I love how you spin the contracts were "not bad or great". In reality, some of them are asinine on every level. Max salary + NTCs is just dumb. If the player maxes salary then the team should hold some leverage. If the player wants leverage on when/where to be moved then you bump his salary. IOW, I'll give you full NTC, but you need to give a little in salary so maybe we can put some goddamn players around you. Bowman gave it all away. Dumb.

And you damn right we should be mad at dumbass decisions EVEN MADE during a Cup run. It's very possible to be excited about winning a Cup while also being very upset with trades within that year.

Watching Bowman stumble around making dumb move after dumb move WHILE the Hawks still win....do two things...

1-Prove the team wins in SPITE of Bowman
2-The Dumbass trades end up costing the Hawks in the long run

This is Bowman's team now, officially. He's going nowhere, he has immunity from everything. Can't recall the last really good move he made. He has a very important TDL coming up...can't wait to see what he concocts...

Let me guess..AA, Hartman for a prospect and 2 fourth line grinders and a career AHL player.
- kwolf68

So I’m spinning in regard to contracts but you’re not when characterizing deadline deals? Uhm, ok.

Anyway, I hope Stan makes hay at the deadline and draft. He hasn’t been in this situation before, but if he does screw the pooch then yes he should go...with Q by his side AFAIC.

What happened to Dahlstrom? Did he play too well on Wednesday and cost the Hawks points in the Tanking Derby?
- RickJ

Rutta back. Likely trying to showcase him.

Charlie Roumeliotis‏
@CRoumeliotis
Joel Quenneville was asked if a specific player
- pdx2ord[Murphy] had more to give, to which he responded while signaling at the locker room: "Here are another 23 guys who need more." #Blackhawks

So, if I'm a player who is playing my a** off each night but I am making mistakes, either of my own volition, or more likely, because I'm playing with yet another set of line mates or a D-man with whom I've practiced either not at all or for a whopping 20 min just that morning, I am not going to go to battle for a guy who says stuff like this. You guys can talk all you want about believing that pro players getting paid shouldn't need motivation, but they can definitely become demoralized like every human being.

He has a bee in his bonnet about Murphy and has since he got here. Dollars to doughnuts it's because he came back for Hammer.

What if he's just calling it like he sees it. Damnnnnn steavie wonder can see that everyone on this team has underperformed. That is why we are where we are at now. Don't get me wrong Q does some crazy sh!t as well. Could be the beginning of the end for Q if he's openly saying that. He gave up on his team like his players gave up on him.

about time...is he wrong...
- bogiedoc

Apparently Q needs to hug everyone and not challenge them

The pussification of the world continues

I don't think AA needs to be a "salary dump". He's still under 30, productive and for L2/L3 Center his salary isn't bad. AA should be a HOCKEY trade, nothing more or less. Therefore, absolutely NO NEED to "sweeten the pot" to move him. If we don't get the deal we want, just keep him and install him into L3-C next year.
- kwolf68

I agree. I hope they get some value back for him other than cap space.

I'm curious about the Blackhawks planning horizon. Do they think they can make a cup run in the next year or two, then holding on to AA makes sense. Do they think it is more like 3 to 6 years, then moving him makes sense; get younger, faster, more athletic, etc.

I agree. I hope they get some value back for him other than cap space.

I'm curious about the Blackhawks planning horizon. Do they think they can make a cup run in the next year or two, then holding on to AA makes sense. Do they think it is more like 3 to 6 years, then moving him makes sense; get younger, faster, more athletic, etc.
- matt_ahrens

In reality, it could be another few decades before the Hawks win another Cup. They are not even close with this defense group and the uncertainty in goal.

Tell me where I haven’t held him accountable. I said the Kimmo trade was bad and have said the Danault trade was bad. I agree that some of the contracts are not great or just bad in Seab’s case, but also recognize some of those as the cost of winning.

Come on. You’re telling me you’ve forgotten the days of “Get it done Stan” with a bunch of red faced emojis after that comment for every trade made at the deadline that the Blackhawks weren’t a part of? No I don’t remember everything posted but I remember that and what I posted earlier vividly.

Never said everything was good but to be mad as hell about losing a couple second round picks in a trade that didn’t work out after the team just won a Cup is just as idiotic no?
- HawkintheD

NO !! Trading 2 2nds for Timmonen was a disgrace and just because we won the cup shouldn't erase that horrific decision by Bowman and whoever else thought it was a good move.

Yes the Danault trade was a fiasco as well and just proved the miscommunication between Quenneville and upper management.

Nobody knows who's involved in the decision making process of these trades....which in itself is alarming.
So we ALL really don't know who is at fault for this team's collapse.

If I had to pick just one name......
I'd say the Captain # 19.
His ineptitude has started this entire downhill snowball effect. If he played to his 2015 level of production, there's a chance that all this finger pointing wouldn't exist.
Again......with a 40+ pt season, I can't imagine what the rest of the bench is snickering under their breath watching him perform shift after shift.

We can only hope that he can rebuild his body and approach to the game that made him one of the best centers in the game for all those years. He's 30, not 40, and if he still "wants it", he can do it.

Can someone tell me roughly what record they have to go to make the playoffs?
- Joeron

Depends on the lowest points needed to get a wildcard spot.If you reasonably say its gonna take 92-95 points to make the second wildcard spot (St. louis has 72 points with 20 games left, so that means they win AT LEAST half to put them at 92 and nobody leaps them). Lets say 94 to be safe. Hawks need 17 wins to get there in 20 games. Safe to say we're done here.

What if he's just calling it like he sees it. Damnnnnn steavie wonder can see that everyone on this team has underperformed. That is why we are where we are at now. Don't get me wrong Q does some crazy sh!t as well. Could be the beginning of the end for Q if he's openly saying that. He gave up on his team like his players gave up on him.
- BGKarras

He may be calling it like he sees it. Has every single player underperformed on average, though? DeBrincat? Hinostroza?

Here are my issues with it:
1) public and vague throwing of whole team under the bus
2) lumping everyone into the same bucket when we all know that certain players have really earned the "underperforming based on their proven capabilities" and others not as much
3) their performance has not likely been helped by the coaching decisions and practice ethos, and
4) while cannot be sure of this, of course, I don't see Q or his staff as type to spend a lot of quality time with the underperforming players helping them understand what is needed from them in their prescribed role. Waite definitely does it. Do the others?

You want to challenge them as a leader/coach, be specific!

And fine, I'll take the jerk pussification slam, since as a woman, it's not a problem in my opinion.

NO !! Trading 2 2nds for Timmonen was a disgrace and just because we won the cup shouldn't erase that horrific decision by Bowman and whoever else thought it was a good move.

Yes the Danault trade was a fiasco as well and just proved the miscommunication between Quenneville and upper management.

Nobody knows who's involved in the decision making process of these trades....which in itself is alarming.
So we ALL really don't know who is at fault for this team's collapse.

If I had to pick just one name......
I'd say the Captain # 19.
His ineptitude has started this entire downhill snowball effect. If he played to his 2015 level of production, there's a chance that all this finger pointing wouldn't exist.
Again......with a 40+ pt season, I can't imagine what the rest of the bench is snickering under their breath watching him perform shift after shift.

We can only hope that he can rebuild his body and approach to the game that made him one of the best centers in the game for all those years. He's 30, not 40, and if he still "wants it", he can do it.
- Hawkytalk

Possibly the silliest poop I've read in a long time. He's the captain. He's led for years and has put up hard miles on the way to 3 cups. These aren't kids playing. No player on the team is snickering at their struggling captain, especially when the whole team is struggling. That's just dumb.

He may be calling it like he sees it. Has every single player underperformed on average, though? DeBrincat? Hinostroza?

Here are my issues with it:
1) public and vague throwing of whole team under the bus
2) lumping everyone into the same bucket when we all know that certain players have really earned the "underperforming based on their proven capabilities" and others not as much
3) their performance has not likely been helped by the coaching decisions and practice ethos, and
4) while cannot be sure of this, of course, I don't see Q or his staff as type to spend a lot of quality time with the underperforming players helping them understand what is needed from them in their prescribed role. Waite definitely does it. Do the others?

You want to challenge them as a leader/coach, be specific!

And fine, I'll take the jerk pussification slam, since as a woman, it's not a problem in my opinion.
- pdx2ord

A good coach doesn't publicly throw individual players under the bus, or elevate specific players when the team is a dumpster fire. Look no further than the awful ex-Montreal coach who repeatedly called out Subban and others in MTL as an example. I'm sure guys like Cat and Vinny are being praised privately, and others being criticized (with the exception of "The Core" who are on a pedestal).

Good god man. Read the post. I never said to trade ADB, I merely stated that based on the Bickell trade that required TT to be included that to sucker someone into taking Seabrook's contract would require an even better player than TT....that's the only point of that statement.
- kwolf68

Ok....got it.....my point is ANY discussion of sweetening ANY trade that includes Debrincat is ludicrous. Stan had to stop this sweetening crap to cover up his horrible contracts. He created the Bickell situation, and now all these other NMC contracts so it's his bed now !!

Possibly the silliest poop I've read in a long time. He's the captain. He's led for years and has put up hard miles on the way to 3 cups. These aren't kids playing. No player on the team is snickering at their struggling captain, especially when the whole team is struggling. That's just dumb.
- JRoenick97

Speculation on both of your parts (and now my own). I know that when I was on a team that keeps losing, morale lowers and "clicks" within the room are more likely to evolve. I know for damn sure if I'm a young guy making $950K and I see Toews out there falling down, handling the puck like he has stone hands, and simply playing at a 3rd line level while making $10.5mil.....it's human nature for there to be some resentment there.

The sound of silence!
- walleyeb1

this is what is sounds like....when doves cry.

Possibly the silliest poop I've read in a long time. He's the captain. He's led for years and has put up hard miles on the way to 3 cups. These aren't kids playing. No player on the team is snickering at their struggling captain, especially when the whole team is struggling. That's just dumb.
- JRoenick97

I guess we'll agree to disagree then.

A good coach doesn't publicly throw individual players under the bus, or elevate specific players when the team is a dumpster fire. Look no further than the awful ex-Montreal coach who repeatedly called out Subban and others in MTL as an example. I'm sure guys like Cat and Vinny are being praised privately, and others being criticized (with the exception of "The Core" who are on a pedestal).
- EnzoD

Agreed. . .hope it didn't seem like I was advocating any public throwing under the bus. Should all be done behind the doors.

It's not a viable motivation tool. Feeds the vultures in the press, but likely does nothing but demoralize.

Ok....got it.....my point is ANY discussion of sweetening ANY trade that includes Debrincat is ludicrous. Stan had to stop this sweetening crap to cover up his horrible contracts. He created the Bickell situation, and now all these other NMC contracts so it's his bed now !!
- Hawkytalk

Oh I agree, totally. But with Bowman anything is possible. At this point I don't think he's capable of a rebuild on the fly. He proved to be at best a marginally adequate caretaker of an elite team/franchise that was handed to him. I have no faith, given the vast evidence we have, that Bowman can do anything more than tinkering with a team. His challenge, a large part of it his own doing, is fixing this team. I don't think they are THAT far off...2 D-men, including legit top 4, and another quality center and a couple forwards who have skill and don't mind getting close to the blue paint...Four players!!!

In reality, it could be another few decades before the Hawks win another Cup. They are not even close with this defense group and the uncertainty in goal.
- EnzoD

You are probably right.

He may be calling it like he sees it. Has every single player underperformed on average, though? DeBrincat? Hinostroza?

Here are my issues with it:
1) public and vague throwing of whole team under the bus
2) lumping everyone into the same bucket when we all know that certain players have really earned the "underperforming based on their proven capabilities" and others not as much
3) their performance has not likely been helped by the coaching decisions and practice ethos, and
4) while cannot be sure of this, of course, I don't see Q or his staff as type to spend a lot of quality time with the underperforming players helping them understand what is needed from them in their prescribed role. Waite definitely does it. Do the others?

You want to challenge them as a leader/coach, be specific!

And fine, I'll take the jerk pussification slam, since as a woman, it's not a problem in my opinion.
- pdx2ord

Q has the reputation of being a players coach what he tells reporters is probably not what he tells his players behind closed doors. No need to slam a player I need the press when you can do it privately

Brassard to Pitts for a 1st

Brassard to Pitts for a 1st
- Hawkster

and Ian Cole, and Gustavsson

Oh I agree, totally. But with Bowman anything is possible. At this point I don't think he's capable of a rebuild on the fly. He proved to be at best a marginally adequate caretaker of an elite team/franchise that was handed to him. I have no faith, given the vast evidence we have, that Bowman can do anything more than tinkering with a team. His challenge, a large part of it his own doing, is fixing this team. I don't think they are THAT far off...2 D-men, including legit top 4, and another quality center and a couple forwards who have skill and don't mind getting close to the blue paint...Four players!!!
- kwolf68

Dude, EVERY NHL team besides Nashville is lacking Top 4 Dmen. Hawks had the best dman in the NHL, a Top 20 Dman in Seabrook, and arguably the best "defense only" shutdown guy in Hammer for their 3 cups. Keith is barely top pair anymore (and will only get worse), and there is not another guy on the roster who is anything more than a 5D (on his BEST day). We have a "1C" that is simply not an impact player offensively, a "1LW" playing like a 3rd line grinder, a lanky 22yr old 2C, a 34yr old starting goalie with career threatening head injuries, a "2D" that is going on 33yrs old and looks like barely a 6D some nights....this team is royally (frank)ed for the near future without massive luck in the lottery or some huge roster restructuring.

and Ian Cole, and Gustavsson
- JRoenick97

Guess with Cole added, Karlsson probably good as gone.

Brassard to Pitts for a 1st
- Hawkster

Stan was asleep at the wheel again.

Charlie Roumeliotis‏
@CRoumeliotis
Joel Quenneville was asked if a specific player
- pdx2ord[Murphy] had more to give, to which he responded while signaling at the locker room: "Here are another 23 guys who need more." #Blackhawks

So, if I'm a player who is playing my a** off each night but I am making mistakes, either of my own volition, or more likely, because I'm playing with yet another set of line mates or a D-man with whom I've practiced either not at all or for a whopping 20 min just that morning, I am not going to go to battle for a guy who says stuff like this. You guys can talk all you want about believing that pro players getting paid shouldn't need motivation, but they can definitely become demoralized like every human being.

He has a bee in his bonnet about Murphy and has since he got here. Dollars to doughnuts it's because he came back for Hammer.

So what, he's calling out the entire team. So he's not playing favorites, oh but now were offended because he said it publicly?

If the player is offended, then trade them cut them whatever.

Nothing wrong with being honest if the players are bothered by it then go out at game time and just do your (frank)ing job, period!