It is my contention that 88's biggest contribution to the 2015 cup was breaking his collarbone at just the right time. He is great fun to watch and was always a guy we could count on in the clutch. But this is too much to overcome. This idiot would have had a statue placed in front of the uc after his career. Now, he'll be a footnote. We will win without him. Hockey is a team game and I no longer want him on my team. There are some really exciting players to watch this season. I don't think we'll miss him in a year or so. I just don't know how this log jam breaks. How and when can we move forward? I hope you enjoyed your final cup celebration mr. Kane. Fare ye well.
- hocktock

aye yi yi ... In the playoffs, Kane led the team in scoring, led the team in goals, led the team in PP points, tied for the team lead in even strength points and GWGs. I guess that isn't enough for some people.

At 1/2 as capable of what Bure could do on the ice would make Panarin an excellent NHL player. Bure was a goal scoring predator with speed and moves few could match. Too bad he ended up in that hockey wasteland of Florida.
- RickJ

Yep if he played on the East coast or Toronto/Montreal/Chicago he would be a rock star.
He was something to see and was a one man gang for the most part.

Yep if he played on the East coast or Toronto/Montreal/Chicago he would be a rock star.
He was something to see and was a one man gang for the most part.
- Al

The line of Bure, Mogilny and Federov was probably the greatest forward line ever to play in the World Junior Championships - totally unstoppable.

aye yi yi ... In the playoffs, Kane led the team in scoring, led the team in goals, led the team in PP points, tied for the team lead in even strength points and GWGs. I guess that isn't enough for some people.
- EbonyRaptor

Are you suggesting that they would have won the cup without Desjardins and Vermette? I think not.

The things that stood out about Sayers when I was in grade school was his first game he played . Scored 6 touchdown against SFO. He could have had 7 touchdown Papa Hallas took him out of the game when the Bears where inside the five yard line of SFO. Hallas was worried the opponents would deliberately try to injure him because he was making a mockery out of the team. When asked by reporter if this was "the best game he ever played"...he said "not really...scored 7 touchdowns one game at Kansas. Sayers had 5 gears in his legs..low, medium, high, super fast and reverse. His lateral movements where unbelievable. He scored dozens of touchdown going laterally to one side of the field, stoping on a dime and than proceed to go to the other sideline and blow by the opponents like they where standing still. Memories are a little fuzzy....that was a long time ago. I do want to mention Hester who was the second best open field runner that I have ever seen. Hester's stop and go moves and change direction where very close to Sayers . He also had a bunch of great gears like Sayers...but the super fast was just a tad slower. Both players where so electrifying and so much fun to watch. Walter was just as good in other ways. He was all bread and butter crashing thru the line like a Mack truck punishing the opponent. Payton also was a great short route receiver and could block with the best. He didn't have five gears but had truck like gears. He "took a licking but always kept on ticking". Bless them all.

Are you suggesting that they would have won the cup without Desjardins and Vermette? I think not.
- hocktock

We'll never know if they could have won without Desjardins and Vermette.

What I am suggesting is that Kane contributed as much or more to the win than anyone and to suggest his best contribution was getting his collarbone broken is selling his total contribution short.

The Hawks might go from the oldest team making the 2015 playoffs to the youngest team making the 20016 playoffs. The way things look right now with the Hawk roster whe might have 10 to 11 new faces during the opening ring ceremonies. Coach "Q " might not be taking too many naps during lunch time. I will have to take a roster sheet along to see the team with all the new numbers and names. Does anybody ever remember a team winning a cup and have 10 or 11 new players the next year and make it past the first round the next year?

We'll never know if they could have won without Desjardins and Vermette.

What I am suggesting is that Kane contributed as much or more to the win than anyone and to suggest his best contribution was getting his collarbone broken is selling his total contribution short.
- EbonyRaptor

Point taken. I simply disagree. Collarbone. He didn't show up until game 6 in the final. I thinkk TT was more clutch on the whole. He was coming off an injury though.

The Hawks might go from the oldest team making the 2015 playoffs to the youngest team making the 20016 playoffs. The way things look right now with the Hawk roster whe might have 10 to 11 new faces during the opening ring ceremonies. Coach "Q " might not be taking too many naps during lunch time. I will have to take a roster sheet along to see the team with all the new numbers and names. Does anybody ever remember a team winning a cup and have 10 or 11 new players the next year and make it past the first round the next year?
- spanky

With all the new faces, are we going to see all the TMM penalties this season too?

Point taken. I simply disagree. Collarbone. He didn't show up until game 6 in the final. I thinkk TT was more clutch on the whole. He was coming off an injury though.
- hocktock

23 points in the playoffs and he didnt show up til game 6 of the final??

Anyone expecting Jordy Nelson to line up with crutches on opening game, and still catching balls from Rodgers?

The line of Bure, Mogilny and Federov was probably the greatest forward line ever to play in the World Junior Championships - totally unstoppable.
- RickJ

I would love to see the video of those games.

Are you suggesting that they would have won the cup without Desjardins and Vermette? I think not.
- hocktock

A couple of things ...The Hawks could have gotten and most likely would have gotten Vermette even if Kane wasn't hurt. The Hawks were set to get a center and Ben Smith was going to be dealt one way or the other and there would have been cap space made. If you want to make the case Desjardin wouldn't have been Hawk you could but Bowman had trade chips to deal.

The thinking the Hawks only won the Cup cuz of the added cap space is pure speculation and not very logical...If Kane wasn't hurt the Hawks could have finished higher and the matchups may have been better for them.

Bottom line is they didn't have home ice and beat everyone playing with 4.5-5 defensemen and used their rookie 2nd string goalie in a series... So simply put they won becasue they have players who know how to win when it matters most...
And from top to bottom, including their head coach were a cut above every other team.

Anyone expecting Jordy Nelson to line up with crutches on opening game, and still catching balls from Rodgers?
- powerenforcer

Not expecting it but Rodgers will have someone to throw to. Cobb's healthy though I know it's usually Nelson from AR killing the Bears. Is it setting the bar to low to hope the Bears are still in the game when the 2nd half starts...or too high?

A couple of things ...The Hawks could have gotten and most likely would have gotten Vermette even if Kane wasn't hurt. The Hawks were set to get a center and Ben Smith was going to be dealt one way or the other and there would have been cap space made. If you want to make the case Desjardin wouldn't have been Hawk you could but Bowman had trade chips to deal.

The thinking the Hawks only won the Cup cuz of the added cap space is pure speculation and not very logical...If Kane wasn't hurt the Hawks could have finished higher and the matchups may have been better for them.

Bottom line is they didn't have home ice and beat everyone playing with 4.5-5 defensemen and used their rookie 2nd string goalie in a series... So simply put they won becasue they have players who know how to win when it matters most...
And from top to bottom, including their head coach were a cut above every other team.
- Al

You think so Al? Is it a case of the season being almost over and they were only paying the remainder of Vermy's salary where it could still fit under the cap?

You think so Al? Is it a case of the season being almost over and they were only paying the remainder of Vermy's salary where it could still fit under the cap?
- HawkintheD

They had some cap space to start and could have dealt Smith....

All this talk of trading Kane and improving the team with his absence is bs

I think if Tamps Bay had Kane and the hawks had Stamkos Tampa wins the Stanley cup
Kane is a closer and the bigger the game the better he plays.Stamkos in IMHO not so much since how many opportunities was he unable to finish?

I don't really think it's all that rash to want better behavior from a guy being paid to be an ambassador of the team and sport in addition to playing hockey.

When you're piece of the pie is almost 15% of the team's salary cap and you're being paid $10.5 mil, like it or not, public personnae is definitely a part of it.
- HawkintheD

This is a very astute comment, because this is the reality of the new NHL. The salary cap is the "great evener" and teams simply cannot afford players taking up 15% of the pie that are massive distractions and get suspended for their off ice behaviour! Understand this, there is no way that Kane starts the season playing NHL hockey, traded or not. ANY TEAM (including the Hawks) that dresses Patrick Kane will not do so until he has begun steps to change his lifestyle around. If the Hawks were to keep Kane, I think the most likely scenario would be Kane not returning to play until after the Christmas break...and that "loss of the pie" is all on Kane and his behaviour. The Hawks made it very clear to Patrick what they expected of him, and before he signed the deal, he assured the Hawks they didn't have anything to worry about.

This is a very astute comment, because this is the reality of the new NHL. The salary cap is the "great evener" and teams simply cannot afford players taking up 15% of the pie that are massive distractions and get suspended for their off ice behaviour! Understand this, there is no way that Kane starts the season playing NHL hockey, traded or not. ANY TEAM (including the Hawks) that dresses Patrick Kane will not do so until he has begun steps to change his lifestyle around. If the Hawks were to keep Kane, I think the most likely scenario would be Kane not returning to play until after the Christmas break...and that "loss of the pie" is all on Kane and his behaviour. The Hawks made it very clear to Patrick what they expected of him, and before he signed the deal, he assured the Hawks they didn't have anything to worry about.
- MexicoHawk

If Probert can get sober so can Kane and it doesn't require a rehab facility it requires him finding his bottom and parking his ass in an AA meeting and embracing the principals of recovery. Fortunately for Kane there is at least one other current Hawk player who can take him too meetings

If Probert can get sober so can Kane and it doesn't require a rehab facility it requires him finding his bottom and parking his ass in an AA meeting and embracing the principals of recovery. Fortunately for Kane there is at least one other current Hawk player who can take him too meetings
- molly2522

Probert never really got sober.

I remember seeing him sucking down beers at Cheli's Chili Bar after games.

It is my contention that 88's biggest contribution to the 2015 cup was breaking his collarbone at just the right time. He is great fun to watch and was always a guy we could count on in the clutch. But this is too much to overcome. This idiot would have had a statue placed in front of the uc after his career. Now, he'll be a footnote. We will win without him. Hockey is a team game and I no longer want him on my team. There are some really exciting players to watch this season. I don't think we'll miss him in a year or so. I just don't know how this log jam breaks. How and when can we move forward? I hope you enjoyed your final cup celebration mr. Kane. Fare ye well.
- hocktock

No.

I really enjoy your posts, but I completely disagree with your premise that the dynasty can't continue without Kane. Even if the Hawks dealt Kane to WPG for Byfuglien and their top prospect, or a good young player contributing now, the Hawks would be in a similar position. While we would have lost Kane's scoring, clutch play and help on the PP, a lot of that would be replaced by Buff who would drastically help our PP, turn our D core into the league's best, and add his clutch play to our mix. Great teams find ways to win, and different people show up to score important goals...this has been the history of the Hawks during the run since 2009! TT is going to be a lot better, and Dano and Panarin are both going to be explosive players. I believe we have the offence to compensate for Kane, and with any deal for Kane we should get better defensively (as well as much more Cap complianant
Again, thanks for all your contributions here.
- MexicoHawk

Mex,

I get everything that you have said on this subject, but I respectfully disagree with your assessments on replacing Patrick Kane.

This team does not win one cup without him, let alone three. It just would not have happened.

The best thing for the Hawks would be to keep him for the next three years. I honestly believe in that time, they will win two more cups.

After this three year period, I think that Hossa will be at his end as a top two way player, Duncan Keith will start to show the wear and tear of what will be 10 hard seasons with long playoff runs, and a few others may as well.

To me, the next three years will be final years of their championship window, and it should be taken full advantage of, "flea infested" Kane included.

By then, he will only be 29, and still a very productive player that teams will line up to deal for.

Any knee jerk reaction now will only close this window sooner, and regardless of his off ice conduct, they just can't take that chance.

McDonough thinks he is selling a squeaky clean image of this team to the city of Chicago. What he doesn't get is this product is selling ONLY because they are winning Stanley Cups. When this window closes, the Chicago sports fans will go back to watching the Bulls and Bears, and the Hawks will go back to being a second rate sell in the fans eyes.

Hockey has never fully captured this town before, only winning cups changed that narrative. And when it is over, nothing McDonough's marketing team does will change this fact. And it will be a hard lesson for him to learn.

The Hawks in the present, and in the future, will never be what the Cubs were in McDonough's time there. That was an unusual situation. And when Rocky Wirtz ends up firing him, hopefully they will understand what I have been saying.

23 points in the playoffs and he didnt show up til game 6 of the final??
- Glenman12

O. K. I take it back. His play has never been the problem. I am his biggest fan until 8-2-2015. I'm just really p.o.'d at him. This should have been a great summer.

Will he even be at the banner raising?

Oh, I still say, no collarbone, no cup. See, he helped in so many ways.

All this talk of trading Kane and improving the team with his absence is bs

I think if Tamps Bay had Kane and the hawks had Stamkos Tampa wins the Stanley cup
Kane is a closer and the bigger the game the better he plays.Stamkos in IMHO not so much since how many opportunities was he unable to finish?
- molly2522

Huh? In the Tampa series Kane was completely invisible until the last game. True Stamkos wasn't scoring but he was involved on both sides of the puck and played hard every shift.

If Probert can get sober so can Kane and it doesn't require a rehab facility it requires him finding his bottom and parking his ass in an AA meeting and embracing the principals of recovery. Fortunately for Kane there is at least one other current Hawk player who can take him too meetings
- molly2522

Does Darling still go?