Touche ...

Personally I'd predict they resign Krueger as a UFA, for the sole purpose of trading him to Pittsburgh for Malkin -because stranger things haven't happened.

- SC116

Ha! Maybe a Marcus Kruger “One More Shift” and then announce the trade with the game in progress.

Did he have one of those? Every team needs these guys and Kruger was a great bottom 6’er.

It’s a shame he didn’t take JJ’s advice/workout regimen to heart and have that 20-30 gal season that was predicted.

Would the Pens take him, Richardinson and the rights to Antti Saarela or Jalen Luypen for Malkin?
- HawkintheD

Probably have to include the rights to Shawn Lalonde, too.

Probably have to include the rights to Shawn Lalonde, too.
- boilermaker100

Not a chance! Lalonde could still prove to be an important player.

Not a chance! Lalonde could still prove to be an important player.
- paulr

Any trade scenario starts with KK. That's a rule on this board.

Any trade scenario starts with KK. That's a rule on this board.
- rpeters01

I am hearing KK for Sid the Kid!

I am hearing KK for Sid the Kid!
- bjphawkfan

I'd make that trade but I think Pittsburgh hangs up the phone.
Pay Crosby 3x$12M. I don't think anyone else will.

I'd make that trade but I think Pittsburgh hangs up the phone.
Pay Crosby 3x$12M. I don't think anyone else will.
- rpeters01

Remember the debates of who was better Toews or Sid? Not sure it was ever that close.

Sid just continues to age like a fine wine. Surprising considering his concussion issues in 2011 plus.

Remember the debates of who was better Toews or Sid? Not sure it was ever that close.

Sid just continues to age like a fine wine. Surprising considering his concussion issues in 2011 plus.
- bhawks2241

I think he's got 3 more high level years. No drop off in his play at all. Yeah, if Toews was here Sid would be our #2 Center right?

Remember the debates of who was better Toews or Sid? Not sure it was ever that close.

Sid just continues to age like a fine wine. Surprising considering his concussion issues in 2011 plus.
- bhawks2241

Remember Toews went through his life undiagnosed with gluten intolerance. It wasn’t until eight or nine years into his career in Chicago that a trainer was able to get him the tests to identify it. He then changed his diet losing weight and probably strength. Then he contracted long Covid and an immune deficiency. Toews didn’t have Crosby’s natural skills and abilities yet he was in the same conversation as Crosby. Quite incredible!

Remember the debates of who was better Toews or Sid? Not sure it was ever that close.

Sid just continues to age like a fine wine. Surprising considering his concussion issues in 2011 plus.
- bhawks2241

It wasn't just concussion issues,

The diagnosis of Dr. Robert S. Bray, a neurological spine specialist based in Los Angeles, is that Sidney Crosby had suffered a neck injury in addition to a concussion. Dr. Bray reports that the neck injury is fully healed

I believe he had a hair line crack in one of his vertebrae

Remember Toews went through his life undiagnosed with gluten intolerance. It wasn’t until eight or nine years into his career in Chicago that a trainer was able to get him the tests to identify it. He then changed his diet losing weight and probably strength. Then he contracted long Covid and an immune deficiency. Toews didn’t have Crosby’s natural skills and abilities yet he was in the same conversation as Crosby. Quite incredible!
- paulr

Toews played such a solid game and did it the right way. It's always too bad when players have illness/injuries/issues that shorten or dampen their career. During the prime years of the Hawks, Kane and Toews were #1 and #2 in playoff points, but the thing about it too was each of them had 10 GWG. Toews was always pretty clutch and had a history of showing up in big moments. Sid was always better offensively, but he never ever hit the defensive game to the same level of Toews. Toews such a big part of the PK, defensive game and winning big at the dot, plus the really good offense, legitimately put him in the category of who would you rather build around. I don't think there was a right or wrong answer at the time.

I think it would be comparable right now to saying, would you rather build around Nathan MacKinnon or Aleksander Barkov? I think some would say MacKinnon and some would choose Barkov.

Not a chance! Lalonde could still prove to be an important player.
- paulr

Wouldn't it be great if he came on the board and updated us all on what he's doing now

Toews played such a solid game and did it the right way. It's always too bad when players have illness/injuries/issues that shorten or dampen their career. During the prime years of the Hawks, Kane and Toews were #1 and #2 in playoff points, but the thing about it too was each of them had 10 GWG. Toews was always pretty clutch and had a history of showing up in big moments. Sid was always better offensively, but he never ever hit the defensive game to the same level of Toews. Toews such a big part of the PK, defensive game and winning big at the dot, plus the really good offense, legitimately put him in the category of who would you rather build around. I don't think there was a right or wrong answer at the time.

I think it would be comparable right now to saying, would you rather build around Nathan MacKinnon or Aleksander Barkov? I think some would say MacKinnon and some would choose Barkov.
- breadbag

Barkov, he's the most like Frondell

Barkov, he's the most like Frondell

- vabeachbear

Don’t we wish. Actually, I’m hoping that Frondell turns into Lundell with a bit more offense, that would be a win. Also, if KD could pry away Lundell from the over the cap Panthers, that would also be a win. Needless to say, I’m a fan of forwards that can play in their defensive zone.

... and have that 20-30 gal season that was predicted.
- HawkintheD

Maybe he took that to mean career, not season.

Ek posting that extension talks have broken off between Kaprisov and Wild. States he believes he wants to come to Chi. Does Kaprisov have a NTC/NMC?

Ek posting that extension talks have broken off between Kaprisov and Wild. States he believes he wants to come to Chi. Does Kaprisov have a NTC/NMC?
- Matt_Foleys_bro

Yeah, he's got a full NMC.

Yeah, he's got a full NMC.
- Chunk

I have been hearing for awhile now Kapritzov wants to play in Chicago. He would be our new Hossa
,and it would be perfect timing for the youth movement .

I don't buy that Kaprizov talk (meaning from any source over whatever period), yes I know it got mentioned here the last couple of posts on the main area - it feels too much like click bait.

I'll believe it when I see it.

I have been hearing for awhile now Kapritzov wants to play in Chicago. He would be our new Hossa
,and it would be perfect timing for the youth movement .
- oldduffman

It's mostly from EK. This is some of the hard hitting reasoning he uses:

So why would both go to Chicago?
For Kaprizov, having lived in a very cold and rugged environment in the middle of nowhere, Chicago holds a lot of intrigue, and obviously he has played there quite a few times as a member of the Wild and has fallen in love with the Windy City per my source,,,

The fuq...

Cassidy, Tocchet and DeBoer named coaches of the Canadian Olympic team.

Will DeBoer be in charge of the goalies?

It's mostly from EK. This is some of the hard hitting reasoning he uses:

So why would both go to Chicago?
For Kaprizov, having lived in a very cold and rugged environment in the middle of nowhere, Chicago holds a lot of intrigue, and obviously he has played there quite a few times as a member of the Wild and has fallen in love with the Windy City per my source,,,

The fuq...
- Chunk

Clearly Ek’s a coaster who thinks that the city of Chicago is surrounded by farmland as far as the eye can see until you reach NY or LA.

It's mostly from EK. This is some of the hard hitting reasoning he uses:

So why would both go to Chicago?
For Kaprizov, having lived in a very cold and rugged environment in the middle of nowhere, Chicago holds a lot of intrigue, and obviously he has played there quite a few times as a member of the Wild and has fallen in love with the Windy City per my source,,,

The fuq...
- Chunk

Michael Russo, the Wild beat writer at the Athletic says the following re Kiprizov's contract demands:

“I think he’s definitely going to surpass Draisaitl. And not that Draisaitl is not the better player, but one, it’s a different year. Two, this is a different situation. This is one franchise that has never had a superstar like Kaprizov. It is imperative that they get him done

And it’s not going to be for 14. He will become the highest-paid winger in the National Hockey League. And the question is, how much and how long, and if he does it. I mean, look, I think Wild fans would have loved to get this done on July 1."

Bill Guerin has been extremely publicly confident that they are going to get it done. But from what I checked over the last couple of days, they are not close. It is going to be one of those things. I think this point, they’re going to take a little bit of a breather here. And when Kaprizov gets back into town, I think that then Bill Guerin will meet with him and just make sure that everything is being conveyed to him and not lost in translation.

He’s in Moscow, Bill just got back from Europe from a holiday. And then his agent is Paul Theofanous, who also has several clients and is a busy man as well. And so when the Wild had a contract dispute with him before he signed his five year contract, it went right up until the eve of training camp. And Bill Guerin finally went down on, got on a plane, flew down to Miami, met up with Paul Theofanous, and Kirill Kaprizov was able to hammer out the deal in person, face-to-face, and then get him on a private jet back here to Minnesota.

I think it’s going to be one of those things where they’re probably the three of them, and Mat Sells, their assistant general manager at some point are going to have to get together and probably get this done. And the question is kind of like McDavid, Jason, is does he want to sign for eight years, or does he want to go shorter?

There’s definitely a chance if, I don’t want to say if I’m Kirill Kaprizov, but if I’m him, and I’m playing for a franchise that hasn’t won a first-round series since 2015. He might be willing like, ‘All right, I’ll make a commitment. But you know what, I’m only going to give you three or four years, and then we’ll, we’ll see where you are.’ And it puts a little pressure on the organization to build a true contender here.”

Clearly Ek’s a coaster who thinks that the city of Chicago is surrounded by farmland as far as the eye can see until you reach NY or LA.
- HawkintheD

Well, the "rugged environment" accurately describes certain parts of the city.

New Blackhawks Every Shift video out covering the draft and development camp. The video is about half way down this link.

https://www.nhl.com/black...ackhawks-development-camp