I lived in Detroit (mostly) from 1997-2006. Holland never had a streak like Bowman has of poor pro player personnel decisions.

Conversely, while Bowman had the cap to contend with, he was also allowed to conduct a fire sale/auction of sorts that Holland never got to. The results of that so far have been pretty dismal:


Ivan Vishnevskiy, Viktor Stalberg, Philippe Paradis, Chris DiDomenico, Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Hayes, Jeremy Morin, Jeff Taffe, Rostislav Olesz, Philip Danault, Brandon Saad and a couple more second round picks,

for:

Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Kris Versteeg, Brian Campbell, Brent Sopel, Antti Niemi, Troy Brouwer

Basically, much is riding on Mr.'s Danault, Hayes and Saad becoming great NHL players. And odds say not all of them will. Maybe 1 or 2.

Because a lot of talent was given up, all at least good players, some very good or near great.
- John Jaeckel

Ooooohh that is painful; only one player contributing on the current roster......but when you have a high end firesale and everyone knows it....that's what happens.

He's out long-term with a shoulder injury I believe. Perhaps the rest of the season, not sure about that though.
- andru2797

Saw him signing autographs at the Hogs game Sat. night. No sling or cast of any kind.

I know of the Sopel thing because it was reiterated in other articles. I am also aware Hammer is out and also am aware the flu-bug was going around the Blackhawk dressing room. I'm also aware Hammer is the one that consistently blocks shots; Seabrook is pretty good too BTW. And just what are you aware of that I'm not, I'm just absolutely giddy to find out.
- blackhawk24

Here's what I am aware of. check the web site "life of a hockey widow.com
It is a blog from Sopel's wife and the latest entry was in January. Now unless Al know another reason he would rather stay in Siberia than Chicago I would really like to be enlightend

Saw him signing autographs at the Hogs game Sat. night. No sling or cast of any kind.
- Leerock

He was asked when he would expect to be abck and he said he had no idea

You want to evaluate Bowman this year (because this is the year he "owns" the team), here is what I see as a fairly reasoned analysis:

1. Dumped Campell's contract to create cap space +1, BUT misspent the space - epic fail

2. Mayers +1

3. Brunette - could be a +1 ... His strength is at and behind the goal line. IF you only use him on PK, PP and 4th line, he's a win. But he did not replace Brouwer by any stretch. And the first line suffers for it.

4. Carcillo - I'm inclined to say +1, but with the target on his back and now the injury....

5. O'Donnell -1 - he's a glorified defensive bench coach at best. He's definitely a #7 D. Did not replace Sopel - the blocked shots and PK ability is not there.

6. Lepisto - we'll never know...he looked good the other night though.

7. Kruger call up +1 - in time. He's got game.

8. Shaw call up +1 - if you ask me - pure luck - but he's too small to be a long term piece.

9. Goalies -1 - even a part time C2 apologist like me would sure like to have seen them find a way to keep Niemi. Emery, good backup - that's it.

10. Montador - even. He is woefully misused. Hard to knock a guy who ha been set up to fail all year. Paired with OD or Scott most of the year when his real value for this team is on the PP....

11. Morrison - bag of pucks for a bag of pucks. No impact.

They have some nuggets of gold in this pile of flesh, but they have been, and continue to be generally miscast on the ice. Where does that blame lie?? That my friends is the real $64,000 question. How much input into the on ice decisions does the front office have?

But they still don't have a point shot, a shot blocking PK D man, a second line center to feed Hossa, or a space maker for Tazer's line. At minimum, that is what they need to have a chance at doing well in the post season.

He was asked when he would expect to be abck and he said he had no idea
- Maggie

Ok then keep hoping...

Not wasting anymore keystrokes on what I heard...Which is also what others have heard awhile ago. Also heard Sopel was puttng his house in Hinsdale up for sale.

What I do know which can't be questioned is Sopel wasn't signed here this summer before he had another contract in place.

That tells me the Hawks made other choices and probably would not stretch to get him back now...

The reason he went to Siberia to begin with might be because he provided the best financial security for his family...Just my opinion but that makes sense to me.

But never say never...I guess.

You want to evaluate Bowman this year (because this is the year he "owns" the team), here is what I see as a fairly reasoned analysis:

1. Dumped Campell's contract to create cap space +1, BUT misspent the space - epic fail

2. Mayers +1

3. Brunette - could be a +1 ... His strength is at and behind the goal line. IF you only use him on PK, PP and 4th line, he's a win. But he did not replace Brouwer by any stretch. And the first line suffers for it.

4. Carcillo - I'm inclined to say +1, but with the target on his back and now the injury....

5. O'Donnell -1 - he's a glorified defensive bench coach at best. He's definitely a #7 D. Did not replace Sopel - the blocked shots and PK ability is not there.

6. Lepisto - we'll never know...he looked good the other night though.

7. Kruger call up +1 - in time. He's got game.

8. Shaw call up +1 - if you ask me - pure luck - but he's too small to be a long term piece.

9. Goalies -1 - even a part time C2 apologist like me would sure like to have seen them find a way to keep Niemi. Emery, good backup - that's it.

10. Montador - even. He is woefully misused. Hard to knock a guy who ha been set up to fail all year. Paired with OD or Scott most of the year when his real value for this team is on the PP....

11. Morrison - bag of pucks for a bag of pucks. No impact.

They have some nuggets of gold in this pile of flesh, but they have been, and continue to be generally miscast on the ice. Where does that blame lie?? That my friends is the real $64,000 question. How much input into the on ice decisions does the front office have?

But they still don't have a point shot, a shot blocking PK D man, a second line center to feed Hossa, or a space maker for Tazer's line. At minimum, that is what they need to have a chance at doing well in the post season.
- Return of the Roar

Agree with pretty much all your assesments, more or less. And you also have to add a big +1 so far for how well they've done the past 2 drafts. Stockpile of talent.

just me but, dont see you guys missing the playoffs

Ok then keep hoping...

Not wasting anymore keystrokes on what I heard...Which is also what others have heard awhile ago. Also heard Sopel was puttng his house in Hinsdale up for sale.

What I do know which can't be questioned is Sopel wasn't signed here this summer before he had another contract in place.

That tells me the Hawks made other choices and probably would not stretch to get him back now...

The reason he went to Siberia to begin with might be because he provided the best financial security for his family...Just my opinion but that makes sense to me.

But never say never...I guess.
- Al

You are 100% correct on all accounts. The wife and family have moved to a farmhouse outside Syracuse

You are 100% correct on all accounts. The wife and family have moved to a farmhouse outside Syracuse

- Maggie

Have a nice day..Thanks

But there is no doubt what Sopel did ...Play on the PK and shot block etc was never replaced and that isn't a small issue.

just me but, dont see you guys missing the playoffs
- wingz4life

Watch more of their games. No passion, getting beat up, giving up. I suspect there are locker room issues - it's really the only explanation to me for the sporadic effort.

Here's what I am aware of. check the web site "life of a hockey widow.com
It is a blog from Sopel's wife and the latest entry was in January. Now unless Al know another reason he would rather stay in Siberia than Chicago I would really like to be enlightend
- Maggie

Money in Siberia > Money in Chicago

Find out how much he's making there, then ask yourself if the 'Hawks would pay that much. If they would, he'd be here. Sopel's $2.33M cap hit here before he was traded was far too much for the role he played.

The reason why folks are pining for him (like Ladd, Buff, Brouwer, Soupy, Burish & Nemo) is because he was part of something they had yet to see in their life; a Chicago Blackhawk Stanley Cup Championship team.

1.15+1.11+4.40+5.20+3.08+2.35=17.29
2.33+.875+2.0+.875+.550+.900=7.53

There is a 10 million dollar disconnect there. $$$ isn't everything in player evaluating but 4/6 of them should be making 1st or 2nd line money, which they are and aside from being a cool dude to hang out with Burish and even Eager (though never bumped into him on the town) should be very replaceable assets.

Terrible special teams, awful defense and the glut of odd man rushes this team gives up is beyond comprehensible. Means they don't have the hockey sense to see what is in front of them = bad or they are coached to play recklessly = bad or they don't care = bad or they only care sometimes = not much better than not caring at all.

The simple, don't clear the puck up the middle of the ice or exit the zone early stuff you learn when you're 8 are not being applied at all or sparingly at best. Regardless of how terrible or not the team has been filled out, losing 8 games they way they have (looking like they are otw to 10) is unacceptable for ANY TEAM in the NHL regardless of talent level.
- fattybeef

The players we peddled filled a role regardless of the money they made or make. When they were here, they had a specific job to do and did it very well. We filled those holes with players who do NOT play the same role. Dollars have very little to do with it. Style of play and roles do... WE have guys like Bickell, Frolik and Stalberg asked to play a style that they aren't capable of. Hence square pegs in circle holes.

just me but, dont see you guys missing the playoffs
- wingz4life

That's because you want a first round sweep. Admit it, that's what you're thinking, eh? Not disagreeing. If the 2 teams met today, right now in a 7 game series I would be shocked as $hit the 'Hawks win even one game.

The players we peddled filled a role regardless of the money they made or make. When they were here, they had a specific job to do and did it very well. We filled those holes with players who do NOT play the same role. Dollars have very little to do with it. Style of play and roles do... WE have guys like Bickell, Frolik and Stalberg asked to play a style that they aren't capable of. Hence square pegs in circle holes.
- ilinkhawk

To be fair, many of the players who haven't worked out have the tools and/or skills to play roles they were counted on to play. But comparing them to the previous "role players" from 2010 is like comparing a team that had Alexander Semin as a 2nd line scorer and replaced him with PA Parenteau. We had guys playing roles very well, but they were guys playing below what they were capable of on the depth chart and being paid accordingly. That wasn't gonna last.

Also, replacing those guys is near impossible. I think what you try and do is "recreate" them, a la Billy Beane's moneyball system. I think to a lesser extend, that's what SB tried to do. Find a collection of cheaper guys that would, as a whole, replace the production of 2-3 of the 5-6 guys they lost. It's not a bad idea, it's just that the moves haven't worked out as hoped.

That's because you want a first round sweep. Admit it, that's what you're thinking, eh? Not disagreeing. If the 2 teams met today, right now in a 7 game series I would be shocked as $hit the 'Hawks win even one game.
- blackhawk24

I'm sure Wings fans were saying the same in OCT...fact is we have no idea where these teams will be in April. In all likelihood though, based on the match-ups so far, that would be one heck of a series if both teams were healthy. They just make for VERY entertaining hockey whenever they play.

To be fair, many of the players who haven't worked out have the tools and/or skills to play roles they were counted on to play. But comparing them to the previous "role players" from 2010 is like comparing a team that had Alexander Semin as a 2nd line scorer and replaced him with PA Parenteau. We had guys playing roles very well, but they were guys playing below what they were capable of on the depth chart and being paid accordingly. That wasn't gonna last.

Also, replacing those guys is near impossible. I think what you try and do is "recreate" them, a la Billy Beane's moneyball system. I think to a lesser extend, that's what SB tried to do. Find a collection of cheaper guys that would, as a whole, replace the production of 2-3 of the 5-6 guys they lost. It's not a bad idea, it's just that the moves haven't worked out as hoped.
- andru2797

You are missing my point.... I will be more blunt. If you deal ALL of your physical forechecking nasty size... You may want to have a plan to bring in players who can play that role vs signing players who can't. Frolik and Bickel can't and won't play that way. Bad roster construction especially when you deal Brouwer.