Couldn’t get much closer:

After tonight’s games

McKinnon 127, Kucherov 126, McDavid 125

I go with McDavid to win scoring title

Who do you pick?

Would love to see Bedard name in the mix in a couple years?!

And both are great skaters. I’ve seen Lardis a few times and he can flat out fly. If he and Moore make the club I’d be interested to see who’s faster.
- paulr

Id be interested to see who can put the puck in the net.

Over who?
- Chunk

Just stating my preference for a defenseman who is a superior scorer but has defensive deficiencies.[/img]

Couldn’t get much closer:

After tonight’s games

McKinnon 127, Kucherov 126, McDavid 125

I go with McDavid to win scoring title

Who do you pick?

Would love to see Bedard name in the mix in a couple years?!
- jhawk59

I've seen a few posts on twitter where people are saying he'd be on a 100pt season this year if the Blackhawks had another player or two that could play with him.

I still think if Hall was healthy for about 60 games this season Bedard would match McDavid's pt per game pace during a rookie season.

Not sure if Nazar is going pro next.season,even if he is the Blackhawks should invest in 2 veterans to play with 98

Just stating my preference for a defenseman who is a superior scorer but has defensive deficiencies.
- LFS[/img]

Why? Those defensemen seldom help win championships. Give me a Keith or Doughty who are strong defensively over a Karlsson any day.

The defenseman talk got me thinking.

When the Hawks were winning cups, their 3rd pair was always kind of real bad, we all hoped Q could play them low enough minutes and get away with it. Who can forget the Runblads, ghost of Timmo, Nick Boyton, something, something or other, 3 wheeled shopping cart, etc. etc

How would the guys playing now for the Hawks compare to and who would've gotten playing time.

The defenseman talk got me thinking.

When the Hawks were winning cups, their 3rd pair was always kind of real bad, we all hoped Q could play them low enough minutes and get away with it. Who can forget the Runblads, ghost of Timmo, Nick Boyton, something, something or other, 3 wheeled shopping cart, etc. etc

How would the guys playing now for the Hawks compare to and who would've gotten playing time.
- vabeachbear

In 2013 their third pair was Rozy and Leddy which was pretty decent. I thought Rozy was a decent addition for cents on the dollar in '13.

Even in 2015 when he had that gruesome ankle injury in the first or 2nd round, he was still better than what was left to trot out for a 3rd pair. You mentioned some...Kimmo, Rundbad, Cumiskey...

I think TVR played a little also. He would've been ok but was also coming back from a long injury.

I think the question is an interesting one though.

The defenseman talk got me thinking.

When the Hawks were winning cups, their 3rd pair was always kind of real bad, we all hoped Q could play them low enough minutes and get away with it. Who can forget the Runblads, ghost of Timmo, Nick Boyton, something, something or other, 3 wheeled shopping cart, etc. etc

How would the guys playing now for the Hawks compare to and who would've gotten playing time.
- vabeachbear

Who was the 3rd pair in 2010? Byfuglien - Sopel?

For all the crap that gets throw his way, ol' 3 wheeler was exactly what was needed on the third pair - a cheap player who didn't make many glaring mistakes.

Who was the 3rd pair in 2010? Byfuglien - Sopel?

For all the crap that gets throw his way, ol' 3 wheeler was exactly what was needed on the third pair - a cheap player who didn't make many glaring mistakes.
- Chunk

I agree, its just that 3 wheeled shopping cart still is in the top 3 funniest things i've heard hear in my 14 or 15 years.

The defenseman talk got me thinking.

When the Hawks were winning cups, their 3rd pair was always kind of real bad, we all hoped Q could play them low enough minutes and get away with it. Who can forget the Runblads, ghost of Timmo, Nick Boyton, something, something or other, 3 wheeled shopping cart, etc. etc

How would the guys playing now for the Hawks compare to and who would've gotten playing time.
- vabeachbear

That's why I'm really encouraged about the rebuild, to me it's really what hurt us in the long run, not one 20 minute defenseman drafted for years. Nice trade to get Leddy but he was played cautiously cause he sucked playing defense.

To me the majority of Fandom does not appreciate a defensemans ability to play defense without the puck. For me those guys are the most valuable hockey players on the team.

Right now we might have 3, Vlasic, Korchinski and Kaiser, what's been noticeable about Kaiser is he's playing much faster/decisive now. Same with Korchinski but really impressed he was able to improve while playing at the best hockey level in the world.

Even though it looked bleak last season there is so much to be excited about going forward.

Who was the 3rd pair in 2010? Byfuglien - Sopel?

For all the crap that gets throw his way, ol' 3 wheeler was exactly what was needed on the third pair - a cheap player who didn't make many glaring mistakes.
- Chunk

Sopel and Jordan Hendry

Sopel and Jordan Hendry
- LAHawk

So was Buff just being used mainly as a forward then? I've got CRS these days. Can't Remember $hit.

So was Buff just being used mainly as a forward then? I've got CRS these days. Can't Remember $hit.
- Chunk

Q used him almost exclusively at forward although Big Buff preferred to play defense.

Q used him almost exclusively at forward although Big Buff preferred to play defense.
- LAHawk

Thanks LA. It's all coming back now.

Any thoughts on Vlasic's next contract?

The offensive minded D-men get the big bucks so I don't think Alex will be getting 7M plus.

Below are some comparables from capfriendly for guys on their 2nd contract. They are in the 30-40 point per season range. I think Vlasic will fit in there in the future.

Erik Cernak who signed for 8 x 5.2M at 25 years old in 2022
Sam Girard 7 x 5M at 21 in 2019
Noah Hanafin 6 x 4.95M at 21 in 2018
Michael Anderson 8 x 4.125M at 24 in 2023
Filep Hronek 3 x 4,4M at 23 in 2021 - BRIDGE Contract
K'Andre Miler 2 x 3.87M at 23 in 2023 - BRIDGE

So a 3 year bridge at around 4M or something longer term at around 5.5M looks about right.

Thanks LA. It's all coming back now.
- Chunk

I just looked back, didn't remember that Cam Barker played 51 games for the team, no playoff games though.

Any thoughts on Vlasic's next contract?

The offensive minded D-men get the big bucks so I don't think Alex will be getting 7M plus.

Below are some comparables from capfriendly for guys on their 2nd contract. They are in the 30-40 point per season range. I think Vlasic will fit in there in the future.

Erik Cernak who signed for 8 x 5.2M at 25 years old in 2022
Sam Girard 7 x 5M at 21 in 2019
Noah Hanafin 6 x 4.95M at 21 in 2018
Michael Anderson 8 x 4.125M at 24 in 2023
Filep Hronek 3 x 4,4M at 23 in 2021 - BRIDGE Contract
K'Andre Miler 2 x 3.87M at 23 in 2023 - BRIDGE

So a 3 year bridge at around 4M or something longer term at around 5.5M looks about right.
- boilermaker100

i would do that contract in a heartbeat. What a steal. You will also be buying out a few years of his UFA, as he is eligible in 2028.

Wouldn't the longer contract be a less AAV than the shorter one?

Any thoughts on Vlasic's next contract?

The offensive minded D-men get the big bucks so I don't think Alex will be getting 7M plus.

Below are some comparables from capfriendly for guys on their 2nd contract. They are in the 30-40 point per season range. I think Vlasic will fit in there in the future.

Erik Cernak who signed for 8 x 5.2M at 25 years old in 2022
Sam Girard 7 x 5M at 21 in 2019
Noah Hanafin 6 x 4.95M at 21 in 2018
Michael Anderson 8 x 4.125M at 24 in 2023
Filep Hronek 3 x 4,4M at 23 in 2021 - BRIDGE Contract
K'Andre Miler 2 x 3.87M at 23 in 2023 - BRIDGE

So a 3 year bridge at around 4M or something longer term at around 5.5M looks about right.
- boilermaker100

Reading the tea leaves (which I suck at) I really think KD is going to go with a bridge deal, so 3 years at about $4M sounds close. If he goes longer term, I think it will be a bit over $5M considering the cap is expected to go up quite a bit (not that that is a good justification, but I can see the market pushing contracts up in the near term).

This will allow KD time to see what the other prospects bring without locking him into a long term deal and all the issues that can come with moving one. I love what Vlasic has done this year, but you never know what the other guys can/will bring.

Any thoughts on Vlasic's next contract?

The offensive minded D-men get the big bucks so I don't think Alex will be getting 7M plus.

Below are some comparables from capfriendly for guys on their 2nd contract. They are in the 30-40 point per season range. I think Vlasic will fit in there in the future.

Erik Cernak who signed for 8 x 5.2M at 25 years old in 2022
Sam Girard 7 x 5M at 21 in 2019
Noah Hanafin 6 x 4.95M at 21 in 2018
Michael Anderson 8 x 4.125M at 24 in 2023
Filep Hronek 3 x 4,4M at 23 in 2021 - BRIDGE Contract
K'Andre Miler 2 x 3.87M at 23 in 2023 - BRIDGE

So a 3 year bridge at around 4M or something longer term at around 5.5M looks about right.
- boilermaker100

8 years @ the league minimum. Anything else would be a fail.

Reading the tea leaves (which I suck at) I really think KD is going to go with a bridge deal, so 3 years at about $4M sounds close. If he goes longer term, I think it will be a bit over $5M considering the cap is expected to go up quite a bit (not that that is a good justification, but I can see the market pushing contracts up in the near term).

This will allow KD time to see what the other prospects bring without locking him into a long term deal and all the issues that can come with moving one. I love what Vlasic has done this year, but you never know what the other guys can/will bring.
- Chunk

i would go longer, $4 million 4 years from now with what the cap is proposed going up will be a 3rd pairing defenseman's salary. Unless you think Vlasic is a flash in the pan, I would tie him up for as long as possible.

i would go longer, $4 million 4 years from now with what the cap is proposed going up will be a 3rd pairing defenseman's salary. Unless you think Vlasic is a flash in the pan, I would tie him up for as long as possible.
- LAHawk

This is a rare instance where I think a longer contract would be beneficial, but If I'm Vlasic's agent, I don't think I'd go that route (unless he could secure a higher number in exchange for missing out on earlier UFA).

I don't think Vlasic will be a flash in the pan. I think the fundamentals of his game are established and will only improve. He already has the most important aspects locked into his brain. He can build off of that to maybe add some offense.

Any thoughts on Vlasic's next contract?

The offensive minded D-men get the big bucks so I don't think Alex will be getting 7M plus.

Below are some comparables from capfriendly for guys on their 2nd contract. They are in the 30-40 point per season range. I think Vlasic will fit in there in the future.

Erik Cernak who signed for 8 x 5.2M at 25 years old in 2022
Sam Girard 7 x 5M at 21 in 2019
Noah Hanafin 6 x 4.95M at 21 in 2018
Michael Anderson 8 x 4.125M at 24 in 2023
Filep Hronek 3 x 4,4M at 23 in 2021 - BRIDGE Contract
K'Andre Miler 2 x 3.87M at 23 in 2023 - BRIDGE

So a 3 year bridge at around 4M or something longer term at around 5.5M looks about right.
- boilermaker100

I think it will be something like 4x4.75 or something in that ballpark.

Any thoughts on Vlasic's next contract?

The offensive minded D-men get the big bucks so I don't think Alex will be getting 7M plus.

Below are some comparables from capfriendly for guys on their 2nd contract. They are in the 30-40 point per season range. I think Vlasic will fit in there in the future.

Erik Cernak who signed for 8 x 5.2M at 25 years old in 2022
Sam Girard 7 x 5M at 21 in 2019
Noah Hanafin 6 x 4.95M at 21 in 2018
Michael Anderson 8 x 4.125M at 24 in 2023
Filep Hronek 3 x 4,4M at 23 in 2021 - BRIDGE Contract
K'Andre Miler 2 x 3.87M at 23 in 2023 - BRIDGE

So a 3 year bridge at around 4M or something longer term at around 5.5M looks about right.
- boilermaker100

I think KD would like some cost certainty so i think if they could come to an agreement, and don't forget Vlasics parents live here, I'm guessing right around $4.5 to $5 per year X 8 years

Unless they feel like they have better prospects in the pipe line, but then again that cost certainty becomes a valuable item if he outperforms his contract and how young he is.

I think KD would like some cost certainty so i think if they could come to an agreement, and don't forget Vlasics parents live here, I'm guessing right around $4.5 to $5 per year X 8 years

Unless they feel like they have better prospects in the pipe line, but then again that cost certainty becomes a valuable item if he outperforms his contract and how young he is.
- BetweenTheDots

Even if they have "better" prospects in the pipeline, Vlasic still projects as a top 4 defensemen.

Also if KK plays to projection, how much are you going to pay him, and want to tie him up for in in 2 years?

Would you rather lock them up on a longer term deal, or look at negotiating with them as UFA's when the Hawks are back in their winning window?

I think KD would like some cost certainty so i think if they could come to an agreement, and don't forget Vlasics parents live here, I'm guessing right around $4.5 to $5 per year X 8 years

Unless they feel like they have better prospects in the pipe line, but then again that cost certainty becomes a valuable item if he outperforms his contract and how young he is.
- BetweenTheDots

I’d do $5M/8 years, then you have a shutdown defenseman locked up for 8 years at a reasonable AAV. Reasonable because the cap will keep increasing.