So this is out there a little bit.
I guess this was predicted by Elliotte Friedman on the Marek show today.
Many fans get all twisted up thinking that adding good players is somehow bad.
It’s time to start competing.
If you lose for too long you become a loser.
That team last year were losers in addition to being a bad team.
The Blackhawks need to push forward.
They need to build out a culture of accountability and winning.
You need some vets to show those guys the way who can actually play a top 6 role.
I am here to tell you that it won’t.
The Athletic projected that Guentzel will probably get 7 years and an AAV of $9.5M.
That’s what the Blackhawks paid for Tyler Johnson and Nikita Zaitsev last year.
I’d say that getting Guentzel for that price tag is a pretty good swap.
Right now the only one of those guys who will get a monster deal is Bedard.
I do believe Korchinski and Nazar will be good players.
I don’t think their RFA deals are going to exceed what we just saw the Blackhawks give Vlasic.
It’s going to be hard for those guys to produce enough to justify mega deals their first go-round.
Adding Guentzel isn’t that big of a financial risk in my opinion.
You get a guy who knows where the goals are and is accustomed to playing with GREAT players.
I’d also bring back Patrick Kane.
I will never understand the decision to push him away or who made the decision.
His hip looks as good as new.
He still has that fire.
A full off-season of training and recovery only means that he will be better next year.
On the former…good.
Kane isn’t going to kiss you on the forehead and tell you things are okay.
I also don’t think Bedard is the punch in to defer.
You need a guy to establish a culture.
A guy with a connection to winning.
Guentzel and Kane both have that.
Kane should be here.
Push Bedard to the next level.
I don’t know what Gajan is going to be at this point.
I don’t know what Commesso is going to be either.
I do what Keumper is…not the goalie of the future.
If they want to explore the market for another goalie, I am on board with that.
I don’t think Keumper solves any real problems for you.
I’ve got a feeling this is the plan.
The Blackhawks have made a TON of draft picks the last three years and still have more next year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re looking more quality than quantity at this point.
They could use some more size up front to go with Bedard, Nazar, and Moore.
Kaiser, Reichel, #18, and the Toronto 1st next year.
I don’t think Marner is the right piece.
I am very curious about how Davidson feels about Richardson at this point.
Then again…Vlasic took a huge step.
How much credit does Richardson get for that?
Is he hands on with young dmen?
I really don’t know.
I think Nazar plays more than 50 games this year.
I think I am most hopeful for Del Mastro at this point.
I thought he looked solid in his call up at the end of the year.
He made the AHL all-star team for what that is worth.
It’d be amazing if any of them grabbed that third pair job by the reins.
It’d be even better if two of them did so the Hawks could flip one for something else.
That would be enough for me.
I think it is going to be very difficult to move Seth Jones.
Not many teams can afford him.
He has a full NMC.
Like I said…that top four could be good with him a part of it.
My gut says he won’t finish out his contract in Chicago though.
People have hated when I say it’s Levshunov.
I’ve said that the entire time.
I haven’t seen compelling evidence to change my mind yet.
Maybe something will during the Russian combine process.
This is more philosophy and comfortability than scouting.
I believe in building from the back.
I like what I saw from Levshunov at MSU.
If you prefer the Demidov, well, reasonable people can disagree.
Maybe he is awesome.
I just prefer a different key in of player at this point.
I just want this team we love to be execute the right way and be competitive on the ice.
It’s time to start the climb.
We are ready for it.
