Stan Bowman said nothing to announce on UFA front yet but said "you'll be able to figure out who we're signing very soon."
- golfbard

Hey Golf...

Expect a Rundblad extension announcement anytime here...

I liked Weiss, but didn't seem to get a fair shake. Kinda pissed we had to deal Danault for him, but doubt Weiss is coming back.
- howiehandles

I do too and I agree. The stupidity of trading Garbutt for a guy you cut, which you then had to trade Danault+ to replace what Garbutt was going to give you, the same package that may have been able to get Dan Hamhius to sturdy up the blueline. Just a horrible situation all around...thank god for overtime points, Corey Crawford and Patrick Kane or we may have been picking in the top 10 today.

I'd argue that on this day back when Sadd was drafted you didn't know you were getting him. I'm sure you can go back and find 50 posts that were killing the pick because he didn't live up to potential, was injury prone, etc. etc.

Hell, most on this board were killing the Hawks and McD for even playing him with the big club, said he was given it, didn't earn it.

Remember??????
- vabeachbear

I didn't expect Saad to be Saad. All I knew of him what that he was projected 1st round, and dropped. Forgot if it was an injury, slow year, or what. Basically fell to the Hawks. Hopefully it's the same deal with the little guy, in that we got a steal in round 2.

I don't understand StanBo.....he says the teams is NOT in cap trouble? REALLY?

Who is the #1 LW? What about a proven D-man? Sure, Stan, you're not in cap trouble, if the plan is to play 3-4 Rockford kids.
- tompo1015

Come on now.....GM speak. That's all. He can't say, "we are screwed seven ways of Sunday", now can he? Of course not.

Let's just see if he has the brass balls to trade a higher AAV guy or two wheile backfilling their needs.

I do too and I agree. The stupidity of trading Garbutt for a guy you cut, which you then had to trade Danault+ to replace what Garbutt was going to give you, the same package that may have been able to get Dan Hamhius to sturdy up the blueline. Just a horrible situation all around...thank god for overtime points and Patrick Kane.
- kwolf68

Was not a good year for trades. Seems they lost every single one.

tomas fleischmann would stay for cheap...and play LW??
- southernhawk

Hartman perhaps. If SB can swing a higher AAV trade for '17 picks, I would love to see Matt Martin at 3L.

I liked Weiss, but didn't seem to get a fair shake. Kinda pissed we had to deal Danault for him, but doubt Weiss is coming back.
- howiehandles

Wonder if the two 2's for shaws rights were a bit of a thanks for that trade?

Wonder if the two 2's for shaws rights were a bit of a thanks for that trade?
- vabeachbear

Well, their GM is Marc Bergevin.....

Was not a good year for trades. Seems they lost every single one.
- howiehandles

The Sharp trade was an 11th hour trade and would NOT have been THAT bad if we could have gotten use out of clearly useful players like Daley and Garbutt.

The subsequent trades to get rid of Daley and Garbutt had no logic to them at all and smacked of front office incompetence combined with coaching arrogance.

The Leddy trade was a major gaff by Bowman in my view. No way you should take a solid prospect and "stuff" for a young player with Leddy's credentials.

I didn't expect Saad to be Saad. All I knew of him what that he was projected 1st round, and dropped. Forgot if it was an injury, slow year, or what. Basically fell to the Hawks. Hopefully it's the same deal with the little guy, in that we got a steal in round 2.
- howiehandles

Hopefully they did.

How many guys have scored 50 or more goals two years in a row in the O? He's probably going back this year, so if he does it again, how many have done it 3 years in a row?

I like the DeBrincat pick. Not large in stature but large in heart and talent.
- EbonyRaptor

I also like this pick. You don't score 50+ goals like he did unless you have a complete game. A 50 goal scorer has to do it in any number of ways...snipes, dangles, power play, getting to the net, etc...

He's a smurf, but he can also play hockey.

The Sharp trade was an 11th hour trade and would NOT have been THAT bad if we could have gotten use out of clearly useful players like Daley and Garbutt.

The subsequent trades to get rid of Daley and Garbutt had no logic to them at all and smacked of front office incompetence combined with coaching arrogance.

The Leddy trade was a major gaff by Bowman in my view. No way you should take a solid prospect and "stuff" for a young player with Leddy's credentials.
- kwolf68

IMHO Stan's stubborness on Bickell is what precipitated the Sharp fiasco. Dominos....

Edit: And I am still pissed.

I also like this pick. You don't score 50+ goals like he did unless you have a complete game. A 50 goal scorer has to do it in any number of ways...snipes, dangles, power play, getting to the net, etc...

He's a smurf, but he can also play hockey.
- kwolf68

Kaner-like play-making skill-set in your opinion?

This kid is filthy. GREAT pick by StanBo, regardless of his stature. Top 10 Skill based on everything I have read and seen. Impressive....

Debrincat 15/16 highlights


https://youtu.be/NCTXm7NuGCo

Hey Golf...

Expect a Rundblad extension announcement anytime here...
- DK002

IMHO Stan's stubborness on Bickell is what precipitated the Sharp fiasco. Dominos....
- blackhawk24

Perhaps. I never thought Bickell should have been resigned (for that)...if there was EVER a guy who was going to parlay 2 good months of hockey into an undeserved contract it was Bickell. The only way to stay on top is to be creative, keep moving. Resigning Bickell was a boat anchor that slowed down the good ship Blackhawk. Though Bowman may have learned from this one and that's why he moved Saad...and it's why I think he'll now move anyone and will start being smarter about these contract deals.

For example...TB is not gonna pay Stamkos a certain amount. He'll get bank, but they are not going over 10 in my view and that's because Yzerman knows he has to make hard choices. I think Bowman is maybe learning that now.

Q is going to have to reign in Hartman much like he did Shaw. We'll see how that goes. One thing that would help is if Hartman would stop diving, and chirping the refs all game long.
- EKB13

Most will probably disagree, that's ok but personally I like Motte more than Hartman. I think he developed really well and I think it's a result of great coaching and players buying into the coach's system. Red Berenson preached disciplined defense creates offense.

I sometimes wonder about the coaching out of Rockford.

Kaner-like play-making skill-set in your opinion?
- blackhawk24

If he was Kane's size he'd have been a top 10 pick (and Kane wasn't even big)....but DeBrincat is really small. What I notice also about this player is he really can find the ice well. He just knows where to be. Great instincts, great skill. I think he'll play NHL hockey one day.

Most will probably disagree, that's ok but personally I like Motte more than Hartman. I think he developed really well and I think it's a result of great coaching and players buying into the coach's system. Red Berenson preached disciplined defense creates offense.

I sometimes wonder about the coaching out of Rockford.
- walleyeb1

Think Motte can jump over Hartman and be up with the big club by midseason?

Think Motte can jump over Hartman and be up with the big club by midseason?
- blackhawk24

One (or both) of them will most assuredly make the team. The Hawks have 3-4 wing spots that are wide open and I see these two as the two best options (other than McNeill if he returns).

Great job by New Jersey for picking up Beau Bennett for a third. Yes, injury prone, but a very good player. I wanted the Hawks to get him (or someone like him)....a cheap, high reward option that you could strike lightning in the bottle. And if healthy Bennett could play a top 6 role....also young. And with the Blackhawks they have to take gambles like this given the cap situation.

Would have been WELL worth the third for the Hawks to gamble on Bennett. Oh well.

This kid is filthy. GREAT pick by StanBo, regardless of his stature. Top 10 Skill based on everything I have read and seen. Impressive....

Debrincat 15/16 highlights


https://youtu.be/NCTXm7NuGCo
- EnzoD

Got a hell of a quick one timer

The Sharp trade was an 11th hour trade and would NOT have been THAT bad if we could have gotten use out of clearly useful players like Daley and Garbutt.

The subsequent trades to get rid of Daley and Garbutt had no logic to them at all and smacked of front office incompetence combined with coaching arrogance.

The Leddy trade was a major gaff by Bowman in my view. No way you should take a solid prospect and "stuff" for a young player with Leddy's credentials.
- kwolf68

Gotta think this is a really important year for the front office to win these moves. Missing the playoffs isn't entirely out of the question in the West.

Most will probably disagree, that's ok but personally I like Motte more than Hartman. I think he developed really well and I think it's a result of great coaching and players buying into the coach's system. Red Berenson preached disciplined defense creates offense.

I sometimes wonder about the coaching out of Rockford.
- walleyeb1

Seemingly never make any player really much better. In fact, you could argue guys who don't spend much time there are the ones that make it to the show.

What is the tipping point where more start focusing on the front office gaffes? I would think this is an important year. If they don't make the playoffs, which I is entirely possible, does the front office start getting a bit warmer?
- howiehandles

Depends on WHY they don't make the playoffs, but .. players can get fired, coaches can, and GMs can too and all should be held accountable. We'll see how this off season rolls on