I'd like to bank on what you are saying , but management may be rolling the dice a bit,all I am saying is that it could go either way and don't be surprised if these guys have a miss year like the Kings did in the past. Their core is alittle older although still potent. There is a reason no PTO's in camp, maybe by design is all I'm sayin. With uncle John in the mix sometimes he looks past the upcoming season. He just maybe settin that table for the draft and FA come 2017, just guessing that is all.
- wonthecup10

Way to early to abandon ship and go the rebuild rout . HAWKS core is fine and their D is at very best we have had in sometime . Couple hungry young kids coming in is just the natural way . And there is only so much PR to be gained from a draft .

Way to early to abandon ship and go the rebuild rout . HAWKS core is fine and their D is at very best we have had in sometime . Couple hungry young kids coming in is just the natural way . And there is only so much PR to be gained from a draft .
- oldduffman

Good points,looked over the roster for camp, didn't see any of the Kevin Hayes type 6"4 220 or Jimmy Vesey type size players, mostly high school type size 5" 10. 160, if I want to see that stuff, I'll go watch the good catholic league games. This is the NHL,big ticket prices yet SB is reluctant to add bigger players who can control the boards and in front of the net instead of a bunch of little pest bugs that just stay on the perimeter.

Good points,looked over the roster for camp, didn't see any of the Kevin Hayes type 6"4 220 or Jimmy Vesey type size players, mostly high school type size 5" 10. 160, if I want to see that stuff, I'll go watch the good catholic league games. This is the NHL,big ticket prices yet SB is reluctant to add bigger players who can control the boards and in front of the net instead of a bunch of little pest bugs that just stay on the perimeter.
- wonthecup10

Ya I don't see it that way . HAWKS are about speed and transition . And that is the way the league is going, younger and faster .Look at PItt last year .. Speed kills ..

you way over pay at the trade deadline for guys that never really get comfortable in the system did Weiss and Flech a upgrade over what danult would have brought in the playoffs? No and we would have have the extra 2nd round pick and danult on as the 3-4 line center who is clearly a upgrade over Moose. Ladd was not bad in the playoffs but it was not like he was one our best players. Maybe middle of the road and we gave up a 1st and AB prospect for him. The only real advantage is teams are more likely to eat some of the contract late in the year then they would in OCT. 95% of the time you look back at a trade and are very underwhelmed how much the add to the team. I would rather swap SVED or GUS or POKKA or HARTMAN or TVR for a LW in OCT-NOV and let him get to know how to play with his linemates and in q's style.
- kmw4631

Honestly, if the Hawks made no deadline moves last year and lost in game 7 of round one, I'd be really upset that they didn't try to upgrade at the deadline. I imagine other fans would be too. The players as well. I don't think Danault or Dano or a draft pick would solve the 1LW problem. I'm glad they made the deals they did. I wish they would have made one more to get a Dman.

Could anyone who is on a PTO have cracked the Toews line at LW? Doubtful. Why bother? To fill out the bottom six? Maybe that's where the "let the kids play" strategy comes in. It wasn't that hard to get forward depth at the deadline last year, that might be doable again this year if the bottom six needs some help. But that's only relevant when they get a legit 1LW. I hope that's a trade in the preseason or first 1/3 of the regular season.

As JJ has said many times, Rosi and Campbell aren't playing in Chicago this year as part of a youth movement, they are here to play and to win. Need some more pieces, Stan has a history of delivering on that. By Thanksgiving we should know what teams are tanking and willing to trade an expiring contract for some picks or prospects.

My gut tells me that McNeill stays in Chicago - whether or not he's ready for the big club.
- EKB13

Might the fact that McNeill is only being paid $600,000 this year have anything to do with why your gut is saying what it is?

For me, I'll be surprised if Motte/Schmaltz break with the club or see much playing time in the 1st half of the season because I doubt they'll be ready to contribute. Plus they're each being paid $925,000. Ryan Hartmann is making $863,333. I like Hartmann's physicality but I don't know enough about the inner workings of the cap to know how much his extra $263,333 will impact Stan's decision making on who makes the team if it comes down to McNeill or Hartmann.

Going for it all at the TDL was what we all wanted. The best group of Forwards on paper. Yet, they were never used how most of us thought they should. Our better prospects are gone and here we sit with having to fill the holes with lesser "prospects" so to speak. Unless you move a core guy your NOT going to get quality back. Here we are. We all knew it was going to come down to this at sometime. Thank you Buttman you @#$%^&* and your @#$%^&* salary cap!!!
- Matt_Foleys_bro

Have to disagree Matt. It made no sense to acquire anyone including Ladd (Dano and a 1st) because Bowman failed in acquiring the one thing he needed and that was a #4 dman. How did the Hawks D look against St. Louis after the top 3 last spring?

Bowman's slew of bad moves in the previous summer - resigning the great Runny while Oduya sat there twisting in the wind/the Sharp fiasco-costing us three quality players for hot garbage when Sharp should have been moved for prospects and cap space/the non Bickell buyout (more cap space). And of course trading a true power forward in Saad effectively crippling the first line. The TDL moves were just icing on the cake. Danault was a really nice player and now he's with the Habs along with Shaw.

And while the cap completely sucks everyone has to play by the same rules. Stan is supposed to be the great cap guru right? I guess that's only when its going up.
Thankfully Barry Smith got us Panarin and Brian Campbell's wife wanted to come home. Meanwhile Stan has got to hope some of these kids he picked can play. I think we all are hoping the kids can play.

Wow JJ,

I've been reading your blog for many years now, as you know, and this is one (and really the last 3 or 4) have been some of the most depressing/sobering in recent memory. I just hope we're pleasantly surprised and McNeil/Hartman ARE ready for the big club, Lundberg is as advertised, our upgraded D kicks some major A...and perhaps Bowman has a trick or two up his sleeve to fill out the rest of the roster. The way I'm looking at it, your basically preparing us readers for a 1st round playoff exit (if we even make it) barring some act of God
- Murph76

He's using reverse psychology on you

Sticking it to Q? Really? Who came up with that? Who's in third grade?

Sure doesn't fit the 'one goal' narrative. Hopefully most games they score more than one goal.
- blackhawk24

Really that ones crazy. Some of the things that come out of the blogosphere are really insane. Its like these guys have never been in the real world.

Oh wait................................

To think that Rocky and McD would allow the team to be bad to stick it to their coach

More likely the future of major pro sports. The NFL has a hard cap now, if I'm not mistaken. The NBA has had some sort of salary cap for some time now, but not a hard cap.

EDIT: I'm sure Sage will set me straight on the NBA cap.
- EKB13

NBA does, but its going up to like 200 mil for 15 guys, so really not an issue...........

Was reading the most recent Red Wings blog about Kronwall. To paraphrase... 35 and recovering from knee surgery and states that his pain is somewhat persistent. Kronwall, Green, Dekeyser... I wonder if there can be a deal with this team. Especially for RH Dmen. Can the Hawks pry a good forward out of there?
- 93Joe

Hossa playing with Tatar correct?

Truth bomb
- grinder10

Toews great tonight...waiting on that idiot Coyote's blog about denigrating him.
- kwolf68

I recorded the game, and I just finished watching the second period. 2 goals and 80% at the face-off circle? WOW!

As for Tanner...Well, goals are just luck, and we all know that face-offs don't matter.

Ya I don't see it that way . HAWKS are about speed and transition . And that is the way the league is going, younger and faster .Look at PItt last year .. Speed kills ..
- oldduffman

Agree 100%, you can't sing the praises of the young fast NA team on one page of the blog, and then the next one female dog because the young guys coming up are smaller and faster

I'm not predicting they'll win the cup (although Vegas kind of thinks so) but c'mon man, some act like Hawks are the Yotes or something.

The Hawks had 12 guys selected to play for teams in the World Cup - so they must have some fairly good players? Yet you are writing them off before the season even starts. I think I'd rather watch for a month or so, might be surprised. And this gang of NA kids who can really skate might lead somebody to believe a few younger kids in the Chicago lineup might help more than hurt.
- RickJ

Yeah, that Toews guy apparently can still play a little.

Toews great tonight...waiting on that idiot Coyote's blog about denigrating him.
- kwolf68

Yeah, I wonder if all the NHL 17 trolls are going to come over to this thread today and talk about how overrated Toews is and how much he sucks etc.

Someone make some popcorn.

Might the fact that McNeill is only being paid $600,000 this year have anything to do with why your gut is saying what it is?

For me, I'll be surprised if Motte/Schmaltz break with the club or see much playing time in the 1st half of the season because I doubt they'll be ready to contribute. Plus they're each being paid $925,000. Ryan Hartmann is making $863,333. I like Hartmann's physicality but I don't know enough about the inner workings of the cap to know how much his extra $263,333 will impact Stan's decision making on who makes the team if it comes down to McNeill or Hartmann.
- 4_in_7

I think the likelihood of making the Hawks, top to bottom, goes like this:

1) Hartman
2) Schmaltz/McNeill
4) Motte

Probably just two of them (to start at least).

Schmaltz will have to show he can hack it physically (not go alligator arms and be effective in the corners) and play a two-way game consistently. McNeill that he can dial it up physically and play to his size a bit more.

Could anyone who is on a PTO have cracked the Toews line at LW? Doubtful. Why bother? To fill out the bottom six? Maybe that's where the "let the kids play" strategy comes in. It wasn't that hard to get forward depth at the deadline last year, that might be doable again this year if the bottom six needs some help. But that's only relevant when they get a legit 1LW. I hope that's a trade in the preseason or first 1/3 of the regular season.

As JJ has said many times, Rosi and Campbell aren't playing in Chicago this year as part of a youth movement, they are here to play and to win. Need some more pieces, Stan has a history of delivering on that. By Thanksgiving we should know what teams are tanking and willing to trade an expiring contract for some picks or prospects.
- matt_ahrens

I think this post makes a lot of sense.

If Motte or Schmaltz had been thoroughly dominant in the prospect tourney, then I think you can say one of them could be plugged in as effective top 6 winger.

Both played reasonably well against mostly 18-21 year old guys who will never see the NHL. That's somewhat encouraging but it also suggests neither is the answer in the top 6 this year, playing against the best and toughest defensemen in the world from ages 23-33.

Bottom six roles? More likely, for a couple of the rookies.

Have to disagree Matt. It made no sense to acquire anyone including Ladd (Dano and a 1st) because Bowman failed in acquiring the one thing he needed and that was a #4 dman. How did the Hawks D look against St. Louis after the top 3 last spring?

Bowman's slew of bad moves in the previous summer - resigning the great Runny while Oduya sat there twisting in the wind/the Sharp fiasco-costing us three quality players for hot garbage when Sharp should have been moved for prospects and cap space/the non Bickell buyout (more cap space). And of course trading a true power forward in Saad effectively crippling the first line. The TDL moves were just icing on the cake. Danault was a really nice player and now he's with the Habs along with Shaw.

And while the cap completely sucks everyone has to play by the same rules. Stan is supposed to be the great cap guru right? I guess that's only when its going up.
Thankfully Barry Smith got us Panarin and Brian Campbell's wife wanted to come home. Meanwhile Stan has got to hope some of these kids he picked can play. I think we all are hoping the kids can play.
- DK002

DK,

Good post. A couple of points:

Truth is, they needed both the top 6 LW and the #4D. They got one, tried to pull a rabbit out of their hat and get both (Hamhuis) but failed.

So in the offseason, they really nicely addressed the D.

I remain highly skeptical on the forwards There are some great pieces there, but the scoring balance is going to be even harder to achieve this year with the current cast of characters.

I will also add, what I heard this a few weeks back is that, privately, the Hawks were very disappointed and concerned that they struck out on Vesey and Hudler.

I think Hawk fans need to wake up to the fact that the Hawks are on a slide as an organization that started over a year ago. Some will really chafe at that. But . . . the cap bleeds of the last two summers have hurt this team tremendously (Sharp, Saad, Oduya, Shaw). Some of that has been somewhat replaced (Campbell, Kempny, Panarin) but some of it hasn't.

The other issue is in spite of some Vegas oddsmakers putting the Hawks in as Cup favorites, a lot of NHL and hockey people aren't. Remember, oddsmakers base things on where they think the money WILL go, not necessarily where it SHOULD go.

We are not the only ones who see the gaping hole in the top 6, the lack of scoring balance, the piss poor 5 on 5 numbers and over reliance on 3-on-3 OT for wins.

The Hawks apparently thought Hudler or Vesey would jump at the chance and in Hudler's case leave dollars on the table to play in Chicago. Didn't happen. Why? because the Hawks' luster has faded. A bit.

DOES NOT MEAN it can't be turned around real fast. BUT, Bowman and Co. need some things to fall their way and to maybe pull off a very smart deal or two.

People talk about Pittsburgh resurrecting themselves last year with 3-4 rookies, and as an organization, in terms of cap hit and roster structure, it's an apt comparison to the Hawks.

BUT . . . Rutherford also made a nice deal for Daley (a the Hawks' expense) in season—AND, his rookies were all 23 years old plus, with lots of pro experience, who were appropriately slotted in NHL roles they were ready to fill.

What is the organizational strategy? Defense leads to offense and puck possession. That's what this team was built on once the Bowmans got here. One of those, hopefully, has been addressed with the signings of Campbell and Kempny. Much more depth and speed.

Puck possession, we'll see, but with a better back end, then that SHOULD keep the cycle going. If that's the case, it doesn't matter as much who 1LW is. Talent is great and all, but sometimes the system lifts players. I know I talk about Panik a lot, but again, he will now have games and a full off-season and training camp with the team and this system. I get the fact that he hasn't been outstanding on any team so far and has been on 3 in 4 years. But he doesn't have to be Patrick Kane on that line. He needs to cycle. He needs to possess. He needs to play defense. And with Toews and Hossa on his line (if the latter happens), he may just get 50 points. That wouldn't be bad.

If Panik can play like a 2LW, even on the first line, I think we may have something here. He has the speed, he has the size, he just needs to put it together.

What is the organizational strategy? Defense leads to offense and puck possession. That's what this team was built on once the Bowmans got here. One of those, hopefully, has been addressed with the signings of Campbell and Kempny. Much more depth and speed.

Puck possession, we'll see, but with a better back end, then that SHOULD keep the cycle going. If that's the case, it doesn't matter as much who 1LW is. Talent is great and all, but sometimes the system lifts players. I know I talk about Panik a lot, but again, he will now have games and a full off-season and training camp with the team and this system. I get the fact that he hasn't been outstanding on any team so far and has been on 3 in 4 years. But he doesn't have to be Patrick Kane on that line. He needs to cycle. He needs to possess. He needs to play defense. And with Toews and Hossa on his line (if the latter happens), he may just get 50 points. That wouldn't be bad.

If Panik can play like a 2LW, even on the first line, I think we may have something here. He has the speed, he has the size, he just needs to put it together.
- CanOCorn

If Panik can play in the cycle game with 19 and 81, occasionally get open for a stretch pass—and finish one or two of them—he will be a adequate stopgap at least.

If Panik can play in the cycle game with 19 and 81, occasionally get open for a stretch pass—and finish one or two of them—he will be a adequate stopgap at least.
- John Jaeckel

I can't help but think it might be a lot like 2010-2011 where Tomas Kopecky found himself playing a lot with Hossa, Sharp, Toews. Slovakian guy, good size/speed but just the hands not quite there to compliment it.

Hopefully John Hayden has one hell of a senior year and he comes right from college in the playoff run to be a black ace power forward for us (hopefully he is done with his classes by then)

I think the likelihood of making the Hawks, top to bottom, goes like this:

1) Hartman
2) Schmaltz/McNeill
4) Motte

Probably just two of them (to start at least).

Schmaltz will have to show he can hack it physically (not go alligator arms and be effective in the corners) and play a two-way game consistently. McNeill that he can dial it up physically and play to his size a bit more.
- John Jaeckel

Q and Bowman have talked a lot about Vinny too. I think Vinny has a better than 50% chance of making the team on opening day.

DK,

Good post. A couple of points:

Truth is, they needed both the top 6 LW and the #4D. They got one, tried to pull a rabbit out of their hat and get both (Hamhuis) but failed.

So in the offseason, they really nicely addressed the D.

I remain highly skeptical on the forwards There are some great pieces there, but the scoring balance is going to be even harder to achieve this year with the current cast of characters.

I will also add, what I heard this a few weeks back is that, privately, the Hawks were very disappointed and concerned that they struck out on Vesey and Hudler.

I think Hawk fans need to wake up to the fact that the Hawks are on a slide as an organization that started over a year ago. Some will really chafe at that. But . . . the cap bleeds of the last two summers have hurt this team tremendously (Sharp, Saad, Oduya, Shaw). Some of that has been somewhat replaced (Campbell, Kempny, Panarin) but some of it hasn't.

The other issue is in spite of some Vegas oddsmakers putting the Hawks in as Cup favorites, a lot of NHL and hockey people aren't. Remember, oddsmakers base things on where they think the money WILL go, not necessarily where it SHOULD go.

We are not the only ones who see the gaping hole in the top 6, the lack of scoring balance, the piss poor 5 on 5 numbers and over reliance on 3-on-3 OT for wins.

The Hawks apparently thought Hudler or Vesey would jump at the chance and in Hudler's case leave dollars on the table to play in Chicago. Didn't happen. Why? because the Hawks' luster has faded. A bit.

DOES NOT MEAN it can't be turned around real fast. BUT, Bowman and Co. need some things to fall their way and to maybe pull off a very smart deal or two.

People talk about Pittsburgh resurrecting themselves last year with 3-4 rookies, and as an organization, in terms of cap hit and roster structure, it's an apt comparison to the Hawks.

BUT . . . Rutherford also made a nice deal for Daley (a the Hawks' expense) in season—AND, his rookies were all 23 years old plus, with lots of pro experience, who were appropriately slotted in NHL roles they were ready to fill.
- John Jaeckel

I think we need to reserve judgement until this year...to determine if Hawks are on a
slide or not. They had played a ton of hockey leading into last years playoffs. This summer of rest should do them good. Big upgrade on the D lines. Obviously some concern with the forward lines....but lets wait and see what the youngsters can do.