Stop ignoring the circumstances and context of the trade. Clarke did as much or more than Faber did this season (in less time on ice). Fiala had seven points in six postseason games. Clarke (the replacement they had in house for Faber) had a pair of goals. Not to mention Kuemper didn't play well.

One trade does not alter the results of a postseason series.
- Chunk

Oh the context being we made the playoffs and now we have to shift gears in the middle of what we are trying to build? And they gave up a premium position player for a winger who can score 30 goals. I just see it different than you, i wouldn't of made that deal

Agreed, but my point was he has to try and acquire a forward or two or three to improve the team next season.
- paulr

We are in full agreement.

Along those lines, does anyone know much about Howard? Seen him play?

There seems to be a few teams with players that could be available.
Buffalo might (should) shuffle the deck a bit.
Ottawa has a $17M in space and needs at least 4F, 2D and a G.
NYR Likely to deal with a new coach?
VAN? Who knows.
Rossi seems like he's perpetually available from MIN.

Oh the context being we made the playoffs and now we have to shift gears in the middle of what we are trying to build? And they gave up a premium position player for a winger who can score 30 goals. I just see it different than you, i wouldn't of made that deal
- BetweenTheDots

No, the context being that they had guys in the pipeline that do what Faber does and could stomach moving one for a 30 goal scorer (of which there were only 46 in the entire league this year). Not to mention they are making moves to try and win now. There are very few owners/fanbases that can/will stomach a full teardown and rebuild.

No, the context being that they had guys in the pipeline that do what Faber does and could stomach moving one for a 30 goal scorer (of which there were only 46 in the entire league this year). Not to mention they are making moves to try and win now. There are very few owners/fanbases that can/will stomach a full teardown and rebuild.
- Chunk

Well I'm glad the Blackhawks aren't offering up players without really knowing what they have

As many have said, this offseason will likely determine how much time KD remains in this position. This is his last shot at hiring a longer term coach. He needs to find some sort of forward help as well. I don't think he's timid at all, but I do think he needs to have something on this ice that resembles a competitive team otherwise he'll be out in short order.
- Chunk

Umm, our defense shows promise. It's far from good. We don't have the defensive box ticked off yet. We need the whole package - defense, offense, goaltending. Otherwise we would have had a better record this year.

KD got bold and creative trading Jones. This off season he’s going to have to try to get an established forward or two either through a trade(s) or Free agent signing.
- paulr

Problem is we need that guy to be a Hossa who just isn't out there to be had and in my opinion, anything less doesn't move the needle much. Imagine Hossa to lead Bedard, Nazar and whomever. 🤣

We'll revisit this in a couple of years, 35 Doughty and 22 Faber

The Kings one and done how many years in a row.
- BetweenTheDots

Fiala was 25 when traded. I think both teams got what they wanted out of the trade. Faber was a 2nd round pick who had yet to play an NHL game, and still at Univ of Minnesota when the trade happened. On a different note, is Univ of Minnesota a pipeline for NHL defensemen now?

Stop ignoring the circumstances and context of the trade. Clarke did as much or more than Faber did this season (in less time on ice). Fiala had seven points in six postseason games. Clarke (the replacement they had in house for Faber) had a pair of goals. Not to mention Kuemper didn't play well.

One trade does not alter the results of a postseason series.
- Chunk

Kings lost the Oiler series being up 2-0 in games and leading in the third game until the coach made the stupid decision to challenge an Oiler goal, that even if counted the Kings would have been still ahead in that game.

Fiala was 25 when traded. I think both teams got what they wanted out of the trade. Faber was a 2nd round pick who had yet to play an NHL game, and still at Univ of Minnesota when the trade happened. On a different note, is Univ of Minnesota a pipeline for NHL defensemen now?
- 333inthe3rd

Well i think it's great that both our RD men are 19 and 20 years old.

Kings lost the Oiler series being up 2-0 in games and leading in the third game until the coach made the stupid decision to challenge an Oiler goal, that even if counted the Kings would have been still ahead in that game.
- LAHawk

If the Kings’ playoff loss is attributed to one single situation, they obviously weren’t much of a team.

If the Kings’ playoff loss is attributed to one single situation, they obviously weren’t much of a team.
- paulr

So never in the history of sports has one play or incidence been determined to change the complexion of a series?.

So the Oilers were a weak team when Steve Smith put a puck off Fuhr into his own net ?

So never in the history of sports has one play or incidence been determined to change the complexion of a series?.

So the Oilers were a weak team when Steve Smith put a puck off Fuhr into his own net ?
- LAHawk

The history is irrelevant, any team losing because of one situation, wasn’t much of a team.

Vlasic? Keep in mind, you can't pay 6 good established defenseman.
- rpeters01

I omitted Vlasic because he’s been in the league for two years now, he’s definitely a keeper, although I’d like to see him be a little more physical going forward.

KD got bold and creative trading Jones. This off season he’s going to have to try to get an established forward or two either through a trade(s) or Free agent signing.
- paulr

I’m hoping it’s through a trade(s). I’m not liking the available UFA’s, especially if they’re signed to long term contracts. We should see a nice improvement from Nazar and Bedard this coming season, TT and Bertuzzi should contribute about the same, the more mobile dmen will help the offense as well, now let’s see who else KD adds up front.

Living where I do I've seen a lot of #97 play and man that guy is a treat to watch in the playoffs. Averaging almost 2 points per game in the playoffs in the last 4 seasons combined. Last night on their OT GWG he made Jack Eichel do a Philipp Kurashev impersonation the way he walked him.
- breadbag

97 makes it look so easy that you wonder why more players cannot do what he does on a consistent basis. That's how much of a unicorn he is.

Umm, our defense shows promise. It's far from good. We don't have the defensive box ticked off yet. We need the whole package - defense, offense, goaltending. Otherwise we would have had a better record this year.
- rpeters01

Sure, but what is the bigger need to address at the moment? The D-corps is more advanced and has fewer spots to fill than the forwards.

As many have said, this offseason will likely determine how much time KD remains in this position. This is his last shot at hiring a longer term coach. He needs to find some sort of forward help as well. I don't think he's timid at all, but I do think he needs to have something on this ice that resembles a competitive team otherwise he'll be out in short order.
- Chunk

You can hire a bad coach but if the talent on the ice gets better and better, he'll be able to hire the next coach, it's not like they are a playoff team right.

As far as a forward goes i would like one but not at the cost of, KK, EDM, Allan, Vlasic, Rinzel or Arty.

The deal has to make sense for the long term for this franchise.

Bamford has a few trade scenarios, too.

https://www.bleachernatio...ks-2025-nhl-draft-trades/
- boilermaker100

This one started as an unequal in my mind since Hobey Baker winner, I Howard was a #31 overall selection.

hawks Trade Down — Scenario No. 2
Blackhawks Receive: Pick No. 59 in the 2025 NHL Draft, rights to forward Isaac Howard

Lightning Receive: Pick No. 34 in the 2025 NHL Draft

All Tampa gets in Isaac's rejection of them is 23 slot jump? I cannot see the TB GM giving anything away besides Issac Howard b/c they are so esparate to find a trade, besides the crappy #63 pick in the 2026 the league will compensate the with.

[quote=Revco38]This is a laughable trade rumor (but one I would jump at in a second:

Chicago and Buffalo

Chicago receives. Bowen Byram, JJ Peterka, 2025 1st round (9th) pick

Buffalo receives: Reichel, Allan, Broissant and 2025 1st round pick (3rd)

Have no idea what Chicago fan cooked this up, but if this is real, KD should jump at this (Will Broissant even play again?).

More realistic is JJ Peterka for Reichel, 2025 1st round (3) + 2026 2nd round. But I do not see Buffalo trading Peterka, and not for picks (and we really do not have the players to trade as they seem set at D). They are looking for players (like us) who can push their infinite rebuild across the finish line.

This trade looks so lop-sided the Blackhawks was that the first thing I thought was, and then laughed that from all the predictions of that Bowen Bryam was the true #1 Defensemen the Blackhawks lacked, to him sent their way to become an addition to the logjam for a year at $%,199,975 on a one year deal (or KD paying him a five yr. extention at $717,170, 856)
I guess you don't see him soldifying the LD since his conclusions are of the serious kind, as are his defensive brain farts, and if you have the shiny new toy at Right point on the powerplay, you don't maximize Bryon's value.
You do help the "Broissant problem" give the Sabres a new option at defense and throw an unpolished forward as a potential in Reichel, but if they are losing JJ Peterka, and is far from the replacement.

The most interesting part of this exercise is Brady Martin sorta becomes the spit & fire draftable guy with Porter Martone off the board.
All the Martone hesitancy on this board may have our pundits here dropping him, but, he isn't going to be around at #9, becasue he can score from midrange, owns the front with his tip ins, and quick stick there too. I might argue he takes a few shots that he should have looked elsewhere but he will only gte stronger on his pins...and that's before talking about his edge and physicality just to show he can. He still has to keep focused on keeping his feet moving, making plays through motion, but this was an exciting performance. Top-line upside for Martone. I think he’s adaptable, full of hard and soft skill ability.

In that may 4, 2025 versus Austria, his skating has rarely looked as good as in this game this season. Forced to play at a higher pace, he was using crossovers to add bursts to his forward strides, catching up to opponents and getting ahead of them in the neutral zone. He made picks plays to create space for teammates, pushed the line of defence as F1 off the rush, got involved defensively, and went to the net, finding space at the far post for passes. He almost scored from that position. The power forward elements were a bit more visible in this game with the net-drives and the way he was battling on the wall to keep possession. That being said, that game also showed what he will have to work on to fast-track his NHL development: pressured wall plays. He missed a ton of breakouts, rushing himself, missing rim pickups, and mishandling passes. He also didn't look as creative or precise in his open-ice passing as usual, which can be normal, this being his first game with new teammates. Still, this was an encouraging game in some aspects. (and I actualluy think these other brain farts are what caused his mock drop a bit.

I had time to watch m James Hagens highlights and scouting, if that's who they draft at 3 that's fine with me.

I think we are very fortunate to choose between Misa and Hagens

I had time to watch m James Hagens highlights and scouting, if that's who they draft at 3 that's fine with me.

I think we are very fortunate to choose between Misa and Hagens
- BetweenTheDots

Or Martone.

Or Martone.
- paulr

Martones boots look heavy, when i watch the Tkachuk tape they are much better skaters than Martone is entering the draft.

Martones boots look heavy, when i watch the Tkachuk tape they are much better skaters than Martone is entering the draft.
- BetweenTheDots

Matthew Tkachuk is the second slowest (top speed) skater in the NHL after Maroon. Martone is a much better skater than either. He’s a good, not great, skater.

https://search.app/m5PUMkC4E7iDrjMp8

Matthew Tkachuk is the second slowest (top speed) skater in the NHL after Maroon. Martone is a much better skater than either. He’s a good, not great, skater.

https://search.app/m5PUMkC4E7iDrjMp8
- paulr

Yea but the Tkachuk Brothers are good skaters, much more fluid than Martone, way quicker step

https://www.bleachernatio...ks-2025-nhl-draft-trades/

Let's breakdown another of "Tab"'s trade proposals:

All the Blackhawks need to give up to get MISA is

Islanders Receive: Pick No. 3 overall in 2025 NHL Draft, Chicago’s second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Lukas Reichel, RFA rights to Wyatt Kaiser.

...this allows Hagens to be selected at #3

Tab's deluded idea of hockey is centered on this: "The Isles might be willing to move the RFA rights to defenseman Noah Dobson this summer; Kaiser is an NHL-ready defenseman who would be significantly cheaper to sign than Dobson this summer."

Why would they move Dobson?

But moreover to even see Kaiser close to a replacement seems more than ridiculous.