This site down to only 7 active team blogs. Even the Leaf blog only has 16 comments n nothing after 11am yesterday morning. I know it's summer but hockey buzz is really hurting.
At least the Hawks blog is active with posts.

After selecting their own pick, The Hawks tarded for the Montreal pick to take a flyer on him...

why trade a long term 7th defenseman, you keep him, like all these kids.

I come from the era where a defenseman didn't arrive as a comete defender until they weere over 27, as they were finally strong and developed.
I know the kids now have added the physical development to their ganes as teens, but there is always going to be that "development window" until 26 + years.

After the trade with Vancouvr rto acxquire Forsling, we have a true template of how development cannot be determined in trading defensemne early.

I think the difference in the San Jose developand the hawks IS that the Hawks have this really high end possibles as defenders.

Look: Rinzel walked in and surprised the poop out of everyone as a giant ice water defender. What else couyld we possible have asked for!

There si going to be an eventual development of a group who ALL can get to it on their pins, get it to the shooters, and also jump up and surprise.

Let's not sell even our big Crevier at this point as long as he keeps making contact.
- wiz1901

Unless you're getting top 6 proven forward, I can't understand the rush to trade any young Dman.

Its kind of like real estate. You can sell and get something now, but if you don't need the money now, hold it, you'll only get more later.

I'm not advocating trading too late like SB always did or had to do, but no reason to trade any of these guys right now.

Fortunately, they're staying true to their rebuild. Really glad to hear that Frondell is going back to Sweden.

Over develop, over develop, over develop.

Keep building pipe line, you benefit greatly from it when you are good.

Really glad to hear that Frondell is going back to Sweden.
Over develop, over develop, over develop.
- vabeachbear

Kyle seems to have a soft spot for when a prospect says something along the lines of "I want to go back for one more year for unfinished business" just as Greenie did when returning to BU and same with Thompson. Assuming Eklund goes back to Sweden as well and hope Frondell has a healthy and strong final season in Sweden.

Assuming Crevier is back, he won't be waiver exempt, so I'm assuming he'll be the de facto 7th D man.
- Chunk

This is the reason I'd rather move him (if they can) and flip for a forward. I really don't want Crevier guaranteed the 7th spot.

Unless you're getting top 6 proven forward, I can't understand the rush to trade any young Dman.

Its kind of like real estate. You can sell and get something now, but if you don't need the money now, hold it, you'll only get more later.

I'm not advocating trading too late like SB always did or had to do, but no reason to trade any of these guys right now.

Fortunately, they're staying true to their rebuild. Really glad to hear that Frondell is going back to Sweden.

Over develop, over develop, over develop.

Keep building pipe line, you benefit greatly from it when you are good.
- vabeachbear

I feel basically the same. I think the trades will happen when the opportunity is too good to pass up or when they are forced to by situation. I.e. a player wants out, won't sign a reasonable contract or they are at risk of losing assets to waivers (assuming the asset has trade value).

Hopefully this season the Hawks will have a bit more depth at RD with Rinzel possibly sticking and Crevier can slot more appropriately as a depth D.

This is the reason I'd rather move him (if they can) and flip for a forward. I really don't want Crevier guaranteed the 7th spot.
- Assman22

The thing is, they likely won't get much of a forward for Crevier in a deal. Even just recently SJS traded 24 year old Thrun and the best they got was a washed up old thug in Ryan Reaves.

Anyone catch the irony of Seth Jones beating Stan Bowman for the Cup?

The thing is, they likely won't get much of a forward for Crevier in a deal.
- breadbag

No argument there. Tampa is stockpiled with forwards signed for forever and need d-men. Happily take O'Reilly off their hands for Crevier.

I think this season will be interesting. Not good just interesting. A lot of lineup fluctuations and plenty of players riding the Rockford shuttle. Maybe a vet or three traded at the deadline.

Hopefully Bedard continues to progress, others solidify themselves as solid NHL players (Nazar, Rinzel, Knight, a couple of prospects surprisingly exceeding expectations, and vets (Mikheyev, Burakovsky, TT, Lafferty, Bertuzzi) making significant contributions.

Keep an eye on Brossoit. I have a feeling he is not finished.

2025-26 NHL season to begin with tripleheader
Defending champion Panthers face Blackhawks; Rangers-Penguins, Avalanche-Kings also on opening night

Interesting start to the season for the Hawks. On the road against the back to back cup champs. Hope they will have some serious cup hangover still.

This site down to only 7 active team blogs. Even the Leaf blog only has 16 comments n nothing after 11am yesterday morning. I know it's summer but hockey buzz is really hurting.
At least the Hawks blog is active with posts.
- HamiltonHawk

With the new site coming out we'll probably lose our 13k plus posts and chance at the record.

Since the defensemen are the topic of conversation, I’m surprised they did not take a dman with one of their late first round picks, I was hoping for Fiddler. Also, I would not be surprised if they kept Murphy around for another year or two.

Since the defensemen are the topic of conversation, I’m surprised they did not take a dman with one of their late first round picks, I was hoping for Fiddler. Also, I would not be surprised if they kept Murphy around for another year or two.
- Angotti

It'll be interesting, Vegas is really thin on the blue line so are the Bolts? I can see a potential 1st round pick being acquired by KD.

Since the defensemen are the topic of conversation, I’m surprised they did not take a dman with one of their late first round picks, I was hoping for Fiddler. Also, I would not be surprised if they kept Murphy around for another year or two.
- Angotti

I get what you mean. I'm in the camp of "I wouldn't be surprised either way" on keeping or shipping him out. I do think there are teams that would give up something for Murphy because he is a fairly stable RHD. Health obviously being the biggest question mark.

I would think Murphy is one guy that probably would stay for a reasonable price, but maybe KD will be seeing how ready Rinzel/Levshunov are before making a decision on what do with Murphy. Nolan Allan could be another guy that if he can find his game again, might make Murphy much more expendable, since he can play RD. Even Kaiser can play RD as well, so I wouldn't discount that being an option. The first few months of this next season might just be the deciding factor. We know Allan/EDM/Crevier can throw some hits. I think Vlasic could take on a letter "A" on his jersey this season.

I think the area they've needed Murphy around is the PK. The Hawks PK was pretty decent last season, with Vlasic, Murphy, Jones playing the lion's share of the minutes.

It broke down like this
Vlasic - 215 min
Murphy - 156 min
Jones - 107 min
Kaiser - 89 min
Martinez - 61 min
Crevier - 48 min
Allan - 43 min
Brodie - 25 min
Rinzel - 13 min
Edm - 6 min
Levshunov - 1 min
KK - 1 min
Philips - 1 min


If I had to guess, next season the SH Minutes / game leaders on D will be like this.

Vlasic
Murphy
Rinzel
Kaiser

2025-26 NHL season to begin with tripleheader
Defending champion Panthers face Blackhawks; Rangers-Penguins, Avalanche-Kings also on opening night

Interesting start to the season for the Hawks. On the road against the back to back cup champs. Hope they will have some serious cup hangover still.
- breadbag

I remember getting pasted against the Avs the night they raised the banner on opening night.

If we win that game, it'll give our young team much confidence to start the season. The odds are really stacked against us.

Since the defensemen are the topic of conversation, I’m surprised they did not take a dman with one of their late first round picks, I was hoping for Fiddler. Also, I would not be surprised if they kept Murphy around for another year or two.
- Angotti

I was also a little disappointed that there were really no D taken in this draft. Thought there were a few d-men that were there at the CHI picks that would help restock the pipeline. Cumby and Holmes seem like longshots at best and maybe a defense prospect would have been better for those picks.

Would say keep the 2nd rounders in 2026 instead of trading them to CAR, and invest a little in the D pipeline.

This is the reason I'd rather move him (if they can) and flip for a forward. I really don't want Crevier guaranteed the 7th spot.
- Assman22

Really think they need to keep the defensemen that they have right now just to ensure enough depth for this season; of course they could sign some stopgap d-men if they need to. Would almost rather trade forwards for forwards.

Look at all the forwards that might be here next year:

Bertuzzi -Bedard - Frondell
Burakovsky - Nazar - Teravainen
Moore - Greene - Mikheyev
C. Dach - Donato - Slaggert
Reichel

Savoie - Ludwinski - Hayes
Thompson - Misiak - Spellacy
Lardis - Boisvert - Pridham
Vanacker - Mustard - Kantserov
Felcman

Plus the early #1 and also Behm could move to RFD if he has a good year in the WHL. I kept a few vets in the list to make the cap floor.

Not everyone will stay if only for lack of spots. But it is getting to be a question how CHI even gets a look at all of these guys to know which ones to keep/trade.

Think you’re inferring a lot. Where did I say “trade him”? I’m happy with his development and if you trade Murphy this season and he’s your 3rd pairing guy on the right side the Hawks could do a lot worse. If he keeps developing even better.
- HawkintheD

Well Arty's leash will be what everything is hinged on.

Does he stay from the onset, still playing on his individual instincts or does he start understanding by more Rockford time to learn game situations clearer?

If he stays from the get-go, that tells me they will be training him up in the bigs, and we all can take more inexperience and more losses with McKenna draft next yr.

The Murphy departure around the deadline does open space up.

I just keep seeing a different starting six w/o needing Arty here until he is better disciplined in using his toolbox more efficienctly.

I kept a few vets in the list to make the cap floor.
- totem

Good reason to front load the bedard and nazar re-ups.

With the new site coming out we'll probably lose our 13k plus posts and chance at the record.
- rpeters01

I'm pretty sure we have the record already don't we?

I remember getting pasted against the Avs the night they raised the banner on opening night.

If we win that game, it'll give our young team much confidence to start the season. The odds are really stacked against us.
- Popsghostly

Beat FL twice last year right?

Beat FL twice last year right?
- vabeachbear

Yeah, I think that's right, but was the night they raised the banner and before their (Tchuck on IR aided) loaded team with Marchand and Jones?

I'm pretty sure we have the record already don't we?
- vabeachbear

Somebody posted a long time ago around 5k that it was just over 20k posts.

Good reason to front load the bedard and nazar re-ups.
- wiz1901

I don't think that matters? For cap purposes $'s are averaged.

I was also a little disappointed that there were really no D taken in this draft. Thought there were a few d-men that were there at the CHI picks that would help restock the pipeline. Cumby and Holmes seem like longshots at best and maybe a defense prospect would have been better for those picks.

Would say keep the 2nd rounders in 2026 instead of trading them to CAR, and invest a little in the D pipeline.
- totem

Let's wait and see what West becomes before we arm chair QB the trade? And I'm not understanding your post? The 2nd's were in '25 this year. I think it's a 5th or something next year?