Or could it be Q is throwing darts at home and trying to see anything that may work consistently. Fact of the matter, this Hawks team is very average at best and are going to be hard-pressed to make the layoffs how it is currently constructed. Debbie Downer and Realistic Randy this morning folks. The greatest generation in Blackhawks hockey is dying a slow and painful death for this Hawks fan to watch!!
- ChicagoHope

Unfortunately, I totally agree with you. I laugh at those on this board that think there is a formula that will make this team more competitive. The movement of the core should have occurred two years ago to rebuild on the fly. With the current state of the core, that is no longer possible. We are at stage 3 moving to stage 4 cancer with a limited amount of life left. What life is left will require a lot of morphin to enjoy games. I hope Debbie and Randy have other interests in life.

Unfortunately, I totally agree with you. I laugh at those on this board that think there is a formula that will make this team more competitive. The movement of the core should have occurred two years ago to rebuild on the fly. With the current state of the core, that is no longer possible. We are at stage 3 moving to stage 4 cancer with a limited amount of life left. What life is left will require a lot of morphin to enjoy games. I hope Debbie and Randy have other interests in life.
- isu83boo

Watching the Hawks in 2017/18.....

Expect at least 5 points from Backstrom tonight.

Blackhawks at Capitals, 8 ET
Nicklas Backstrom: scoreless in 21 straight games, tied for the 2nd-longest streak of his career; went 23 straight games without a goal in 2015

— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) December 6, 2017

Same as it ever was....Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...

Going through some of the other HB bingo card items I didn't have time for earlier today...

Toews is overpaid for too long. Because I know every single one of us armchair GMs would have pushed back hard against the agent repping both Kane and Toews for their next deal. I know any one of us would have succeeded in making their agent negotiate separate contracts for each, and made sure to add clauses for situations like this, and done these deals for less term and less money. And we would have convinced Rocky to have McD stay the hell out of all personnel discussions, right?

Seabrook, same thing. Because we all knew that top 4 guys grow on trees, and whatever ails him currently was going to reduce him to third pair minutes at age 32. And waiving him was suggested, even. If you want to piss off the whole room, that's the way to do it. And if you don't want dibs on Euro free agents like Panarin and Rutta, this is the way to get there. Probably won't help out for recruiting NHL free agents in the offseason, either. Yes, this is a business, but players have their own interests at heart, too, and they probably will steer clear of places that treat their players like commodities to be harshly discarded at the first sign of a downturn.

Bottom line is people get hurt. They try to play through it, even when it's obvious something is amiss to all of us. These guys are some of the best hockey players in the world. They usually don't suddenly forget how to play or have their skills fall off a cliff when they are between 29 and 32 years old. We have to give these guys the benefit of the doubt, that they are playing through something.

Patrick Sharp is now on the HB bingo card, I see. I don't know how the surgery affected him. Not going to say he should be forced out of the lineup. Maintenance days every now and then, sure. That is a guy I want in my clubhouse, anyway. And we revisit this in the offseason if he doesn't recover from his surgery by then.

Remember when Anisimov was featured on the HB bingo card? Good times.

Coach Q. I was guilty here, too. I thought he might have lost the room, because they looked so listless out there for some time, and that first round exit last year, too. But they are competing now, even if they're not getting as many W's for it today. Glad I was wrong. And the calls for Mike Keenan to coach here again? I hope nobody was serious.

This is not to say we should look at everything through rose colored glasses, or should I say Kool-Aid colored glasses. Nobody wants to be that guy who says everything is great all the time. I don't think it's any better to worry all the time, either. There are 32 teams. Spoiler alert, we aren't going to celebrate a Cup every June.

"6) Hawks are 0-2 since Anisimov shaved his moustache. "

The importance of this cannot be overstated.
- DarthKane

Q's stash needs to go.

This Leddy discussion continues even though it has been dissected countless times. Just like the Bowman left the team in bad shape after three Cups. Some fans can't see all the facts or are weighed down by only one part of the outcome now a few years past the trade and after winning three Cups.

Most GM's do not make 100% good moves. Bowman has done both well and blown some transactions. Pokka was considered a good prospect at the time. Not just by Bowman, but where he rated for the Entry Draft. Bowman painted himself into a corner and Leddy was the price insofar as to retain the remainder if the roster. So, trade did not work out but Bowman is not totally to blame. He had salary cap problems not all on him (A complete excellent explanation by St Louis Braves entry last blog). He kept others here and the core still intact won two more Cups.

Understand all of that. Ramifications.

As for you knocking the state of the current roster, if you took a poll most in this board would agree we did not come out too bad nowadays after paying the price to win three Cups. No one else has won three Cups in six years for a couple decades, correct! Again Bowman could have done better. But with late draft picks each round he gambled for skill and it turns out he got skill + soft player.

Meanwhile those who think Tallon was so great, he drafted round one Babchuck, a Russian foreward who is a bust, and Skille. Babchuk = upchuck and Skille name is an oxymoron. How much different would trades and salary cap look if just one of those choices was descent.

You have to look at the entire picture and ramifications. Yes Bowman did not leave a great team after three Cups and Leddy loss was an error in judgment. Still, your expectation for this year is too high and your blame is not logicly sound. Opportunity cost to win and the price of diminshing returns my friend.
- jhawk59

One of the most realistic assessments posted on this board in a very long time.

We already have a world-class shut down 3C who can win over 50% of draws
- Slofire94

Now that is FUNNY!!!!!!

The trade of Espo (HOF), Hodge (multiple All Star) and Fred Stanfield (solid third liner) to the Bruins for Pit Martin and Gilles Marotte was probably the Hawks' worst all-time trade, especially what they gave up. When judging Stanbo, just be thankful that Tommy Ivan isn't the GM today.
- BMWChiFan

i always thought this one was on a par with the infamous Lou Brock trade. Different sport i know, but about as bad or worse.

Can't watch the game how are the new lines looking . Has the q blender started yet?

Great pace from the Hawks to start this game. Saad-Anisimov-Kane has the potential to be dominant.

Nice Turnover from #2 and its 1-0 Caps.....

Great pace from the Hawks to start this game. Saad-Anisimov-Kane has the potential to be dominant.
- EnzoD

Great turnover Duncan Keith. ....you're on top if your game once again. Holy crap would the shiP hit the fan if Kempney made that play. Accountability Mr. Q ??

Great pace from the Hawks to start this game. Saad-Anisimov-Kane has the potential to be dominant.

Nice Turnover from #2 and its 1-0 Caps.....
- EnzoD

... but that fourth line is hot garbage.

... but that fourth line is hot garbage.
- Chunk

And....soooo....why are Sharp and Panic still in the lineup coach Q ??? And....Soooo why on earth would you put them on the same line ????

(frank)ing A Forsberg.

Well, this one is over early.

Wow. This game is over in the first period.

And....soooo....why are Sharp and Panic still in the lineup coach Q ??? And....Soooo why on earth would you put them on the same line ????
- Hawkytalk

Keith in slow motion again.

Holy Christ is this team ever underachieving.

Time for Q to go bye bye.

Ruh roh

WoW. No words. Wins over Buffalo, Florida and Arizona are FAR from a given at this point.

Tom Wilson heart emoji[/img]

WoW. No words. Wins over Buffalo, Florida and Arizona are FAR from a given at this point.
- kwolf68

LANCE BOUMA BABY!!!!! Debrincat making the play to start it all.

Connor Murphy and Lance Bouma are two guys playing well tonight.

1 goalie woalie

Connor Murphy and Lance Bouma are two guys playing well tonight.
- kwolf68

Sooooo what center are we realistically looking at acquiring at the deadline?