Thanks. I know I come off as times as a Debbie downer but I do value the last 7 years it's been a great ride and bowman and the fo have gone all in and been rewarded. However at times it's fair to question yhe path along the way and this is a very crucial time for this fo. Wirtz won't be happy with only 3 playoffs gates and mcdonough won't be happy as winning cures all and this year they needed a w to offset a hellacious off ice year.

Onwards.
- SteveRain

Then maybe both should have fought for a more flexible cap during the last negotiations - should have fought against the recapture provisions that will hurt badly should Hossa retire.

>Some NHL players now even have full-time nutrionists/meal planners who are taking an agreed upon % of that player's salary to provide that player with all the meals that player needs
>As I said, for those at the top, or who want to get there -- it's adapt or get left behind
>BTW for the record, I am a very big Toews fan and supporter -- but there are things he knows he can improve in
- SnapitUpstairs

You're too hard on Toews. He struggled more this year because of who he played with. Toews got keyed on every single night. Every team learned to overplay him. Toews’ possession numbers were down, but player possession numbers reflect as much about the skills of the line as they do about the skills of the individual player. And Toews is not a guy that wants to continually grind down low. During 3x3 play, you could clearly see his moves and elite-level of offensive ability. Toews can be an exciting player when given the time and space – something his teammates did not often create for him.

They will need more up front than they will need on D. What the Hawks need on D, they can get from the FA market. The harder task will be finding what they need up front.
- breadbag

Bread, you think they can find a 4D UFA at 1 mil per? They didn't this year.

The Kruger signing is not a mistake. Assuming signing one means the other goes I still take Kruger over Shaw, but it's close. Kruger's absense would be felt much more than Shaw's. Look what happened to the PK when Krugs was out. Damn salary cap.
- DarthKane

Kruger would be missed a great deal but not much more than Shaw...
Shaw has been one of the two best forwards the past two years in the playoffs...
They have no one else with his same skill set, he would leave a gaping hole and I'm not ready to say one of the Ice Hogs could be nearly as good. Shaw is a slightly built kid and maybe over time he won't hold up but he has the determination few can equal.

Save percentages of all playoff goalies: http://www.nhl.com/stats/...r=timeOnIce,gte,180&pos=G

>Words can be funny -- in no way do I want to mislead you about a former connection with the Hawks
>Rather, "None at this time" means I am working towards creating one -- but am currently a good distance away from getting there
- SnapitUpstairs

Well good luck! Whether that is a new relationship or a rekindling of an old one...


Seriously, though - your analysis is excellent. Thanks.

You're too hard on Toews. He struggled more this year because of who he played with. Toews got keyed on every single night. Every team learned to overplay him. Toews’ possession numbers were down, but player possession numbers reflect as much about the skills of the line as they do about the skills of the individual player. And Toews is not a guy that wants to continually grind down low. During 3x3 play, you could clearly see his moves and elite-level of offensive ability. Toews can be an exciting player when given the time and space – something his teammates did not often create for him.
- etchtech

If you go back to every Cup run Toews had a series that he wasn't scoring. Difference this time is there was only 1 series.

Toews had 6 points and there were only two Hawks with more points(7) and only one Blues player who had 7 points...

Always wondered maybe Stan traded John's because Q said he would never make it in his lineup. At this point who knows.
- molly2522

We'll see with Johns... Maybe he and Oduya get massively exposed with the St. Louis forecheck, too.

Kruger is starting to look like a huge mistake at 3 Million especially if Shaw exits
and not sure if Seabs got paid for "What he has done or what he will do in the future"

Love Brent Seabrook but seeing him receive a lot more than both Hammer and Keith is ridiculous ....praying he's not the next Bickel times 7 million $$$$
- Colbyboy

Kruger between Ladd and Hossa had a lot of jump to it (small sample size, but still....).

Perhaps a similar line could work next year - don't know who would be on the left side, but....

And maybe Kruger shows some more offense than he has so far.

I'm sour about the lineup decisions early in the series. Other than that I'm proud of by ground to dust core and Crow too, even though he gave up more goals on less shots than did Elliott.

He needed top stop that 40 foot screen shot. He was out of position IMO.
- Mr Ricochet

That shot hit the post and went in. If he didn't see it and it hit him he would have been out of position.

We'll see with Johns... Maybe he and Oduya get massively exposed with the St. Louis forecheck, too.
- DMChi2010

If Johns doesn't get exposed it would show how good he will be...Dosen't have many NHL games under his belt at all.

That shot hit the post and went in. If he didn't see it and it hit him he would have been out of position.
- 6628

The Blues had to score at least 6 goals off high deflections which for the most part went off Hawks sticks.

Kruger between Ladd and Hossa had a lot of jump to it (small sample size, but still....).

Perhaps a similar line could work next year - don't know who would be on the left side, but....

And maybe Kruger shows some more offense than he has so far.
- StLBravesFan

Ladd is similar to Brouwer he can score 20 goals and throw 200 hits, those types are few and far between.

Kruger would be missed a great deal but not much more than Shaw...
Shaw has been one of the two best forwards the past two years in the playoffs...
They have no one else with his same skill set, he would leave a gaping hole and I'm not ready to say one of the Ice Hogs could be nearly as good. Shaw is a slightly built kid and maybe over time he won't hold up but he has the determination few can equal.
- Al

I was thinking on the way home about the Shaw situation. Maybe they sign him for one more year and promise to make good in a Kruger-style deal. That gives them one more year to sort a few things out:

1) Has Teuvo reached his ceiling? If so, he won't command much money, but maybe his rights get traded at the end of next year. If he plays better and deserves a ton more money, well, they won't be able to keep him anyway.

2) Sign Panarin and see what his cap hit is. To be honest, after seeing him play without Patrick Kane, maybe we should wait for the extension... Put him next to Toews and see how he does. He's probably still good but maybe doesn't put up enough points to trigger the bonus in the second year of his ELC. Maybe that drives the contract value down a little bit and also creates a second offensive threat.

3) Play Scott Darling a LOT. Because if a core member has to be moved, it's probably Seabrook or Crawford... We'd have a better shot at replacing part of the goaltending than having to find TWO top-4 D.

Friggin' salary cap.

You're too hard on Toews. He struggled more this year because of who he played with. Toews got keyed on every single night. Every team learned to overplay him. Toews’ possession numbers were down, but player possession numbers reflect as much about the skills of the line as they do about the skills of the individual player. And Toews is not a guy that wants to continually grind down low. During 3x3 play, you could clearly see his moves and elite-level of offensive ability. Toews can be an exciting player when given the time and space – something his teammates did not often create for him.
- etchtech

i am with you on that..of course there are things he can improve upon...don't we all...
he was a "third line" center most of the year...look where ladd and hossa ended up..

and that problem aint going away...now they will have top lw and rw problem...

Damn salary cap!

Think of great teams after the Islanders and Oilers, when the league was expanding (too much) and the talent was spread more thinly.

The Colorado Avalanche from 1996-2002 went to 6 of 7 WCF and were 2-4, going on to be 2-0 in Cup Finals.

The New Jersey Devils from 1994-2003 went to 5 of 10 ECF and were 4-1, going on to be 3-1 in Cup Finals.

The Detroit Red Wings from 1995-2002 went to 5 of 8 WCF and were 4-1, going on to be 3-1 in Cup Finals. If you add in the 2007-2009 years, they went to 8 of 14 WCF, going 6-2, and ending up 4-2 in Cup Finals.

All this WITH NO SALARY CAP.

2009-2015 Blackhawks: 5 of 7 WCF, going 3-2, and winning all three Cups they played for!!! This is a better record than the three dominant teams of the late 90's and early 2000's regardless of salary cap. In the salary cap era, I think they deserve to be up there with the Oilers and Islanders.

I was thinking on the way home about the Shaw situation. Maybe they sign him for one more year and promise to make good in a Kruger-style deal. That gives them one more year to sort a few things out:

1) Has Teuvo reached his ceiling? If so, he won't command much money, but maybe his rights get traded at the end of next year. If he plays better and deserves a ton more money, well, they won't be able to keep him anyway.

2) Sign Panarin and see what his cap hit is. To be honest, after seeing him play without Patrick Kane, maybe we should wait for the extension... Put him next to Toews and see how he does. He's probably still good but maybe doesn't put up enough points to trigger the bonus in the second year of his ELC. Maybe that drives the contract value down a little bit and also creates a second offensive threat.

3) Play Scott Darling a LOT. Because if a core member has to be moved, it's probably Seabrook or Crawford... We'd have a better shot at replacing part of the goaltending than having to find TWO top-4 D.

Friggin' salary cap.
- DMChi2010

trading seabrook....yeah i guess its possible...but for what
and where you gonna find a big defenseman who plays every game and can score (he had career high in goals and point) and plays in all situations
his 7 mil per kicks in next year and will go until he is age 38

what do you think someone will give for the priviledge of that contract and cap hit?

I was thinking on the way home about the Shaw situation. Maybe they sign him for one more year and promise to make good in a Kruger-style deal. That gives them one more year to sort a few things out:

1) Has Teuvo reached his ceiling? If so, he won't command much money, but maybe his rights get traded at the end of next year. If he plays better and deserves a ton more money, well, they won't be able to keep him anyway.

2) Sign Panarin and see what his cap hit is. To be honest, after seeing him play without Patrick Kane, maybe we should wait for the extension... Put him next to Toews and see how he does. He's probably still good but maybe doesn't put up enough points to trigger the bonus in the second year of his ELC. Maybe that drives the contract value down a little bit and also creates a second offensive threat.

3) Play Scott Darling a LOT. Because if a core member has to be moved, it's probably Seabrook or Crawford... We'd have a better shot at replacing part of the goaltending than having to find TWO top-4 D.

Friggin' salary cap.
- DMChi2010

Teravainen and maybe another prospect or pick can fetch a decent return. Sad truth is Shaw + would probably fetch one of the better returns.

i am with you on that..of course there are things he can improve upon...don't we all...
he was a "third line" center most of the year...look where ladd and hossa ended up..

and that problem aint going away...now they will have top lw and rw problem...
- bogiedoc

Random unrelated thought- Upshall really impressed me in the series, would be good veteran bottom 6 W who is a UFA who made $700k this year. Defensively responsible and is physically tough to play against

We'll see with Johns... Maybe he and Oduya get massively exposed with the St. Louis forecheck, too.
- DMChi2010

Hitchcock will use the same recipe for Dallas - pound their defenceman at every opportunity because he knows that position is their area of vulnerability. Johns is a big man but has had some injury history as has Oduya.

And Lindy Ruff will do the same - Jamie Benn, Roussel, Faska and a couple of others clocking Bouwmeester, Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk at every opportunity. The Stars will play rough and nasty far more than the Hawks did.

Hitchcock will use the same recipe for Dallas - pound their defenceman at every opportunity because he knows that position is their area of vulnerability. Johns is a big man but has had some injury history as has Oduya.

And Lindy Ruff will do the same - Jamie Benn, Roussel, Faska and a couple of others clocking Bouwmeester, Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk at every opportunity. The Stars will play rough and nasty far more than the Hawks did.
- RickJ

Hitchcock isn't safe unless he wins the next series....Stars goaltending is suspect and Seguin is not himself-Blues have no excuse. But neither team knows how to win at this level.

Some really good comments on this blog today...looking back here...

Bowman is a caretaker not a builder. Several have mentioned if we still had Dale running the show it would be different. I'd like to think it would, but the problem still remains over Bowman as well in McD.

We've heard time and again from JJ and others that the Hawks operate in a weird way and other teams don't care to deal with them. Always trying to win a trade, arrogance, etc...and that there's layers to the decision making.

I doubt that Stan is the GM if his daddy isn't wooed here. Meanwhile he shot this team in the foot pretty darn good this last summer. Bickell not bought out and Oduya left to twist in the wind while he resigns a defenseman who had no business being on this roster. But Stan was still trying to justify losing a 2nd rounder for Runny when he should have cut bait.

And then the delayed Sharp deal as Stan tried to get more than he could and as we've come to expect hold his cards too long...we've seen this movie before with Leddy the previous summer. Sadly that non draft day trade cost them Johns and cap space as well. Take a look at Daley's defense in the next series...yikes.

We saw last spring that instead of trying to actually trade for a defenseman like Petry, Stan targeted a guy in Timonen who couldn't play. And overpaid to boot.
And now with the go for it deals here at the TDL he mortgaged even more of the future. But he didn't get what he needed - help for his defense.


The reality is there are holes to fill, a stagnate cap and two players making a ton of cash. A major piece or two needs to be moved for them to start to even the balance sheet out and get younger/stronger on the back end. Shaw is a guy who can't be replaced in the lineup. So now some really hard choices...Crawford, Seabs, Kruger...down the line. If not you're looking at the same core guys plus college FAs and some from the Rock.

The toughest summer of Bowman's tenure awaits...and like several on here I don't have a lot of faith in him based on past results.

Kruger is starting to look like a huge mistake at 3 Million especially if Shaw exits
and not sure if Seabs got paid for "What he has done or what he will do in the future"

Love Brent Seabrook but seeing him receive a lot more than both Hammer and Keith is ridiculous ....praying he's not the next Bickel times 7 million $$$$
- Colbyboy

Gotta wonder if that isn't part of what is going around in Keith's head - part of his being a bit "off" this year as people have stated. He's watching the wonder twins and then his best bud get paid and paid well, when he is the fourth leg on that chair. This, after his Conn Smythe winning year and a costly divorce. Yeah, he signed his contract, but unfortunately, it's not usually human nature to think that way.

That said. . .he is still the kind of machine that I want on the team.

Teravainen and maybe another prospect or pick can fetch a decent return. Sad truth is Shaw + would probably fetch one of the better returns.
- 93Joe

Could see Shaw going to Calgary. Would fit in nicely there. Truculence. Compensation in return would probably be high depending, of course, if they were willing to take Bickell too.

Fair enough I would take Shaw and Danault ....finding a player with Shaw's heart won't be easy if possible at all
Not sure why there's all that love out ther for Kruger
Small....very little offence....average average player...worth 1.5 million as a PKiller not worth 3 million
- Colbyboy

There's no wrong answer here. Both Shaw and Kruger have proved to be vital members of the team and it would hurt to lose either. If we lose Shaw he'll be right up there win one of the most painful salary cap loses for me (maybe next to Frolik).