Well, I guess that wasn't the strategy at 1901 W. Madison when Grossman went to Philly. Is Kubina that much better?
- blackhawk24

My personal opinion, better is relative to what the team needs. With Kubina you get a tough dude who can play good D and PK, AND you get a cannon right point shot on the power play.

We can joke about this or be ticked off but Bowman really has a loaded gun to his head right now.

And if he doesn't pull this team out of their death spiral, somebody should pull the trigger on April 7.
- RickJ

But what is the precedent, that he's not going to pay the price? Then guys that could help this team start getting moved and SB is still sitting there? If he's really got a loaded gun to his head he should be making deals right now. Sure hope he's got several plays in place.

He replaced finesse with grit. Make up my mind which one do we want again. I thought most wanted more grit on the back end.

White is having a career year before this he was bounced around and disregarded by many. People were giving him away for nothing. This is Hindsight Rick. Every GM is saying why the hell didnt we sign White.
- mvp0207

Reviewing a body of work is always hindsight. Are you going to give Bowman praise or criticism for what things might happen in the future?

For a small guy, Ian White could always play the game. He happened to be on some crappy teams but he did very well with San Jose last season into the playoffs.

Ken Holland noticed, Bowman didn't.

Grit smit, Montador isn't very good and Bowman thought he was.

He replaced finesse with grit.

No need to be a back seat driver but....What grit???
- Al

Montador....now he has not provided it but thats the players fault. But was not the word when he brought in Montador that he was bringing in a dman with some snarl. Or if I had a dime for eveytime someone said "a guy who will stick up for his teamates" Id have a lot of dimes.

Now Montador had his detractors but many thought he was going to bring an element of nastiness to the back end.

He didnt do this hes been as a$$ and has not been playing good hockey.

He replaced finesse with grit.

No need to be a back seat driver but....What grit???
- Al

That would be "supposed" grit--that's how StanBow sold it, perhaps plausibly in relation to the soft team he was joining.

Kubina is seven years older than Grossman but he is right handed which would allow for more options here.

Reviewing a body of work is always hindsight. Are you going to give Bowman praise or criticism for what things might happen in the future?

For a small guy, Ian White could always play the game. He happened to be on some crappy teams but he did very well with San Jose last season into the playoffs.

Ken Holland noticed, Bowman didn't.

Grit smit, Montador isn't very good and Bowman thought he was.
- RickJ

Theres moves I dont like that bowman made. Niemi is one.

But this simply is not one of them.

That would be "supposed" grit--that's how StanBow sold it, perhaps plausibly in relation to the soft team he was joining.
- AL SEC0RD

Well said but many fans and experts thought it was grit also. It was not just a sell. Carcillo Mayers and Montador were trying to add grit over Pisanni Dowell and Campell.

Did not most of us think so... Carcillo and Mayers did bring some of that but Carcillo gets whisteled for looking at people and now hes hurt and Mayers is eh neither here nor there with me. Id like to see him more aggresive.

Kubina is seven years older than Grossman but he is right handed which would allow for more options here.
- Al

In the short term anyway. Thing I really liked about Grossman is that he's in his prime and could have been more than just a rental. We get Kubina that helps this year, then what?

Mark Fistric from Dallas is one guy we should be targeting. He's a hard rock mofo...probably best suited to a 5-6 role...but he will lower a shoulder on someone unlike most of the Nancy's manning our blue line.

Montador....now he has not provided it but thats the players fault. But was not the word when he brought in Montador that he was bringing in a dman with some snarl. Or if I had a dime for eveytime someone said "a guy who will stick up for his teamates" Id have a lot of dimes.

Now Montador had his detractors but many thought he was going to bring an element of nastiness to the back end.

He didnt do this hes been as a$$ and has not been playing good hockey.
- mvp0207

The biggest issue is Bowman signed three dman an none of them have been able to help kill penalties. Montador was never thought of as a crusher, will fight if he needs to...Should have been a good swing man and play on both specilal teams...

That hasn't happened along with other roster issues.

Kubina for picks would be great. Anything that sends Bickell out of town would be great too

In the short term anyway. Thing I really liked about Grossman is that he's in his prime and could have been more than just a rental. We get Kubina that helps this year, then what?
- Ogilthorpe2

My thinking as well.

But what is the precedent, that he's not going to pay the price? Then guys that could help this team start getting moved and SB is still sitting there? If he's really got a loaded gun to his head he should be making deals right now. Sure hope he's got several plays in place.
- blackhawk24

By precedent I mean that Bowman isn't going to be the GM out of the box first who executes a trade and pays what would be construed as a very high price. Rear view mirror bean counters don't do that. They are expert in telling people what happened yesterday, not what bold move they are making today. Thats Stan Bowman your in over his head GM.

The Flyers by comparison didn't care - they wanted Grossman and did what it took to get him. If it works out for them they are happy but they jumped out and got what they wanted first, leaving Stanbo to be sticker shocked with every phone call.

In the short term anyway. Thing I really liked about Grossman is that he's in his prime and could have been more than just a rental. We get Kubina that helps this year, then what?
- Ogilthorpe2

Agreed.

People on twitter seem to think it was to much to give up for Grossman but I would have made that trade if I were Bowman.

Like you said, Dallas probably would have chosen Philly just to keep him out of the West.

That is a bigger deal to GM's than most think.

the past is for loosers and crawford does not resemble anything from his play last year
they should anchor his ass in the crease so he cant slide completely out of it leaving a wide open net.
crawford is not the answer
- molly2522

So when he gets beat because he sits back in his net...remember what you are asking for.

The biggest issue is Bowman signed three dman an none of them have been able to help kill penalties. Montador was never thought of as a crusher, will fight if he needs to...Should have been a good swing man and play on both specilal teams...

That hasn't happened along with other roster issues.
- Al

Not to beat that horse, but that and no Lepisto....makes me wonder what is going on with coaching decisions. Q stuck on stupid too much.

The biggest issue is Bowman signed three dman an none of them have been able to help kill penalties. Montador was never thought of as a crusher, will fight if he needs to...Should have been a good swing man and play on both specilal teams...

That hasn't happened along with other roster issues.
- Al

Very good point Al. Lepisto was brought in as Campoli's replacement and that has failed miserably. OD is a 7th/8th d-man as most of us thought. The Montador signing is bizarre because the Hawks aggressively pursued him and paid him well yet he was on Q's sh!tlist before the season even started. That means either two things in my eyes, 1) Montador isn't what Q expected or 2) Bowman and Q aren't on the same page. If they both stay then I think the Hawks have to move Monty in the offseason.

I also think to a bigger degree that the elevation of Leddy as a top 4 guy has hurt this team. Leddy has the potential to be real good but it's been clear over this season that he's NOT a top 4 guy just yet. However for some reason he gets a pass cause he's a young kid. He handles the puck well but gets manhandled in the defensive zone alot and he's been caught watching/standing around too.

Well said but many fans and experts thought it was grit also. It was not just a sell. Carcillo Mayers and Montador were trying to add grit over Pisanni Dowell and Campell.

Did not most of us think so... Carcillo and Mayers did bring some of that but Carcillo gets whisteled for looking at people and now hes hurt and Mayers is eh neither here nor there with me. Id like to see him more aggresive.
- mvp0207

Can't argue for one second with you--I am a nobody, but it was a bit surprising to read/hear so many folks high on the Blackhawks' changes. StanBow is under fire now, and I think he should be; but that's not to say that lots of folks didn't buy it all early on.

I for one am not saying I knew anything--I had some reservations about some things; I had little to no idea how much Jamaal Mayers or Sean O'D had left (figured not much in both cases--half right I suppose); I wondered about Carcillo (and probably incorrectly)--I was curious to see how it played out. I was mildly optimistic.

Now in the middle of it all, it doesn't seem to have gone so well--and again, I don't think it was going so well even as they did win a lot of their games in the first half. those problems are coming home to roost now.

And Bowman is the guy in charge of putting the team together. Criticize away I say--especially if you're paying good money.

Agreed.

People on twitter seem to think it was to much to give up for Grossman but I would have made that trade if I were Bowman.

Like you said, Dallas probably would have chosen Philly just to keep him out of the West.

That is a bigger deal to GM's than most think.
- pri$ey

Which by the same argument means it should be easier to get Kubina here than it would somewhere out East.

the past is for loosers and crawford does not resemble anything from his play last year
they should anchor his ass in the crease so he cant slide completely out of it leaving a wide open net.
crawford is not the answer
- molly2522

The biggest hole on this team is in net, if Crawford is not the answer then we are f;;;'ed, and no players we trade for to play in front of him will help!

Which by the same argument means it should be easier to get Kubina here than it would somewhere out East.
- yobwoc03

With Philly out of the running for Kubina that leaves one less GM to bid against. Go get him Stan!

Which by the same argument means it should be easier to get Kubina here than it would somewhere out East.
- yobwoc03

I would agree. Maybe not so much in this case though. Dallas is only 4 points out, Tampa 10 points out.

Safe to say Tampa is free to deal with whoever.

The more I think about it the more it might be nice to see Downie on LW with 19 and 88.

Gotta be a way to swing that too. Frolik for Downie??

well thats a good start..

ok..who is that team in the white jerseys and what did they do with the Blackhawks..