Huge slate of games today. Let’s dive head first into my picks:

Dallas Stars (+148) vs. Boston Bruins (-175)

O/U: 5.5 +107

The Bruins’ home opener in TD Garden should be electric hockey. The “perfection line” of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak are back and ready to dominate the NHL. I like Boston’s forward depth and their defense is solid. The only question is how their goaltending will fair with Rask still recovering from offseason surgery. 

Dallas beat the Rangers on Thursday night in overtime. Call me out if you want, but I’ve never been a fan of Dallas’ forward group. It feels like they are missing a piece. But their blue line is legit and can shut teams down. 

My pick: Bruins 3-way -106. The Bruins have plenty of scorers up and down the lineup. If they run the score up, I don’t see Dallas closing the gap

New York Rangers (-108) vs Montreal Canadiens (-108)

O/U: 6 -107

Neither team has had the start to the season each was looking for. The Canadiens have been run out of the building in their first two, allowing seven goals while only netting just one in each contest. For their opponent, the Rangers responded after their loss in Washington in the season opener. They played the Stars tough and picked up a point. 

My pick: Rangers ML. Their offense is far and above better than the Canadiens, at least on paper. Goaltending is going to be a concern in Montreal until Price can return. The Rangers pick up their first win Saturday night. 

Calgary Flames (+118) vs Edmonton Oilers (-137)

O/U: 6.5 -109

Offense, offense, and more offense! There are a ton of goal scorers on both benches in this one. No need for a long explanation here. 

My pick: O 6.5. Pucks will be flying off sticks at a high rate in this one, with two teams who want to play fast and skate around or through you to light the lamp.

I will have a bonus play at 4:30 p.m. CDT on my Twitter, @ThomasGibbons_3.

Happy gambling and remember, always ride the Tommy Train. 

Basics of hockey betting Money line — Winning team Puck line — Team wins by at least two goals (-1.5 when placing a bet) Three-way line — Team wins in regulation  Over/under — Total goals scored during a game including overtime but not a shootout  Parlay — A combination of two or more bets

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The post Tommy’s Puckline Picks — October 16, 2021 appeared first on The Rink.

Blackhawks lines and pairings:

Brandon Saad–Jonathan Toews–Dylan Sikura

Dominik Kahun–Artem Anisimov–Patrick Kane

Alex DeBrincat–Dylan Strome–Brendan Perlini

Chris Kunitz–David Kampf–Marcus Kruger

Duncan Keith–Erik Gustafsson

Slater Koekkoek–Connor Murphy

Gustav Forsling–Brent Seabrook

FIRST PERIOD

While the pace of the action was fast from the opening horn, it was also clear that checking woud be tight, with each puck and shot contested. There was no score in the period, with shots ending 13-11 for Montreal.

SECOND PERIOD

At 3:04 Connor Murphy pinched and gathered  in a pass from Dylan Strome in the slot, beating Price high to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.

Less than two minutes later, the red hot Brendan Perlini found the twine, giving Chicago a 2-goal cushion. 2-0 at 4:49.

Toward the end of the period, Montreal began to put some intense pressure on Crawford, but the Chicago netminder was more than up to the challenge, delivering several stellar saves.

The oeriod ended at 2-0, with shots favoring Montreal 17-8.

THIRD PERIOD

The intense Montreal attack continued unabated throughout the third, but again, Crawford came up big.Price was pulled in order to create an extra man advantage for Montreal, but to no avail. The Canadiens outshot the Hawks 18-5 in the period, yet prevailed in the game, final score 2-0. Shots were 18-5 for the third.

THE GOOD

Crawford and, to a certain extent, the Hawk defense.

THE BAD

48 shots allowed is way too many under any circumstances, and Chicago has given up too many shots all season long, though better of late. Notably, Erik Gustafsson’s minutes were reduced last night, with Murphy, Slater Koekkoek, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook all logging more TOI.

THE UGLY

None, both teams played well. Chicago’s goalie was simply the better of the two.

All I have for now, please comment below.

The post Recap: Crawford delivers 48-save shutout in 2-0 win over Montreal appeared first on The Rink.

In the pre-game intro, NBCSN Chicago on-air men, Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk, heralded the return of Connor Murphy to the lineup as being the potential cure for what ails the Hawks. Without question, the Hawks’ problems begin on the blueline. However, in years past, the notion that a player of Murphy’s stature might be “the answer” would have been a bit silly. This year, in the era of Brandon Manning, Brandon Davidson, and Erik Gustafsson as a “top 4” defenseman, Murphy’s return seems like a breath of fresh air.

Lines and pairings for the Hawks:

Brandon Saad–Jonathan Toews–David Kampf
Dominik Kahun–Artem Anisimov–Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat–Dylan Strome–Alexandre Fortin
Andreas Martinsen–Marcus Kruger–John Hayden
Duncan Keith–Henri Jokiharju
Erik Gustafsson–Connor Murphy
Brandon Manning–Brent Seabrook

The goalies were, as you’d expect, Carey Price for the Canadiens and Corey Crawford for the Blackhawks.

FIRST PERIOD

The Hawks got the first power play at 3:37 on a Tomas Tatar hooking penalty. The Hawks first rush was successful in penetrating and setting up in the offensive zone, resulting in a couple of shots. But after that, just a minute and a half of the mediocrity Hawk fans have become accustomed to.

Then, at 5:55, Max Domi beat Marcus Kruger on a defensive zone draw, then later getting to the front of the net, where he powered a rebound past Crawford. 1-0 Habs.

Less than two minutes later, at 7:36, with no Hawks challenging him at the point, Shea Weber blasted one of his patented cannon shots past Crawford. 2-0 Montreal.

The only Hawk line that seemed to have any jump early on was Kahun-Anisimov-Kane, who generated a couple of nice chances at about 10:30.

Tatar took another minor at 12:41. The Hawks won the offensive zone draw and generated one nice chance. But the Habs killed off the rest.

Chicago got one more man-advantage at 18:03 on a Shea Weber delay call. The Hawks seemed to have the right group out with Brent Seabrook, John Hayden, Jonathan Toews, Kane and Alex DeBrincat. Good movement and puck retrieval, lots of net traffic, and sure enough, Kane beat Price to make it 2-1 Montreal at 19:01, which was how the period would conclude.

Shots were 10-7 for Chicago, although the Hawks had 3 power plays and the Habs had none.

SECOND PERIOD

The pace opened up a bit in the early going of this period, with both teams getting a few nice chances. In particular, Tatar got set up nicely in close by Brendan Gallagher, only to ring the puck off the post.

After that the game got a little chippy as well with various Hawks and Canadiens going at each other around the nets and along the wall.

Montreal seemed to get the better of the action in the middle of the period, with some fairly sustained offensive zone pressure and chances, until Kane blasted a laser one-timer from the left circle past Price, off a brilliant cross-ice pass from Kahun, making it 2-2 at 12;55.

Kruger took the Hawks’ first penalty of the night at 13:07, but the Hawks did an effective job killing it off to keep the score tied. The kill and the Kane goal just prior seemed to ignite the Hawks in the latter minutes of the second.

Hayden took a roughing penalty at 18:32, seemingly in retaliation for a Nic DesLauriers hit on Toews earlier in the game. The period ended with :32 left on the Canadien power play, tied at two goals a piece. Shots were 12-9 Chicago in the period.

THIRD PERIOD

The Hawks opened the third by killing off the remainder of the Canadiens penalty.

A flurry of Chicago offense was punctuated by Tatar’s third penalty of the night at 1:58, a cross check on DeBrincat at the Montreal goal mouth. The Hawks got some pressure, highlighted by a nifty stickhandling move by Dylan Strome. While Strome failed to finish the chance, at the end of the power play, he drew a 4 minute high stick on Jordie Benn at 3:58.

The Hawks’ best pressure on that power play came from the same unit that clicked earlier in the night: Kane, Toews, DeBrincat, Hayden and Seabrook. However, the Hawks failed to convert 6 consecutive minutes of man-advantage.

Inevitably, the Habs got a power play on a Brandon Saad interference call at 9:29. And it was the Habs turn to get a consecutive call when Murphy clipped Max Domi with a high stick at 10:36, giving the Habs a 5-on-3 for 55 seconds. The kill was frenzied but the Hawks got back to 5-on-4 with no damage.

No sooner had the Hawks killed off the second call when Murphy was tripped at 12:49, putting the Hawks back on the power play. That penalty was killed when Gallagher caught Gustafsson with a stick, putting the Hawks back on the power play yet again at 15;12. The ensuring power play was basically a shooting gallery for Chicago versus a tired Montreal team.

But the Canadiens, for all their transgressions, were able to kill that penalty off, and after play returned to evens, the Canadiens mounted some consistent pressure and beat Crawford on a Jeff Petry point shot at 18:43. 3-2 Canadiens.

Crawford as was pulled in the last minute to no avail.

Your final score: 3-2 Montreal. 7 straight Chicago losses in what is shaping up as the Hawks’ worst season in over a decade.

The Good

Patrick Kane remains a dynamic and dominant offensive force. I thought Seabrook had a nice game in all situations. Hayden was often noticeable and for all the right reasons.

The Bad

Kruger had a rough night all the way around.

Duncan Keith? Paging Duncan keith.

The Ugly

The Hawks must learn to start games better: more aware and more engaged. The team played pretty well over the latter 50 minutes of the game (for a change).

Although the power play was decent to good at times tonight, the inability to convert 5 third period chances killed Chicago.

All I have on this one. Please comment below.

The post Recap: Canadiens down Blackhawks 3-2 appeared first on The Rink.

Those of you who’ve been following my posts this summer will recognize a familiar theme here—but events continue to unfold (or not unfold) that seem to keep me and others coming back to this line of thought—rather than speculate on what impact Brent Seabrook’s summer weight loss will have on the Blackhawks’ performance or where John Hayden will play.

Because perhaps no recent debate on Blackhawk Twitter captures the conundrum of the organization quite like those surrounding whether the Hawks should pursue Erik Karlsson (or Artemi Panarin, or until recently, Max Pacioretty) and how much the team might give up to acquire those players.

Typically, Hawk fans (or bloggers) will offer up something like, say, Dylan Sikura, another prospect and a draft pick—which would likely not be nearly enough to acquire any of those players.

The “going rate” for “plus players” in the NHL has typically been an established player, a solid to good prospect and a first round pick. For premier players like Karlsson or Panarin, start there and add—because both will be the center of epic bidding wars.

But I digress here, only to say underscore the point that the price or those types of players in trade would be high—and some have argued too high for a team that’s “more than one player away.”

I don’t disagree with that last bit.

However, that said, any time you can add an elite player in his prime—for a reasonable package of perhaps less than elite players and futures—it might not be a bad move.

And for what it’s worth I did hear on Tuesday that the Hawks made an offer for Pacioretty. A young roster forward and 2020 picks, not enough to beat Vegas’ offer. So for the sake of argument only, assuming my source is right—the Hawks made a run and came up short. In it, but not enough to win it.

Thus, the larger issue is this: no matter where you fall on the Relative Optimism Spectrum (or in Gatekeeper’s case, the Relative Cynicism Spectrum), the question remains—what is the team’s actual plan—this season and going forward?

We had a great dialogue on this topic with NBCSN’s Charlie Roumeliotis on RinkCast 29 (https://www.the-rink.com/podcast-download/8379/blackhawks-rinkcast-episode-29.mp3?ref=new_window), where Charlie suggested that such a trade right now would be foolish, when you can acquire one of those players in the summer of 2019 as a free agent. So why give up the assets now?

While he also has a point, there’s a counterpoint. First, if you made such a trade right now, you could theoretically extend the player (say, Karlsson) for slightly less AAV than it will take after a summer UFA bidding war. Further, in such a trade, some salary would almost have to go the other way. So there’s actually sort of a cap management argument for biting the bullet and dealing assets now to acquire an elite player. In theory.

But here’s the bigger point. Next summer, Duncan Keith will be 36, Brent Seabrook 34, Jonathan Toews 31. Another year’s worth of punishment on bodies already believed by many to have seen too many hard miles.

Well, why does that matter?

It matters because the Hawks’ salary structure and contract commitments are not those of a rebuilding team—but a team that’s supposed to be contending. So by holding fire and not going all in on a great additive piece right now, the Hawks are essentially forfeiting another year of “Cup Window,” maybe the last realistic year.

Sure, the ‘Window” may, in fact, already be closed. OK. Then why is $45 million a year or so committed to players who are 30 or older? If the Window is closed, then it’s already time to actually be rebuilding. Well, that depends on how you define “rebuilding.”

Which leads to a couple of phrases I coined earlier this summer: Door Number 3 or “The Silent Rebuild.”

Someone put it to me this way yesterday: “I’d prefer to ride it out like we are, wait for the next generation of talent to develop and hope for the best.”

Well, my strong suspicion is this is the perspective the team has (sort of) adopted—and is hoping fans will too. Silent Rebuild.

But there’s a problem there, as well. That perspective sort of rides on an assumption that Sikura, Adam Boqvist, Alex DeBrincat, Nick Schmaltz, and Henri Jokiharju may someday “replace” or equal Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook.

The problem is, with the possible exception of Boqvist and Keith, that equation will likely never happen.

And there’s no one in the organization right now who comes close to replacing or equalling Corey Crawford in his prime.

Alternatively, some are hoping that the aforementioned young players and prospects will mature into the complementary pieces that the Hawks’ aging core needs to compete for a Cup again soon.

This, also, is likely a pipe dream.

Sure, there are lots of 2018-19 “lineups” posted on message boards and social media with Jokiharju and Sikura on the team or even in top 4 or top 6 roles.

And, hey, there’s no law that says these guys can’t make the team or even assume big minute roles. But that would not mean either of them would necessarily be truly successful or what the team really needs to be an elite contender again. In fact, I’d bet against it—at this point.

The fact is, Schmaltz, for example, has been in the NHL now for nearly 2 full seasons. Yet as the team’s de facto 2^nd line center, there remain a couple of big holes in his game. That’s not to malign Schmaltz. But rather to point out that the actual maturation curve for players in the NHL is longer than presumed by the convenient, EA Sports NHL 19 mentality that pervades summertime, social media lineups and lists.

So, my point here, as it’s been all summer, is the Hawks really seem to be not only going downhill, but worse still, stuck in neutral. Half-pregnant. Not reloading to contend, not meaningfully (and, by necessity, painfully) rebuilding.

And living in denial comes with a high mortgage payment,—so perhaps Rocky Wirtz has that in mind when he alluded to some big changes that might be coming should this team falter out of the gate, or worse still find itself out of the playoff picture (realistically) before the trade deadline.

And maybe the worst scenario for this team is the one that a disconcertingly high percentage of fans seem to be hoping for: that the team squeaks into the playoffs for a round. Because all that might really do is further forestall the inevitable realization that follows:

That, at some point in the not too-distant future, the “core” of the great Hawk teams since 2010 will not be able to carry the team into the postseason, much less beyond the first round anymore. And we may well already be there.

That the “youth movement” has not produced enough meaningful NHL pieces to effectively complement the core—and get the Hawks past the first round of the playoffs. Hasn’t happened in three years anyway. And, oh, by the way, whatever happened to Tyler Motte?

And that a real reset—driven by a series of bigger moves (no movement clauses be damned—because they can be waived), among which trading for an elite player in his early prime might be just one move of many—is necessary. Sooner rather than later.

And perhaps the first move(s) therefore would need to be in a front office that appears to be choosing not to choose.

Thanks for reading. Please comment below. Follow @jaeckel.

The post When “no easy answer” means “no answer” appeared first on The Rink.

Ok, this trade can be viewed today as it likely will be years from now—as Vince Hinostroza being the price of losing the cap hit and annual long-term injured reserve headache that comes with the last three years of Hossa’s deal.

I heard from sources going into the summer that the Hawks intended to deal Hossa’s contract, and that was why, as first reported here, the team had engaged Hossa in talks about his returning to the organization at the end of his contract in an “organizational” capacity, most likely coaching.

Mission accomplished. Hossa is a Coyote on paper, and remains a Hawk in everyone’s hearts. The $1 million actually owed to Hossa in salary is off the Hawks’ balance sheet—and the team now has a boatload of salary cap room.

Almost immediately, in the aftermath of the Hossa trade, rumors began flowing that the Hawks intended to move quickly to acquire one of 2-3 high profile left wings rumored to be on the trading block: Max Pacioretty, Artemi Panarin, and/or Jeff Skinner. Intermittently, rumors had also been out there of interest in defensemen Justin Faulk or Erik Karlsson.

I heard and reported the Faulk, Karlsson and Pacioretty rumors here on The-Rink.

Meanwhile, when Hawk GM predictably went into “tamp down expectations” mode (“we like our team,” “if we make a move it’s more likely to be inseason”), the usual suspects lapped it up and took it as Gospel: “See, Bowman says they aren’t gonna make any moves. Must be true.” LIke GMs never play their cards close to the vest with the media. I mean, I am not the biggest Bowman fan out there, but even I give him more credit than that. Because I know better.

The truth is, for about a week to ten days after the Hossa trade, rumors quietly intensified, especially surrounding Pacioretty—who I was told had been recommended to the Hawk brass by none other than Patrick Kane, who had played with the Montreal winger for the U.S. team in the World Championships.

But then, one day, I opened my inbox and found this:

“(A Hawk source has) expressed serious frustration in the FO and their ability to get deals done to a point that there are ruffled feathers…. the FO A) Overvalues their players B) Think the Hawks are still THE premier destination for FA’s (low-balling contracts) C) Overthink deals to the point where they get over-complicated (which rd pick, retained salary, prospect rankings) and the potential partner backs off the deal. The FO feels they need to “clearly win” any deal instead of the deal being “equally beneficial”. This explains why they have had such an issue trading anyone of potential value to another team and why they are having a hard time signing any FA’s of importance.”

Skeptics out there (and there are always some) will say that is “made up” (easy for them to speculate, but I have better things to do on a Sunday morning), not from a valid source (this source tipped me on Ryan Hartman being dealt before anyone else had it—among other accurate rumors). So, to them, I say, God Bless and believe what you will.

But I will also tell you this is not a new narrative. I have separately heard essentially this from two other sources over the previous 4-5 years. That it can very hard to deal with the Hawk front office as an agent or a GM because there are a lot of cooks in the kitchen, all deals need to be “approved” (or endlessly tweaked) from above, and that the Hawks tend to overvalue (and perhaps, not coincidentally, overpay) their own assets and players.

To be fair, there’s nothing wrong at all with adhering to the principle that sometimes the best deal you make is the one you don’t. And there is nothing wrong with winning a deal. But as Bowman has said himself, GMs like to be able to make value for value deals—where both teams benefit by dealing from each team’s relative depth and strength to add to their relative weaknesses. And the Hawks, having finished 13th in the West last season and rumored to be suffering from softening demand for things like like the recently concluded Fan Convention and actual game tickets, would seem to need to make some deals.

Now, some will point to the theory first mentioned on our RinkCast a few weeks ago, that the Hawks might, in fact, be in the midst of a “Silent Rebuild.” Great.

But the Hossa trade makes almost no sense in that scenario. There is no reason to trade an asset like Hinostroza—who, although he might not be quite the elite offensive prospect some believe him to be, is regardless a useful, young NHL player—to just lose cap hit, if you are in fact rebuilding.

The reason for that move has to be to lose cap hit in order to do something relatively soon with the restored cap space. In terms of actual dollars paid out, Hossa’s deal only cost $1 million a year.

But here we sit, 3+ weeks out from that deal, with other teams still making moves (Skinner was traded to Buffalo last week for a handful of middle round draft picks. Karlsson and Pacioretty at minimum, appear to still be the subject of trade talks), and the Hawks having done very little improve their team for the 2018-19 season.

Last year’s porous blue line, on paper, is only “improved” by the acquisition of Brandon Manning. Now that the always dubious “it was a playoff team with Crow” narrative has been rendered moot by the likely eventuality that Corey Crawford might not even play this year, the goaltending tandem appears to be Cam Ward (the guy Carolina deemed not as good as Scott Darling) and maybe Anton Forsberg. At forward, the team has added Kruger and 38 year old Chris Kunitz.

There are those who will always see the glass as half full: that this is just a rebuild and the next great Era in Chicago Blackhawks hockey is only a season or two away.

The truth, in all likelihood, is not so pretty. The fundamental problem with a “halfway,” or “silent” rebuild (not unlike that of the Detroit Red Wings over the last 8-9 years, among other teams) is that you don’t ever quite get the years of very high draft picks that typically drive a rebuild. In other words, Alex DeBrincat, Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Sikura et al may end up being good to very good NHL players in the right roles, but none are ever going to be comparable to Kane, Jonathan Toews, or Hossa.

Not even close.

This year’s first round pick, Adam Boqvist, selected 8th overall, has obvious talent—but he is also tiny and has apparently already had a concussion or two. Again, the optimists will point to Duncan Keith as a comparator, who was about 165 pounds when drafted in 2002. And that may be perfectly apt—but it remains to be seen if Boqvist possesses the legendary desire Keith had to work and sacrifice and push himself to become an elite NHL player.

Many take for granted the hot, some might say lucky, streak the Hawks went on from 2002-2007 or so in terms of acquiring young talent. And that it was made possible by several years of on-ice struggles—and a lot of empty seats in the stands.

Losing Hossa’s cap hit has provided the Hawks a unique opportunity: to complement their aging, but arguably still potent, core with another young, but proven NHL star. But it also would mean Bowman giving up 1-2 of the “rebuild” assets mentioned above. Value for value.

And it seems—for now anyway—the Hawks can’t do this, even as hope for a return to the playoffs this season are not very realistic in the very competitive Central Division.

So, we return to the abiding question of the offseason: what’s the actual plan? Is there a plan? And if there is, why can’t the Hawks seem to execute it?

Sure, a lot of things could miraculously go right for a team that has not seen that happen much over the last couple of seasons and painfully short playoff runs, but it usually works out differently. In hockey, there’s a degree to which good luck is a by-product of hard work and sacrifice.

And yes, there’s still time for a big move.

Perhaps said big move might really ignite the team on the ice, versus one that is primarily meant to garner some headlines and spur ticket sales. Who knows, Bowman might even pull of a great acquisition before the in-season trade deadline, but historically, “buyers” get completely taken to the cleaners at that time of year.

All of this seems to poin to a front office paralyzed by conflicting beliefs and agendas—and not adapting well to the worst personnel situation arguably since the 2006-07 season.

It seems that, for the time being, the Hawks organization want you to believe, because apparently enough of them still believe—or want to believe—that this is still an elite or near-elite team in the NHL.

In spite of mounting evidence to the contrary.

All I have for now. Discuss below and give me a follow @jaeckel.

The post What the Hossa trade may say about the state of the Hawks appeared first on The Rink.

Heard a number of things from my top source overnight.

First, as reported elsewhere yesterday, the Hawks have agreed to a deal (numbers TBD) with Carolina G Cam Ward. As I tweeted yesterday, Ward likely didn’t sign before UFA started for a pay cut, and thus, as a backup, he would push the Hawks’ salary commitment to goalies next year to over $9 million.

So that said, my hunch is Ward might not be coming to Chicago just as a backup. Draw from that what you will.

I heard this AM that the Hawks continue to talk to the representation of James van Riemsdyk, James Neal and Tyler Bozak.

Interestingly, in addition to left wings JVR and Neal, the Hawks have apparently had some conversations with Montreal recently about Max Pacioretty.

One THEORY we have bandied about at The-Rink is that a top 6 left wing acquisition could be a backfill for trading another left wing to get another team to take on the contract of Marian Hossa (like, say, Brandon Saad, Hossa’s contract and a future draft pick  to Carolina for oh, Justin Faulk). Just a theory, but stranger things have happened.

Finally, Connor Murphy and Artem Anisimov are being shopped fairly hard. While the Hawks have also reached out to the agents for defensemen Brandon Manning, Thomas Hickey and Calvin De Haan, in addition to those of Greg Pateryn and John Moore as first reported here earlier.

Comment below. Follow @jaeckel

The post Updated trade and UFA targets; “plan” emerging? appeared first on The Rink.

TOEWS/CRAWFORD RUMORS

First, if there’s anything at all to the Jonathan Toews to Montreal and Corey Crawford to the Islanders rumors, it’s the other teams discussing it, not the Hawks.

The “only way,” I’m told, Toews gets moved is ”if he asks.” And he hasn’t.

The Hawks also are “hoping” Corey Crawford is healthy and ready to resume his role as the team’s #1 netminder in October.

However, there are “a boatload” of other moves being contemplated. “More to come.”

HOSSA

I have many times stated, including recently on the RinkCast, that Marian Hossa would make an outstanding coach in the NHL. Invariably, I (and others) always come back with this question: why would a guy with $70 million in the bank and a young family want to take that on?

Not sure, but apparently the Hawks plan to sit down with Hossa soon and discuss the possibility of a future “coaching” role with the organization. Head coach? Special assistant? Not specified.

Also, the team is exploring, in conjunction with these talks, the possibility of moving the remainder of Hossa’s contract in order to clear up permanent cap space.

DRAFT

The Hawks have no intention of trading their #8 overall pick, and I’m told are especially high on two players who might be available there. USNTDP winger Oliver Wahlstrom (they “love” him), and QMJHL defenseman Noah Dobson.

The Hawks might be willing to part with the #27 overall for the right return.

Comment below. Follow @jaeckel

The post Rumors: Hossa, the draft, more appeared first on The Rink.

(Wiz note 1: this would force a core player sell off quicker rather than later, because Dahlin’s second deal will not be a RFA bridge but a long term big dollar one, marking the start of the “hard rebuild”).

2) Connected to the first prayer, they are now praying they find a taker on one of their top two defensemen to re-establish CAP flexibility.

3) Pray they win a top two or three pick and pray those two scoring forwards prospects already showing high pace IQ and skill are worth passing for Brady Tkachuk, who along with his representation, would have to give assurances he is by-passing anymore college.

(Wiz note 2: these top forwards, Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina are clearly smart quick super-skilled and not going to need much growth in terms of offensive game and look to help the teams that draft them quickly at even strength and the power play. Let’s give taking Brady Tkachuk early a name: How about the Louis DeBrusk factor?)

4) Connected to the third prayer: If the Hawks were to select Svechnikov or Zadina in the second or third slot after a lottery win, neither is going to prove much by staying in junior, subsequently the Blackhawks are now praying they find a taker on the Anisimov, Saad, or another costly forward deal (he who shall not be named) to secure more scoring for the present with more Cap money. No matter how we all try to justify Artemi planarian’s departure, because we know there wasn’t going to be an excess nine or ten million to resign him, no one can demean the fact he is a GREAT NHL scorer we no longer have. Could a hard rebuild and purge of the established core and the cap room lure him back in free agency? I think not.

5)  If the Blackhawks do not win either of the last two lottery slots, they pray that any and all the teams above them DO win all three top slots,

And not any team under them in the pre draft rankings so the Blackhawks don’t move backward 1-4 possible slots;although hopes of Brady fade, a top ten pick this year is still an awfully good place to add a prospect.

6) Pray Montreal wins the lottery, one over all, so the Habs don’t have Brady Tkachuk in consideration at all.

Just as Montreal chose Ryan Poehling, the Hawks’ TRUE #1 target last season (which triggered the hawk trade up and Henri Jokihaju pick), the Habs will scoop Brady before the hawks choose, because as much as the Habs have need at defenseman, they also need the big forward physical presence a Tkachuk brings.

(Wiz note 3: I keep reading about how Brady is “lesser-light when it comes around to comparisons with the polished forwards ranked above him. I can’t overstate how he is a take no prisoner aggressive power player who causes problems where ever he is and plays to win. And there is plenty of upside too. I doubt he sees the minors and starts on the job apprenticing next season because there is little to prove in the college ranks, and NHL play is the only place further adjustment can take place. In my opinion, he is a terrific ingredient that he balances the undersized parts of the Hawk forward line-up.)

7) Look for the Blackhawks to be praying for one of the teams drafting one through six to in a quest for offensive generating defenseman causes a small run on defenders starting at slot # 5, thereby causing slippage of a safe forward, or a guy considered by the hawks scouting staff as perfect drop into their laps.

(Wiz note 4: Some are saying it is a strong second their after Dahlin made up FOUR players, making pick six the start of a drop off to the third tier. That is NOT how I see it, as the smaller “push” defensemen in this draft have been scouted and have seen more video scrutiny than most past year’s prospects, because NHL teams must feel certain these super-fast undersized players CAN hold up in some form in the defensive parts of the game. Their prayers might be answered if an early selecting team loves one of the many smaller dynamic skating attacking offense man. The game has changed, more that we all want to believe. The physical presence part of the defensive position has radically taken a back seat to the need for every team to have more than one skilled and quick footed defender with upside…teams maybe in fact be reaching for a few of these attacking offensemen, leaving an opportunity for quality forward prospects to fall down a few slots.)

8) Pray there are teams ahead of them with divergent scouting lists and a prospect the hawks have ranked higher slips to them at both the early and later first round pick. This draft is filled with prospects and that many scouts felt had higher upside but still hadn’t gotten the parts together to warrant mention in the very first selections, who are very good players, so the Blackhawks pray one drops to them in slots ten, nine, eight, and maybe even in that later Nashville pinch, acquired in the Hartman – Ejdsell trade.

(Wiz note 5:  What would be causing slippage and selection of defenseman over these forwards? There would be questions about their over all ability to progress to elite status players…many of these prospects are guys who will be close to guaranteed NHL roster fillers, even if there is less star quality upside. They don’t have foot speed issues or lack 200 foot commitments. This happens with regularity; ask the Kings how happy they were when the guy third on their board, Gabe Vilardi, was still there at #11 when they selected.)

9) The Blackhawks final prayer is that some Stanley Cup contender knocks off the Nashville Predators BEFORE they get to the final four, so the second 1st rounder is one in the 27 or under slots.

(6th and final Wiz note: I was of the opinion that as soon as they knew the chances of a playoff spot were close to diminished, the Hawks’ main goal was to secure replacement picks in each of the early rounds where they had traded theirs. I think the hawks were looking for a 2nd rounder and the chance of a late first rounder plus a chance to see if Victor Ejdsell could help sooner made it seem to Stan Bowman that he had no choice but to make the deal instead of giving Hartman a handsome re-up at a price he would have trouble justifying. And please, don’t tell me how slow Ejdsell is, all I see is the sweeping wrist shot usually reserved to a much smaller player that gets off really quickly.)

Now all of you, START PRAYING TOO.

Because this team is going to have to transform via some upgrade and not just rely on improvement from each and every youngster. There has to be more at the top end working if we don’t want to be praying on lottery balls a year from now.

The post Chicago Blackhawks Pre-Draft Lottery Novena appeared first on The Rink.

And away we go, rumor season is definitely kicking in to a higher (anyway) gear:

BROADLY

It appears the Hawks are following the Anthony Duclair-Richard Panik model in more than one set of trade discussions: a value for value deal where each GM hopes a change of scenery/coaching/role will help the player they are acquiring. A couple of these deals appear to potentially include Connor Murphy, who one source described to me last night as “struggling” (from the team’s perspective).

Over the last 72 hours, I have heard about the Hawks having several discussions with three teams, about multiple players. Across the board:

OTTAWA

One potential Murphy deal I heard about was with the Senators, possibly involving the Hawks acquiring C Zack Smith (two separate sources).

Before everyone goes off the rails, breaking down a Smith-Murphy deal, a couple of caveats. I was told by one source, the Hawks and Sens are talking about a lot of players right now, and Smith is only one.

At -25 for the year, Zack Smith is not the sexiest acquisition. But none of the names I’m hearing are. It’s more about potentially upgrading a spot in the lineup. Smith does a couple of things consistently well: grind and win faceoffs. Which the Hawks probably need more of, especially faceoff wins.

Speaking of Hawk trade discussions no one will get too terribly excited about . . .

THE RANGERS

Another potential destination for Murphy, with the possible return of defenseman Brendan Smith. I was told “no deal is imminent, but there have been discussions.”

FINALLY, MONTREAL

No news there from my last report. But the teams have been talking about numerous players.

THE COMMON THREAD?

There may be more discussions, and kinds of discussions, going on with more teams, but the ones I’ve heard about seem to be following a very specific pattern: Eastern Conference teams who, like the Hawks, have underperformed and may be looking for a chemistry change at the deadline.

That said, none of these teams are driven right now by the urgency of playoff needs, and some of these conversations—I was told—may not lead anywhere right now, but could resume at the end of the season.

What do you think, discuss below (remember, I’m just the messenger).

Follow @jaeckel

The post New Blackhawk Deadline Rumors appeared first on The Rink.

THE DEADLINE

Probably don’t expect much (according to both).

And then, “not much” happened, in the form of the last vestige of the Nick Leddy trade, the much-maligned Ville Pokka, going to Ottawa for former Hawk property Chris DiDomenico. Meh, this is as close to a meaningless trade as you’re going to get.

Some of you may recall this tweet from December:

Heard this AM, just now, Hawks and Ottawa may be talking about a trade involving Michal Kempny and a Rockford defenseman for one Ottawa roster player. Not sure how serious, but as we’ve reported, lots of scouting presence from other teams in Rockford recently.

— John Jaeckel (@jaeckel) December 14, 2017

Well, it appears the Hawks have been talking to Ottawa about a defenseman, just Pokka, instead of Michal Kempny.

One source did mention this morning that the Hawks have been talking quite a bit, however, with a team in a situation similar to their own. While I did not hear this specifically, one might conclude this would perhaps lead to a value for value deal that potentially changes chemistry for both clubs. That team is . . .

MONTREAL

Stan Bowman and Marc Bergevin have done deals—and talked about quite a few more of them—in the past. Both GMs need to be thinking about how to change the paradigm and tone of their dressing rooms for next year. How likely is a deal between the two teams? I did not hear, but they are talking.

SPIN, SPIN, AND MORE SPIN

One source also added that the Hawks have hired “another PR firm” (I was not told if this replaces an existing firm or is additive) to manage perceptions of this “LOST” season.

Make of that what you will

The post A Couple Of Rumors Trickle In appeared first on The Rink.

Follow @jaeckel

Montreal Canadiens (5-8-1) at Chicago Blackhawks (7-5-2)

7PM Eastern/6 Central

RADIO: WGN 720

TV: NBC Sports Chicago

PROJECTED GOALIES:

Montreal:

Carey Price (3-7-1, 3.77 GAA, .877 save%)

Chicago:

Corey Crawford (7-4-0, 1.75 GAA, .945 save%)

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:

Montreal

Pacioretty-Danault-Shaw

Galchenyuk-Drouin-Lehkonen

Byron-Plekanec-Gallagher

Hudon-McCarron-Mitchell

Mete-Weber

Alzner-Petry

Davidson-Benn

Chicago

DeBrincat-Toews-Panik

Saad-Schmaltz-Kane

Sharp-Anisimov-Hayden

Bouma-Wingels-Hartman

Keith-Franson

Rutta-Seabrook

Kempny-Murphy

STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:

Power play:

Montreal 17.2% (19^th)

Chicago 14.3% (27^th)

Penalty kill:

Montreal 71.4% (29^th)

Chicago 83.9% (8^th)

Corsi For % (5-on-5, through Friday)

Montreal 54.5% (3^rd)

Chicago 48.7% (19^th)

Faceoffs:

Montreal 48.5% (23^rd)

Chicago 50.7%   (15^th)

SUMMARY:

Coming off their second straight shutout win, with more than a few positive signs of improvement in overall play, it could be worse for the Blackhawks.

For example, they could be the 5-8-1 Montreal Canadiens, a team around which expectations were every bit as high to start this season as they were for the Hawks. The Habs, like the Hawks, have struggled to find the right roster composition in the age of the flat salary cap—especially in their forward lines.

The projected lineups, including Corey Crawford playing the second half of a back-to-back are more “projected” than usual at this point. Could, for example, a supposedly healthy Gustav Forsling slip back into the lineup tonight? Sure, but then one of Jan Rutta or Michal Kempny, both of whom are playing very well, would have to sit.

For the Hawks, the challenge tonight will be maintaining their recent improved play with tired legs—especially later in the game tonight—against a fast Canadiens club. However, the Habs are also on the second half of a back-to- back, winning 5-4 in OT last night in Winnipeg.

Jeff Osborn (Gatekeeper) will recap tonight or tomorrow AM.

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