Byram is a LH shot, so drafting him would have reflected more on how poorly the Hawks view a guy like Beaudin or Dahlstrom. And they got Vlasic in the 2nd round anyway.

They already have RH D prospects in Boqvist and Mitchell. One of the 3 players was relatively expendable, or at least worth dangling to see what you can get. I'm not sure if they return is what you wanted, but at some point you have too many of one thing you have to balance out your future rosters.

This is a good article (which even admits the Hawks might not have won the trade): https://theathletic.com/1070234/2019/07 ... -nylander/

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I am not as pissed as yesterday, and I am being optimistic about what he is doing post Q..... I am just having a problem if this guy projects to a Hammer type player when we just traded and have 3 guys making $4mill per year. You could of played him, not traded for 1 of the Dmen, and addressed another position. Zawaski(not that I like him), was saying they(hawks) told him early on, they thought he was limited in his growth(jack of all, master of none), and maybe his attitude played a factor. That he was more of a Q defensemen rather than one that fits the current coach.

I'd like to see them unload at least one of the $4mil guys. I'm guessing they will. Stan is not finished.

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It has to be Anisimov because if they now trade Murphy then that will basically cancel out the de Haan acquisition. Taking last year's shitty defense and adding a bonafide top 4 dman and a borderline top 4 dman greatly strengthens their blueline. Hell, even if the Hawks received slightly below-average defensive play that would be a significant improvement from last year. Then add in the improvement of Lehner over Ward/Delia and you have a great shot at making the playoffs.

Keith, Murphy, de Haan, Gus, Maata, Seabrook is not terrible. But if you remove Murphy and put in Dahlstrom or Koekoek and you'll have problems.

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Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be.

I completely agree.

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I really liked the Anisimov acquisition as he was one of my favorite non-Hawks. I really thought he'd bring a lot of size and consistency to one of the top lines for years to come. I do truly think he made Kane and Panarin a lot better that first season, but it has been a struggle since.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Excellent, I love losing trades.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

$1.3mil/yr back into the bank over the next two seasons.

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Seems like more a physical player for the 4th line, which is fine.

That's a rather strong take. What do you know about Zack Smith that makes him so much worse than Anisimov especially when Smith has a cap hit 1.3 M less than Anisimov?

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Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be.

Maybe only Curious Hair and a few others here watch more hockey than me. I won't claim the same knowledge that I claim with the other 3 sports, but I'm not a casual Blackhawks fan. Zack Smith isn't some young prospect...he has been around, even if has been for mostly forgettable Senators teams.

He won't help you put pucks into the net. If we want more physicality just to say we improved in that area, mission accomplished. But the Hawks have already had long stretches during the season where they aren't scoring and this can only exacerbate that. In fact...one area where Smith surpasses Anisimov is faceoffs and if Smith is on the wing in a scenario Dach is with the team all season, you don't even use that skill very often.

I'm an Anisimov fan.... I'm a little biased and I haven't hidden that. The writing was on the wall and I knew the Blackhawks were looking to move him. But I can't see how this was the best deal.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

In addition to his physicality he adds is a good defensive forward and is solid on the PK (which is something this team has been awful with recently).

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Trading Anisimov was the right move here. We get a better faceoff guy and a guy who is better suited for a bottom 6 role. Anisimov just isn't a good bottom 6 player, but at this stage of his career that is what he needs to be. I'm going to sound like Don Cherry here, but he's a soft Russian.

The Hawks now actually have true center depth for the first time since 2015. You have 4 guys who can actually win faceoffs and even some wingers who have experience playing some center.

Scoring goals wasn't this team's problem last year. Defense was, and defense is not just the responsibility of your blue liners, but is also the responsibility of your forwards, particularly the centers. There is a reason wingers never win the Selke.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

THIS...and it will be an even bigger problem should they make the playoffs.

No wow factor to the trade...not a big win, but it wasn't a loss either. Cap relief and there is benefit. I'll take it.

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My guess is new coach would rather larger sized centers for the speedy scoring wingers. That can be my only guess with this and the draft pick. Or Anisimov was really showing decline and possibly in addition to the coach felt he is a nuisance?

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OO explained it well, just a couple posts above.

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Yeah I should have added I agreed with him.

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It's prospect camp and the talent he is going against isn't great, but Dach looks like a 3rd overall pick.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.