The Caps are playing their best hockey in a long, long time...

The Bruins are the third team to be knocked out who had gone deep into the playoffs last year....The Bruins looked worn out in the saries and I'm sure the toll had an effect on the Sharks and Canucks too.
- Al

Really has little to do with my point.

I really, really like David Haugh's work. Nice guy, too.
- John Jaeckel

And the heat from feature writers comes as expected and won't end quickly unless some bigger changes happen.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/ct-spt-0426-haugh-blackhawks-chicago--20120426,0,206501.column

Interesting read from today's Tribune.

In the last few days, Haugh, Rogers and Kuc have followed Eddie in seriously questioning Stan's decision this year. I guess any honeymoon for the front office bought by the Cup win has expired.
- NewToHockey

And rightfully so, the CUP win was two years ago... We live in a what have you done for me lately culture. We as fans are told that is the blackhawks "one goal" to compete for the cup year in year out... 2 first round exits, doesn't go with the marketing..

I think it was pretty obvious we desperately needed more traffic in the front of the net that cant be lightly pushed aside a la brouwer or buff. Safe to say getting rid of brouwer didnt work out in our favor and was missed. Also we need that big bodied bruiser type defensemen matched with our fluid puck moving d. Hjarmalsson was supposed to be that to campbell and now leddy. He was at first but for whatever reason ha gotten a little soft the last year +. I believe he still has great value around the league, especially with his no fear shot blocking. Maybe look at san jose, with their obvious interest in the past and maybe try to pry the perfect power forward for toews and kane in Clowe away. In the same deal maybe you get a big bruiser for your third pairing in Murray. Offer them along with hammer, stalberg and a morin maybe and a pick, something like that. Then go to the maple leafs and offer them what they are sorely lacking in a 3rd line shut down center in Bolland and pry the out of favor schenn away for our hammer replacement. More of a guy that can clear the net and punish people. And then go out and get our 2nd line C. A roy type playmaker that you put in between your 2 goal scorers. No Power forward on that line but definately a line that would light the lamp. Start with a package surrounding Saad. I know Saad is every hawk fans next great one, personally i like him, but not that much. Do we need all these above average prospects with the time being now and our roster set up to win. Lets use them to do that. I know im getting ahead of myself but that would be my type of offseason id be shooting for
FORWARDS
Ryane Clowe ($3.625m) / Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Patrick Kane ($6.300m)
Patrick Sharp ($5.900m) / Derek Roy ($4.000m) / Marian Hossa ($5.275m)
Bryan Bickell ($0.542m) / Marcus Kruger ($0.900m) / Andrew Shaw ($0.565m)
Brandon Bollig ($0.578m) / Jamal Mayers ($0.650m) / Daniel Carcillo ($0.825m)
Jimmy Hayes ($0.875m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Brent Seabrook ($5.800m) / Duncan Keith ($5.538m)
Nick Leddy ($1.117m) / Luke Schenn ($3.600m)
Steve Montador ($2.750m) / Douglas Murray ($2.500m)
Dylan Olsen ($0.870m) /
GOALTENDERS
Corey Crawford ($2.667m)
Ray Emery ($1.150m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,325,961; BONUSES: $647,500
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $1,974,039

Really has little to do with my point.
- ilinkhawk

But my point is the Caps have changed and the Hawks couldn't...

My Fox Chicago:chttp://bit.ly/Izgg3k

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

...And Quenneville placed most of the PP blame on the players...
- Al

You're kidding right?

jj nice writeup
i have a question about the cba
do they allow players to use performance inhancing drugs and if not do they test for it
the reason for the question is i think for the hawks to be effective they have kruger shaw hayes leddy and olsen must gain 20 pounds of strength in the off season

i still think stans philosophy is flawed in that he prefers the smaller skilled player to the big bad a$$ that can skate but maybe not have the hands

i think stan will resign oduya and not get a big defenseman
i also think we need two big wingers and maybe three

kane must have two big bad a$$es out on the wings with him if he is to play center
i am tired of the lack of balance and complimentary players that stan has provided for this team. i know im early but stan gets an FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

You're kidding right?
- victorymc98

Nope....Said players will have to earn their right to play on the PP and they won't be handed the opportunity...shouldn't be expected.

That seems like placing blame on the players to me.

Nope....Said players will have to earn their right to play on the PP and they won't be handed the opportunity...shouldn't be expected.

That seems like placing blame on the players to me.
- Al

Wow, just Wow... on Q that is. Sorry I'm no Hockey Guru.. but the scheme to me seems broken, skate around and wait for the backdoor pass every time...

But my point is the Caps have changed and the Hawks couldn't...

My Fox Chicago:chttp://bit.ly/Izgg3k

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

You mean they chose not to.. Not couldn't. Personnel decisions. Amazing how very few teams left have size and physical play issues if any. Bowman has had many opportunities. Seriously Al. Go look at the Cap roster. Than look at ours. We have like 6 guys that go 5'9 180-185 ish that play night in and out. And what size we have plays the skill game. Caps quite possibly were built more for post season success vs reg season success. Is that such a bad thing for all we look at what players do so hard over 82 games?

Your comment about a physical team being bounced is accurate in Bruins. But you may want to take a look at the team that knocked them out a bit closer. Caps are loaded with size including their star... And size that plays physical. Point being... Good luck in the playoffs without it. Brouwer is good enough to play with Ovechkin and Backstrom? But not with Kane and Toews I guess... Concerns me that maybe Bowman doesn't think it's an important need.
- ilinkhawk

stan likes smurfs and seems to still not get it

But my point is the Caps have changed and the Hawks couldn't...

My Fox Chicago:chttp://bit.ly/Izgg3k

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

http://capitals.nhl.com/club/roster.htm.

The one thing that caught my ear from yesterday's presser was Q talking about how team chemistry was off. Oh really? The whole off season we heard all these platitudes about how the off season pickups would bring a better locker room. And through the first part of the season how much more enjoyable the locker room was thanks to Car Bomb and the boys. So did the veterans not do their job? Or did people like OD and Jammer say something that wasn't really received well from some of the established core? I guess this off season will give us our answer.

It sounds like Kitchen might be made the scape goat for all the special teams problems. Again, I'll ask what Mike Haviland ( or Barry Smith for that matter) did to be totally exempt of blame? But again, time will tell all.

I thought you might have given Kruger and Vik Rattlehead ( Stalberg) a little higher grade. This was the last player to make the team and the last cut when the season started at the beginning of the year. And they worked their way into the top 6. yes, they fell short in the playoffs ( Many did.) but they overachieved and surpassed any expectations I had for them this year. Kruger sounds like he might be chained to Paul Goodman this Summer. What you think Kruger is next year to me determines what you do in the off season. Is he a 2nd line C like he was centering Sharp and Stalberg the last ten games when that line was the Hawks' best line by a mile? Is he a 3rd line center that forces Bolland out? Is he trade bait? To me you answer that question first....

You mean they chose not to.. Not couldn't. Personnel decisions. Amazing how very few teams left have size and physical play issues if any. Bowman has had many opportunities. Seriously Al. Go look at the Cap roster. Than look at ours. We have like 6 guys that go 5'9 180-185 ish that play night in and out. And what size we have plays the skill game. Caps quite possibly were built more for post season success vs reg season success. Is that such a bad thing for all we look at what players do so hard over 82 games?
- ilinkhawk

Hawk,

You are singing to the choir.

I think someone has said for months this was a wide open year and with a few changes ...

Well all the teams left in West not one has 9 recent Cup winners on their roster but the Hawks didn't get to the point where that could matter.

The one thing that caught my ear from yesterday's presser was Q talking about how team chemistry was off. Oh really? The whole off season we heard all these platitudes about how the off season pickups would bring a better locker room. And through the first part of the season how much more enjoyable the locker room was thanks to Car Bomb and the boys. So did the veterans not do their job? Or did people like OD and Jammer say something that wasn't really received well from some of the established core? I guess this off season will give us our answer.

It sounds like Kitchen might be made the scape goat for all the special teams problems. Again, I'll ask what Mike Haviland ( or Barry Smith for that matter) did to be totally exempt of blame? But again, time will tell all.

I thought you might have given Kruger and Vik Rattlehead ( Stalberg) a little higher grade. This was the last player to make the team and the last cut when the season started at the beginning of the year. And they worked their way into the top 6. yes, they fell short in the playoffs ( Many did.) but they overachieved and surpassed any expectations I had for them this year. Kruger sounds like he might be chained to Paul Goodman this Summer. What you think Kruger is next year to me determines what you do in the off season. Is he a 2nd line C like he was centering Sharp and Stalberg the last ten games when that line was the Hawks' best line by a mile? Is he a 3rd line center that forces Bolland out? Is he trade bait? To me you answer that question first....
- yahoodi

The bigger question is why the responsibilities for Haviland were ever changed after the Cup year??

Hawk,

You are singing to the choir.

I think someone has said for months this was a wide open year and with a few changes ...

Well all the teams left in West not one has 9 recent Cup winners on their roster but the Hawks didn't get to the point where that could matter.
- Al

Right. My original post was in regards however to a physical team being bounced. Well they got bounced by a very big physical team as well. The Bruins would have beat us 4-0... The Caps have some highly skilled players We should surround ours with the types they did. I don't think Bowman sings in our choir.

The only grade i question is Sharp. His HFI (fantasy index) was TOP-10 in the league. He did everything as a stat stuffer. Still a great bargain at his salary.

Right. My original post was in regards however to a physical team being bounced. Well they got bounced by a very big physical team as well. The Bruins would have beat us 4-0... The Caps have some highly skilled players We should surround ours with the types they did. I don't think Bowman sings in our choir.
- ilinkhawk

I wrote today both Q. and StanBo seem conflicted...I don't think they are sininging the same song.

And that will be my final music reference of the day...

Blackhawk management is searching for change. But how much will happen this summer? + XM Interview. My Fox Chicago:chttp://bit.ly/Izgg3k

i have a question about the cba
do they allow players to use performance inhancing drugs and if not do they test for it
- molly2522

I know you're joking, but.... players are subject to two no-notice tests a year from the start of training camp to the end of the regular season.

So, I guess if you could find a steroid that acts super fast they could bulk up for next year's playoffs...

I wrote today both Q. and StanBo seem conflicted...I don't think they are sininging the same song.

And that will be my final music reference of the day...

Blackhawk management is searching for change. But how much will happen this summer? + XM Interview. My Fox Chicago:chttp://bit.ly/Izgg3k
- Al

Can't get your link to work..?

Can't get your link to work..?
- ilinkhawk

http://www.myfoxchicago.c...ching-for-change-20120426

JJ, i know no one wants to think about bringing up more prospects next year after this season but... whatever happened to some of the bigger prospects like Beach and Morin? I figure beach is probably still a little young, but with size, scoring, and nhl experience, could morin be an option to fill Stalberg's spot if we dished him for a D-man?

Also, who are some legitimate 2nd centers even available from outside the organization? I know i personally would love to see the hawks nab ryan o'reilly from the avs while they still have depth t center, but that's probably a pipedream.

Thanks

The ONE comment form Bowman's presser I found VERY telling:

He basically said with the Hawk talent, how bad the power play was is completely unacceptable. And he put it really pretty directly on coaching and said you have to ask Joel about that.

Wow.
- John Jaeckel

Brouwer is good enough to play with Ovechkin and Backstrom? But not with Kane and Toews I guess... Concerns me that maybe Bowman doesn't think it's an important need.
- ilinkhawk

Q has repeatedly demonstrated favoritism and the only things he seems to leave alone for more than half an hour are the things that aren't working. There are good reasons that Ogie, others, and myself started calling for his head midway through the year.

JJ, i know no one wants to think about bringing up more prospects next year after this season but... whatever happened to some of the bigger prospects like Beach and Morin? I figure beach is probably still a little young, but with size, scoring, and nhl experience, could morin be an option to fill Stalberg's spot if we dished him for a D-man?

Also, who are some legitimate 2nd centers even available from outside the organization? I know i personally would love to see the hawks nab ryan o'reilly from the avs while they still have depth t center, but that's probably a pipedream.

Thanks
- ChiHawk90

One of the problems is that they have turned over the roster so much in the past 2 years: certainly more than 1/3 each year.

That's the philosophy: core is here, everyone else is either prospects or cheap, short-term veterans. Management seems to say that it's OK, we can turn the roster over, doesn't matter, they'll get the job done.

This year - who is gone this summer: Brunette, Mayers, Morrison, Lepisto, Montador (?), Oduya (?), O'Donnell, add Stalberg/Frolik/Bickel if trades happen - that's potentially a lot of newcomers to work in next year.

Maybe that's been a major part of the problem. Substantial numbers of new guys every year need to be integrated into the group, and with Q's philosophy of "if it doesn't work after 5 minutes, let's change lines", perhaps they need more stability, settling on say 18-20 roster players, and keeping them for a couple of years so they have the chance to work themselves in.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/ct-spt-0426-haugh-blackhawks-chicago--20120426,0,206501.column

Interesting read from today's Tribune.

In the last few days, Haugh, Rogers and Kuc have followed Eddie in seriously questioning Stan's decision this year. I guess any honeymoon for the front office bought by the Cup win has expired.
- NewToHockey

A front office where some of them didn't have a damned thing to do with the cup ...

That means you, Stan and to you too BBB (Beanie Baby Buddie).