I hate Corey Crawford...... what other gm in in the league would pay him six million per?!?!? No one... of course he is going to reject any trade...

His two cups are a product of the teams in front of him..... Niemi won the cup

Pens PP looks worse than ours.
- walleyeb1

were not good in that period...late goal making 3-1 is a killer...

ah well hooray subban at least for this day...

I hate Corey Crawford...... what other gm in in the league would pay him six million per?!?!? No one... of course he is going to reject any trade...

His two cups are a product of the teams in front of him..... Niemi won the cup
- bigfly46

wrong! hate is irrational and unbecoming but carry on

I hate Corey Crawford...... what other gm in in the league would pay him six million per?!?!? No one... of course he is going to reject any trade...

His two cups are a product of the teams in front of him..... Niemi won the cup
- bigfly46

Pavalec will be a free agent this summer, Stan should sign him to the the #1. If Niemi can win a Cup so can Pavalec.

On goalie Cal Peterson. If the Hawks can sign him. It would be like a free late 1st or 2nd round pick. With Wouter Petrers already in the system this would be a real coup.

Hawks might have two solid stoppers down the road. Obviously Cal is a few years ahead of Wouter development wise.
- Omahawk

Playing this scenario out and assuming both Peterson and Peeters (nice ring to it when you type their names next to each other) develop soundly, then Crawford could have Peterson as a backup for a few years until Crawford is run down. By then Peeters could step in as a backup with Peterson being promoted to #1.

Who knows, Crawford could play until he's 40 like other high-end goalies. But at least we're starting to see a glimpse of hope for a goalie pipeline, especially with Darling a Cane now.

Wiz. Are you of the belief that either Kero or Rasmussen can replace Kruger ?

Also count me as glad if TVR is gone. He was awful in the St Louis first round loss in 2016 and is just way overrated and overplayed by Q
- Omahawk

I know you asked Wiz the question, but my take is that Kruger is as good as gone and either Kero or Rasmussen will need to replace him regardless as either 3C or 4C. I personally would not want both of them as bottom-6 centers and think at least one pivot needs to be a more rugged veteran who can win draws and be a pain in the rear to play against. Kruger at his peak is a royal pain but neither Kero nor Rasmussen have that "rat" persona that Kruger and Bolland have/had.

I'm not a huge van Riemsdyk fan but I could go either way with him: not a big deal if he's still on the team this fall or if he's gone in the off season. He's fine if he's playing a limited role and plays within his means. One thing that boggled my mind was why/how he got regular PP time.

Digging on a rumor involving a core Hawk. Bit of a surprise if true, but not a huge one. Need to get secondary corroboration, would be kind of a big deal. Stay tuned.
- John Jaeckel

Playing this scenario out and assuming both Peterson and Peeters (nice ring to it when you type their names next to each other) develop soundly, then Crawford could have Peterson as a backup for a few years until Crawford is run down. By then Peeters could step in as a backup with Peterson being promoted to #1.

Who knows, Crawford could play until he's 40 like other high-end goalies. But at least we're starting to see a glimpse of hope for a goalie pipeline, especially with Darling a Cane now.
- AEL_Fox

Yeah, the very fact that Peterson saw the care the Blackhawks took in their tuleage of Hinostroza and became friendly with those visitors have a bit to due with his current interest in playing in the Chicago system and the fact that there is an opening as a back up may be the carrot to him signing here.

Peeters is actually a bit farther away very raw and still working to build a game.
And Peterson was a build a bear that finally started to show a major jump this last college season.

Yeah, I think Corey knows the door is open to stay, if he doesn't expect any big raises, and has only gotten better in his prep, and in his play down low and I can't say there has been drop off in his game that we saw in Carey Price's set up/ react times that certainly seemed diminished in this injury plagued season, but maybe that was it.

Most Hawks D didn't get credit for nearly as many takeaways and a lot of them gave it away a lot more frequently. I think it shows some of the struggles of the D moving the puck, but also paints a picture that they need more support from the forwards. Not to knock guys like Panarin (for example) but he doesn't replace Sharp or Saad defensively on LW. I'm hoping the Hawks are considering some of this in terms of getting some guys who can forecheck better and apply that back pressure and maybe another D who can skate the puck out of danger.
- breadbag

I said it the other day here, when the backside pressure from the forwards started disappearing (probaby because they were tanked from their offensive attack activities that didn't render scores) the defenseman were left to contend with so many quick ins.

Hey Wiz, I always enjoy reading your site come draft time. I was curious as to any opinions you had on Callan Foote that aren't included in your profile of him. As a big fan of his dad, I am already kind of bias, but what would you think if the Hawks traded up to get him?
- Hawksandhabs11

No, just no. He is definitely not worth trading up to get.

Why in gods name does everybody or a lot of people on this board want to trade Toews.He played hurt most of this year and the year before that Q used everybody and anybody on his line.They haven't found a replacement for Saad yet.The Hawks have to go get a lw with speed this off season and hopefully with a bit of grit.Toews can not continue to get abused like he has been.Why doesn't Bowman go get true 4th liners who gives the team energy and kills penalty's so the likes of Toews and Hossa doesn't have to anymore .The Hawks or should I say Q needs to manage his players better.Another thing,why did Keith play as much as he did last year when we had 6 decent defenseman ?
- Tatoo

Yeah, he is always "hurt" when he struggles. Personally think he doesn't take his off-season seriously enough or whatever he is doing doesn't translate into hockey shape.

Toews is being paid the highest contract in the league to make the players around him better not the other way around. The reality is Toews has always been the 3rd best player on the Hawks behind Kane and Keith.

Yeah, he is always "hurt" when he struggles. Personally think he doesn't take his off-season seriously enough or whatever he is doing doesn't translate into hockey shape.

Toews is being paid the highest contract in the league to make the players around him better not the other way around. The reality is Toews has always been the 3rd best player on the Hawks behind Kane and Keith.
- TTtime

You're being way too kind. I sometimes wonder if he's lost the locker room.

I hate Corey Crawford...... what other gm in in the league would pay him six million per?!?!? No one... of course he is going to reject any trade...

His two cups are a product of the teams in front of him..... Niemi won the cup
- bigfly46

6M for 6Y - as idiotic a contract as has ever been. And can we please stop talking about Crawford as an elite goalie - outside of Chicago Crawford is considered average at best. He had been schooled over and over again by other goalies. In the Nashville series there was one goalie Rinne and one sieve.

I hate Corey Crawford...... what other gm in in the league would pay him six million per?!?!? No one... of course he is going to reject any trade...

His two cups are a product of the teams in front of him..... Niemi won the cup
- bigfly46

However, save "hate" for people like child rapists

Or Buffalo where he was the GM.
- 6628

Let's just ignore his opportunistic times in Montreal, Detroit and Pittsburgh

Yeah, he is always "hurt" when he struggles. Personally think he doesn't take his off-season seriously enough or whatever he is doing doesn't translate into hockey shape.

Toews is being paid the highest contract in the league to make the players around him better not the other way around. The reality is Toews has always been the 3rd best player on the Hawks behind Kane and Keith.
- TTtime

Toews is supposed to make those he plays with better. It gets tiring to hear Foley and Edzo and others constantly make excuses. At some point fans are allowed to scream "Earn your 10.5M!". Toews makes 10.5 freakin' million dollars a season. Shouldn't he be expected to perform like Crosby, OV, Karlsson and Kane? Also I never want to hear again that Toews' line is the "First Line" - what a joke.

Toews is supposed to make those he plays with better. It gets tiring to hear Foley and Edzo and others constantly make excuses. At some point fans are allowed to scream "Earn your 10.5M!". Toews makes 10.5 freakin' million dollars a season. Shouldn't he be expected to perform like Crosby, OV, Karlsson and Kane? Also I never want to hear again that Toews' line is the "First Line" - what a joke.
- Z3Hawk

Says the hockey fan that knows NOTHING about hockey.

Go back to whining about the Bears and Cubs - your lack of knowledge about hockey is old.

Toews is supposed to make those he plays with better. It gets tiring to hear Foley and Edzo and others constantly make excuses. At some point fans are allowed to scream "Earn your 10.5M!". Toews makes 10.5 freakin' million dollars a season. Shouldn't he be expected to perform like Crosby, OV, Karlsson and Kane? Also I never want to hear again that Toews' line is the "First Line" - what a joke.
- Z3Hawk

One thing I hate about this salary cap era is that players are more often judged by their contracts. I don´t think that Toews never was worth of 10,5 million or that no one is worth that much. We should expect more of him of course and I´m sure he is feeling the same way more than we do, but he is still very good hockey player. He has done so much for this organisation that maybe in future Hawks fans will give the credit that he deserves of.

But if Hawks want to win with this core their best players must be even better. You just don´t loose your skills like that (at Toews age if you´re healthy) but you might loose your confidence and that´ll effect your game. Sure you could loose your drive and will but I´m not buying that in this case.

Let´s all hope Toews can bounce back from two sub-par seasons. Blackhawks need that more than anything to succeed.

6M for 6Y - as idiotic a contract as has ever been. And can we please stop talking about Crawford as an elite goalie - outside of Chicago Crawford is considered average at best. He had been schooled over and over again by other goalies. In the Nashville series there was one goalie Rinne and one sieve.
- Z3Hawk

The number don't lie, he is top 7 in the league with two cups.

The number don't lie, he is top 7 in the league with two cups.
- riozzo

Yes but that's only because of the team in front of him playing great defense.

Yes but that's only because of the team in front of him playing great defense.


- HawkintheD

So thats only true for Crawford? - ridiculous statement...

Man, after reading some of these posts, I feel like a lot us have really gone off the deep end here.

Let's face it, the issue here is not the big core, it's because the team lacks solid veteran depth.

We are sitting here pointing fingers at Toews (which is nuts IMO,) Craw (granted his salary is high, he is FAR from the issue,) and the like when in reality the problem is the Hawks don't have the depth. The core is great, but the depth is young and inexperienced or contains band aids.

Toews is worth his salary. He has been arguably the leagues top captain multiple seasons, has the cups to back that up, and has been the most integral piece the Hawks have. It's clear when he's not in the lineup, no matter what he puts on a stat sheet it greatly affects the team. Besides, the contracts seem crazy now, but just wait when Tavares and the like hit their second time around in free agency.

Unfortunately, in order to try to create that depth, the Hawks are going to have to move a piece or two. The Hawks don't have the cap to do it any other way, it's the nature of the cap era.

I'm excited (and nervous) to see what Stan Bo does. He just better not do another Sharp like deal.

I hate Corey Crawford...... what other gm in in the league would pay him six million per?!?!? No one... of course he is going to reject any trade...

His two cups are a product of the teams in front of him..... Niemi won the cup
- bigfly46

You are way off. While Crow's cap hit was hard [for me, at least] to swallow the first year, maybe two, he is becoming much more than just average value in the latter half of the deal. 2013 should have seen him with the Conn Smythe, not disrespecting Kaner. Crow helped get the 'Hawks back in the '14 WCF and was instrumental in the '15 run. Yes, Nemo was in the nets in the '10 win and he stood on his head in the WCF sweep over the Sharks. But he was a tad more of a benefactor of a rock-solid team defence than either of Crow's cup runs.

Take a look at the top 5, 6 or 7 starting goalie AAV's. You may just be surprised.

Yes but that's only because of the team in front of him playing great defense.


- HawkintheD

Exactly. That's we Stan should dump that bum Crawford and sign the real deal - Ondrej Pavelec..

If this team can win with a loser like Crawford then they'll do much better with a winner like Pavelec.

Yes but that's only because of the team in front of him playing great defense.


- HawkintheD