Justin Lowe: No Crawford, Now What? Finally, the news has been broken to the public that Corey Crawford has been dealing with vertigo-like symptoms and may miss the rest of the season.

What's the next move for the Blackhawks?

Fist ...

Trading for a super backup is not going to solve the problems this season, and it will probably be too expensive a proposition, anyway. I think they have to let the youngsters develop this year, and let someone overpay for one of their roster players for a change.

I think they were a first round exit with Crawford . I think play Forsberg and see what you got . They need to be sellers and everyone should available to be discussed for trading purposes

Pickard is most appealing to me, Mrazek hasn't been good in a year and a half, Lehner is a basket case mentally and is still somewhat beloved by Buffalo management.

Available rentals are:
Green, Filpulla, Jack Johnson, Vanek, Gudbranson, Jokinen (Waivers), Pouliot, just about anyone on DET, VAN, ARI, EDM, BUF.

I don't think any of these are putting the Hawks over the top. A goalie could plug the hole that Crawford left, but I don't think this team will get past Winnipeg, Nashville, or Vegas. They need to tighten up so much more, and get the compete level to 100% for every period to even have a chance.

This is no longer the stacked Hawks with waves of dangerous lines and oppressive cycling.

Just like the Chicago Bulls will never have a better window than the Michael Jordan and friends days, the Blackhawks will never have a better window than they do with the current Core they have now. Therefore, you go for it every single year that this group is still together. Because the reality is that for every year that you concede, everyone gets a year older, slower, etc. Starting to see it already with 2 and 7...

Time is not dimension, it is relative. With that perspective, you must take advantage of every opportunity in relation to peak athletic ability. We have had a lot of "good" teams that never raised Cups (Savard and Co, the Roenick/Cheli/ Belfour days, etc). The Toews/Kane led group is different. They are champions. 3 in the bank. A 4th is out there. Be aggrressive and get it.

A lot of people criticize the team that lost to the St. Loser Blows in 2016, but we were tied 2-2 midway through the 3rd period in game 7, and a double-post shot by Seabs is a hairline fracture away from getting us to overtime in that game. Point being, the trade deadline pick-up of Ladd that year, while costly (Dano and a 1st if i am not mistaken), put us in a very good position to be a real Cup threat once again.

I realize that we look extremely mediocre this year, but again, another year gone by is another wasted chance. From this fan's perspective, I say get in the tournament and roll the dice. Maybe, just maybe, the 4th Cup (7th overall) comes as a dark horse like the Kings did as an 8th seed in 2012.

The next move?

Don't panic and make some knee-jerk reaction trade.

Dudes up front need to tighten up/get it together and they need to ride it out with Forsberg/Glass.

I have no idea as long as Joel is shuffling the deck every game, win or lose . Might as well give it a couple weeks after the break .If it's still up and down with Q Still here , might as well sell off Wingles Bomma Glass Sharp Franson , may get some late picks . Bring up the kids, let them play . And go into a deep dive ..

I think they were a first round exit with Crawford . I think play Forsberg and see what you got . They need to be sellers and everyone should available to be discussed for trading purposes
- hawk66

Everyone not named Kane, Keith, Schmaltz, Forsling, Oesterle, Saad, Crawford. Everyone else, including Toews and Seabrook, should be available.

I'd like to hold onto Debrincat and Duclair if possible.

The next move?

Don't panic and make some knee-jerk reaction trade.

Dudes up front need to tighten up/get it together and they need to ride it out with Forsberg/Glass.
- Hank3Henshaw

^This

Just like the Chicago Bulls will never have a better window than the Michael Jordan and friends days, the Blackhawks will never have a better window than they do with the current Core they have now. Therefore, you go for it every single year that this group is still together. Because the reality is that for every year that you concede, everyone gets a year older, slower, etc. Starting to see it already with 2 and 7...

Time is not dimension, it is relative. With that perspective, you must take advantage of every opportunity in relation to peak athletic ability. We have had a lot of "good" teams that never raised Cups (Savard and Co, the Roenick/Cheli/ Belfour days, etc). The Toews/Kane led group is different. They are champions. 3 in the bank. A 4th is out there. Be aggrressive and get it.

A lot of people criticize the team that lost to the St. Loser Blows in 2016, but we were tied 2-2 midway through the 3rd period in game 7, and a double-post shot by Seabs is a hairline fracture away from getting us to overtime in that game. Point being, the trade deadline pick-up of Ladd that year, while costly (Dano and a 1st if i am not mistaken), put us in a very good position to be a real Cup threat once again.

I realize that we look extremely mediocre this year, but again, another year gone by is another wasted chance. From this fan's perspective, I say get in the tournament and roll the dice. Maybe, just maybe, the 4th Cup (7th overall) comes as a dark horse like the Kings did as an 8th seed in 2012.
- Katana777

I like your optimism but maybe we need a retool like Pittsburgh, or endure a down year like Boston did.

just give us your second rd pick and take Robin Lehner

Don't tell McD that Garrett Sparks is a local kid......did he ever play with Vinny?

Just getting IN the playoffs is a long shot for this club right now.
If you LTIR Crawford I think you make strategic "adds" with the CC money, aimed at next year.

And, I'd play the heck out of Forsberg. You gotta find out if this kid can play starters minutes.

At the TDL everyone not named Kane should be available for the right deal.
With special attention being paid to dumping Seabrook's contract, if possible.

Robin Lehner: currently making $4M (RFA this summer) YEP
* Chad Johnson: 2.5M (UFA) NOPE
* Petr Mzarek: $4.15M (RFA) HMMM...
* Cavin Pickard: $1.07M (RFA) NOPE
* Antti Niemi: $700k (UFA) UGH
* Zachary Fucale: $714k (RFA) NOPE
* Charlie Lindgren: $700k (RFA) NOPE
* Garrett Sparks: $675 (RFA in 2-years / 1-way contract next year) NOPE

I like your optimism but maybe we need a retool like Pittsburgh, or endure a down year like Boston did.
- ObeseOprah

There isn't time for any of that, which is his point

MCD and company really understand Chicago sports fans which is why they kept it quiet. Now that this news is out there, a whole bunch of fans will just write this year off...I can hear it now, the whole cubs mantra of "wait until next year..."

They probably didn't want the news out there for fear of lost revenue due to fans bailing, but they probably had no choice at this point with the rumors running rampant.

I think they were a first round exit with Crawford . I think play Forsberg and see what you got . They need to be sellers and everyone should available to be discussed for trading purposes
- hawk66

lets if somehow they make it as WC they get pacific div winner: the cup favorite knights...did i just say that or central winner preds, jets or blues....


yeah the season is over 4/7 or around 4/20 take your pick

Just like the Chicago Bulls will never have a better window than the Michael Jordan and friends days, the Blackhawks will never have a better window than they do with the current Core they have now. Therefore, you go for it every single year that this group is still together. Because the reality is that for every year that you concede, everyone gets a year older, slower, etc. Starting to see it already with 2 and 7...

Time is not dimension, it is relative. With that perspective, you must take advantage of every opportunity in relation to peak athletic ability. We have had a lot of "good" teams that never raised Cups (Savard and Co, the Roenick/Cheli/ Belfour days, etc). The Toews/Kane led group is different. They are champions. 3 in the bank. A 4th is out there. Be aggrressive and get it.

A lot of people criticize the team that lost to the St. Loser Blows in 2016, but we were tied 2-2 midway through the 3rd period in game 7, and a double-post shot by Seabs is a hairline fracture away from getting us to overtime in that game. Point being, the trade deadline pick-up of Ladd that year, while costly (Dano and a 1st if i am not mistaken), put us in a very good position to be a real Cup threat once again.

I realize that we look extremely mediocre this year, but again, another year gone by is another wasted chance. From this fan's perspective, I say get in the tournament and roll the dice. Maybe, just maybe, the 4th Cup (7th overall) comes as a dark horse like the Kings did as an 8th seed in 2012.
- Katana777

This

Its all in right now, no time for "transition years" when Seabrook and Keith are already running on fumes and Toews is clearly getting worse and worse himself. How much longer until Kane starts to regress as well?

We MUST stay the course.

I think they were a first round exit with Crawford . I think play Forsberg and see what you got . They need to be sellers and everyone should available to be discussed for trading purposes
- hawk66

Since they spent an asset (Tyler Motte) to acquire him, I'd install Forsberg as the #1 with Glass in the bullpen on back to back nights. Forsberg hasn't played poorly, the team just gives him no goal support. He's won an AHL championship. Develop him - what if Cro has to retire because of his health problems?

Everyone not named Kane, Keith, Schmaltz, Forsling, Oesterle, Saad, Crawford. Everyone else, including Toews and Seabrook, should be available.

I'd like to hold onto Debrincat and Duclair if possible.
- ObeseOprah

Trade Toews , but make sure you hang onto Debrincat and Duclair .. WOW

It sucks that CC might be out long term. I think that goaltending can be a huge equalizer when it comes to gaining points in the standings. I like to think the team will come out stronger if they feel less comfortable with who is in net, because they have to dig a little deeper to get the W.

Short term, the Hawks have an uphill battle. They seem to have been 5-4-1 in their last 10 games forever as they yo-yo up and down treading water but not gaining ground. They are in the pack where the margin separating them from 90% of the other teams is thin. The Hawks had a lot of change and a lot of new faces, but they've played more than 50% of the season now.

Line 1 needs to get a bit more consistent in terms of production.

Line 2 needs to find a way to prevent goals against. People have their head in the sand if they ignore how easily teams score against the Hawks 2nd line at even strength. The line is good at generating goals, but what good is it when you give up just as many (if not more) against when they are on the ice?

Line 3 has been pretty solid lately after being a big problem early in the season. A little more consistency and they could be the difference makers on a lot of nights.

line 4 meh. This is not the best 4th line the Hawks have had. Not the worst, but they are pretty average in my books. They don't play the minutes that make or break you and not much happens when they are on the ice in general. Would love to see the 4th line find a way to cycle and protect the puck 200 feet away from their net more.

Here is a look at goals for and goals against per 60 minutes of ice time for the team this season. While it doesn't mean everything it is far from meaningless over the course of 30-40 games.



Here is a look at the same over the last 30 days.

Robin Lehner: currently making $4M (RFA this summer) YEP
* Chad Johnson: 2.5M (UFA) NOPE
* Petr Mzarek: $4.15M (RFA) HMMM...
* Cavin Pickard: $1.07M (RFA) NOPE
* Antti Niemi: $700k (UFA) UGH
* Zachary Fucale: $714k (RFA) NOPE
* Charlie Lindgren: $700k (RFA) NOPE
* Garrett Sparks: $675 (RFA in 2-years / 1-way contract next year) NOPE
- bogiedoc

Big mistake in my opinion.

If Vegas has showed the hockey world anything, it's that if you can get guys up front playing, it doesn't matter who is in net.

The Knights had five goals this year-- three/four of which really had no business being in the NHL, but they made it work.

As a Leafs fan, we'll give you Curtis McIlhenny and/or Calvin Pickard for whatever you want to give up.

Since they spent an asset (Tyler Motte) to acquire him, I'd install Forsberg as the #1 with Glass in the bullpen on back to back nights. Forsberg hasn't played poorly, the team just gives him no goal support. He's won an AHL championship. Develop him - what if Cro has to retire because of his health problems?
- RickJ

I agree Has anyone noticed that they got younger and faster but still looks slow to the teams they justed played recently?