Let's set the wayback machine to the opening night last year. This was the lineup.


Mikheyev - Bedard - TT
Hall - Kurashev - Bertuzzi
Foligno - Richardinson - Anderson
Maroon - Donato - Smith

Martinez - Jones
Vlasic - Murphy
Allan - Brodie

Mrazek
Soderblom

Scratches - Reichel, AA, Phillips

Are we coming into this season with a strong overall team? It certainly seems likely to me. The players gone Mrazek, AA, Philips, Brodie, Martinez, Jones, Hall, Kurashev, Maroon, Smith, Anderson.

That's 11 players (at least) that will be different to start this year over last year and a lot more young guys closer or ready to fight for spots. Nobody knows what the lines/pairs will actually be, but we have something like


Donato - Bedard - TT
Bertuzzi - Nazar - Burakovsky
Foligno - Richardinson - Mikheyev
Slaggert - Lafferty - Moore

Reiche, Dach, Thompson plus some potential form the 21 and under crowd of players who can take leaps and bounds - Frondell, Lardis, Greene, Hayes, Misiak, Vanacker, Ludwinski, Savoie

Vlasic - Rinzel
Korchinski - Murphy
Kaiser - Levshunov
EDM - Allan - Kuzmin

Knight/Soderblom/Comesso

There could still be more changes, but we got a new coach and nearly 50% different players to start the season in the bigs. The Hawks didn't go crazy on the UFA market but we are definitely coming in with a fresh, fast, and younger team in some fashion or another. If Bedard's offseason training is legit and he takes the next step (he needs to take a step or two if we are being honest) and if Nazar proves he is ready to continue where he left off the world championships, it could be exciting.

I heard a rumor on the FAN this morning, Pittsburgh sends Richard Rackell to Chicago for Reichel, Del Mastro and a sixth round pick in 2026. It seems pretty detailed for just a random rumour, but who knows?
- paulr

I’m a big fan of EDM, I know that you have to give to receive, however I’d rather give up a different Dman. Out of the young Dman, I would only keep Rinzel, Levshunov, and Vlasic over EDM. There’s a reason he received the most TOI on team Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0RymCiyUTA

KD on with Mully and Haugh

Off season is not over yet. There could be as many as 10 teams needing to make moves to get under the cap. Unfortunately there are also 14 teams with more than $10 mil in cap space. But you never know if the Hawks might be able together a package for a pretty good forward.
- Ztra

Right now 4 teams are over the cap (2- Canadiens and Vegas have players they can put on LTIR to have them be compliant).

Dallas is $1.7 over with 22 of 23 players signed and no LTIR.

Florida is $2.9 over with 22 of 23 players signed.

There are other teams that are close (Oilers with $175 k, Blues just under $700k) but both are at 23 or 23. Canucks (just under $800k with 22 of 23 signed) might need to move someone.

LOTS of teams with salary cap space to make deals for players (Ducks are not at the floor yet with only 19 of 23 signed)Sharks, Hawks, Blue Jackets all have $20 million or more.

Would love to see the Hawks trade for Luostarinen or Rodrigues from Florida, but that only puts them under the cap by a few thousand, and now with an additional player they need to sign. Lundell carries a $5 mill cap but cannot see the moving him.

No doubt, but both those players I've never felt like when the puck was not on their stick they used their speed to disrupt things even when it was on their stick they were for the most part bad, hahaha.

Aiden Thompson for example can skate, a bit on the smaller side but tenacious, handle the puck, and he's just one example of many of these kids.

I guess i missed that last line you wrote, but i agree with that as well.
- BetweenTheDots

The best thing about Viktor was he would use his size to go win a board battle and get the puck and he usually got to the corner first.

The Athletics' take on Free Agency (Hawks did not fare well)

Hoping we use some of that capital to trade for a piece or two that is a bit further along.



I don’t get what the Blackhawks are doing: We were warned they could be quiet. Kyle Davidson has explained why it’s not the time for big swings, and many of their fans seem OK with that. And yes, of course it’s true there was no single player available who’d single-handedly make them contenders. But at some point, you’ve got to get better. Is it easy? No, but it can be done in a smart way, as the Canadiens seem to be showing us by turning their stockpile of picks and prospects into good young players who’ll help them immediately. At this point, I’m not sure I see a plan in Chicago other than being bad for as long as possible and then hoping every top prospect hits at once. That’s not how it works, but this feels like a team that’s afraid to even try to take a step.

Let's set the wayback machine to the opening night last year. This was the lineup.


Mikheyev - Bedard - TT
Hall - Kurashev - Bertuzzi
Foligno - Richardinson - Anderson
Maroon - Donato - Smith

Martinez - Jones
Vlasic - Murphy
Allan - Brodie

Mrazek
Soderblom

Scratches - Reichel, AA, Phillips

Are we coming into this season with a strong overall team? It certainly seems likely to me. The players gone Mrazek, AA, Philips, Brodie, Martinez, Jones, Hall, Kurashev, Maroon, Smith, Anderson.

That's 11 players (at least) that will be different to start this year over last year and a lot more young guys closer or ready to fight for spots. Nobody knows what the lines/pairs will actually be, but we have something like


Donato - Bedard - TT
Bertuzzi - Nazar - Burakovsky
Foligno - Richardinson - Mikheyev
Slaggert - Lafferty - Moore

Reiche, Dach, Thompson plus some potential form the 21 and under crowd of players who can take leaps and bounds - Frondell, Lardis, Greene, Hayes, Misiak, Vanacker, Ludwinski, Savoie

Vlasic - Rinzel
Korchinski - Murphy
Kaiser - Levshunov
EDM - Allan - Kuzmin

Knight/Soderblom/Comesso

There could still be more changes, but we got a new coach and nearly 50% different players to start the season in the bigs. The Hawks didn't go crazy on the UFA market but we are definitely coming in with a fresh, fast, and younger team in some fashion or another. If Bedard's offseason training is legit and he takes the next step (he needs to take a step or two if we are being honest) and if Nazar proves he is ready to continue where he left off the world championships, it could be exciting.
- breadbag

Can't really argue with anything here. It should be at a minimum a very interesting to to watch the new guys grow and comparing these two squads it's certainly faster.

I'm expecting (and I really hope I'm not wrong) that this coaching staff can help them take major strides. The new staff combined with the work that I hear guys like Donato, Bedard, and Nazar are doing in the offseason make me very optimistic. That they will be working with a younger team should help get them all playing the right way early on.

I heard a rumor on the FAN this morning, Pittsburgh sends Richard Rackell to Chicago for Reichel, Del Mastro and a sixth round pick in 2026. It seems pretty detailed for just a random rumour, but who knows?
- paulr

So, basically the Hawks give Del Mastro for a 32 yr old winger. I guess I understand how they might pull the plug on 23 yr old Reichel, b/c there hasn't shown a large jump in his play & production.
I am not sure from what I have seen if I would take even a second for Del Mastro right now. He isn't far away.

It just seems somebdy decided they were going to create a helping the Pens unload Rackell and decided the that boatlaod return, w/o knowing Del Mastro...

So, basically the Hawks give Del Mastro for a 32 yr old winger. I guess I understand how they might pull the plug on 23 yr old Reichel, b/c there hasn't shown a large jump in his play & production.
I am not sure from what I have seen if I would take even a second for Del Mastro right now. He isn't far away.

It just seems somebdy decided they were going to create a helping the Pens unload Rackell and decided the that boatlaod return, w/o knowing Del Mastro...
- wiz1901

Agreed, KD laughs and hangs up. Wouldn't trade EDM even for a 32 year old.

Ehlers ------> Carolina

They're gonna be really good again. Maybe they can get the goaltending now?

Some good news out of Hawks camp. Lardis says his knee is back to 100% and back skating after the cheap shot injury in the PO's this year. He's dropped some weight (currently at 180-185) that he'll have to put back on, but is working on strength and getting back up to speed.

Kinda funny, he measured at 6' and when asked he said "Finally got there I guess."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0RymCiyUTA

KD on with Mully and Haugh
- vabeachbear

I've heard something similar after the draft,

I'm really enjoying my summer but have to admit I'm also looking forward to both the Blackhawks and Bears in the fall.

Fun part of the rebuild has gotten here. He really believes in the scouting staff and development program they have set up

The Athletics' take on Free Agency (Hawks did not fare well)

Hoping we use some of that capital to trade for a piece or two that is a bit further along.



I don’t get what the Blackhawks are doing: We were warned they could be quiet. Kyle Davidson has explained why it’s not the time for big swings, and many of their fans seem OK with that. And yes, of course it’s true there was no single player available who’d single-handedly make them contenders. But at some point, you’ve got to get better. Is it easy? No, but it can be done in a smart way, as the Canadiens seem to be showing us by turning their stockpile of picks and prospects into good young players who’ll help them immediately. At this point, I’m not sure I see a plan in Chicago other than being bad for as long as possible and then hoping every top prospect hits at once. That’s not how it works, but this feels like a team that’s afraid to even try to take a step.
- Revco38

The Canadiens are a little different they actually took the longer path to the rebuild

Since 2016. 11 first round picks
Blackhawks
Since 2022, 11 first round picks

I just gotta say instead of trading for Dobson and giving up 2 first round picks, we took on Mrazeks contract moved up in the first round to draft Rinzel, i prefer that method

The Athletics' take on Free Agency (Hawks did not fare well)

Hoping we use some of that capital to trade for a piece or two that is a bit further along.



I don’t get what the Blackhawks are doing: We were warned they could be quiet. Kyle Davidson has explained why it’s not the time for big swings, and many of their fans seem OK with that. And yes, of course it’s true there was no single player available who’d single-handedly make them contenders. But at some point, you’ve got to get better. Is it easy? No, but it can be done in a smart way, as the Canadiens seem to be showing us by turning their stockpile of picks and prospects into good young players who’ll help them immediately. At this point, I’m not sure I see a plan in Chicago other than being bad for as long as possible and then hoping every top prospect hits at once. That’s not how it works, but this feels like a team that’s afraid to even try to take a step.
- Revco38

All these takes are driving me (frank)ing nuts!

What FA should they have signed and how much should they have paid for them???

I've heard something similar after the draft,

I'm really enjoying my summer but have to admit I'm also looking forward to both the Blackhawks and Bears in the fall.

Fun part of the rebuild has gotten here. He really believes in the scouting staff and development program they have set up
- BetweenTheDots

He better

The Canadiens are a little different they actually took the longer path to the rebuild

Since 2016. 11 first round picks
Blackhawks
Since 2022, 11 first round picks

I just gotta say instead of trading for Dobson and giving up 2 first round picks, we took on Mrazeks contract moved up in the first round to draft Rinzel, i prefer that method
- BetweenTheDots

The end goal isn’t who drafted the most first round picks, it’s about making the team better. Adding a top pairing defenseman for two mid first round picks was an absolutely amazing trade, especially for where the Habs are in their rebuild/retool.

The end goal isn’t who drafted the most first round picks, it’s about making the team better. Adding a top pairing defenseman for two mid first round picks was an absolutely amazing trade, especially for where the Habs are in their rebuild/retool.
- paulr

This^.

I like the Dobson move. It’s time to take the next step in their plan. They have a solid, young team.

Ehlers ------> Carolina

They're gonna be really good again. Maybe they can get the goaltending now?

Some good news out of Hawks camp. Lardis says his knee is back to 100% and back skating after the cheap shot injury in the PO's this year. He's dropped some weight (currently at 180-185) that he'll have to put back on, but is working on strength and getting back up to speed.

Kinda funny, he measured at 6' and when asked he said "Finally got there I guess."
- Chunk

I saw the same thing and seems like he won't be considered undersized as a player at the NHL level. The fun thing with the guys at his age, they can change so quickly and heal, gain strength and just change so much.

All these takes are driving me (frank)ing nuts!

What FA should they have signed and how much should they have paid for them???
- vabeachbear

Agree there was no one that would have moved the needle but adding maybe a vet defenseman to help out (although the prices were crazy why sign Schmidt to a 3 year deal? ) or maybe Drouin to add a bit of scoring depth shows the team you have confidence in them that you are willing to invest but also takes some of the pressure off of the kids.

Standing pat maybe correct in the long run but worried how this may impact the young kids/team confidence.

All these takes are driving me (frank)ing nuts!

What FA should they have signed and how much should they have paid for them???
- vabeachbear

Yzerman said it best recently for the Wings, they didn't even get a chance to talk to most of the big name FA because they were gone before FA opened up. Montreal made a couple decent moves, but they've also been rebuilding longer and are at least a year or two ahead of the Hawks in their rebuild. I mean, except for a Cinderella run in 2021, they have pretty much been rebuilding for nearly 10 years.

All these takes are driving me (frank)ing nuts!

What FA should they have signed and how much should they have paid for them???
- vabeachbear

I agree. There wasn't anyone out there FA wise to make a move for,outside of Marner,but he seemed dead set on Vegas for a while.

But via trade...there is this bit of info from Marek

Jeff Marek on the DFO Rundown: Jeff thinks Dallas won’t let the Jason Robertson contract linger much past early July and that they don’t want to pay him much more than 10m a season. Links him to Anaheim if he doesn’t stay in Dallas.

If Robo is available,Hocks should try and see if they can package something for him.
If Anaheim gets him,the Hocks should try and pry McTavish from Anaheim. Not sure if any of it is possible,but things like this open up,and maybe there is some space for Kyle to make a move.
The Hocks 2026 1st rd pick is probably off limits,but a 2027 probably isn't

The end goal isn’t who drafted the most first round picks, it’s about making the team better. Adding a top pairing defenseman for two mid first round picks was an absolutely amazing trade, especially for where the Habs are in their rebuild/retool.
- paulr

First of all i liked the Habs move but now they don't get the luxury of grooming a kid and benefiting of them being on an ELC and have to pay top dollar for them. They lose 1 maybe 2 pieces of the future that could possibly help them with depth to win a playoff series or a SC. It's all connected.

I prefer the method of accumulating as many 1st round picks as i can as an org, developing them, enjoying their ELC contracts, maintaining future 1st round picks for more help down the road, looks like we won't have to trade for a premier defenseman because it looks like there's at least 2 in the system.

I disagree when you suck the goal is to accumulate the most amount of first round picks you possibly can, when you nibble around the edges in a rebuild you end up with a lot of holes on your team and are forced to chase players on other teams.


The end goal is to get as many first round picks to make your team better.

It's funny to, Dobson was traded for 2 first round picks, so the isle make that deal if they don't have both those picks?

I don't see the Blackhawks making a trade for a defenseman or goalie, they already got their goalie with the Jones trade

We lack forwards, i think Bedard and Frondell will be top 6 guys. I think Nazar will be a cross of Hagel and Point. So 3 maybe 4 forward spots to fill? Going into the 4th year of the rebuild that's pretty damn good

Where does Savoi fit in? Or is he a permanent fixture in the Rock?
- bjphawkfan

He’ll likely be in Rockford one more season, he might get a call up after the TDL after Richardinson, Lafferty, and Mikheyev are moved.

I heard a rumor on the FAN this morning, Pittsburgh sends Richard Rackell to Chicago for Reichel, Del Mastro and a sixth round pick in 2026. It seems pretty detailed for just a random rumour, but who knows?
- paulr

That wouldn’t make a lot of sense for the Hawks.

I could see a ‘change of scenery’ deal involving Reichel. Maybe Reichel for Holtz (Vegas) or Robertson (Toronto).