Thank you. I wrote for hockeysfuture for quite a while. Have been asked by a couple of other publications to help out but I am loyal to HB and they treat me well.
- John Jaeckel

John, you do great work here. Thank you for your effort, it is much appreciated.

Greetings from Kansas.

Wonder what the $ would have been if they'd gone out and gotten Kesler. We'll never know. But I have a feeling they would have come in for less. Because their TEAM would have been improved, and their jobs would have been easier. That is, in fact, why Kane lobbied for Kesler. Whether you choose to believe it or not.
- John Jaeckel

...Or wonder what the money had been if they were strapped to Jeff Carter's contract. At least Kesler was only signed for two more seasons. Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make.

So, after the Hawks somehow get cap compliant for the upcoming season, lets say they win the cup again. Does the possibility of Hossa going on LTIR or accepting a trade increase?
He'd be 36, with his name on the cup 3 times, at or within whispering distance of 500 career goals and a nearly sure entrance in to the HOF. I want to believe some strategy like this was part of the "deal" when they signed him to that 12 year contract.

Ugh, I never thought I could get more sick of the word cap.

Fine whatever, Tallon was awful at drafting I get it. But I don't remember pre-2010 any articles about the Hawks having a "great farm system". Anyone with a brain knew the system stunk and aside from Bickell they didn't have much. We'll agree to disagree.
- dan9189

But the point is, you can say the same thing about Bowman!!! A lot of his guys taken since 2010 have not panned out either. Rensfeldt, Simpson, Holl (at least nothing really yet), jury's out on Hayes, Jimmy Hayes is at best a marginal NHL player. McNeill's stock has slipped a bit since he was drafted. Etc.

The point is it is so hard to project these guys. And yes, the Hawks were ranked highly back in 2008 and 2009 by a lot of prospect sites and prognosticators.

John, you do great work here. Thank you for your effort, it is much appreciated.

Greetings from Kansas.
- PhilMeister89

Thx Phil

Here's a good article by Scott Powers:

http://espn.go.com/blog/c...ave-hawks-positioned-well

Also noting that Toews/Kane probably did leave money on the table.

Sharp traded to the Habs per McKenzie

NEVER MIND....suckered by fake McKenzie twitter account

But the point is, you can say the same thing about Bowman!!! A lot of his guys taken since 2010 have not panned out either. Rensfeldt, Simpson, Holl (at least nothing really yet), jury's out on Hayes, Jimmy Hayes is at best a marginal NHL player. McNeill's stock has slipped a bit since he was drafted. Etc.

The point is it is so hard to project these guys. And yes, the Hawks were ranked highly back in 2008 and 2009 by a lot of prospect sites and prognosticators.
- John Jaeckel

Jimmy Hayes was drafted by Toronto

Sharp traded to the Habs per McKenzie
- philco28

Well, there ya go

Jimmy Hayes was drafted by Toronto
- eburgio

And Bowman traded a 2nd round pick for him

That's the logic. Yes. Point is, i think you guys all assume a higher hit level than what is actually the case in NHL drafting and talent development. See my post immediately above. ALL those guys had NHL player written all over them. what happened?
- John Jaeckel

I mean they call it deep because there are a lot of them. Even at an average hit rate, enough of them should pan out to make it work. The other thing is that these guys should in theory be "safe bets" they aren't stars to be with cancerous attitudes like Skille, sweatt, and aliu or have the mental deficits of Olsen and Lalonde. Outside of Schmaltz they've drafted guys who should make it on defensive ability, knowing the game and hard work. Then they hope guys like mcneil and danault can develop that offense that could make them potential top 6 guys. The hawks draft different than other teams and have already been seeing a better hit rate. Of course that could always be luck but if not, they are still acquiring as many as possible because some of them have to work out.

Sharp traded to the Habs per McKenzie
- philco28

ugh.not amusing.

Sharp traded to the Habs per McKenzie

NEVER MIND....suckered by fake McKenzie twitter account
- philco28

yea, the fake one

Sharp traded to the Habs per McKenzie

NEVER MIND....suckered by fake McKenzie twitter account
- philco28

Hahahahahahahahahha.


Phior phuckss sake phill .


What was the fake return ?

yea, the fake one
- FourFeathers773

Ya, checked Bob's feed and nothing

NEVER MIND....suckered by fake McKenzie twitter account
- philco28

this should have given it away:

And Bowman traded a 2nd round pick for him
- John Jaeckel

Yeah, I'm aware what they gave up. But the argument was about his record drafting players. Don't move the goal post on me.

I'm a Cub fan and am over the 'hype' of draft picks and prospects that are destined to save the franchise. Been there, done that. So I don't have the rose-tinted glasses on when discussing these kids in the AHL. But creating depth in the minors is a good problem, because some of these kids will exceed expectations and some will fall short.

I mean they call it deep because there are a lot of them. Even at an average hit rate, enough of them should pan out to make it work. The other thing is that these guys should in theory be "safe bets" they aren't stars to be with cancerous attitudes like Skille, sweatt, and aliu or have the mental deficits of Olsen and Lalonde. Outside of Schmaltz they've drafted guys who should make it on defensive ability, knowing the game and hard work. Then they hope guys like mcneil and danault can develop that offense that could make them potential top 6 guys. The hawks draft different than other teams and have already been seeing a better hit rate. Of course that could always be luck but if not, they are still acquiring as many as possible because some of them have to work out.
- Walky

We'll see. The other issue is NOW al to of these guys have to develop FAST. Which is not in the best interest of the system you describe. Detroit developed talent for years because they let these guys marinate for years in the minors.

Well, there ya go
- John Jaeckel

Apologies....i got snookered by fake McKenzie account...but think a move will be made to make room for Batman and Robin signings.

Yeah, I'm aware what they gave up. But the argument was about his record drafting players. Don't move the goal post on me.

I'm a Cub fan and am over the 'hype' of draft picks and prospects that are destined to save the franchise. Been there, done that. So I don't have the rose-tinted glasses on when discussing these kids in the AHL. But creating depth in the minors is a good problem, because some of these kids will exceed expectations and some will fall short.
- eburgio

Truth. But I include Hayes because he was acquired for a 2nd round pick the year after Toronto took him in the second round. Essentially a Bowman draft pick.

Apologies....i got snookered by fake McKenzie account...but think a move will be made to make room for Batman and Robin signings.
- philco28

You'd think

After today's news... a player of this stature will not be able to fit within the Hawks plans.

They now live in a homegrown/Brad Richards type signing for the next decade or so.

Plus E. Kane is beyond a "turd" - guy is straight up cancer that breeds the type of "how did we just loose 4 games straight to the LA Kings in the 1st round" performances.

Chemistry is more important than most think. If you think otherwise... you've never played the game in a competitive setting before.
- TyCamScore

I'd like to see what E. Kane can do in a market where his every move isn't scrutinized because he's young, black and wealthy.

When his teammate gets busted for a DUI and it's barely mentioned, yet he's dragged through the mud for using a couple of stacks of money as a phone?

I don't blame him for wanting out...

Hawks were ranked 9th overall farm system last year by Hockey Prospectus. Here's what they said.

Chicago does not have a superstar prospect, or many big names beyond Teuvo Teravainen, but they are the deepest organization in the NHL when it comes to quality prospects. The Blackhawks have drafted so well beyond the first round, and some nice signings have helped them build a strong system despite routinely high NHL finishes and two Stanley Cups over the past four seasons.
- dan9189

I assume HP looks at more than just Rockford - that they include juniors and college draftees - but -

Any top-6 or top-4 prospects in the system?

Seems like Rockford has (perhaps NHL ready) bottom-6, 5/6/7 pairing skaters.

And certainly no goalies.

Before these two new contracts are half over, they're most likely going to have to find replacements for a couple of top-6 and a couple of top-4 players.

You'd think
- John Jaeckel

I'm no cap man JJ...but looks like another big ticket contract...i.e. Hossa or Sharp will need to jettisoned for long term cap feasibility

Their opinion. The system was highly ranked back in the (not too distant) days of Dylan Olsen, Skille, Lalonde, Aliu and Sweatt too. Where are those guys?

Please stop and think about this.
- John Jaeckel

Aliu was out at my rec skate in Oakville, ON last year. So that pretty much sums it up.