- EnzoD

Lucas Carlsson, I believe.
- AEL_Fox

Here one way to see star's this season of all Blackhawk prospects;
Google Blackhawks prospects
Choose the link that pops up
Prospect/In the System Stats|Chicago Blackhawks - NHL.com
All the league's, Sweden, Russa, Collegiate, AHL, Major junior

Probably the top dman are most part offensive guys and at least some can really skate the puck. There are a couple I am uncertain how far they have progressed, like
Olofsson & other collegiate. Their size and defensively sound is the likely obstacles to overcome....that and experience. We have a lot of guys here!

Closer to NHL: Snuggerud, Press
Furthest from NHL: Krys, Carlsson, Tuulola, I Mitchell, Jokiharju, M From

Wiz and some other posters could expand on this as they are in authority; I am not at their level.

Should Hawks trade them both? Get Duchene for Kane, and Kruger for Seabrook, and many on this board will be happy!
- BMWChiFan

Here's what we do--we get OEL, Gostisbehere, Zaitsev, or Ekblad AND Duchene at ANY COST or ANY DRAFT PICK until the cows come home.

Here one way to see star's this season of all Blackhawk prospects;
Google Blackhawks prospects
Choose the link that pops up
Prospect/In the System Stats|Chicago Blackhawks - NHL.com
All the league's, Sweden, Russa, Collegiate, AHL, Major junior

Probably the top dman are most part offensive guys and at least some can really skate the puck. There are a couple I am uncertain how far they have progressed, like
Olofsson & other collegiate. Their size and defensively sound is the likely obstacles to overcome....that and experience. We have a lot of guys here!

Closer to NHL: Snuggerud, Press
Furthest from NHL: Krys, Carlsson, Tuulola, I Mitchell, Jokiharju, M From

Wiz and some other posters could expand on this as they are in authority; I am not at their level.
- jhawk59

Tuulola is tearing up the Finnish Liiga. He's 2nd in the league in points and is having breakout season. I don't think he's in the furthest from section.

Scott Powers does great prospect round up articles for TheAthletic, but you have to subscribe. I think they do a certain amount of free ones before they lock it up.

I'm pretty sure #88 specifically requested for us to sign him because of chemistry playing together on Team USA internationally
Imagine Kesler keeping Kane safe...

100%
- Slofire94

Who's afraid of Kesler? Keep dreaming.

Hartman and Schmaltz are both 1st round picks, and Debrincat is a 2nd round pick. Both Hartman and Schmaltz were projected to be Top 6 guys based on their skill sets. Hartman as a 200ft power forward with finishing ability and Schmaltz as a pure playmaking Center.

I think Sharp has been deployed perfectly given his age. 15 minutes a night and Powerplay time is perfect for saving his legs during the long regular season. Hartman, Panik, Hayden, Wingels, and Bouma all throw their body on the forecheck and that is more consistent physicality on a nightly basis than the Hawks have had since 2010.

The real key for this team is just playing together and building chemistry. It is virtually a completely new roster. The ONLY guys who have any familiarity playing together are Toews-Panik and Seabrook-Keith. Every other line and defense pair is brand new. 4-1-1 against playoff teams (with the probably exception of Montreal) is a damn good start for a retooled roster with all kinds of new faces, lines, and defense pairs.

I would love to add another Power Forward like Evander Kane or James Neal, but I think there has been a good amount of toughness added, especially on the backend with Murphy who loves to throw his body.
- EnzoD

Stupid, undisciplined penalty late in the game by Kane cost the Sabres big time Saturday night in LA. And then in the first 5 minutes of their game last night with the Ducks he took another one. And that's just one of many reasons teams won't give up much for him in trade even though he has been on the market for 2 years.

He would be in Q's press box real fast and never get out.

Who's afraid of Kesler? Keep dreaming.
- 6628

But but but no human can withstand that many hits.

Crawford is the big reason for the good start. Schmaltz back will be huge, his speed and creativeness has been missed. AA needs to be 3C on a regular basis. Really impressed with Rutta and Hartman, Debrincat as well but he is going to get killed on of these nights, can't afford to get rocked like that too many times. Great blog JJ, like the fact you like to think realistically all the time and not saying how great we are. Right now Crawford has won a couple games and remains the best player so far this year, hope he keeps it up. Toews is playing very well too.

Stupid, undisciplined penalty late in the game by Kane cost the Sabres big time Saturday night in LA. And then in the first 5 minutes of their game last night with the Ducks he took another one. And that's just one of many reasons teams won't give up much for him in trade even though he has been on the market for 2 years.

He would be in Q's press box real fast and never get out.
- RickJ

Discipline on and off the ice has certainly been an issue for E.Kane, but his talent and physicality is undeniable. As a rental, and with the bolded in mind, I'd certainly be giving Buffalo a call on Evander. There is literally no leadership group in Buffalo to keep a guy like E.Kane in line. They gave the C to Eichel who by all accounts is an immature punk, as well. Toews, Keith, Seabrook and Sharp would be a good leadership group for a talent like E.Kane, and he would score a lot of goals playing with Patrick Kane. The Sabres are a dumpster fire and it doesn't seem like a place where he would re-sign.....not saying its probable, but its an entertaining idea.

With Sharp obviously showing signs of being able to battle on the boards as in the past, I still think they need to roll with 10/15/88 as the second line. Need more nasty up front on the forecheck to retain O zone time.

Third line of 38/8/?, and fourth line the work in progress to find the best role players there. Plenty to work with and lots of options for the bottom six.

Trying to shoehorn bottom six guys and/or rookies into top six roles they will NEVER be able to mature into or stick with (sorry - calling it like I see it) is a prescription for mediocrity. We have low draft picks in that group, and they are performing as low picks normally do. Catch a team on the end of a back to back, maybe the middling guys can play well. Otherwise, not so much.

Need both top lines to be scoring threats that can maintain possession in the O zone, and need an energy line and a checking line to round out the third and fourth so Q can actually roll four lines.

Achieving this should suppress SOG against and tilt the ice back to the O zone.
- Return of the Roar

They gotta go back to Schmaltz at 2C for a while first. IF that plan fails, THEN try reworking the 2nd line. But IMO Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane can be a very dangerous 2nd line, like we saw against the Penguins. No reason to break them up until they show they can't produce.

Also, Sharp has looked very nice playing 3LW and has formed chemistry with DeBrincat. No need to break them up either.

Tuulola is tearing up the Finnish Liiga. He's 2nd in the league in points and is having breakout season. I don't think he's in the furthest from section.

Scott Powers does great prospect round up articles for TheAthletic, but you have to subscribe. I think they do a certain amount of free ones before they lock it up.
- JRoenick97

The question about top end prospects, especially defensemen and, moreover, goaltenders, is do they need AHL apprenticeship to ease jump to north American hockey. With the new style Blackhawks play from the defensemen, perhaps in some ways he could transition. But playing defense against bigger, stronger maybe faster players in the NHL is a step up which I know Bowman and Q would not want to rush him. We already have plenty of young players at this position in Chicago. One of them - or more - should step their performance so then another young guy can transition with a better opportunity for success.

Discipline on and off the ice has certainly been an issue for E.Kane, but his talent and physicality is undeniable. As a rental, and with the bolded in mind, I'd certainly be giving Buffalo a call on Evander. There is literally no leadership group in Buffalo to keep a guy like E.Kane in line. They gave the C to Eichel who by all accounts is an immature punk, as well. Toews, Keith, Seabrook and Sharp would be a good leadership group for a talent like E.Kane, and he would score a lot of goals playing with Patrick Kane. The Sabres are a dumpster fire and it doesn't seem like a place where he would re-sign.....not saying its probable, but its an entertaining idea.
- EnzoD

Does the new Buffalo GM have good people around him in the front office to turn the Sabres around? What would Buffalo want, anyway, for the other Kane?

Here's what we do--we get OEL, Gostisbehere, Zaitsev, or Ekblad AND Duchene at ANY COST or ANY DRAFT PICK until the cows come home.


- Kewl1

Sakic might as well talk trade to the cows until they come home. He has to keep being patient to make a trade beneficial to the need his team has. And it is difficult to pry away top up and coming defencemen.

This season is a small sample size, but compared to last year at 5v5 the Hawks are giving up approx 25% more

Shots against
Shot attempts against
Scoring chance against
High Danger Shot Attempts Against

It is early and maybe not everyone is on the same page yet, but what stands out to me is all the names not playing right now who applied good back pressure and neutral zone defensive play.

Hossa (Of course)
Kruger
Schmaltz


The team is getting their chances offensively just as often they were before, but I feel like teams are coming up the ice too easily. Maybe some of this is the change in defensive scheme, but I'd like to see Chicago hound the puck carrier more and win a few more puck battles.

They gotta go back to Schmaltz at 2C for a while first. IF that plan fails, THEN try reworking the 2nd line. But IMO Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane can be a very dangerous 2nd line, like we saw against the Penguins. No reason to break them up until they show they can't produce.

Also, Sharp has looked very nice playing 3LW and has formed chemistry with DeBrincat. No need to break them up either.
- SimpleJack

Panarin-Schmaltz-Kane: MAKE IT HAPPEN STAN!!!!!

Good memory, Fox. The 20 yr old is starting his 3rd yr as a pro. He's made all the Swedish international rosters that matter, the Ivan Hlinka tournament for 17 yr olds, WJC U-18 and WJC U-20. Decent size and a pro since he was 17: http://www.eliteprospects.../player.php?player=212334
- Mr Ricochet

Nice accolades for Carlsson. Hope that adds up to experience to play effectively in the NHL. Besides Snuggerud, I'd say he's the closest blueline prospect to make a difference. Krys, Mitchell, and Jokiharju are many years away.

The Seabrook contract is so bad it is basically untradeable. But here's a few:

Dion Phneuf
Tyler Myers
Keith Yandle

All 3 have comparable contract with less term. But again nobody is taking an older & much SLOWER Seabrook with all that money owed to him.
- Goalie-33

Contract terms aside, I'd want none of those 3 guys on the ice if a big game was on the line. Seabrook is a warrior with the skins on the wall to prove it. Yeah he's getting slower but he's positionally sound and smart.

Here one way to see star's this season of all Blackhawk prospects;
Google Blackhawks prospects
Choose the link that pops up
Prospect/In the System Stats|Chicago Blackhawks - NHL.com
All the league's, Sweden, Russa, Collegiate, AHL, Major junior

Probably the top dman are most part offensive guys and at least some can really skate the puck. There are a couple I am uncertain how far they have progressed, like
Olofsson & other collegiate. Their size and defensively sound is the likely obstacles to overcome....that and experience. We have a lot of guys here!

Closer to NHL: Snuggerud, Press
Furthest from NHL: Krys, Carlsson, Tuulola, I Mitchell, Jokiharju, M From

Wiz and some other posters could expand on this as they are in authority; I am not at their level.
- jhawk59

Thanks for the tip! I'd add Carlsson to the "closer to the NHL" list or at least a tweener between the your two lists.

I believe you were listing defense prospects; if so, From is a winger. From what I've read, he's projected to be a 3rd liner with an endless motor and offensive instincts. Maybe like Faksa from the Stars?

Discipline on and off the ice has certainly been an issue for E.Kane, but his talent and physicality is undeniable. As a rental, and with the bolded in mind, I'd certainly be giving Buffalo a call on Evander. There is literally no leadership group in Buffalo to keep a guy like E.Kane in line. They gave the C to Eichel who by all accounts is an immature punk, as well. Toews, Keith, Seabrook and Sharp would be a good leadership group for a talent like E.Kane, and he would score a lot of goals playing with Patrick Kane. The Sabres are a dumpster fire and it doesn't seem like a place where he would re-sign.....not saying its probable, but its an entertaining idea.
- EnzoD

Didn't Eichel publicly state recently that he's tired of losing? Can't blame him or any fierce competitor for saying that. Yet, he also signed a huge contract extension not too long ago. I could see his tenure with the Sabres end up terribly where he gets overly disgruntled. Wonder what type of return the Sabres could get if they traded him at the TDL or next summer?

I agree, though, not sure why they gave him the C. Why not O'Reilly?

But but but no human can withstand that many hits.
- L_B_R

Good one LBR. Let's see the advanced stats on that load of poop.

Good one LBR. Let's see the advanced stats on that load of poop.
- 6628

It appears that the only human who couldn't handle that many hits is Kesler himself, who is out several months with a serious hip injury

Didn't Eichel publicly state recently that he's tired of losing? Can't blame him or any fierce competitor for saying that. Yet, he also signed a huge contract extension not too long ago. I could see his tenure with the Sabres end up terribly where he gets overly disgruntled. Wonder what type of return the Sabres could get if they traded him at the TDL or next summer?

I agree, though, not sure why they gave him the C. Why not O'Reilly?
- AEL_Fox

Trading Eichel is not something they would consider under any circumstances unless it was Mathews or McDavid coming back in return. He's a superstar in the making if he stays healthy long enough.

The problem in Buffalo is having signed way too many dogs at too big a price who just don't perform - like Zac Bagosian, Matt Moulson, Josh Gorges, Robin Lehner and now Kyle Okposo. Even Ryan O'Reilly is way overpaid IMO. But new GM Jason Botterill is a good hockey man and they dumped that idiot coach Bylsma so they are going to improve slowly if kids like Sam Reinhart start to play up to their draft positions.

Tremendous fans in Buffalo who have been suffering for a long time.

Trading Eichel is not something they would consider under any circumstances unless it was Mathews or McDavid coming back in return. He's a superstar in the making if he stays healthy long enough.

The problem in Buffalo is having signed way too many dogs at too big a price who just don't perform - like Zac Bagosian, Matt Moulson, Josh Gorges, Robin Lehner and now Kyle Okposo. Even Ryan O'Reilly is way overpaid IMO. But new GM Jason Botterill is a good hockey man and they dumped that idiot coach Bylsma so they are going to improve slowly if kids like Sam Reinhart start to play up to their draft positions.

Tremendous fans in Buffalo who have been suffering for a long time.
- RickJ

Thanks for the additional perspective on Buffalo's situation. Have heard good things about Botterill. Eichel for one was a big fan of getting rid of Bylsma and Botterill coming on board.

And I think you meant Okoposo

https://www.thescore.com/news/1394433

Thanks for the additional perspective on Buffalo's situation. Have heard good things about Botterill. Eichel for one was a big fan of getting rid of Bylsma and Botterill coming on board.

And I think you meant Okoposo

https://www.thescore.com/news/1394433
- AEL_Fox

Thought I had lost the spelling bee for a minute.

Thanks for the tip! I'd add Carlsson to the "closer to the NHL" list or at least a tweener between the your two lists.

I believe you were listing defense prospects; if so, From is a winger. From what I've read, he's projected to be a 3rd liner with an endless motor and offensive instincts. Maybe like Faksa from the Stars?
- AEL_Fox

Thanks for the input and correction. Dk if there was another defenseman who played well at World Juniors two years ago. You know Norell was described similar to Hjalmarsson style. He seems like in need to step up this year but there are a lot of promising dman at Rockford.

Eventually each will be viewed as a certain type style and probably most are only going to have at best a third pairing upside. Maybe not with Chicago. Interestingly Svedberg and Pokka are still hanging on. Maybe as insurance and depth given all the youth and uncertainty on defense in Chicago as training camp ended. Then, neither was claimed off waivers.

I suspect Snuggerud could be very good, offensively, but average to below average, defensively, in Chicago after one more season (this season) in the NHL. Press is the mystery man. Watcvh his upside development. Large size with skill...How good was his skating Traverse City and early camp?