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Unfortunately, it’s a seller’s market and prices are steep. Since the UFA market is meh, teams have to look at the trade route. Sadly for the Hawks most teams want young established players in return, something Chicago doesn’t have a lot in stock right now. Also players that have movement clauses or are FA’s seem to want to go to places for a chance at the cup, something the Hawks are realistically lacking, perceived anyway.
I figured San Jose wanted Byrum; that’s part of the reason why they traded Ekland and of course because they knew they were possibly getting a better replacement in Stenberg. I read SJ was going to use their #9 and #27 for Byrum and also the Rangers were in with the #5. KD pushed his chips in and won the pot albeit at a perceived overpay. But to gain a possible #1 while losing a #5/6 D, I’ll take that any day especially given the market conditions and the abundance of draft assets. And I liked Crevier too. Appears like Byrum is thrilled to be in Chicago and an extension sounds imminent after July 1. Now if KD can do something with those 2027 1st rounders and maybe even a 2028 pick to land some help for Bedard that’d be awesome.
So i guess Bowen didn’t play that many PP minutes and still ended up with 40 plus points.
I guess he also just turned 25 years old just like Vlasic, hasn’t got to his prime yet.
I’m really trying to sell myself on this deal but that was a steep price, is this team better with Bowen sure but i hope it doesn’t end up being worse defensively
The other thing i cant help thinking about is, looking at the draft how meh are the kids in this draft after the top 2 forwards?
I’ve got to believe they traded the 4th over all because the scouting staff wasn’t overly impressed with any of the defensive prospects coming out.
The trade is an overpay, of course, but I think the Hawks had Stenberg on their sights with the #4 pick. Stenberg, McKenna and possibly Smits were the few possibles that could play in the NHL this season. McKenna was not going to be there at 4. Smits played against NHLers at internation competition, but he’d probably be redundant with Vlasic so that might not be sufficient at 4. Stenberg was the target, but since the Sharks traded away Ekland, that showed that they wanted Stenberg too, but also got a 9 for a possible D-prospect. It appeared that the #4 pick was not going to be used as a draft pick for a young NHL ready player. So the #4 was decided to be used as payment for an already established player.
I would have used that #4 for a forward to play with Bedard, but whom would they have chosen? Knies and MacTavish are two that I’d like, but were Toronto and Anaheim willing to trade, especially if they were asking for young established players? If you’re going to hate giving up Crevier, you’d really be upset losing Moore, Lardis, Nazar or Frondell. I felt that forward was needed to be addressed first and foremost, but maybe it wasn’t doable just yet, as there are not many teams asking for futures, maybe only St Louis and Vancouver. Petterson could probably be had for just high picks and a prospect or two, something that the Hawks can handle.
Which brings us to Byrum. He was probably targeted by several teams, San Jose and Anaheim come to mind. Grier has been aggressive, and I think KD had to beat him to the punch by making this offer(overpay) for Byrum and Greenway. Hopefully he is still trying to get a top forward, whether it be a center to take the 2nd line(Petterson or MacTavish) which moves Frondell and/or Nazar to wing, or perhaps maybe a wing like a Lafreniere or a Kent Johnson.
KD needs to make the ship move forward and faster to make the Hawks a more desirable place to play for potential free agents as well as their own players. He can’t have a Dillon Larkin, Brady Tkachuk or Quinn Hughes situation in the near future.
I think Byrum makes the Hawks better and KD needed to pay the price to get him. People get upset with asset management come trade time, but the GM’s main function is make his team better and sometimes asset manage becomes secondary. Hopefully a better Hawks team next year!
I am thinking KFC will try to sign him long term very shortly. When San Jose traded Eckland, that put the nail in the coffin for Sternberg.
Then again, if he can be the same guy he was for the Sabres he will help the Blackhawks, but consider me skeptical that he will be.
I hate the trade, i think it’s the worst move KD has made the entire time he’s been GM.
Bowen being an unrestricted injury prone free agent after this season, wtf, and trading Crevier away.
If they can’t resign Bowen then this is as bad as a move when Ottawa trade for Cat and couldn’t resign him
Good trade to get Bowen Byrum being that it appeared that #4 wasn’t going to get them Stenberg. Now let’s see if KD cam lamd a forward. Petterson is someone that can be had since Vancouver is looling for futures which we have plenty of.
Yea the Sharks trade is interesting, the problem is if they do select Stendberg, whatever dman they select will take time to develop more so then the top 4.
I’ll be giddy if the Blackhawks get to select the best dman off the board. The way the Avs sucked when Makar was hurt was very telling, and the team that won the Stanley Cup had much better dmen than the LVGK.
With the Sharkies trading Ekland and Kasper the friendly Finnish Ghost to Ottawa for the 9th overall pic, I don’t see Stenberg going past SJ. So, it might be Reid as you said. Two years in a row they snipe the player that fans wanted, but whatever. As long as you draft a good player, and develope them well; that’s all that counts.
