I don't see Anaheim making that deal. They're sending the best pieces the hawks way.

Well I could give up a bit more and hinostroza has been as good if not better than ritchie so IMO its duclair, rutta (3RD that they need), and a late 1st for silf and they save cap space which should be enough and like I said the 3rd doesnt have to be there I get why they wouldnt do it but how is it in terms of value

I really like it. I also like the fact that there is 10 million left for another strong player. Maybe Tavares???

Im saving that for schmaltz, sikura, silfs extension, and I expect forsberg to have a solid year too

Like the trade but....

Cap will go up again likely to $82M in 2019/2020 so would make sense to go after another forward or two. Either one big impact player like James Neal, David Perron or even JVR or E Kane could be huge. A softer approach is someone like Riley Nash, Patrick Maroon, Wingels to fill in the bottom 6. Where is Martinsen....he looked great as a optional checking 4th liner to rotate in and out of the lineup.

Cat needs to play 2nd line minutes not Ritchie.

DEFENSE is the biggest need for the Hawks. They have too many 3rd line D guys in the system an not enough in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions. Need a vet, Calvin De Hann maybe?

No way does Bouchard come into the league and play on the top line...not a chance; he's 18 years old and never has played at the AHL level let alone NHL. Also, where is Jokiharju?

Also, need to carry 22 players.

Joker might take bouchards spot like i said and by then murphy or seabs will b gone ritchie is over cat to balance the lines i didnt want 2 power forwards (ritchie and arty) on the same line and cat and arty had chemistry late in the year I dont know if the hawks get a big FA because we all know cap hell ruined them last time I doubt wingels comes back I like the idea of riley nash a lot but others might outbid us for him I dont really think dehaan fits here and getting depth is certainly fine how do you feel about vermette?

The reality is, Anisimov will likely be packaged with a young D, draft pick and traded. Vermette is good for a 4th line option but not sure he is needed especially if Nash comes to the Hawks and also considering Martinsen needs to get picked up. If not De Haan, Thomas Hickey would be a great option.

Hawks aren't in cap hell, they have money to spend. With the changes you just made, carrying an extra guy that isn't necessary, they have $9M in cap space. They would be wise to spend at least $5M which could fit Hickey and Riley Nash potentially. If Anisimov is gone like most project, the Hawks will have $13.5M available in your scenario and open up a lot of options like Carlsson.

May as well sign guys to 1-year deals then... No need in just having excess cap space when you can improve the team.

Sign Kovalchuk to a 1-year deal, bring in Mike Green too for that matter - make a run.

I think Bowman is going to use Anisimov as bait to move up in the draft, acquire another pick or a top 4 defenseman.

Schmaltz is the #2 center of the future, Anisimov just doesn't fit and his cap hit could be used to fill a hole.... So unless Anisimov is playing #2 LW, he will be traded.

I would love to see a Anivimov for Faulk & Kruger or Faulk and Darling trade.

Defense should be first and foremost but the Hawks need to make improvements at forward too.

The Hawks need a top 4 and bottom 6 defensemen, and the Hawks could really use a couple of defensive specialist forwards to fill out the bottom 6.. Vermette, Wingels and Dominic Moore would be nice, then perhaps sign John Moore and trade for a guy like Faulk and the Hawks would be set..

If Bowman makes some trades and has enough cap space after that filling that #2 LW spot should be looked at... The Hawks could use a legitimate backup too, because I'm not so sure that Forsberg or Berube is ready.

The Hawks really are a handful of veteran depth players/specialists away from contending again - this UFA class has everything the Hawks need and hopefully Bowman will have enough cap to take advantage of it.

Either way I think we will have a better idea about what could happen after the draft lottery..... Because if the Hawks win any of the top 3 picks things will certainly change because all 3 top picks are NHL ready and the Hawks landing any of them would be huge.