I've thought about a potential Crawford + for Price + trade too. It doesn't help the cap situation next season but it could help after that. There's a lot of variables too. What to the Hawks do for goaltending after next season? If they re-sign Price then what's the point of the trade? Can Darling be kept about for one year on a cheap deal before cashing in with a big deal in Chicago? It's an idea worth exploring, but not simple by any means.

If the Hawks are going to lose Darling I think the best option would be for Vegas to sign him during the week (?) the have exclusive rights to talk to other team's UFAs. The team would lose Darling as they would have, but he counts as an expansion pick for the Hawks and TvR is safe.
- DarthKane

I guess I should've said keeping Price out of the deal and let them trade him elsewhere and the Hawks resign Darling.

I guess I should've said keeping Price out of the deal and let them trade him elsewhere and the Hawks resign Darling.
- dciz99

Agreed. If we can keep Darling at a reasonable salary, I would rather move CC and try to use that money on D help or another forward.

Kruger is playing for Sweden at the World Championship but Hjalmarsson is not.

Without a doubt 34 is the greatest. Interesting stat.. his playoff numbers were below average.
- z1990z

They were true but he had only 9 games and more than half were 84-87. Teams usually went out of their way to stop him. He had NO chance against Dallas in 77. And in 1979 loss to Philly he had an 80 yard run called back on a bad call (right, PowerEnforcer?) ... 84 against the Niners? No chance...Fuller at QB against a brtual Niners team...in 86 and 87 playoffs he was at the end.

He just didn't get enough good, legit swings at it. He was a victim of circumstances.

In the end, the playoffs generally exposes weaknesses and against the teams the Bears were playing they needed more to help Walter. He did run well in 79 and 84 (at least against Washington).

Post season is still a team thing. This is what hurt Walter. Had that 85 team "come around" 5 years sooner they wreck the NFL for years, but by then Walter was fading out and Ditka became a circus clown.

They were true but he had only 9 games and more than half were 84-87. Teams usually went out of their way to stop him. He had NO chance against Dallas in 77. And in 1979 loss to Philly he had an 80 yard run called back on a bad call (right, PowerEnforcer?) ... 84 against the Niners? No chance...Fuller at QB against a brtual Niners team...in 86 and 87 playoffs he was at the end.

He just didn't get enough good, legit swings at it. He was a victim of circumstances.

In the end, the playoffs generally exposes weaknesses and against the teams the Bears were playing they needed more to help Walter. He did run well in 79 and 84 (at least against Washington).

Post season is still a team thing. This is what hurt Walter. Had that 85 team "come around" 5 years sooner they wreck the NFL for years, but by then Walter was fading out and Ditka became a circus clown.
- kwolf68

Biggest failure? Not getting Sweetness a TD in the Super Bowl. They had many chances down on the goal line for an over the top Sweetness hop. Nope. 9 and 72 get them. That was a shame.

Sanders was talented and exciting, but not as good as Payton either, at least not as an all around player. Barry lost too many yards too often. Sometimes it's good to just punch it in there and get 3 yards. Barry was also useless on the goalline. Barry also had Lomas Brown and Kevin Glover blocking for him, it's a myth he had no one blocking for him. Walter had LITERALLY NO ONE blocking for him. Noah Jackson was a solid pro, but that's about it.

And then having Perriman and Herman Moore as your receivers? Yea, Detroit had crummy QB play, but the Bears had Brian Bashnagel and Golden Richards as receivers...Vince Evans, Mike Phipps and Bob Avellini at QB.

Payton had virtually NO advantages and still did what he did. Truly amazing football player.

Yes, by the time 84 rolled around the Bears had built up the Bruise Brothers offensive line (that was a nasty offensive line), had added some outside speed and found a franchise QB (when healthy), but by then Walter had been in the game 10 years.

Payton = Greatest Ever.
- kwolf68

Hey, I like Walter better too. If I'd had a choice though of who would have broken his record, I'd rather have Barry and a lot of it had to do with the reasons you mentioned why I don't think Emmitt was better.

Like you mentioned, he was running behind a line that opened holes you and I could run through.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. I took a Hawks implosion scenario vacation.....although I did find the presser interesting at locker room cleanout day.

--While Bowman talks a good game, lets not forget that McDonough may be the best in all of sports of gauging his fan base's pulse, so while I appreciated the zero acceptance of a "failure" of a season, and the stern look on Bowman's face......call me jaded, but for me actions speak louder then words. It's a good start, nothing more, nothing less.

--Toews/Keith not giving everyone in Canada in a hard on and skipping the worlds, tells me they are banged up. Apparently not severe per Joel, but enough to skip it. Lets hope BOTH put in the wrong not only to get their bodies/games right, but their minds as well.

--Kane is becoming more and more polished off the ice as he is on it. Great quote, no BS guy, and reminds me a bit of JR. Love it. I know this kid will come back guns blazing and with more in his arsenal for the 2017-18 season.

--I agree with 6628 re Darling. He looked like he knew he was gone, so that tells me Crawford isn't moving, which I find surprising. Usually you deal from a strength and the Hawks have one in net, but maybe Darling wants money and the actual savings in trading CC vs signing Darling isn't enticing enough.

--I'd also keep an eye on Panik. that sounded like a guy who wants some money and maybe not a shoe in to be back.

--I found it interesting Bowman went out of his way to say Joel was his coach, and that they needed to work together moving forward to fix it. I would have hoped somebody in press would have pressed this by asking "haven't you always worked together previously" but of course.....just note takers, zero stones there.

--Q again posturing for a top LW much like he did last year for Shaw to stay here, so I am guessing this isn't happening.

--I have no idea who is staying or going but I think you could really make the case for everyone outside 88/19/4/2. I think 4 is included because he is your PURE defensive defensemen and the rest are self explanatory.

--I still find it hilarious Foley was ALL OVER AA during game 4, when the guy came back from a decent foot injury and was all off 3 games in......yet failed to rip anyone else. I am done with Foley. He is a clown and a cheerleader and nobody is more a puppet then him. I will enjoy NON Hawk telecast Eddie O who is very subjective, fair, and not worried giving shout outs or talking about his wife's baking abilities. Somewhere, Foley is still kissing Eddie's O @ss thinking he's on air.

Big summer ahead.....hawks used the word changes, and said there will be some. When you put yourself out there, you better deliver. I get a feeling the wheels are in high gear to line up potential moves, so Hawks can own the buzz at the host for the draft....IMO you need a young, big, quick top 6 player, and a quick Leddy-esq D man......as a start.

Dangle Hartman, dangle TVR, dangle Kruger...but you need to get younger, bigger, and faster quickly.

Biggest failure? Not getting Sweetness a TD in the Super Bowl. They had many chances down on the goal line for an over the top Sweetness hop. Nope. 9 and 72 get them. That was a shame.
- z1990z

Oh god yea...don't get me started. Perry had NO BUSINESS getting that 1 yard TD. Unreal. Foolish. I was totally fine rolling out Fridge to shove it down Walsh's throat in that 49er game and absolutely do it to the friggin Packers (there were few scummier teams than the Forest Gregg Packers in the 1980s, what a bush league team)...I think Perry caught a TD v. GBay on Monday night football, but after that end it...just play football and let Perry make tackles and let Walter do what he did, run the pig.

Payton deserved that moment for what he had done for so long for Chicago.

I know everyone is very high on Toronto right now, but I think they are still multiple steps away from being a serious cup contender. No matter the spin coming from the media. that looked like a Caps team making taking them for granted and a team with a history of imploding.........

I would expect a more determined Caps team vs Sidney this round which will be can't miss hockey for yours truly. I also will be very excited to see STL vs Nash.

I hope Edmonton can knock off Anaheim as I despise Corey Perry maybe more then any player in the nHL.

And I could care less about NYR or Ottawa. The winner will be waxed in the conference final, so does it matter?

Hey, I like Walter better too. If I'd had a choice though of who would have broken his record, I'd rather have Barry and a lot of it had to do with the reasons you mentioned why I don't think Emmitt was better.

Like you mentioned, he was running behind a line that opened holes you and I could run through.
- HawkintheD

Oh don't get me wrong I like Barry a lot. Class guy and a fun player to watch. But Walter was so much fun to watch. Dude is getting pounded and he's laughing and smiling, doing cartwheels on the field. He had a special drive.

But Gale Sayers was also brilliant and NO player had a worse go...he played for arguably the worst teams in Bears history, suffered a serious knee injury, career shortened. I understand that Gale is not doing well health wise. Too sad...

GRRRRRRR


STAN SMASH

Its been a long time.

The hawks did not just lose, they got smoked.

JJ's best line, "the country club atmosphere needs to go away". Hit the nail on the head. A sense of entitlement has descended upon the hawks.

Evidence, Kane regarding Nashville style of play and entertainment value. Tone deaf to the sad display his "more entertaining" brand of hockey played out on the ice.

Toews - Love the guy and what he has done, but one thing is for sure at this point, he struggles to make players better around him. Since Saad left he has been lost and inconsistent.

The good news is there is a model for hawks to follow. Look at Penguins after big Malkin and Crosby deals.

See how they constructed their teams. Look at any competitive team and you will see SPEED. We go the other direction, thanks to Q's preference. Rosival, Oduya, Rasmusen, Van Reemsdyk.

Anyways, enjoy the summer.

Its been a long time.

The hawks did not just lose, they got smoked.

JJ's best line, "the country club atmosphere needs to go away". Hit the nail on the head. A sense of entitlement has descended upon the hawks.

Evidence, Kane regarding Nashville style of play and entertainment value. Tone deaf to the sad display his "more entertaining" brand of hockey played out on the ice.

Toews - Love the guy and what he has done, but one thing is for sure at this point, he struggles to make players better around him. Since Saad left he has been lost and inconsistent.

The good news is there is a model for hawks to follow. Look at Penguins after big Malkin and Crosby deals.

See how they constructed their teams. Look at any competitive team and you will see SPEED. We go the other direction, thanks to Q's preference. Rosival, Oduya, Rasmusen, Van Reemsdyk.

Anyways, enjoy the summer.
- TrueGrit

For sure thought you were dead

For sure thought you were dead
- BlazinMike

Been blessed wit ha lot of work and kid activities.

Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Stan makes move ,by Mike

Mike Kitchen has been fired.

Kitch is out

Mike Kitchen has been fired.
- Jason Millen

Just announced on the Score.

It's a start. Dineen next?

Coaches out, some players will soon follow.

Been blessed wit ha lot of work and kid activities.

Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.
- TrueGrit

Admit it, you missed me.

The Hawks need cost controlled depth forwards, that's exactly what Hartman and Schmaltz are. Plus, what would you expect in return for those guy? Shaw landed 2 second round picks, those guys will return considerably less.

Schmaltz disappointed in the playoffs, but he's worth keeping around and have him continue his development. I read that Hartman was sporting a cast after the playoffs, that explains why his performance dropped off. I picture Hartman as a consistent 15-20 goal scorer, let's keep him.

Panik could be the odd man out based on his contract situation. He could be dealt to get help on defense. I don't think Panik (or any of the other guys you mentioned) will bring back a top 4 defenseman, but Stan might be able to get a 3rd pairing guy with potential.
- DarthKane

Anybody else want to seek revenge against Perry?

It's a start. Dineen next?
- TommyHawk

Firing asst. coaches is a minor move. As can be seen with all the coaching changes over the last 7 years, Kompon, Haviland, Torchetti, etc. the systems and philosophies come from Q. Very little has changed in their PK or PP style over the years for a reason. Swapping assistant coaches is just a message being sent, maybe from the FO to Q, that stuff has to change.

Mike Kitchen has been fired.
- Jason Millen

yawn

I know everyone is very high on Toronto right now, but I think they are still multiple steps away from being a serious cup contender. No matter the spin coming from the media. that looked like a Caps team making taking them for granted and a team with a history of imploding.........

I would expect a more determined Caps team vs Sidney this round which will be can't miss hockey for yours truly. I also will be very excited to see STL vs Nash.

I hope Edmonton can knock off Anaheim as I despise Corey Perry maybe more then any player in the nHL.

And I could care less about NYR or Ottawa. The winner will be waxed in the conference final, so does it matter?
- SteveRain

The Maple Leafs incurred a lot of injuries after last nights game patting each other on the back for how they had a great season and pushed Washington to 5 OT games. Talk about a love in between themselves and with the press.

But if anybody watched the latter part of the 3rd period and the OT, the Leafs were out of fuel and their kids couldn't provide anything in the way of offence or puck possession. The men's league guys finally decided to start playing and it was only Anderson that kept the game going as long as it did.

The good thing for the Leafs is that Babcock is a hard nosed realist, he knows who on his team can really play when it counts and who can't. I sure hope Q can demonstrate the same evaluation skills and pass it on to Stanbo. Enough already of these guys STan drafts and recruits from the non contact leagues.

One kid that can play is Auston Mathews, he's gonna really be something going forward and right up there with Crosby and McDavid.