You need to stop gloating over a few victories (after a historic losing streak).

The power play is awful and they will not go far with it as is. They have had all season to fix it. Can't.

Your hero GM is afraid to make a move. Detroit has a great power play and made a move yesterday to get better, while taking an asset off the market that could have helped the Hawks.

And you're doing a victory dance about it?

Keep pinning all your hopes on rookies and spreading the "company line." Playoff hockey is a different beast. No power play=early exit.
- John Jaeckel

While I don't disagree that Bowman needs to make a move or two to add to the team with the cap space he has, calling him afraid to make a move is a little harsh, especially given that he still has time to do so.

In the same way that mvp may be biased by his preference for Bowman, JJ, you seem to be a little reactionary in your criticism.

The fact of the matter is that no victory dancing or prophecies of doom are really appropriate at this juncture.

There is a week left for Stan to get something done. As far as any of us REALLY know (I obviously understand that you are more in the loop on this than any of us), Stan hasn't made a move because he didn't really like the price for players he liked, or didn't really like the players that have already been moved. This seems more rational to me than calling him gun-shy or calling him a genius. He has shown in the past that he will make some aggressive moves, though many were out of necessity during the cap purge. In theory, what this team needs is another Kim Johnsson-esque trade to add a second pairing defenseman (which his past performance indicates that Bowman is able to do) and a forward that can bang some bodies and help on the PK. While that hasn't happened yet, I can't quite understand why there are those that are so vehemently convinced Bowman won't do it.

Pre-emptively to those that will call the Johnsson trade a failure, remember that he seemed like the right kind of pick up prior to getting hurt and disappearing off the face of the earth.

I think it's totally ridiculous to say that the team is pinning their hopes on rookies in the playoffs, simply because there are rookies on the team that have played better than some of the veterans. The hopes of this team are pinned on the core guys that they need to be their best players. If Kane, Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, and Crawford play well, this team will go a long way. Yes, the Hawks will need contributions from the role players, and if rookies can do it, great, but I would not call that pinning your hopes on rookies. Counting on them for minor contributions, sure, but Hayes, Shaw, and Olsen aren't going to be the ones that determine the outcomes of a playoff game under the majority of circumstances.

The power play is brutal and something needs to be done, especially to address entries. Once the Hawks get set up in the offensive zone, they've been generating chances, but they are using up way too much time chasing the puck in their own zone and getting stood up at the blue line. That said, I'm not sure that adding Kyle Quincey really solves this problem.

As I've said before, if Bowman doesn't make a solid move between now and Monday, I'll stop defending him. I don't think I'm actually defending him with this post, but more asking for patience and a little bit of historical perspective. Once again, calling him afraid to make a move is a little extreme, just as defending him blindly would be.

While I don't disagree that Bowman needs to make a move or two to add to the team with the cap space he has, calling him afraid to make a move is a little harsh, especially given that he still has time to do so.

In the same way that mvp may be biased by his preference for Bowman, JJ, you seem to be a little reactionary in your criticism.

The fact of the matter is that no victory dancing or prophecies of doom are really appropriate at this juncture.

There is a week left for Stan to get something done. As far as any of us REALLY know (I obviously understand that you are more in the loop on this than any of us), Stan hasn't made a move because he didn't really like the price for players he liked, or didn't really like the players that have already been moved. This seems more rational to me than calling him gun-shy or calling him a genius. He has shown in the past that he will make some aggressive moves, though many were out of necessity during the cap purge. In theory, what this team needs is another Kim Johnsson-esque trade to add a second pairing defenseman (which his past performance indicates that Bowman is able to do) and a forward that can bang some bodies and help on the PK. While that hasn't happened yet, I can't quite understand why there are those that are so vehemently convinced Bowman won't do it.

Pre-emptively to those that will call the Johnsson trade a failure, remember that he seemed like the right kind of pick up prior to getting hurt and disappearing off the face of the earth.

I think it's totally ridiculous to say that the team is pinning their hopes on rookies in the playoffs, simply because there are rookies on the team that have played better than some of the veterans. The hopes of this team are pinned on the core guys that they need to be their best players. If Kane, Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, and Crawford play well, this team will go a long way. Yes, the Hawks will need contributions from the role players, and if rookies can do it, great, but I would not call that pinning your hopes on rookies. Counting on them for minor contributions, sure, but Hayes, Shaw, and Olsen aren't going to be the ones that determine the outcomes of a playoff game under the majority of circumstances.

The power play is brutal and something needs to be done, especially to address entries. Once the Hawks get set up in the offensive zone, they've been generating chances, but they are using up way too much time chasing the puck in their own zone and getting stood up at the blue line. That said, I'm not sure that adding Kyle Quincey really solves this problem.

As I've said before, if Bowman doesn't make a solid move between now and Monday, I'll stop defending him. I don't think I'm actually defending him with this post, but more asking for patience and a little bit of historical perspective. Once again, calling him afraid to make a move is a little extreme, just as defending him blindly would be.
- arobb01

I agree with most of the level-headed opinions you're presenting, but asking for patience where the Hawks are concerned is a dead end over here. TRUST me on this one.

There is nothing to see - Olsen is already better than Montador out there
- RickJ

Spot on there Rick!

Notice that Olsen was not given the clown shoe skates that Montador loves to wear. Have we seen Olsen have a clown shoe blowout at ALL, much less the several times every game that Montador plays?

Seriously, you know the club has skate sharpening equipment and lots of guys get a "tune-up" between periods, that's a well-known fact. So, could it be that Monty is sharpening his own blades and doesn't know WTF he is doing? Or, in my conspiracy theory, is the team equipment guy purposely f'ing up Monty's blades?

Now if it's neither of those 2 theories being correct -- then I have a 3rd, much more plausible theory: Monty sucks and is the worst skater on the club (yes, even worse than John Scott because although he is faster and more mobile, I have seldom seen John Scott with the clown shoe act having Monty-like blowouts).

If this theory is correct, leave the guy on IR, keep Olsen in the lineup with Keith, leave Seabs with Leddy and when Hjalmarsson comes back, pair him with his countryman Lepisto (which will give Hjalmarsson a bit of a breather and allow him to eat up the PK minutes and tally those blocks the way Sopel used to).

so according to you bowman since bowman has not done well at trade deadline deals we should give him a pass and not expect him to make any trades. does that even sound logical to you or do you just like to take the opposite view of just about everyone to get attention?

if you havent noticed the hawks are close and with a few additions could bea favorite to win the cup. stan does not have to give up all prospects and picks just a few. he can worry about overpayment when they hes holding the cup
- molly2522

That is exactly what I'm saying. I haven't noticed how close the Hawks are, do tell. Yes, I typically attention seek by taking opinions contrary to others, please, help me see the world your way. I want to be a sheep too...

Spot on there Rick!

Notice that Olsen was not given the clown shoe skates that Montador loves to wear. Have we seen Olsen have a clown shoe blowout at ALL, much less the several times every game that Montador plays?

Seriously, you know the club has skate sharpening equipment and lots of guys get a "tune-up" between periods, that's a well-known fact. So, could it be that Monty is sharpening his own blades and doesn't know WTF he is doing? Or, in my conspiracy theory, is the team equipment guy purposely f'ing up Monty's blades?

Now if it's neither of those 2 theories being correct -- then I have a 3rd, much more plausible theory: Monty sucks and is the worst skater on the club (yes, even worse than John Scott because although he is faster and more mobile, I have seldom seen John Scott with the clown shoe act having Monty-like blowouts).

If this theory is correct, leave the guy on IR, keep Olsen in the lineup with Keith, leave Seabs with Leddy and when Hjalmarsson comes back, pair him with his countryman Lepisto (which will give Hjalmarsson a bit of a breather and allow him to eat up the PK minutes and tally those blocks the way Sopel used to).
- savvyone-1

You know what, I'm starting to believe that's the plan:
Seabrook and Leddy
Keith and Olsen
Hammer and Lepisto

Montador, O'Donnell and Scott as #7,8 and 9 D'Men.

If the market for D is so overinflated, I doubt Bowman reacts to pressure and spends what it takes, especially if the player is UFA in the summer.

So what is he in the market for? I hope it's a big, tough forward who can kill penalties, bang some bodies. And maybe another goalie - Rollie the Goalie?

You need to stop gloating over a few victories (after a historic losing streak).

The power play is awful and they will not go far with it as is. They have had all season to fix it. Can't.

Your hero GM is afraid to make a move. Detroit has a great power play and made a move yesterday to get better, while taking an asset off the market that could have helped the Hawks.

And you're doing a victory dance about it?

Keep pinning all your hopes on rookies and spreading the "company line." Playoff hockey is a different beast. No power play=early exit.
- John Jaeckel

Yea Bowman is responsible for the PP not scoring now.

"Your hero GM is afraid to make a move." Hes not my hero I dont work for the Hawks and of all people here you should know that. But you seem to be hell bent on spreading rumors that just because people are not as cynical or reactionary as you are that they somehow are spreading "company lines" wink wink.

Tell me how does posting an article about a Hawk prospect on a Hawk site make the GM my hero . In that particular post I said nothing about the win, I did no victory dance I simply placed a link up so others may enjoy it.

I believe that we do need to add a top 4 DMan and a 2nd line center and would trade a few prime prospects or a 1st or second round pick as long as this player is signed for a few years and not a rental.
For a rental of a 5th or 6th dman or a lower 6 forward I would only do lesser prospects or a 3rd round or later pick. Some suggest that it would take a 5th or 6th for Adam Burish. This is an example of a good pick up that has playoff experience, would not cost much, could help and add depth to the team.

OR you never know how the puck bounces and we may win it all simply standing pat.

In the end who the @#$& really knows!