Quoting: exo2769
So...I'm not sure I 100% agree with that. Smith > AA. It's hard to argue with a historically bad PK last year to the 6th best in the NHL. Smith has been a HUGE part of that. His cap hit is lower and AA's been injured this year. With DeHaan's injury...The Hawks have needed Maatta in a HUGE way and he's produced. Kahun isn't a difference maker to the Hawks. Obviously Joki would have been a welcome addition to the back end...so maybe the answer is yes by default for that move alone, but I don't mind the other two moves at all.
Okay, nobody will ever convince me that Zach Smith is a better NHL player than Artem Anisimov. I jsut had to get that out there before I try to explain myself.
Smith is the 5th forward for PK on the Hawks. Its Carpenter, Kampf, Toews, Saad, then a rather decent fall in ice time to Smith. Anisimov was also 5th. Your fifth forward does not make you go from 31st to 6th. It's likely due to a schematic change from coaching and Ryan Carpenter who has been EVERYTHING the Hawks hoped he would be. To add to this Anisimov is a FAR superior 5-on-5 player than Smith is. Anisimov would also not be a center on this team which would open him up to more production.
With Joki over Maatta you would put Gus back on his natural side and would run Koekkoek/Seeler as the 6th man the same as what is occurring today. Is Joki that much better than Maatta RIGHT NOW? That can be debated for sure. They bring different elements but Joki will certainly be better in the future and is cost controlled still.
I get your point on Kahun. He doesn't stand out. Isn't much of a special teams player. However, his 5-on-5 production this year and last year is some of the best in the league in terms of pts/60 min. He is sound defensively, works his ass off, and provides exactly what you look for in a #9 forward. And the biggest point is he's undeniably a better player for the Hawks lineup than Nylander.