What Could The Blackhawks Blue Line Look Like?
The Blackhawks blue line is going to look different in the coming season. Slater Koekkoek and Olli Maatta are both gone, making room for newly acquired Nikita Zodorov and incoming rookie Ian Mitchell.
Chicago has a crowded group of defensemen, however. The Hawks claimed Nick Seeler off waivers last season, but it appears to be impossible to see a way he’s on the NHL roster next year. Similarly, the Hawks signed college free agent Wyatt Kalynuk to a two-year, entry-level deal and he now appears to be on the outside looking in.
Without Seeler or Kalynuk, Chicago will still have seven defensemen (including Mitchell) fighting for ice time at the NHL level.
So how will Jeremy Colliton roll out his defensive pairs whenever the new season begins?
Here’s our prediction:
Duncan Keith – Connor Murphy
Nikita Zadorov – Adam Boqvist
Calvin de Haan – Ian Mitchell / Brent Seabrook
Why Keith – Murphy?
At 5-on-5, Keith and Murphy were on the ice for 198:04 in 49 games last year, which is roughly half of the ice time Keith spent with Boqvist in eight more games. However, when Keith and Murphy were together, they had a better Corsi For % (51.76) and Shot For % (51.18) than when Keith was with Boqvist (46.90 and 46.46). Keith and Boqvist generated more offense (19 goals for vs 6 goals for with Murphy).
The only defensive pair the Blackhawks had to produce a better Corsi For % and/or better Shots For % than Keith-Murphy with at least 195 minutes of 5-on-5 together was Maatta and Koekkoek, neither of whom are on the Blackhawks roster currently.
Why Zadorov – Boqvist?
Zadorov is new to the Blackhawks. Of the internal options, de Haan would figure to be the best left side defenseman to pair with Boqvist but they only spend 4:48 together at 5-on-5 last year and it wasn’t very good when they were paired. Zadorov skated an average of 17:46, which would figure to have him as a third pair defenseman. But as the Blackhawks build for the future, giving Boqvist a more physical, stay-at-home defenseman should give him more ability to take the reigns offensively.
Last season in Colorado, Zadorov spent most of his 5-on-5 time with Ian Cole (397:22). He also spent 223:16 with Samuel Girard and 164:30 with Cale Makar, posting a 52.20 Corsi For % with Girard and 51.97 Corsi For % with Makar. Girard spent more time with only Erik Johnson last season; Makar spent more time with only Ryan Graves. Pairing him with Boqvist would be a similar assignment in Chicago.
The other reason to start the season with Zadorov getting increased exposure is his contract. He’ll be a restricted free agent after the 2021 season, meaning he’ll be playing for money and the Blackhawks will need to figure out how he fits into their plans beyond the coming season. Murphy and de Haan both have two years left on their contracts but could be pieces the Hawks look to deal at the deadline if the rebuild includes moving on from veterans. Zadorov (25) is younger than Murphy (27) and de Haan (29) and gives the team size on the left side.
Why de Haan, Mitchell and Seabrook on the third pair?
This comes down to how the Blackhawks use their veteran defensemen. The only defensemen who skated more total time short-handed than de Haan last year were Keith, Murphy and Maatta. Obviously Maatta is no longer with the organization, meaning a healthy de Haan will be asked to play a more important role in penalty killing. Coming off his second hip surgery, how much the Blackhawks can realistically ask of de Haan is something that will need to be watched in the coming season. Pairing him with Mitchell is an ideal spot for Mitchell to get used to the NHL game. One would figure that, once he’s in the NHL, Mitchell would figure into the Hawks power play with Keith and Boqvist as well.
What the Blackhawks do with Seabrook will be fascinating to watch. If he is back to being a more healthy version of himself, Seabrook could still be a valuable player on the blue line. But he had three significant surgeries last season and isn’t getting younger. Keeping him healthy and finding ice time for a leader in the room will undoubtedly be Colliton’s toughest job in the coming year.
Like those pairings, makes sense. Think opportunity if healthy for Seabrook to play should be there. Back to back games may be even more a factor in a compressed schedule, plus Mitchell and Boqvist may sit games at times. Also injuries, Dehaans health, Murphy has spent time there last couple of seasons and Boqvist has had nagging injuries to start his career, plus Keith not getting younget either.
I like those d-pairings and echo Ian’s notion that Boqvist, Mitchell and Seabrook could be in a rotation for 2 of the 3 RD spots. Those pairings would put a more offensive minded defender (Keith/Boqvist/Mitchell) together with a more defensive minded defender (Murphy/Zadorov/deHaan) which, at least on paper, seems like a good idea.
I think these are the pairings I would like to see out the gate, but if Mitchell holds his own I would like to see him paired with Keith at some point in the season.
Like those d-pairs.
Boqvist and Mitchell on the points for pp1 & pp2.
Keith/Murphy Pk1
Zadorov/De Hann Pk2
Ideally de hann stays healthy and maybe they can move him around the deadline.
Mitchell will not play many games except iff there is 2-3-4 injuries because he is still a fragile kid and not ready at all for NHL …the Hawks have Seleer and Carlson ( already a more ready player with more then 100 games played in Rockford ) that can play.
Mitchell should maybe play a few games later during the season with the Hawks but I would prefer to see him a full season in Rockford with Regula who should also play all season and Beaudin …
No rush for them to play now.
probably DeHaan will be hurt again or maybe trade later this year iff he perform .
Still think the Hawks are not Done yet with trade.
I would love to know where Hawks2010 came up with the idea that Mitchell “is still a fragile kid and not ready for the NHL” but is advocating Seeler & Carlsson… LOL
EB may even see the entire defense corps on a rotation, with owners wanting as many games as possible in a compressed schedule. Possible with covid factor the forwards do too, maybe a seperate one between top 6 and bottom 6. Even might see them with a taxi squad of another goalie and few skaters. Although need some rules for salary cap so big caphits aren’t rotated in out as a loop hole to hide cap i imagine.
Please do not put Boqvist on the point of a powerplay as the lone D man.He is a disaster at getting back to defend.Mitchell,Kalynuk,and Carllson are going to be true competition for starting spots.If Beaudin is better in camp than Boqvist then elevate him past Boqvist in the food chain.Dehaan or Murphy will be moved if these young guys perform well in camp.LTIR for Seabrook.
Ian, good point regarding the possible Covid effect on compressing the schedule to drive more player rotation than normal.
Not horrible pairings.
Time for Colliton to show hat he knows how to pair and use TOI to his players advantage–fit the players to the vaunted “system”.
Re: @Tim, why do people continue to think that LTIR is the only option for Seabrook? I don’t think LTIR will happen unless Brent’s new hips & shoulder don’t work and he absolutely cannot play.
I think if he doesn’t get the time that he wants and he is indeed 100% healthy, he will waive his NMC by the trade deadline. He wants to play & has been rehabbing hard. Whether or not he is physically able to do it remains to be seen. But the guy deserves a chance.
I trust we aren’t just “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic!”
The real issues AREN’T being addressed- Goaltending? Scoring? Coaching? General Management? Drafting?
Even Bobby Orr ( Rx-BlackHawk!) won’t help right this ship!
C’mon Stan- respect your team leaders & commit to creating a competitive team!
I rather see Seeler as a 5/6/7 D-man and Mitchell playing in Rockford to get more playing time and QB the power play there. Plus start DeHaan on the 2nd pairing and Start out Zadonov at 5/6 until he gets use to the system.
DeHaan is steady and sticking him with Mitchell is a good idea. DK and Murphy seem to play well together so that works too.
On the other hand almost all the comments I read about Zadorov by Avs fans alluded to how mistake prone he is, so putting him and Boqvist together might not last long. I think Boqvist would be better off in Rockford (and I think the only reason he was called up last year was Stan trying to sell him). As bad as his defense was, he didn’t show much offense either. Give him a chance to work on both.
I may be way off base, but I am optimistic that Seabrook can still play some. Keep his minutes down and he might just surprise the haters. Always a warrrior.
Now, as for the goalies yikes! How about a plywood cutout of Warren Skorodenski if it goes south right out of the gate.
There is only one way a team with Toews, Kane, Keith, Dach, etc is bad enough to get a top ten pick. If we don’t have an NHL goalie. That is how we got Boqvist. Remember? Dach was from winning the lottery. We never have been bad enough to draft a guy like that.
So with no NHL goalie, the team can still be a playoff bubble team or better in quality and depth up front, but will be in the bottom ten in the overall standings. Lottery pick. Maybe we get lucky again and move up. If not, still a solid talent there for us.
When the time is right, you plug in an NHL goalie to reset. It is probably the fastest way for them to rebound with their vets. I’d look for them to sell guys off at the trade deadline too.
All of this may be a moot point. Covid and the affiliated concerns could easily scuttlebutt the entire season, something not enough people are talking about. If that happens, then what do you do with some of these older vets that haven’t played competitive NHL hockey in 18 months or more, come October 2021?
Oh look….potential changes to the lottery are in discussion at the GM meetings. Yzerman says the wings were robbed of the first overall pick, that’s interesting. You know who won the draft….the Rangers. The Blackhawks had ….excuse me,,,,should have had better odds of winning the lottery. The Rangers should have had worse odds at the first round pick than the Blackhawks
The Blackhawks royally screwed up by not losing to Edmonton. Did they seriously think they could go alll the way? Did anyone? Anything is possible but it would be shocking to make it to the western finals. I mean even a first round upset is possible with elite goalie play and hot special teams. It was obvious to anyone who knows hockey the Blackhawks would beat Edmonton. Heck they may have beat them with the rookies in net. Guess we will never know.
To all the people crying about Crawford leaving (and for the record i wanted him back on a one year…with of course the option to resign thereafter) it sure looked an awful like Crawford was a goalie playing for a contract right??????
Yes players step it up I the playoffs but cmon. Crawford stole a couple games, couldn’t steal the series. All respect given for a great Blackhawk career otherwise.
Pertaining to defenseman I imagine Stan is listening to offers and while his biggest moves have been made for now can approach his next moves with more patience.
Seabrook has been a great player and has been playing hurt or in pain for years. He went through three surgeries to reduce pain and improve mobility.
As with all surgeries some are more successful than others. I know someone who went through one of the three surgeries and for them it went great. While they are not an athlete their job does require quite a bit of physical labor.
Seabrook has earned the right to return to the lineup and quite frankly hes getting paid to.
When it comes to maybe moving a defenseman …well look at it this way you move one of them suddenly a crowded blue line looks thinner with rookies. No really it’s a big change especially with Seabrook at least at this second being questionable. Seattle draft who us getting protected? Dehaan? Murphy? You going to leave either exposed? If so look into trading the explosed player now. Stay in good Seattle draft positioning should be one of the big factors.
If I were gm I would look at my realistic expectations of extending either Murphy or dehaan in two seasons and evaluate now if in two years I’m going to. Murphy might be the most valuable player on the blue line. I mean this in the sense he does not have a no trade clause. How much hes paid is debatable in value, goldilocks and the three bears of opinions. Bottom line he probably had more value this year than next….well, aside from the whole teams not making money thing.
So bottom line Stan is in position to be patient. Strongly recommend he work the phones to find team needs and orchestrate a multiple team trade beneficial to all three.
Stefanie,I completely agree with you.If Seabrook out performs the younger D men or any of the D Men at all,put him out there at let him play.I hope you are correct and he is physically back to top form.I may be too much of a pessimist when it comes to injured vets returning.I had pretty much written Seabrook and Shaw off.We will see. I just would like to see a legitimate competition for jobs.
.
Friendly reminder Duncan Keith wants to win a cup. If you think I’m suggesting hes asking for a trade I’m not. It’s really hard to pick which team is going to win. Just look at casino odds for verification. What I am doing is bringing up a fun stat. Blocked shots leaders. Keith and Seabrook both in top five. I’m not suggesting they block shots all season but given a cup run these are two defenders I want to see on the ice. Anyone rmemeber how important Brent Sopel was to this team? I do.
The problem with Seabrook is even if he wanted to be traded, his price is too high now at his age, the Blackhawks would have to eat some salary, better to keep him around for third line. I love Seabs, but his contract was too long, I know he was compensated for the Championships, but a little more money and a little less time on his contract would of really been the way to go. BTY, If they trade Murphy I’ll be at my wit’s end. I had hoped he would come around when he became a Blackhawk, and it seems like he is, of course, that means Bowman will probably move him….
For me, I believe that a more balanced pairing brings strength for the overall balance of the unit on the ice, and really the only time you should have an unbalanced pair on the ice is when a special situation calls for it. When a team is down a goal and it’s late in the game, then yes – put out two offensive minded Dmen. Likewise, protect your lead late in the game with a stronger defensive pairing. In game player management is on the coach. Some consideration needs to be made for developing the younger guys though by putting them in situations of greater responsibility to LEARN the role. For this reason, I also believe in the AHL. Learn down there and then refine the skill at the NHL level. Can Seabrook do a conditioning stint in the AHL this year?
The problem is we have no idea what the AHL looks like this year. Talk out there of AHL starting in December. Talk on NHL starting in January. Right now it is all talk only because of the GIANT INVISIBLE ELEPHANT in the room. Covid-19.
Honestly, does anyone REALLY know what December is going to look like in our country, let alone January and February? Not trying to start a political conversation. I will suggest that it may be ugly, perhaps even real ugly, and the timing of hockey may be a moot point. Hopefully the opposite happens. The reality is that the course of social activity and our approach to combat the virus we are on now likely won’t change at least until late January if we get a change of President, and not at all beyond January if we don’t. To me, that puts the entire season in danger. We figure to have a better idea if cold weather sets in and stays here for the next 6 weeks and the election plays out to a winner.
Then we get to look at the financial ramifications on the game. What changes in the game then take place based on the status of Covid? Do we suddenly have fans in the arenas, a full house? Do we not have any fans and empty venues? Do we get forced to “bubble” in places to get a season in? How much thought went into this winter’s play when cap rules were revisied? Are we forced to revisit all changes the financial climate brings – both good or bad? TV contracts? Do we scrap everything and hope for 2021-2022?
I’m hopeful of hockey in some form this winter, at both professional levels. That would make our development of kids far easier on the team and the fans. And hopefully we are healthy enough as a team to allow some kids to play at the AHL level to better develop skills that are necessary to become quality NHL level players, and bring us all the mental enjoyment and relief we all need.
But I do like the stronger movement on this board to balancing our pairings!!
Fine with the pairings.
Let’s take the rosiest of possible rosy scenarios and generously assume we have six top-4 defenders. Would that make up for the fact that we don’t have any top-2 defenders?
The hawks had Lehner and Crawford in net this past season.
With Toews Kane Keith and Dach on the team they were a bottom 10 team.
They will be a bottom 10 team again this year regardless of who the goalies are.
Aging veterans don’t get better with age.
@Silent: Excellent thoughts about all of the off-ice goings on and how it will affect the league and the product we get to see.
@Tim Right on! Was not meant to be accusatory. Safe to say 98% of us here want the best for Seabs and hope BionicSeabs comes back better than ever.
That would certainly help & be best case scenario.
Also, to whomever trolled me earlier (Tab took it down from public consumption, but it still came to my email): if you’re gonna be nasty, its spelled STEFANIE, not Stephanie. Not sure what I did to set you off (fragile much?)…..But I’m not the only one here who doesn’t like Colliton, whether you think I have a God complex or not.
Going back to saving lives now.
:)
In my opinion there are 3 things that make a team tougher to score on:
1. A top pair of defenders that the opposition would all agree are tough to score upon
2. Goaltending that can steal games by standing on their heads (at least one of these)
3. Forwards that can (and more importantly WILL) backcheck and cover for mistakes and help out defensively
Looking at this team – we don’t have number 1, number 2 and FAR too few of number 3 (arguably having just traded away one of our top 2 at this skill, but acquired 2 more in this vein).
A plethora of average players just isn’t good enough to be anything other than….. AVERAGE.
If Seabrook has recovered from the surgeries and is healthy enough to play – the question is should he be in the starting lineup for most games or possibly be in a 3 man rotation for 2 spots or should he only play spot duty? What should be the determining factor to answer that question?
I submit that, if in fact the Hawks follow through with their official position to inject youth into the lineup, then Seabrook’s role in this new paradigm is different than it was previously when the team emphasis was less about youth development and more about winning games and making the playoffs. How can Seabrook best be utilized in the most effective way toward achieving the team’s stated objective?
To me, those are the questions that should be asked and answered – not whether Seabrook can currently play a better defensive game than one of the young d-men, and if yes then he should get the ice time. Playing Seabrook over one of the young players is counter to the new direction the team is taking UNLESS he can mentor another young player better by being on the ice with him in a game and that calculus overrides the experience the other young player isn’t getting because Seabrook is taking his ice time.
My opinion is that if Seabrook is going to play than he ought to be taking the ice time from a veteran player like Murphy, deHaan or Zadorov rather than Boqvist, Mitchell, Carlsson or other young d-men.
Thos is a good F ing idea.
MRFENN92
October 26, 2020 at 11:26 am
Ideally de hann stays healthy and maybe they can move him around the deadline.
I agree with Silent, but I’d add a fourth item to the list.
4. Team-wide puck possession. Other team can’t score if they don’t have the puck.
Losing key forwards who win pucks and/or buy time and space with the puck has also killed this team’s defense by simply making them play defense more often. Some of those losses were due to the cap, e.g. TT. But many were failed trades, e.g. Danault and Kahun.
Here are their CF% now:
TT: north of 60% (!!!) for four straight years (!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Danault: 54%, 50%, 51.7%, 55% last four years
Kahun: 54.2% over 50 games with Pittsburgh, 51.7% with us the year before (and we sucked).
All players generally above team averages every year (CF relative). Sometimes dramatically so.
If the “advanced statistics” revolution in hockey means anything, these types of players are crucial to winning hockey games.
By the way, Kahun is available and we could get him for peanuts. But we won’t of course. I’d fire Stan for that alone.
Taking the stance that this will be a compressed schedule. Here are my ideas for the NHL to take. Let there be an expanded roster. An extra forward and extra dmen 27 players. Cap is still 81.5.
For the Hawks have a rotation on both offense and defense. This is where Jeremy has to learn who plays well with who. O lines and d pairings.
If we play against heavy teams go big and go fast/young vs others.
Kubalik Toews Janmark
Kane Dach Wallmark
DCat Suter Chalupa
Highmore Hagel Kurachev
Keith Murphy
deHaan Zadorov
Seabs Mitchell
Keith Kalyuk
Boq Zadorov
Mitchell Beau
I don’t see a scenario that would ever exist where JR’s lines & d combos are anywhere close to being a reality. C’mon…
“I’d rather see Seeler as a 5/6/7 D-man and Mitchell playing in Rockford”
JR ROMAN,I like the way you think with your Line construction.If it were a true competition where the best players won jobs,you would be right on the money.I would maybe toss Cam Morrison and Pirri in the mix ahead of Highmore.But the fact that your lineup takes out much of the softness on this team,Strome,Nylander,Boqvist,and ends the Kamph,Carpenter experience,I am right with you.I believe that Mitchell and Kalynuk along with Morrison are going to show that they are much more developed then people are guessing.If we are going to go down then lets go down with some hardness and jump instead of sticking our tails between our legs.Do not pay attention to the naysayer.I hear that doom gloom will never happen spiel all the time.Keep on spinning out ideas and identifying better players in the organization my friend.
Tim: It isn’t “doom and gloom spiel” – it’s the reality of the roster that’s been constructed. The idea the Blackhawks would send half of their veteran forwards on NHL contracts to Rockford (eating salary) to play kids would not only make the team worse, but it would also piss off agents so much the Hawks would have an even harder time getting a good player to sign here than they already do.
Let’s make at least a minimal effort to converse in the real world, not on your XBox.
Lots of good points made here.
Take a glance at the pic of Boqvist and RNH above. This is an illustration of how much has has to learn about defending and using his strengths. He is slight in size and fast as hell yet he chooses to right taking an interference call instead us using his speed to position himself better to make RNH go around him.
I have not seen growth in him over the last 2 training camps…something has to get better in how we DEVELOP.
Risk taking an interference….not Right…sorry
Tim W – I think we’d all like to see legimate competition for jobs but a player’s contract status does play into in a valid way
It’s too easy to say the guys who play the best in training camp get the jobs
A totally possible scenario is that Kalynuk or Carlsson plays really well in pre season outplaying DeHaan for example or Zadorov
Let’s also say Mitchell proves himself an NHLer and Boqvist shows he’s improved from last year – now what do you do keeping in mind Kalynuk and Carlsson are waiver exempt
If you can trade DeHaan for a good return great you can open up a spot in the top 6 D but what if there isn’t a good return out there at the start of the season
Then it’s better asset management to send Kalynuk and Carlsson to RKF and wait for a better deal for DeHaan maybe until TDL
Stan would be foolish to simply dump DeHaan for whatever he can get when he could simply keep the two young guys in the minors and have them available for call ups as needed
In fact I wouldn’t be surprised to see pretty much this scenario play out
Remember Carl Dahlstrom? He was Lucas Carlsson 2 years ago. The Blackhawks lost him on waivers last year.
Thankfully the season doesn’t start tomorrow. And the Blackhawks still have work to do to figure out their own internal issues (see: Strome, Dylan). So there are opportunities for them to move some guys to give them an opportunity and bring back assets (hopefully picks). But we need to see Bowman be proactive with moving guys so Carlsson doesn’t go on waivers the way Dahlstrom did.
The defensive parings laid out by Tab are exactly how I envision the Hawks would lineup if tonight was opening day.
I like the idea of Mitchell getting 3rd line minutes and eased into being a professional. He has a solid veteran core to learn from. Going to Rockford would give me pause as there really seems to be an issue with developing talent there.
It really seems to me that Stan has more moves to make before opening day. If we are going to go through a rebuild then we should do it completely. Our biggest returns would be for Kane and Toews. As long as we retain some cash on those contracts, that would increase our likelihood of getting some or multiple first rounders and/or coveted prospects. Of course we wouldn’t be competitive for a couple more years but it still might be quicker than keeping an aging core and supplementing in pieces around them. Just a thought…
Theres no excuse to play Dunks more min then anyone else. Not anymore.
STEFANIE
October 26, 2020 at 1:01 pm
Time for Colliton to show hat he knows how to pair and use TOI to his players advantage–fit the players to the vaunted “system”.
This.
TIM W.
October 27, 2020 at 9:14 am
I would maybe toss Cam Morrison and Pirri in the mix ahead of Highmore. the fact that your lineup takes out much of the softness on this team, I am right with you.I believe that Mitchell and Kalynuk along with Morrison are going to show that they are much more developed then people are guessing.
Yes Yes. We cant be doing shit like this again. Thats when having ‘too many’ older vets are blocking.
TAB BAMFORD
October 27, 2020 at 11:56 am
Remember Carl Dahlstrom? He was Lucas Carlsson 2 years ago. The Blackhawks lost him on waivers last year.
we need to see Bowman be proactive with moving guys so Carlsson doesn’t go on waivers the way Dahlstrom did.
Tab – unless I’m misreading cap friendly or missing some finer point (Ian?) Lucas Carlsson is still waiver exempt for one more year – I don’t think the Hawks have to expose him on waivers like Dahlstrom was – he can be sent freely back and forth between Chi and Rockford for the coming season
Which makes me think Stan will wait until at least training camp before deciding if he wants to open another roster spot for someone like Carlsson via trade
Wrap that’s right Carlsson is waiver exempt for another season, . I kinda expect some sort of taxi squad outside of regular roster. A goalie, can keep 3 to use on Nhl roster to use without waivers. Maybe have a defenseman and 2 forwards that are Nhl bodies to play in emergencies. Could see Seeler or Lindholm , forwards Pirri maybe Quennevile or Smith all waiver exempt, fit there. Would help explain the excess of bodies signed and where they fit, the veterans with rookies they feel ready on Nhl roster and the other youngsters in Rfd. getting lots of ice time which is a good thing for any them not just some.
All waivers required for taxi squad players mentioned should be.
Yes Tab I will continue on my X Box while you advocate rolling the same soft/slow bunch of Strome,Smith, Nylander,Boqvist etc. and get boatraced every night depending on a HOT Goalie to bail you out to stay in games.Try and evolve a little and fight back and maybe have an original thought instead of sticking your tail between your legs and whining whoa is me.Teams like the Islanders,Blues,Golden Knights,are constantly reinventing and making moves.
I think Carlsson is a better skater than Dahlstrom was. Carlsson may not amount to more than Dahlstrom did but I think he has a better chance because he skates better.
Speaking of Dhals when people were pinning about Bowman and said something about how good Johns was. Is he any good? Is he a top 5 Defensemen. Dhals Gilbert seems alot like Johns. Average.
Zadorov sounds like hes better then them. At the end of the day we got the best player out of these goons.
Like the Cubs were the best team in baseball in 2015 2016 and had hangover in 2017 Dodgers prob win in 2017 if MLB doesnt allow HOU and BOS to cheat/not sure when people knew. Should have ejected those trophies from those team those 2 yrs.
To see Dodgers and Lightning win when being the best teams for a few yrs/roster wise like the Cubs. Same with Blackhawks dynasty 4 in 6 yrs.
Makes you feel good about the sports. For as 2020 was because of virus these sports were rewarded with the ‘proper’ teams winning.
Good day.
Tim W …. you are right you have to move on and reinvent the Hawks with new kids and move on from the old Patterns.
Carlson in a better Dman then Dahlstrom and faster and hopefully they know and will play him more this year. Good size, calm , intelligent, Should be a good fit .
And still have a lot of time to grow at his age.
Funny that Tim W seems to think that I’m advocating for Smith to be in the lineup when I wrote he should have been bought out weeks ago.
But you keep doing you, Timmy. It’s going well…
Since apparently this missed a few people here: Nobody compared Dahlstrom & Carlsson as players.
However, the reality is that Dahlstrom was lost for nothing because he was blocked by a bloated NHL roster and Carlsson now appears to be in the same situation.
Tab, sorry I misunderstood the Dahlstrom/Carlsson reference. And yes, there is a possibility Carlsson suffers the same fate because it does seem other young d-men have been given more attention than him.
Regarding Seeler playing and Boqvist not – to what end does that serve? He’s a 27 year old journeyman and isn’t a long term solution for the d-corps. His taking ice time from Boqvist or other young d-men is counter to the team stated objective.
Tab asset management is huge and likely plays a big part inwho plays too. Guys like Carlsson, Hagel and Suter( european clause too) who are in last year of waiver exempt status, likely get a first chance to earn callups or in Suters case make Nhl roster out of camp as Ahl may not be in cards for him. Mitchell and Boqvist according to powers that be are looked at to play bigger roles and they feel they are ready, adapting to Nhl game to get to where they need to be at is the priority, is their take. Players like Kalyhuk just starting their elcs have 2 or 3 years of exempt status available but in Kalynuks case 60 games is the other trigger, so using them all this year may cause them to lose a couple of years control and lead to situations like Dahlstrom as Tab mentioned.
EB agree, I think Zadorov pretty much put writing on the wall for Seeler playing in Nhl days with Blackhawks.
Didn’t mean if a player outright earns a spot on roster, don’t play him. Just mean if it’s a toss up situation, future control may take priority. In Dahlstroms case i think not being the kinda of Drfenseman Q was looking for at the time hurt his opportunities. So approach now at least should be looked at differently in these situations.
Let’s keep in mind Dahlstrom, while one of the few NHL defensemen the blackhawks have managed to bring up through their system since Hammer, is still basically a bottom pair guy.
And Carlsson sure looks like if he makes the transition to the NHL he would be the same thing. It took Edmonton all of about two minutes of ice time to score while he was on the ice the one game he suited up and stayed stapled mostly to the bench.
So yes, he needs further development to see if he can even be of any help other than being just a body ala Manning, Koko, and any number of guys floating around the league that can play third pair minutes. But ideally, he gets that chance here and not with another organization.
Dahlstrom played 15 games last season and was a -4. Why even bring him up?
Galchenyuk to the Sens on aa 1 year deal……… only $1.05 million. Good deal. We payed too much for Janmark. I like him but Stan ( again ) paid too much for him. We got a great deal on Wallmark for under a million for one year. If we ever thought of drafting, grooming, or signing Russians to play on the Hawks I in the mold of Washington and / or Tampa Bay ) it would help to have one or two key Russian veterans to help interest the young draft picks to come over and then to help them aclimate better ( not unlike we do with the Swedes or the Czechs ). Galchnyuk at a little over million dollars on a 1 year deal ( he`s still only 26 ) is a good deal and perhaps a great fit for our top 9 over some others on our roster. Too bad. I would like Hoffman on a 1 year deal as well. Move Strome, and then sign Hoffman for a 1 year deal as well to play wing on the first line with Toews and then get something for him and the Trade deadline. He`s better offensively than Saad will ever be. One year deals like Galchenyuks and potentially Hoffman`s are how you build draft capital.
Tab
Stay sane man.
All those GMs out there can drive one to take the brown acid.
With Supreme Being still sitting tall (or short) in the saddle, you best buckle up and hang on.
Especially with Gilligan driving the stagecoach on a nightly basis with no proven goaltending riding shotgun.
Surely Orval Tessier is looking on somewhere and laughing like hell.
JROSS agree on signing some of these bargin UFAs and being able to move them for picks. That would be smart….but it would also help the Hawks win a few more games next season, and I think they are actively trying to avoid that. They are gunning for a top 3 pick in the draft so any move that helps them win next year will be avoided.
That is why we have 3 AHL goalies.
Galchnyuk was born and raised in the US and even played for USA in international play. He has dual citizenship with USA/Russia but I doubt a Russian player would feel a kinship with him.
Signing Hoffman? Why? How does that square with the new direction of rebuilding with young players?
The Galchenyuk signing is a good one for a mil. An arbitrator gave Bertuzzi 3.5mil. Still think an Anthanasiou signing at 2 to 3mil a yr for 3 yrs is a good signing. He is also only 25. More speed more offense more sandpaper.
Antha did net 30 with Bertuzzi in Det but Gal did also in Mont. If Strome doesn’t sign team friendly contract there’s your replacement.
Signing Hoffman for one year gives you the opportunity to build more draft capital…..he`s potential draft capital. Other teams have been doing this successfully for years. Other than Lehner this past year, we haven`t used that approach enough if at all. In fact, if Bowman knew he was treading Saad, then we probably should have used Janmark`s money on Hoffman because the Wallmark signing ( after Janmark`s ) made having both of Wallmark and Janmark redundant. They are very similar, defensively sound but, low scoring players. ( I personally lke Wallmark more ). The other reason to sign Hoffman now, is that still we don`t have enough talented young kids yet to fill out a roster yet so some veterans are necessary. Some veterans are better than other veterans……… Hoffman being better than Janmark. Roster management and draft capital potential ……
This. Wont admit it we go with 3 AHL goalies like 2 yrs ago thats how we got 77 kind of. Now were really in position for top 3 pick by playing the younger players and have these goons Zadorov/Jannik to protect younger players to get experience/devlop and not be above 41-41. Top 5 skill draft player is a must so we can get a top pair D guy from dfraft/then add another top pair from ufa in a few yrs when were ‘really ready. Thats worth sticking sround for if your 19/88 and for other elite ufa FW to come here then. Then they will want to.
HEREISMIKE1
October 28, 2020 at 3:13 pm
I think they are actively trying to avoid that. They are gunning for a top 3 pick in the draft so any move that helps them win next year will be avoided.
That is why we have 3 AHL goalies.
Only if were getting a young/22-26 player should we add.
JR ROMAN
October 28, 2020 at 4:02 pm
Still think an Anthanasiou signing at 2 to 3mil a yr for 3 yrs is a good signing. He is also only 25. More speed more offense more sandpaper.
Antha did net 30 with Bertuzzi in Det but Gal did also in Mont. If Strome doesn’t sign team friendly contract there’s your replacement.
Hoffman is 30 – I don’t see how he fits in CHI taking a roster spot from a younger guy – we already have too many forwards – maybe if he took a 1 year deal which maybe he would but I think he’ll get a multi year offer eventually
The Hawks needed defensive minded forwards – more than one – I’m happy with the additions of both Janmark and Wallmark – guys who know how to clear the zone and win a puck battle plus both young enough to re-sign if they play well and contribute to the rebuild, retool, reload, whatever
re: Mike Hoffman – signing him to a 1-2 year deal with a modest cap hit is precisely what teams looking to rebuild quickly do. Go get a valuable veteran with some game and a) use him to make the team better in the short term, and b) trade him for assets at the deadline. He would be a nice addition to the Hawks’ second line and would be a guy they could use to improve the system depth and/or add draft capital at the deadline. The longer his free agency drags on the more likely he would be to sign a shorter term deal with a team looking to move him at the deadline. If a competitor doesn’t sign him, he could wind up on a team looking to make a run at the deadline. And he might get a better opportunity to play in strong situations on a team like Chicago.
All of that being said, I think Stan is more committed to playing what he has in-house than renting veterans at this stage. I would be completely in favor of bringing in Hoffman but not sure it happens.
Boqvist was wretchedly bad last last. He is either on the precipice of being a bust or needs to spend a solid year in Rockford working on his game. I have serious doubts if he makes the final roster of the Blackhawks, as it should be.
Zadarov is primed to be trade bait during the season. The Hawks are in full scale rebuilding mode and have precious few trade chips to help fuel that rebuild with young talent. I put the odds of him being moved at 75%.
Mitchell is the player that most intrigues me. I want him to get a ton of ice time and be allowed to develop. His game is NHL ready in my estimation, unlike Boqvist.
Seabrook is going to hang on to the bitter end to collect every dime on his albatross of a contract. He’s got to be relegated to LTIR. I don’t see any way around that. Not expecting a turnaround after the surgeries, and besides what sense does it make to trot out an old broken down defenseman when you are a team trying to build for the future?
It does make sense to get some ‘playoff’ players to trade at deadline. We donot have to save the cap space we have just make sure the player bonuses are squared up because we know were not adding at deadline/prob.
If we can I would add players 22-26 for young wave.
The precious trade chips we have is a bottom 5 record. No team can trade for a top 5 pick/chips wise. We have very few yrs here we can get that bottom 5 record. Lets do it now.
Because to me a top 5 draft player this draft theres top pair D guys there Ian said. Then we add a 27/28 elite top pair ufa D guy in a couple yrs in the summer and we have what we need. IN the 22 draft get abother top 7/8/9 pick for a very good FW and also get a elite ufa FW in a couple summers from now.
There 4 elite players to add to who we have now/and adjustments and were good salary cap wise because in 3 yrs our roster caphits reset basically.
West side,
have precious few trade chips to help fuel that rebuild with young talent.
Besides using him as trade bait at the trade deadline, you need a player like Hoffman to entertain the fan base while the youth movement develops. Putting him on a line with Toews and Kane would 1: be a lot of fun to watch, 2: pad Hoffman’s numbers, making him more valuable at the TDL, and 3: make Toews and Kane happier and more productive.
Signings that can be flipped at deadline is good way to accumulate draft picks if the mutual interest is there. Especially if saving space for performance bonuses and clear it at tdl. From what i understand by what Bowman and Colliton said in the different podcasts, they want more transparency and this is a developmental year. They hope this helps accelerate what they have been doing last few years and sustain the future too, by using this lost year, in more ways than one, to do it. Also if development isn’t what they hope, staying with youth wouldn’t be abandoned and things reassessed. If they want to accelerate the process, probably hoping for another very high pick who helps both ways is way to do it. Sacrificing odds for that, to get another 2nd or 3rd rnder at tdl may not be a trade off they see worth it. Another factor is by this point, low offers may have been given and that choice is made, Hoffman may be waiting it out for a higher one to come along and a bidding war would be out of picture.
Securing a goalie, maybe just ahead of expansion draft and then drafting another forward in Dach category next summer who helps faster would be a big step. Then maybe after getting contracts starting to expire find enough room to pursue a Seth Jones in fa the next summer or something along those lines if they get the development from young cast they hope. That’s 3 major pieces, plus Reichel expected in a couple of years too, trades are going to have to be happening next year or 2 as we noted, that’s what kind scenario i expect but time will tell.
Pucklogic, that’s the x factor this year, will there be fans at that games and how big a priority will keeping them entertained need to be, when this all plays out.
Boqvist was NOT wretchedly bad last season. That statement is ridiculous unless the term “wretchedly bad” applies to a large percentage of d-men that played in the NHL last season.
The strategy should be to play the kids unless playing them causes them to regress. Boqvist isn’t not a finished product yet and probably won’t be for another couple years, but learning on the job in the NHL is the fast track so long as it doesn’t cause the player to lose confidence and regress – and Boqvist did not regress and there was no indication he lost confidence.
Some young players can handle the jump to the NHL better than others. The players that can should play in the NHL and the players that can’t should play in the AHL. It’s based on each individual player – a broad brush approach is not the way to go.
The good on Boqvist…..as a 19 year old, he was able to play on a pair with Duncan Keith a fair amount of minutes in the NHL. That right there is pretty rare. He flashed some good offensive skill sets including a wicket snap shot from the point and some good mobility and ability to read the play.
The bad…..his last play of the year I think was in OT against Vegas. Alex Tuch saw Boqvist was the lone Hawk back on D, tapped his stick in the neutral zone to get a pass from a teammate, and basically took the puck around Boqvist and lowered his shoulder and cut to the front of the net where he buried the OT winner. Boqvist watched helplessly like a child as he skated next to Tuch the whole time but couldn’t even impede him if he tried, he just isn’t strong enough.
The other negative was for a guy whose main strength is supplying offense from the D position, he did precious little of that. Now, there is a chance as he gets stronger his ability to hold ice and fend guys off will get better, and for sure it will as he grows into a man’s body. (Teuvo had the same problem playing in the NHL at such a young age and he is a star now)
But will the offense translate to the NHL? We will have to see. He may have been just concentrating on D as a 19 year old to stay in the league, which would be understandable given the circumstance. He needs to make a lot of progress but he has the potential to do it. But he is no Cale Makar, or even Quinn Hughes. And probably never will be nearly as good as those guys.
Boqvist played on pairing with Keith last year very true. That means he was out there playing nightly against the best the Nhl has to offer, in very high leverage and high intensity situations regularly. Alot of these other youngsters still haven’t had to play anywhere near the Nhl level yet, let alone on the top pairing. Give him some time to figure it all out,
Colliton did not do Boqvist any favors by putting him on a top pairing with Keith and then throwing him out there as the lone D man on a powerplay unit.He was bound to fail and after teams realized that he was not very fast at getting back combined with being undersized you have the perfect recipe for not looking like a top 4 D Man.There was a much better way to ween him into the NHL.
TimW, I guess time will tell on that as well. If Boqvist becomes a valuable top 4 defenseman then all will be forgot, if not it will be a huge mistake for sure.
Good news…
Dach loan to team Canada Junior
Wish I could see him play with the best
Stan has already said that next year they’ll be in a cap position to take on somebody’s bad contract for a sweetener and it seemed like he’s looking forward to that – hopefully the Hawks can be on the receiving end of a Bickell – Teuvo type trade so that could add another young piece
Partly for this reason I doubt Hoffman on anything but a 1 year deal is is of much interest to CHI unless they are definitely going to trade him no matter the situation – playoffs or not
Agree with the positive comments on Boquist – I think he’ll be a good to very good player once he gets stronger and has more experience
He’s only scratching the surface so far of his abilities – he did looked overmatched at times vs Vegas but he’s not yet a man physically – I’m confident he’ll get there
I have to vehemently disagree on Boqvist. He was a severe liability in the defensive zone the big majority of time. This isn’t the NHL circa 1985 where you hope a player like Boqvist can develop into a point guard at the blue line and screw his non ability to play defense. The gifted and smart NHL forwards will continue to pinpoint and eat Boqvist alive unless something dramatically changes. He was wretched last season, period. I’ve been following this sport since the mid 70s and I’ll stick with my opinion. He is best served playing in Rockford.
Live From – of course you are entitled to your opinion but I wish people would stop waving their birth certificates around as though it makes them more right than others
I’ve been a Hawks fan since 1961 – does that make my opinion on Boquist more valid than yours? No is the correct answer
Since you’re so old you may not be around in 3 years to see who was right anyway
Boquist was very good as an 18 year old playing a major role at the WJC for the winning Swedish team. Most of the best players at any WJC are 19. That tournament has a pretty good track record of predicting future success. Boquist was physically challenged last year and should have spent more time in Rockford but I expect to see good progress this year as he continues to mature and get stronger. He is unlikely to be a Cale Makar but if you re-do the 2017 Makar goes 1 or 2.
Meant to say “re-do the 2017 draft then Makar goes 1 or 2”.
Live from … playing the “geezer card” isn’t going to earn much street cred here as there are some geezers ever geezier than you. :)
I’m 66, which coincidentally – it was ’66 when I first became a Hawks fan.
I think anyone who has followed this great game for 5 – 10 years has seen enough and has a good enough historical perspective to have compelling opinion worth considering – you don’t have to be a geezer or a long time fan.
ER you’re a year older than me. Speaking of geezers how about we get our Iron Mike Keenan as coach. He’s only 71. The other owner of the building hired a 76 year old! Iol
sorry ER 11 years younger born in 65. Thought you were born in 66. Too many Mickeys BM while watching football.
Mike, good points on BOQ another thing is maybe he wasnt doing what he normally does as OFF D guy since were in this strange D system and just trying to get feet wet at playing D so held off on OFF stuff.
We said same thing about Teuvo once theres a few yr into league he will be good as he was one of the best in his class and 86 did it. I think 27 will to.
Boqvist was fine offensive & defensive wise last season. Anyone expecting a 19 year old to come in and play at a Norris level is just not very intelligent.
He will be on the team on opening night.
“Boqvist was wretchedly bad last last. He is either on the precipice of being a bust or needs to spend a solid year in Rockford working on his game.”
These types of comments come from people who didn’t watch 2 & 7 when they were in their NHL infancy. Young defensemen generally need time to develop. Boqvist looked more comfortable before the shutdown… but did look overwhelmed at times against Vegas. But he has to learn the NHL game. He’s got a ton of talent and needs to play in the NHL. That is precisely why Bowman came out and asked fans for patience as the young guys get their ice time. There’s no good reason for Boqvist or Mitchell to spend a second in Rockford next year.
“Besides using him as trade bait at the trade deadline, you need a player like Hoffman to entertain the fan base while the youth movement develops.”
Reminder: the Blackhawks are OK w suddenly admitting it’s time to rebuild because there is ample skepticism that there will be fans in the seats in ’21. If there’s an empty barn, all you have to worry about is TV ratings – and that isn’t the team’s problem. That sucks for NBCSN.
That is a great point Tab. With no or severely limited numbers of fans, it makes it a great season to try to suck enough to get a high draft pick. It won’t impact the already terrible financial picture like it would during a normal season.
Good point Tab – if there was ever an opportune season to do a tear-down, 2020/21 would be it with the attendance iffy and the possibility of less than 82 games.
When I said this.
We said same thing about Teuvo once theres a few yr into league he will be good as he was one of the best in his class and 86 did it. I think 27 will to.
I basically meant/thinking what MS said here.
MS
October 29, 2020 at 11:15 pm
Boquist was very good as an 18 year old playing a major role at the WJC for the winning Swedish team. Most of the best players at any WJC are 19. That tournament has a pretty good track record of predicting future success. Boquist was physically challenged last year and should have spent more time in Rockford but I expect to see good progress this year as he continues to mature and get stronger. He is unlikely to be a Cale Makar but if you re-do the 2017 Makar goes 1 or 2.
Couple thoughts
How about we take half of Hossa’s money from AZ for say a 3 in 22
Why is Toronto signing two goalies with NHL experience. Be it only 120 games. Dell or Hucthinson would have looked better than Delia or Subban as backups to Lankinen
Wendel Clark Mark Jansen Bob Probert
Dave Manson Brad Brown
Were 5 on the ice for the Blackhawks in 99 00
You could even throw out Vandenbusche and Zmolik during the line change if it was chippy after the whistle.
Ah the days each team had minimum of 5 guys that could straightened things out on a shift.
Still think Anthanasiou would be a good signing
Leafs need to shed a little cap, shopping Jack Campbell 1.65m caphit and go with one half as much would give them that ability. Maybe want alot of depth but looks like possibly a move to get cap compliant. Jack Campbell an 11th overall pick who has underachieved but shown flashes of his potential does have the makeup of a player that
Bowman likes to acquire too.
This has nothing to do with the blue line, but names I have seen in print listed as possible candidates for Stan to sign ….
Athanasiou
Hoffman
Haula
Granland
Matt Martin and Mike Hoffman would also be nice additions.
I think Patrick Kane would enjoy having Matt Martin skate on his line a few shifts a game.Kane and Hoffman centered by Dach would also be fun to see.
I would enjoy the younger players being protected and dynasty players like Kaner being allowed to ‘play’ without bullies of other teams not being punched right back in the face like Gilbert did.
SO yea add these players and make sure they are good playoff players so we trade at deadline and they know we will. We have before with others every yr recently.
Not sure I would waste a spot on hoffman or whoever. Yeah it would be nice to add a draft pick but if hoffman is so good then the only thing he will do is take a development opportunity from a player and theoretically worsen the Blackhawks shot at a higher pick. Not to mention on what’s the return going to be? Referring back to my post previously made, on I think a different article, lots of draft picks are busts. Short of being rude to other teams I would try to identify an rfa who can be given an offer sheet. I think somehting like anyone signed under 800k they dont even have to give up a draft pick. Not sure anyone fits in the category and of course the owning team has the opportunity to match. Just the same I would target someone who is in the development category. Draft picks just dont excitement and nor should they you. Who is excited about the third round in the 2022 draft? I mean cmon
If any of the three goalies play above average there is no reason this Blackhawks team will not be sniffing at a playoff spot. Really the fate of this team is highly dependent on the goalie. Think of it this way…two good goalies last year had the Blackhawks still missing the playoffs. Think it will be better this year….I mean….the opportunity is there for all three goalies. I think the off season signings improve the depth which was probably the biggest problem. This team isnt as bad as people seem to think. I would look into landing a prospect from a team not a free agent to trade
HG you have some of my thinking. I am eating cap space without blocking development. That 3 can be used to get something else. Eat more money maybe get a 2. Doubt they give us a 1 for all of it. Isn’t a draft pick at the beginning of the “development category” .
Ian or Morr what are the amounts where we lose a draft picks when offer sheeting someone please? Don’t think an 800k offer scares any team for a more “developed” prospect.
Below 1.44m doesn’t require compensation for an offer sheet. Without their 3rd round pick, they could only do an offer sheet between 2.18m and 4.36m. Need their 3rd round pick as part of requirement for any other amount except over 10.9m which is 4 1st rounders. It would have to be somebody who is worth it, plus willing to sign an offer sheet for right amount and a team who currently owns his rights who is unlikely to match it. Not as easy as it sounds.
It depends on how good the player is. The draft picks used for a nemo/sanjose whine is fair for how good the player is. So for what were looking for and deserve from nemo 86 and other it would be worth the picks.
It is best to tank but trading the ‘deadline’ players at the deadline from then on were not playing at full strength. The goalie thing is the thing without 2 or 1 top 5/10 goalie in Crow Lehner were top 3 pick before the deadline.
An offer sheet between 2.18m and 4.36m would cost a 2nd rounder by the way.
So if we get AZ to give us their third and eat 2.6 we offer Cirelli 2.18 and TB gets the third if they don’t match it. TB needs the room. Also can just offer Cirelli 4.2 and give them our own 2nd.
Do like Lemieux but NYR have room.
Lot of good DMen on teams cap strapped. Dunn, Bear Sergachev but do we want more D?
Other offensive possibilities Hintz DeBrusk Roslivic.
We want any top 4 Defensemen thats 20-26 age that we can get. Can always make roster adjustments after.
Its about having more top 4 defensemen then it is top 4-8 defensemen.
What we donot have from being top 5 team roster wise right now/banking on young wavers is 2 top pair D guys and a couple players like 20 and the right kind of role players. Plus now a goalie but Crow aint 19/88 and wont play to 40 and 43 respectively.
So add what we donot have/have coming anytime we can. Its what we need.
I would love to acquire Cirelli – just the type of player that would be a building block for the Hawks rebuild and $4.2M isn’t too costly in my opinion.
JT it has to be their own 3rd pick not another teams. Only way is get their own back.
JR i meant sorry. If your going to trade just trade for him.
Wow when does hockey start again. This ‘world’ tournament/swimming breaks sure cut into the day.
PGA was good for sports as it saved sports from virus. Only good thing that happened this summer. The deserving golfers won Johnson and Dechambeau. Then having TB and Dodgers win hockey and baseball the best teams in the sport for the last 3-5 yrs was rewarding very rewarding.
Now this there is nothing and I mean nothing going on. Football is terrible unless your Ferrari driver Mahomes. Just no buzz. Green Bay Kansas City in Super Bowl could be good.
Really boring here like this is the summer with no yawning 162 games of meaningless baseball until the fall. Because of virus this is now the summer with nothing going on.
When is the Olympics again and world juniors because there is nothing at all.
One of the unexpected things for me about 2020 is my letting go of things that seemed so important to me in the past and realizing there were more important things to spend my time on. Obviously hockey wasn’t one of those things as I still passionately cling to hockey and the Hawks like a man adrift won’t let go of his life preserver.
But, I had equal passion for the Chicago Bears and now that is completely gone. I haven’t watched 1 minute of a Bears game this season and what is unexpected about that is I really don’t miss it. The Bears have played what(?) – 6 or 7 games this season (not sure) and I probably didn’t miss watching 6 or 7 games in total for decades prior to 2020. For me, watching sports is an entertaining escape from the real world and, for me, it stopped being that. Think of me what you will, but the whole social justice woke cancel culture thing is a turn off for me. It isn’t even a matter of it being a righteous cause or not, it’s the delivery method employed to shove it down your throat whether you like it or not. The NFL bent their knee and allowed their product to be taken over and by doing so it stopped being an escape from the real world for me.
Thankfully, at least so far, the NHL has handled it quite well by showing deference to social causes without being subsumed by them. While I’ve discovered there is life after the Bears, I hope to not have to face that proposition with the Hawks.
My dog getting cancer recently really makes you focus on what important. Was told 6 tmhs at first then doctors said 1 yr be worst case and if you do vaccination shots dogs can live for a few yrs. Were doing that 6000 at first and 1275 every half yr is by far worth more time.
I know Crow like vech.s after that 2014 I starting building a jeep and build the sweetest jeep wrangler in 2015 and we got rewarded with another Cup. I was parading that jeep around Chicago playing volleyball at the beaches.
Yea thats prob part of it just seeing the golf be good this summer when everything thing else was shit in the world. Got it going then seeing the most deserved and earned teams win on hockey and baseball like losts of the golf it was really good. Now anything else is just chump change.
Just have to realize that those were the highs of 2020 the golf hockey and baseball. After Dodgers won theres nothing left for sports.
Until ski season. I race downhill so winter is fun time.
Cheers.
With Tampa allowed to be 10% over cap in offseason, that gives them 11m in offseason cap space that they would have until opening day to deal with. So any offer sheet that only returns a 2nd rounder for Cirelli or Sergachev will be matched. So that makes that type of offer sheet a pointless effort.
Is it possible that two teams put offers on each for 4.2 and they can only match one. Or can we or should we bid on both concurrently ala Hammer and Niemi to get one of them.
If we just trade for Cirelli can we give them a 2 and a 5 and get back a 3 with Cirelli.
JR don’t see any kind of scenario where Bolts let either Cirelli or Sergachev go for a 2nd rounder. I mean they could match the 4.2m offer and easily shop them signed for that amount and get more than a 2nd rounder as a worst case for them.
Here’s how I think the pairings will look next year on the blueline..
Keith-Boqvist
Zadorov-Murphy
Kalynuk-Mitchell
Seabrook
I think Boqvist continues to play with Keith because I think the Hawks want to see how Boqvist looks playing 18-19 min a night..keep in mind that I don’t think the Hawks have any issue with how Boqvist played last year..I think they realize that he’s being anchored by a 37 year old Keith who has definitely lost a step or two..and Keith never had to play with a 37 year old when he came into the nhl..but unfortunately, the Hawks don’t have a true number one defenseman for Boqvist to play alongside, so Keith is the default for now..and Zadorov with Murphy gives the Hawks a true option for a shutdown, physical pairing..so I think they’ll get a long look together as the Hawks try to evaluate whether they could be a more physical version of Oduya/Hammer..which leaves Mitchell on the third pairing with DeHaan..except I’m not sure DeHaan makes it to the beginning of the season..the Hawks are high on Wyatt..I wonder if they look to move DeHaan to make room for a Kalynuk/Mitchell third pairing..to me, this would be ideal..hopefully Stan can move DeHaan..not sure if any teams are facing blue line injuries but a lot can happen before next season..
@Slayer
Would be great if they can move de hann. But I don’t see it happening with his shoulder injuries
Playoff teams looking for depth should be interested in Hann just like Kempny Ruutta.
Speaking of those Defensemen those teams should be thankfull we traded those players to them that helped them win. Just like we were in the Rundy trade and the or ARI trades. Sometime you trade that doesnt look as good in order to get the player you need later like Vermette/we might not have got 80 if we didnt do the Rundy trade.
Same here WAS/TB donot owes us but it helps like it did with ARI later.
Wether Dunks is our best Defensemen or not when BoQ plays with DEF Defensemen it will feel like hes playing with a top pair D guy.
DEF/OFF pair
DEF/OFF pair
DEF/OFF pair
I mean at the deadline when you know hes healthy and ready for playoffs. If hes hurt during the season yea/no gain there. He and others ufa adds are excellent season protectors/and trade deadline assets. We did that with that # 57 player a couple yrs ago/as weel as Bollig and someone else that got us 2nd or 3rd picks for players that wernt usually that high a pick.
Picks are great if you combine the pick with another and turn a 3rd into a 2nd. Nobody wants a 5th/we know the odds.
Only want 1st/2nds however we get it to a 2nd.
MORRISON
November 1, 2020 at 5:21 pm
Playoff teams looking for depth should be interested in Hann just like Kempny Ruutta.
Ian – if a team matches an offer sheet is it then allowed to trade that player whenever they feel like it assuming there’s no NMC in the offer sheet?
I know if a team agrees to an arbitration ruling they can’t trade that player for a year IIRC – thought there might be something similar with offer sheets
Wrap players aren’t eligible for nmc clauses until they attain ufc age. You are correct rules after looking, say if the team matches an offer sheet they can’t trade player for a year. Still don’t see a scenario where Bolts let either Cirelli or Sergachev let go or even if either would sign for amount of a 2nd though.
How many Fricken rules are there. Impressive Ian knows so many.
Mo…Ian probably knows because he is the one who created those rule and summit to NHL …long time ago . ;)
I think the Oilers just signed Dominic Kahun for 1 year, just under a Million dollars. If so, …………good deal. They got some value at that price.
Simmonds was only at 1.5? so theres lots of low caphits out there.
Not comparing/since we need players with size and not anymore smurfs. Pirri is a similair player to Kahun/with more scoring.
Pirri goal scorer
Kahun good passer/assist
Although I would have liked to see Kahun and Kubalik on the line.
I agree…………when I see these new low salaries now I`m even more miffed that Janmark got 2 million +. He`ll be hard to move at the trade deadline now without taking some salary back.
Yea just adding to what you said. Jannmark can do prorated caphit and will only be like .250/.500 and if we can 2nd retaining some is fine.
Every retained and player bonuses are fine just make sure we have none left in 3 yrs from now when we really need it.
We have to assume there was a bigger market for Janmark than for Kahun – Janmark wouldn’t get $2.2 if the Hawks were the only team interested there were others driving the price up a bit plus his previous contract was $2.3 mil
Kahun’s previous contract was $925,000
I don’t think Stan got played here – it’s just the market setting Janmarks’ price
Janmsrk is a totally different player than Kahun. Didn’t someone have a phrase “just a guy”. That was Kahun. Janmsrk 6’1 195, to 5’11 175. Has netted 19 in a season. Will drop them. Goes into corners. You will probably hear his name called out during a game more the you will Kahun’s.
Now the Vesey and Galchenyuk signing for cheap different story. They are more offensive sided. Janmark has defensive responsibility.
Like the defensive signing now let’s sign one offensive signing. Anthanasiou!
Excellent posts. Jannmark seems like a more physical kinf od Krugs Frozal/67 kind of player.
We need to have 4 guys like Krugs Frozal Bolly Shaw once were ready in a couple yrs.
Kubalik Toews Janmark/Suter/Martin
Martin/Suter Dach Kane
DCat Wallmark Janmark/Martin
Kurashev Morrison Chalupa
Keith Murphy
deHaan Boqvist
Zadorov Kalynuk
Hasn’t been a post in 24 plus hours so.
Nice interview with Dach on tsn. Very nice the site has both video of the interview and text version of it. glad they offered both. Posted Oct 31 if it’s not main page anymore. check it out. Speaks volumes of Kieth. Always a good laugh when I see people saying to trade keith too funny.
Bored. lines mean nothing as of yet
Blackhawks
Kubalik/Toews/Nylander
Cat/Dach/Kane
Janmark/Strome/Suter
Wallmark/Kampf/Carpenter
Highmore/Quennville
Smith LTIR
Shaw?
Obviously Shaw and Smith healthwise will be interesting. I can see smith being waived if healthy to go mentor Rockford.
Both on LTIR is also a possibility.
Just putting Quennville here because.
Defense
Keith/Boqvist
Zadorov/Murphy
De Hann/Mitchell/Seabrook
Ideally de hann gets moved but is probably not possible. Like tab has seabs should rotate in and out. Don’t see any way Mitchell isn’t on the roster.
Goalie
Subban/Delia exciting combo eh’
Rockford
Hagel/Pirri/Teply
Morrison/Kurashev/Altybarmaykan
Chalupa/Barrett/Emtwistle
Soderlund/Hakkarainen/Johnson
Morrison
Defense
Carlsson/Beaudin
Kalynuk/Regula
Seeler/Krys/Lindholm
Goalies
Lankinen/Tompkins
Ahl Deals
Lw Riley McKay
C Dylan McLaughlin
C Mitchell Fossier
Rw Gabriel Gagne
Rw Garrett Mitchell
Rw DJ Busdeker
Rw Chris Wilkie
Rw Mathew Thompson
D Cody Franson
D Dmitri Osipov
D Jack Ramsey
G Tom Aubrun
G Cale Morris
Obviously Rockford lines will be completely different. Like I said I was bored.
Smith get ltir/traded. Shaw can play or ltir.
J R ROMAN,I like your lineup.I would toy with a little and have
Dach-Kane-Martin
Toews-Kubalik-Janmark
Suter-Hagel-DeBrincat
Walmark-Kurashev-Morrison
Keith-Murphy
Zadorov-Kalynuk
DeHaan-Mitchell
Lankinen
I like how you guys have ‘those’ kind of players that can play with top players even though they arnt really top 6 players. Kopy Brow Buff others did it and it works. What it does it make the lines balanced in a way that you can roll 4 lines without having a top 5 team roster.
Lemieux for 1.55mil a yr for 2yrs. DeBrusk and Hintz gotta go for more. Both only 23. Think Dallas and Boston have room respectfully. I would rather have gambled 4mil on them than Shaw.
Ian or Mo, can we offer 4.2 x 3yrs or 4 and still only lose a 2nd. Or is it a total of 4.2 to only lose a 2nd.
Be interesting to get Debrusk because BOS are tight asses and if player signed for what they are worth they wouldnt match maybe.
Both teams have a lot of signings to do next year. Like 8 to 10 players.
As for offense-first defensemen, we have …
Boqvist and Kalyuk
As for stay at home defensemen we have …
Duncan Keith, Connor Murphy, Calvin de Haan (if he isn’t traded), and Seabrook (if he isn’t traded), and Lucas Carlsson
As for the best of both worlds we have …
Ian Mitchell and Nicolas Beaudin
As for tough hard-to-play-against edgy defensemen, we have …
Zadorov, Nick Seeler, Alec Regula and Anton Lindholm
Keokeo has already been refused a contract offer. Therefore, we have 13 defensemen for 7 or 8 spots. So, let’s eliminate our 4th line and go with an over-populated defensive core. And I’m not even counting the “Mark’s Brothers” – one of whom is a defenseman and the other is a defensive forward.
Roamn, not sure exactly on that Ian did post the exact numbers for that in recent thread/scroll back.
8 can be normal how many can go to rockford without waivers. Haan/other are possibly ltir so we cant them/per say.
Within 3 yrs from now it will weed itself out on its own and we ll know. For now it doesnt matter just donot block Mitch or anyone who shows they are ready. Still with 3 yrs before 19/88 have a roster to win with again it doesnt matter. Just get the young Defensemen ready by then.
Top teams would add Haan as an extra we did with Timonin.
JR offer sheets can be multi year, annual aav can’t exceed 2.4m for 5 years. Inlyexception would be if they added a 6th year total value would be divided by 5 years instead of 6 as offer sheets stop at 5 years. So in that case caphit aav would drop to 3.5m to make it fit.
Mo, Quenneville and Pirri only forwards not on last years roster who require waivers. Lindholm and Seeler are dmen who may need waivers. Plus if Delia or Subban were to be sent down they would need waivers. All on last years roster except Dach, Boqvist and Nylander require waivers, callups not included. Wallmark, Janmark and Zadorov require waivers as well.
Some one in Dallas must be reading us. Roope Hintz 3.15mil x 3yrs. Watch Boston sign DeBrusk next.
With BOS losing a top pair Defensemen they prob sign there players. Like you said thought they have 5? to sign next yr so they cant keep them all paying them what they deserve or not keep a core player/which they already did by not keeping Krug. Still wont be keeping some players next yr to.
I would like these D-Pairings if we were ready to make somewhat of a playoff run. Are we? I would go with youth and toughness. So, de Haan needs to be traded for, hopefully, a 2nd round pick. Seabrook, God bless him, needs to get a nice seat cushion in the press box. Nicolas Beaudin (who played only 1 game last year but was fabulous) and Nick Seeler (second hardest Blackhawks D-Man to play against who played well and brawled well in very limited duty) … Those two are who I would replace the honorable old vets with.
Looks as of now like the 7 defensemen listed by Tab if healthy will be on Nhl roster to start year. Carlsson and Beaudin in picture for sure, Seeler and Lindholm need waivers to go up and down, so hard to say where they fit. Kalynuk and Regula just starting their elcs so time is on their side development wise. Krys unlikely to impact Nhl roster.
Obvious from comments by coach and Gm, Delia, Subban and Lankinen are in goalie picture. With Tomkins and Cale Morris just signed looking after Rfd., maybe both get an invite to camp as well. Wouldn’t be surprised to see all 3 of the others on Nhl roster, when they break camp with cap space to make callups available and Lankinen could go up and down to make room when needed.
Incumbent forwards Toews, Kane, Cat, Dach, Kubalik, Nylander, Kampf, Carpenter, Highmore, Strome if signed, Shaw and Smith ( who if he doesn’t rebound could be buried in Rfd. too) if healthy, plus Janmark, Wallmark and Suter likely gets a shot to stick. Then Hagel, Kurashev, Entwistle along with vets Pirri and Quenbeville who need waivers will compete for a spot. Chalupa, Barrett and C. Morrison starting multi year year elcs may be pegged to start in Rfd. unless they really impress. Hakkarainen, Altybarmakyan, Johnson, B. Morrison and Soderlund darkhorses to make team and Teply can slide this year, so good chance they allow him to do that, either in Europe, back in juniors or Rfd.
Non roster invitees this year could land an interesting add at camp if some of these ufas remain unsigned. Trades quite possible and probable to happen before then too.
When is the season in FEB? Thats like a yr from when virus started. With 4 mth layoff from virus to tournament they should have only took 1 mth off and started a normal season in NOV.
Still have Jan. 1st as start date for next season. Scenarios include maybe temporary realignment to start, Blackhawks with Preds and Blues in a division with Red Wings, Canes, Jackets and Florida teams. Avs, Wild and Stars in Pacific to replace 3 Canadian teams and Sabres and Bruins to Metropolitan. All 7 Canadian teams in one division until borders open or agreement reached. Discussing bubble type scenarios to start, where teams play alot of games in a 2 week period and go home for a week or so.
Looking at 56 to 72 game schedules that finish by end of April and playoffs done by end of June early July. A gradual return to fans working up towards a return to normal as time goes on. Maybe a schedule where least travel required by doubling up on games against teams etc.
Another factor that could play a big part in rosters makeup is players opting out next year. Could also allow teams over the cap not have to count it against caphit of player opting out if one has indicated his intention. Would they be allowed to return for playoffs when no caphit applied. Alot of questions to answer if they get back to playing at all.
You have to have caphit the same as players bailing out. Any bailout player/like Rask cant be allowed to play again until the next season or it makes the a joke.
Interesting about Canada teams/thats funny didnt think of that stuff. Since that they should just do a closest/by miles to 4 hubs.
What happens if virus has places closed/with democrats presidents stuff.
Prob by the playoffs/APR the virus stuff will be back to normal regardless of democrat changes/closures.
Worst case scenario I can see 4 bubbles. You only play your bubble teams. Top 4 teams from each bubble make the playoffs. Group 2 bubbles together. 1 plays 8. Reseed after every round . Winners are in the Cup.
Let’s just hope this gets fixed.
I kind of meant 4 hubs for the divisions/which I guess is already the way it is. Wonder though if they picked 4 hubs if the same teams would be in the divisions they have now. Going strictly by miles distance.
They prb have a prob woth not staying in the east/west conferences for playoffs. Be interesting though to see if the same teams are in the same divisions they are in now by placing a point at
west coast- 8 closet team miles wise/including SEA
florida- 8 closest teams
maine- 8 closest teams
central- is remaining 8 teams
Who would be in what division/that is prob the most fiar way to do it.
They would do revenue sharing for the rinks until games can be played at every rink/and canada travel.
With democrat predisents is there going to be a raise on taxes above .400 for all that would be another big hit to league and owners. Maybe why they did the freeze for 3 yrs knowing were in shit for next 4 yrs tax wise.
Dustin Johnson.
At least golf has saved sports for 2020. TB and DOG well deserved teams to.
Ohio St or Clemson would be only worthy teams.
Hate to say it but this upcoming season is the perfect time for the Hawks to experiment in goal and wink wink, make sure we get a lottery pick.
Owen Power looks like a stud number 1 defenseman. So do Lambos and Clarke. If Luke Hughes is close to as good as brother Quinn, he’s likely a top pair NHL defenseman.
Kent Johnson appears to be a stud forward. Great start at Michigan.
Lot to choose from. By July of 2021, the Hawks might have a franchise player in their prospect stable.
Play the kids ! Embrace the rebuild ! Figure out the new core !
Timing. This 3 yr flatlander salary cap and then going up like normal/prob has us right where we want to be when reloading the young wave. It makes the top teams/teams at the cap not keep good players more then normal. So we should get one right? Its is essential we get a top pair to go with 77 and young wave we already have.
Then just keep the best of the best. Its ok to add a top pair D guy ufa wise in a few yrs from now. We need to have one from draft and this draft is it/Ian said theres about 3 top pair D guys in top 6 picks. Thats right up our alley for the 21 draft for where were going to be with 3 AHL/prospect goalies/playing as many young players as we can/you know we wont play too many at once though.
With who we have already developing/prospects/young players just starting out and a top pair D guy from a top 6 skill draft player pick to go with 77 and then adding a couple elite players ufa wise in a few yrs when we have the cap space/the salary cap adjustment reset for us.
Were looking good. Key is to load that young wave and then add. If we build they/elite ufas will come.
I agree on the forthcoming draft, Ian. Would love Owen Power, big, mobile, can do it all. But other great options too.
Playing AHL goalies for a year artificially will lower our place in the standings. Then when you plug in a real goalie, voila, we bump up toward playoff contention. It’s the easiest way to ‘tank’ without getting rid of everyone, and also the easiest thing to undo when it is time to play for keeps again.
But if that was the plan all along, why were they talking to Matt Murray about a contract? That’s where it feels like they are making this stuff up as they go along, rather than having a set plan and sticking to it like you see in NYR, Montreal, Colorado, St Louis, Dallas, Vegas, even Ottawa and Detroit, Tampa Bay, etc. Well run teams that are out-managing us and those are just a few I can think of off the top of my head.