Trotz is one of the top coaches in the game. No question.

Like you, I think they both need to leave anything short of this team winning at least 4, maybe 8 postseason games.

Quenneville needs to adjust to his roster, but Bowman also has to be flexible in making trades for PROVEN talent instead of holding prospects close to his vest hoping they all pan out.

I look to the independent sources for prospect updates and evaluations. Hawks always over hype their farm boys. The fact that Bowman is trying to hang his hat on how great his prospects are, and buy time is sickening.
- SteveRain

Again, it is as if you are looking over a sheet of paper with 10 trades on it that Bowman Vetoed. They would be Pirri for Getzlaff, Frolik for Nash, Bickell for Bernier or whoever....it takes two to tango...lets bring a little balance into the conversation.

Bolland at 2C = duct tape at the expense of the shutdown line. Shell game. Fix a hole by creating another one.

Bowman's comments about the cap are all anyone needed to hear. There will be no deals of significance to add to 2C or goalie.

Just like the Bears - same gaping hole year after year, and the same ineffective responses to "address" them.

Accounting > winning in Stan's world. First round and out #3.
- Return of the Roar

And in Rocky's world?

And in Rocky's world?
- StLBravesFan

He says "Call me when our season ticket sales are down."

Interesting. Boyle or Rupp would be two of the kind of players the Hawks need.
- John Jaeckel

Problem is rangers really have nothing in lieu of giving hawks anything they need.

Boyle would be nice, but Hammer for Boyle would be a steal for NYR and we would get swindled on that trade. Rupp would also have to come along with additions for Hammer

On the other hand, the Rangers are also thin on quality centers, especially since dealing dubinsky and anisimov (who could play the dot sometimes)
They cant afford to deal stepan, they arent dealing richards, and boyle is their cemented 3C now with dubinsky gone and is their best faceoff man

NYR is not a good trade partner

NYR is not a good trade partner
- FourFeathers773

OTT and ANA are the best dance partners. Both need D, OTT has goalies and ANA has Getzlaf.

Interesting. Boyle or Rupp would be two of the kind of players the Hawks need.
- John Jaeckel

Boyle would be a real nice add. Big center who is solid on faceoffs and can kill penalties, use his size effectively and score a little.

I understand the frustrations, but ease up on the hyperbole. For years the Cubs took money in hand over foot and trotted out bad teams with payroll far under what it should have been for their profits. You can be mad at Bowman for inaction all you want and I am with you, but at least be honest about the Hawks spending. The Hawks spend to the brim of the cap and Rocky has paid guys like Huet and Olesz to play elsewhere to not hurt the cap.

Stan may not make the moves you want, but don't act like the Hawks are spending on the cheap or that their roster deficiences are based on them wanting to make a profit over investing in the team. Rocky's pocketbooks have nothing to do with why they have no #2 center or a viable goalie.
- PhatJoeSki

As to the Cubs: they also spent a lot on payroll - don't have each year's figures, but IIRC, they were $115MM to $125MM each year for several years until 2012 - they just spent badly under the Tribune ownership.

To be clear, I want them both fired.

In last couple years, Trotz has done more, with less, than Q could ever dream of. Trotz would kill for the kind of roster Stan has "saddled" Q with.
- Ogilthorpe2

I'm not anti-Barry Trotz by any means, I like him. But check his playoff record - got beat by Q in 2010 when he had Game 5 won. Thanks Martin Erat. Got beat by AV in 2011 - nobody should ever lose to that idiot, Q included. Got waxed by Dave Tippett last year with the best team he ever had. Thanks Mr. Radulov.

Conclusion - Dave Tippet does more with less than any coach in the league. Not sure I like his style of play, but he's the guy that would shape up this Hawks team.

OTT and ANA are the best dance partners. Both need D, OTT has goalies and ANA has Getzlaf.
- Return of the Roar

If Montador is lost for the season do we really want to lose another defenseman (via trade)? During the condensed scheduled we will need at least one NHL caliber defensemen waiting in the wings at all times. Right now Brookbank is the 7th defenseman. If Leddy were traded (for example) then Brookbank would become the 6th defenseman and a Rockford d-man would be the 7th. I still say we need to make a couple of upgrades, but I'd do it using picks and prospects.

Again, it is as if you are looking over a sheet of paper with 10 trades on it that Bowman Vetoed. They would be Pirri for Getzlaff, Frolik for Nash, Bickell for Bernier or whoever....it takes two to tango...lets bring a little balance into the conversation.
- TrueGrit

Not just the trades Bowman vetoed - it's the trades he didn't creatively go after.

If he's just waiting by the phone for some other GM to give him the perfect trade, he's not doing his job. He needs to be the one calling and creatively getting stuff done.

It takes two to tango, but Stan doesn't always have to let the other guy lead.

If you make that trade, who slides into the pair with Oduya? Roszival? You need a steady, defensive defenseman, to play with Oduya. Just like you did with Campbell.

I am not against it, but can this team afford to play Roszival top 4 minutes, and Brookbank on the bottom pair?
- SteveRain

Based on what I am hearing about how Brookbank looks in the informal practices, he can play bottom pair minutes just fine. He did for ANA last year, too.

Yeah, then I guess you go with Rozsival with Oduya.

Interesting. Boyle or Rupp would be two of the kind of players the Hawks need.
- John Jaeckel

Any chance at J.T. Miller?

If Montador is lost for the season do we really want to lose another defenseman (via trade)? During the condensed scheduled we will need at least one NHL caliber defensemen waiting in the wings at all times. Right now Brookbank is the 7th defenseman. If Leddy were traded (for example) then Brookbank would become the 6th defenseman and a Rockford d-man would be the 7th. I still say we need to make a couple of upgrades, but I'd do it using picks and prospects.
- DarthKane

Give me the combination of picks and prospects that gets you a #1 goaltender and/or a 2/3 C?

As to the Cubs: they also spent a lot on payroll - don't have each year's figures, but IIRC, they were $115MM to $125MM each year for several years until 2012 - they just spent badly under the Tribune ownership.
- StLBravesFan

I was referring more to the years prior to the Tribune kicking in some high payrolls when they were looking to make the club more attractive for sale. IIRC correctly they didn't pass $100 million until like 2007 or 2008, lagging behind even the Sox even though the Cubs were printing money. And yes, they did spend horribly once they did.

Any chance at J.T. Miller?
- ikeane

Dunno

Personally, I would do Hammer for Boyle and Bickel. DONE.

Dunno

Personally, I would do Hammer for Boyle and Bickel. DONE.
- John Jaeckel

Bickel to Bickell, would be a chinese fire drill for Eddie O and Pat Foley

I would do that deal as well. Love Boyle's game. What happens to Kruger? i am thinking coaching/management feel he is ready to fill the Rat's role?

Problem is rangers really have nothing in lieu of giving hawks anything they need.

Boyle would be nice, but Hammer for Boyle would be a steal for NYR and we would get swindled on that trade. Rupp would also have to come along with additions for Hammer

On the other hand, the Rangers are also thin on quality centers, especially since dealing dubinsky and anisimov (who could play the dot sometimes)
They cant afford to deal stepan, they arent dealing richards, and boyle is their cemented 3C now with dubinsky gone and is their best faceoff man

NYR is not a good trade partner
- FourFeathers773

R U kidding...Brian Boyle would be a steal in regards to what this team needs.

Bickel to Bickell
- ikeane

Just to be able to yell "STU!!" again would be fun.

Give me the combination of picks and prospects that gets you a #1 goaltender and/or a 2/3 C?
- John Jaeckel

Exactly...peeps are worried about having to play Rosy or Brookbank in meaningful roles but its either that or going with what the Hawks have at center and goalie. You gotta give to get. Its especially funny when people snicker at the Hawks FO saying their kids can produce in the NHL now but they expect a team like Anaheim or Ottawa to give up the booty for those same kids.

R U kidding...Brian Boyle would be a steal in regards to what this team needs.
- TrueGrit

Boyle would be an amazing add...tough as nails.

Not just the trades Bowman vetoed - it's the trades he didn't creatively go after.

If he's just waiting by the phone for some other GM to give him the perfect trade, he's not doing his job. He needs to be the one calling and creatively getting stuff done.

It takes two to tango, but Stan doesn't always have to let the other guy lead.
- StLBravesFan

You know I respect you and that we go toe to toe a lot. But this HUGE ASSUMPTION that we are sitting on our hands and our phones don't dial out is nuts. Seriously, point to me 5 big trades in NHL over the last few years? Talking about the kind of trades you want to see. These trade partners are not morons dieing to give the Hawks their best players for a bag of pucks. This phycology is worse than the tax cuts for the rich BS everyone has been brain washed to believe.

You know I respect you and that we go toe to toe a lot. But this HUGE ASSUMPTION that we are sitting on our hands and our phones don't dial out is nuts. Seriously, point to me 5 big trades in NHL over the last few years? Talking about the kind of trades you want to see. These trade partners are not morons dieing to give the Hawks their best players for a bag of pucks. This phycology is worse than the tax cuts for the rich BS everyone has been brain washed to believe.
- TrueGrit

No one has made any big moves yet either. Teams are trying to figure out how to get an opening day lineup set let alone make a big trade. Not sure why anyone was expecting deals to go through right when the MOU went out.

Exactly...peeps are worried about having to play Rosy or Brookbank in meaningful roles but its either that or going with what the Hawks have at center and goalie. You gotta give to get. Its especially funny when people snicker at the Hawks FO saying their kids can produce in the NHL now but they expect a team like Anaheim or Ottawa to give up the booty for those same kids.
- PhatJoeSki

You are correct sir. ANA has four of their top five forwards going to UFA next season - one of which will likely retire in Selanne. They are looking to rebuild. But prospects and rooks will not do a deal for Getz or Koivu.

Problem is rangers really have nothing in lieu of giving hawks anything they need.

Boyle would be nice, but Hammer for Boyle would be a steal for NYR and we would get swindled on that trade. Rupp would also have to come along with additions for Hammer

On the other hand, the Rangers are also thin on quality centers, especially since dealing dubinsky and anisimov (who could play the dot sometimes)
They cant afford to deal stepan, they arent dealing richards, and boyle is their cemented 3C now with dubinsky gone and is their best faceoff man

NYR is not a good trade partner
- FourFeathers773

I don't know this for fact (at present—I am digging on it). But based on what I have heard, I would bet NYR approached the Hawks first. And if so, you can't assume they are unwilling to give you what you need for Hjalmarsson. The whole league pretty much knows what the Hawks' needs are. They have a lot of centers still: Halpern, Stepan, Krieder and Rupp can play C.

R U kidding...Brian Boyle would be a steal in regards to what this team needs.
- TrueGrit

steal for what we need, but not true fair trade value

i dont think a top 4 Dman for a bottom 6 center is fair, with the top 4 dman obviously coming at higher premiums