I can't speak for the other supposed Bowman "Haters" but here it is in a nut shell.

With a very quiet offseason like this, coming off back to back 1st round losses you will have 2 groups: One that is waiting to say "I told you so" when they flame out again because the current roster is flawed OR the group that holds of criticism because they trust the management team.

I dno't trust Bowman. He has done nothing to help his cause since ALL MAJOR cup winning pieces were there. Have any of his guys panned out yet? Maybe Stalberg, maybe Leddy. However, hs mark on this team has led them in the wrong direction very quickly. Forget 2010-11, we all know that story. However, last year...not good.

It's just hard for me to sit here and say...well...If Kane regains his form from 2 years ago, or lives up to his god given talent. Or if Keith finds his Norris trophy winning form. Or if Crawford toughens up mentally and forgets last year...and if this prospect OR that fringe player take the next step....they'll be fine.

I just dont see it. I don't. I didn't see it last year, when that circus trip exposed them for being what they turned out to be...erractic, and soft.

Bowman keeps pointing to a core of players but guess what...only 4 have lived up to the hype since they won the cup...Toews, Sharp, Seabrook, Hossa. That's it. Hammer, Keith, Kane have regressed. Bolland can't stay healthy AND you still don't know what you have...
- SteveRain

Trust has very little to do with anything. I dont trust a lot of people. I think Bowman is eh.......so, so. I trust he genuinely wants to make the team better and I truly believe he can do so better then some of the cockamame scenaoris that have been suggested on this site.

I think hes done a nice job drafting and made a couple of decent trades but hes not done enough to really put this team over the hump.

I really dont like bowman all that much. I just dont think his job warrants 300 comments per day for the last week and a half. I think that type of Hate is over the top.

Hossa
- rollpards19

McD wanted Hossa..per Scotty Bowman's suggestion; Tallon wanted to bring back Havlat.

My reasoning is this:

If the Hawks are to be a possession-control team, then the puck needs to be in the offensive zone more than the defensive zone. That makes the Forwards more important than the D. Hossa has never had a "real" center, and he has been a very valuable player to this team. Imagine what he could do with one.

That is why I trade Keith + for Statney +.
- powerenforcer

But then they lose a puck rushing, fast skating, gap closing defender at a dirt cheap price who is essential to their success.

Baaaaaaaad trade

More then that....Patrick Sharp for Matt Ellison...Kris Versteeg for Brandon Bochenski. Signed Hossa. Signed Madden.

What has Bowman done his offseason? Brookbank? really? THE Brookbank who couldn't consistently stay in a non playoff team's lineup?

There is no defending this offseason so far. Trade targets, ufas are all going by and Bowman is trying to convince his sheep that the same team from last year can be better. Uhhh....no.
- SteveRain

Dale knows how to put a roster together and actually knows how to make a trade and unlike Stan he'll actually make moves to try to improve his team.
Since the Leddy deal what trade has Stan made that actually improved the roster?

We've already heard the PR sping from him about Carcillo et all will be here for a full season and Free Agency wasn't even a full week old at that point.

And now we're hearing Doan is going to wait another week. So that'll be another week that guys like say an Arnott will sign w/ another team while Stan sits on his hands waiting to land the big fish that he may not anyway.

The convention is going to be mighty interesting...I'm sure they're planning to move Stan to an undisclosed location before the opening ceremonies.

My reasoning is this:

If the Hawks are to be a possession-control team, then the puck needs to be in the offensive zone more than the defensive zone. That makes the Forwards more important than the D. Hossa has never had a "real" center, and he has been a very valuable player to this team. Imagine what he could do with one.
That is why I trade Keith + for Statney +.
- powerenforcer

I respect this opinion, but personally I wouldn't do it.

My opinion is number 1 defensemen who can play 30 minutes a night and rack up plus numbers and good point totals playing against the other teams top lines night in and night out are just too valuable in the league.

Sharp + Hammer for Statsny and a 2nd
- fattybeef

There is no point in solving the 2C issue when you create TWO larger, glaring holes in the lineup.

But then they lose a puck rushing, fast skating, gap closing defender at a dirt cheap price who is essential to their success.

Baaaaaaaad trade
- fattybeef

I respect this opinion AND agree with it.

Arguably one of the best all around skaters in the league. Speed, lateral movement, balance etc.....

There is no point in solving the 2C issue when you create TWO larger, glaring holes in the lineup.
- 1goalLordStanley

This!

There is no point in solving the 2C issue when you create TWO larger, glaring holes in the lineup.
- 1goalLordStanley

Agreed.

I can see the sense of supplanting a top 6 wing for a #2 center, but not trading two big pieces just to fill the whole of one.

Dale knows how to put a roster together and actually knows how to make a trade and unlike Stan he'll actually make moves to try to improve his team.
Since the Leddy deal what trade has Stan made that actually improved the roster?

We've already heard the PR sping from him about Carcillo et all will be here for a full season and Free Agency wasn't even a full week old at that point.

And now we're hearing Doan is going to wait another week. So that'll be another week that guys like say an Arnott will sign w/ another team while Stan sits on his hands waiting to land the big fish that he may not anyway.

The convention is going to be mighty interesting...I'm sure they're planning to move Stan to an undisclosed location before the opening ceremonies.
- DK002

Arnott would make you happy?

How about this: Leddy, Kruger, Montador and Morin for Statsny?

#Blackhawks‬ coach Joel Quenneville said the team will make an announcement regarding his new assistant coach “real soon.” - Adam Jahns

I love Tallon and think he did a ton to bring this city a cup, but I dont understand what you are saying here. His big move in Florida this offseason has been George Parros. WOW REALLY George Parros (the stache).

In Chicago his big splashes were Campbell, which was pretty much universally despised as an overpay and (female dog'ed) about constantly and Huet which was simply a brutal overpay.

What Tallon was good at was building through the draft and being patient with your team. Something sorely lacking on this board at times.
- mvp0207

Actually, other than Toews and Kane, his draft picks have rather sucked. He would have taken Staal over Toews, if he was available, and Kane was the unanimous number one. How have Skille, Barker, and Beach worked out? Bolland was his best actual pick and even then it was a no brainer in the second round (he was rated in the top 20). Biggest myth is that Tallon built this team thru the draft. Mike Smith actually had more of a hand in it than Tallon did (Seabrook, Keith, Byfuglien to name a few). Tallon's strong suit is his pro player scouting, which led him to Versteeg and Sharp. I would love Tallon back as Director of Player Personnel, but not as GM...how do some of those contracts look in Florida?? (Kopecky at $3M per...please). Tallon's an overall good guy, but as a GM, not so good IMO.

How about this: Leddy, Kruger, Montador and Morin for Statsny?
- MjulQvist

Hammer, Stalberg, Bickell and Clendenning.

I would think Saad is already pencilled in as #2 LW
- ikeane

Depending on how he looks this week, will determine Stalberg's fate with this team.

Depends, if they are super awesome in 2 years again and it was his picks that are a major part of it then maybe that will be revised.

But until then I would say he has been an average GM. Retained Toews, Kane, Seabs, Keith and Sharp who were pretty big parts of the Cup victory. Hasn't made much of a FA splash, nothing stellar on the trade front aside from the futures stock pile.

I think a 5 year cycle is a more prudent way to evaluate a GM's performance.
- fattybeef

I don't give much credit for resigning your own guys - you should have a built-in advantage with them, especially after they won a cup (or were about to).

When Toews / Kane / Keith signed, it was the middle of the year before the Cup year, as I recall - a young team, on the rise, giving to very young players security. Should have been - and were - easy to resign, especially at a large dollar figure.

The issue is persuading (a) other team's FAs to come here, and (b) other GMs to make a trade that helps your team. Failed.

Trust has very little to do with anything. I dont trust a lot of people. I think Bowman is eh.......so, so. I trust he genuinely wants to make the team better and I truly believe he can do so better then some of the cockamame scenaoris that have been suggested on this site.

I think hes done a nice job drafting and made a couple of decent trades but hes not done enough to really put this team over the hump.

I really dont like bowman all that much. I just dont think his job warrants 300 comments per day for the last week and a half. I think that type of Hate is over the top.
- mvp0207

Saad, McNeil, Danault, Hayes, Teravainen, Shaw, etc. - we think they are quality players - are they really better than any other team's draft picks?

Actually, other than Toews and Kane, his draft picks have rather sucked. He would have taken Staal over Toews, if he was available, and Kane was the unanimous number one. How have Skille, Barker, and Beach worked out? Bolland was his best actual pick and even then it was a no brainer in the second round (he was rated in the top 20). Biggest myth is that Tallon built this team thru the draft. Mike Smith actually had more of a hand in it than Tallon did (Seabrook, Keith, Byfuglien to name a few). Tallon's strong suit is his pro player scouting, which led him to Versteeg and Sharp. I would love Tallon back as Director of Player Personnel, but not as GM...how do some of those contracts look in Florida?? (Kopecky at $3M per...please). Tallon's an overall good guy, but as a GM, not so good IMO.
- hawks2010

I know it's revisionist history wanting Tallon back but compared to Bowman he at least would take risks. We need a Keenan-like GM who is willing to take risks to improve a club 2 years removed from the Cup.

God help us. I don't think he is ready.
- John Jaeckel

Full year in Rockford would be best with him taking over for Stalberg the following year after Stalberg leaves for big $$.

Full year in Rockford would be best with him taking over for Stalberg the following year after Stalberg leaves for big $$.
- hawks2010

You think Bowman is sitting on his money so that he can prepare to give Stalberg a raise and keep him as a Top 6 LW?

Sharp + Hammer for Statsny and a 2nd
- fattybeef

Bolland and Frolik for Stastny, although the rumored MTL deal involving Hammer+ for Plekanec is intriguing.

JJ,

Any news on anything????

Desperate for any kind of news.

Throw us a bone......please.

You think Bowman is sitting on his money so that he can prepare to give Stalberg a raise and keep him as a Top 6 LW?
- 1goalLordStanley

It wouldn't count against this year's cap.

Actually, other than Toews and Kane, his draft picks have rather sucked. He would have taken Staal over Toews, if he was available, and Kane was the unanimous number one. How have Skille, Barker, and Beach worked out? Bolland was his best actual pick and even then it was a no brainer in the second round (he was rated in the top 20). Biggest myth is that Tallon built this team thru the draft. Mike Smith actually had more of a hand in it than Tallon did (Seabrook, Keith, Byfuglien to name a few). Tallon's strong suit is his pro player scouting, which led him to Versteeg and Sharp. I would love Tallon back as Director of Player Personnel, but not as GM...how do some of those contracts look in Florida?? (Kopecky at $3M per...please). Tallon's an overall good guy, but as a GM, not so good IMO.
- hawks2010

Well said

Stray thought: Detroit needs D. Hjalmarsson and Bowman for Holland.
- NewToHockey

Never happen, Stan never worked with anyone in Detroit