Chicago Blackhawks 2017 - 2018 Season

#1      

Shane Walsh

aka "Captain Oblivious"
Cynthiana, Kentucky
Lots going on with the NHL at the moment.

Blackhawks will be without Hossa for the season, hope he will be ok.
http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-b...e-blackhawks-marian-hossa-miss-2017-18-season

Lots going on with that new team out west, here is the timeline.
https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2017/6...-2017-offseason-schedule-vegas-golden-knights

Let's all welcome the Las Vegas Knights to the league.
Although the trades and expansion draft don't formalize for a few more hours it sounds like Marcus Kruger and TVR are part of Chicago's welcoming package.
https://www.secondcityhockey.com/20...hawks-golden-knights-expansion-draft-nhl-2017

The NHL draft is this weekend in Chicago!
https://www.nhl.com/nhl-draft

Lots of trades yet to be announced involving the Knights, with GMs working initial and secondary deals for players and picks. It will be interesting to see if Stan and company were able to get in the game and improve this team.
 
#2      
I am not understanding the issue around trying to unload TVR. Is it simply knowing the Golden Knights would take him in the expansion draft so Blackhawks are trying to make the best deal they can, including unloading Kruger's contract? Or are they actually looking to unload TVR?

According to the article above, if the Hawks traded TVR and Kruger prior to draft to get at least some value in return, I am assuming there would not be much appealing talent left for Vegas off their (Hawaks) roster? Hence the thought they are getting Vegas to take Kruger and salary in exchange for leaving TVR available?

Edit: totally forgot draft is in Chicago. Shows how poorly it has been marketed!
 
#3      

Shane Walsh

aka "Captain Oblivious"
Cynthiana, Kentucky
According to the article above, if the Hawks traded TVR and Kruger prior to draft to get at least some value in return, I am assuming there would not be much appealing talent left for Vegas off their (Hawaks) roster? Hence the thought they are getting Vegas to take Kruger and salary in exchange for leaving TVR available?

I am not sure that they could have protected either one even if they wanted. Too many no move clauses and not enough protected spots. We will have to wait and see what the details of the trade might be. That might shine a little more light on what is going on. I am hopeful that Stan got some of those draft picks in return that Vegas is rumored to be accumulating.
 
#4      
Wishing Hossa a safe and speedy recovery. He has meant a great deal to this organization.
 
#5      
I am not sure that they could have protected either one even if they wanted. Too many no move clauses and not enough protected spots. We will have to wait and see what the details of the trade might be. That might shine a little more light on what is going on. I am hopeful that Stan got some of those draft picks in return that Vegas is rumored to be accumulating.

They definitely could not have protected both. I am getting the impression they want to shed Kruger's salary, despite what I perceive as good talent at face offs and defense. However, he is a 4th line played at $3 m + so I get it.

I guess I wasn't clear, I apologize. As I read it, they have gotten Vegas to take Kruger in a trade, in exchange for the Blackhawks NOT trading TVR prior to draft. Hawks could have gotten SOME value for TVR in a trade, going with the assumption he would be taken by Vegas anyway for nothing. Having Rozivol available fulfills the requirement of having a defenseman available to Vegas in the draft.

No guarantee Vegas takes Kruger in this situation, leaving him on Hawks books.

Does that make more sense of why they seem to want to trade Kruger and not TVR (earlier) ?
 
#6      

Shane Walsh

aka "Captain Oblivious"
Cynthiana, Kentucky
That is one possibility. This whole situation is so new and different it is much more interesting to follow than the normal NHL off season.

Kruger trade not announced last night. The suspense continues. Part of a draft pick deal? Three team deal? Not being traded at all? With Hossa going down for the season there is a little more wiggle room under the cap.
 
#9      

Shane Walsh

aka "Captain Oblivious"
Cynthiana, Kentucky
And Bread Man looks to be headed to CBJ for Saad and a bunch of stuff.....
:eek:
 
#13      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Back from a long, involuntary hiatus...

The Hawks owe Krüger a $2M bonus on 6/30. They'll pay him, then the trade to Vegas will be consummated. Vegas will get Krügs for 2 years @ ~$2.1M per, as opposed to $3.1M per. Supposedly, Vegas 2nd rounder (63rd overall) will be the return.
 
#14      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Hammer and Panarin were dealt primarily to achieve contract stability. Those guys were 2 seasons from UFA status. The main guys that were acquired are signed for 4 and 5 seasons, for effectively the same cost. Murphy is 6 years younger than Hammer. Hammer will be missed, but he has a ton of mileage. Can't move Seabs, so had to move Hammer. Better that they moved him now, his value would drop a lot in a year. Saad will hopefully resurrect Toews. As the Captain goes, the Hawks go.
 
#15      
Hammer and Panarin were dealt primarily to achieve contract stability. Those guys were 2 seasons from UFA status. The main guys that were acquired are signed for 4 and 5 seasons, for effectively the same cost. Murphy is 6 years younger than Hammer. Hammer will be missed, but he has a ton of mileage. Can't move Seabs, so had to move Hammer. Better that they moved him now, his value would drop a lot in a year. Saad will hopefully resurrect Toews. As the Captain goes, the Hawks go.

Welcome back.

Tough but necessary trades IMO. Don't know that I could have pulled the trigger, but that is one of many reasons I am not the GM :D

While the trade of Panarin weakens Kane's line, the addition of Saad definitely strengthens Toews' line. Now you have four solid top line guys over two lines, rather than just one solid line and trying to find a match with Toews. With the loss of Hossa, something needed to be done.

Hate to see Hammer go, but Murphy sounds like a solid, younger replacement.
 
#16      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Welcome back.

Tough but necessary trades IMO. Don't know that I could have pulled the trigger, but that is one of many reasons I am not the GM :D

While the trade of Panarin weakens Kane's line, the addition of Saad definitely strengthens Toews' line. Now you have four solid top line guys over two lines, rather than just one solid line and trying to find a match with Toews. With the loss of Hossa, something needed to be done.

Hate to see Hammer go, but Murphy sounds like a solid, younger replacement.

Thank you.

WRT Murphy, I think solid is a VG characterization. He's not a finished product. He's got great size, is a VG skater and brings some offense and physicality. Will he be as good as Hammer defensively? Not initially, possibly not ever. But he's definitely a top 4 guy now and could be a top pairing guy in a couple of seasons.

For sure, Bowman's got cojones. Mucho grande cojones.
 
#17      

KBLEE

Montgomery, IL
I'm looking forward to watching Alex DeBrincat compete for a spot. He had 127 points in the OHL last season, and his 65 goals were 3 better than Patrick Kane's one season spent in the same league.
 
#18      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
I'm looking forward to watching Alex DeBrincat compete for a spot. He had 127 points in the OHL last season, and his 65 goals were 3 better than Patrick Kane's one season spent in the same league.

DeBrincat is going to get a great opportunity to make the team. And, yes, his OHL career (3 seasons w/Erie) was awesome. The kid is wired to score. Not nearly as concerned about his diminutive stature as I was when the Hawks drafted him. Needs to work on his first strides explosiveness, but, other than that, I think he's ready (or really damn close).
 
#20      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
And in keeping up their gimmick of bringing back retreads...

Blackhawks are set to sign Patrick Sharp to a one-year deal.

I don't have an issue with this. 800K cap hit plus 200K more in incentives. Low risk, high reward if he stays healthy.

I hope this is not all they have in their bag of tricks, though.
 
#23      
I don't follow other players as closely as the Blackhawks. Any comments on the other players signed? Is Bouma a replacement for Krueger? Pros/cons of these guys?

TIA
 
#24      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
I don't follow other players as closely as the Blackhawks. Any comments on the other players signed? Is Bouma a replacement for Krueger? Pros/cons of these guys?

TIA

The center that they got from Arizona is more of the replacement for Kruger. The biggest steal could be the goalie they got from Columbus. he's kind of like a Scott Darling type with more athleticism. Bouma's a guy who likes to hit. what I am reading is that they are younger, faster and more difficult to play against.
 
#25      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Lots of Calgary fans like Bouma. Not much O, but VG D. Can PK & blocks a ton of shots. Good 4th line guy. The goalie will battle Forsberg for the backup spot and most likely lose. He'll be the #1 guy in Rockford. Hawks really needed to shore up their goalie pipeline and it looks like they have. Oesterle: Edmonton fans seem to like him. Don't think he has a chance to make the Hawks. #1 PMD in Rockford. Wingels: really like this move, especially if he has a bounce back season. Definitely like his speed. Should be a solid 4th liner, with upside.

Ras is gone, which I'm ok with. Don't know squat about the center kid they got from AZ. Really hoping he's ready. Kero needs to step up his D game considerably this year.
 
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