Agreed. I thought it could be an issue this year and its shown. Stan really put himself into a corner with the structure of contracts that constructed this team.
- Justin Lowe

One more reason where most of the blame should lie at. Bowman!!

my expectations with the hawks are so low...i can't even get angry or disappointed...i worked that through after the wing game...

the bolts may wipe this ice with this team tomorrow night...looking at another 4-7 goals against...

Atlanta and Jax both showed how brilliantly the "play not to lose" works.
- kwolf68

you can't do that against Brady/Belicheck ever...they will eat you from the inside out...

however...call me cynical but they have about 13 ufa and rfa's and no player making over 5 mil...they will have problems keeping that roster together...so they weren't really castoffs...teams decided not to protect them because of cap and other roster issues...call it the "Richard panik" syndrome of contract year performance

none the less your point stands...a great story for the league
- bogiedoc

Good point, didn't realize or consider that many of those guys were playing their asses off not only for their new team/new city but for a big pay day as well.

David Perron: 37 pts in 39 games. After bouncing around a few teams and producing jack poop....he's become a top line caliber forward.

Reilly Smith: 37 pts in 45 games. Sure he's had a couple 50 pt seasons....but coming off a down year, seemed to have already "peaked". But nope. Throw him on board with the other random pieces there in Vegas and he's an instant top 6 caliber threat again.

Those are just a few examples of whats going on over there. Lots of careers being redefined for a lot of guys that were counted out. Really is a great story the more you think about it.

Agreed. I thought it could be an issue this year and its shown. Stan really put himself into a corner with the structure of contracts that constructed this team.
- Justin Lowe

So what do you do now Justin? Do you let this team finish the year as is? No major changes to roster or coaching? This looks like a totally lost group at the moment.
With the financial mess of the roster, do you try to move the likes of a Duncan Keith or Seabs at the deadline to prep for next year? DK with no goals and a -6!?

So what do you do now Justin? Do you let this team finish the year as is? No major changes to roster or coaching? This looks like a totally lost group at the moment.
With the financial mess of the roster, do you try to move the likes of a Duncan Keith or Seabs at the deadline to prep for next year?
- z1990z

if this team somehow rips off a 9-2 or 10-1 streak like now then you consider adding...but as it is...this is the team ya got...there is no calvary coming over the hill via trade or rcf....

it was a dumb strategy but may have been dictated by contracts and waiver eligible..

it definately has hurt player development and confidence...
- bogiedoc

Blame goes to Bowman completely - he doesn't know whether to crap or wind his watch about defenceman.

He trades for Murphy, signs Rutta, signs Oesterle to a one way deal, doles out another contract to Rozsival for no other reason than sentimentality, has Kempny on a cap friendly deal but can't get the coaches to like or play him, then he decides to sign Franson off a PTO to make Q or Keith or Seabrook happy. And he also has Gustaffson who he believes has potential as an NHL'er. Now he picks up Clendening for another look.

That's a total of 10 if you don't count Clendening and Pokka floating around the periphery.

So Q winds up with a total of 10 or 12 Dmen that he is supposed to put in his Cuisinart blender to make the team a perfect smoothie on defence.

Contrary to what bean counters think, quantity over quality and being a nice guy GM has never worked in the NHL. And to boot he likes picking up ex-players from losers like the Coyotes, Sabres and Oilers. Fans can blame Q as much as they want, the real gross problem lies with the GM of this team.

Blame goes to Bowman completely - he doesn't know whether to crap or wind his watch about defenceman.

He trades for Murphy, signs Rutta, signs Oesterle to a one way deal, doles out another contract to Rozsival for no other reason than sentimentality, has Kempny on a cap friendly deal but can't get the coaches to like or play him, then he decides to sign Franson off a PTO to make Q or Keith or Seabrook happy. And he also has Gustaffson who he believes has potential as an NHL'er. Now he picks up Clendening for another look.

That's a total of 10 if you don't count Clendening and Pokka floating around the periphery.

So Q winds up with a total of 10 or 12 Dmen that he is supposed to put in his Cuisinart blender to make the team a perfect smoothie on defence.

Contrary to what bean counters think, quantity over quality and being a nice guy GM has never worked in the NHL. And to boot he likes picking up ex-players from losers like the Coyotes, Sabres and Oilers. Fans can blame Q as much as they want, the real gross problem lies with the GM of this team.
- RickJ

Scorers haven’t scored after the first week of the season, except for Kane all year, and others in short stretches: Toews, Saad, Panik, Anisimov (injured); the young players have been wildly inconsistent: Schmaltz, Hartman, Forsling, Rutta; the prized rookie has hit a wall (3 goals in the last 21 games, altho with 6 assists); inconsistent but largely ineffective back-up goalies.

We don’t know what the value is of those young players Stan brought in - except that they aren’t Cup-ready today. Too much line blending by Q? OK, but....

It’s hockey, boys - they’ve played it all of their lives. Can’t blame all of the poor results on the suits.

Blame goes to Bowman completely - he doesn't know whether to crap or wind his watch about defenceman.

He trades for Murphy, signs Rutta, signs Oesterle to a one way deal, doles out another contract to Rozsival for no other reason than sentimentality, has Kempny on a cap friendly deal but can't get the coaches to like or play him, then he decides to sign Franson off a PTO to make Q or Keith or Seabrook happy. And he also has Gustaffson who he believes has potential as an NHL'er. Now he picks up Clendening for another look.

That's a total of 10 if you don't count Clendening and Pokka floating around the periphery.

So Q winds up with a total of 10 or 12 Dmen that he is supposed to put in his Cuisinart blender to make the team a perfect smoothie on defence.

Contrary to what bean counters think, quantity over quality and being a nice guy GM has never worked in the NHL. And to boot he likes picking up ex-players from losers like the Coyotes, Sabres and Oilers. Fans can blame Q as much as they want, the real gross problem lies with the GM of this team.
- RickJ

The problem with the D is that Keith and seabs are playing like sh!t, who predicted that?
Q changing pairings and lines every game and then sitting certain guys for mistakes is making it worse.
I place blame on Q. There's no way entire core sh!ts bed on same day

So what do you do now Justin? Do you let this team finish the year as is? No major changes to roster or coaching? This looks like a totally lost group at the moment.
With the financial mess of the roster, do you try to move the likes of a Duncan Keith or Seabs at the deadline to prep for next year? DK with no goals and a -6!?
- z1990z

Writing a blog as we speak on that.

It will be up tomorrow AM.

That was going to be my guess. Best thi g for him to be honest. He's got potential to be a solid D but needs work still.
- Justin Lowe

I agree. He's got a lot of potential and is super young for a D. He'll be back.

Writing a blog as we speak on that.

It will be up tomorrow AM.
- Justin Lowe

In your upcoming blog please also include what happens with scounting gm and coaches. Thank you!

The problem with the D is that Keith and seabs are playing like sh!t, who predicted that?
Q changing pairings and lines every game and then sitting certain guys for mistakes is making it worse.
I place blame on Q. There's no way entire core sh!ts bed on same day
- dpard

Like I said a couple of days ago, a good GM would have observed what was going on and taken Q's extra toys away from him long ago so he would have less to do more with.

Give any NHL coach too many options and you wind up with some of the stupidity you're seeing in Dmen pairings and searching for forward line combinations.

At the end of the day there are too many 4th liners and 5/6/7 Dmen on this roster. Crawford's play masked a lot of the talent shortfall which is evident now.

Writing a blog as we speak on that.

It will be up tomorrow AM.
- Justin Lowe

Hey Justin. Reading all your tea leaves looks look like Stan will likely be a seller at TDL. Pick up more young assets. Out AA. Out wingles and bouma even to get a lower pick. Out 10 obviously. Seabs? Thoughts?

You mean OSU players trading their own personal property for free tattoos while the NCAA executives make billions off their hard work? There are no other "scandals" at OSU, unlike your Tweeter In Chief who has a new National embarrassment every 24 hours.
- EnzoD

I really don't give a poop about scandals. But he's got ya on one thing for sure. Maurice Clarett. He couldn't spell dog if you gave him the d and g. After being a star at OSU he decides to rob a bar in Columbus. And as he's making his getaway in the parking lot he gets recognized and signs an autograph for the guy. One of my favorite stories ever.

Was that KyleLong on field after Philly game?

Like I said a couple of days ago, a good GM would have observed what was going on and taken Q's extra toys away from him long ago so he would have less to do more with.

Give any NHL coach too many options and you wind up with some of the stupidity you're seeing in Dmen pairings and searching for forward line combinations.

At the end of the day there are too many 4th liners and 5/6/7 Dmen on this roster. Crawford's play masked a lot of the talent shortfall which is evident now.
- RickJ

and why is that? lets look...after the 2015 cup...

sharp: now a declining player..he and his 5 mildo cap is moved
hossa: certainly not what he was; has an off year in 2016, and rebounds in 2017 and then LTIR for 2018; now what for 2019; retire LTIR again...play??
TT: possible top 6 replacement for sharp; has to be used to move bickel and his albatross contract
saad: wants 6 mildo per...hawks can't afford that off he goes to columbus
panarin: a top 6 replacement; makes his bonus's; hawks can't afford him long term so trade for saad who is now cost controlled; but he now is having a sub par year
toews needs a lw...ok here comes saad; now he needs a RW (7 try outs there this year so far)

cap, aging, diminished performance and no replacements for sharp and hossa

ADB should be rck as should smaltz but they are here with up and down performance because there is no other choice...

hawks currently have 10 forwards making under 1 mil; 4 are rfa's and 3 are ufa's and the remaining are on ELC's and this does not include hayden

of those 10 only wingels has any winning playoff experience..

great this team got younger but not better and you can thank CC for keeping this team from being bed mates with the oil and nucks

lets look at the d-man roulette:

Seabs: contract well documented is a enormous problem for stanbow
keith: can't trade him; decent cap hit he is the only legit top pair guy they got; the offensive drop off has been a complete over the cliff
murphy: cost controlled at 3.8 for the next 4 years; i think he has been ok but q throws up to the box...why??
rutta: cheap eurodman for a year...rfa...does he want to stay here
kempny: another cheap eurodman is UFA; be shocked if he is resigned...my guess he would want to go somewhere else
forsling: ELC for another year; they need to keep and develop him
oester: cheap ELC for another year; offensive upside; a defensive mess most games
gustafson: rfa after the season; they need to figure out can he play or not; thats why is up here
franzen: he has been mismanaged not sure what they are doing with him; he is probably gone at TDL or for sure not resigning here...


10 forwards and 4 dmen making under 1 mil; with several being ufa's or rfa's this summer add in two rookie goalies making under a mildo getting their first taste of nhl games..

holy poop...how the hell is this team even 4 games above .500

lets look at the d-man roulette:

Seabs: contract well documented is a enormous problem for stanbow
keith: can't trade him; decent cap hit he is the only legit top pair guy they got; the offensive drop off has been a complete over the cliff
murphy: cost controlled at 3.8 for the next 4 years; i think he has been ok but q throws up to the box...why??
rutta: cheap eurodman for a year...rfa...does he want to stay here
kempny: another cheap eurodman is UFA; be shocked if he is resigned...my guess he would want to go somewhere else
forsling: ELC for another year; they need to keep and develop him
oester: cheap ELC for another year; offensive upside; a defensive mess most games
gustafson: rfa after the season; they need to figure out can he play or not; thats why is up here
franzen: he has been mismanaged not sure what they are doing with him; he is probably gone at TDL or for sure not resigning here...


10 forwards and 4 dmen making under 1 mil; with several being ufa's or rfa's this summer add in two rookie goalies making under a mildo getting their first taste of nhl games..

holy poop...how the hell is this team even 4 games above .500
- bogiedoc

We did have a few top 100 guys back in the day

It still blows my mind how good Vegas is....

How? A bunch of cast offs, has beens, misfit parts.....and they're like the best team in the league?

Look at all their players that are producing at ridiculous levels. Doesn't make any sense. Something fishy might be going on behind the curtain. Ya never know....
- SimpleJack

They play like a team, they play hard every night, they have a really good coach, and there are no superstars with superstar egos. Somehow they have found a way to turn the castoff image that makes up their roster into attitude that proves every night their sum is greater than their parts.

I know a few guys on this Hawk roster that could learn a few things from them....

lets look at the d-man roulette:

Seabs: contract well documented is a enormous problem for stanbow
keith: can't trade him; decent cap hit he is the only legit top pair guy they got; the offensive drop off has been a complete over the cliff
murphy: cost controlled at 3.8 for the next 4 years; i think he has been ok but q throws up to the box...why??
rutta: cheap eurodman for a year...rfa...does he want to stay here
kempny: another cheap eurodman is UFA; be shocked if he is resigned...my guess he would want to go somewhere else
forsling: ELC for another year; they need to keep and develop him
oester: cheap ELC for another year; offensive upside; a defensive mess most games
gustafson: rfa after the season; they need to figure out can he play or not; thats why is up here
franzen: he has been mismanaged not sure what they are doing with him; he is probably gone at TDL or for sure not resigning here...


10 forwards and 4 dmen making under 1 mil; with several being ufa's or rfa's this summer add in two rookie goalies making under a mildo getting their first taste of nhl games..

holy poop...how the hell is this team even 4 games above .500
- bogiedoc

Genuine question (as someone who doesn't play or coach the game): what makes Keith still a top-pair D-man in almost everyone's (on this board) eyes? What about his play since 2015 indicates he's still top 1 or 2, regardless of team (I do get why he is still that on ours).

Thanks.

They play like a team, they play hard every night, they have a really good coach, and there are no superstars with superstar egos. Somehow they have found a way to turn the castoff image that makes up their roster into attitude that proves every night their sum is greater than their parts.

I know a few guys on this Hawk roster that could learn a few things from them....
- Return of the Roar

just a few....

Genuine question (as someone who doesn't play or coach the game): what makes Keith still a top-pair D-man in almost everyone's (on this board) eyes? What about his play since 2015 indicates he's still top 1 or 2, regardless of team (I do get why he is still that on ours).

Thanks.
- pdx2ord

he is on this team....or would you prefer among: murphy, kempny, forsling, oesterlie, gustafson, rutta, seabs.

on most teams he is top pair...keith has never been hiiter/checker...he has one of the quickest and best sticks in the league...his positioning and defensive IQ is still very good...he makes plays along the board to move the puck that very few can make...

offensively drop off is significant: passing, shooting, Ozone decision making-pinching a real problem; has not scored a goal in almost a year; pp = ugh..

They play like a team, they play hard every night, they have a really good coach, and there are no superstars with superstar egos. Somehow they have found a way to turn the castoff image that makes up their roster into attitude that proves every night their sum is greater than their parts.

I know a few guys on this Hawk roster that could learn a few things from them....
- Return of the Roar

I have to admit Vegas is one of the most exciting teams I've seen since the 2013 Hawks. The pace they play at is intense. They are obviously well coached and have some better talent on that team than first figured.

he is on this team....or would you prefer among: murphy, kempny, forsling, oesterlie, gustafson, rutta, seabs.

on most teams he is top pair...keith has never been hiiter/checker...he has one of the quickest and best sticks in the league...his positioning and defensive IQ is still very good...he makes plays along the board to move the puck that very few can make...

offensively drop off is significant: passing, shooting, Ozone decision making-pinching a real problem; has not scored a goal in almost a year; pp = ugh..
- bogiedoc

Thanks, but didn't need the snark as I said I understand why he is still top man on this team.

Do appreciate the info on why he is still considered that, in general, by you.