I love how the first response out of everybody on this board who doesn't like Bowman is "you're drinking the kool-aid" when all of you guys are really just the ones drinking JJ's doom and gloom kool-aid. Sure it would nice to add a player of Kesler's calibre but the truth is, in a salary cap world, the smart move is to add a solid vet C who doesn't cost so much and wait for Teurovainen, or McNeil, or Leblanc or whoever to develop, or until the cap gets higher and another option presents itself. No one has to drink any kool-aid to see that the Hawks were just one lucky bounce from going into the finals, which they probably would have won, in a year and playoffs when they really didn't play all that well. Kane and Toews were coming off of injuries, and Sharp, Hossa and Oduya were obviously playing through injuries against the Kings, not to mention that LA got more lucky bounces and good calls than I have ever seen before. The Hawks were coming off the shortest off-season ever, and many of them played in the Olympics to boot. Shaw looked pretty damn good centring Kane and Saad in that final series and through most of the season when they played together, and Kane said that he likes playing with him, said that Shaw and Saad were opening up a lot of space for him. I know it's not much fun, but the sensible thing to do has always been to be conservative and have some patience. The only real weakness that needs to be addressed on this team is their powerplay. That's the real reason they didn't win the cup.
- mcmasterkev

WTF Stan. Shouldn't you be focusing on the draft and improving the team rather than posting on HockeyBuzz?

I love how the first response out of everybody on this board who doesn't like Bowman is "you're drinking the kool-aid" when all of you guys are really just the ones drinking JJ's doom and gloom kool-aid. Sure it would nice to add a player of Kesler's calibre but the truth is, in a salary cap world, the smart move is to add a solid vet C who doesn't cost so much and wait for Teurovainen, or McNeil, or Leblanc or whoever to develop, or until the cap gets higher and another option presents itself. No one has to drink any kool-aid to see that the Hawks were just one lucky bounce from going into the finals, which they probably would have won, in a year and playoffs when they really didn't play all that well. Kane and Toews were coming off of injuries, and Sharp, Hossa and Oduya were obviously playing through injuries against the Kings, not to mention that LA got more lucky bounces and good calls than I have ever seen before. The Hawks were coming off the shortest off-season ever, and many of them played in the Olympics to boot. Shaw looked pretty damn good centring Kane and Saad in that final series and through most of the season when they played together, and Kane said that he likes playing with him, said that Shaw and Saad were opening up a lot of space for him. I know it's not much fun, but the sensible thing to do has always been to be conservative and have some patience. The only real weakness that needs to be addressed on this team is their powerplay. That's the real reason they didn't win the cup.
- mcmasterkev

Good analysis. Too many posters forget that there is such a thing called the cap.
You have to be patient and stockpile entry level players -the more of those you have the greater the likelihood of filling with roster players internally and cheaply. Quick fixes lead to mistakes like the Coyotes-Ribeiro case.

Good analysis. Too many posters forget that there is such a thing called the cap.
You have to be patient and stockpile entry level players -the more of those you have the greater the likelihood of filling with roster players internally and cheaply. Quick fixes lead to mistakes like the Coyotes-Ribeiro case.
- 67hawks

I saw an Eklund rumor that Stan was kicking the tires on Ribeiro.

Gawd I hope not.

Agree with the post and am interested to see if there is another guy not named TT that makes the Hawks think long and hard about sending him back to RFD this fall.

Nick boyton
Kim jonsson
Sami lipisto
Rubland
Montador
Versteeg
Ledy
Campoli
Khabibuin
O duya
Regin
Rosival
Brook bank
Handzues
Frolik
Olez

Is it really that surprising they couldn't figure out how to bring in a good player

WTF Stan. Shouldn't you be focusing on the draft and improving the team rather than posting on HockeyBuzz?
- Dannyboy

I just re-read my blog about the draft and who would be their for the hawks at 27, and never had a word about Schmaltz, lol!

It's not like I thought he would be a target - convinced myself there wasn't going to be a highly skilled big framed quicker offensiev player on the radar.
I thought they'd take Kempe if he was there , or just settle for a developmental defenseman who be a Stephan Johns type....
- wiz1901

Odd that Kempe lasted as long as he did...saw a lot of mock drafts having him in the top 20...

You shocked the Hawks grabbed Schmaltz? Or are you shocked that he was still available at 20? Or are you shocked they traded up for him because you thought he would be a 2nd rounder?

This may have been the Kings last hurrah. There is some age on some of their key players.
- Elbows15

You detailed the age of certain Kings players earlier and I think you made a great point. The Kings are further along than I realized. And I hope Leddy is here for 10 more years so we all can witness you explode. I posted the day they signed Huet that it was a huge mistake and went on and on about it. So I get it and feel your pain. Bombs away.

I saw an Eklund rumor that Stan was kicking the tires on Ribeiro.

Gawd I hope not.

Agree with the post and am interested to see if there is another guy not named TT that makes the Hawks think long and hard about sending him back to RFD this fall.
- HawkintheD

When you look at the comments by Maloney out there in Phoenix...red flags all over the place...a serious drug problem is not something McD wants to market...

are the Hawks awake or just playing angry birds until pick #88?

Nick boyton
Kim jonsson
Sami lipisto
Rubland
Montador
Versteeg
Ledy
Campoli
Khabibuin
O duya
Regin
Rosival
Brook bank
Handzues
Frolik
Olez

Is it really that surprising they couldn't figure out how to bring in a good player
- Bhawks76

You forgot the fabulous Marty Turco...

Not happy about losing out on Kesler, but Bowman wouldn't move TT or Saad. No way you're going to move Saad. The kid is going to be a beast. As mentioned the Ducks sent Bonino a good young center with a very low cap hit back to Van.

For the Hawks the center position still remains the glaring weakness and Kesler fit that need like a glove. I can certainly understand why fans are upset myself included. But Ducks had cap space to deal with and we didn't and that is the reality.

At the same time where's the aggressive creative GM that we need? Bowman's the capologist - the one who overpaid Bollig/Bickell/Crawford and hands out NMCs like they were a free lunch.
Agreed that Mr. Capologist overpaid on all of these IMO and will now be forced to overpay for Kane and Toews as well. They are great players and deserve big contracts, unlike your previously mentioned 3, and this is what has caused what is going on right now. It seems that the "genius" capologist does not work well with other GMS ? He should have been able to address HIS cap situations the last week or so by dealing an Oduya, Leddy, or Sharp. Yes he didn't realize the cap was going to come down to 69 Mil, but if he's such a genius, he should be able to make the creative moves that other GMS are still doing to improve their team. I lost faith in this organization at the trade deadline when it was obvious since January that this team needed a jolt up the middle. Now, they'll bring in another old cheap center and claim that their hands are tied because of the cap ??? Very convenient indeed.

Cap comes in at 2mil lower than most thought...something has to give today one would think...moving a player or three to give them some flexibility to look at some depth signings...or maybe Stan plays the we like our team route again...

Didn't understand moving up last night...wanted them to take Bleackley, instead a real head scratcher...hopefully Stan makes some moves today - we'll see how it all shakes out.
- DK002

I wasn't happy with our first round pick when it happened but after some reading I am Ok with it now.
The guy I was hoping would slide is Deangelo. If he was passed at #20, I would still be po.

Nick boyton
Kim jonsson
Sami lipisto
Rubland
Montador
Versteeg
Ledy
Campoli
Khabibuin
O duya
Regin
Rosival
Brook bank
Handzues
Frolik
Olez

Is it really that surprising they couldn't figure out how to bring in a good player
- Bhawks76

Is this a joke?

Hard to believe someone could compile a list of so many mis-spelled names.

And - if you're trying to say "they" can't bring in good players: Leddy, Oduya, Roszival, Handzus, Frolik were important contributors to a Cup-winning team.

Is this a joke?

Hard to believe someone could compile a list of so many mis-spelled names.

And - if you're trying to say "they" can't bring in good players: Leddy, Oduya, Roszival, Handzus, Frolik were important contributors to a Cup-winning team.
- StLBravesFan

You could compile such a list for every team in the league and some of those (example -Toronto) would look a lot worse.

Odd that Kempe lasted as long as he did...saw a lot of mock drafts having him in the top 20...

You shocked the Hawks grabbed Schmaltz? Or are you shocked that he was still available at 20? Or are you shocked they traded up for him because you thought he would be a 2nd rounder?
- captainserious

He already has an adult sized frame at 6'2" and around 190. At age 17 he was the youngest player on Modo's senior squad. A player who did something similar? Anze Kopitar. Real excited about this kid. EK reporting Mike Richards still in play.

I would think at some point this off-season we add a veteran center, but judging by the cap situation, even if we move someone like Leddy or Rozy, I would think it will be some 4th line type of veteran center who is dirt cheap. Unless of course Sharp is traded.

Let's look at the current options the Hawks have in the system:

Toews
Kruger
Move Kane or Sharp back to center
Move someone we're not expecting to center, like Saad or Versteeg (horrible options)
Shaw
Ben Smith
Teravainen
Rasmussen (unknown since nobody has seen him play)
Nordstrom
Max Carey

Likely need another full year at Rockford
McNeill
Danault
LeBlanc - not sure he's really much of a prospect

So a lot of choices for 3rd and 4th line centers, but other than Sharp or Kane, no productive offensive 2nd line center, and I do not want to see Kane at center again. And while Sharp can play center, he's a sniper, not really someone to feed Kane. So we're probably looking at Shaw/TT/Kruger as the top 3 guys to work in on the 2nd line. But there are quite a few options, we're not as barren at center as people are saying. I'd still love to see a real veteran center brought in. I just think it's far more likely to be someone like Winnick or Jay McClement than anything resembling a 2nd line center.

Where is JJ? We need a new blog!!

He already has an adult sized frame at 6'2" and around 190. At age 17 he was the youngest player on Modo's senior squad. A player who did something similar? Anze Kopitar. Real excited about this kid. EK reporting Mike Richards still in play.
- arh777

I don't think anything that EK says has any validity, but this would be a Leaf type of thing to do.

Is this a joke?

Hard to believe someone could compile a list of so many mis-spelled names.

And - if you're trying to say "they" can't bring in good players: Leddy, Oduya, Roszival, Handzus, Frolik were important contributors to a Cup-winning team.
- StLBravesFan

LOL 'Rubland' sounds like a room in the infamous Chicken Ranch in Texas.

Where is JJ? We need a new blog!!
- MjulQvist

Still beating the bushes looking for a rumour -might take some time.

Is this a joke?

Hard to believe someone could compile a list of so many mis-spelled names.

And - if you're trying to say "they" can't bring in good players: Leddy, Oduya, Roszival, Handzus, Frolik were important contributors to a Cup-winning team.
- StLBravesFan

He also forgot Mr Fan Favorite 2012-2013 Season as voted by Hawk fans world wide.......Slick Vik.

SB is going to stick to his formula. But the Hawks issue is two fold, SB making the right move and SB's plan meshing with Q's plan and ideals and quirks.

Carl Gunnarson trade to Blues for Polak

Is this a joke?

Hard to believe someone could compile a list of so many mis-spelled names.

And - if you're trying to say "they" can't bring in good players: Leddy, Oduya, Roszival, Handzus, Frolik were important contributors to a Cup-winning team.
- StLBravesFan

He did get 6 out of 16 correct, that ain't too bad

What a knob.

Still beating the bushes looking for a rumour -might take some time.
- 67hawks

Assume the position...