Here is a great illustrative point. life has no guarantees! Yet in so many of your minds you think some trade or move will make one. Otherwise you would not obsess.

AT least we identified the core issue with many fans. They want assurances and guarantees. Oh my God we did not win 10 - 0 again. We are not good enough.

But if we make every team give us their star players, and then make our opponents play in roller skates, we should win every game.
- TrueGrit

Not obsessed and not looking for a quarantee

Just looking to improve the team
Take it easy it's just an opinion board
You have yours and I have mine

Tracey Myers ‏@TramyersCSN
Mayers in the room early. Figure he's in tonight. #Blackhawks
- philco28

phuck

Have you been sleeping on the couch?
- paulr

Was making light of the assertions of previous poster, who thinks paying any price is worth a deal.

Torres wont scrap
- nickmo2699

If you punch him in the face a few times he will. Time for Bollig to earn his keep, but Brookbank makes more sense because we don't need any theatrical nonsense, just drill him.

I liked that video someone posted earlier with Boston's McQuaid pummeling Torres.

phuck
- Beaver-Warrior

L O L

Ok, here we go again with the pry O'reilly away from avs BS. Let me ask everyone a question. Lets say you are responsible for the personnel of this team.

While it appears most of you are sitting there with your wallets on fire, and can't wait to spend or deal, answer me this.

What injuries and needs will you have April 1? Are you willing to blow your nut right now on some idea that a team clicking and rolling right now, that you mess with that based upon some ideal vision you have of what your team needs to be....with the cost potentially that you will not have any ammo in April, when you actually man need it?

Tell me what your crystal ball says? Help me out. Lets go all in on our first night in vegas. Great idea....
- TrueGrit

Yeah your right, we should wait till the price for rental players is high and wait for bidding wars on mediocre spare parts for draft picks. We need to wait for injuries and get put over the barrel in a total desperation move.
We should wait for a losing streak before making any moves...No way in hell should we deal from a position of strength. Especially with a struggling Aves squa We can't possibly make this team better now, clearly we are the greatest team in the league based on 10 games.
Crystal ball? What are you even talking about? Ammo? What? We have plenty of it? You must mean Ammo like Kyle Beach..
Are you some clown that doesn't believe this team wouldn't benefit for more strength down the middle or at the tender position for that matter.
Oh right we need to wait for injuries before acquiring or seeking any more talent...I'm mean how could this team get any better? We are completely blowing away the competion.

I thought he was...
- Ogilthorpe2

Haha man you hate Sharp so much. Tough to find a perennial 30-goal scorer. However, this slow start of his has to end soon. Not that it matters, McD would never dream of breaking up his cash cow marketing core.

No one was talking about Crosby or Malkin, though they too can be had if the price were right.

I never thought Gretzky would be traded. Wonder who wasted their afternoon looking through a phone book getting that deal done?
- paulr

The Gretzky situation was a different beast altogether because of the financial problems the Oilers owner had going on. Part of the package the Kings gave the Oilers was $15 million in cash. Pocklington, the O's owner, eventually was threatened with prison time for bankruptcy fraud, if I recall correctly, and was alleged to have sold the same 1 of 1 Stanley Cup rings multiple times.

Yeah your right, we should wait till the price for rental players is high and wait for bidding wars on mediocre spare parts for draft picks. We need to wait for injuries and get put over the barrel in a total desperation move.
We should wait for a losing streak before making any moves...No way in hell should we deal from a position of strength. Especially with a struggling Aves squa We can't possibly make this team better now, clearly we are the greatest team in the league based on 10 games.
Crystal ball? What are you even talking about? Ammo? What? We have plenty of it? You must mean Ammo like Kyle Beach..
Are you some clown that doesn't believe this team wouldn't benefit for more strength down the middle or at the tender position for that matter.
Oh right we need to wait for injuries before acquiring or seeking any more talent...I'm mean how could this team get any better? We are completely blowing away the competion.
- HawkFanInLeafLand

you can never forsee injuries, but he is right about this part. in this condensed schedule, there will be WAYYYY more buyers than normal due to so many teams thinking they are still within reach of playoff spots. it will just get into a nasty bidding war. unless you are content with your roster as is now (10 games into the season) to make a cup run, you either better try to make a move now or be prepared to pay a kings ransom at the deadline

Haha man you hate Sharp so much. Tough to find a perennial 30-goal scorer. However, this slow start of his has to end soon. Not that it matters, McD would never dream of breaking up his cash cow marketing core.
- teh_HAWKZ

Mcdouche needs the 35-40+ aged Woman in Sharps jerseys to keep coming around to keep the mai tai numbers up


As a 24 year old I am not complaining one bit.

The Gretzky situation was a different beast altogether because of the financial problems the Oilers owner had going on. Part of the package the Kings gave the Oilers was $15 million in cash. Pocklington, the O's owner, eventually was threatened with prison time for bankruptcy fraud, if I recall correctly, and was alleged to have sold the same 1 of 1 Stanley Cup rings multiple times.
- Hemingways

That whole 'Day that changed the Game' piece on this was pretty good. NHL Network runs it from time to time.

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
Fun fact: Coyotes are combined 13-0-2 in the month of February the past two seasons, including 9-0-0 at home during that span. #Blackhawks

Time to phuck that stat up

Haha man you hate Sharp so much. Tough to find a perennial 30-goal scorer. However, this slow start of his has to end soon. Not that it matters, McD would never dream of breaking up his cash cow marketing core.
- teh_HAWKZ

He's a one trick pony, always has been, always will be. If he's no longer able to replicate that one trick...time to put him out to pasture. Oh wait, Stan just signed him to a giant new contratct with a no trade clause.

He's a one trick pony, always has been, always will be. If he's no longer able to replicate that one trick...time to put him out to pasture. Oh wait, Stan just signed him to a giant new contratct with a no trade clause.
- Ogilthorpe2

Sadly, I was thinking about you as I was watching several of these games so far. I've always been a Sharp fan, but he's not doing anything for me this year. Just looks slow, lost, bad hands, stupid decisions. I can't believe I'm sitting at home on a Tuesday night thinking "maybe Ogi was right"

He's a one trick pony, always has been, always will be. If he's no longer able to replicate that one trick...time to put him out to pasture. Oh wait, Stan just signed him to a giant new contratct with a no trade clause.
- Ogilthorpe2

30 goals a year are tough to find. However, this new contract and it's terms make him immovable. He can play, we all know that, but where I agree with you most is since 10 when we raised the big silver thing he has become a one trick pony. His refusal to play center when he knows that's where he could help the team is something that rubs me the wrong way.

you can never forsee injuries, but he is right about this part. in this condensed schedule, there will be WAYYYY more buyers than normal due to so many teams thinking they are still within reach of playoff spots. it will just get into a nasty bidding war. unless you are content with your roster as is now (10 games into the season) to make a cup run, you either better try to make a move now or be prepared to pay a kings ransom at the deadline
- FourFeathers773

I went round and round on this very topic w/TrueGrit yesterday. First, this is a chat board. People are bound to come up with ideas...delusional or not. This is like a sports bar without the booze/wings.

I think a team should always been looking to improve, regardless. If it's from play on the ice, the personnel, whatever. If a deal is there to be made, and it can improve your team at a reasonable price, you have to strongly consider. Do you not?

30 goals a year are tough to find. However, this new contract and it's terms make him immovable. He can play, we all know that, but where I agree with you most is since 10 when we raised the big silver thing he has become a one trick pony. His refusal to play center when he knows that's where he could help the team is something that rubs me the wrong way.
- nickmo2699

We don't know for sure that he won't play centre, to my knowledge he's never said that.

We don't know for sure that he won't play centre, to my knowledge he's never said that.
- DarthKane

He's playing center and is used at least as an option when Toews went down unless he refuses to do so

You mean the Boyle that has 4 career PP goals...

4 career goals. Seriously let that sink in. 4 Career PP goals. In 4 years. Like the whole time he has been in the NHL... Only 4... 4...

And the Brassard who scores at the same rate as Bolly and wins 44% of his draws. Really?

What crazy planet do you live on where that would be an improvement... Either player...

Some of you people need to come to the conclusion that playing in front of the net is a very difficult job. That is why a guy who skated meh, had meh hands and meh vision made a living for 15 years in Detroit. His name was Tomas Holmstrom.

If standing in front of the net potting goals was easy peasy then that man would have never ever had a job in the NHL. Ever.

Not even going to comment on Brassard. Stop living in a grass is greener fantasy land. The Hawks are the best team in the NHL right now for good reason. Their best players are their best players (exception Sharp) and the other guys are doing their job and doing their job well (especially Kruger and Frolik).

Wow. Get real.
- fattybeef

It never ceases to amaze me how our bolggers crap on our own and laud other teams' underachievers. I can't count the number of times I have researched suggested players on their team sites and came away wondering if we were talking about the same player.

30 goals a year are tough to find. However, this new contract and it's terms make him immovable. He can play, we all know that, but where I agree with you most is since 10 when we raised the big silver thing he has become a one trick pony. His refusal to play center when he knows that's where he could help the team is something that rubs me the wrong way.
- nickmo2699

True. I am starting to feel the same way.

I think a team should always been looking to improve, regardless. If it's from play on the ice, the personnel, whatever. If a deal is there to be made, and it can improve your team at a reasonable price, you have to strongly consider. Do you not?
- eburgio

im with you, which is why i was amazed so many people harped at me the other day when i suggested the hawks start dangling guys now while their stock is high and they can get pieces they truly need now.

look, the red wings won their championships the past few decades by staying ahead of the curve, which is what the hawks should be doing. the red wings had guys like yzerman, lidstrom, hasek, draper, etc, but when they needed to, as an already champion team, kept going out and getting the pieces via trade or FA they needed to stay at the top. they scouted the hell out of sweden for years before most teams did, they drafted and developed for talent years down the line to eventually replace the current hall of famers they had. hell, even PIT this year went and got Vokoun as insurance in case fleury struggled. if this was stan he would say "we have complete confidence in flower, he is a stanley cup winning goalie which not many people have" and sat complacent. PIT is hedging bets and trying to take the house.

great teams stay ahead of the curve, all bowman has really done since taking the helm is waited for the learning curve to hit

I went round and round on this very topic w/TrueGrit yesterday. First, this is a chat board. People are bound to come up with ideas...delusional or not. This is like a sports bar without the booze/wings.

I think a team should always been looking to improve, regardless. If it's from play on the ice, the personnel, whatever. If a deal is there to be made, and it can improve your team at a reasonable price, you have to strongly consider. Do you not?
- eburgio

I absolutely agree. It's one thing to disagree with the players suggested and/or the contracts or baggage they may or may not come with... but to completely rule out any movement now or at least poking around the league for upgrades at areas of weakness..well that is just nonsense.
The injury/crystal ball/we are unbeatable as is argument just doesn't float.

Sadly, I was thinking about you as I was watching several of these games so far. I've always been a Sharp fan, but he's not doing anything for me this year. Just looks slow, lost, bad hands, stupid decisions. I can't believe I'm sitting at home on a Tuesday night thinking "maybe Ogi was right"
- eburgio

We all have our guys that we like/dislike for hatever reasons, and admittedly my criticisms of Sharp are exaggerated most of the time, but this year he as looked every bit as bad as I usually (half joking) say he is.

Haha man you hate Sharp so much. Tough to find a perennial 30-goal scorer. However, this slow start of his has to end soon. Not that it matters, McD would never dream of breaking up his cash cow marketing core.
- teh_HAWKZ

This is true but man has he slowed down. It looks like he is skating with weights strapped to his ankles. Take away his top end and all he is is a +average skater with a bomb of a shot.

Which is fine but will probs mean 10-15 fewer goals per year and turn him in to a 20-25 goal scorer who has shown an aptitude for flying the zone and really diminishes his replacement value.

Maybe he turns it around but it really looks like he did nothing during the off season and that is a problem for a guy wearing an A. Give that to Hossa at this point.

Yeah your right, we should wait till the price for rental players is high and wait for bidding wars on mediocre spare parts for draft picks. We need to wait for injuries and get put over the barrel in a total desperation move.
We should wait for a losing streak before making any moves...No way in hell should we deal from a position of strength. Especially with a struggling Aves squa We can't possibly make this team better now, clearly we are the greatest team in the league based on 10 games.
Crystal ball? What are you even talking about? Ammo? What? We have plenty of it? You must mean Ammo like Kyle Beach..
Are you some clown that doesn't believe this team wouldn't benefit for more strength down the middle or at the tender position for that matter.
Oh right we need to wait for injuries before acquiring or seeking any more talent...I'm mean how could this team get any better? We are completely blowing away the competion.
- HawkFanInLeafLand

Yeah great points...maybe for Judge Judy....

Again, yeah work hard to get your team where you want them, and before they struggle you start taking it apart.

Thanks again for addressing the main theme of my post, that was shedding light on our REAL needs April 1. So what will our strengths be in April? What strength are you dealing from now? Low information fan. ID me some names and prices. Stop speaking in platitudes.

So lets trade Kyle Beach for Ryan Getzlaff. Wow you are a genius.

Each line I type I feel I am getting dumber and dumber. I would love to negotiate against you in the real world.