Hayes showed very little for a contending team. He was an average skater, he didn't play big and he didn't show he was better than other Hawk forwards. Pirri is a poor skater, he doesn't check, he wants to play the perimeter game, he didn't show he was good enough to play for a contending team and due to his contract the Hawks would have lost him this summer for nothing this summer. Olsen doesn't think the game well at all and while he may learn that he wasn't going to do it in Chicago.
- paulr

That is certainly yours, and the FO's opinion on the aforementioned. I think time will tell in terms of the longer term potential of but I don't believe the moves helped the Hawks in the short term either.

That is certainly yours, and the FO's opinion on the aforementioned. I think time will tell in terms of the longer term potential of but I don't believe the moves helped the Hawks in the short term either.
- Baaaaaaannerman!

Ding!

I would add who on the current roster would the 3 of them replace?

Do you think the three of them would have re-signed with the Hawks after their deals were up this past year, even if the Hawks wanted to resign them???

Not a Versteeg fan, but Stan didn't make a mistake trading these 3, they were never going to make the big club and that's how this system currently being implemented and executed works.

Stock the farm system, weed out who can make it and who can't. Trade the ones who can't for whatever you can get, more future picks, or a guy you think can help short term on the big club, and keep the cycle going.

Really isn't that tough to comprehend, and to me makes a lot of sense. Got to have faith in your scouting organization though.
- vabeachbear

Not tough to "comprehend" at all. Just be kind enough to allow for a difference of opinion which I was simply stating. Thanks.

Best opportunity? As in best chance to win?

Or easiest opportunity? As in best chance to play now.
- Ogilthorpe2

Camera fades in to Hayes walking into camp in the fall....."Hey boys, here to win a cup!"....Camera pans to Kane, Keith, Toews etc....quietly glance at each other....Then Toews says, "How bout making the team first!"

And that is the whole point. Before you run you walk, before you win a cup, you make a team. There is no brand loyalty for guys like there is for fans. There is no shame in being smart and playing your hand. There are not many times in life when we have the leverage in a situation. He has it now.

That is certainly yours, and the FO's opinion on the aforementioned. I think time will tell in terms of the longer term potential of but I don't believe the moves helped the Hawks in the short term either.
- Baaaaaaannerman!

The short term none of those three were going to play for the Hawks, so I think it's safe to say there is no impact short term. As far as long term goes none are impact players, Hayes is a 4th line type guy who isn't real physical, Pirri is suited to be a top 6 forward, who may get that opportunity on a poor team but on the Hawks he wasn't going to be that guy and there is no chance he could play in the bottom 6. Olsen, who knows, but it sounds like a number of prospects passed him by. We're talking about complementary or role players at most here, I'm not sure why anyone is sad to see them gone?

and for the record:

I don't think an Oduya departure now solves the CAP crunch that the 2015-16 season will bring.
- wiz1901

Probably right.....but the majority of posters on this board are saying "it's all about this year - win while you can". If that's the case, Hawks need to deal with next year next year and hold as much together as they can this year to make another run.

The short term none of those three were going to play for the Hawks, so I think it's safe to say there is no impact short term. As far as long term goes none are impact players, Hayes is a 4th line type guy who isn't real physical, Pirri is suited to be a top 6 forward, who may get that opportunity on a poor team but on the Hawks he wasn't going to be that guy and there is no chance he could play in the bottom 6. Olsen, who knows, but it sounds like a number of prospects passed him by. We're talking about complementary or role players at most here, I'm not sure why anyone is sad to see them gone?
- paulr

the fact no one is upset that those guys are gone isn't an argument. we got nothing for them and now have a cap issue and a mediocre (at best) player with no upside blocking players who presumably should be better.

Moving those players wasn't an issue, but for Kris Versteeg?

the fact no one is upset that those guys are gone isn't an argument. we got nothing for them and now have a cap issue and a mediocre player with no upside blocking players who presumably should be better.

Moving those players wasn't an issue, but for Kris Versteeg?
- kwolf68

Let's see how it unfolds. So far Management has done a decent job of keeping the Hawks in the top echelon. As it stands at this moment, many hockey people who have no ties to the Blackhawk organization, have the Hawks as the tem to beat.

Let's see how it unfolds. So far Management has done a decent job of keeping the Hawks in the top echelon. As it stands at this moment, many hockey people who have no ties to the Blackhawk organization, have the Hawks as the tem to beat.
- paulr

The core group has kept the Hawks up there...this management group hasn't really done anything that blows me away. Signing known elite talent isn't great management, it's common sense.

I hope I am proven wrong and Stan and crew have a solid, sensible plan for both short term and long term and my feeling that the Hawks win in spite of those guys is flat out wrong. I SURE as hell hope it is.

Trading two prospects (even if they are middling) for a smallish, non checking third line winger with a propensity for horrible turnovers when our problems last year were faceoffs, physicality and penalty killing made ZERO sense. The trade in itself isn't gonna wreck the franchise, but it's just a rudderless move that worries me heading forward toward the bigger, more serious moves Stan will need to pull off between now and next Summer.

The core group has kept the Hawks up there...this management group hasn't really done anything that blows me away. Signing known elite talent isn't great management, it's common sense.

I hope I am proven wrong and Stan and crew have a solid, sensible plan for both short term and long term and my feeling that the Hawks win in spite of those guys is flat out wrong. I SURE as hell hope it is.

Trading two prospects (even if they are middling) for a smallish, non checking third line winger with a propensity for horrible turnovers when our problems last year were faceoffs, physicality and penalty killing made ZERO sense. The trade in itself isn't gonna wreck the franchise, but it's just a rudderless move that worries me heading forward toward the bigger, more serious moves Stan will need to pull off between now and next Summer.
- kwolf68

Most people liked the deal at the time - particularly Dale keeping half of Verstink's cap hit. In retrospect, maybe Stan could have pulled in a draft pick as well. Their pro scouting let them down on Versteeg but this is not over yet. Maybe Versteeg rehabs hard this summer and comes in looking better? I'm not expecting it but it is a possibility.

Most people liked the deal at the time - particularly Dale keeping half of Verstink's cap hit. In retrospect, maybe Stan could have pulled in a draft pick as well. Their pro scouting let them down on Versteeg but this is not over yet. Maybe Versteeg rehabs hard this summer and comes in looking better? I'm not expecting it but it is a possibility.
- tredbrta

Rumour has it he's here in Toronto working out with Gary Roberts.

Rumour has it he's here in Toronto working out with Gary Roberts.
- paulr

Right after his wedding? I thought he'd be on his honeymoon, Toronto isn't much of a honeymoon destination.

If this rumor is true it's a great thing, I'm sure Roberts will whip him into shape.

Trading Dylan Olsen wasn't a bad move, trading for Kris Versteeg was. It made no sense and solved no issues at the time. And now we have a guy who gives almost nothing to this team on the ice while his cap hit (though not obscene at 2.2) is hurting us and he's blocking players who if they can't play as well as him they need to be traded to.
- kwolf68

I understand the move completely as you seem to: you get a guy at half salary for three seasons or you have an easy trading chip someone else gets for one or two of the other seasons.

I really don't think anyone was burning their phone minutes offering Stan Bowman decent NHL players at half CAP hit...The fact he found TWO teams winning was good work.
I am sure they fely Steeger was gonna be able to come around by the Spring...it didn't translate that he won himself ice time or favor with Q for his efforts.
And the Pirri launch was more typical of one you will be seeing more of - teams will draft players, turn them pro, and then as the period of continual development reaches a crossroads, they first,
get some major league time,
and then second,
they get evaluated as "needing more time guys" or ones that maybe other teams like the Panthers are willing to continue to wait for.

I think Pirri was thrilled with that one way contract

That idea of a eventual one way contract (like some were saying Morin signed- Morin gets the major league money whether starting in Rockford or not) ) are more a way to satisfy that certain player's long term desire to get a chance.

I don't think teams were offering Stan NHL players of any value for a package of Olson and Pirri, save for Pirri.

This was more about a comfortable switch of bodies where both GMs knew the playerswell enough to take a chance to see if things worked out.

There was no Kesler type player avaiiable where if he hadn't the trade approval clause ALL NHL teams would be calling...it was Olsen & Pirri...
or
it was Kris Versteeg on the market.

So far no matter how their publicity departments sell it this trade was a minor deal where no team got a huge bump towards success by it being made...

Rumour has it he's here in Toronto working out with Gary Roberts.
- paulr

Not a bad move if he is. Career cross roads for him and a new wife ready to spend his savings.... Of course, after his last deal I think he will be fine.

I wonder if Bolland will be a replay of the Versteeg signing for Tallon?

Not a bad move if he is. Career cross roads for him and a new wife ready to spend his savings.... Of course, after his last deal I think he will be fine.

I wonder if Bolland will be a replay of the Versteeg signing for Tallon?
- tredbrta

You mean Bolland back to Hawks at HALF price for more hawk farmhands they don't play in the majors?

You know pretty soon, Tallon will have been away long enough that he wouldn't have "attachments" to hawk prospects...

You mean Bolland back to Hawks at HALF price for more hawk farmhands they don't play in the majors?

You know pretty soon, Tallon will have been away long enough that he wouldn't have "attachments" to hawk prospects...
- wiz1901

Actually, I meant Bolland could be another overpay by Tallon for a free agent who ends up spending a lot of time on LTIR in Florida.

Bowman should be trading these older prospects for new picks rather than retreads.

Remember when you didn't think about hockey in July?

Really good areticle how the Hawks may have to sign college guys earlier...even after crappy junior years....like Hayes had.

http://espn.go.com/blog/c...elerate-college-prospects

Remember when you didn't think about hockey in July?
- Jocelyn26

Remember when you didn't think about hockey in the winter?

"Red River" on MGMHD - John Wayne and Montgomery Clift - best western ever.
- StLBravesFan

Loved this ever since I was a kid. The remake not so much.

Remember when you didn't think about hockey in the winter?
- powerenforcer

Always thought about it, just didn't always want to.

Always thought about it, just didn't always want to.
- Jocelyn26

I should have said " Remember when most of Chicago didn't think of Hockey in winter"

Always thought about it, just didn't always want to.
- Jocelyn26

Didn't you ever think about sex?

Didn't you ever think about sex?
- StLBravesFan

C'mon - someone has to come up with the right response to that.

Didn't you ever think about sex?
- StLBravesFan

Sex is for procreational purposes only.