They are not winning anything this year. Reichel's only just turned 22 and is on a cheap deal. I'd like to at least give the kid another year before he gets booted off the island.

If he clicks you've got a top 6 player.

Right now they aren't going to get much of anything for him anyway so I'm in no rush to trade him...certainly not as some are suggesting because he doesn't fit into the lineup.
- HawkintheD

Yeah, no need to rush anything with him right now. He could still be a productive player. The important thing is did he continue to do what the coaches wanted and does he improve.

Kinda goes against the whole players have to earn it thing people here keep banging the drum about.
- fattybeef

I am suggesting you give them a fair chance to earn it and putting them in position to succeed.

Reichel will beat out Anderson and Smith is my guess. If he can't, then u risk waivers or trade him.

Anderson will get through waivers with his new deal and Smith can take a spot in the pressbox for much of the season with Maroon.
- Elbows15

Thinking the same replacements in case of injuries

There has to be some kinda deal happening with some other roster player.
- fattybeef

There was the Reichel and Murphy + a pick to WPG for Ehlers and McGroarty rumor circulating last week.

I am suggesting you give them a fair chance to earn it and putting them in position to succeed.
- Ztra

The thing about guys like Brodie, Martinez, Maroon, Smith, etc who the Hawks brought in, they aren't guys who the young players can't beat out for spots if they are ready. It forces the young guys to earn a spot but doesn't make it an impossible task for a young player. There are spots to earn if they can be better.

Brodie and Martinez do nothing for me!!!
- ChicagoHope

One is fine. I guess one can sit in the pressbox to break in case of emergency. Better for the young guys to keep playing in RFD at this point

I'm thinking it's because Murphy can't stay healthy
- BetweenTheDots

Neither can Martinez at this point but Brodie is not good at this stage of his career.

The thing about guys like Brodie, Martinez, Maroon, Smith, etc who the Hawks brought in, they aren't guys who the young players can't beat out for spots if they are ready. It forces the young guys to earn a spot but doesn't make it an impossible task for a young player. There are spots to earn if they can be better.
- breadbag

In Theory, yes. But do you think those guys signed here to not play? 2 years for Brodie is just bad no matter how you slice it.

Neither can Martinez at this point but Brodie is not good at this stage of his career.
- Elbows15

Brodie isn't going to be a big impact and may have "lost a step" but he is still a decent skater and puck mover. No problem with him being a 3rd pair guy. Martinez is long in the tooth, but no problem letting him be that 6/7 guy. He is better than Megna/Tinordi still at this point.

Guys like Phillips/Kaiser/Del Mastro could push them for playing time, if they show they've improved. Probably Kaiser has the inside track to actually make the team, if he can improve his positioning and physical play. Phillips needs to show a lot better to make the NHL lineup. Del Mastro/Allen probably need more time in the AHL.

The thing about guys like Brodie, Martinez, Maroon, Smith, etc who the Hawks brought in, they aren't guys who the young players can't beat out for spots if they are ready. It forces the young guys to earn a spot but doesn't make it an impossible task for a young player. There are spots to earn if they can be better.
- breadbag

Brodie Smith and Maroon can be buried in the rock all these signings are insurance signings for injuries all have nhl experience to fill a gap. Forgot the Russia

Hall Bedard bertuzzi
TT AA nazar
Reichel Richardenson kurashev
Donato Foligno big russian
Maroon smith
Slaggertt starts in Rockford unless he wins a job out of camp
Valasic Jones
Kk Martinez
? Young dman Murphy
Brodie in case of injury
Mrazek
Brossita
It's an improved roster no question with depth in case of injuries. If missed anyone let me know, plus I think there will be a trade or two coming very shortly imo. And for young player

Brodie isn't going to be a big impact and may have "lost a step" but he is still a decent skater and puck mover. No problem with him being a 3rd pair guy. Martinez is long in the tooth, but no problem letting him be that 6/7 guy. He is better than Megna/Tinordi still at this point.

Guys like Phillips/Kaiser/Del Mastro could push them for playing time, if they show they've improved. Probably Kaiser has the inside track to actually make the team, if he can improve his positioning and physical play. Phillips needs to show a lot better to make the NHL lineup. Del Mastro/Allen probably need more time in the AHL.
- breadbag

Brodie is cooked. The pace of the playoffs was too much for him. He was scratched and deservedly so.

Brodie Smith and Maroon can be buried in the rock all these signings are insurance signings for injuries all have nhl experience to fill a gap. Forgot the Russia

Hall Bedard bertuzzi
TT AA nazar
Reichel Richardenson kurashev
Donato Foligno big russian
Maroon smith
Slaggertt starts in Rockford unless he wins a job out of camp
Valasic Jones
Kk Martinez
? Young dman Murphy
Brodie in case of injury
Mrazek
Brossita
It's an improved roster no question with depth in case of injuries. If missed anyone let me know, plus I think there will be a trade or two coming very shortly imo. And for young player
- Scott1977

They aren't going to send those 3 vets to the minors, Scott.

One is fine. I guess one can sit in the pressbox to break in case of emergency. Better for the young guys to keep playing in RFD at this point
- Elbows15

Thinking maybe this is the plan. They are going to send all rookies (KK?) to Rockford for at least one year, with occasional call ups.

Guessing it'll be best in the long run. They have to like how Vlasic turned out, and i even heard them mention it in one of the last shift episodes.

They gave Brodie 2 years??? They aren't planning on the young D all showing up for two years then. I guess if he's #7 Dman?

That press box is going to be full of washed up guys......

He has over-filled the roster. There has to be a reason. As he has shown, we won't know why until we know why.

Stephenson with Seattle 7 X $6.25
- LAHawk

Has Francis done anything well as Seattle GM? ...... I root for any pro squad outa Washington state and my fear is when they di finally whack Francis they'll hire Eddie O as GM.

I'm a Stephenson guy but 7yrs is nuts.

Brodie Smith and Maroon can be buried in the rock all these signings are insurance signings for injuries all have nhl experience to fill a gap. Forgot the Russia

Hall Bedard bertuzzi
TT AA nazar
Reichel Richardenson kurashev
Donato Foligno big russian
Maroon smith
Slaggertt starts in Rockford unless he wins a job out of camp
Valasic Jones
Kk Martinez
? Young dman Murphy
Brodie in case of injury
Mrazek
Brossita
It's an improved roster no question with depth in case of injuries. If missed anyone let me know, plus I think there will be a trade or two coming very shortly imo. And for young player
- Scott1977

Definitely can happen if there are guys earning a spot. I think the only one you maybe missed was Anderson, who I could see stapled to Jason D!ckinson's wing again if he plays well. He could be sent down and probably not claimed too.

I think we could see AA moved or back in the doghouse or buried as well, he was pretty much a non-factor once healthy last year. I can't see him getting top 6 minutes anymore unless he somehow really steps it up. We could see both Nazar and Slaggert starting in Rockford unless anyone is injured out of camp.

One is fine. I guess one can sit in the pressbox to break in case of emergency. Better for the young guys to keep playing in RFD at this point
- Elbows15

They’ll both likely rotate in and out of the lineup, especially Martinez.

If any of the young guys, forward or defense, play better than the vets they will be on the NHL roster. As long as they don’t have NMCs then Maroon, Smith and Anderson can still end up in Rockford.

Thinking maybe this is the plan. They are going to send all rookies (KK?) to Rockford for at least one year, with occasional call ups.

Guessing it'll be best in the long run. They have to like how Vlasic turned out, and i even heard them mention it in one of the last shift episodes.

They gave Brodie 2 years??? They aren't planning on the young D all showing up for two years then. I guess if he's #7 Dman?

That press box is going to be full of washed up guys......
- vabeachbear

I can't think of a time that has ever happened with a top 10 pick that played in the NHL one whole season and then is sent down.

*smiles mischievously*

He has over-filled the roster. There has to be a reason. As he has shown, we won't know why until we know why.
- bjphawkfan

I expect another move or two and today will make more sense

They’ll both likely rotate in and out of the lineup, especially Martinez.

If any of the young guys, forward or defense, play better than the vets they will be on the NHL roster. As long as they don’t have NMCs then Maroon, Smith and Anderson can still end up in Rockford.
- DarthKane

Anderson for sure. There is no way they are sending the other 2 to Rockford.

Come on!

It still doesn't change the fact that Brodie is not good.

Brodie is cooked. The pace of the playoffs was too much for him. He was scratched and deservedly so.
- Elbows15

I know he was scratched, but I don't think you go from nearly 22 minutes a night (second on the leafs) for 78 games in the regular season to being not good enough to play in the NHL. He struggled, but I am sure the Hawks pro scouts figure he has some gas left in the tank.

Is Colton Dach still around? I guess KD sees no NHL future for him.

Is Colton Dach still around? I guess KD sees no NHL future for him.
- LAHawk

He is still signed, but did he do enough to earn a spot? He will probably get a chance in camp but I don't think he was "that good" last year.

That's fine really. We basically replaced R Johnson and M Entwistle with Pat Maroon/Craig Smith. Martinez is old but still serviceable, he was playing 19 minutes a night for Vegas.

If you look at it this way, basically everyone that was just brought in played in the playoffs last year. Glad KD avoided the big term overpay contracts.
- breadbag

Right on, BB...... Add every player KD has signed got no NTC language. KD had a front row seat to the cap hell yrs and seems to value flexibility as much as anything for a big league GM.

Right on, BB...... Add every player KD has signed got no NTC language. KD had a front row seat to the cap hell yrs and seems to value flexibility as much as anything for a big league GM.
- Mr Ricochet

I do think the NTC and NMC will be there once we start resigning our guys who we drafted, but you are right and glad you pointed it out. I think we are seeing a GM who is cautious which is nice. The team can look a lot different in 2-3 years time when the young guys are approaching their prime.