IMO, what we know based on what we've seen in Chicago, AA looks like a 2C when he has a combination of Panarin, Kane or Hossa on his wings. Maybe AA could make it work with Kane/Hartman under the right circumstances, but is AA at 100% right now? I'm not sure about that.

Personally, I still think AA has been over-rated around here. He did well with two world class wingers and a lot of offensive zone draws. Can he be as effective without the duo of Kane/Panarin and their passing magic?

He looks like he should be slotted as what he is, a 3C.
- breadbag

But....but.... until there is someone who is physical size a big center, AA is not going anywhere. He means a lot when playing with the top offensive guys and a team needs different looks at center, from speed to what AA provides. He does make nice plays, he does go in front of net, in short he does enough good things so you don't worry if he is an ideal center. How many teams have second and third line ideal forwards. Usually those players have both strength and weaknesses.

Now of course to cut payroll and keeping in mind younger players may need to be paid more once their contract is up, yes logic is to notice where salary is high - could it be shredded. Crawford vetoed movement. So maybe next summer either AA or Seabrook leaves. A replacement will have to be found.

It would be great if in house prospects step up when a veteran is dealt. I feel that the time for best return on Seabrook is slipping away. Either trade him after this season, or in 2-3 years he might be too slow for top pairing. Someone needs to determine if he is slower, and if it is likely he does not get too slow in 2-3 years. I am just saying, be aware. It is too early now and with too many youngsters on defense to even consider trading him this campaign.

I also want to point out how important it is to not only retain #1 round selection, but draft well. You do not have a Crystal ball and know that Fabbri is injury prone or a Schmautz may keep getting concussions. Therefore draft well so that you have new talent which can replace a high paid veteran or replace a Schmautz if he turns out to have a concussion history.

Any way Stanley can trade Seabrook & that HORRID contract for a used bag of pucks?

My lord is he slow & bad.

Has one of the worst contracts in NHL.
- Goalie-33

It's getting harder and harder to defend Seabrook's contract as he gets beat with speed on nearly every shift....

It's getting harder and harder to defend Seabrook's contract as he gets beat with speed on nearly every shift....
- EnzoD

See my post immediately above yours. Interested in your thoughts after reading it.

It's getting harder and harder to defend Seabrook's contract as he gets beat with speed on nearly every shift....
- EnzoD

Imagine what it's gonna be like in a couple years.

Imagine what it's gonna be like in a couple years.
- tompo1015

Before entertaining thoughts of trading him, find out why slower and if he has a nagging injury. Any chance off season training made him slower, such as adding muscle. If he keeps showing he is slower, then you need to dig into this. I will not accept that he is slower based on small sample size

Late add: And as I pointed out a few post above, this veteran means too much to the youth on the back end. That youth needs a season under Samuelson tutelage and this season with the top two experienced defensemen keeping things glued as much as possible.

Before entertaining thoughts of trading him, find out why slower and if he has a nagging injury. Any chance off season training made him slower, such as adding muscle. If he keeps showing he is slower, then you need to dig into this. I will not accept that he is slower based on small sample size

Late add: And as I pointed out a few post above, this veteran means too much to the youth on the back end. That youth needs a season under Samuelson tutelage and this season with the top two experienced defensemen keeping things glued as much as possible.
- jhawk59

It's not like it happened overnight. Even last year there was ample evidence of Seabrook's slowing foot speed.
Do you think it will be easier to move Seabrook's contract next year???

It's getting harder and harder to defend Seabrook's contract as he gets beat with speed on nearly every shift....
- EnzoD

Yup. Really sucks. Idk what we're gonna do about him.

It's not like it happened overnight. Even last year there was ample evidence of Seabrook's slowing foot speed.
Do you think it will be easier to move Seabrook's contract next year???
- tompo1015

No problem: LTIR after a knee/ ankle/ foot / upper body/ lower body/ concussion/ skin/ hair injury documented by all the rules of the WWE / Nhl

It's not like it happened overnight. Even last year there was ample evidence of Seabrook's slowing foot speed.
Do you think it will be easier to move Seabrook's contract next year???
- tompo1015

No. If he lost some foot speed, the return for him is nothing special. The right team gives maybe a 2nd top offer. Or a prospect far from nhl ready. If his contract was less, there would be some wiggle room for creativity. There will be those whom vehemently oppose Seabrook move, citing his value in many ways to the team may or may not show in all that statistical crap. That stuff is made too much as sacrilegious to what is the human eye test.

I would vote in favor of keeping Seabrook if his skating has slipped but very little. I have questioned his stride as being not proper for maximum efficiency. So if this is any semblance of ruth, then there is your evidence for declining skating. I will admit, however, that I might be not entirely correct about his skating stride. I bet wiz would disagree with 6628. I respect both for their knowledge.

Well flip a coin if you want but if yes IF salary is cut there are only so many whom would be significant reduction toward salary cap.

I would hate to loose Seabrook but sooner or later we must face the facts. I wish AA did not make quite as much but I am always interested to consider younger and better skater. Now is actually the time AA goes...well after he sticks through this season and a possible short Cup run.

I just do not see the evolution of the defence being that we are good enough team in shot suppression and quality looks. Does AA means less if you are not a legitimate contender. He could be had on the cheap as far as I see things...but again not until this summer. Then it really makes sense to have a plan to bring in a large size center. To use as such on a third line. First want to see how effective Kampf the Czech may be. How good offensively is He? Because him and the guy from Phoenix are valuable for their aggression and defense at minimum and their offense is a bonus.
..

It's not like it happened overnight. Even last year there was ample evidence of Seabrook's slowing foot speed.
Do you think it will be easier to move Seabrook's contract next year???
- tompo1015

No it didn't. He's never had real good foot speed. He's always relied more on his IQ than his speed. It's just the game is getting faster ore than he's getting slower.

Lil Arti with the GWG tonight.

No it didn't. He's never had real good foot speed. He's always relied more on his IQ than his speed. It's just the game is getting faster ore than he's getting slower.
- 6628

I got a good chuckle reading how many people approved of the signing of Cody Franson. Seabrook looks like Eric Heiden compared to Franson.

If the new rule on slashing continues to be applied like it has so far along with crackdowns on obstruction type fouls by Dmen, quite a few other veteran NHL guys with big contracts and some mobility issues won't be looking like such great investments - Johnny Boychuk, Dion Phaneuf, Brooks Orpik, Eric Gudbranson, Marc Methot, Tyler Myers, even John Carlson and Shea Weber.

Better positioning and improved skating mechanics are the only things that will help and that's asking a lot of 30+ guys with a lot of miles on them..

I got a good chuckle reading how many people approved of the signing of Cody Franson. Seabrook looks like Eric Heiden compared to Franson.

If the new rule on slashing continues to be applied like it has so far along with crackdowns on obstruction type fouls by Dmen, quite a few other veteran NHL guys with big contracts and some mobility issues won't be looking like such great investments - Johnny Boychuk, Dion Phaneuf, Brooks Orpik, Eric Gudbranson, Marc Methot, Tyler Myers, even John Carlson and Shea Weber.

Better positioning and improved skating mechanics are the only things that will help and that's asking a lot of 30+ guys with a lot of miles on them..
- RickJ

Haaaa, beautiful Rick. Nice post.

from Elliot friedman


Blackhawks’ prospect Dylan Sikura is off to a blazing start for NCAA Northeastern. He had five points in two games against Sacred Heart, including two goals in the first 9:31 of the second one. “He’s ready for the NHL now,” said one scout.
A senior, Sikura was taken 178th overall in 2014. He can choose free agency after the season, although Chicago smoothly signed his brother, Tyler, now playing for AHL Rockford. The Canadian Olympic team was watching Sikura last weekend. He is from Aurora, Ont.

So he will be 22-23 this summer so he will have to sign a 2 year ELC. the one thing that would be bad would be if northeastern is in frozen four he would not able to burn a year of his ELC. next years RFA hayden and Hart. UFA wingels, bouma, sharp so there could be some room.

Yup. Really sucks. Idk what we're gonna do about him.
- SimpleJack

I suspect the owners will exercise their rights to terminate the CBA in 2019, followed by a lockout, followed by a buy-out period once the lockout ends. Assuming that to be the case, #7 will be jettisoned at that time.

Seems to me we’ve said all of this in past seasons - especially the bolded.

Coaching / teaching issues?
- StLBravesFan

I don't think the players are tuning out. But no one is saying (a big IF) whether there is division and how the schism affects the on ice scheme or protocol. BTW as regarding the coaches: whom is in charge of what this year?

It appears to me each year players do not follow coaching orders in their structure. Break outs is often a problem. I seem to recall that when he was coach Dennis Savard was quick to work on this. Often in sports I see a parallel to life: for the good of the team [society] the values are messed up. It takes a catastrophe for some coaches to circle the wagon and come down tough. Your stars and leaders need to buy in; that way means a lone wolf or two whom would not want to follow orders is going to be common press box seat holder..

Sometimes, though, the GM does not assemble enough of the correct pieces which the coach can mold together. For years front net presence had been a problem. Sticking up for teammates sometimes has been sorely lacking. Just to name a couple of issues.

Is it already time to move that albatros contract of Murphy?

Murphy is OK. Needs to take better angles IMO.

AA needs to not slow Kane up anymore, he was fine with two amazing playmakers on his wings but without them he just holds up the play and is a step slow.

Seabs is what he is. Should trade him soon for some picks if possible.

I personally like the cap space we have now for a move if necessary. If Schmaltz isn't actually made of glass then I think we have a totally decent crop of forwards for the next couple years. If the right deal is there I'd snatch somebody but having the cap room lets you deal from a position of strength.

Seabs is Ok ,needs a little time to get up to speed . He was paid for what he accomplished . And I know I am fine with that . And yes after the next strike ,and there will be one .Seebs will most likely be bought out , if it allowed . But I believe his leadership his still worth a lot if this team is going to go anywhere .

from Elliot friedman


Blackhawks’ prospect Dylan Sikura is off to a blazing start for NCAA Northeastern. He had five points in two games against Sacred Heart, including two goals in the first 9:31 of the second one. “He’s ready for the NHL now,” said one scout.
A senior, Sikura was taken 178th overall in 2014. He can choose free agency after the season, although Chicago smoothly signed his brother, Tyler, now playing for AHL Rockford. The Canadian Olympic team was watching Sikura last weekend. He is from Aurora, Ont.

So he will be 22-23 this summer so he will have to sign a 2 year ELC. the one thing that would be bad would be if northeastern is in frozen four he would not able to burn a year of his ELC. next years RFA hayden and Hart. UFA wingels, bouma, sharp so there could be some room.
- kmw4631

While on this subject, I saw Notre Dame was playing Denver last night on CBS Sports Network, this is how I get my viewing of Hawks College Prospects.

Thought I would check on future D prospects. Gilbert has been discussed around here before. He was just OK in my mind. Got beat for the go ahead goal in the 3rd by Troy Terry, Anaheim prospect who looks good.

But I was really impressed with Ian Mitchell, Hawks 2nd round pick. Fast, tough puck moving Dman, only a Freshman, and playing top minutes on the #1 ranked team in the country.

Finally look to have some Dmen in the pipeline.

Just watched the first period of the Minne game. I guess the 2nd period was better?

I say this because I was reading how Chicago 'outplayed' the Wild, and I must have missed those parts - because I sure didn't see it. I saw maybe one decent (albeit broken) zone entry with any real pressure -and that was one where Saad and Panik sorta had to improvise after Saad came over to help out on the RW boards.

Outside of that - it was a lot of bad passes, and some really bad positioning - and I was regularly seeing forwards on top of each other - with the resulting nothing happening, but a rapid exit from the offensive zone by the puck.

Forsling did pretty good though. Was pretty noticeable - although it was largely when he had to get back quickly to corral some loose pucks in the d zone. Had a couple of decent chances in traffic.

Hopefully tomorrow's game will be better -although I might not get to see it relatively live.

Reading through, I have seen some questions pertaining to getting rid of Murphy. I seem to remember Johnny Oduya taking a long time to acclimate to the Hawks system, and once he did he became a crucial player for Chicago. I think Murphy just needs time. He played in a completely messed up system on a really bad team going nowhere. He has to get rid of bad habits, and that isn't going to happen quickly.

Reading through, I have seen some questions pertaining to getting rid of Murphy. I seem to remember Johnny Oduya taking a long time to acclimate to the Hawks system, and once he did he became a crucial player for Chicago. I think Murphy just needs time. He played in a completely messed up system on a really bad team going nowhere. He has to get rid of bad habits, and that isn't going to happen quickly.
- Hawks_49

No kidding. We are 5 games in. Let the dust settle. Murphy will be fine when its all said and done.

It's getting harder and harder to defend Seabrook's contract as he gets beat with speed on nearly every shift....
- EnzoD

Agreed. I still maintain he's a momentum killer on the PP too

No kidding. We are 5 games in. Let the dust settle. Murphy will be fine when its all said and done.
- z1990z

Well, there is no proof that he will be. He was also bad his last season in Arizona (for the whole season, not parts of it).