Really rather avoid Sbisa as he's more of a possession nightmare than Russell but doesn't defend half as well. Prone to mistakes and really doesn't do anything well enough to justify acquiring him.
- MaximumBone

Yup we're glad he's gone.

Someone seriously needs to curb stomp Spector.
- Iggysbff

- laughs2907

Would that many Spectors be a Spectrum?

Loving this forum chain so far.

The arguments that Bone/Lahney/O-G/me presented all have their weaknesses and strengths, however, I am more inclined to lean towards sacrificing a 1/2 for some NHL caliber stability at the back end or even Ebs+ (Russel(extended) or 1) for Hamonic at the time, especially considering the fact that like Lahey said, we are near a win now mode). That's just my opinion and it seems to be so for other fellow posters. We can always think of a million variables that affect the solution, but in the end, it all depends on the initiative behind the action.

And our initiative should (should have been [during the offseason]) be to improve our defense now.
We still have some good defensive prospects in the pipeline. We have a few offensive prospects that could make it in 1-3 years, but nonetheless, sacrificing 1 year of picks isn't going to kill us in the long term. Unless we go full NYR and give up our first for like 100000 years straight, we should be fine.

In the case of Hamilton; PC burned his bridges with Boston and it (frank)ed the oilers. Unacceptable imo.

With Hamonic? I don't really know. I don't like giving up draft picks but when it's for a proven top 4 guy on the rh side as we so desperately need and he's locked up for a few more years for cheap you do it. Period.


100% agree with you on that.

PC sucks balls and the sooner he's gone the better for this team.

I'm slowly starting to agree with you on that. I'd think that he would be able to learn from his mistakes from Boston, but sadly, it doesn't seem to be the case. 4m/4y for Russel; Lucic contract was blown out of proportions (can blame the F/A on that though); Ebs deal is looking worse and worse as each day goes by, and good god was that Reinhart trade awful. If he even thinks about offering Maroon more than 3-4m on a long-term contract, we are officially f'd.


- Iggysbff

Either way, this Hamonic/Ebs/offseason, it's all old news.

Ebs is gone. We signed Russel (as much as I don't like it, I know some of you do and you have your reasons). Luckily, Yamamoto has been great thus far.

As for you bone, a 1/2 would be more valuable if you were the GM/scout manager, but that ain't the case.


Now as for the big question.

What vcan be done about our defense? It is a problem when it comes to the top 4 role (if you're banking on Russel as a top 4, which is based on my argument stating that he should be able to hold that pairing down, which, as I suspected, doesn't seem to be the case, thus displaying that Sekera was doing the heavy work all of last year; this goes against your opinion bones, but if Russel was a true top 4 pairing defender, he should be able to provide stability on that 2nd pairing). Now, do we go for a short-term fix until Sekera comes back or do we try to do a long-term fix (which is the dilemma you slowly brought up).

Personally, I'd love to see a long-term fix, but I fear there are no longer any such options available on the market for quite some time.

Would that many Spectors be a Spectrum?
- smellmyfinger

I call it heaven

Either way, this Hamonic/Ebs/offseason, it's all old news.

Ebs is gone. We signed Russel (as much as I don't like it, I know some of you do and you have your reasons). Luckily, Yamamoto has been great thus far.

As for you bone, a 1/2 would be more valuable if you were the GM/scout manager, but that ain't the case.


Now as for the big question.

What vcan be done about our defense? It is a problem when it comes to the top 4 role (if you're banking on Russel as a top 4, which is based on my argument stating that he should be able to hold that pairing down, which, as I suspected, doesn't seem to be the case, thus displaying that Sekera was doing the heavy work all of last year; this goes against your opinion bones, but if Russel was a true top 4 pairing defender, he should be able to provide stability on that 2nd pairing). Now, do we go for a short-term fix until Sekera comes back or do we try to do a long-term fix (which is the dilemma you slowly brought up).

Personally, I'd love to see a long-term fix, but I fear there are no longer any such options available on the market for quite some time.
- EdmHockeyMan

Ride it out and stash the picks. The only trades I'd want to see are roster players for roster players.

We have McDavid, Draisaitl, Larsson and Klefbom locked up for several years, thus IMO if this year goes poopty then leave it, learn from it, make the appropriate changes in the off season, and kick ass the next year.

I call it heaven
- laughs2907

That would require some nudity me thinks.

Ride it out and stash the picks. The only trades I'd want to see are roster players for roster players.

We have McDavid, Draisaitl, Larsson and Klefbom locked up for several years, thus IMO if this year goes poopty then leave it, learn from it, make the appropriate changes in the off season, and kick ass the next year.
- Wildschwein

No way man. They have already played 5 games of the season, its time to push the panic button because some fans want instant gratification NOW!!!

I call it heaven
- laughs2907

Speaking of heaven, how many posts has JB made about how influential Gord Downie was to him, and how much his death has affected him?

No way man. They have already played 5 games of the season, its time to push the panic button because some fans want instant gratification NOW!!!
- leonkennedy

Well yeah... there is that.

WE ARE (frank)ING DOOMED!!!

- laughs2907

Yup we're glad he's gone.
- SRam19

Shhh

No way man. They have already played 5 games of the season, its time to push the panic button because some fans want instant gratification NOW!!!
- leonkennedy

Ride it out and stash the picks. The only trades I'd want to see are roster players for roster players.

We have McDavid, Draisaitl, Larsson and Klefbom locked up for several years, thus IMO if this year goes poopty then leave it, learn from it, make the appropriate changes in the off season, and kick ass the next year.
- Wildschwein

Looks like this might be the case (with Chia in charge), and possibly the better of the worse, worst case scenario. It's still early in the season, but if this trend continues till we hit game 10 or worse, game 20.............. idk man.

Looks like this might be the case (with Chia in charge), and possibly the better of the worse, worst case scenario. It's still early in the season, but if this trend continues till we hit game 10 or worse, game 20.............. idk man.
- EdmHockeyMan

I see you have let grampa Iggys opinion of PC totally influence your thinking.

Shhh
- Nucker101

Nucker

Nucker
- leonkennedy

sup bitches

sup bitches
- Nucker101

Just chillin in da basement....oh wait I'm a Hawks fan. Things are all good for me. Sucks for the rest of these loser fans in this thread.

Looks like this might be the case (with Chia in charge), and possibly the better of the worse, worst case scenario. It's still early in the season, but if this trend continues till we hit game 10 or worse, game 20.............. idk man.
- EdmHockeyMan

If this year is poop then we prep for next year. Larsson, McDavid, Draisaitl and Klefbom are young. Window ain't closing this season.

Honestly, if I'm this coaching staff I'm sitting Lucic next game and dropping Maroon down a couple pegs. Lucic because he's been worse than useless and Maroon just to give him a kick in the pants.

If I were management this team would've offer-sheeted Athanasiou last month.
- MaximumBone

THIS!

If this year is poop then we prep for next year. Larsson, McDavid, Draisaitl and Klefbom are young. Window ain't closing this season.
- Wildschwein

Exactly. It's the fans who think they are in win now mode simply because the team were losers for so long they just can't take it anymore. My boys Toews and Kane didn't make the hawks a dynasty the first few years after they entered the league. It takes time to produce a team that can win 3 cups in 5 years like my beloved hawks. Patience boys. It will come.

If this year is poop then we prep for next year. Larsson, McDavid, Draisaitl and Klefbom are young. Window ain't closing this season.
- Wildschwein

The only fear I have with the not do anything to address the current issues plan is that we then run the risk of seeing more skilled players run out of town for perceived shortcomings (Petry, Hall, Eberle, etc). I get the feeling that the next on the list after Nuge would be Klefbom because he's "not physical enough".