https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay_vZBqDjkw

So, they're doubling down on Q's exit interview narrative that the players "just didn't want it badly enough." If that keeps getting airplay and the players catch wind of it, that's one good way to lose the room. I'm sure they know which media mouthpieces are tools of the McD FO, as some are claiming Rozner is.
- pdx2ord

Not buying it.

How can anyone disagree with that assessment? They didn't lose because of a lack of talent, that's for sure. I'd still take this roster over any of the teams still playing. The effort/intensity level was not there this year and the "core" guys like 19/88 (one goal combined - oh, the irony) did not produce enough in the playoffs to win games. The Blues' best players simply showed up and ours didn't -- the reverse of what has been the case the last few years.

Al, I've looked at several sites (Crain's, Opendorse, etc.), and I don't see any appreciable marketing / endorsement income for Shaw. Anecdotally, I only recall seeing him in some of those BMO Harris ads.

According to Crain's, Blackhawk marketing income leaders:

Kane - $1,300,000
Toews - $1,200,000
Hossa - $150,000
Keith - $250,000
Crawford - $150,000

Compared to other sports, hockey players make almost nothing.
- StLBravesFan

Interesting point about the level of endorsement income for hockey players relative to other pro athletes. Here are the top 5 athletes in endorsement earnings for 2015. Needless to say that none of them play in the NHL.

1) Roger Federer (ATP): $58,000,000
2) Tiger Woods (PGA Tour): $50,000,000
3) Phil Mickelson (PGA Tour): $44,000,000
4) Lebron James (NBA): $44,000,000
5) Kevin Durant (NBA): $35,000,000

That Tiger Woods is still earning $50M a year from endorsements is surprising.

Rumor from JJ was Montreal
- pierregruska

Montreal was always the best and most obvious destination for Sharp. MTL needed a proven scorer and CHI needed CAP relief. I'd have taken a 6th or 7th back, just to get the space. And last summer, MTL looked to be a playoff lock with Price in net. And I don't think Sharp turns down a chance to don the Blue, Blanc & Rouge.

But hindsight is 20/20.

Per John Dietz, Trevor Daley has 1 goal, 5 assists and is +3 in the playoffs, averaging 23:18 ice time.

Interesting point about the level of endorsement income for hockey players relative to other pro athletes. Here are the top 5 athletes in endorsement earnings for 2015. Needless to say that none of them play in the NHL.

1) Roger Federer (ATP): $58,000,000
2) Tiger Woods (PGA Tour): $50,000,000
3) Phil Mickelson (PGA Tour): $44,000,000
4) Lebron James (NBA): $44,000,000
5) Kevin Durant (NBA): $35,000,000

That Tiger Woods is still earning $50M a year from endorsements is surprising.
- etchtech

Video games pay big money?

http://www.funny-games.biz/tiger-hunting.html

Elliott Friedman reporting that Donald Trump has negotiated an 'epic' deal with the Swedish Hockey Federation, giving the Blackhawks right of first refusal on all Swedish professional hockey defensemen.

The deal is reported to mirror the Montreal Canadiens' access to all French Canadian hockey players, prior to the establishment of the NHL draft.

Let's keep it to d-men. If you can't skate but can shoot the puck: you fall somewhere between Sheldon Souray or Andy Delmore on the high end and Rundblad or Cam barker on the low end.

Yes, there have been and are effective NHL blue liners with limited mobility: Sean O'Donnell, Jon Klem, Robyn Regehr, Chara.

But all those guys have something Lurch and "SlowPokka" (©2016, JJ Worldwide) don't: size AND nastiness and they all think/thought the game fairly well.

In today's game, you better have some other remarkable skill to compensate for a lack of mobility. The game keeps getting faster. And the Hawks don't really have a role for a slow guy except maybe a third pairing guy like Rozy who despite the St. Louis series always thought the game pretty well.
- John Jaeckel

Unfortunately, I think that the Hawks are going to have to look within the system for a lot of players this off-season. Of course, if the cap goes up, then all bets are off.

I have been following for a while now, and I offer the following general ideas for how to do this off-season assuming the cap stays the same. I also recognize that this could be wishful thinking.

1. Buy out Bicks (sorry, it has to be done)

2. If you have to trade players, then trade for draft picks whenever possible and don't take unnecessary salary back. Who to trade?
a. TT. He should get you a second.
b. I would consider trading Anisimov. Heresy you say? Break up that line? I know, but maybe he is a luxury the team cannot afford to have right now. In a world where they won a cup this year, maybe. Would you keep him over Crawford or Shaw if push came to shove?
c. Speaking of Crawford, trading him is too risky in my opinion. Of course, had they won a Cup it would be a case of selling high(er). If you trade him (and I agree he is probably the most valuable trading chip they have), then get a boatload back. He might get you a first or a couple of second round picks.

3. I am a huge Andrew Shaw fan, and it appears that guys like him are hard to find. I say try to keep him unless someone offer sheets him, or his demands are too much for the budget (then get a draft pick or two). Someone will probably offer sheet him, and we probably will not be able to match even if we wanted to. There just is not enough money to go around.

4. Let the kids play already (I hear Q screaming at me as loud as my GBS swim coach--and he was loud). Can McNeill or Moose replace AA's point totals playing with Kane and Panarin. Good question, but McNeill was a number one pick for a reason. Moose has the size to be the down low guy... Maybe Motte plays in between those two, but that line would be really small, but fast. Someone in the Pokka/Gus/Svedberg/pick a Swedish d-man Chinese buffet menu should be able to play as the 6th D and maybe as a 5th D (yikes--but someone has to).

5. Let the retreads in the system have a shot: Sure, I am a sports sentimentalist at heart, but Jake Dowell could easily play on this team in a fourth line role if needed. If Crawford gets traded (a distinct possibility), you could do a lot worse than having Michael Leighton as a backup for Scott Darling. He is not much better (or worse) than a lot of the other goalies being mentioned as a return for Crawford. Kyle Comiskey anyone? Q likes him (supposedly) which is important. Whether we like it or not, Rundblad might still be here. Another season of Rosival is possible too.


6. Most likely no help is coming from a free agent signing or a trade. I love the idea of bringing Brian Campbell back, but I am just not seeing how that works.

Reality is, that this is going to be a rough off-season. The compromises are going to be ugly. Next year could be (and I hope not) two steps back for the one step forward the following year. We went all in this year, and the price of failure is going to be higher that we all would like.

Hope springs eternal and go Hawks!

What about all the "deterrence" from Brandon Mashinter??
- EnzoD

He doesn't want to embrace his role send him back to the a and get someone who enjoys the role and can actually line someone up with a big check once in awhile.

Al, I've looked at several sites (Crain's, Opendorse, etc.), and I don't see any appreciable marketing / endorsement income for Shaw. Anecdotally, I only recall seeing him in some of those BMO Harris ads.

According to Crain's, Blackhawk marketing income leaders:

Kane - $1,300,000
Toews - $1,200,000
Hossa - $150,000
Keith - $250,000
Crawford - $150,000

Compared to other sports, hockey players make almost nothing.
- StLBravesFan

He does car commercials and except for Kane and Toews he is used the most...Although the money he gets is a fraction as they are not national spots.
I wouldn't be surprised if he earns between Crawford and Keith....The point is that is money he won't have at his next stop right away or maybe ever.

Admittedly, I have not seen him play much at all. But what I have seen kind of dovetailed with what I heard, lack of mobility will limit him. Add Pokka to the LONG list right now of guys who will be marginal NHLers this year at best.

The ONE guy I think who MIGHT be able to step up is Svedberg if he gains some confidence and starts to make quicker decisions. And speaking of heart, if Svedberg ever got a little burr under his saddle and a wee bit of nasty, you might really have something there.

Right now he is a soft as baby poop pylon with a large wingspan who can make a decent pass now and then.
- John Jaeckel

Albeit not fast TVR is technically much better than the other young guys and should continue to improve. Also, keeping in mind he had little seasoning before playing in the NHL.

I don't disagree but show me that beat writer or columnist that has challenged this team and called bs? I can do it as a fan all day long but I'm not a journalist. Does anyone REALLY believe the Hawks found out about Ross that late in his ordeal? Not a chance in hell, and nobody called BS on it.

When an organization threatens removal of press passes and access to players/coaches then yes I do have a major problem with their controlling and spinning.....and the Hawks do both to a T.
- SteveRain

Everything is controlled to some degree in sports and otherwise....Hockey more so than other sports as they dictate the message.

So you know a beat writer can't pick up the phone to talk to Stan Bowman and that was the person to ask.

Unfortunately, I think that the Hawks are going to have to look within the system for a lot of players this off-season. Of course, if the cap goes up, then all bets are off.

I have been following for a while now, and I offer the following general ideas for how to do this off-season assuming the cap stays the same. I also recognize that this could be wishful thinking.

1. Buy out Bicks (sorry, it has to be done)

2. If you have to trade players, then trade for draft picks whenever possible and don't take unnecessary salary back. Who to trade?
a. TT. He should get you a second.
b. I would consider trading Anisimov. Heresy you say? Break up that line? I know, but maybe he is a luxury the team cannot afford to have right now. In a world where they won a cup this year, maybe. Would you keep him over Crawford or Shaw if push came to shove?
c. Speaking of Crawford, trading him is too risky in my opinion. Of course, had they won a Cup it would be a case of selling high(er). If you trade him (and I agree he is probably the most valuable trading chip they have), then get a boatload back. He might get you a first or a couple of second round picks.

3. I am a huge Andrew Shaw fan, and it appears that guys like him are hard to find. I say try to keep him unless someone offer sheets him, or his demands are too much for the budget (then get a draft pick or two). Someone will probably offer sheet him, and we probably will not be able to match even if we wanted to. There just is not enough money to go around.

4. Let the kids play already (I hear Q screaming at me as loud as my GBS swim coach--and he was loud). Can McNeill or Moose replace AA's point totals playing with Kane and Panarin. Good question, but McNeill was a number one pick for a reason. Moose has the size to be the down low guy... Maybe Motte plays in between those two, but that line would be really small, but fast. Someone in the Pokka/Gus/Svedberg/pick a Swedish d-man Chinese buffet menu should be able to play as the 6th D and maybe as a 5th D (yikes--but someone has to).

5. Let the retreads in the system have a shot: Sure, I am a sports sentimentalist at heart, but Jake Dowell could easily play on this team in a fourth line role if needed. If Crawford gets traded (a distinct possibility), you could do a lot worse than having Michael Leighton as a backup for Scott Darling. He is not much better (or worse) than a lot of the other goalies being mentioned as a return for Crawford. Kyle Comiskey anyone? Q likes him (supposedly) which is important. Whether we like it or not, Rundblad might still be here. Another season of Rosival is possible too.


6. Most likely no help is coming from a free agent signing or a trade. I love the idea of bringing Brian Campbell back, but I am just not seeing how that works.

Reality is, that this is going to be a rough off-season. The compromises are going to be ugly. Next year could be (and I hope not) two steps back for the one step forward the following year. We went all in this year, and the price of failure is going to be higher that we all would like.

Hope springs eternal and go Hawks!
- hpk90

Trade AA???? Ummm no way do you trade AA. You trade TT first then CC. And only trade CC if it's a last resort. 19 has an enormous work load. AA is a legit #2 C who helped 88 to a career year and you want to trade him? It's easier to find wings then centers. This might play itself out if Shaw's contract demands are too high. If that's the case then he is traded at the draft for D Or draft pick.

Per John Dietz, Trevor Daley has 1 goal, 5 assists and is +3 in the playoffs, averaging 23:18 ice time.
- scottak

Let's get over it!

He doesn't want to embrace his role send him back to the a and get someone who enjoys the role and can actually line someone up with a big check once in awhile.
- vandymeer23

Matt Martin can finish his checks and play a little bit with the puck too. He's a UFA

Per John Dietz, Trevor Daley has 1 goal, 5 assists and is +3 in the playoffs, averaging 23:18 ice time.
- scottak

Everything is controlled to some degree in sports and otherwise....Hockey more so than other sports as they dictate the message.

So you know a beat writer can't pick up the phone to talk to Stan Bowman and that was the person to ask.
- Al

Everything is controlled....especially the media.

want to see an great example of the way the hawks used to play...check out the sharks tonight...i swear the whole game looks like the sharks have 6 guys out there...

beating the preds in every phase

want to see an great example of the way the hawks used to play...check out the sharks tonight...i swear the whole game looks like the sharks have 6 guys out there...

beating the preds in every phase
- bogiedoc

8 SOG in 40 minutes - out of 39 SAT - 20% of their shots got thru to Jones - SJ blocked 19 shots.

Turnovers are 21-7.

So, they're doubling down on Q's exit interview narrative that the players "just didn't want it badly enough." If that keeps getting airplay and the players catch wind of it, that's one good way to lose the room. I'm sure they know which media mouthpieces are tools of the McD FO, as some are claiming Rozner is.
- pdx2ord

is there a tape of this...was this said at the close out interview

8 SOG in 40 minutes - out of 39 SAT - 20% of their shots got thru to Jones - SJ blocked 19 shots.

Turnovers are 21-7.
- StLBravesFan

preds are just getting smoked along the boards.....weber looks like he is in a complete fog....

the sharks play like this vs the blues...its a quick WC final

True. And unfortunately it is one helluva lot easier to lose a room than build one.
- 35Tony0

Q should ask Mike Ditka about that

Matt Martin can finish his checks and play a little bit with the puck too. He's a UFA
- EnzoD

That be nice but I don't think Hawks have a chance of getting him.

Let's get over it!
- spanky

agree this sudden luv of daley is absurd...this board ran him off the ice the 3 months he was here

preds are just getting smoked along the boards.....weber looks like he is in a complete fog....

the sharks play like this vs the blues...its a quick WC final
- bogiedoc

Nashville needed a strong start, hopefully a quick goal - NOT a selfish penalty by Eckholm and a SJ PP goal.