Pavelic AND a top prospect for $6 million man Crawford...? Jet's have the #1 goalie prospect in the league in Connor Hellebuyck and #4 in Eric Comrie. They do not need goalies, and certainly not one making $6 million. Even if he is a cup winner. If you are going to put up rumours, which does make for a good read, please run it through the smell test first. This one stinks!
- Justenvogt

Disagree. Crawford is a proven goalie who would be added to a very good team that made the playoffs last year. Neither of those guys is ready right now.

One example is the Dixie Chicks bad mouthing the country they did not commit a crime but they ruined there reputation with country music fans and lost money.
- DestinBlackhawk

Wow, is that how you "remember" things? Oh, to be a victim of the mass media machine of spin and lies. The Dixie Chicks justifiably called out the Bush Administration for being LIARS, which they WERE/ARE! How is that bad mouthing "the country"...their courage to speak out against a CORRUPT government is the most PATRIOTIC ACT there is, or don't any of you remember your Founding Fathers??? Anyone who would stop "liking" the Dixie Chicks because of their comments about the Bush Administration are devoid of intelligence and ASLEEP...just the way governments like it.

The entire idea of Nationalism is pure bullpoop and a device used by governments to justify their grotesque existence. The ONLY thing we should EVER be loyal to are the inalienable rights of freedom belonging to ALL HUMAN BEINGS! For those completely caught up in what public schools teach and Newtonian Physics, remember, we are all ONE! The difference in the genetic makeup between an "American" and a "Russian" is essentially NOTHING! In fact, the only reason that humans don't look like fish or reptiles is a subtle fluke of evolution...humans even share 50% of the DNA of a banana! Public schools still teach aspects of Science/Physics that Albert Einstein openly said he was WRONG about. Ever learn about Nikola Tesla or Francois Marie Voltaire in your classroom?

Just do a quick google search on those who historically have opposed the "concept" of nationalism...see if you would rather be on their side, instead of that of the Bushes and Obamas of the world. Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Paine et al would all have supported the comments of the Dixie Chicks, whoever they are.

As Frank Zappa said, the human mind is like a parachute, it has to be open to work.

Disagree. Crawford is a proven goalie who would be added to a very good team that made the playoffs last year. Neither of those guys is ready right now.
- John Jaeckel

You are correct Crawford is much better than anything they have, but the issue is his contract. The Jets have to watch their pennies and I would think they would rather develop the supposed young stud and reap the benefits of some modest contract years.

What does a #1 goalie PROSPECT do for winning the Stanley Cup this year or next?? These bottom-dweller's fans are so obsessed with "prospects" that it almost seems like they woudl rather have the #1 Farm System over winning actual hockey games in the NHL....
- EnzoD

you could have won with your back up, is he worth multiple prospects and first rounders to

Disagree. Crawford is a proven goalie who would be added to a very good team that made the playoffs last year. Neither of those guys is ready right now.
- John Jaeckel

whether they are ready are not is yet to be seen, and do you guys not realize you could have won with your back up

you could have won with your back up, is he worth multiple prospects and first rounders to
- Ross77

Our backup got pulled in Game 3/4? of the First Round. Maybe you have a Crystal Ball that predicts outcomes in alternate universes, but I do not. Corey Crawford has backstopped TWO Stanley Cup Championships....only Jonathan Quick is in that group with Crawford. Scott Darling hasnt proved jack-squat besides that he is another PROSPECT.

you could have won with your back up, is he worth multiple prospects and first rounders to
- Ross77

That is incorrect.
That is a myth.

Wow ...

- MexicoHawk

Mex, I value your hockey acumen and inside knowledge but your political and philosophical comments will invite others to reply and this is not the forum for those discussions, in all due respect.

are you clueless? of course the jets are not as good as hawks and ducks....no kidding smart guy. still doesn't make it a smart trade!! will the jets be better with crawford, yes. does it make them a cup favorite? NO!! so why do it? its not a smart trade!! they are still 2-3 years away, if one of their prospects haven't shown anything by then, then by all means make this type of trade but its a waste now, if you cant see that your an idiot
- Ross77

So, the Jets will make no trades, unless the result makes them Cup favorites? I guess that is why there was no movement this offseason?

What was that about an idiot?

are you clueless? of course the jets are not as good as hawks and ducks....no kidding smart guy. still doesn't make it a smart trade!! will the jets be better with crawford, yes. does it make them a cup favorite? NO!! so why do it? its not a smart trade!! they are still 2-3 years away, if one of their prospects haven't shown anything by then, then by all means make this type of trade but its a waste now, if you cant see that your an idiot
- Ross77

No, what makes it a plausible trade is Chevy has an abundance of prospects and probably knows a Gm is only allowed so many "3-5 year plans". He wants to contend sooner rather than later. Pavelec is really not a comparable value to Crow on or off the ice. Crow is a proven clutch goalie with a serious work ethic. Not a terrible player to have your kids look up to - including those goalie prospects.

Not saying the deal will happen but smart GMs know when to convert to "win now" from "win later". Chevy should be approaching that phase soon. He can drop a top prospect or 2 or 3 and still have a stocked system. If Chevy is all about 3 years from now still then Ladd and Buff will probably be gone too by the TDL.

John -

Thanks for the great blog, as always. I have a few hockey questions for you:

1) What do you and/or your sources with the Blackhawks think or say are the biggest roster questions that need to be addressed for the roster? The usual suspects would be center depth and then the 4/5 D spot? But is there another focus such as LW depth, cap space, or just some other surprise? I'm just trying to get an idea as to what you think the Hawks would like to get back if Kane is cleared and then traded for a package of players...

2) There's also been a lot of debate here about how replaceable/irreplaceable Kane is on the Hawks and how he ranks against the other elite talent in the league. Which other single players in the league do you think would be a great return for Kane and why?

Thanks!

whether they are ready are not is yet to be seen, and do you guys not realize you could have won with your back up
- Ross77

On a cruise during the WCF and SCF this year, eh?

Darling may be a great one. Maybe even better than Crow. I highly doubt though he makes the saves Crow made in those crucial games after about 20 games of NHL experience.

are you clueless? of course the jets are not as good as hawks and ducks....no kidding smart guy. still doesn't make it a smart trade!! will the jets be better with crawford, yes. does it make them a cup favorite? NO!! so why do it? its not a smart trade!! they are still 2-3 years away, if one of their prospects haven't shown anything by then, then by all means make this type of trade but its a waste now, if you cant see that your an idiot
- Ross77

2-3 years and your CORE players like Ladd, Buff, Stafford, Stuart, ect are all 3 years older and less effective. When you have a competitive Playoff team like the Jets, you take immediate action to win a cup NOW. this mindset of Prospects > Established NHL Players is why teams at the bottom stay at the bottom

I believe I have now seen it all.

Getting caught up.

Does anyone know what the original rumored deals JJ mentions involving Bickell and Skinner were?

2-3 years and your CORE players like Ladd, Buff, Stafford, Stuart, ect are all 3 years older and less effective. When you have a competitive Playoff team like the Jets, you take immediate action to win a cup NOW. this mindset of Prospects > Established NHL Players is why teams at the bottom stay at the bottom
- EnzoD

The Jets said from day one they were building this team through the draft, as Chevy learned from his days in your organization. The biggest mistake people make is thinking our core is Ladd, Buff, Little ect. This teams core is made up from the players this team has drafted. Sheif, Trouba, Lowry, Morrisey, Hellybuck, Comrie, Ehlers.....this is the core that they are building from. I think they are well prepared to let Ladd and Buff go if a new deal doesn't make sense. The Jets have cap room now, but Ladd, Buff, Sheif, Trouba, Lowry and Hutchinson all have expiring contracts. There is a reason so many Hawks fans would trade Crow for Pav and Ehlers and why so many Jets fans would hate it, because it makes more sense for you than us!!!

Why in Gods Creation are we arguing and debating about sports teams and hockey teams if everyone is the same. Isn't fandom like sports nationalism? How can we root for just one team and root against another if we are all the same? I wonder what the Dixie chicks think about anyone rooting for their favorite team?

you could have won with your back up, is he worth multiple prospects and first rounders to
- Ross77

A true conundrum. They might not have won with him as #1, probably wouldn't have without him as #2

A true conundrum. They might not have won with him as #1, probably wouldn't have without him as #2
- John Jaeckel

sounds like the perfect back up goalie on a Stanley Cup Championship team

A true conundrum. They might not have won with him as #1, probably wouldn't have without him as #2
- John Jaeckel

This. And this is why CC's value is a lot lower in the eyes of non-Blackhawks fans than it is for the indian-head faithful. Blackhawks probably would have been out in the first round with Crawford in net the entire time.

2-3 years and your CORE players like Ladd, Buff, Stafford, Stuart, ect are all 3 years older and less effective. When you have a competitive Playoff team like the Jets, you take immediate action to win a cup NOW. this mindset of Prospects > Established NHL Players is why teams at the bottom stay at the bottom
- EnzoD

Some people over value prospects, you certainly under value them, the world keeps on spinning.

The Jets said from day one they were building this team through the draft, as Chevy learned from his days in your organization. The biggest mistake people make is thinking our core is Ladd, Buff, Little ect. This teams core is made up from the players this team has drafted. Sheif, Trouba, Lowry, Morrisey, Hellybuck, Comrie, Ehlers.....this is the core that they are building from. I think they are well prepared to let Ladd and Buff go if a new deal doesn't make sense. The Jets have cap room now, but Ladd, Buff, Sheif, Trouba, Lowry and Hutchinson all have expiring contracts. There is a reason so many Hawks fans would trade Crow for Pav and Ehlers and why so many Jets fans would hate it, because it makes more sense for you than us!!!
- Ross77

Good luck with that.

The Jets said from day one they were building this team through the draft, as Chevy learned from his days in your organization. The biggest mistake people make is thinking our core is Ladd, Buff, Little ect. This teams core is made up from the players this team has drafted. Sheif, Trouba, Lowry, Morrisey, Hellybuck, Comrie, Ehlers.....this is the core that they are building from. I think they are well prepared to let Ladd and Buff go if a new deal doesn't make sense. The Jets have cap room now, but Ladd, Buff, Sheif, Trouba, Lowry and Hutchinson all have expiring contracts. There is a reason so many Hawks fans would trade Crow for Pav and Ehlers and why so many Jets fans would hate it, because it makes more sense for you than us!!!
- Ross77

A team's "core" are the group of players the team needs to be competative. Yes some players drafter by the jets are certainly in that core but without Ladd and Buff the Jets are not competative.

Surley but we win NO CUPS without Hossa.

And Hossa was all Bowman.

Tallon wanted to keep Havlat .


So Bowman should get tons of projectability credit because Hossa was seen by some as a Buffalo Bills type player pre Blackhawks.

Just wait till he trades Kane and the Hawks win another one wih Dano and AA on the roser. Will Bowman get some love then ?
- mrpaulish

Common that was an easy decision actually all the decisions Bowman has made has been no brainers, red font all over this

Common that was an easy decision actually all the decisions Bowman has made has been no brainers, red font all over this
- BetweenTheDots

Kane and Toews were easy decisions

If Tallon would have won that argument the Hawks would still be chasing cups.