If Carolina GM is smart he won’ trade for often injured Murphy. In a man -to -man defense the average and likely loosing a step Murphy is not going to shine. Although he has experience the man -to -man requires winning battles or winning through using skill and skating ….superlatives and this is not Murphy
- jhawk59

Shhhhh!
Don't tell the carolina GM....
They have a player in Necas that are under the gun to trade, and if you think a team will offer a better defender, that team would need back-ups ready in their system.
That is where the Hawks are and I think the folks here have brain washed your feelings on Murphy.

Pesce DeAngelo and Brady Skjei are UFAs...and Orlov, Slavic, Burns the next year.

So I see another CUP challenging team where the Cap is cramping the team's composition, and they will need Murphy level guys.
No team is trading a high end top four defender for a forward trying to control his future.

Just my 2 cents, but I don't know that KK will hit that level offensively in the NHL.

I see no reason why KK shouldn't be at least as good defensively, he should improve in his end a lot over the next 3-4 years, especially as his body gets more mature.

I'm not saying KK won't be good offensively, but I dunno if he hits that 80+ points per season level. I think we'll see guys like Bouchard, Makar, Q Hughes all flirt with 100+ points at times over the next 5 seasons or so. It would be great if KK gets there, but I don't know if that's what we should expect exactly. That might be putting the bar too high, he might not be that tier.
- breadbag

That's why I said ceiling. If everything goes exactly to plan, then he hits that level. I don't think anyone would have an issue with that at all.

I actually wouldn't be all that upset if he ended up Theodore level. Just someone who can drive offense from the backend and be reasonable defensively.

Since Nurse has been injured 27+ minutes 1st game, 30 plus minutes 2nd game, 27 plus minutes 3rd game? For a guy who's average 23 minutes this season, these extra minutes take their toll especially against a team that is as physical and frustrating as the Panthers are. If KK plays like this and is playing half the hockey game then I'd say the future is bright.

It's funny how people are poopting on him because he's made a bad play here or there.
- BetweenTheDots

It's likely more because the results are amplified so much. There aren't 10 other games going on at the same time. EDM also hasn't been able to get or hold a lead much against FLA, so any mistake that directly leads to a goal is blown up even further.

I think the nature of his mistakes the past two games also comes into play (bad giveaway on what I suspect was a clearing attempt, losing his man, and misplaying a 2-on-1.).

It's likely more because the results are amplified so much. There aren't 10 other games going on at the same time. EDM also hasn't been able to get or hold a lead much against FLA, so any mistake that directly leads to a goal is blown up even further.

I think the nature of his mistakes the past two games also comes into play (bad giveaway on what I suspect was a clearing attempt, losing his man, and misplaying a 2-on-1.).
- Chunk

You mean like Hawk fans and the S. Jones syndrome ?

You mean like Hawk fans and the S. Jones syndrome ?
- LAHawk

Nooooo... that couldn't possibly be.

Just my 2 cents, but I don't know that KK will hit that level offensively in the NHL.

I see no reason why KK shouldn't be at least as good defensively, he should improve in his end a lot over the next 3-4 years, especially as his body gets more mature.
I'm not saying KK won't be good offensively, but I dunno if he hits that 80+ points per season level. I think we'll see guys like Bouchard, Makar, Q Hughes all flirt with 100+ points at times over the next 5 seasons or so. It would be great if KK gets there, but I don't know if that's what we should expect exactly. That might be putting the bar too high, he might not be that tier.
- breadbag

It is tough to compare KK to any NHL player who has two years more under their belt. He wasn't a finished attacker in the Hughes mold, or a pointman on the Oliers power play that includes first over all skilled picks.
I will answer that previous Chuck query "So is Bouchard the ceiling we expect for KK?"
The answer is a solid no as an offensive comparison; Bouch has been firing the Bouch-bomb since he was 16.
KK has different offensive strengths.

The beauty of selecting Artyom is it is clear he can be an excellent partner for the future Korchinski-one as a stop gap when he is galloping in on looks. Tom-tom Levshunov also has them good feet so he can close down in middle ice or shadow and position so he is the lamppost they are skating towards.
I was unheard of that a NHL club had the luxuxry of bringing in a not ready for prime time western league prospect and playing him so much. They felt the baptism by fire around the pro staff was a better situation for KK. He was / is not an NHL defender, nor is he close to an NHL attacker. (But WHL junior play wouldn't give him enough staff correcting and improving in his game, decisions and expose him to the high pace of pro hockey.)
That is really all the accomplished this year with him. On the job exposure/criticism and more than enough pro staff to help his process a bit quicker than letting him rack up WHL points and even a nasty Dub plus & minus numbers with now voices to guide his improvement.
If you remember I mentioned Korchinski's rise up the draft boards, saying don't be surprised if he goes much higher than you are hearing...it wasn't becasue KK was a more polished guy at season's end as much as the upside was much more apparent and teams moved him up.

Korchinski's strength was his effortless skating balance and ability to see the open target on passes, sometimes the home rum pass. Mobility and size and the added passing prowess is a very workable toolbox.

I am not sure we actually can predict the offensive upsdie of KK right now becasue time will tell.

(This was why weeks ago I argued the reason for the Blackhawks considering a defenseman over a forward might be ..."if that defenseman prospect adds something offensively they think KK won't.)

But, I was thinking as a consolation and KK already was judged as a lesser offensively to the draftee...not necessarily a tom-tom type with great wheels, an secondary offensive man but mostly a calming force defensively for the guy handed the #1 attacking defenseman position...

Barkov is very very very good, but the team play is very very good. As this team plays better so does Barkovs play, that's what i see.
- BetweenTheDots

Truer words have never been spoken. Let's all remember this next year when evaluating the Hawks on the ice. Maybe we'll realize that some of our traditional whipping boys aren't so bad after all.

ouch

Truer words have never been spoken. Let's all remember this next year when evaluating the Hawks on the ice. Maybe we'll realize that some of our traditional whipping boys aren't so bad after all.
- Chunk

So you’re saying I can’t have my whipping boy?

So you’re saying I can’t have my whipping boy?
- paulr

You can have whatever you want paul. I'm just simply asking for some reasonable consideration of the situation.

I know, I know.... who the (frank) am I?

ouch
- wiz1901

Did you stub your toe wiz?

Off topic, but when are the Cubs going to fire Jed Hoyer?

You can have whatever you want paul. I'm just simply asking for some reasonable consideration of the situation.

I know, I know.... who the (frank) am I?
- Chunk

You’re the guy who suggests we remain calm and rational. I can’t remain calm or rational. I’m not happy without a whipping boy. I need a whipping boy.

Off topic, but when are the Cubs going to fire Jed Hoyer?
- LAHawk

What's a Cub?

What's a Cub?
- Chunk

A summertime Bear?

You’re the guy who suggests we remain calm and rational. I can’t remain calm or rational. I’m not happy without a whipping boy. I need a whipping boy.
- paulr

Calm and rational my ass. All I asked for was some logic and situational awareness. Go ahead and lose yer $hit.

Highest whipping boy odds right now:

Jones
Murphy
AA
Kurashev
Hall
Reichel
Guentzel

A summertime Bear?
- LAHawk

Never looked at it that way. Cool, we have seasonal disappointment.

Because of his past problems, his ongoing problems with addiction, his contract I’d hope whoever trades for him isn’t giving up much. That said I’d prefer Chicago not take the chance as intriguing as his potential chemistry with Bedard may be.
- paulr

I don't think he's in the players assistance program because of substance abuse. I'm pretty sure he's having mental health problems over his fathers death.

I don't think he's in the players assistance program because of substance abuse. I'm pretty sure he's having mental health problems over his fathers death.
- GPHawksfan

Yeah Chunk pointed that out. I made the lazy assumption.

Calm and rational my ass. All I asked for was some logic and situational awareness. Go ahead and lose yer $hit.

Highest whipping boy odds right now:

Jones
Murphy
AA
Kurashev
Hall
Reichel
Guentzel
- Chunk

If someone can rile enough posters up you’ll have to add Korbustsky.

My money is one Murphy.

Did you stub your toe wiz?
- Chunk

Double posted.

Son in law was at Tropicanna Field for the Ted Williams foundation seling Henry Rowengartner Wednesday, so the entire family got to be in a skybox, with the luxuries...There were more Cub fans than Rays fans (that happens a lot here)-we saw a Suzuki homer and they won by homer. The box was straight eyesight of the left fair foul line from the plate out.
And the new speed up rules, it was actually watchable.
At the 7th inning stretch it was root root for the Cubbies not devil Rays...

And despite his points Bouchard is very average defensively. He was lost on the first and third goals.
- paulr

Can't be, I've read he's setting the market for all other younger Dmen

Off topic, but when are the Cubs going to fire Jed Hoyer?
- LAHawk

David Ross Karma is a female dog!

Six pages of comments and nary a mention of Dedimov or Levshunov. Exactly two weeks from this hour, we'll know the pick.

It's hockey, trying something different ... having a whipping line, or pairing ... time for me to think bigger.
Above has a lot of Lev comments, unless I missed something.