Agreed but think Kyle will hold KK too long due to sentimental reasons of being his first pick and being apart of the healing process with his dad passing away. KK for Peterka would've been nice.
- Assman22

KK for Howard would have worked for me. For a pure asset standpoint, KK is redundant in the Hawks' system. IMO, Rinzell and Levshunov have higher ceilings than KK. Higher floors, too. That is why you trade him sooner rather than later. His value is going to tank if he doesn't show marked improvements this season.

FWIW, I will gladly eat crow if he proves me wrong.

There is no way KK is a better skater than Kaiser. KK has no acceleration and can't skate away from guys on the forecheck. Kaiser can and does.

I don't know if Kaiser is a guy you win or lose with, i know Vlasic is. Not taking anything away from Kaiser, but he's been able to work on his craft at 5 years now, he's 2 years older than Korchinski. He's done a real nice job so far.

It's funny you say when KK plays to his scouting report, but his scouting report is all about offense. So you would rather he just work on his offense and not his defense?

I've seen both players live and i can't give up on the athleticism Korchinski has. Whats a reasonable time table for a kid who had to have his defensive game torn down and built back up? What i see is he wants to be a better defender so i wait patiently.

That athleticism isn't going away and if the hockey brain and the man bod develops he's going to a really good player. If he's brain dead than he'll have a nice career bouncing around the league.
- BetweenTheDots

He doesn't provide offense, tho. You either have a head for the game or get by for a time on athletic ability. KK doesn't have it. It's also not like KK is some physical beast. He's 6'1 185.

He doesn't provide offense, tho. You either have a head for the game or get by for a time on athletic ability. KK doesn't have it. It's also not like KK is some physical beast. He's 6'1 185.
- Elbows15

How would you define Kris Letang's first 4 NHL seasons. 217 NHL games?

Leddy always had the look like you were talking to your dog when it tilts its head at you.
- rpeters01

Except my dog is still more intelligent. Ok maybe not, but he never looks that stupid.

It'll be interesting to see if our defense gets better with the addition of Burakovsky, Lafferty, Greene and Moore for now.
- BetweenTheDots

Do you think Greene and Moore make the opening roster?

If you assume 10 vets have places, if for no other reason than to get to the cap floor, you have: Bedard, Bertuzzi, Burakovsky, Richardenson, Donato, Foligno, Lafferty, Mikheyev, Nazar, Teravainen. That leaves 3 forward spots on the opening roster.

Taniano or Reichel could be a candidate for the 13th spot since them sitting out would not hurt development of key young guys.

So, 2 or 3 of: Frondell, Slaggert, Moore, Greene, Dach, Lardis. I feel like Frondell and Slaggert have the best chances. But a lot will depend on camp.

The Colorado Avalanche had both Sam Girard (5-10 170) and Cale Maker (6' 187) playing big minutes and no one had a problem. I think it all depends on what the player can do and the rest of the team around them. By all accounts, if he makes the team, he'll be surrounded by redwoods.

If he can quickly close down plays and transition the puck the other way like he did at times last year, then he'll make a spot for himself (especially if he doesn't necessarily command a big contract).

If size was really that big of an issue, guys like Kane, Versteeg, T. Johnson, Sheary, Marchesseault, etc. wouldn't be effective in the PO's. Guys who are good enough to play find ways to be effective in any situation. Those who don't get traded or are left unsigned.
- Chunk

I get what you are saying, but Kaiser from a skill perspective isn't Makar and isn't even at the level of Girard. I know Kaiser isn't a plug, but he doesn't display that same level of skill a lot of the other smaller successful D who generally get by because they have the offensive awareness and production to make up for the lack of size.

He has been decent defensively but I feel like it would be a valid concern matching him up against strong forechecking teams in the playoffs.

It's not that I don't like Kaiser, but just to me, he may not be a top 4 guy for a competitive NHL team.

Listening to NHL radio yesterday while on our way back to Illinois, and both hosts were saying that they like the Sharks rebuild so much better than the Hawks...
- Angotti

Sure and after the Misa pick- they made a distinct and specific point of saying the same thing - so that's essentially the 'company line' from the league; why they have to have one of those is a bit of a mystery, but so is a lot of things they mess around with. Shoot outs, losing the red line, can't decide on an actual season length, no real consistent approach to how they calculate the league salary cap, outdoor games, sometimes NHL players in the Olympics-sometimes not, supplemental discipline when no penalties actually called at the time, video replays which sometimes leave more questions than just getting on with it), overblown productions around the draft, which are just plain lame, just waving your stick in a general direction is now a slash, 'fighting' by invitation instead of just waling on someone like the 'good old days', and I am sure I can go on and on. :D Only saying probably none of that actually needed to be messed with - but it was.

Do you think Greene and Moore make the opening roster?

If you assume 10 vets have places, if for no other reason than to get to the cap floor, you have: Bedard, Bertuzzi, Burakovsky, Richardenson, Donato, Foligno, Lafferty, Mikheyev, Nazar, Teravainen. That leaves 3 forward spots on the opening roster.

Taniano or Reichel could be a candidate for the 13th spot since them sitting out would not hurt development of key young guys.

So, 2 or 3 of: Frondell, Slaggert, Moore, Greene, Dach, Lardis. I feel like Frondell and Slaggert have the best chances. But a lot will depend on camp.
- LetsGoHawks

I think there will be some injuries in the beginning of the season and do think Moore and Greene will make the team. Frondell will go back to Europe.

Foligno won't be an every day player, Lafferty may be sent to Rockford, it'll be really interesting to see the opening day roster.

I get what you are saying, but Kaiser from a skill perspective isn't Makar and isn't even at the level of Girard. I know Kaiser isn't a plug, but he doesn't display that same level of skill a lot of the other smaller successful D who generally get by because they have the offensive awareness and production to make up for the lack of size.

He has been decent defensively but I feel like it would be a valid concern matching him up against strong forechecking teams in the playoffs.

It's not that I don't like Kaiser, but just to me, he may not be a top 4 guy for a competitive NHL team.
- breadbag

Agreed, I don't think he's a top 4, but he's shown the ability to be a serviceable, even good, defenseman.

I just want to add, i believe any kid who performs well will be given a chance over a vet. The real fun will begin close to the upcoming trade dead line.

Do you think Greene and Moore make the opening roster?

If you assume 10 vets have places, if for no other reason than to get to the cap floor, you have: Bedard, Bertuzzi, Burakovsky, Richardenson, Donato, Foligno, Lafferty, Mikheyev, Nazar, Teravainen. That leaves 3 forward spots on the opening roster.

Taniano or Reichel could be a candidate for the 13th spot since them sitting out would not hurt development of key young guys.

So, 2 or 3 of: Frondell, Slaggert, Moore, Greene, Dach, Lardis. I feel like Frondell and Slaggert have the best chances. But a lot will depend on camp.
- LetsGoHawks

If we had given Donato 1x$15M like I said the cap floor wouldn't have been an issue.

If we had given Donato 1x$15M like I said the cap floor wouldn't have been an issue.

- rpeters01

The deal they did give Donato was looking pretty good after the UFA deals on July 1st.

I think there will be some injuries in the beginning of the season and do think Moore and Greene will make the team. Frondell will go back to Europe.

Foligno won't be an every day player, Lafferty may be sent to Rockford, it'll be really interesting to see the opening day roster.
- BetweenTheDots

KFC has traded for Lafferty 3 times. I don't think it was to send him to Rochford.

How would you define Kris Letang's first 4 NHL seasons. 217 NHL games?

- rpeters01

Better than anything KK has shown. Letand was also a 3rd RD pick and not a top 10 pick.
Both Campbell and Letang were far better skaters than KK can dream of being. Also, much tougher.

KFC has traded for Lafferty 3 times. I don't think it was to send him to Rochford.
- bjphawkfan

I'm a Lafferty fan but if he has another year like last year he'll be in Indy.

I'm a Lafferty fan but if he has another year like last year he'll be in Indy.
- rpeters01

Laffytaffy fits into KFC's plan, or he would still be with Buffalo. Laffy is hard nosed and he may be here to train the bottom 6

Laffytaffy fits into KFC's plan, or he would still be with Buffalo. Laffy is hard nosed and he may be here to train the bottom 6
- wizardofi

I think Lafferty is very much a "break glass in case of emergency" player for the Hawks. Foligno is likely to miss games. D!ckinson was pretty fragile last year. Burakovsky (despite how much I like his addition) needs to prove he can play more than 40 games. There is still a chance, even with all the good vibes, that not enough of the kids show that they are ready for the big time that they need someone to fill in the blanks. That's where I think Lafferty fits, although I think he and Anderson are the same guy at this point.

I think Lafferty is very much a "break glass in case of emergency" player for the Hawks. Foligno is likely to miss games. D!ckinson was pretty fragile last year. Burakovsky (despite how much I like his addition) needs to prove he can play more than 40 games. There is still a chance, even with all the good vibes, that not enough of the kids show that they are ready for the big time that they need someone to fill in the blanks. That's where I think Lafferty fits, although I think he and Anderson are the same guy at this point.
- Chunk

I do think Lafferty will play but i also envision the kids that show well in preseason will make the roster

2 goalies
7 dmen
14 forwards

Considering Allan burnt out then EDM took over for the rest of last year, i envision maybe a 5 game stretch type of system for the kids, or play the hot hand kind of deal?

Kaiser plays the game the right way, he can skate and he battles more than anyone else on the team. My only concern is that he does get manhandled at times in front of his net, and that’s an issue. To me, EDM will eventually bring more to the table(physically and leadership)and I’m going to predict that he will be a top four defenseman one day. We’ll see what happens, however we won’t know for another 2-3 years. Competition brings out the best in some players, while others crack. They will end up with two offensive defensemen in Levshunov and Rinzel, so a perfect compliment on the left side would be Vlasic and EDM.

Kaiser plays the game the right way, he can skate and he battles more than anyone else on the team. My only concern is that he does get manhandled at times in front of his net, and that’s an issue. To me, EDM will eventually bring more to the table(physically and leadership)and I’m going to predict that he will be a top four defenseman one day. We’ll see what happens, however we won’t know for another 2-3 years. Competition brings out the best in some players, while others crack. They will end up with two offensive defensemen in Levshunov and Rinzel, so a perfect compliment on the left side would be Vlasic and EDM.
- Angotti

Agreed. It's good that there is competition for all the positions now. Everyone has to earn/take their spot on the team. I'll leave my rant about more established support for the forward group, but it's not a bad thing that the kids have to show out to get their chances.

I love Greene's game. I think he breaks camp as the 4C, and will ultimately replace D!ckinson. He's fast, smart, defensively responsible, and can also add offense.

If I had to handicap it now, I think he'll end up a 35-40pt player.
- Chunk

Agreed on the love and potential but just don't see him breaking camp with Blackhawks given the roster size and what Kyle did with Nazar last year. I think he wants the young guys to play together in Rockford for a stretch first before bringing them up hence the Lafferty move and quantity of forwards. Frondell may be the only young guy that has a chance to stay with Blackhawks.

Agreed on the love and potential but just don't see him breaking camp with Blackhawks given the roster size and what Kyle did with Nazar last year. I think he wants the young guys to play together in Rockford for a stretch first before bringing them up hence the Lafferty move and quantity of forwards. Frondell may be the only young guy that has a chance to stay with Blackhawks.
- Assman22

He is older than most of the rest of them, i would think if its between him and say Moore, I could him staying up, and Moore getting sent down.

He is older than most of the rest of them, i would think if its between him and say Moore, I could him staying up, and Moore getting sent down.
- vabeachbear

I’m in the Greene camp, I’d like to see him start out with the Hawks. The only thing that D!ckinson brings that Greene doesn’t is experience. Greene will bring more speed and more energy and is already responsible defensively.