We shall see....I was encouraged to hear Davidson mention he's ready to start dealing picks and prospects contrary to those on this board who want the 10 year rebuild.

To make a jump from mid 50s-60s pts and jump 20-25 points is a tall ask. That's likely a 10-13 win improvement and again....they'll need at least 1 top line player addition if you keep Bedard and Nazar up there and an additional player to skate with Bertuzzi and Teuvo.

Athletic ran a piece ranking top line players and apparently the low down on 98 coming out was if he could be a LT center in NHL. Still think that's still a variable that isn't solved quite yet.

Davidson was more transparent yesterday than I anticipated so lets see what plays out but just trying to plug the holes internally isn't going to elevate this team dramatically. Boeser would be nice....but they will need more. It would be nice to be able to deal a Foligno,Richardinson, and Murphy at the deadline because extending any of the 3 doesn't make sense. You can find cheaper, younger players to replace them and this will hopefully help recoop some assets you likely use to make the trades Davidson mentioned.

Play the kids. It's time to start seeing what you have and help them gain NHL experience.
- SteveRain

Name just one person who wants a ten year rebuild or even an extended rebuild.

I would say from the KD presser, that he wanted to not comment on that, and the way he did, made me believe his extension was close, maybe i read too much into it.
- vabeachbear

Thought I heard last night that an offer to extend Donato was on the table, or was I hearing things? Hopefully the contract offer is reasonable for the Hawks, just because they gave the cap space doesn’t mean that they have to overpay. No more $4.5M per for fourth liners.

Thought I heard last night that an offer to extend Donato was on the table, or was I hearing things? Hopefully the contract offer is reasonable for the Hawks, just because they gave the cap space doesn’t mean that they have to overpay. No more $4.5M per for fourth liners.
- Angotti

I think 3 years 3..5million per sounds right. Most likely not repeating what he doing this year next year

...and who;s the first guy there to grab Bedard after he scores? Knight. Who had to skate half the rink to be there... loving that #30 -entirely the opposite vibe that whoever that guy was - who he was traded for gave up.

Team guy, and he's barely been here. That's the locker room attitude that you want to be building.
- SC116

I noticed that, too. Beddard's little chuckle in the post game gab with Pang was pretty telling. Seems like Knight has seamlessly fit into the room

I think 3 years 3..5million per sounds right. Most likely not repeating what he doing this year next year
- Scott1977

The rumor is a 3 year deal is on the table. It will be a bit more than 3.5 is my guess.

Which is fine even if he regresses back to a 30 point guy. The cap going up means bottom 6 guys are going to cost a bit more.

Donato is nice piece to have around. He can fill in everywhere. Play hards and has no problem jumping in to protect his mates.

Thought I heard last night that an offer to extend Donato was on the table, or was I hearing things? Hopefully the contract offer is reasonable for the Hawks, just because they gave the cap space doesn’t mean that they have to overpay. No more $4.5M per for fourth liners.
- Angotti

You heard correctly.

They are not going to trade Murph. Good luck finding someone cheaper.

He is the only RHD with experience going into next season.

They are not going to trade Murph. Good luck finding someone cheaper.

He is the only RHD with experience going into next season.
- Elbows15

They don't need to trade him. They need him and he has one year left. He's been a pro his whole contract and loves being a Blackhawk.

They don't need to trade him. They need him and he has one year left. He's been a pro his whole contract and loves being a Blackhawk.
- Assman22

Murphy could be a solid 3rd pairing d-man after the 25/26 season. Given the prices paid for d-men at this TDL it would be hard not to trade Murphy for a 1st rounder +.

That being said, I’d be ok re-signing Murphy for a year or two as long as he doesn’t block any prospects from moving up.

How would everyone feel if the team went on a little run here to end the season?

Catching Nashville and Buffalo in the standings shouldn't be ruled out as they're just about as far from the Sharks as they are the Sabres.

Obviously it would hurt to lose some ground in the tank race when there's a "Big Four" in the upcoming draft class, but think it would help morale moving forward especially as vibes have picked up drastically since Knight was brought in and Jones was shipped out.

They are not going to trade Murph. Good luck finding someone cheaper.

He is the only RHD with experience going into next season.
- Elbows15

He's also played quite well. I wouldn't rule out a short term extension next year as the RHD cupboard is still bare until the likes of Rinzel and Levy make their way up.

How would everyone feel if the team went on a little run here to end the season?

Catching Nashville and Buffalo in the standings shouldn't be ruled out as they're just about as far from the Sharks as they are the Sabres.

Obviously it would hurt to lose some ground in the tank race when there's a "Big Four" in the upcoming draft class, but think it would help morale moving forward especially as vibes have picked up drastically since Knight was brought in and Jones was shipped out.
- TommyHawk

Would like to see them win at a playoff pace over the last 20, about 1.2 points per game (24 points in the final 20 games). Will put down the pipe now.

Nice positive trend for the young guys that make their debuts, and some momentum for next year. Desnoyers and others will be good at a slightly later pick (or KFC uses that one as part of a trade).

Would like to see them win at a playoff pace over the last 20, about 1.2 points per game (24 points in the final 20 games). Will put down the pipe now.

Nice positive trend for the young guys that make their debuts, and some momentum for next year. Desnoyers and others will be good at a slightly later pick (or KFC uses that one as part of a trade).
- totem

Logically speaking it would be great if they ended the season 1 point less than the Preds. The fan in me is fine with wherever they end up in the standings especially winning more games than they lose so 68-70 points.

Name just one person who wants a ten year rebuild or even an extended rebuild.
- paulr

He just likes to exaggerate. One tell tale sign that KD won't overspend on the free agent market is he traded for Webers cap hit. I guess 2 years will seem like ten for Steve

I wouldn't be surprised if they don't trade Foligno, Murphy, or Richardinson next season -only insofar as they seem like ready-made off-ice guys that can slot in as coaches if/when any assistants (or guys at the AHL level coaching) move on. I imagine that was the reason for the term - that and not being total locker-room bungholes.

Maybe some of them go - but I doubt Foligno does, as it feels like he wants to be here and a part of things, no matter what he ends up doing; I figure he knows his age works against him in that he doesn't have 'forever' to be a player, anymore. Sure I guess the whole 'team dad thing' is -I dunno ... however he is a bit different this season. I still like him as a hockey guy - if I need someone to show how to go about being a leader - he's a guy that can do it. He doesn't need to be a player to do that, however just by virtue of being a player -its been pretty important to give some key young guys a chance to see how it works in action, because it's time to hang up the sweater.

The reason I say that is simply because, frankly there's no other point to being in Chicago when they got him. And then he wanted to hang around; I'm sure the pay is nice, but I don't think he's a guy in it for the money.

It's kinda funny, because the first time I really paid attention to the guy was when he was the Jackets' captain, and it was when they made the really poor and desperate decision not to move on from Panarin (who it was reasonably obvious wanted to go somewhere else --- and probably only one place - Manhattan) - and Columbus was that John Carey meme: 'So you're saying ... still have a chance???' And you could tell it was a pretty tense time, with a different prima donna who didn't want to be there - it was probably, somewhat, similar to the Jones thing this season (although with Jones here- the dude was the highest paid player on the team, in a formal leadership role, parachuted into the role as #1 D-man) -so there was even less reason to move on than an guy going to be a UFA at the end of the season.

They are not going to trade Murph. Good luck finding someone cheaper.

He is the only RHD with experience going into next season.
- Elbows15

I haven't been the biggest fan of Murphy but he grew on me in LRs system and i feel like he finally became a better all around defensive hockey player. I actually think he's a better role model than Seth jones and yeah i believe as you do we need to keep a couple of quality vets on this defense.

The ability to trade Jones away and get back Knight and a 1st back? How is he not GM of the year

Oh yea and since I've got 3 goalies, I'll package Mrazek and Smith to the Red Wings in return for an over paid 4th line player

Other than Brodie and over paying some vets to bring them here, with no impact on the salary cap for longer than 2 years, i really can't complain how he's handled everything so far as a GM.

I haven't been the biggest fan of Murphy but he grew on me in LRs system and i feel like he finally became a better all around defensive hockey player. I actually think he's a better role model than Seth jones and yeah i believe as you do we need to keep a couple of quality vets on this defense.

The ability to trade Jones away and get back Knight and a 1st back? How is he not GM of the year

Oh yea and since I've got 3 goalies, I'll package Mrazek and Smith to the Red Wings in return for an over paid 4th line player

Other than Brodie and over paying some vets to bring them here, with no impact on the salary cap for longer than 2 years, i really can't complain how he's handled everything so far as a GM.
- BetweenTheDots

Murph is always on the ice in the summer with those who are in the area. Every summer.

Brodie was a terrible signing. I said it at the time. KD is/was buying time. There are only 2 of his picks in the NHL and 5, i think, in the A.

Murph is always on the ice in the summer with those who are in the area. Every summer.

Brodie was a terrible signing. I said it at the time. KD is/was buying time. There are only 2 of his picks in the NHL and 5, i think, in the A.
- Elbows15

That’s exactly what he was doing, buying time for the kiddies. Not a good signing, but not the end of the world, after this season I’d buy him out. A buyout could be better than a trade with retention, a retention spot could very well be more valuable than the one point whatever million of retention on Brodie.

He just likes to exaggerate. One tell tale sign that KD won't overspend on the free agent market is he traded for Webers cap hit. I guess 2 years will seem like ten for Steve
- BetweenTheDots

Weber’s contract changes nothing. It is literally a hedge so that if he strikes out in the market, he doesn’t have to overpay fossils to join the team and hit the cap floor. If he signs guys they can put him on LTIR, if not they just keep him on IR.

That’s exactly what he was doing, buying time for the kiddies. Not a good signing, but not the end of the world, after this season I’d buy him out. A buyout could be better than a trade with retention, a retention spot could very well be more valuable than the one point whatever million of retention on Brodie.
- Angotti

I think the smart move would be to talk to Brodie and see what he wants. If he wants his full paycheck you let him know that he will most likely go to Rockford and if you don't like that we can buy you out and you can sign with any team you want, or we can keep you in the NHL but you will be a healthy scratch many nights.

With the salary cap going up and this league maybe finally having a good financial foundation, you need to be a team that works with all the players you sign. Good or bad

Weber’s contract changes nothing. It is literally a hedge so that if he strikes out in the market, he doesn’t have to overpay fossils to join the team and hit the cap floor. If he signs guys they can put him on LTIR, if not they just keep him on IR.
- Chunk

Isn't that what i said?

Man, Vanacker looks really good.

Lardis with goal 69, grow up and quit giggling Chunk. Vanacker with a goal and an assist.

Isn't that what i said?
- BetweenTheDots

I guess it depends on what you were implying when you said overspend.

Lardis with goal 69, grow up and quit giggling Chunk. Vanacker with a goal and an assist.
- paulr

😂