I think NYR/TOR both going to give it one more shot at retool this offseason, because their guys are still all locked up long term. But if both continue to struggle, as most expect, it will be the 27 draft they truly pull the trigger on full rebuild.
Fox might request a trade this offseason though.
Very few of these guys would be available at the draft this year. If any are, the Hawks should be in on them, but I could see the Hawks holding off on going all in with an offer.
The rest likely won't be truly available until next TDL or offseason. By then, Hawks likely more willing to pay up.
Yes, I do believe that will happen.
But until it does, the possibility it doesn't has to be considered.
I listed like 10-15 names in the thread. Most won't ever become available. But a couple likely will. We just can't say for certain which will be which right now.
Moving on to potential wingers...
Jordan Kyrou.
Jason Robertson, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson have all been frequent rumor mill mentions if extensions fail to be worked out.
If TOR does make the plunge on a full tear down, then Matthew Knies.
Same goes for Alex Lafrenière, Will Cuylle with NYR.
Beyond those guys, maybe Bowen Byram or Owen Power become available in BUF as they attempt to shape their roster into a contender there over the next couple of seasons. They may choose to deal from their area of strength (young LHD) to address another area of need.
A step down from that trio would be Adam Fox and Josh Morrissey.
NYR and WPG might be headed for rebuilds in near future.
Fox could ask to be moved in the middle of his long term deal.
Morrissey, like Werenski, has 2 years left and if next season goes poorly WPG may make him (and Samberg) available.
Werenski also unlikely to become available at all next season.
But after that will be entering his final season under contract.
If CLB doesn't make progress as a contender next year, and Werenski indicates he will not extend, he could become available the following offseason or TDL.
Shifting focus from C to D, the ultimate prizes are Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Zach Werenski.
Hughes/Makar have 1 year left. Doubtful MIN/COL will consider trading either next TDL. But if one doesn't extend, an offseason trade prior to reaching UFA could happen, as happened with Marner this year.
There's the possibility that one or both of former 1st OVR Auston Matthews or Nico Hischier become available.
TOR likely holds onto Matthews until next TDL before deciding on doing a rebuild.
Hischier has 1 year left. If NJD struggles again, and Nico doesn't extend, could become the prize next TDL.
So, who might those talents be?
And, when could we expect the Hawks to look aggressively at adding?
Blues are at least listening on Robert Thomas, who isn't an ideal 1C, but would be a great 2C behind Bedard. Hawks/Mammoth are the two orgs best positioned to make an offer STL would consider.
🧵Blackhawks musing:
They've amassed a ton of prospects and draft capital.
Depth will be a future strength.
But...
Is there a 1B talent to pair with Bedard?
Is there a #1, or even a top pair D?
Time will tell. But over the next 1-2 years they can begin exploring trade options for proven talent.
Wouldn't the most ironic direction be ups?
There we go. Nazar with a nice deflection. Hawks tie it up 3-3 late in the 2nd.
There have been 5 goals and 6 saves between the Hawks and Canucks so far tonight.
Fuck it.
Let's go win this game 11-10
Why does it seem like Mangiapane is on the ice every other shift?
In a typical game, Söderblom would potentially be yanked. Unfortunately, Spencer Knight is sick, so Hawks only have an EBUG. It's Söderblom to the end. Hawks better wake up.
Davidson says he really wants to keep Mikheyev around, so that any offer made had to compel him to act, but no such offer materialized.
I swear the operating agenda for this franchise is to create an entire lineup out of every nondescript 3rd line player in the NHL.
Mikheyev stays put.
According to Scott Powers there wasn't much interest. Which lined up with my thinking.
Teams with that much cap room want to use it for a C or D not a W with no playoff track record.
This is fine. AHL forward for an AHL defenseman. Thompson is still young enough that if you squint real hard maybe he gets a shot in NHL, but its not probable. Hawks have a ton of F prospects joining Rockford next season, but the D pipeline is barren. Obviously felt a solid vet was needed.
32 year old D still has one more year on his contract. This would be to pick up a veteran to fill out the AHL roster and be a mentor for prospects next season. Pouliot does have plenty of NHL experience but has been exclusively in the AHL the last couple of seasons.
Keep in mind that the "future considerations" that are the trade return for Nick Foligno are basically nothing. At most you might see the teams make an AHL player swap down the road.
Bertuzzi gets the other A for the rest of the season. Blackhawks will decide their captain during the offseason/heading into next season.
And letting him chase his first Cup while playing on the same team as his younger brother. Perfect.
Nick Foligno was signed to be a transitional captain between Jonathan Toews and (presumably) Connor Bedard. He was everything the Blackhawks wanted him to be and more. Now they're returning the favor by letting him chase his first Cup.
Basically, Levshunov is being groomed to play on a first pair.
And then for the 2nd pair, Rinzel does all the things Korchinski was envisioned to do, but does them better, while they both have the same weaknesses so they don't fit together. That forces you to separate them and limits deployments.
It's more so that stylistically he doesn't mesh with those guys. Rinzel and Korchinski play similar as mobile puck movers, with issues boxing out/playing physical in D zone, which intensifies in NHL compared to AHL.
Levshunov needs to play with someone capable of playing higher up the lineup.
Awesome. Don't even care what the return is, and I'm sure Hawks don't either. Did Foligno a solid.
