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I’d be of the opinion that Bedard wouldn’t sign one. He’s had good report with the organization and both he and Davidson have both stated “it’ll get done.” Verbeek on the other hand is known to be a hardass during negotiations. Perhaps Carlsson’s agent knows this and signing an offer sheet can get things done quickly and apparently not on the cheap.
I could understand both signings. I was contemplating Ian Cole, because it seems like everytime he gets signed I think “Cole?? man that’s a nothing signing.” Yet everytime I see him play, he seems the same—not spectacular but not bad either. What is he like 50 years old now? Anyway I can see both Cole and Smith as bottom role players for the Hawks, but I just didn’t see the need for Smith having a multi-year contract. Smith did play well in the finals for LV.
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.
I think San Jose wanting to trade #9 and 27 to Buffalo for Byrum was their Plan A. I think KD and Grier both had the same idea—-this is our opertunity to get a young #1 Dman NOW. KD beats Greir to the punch and avoids having to pick a Dman who probably won’t be available to the Hawks for another 2-3 years. Sharks’ Plan B is now Keaton Verhoeff. Unfortunately for them, you don’t want to wait several years and find that your young top 10 pick dman turns out to be Mike Rathje for them or Cam Barker for us, both 3rd overall picks.
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.
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!
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.
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.
