He was the youngest dman in the league. Kid can skate circles around all our D not named Jones and Vlasic. He wasn’t even close to worst in the league (Zaitsev, Nikita), lighten up Francis.
- ObeseOprah

He was among the worse that played a regular shift which Zaitsev and Tinordi didn't.

Also, Kaiser would beat his pants off in a race. By the time Korbumski got started, Kaiser would be at the red line.

Well the trolls should be out in full force.

Bowman and Q have been reinstated by the league and eligible to find employment. Sounds Bowman is on the short list for Edmonton.
- SteveRain

Happy for Q,wouldn't mind seeing him behind the bench again.
Don't care for Bowman jr, any team that wants to give him a job as an assistant gm or gm is nuts

Yea I'm just going to take the wait and see approach. As far a the draftpicks go, i have no idea, but i would of drafted Silayev over the other Russian.

I appreciate KDs aggressiveness to move up in the draft and be in a better position to get players he wanted.

Sure there is some discounting of the lower end FAs we signed but they are better than the ones we let go of.

Really curious on who stays and who goes to Rockford.

I think Utahs Cooley went back to college than changed his mind and signed with the Yotes. So....

He was among the worse that played a regular shift which Zaitsev and Tinordi didn't.

Also, Kaiser would beat his pants off in a race. By the time Korbumski got started, Kaiser would be at the red line.
- Gramps28

Gramps 28 = Alt Avatar for Elbows

He was the youngest dman in the league. Kid can skate circles around all our D not named Jones and Vlasic. He wasn’t even close to worst in the league (Zaitsev, Nikita), lighten up Francis.
- ObeseOprah

Patience, it's not given its earned. I guess they couldn't see the improvements he made over the course of the season. Then again he thinks Murphy is a good defenseman so there is that

Patience, it's not given its earned. I guess they couldn't see the improvements he made over the course of the season. Then again he thinks Murphy is a good defenseman so there is that
- BetweenTheDots

Anyone who thinks Murphy is a good defenseman can walk over to the Nashville board and stay there. Pylon

Interesting signings:

Jani Hakanpaa - TOR 2X $1.5
Colin Delia - EDM - 1 X Minimum 2-way
Jordan Oesterle - BOS - 2 X Minimum 2-way
Reese Johnson - VGK - 1 X Minimum 2-way

Pretty excited with the TT, Bert, Martinez signings...

Hope this isn't a replay of the year we added Jones, McCabe, Flower...

But then again if you finish 2nd to last, there's only room to move up.
- Popsghostly

Pops, they had to get an infusion of legit NHL players, warts and all, on the big league roster. ....... They had to make sure the culture didn't sour with not only endless losing but not even close too often.

And how much jump you think Bedard will have in his step when he line rushes with TT and Hall?

Looks like KD really has a good read on his club with what he's learning as he goes and the timing of his moves too. An infusion of legit NHL talent in the top and bottom 6 and much needed flexibility as all of his signings as GM, especially today with older players in FA, none of the contacts have no trades stipulations.

For me when they decided to go with KD as GM I really liked the fact he was there for not only the cup wins but the cap hell yrs too. So far, it seems like the cap hell days very much shaped his thinking.

He was among the worse that played a regular shift which Zaitsev and Tinordi didn't.

Also, Kaiser would beat his pants off in a race. By the time Korbumski got started, Kaiser would be at the red line.
- Gramps28

Hope you’re not serious. KK is a better skater than Kaiser.

Good signings. Chicago will be tougher to play against and there's legit NHLers on the team.

Maroon, Martinez, Athanasou, Smith all can recoup assets at the deadline.

Interesting signings:

Jani Hakanpaa - TOR 2X $1.5
Colin Delia - EDM - 1 X Minimum 2-way
Jordan Oesterle - BOS - 2 X Minimum 2-way
Reese Johnson - VGK - 1 X Minimum 2-way
- Chunk

Over under on who thought Jordan Oesterle would still be getting a check???

I am curious where TT, Bertuzzi are going to play in the line up....
- wiz1901

And who's gonna play 2C?

Doesn't Anderson pretty much provide the same thing? About the same PPG, and was one of only a few plus players on the Hawks last year.
- Chunk

I thought Anderson was one of the highest IQ players on the roster last yr.. Slotted properly with legit mates the kid is really useful.

Bertuzzi Bedard Kurashev
Hall Reichel TT
Mikheyev D!ckinson AA
Foligno Donato Smith
Maroon Anderson

Brossoit in for Sods is pretty big, probably as big as the forward moves, because Sods -he was brutal in OT/shootouts, setting aside he was clearly in way over his head.

And who's gonna play 2C?
- Mr Ricochet

I think they give Reichel a shot. Maybe between Hall and TT. Two legit top 6 forwards.

I think they give Reichel a shot. Maybe between Hall and TT. Two legit top 6 forwards.
- Ztra

Not to mention that the 2 legit lines also would serve as protection for Bedard, where teams wouldn't be able to focus as much on 98's line. It was pretty obvious, that teams worked out if you shut down/contain 98, they'd win.

Reichel will be on the opening day roster. Before they sign another FA forward, either Slaggert or Nazar will be starting in Rockford at the beginning of the season.
- LAHawk

As far as Nazar goes I wonder what the organIzation learned starting Reichel out as the 2C last yr?...... Again, I've watched Nazar with the NTDP as a 16 yr old thru the NCAA and I was blown away by the IQ he showed with his few games with the Hawks.

No, Reichel and Nazar are not the same players but I'm still shell shocked at Reichel's poor yr when we thought the switch had flipped with 15 in 23 in a late call up 2 yrs ago. And, it all started with him slotted as the 2C opening night.

I do not want to see 20 yr old Nazar taking on the massive responsibilities/QoC that the 2C demands.

I think they give Reichel a shot. Maybe between Hall and TT. Two legit top 6 forwards.
- Ztra

You want to play Reichel as the 2C???? .....Has Henrique signed anywhere? Perfect 2C placeholder.

As the roster is today I would slot D!ckinson in that 2C spot.

Yes Marron is confirmed. Brossoit could end up being tandem more so than backup.
- breadbag

Agree, not only is Broissoit capable if the injury bug hits Mrzak again but when both are healthy it's more a 1A 1B deal instead of a starter-backup deal..... As a fan I'm elated I don't have to watch Soderblom again but what do you think it did to the room seeing Soderblom penciled in?

We'll read plenty about how the culture/outlook has improved and IMO getting Soderblom off the roster replaced by a legit NHL goalie will be as important for the culture than any signings KD makes. .......

And, with both Broissoit and Mrzak signed for 2 yrs that allows Commesso to be developed slow, easy and properly... Love this add.

You want to play Reichel as the 2C???? .....Has Henrique signed anywhere? Perfect 2C placeholder.

As the roster is today I would slot D!ckinson in that 2C spot.
- Mr Ricochet

You won’t know what you have in Reichel until you give him consistent, regular shifts over an extended period of time with two legit forwards. It’s a development opportunity. If it is awful after a month, you turn on the blender. It’s not like we are too concerned with wins and losses this year.

You want to play Reichel as the 2C???? .....Has Henrique signed anywhere? Perfect 2C placeholder.

As the roster is today I would slot D!ckinson in that 2C spot.
- Mr Ricochet

D.ickinson is such a natural 3C I don't think it makes sense for the team to play him up when there's more offensive talent in the top-six now. That Blackwell - D.ickinson - Anderson line looked pretty good last year. Wonder if swaping Mikheyev for Blackwell on that third line makes it even better.

How about something like:

Hall - Bedard - Kurashev
Teravainen - Athanasiou - Bertuzzi
Mikheyev - D.ickinson - Anderson
Foligno - Donato - Maroon/Smith
Maroon/Smith

I'm banking on Kurashev picking up where he left off. He had 24 points in the first 43 games of the year (pre all star break) and finished strong by picking up 30 points in the 32 games after. I think there's another gear to his game still and think it gets unlocked with Bedard stepping his game up in year 2 and Hall staying healthy.

Let Reichel and Nazar form a connection in Rockford that could be built upon in the second half of the season once some of the veterans get moved.

As far as Nazar goes I wonder what the organIzation learned starting Reichel out as the 2C last yr?...... Again, I've watched Nazar with the NTDP as a 16 yr old thru the NCAA and I was blown away by the IQ he showed with his few games with the Hawks.

No, Reichel and Nazar are not the same players but I'm still shell shocked at Reichel's poor yr when we thought the switch had flipped with 15 in 23 in a late call up 2 yrs ago. And, it all started with him slotted as the 2C opening night.

I do not want to see 20 yr old Nazar taking on the massive responsibilities/QoC that the 2C demands.
- Mr Ricochet

Nazar has a lot more swagger and confidence. He's also played on the smaller ice his whole career.

One guy I definitely wouldn't worry about.

D.ickinson is such a natural 3C I don't think it makes sense for the team to play him up when there's more offensive talent in the top-six now. That Blackwell - D.ickinson - Anderson line looked pretty good last year. Wonder if swaping Mikheyev for Blackwell on that third line makes it even better.

How about something like:

Hall - Bedard - Kurashev
Teravainen - Athanasiou - Bertuzzi
Mikheyev - D.ickinson - Anderson
Foligno - Donato - Maroon/Smith
Maroon/Smith

I'm banking on Kurashev picking up where he left off. He had 24 points in the first 43 games of the year (pre all star break) and finished strong by picking up 30 points in the 32 games after. I think there's another gear to his game still and think it gets unlocked with Bedard stepping his game up in year 2 and Hall staying healthy.

Let Reichel and Nazar form a connection in Rockford that could be built upon in the second half of the season once some of the veterans get moved.
- TommyHawk

Can't imagine Kurashev being on Bedards wing when TT, Mikheyev and Bertuzzi are all much better hockey players.

D.ickinson is such a natural 3C I don't think it makes sense for the team to play him up when there's more offensive talent in the top-six now. That Blackwell - D.ickinson - Anderson line looked pretty good last year. Wonder if swaping Mikheyev for Blackwell on that third line makes it even better.

How about something like:

Hall - Bedard - Kurashev
Teravainen - Athanasiou - Bertuzzi
Mikheyev - D.ickinson - Anderson
Foligno - Donato - Maroon/Smith
Maroon/Smith

I'm banking on Kurashev picking up where he left off. He had 24 points in the first 43 games of the year (pre all star break) and finished strong by picking up 30 points in the 32 games after. I think there's another gear to his game still and think it gets unlocked with Bedard stepping his game up in year 2 and Hall staying healthy.

Let Reichel and Nazar form a connection in Rockford that could be built upon in the second half of the season once some of the veterans get moved.
- TommyHawk

Reichel would have to clear waivers. It’s not going to happen.