t. Caps even a little older kept retooling around their core until they finally got one, Blues used combination of good picks, a few high ones and acquiring veterans like O’Reilly etc. plus a 4th string goalie who got hot and then struggled this year. What is this time for a rebuild talk based on. Look at the mess the Oilers and Leafs are caught in, can’t win and no cap space, with alot of long term deals and hard to do anything much about it. Like getting younger but where is the basis that going full bore young is a guarantee of success, sometimes it is, others times not but long term good teams continually find a way to reconstruct their roster.
Colorado has a chance to wrap it up, but comes out and plays a tentative third period. They actually score to go ahead after getting tied due to lackluster, back on their heels play, and give up a goal ten seconds later to tie it.
Terrible defense in OT loses the whole thing.
Seems like a number of Blackhawks games I saw this past season.
If there is a rebuild for next year I just want to see them compete. If they do not compete and play hard and work the corners etc. etc. etc. it will definitely be time for Colliton to go. Short leash. Young guys need time to play, but they need to be playing the right way. These guys on the staff need to show that they can develop players, or what’s the sense in a rebuild.
Belfour vs Hasek.
That was the choice back in 1992.
One was a proven winning veteran, one was an unorthodox young rookie who wanted a shot at being #1.
One had to go. Too bad the lousy GM at the time dumped the young rookie for a draft pick and Stephan Beauregard.
Hasek for Beauregard.
One of Pulford’s better moves.
Belfour vs Hasek.
That was the choice back in 1992.
One was a proven winning veteran, one was an unorthodox young rookie who wanted a shot at being #1.
One had to go. Too bad the lousy GM at the time dumped the young rookie for a draft pick and Stephan Beauregard.
Hasek for Beauregard.
One of Pulford’s better moves.
Hope the GM for next year makes a better goaltender decision.
What is this time for a rebuild based on?
Where have you been since the Hawks were blown out 4 – 0 in the playoffs vs Nashville?
2017 – 18 7th, Central
2018 – 19 6th, Central
2019 – 20 7th, Central
The problem with you Ian you think the Toews and Kane Stanley cup window is still open for some unknown reason.
Are you actually trying to compare Chicago to Pittsburg, Washington and St Louis?
You might want to look and see how many times these teams have missed the playoffs in the last three years and while you are at it you could look at there win – loss records during the last three years.
You say look at the mess the leaf are in?? 36W -25L 9 T picking 13 in this years draft
Mitch Marner 23 years old Austin Matthews 22 William Nylander 24 John Tavares 29 Morgan Rielly 26. Long term deals when the nucleus is young is a Problem?
Cap space is an issue for many teams.
Ian it’s funny how you can see that Edmonton is a mess and I totally agree they are a mess. You fail to take off you blinders and admit that our Hawks are a mess.
Hawks might have a young team statistically wise unfortunately very few of these young guys are front line players that you might be able to build a team around.
Dach? Boqvist?
Long term mediocre teams continue to find a ways to reconstruct their rosters as well.
All teams that win Stanley cups build through the draft there is no quick fix.
TIME TO REBUILD IS NOW! Remember the goal should be to win the cup.
Lol capital letters seal the deal. If you actually want to try to answer what i asked, i said where is the basis going full bore young has any guarantees, if you think the Leafs and Oilers have been successful and aren’t scrammbling then go ahead. All teams build through the draft, lol how many Vegas draft picks are on their roster, a big 0, none. Shows getting actual bodies over picks can build a very good team. How many teams traded their core of one dynasty and drafted another dynasty right after it, none i know of. One team a year wins a cup, so saying they can’t win is a not a stop the presses statement, because 30 teams can’t win each year. Fact is doesn’t matter what we think, the decisions aren’t made us, thank god. Maybe another cup won’t be won with 19 and 88, but as i said wheres the guarantees it would be better without them?
Vegas 3, Vancouver 0. YAY!
Dallas v. Vegas. Should be a good physical series.
The latest rumour for last week is Max Domi trade for Brandon Saad , would Domi fit with the Hawks or would he be trade with another Hawks player for a big Forward.
So many possibilities but I would love to see first round draft pick included in a deal .
The Hawks are currently not a good team…fact
Ian what is your Stanley cup winning formula?
What do the Hawks need to do to become relevant again?
Currently you and Stan Bowman seem to have the same plan unfortunately no one seems to know what it is. If you could let us know what your plan would be it would be greatly appreciated.
Stape that’s a very good question. I think Vegas may have moved the bar on building salary cap rosters. They have a contending roster of acquired Nhl talent locked up, expansion draft exempt and now can rely on draft to maintain it. If you look 2 to 3 years down the road as i brought different times Blackhawks have all contracts expiring, expansion drafts behind them without hurting them. They have an opportunity similar to VGK and opportunity to emulate their model to form and lock of who they want to keep, ability to add trades maybe fas if not having to overpay. Have a pipeline in place to maintain it. 19 and 88 may have a chance to be part of that for few years and be on a strong contender again. Meantime have patience with young players, trying as Big Indian stated be as competitive and entertaining as possible in the next few years. That’s what i hope to see happen.
Kurashev and Teply loaned to teams in their home countries
Hey Eb,
Were you starting to freak out after 2nd period?
It was 0-0 and that Demko character was resembling a jewel thief.
Getting rid of what we are going to get rid of should leave room to tell Taylor Hall,
Hey Taylor why don’t you sign a 2yr contract at 5 mil each. We will put you with 77 and 88. Your numbers will sky rocket and your next contract will be in the 9 to 10 mil range.
Maybe then get Domi for DCat see if Lil Tie will sign for 4mil 2 or 3 years. Makes us a little more sandpaper.
Saad Toews Kubalik
Hall Dach Kane
Nylander/Hagel Strome Domi
Highmore Kampf/Carpenter Holloway
I would like to see a bigger sandpaper type of forward/Center on each of the Hawks top 3 lines.A puck retriever for the high end talent.I have seen enough of Toews-Saad-Kubalik floating around together to know that its not working consistently.In the last few years Kane has been given no physical linemates.3 Soft forwards,even if they are gifted scorers,just does not work.Move out our Soft players now.Strome,Nylander,Saad need to be moved.
We can always sign a Zac Rinaldo or Michael Haley. Something with a little upside I like are Pitlick, Vessey Haula Hall and T0ffoli. Martin would be a nice Policeman for Dach and Kane. Maybe even Girgensons somewhere.
Tim W. – if moving Nylander and Strome bring back the type of sandpapery puck retriever we’d all like to see then great but I don’t agree with the need to move Saad based on the same rationale
Of course there’s an argument to be made for moving him – primarily cap issues – so the real question with him is what will his contract demands be and if you’re convinced they’re out of line with his value then ok move him but I’d keep Saad at about $5 mill per on a 3 or 4 year deal – he scores about 25 goals a year, he’s a good forechecker and responsible defensively, he’s not soft, he PKs and he’s still got some good years left in him
DAL and ISL paid there dues last yr and got farther this yr by doing so. Would be crazy to see upset and have DAL ISL in finals? That would be crazy. TB has paid there dues the most they win. PLaying a good defensive team like ISL will prepare them better for VEG then DAL will prepare VEG.
I would rather keep Saad but if we only have so many times we can load young wave and getting a 1st is better for that. We can add another Saad type player ufa wise when we clear the caphits in 23. To me its about adding to young wave that is important and getting some prime yr players. You need both.
Wrap/Tim/Roamn, those are ideas we should do for lines.
PP, don’t you know it. Demco played a helluva few games and had me (and Vegas) frustrated that Vegas couldn’t break through. But in the end, all is well. :)
Domi is a bum …wouldn’t touch his lazy ass with a 10 foot pole ….go ahead ,insert joke here .
He is an underachieving invisible come playoffs type of guy …..shit…. perhaps he`s a perfect fit .
I don’t think I can go so far as to call Domi a bum, but I do think he’s lost some of the mojo he had when he broke into the league. My guess is somewhere along the line he decided he graduated from being a hard to play against player to an offensive player and that’s where he lost that mojo. His 70 points last season seems to be the outlier moreso than his career 45-50 point average. Don’t get me wrong – I wouldn’t mind having him on the Hawks but only if he gets back to playing with his focus on playing with and edge over being an offensive star … and only for a mid-level CAP hit.
Ok.
Conf Finals time.
Dallas – Vegas:
Leaky team defense could spell doom for Dallas.
They play a heavy game and can put the puck in the net, but Vegas is the same, only with better team defense and way better goaltending.
Vegas 3rd line can go up against anyone and excel.
Dallas will need to stay out of the damn box and outwork Vegas to win.
VGK – 6 games.
NYI – Tampa:
Tampa is loaded with guys who can score and move the puck in and out of zones very well.
They added grit and it has paid off.
Very good goaltending too
NYI will havc to play their same 200 ft game only with more tenacity on the forecheck to keep Tampa bottled up.
Trotz is a helluva coach.
He will need to keep rolling his 4 lines and keep playing his knowledge in playing both goalies to win.
Tampa – 7 games.
perimeter – agree VGK and TB should advance to final although the injuries on TB could make it closer than it should be
I’m assuming Stamkos won’t be playing these playoffs and idk about Kucherov – hopefully he’s back
I think DAL will struggle with VGK speed – they did with COL and probably should have lost that series even though COL was playing it’s 3rd string goalie
Hoping for Trotz and the Islanders to advance….betting on TB.
Hoping and betting in VGK to advance.
Just thinking the more Fluery loses (yesterday not his fault) the more Lehner wins, Vegas will lean on signing Lehner. Vegas would be more incline to retain some salary and trade The Flower. A Crow/Fliwer 1A 1B punch would be great at say 7mil or 8 mil a year for both.
Gotta agree that Lehner has found a home in the desert.
I saw only the last few minutes of the game yesterday and I don’t really care who wins but I was surprised Fleury played rather than Lehner because I thought Lehner played pretty well against Vancouver. Not that the loss was on Fleury because he gave up only 1 goal – just surprising.
This is certainly a very strange year, in all kinds of ways, but also for my rooting interests in the conference finals and SCF – as in I don’t really have a rooting interest – for or against any of the final four teams. I’ll just enjoy watching high caliber hockey while it lasts. At least the off season won’t be as long as it normally would be.
I think DeBoer started Fleury partly because Lehner just played 3 games in 4 nights and partly to ease the Flower’s ego and not cause dressing room problems
It was a misstep IMO (Lehner should have started and might have have stopped the one DAL goal) although you can’t really blame the goalie if your team is shutout
I expect that is the last game Fleury plays this series
Just listened to Dave Reid on NHL Network who said that most goals scored today are from creating traffic in front of the net. Deflections with goalie out of position. In other words, Blackhawks are badly lacking here, which we all know. What happened to Buff? Thanks Stan.
Shaw used to be a great net presence but is too small and he paid a big price. I posted what a bad trade Bowman made.
Whats wrong with the Ferry. I guess hes not as good as people thought he was.
Said it before TB has paid there dues more then anybody last 5 yrs. Same as WAS STL and they won eventually. This time its TB they are/gave been the best team in hockey since 2015/Blackhawks dynasty.
Even though it wasnt until the top 5 teams, 0f 2007-2015, in the league were watered down by salary cap these teams have paid there dues.
8 goals thats just funny. Its the new 7.
I’m reminded watching the TB/NYI game about posters here that hated on Stan for trading the great Nick Leddy and not Johnny Oduya back in the day
Never mind that the Hawks went on to win the Cup that year (2015) with Oduya playing a major role but Leddy is still today only a 3rd pair guy IMO on a Cup team (just like he was in CHI) except he’s making $5.5 million and for another 2 years
Leddy at that price on the current Hawks would be an albatross of a contract (although not Seabrook sized) plus he’s no different in terms of his intensity than when he was on the Hawks – never seems to ratchet up the urgency
I liked him as a young player on his ELC and on the 3rd pair in CHI but that’s it – his lack of development and leadership since then makes Stan choosing Oduya over Leddy a masterstroke – would the Hawks even have won thew Cup in 2015 if Leddy were to have played the top 4 minutes that Oduya did? – rhetorical question
Blackhawks loan Pius Suter to a European team
NHL Draft moved up to Tuesday October 6th, 4 weeks from today.
Day two of the draft is October 7th. Free agency begins on October 9th.
According to the Athletic…Crawford was offer a 1 year deal at 3.5 millions $
Hope he will take it
Wrap, thats the same as Schmaltz others fine at elc/2ish 5ish. Take off eh. When players are like Saad then they are worth 5/6 m.
We the people here know what kind of players we need to add to the roster to get it where we want it to be again. Thats includes drafting some more top 5 skill draft players in 21 draft and some elite ufa players like 51 and 81 when we have the space in 3 yrs.
Mr Fen, its just like 2013 fall when it as lockout players playing elsewhere until season ready. Prob what this fall is like again.
When is the next lockout anyways. Must be on one of these flat cap yrs.
Ahh OCT 9th the new JUL 1st/4th celebration.
Morrison ,
Again with TB as the best team in hockey since 2015?
You said that before, and obviously forgot that team in Pittsburgh that won back-back Cups, or the Ovi/Trotz Capitals, or Betube’s St. Louis team.
Both have also won the Cup since 2015.
Meanwhile TB has skated a President’s Trophy around Columbus while getting swept, and been bounced in an ECF among other playoff losses since 2015.
Please don’t tell me about regular season stats….. they are not relevant when you are battling for a Cup.
If TB wins the Cup, you will have a leg to stand on.
Until then………….
Morrison
In fairness you did mention StL and WSH
Lehner kicks out Ferry goalie out of VEG. Who beat Lehner last yr CAR? TB is a faster better theam then them.
WA didnt win when they won presidents, nor did BOS, nor did TB. Its hard to thats why the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks were that good. BOS and WAS did win on yrs they wernt presidents and that is TB. They have had better roster then the teams that won recently. We won more Cups when we wernt the presidents. Same with LA they wernt ever and I consider LA the COL of the Blackhawks dynasty like COL was of DET.
When people thought WAS was done because they couldnt keep there most stacked roster they win the yr later. STL similar now its TB turn. For TB after they didnt show up to play ahgainst WAS in game 6 and 7 then not play against CLB 0-4 people thought were do they go from there. Win on one of the next yrs when it doesnr seem like because of previous yrs.
PIT to me is like a NJ team good team that won a few times but never went head to head with the dynasty team like COL did and LA did. COL and LA won there cups while beating the dynasty team on some of the yrs when they were winning.
Not the typical news you hear on negotiations with Crawford, makes you wonder what the future holds there. Have to believe Cagguila doesn’t get a qualifying offer, either he takes a pay cut or gets moved somewhere at draft before QO s are due. Strome likely given his QO and take it or very little more or hold out. That would set the table for Kubalik, no big money deal coming right now, limit the movement needed on roster to get everybody signed.
If Crawford moves on regardless of who 1st pick is, next year be either bring in a veteran fa, trade for younger goalie or possibly go with what they have and maybe throw Nalimov into the mix. See who teams buyout or shop in an off season that could see teams moving key pieces out. May be some possibilities there for sure.
Nice to see Vegas show up last night. Hopefully Islanders do the same tonight because I’m hoping for both series to go 7 games. I don’t care who wins, I just want to get to watch as much good hockey as possible before the impending drought arrives.
Less than one month until the draft.
Hawks at 17 : Askarov for sure if he is there; Zary or Holloway.
One of those three should be there.
Crow at $3.5 for a year could work for both parties – he hopefully has a good year then he’ll be UFA again hopefully post-Covid
Chris N. Why are you hoping 3 of those players are there at 17? What are you hereing about them?
Sorry. Correct spelling: hearing.
@tab, any upcoming plans to do an article regarding what players may be available for the Hawks when they draft at pick 17..it would be a fun read..
@craig, still hoping a few teams ”reach” for a defenseman and Holloway falls to the Hawks at 17..would be very happy with Zary as well..probably no chance Lundell falls to 17, but he would be my first pick for the Hawks if available..and who knows how the first round will play out..it seems that after the first 8-9 picks, there’s no true consensus for the next 10-15 players..
Alright … looks like I will need to be the one to wave the Marat Khusnutdinov banner for who the Hawks should select at #17. Or better yet, trade #17 for a pick in the 20’s and an extra 3rd rounder – then select him with the 20-something pick.
Best team since 2015 Blackhawks dynasty.
Sorry ER, can’t go with a 5’9″ 165lb Russian. Need a Federov Ovie Malkin size Russian. Unless you guarantee me the next Bure or Datsyuk then I’m in.
No guarantees JR. I’m prone to being fascinated by shiny objects and Khusnutdinov is my new shiny object. :)
re: slayerforever – yes, as always we’ll have some draft prep stuff coming up soon.
Tab, thanks for the website thread to blog about Blackhawks and hockey stuff. Posted here 98% of the time to other Chicago sites and primarily since 2010. This is the Blackhawks dynasty blog. Theres some excellent poster om other Blackhawks blogs but not as many here and every other sites have a lot more Flatlanders on them.
Tab, I echo Mo’s sentiments. I appreciate this site and thank you for providing it to us. It’s even more nice now in the craziness of 2020 that we have this place to come to to “get away”.
I’ll third that Tab – this is the most thoughtful Blackhawks blog going – big thanks!