would we consider Darling at 50% retained?
- kmw4631

He's been baaaaad this year, Forsberg has played better.

I would not be surprised with a win tonight ,just to throw a monkey wrench into everything. That has been this teams MO ,and TB has been struggling .

I said before I am not buying this whole core fell off the playing well boat at the same time .Seems suspicious to me , think it may be something deeper .My main suspect is coach Q he is closes to the players . Kane is excused , he always been on his own page anyway ,and Crow is a goalie their all nuts .

Need to move Q out ,upstairs to the street were ever need be . See what they get from there . Probably to late to save this year ,but may clear a few heads and give a better prediction for next year .
- oldduffman

bolts lost @ home pre and post break...like guess who.
have lost 3 in a row vs flames, vegas, and wild
the big russian in net has been leaky and they have not been scoring

teams like the bolts can get healthy in a hurry vs this hawk team at present...i expect to the bolts to do what other teams have done...get off to a quick start and have 2 goals by the end of 1...

something to watch: hawks PK has been good but not vs the isles; if the pk starts to go south...this team has no chance

He's been baaaaad this year, Forsberg has played better.
- DarthKane

So you think he is a better option then Darling at 50% retained. I Think darling would be a better option this year. he had a .925 save % for hawks over 3 years and 75 games. he has been bad this year at .892 in 29 games Forsberg and Glass have been at .905 and .907 and I just don't see them getting any better.

I got yelled at for suggesting that you guys would be well-served in doing whatever it took to get out from under that Seabrook contract after the Nashville series.

I was respectful in how I said it then, and now: Nothing can take away from what the franchise has accomplished since 2010. It's not a crime to get old.

But this team needs to, again, get out from under Seabrook by any means necessary, look quietly if there is a landing spot for Toews, and embrace the draft this year and next
- AllInForFlyers

honestly this management is not in white flag mode: trading seabs and toews would clearly be saying that...

seabs gets you a couple of picks and maybe a prospect plus they eat half that salary for 6 more years....THAT AINT HAPPENING over rocky's and MCD's dead cold bodies

So you think he is a better option then Darling at 50% retained. I Think darling would be a better option this year. he had a .925 save % for hawks over 3 years and 75 games. he has been bad this year at .892 in 29 games Forsberg and Glass have been at .905 and .907 and I just don't see them getting any better.
- kmw4631

Yes. Darling isn't good enough to help this team, we'd need Broduer or Roy in their primes for that. Why give up the assets it would require to get Darling, then what happens when Crawford returns. In no way would I move Crawford to make room for Darling.

The first decision to made is Q the right coach to move forward with
a youth movement. My take is no, he blend ways to much for youngsters
to find chemistry. Maybe after 2-3 years in the league can a blending
team work, but not one with so many first. second year players.

If I'm a player on this team I'm scratching my head and playing with a
tight stick thinking if I make a wrong pass, any of a number of things
that can be wrong then I'm no good and neither are the players I'm playing with.

Didn't Kane just say the team isn't playing with any confidence, if so while
Q's blending worked in the past, this team isn't talented enough to blend
it need's a structure first before blending becomes effective.

With JL's source's being what they are, I don't suspect any big move leading
up to the TDL unless they completely puke the next 3 home games, then
when the madhouse becomes a hoor house changes can be made.

This isn't rocket science. This is what happens when you have to rebuild your roster.

Once they finish the turnover - and they're making strides - they have to play together for a year or two. Like...14-15 of them and re-establish a core. The system the Hawks play takes time and they need to play in it together. Hence the massive inconsistency.

Hjarllmarsson was a good move. He's broken down in AZ and would be broken down here, a contract year.

Toews, Kane and Keith may be the only ones here in 2-3yrs for one more cup run for those 3.

Seabrook I could see being bought out. Crawford can be a very good trade chip - and this may be the best year to trade him IF he comes back. Anisimov too. Use those to try to find a younger Dman.

After Boston lost to us in the Cup Finals in 13', they lost to the Canadiens in the first round in 2014. They failed to acknowledge that their star lineup from 11' and 13' was getting to old and that the cap would cost them valuable pieces. They missed the playoffs in 2015, and finally wised up about what they needed to do.

In 2014 they drafted Pastrnak, Bjork, and Heinen. In 2015 they traded out some core pieces in Hamilton and Lucic, getting three picks in a row for Zboril, Debrusk, and Shenyshyn. They lost key pieces over the retool years with Seguin, Boychuk, Lucic, Hamilton, Horton, Seidenberg, Ference, Campbell, Paille, and Shawn Thornton.

Now with a retooled roster full of ELC guys, they are icing a very effective team. McCavoy, Carlo are doing great on D. Pastrnak, Hainen, Debrusk, Spooner and a handful of others have filled out a dangerous and fast forward group.

They fired Julien and the Chiarelli, letting a young coach take over who embraced speed and let the kids take chances.


I love Q but maybe it's time to part ways. Also need to find a way to ditch Seabrook and Toews' contracts if possible. Toews I'm somewhat willing to wait on, maybe he'll ditch his fad diets or recover from some mysterious back injury. He looks Mike Richards-esque on some nights, can't hold onto the puck.

I'd try to trade anyone not named Kane, Keith, Crawford. Stockpile picks and prospects for the next season, you don't have to totally tear it down to have an effective retool.
- ObeseOprah

I am fond of your Bruins analogy and your Blackhawk ideas. I do not pretend to understand what your blog handle (your avatar) is about. Sarcasm or just joking around?

bolts lost @ home pre and post break...like guess who.
have lost 3 in a row vs flames, vegas, and wild
the big russian in net has been leaky and they have not been scoring

teams like the bolts can get healthy in a hurry vs this hawk team at present...i expect to the bolts to do what other teams have done...get off to a quick start and have 2 goals by the end of 1...

something to watch: hawks PK has been good but not vs the isles; if the pk starts to go south...this team has no chance
- bogiedoc

Think they are missing Hedman on the back end also .Big skates to fill .

The rebuild is finally on...Bouma is scratched

Blackhawks this morning:

Saad-Toews-Duclair
Sharp-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Anisimov-Hartman
Jurco-Kampf-Hinostroza

Bouma and Wingels likely scratched.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 22, 2018

Even if that were true about Schmaltz (which it's not) why would any other GM give the Hawks anything of value for Schmaltz?

Hartman is a different type of player than Shaw, they're not a one-for-one comparison. If anything, Hartman is more like Bolland than Shaw. I think it's hard to compare Hartman to either guy. Bolland and Shaw were playing on the team in their prime, Hartman is playing on the team's downward slide. Shaw isn't doing too great on a below average Montreal team, he wouldn't be doing much better here.

There are two things I want the Hawks to do during this transition period:

1. Don't make any panic trades (not to be confused with Panik trade). Stan has been pretty good in this regard, so I don't expect he will.

2. Continue to be a first class organization that players want to play for. Even though the team isn't winning now they can keep a winning culture and still be a choice destination (to some degree).
- DarthKane

I agree. People are going to blame Q. I think he has done a good job considering the turnover he has had every year since 2010. People are going to blame Bowman. As it turns out he overpaid for Toews. But could he have paid Toews less that Kane at that time? He did over pay Seabs for too many years. Those are negatives. But there are plenty of positives that people seem to forget about.

No one knows what the Hawks are right now. No identity. A lot of young players. This board was tripping over themselves earlier this year to say how great Forsling and Deb were. But they are young kids prone to inconsistency over a long season. The Hawks have many young players in that category.

Even Forsberg is young. Crawford's first full season was at the age of 26. He played 5 years in the AHL. Many thought he was a career AHL'er.

Bowman is not one to panic like most of the posters on this board. I see Wirtz, McD, Bowman, and Q staying the course, letting the kids develop, missing the playoffs, re-evaluating the talent on the roster and at the Rock and overseas after the season, drafting and signing free young low priced free agents, and righting the ship. I expect them to be very quiet at the TDL.

honestly this management is not in white flag mode: trading seabs and toews would clearly be saying that...

seabs gets you a couple of picks and maybe a prospect plus they eat half that salary for 6 more years....THAT AINT HAPPENING over rocky's and MCD's dead cold bodies
- bogiedoc

I just wonder if next fall Seabrook reports to camp in better shape and maybe is a tad better than what he has shown this season. Maybe then at the 2019 trade deadline he could go for a late round draft choice. He definitely will not play in an NHL jersey after the next collective bargaining agreement. If his skating slips further, then he is toast

The rebuild is finally on...Bouma is scratched

Blackhawks this morning:

Saad-Toews-Duclair
Sharp-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Anisimov-Hartman
Jurco-Kampf-Hinostroza

Bouma and Wingels likely scratched.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 22, 2018

- DarthKane

Speed, youth. Get your young fast guys some playing time. The playoffs are most liekly not a thing this year for them, so get your next wave of guys going.

So you think he is a better option then Darling at 50% retained. I Think darling would be a better option this year. he had a .925 save % for hawks over 3 years and 75 games. he has been bad this year at .892 in 29 games Forsberg and Glass have been at .905 and .907 and I just don't see them getting any better.
- kmw4631

We don't have the defense for Darling to be effective this season.

The first decision to made is Q the right coach to move forward with
a youth movement. My take is no, he blend ways to much for youngsters
to find chemistry. Maybe after 2-3 years in the league can a blending
team work, but not one with so many first. second year players.

If I'm a player on this team I'm scratching my head and playing with a
tight stick thinking if I make a wrong pass, any of a number of things
that can be wrong then I'm no good and neither are the players I'm playing with.

Didn't Kane just say the team isn't playing with any confidence, if so while
Q's blending worked in the past, this team isn't talented enough to blend
it need's a structure first before blending becomes effective.

With JL's source's being what they are, I don't suspect any big move leading
up to the TDL unless they completely puke the next 3 home games, then
when the madhouse becomes a hoor house changes can be made.
- gazza53

Even though team management is probably privately resigned to missing the playoffs this year, there is no way that they will endorse giving up on the season in mid January. I don't think the Hawks will make it because they are no better than the 6th best team in the Central and their MVP is out indefinitely.

But, nobody knows what can happen with other teams in the West. Colorado plays a huge number of road games in the next month; St. Louis has a brutal schedule going forward; key injuries could happen to any of the teams in the West, etc.

Player moves are being made internally in an effort to find a way to get better. Rockford has a big role in this. Dunking the coach at this point wouldn't help matters, just create more instability. A new guy isn't going to turn them into the Bruins or Lightning.

The rebuild is finally on...Bouma is scratched

Blackhawks this morning:

Saad-Toews-Duclair
Sharp-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Anisimov-Hartman
Jurco-Kampf-Hinostroza

Bouma and Wingels likely scratched.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 22, 2018

- DarthKane

Fourth line is not legit 4, no one on that line really hits. I guess it's fast and I do like Kampf a lot. This may be Sharp's last ring at the bell. Still not sure what Vinnie did to get demoted and what Duclair has done to get promoted. Guess Q has to play Stan's latest toy. I am patient with Duclair the talent is there, but figured he'd have to work his way to the top line.

Three of next 4 against TB, Toronto and Nashville with Detroit sprinkled in. A bad stretch there and the team is probably done. After that Vancouver who looked pretty good last night in a loss to the Jets and a good Calgary team. Team is going to have to go on some sort of decent run against LEGIT teams to be in the conversation. If they don't, Hawks will be out of this well before the TDL.

The rebuild is finally on...Bouma is scratched

Blackhawks this morning:

Saad-Toews-Duclair
Sharp-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Anisimov-Hartman
Jurco-Kampf-Hinostroza

Bouma and Wingels likely scratched.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 22, 2018

- DarthKane

They don't want to risk him getting hurt, he's their biggest trade chip.

I agree. People are going to blame Q. I think he has done a good job considering the turnover he has had every year since 2010. People are going to blame Bowman. As it turns out he overpaid for Toews. But could he have paid Toews less that Kane at that time? He did over pay Seabs for too many years. Those are negatives. But there are plenty of positives that people seem to forget about.

No one knows what the Hawks are right now. No identity. A lot of young players. This board was tripping over themselves earlier this year to say how great Forsling and Deb were. But they are young kids prone to inconsistency over a long season. The Hawks have many young players in that category.

Even Forsberg is young. Crawford's first full season was at the age of 26. He played 5 years in the AHL. Many thought he was a career AHL'er.

Bowman is not one to panic like most of the posters on this board. I see Wirtz, McD, Bowman, and Q staying the course, letting the kids develop, missing the playoffs, re-evaluating the talent on the roster and at the Rock and overseas after the season, drafting and signing free young low priced free agents, and righting the ship. I expect them to be very quiet at the TDL.
- -Doh-

This all is much more likely to be how the team recoils. But I do suggest there may be room for Joel to resign and finish his contract doing scouting. A teaching coach to compliment Ulfue or Ulfue himself could be the next head coach. Perhaps McDonough and Bowman want to entrust Colliton another year to develop kids and himself to prepare more for possible NHL ascension. One year with Ulfie then reassess the direction the team, it's prospects, it's coaches at each level are having as it pertains to the kids development. You know we need to have some of the current kids continue to improve while some others come aboard here and at Rockford. And what about Rutta. Non physical but how can he fit in. He has a lot of good things to like. He was effective (although with warts) early this season. Playing him and Forsling together, given other choices in the pairings: good or bad it is a Q discretionary decision.

I agree. People are going to blame Q. I think he has done a good job considering the turnover he has had every year since 2010. People are going to blame Bowman. As it turns out he overpaid for Toews. But could he have paid Toews less that Kane at that time? He did over pay Seabs for too many years. Those are negatives. But there are plenty of positives that people seem to forget about.

No one knows what the Hawks are right now. No identity. A lot of young players. This board was tripping over themselves earlier this year to say how great Forsling and Deb were. But they are young kids prone to inconsistency over a long season. The Hawks have many young players in that category.

Even Forsberg is young. Crawford's first full season was at the age of 26. He played 5 years in the AHL. Many thought he was a career AHL'er.

Bowman is not one to panic like most of the posters on this board. I see Wirtz, McD, Bowman, and Q staying the course, letting the kids develop, missing the playoffs, re-evaluating the talent on the roster and at the Rock and overseas after the season, drafting and signing free young low priced free agents, and righting the ship. I expect them to be very quiet at the TDL.
- -Doh-

Yep

The only "noise" I could see them making is if 50 is healthy and moved - for the right young Dman

I am fond of your Bruins analogy and your Blackhawk ideas. I do not pretend to understand what your blog handle (your avatar) is about. Sarcasm or just joking around?
- jhawk59

It's my handle for everything, it all started when I got killed by another player in Halo 3 who had the name '800 lb Oprah'. The game said 'you were killed by 800 lb Oprah and I thought it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen.

I also just don't like Oprah, she's given platforms to some serious quacks who have negatively impacted society's ability to think critically: Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, not doctor Jenny 'autism vaccines' McCarthy, and a handful of other loony toons.

You mean four straight losses.....

If we are currently in the top ten of the draft next year, at this point in the season, then I'd honestly rather have the top pick. I didn't realize how stacked the draft was defensively this year. Four of the top 10 prospects are d-men.

Does not help us in terms of center depth though.
- TexasHawk

Depressing to see us discuss the draft in Jan. However, it is in Dallas where I am currently living so another great excuse to be around hockey folks and enjoy adult beverages!!

The rebuild is finally on...Bouma is scratched

Blackhawks this morning:

Saad-Toews-Duclair
Sharp-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Anisimov-Hartman
Jurco-Kampf-Hinostroza

Bouma and Wingels likely scratched.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 22, 2018

- DarthKane

Ride a painted pony let the spinnin wheel spin ..

They don't want to risk him getting hurt, he's their biggest trade chip.
- Justin Lowe

Slide Wingels in for Hino

Justin, thanks for another well written blog.

The Hawks made changes to be harder to play against, but that part just didn't seem to translate. They give up shots and chances to easily.

Last year at 5v5
CA/60 - 58.95
SA/60 - 33.43
GA/60 - 2.54
SCA/60 - 29.36
HDCA/60 - 12.29

This year at 5v5
CA/60 - 55.08
SA/60 - 30.37
GA/60 - 2.05
SCA/60 - 27.15
HDCA/60 - 10.88

Pretty much 10-20% across the board worse in terms of attempts against, chances against, shots against, goals against. This team needs to clean up defensively. In the stat categories above, the Hawks are bottom 5-10 in the NHL. The high danger chances against is the one that is alarming to me.

I know stats don't tell everything, but this does paint a bit of a picture. I know it is in fashion to blame Toews because of his contract, but his line has at least matched up against top players and done well defensively. Just wish they could make the extra effort to score. They get chances but can't convert.

Line 2 generates offense, but man they also get hemmed into their own end way way too much. I personally want to see Schmaltz go back to wing. Can Kane play with anyone? He seems to be good when playing with Schmaltz but not so great playing without.

5v5 Kane on ice with Schmaltz
GF 24
GA 16

5v5 Kane on ice without Schmaltz
GF 11
GA 16

They should put AA back at 2C with Kane/Schmaltz on the wings. The Hawks have been finding out what they have in the bottom 6 and on D and they need to move forward with the ones that can play consistently. This season might be lost with the Hawks on the wrong side of the pack, but the difference between being on one side of the pack or the other is small. A handful of games and situations that cost them. I think they still need to sort out the D in terms of playing the tough minutes. No easy task.

There is nothing wrong with the coach. Nothing. It's all bowman. It's not bad trades it's industrial strength bad trades. Oh by the way Panarin is leading Columbus with 38 points making stan the biggest fool in history exactly as I said would happen many times on this board.