Q, end of season press conference summary:

- Question on any injuries being played through - he said the team was healthy during the playoffs as they have been at any time during the year
- TVR had a really good year, best player in the STL series
- Gus ordinary offensively strong, weak defensively
- Sved needs to progress more next year to help
- Runblad looked like progression, some good stretches, but clearly not impressed
- He has STILL not addressed the team, said it was too emotional and will talk to them today, said NEVER talks to team after a game
- Said not good at 4-line rotation, best in game 6, couldn't get it there in game 7
- Said didn't like shot selection
- Said not the defense's issue that they lost, was inability for forwards to run a 4-line rotation
- Doesn't want to lose Shaw but no one is irreplaceable (need his feistiness, net front presence)
- Anticipates full coaching staff coming back next year, likes them all
- Any consideration about pushing more for a higher seed given Division strength and playoff format? Says they were playing for 1st in Division, they weren't coasting
- Did his style of coaching change with up/down of younger players? He wouldn't talk about his style, instead about the process of players moving between Rockford. He expects the player to come in a make an impact. It's their opportunity to make it or not.
- Russian impact: Panarin - great story for Blackhawks, delivered in every way, consistent, enjoyment of game, progressed over season, chemistry with Kane, fortunate to have Anisimov - good to finally have a 2nd line center, delivered on higher defensive responsibility
- Keith/Seabrook/Hjalmarsson lots of miles - do you have to watch minutes? As a defensemen, have to watch how many minutes you give them, but the game dictates when they play; he also referenced teams only playing four defensemen in the playoffs, so should look to shorten their minutes in the regular season
- TT: CLEARLY frustrated with him; consistency is an issue, likes his versatility, needs to take advantage of the opportunity, he didn't
- Does salary cap make it harder to keep this team elite? Q cited Division as the bigger challenge
- Should be a lot of disappointment in the team that we are talking today, need to bottle that feeling and use it

MY question is, how did Brouwer have that much time to have 3 attempts to score on that puck? I'm guessing that was Gustaffsons job to clear the crease? It was just mind boggling to see him have that much open space, I think the biggest gaffe was not going for a big bodied 5-6 guy at the TDL.
- PVL29

That's a great question, not entirely sure about the answer. I don't know how Svedberg will develop over time, but definitely was better than Gustafsson in clearing the crease and moving guys out. On the other hand he's much slower and doesn't bring much offensively.

Was Stan talking about a free agent or current prospect?
- DarthKane

"We've got some Swedish defensemen coming over" was all I got. He didn't specify, but since it seemed to be a sure thing, would expect the latter?

I don't buy it for a second. Do you??
- EnzoD

Not only do I not buy it, but the lack of a four line rotation is 100% on Q. He had the pieces and chose not to use them

Mark Potash ‏@MarkPotash 3m3 minutes ago
#Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman on cap situation: "The teams that have cap flexibility are the teams that haven't really accomplished anything."

In the salary cap era, this is the statement we should all remember. Also, some decisions made will work out and some won't. For all this talk of rolling four lines and 3 d pairs, there sure is a lot of hemming and hawing one way or another on this board. Balance people.

Q says Andrew Shaw is "irreplaceable." #Blackhawks

Maybe there's hope! Wish Q would take more responsibility for this seasons faults and not lay it all on the players

"We've got some Swedish defensemen coming over" was all I got. He didn't specify, but since it seemed to be a sure thing, would expect the latter?
- pdx2ord

Dahlstrom and Norell were recently signed and come over over. Maybe Stan's referring to them but I don't know if they are good enough to warrant being brought up like this. I don't think the team has any NHL ready Swedish defensive prospects. Interesting.

A couple things:

Kruger NMC/NTC clause does not kick in until he gets to his FA year which I think is after year 1 or 2. You cannot have NMC or NTC on RFA I thought I read? If I'm wrong let me know.

Seabs NMC clause kicks in on 7/1 so we should at least have him submit a list. I know it feels tough to do but you cannot have 8 untouchable players. If you do you will ride the titanic all the way down. Also I think you go into the thought that no one is untouchable its all depends on what you can return on either cap space or players. would you rather move shaw and Kuger for 2 2nds or Seabrook for Nurse, and then how would your team look next and for the next 2-3?

People that know more about hockey could maybe comment but How would Hossa transition to D? He is still strong fast and smart. the only thing he has lost is his quick hands and that is not a big part of being a Def? I'm sure it would be a adjustment but Buff has done it. If it was something to think about you would want to consider it right now. So he could work on it over the summer, training camp and early in the season.

I don't believe Q saying no one was injured.

Toews, among others, was definitely playing through something

Q says Andrew Shaw is "irreplaceable." #Blackhawks

Maybe there's hope! Wish Q would take more responsibility for this seasons faults and not lay it all on the players
- maria_wyeth

Maria, when your two best dmen have more turnovers in Game 7 than David Rundblad (I know more minutes, but my point is they both played poorly), with their egregious TO's on the first shift that led to the goal, I think Q is right to put that loss squarely on the shoulders of 2+7. They didn't play up to their standard, and those are the results...

Not only do I not buy it, but the lack of a four line rotation is 100% on Q. He had the pieces and chose not to use them
- maria_wyeth

To me, this smells like at the TDL, Stan had multiple trades in the hopper for forwards, all of which Q had input into. Stan settled for the one that was the least palatable to Q, so this is him biting back in an "I told you so" manner.

A couple things:

Kruger NMC/NTC clause does not kick in until he gets to his FA year which I think is after year 1 or 2. You cannot have NMC or NTC on RFA I thought I read? If I'm wrong let me know.

Seabs NMC clause kicks in on 7/1 so we should at least have him submit a list. I know it feels tough to do but you cannot have 8 untouchable players. If you do you will ride the titanic all the way down. Also I think you go into the thought that no one is untouchable its all depends on what you can return on either cap space or players. would you rather move shaw and Kuger for 2 2nds or Seabrook for Nurse, and then how would your team look next and for the next 2-3?

People that know more about hockey could maybe comment but How would Hossa transition to D? He is still strong fast and smart. the only thing he has lost is his quick hands and that is not a big part of being a Def? I'm sure it would be a adjustment but Buff has done it. If it was something to think about you would want to consider it right now. So he could work on it over the summer, training camp and early in the season.
- kmw4631

No way. Buff played both D and F his entire hockey career. You cant take a guy who's been a RW for 30 years and put him on D in the NHL at 37 years old. Bad results would follow. Hossa can play D in his Slovak men's league in 2020

Bob Stauffer
✔ ‎‎@Bob_Stauffer

Don't be surprised if N.A. U-24 Managers Peter Chiarelli and Stan Bowman make a deal at some point this off-season

Stauffer say something on his show yesterday regarding a minor deal involving David Musil for Mark McNeill.

http://oilersnation.com/2...usil-take-it-to-the-limit

Looks like a 6-4 210 LD. probably a good deal for both teams. sounds like he is unluikely to make the team and would have to go through waivers. Same as Mcneal correct?
- kmw4631

Figured this type move might be a good way for Stan to fix depth. Seems like a smart move...given the options. One imperfect prospect for another, yet both teams filling needs

Dahlstrom and Norell were recently signed and come over over. Maybe Stan's referring to them but I don't know if they are good enough to warrant being brought up like this. I don't think the team has any NHL ready Swedish defensive prospects. Interesting.
- DarthKane

I could be wrong but both have not had much production and really minimal upside. Press was the one had the most upside and he regressed. From what I read it would be a shock if either ever get into a NHL rotation.

I think it started last summer, which is why this summer is SO critical. The cap commitments and the roster are still about winning now. If you keep selling off and compromising on your third pair and bottom 6, without upgrading elsewhere, you will have a slow decline. Bowman needs to figure out a way to fill in what's missing on the second pair, possibly another 2-way winger, and pay for it both in term sod trade and cap.

Panik and Panarin were two nice finds and possible/likely pieces of the puzzle going forward.

It CAN be done. But someone is going to be unhappy I think with what it takes.
- John Jaeckel

Undoubtedly true

Q presser comments

- No injuries in play affecting playoff roster effectiveness. Healthy squad.
- Close series, division most competitive in the league
- Had all the tools to make the run

No one asked a tough question.....

Ladd:

- At the point in his career where money is not the issue. Wants to play for a winner and offer best situation for his family.

Toews:

- Fatigue not an issue or an excuse, but rest will help he and Hossa
- Most competitive division in the league makes it harder
- Roster movement sapped momentum and impeded chemistry
- Need to make newcomers welcome in the room

Problem is you don't have an in house replacement for the players that you can deal. Hammer, Seabrook, Keith, Hossa, Toews, Kane, Crawford.....Can Darling withstand a barrage of prime scoring chances over and over again like Crawford? Not so sure. He did so in a limited sample size vs Nashville but doesn't have the body of work like Crawford.
- SteveRain

Agreed Steve. Hawks really can't afford to deal any high draft picks going forward as they are entering the window where they need to draft and begin developing replacements.

Q will need to manage his players better this year because I don't see any costly TDL adds this year...and Stan needs to have a better summer with the roster

No way. Buff played both D and F his entire hockey career. You cant take a guy who's been a RW for 30 years and put him on D in the NHL at 37 years old. Bad results would follow. Hossa can play D in his Slovak men's league in 2020

- EnzoD

He also has played Power play and PK which is way different then 5 X 5 hockey and is one of the best PK players in the league. you may well be correct or that he would not want to try it. But to just say off the bat the one of the best defense Forward and smartest players in the league could not do something I don't agree with. My opinion is he would make a better bottom pairing d player next playoffs then GUS/RUN/SVED if he played there all year and worked on it all summer.

Most of the top d men, are the smartest, best in shape players on a team but don't have high OFF upside. At this point in his career that is what he is. it was just a thought. I know it would never happen.

Q presser comments

- No injuries in play affecting playoff roster effectiveness. Healthy squad.
- Close series, division most competitive in the league
- Had all the tools to make the run

No one asked a tough question.....

Ladd:

- At the point in his career where money is not the issue. Wants to play for a winner and offer best situation for his family.

Toews:

- Fatigue not an issue or an excuse, but rest will help he and Hossa
- Most competitive division in the league makes it harder
- Roster movement sapped momentum and impeded chemistry
- Need to make newcomers welcome in the room
- Return of the Roar

Clear for any of us fans to see, but surprising to hear Toews admit to that....very interesting. How much of that falls on Q's shoulder for his short leash with the acquisitions and how much of that falls on the Leadership group of Toews, Seabs+Co??

Johns has played in a total of 15 NHL games and Ruff plays his top 2 pairings pretty equally. Johns is a 2nd round pick that can rush the puck, make an accurate stretch pass, clear the crease, and separate his man from the puck. Oduya-Johns was deployed as their top 5v5 dpair. In the very small sample size, the stats and eye test tell any objective observer that he is going to be a PLAYER. And I love how the rhetoric of all these players like Leddy, Saad, Sharp, Oduya, Johns is that "they're nothing special"...only after they are traded away. Watch Johns this series, it will be a much bigger test against STL. We will see how he plays. Regardless, this is a ROOKIE playing effective top 4 minutes in the Central Division playoffs. Shrug off the loss if it helps you sleep better at night. Trading Johns was a huge mistake, and the Hawks on the front nine this morning just proves it to be so.
- EnzoD

I'd really like a front office explanation as to why they included him in the Sharp trade. It was pretty much established he would have been playing for the Hawks in the playoffs last year if he wasn't hurt. So that is your organizations top D prospect being moved. Successful organizations don't move those type players.

He also has played Power play and PK which is way different then 5 X 5 hockey and is one of the best PK players in the league. you may well be correct or that he would not want to try it. But to just say off the bat the one of the best defense Forward and smartest players in the league could not do something I don't agree with. My opinion is he would make a better bottom pairing d player next playoffs then GUS/RUN/SVED if he played there all year and worked on it all summer.

Most of the top d men, are the smartest, best in shape players on a team but don't have high OFF upside. At this point in his career that is what he is. it was just a thought. I know it would never happen.
- kmw4631

You are correct that he would be more effective than Runblad/Svedberg, but he can benefit the club so much more at RW. Can you imagine though??

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 3m3 minutes ago
Shaw: "I want to be here. This place is my home." #Blackhawks

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 2m2 minutes ago
Kane on Shaw: "It'd be sad to see him go. But I think we all expect him to be back." #Blackhawks

Clear for any of us fans to see, but surprising to hear Toews admit to that....very interesting. How much of that falls on Q's shoulder for his short leash with the acquisitions and how much of that falls on the Leadership group of Toews, Seabs+Co??
- EnzoD

They needed to practice more with all the new acquisitions and the "kids".

Dahlstrom and Norell were recently signed and come over over. Maybe Stan's referring to them but I don't know if they are good enough to warrant being brought up like this. I don't think the team has any NHL ready Swedish defensive prospects. Interesting.
- DarthKane

Scotty gave Nik Lidstrom a call and said the Hawks needed him. That's the Swede Stan is referring to.

Player year-end press conferences summary:

- Seabrook said all the right things, of course
- Seabrook said the young D corps really had a tough assignment and they stepped up as and when needed

- Ladd regrets moving his whole life/family to not go far in the playoffs (no surprise)
- Ladd would entertain a discount to stay in a good situation and on a team that is going to contend every year
- Ladd's baby finally came home from hospital yesterday (that had to be a stressor)

- Toews still in shock
- Toews said team continued to believe up to the end, even being down 1-3 in games, that they could win it
- Toews need to figure out what needs to be done differently next year
- Toews at first discounted the amount of hockey being an issue, at least mentally, but then admitted it was probably a factor in ability to repeat
- Toews said the adjustments they had to make all year was a big part of the problem (call-ups, send downs, trades) in getting the group as close as possible, building the chemistry they had to to get through the playoffs; put it on the leadership that they didn't get that done; have to work with the younger players to make sure they know they have an impact on the team no matter the role
- Toews didn't start training until August last summer, didn't get on ice until a few weeks before training camp, but will use the opportunity this summer to improve his game (silver lining on the cloud)
- Toews (reading into it) seems to think the move with Hossa down to the 3rd line was a positive given lack of offensive production this year on that line (all while complimenting his game), but thinks the offseason will be good in getting the offensive mojo back on their line

- Kane (and others) want Shaw back, primarily for locker room chemistry and his big-game performance
- Kane happy with his regular season, disappointed in his playoff performance and blames self that they are not still playing
- Kane had more fun playing this regular season than maybe any year in the past because he could finally play the game the way he wanted to thanks to AA and Panarin
- Kane about all eyes being on his behavior during his offseason - knows he needs to act like there is a camera on him at all times whether he likes it or not

- Shaw (no surprise) wants to be back; will be patient and let Stan and Agent work it out
- Shaw: Chicago is home and love city and fan support (wouldn't directly address when it was pointed out that Saad took the money over the winning and whether the tradeoff was worth it)
- Shaw feels he has overachieved based on what he expected out of life
- Shaw: Team will be friends and family for life; knows team and FO wants him back
- Shaw said chemistry wasn't working on the bottom two lines
- Shaw said his body has gotten "used to the pain"