He'd be the best center on a whole bunch of the 30 teams in the NHL? At his current level of play? I think not. He's arguably not a top 15 center in the league anymore.

Crosby, Malkin, McDavid, Begeron, Kopitar, Tavares, Eric Staal, Seguin, Eichel, Matthews, Getzlaf, Coutrier... all better not even really an argument (not sure if all are playing C this year exclusively). You could add several more that are having better overall years than Toews.

Crap Braydon Schenn is having a great year with the Blues even. Ryan Johansen is having a down year but he dominates Toews when they match-up. Do you take Scheifele over Toews?
- bhawks2241

Hate to say it, but yes...younger, cheaper, already scoring at a much higher clip. You could add another outstanding player if you're only paying your LC-1 6+ a year instead of the 10.5 our 19 gets. It's all about money and how it allows you to construct your puzzle. Because of the huge salaries these guys get jettisoned, the team is always in flux and eventually the overall product falls off.

The real failure is the Hawks paid Toews and others like they were pretty much solely responsible for those Cups. NOTHING could be further from the truth. Winning those Cups was as much a part of the work done by a ton of guys, ranging from David Bolland to Nick Hammer to Andrew Ladd to Mike Frolik, etc. .... 19 and others were paid for perception, the 'face of the franchise'...what made the Hawks great was incomparable depth and not a 100 point center. Sadly, the Hawks are now facing the repercussions of those-what i'd call- missed perceptions.

Us long suffering Blackhawk fans don't deserve this level of incompetency from this organization.

Starting to think that this trade Deadline is starting to smell. I have this eerie feeling, That we are going to get jacked off with trades similar to the Belfour, Chelios, and Roenick trades where we got crap back. I am starting To worry if Stan Bowman, like someone said he is a Minnow in a parana tank, it’s going to get bent over. But in the meantime everybody send in their season ticket money for next year!

Defend him for what? Paying guys for winning 3 cups in 6 years? Nashville and Tampa would love to have 3 cups. Toews and Kane's second contracts were very affordable. Then they won 3 cups. Put some time perspective on your criticisms. Lets see Nashville win a couple before you start envying them.
- JRoenick97

Nashville and Tampa would love 1 cup.

Just remembered TB has one . 2004 right ?

Nashville and Tampa would love 1 cup.

Just remembered TB has one . 2004 right ?
- mrpaulish

Yep. Great team. Lecavlier and St. Louis in their prime.

Starting to think that this trade Deadline is starting to smell. I have this eerie feeling, That we are going to get jacked off with trades similar to the Belfour, Chelios, and Roenick trades where we got crap back. I am starting To worry if Stan Bowman, like someone said he is a Minnow in a parana tank, it’s going to get bent over. But in the meantime everybody send in their season ticket money for next year!
- wonthecup10

Now Now..."everybody makes bad trades"...* stock fallback defense for Stanley*. ... I am fairly certain this TDL will be a giant thud as the Hawks stay silent so as not to be stated as "sellers" (ie, teams not in the playoffs) or Stan will get bold and add some high quality healthy scratches or career AHLers to the mix. Maybe he'll even trade for a guy who is actually retired (instead of should be) this time.

Now Now..."everybody makes bad trades"...* stock fallback defense for Stanley*. ... I am fairly certain this TDL will be a giant thud as the Hawks stay silent so as not to be stated as "sellers" (ie, teams not in the playoffs) or Stan will get bold and add some high quality healthy scratches or career AHLers to the mix. Maybe he'll even trade for a guy who is actually retired (instead of should be) this time.
- kwolf68

I love the incessant negativity in this board toward Bowman. It's hilarious the lack of perspective here. Dude blew up the 2010 roster and had them back in the cup race 3 years later, then 2 after that, yet people act like all he did was putz around and (frank) everything up. I mentioned the prospect of firing Q or Stan in my beer league game last night and people thought I was insane. Truly the case of "what have you done for me lately."

Starting to think that this trade Deadline is starting to smell. I have this eerie feeling, That we are going to get jacked off with trades similar to the Belfour, Chelios, and Roenick trades where we got crap back. I am starting To worry if Stan Bowman, like someone said he is a Minnow in a parana tank, it’s going to get bent over. But in the meantime everybody send in their season ticket money for next year!
- wonthecup10

Not to worry McD just stuck his head in Stan’s office and yelled get off the Da*n phone Stan, you’re not making any stupid trades.

I disagree with th this line of thinking do you honestly think Tampa or whoever else is trying for a cup is going to say screw the hawks I'm going to offer less If they believe AA is what they they need to win a cup. There going to do what they need for there team the hawks aren't screwed with the cap we have players making more than there worth but we have some cap space
- Abadseed

Cap wise, Hawks have just under 4 mil, have monster contracts tied up and will need to resign players. Not to mention, they are pretty much a non playoff contender. Not a good situation.

Back to your point, I am not saying that a team like Tampa would make a nice push for AA, but if you think they are going to deal the same as what Pitts did to get Brassard, I think we are kidding both of ourselves.

Of course time will tell, and if Stan can pull that off I will take being wrong beyond gladly.

I love the incessant negativity in this board toward Bowman. It's hilarious the lack of perspective here. Dude blew up the 2010 roster and had them back in the cup race 3 years later, then 2 after that, yet people act like all he did was putz around and (frank) everything up. I mentioned the prospect of firing Q or Stan in my beer league game last night and people thought I was insane. Truly the case of "what have you done for me lately."
- JRoenick97

Then there is always someone like you pumping his tires. Should I whine that there are some people whose only goal in here is to defend the guy who basically traded assets for a civil war veteran? It's a message board. Opinions will vary. Perhaps you can post your rules of what people should post. Anoint yourself forum czar.

Um they gave up a 1st and Cole, which they could of traded for picks, and that's a great trade? Not really

It's great if they win a cup this year other wise, like the Hawks, they gave up assets for a rental and made themselves a little weaker after this year
- BetweenTheDots

Not really a rental, Brassard is under contract for another year. Ian Cole is the one whose contract ends this year

Not really a rental, Brassard is under contract for another year. Ian Cole is the one whose contract ends this year
- TexasHawk

This was a good hockey trade. Brassard should fit perfect as L3-C in Pittsburgh and Ottawa has a goalie of the future, an extra first round pick, and who knows what they'll end up getting for Cole.

So Ottawa looks good as do the Pens....who basically gave up NOTHING from the current team's structure. Cole has been healthy scratched a lot this year.

Yep. Great team. Lecavlier and St. Louis in their prime.
- JRoenick97

Don't forget Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards

Can somebody please explain how Stan trading for vermette was too easy or even a bad trade in some views, yet brassard is a brilliant trade? Ignore the fact Pitt hasn't won jack squat yet this year.
The level of Stan hate here is can't be defended by the haters beyond "he sucks!" Or "he made a bad trade"
He has delivered 2 cups beyond the brilliant Dale years of guidance. I tend to accept that as success.
Remind me again how Dale has replicated his brilliance in Florida......I'll wait

Then there is always someone like you pumping his tires. Should I whine that there are some people whose only goal in here is to defend the guy who basically traded assets for a civil war veteran? It's a message board. Opinions will vary. Perhaps you can post your rules of what people should post. Anoint yourself forum czar.
- kwolf68

You can post your opinions, I can can give outside perspective on it. Like you said, it's a message board. I said he's made bad trades. You've said literally nothing about anything good he's done. Like I said, "what have you done for me lately?"

Also, where did I say don't post it? I simply gave an opinion. I never said you can't say it.

Then there is always someone like you pumping his tires. Should I whine that there are some people whose only goal in here is to defend the guy who basically traded assets for a civil war veteran? It's a message board. Opinions will vary. Perhaps you can post your rules of what people should post. Anoint yourself forum czar.
- kwolf68

So only your world view has merit?

Can somebody please explain how Stan trading for vermette was too easy or even a bad trade in some views, yet brassard is a brilliant trade? Ignore the fact Pitt hasn't won jack squat yet this year.
The level of Stan hate here is can't be defended by the haters beyond "he sucks!" Or "he made a bad trade"
He has delivered 2 cups beyond the brilliant Dale years of guidance. I tend to accept that as success.
Remind me again how Dale has replicated his brilliance in Florida......I'll wait
- dpard

Don't bother at this point. I said he's made good and bad moves and suddenly I'm some Bowman apologist who only pumps his tires.

Don't forget Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards
- EnzoD

He was a beast that playoff.

Can somebody please explain how Stan trading for vermette was too easy or even a bad trade in some views, yet brassard is a brilliant trade? Ignore the fact Pitt hasn't won jack squat yet this year.
The level of Stan hate here is can't be defended by the haters beyond "he sucks!" Or "he made a bad trade"
He has delivered 2 cups beyond the brilliant Dale years of guidance. I tend to accept that as success.
Remind me again how Dale has replicated his brilliance in Florida......I'll wait
- dpard

Here comes more lectures of how people should act toward Super Stan. Further, are you joking? Stan's mind numbing idiotic trades have been dissected to death. It is far more than HE SUCKS.

No one said the Vermette trade was bad. But it's not hard to trade for an impending UFA as long as you're willing to give up value. Big deal, he moved a 1 and prospect for him. Great job Stan, you're awesome.

The real test of Stan was sustaining the program, which he is failing to do. For every Vermette deal, there is a Danault deal, contracts of Bickell that necessitated giving away Teuvo, the Daley deal, the Kimo deal, huge contracts combined with no trade clauses, trading Leddy for trash, the Rundblad idiocy, etc., etc.......i am not even bringing up trades from last summer, which I am actually waiting to make my final judgment on, but he traded Hammer for a guy who is often times scratched and Panarin has almost twice the points as Saad. He has given away vast amounts of resources for low productive players or simply put players who don't even belong in the NHL.

So only your world view has merit?
- dpard

Where the hell did I say that? If someone thinks Bowman is great fine, post it...have at it. I don't care. I am not going to lecture you on what you should post. Perhaps I'll debate against it, but I am NOT telling you that you should not post it. Good grief.

I love how "Pitts been the best over the last 10yrs now"

When...both have won 3 cups, win percentages are .66% & .67% respectively...and Hawks have the much, much tought division and road thru thr playoffs.

But all hail PITT and the Hawks are slugs!

You know it's 2 GMs right? Shero, then Rutherford.
- JRoenick97[A/quote]

And 4 coaches, two Cup years with midyear coaching changes. It hasn't hurt them that their 2 top centers are two of the top three in the entire league and have been for 10 years now.

I love how "Pitts been the best over the last 10yrs now"

When...both have won 3 cups, win percentages are .66% & .67% respectively...and Hawks have the much, much tought division and road thru thr playoffs.

But all hail PITT and the Hawks are slugs!
- PatShart

Ok, so today they are equal. How to break the tie? May I submit current trajectory as an exhibit?

So only your world view has merit?
- dpard

This board is degrading into a snipefest lately

Um they gave up a 1st and Cole, which they could of traded for picks, and that's a great trade? Not really

It's great if they win a cup this year other wise, like the Hawks, they gave up assets for a rental and made themselves a little weaker after this year
- BetweenTheDots

Also, meh. Isn't this a no brainer trade they should have made? I mean it takes no brilliance to make a trade at the deadline involving a pick, prospect and a player you were going to move on from, right?

Not sure why it even rates a mention.