Seems like Chicago is one of the lesser teams now.......

Anyways. I came in here last year and said they should trade Kane (centers are, next to goaltenders, the most valuable players on the team and hardest to replace). Look at all the teams who have little center depth (including Chicago). They're screwed. Toews does all the heavy lifting for the Hawks and trading him would be nothing short of disaster as I seriously doubt you could get two young good centers in return. Trade Kane for a good young centre and a prospect or two and things could turn around quite quickly.There is also the undeniable fact that too much money is paid for the two of them in a flat cap world. Better off to have two 5 million dollar players than one ten million dollar player. I'm certain there would be some idiot GM who would overpay for him.

Ummmm. Have you been reading? A lot of people dispute it here....
- jimnhlnut

I guess you caught me using an absolute. Fair enough. I want to think that complaints aside, most fans still appreciate his value here.

I think Toews turns 29 this week. A back injury could explain his play but being Captain of high performing team in a huge market has elevated his status far beyond his on ice accomplishments. He might improve a bit but you can't expect much more. Hossa, and all your defense core are on the wrong side of 30. Unless you pull a Panarin type find for your D I can't see your team getting much better. Possibly miss playoffs next year?
- VopatsRash

I remember when I had my first beer too.

if there has been a country club culture...it did no manifest itself negatively during an 82 game season with 8 rookies in and out of the line-up...so we are to accept this culture is a major reason for the blow out vs the preds after the season

not buying it...
- bogiedoc

Losing is one thing, how you lose is another and excepting/expecting losing before the series is over is yet another thing.... Someone posted this a few days back and I'm just listening now, I'm only 1/3 in. Good podcast from The Athletic. Pay attention at the 5:45 mark. https://soundcloud.com/th...podcast-playoff-episode-4

Losing is one thing, how you lose is another and excepting/expecting losing before the series is over is yet another thing.... Someone posted this a few days back and I'm just listening now, I'm only 1/3 in. Good podcast from The Athletic. Pay attention at the 5:45 mark. https://soundcloud.com/th...podcast-playoff-episode-4
- Mr Ricochet

Love that the beats talk about things they would never put in print and are much more open about what they think the issues are. They have access and visibility we never will, even if they are usually on McD's short leash.

Love that the beats talk about things they would never put in print and are much more open about what they think the issues are. They have access and visibility we never will, even if they are usually on McD's short leash.
- pdx2ord

At the 14:50 mark, "Toews is the captain but Seabs is the beating heart of the room"!!!

Where the Hawks have made their biggest mistakes in my opinion are

Poor drafting and asset management in the last 3 years - You want back the 1st you gave up for Vermette and the 1st you gave up for Laad, and you needed to turn those picks into future producing players

Paying Seabrook instead of trading him for cheap assets and picks when he was at top value (Edmonton was so stupid once and had so much youth and desperation for a top pairing Dman they were ripe for fleecing) - Use this money that was saved to pay Saad and you don't go down the Anisimov 4.5 million NMC road

Probably could have done better on the Patrick Sharp trade by doing it a year earlier, but was was on your 2015 cup team to thats a tough call.

Paying guys like Bickell, who end up costing guys like TT just to get rid of (Speaking of TT, if you were willing to move on from him earleir, he was the centerpiece the Nucks wanted in a Kesler deal, that would have reshaped your center position significantly, also avoided the Anisimov situation)

Asset Management, and StanBo is very poor at it
- RoloTahmasee

this type of post will drive me to early summer retreat from this blog...my goodness no context for these moves is offered...just an opinion they didn't work out therefore "poor asset management.

1. Vermette: acquired due to the cap space afforded by kanes shoulder injury to increase center and faceoff depth and go for a deep playoff run...it paid off.

2. Ladd: reacquired for the forward depth and gave toews a left wing

3. Seab: rewarded for playoff and cup contributions; the term at his age was/is a risk..but please tell me who they had to replace him?...he is the biggest heaviest dman they had and they still have no replacement in the system and dmen can stay productive longer than forwards

4. bicks was coming off a very cheap 2nd contract and had a monster CS worthy playoff in 2013; if anything he should have been extended earlier but they rolled the dice and he won...no problem with the contract at the time; i guess stanbow should have been prophetic to see that knee and other physical issues would begin to impact bickel's performance; yes it was costly to move his contract and add TT just to get rid of it; however TT is an RFA now and was most likely included because of that (that probably could afford to keep him) and his overall soft performance; TT had 7 more points with the canes than he did the previous year not much of an improvement for getting 1st and 2nd line minutes and more pp time...yes tough to move a talented 21-22 year old...oh well..lets see what he resigns for...with that production I guess 3-4 mildo over 3 years is about right...sorry hawks could not afford this

5. seriously kesler signed a 7 yr contract ext in 2014-15 that started in 2015-16 for 7 years at 6.8 per year...so your willing to dump seabs early to avoid a similar contract but bemoan not getting a 31 year old kesler for a 21 year old TT...wow..in addition the hawks could not afford that kesler cap hit...the ducks are stuck with it...and good for them

6: draft picks: the hawks have been picking a the bottom of the 1st round for almost 10 years; no Mcdavids down there: there drafts have produced kruger, saad, shaw, denault (that was a tough trade for two bum and done forwards), hartman, hayes (who went to the rangers as a FA)
(who elected FA and went to the rangers

I'm really curious which direction the Blackhawks go this off season. I should say that I don't dislike anyone on the season ending roster, I enjoy cheering for all of them.

If recent history tells me anything, they'll do less than I want them to do. That's been true of the past two off seasons and trade deadlines. Teams need some turnover throughout the roster each year just to keep the guys hungry. This team looked complacent in the playoffs, that's a problem.

It seems most likely that 19 and 88 are staying. 81 & 2 as well because of the recapture penalties. I hope they keep Crawford. Like JJ said in this blog, he's one of a few that showed up in the playoffs this year (81 was another.)

That leaves 15, 72, 16, 7, and 4 as the remaining core. I think at least two of them needs to be moved, including one of the two defensemen. I wouldn't mind if they were all replaced, honestly. Those 5 guys have a $24.6m combined cap hit next year. With the top two salaries on the roster eating $21m of cap space, that $24.6m needs to spread across 7 or 8 productive players. The one I'd most like to keep is Hammer, because I think produces the most value versus his contract.

I'd try to get one or two guys who have some term at a reasonable rate. I'd also be open to rentals like JVR or Bozak. Definitely need to get stronger down the middle.

Keep some but not all of the younger guys: Schmalz, Hartman, Motte, Hino, Forsling, etc. but no need to keep them all. To make some hockey trades that bring back talent when what you are offering are generally over paid players, you need to add value some place.

Bring back Panik and Kempny. They are both only 26 and still getting better; hopefully sign them on the cheap.

At the 14:50 mark, "Toews is the captain but Seabs is the beating heart of the room"!!!
- Mr Ricochet

Then the heart needs an ICD implanted....

I loved Hartman his year. Agitator, finishing ability both physically and putting the puck past the goalie. Fantastic season and blew away my expectations...BUT, Stan needs to fill the 4D position and you don't get a quality Playoff ready (or close) Top 4 dman for Pokka and Motte....sell high maybe on either one of Panik, Schmaltz, or Hartman!
- EnzoD

No

Hawks go play in the KHL. I'd bet my entire life savings (not much thank you Ohio State University!) they'd win at least one game in the KHL playoffs with the same roster and level of play they showed against the stomach vile yellow (absolutely awful jersey) Predators!


Edit: Lol idk what happens man but they played like they need an International Ice Surface.

Legit question, can Datsyuk come back to the NHL this year or next? 40 yr old Datsyuk is probably still better than Anisimov...lol
- EnzoD

Include Toews in that assessment
Our number 1 center looks to now have the skillset of a number 3 center and is paid as a top 5 player in the league

Some things Stan should consider into the off-season...

1. Anisimov must go. Granted he plays well with Panarin and Kane, the lack of faceoff ability and non-existent defense was vital, especially in the Nashville series. I would try anything to trade him. Somewhere like Calgary in which we can get a return of someone like Oliver Kylington, a 19 year old defenseman who hasn't had the chance to to crack the Flames' lineup but could definitely get a chance in Chicago.

2. Get a max return in a trade-and-sign deal for a package of Panik and Pokka. You can easily get a 2nd/3rd/prospect in return, especially from a team like New Jersey, who outside of Palmieri, is lacking at RW. John Quenneville and Nick Lappin as a possible prospect return along with draft picks.

3. Sign Brian Boyle. Someone who has won over 50% of his faceoffs throughout his career and could provide size and grit that is sorely lacking in the forward department. While he isn't a fan favorite, we could pick him up for around 2 million if Anisimov is traded and could slide in as a 3C or 4C.

4. Do everything you can to not let TVR go to Vegas. Which means probably sending Kruger and either a 3rd or 4th rounder to Vegas to suffice that. TVR was probably the best defenseman outside of Keith vs Nashville and he's become pivotal as the season wore on.

5. Break up Kane and Panarin once and for all, sign Shalunov to an ELC and have him play with Panarin while Kane goes back to the right side of Toews. Having Panarin, Kane, and Hossa on three seperate lines i believe is the right way to go.

6. Re-Sign Jurco for 800k or less. He started playing more comfortably and feisty towards the end of the year, he knows the system, can play on the bottom-6 and put up 20-25 points next year.

7. Sign either Keith Kinkaid or Anders Nilsson to 1-mil or less deals to backup Crawford. Darling is gonna want 4-mil and will probably jump ship. He'll be unattainable.

8. Kero moving to 2C on the depth chart. He plays a good possession game with defensive ability. Play only got better as the year went on.

9. DeBrincat starting the year with us, on a line with Hossa. Who better than to play alongside one of the best RW's of all time.

10. Sign Deryk Engelland to a 1-1.5mil deal. Need some more size and a defensive-defenseman on the back end. He's durable and provides toughness thats sorely lacking.

So with that said, lineup heading into next year...

Schmaltz/Toews/Kane
Panarin/Kero/Shalunov
DeBrincat/Boyle/Hossa
Hartman/Hinostroza/Jurco/Hayden/Motte
Tootoo and either Jurco/Hayden/Motte sit.

Keith/TVR
Kylington/Seabrook
Engelland/Hammer
Roszival and Forsling sit

Crow
Nilsson/Kinkaid.

Criticize away.
- chitownfan92

1. Play him in position - Left Wing
2. No nepotism, thing Q is bad with favorites (Soupy, TVR) just wait...
3. No $ avaliable
4. The opposite, I'll buy him a bus ticket
5. Not the issue, the whole team laid an egg... they need playoff stars not regular season beauty queens. Panarian is not the answer in the playoffs
6. Frack no - he uses Panik's 2015 stick, it has a hand grenade on the end of it
7. Crawford plus one of those = 7M, Darling +one of those 5.5M seems a better choice to me
8. nope - needs a year yet for top 6
9. Someone who is >5'6" and will win board battles
10. On Engllands last contract... "On the bright side, now no one will mess with the Flames when Engelland's on the ice, which means their third and fourth lines are going to be very well-protected." Harrison Mooney - yup thats the ticket...

A fine speech. But it's just a speech. I'm not being critical of Stan for saying the things he said because he said the right things, and really, what else could he have done the day after the Hawks whimpered out of the playoffs? But it's still just words.

Here's the thing - I'm not sure it's in Stan's DNA to make bold changes if it were even easy to make bold changes, let alone as painted into a corner as he is. He really doesn't have any easy options with which to make the changes required to put the Hawks back into contention next season. The Hawks have assets they can trade but all of them have warts, be it either high cap hits or cap hits too low to help the Hawks, age and/or declining production, and the NMC/NTC clause complications.

So what's a GM to do? First, make a fine speech. OK, so that's done. Second ... now what?

BOTTOM LINE...the BIGGEST problem with the Hawks is the fact that they OVERPAID for Kane and Toews...also OVERPAID Seabrook...also OVERPAID Crawford...too much money spent...no cap room. Now we will lose Darling who arguable COULD be better than Crawford, he sure moves quicker...has a bigger body...and doesn't misplay the puck nearly as often as Crow does. There really isn't a viable move that can be made since Bowman has handed out no movement clauses like they are M&M's Can't do a tear down because of the aforementioned sentence. The Hawks have got to figure something out because both of the 10 million dollar players are closing in on 30 years old...the core is now too old and it can't be changed.

BOTTOM LINE...the BIGGEST problem with the Hawks is the fact that they OVERPAID for Kane and Toews...also OVERPAID Seabrook...also OVERPAID Crawford...too much money spent...no cap room. Now we will lose Darling who arguable COULD be better than Crawford, he sure moves quicker...has a bigger body...and doesn't misplay the puck nearly as often as Crow does. There really isn't a viable move that can be made since Bowman has handed out no movement clauses like they are M&M's Can't do a tear down because of the aforementioned sentence. The Hawks have got to figure something out because both of the 10 million dollar players are closing in on 30 years old...the core is now too old and it can't be changed.
- Chisoxhawk

and what would you have done AT THE TIME...

by what standard are they overpaid...usually the comparison is made to crosby/malkin with a 8.7 cap hit...however crosbys contract was inked prior to the CBA; a 12 year $104 mildo...toews and kane signed for 8 under the new CBA for a total 84 mildo

who is overpaid? yes crosby has a lower cap hit but 20 mildo more over the term

getzlaf and perry were the 1st set of top players to sign under the new CBA for 8 years for 66 mildo and a cap hit of 8.25 both are now in there early 30's with diminshing performace...

based on these contracts you might have a case T/K were given about 1 mildo per than the market dictated; but they had just entered their prime and won 2 cups with the 3rd in the expiration year of the their prior contract

I remember when I had my first beer too.
- howiehandles

Howie with a big left hook.

Anyone else watching the Caps game?

There is no way we would have beaten them...

A fine speech. But it's just a speech. I'm not being critical of Stan for saying the things he said because he said the right things, and really, what else could he have done the day after the Hawks whimpered out of the playoffs? But it's still just words.

Here's the thing - I'm not sure it's in Stan's DNA to make bold changes if it were even easy to make bold changes, let alone as painted into a corner as he is. He really doesn't have any easy options with which to make the changes required to put the Hawks back into contention next season. The Hawks have assets they can trade but all of them have warts, be it either high cap hits or cap hits too low to help the Hawks, age and/or declining production, and the NMC/NTC clause complications.

So what's a GM to do? First, make a fine speech. OK, so that's done. Second ... now what?
- EbonyRaptor

Bravo!

Anyone else watching the Caps game?

There is no way we would have beaten them...
- RedRevenge

probably would not beat the leafs and the caps gave the hawks the biggest beat down of the year 6 - 0

these games and series are so tight...they are puck flips which way does the puck bounce at any given time

the equilizer squeeks through by about 6 inches...

I remember when I had my first beer too.
- howiehandles

Well I'm sure you predicted the Hawks in 5 or plotted out ways for the Hawks to comeback down 3-0.

You have to figure the Jets are going to get real good, real quick with all those stud young players. The Stars with Hitchcock are a goalie away from being good again (?Bishop). Blues, Preds, Wild should stay competitive.

Hocks are in salary cap jail, are going to lose Darling who I think was an unsung hero on your team, the core of the team is aging quickly , and you have a GM whose answer to fix problems is to find old former Hawks who want to come back cheaper. Not too much of a stretch, especially with an injury to Kane or Keith for you to have to fight to make the playoffs

Even if the Preds fall on their face against the Blues they will have at least tied for their best season ever. Throw in a historic wonderful victory over a team that beat them twice in the playoffs previously there really is no losing this year. Just going to enjoy whatever happens, all is good.

probably would not beat the leafs and the caps gave the hawks the biggest beat down of the year 6 - 0

these games and series are so tight...they are puck flips which way does the puck bounce at any given time

the equilizer squeeks through by about 6 inches...
- bogiedoc

Toronto has themselves a really nice player in Mathews, big talented guy, with speed, hands and a sniper to boot. I know McDavid oozes talent but guys like Mathews score goals in playoff games which is hard to do.

And with that the Caps bury the Leafs.

And with that the Caps bury the Leafs.
- RedRevenge

damn...they gave the caps a helluva battle...woulda luved to see a G7...

oh canada: started with 4; 2 advance

the pre-lockout feel has returned...tons of clutching and grabbing, interference, blatant trips and crosschecks, almost never called. None of it favors any team, but it makes for boring hockey. Lets open the ice up by calling penalties.