John Jaeckel: Bowman sets right tone. Now what?

JJ another great article!

Thx buddy

If the Hawks make a a significant overhaul of the roster this summer, will teams look to take advantage of the Hawks' lack of cap space, or will the feel be somewhat different? The last several years, it seems that the Hawks have never traded from a position of strength.

If the answer is to trade off the Russian duo (Anisimov/Panarin) to reshape your top 6, is there a willing partner out there?

Should be an interesting summer JJ! I agree with everything except for Bowman's public praise of prospects. Whether he does, or even intends to, Bowman is simply being a salesman. Here's my sales pitch on a guy who might hold the most trade value of anyone who hasn't been mentioned much here...Ryan Hartman.

"19 goals in his rookie year, team/character guy and a pest that is a cheap player and playoff style of hockey"

does anyone see him as a 25 goals/ year player year in and year out? Not saying I want to trade Hartman, but he was a ghost this playoff and a young 23+ minute defenseman is a need and they aren't cheap....

Nice article JJ, that series was so disappointing. Several things that bothered me in this series was how slow we got, we were constantly chasing the puck. Lack of passion to compete.

Hate to say it but the biggest problem for this team right now is they have to find another number 1 defenseman, if Keith isn't going to do the little things that it takes to be a number 1dman we're not going to win many more playoff games. Sure we had holes in other areas especially the scoring department but Keith was just bad in this series

Hartman like Panik is the type of forward we need more of. I see Hartman improving this year. The playoffs seemed to get in Hartmans head as it did for Schmaltz. They are rookies. Good experience. Kempny needs a deal and quick. Get Kempny and Forsling into the D rotation and let them play. Let them work through the issues as experience solves all.

Big year for Q as well. When the team struggles, he goes back to old habits. He has to stop that. Roll 4 lines and 6 D and let the team develop. My biggest issue was with 72 in the playoffs. He clearly looked like he wanted nothing to do with getting after the puck. Get him away from Kane and make him produce. He has redciulous skill, but he needs to be told to get after it.

I will call BS on one thing. Replacing the AC? So Kitch and Dineen just do whatever without Q's blessing? Sorry no. Thats an insulation tactic by Q. Sounds like Stan/Q get one more year.

There are teams like Dallas and buffalo that have a great need for defense. Perhaps one would be a taker on seabrook (with some salary retained)if he s willing to waive his nmc? Crawford still has value in a trade if darling can be resigned that could also save the Hawks money to be spent elsewhere.

One of the things I really wanted for the playoffs was a player of Bickell's size and relative speed, big heavy player who could skate, check and go to the front of the net effectively. Two of these players would of even been better but unfortunately these players are rare. Will Hayden become one of those players? What a mess

Hartman like Panik is the type of forward we need more of. I see Hartman improving this year. The playoffs seemed to get in Hartmans head as it did for Schmaltz. They are rookies. Good experience. Kempny needs a deal and quick. Get Kempny and Forsling into the D rotation and let them play. Let them work through the issues as experience solves all.

Big year for Q as well. When the team struggles, he goes back to old habits. He has to stop that. Roll 4 lines and 6 D and let the team develop. My biggest issue was with 72 in the playoffs. He clearly looked like he wanted nothing to do with getting after the puck. Get him away from Kane and make him produce. He has redciulous skill, but he needs to be told to get after it.
- z1990z

I loved Hartman his year. Agitator, finishing ability both physically and putting the puck past the goalie. Fantastic season and blew away my expectations...BUT, Stan needs to fill the 4D position and you don't get a quality Playoff ready (or close) Top 4 dman for Pokka and Motte....sell high maybe on either one of Panik, Schmaltz, or Hartman!

Yea. O. K. I get your point. You're not happy. I don't think any fan of this team is. The only thing I think Stan is guilty of is overpaying these guys for winning 3 cups after the fact. Perhaps everyones expectations are too high. The deck, (cap ) is stacked against them. I like our shoes. We won 3 cups. The sharks are out. The wilds are out. The Canadiens are out. How many cups do they have this decade? I'm glad I'm not in their shoes.

It took Laviolette 7 years to figure out how to beat us. We all knew how. Boring hockey. Hockey that I thought the league was phasing out but, the way they have directed the refs to call the playoffs, apparently not.

The only problem I have, as I'm sure all Chicago fans do, is lack of effort. I can handle getting beat. (Props to Nashville, they locked us down and made the most of their opportunities ) but I can't live with a 4 game effort like I witnessed. Perhaps some of these guys should retire if they're that disinterested.

He is a great dman, and a likely HOF player when it's all said and done, but Duncan Keith has some of the worst offensive instincts of any hockey play I've seen. In the ozone he stops moving his feet when he gets the puck. All he can do is telegraph his slap to the nearest player. Whomever the lucky recipient of his pass has zero time to react because he has a forward baring down on him. He is where the offense dies.

Is there an NHLer with a weaker or less accurate shot? Opposing teams give him time and space because he is not a threat to shoot.

2 rushing the puck on the power play? Do you think he's making a drop pass to Kane? Yup, nobody saw that coming, especially the opposing team.


He is a great player. We don't win cups without him, but he should be stapled to the bench for the PP.

I loved Hartman his year. Agitator, finishing ability both physically and putting the puck past the goalie. Fantastic season and blew away my expectations...BUT, Stan needs to fill the 4D position and you don't get a quality Playoff ready (or close) Top 4 dman for Pokka and Motte....sell high maybe on either one of Panik, Schmaltz, or Hartman!
- EnzoD

I see the problem as they need 2-3 D's. This series showed Hammer looking bad. I will bet he has lasting pain /injury from the shot he took the the back of the knee at the end of the season. however, and a big HOWEVER, we all knew a shot blocking machine will wear down fast. I see his skill level more of a left skewed distribution, great gradual climb up, peaking in 15' or 16' and a steep fall down.

He is a great dman, and a likely HOF player when it's all said and done, but Duncan Keith has some of the worst offensive instincts of any hockey play I've seen. In the ozone he stops moving his feet when he gets the puck. All he can do is telegraph his slap to the nearest player. Whomever the lucky recipient of his pass has zero time to react because he has a forward baring down on him. He is where the offense dies.

Is there an NHLer with a weaker or less accurate shot? Opposing teams give him time and space because he is not a threat to shoot.

2 rushing the puck on the power play? Do you think he's making a drop pass to Kane? Yup, nobody saw that coming, especially the opposing team.


He is a great player. We don't win cups without him, but he should be stapled to the bench for the PP.
- Antz96

HE always slap passes to no-one...

I loved Hartman his year. Agitator, finishing ability both physically and putting the puck past the goalie. Fantastic season and blew away my expectations...BUT, Stan needs to fill the 4D position and you don't get a quality Playoff ready (or close) Top 4 dman for Pokka and Motte....sell high maybe on either one of Panik, Schmaltz, or Hartman!
- EnzoD

Based on what I have seen from Scotty Darling, Im ready to let CC go. CC played fantastic in the playoffs and still has legit trade value. Move him for a 3/4 D. I dont move Panik or Hartman. Both Panik and Hartman are solid big wingers who hit and can finish. Both also skate well. I have heard 7's name mentioned as a possible guy to move, but that contract in combo with what looks like a decline in 7's play will be a bastird to move.

No trolling here, just a story...

I'm a Preds fan, used to live north of Nashville. I was in the arena in Feb 2006, we shut out the Hawks that night 6-0. The Hawks were not that good back then. Neither were we, though we gaining our playoff infancy for a couple of years. Fast forward to 2010, we lost to the Hawks in the playoffs, Martin Erat's blind pass still galls to this day.

When that playoff series was over, I adopted the Hawks as the team I'd follow the rest of the way. I had done this the prior year too in 2009. The company I worked for then was headquartered in Oak Brook. I'd make frequent trips to the home office and on one visit, I dropped by the Oak Brook Mall and bought a Hawks jersey, home red, #10 Patrick Sharp. I collect jerseys and was happy to add this on to my collection.

Call me a a playoff fan, bandwagon jumper, I really don't care, but I had so much fun following the Hawks in the 2nd round, WCF and the Finals. A part of the story that is special to me was, my wife was sick with cancer, going through tough times and those contests, some late a night, were a great diversion for me as a care giver.

So the other night, as the Preds were finishing up game four, while being excited for Nashville, it did strike me with some sadness to see Toews, Kane, Hossa, Seabrook, etc. in the closing minutes. I recalled the excitement from 2010 and how much fun it was to be a hockey fan and see the Hawks roll on. There was a time, though temporary, the core of the Blackhawks were my team! It also reminded me of the great accomplishments the Hawks have captured in seven years. Something every true Hawk fan can always have, those Cups are yours forever!

I wanted to share this because lets face it, hockey is the greatest sport there is, we are all fans. Spirited, passionate, sometimes out of line and over the top, but we love our teams and enjoy their efforts. I hope the Preds stay consistent in the next round and push as far as they can go. There is nothing like playoff hockey! Congrats to the Blackhawks for all wins and Cups over the years.

Lastly, the NHL has not heard the last of the Blackhawks.

Yea. O. K. I get your point. You're not happy. I don't think any fan of this team is. The only thing I think Stan is guilty of is overpaying these guys for winning 3 cups after the fact. Perhaps everyones expectations are too high. The deck, (cap ) is stacked against them. I like our shoes. We won 3 cups. The sharks are out. The wilds are out. The Canadiens are out. How many cups do they have this decade? I'm glad I'm not in their shoes.

It took Laviolette 7 years to figure out how to beat us. We all knew how. Boring hockey. Hockey that I thought the league was phasing out but, the way they have directed the refs to call the playoffs, apparently not.

The only problem I have, as I'm sure all Chicago fans do, is lack of effort. I can handle getting beat. (Props to Nashville, they locked us down and made the most of their opportunities ) but I can't live with a 4 game effort like I witnessed. Perhaps some of these guys should retire if they're that disinterested.
- hocktock

He used Winnipeg's model - didn't figure out crap on his own.

What's he gonna say? The same thing happened last year. You could see it coming both times. He did absolutely nothing to keep this from happening and one could argue he owns this debacle - along with Q and his crack coaching staff.

If there arent big changes on the roster and the coaching staff forthcoming, then they weren't paying attention and his word really are empty.

Ryan Wilson he of the 'guins blog had a great 'Hawks write-up too. Very interesting read.

No trolling here, just a story...

I'm a Preds fan, used to live north of Nashville. I was in the arena in Feb 2006, we shut out the Hawks that night 6-0. The Hawks were not that good back then. Neither were we, though we gaining our playoff infancy for a couple of years. Fast forward to 2010, we lost to the Hawks in the playoffs, Martin Erat's blind pass still galls to this day.

When that playoff series was over, I adopted the Hawks as the team I'd follow the rest of the way. I had done this the prior year too in 2009. The company I worked for then was headquartered in Oak Brook. I'd make frequent trips to the home office and on one visit, I dropped by the Oak Brook Mall and bought a Hawks jersey, home red, #10 Patrick Sharp. I collect jerseys and was happy to add this on to my collection.

Call me a a playoff fan, bandwagon jumper, I really don't care, but I had so much fun following the Hawks in the 2nd round, WCF and the Finals. A part of the story that is special to me was, my wife was sick with cancer, going through tough times and those contests, some late a night, were a great diversion for me as a care giver.

So the other night, as the Preds were finishing up game four, while being excited for Nashville, it did strike me with some sadness to see Toews, Kane, Hossa, Seabrook, etc. in the closing minutes. I recalled the excitement from 2010 and how much fun it was to be a hockey fan and see the Hawks roll on. There was a time, though temporary, the core of the Blackhawks were my team! It also reminded me of the great accomplishments the Hawks have captured in seven years. Something every true Hawk fan can always have, those Cups are yours forever!

I wanted to share this because lets face it, hockey is the greatest sport there is, we are all fans. Spirited, passionate, sometimes out of line and over the top, but we love our teams and enjoy their efforts. I hope the Preds stay consistent in the next round and push as far as they can go. There is nothing like playoff hockey! Congrats to the Blackhawks for all wins and Cups over the years.

Lastly, the NHL has not heard the last of the Blackhawks.
- jlhtn18

Very nice story. thank you for sharing!

No trolling here, just a story...

I'm a Preds fan, used to live north of Nashville. I was in the arena in Feb 2006, we shut out the Hawks that night 6-0. The Hawks were not that good back then. Neither were we, though we gaining our playoff infancy for a couple of years. Fast forward to 2010, we lost to the Hawks in the playoffs, Martin Erat's blind pass still galls to this day.

When that playoff series was over, I adopted the Hawks as the team I'd follow the rest of the way. I had done this the prior year too in 2009. The company I worked for then was headquartered in Oak Brook. I'd make frequent trips to the home office and on one visit, I dropped by the Oak Brook Mall and bought a Hawks jersey, home red, #10 Patrick Sharp. I collect jerseys and was happy to add this on to my collection.

Call me a a playoff fan, bandwagon jumper, I really don't care, but I had so much fun following the Hawks in the 2nd round, WCF and the Finals. A part of the story that is special to me was, my wife was sick with cancer, going through tough times and those contests, some late a night, were a great diversion for me as a care giver.

So the other night, as the Preds were finishing up game four, while being excited for Nashville, it did strike me with some sadness to see Toews, Kane, Hossa, Seabrook, etc. in the closing minutes. I recalled the excitement from 2010 and how much fun it was to be a hockey fan and see the Hawks roll on. There was a time, though temporary, the core of the Blackhawks were my team! It also reminded me of the great accomplishments the Hawks have captured in seven years. Something every true Hawk fan can always have, those Cups are yours forever!

I wanted to share this because lets face it, hockey is the greatest sport there is, we are all fans. Spirited, passionate, sometimes out of line and over the top, but we love our teams and enjoy their efforts. I hope the Preds stay consistent in the next round and push as far as they can go. There is nothing like playoff hockey! Congrats to the Blackhawks for all wins and Cups over the years.

Lastly, the NHL has not heard the last of the Blackhawks.
- jlhtn18

No hard feelings brother. We got whooped plain and simple by the better team. You have a good/young team on the up and Lavi is a good HC. Good luck against the Blues.

John fantastic read as always...

Its good to see that Virginia McCaskey and now McD are both p-ssed...lol...

So Stan came out yesterday and looked like the kid that had been called to the principals office (McD) and then promised to make it all better. That remains to be seen...he's going to have to make some serious moves this summer. Based on his track record the last three offseasons and TDLs can you actually trust this guy to fix it? I don't.

As you mentioned,

"The other fallacy that the fan base should probably stop clinging to is that you can get equal or greater value back for any of the great Hawk players or prospects in a trade—an idea held most dear by those who also think Bowman is an Infallible Genius."

The Bowman fan boys think the Hawks will easily get more for the aging vets with the big contracts...its not going to happen. Every other team knows what position the Hawks are in and is going to make them add sweeteners in every deal. Provided you can actually get a guy to waive (see Crawford, Corey to Calgary).

On the coaching end...this team had no pushback whatsoever in that series and that's extremely alarming. There was nothing there. Has Q lost the room? Is there an underlying problem?

As far as assistants - could this be similar to when Mike Haviland was let go a few seasons back? Will Q bring someone in that can actually run a powerplay...we all remember how mgt. tried to force Barry Smith on him. It's just inconceivable that with all that talent they can't score with the man advantage. As you mention you've got have a PP QB.

Can Q show more patience with the kids especially on the backend because that's where the fix needs to start. Kempny should have been playing a lot more this year and a lot sooner than game 4 in this series.

Talking about it and actually doing something are two totally different things. The draft should be very interesting with McD looking for headlines and press.

The "terminology" you're hearing a lot right now is "push-back," "effort," "desire."


We had a player like that Andrew Shaw

This is a time where old friends can help. Trading off players for what you need on somebody else's roster isn't easy because they need those players too. Waiting for players to develop while your stars are getting paid big bucks and are in their prime, plays into the mediocrity aka parity, that the NHL with the cap is trying to do.

Tallon is back as GM of the Panthers. He drafted many of the current Hawks, and would be a logical trade partner, as they look to improve. Keith comes to mind here, as maybe with his cost contained salary, he could be moved for a pick and a player. (the old give me something for now and something for later)

Chevy in Winterpeg is another. They need a goalie in the worst way, and dare I say it, Toews just happens to be from there. Jacob Truba is a nice player, Conner Hellybuck has talent, and would team up nicely with Darling. Add a 1st rounder for this year's draft, and another high prospect or player and this is a deal that sheds considerable cap and makes the team younger, not necessarily better. Trading Toews is serious stuff, but Gretzky was traded in his prime for picks and Edmonton won the cup the next year.

Trading any of the young talent is foolish, unless its been decided that they are not long term assets. Signing Panik, Kepney, Darling, Kero, and Hartman should be a priority. This is the low cap future, and foolish to squander.

This team needs to begin shedding contracts while it still can for any value.

The Hawks should move Crawford plain and simple. He's an arguably top 5 goaltender with two cups and a modest cap hit given his resume, he should be able to fetch value from teams like Toronto, NYI, Calgary. Resign Darling at 3-4 million or less, he'll take the hometown rate.

I'd also move 7 if possible or you risk a Bickell situation in 2 years, I'd dangle AA also. TvR buh bye, Kruger buh bye.