Blackhawks fans and media members — both locally and nationally — provided a negative view of the team trading defenseman Henri Jokiharju to the Sabres in exchange for winger Alexander Nylander.
Here’s the good, and mostly bad and ugly opinions on the move for Chicago.
Hawks twitter reacting to the Jokiharju trade pic.twitter.com/JY0N2p6he3
— Kitten Mittons (@DeBrincat_Haver) July 10, 2019
Second City Hockey staff:
Trading Henri Jokiharju for Alex Nylander https://t.co/mZ6Wv9NVW2
— Dave Melton (@_DaveMelton) July 9, 2019
So when Q was coaching, Jokiharju played a ton. Then Colliton took over, they barely played Jokiharju and now he’s been traded away. Whose ability to identify defensive talent do you trust more: Quenneville or Colliton?
— Dave Melton (@_DaveMelton) July 9, 2019
If this trade backfires Bowman oughta be fired by Thanksgiving
— Dave Melton (@_DaveMelton) July 9, 2019
Jokiharju is the one guy I was highest on among the Horsemen. Bowman is a joke again.
— Shepard Pr-Ice Hockey (@shepardprice) July 9, 2019
His two seasons in the AHL:
51 gp, 8 g, 19 a, 27 p
49 gp, 12 g, 19 a, 31 pAlex Nylander was drafted 8 because of his brother. He cannot hang in the AHL. And Jokiharju can be a top-pairing defenseman.
Bowman is an absolute moron.
— Shepard Pr-Ice Hockey (@shepardprice) July 9, 2019
Motivation shouldn’t be an issue for a player they gave up Joker for. Not with as many forwards as the Blackhawks have. https://t.co/ZLfmb4QY0C
— Shepard Pr-Ice Hockey (@shepardprice) July 9, 2019
Go get ’em in Buffalo, kid.
Thanks for everything 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ayINFOM6pW— Brad Repplinger (@TCRBrad) July 9, 2019
Local and national media:
#Blackhawks Twitter… pic.twitter.com/qy5xZiDYae
— Brian Sandalow (@BrianSandalow) July 9, 2019
Obviously, I think this is a bad move. That’s pretty clear. But to be fair, Dylan Strome was three years removed from his draft and seen as a bust when the Blackhawks acquired him last season. They’re clearly hoping the “change of scenery” thing will work again.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) July 9, 2019
This does, however, open the possibility for Bowman to re-acquire Jokiharju in seven years.
— Sean Tierney (@ChartingHockey) July 9, 2019
While in the NHL, Jokiharju was CHI’s best defender at preventing entries, creating zone exits, and best primary shot contributor, all while on his ELC. pic.twitter.com/4GJXFaqCfH
— Sean Tierney (@ChartingHockey) July 9, 2019
as someone who watched a whole lot of Jokiharju in depth last season and wrote about why he was important to the Blackhawks’ blue line I am not sure why the Blackhawks wouldn’t want him on their blue line but #okay https://t.co/qMymNsQ7MV
— Hannah Stuart (@HockeywthHannah) July 9, 2019
oh I for sure have zero problem with giving Alex Nylander a fresh start, and zero problem with the Hawks wanting him. my only issue is I think moving out Jokiharju to do it is dumb. https://t.co/s0FNOc2qo5
— Hannah Stuart (@HockeywthHannah) July 9, 2019
Quick analysis on Jokiharju trade: Even if he did start the season with the Hawks due to de Haan’s shoulder injury, he wasn’t going to stick.
Jokiharju is not better than Boqvist and he wasn’t even drafted as high as Beaudin. /1
— Jimmy Greenfield (@jcgreenx) July 9, 2019
Every move Bowman has made this year has been about having veterans in place for this year. Jokiharju was not going to be trusted as a top 6 guy, and this unclogs the prospects and brings in a good forward prospect who is still only 21.
This trade, like it or not, makes sense.
— Jimmy Greenfield (@jcgreenx) July 9, 2019
From the moment the Hawks sent Jokiharju to the World Juniors after he more than held his own in the NHL at 19, it seemed clear they didn’t like him as much as the rest of us thought they should’ve.
— Satchel Price (@SatchelPrice) July 9, 2019
I got some motivation: Hey 21-year-old with tons of money, do you wanna live in Chicago or Rockford? https://t.co/swStVgbohz
— Satchel Price (@SatchelPrice) July 9, 2019
After passing on Bowen Byram (who stayed in the division) and now this, the #Blackhawks are betting really big on Boqvist, Beaudin and Mitchell.
— Brian Sandalow (@BrianSandalow) July 9, 2019
No matter how he spins it, Stan Bowman is trading a player he drafted 29th overall just two years ago. In 10 years as GM, none of Bowman’s first-round picks has played even two full seasons with the Hawks. Jokiharju is the sixth straight first-rounder he signed that he’s traded: pic.twitter.com/5BCNKN2Jeo
— Mark Potash (@MarkPotash) July 9, 2019
Smart of the Blackhawks to trade for Alex Nylander in the offseason, just like with everything he does on the ice it’ll take him a while to get to Chicago
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) July 9, 2019
(nylander doesn’t look great in the AHL and jokiharju’s time in the NHL is being very overrated thanks for coming to my ted talk)
— dom luszczyszyn (@domluszczyszyn) July 9, 2019
Buffalo:
Jason Botterill just now pic.twitter.com/pEOVjo4t1P
— Die By The Blade HC (@diebytheblade) July 9, 2019
I am all about that trade
— Chad DeDominicis (@CMDeDominicis) July 9, 2019
Rasmus Dahlin, Lawrence Pilut, Colin Miller, Brandon Montour, Henri Jokiharju…all of a sudden the Sabres have a bounty of mobile puck moving defensemen
— Chad DeDominicis (@CMDeDominicis) July 9, 2019
So Botterill just acquired a 19-yo RH D-man with huge potential that Joel Quenneville loved — for a guy who likely didn’t figure in the #Sabres‘ plans. Boy, Bowman & Colliton better know something nobody else does. Otherwise, I have zero clue what #Blackhawks are doing here.
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) July 9, 2019
StanBo should fire the scouts who gave him these reports on Nylander. And if these are his conclusions, I barely know what to say. https://t.co/iCl0kHQmAc
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) July 9, 2019