So thinking about the marketing aspect if EKane is traded to Chicago. Would PKane have a P added to his jersey? Would all the stores that have Kane jerseys, shirts, etc need to be recalled so they (NHL) can sell P. Kane jerseys? Just think of all the "new" merchandise that can be sold.
- powerenforcer

That's hysterical.....great point. ..maybe that McDonough is a genius after all.
I was convinced that they'd never acquire him... not so sure now.
Thanks for the chuckle.

Yeah i just signed up the other day. Seems like the first sports site worth paying for. Time will tell. They usually let you read about 5 articles before blocking you. Try clearing your cookies. That may let you in.
- Quicky72

Signed up for it when Scott Powers started the hockey coverage and it was just Chicago sports. If you sign up you het access to all the coverage. For hockey that's CHI, CBJ, TOR, DET so far.

EDIT: coverage is great articles every day - many days during season more than one. Powers covers prospects pretty well too. And they've added a fancy stats guy, video breakdowns and guest columns by Hedger.

Gagner for $3 MIL to play on the first line?

Say no more. I'm on it!
- Stan_Bowman

Dont forget the NMC young Stanley

Much like the NFL - Kane and Kane No initials
- riozzo

Nah......just add the "r".......he's Kaner to everbody anyway.

Not a fan of Gagner. Has talent, but turnovers and his defensive mishaps will drive Q to an early grave.
- 93Joe

The Hawks are not interested in Gagner as a 3rd or 4th line player as that simply doesn't make any sense financially. If they have true interest it is with the hope that the two former London Knights' linemates - Kane and Gagner - will gell when re-united. I thought this experiment would have/should have been tried years ago but better late than never I suppose

The Hawks are not interested in Gagner as a 3rd or 4th line player as that simply doesn't make any sense financially. If they have true interest it is with the hope that the two former London Knights' linemates - Kane and Gagner - will gell when re-united. I thought this experiment would have/should have been tried years ago but better late than never I suppose
- Z3Hawk

Gagner hindered by size, wheels and skating ability. Otherwise he's a good hockey player. Torts used him well last year, best he will likely ever be. He's a pass for me (and I hope Bowman too).

Much like the NFL - Kane and Kane No initials
- riozzo

I think we'd be able to tell them apart.

Much like the NFL - Kane and Kane No initials
- riozzo

The Sedins are D. Sedin and H. Sedin on their jerseys.

Gagner is going to want to get paid after taking a one year prove it deal with CBJ. He played well and someone will give him a 3 year deal worth 3-4 mil per. Sorry, cant see it happening.

Signed up for it when Scott Powers started the hockey coverage and it was just Chicago sports. If you sign up you het access to all the coverage. For hockey that's CHI, CBJ, TOR, DET so far.

EDIT: coverage is great articles every day - many days during season more than one. Powers covers prospects pretty well too. And they've added a fancy stats guy, video breakdowns and guest columns by Hedger.
- Marlowe

I've had the athletic since it was just Powers too. He kept writing stuffing wanted to read and it was only $40 a year. Never looked back. Get all Chicago sports, and now Toronto, Ohio, and Detroit.

JJ, what is the common trait shared by all of the depth D men that you've heard? Are they looking at savvy vets, youngsters with wheels, nasty....a mix of everything?

Bonino hasn't played top QOC in years, though. With PIT, his deployment was lower OZS (more NZS really) but against low QOC. Anisimov saw only slightly below Toews in terms of QOC (partially because Q didn't want to put some of the rotating rookies on Toews' LW against the highest of the high so they split time). Bonino also doesn't improve FO enough to make a big difference and he's not likely to repeat his goals again because his sh% was the highest it was in a few years last season. Cheaper is not always better imo.
- L_B_R

Thanks for the details...I stay out of those weeds.

Concerning the center position and the Hawks...they've been short in number and shallow on talent for years, so simply having bodies makes sense. This is also true when the cap prevents acquisition of high end players. IOW...if Gagne or perhaps Bonino, are willing to talk with the Hawks...

I'll take it.

Well it is Bowman's call. I would not be adamantly against two Kane bro's on the team. Who knows if he has a break out season. Or some nice stretches. Good opportunuty for E Kane to play for a contract. Life is full of chances. Maybe Bowman identifies with the words in the Kenny Loggins song, "The Gambler."
- jhawk59

Really? No one is gonna say anything about the Kenny Loggins rfeference?
Loggins will meet you halfway across the sky but it's Kenny Rogers that knows when to hold them and when to fold them.

Adrian Dater‏Verified account @adater 1h1 hour ago
More
I'm hearing the Hamonic-1st for Duchene rumor is NOT true.

Didn't trade Havlat. In fact, wanted to keep him and did not want Hossa. Hossa was a Scotty Bowman coup...as was Q
- PatShart

Hossa had nothing to do with Soctty Bowman. After Detroit chose to extend Franzzen in 2009, Hossa sought the Hawks out through his agent after evaluating teams with a younger group of players who gave him the best chance to win. Article is on google.

Quenneville WAS pushed through once Scotty sat and watched Savard try to run a training camp and alerted management he wasn't he long term solution.

Adrian Dater‏Verified account @adater 1h1 hour ago
More
I'm hearing the Hamonic-1st for Duchene rumor is NOT true.
- mrpaulish

IF that rumor came from Grusso........SHOCKING!!!!!!!!!

Same guy who claimed Hawks were listening on Kane.........

Posters have asked about a long term plan. I think the operating model of the Hawks and other teams has evolved. Right now the plan is to:
1) Sign your core group for the long term
2) Try to find high end bargains/values (Panik, Panarin, Darling). At the end of their first contract try to sign them to a reasonable short term contract leaving open the possibility of trading them off in a year or two.
3) Fill in the rest of your roster with young players, journeyman veterans, or players that want to take a discount to play for team that has a legitimate chance to win the cup.

We can argue about how much the the Hawk's situation has been exacerbated by overpaying Toews, Kane and Seabs. We can also argue the necessity of NMC/NTC's which limits the teams ability to reshape their roster on the fly.

But the operating model is sign the core and then every year figure on having to make some tough decisions on which players you want to lose.
- -Doh-

i totally agree that anyone who thinks Stan Bowman was supposed to low ball Toews Kane and every other piece after the first Cup doesn't see as true a picture as he was. You don't win and decide to nickel & dime the guys who got you there. Their representatives don't just handle Blackhawk players and they know the going rates, the comparables and the amicable road to keeping team and player close.
The CAP was pointing to continuing going upward at high rates and the various factors the Canadian dollar dropping saw Stan faced what he and others didn't thnk WOULD happen...the Cap cresting to close to a halt.
The hard choices started with the Ladd & Buff deparures and have never ended. it didn't take long for the rest of the league to realize the predicament and weren't offering handkerchives or quality returns to a championship team with a gun to it's head.
Al said it best on Sirius as players good players get the ntc options teams don't trade anybody but the guys who haven't got them built in to their deals.

They are trying to continue to make a run, and it seems clear they would like to get heavier but also know they need quicker. Their lack of budget can't accomodate their back up goalies, their bottom end guys and they are the vanguard team who must rely on farm prospects to be players, for Euro signees be players, and now at this juncture they are forced to trade key pieces where the return is two pieces with smaller deals. (hey each deal seems to place lots of pressure on the staff and the new trade returns to fit and I cannot begrudge Trevor Daley and Ryan Garbutt for not figuring out or Q for not being more patient with their play. That more times is likely, that the returns doest't fit, comes up short.
Imagine if ther was no Cap or there was on like Baseball's, you w, but uldn't be banging the keys ripping Bowmans contracts.

I guess I am sick of the sheet I hear from you guys about Bowman's trades Bowman's contracts, or his loyalty being skewed.

I know i probably couldn't have handled most parts of what he has had to do, and as much as I likee you guys would like to think this player or thes player IS actually available to acquired, there are only a handfull that are marketed. So when you go looking to trade with an idea of why you have to trade, and what you would like to ATTEMPT to get back in return, i am not sure it is an easy fit.
You want to trade Panarin? Find a partner that accomplishes you cap and return needs. Try and keep a core and add players in areas of need?
Not that teams may have hard interest in Artemi, but they gotta have a fit the other way.
All the Hjalmarsson to the Leafs talk.
Do you get a young Cap friendly defender back? we know as much as like to think the leafs would pony up Nylander, they weren't going that route unless they got really top push defender who besides being a terrific defender is also a transporter.

My point is it is not that easy to travel backwards as the hawk GM and think YOU and your plan as a fan would have solve the departures, the contract amounts, or had suitors to make better deals.

Like you I am not tickled that the Cup window is closing, but I just don't feel that the organization has attempted to respond / adjust.

Back before Rocky took over, when the scouting department was half what is now, notable playerswould become available, and after they were traded elsewhere, the newspapers were full of quotes from Pulford or the press department about how "we tried to make a deel with them, but...

"That "I TRIED" was the mantra, heard over and over.

They didn't let the contracts run out on regular players and have them depart as UFAs.

I guess I don't think you or me could have stopped the inevitable and seeingg bowman as reason for the current predicament is more than shortsighted, it is plain incorrect.

I would not mind Kane coming over from Buffalo ,AA would be a steep price to pay not to mention the Cap implications . Buffalo would have to swallow about 1/2 that salary to make that deal even close ,HAWKS would need a prospect or pick coming back also . Gagne is a big risk ,but sounds like it may be happening . I also believe Debrincat may surprise many this year , he reminds me a bit of Marner .Same size and big numbers in the OHL ,Debrincat has not got the same speed ,but is a better finisher . We shall see ,like what I have seen so far . GO HAWKS !!

So thinking about the marketing aspect if EKane is traded to Chicago. Would PKane have a P added to his jersey? Would all the stores that have Kane jerseys, shirts, etc need to be recalled so they (NHL) can sell P. Kane jerseys? Just think of all the "new" merchandise that can be sold.
- powerenforcer

I'm lookin forward to " a nite out" with those 2, maybe 3if you add Sharp!

Overall I'm not fan of signing either Gagner or Bonino. Those moves don't fit the plan of getting younger (not really), faster, and more talented. If Gagner wants to sign for $1 million or less and play on the third line then ok. But that's about it.
- DarthKane

Agreed.

Big deal, is it, to move Anisinov. The contract more so than the player.
Big deal, is it, to bring size, speed, dare say f/o proficiency.

Gagner was Kane center in junior. But he is on the slow side skating. He is not the type center brought in unless he replaces a Schmautz. But we don't go there.....Scmautz is the latest flavor darling let's what he can do. And he is cheap in the budget. Stan drafted him and he is not moving him. Not now

Another point to reference was given earlier by JJ: fear an all wimp line (a bit overblown analysis?)

Me thinks not. I am all for skill but most bottom line players should be pluggers or fast plus defensively aware/willing it has to be that way as much as possible. On the road you do not try to neutralize their top line with a trio of skill guys o line #3 or #4. Schmaltz, P Kane, DeBrincat...um, no.
P Kane is not line #3 fodder but I do not want such a group together any line.

So with this cast be smart whom else you add. Shoot down that Gagner idea, Darth Kane like you are knocking down an advancing enemy in Star Wars drama. Gagner is not the right fit here.

i totally agree that anyone who thinks Stan Bowman was supposed to low ball Toews Kane and every other piece after the first Cup doesn't see as true a picture as he was. You don't win and decide to nickel & dime the guys who got you there. Their representatives don't just handle Blackhawk players and they know the going rates, the comparables and the amicable road to keeping team and player close.
The CAP was pointing to continuing going upward at high rates and the various factors the Canadian dollar dropping saw Stan faced what he and others didn't thnk WOULD happen...the Cap cresting to close to a halt.
The hard choices started with the Ladd & Buff deparures and have never ended. it didn't take long for the rest of the league to realize the predicament and weren't offering handkerchives or quality returns to a championship team with a gun to it's head.
Al said it best on Sirius as players good players get the ntc options teams don't trade anybody but the guys who haven't got them built in to their deals.

They are trying to continue to make a run, and it seems clear they would like to get heavier but also know they need quicker. Their lack of budget can't accomodate their back up goalies, their bottom end guys and they are the vanguard team who must rely on farm prospects to be players, for Euro signees be players, and now at this juncture they are forced to trade key pieces where the return is two pieces with smaller deals. (hey each deal seems to place lots of pressure on the staff and the new trade returns to fit and I cannot begrudge Trevor Daley and Ryan Garbutt for not figuring out or Q for not being more patient with their play. That more times is likely, that the returns doest't fit, comes up short.
Imagine if ther was no Cap or there was on like Baseball's, you w, but uldn't be banging the keys ripping Bowmans contracts.

I guess I am sick of the sheet I hear from you guys about Bowman's trades Bowman's contracts, or his loyalty being skewed.

I know i probably couldn't have handled most parts of what he has had to do, and as much as I likee you guys would like to think this player or thes player IS actually available to acquired, there are only a handfull that are marketed. So when you go looking to trade with an idea of why you have to trade, and what you would like to ATTEMPT to get back in return, i am not sure it is an easy fit.
You want to trade Panarin? Find a partner that accomplishes you cap and return needs. Try and keep a core and add players in areas of need?
Not that teams may have hard interest in Artemi, but they gotta have a fit the other way.
All the Hjalmarsson to the Leafs talk.
Do you get a young Cap friendly defender back? we know as much as like to think the leafs would pony up Nylander, they weren't going that route unless they got really top push defender who besides being a terrific defender is also a transporter.

My point is it is not that easy to travel backwards as the hawk GM and think YOU and your plan as a fan would have solve the departures, the contract amounts, or had suitors to make better deals.

Like you I am not tickled that the Cup window is closing, but I just don't feel that the organization has attempted to respond / adjust.

Back before Rocky took over, when the scouting department was half what is now, notable playerswould become available, and after they were traded elsewhere, the newspapers were full of quotes from Pulford or the press department about how "we tried to make a deel with them, but...

"That "I TRIED" was the mantra, heard over and over.

They didn't let the contracts run out on regular players and have them depart as UFAs.

I guess I don't think you or me could have stopped the inevitable and seeingg bowman as reason for the current predicament is more than shortsighted, it is plain incorrect.
- wiz1901

Maybe the harsh critics on here might like a season or 2 of Jim Benning or Joe Sakic at the helm of the Goodship Blackhawk.

I'm not Bowman's biggest fan, but he does better than most. And I especially like the Panarin trade.

Gagner hindered by size, wheels and skating ability. Otherwise he's a good hockey player. Torts used him well last year, best he will likely ever be. He's a pass for me (and I hope Bowman too).
- RickJ

me too.
He doesn't replace any rostered guy, period.
it as if the HAWK brain trust wants speed quickness and more grit both up front and on the backend (or maybe Connor Murphy was the only defenseman anyone would trade them) and all players that fit seem to be not Gagner, not Alzner, not E Kane...
the best bet may be improved play by Hartman, Hayden and newbies from the prospects pool, because there is little money to throw to first time UFAs looking for gold and reclamation projects.

I truly wish I could get Canadian sports channels....even with a satellite.

WHat I truly continue to find amazing is that Freidman continues to out scoop our local press........Hossa LTIR, trades, Gagner (possible) but the one that truly got me tonight is his nugget about Quenneville storming out of the coaches meeting at the draft Friday as the trades went down......and this happened in front of the press.........crickets from Chicago media. Why? Are we protecting what is becoming an abundantly clear narrative of a very tense relationship between Stan and Joel about to reach a boiling point? I have to think so.......

Based on said reaction on Friday, obvious Q had ZERO notice of 72 and 4 being dealt.....doubt he was upset about 72 with 20 coming back.....but 4? Gotta think he was beyond pissed. This right after Q admitting his anger over Kitchen being axed.......do we see a pattern here?

This is NOT me picking Joel or STan or taking sides, as much as it is acknowledging a bad situation that seems to get worse each day....Like Billy Beane and Art Howe. Ir Jerry Krause and Phil Jackson OR Ditka and McCaskey.

I firmly believe the hot seat for Joel is a helluva lot hotter then any of us think.....and I have to think any sort of a slow start and Q is gone...........

Have never liked Maurice as a Coach. The Jets are a very undisciplined team and have been for a long time - way too many stupid, cheap penalties.
- RickJ

It hasn't really mattered who the coavch has been..
Also...Chevy may not have one foot on the banana peel yet but he is closer than ever.
At some point can't keep blaming the coach.

Nor were Crawford and Byfugiien
- John Jaeckel

Mike Smith was brutal with his Russian picks but he hit the long ball sometimes.