2025 26 Roster…too Soon

[Toews2Bickell]

There is a non-zero chance that a healthy Murphy at the deadline with retainment would fetch a conditional 1st round pick from a contender

 

[MHO]

If Buffalo is going to trade Peterka, I don't think they'd want another left handed defensemen for him and I think they'd prefer an NHL player who could help them right now than anything we would have to offer.

 

[Mrfenn92]

What about a trade with Detroit

Tarasenko and Soderblom for Murphy and Reichel?

Dailyface-off had Tarasenko, Murphy and Reichel all on that list. This would suit both teams. Chicago gets a goal scorer and some size/brother of Arvid.

Not terrible at all. But don’t mind Murphy being here until deadline time and myself I’m just not moving Reichel yet.

 

[MHO]

Also if Soderblom or Crevier sign an offer sheet of let's say 4 X $1.5M AAV, would you want the Hawks to match? There wouldn't be any draft compensation at that number.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Also if Soderblom or Crevier sign an offer sheet of let's say 4 X $1.5M AAV, would you want the Hawks to match? There wouldn't be any draft compensation at that number.

What is the amount you can bury in Rockford without it impacting the cap? Million? At some point they probably need to give Commesso a real opportunity, so walk from Soderblom. Crevier with his size and mobility might be worth keeping around. But when is the last time a replacement level player signed an OS anyway

 

[Kevin Musto]

Also if Soderblom or Crevier sign an offer sheet of let's say 4 X $1.5M AAV, would you want the Hawks to match? There wouldn't be any draft compensation at that number.

Crevier, yes.

Soderblom, no.

 

[MHO]

What is the amount you can bury in Rockford without it impacting the cap? Million? At some point they probably need to give Commesso a real opportunity, so walk from Soderblom. Crevier with his size and mobility might be worth keeping around. But when is the last time a replacement level player signed an OS anyway

I don't know but he's a replacement level 6'8 RHD who is more than a statue. I could see plenty of teams offering him a contract like that when the compensation is nothing. I think he has some value to the Hawks as he can hold the seat warm until Levshunov is ready to come back up.

 

[MTU34]

Don’t think we have the right assets for Peterka. Murphy’s the right profile but with his age, contract situation, and injury history I can’t imagine Buffalo would want to build a deal around him.

Targeting a guy like him is the right idea though. We’re now at the point where it makes sense to move things like the Toronto/Florida pick and some of the second tier young defenseman if it means we’re adding proven NHL commodities that fit the window. Howard makes sense as a target given his proximity to being ready (though obviously not a proven commodity yet). Guys like Tyson Foerster and Will Cuylle probably present the best market opportunity (not them necessarily but similar caliber players in similar situations)

 

[Castle8130]

If Buffalo is going to trade Peterka, I don't think they'd want another left handed defensemen for him and I think they'd prefer an NHL player who could help them right now than anything we would have to offer.

Highly interested in JJ. He’d be a perfect fit for the Hawks age wise and talent wise. I’d move down to 9 if thats what it takes. That could be a move that starts to steer the ship

 

[TheFridge]

If you're going to move #3 for Peterka, just draft Hagens, who'll be a better Peterka but 5 years younger.

 

[u2wojo]

Buffalo is a perfect trading partner for the Hawks to target as they have an extra NHL (or close) young F if not 2 and are starting to get tighter to the cap. Peterka, Quinn, Kulich, or Rosen would be nice targets. Terravainen is a guy that would make a lot of sense for Buffalo, Murphy fits a glaring need of a RHD, and if they move on from Bowen, EDM and Allan would become more interesting to them.

Teuvo + Murphy 50% retained + Tor or Fla 1st for Peterka and Kulich plus add whatever else we need to make it happen. Then go get a stop gap vet RHD to rotate Lev/Rinzel/Crevier for the other 2 RHD spots.

 

[Pez68]

The idea a collection of crap (Murphy + Dickinson) or Korchinski is going to get you 23 yr old established NHL top 6 LW/RW (He can play both sides) is fantasy

An offer sheet for Peterka will net Sabres 2026 1st + 2nd + 3rd so that is established value that you need to consider in perimeters of trade at least

Be bold and make trade to guarantee 8th year

To
D Wyatt Kaiser (RFA)
Hawks 2026 1st (Unprotected)

To
J.J. Peterka (8 x $9M)

- Sabres get 22 yr old top 4 LD and 2026 Hawks 1st unprotected (Can use as trade chip or make their own 2026 pick a trade chip if they desire)

- Hawks get an NHL established young core piece to put with Bedard, Nazar, Lev, Rinzel, 3rd overall pick this year and others down pipe

It also clears up our LD jam a bit by moving out Kaiser

Vlasic-Rinzel
Del Mastro-Levshunov
Korchinski-Murphy
(Crevier)

Allan in AHL or used as trade chip in another deal (TB possibly for Howard?)

8 x $9M. Lololololololol

f***. Right. Off.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Buffalo is a perfect trading partner for the Hawks to target as they have an extra NHL (or close) young F if not 2 and are starting to get tighter to the cap. Peterka, Quinn, Kulich, or Rosen would be nice targets. Terravainen is a guy that would make a lot of sense for Buffalo, Murphy fits a glaring need of a RHD, and if they move on from Bowen, EDM and Allan would become more interesting to them.

Teuvo + Murphy 50% retained + Tor or Fla 1st for Peterka and Kulich plus add whatever else we need to make it happen. Then go get a stop gap vet RHD to rotate Lev/Rinzel/Crevier for the other 2 RHD spots.

So Sabres give up best player in deal and just turned 21 yr old NHL C who was Sabres top prospect before becoming NHL regular last season, for that?

Seriously would you trade Alex Vlasic + Frank Nazar for Jason Tucker, Connor Clifton (50%) and a future Sabres 1st round pick top 20 protected?

Because that comparable to deal your offering to Sabres

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

So Sabres give up best player in deal and just turned 21 yr old NHL C

Peterka isn’t a C…. Or 21 for that matter.

 

[OldScool]

Also if Soderblom or Crevier sign an offer sheet of let's say 4 X $1.5M AAV, would you want the Hawks to match? There wouldn't be any draft compensation at that number.

Crevier yes. Soderlblom no. If you sign Soda for 4 years the GM should be fired.

 

[WarriorofTime]

To
D Wyatt Kaiser (RFA)
Hawks 2026 1st (Unprotected)

To
J.J. Peterka (8 x $9M)

This would be an insanely bad trade to make at this time.

If Nazar, Bedard and 2025 3rd Overall Draft Pick all develop as intended, it's not unrealistic Peterka already starts to look like odd man out in terms of who you're giving the premiere scoring roles to, and is another not particularly physical, not particularly defensive, not particularly big, scoring winger that's the oldest of the bunch (two years older than Nazar, three and a half years older than Bedard, about five years older than 2025 3rd overall draft pick) and saddled with a contract that you likely still expect to land a Number 1 Winger or at a minimum, a number 3 overall Forward on a competitive playoff team.

And if... surprise surprise, a bunch of young defensemen have non-linear development and you aren't being pushed up the standings with a bunch of 22 year olds, you've lost your pick and a shot at another premiere forward that would be a lot younger/cost-controlled a lot longer and you have Peterka instead.

People can dislike it all they want, but Hawks probably need to continue to look to use their 2026 to acquire a premium draft prospect, not a 0.88 PPG 23 year old that they hope can become a 1.1 PPG guy in a few years when he's on a big money deal.

 

[WarriorofTime]

We offered "Hagen" for Demidov last year, Did you support that?

How has the "Tank for Hagen" or "Fail for Hagen" stuff worked out? Oh yeah Hagen is now 3rd-6th ranked prospect depending on prospect board

How is this even comparable? Demidov is premiere draft talent that would have been seen as a worthy choice to go 2nd overall in own right and is six months younger than Bedard, whose ELC would have not started and had like 7 years of team control remaining which could likely bump to 11 if you're reasonably bullish on being able to go 3+8. You're comparing a 2025 3rd Overall to a 2024 4th Overall to a 2026 high likelihood Top 5 Pick to a 23 year old 0.88 PPG (career high) player. With Demidov, that's swapping one draft prospect for another. With Peterka, that's more back-filling a player from a prior year draft because you didn't draft a premium forward that year.

Peterka is likely on edge of age range Hawks should be building towards with whatever you manage out of Knight, Crevier, Vlasic, Harding, Thompson, Reichel, Slaggert, Commesso, Kaiser. I suspect the bulk of what I hope will be the Hawks future "playoff core" will be younger, particularly on the Forward side which tend to skew younger in terms of when they break through/peak, compared to D/Goaltending where you'd typically be ok skewing older.

It's not that players in that age bracket are wrong to target, but I suspect many more players will become available over time (i.e., it's not Peterka or bust) especially as they approach UFA, and will likely be available for much cheaper at the time when there isn't a monster upside being chased (that may or may not be reached). It's surprising Peterka would even be available right now but I guess relationship is soured.

 

[TLEH]

Not even getting into the fact that trading our unprotected first is straight up dumb in 2026. I am not a fan of trading assets that big to just turn around and have to pay the guy. I just don't think it works out as much as people think it does. You really need it to work out because if it doesn't you have bad salary and the stuff you gave up to get the player.

 

[u2wojo]

So Sabres give up best player in deal and just turned 21 yr old NHL C who was Sabres top prospect before becoming NHL regular last season, for that?

Seriously would you trade Alex Vlasic + Frank Nazar for Jason Tucker, Connor Clifton (50%) and a future Sabres 1st round pick top 20 protected?

Because that comparable to deal your offering to Sabres

Peterka is 23, needs to get paid real money now, is a LW/RW (and pretty flawed defensively). I am offering the Sabres a middle pairing competent dirt cheap cap RHD (the gigantic hole in their roster), a cost controlled solid vet winger used to making the playoffs (something the Sabres aledgedly are striving for), and a 1st round pick. By my math that is 3 1st round picks. I did also say willing to throw in additional assets to make it happen (ie if they move on from Bowen...one of Allan/EDM/Kaiser could be added in)....hell they can have BOTH the Toronto and Fla 1st is we end up with Peterka and Kulich. But yes Peterka and Quinn may be more realistic than Kullich.

Buffalo could wait for the LA Kings to offersheet Peterka and end up with something like #25OA, #57OA, and #89OA in the '26 draft which is not going to help Kevyn Adams keep his job. Never underestimate the desperation of a GM who's clock is ticking.....see Stunley Blowman and the Seth Jones trade.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Buffalo really seems to like Murphy for some reason. My fantasy is to base a trade around him for Peterka. Add the leafs first and something else. I really hope Murphy is on the block.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Not even getting into the fact that trading our unprotected first is straight up dumb in 2026. I am not a fan of trading assets that big to just turn around and have to pay the guy. I just don't think it works out as much as people think it does. You really need it to work out because if it doesn't you have bad salary and the stuff you gave up to get the player.

Yeah I think the line skipping to give a guy a big contract thing works well for teams that are already in the process of breaking through and think that last guy to be a core piece is what they ought to do. It doesn't work as great for teams still looking to build up a core to begin with and still a few years away.

 

[Giovi]

Davidson better think long and hard about it, because if either of those guys busts or even disappoints, not making that trade looks horrible in hindsight.

Who the hell said that trade is actually on the table? Holding a GM accountable for not making a trade that was concocted by random posters on the internet is ridiculous.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Other thing to remember with Peterka is a big reason players his age have big breakouts going forward is their situation improves. Peterka is already getting 1st line ice time, as much offensive zone start time as Buffalo can offer, 1st powerplay, most frequent even strength linemate is Tage Thompson.

I don't think you take Peterka off the 10th highest scoring team (granted he is part of that but so are Thompson, Dahlin, Tuch...) and plug him on the 26th highest scoring team (granted you hope for some internal growth there), that means 0.88 PPG is his floor next year just because he's still pretty young

 

[dj Mahoney]

With the CAP going up every year for the foreseeable future 15 a year for Marner or 12.5 for Ehlers will be a bargain . Ehler's screws a division opponent and it's always nice to shaft the Leaf's with Marner .

 

[kmwtrucks]

Buffalo really seems to like Murphy for some reason. My fantasy is to base a trade around him for Peterka. Add the leafs first and something else. I really hope Murphy is on the block.

Buffalo does not want futures. Maybe something like Riechel, murph and tt for peterka? the other thought would be Murph and KK for peterka?