Ryan Wilson: Can the Chicago Blackhawks learn from the Pittsburgh Penguins? Can the Chicago Blackhawks learn from the Pittsburgh Penguins?

All they need to do is sign Bonino in the off-season, trade for Hagelin and get themselves a Kessel and they'll be a-ok.

On yeah, find their Schultz, too.

Wow its a really quiet day

I agree luck plays a huge role, not just with injuries but with player development.

Who could have thought that Shero-era picks such as Rust, Kuhnackhl, Wilson, Guentzel and Sheary (I know he was FA signing) would be roster regulars even 2 years ago? (of course thats not to say there haven't been busts - looking at some 1st rounders). Its important because none of these were guys picked in the first 2 rounds .

All of a sudden the pens went from having a prospect-deprived cupboard to having a number of potential NHL regulars under 25 players.

I agree luck plays a huge role, not just with injuries but with player development.

Who could have thought that Shero-era picks such as Rust, Kuhnackhl, Wilson, Guentzel and Sheary (I know he was FA signing) would be roster regulars even 2 years ago? (of course thats not to say there haven't been busts - looking at some 1st rounders). Its important because none of these were guys picked in the first 2 rounds .

All of a sudden the pens went from having a prospect-deprived cupboard to having a number of potential NHL regulars under 25 players.
- DeflatedPucks

Just imagine if Pouliot worked out. I can't believe with all the emphasis Shero put on Dmen, virtually none (cept Maatta) managed to develop into good players for the Pens.

Just imagine if Pouliot worked out. I can't believe with all the emphasis Shero put on Dmen, virtually none (cept Maatta) managed to develop into good players for the Pens.
- madmike71

Curse of the portland winterhawks for the pens?

I think Dumo has turned out pretty good. Maatta..jury is still out on. Harrington was part of the PK trade wasnt he? Despres was traded for Lovejoy. That really only leaves DP doesn't it?

Ryan Wilson: Can the Chicago Blackhawks learn from the Pittsburgh Penguins?
Can the Chicago Blackhawks learn from the Pittsburgh Penguins?
- Ryan_Wilson

Hey Ryan,

I've been somewhat critical of your writing but this was a really great read. Us Hawks fans have been absolutely spoiled the past 8 years, looking forward to seeing what the next step is.

I fully expected to cluck on the blog and the only thing it said when I opened it was "teows sucks and he's not as good as Malkin or crosby"

I'm all fairness I feel like the Blackhawk basically just ran into their kryptonite. I don't think they are that bad. I just feel like playing against the trap is their biggest weakness.

Calling Andrew Shaw a non essential, I believe, is low. Shaw was I think instrumental more so in their two latter cups than the first (if he even was involved then. I don't remember off hand) I think losing/letting go of players like Saad, Bolland and Shaw was a major reason as to why the lost this series

Calling Andrew Shaw a non essential, I believe, is low. Shaw was I think instrumental more so in their two latter cups than the first (if he even was involved then. I don't remember off hand) I think losing/letting go of players like Saad, Bolland and Shaw was a major reason as to why the lost this series
- SpeedDemon99

What he means is that the Hawks had been giving out high dollar amount, long-term No Movement clause riddened contracts to too many of their players, and it cost them the ability to keep players such as Brandon Saad. To get by in today's NHL you have to limit the amount of those bad contracts.

The Penguins won the Cup because GMJR added a world-class piece at significant expense. Sure, Rust and Sheary have been major contributors to the team's success. But the move that changed it all was the addition of Kessel. Lots of other things fell into place of course.

It's too early to judge the Blackhawks. I think they lost because of matchups, not because they're a poorly constructed team. A couple tweaks and a more friendly matchup and they'll be right back to where they've been.

As the cap increased it also allowed the Pens start building more around the lineup. CHI will get that relief in a couple of years.

The Penguins won the Cup because GMJR added a world-class piece at significant expense. Sure, Rust and Sheary have been major contributors to the team's success. But the move that changed it all was the addition of Kessel. Lots of other things fell into place of course.

It's too early to judge the Blackhawks. I think they lost because of matchups, not because they're a poorly constructed team. A couple tweaks and a more friendly matchup and they'll be right back to where they've been.
- hardnosed

Three goals in 4 games is a bit more than a bad matchup... thats getting the poop kicked out of you.

Blue Jackets had a bad matchup with us... they didn't look terrible

Three goals in 4 games is a bit more than a bad matchup... thats getting the poop kicked out of you.

Blue Jackets had a bad matchup with us... they didn't look terrible
- Guile

It looked the Penguins/Bruins ECF. Blackhawks were totally lost and inept, not because of a lack of talent, but because the other team executed an extremely effective scheme effectively.

Outstanding write up Ryan. You nailed most of what ails the 'Hawks. Didn't realize how close this mimics the '13-'14 'guins until now.

While I groused a bit on the AAVs of some of the players, the full NMC is aggravating.

Gonna be an interesting off-season. And with the draft here, it should make good theatre.

There is a lot of blame to go around at 1901 W. Madison St. And while I tend to let things settle the first week+ at the start of the off-season, this time around it is worth the listen.

Glad I got the Defending World Series Champion Chicago Cubs to occupy my sports attention the next 6-1/2 months.

A lot fell into place quickly for the Pens that would be hard to replicate as a model. Getting six rookies to become contributors on a championship team with none of them being 1st round picks and one second in Dumoulin is pretty unlikely and it's not something you can just decide to do or everyone would. That all those guys remained steady or in Sheary's case improved plus adding another rookie playing a big role in Guentzel is why the Pens are well positioned to move forward because they have supplimented their star players with young talent If they choose the right ones to keep or move on from as they get more expensive, that will make them competitive for the rest of their stars prime.

That's just half the equation though. GMJR had an all-time year dumpster diving for treasure. They were really the only team willing to pay up for Kessel and even got the Leafs to eat part of his contract. Decided to not overpay Sutter and got a better replacement Bonino as part of the return. Grabbed Cullen for peanuts at the end of free agency. Daley and Hagelin were basically cap dumps that weren't working out on new teams after half a season and GMJR got both for nothing by buying low. And Schultz might end up the biggest steal of them all taking a flier on him for a 3rd and rebuilding his game into a top 10 scoring defenseman this year.

So that's Murray, Dumoulin, Sheary, Rust, Kuhnhakl, Wilson, Kessel, Bonino, Cullen, Daley, Hagelin, and Schultz (and Fehr) all added in a year with none of them being one year rentals. Other than the Kessel trade, the Pens added them all to last year's roster without moving anything of value beyond Sutter and Perron's last year and a 3rd. Good luck to any GM trying to repeat that formula!

Montreal is about to go bye bye.

It looked the Penguins/Bruins ECF. Blackhawks were totally lost and inept, not because of a lack of talent, but because the other team executed an extremely effective scheme effectively.
- hardnosed

Debatable... We've undergone a pretty huge shift in how our team plays and our personnel since then. It didn't happen right away, but Chicago would be wise to start to process sooner rather than later.

As the cap increased it also allowed the Pens start building more around the lineup. CHI will get that relief in a couple of years.
- Rinosaur

That entire premise is based on those stars still putting up massive numbers.... Sid and Geno have... Kane yes... Toews not so much.... 65 pts over 82 games won't cut it

You can't pay guys 10 million a year to win faceoffs and kill penalties and still have to pay other players to score....

That entire premise is based on those stars still putting up massive numbers.... Sid and Geno have... Kane yes... Toews not so much.... 65 pts over 82 games won't cut it

You can't pay guys 10 million a year to win faceoffs and kill penalties and still have to pay other players to score....
- Yonk1216

This. Sid and Geno have been Top 5 players in the league. Kane has been there, #19 needs to take a long look in the mirror and change up his game. When he broke into the league he played responsible defense but he was an offensive threat. Nowadays he has turned into more of a grinder type player.

Debatable... We've undergone a pretty huge shift in how our team plays and our personnel since then. It didn't happen right away, but Chicago would be wise to start to process sooner rather than later.
- Guile

It's going to be tougher for the Hawks. They don't have two generational centers (the hardest commodity to obtain).

As Ryan says, some of those bad contracts are going to be tough to work around.

It's going to be tougher for the Hawks. They don't have two generational centers (the hardest commodity to obtain).

As Ryan says, some of those bad contracts are going to be tough to work around.
- madmike71

They have a generational two way center, and a top winger... but they are paying them both like they are #1 in each role.

When I see that... it really gets me wondering what would have happened had we gotten Ovi and Sid, instead of Malkin then Sid.

They have a generational two way center, and a top winger... but they are paying them both like they are #1 in each role.

When I see that... it really gets me wondering what would have happened had we gotten Ovi and Sid, instead of Malkin then Sid.
- Guile

It's a really interesting question. I've wondered about that myself.

Man, Montreal looked like a junior team. Not skill up front at all in that series. They got bigger at th TD... and pooptier. Brutal performance.