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I think it’s like with the players—not as interesting during a long rebuild. Hopefully we’ll be churning more thoughts during the start of traing camp.
Byrum really cashing in today with that 12.5M contract. Of course people are chiming in on how Byrum is being paid like a #1 defenseman even though he’s never been one before. But it’s kind of reminesent of when the HAwks signed Brian Campbell, also from Buffalo then San Jose with that 7M contract. That turned out well for the Hawks; hopefully we’ll have similar results.
Jay Zawaski coined a phrase ‘out of town stupid’ for those who were so critical of the Bowen Byrum trade, because of the way folk proclaimed it to be the most stupidest trade ever, when they did not look at the conditions surrounding the trade that made it an overpay. As far as the contract goes, this is not a panick move. It’s a calculated move based on Byrum’s perceived abilities and the fact that the Hawks are not yet a preferred destination. Same as when Campbell signed. You have to entice a key player to sign so that your program really takes off. Once that happens i.e. solid group play, playoffs etc. the Blackhawks definitely will be a destination for great players. Unlike Winnepeg or Columbus, Chicago is a world renowned city, plus the organization is first class.
Remember when Mrs. Pronger didn’t want to be in Edmonton anymore? Maybe Columbus is dealing with that type of stigma. That’s four top players stating that they were not going to re-sign with the team—-Seth Jones, Artemi Panarin and now Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko, and the Jackets are not even a bad team!
Hopefully Davidson can add another piece or two to make the team more competitive towards making the playoffs.
Now that the 2026 Entry draft is over, KD’s (3) first round draft picks in 2027 have raised their value from just a week ago. Prior to the draft, teams were looking for young players as a return as opposed to draft picks. Seemed like only picks 1 through 5 were valued prior to the draft. Once the flurry of trades started happening prior to the draft, GMs started to soften their stances regarding getting a young top NHL player in return. KD and the Hawks survived the draft and did not come out empty handed as they did trade for Bowen Byrum who they see as a #1 D-man. But now next years’ 1st rounders are the ‘new currency’. If a rival GM is painted in a corner (3) 2027 first rounders are probably more acceptable. Like Jim Nill in Dallas regarding Jason Robertson. “Do you want three first rounders now for next year or do you want four first rounders one at a time for the next four years?”(offer sheet by some team, not necessarily Chicago)
And I think I might have changed my thinking regarding Elias Pettersson. I’ve read reports that the Canucks were ‘desperately’ looking to trade the Swedish centerman. Now I would think that the Canucks just hired the Sedins in high profile executive positions. I’m sure they reached out somehow with Pettersson to see where his mind is at. You would think that a Swedish player would try to impress the legendary twins of Swedish hockey and show that he’s all in for the Canucks. So, if the media is using the term ‘desperately’, I don’t think Pettersson has impressed their front office much. Hawks’ defensive coach Anders Sorenson probably has an opinion about him from international play, so we’ll see if the Hawks entertain the idea of Pettersson. Perhaps maybe if Vancouver retains some salary, it might not be too bad.
One thing is certain though, KD had set up this franchise nicely, plenty of cap space, plenty of draft capital and now plethora of young bodies in the system.
Marchenko would be my target, but then again the same thing will happen next year and the following year and so on and so on.
The price for Byram was so high, i can’t believe so many outlets are crying for this franchise to trade for Robertson or Marchenko to help Bedard.
Do these so called experts realize Bedard was a over a point per game player and who did we lose, Foligno, Ilya, Dickinson, Burakovsky (good riddance) Dach??
Every season Bedard has been the catalyst to his line, Frondell, Kantserov, Nazar, Bertuzzi, Teuvo actually resemble a top 6 forward group.
Moore, Lardis and Greene will form a nice 3rd line
Donato, Greenway and Boisvert as the 4th line
Slaggert and Magpie
Sure some unknowns but this forward group is shaping up nicely
Jarmo said we tried to trade the 4th OA pick for a NHL ready player, no takers, so maybe KD was onto something about this draft and how the value dropped after the top 2 picks
Nice call Wiz Blackhawks drafted 2 guys you mentioned
Roobroeck and Alalauri
Villeneuve looks like an interesting prospect as well.
Now that we have Greenway i wouldn’t mind if the Blackhawks signed Gudas, we need some nasty on the blue line
Interesting tid bit for Buffalo the Sabres made the playoffs this past year and looking at the top 4 young dmen on the team they all had played over 200 games in the NHL to start the season.
Byram 328 games
Vlasic 260
Kaiser 175
Korchinski 105
Arty 86
Rinzel 63
Ethan Del Mastro 45Based on this theory the Blackhawks are 2 years away from the playoffs, those dmen are babies.
