Analysis: Blackhawk Trade Deadline Grade B+

  

 

As the dust settles on a fairly eventful day yesterday, let’s unpack what Stan Bowman did at this deadline, some of the back story, as well as what it all means going forward for a franchise in transition:

OUT

Michal Kempny

Ryan Hartman

Tommy Wingels*

A 2018 5th round pick

IN

2018 1st round pick (Nashville)

2018 3rd round pick (the higher of Washington’s 2 picks)

2018 4th round pick (Nashville)

2019 5th round pick (conditionally moves up to a 4th if Wingels re-signs with Boston or if Boston wins one playoff series)

C Viktor Ejdsell (HV 71 Sweden)

 

*- Wingels will likely re-sign in Chicago this summer

 

Trades are always hard to absorb at first, especially when you look at your current roster and the pieces don’t seem to fit. But there can be zero doubt, Stan Bowman’s eyes are now firmly on the 2018-19 season and beyond.

The big loss for Chicago is Hartman: a versatile lower line winger who can play all three forward positions, is physical and has some skill, plays an agitating style.

i would urge anyone who has not read our post of two days ago regarding the dilemma the Hawks were in regarding whether to keep or deal Hartman, I would suggest you do so now, here:

https://www.the-rink.com/2018/02/25/analysis-ryan-hartman/

In the end, Bowman had to move Hartman. Just after the deal yesterday, i heard from a team source that Hartman “wanted out.” Some may dispute that. But I think anyone who’s ever had a contentious relationship with a boss knows it can reach a point where at least some days, you’d really rather be somewhere else. The Hartman-Quenneville issues had reached  a low point, likely, with Hartman being benched early in Saturday’s game in Columbus. The writing was on the wall, for all concerned—including any team interested in acquiring Hartman.

This trade deadline, as so many are, was a seller’s market. But when a GM’s hand is forced on a player, it can undercut return. Bowman pulled the trigger on a deal to a bitter division foe—I heard, again, just after the deal yesterday—because Nashville, unlike other late suitors Winnipeg and Arizona, was willing to include a first round pick in the offer.

This will surely be a late first round pick, where the prospect of grabbing a surefire NHL player, much less impact player, is far from guaranteed. But this is a deep draft. And the pick gives Bowman a chip he can package with the Hawks’ much higher pick to possibly move up and pluck a true impact player in this draft. Bowman now also has extra mid round picks to work with as well.

The other key to this deal is Ejdsell, a fairly prolific scorer in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s #2 league, last season, and a player the Hawks pursued last summer, before he signed with the Preds. You can go look at his “youtubes” and see a guy making  a lot of nice plays on wide open European ice, which doesn’t always translate to the smaller, highly contested ice of North American pro hockey. But—a nice quick shot, good hands around the net, decent speed and size are evident.

The Hawks need another productive NHL center. But we don’t know enough about Ejdsell this morning to say he can be that. How is he on faceoffs. I heard/read two widely varying reports yesterday. How will he adapt to the tighter checking of North America? The-Rink.com’s Martin Thörnqvist, who lives in Sweden and watches a lot of hockey there, told me late yesterday he believes Ejdsell will end up at wing in the NHL.

Overall it was a good deal for Bowman, how good pretty much rests on what he does with Nashville’s first rounder and what Ejdsell becomes.

The next big day for the Hawk franchise, possibly a huge day, will be the NHL draft lottery. At the top of this draft are a handful of potentially elite players, followed by anther handful of potentially very good NHL players. The Hawks presently look like a good bet to pick somewhere between 7th and 9th. But in the lottery, they could pick as high as first—if they get very lucky.

Personally, I think Hawk fans can celebrate if Bowman gets into the top 5—either through the lottery or a trade up. You want to get an impact player in this draft to help build the next ten years of this franchise—preferably a defenseman—along with the Debrincats and Schmaltzes.

All for now, please comment below.

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Center Ice Forums Analysis: Blackhawk Trade Deadline Grade B+

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 32 total)
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  • #5717
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

      As the dust settles on a fairly eventful day yesterday, let’s unpack what Stan Bowman did at this deadline, some of the back story, as well as
    [To continue reading full article, click here: Analysis: Blackhawk Trade Deadline Grade B+]

    #5718
    DK002
    Participant

    Great analysis as always JJ.

    Hartman seemed to be something the Hawks always lack a physical player…thus the continual smurf comments in regard to Stan’s forwards.  IF he was moved I think that would possibly signal Q’s return next season.

    You had mentioned that Hartman and others were not happy with Q and not hiding that fact.   So has Q indeed lost the room? Hartman was supposed to be Shaw 2.0 and last season he had 19 goals. But he’s never become Shaw and Shaw is sorely missed on a team that lacks any ‘net front presence’.

    Q said before Shaw was moved he was irreplaceable.  Q also blew up regarding Hammer being moved (rightfully so when we saw the defense he was left with).  It’s abundantly clear that Stan and Q as we’ve seen over the years are not on the same page.  Trevor Daley leaps to mind.  After holding his cards too long at the draft Bowman was forced to take back whatever Nill wanted…

    For this TDL Stan did well getting the center he coveted and some picks.  But since AA’s got his NMC thanks to Stan any thought of getting a younger dman or picks was pretty much a pipe dream.  So before we anoint Bowman the savior thanks to one TDL, his moves over the last several seasons still shows that he should be ‘re-assigned’ as well. Watching Philip Danault play for the Habs last night vs. the Flyers really made you want to reach for an air-sick bag.

     

     

    #5719
    kevin
    Participant

    In Regard to Edsell he is # 8 in goals in the SHL this year (top League) on a Middle of the road team with 17 Goals and leads his team in goals next highest is 14 and 10.  So his numbers in the # 2 league were great but the fact he is doing it again this year in #1 league Vs better and older players is more encouraging.  IMO.   at the Preds prospect camp the word is skating looked uncoordinated and made for more turnovers.  But on the Videos from last year it does not look that bad.  Might just be the 1st time on small ice.  I have not seen Videos from the SHL this year.  Also the Pred blogger mentioned that he is all of 6-5 (IE he looked even taller).    Also I read his Def and play away from the puck was not a strength.   I think he is  solid prospect.   If he can get more physical and work on his skating on small ice I think he could be a NHL player.  He has 2 NHL skills.  Length and hands.

    #5720
    fattybeef
    Participant

    I posted this in the zoo the other day as well but is it possible that Hartman was also thinking extension in the 2.5-3 million range?

    That would explain issues with getting benched and the front office being willing to shop him around .

    #5721
    Alan Parsons
    Participant

    Watched a lot of the Caps game last night and what I saw was typical Michael Kempny.  He made a great read, jumped up and stole a pass then skated up the left and took a 25 foot shot directly into Bobs chest.    Then he got beat to the outside like a redheaded stepchild and then after the original shot was saved, he lost his man, ended up below the goal line and the puck was passed right through him into a wide open man in the slot who buried it, the camera perfectly capturing him watching the puck go right in the net.   And later he was chasing the puck and ended up on the opposite side of the ice and up near the blue line completely out of position.  Hes certainly a work in progress.

    #5723
    Alan Parsons
    Participant

    Did the Blackhawks “break” Forsberg or have they “exposed” Forsberg?  He plays pretty well for 95% of the games he has started and then he will let in the WORST soft goals at the wrong times.  He seems like he loses focus and concentration.  Maybe that is who he is.  He needs to be better.  He probably can get better, but…yikes, its gonna be ugly if Crawford doesnt come back.

     

    #5724
    Alan Parsons
    Participant

    Craig Anderson is 38?39?  If Crawford cant play, I think you have to consider moving someone like Keith or Saad plus whatever else it takes to get the best stud young goalie prospect in the game.  Someone who is on the edge of being a #1 for a decade.  I have no idea who that is.  Grubauer is close to taking over from Holtby. So maybe Holtby is available too.  Hes fallen off a cliff this year but hes been as good or maybe a tick better than Crawford over the last couple of years statistically.  He could be available for maybe less than we think.

     

    #5725
    Alan Parsons
    Participant

    Question:  when European players come over and have to “adjust” to NHL ice size, is it tougher for forwards or defensemen?  I would think it is tougher for defensemen to adjust, but maybe the traffic and physical nature of the game means its harder for forwards?  thoughts?

    And Im too lazy to do the research, but maybe it has already been done, are defensemen or forwards more successful when coming over from european leagues?  We already know how the Hawks like their Swedish defenders.

    #5726

    I think StanBo was pretty honest that he was approached and it was a deal he could turn down, because he has to mind that Cap now and for a few more years, and what better was than a late-blooming big Centre-wing from Sweden and a late first rounder when he didn’t have a second.

    There is a lot to like in that area, of this especially strong draft class. That draft tier end at about slot #37 right before where the Hawks WOULD have picked had they not traded the pick to Montreal.

    (I have a a Swiss sleeper power forward Nando Eggenberger in the top 37 and I doubt anyone else does…but I don’t have the German winger Dominik Bokk up there while a lot of draft prognosticator view him as an under the radar Leon Draisaitl clone and actually a really good spot to shore up the goaltending position with the selection of Oliver Rodrigue who was by and large the most impressive goaltender in the CHL prospects game group.

    There are also several sleeper player that just like every year, will jump ahead of the prospects on my board because teams sometimes are looking for certain type or fit and fall in love with potential.

    Victor Ejdsell is obviously a guy they liked and the Hawks tried to sign. he is not a guy with a strong perimeter shot, but for a big man, he is fluid, and opposes problems on the attack.

    In his draft year, I didn’t bother to have him in my mock, but recently this year while watching the Vegas push defender, Erik Brännström with Hv-71, Ejdsell stood out for his work. It wouldn’t be the first time a guy gets it together and challenges himself to be a good pro player.

    Moreover, this move takes having to pay (or tussle with his reps about an overpay) Hartman anything…the pick provides TIME, spaceed out between when big Ford Ejdsall is ready for a contract and the draft pick emerging and falling into the rookie salary schedule.

    The hawks need that, do get any reshuffle done.

     

    #5727
    Under Qs moustache
    Participant

    [quote quote=5723]Did the Blackhawks “break” Forsberg or have they “exposed” Forsberg? He plays pretty well for 95% of the games he has started and then he will let in the WORST soft goals at the wrong times. He seems like he loses focus and concentration. Maybe that is who he is. He needs to be better. He probably can get better, but…yikes, its gonna be ugly if Crawford doesnt come back.

    [/quote]He’s just a kid learning the league. He has to learn that no shot is considered a gimme. Crow had soft goals plague him for the first 2 years he was in the league. Waite can straighten this out. What we saw with Glass is not fixable, thus Forsberg is the future not Glass. Depth in the system is non existent, lets hope the Hawks brass addresses this with the extra mid and late round picks.

    #5728
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    [quote quote=5724]Craig Anderson is 38?39? If Crawford cant play, I think you have to consider moving someone like Keith or Saad plus whatever else it takes to get the best stud young goalie prospect in the game. Someone who is on the edge of being a #1 for a decade. I have no idea who that is. Grubauer is close to taking over from Holtby. So maybe Holtby is available too. Hes fallen off a cliff this year but hes been as good or maybe a tick better than Crawford over the last couple of years statistically. He could be available for maybe less than we think.

    [/quote]

    Craig is 35, I believe, he’s also under contract in Ottawa (found that out after the RinkCast) for a few more years. So that’s out anyway.

    i agree trading for a G is probably the answer (IF Crawford can’t go or is questionable next year). I think you’re dreaming on Holtby, unless you want to give up a LOT, abd a lot more than the Hawks can).  They probably would want to make a move on someone on a team with a lot of organizational G depth, where the team can afford to deal a young guy who’s either a backup right now or near NHL ready with promise (like, ummm, CBJ with Forsberg last year). Personally, i think that’ swhy they have NOTHING to lose by playing Forsberg the rest of this year and see if they can coach him back to where he was at the start of the season.

    #5729
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    [quote quote=5727]

    Did the Blackhawks “break” Forsberg or have they “exposed” Forsberg? He plays pretty well for 95% of the games he has started and then he will let in the WORST soft goals at the wrong times. He seems like he loses focus and concentration. Maybe that is who he is. He needs to be better. He probably can get better, but…yikes, its gonna be ugly if Crawford doesnt come back.

    He’s just a kid learning the league. He has to learn that no shot is considered a gimme. Crow had soft goals plague him for the first 2 years he was in the league. Waite can straighten this out. What we saw with Glass is not fixable, thus Forsberg is the future not Glass. Depth in the system is non existent, lets hope the Hawks brass addresses this with the extra mid and late round picks.

    [/quote]

     

    Slow clap. Yes.

    #5730
    hawkeytalk
    Participant

    Awesome article, JJ, and great comments too. @Alan – it was mentioned on the podcast last night briefly, but even with how good he’s been for years now, Crow let in some stinkers early on in his Blackhawks tenure too. I don’t think Forsberg has gotten the consistent time in net, or enough time working with Waite, to count him out. That said, if the Caps keep Holtby and somehow let Grubauer become a FA, which I doubt they will, he would be a guy the Hawks should be interested in.

    #5731
    hawkeytalk
    Participant

    Where does everybody land on what Stan should do with his two first round picks? In what’s supposedly a deep draft, I have a hard time wrapping my head around packaging them both to move up for one guy, and then waiting for the 3rd round to pick your 2nd guy. How do you all feel?

    #5733
    kevin
    Participant

    Lets say Craw can’t go next year.  How about hossa for Darling 25% retained.   in cash they are going to pay 1 mil for hossa for 3 years and 1.mil for Darling and we pay 3mil  for darling for 3 years?    Then we LTIR Craw at the begging of the year like we did with Hossa this year?

    #5734
    CanOCorn
    Participant

    [quote quote=5731]Where does everybody land on what Stan should do with his two first round picks? In what’s supposedly a deep draft, I have a hard time wrapping my head around packaging them both to move up for one guy, and then waiting for the 3rd round to pick your 2nd guy. How do you all feel?

    [/quote]

    Either hang on to both and hope for the best possible lottery pick. Or package one with a current player to move up, but not both.

    #5736

    If Crawford can’t heal from his “crystals vertigo,”  you wonder who will take the reins.

    The young Forsberg is going to be given another opportunity to build confidence and success, but it comes hand in hand with all three positions playing better as a team.

    Interesting that Arizona got an insurance goalie from L.A. in. Darcy Kuemper, as if they are thinking  Raanta  night be bolting….

     

    #5738
    Tim M.
    Participant

    I don’t recall a whole lot of criticism of Bowman when he traded danault. He was trying to make the team better right then, so they could win a Cup. Everything is perfect in hindsight-just imagine all the wars that wouldn’t have to be fought if everything could be viewed in hindsight;then the losers could see the outcome before they went to war

    #5740
    FeartheFeathers
    Participant

    [quote quote=5733]Lets say Craw can’t go next year. How about hossa for Darling 25% retained. in cash they are going to pay 1 mil for hossa for 3 years and 1.mil for Darling and we pay 3mil for darling for 3 years? Then we LTIR Craw at the begging of the year like we did with Hossa this year?

    [/quote] Why Darling? He has been horrible. Arn’t you sick of seeing old hawks come back and not be the same player? Sounds like the same ol’ narrative to me. No thanks!

    #5741

    [quote quote=5731]Where does everybody land on what Stan should do with his two first round picks? In what’s supposedly a deep draft, I have a hard time wrapping my head around packaging them both to move up for one guy, and then waiting for the 3rd round to pick your 2nd guy. How do you all feel? [/quote]

    I said prior to the traded deadline that Stan’s big. concern would be getting one in each round so the scouting staff could able to follow their groupings of players and get “their” prospects.

    Clearly there is a one player first tier labeled “when can you get a BIG Eric Karlsson who has edge again in this decade?”

    The second tier is clearly two players in terms of actually scoring skill feet hands and head in Filip Zadina and Andrei Svechnikov, and my man-crush of the player who I think will be the best of the Tkachuk family, Brady Tkachuk, based on his all-around potential to be a player and eventual dominant scorer, and another US kid who whose scoring number simply can’t be ignored in Oliver Wahlstrom.

    So it is a two player second tier, or depending upon opinion a three player or four forward second tier.

    And it is only the fact that Darlin is rated so high that I have allowed this forward group to even extend that far. The reality is some team may decide that a second defenseman or two are better fits for their clubs and the forwards get pushed higher in the slots, just as what happened with the two defenders Miro Heiskanen and Cale Makar above many forwards I think lots of scouts kinda thought were going there last draft.

    So the 3rd tier either contains the two forwards Thachuk and Wahlstrom and all those tantalizing push defense help round out the top ten with a four tier starting at pick #11.

    Here’s the most compelling part of this draft class-it is loaded with guys that may go higher because some of these defenders not in my top ten are players that are oozing with upside and it is simply a matter of their stick to it ness to further improve and build their game.

    There are guys like Joe Veleno who we thought were going to put up “scoring growth numbers” but just haven’t, but the potential they have is similar to a Nolan Patrick, except right now, the draft class has run past them, so he might get his name called anywhere between 11 and 31 .

    Also the unheard of amount of backliners in all shapes, forms, and styles paves a road for a prospect picked late in the round to excel higher than so many of the names called before him.

    There are many forwards that are presently tagged as not the fastest, not high scorers, but nonethelessless possessing solid attributes that can make them quality long term NHLers too.

    A guy like Barrett Hayton is never gonna be your teams first line centre, but he is simply such a safe pick, because his play filled with smarts and quick reactions, so why hit for the fence mid-round if you can pretty much be assured you are getting a rostered guy?

    There are at very least a half dozen players that Corey Prohman listed as honorable mentions at possible first rounder (based on his impression of their overall skills and upside) that I don’t even have in my second round. My point is not to criticize his opinion as much that that type of divergent opinions means there is a large talent pool and it is much easier to get a guy you like if you have picks spread out.

    I suggest you go through my mock of the seven rounds and know I have 400 plus in the database and I am not gonna be able to garnish an opinion on all of them.

    https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2018/

    I have already started putting the player profilers in so click on their names and you will see what I think so far.

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