2025 26 Roster…too Soon

[Hawkaholic]

Not expecting anything big in FA but guys like Brazeau, Marchand, Robinson who can help bottom 6 would be welcome additions. Then I would expect a linemate for Bedard to be added via a trade

Marchand isn't coming here. But I do see them adding some depth guys with size who can play a regular role.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I wonder if Toronto goes hard after Bennett, Ekblad and Marchand

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

We're gonna add like Roslovic and Nico Sturm.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

We're gonna add like Roslovic and Nico Sturm.

No, that’s blocking kids with garbage.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

No, that’s blocking kids with garbage.

It's replacing Donato and adding a bottom six guy with size. The roster can't all be kids.

 

[Mrfenn92]

No, that’s blocking kids with garbage.

Just those two aren’t blocking guys really.

Roslovic adds some offense and sturm is money at the dot.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I'd like an actual center, a depth scorer to replace Donato and a vet 6-7 defenseman.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Wouldn't mind Roslovic at all as a rental, but this time don't sit on the asset like Donato when you get an outlier season

 

[Kevin Musto]

We're gonna add like Roslovic and Nico Sturm.

both good faceoff guys

wouldn't be bad additions

 

[TheFridge]

Wouldn't mind Roslovic at all as a rental, but this time don't sit on the asset like Donato when you get an outlier season

You're not sitting on the asset if no one offers a 1st or 2nd round pick for the guy. You're just sitting on a middling player no one really wanted.

 

[ChicagoHockeyFan]

Sturm skates really well for a big guy, I could see them liking him. He would be fairly cheap and can just scratch him or something if he gets beat out by one of the kids in camp.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

You're not sitting on the asset if no one offers a 1st or 2nd round pick for the guy. You're just sitting on a middling player no one really wanted.

I find it hard to believe they couldn't get an asset for Donato. I could believe that other GMs were annoyed with the ask enough to never follow up on it.

 

[TheFridge]

I find it hard to believe they couldn't get an asset for Donato. I could believe that other GMs were annoyed with the ask enough to never follow up on it.

KD absolutely should have been asking for the moon for Donato given the market. We had Scott Laughton go for a 1st round pick + mid prospect. Anthony Beauvillier went for a 2nd round pick. Given the year Donato was having, the asking price should have been high. Teams obviously just didn't view Donato as a piece worth trading for. It's as simple as that.

 

[featherhawk]

I wonder if Toronto goes hard after Bennett, Ekblad and Marchand

if they do it will just guarantee that they don't win a cup...

 

[ChicagoHockeyFan]

The whole Donato conversation is puzzling, It makes zero sense how Beauvillier got a second and Laughton got a first but Donato couldn't even get a second. I get that the results previous years weren't good but he had a fantastic season. If nobody truly offered a second

 

[TheFridge]

The whole Donato conversation is puzzling, It makes zero sense how Beauvillier got a second and Laughton got a first but Donato couldn't even get a second. I get that the results previous years weren't good but he had a fantastic season. If nobody truly offered a second

I mentioned in another post that I don't think anyone believed Donato was what he was showing (a 30/30 secondary scorer) and his previous track record in the playoffs (19 GP, 0 goals, 2 points) was likely a big reason why he wasn't coveted.

I know people tend to look at Donato on this board like an energy forward with a great motor who started to produce finally but he would often get pissy with refs when he felt he didn't get call, suffered from tunnel vision and his defensive play was inconsistent. If a playoff team wasn't going to use him in their top-6, I think they felt other options were better for depth roles.

 

[ChicagoHockeyFan]

I mentioned in another post that I don't think anyone believed Donato was what he was showing (a 30/30 secondary scorer) and his previous track record in the playoffs (19 GP, 0 goals, 2 points) was likely a big reason why he wasn't coveted.

I know people tend to look at Donato on this board like an energy forward with a great motor who started to produce finally but he would often get pissy with refs when he felt he didn't get call, suffered from tunnel vision and his defensive play was inconsistent. If a playoff team wasn't going to use him in their top-6, I think they felt other options were better for depth roles.

Even with some regression say he is a 20-20 guy for the next few years it is not good that we cant even get a second for that. I understand why it didn't happen but definitely feel like it shouldn't have been that hard to get especially with the market out there.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Why don't Hawks just re-sign Donato? Unless he's badly craving Playoff Hockey, kinda seems like this is probably best mix of money/contract for him. I guess it's not unrealistic he kicks the tires around July 1st and then realizes Chicago is his best place with an AAV a bit lower than maybe he hopes. Or maybe someone on the Playoff fringe is desperate enough and well there he goes.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Why don't Hawks just re-sign Donato? Unless he's badly craving Playoff Hockey, kinda seems like this is probably best mix of money/contract for him. I guess it's not unrealistic he kicks the tires around July 1st and then realizes Chicago is his best place with an AAV a bit lower than maybe he hopes. Or maybe someone on the Playoff fringe is desperate enough and well there he goes.

I don't think it's off the table.

But whatever they offered him, he believes he's going to get more in free agency.

When he inevitably doesn't, then he may circle back to the Hawks.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

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 nunumber.

I'd match that for Crevier. He's a solid SAH 6/7 type of guy with the benefit of being 6-7 and a RHD.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

both good faceoff guys

wouldn't be bad additions

Big part of why I suggest both. This team has to have some actual centers on it next year.

 

[ello]

I don't think it's off the table.

But whatever they offered him, he believes he's going to get more in free agency.

When he inevitably doesn't, then he may circle back to the Hawks.

Yea I dont see anyone having any incentive to offer more than the Hawks will

 

[The Dark Knight]

I could see us targeting some of the big guys like Marner, Ehlers, Boeser, etc. Although I don’t see us getting them. I could see guys like Granlund, Drouin, Roslovic, and Sturm. I also think we make a significant trade for a wing.

 

[dj Mahoney]

The plan is probably Veleno as 4th line Center . I wish they brought Safonov over .

 

[MHO]

I wonder if we're going to see guys who would normally sign deals with more term decide to sign deals with shorter term and higher AAV this summer because they're going to want another shot at the open market when the cap is at 113M. If I'm KD, part of my strategy might be to offer guys deals like 2 X $12M instead of 7 X 9M. They get their cash and another shot at free agency and we get players for this year. Then it might be easier to sign them again when they get comfortable here and see all of the prospects come up.