Seeking answers for a struggling team? slumping goalie?

Solution: Need to play the Hawks! Where are they on our schedule?

The seeds of this can be directly placed at the feet of the players asking for insane contracts. If they are pissed the team sucks, look in the mirror. Didn't they know once they demanded a highly disproportionate share of the team salary cap that would leave fewer dollars to fill in the rest of the team with experienced or competent teammates? Hey they got paid...now reside yourselves to the fact you'll be playing in obscurity for the next half of your career and don't female dog about it. Just enjoy cashing your checks.

A less half million here, a less million there and the Hawks are likely looking a hell of a lot different today.

Lets do a hypothetical. Say I am a geneticist for a zoo and I make 100,000 a year. The zoo offers me 105,000 a year but in addition to frozen bank research they say I now have to help the bozo who is making minimum wage to clean up the Tiger poop as well. OR I could make 100,000 and they could hire a really good poop scooper. I'm taking the slightly lower salary because that will allow the entire operation to run better, my skills can be better utilized for what I am qualified for and my support staff does a good job alleviating me from carrying more load than I am really capable.
- kwolf68

It's not really on the players. It's on them partially, but their agents for asking for that much, Bettman for pushing that revenue is growing well, GMs for actually paying out these huge contracts without any remorse, Owners for asking for a hard cap, etc. Plenty of blame to go around.

Blow it up....it's over. It's all over.

No joke. A lifeless team, with zero identity, who talks a big game from the top to the 12th F and then when it comes time to back it up on the ice.....they implode. Last game before a "bye" Don't even show up.......1st game after a bye? they get waxed......Last night they played better but it doesn't matter....you are in last place in the division and not just by 1-2 pts....by 7. Meaning you have to leap frog a ton of teams and with the way this team is constructed and lack of consistency you have to be naïve to think the magical switch is being flipped.

Ideally, you need to make a bold trade. A trade to bring back HUGE assets to help expedite the rebuilding process ASAP. Your biggest chip is.....one Duncan Keith. I know, BLASPHEMY!!!! Please. Nobody is taking Seabrook at his amount. Nobody is taking Toews at his amount. You'd be a fool to trade Kane as he's one of a 3 Hawks who actually shows up EVERY game and routinely has improved EVERY offseason.

You trade 2.....how badly would Babcock love him? Or even Washington? Teams who need to get by Pittsburgh or Tampa to have a chance? You also deal 15 as well as 8 is your top 6 center, and if somebody can find Toews please advise....Id check by an indoor garden growing fresh basil.

I'd sit down Saad and tell him he better step it up or he's next, and same with 7 and then you are forced to retain salary.

My untouchables would be 8,88,50, and 12. that's it. Everyone else...come take a look. Maybe somebody will take Ryan Hartman and the Hawks can throw in a shooter tutor as well....

Window just hasn't closed, it slammed shut. Blow it up. Fix it the correct way and not by adding more aging veterans on their last lap like Campbell or Sharp, and hope all your marketing since 2007 has paid off........

Hawks problems in a nutshell:



The defense is giving up high danger passes shots like crazy. We're actually 10th in the league for goals for percentage, so offense is actually not the issue. The defense just gives up the middle like no other and Crow isn't there to bail them out. A top 4 D is critical right now. Either a trade or someone to step up big time.

Source: https://theathletic.com/2...oblematic-for-blackhawks/

Well.....

Lot of things coming to light after the last stretch of games. Mostly negative.

However, some positives from last night:

1. Kane is as elite as it gets and it really is a pleasure to watch him night in and night out. Being born in 89' I have seen some good hawk players. Always loved Amonte and Roenick but Kane has to be the best Blackhawk to ever wear the sweater. This guy simply gets it done no matter who he plays with. Special player.

2. Duclair Saad Toews looked good last night. Plethora of looks just couldnt bury the puck. Overall, they are more effective with Duclair with his size and ability to win battles over Hino who needs to go back to Rockford. He is one dimensional and needs to realize he isnt in the NCAA anymore. I like the Duclair move after four games and think he can flourish in this system.

3. These two goalies are not going to put 10 solid efforts together. If they were capable of that, they would both be starting somewhere. But overall Glass was fantastic last night. He was lights out.

4. Jurco was pretty solid last night....

It's not really on the players. It's on them partially, but their agents for asking for that much, Bettman for pushing that revenue is growing well, GMs for actually paying out these huge contracts without any remorse, Owners for asking for a hard cap, etc. Plenty of blame to go around.
- JRoenick97

Agreed but its on the hawks management for rewarding guys past a ROI for the organization and not only give away term/dollar but also NMCs....he has unmoveable contracts and before that he has to get them to waive. A double whammy.

The best thing going for this team is they have zero pressure from the press because their isn't one fool who would dare rip them......and call them out for their BS.

The entire league is watching now that Bowman has painted himself into an ever smaller corner by blessing what used to be the Hawks with two very average minor league goalies, the overpay for at best a third rate goalie grows steadily with every loss and every day that goes by. He is probably incapable of resisting the pressure to do something really stupid at least one more time.

Blow it up....it's over. It's all over.

No joke. A lifeless team, with zero identity, who talks a big game from the top to the 12th F and then when it comes time to back it up on the ice.....they implode. Last game before a "bye" Don't even show up.......1st game after a bye? they get waxed......Last night they played better but it doesn't matter....you are in last place in the division and not just by 1-2 pts....by 7. Meaning you have to leap frog a ton of teams and with the way this team is constructed and lack of consistency you have to be naïve to think the magical switch is being flipped.

Ideally, you need to make a bold trade. A trade to bring back HUGE assets to help expedite the rebuilding process ASAP. Your biggest chip is.....one Duncan Keith. I know, BLASPHEMY!!!! Please. Nobody is taking Seabrook at his amount. Nobody is taking Toews at his amount. You'd be a fool to trade Kane as he's one of a 3 Hawks who actually shows up EVERY game and routinely has improved EVERY offseason.

You trade 2.....how badly would Babcock love him? Or even Washington? Teams who need to get by Pittsburgh or Tampa to have a chance? You also deal 15 as well as 8 is your top 6 center, and if somebody can find Toews please advise....Id check by an indoor garden growing fresh basil.

I'd sit down Saad and tell him he better step it up or he's next, and same with 7 and then you are forced to retain salary.

My untouchables would be 8,88,50, and 12. that's it. Everyone else...come take a look. Maybe somebody will take Ryan Hartman and the Hawks can throw in a shooter tutor as well....

Window just hasn't closed, it slammed shut. Blow it up. Fix it the correct way and not by adding more aging veterans on their last lap like Campbell or Sharp, and hope all your marketing since 2007 has paid off........
- SteveRain

I would add 91 to that group as he can likely be cost controlled at this point and is top 6 caliber.

Blow it up....it's over. It's all over.

No joke. A lifeless team, with zero identity, who talks a big game from the top to the 12th F and then when it comes time to back it up on the ice.....they implode. Last game before a "bye" Don't even show up.......1st game after a bye? they get waxed......Last night they played better but it doesn't matter....you are in last place in the division and not just by 1-2 pts....by 7. Meaning you have to leap frog a ton of teams and with the way this team is constructed and lack of consistency you have to be naïve to think the magical switch is being flipped.

Ideally, you need to make a bold trade. A trade to bring back HUGE assets to help expedite the rebuilding process ASAP. Your biggest chip is.....one Duncan Keith. I know, BLASPHEMY!!!! Please. Nobody is taking Seabrook at his amount. Nobody is taking Toews at his amount. You'd be a fool to trade Kane as he's one of a 3 Hawks who actually shows up EVERY game and routinely has improved EVERY offseason.

You trade 2.....how badly would Babcock love him? Or even Washington? Teams who need to get by Pittsburgh or Tampa to have a chance? You also deal 15 as well as 8 is your top 6 center, and if somebody can find Toews please advise....Id check by an indoor garden growing fresh basil.

I'd sit down Saad and tell him he better step it up or he's next, and same with 7 and then you are forced to retain salary.

My untouchables would be 8,88,50, and 12. that's it. Everyone else...come take a look. Maybe somebody will take Ryan Hartman and the Hawks can throw in a shooter tutor as well....

Window just hasn't closed, it slammed shut. Blow it up. Fix it the correct way and not by adding more aging veterans on their last lap like Campbell or Sharp, and hope all your marketing since 2007 has paid off........
- SteveRain

If you are going to blow it up, why not trade 50 also? Let a young team (young goaltender) grow together.

I would add 91 to that group as he can likely be cost controlled at this point and is top 6 caliber.
- nickmo2699

Possibly.....but he needs to produce if he's going to be slotted that high.

Sadly, Bowman will stand pat and believe they will make the playoffs.

One positive from last night was the new 4th line. The hawks had five shots on goal and none against with that line on the ice.

The seeds of this can be directly placed at the feet of the players asking for insane contracts. If they are pissed the team sucks, look in the mirror. Didn't they know once they demanded a highly disproportionate share of the team salary cap that would leave fewer dollars to fill in the rest of the team with experienced or competent teammates? Hey they got paid...now reside yourselves to the fact you'll be playing in obscurity for the next half of your career and don't female dog about it. Just enjoy cashing your checks.

A less half million here, a less million there and the Hawks are likely looking a hell of a lot different today.

Lets do a hypothetical. Say I am a geneticist for a zoo and I make 100,000 a year. The zoo offers me 105,000 a year but in addition to frozen bank research they say I now have to help the bozo who is making minimum wage to clean up the Tiger poop as well. OR I could make 100,000 and they could hire a really good poop scooper. I'm taking the slightly lower salary because that will allow the entire operation to run better, my skills can be better utilized for what I am qualified for and my support staff does a good job alleviating me from carrying more load than I am really capable.
- kwolf68

A bit of sticking up for the players here.

A zoo geneticist can have a very long career making his $100,000 per - 30 years, 40 years.

A hockey player - any pro athlete - has in the best of circumstances a very short time to make some money - if a concussion or blown-out knee doesn't end his time, father time will catch up to him at an age when the genetecist's career is just taking off.

And ticket prices - less $10 here or $25 there an more fans could afford to go to games. Don't see owners holding the line there unless market forces intervene.

The entire league is watching now that Bowman has painted himself into an ever smaller corner by blessing what used to be the Hawks with two very average minor league goalies, the overpay for at best a third rate goalie grows steadily with every loss and every day that goes by. He is probably incapable of resisting the pressure to do something really stupid at least one more time.
- Savoy

That is my biggest fear. Some desperation move near the TDL (trade, coach firing) that sparks the team only enough to finish a point out of a wildcard spot. That would be the worst case scenario.
I am at a point where I am hoping for a complete collapse this season. We will be in a better position going forward. Rid this team of sacred cows, re-sign our RFA's to reasonable new contracts, position ourselves for a lottery pick, trade our pending UFA's for whatever we can get and retool.

Hawks problems in a nutshell:



The defense is giving up high danger passes shots like crazy. We're actually 10th in the league for goals for percentage, so offense is actually not the issue. The defense just gives up the middle like no other and Crow isn't there to bail them out. A top 4 D is critical right now. Either a trade or someone to step up big time.

Source: https://theathletic.com/2...oblematic-for-blackhawks/
- JRoenick97

Goal scoring is an issue if you take inconsistency into account: over half the games (24 out of 47) scoring 0/1/2.

Seeking answers for a struggling team? slumping goalie?

Solution: Need to play the Hawks! Where are they on our schedule?
- 67hawks

every team is looking to play the hawks...payback time

If they're looking for points and the goal is to make the playoffs I'd stack 20 - 8 and 88 on the same line and everyone else is a shutdown \ defensive group that play a boring trap.

Also, more Murphy and Kempny would be better.
- fattybeef

How is Q going to remedy Kempny's hesitation in making plays if he has him so worried. Will he or Samuelson reassure Kempny? I truly believe that Q needs to drvide whom plays on a regular basis. Maybe Q ferls stuck betwern as rock and a hard place, but he is only exasperating the issue at hand. Even if he set up some kind of rotation, that might be easier to deal eith as far as the players getting to play and gaining confidance.

There were smiles and laughing. Toews and Cat even did a jump shoulder bump like football players.

There's a lot to be worried about right now, but last nights game wasn't it. Vazilevski straight robbed that game. The Islanders game is one to be pissed about, and the one before that, but last night had effort and they played well. Th goalie was on fire.
- JRoenick97

Good to know that still happened (a tradition at every game). I must have been looking away. I stand by the low energy, different mood in the warmups from what I'm used to seeing, though. (granted, I only go to a few games a year)

If you are going to blow it up, why not trade 50 also? Let a young team (young goaltender) grow together.
- powerenforcer

I don't think that Crawford is as valuable to us or to other teams as some people think.
He is 33 years old with a current health issue. He has 2 more years after this one left on his contract which takes him to 35+.

Goal scoring is an issue if you take inconsistency into account: over half the games (24 out of 47) scoring 0/1/2.
- StLBravesFan

Exactly and you have too many guys over their skis in regards to slots in the lines.

Honestly I look right at 19/20 who haven't delivered enough as they should. Really getting old with 19 not producing.

A bit of sticking up for the players here.

A zoo geneticist can have a very long career making his $100,000 per - 30 years, 40 years.

A hockey player - any pro athlete - has in the best of circumstances a very short time to make some money - if a concussion or blown-out knee doesn't end his time, father time will catch up to him at an age when the genetecist's career is just taking off.

And ticket prices - less $10 here or $25 there an more fans could afford to go to games. Don't see owners holding the line there unless market forces intervene.
- StLBravesFan

no issue with player salary's...that's the business side...and when you are on that side you go for the best deal...the market dictates...no player and his agent should sit around thinking...if i take less the team will be able to give that to x player and make us a "better" team...

I don't think that Crawford is as valuable to us or to other teams as some people think.
He is 33 years old with a current health issue. He has 2 more years after this one left on his contract which takes him to 35+.
- 67hawks

Besides Kane he is the only core member who's arrow has pointed up since 2015 and improved his individual play.

The 3 Canadians are all regressing. Badly.

How is Q going to remedy Kempny's hesitation in making plays if he has him so worried. Will he or Samuelson reassure Kempny? I truly believe that Q needs to drvide whom plays on a regular basis. Maybe Q ferls stuck betwern as rock and a hard place, but he is only exasperating the issue at hand. Even if he set up some kind of rotation, that might be easier to deal eith as far as the players getting to play and gaining confidance.
- jhawk59

I thought Kempny started strong last night, but the regressed in to bad decision land. One play he inexplicably challenged the puck carrier at the red line and was easily beaten by a pass that left Murphy in a 2 on 1. Luckily it was offside or that was a grade A chance.

Blow it up....it's over. It's all over.

No joke. A lifeless team, with zero identity, who talks a big game from the top to the 12th F and then when it comes time to back it up on the ice.....they implode. Last game before a "bye" Don't even show up.......1st game after a bye? they get waxed......Last night they played better but it doesn't matter....you are in last place in the division and not just by 1-2 pts....by 7. Meaning you have to leap frog a ton of teams and with the way this team is constructed and lack of consistency you have to be naïve to think the magical switch is being flipped.

Ideally, you need to make a bold trade. A trade to bring back HUGE assets to help expedite the rebuilding process ASAP. Your biggest chip is.....one Duncan Keith. I know, BLASPHEMY!!!! Please. Nobody is taking Seabrook at his amount. Nobody is taking Toews at his amount. You'd be a fool to trade Kane as he's one of a 3 Hawks who actually shows up EVERY game and routinely has improved EVERY offseason.

You trade 2.....how badly would Babcock love him? Or even Washington? Teams who need to get by Pittsburgh or Tampa to have a chance? You also deal 15 as well as 8 is your top 6 center, and if somebody can find Toews please advise....Id check by an indoor garden growing fresh basil.

I'd sit down Saad and tell him he better step it up or he's next, and same with 7 and then you are forced to retain salary.

My untouchables would be 8,88,50, and 12. that's it. Everyone else...come take a look. Maybe somebody will take Ryan Hartman and the Hawks can throw in a shooter tutor as well....

Window just hasn't closed, it slammed shut. Blow it up. Fix it the correct way and not by adding more aging veterans on their last lap like Campbell or Sharp, and hope all your marketing since 2007 has paid off........
- SteveRain

If they trade 2 at the deadline, I'm confident they will get a Top 3 draft pick this year. Oesterle, Gustaffson, Kempny, Murphy, Seabrook and Rutta....dear god that would be an adventure. They need to fire the master architect of this dumpster fire, Stanley Bowman, and ASAP. Need someone to come in and unbiasedly assess this team and take drastic action to begin the rebuild.

Goal scoring is an issue if you take inconsistency into account: over half the games (24 out of 47) scoring 0/1/2.
- StLBravesFan

The goal scoring will be fine if they fix the defensive issues. Blown coverage and poor protection in front of the net. How many times last night even, TB has someone carrying the puck in and both men back were trying to cover him, while the next man coming in was wide open. It has to be defense first because they will not outscore their problems and win track meet games with wide open chances.

The top 6 is a bit of a mess. Line 1 can't finish or beat a goalie and line 2 gets embarrassed defensively.

I thought Kempny started strong last night, but the regressed in to bad decision land. One play he inexplicably challenged the puck carrier at the red line and was easily beaten by a pass that left Murphy in a 2 on 1. Luckily it was offside or that was a grade A chance.
- JRoenick97

Story of his NHL career so far. Makes a challenge for the puck, gets beat and ends up chasing an odd man rush.