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Forums :: Blog World :: Justin Lowe: Almost Over
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Tyler Cameron
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 10.31.2017

Apr 2 @ 9:15 AM ET
Justin Lowe: Almost Over
FourOrr
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Libertyville, IL
Joined: 01.26.2012

Apr 2 @ 9:30 AM ET
First. Wow
Beaver-Warrior
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: in my great and unmatched wisdom
Joined: 07.28.2011

Apr 2 @ 9:36 AM ET
Hawks didn't miss Hossa or Hammer one bit this year, now did they?
boilermaker100
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.23.2015

Apr 2 @ 9:38 AM ET
Well it's obvious Crawford won't be playing any more this season and who knows about next year. The less I hear about his situation from the Hawks, the more I'm concerned about his return next year. I still remember his locker room interview a couple of months ago when he practiced with the team on a western road trip. He wasn't very coherent when answering questions.

I know the LTIR rules were discussed last summer ad infinitum regarding Hossa, but would there be an cap related benefit for next season to place Crawford on LTIR this season? If so, if he doesn't improve over the off season, then if need be, he would be eligible for LTIR at the beginning of next season and his cap space would be available over the summer?
arps714
Joined: 06.21.2012

Apr 2 @ 9:50 AM ET
Can Hawks send the young players like Hinestroza, Debrincat, Schmaltz, Sikura, etc. down to Rockford for the AHL playoffs? Is that helpful for their development or no?
arps714
Joined: 06.21.2012

Apr 2 @ 9:50 AM ET
Can Hawks send the young players like Hinestroza, Debrincat, Schmaltz, Sikura, etc. down to Rockford for the AHL playoffs? Is that helpful for their development or no?
hocktock
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Over by dere.
Joined: 07.15.2015

Apr 2 @ 10:09 AM ET
Watching the preds/lightning game last night made me remember when we had that depth and swagger. It was our time. I can't wait until the cap gets them. (First round out for the preds would be great.)

The best thing to happen to the hocks is missing the playoffs and restocking as they would never beat the competition to the cup.

I like our team. Because we understand what we are.

Go Hocks
GPHawksfan
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: AB
Joined: 01.26.2018

Apr 2 @ 10:13 AM ET
I think they've played too many NHL games so they'd have to pass through waivers to be sent down. Maybe not Sikura, but the other two would be claimed for sure.
Lysiak
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: New York, NY
Joined: 07.15.2017

Apr 2 @ 10:47 AM ET
Hammer is done. He was lousy last spring and he's regressed further this season. Granted, he would have helped a bit considering, but he would not have made a difference.
breadbag
Location: Edmonton, AB
Joined: 11.30.2015

Apr 2 @ 10:53 AM ET
Definitely the big losses are on the defensive side of the puck at forward and on D.

Guys like Hossa, Kruger, Hjalmarsson, TVR were all bringing defensive contributions. The red flag I was waiving since the off-season was that the Hawks had no reliable/proven goaltending options if CC got hurt. No question the Hawks got faster and I don't think scoring will be an issue, but they didn't really get more physical or harder to play against.

The Hawks went from one of the older experienced NHL teams to one of the youngest in a hurry. This is where the coaches need to earn their pay. New guys have come in to varying degrees of success and they need to set them on the right course to come back better next season. Not saying everyone will pan out, but the Hawks have some pieces that can improve.

I still question if the core of the team will be hungry enough to do what needs to be done.
BlazinMike
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 05.08.2013

Apr 2 @ 11:03 AM ET
Can Hawks send the young players like Hinestroza, Debrincat, Schmaltz, Sikura, etc. down to Rockford for the AHL playoffs? Is that helpful for their development or no?
- arps714


I was just wondering the same thing. Nice group of reinforcements for them if they were able to send them down.
mjaxx2
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Tinley Park, IL
Joined: 06.19.2009

Apr 2 @ 11:29 AM ET
Anderson
Leighton
Thibault
Passmore
Murno
Underhill????
z1990z
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: NW USA
Joined: 02.09.2012

Apr 2 @ 11:31 AM ET
Off Season Priorities:

-Figure out if Q and Stan are staying, going?
-CC health.
-JT health.
-Find D help PDQ
DarthKane
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: 5.13.4.9
Joined: 02.23.2012

Apr 2 @ 11:57 AM ET
Can Hawks send the young players like Hinestroza, Debrincat, Schmaltz, Sikura, etc. down to Rockford for the AHL playoffs? Is that helpful for their development or no?
- arps714



No, they had to be on Rockford's roster on a specific date to qualify. I think Kampf, Hayden, Berube and Delia can play but that's it.
DutchSenators
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Joined: 06.07.2015

Apr 2 @ 12:05 PM ET
Bound to happen of course, the interesting thing is will the Hawks go full rebuild or try a quick rebuild to at least make use of some more productive years from Kaner and Toews? Both guys are 29 and maybe have 4 more decent years in them? In the case of Toews that is as a 2C nowadays

Still have the feeling the problem is not really up front. I mean Schmaltz, Anisimov etc. are decent additions to the two stars. Really feel that the back end is broken and a lot need to happen to fix that....
DarthKane
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: 5.13.4.9
Joined: 02.23.2012

Apr 2 @ 12:27 PM ET
Bound to happen of course, the interesting thing is will the Hawks go full rebuild or try a quick rebuild to at least make use of some more productive years from Kaner and Toews? Both guys are 29 and maybe have 4 more decent years in them? In the case of Toews that is as a 2C nowadays

Still have the feeling the problem is not really up front. I mean Schmaltz, Anisimov etc. are decent additions to the two stars. Really feel that the back end is broken and a lot need to happen to fix that....

- DutchSenators



The forward group is fine, both with the veterans and the young guys coming up. The issue is defense. Keith is still solid and Seabrook can be serviceable (contract aside). Murphy can be good but Q needs to utilize him better. Other than that there are some major question marks. Hillman will likely be in Rockford next season and I'm not sold on Oesterle and Rutta. I'm not a big Gustafsson fan but I can live with him on the team if he plays on the 3rd pairing and on the PP. Forsling is still a question mark too. Hopefully the kid can finally stick next season, when he plays well he's definitely a top 4 d-man.

Goaltending is a concern too. When healthy Crawford is a good as anyone in the league. But it will get injured every year and the back-ups just aren't good enough. On top of that the team doesn't have any goaltending prospects ready to make the jump. Next season does Stan bite the bullet and pay for a more expensive back-up like Condon or Nilsson?
nickmo2699
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 01.06.2012

Apr 2 @ 12:40 PM ET
My question is this: Will the likes of McD and Rocky stomach what is a rebuild as far as revenue and relevance in the city is concerned. If Stan stays, does his end of year meeting include a demand from the influence above, to go out and make a splash in free agency?
EnzoD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Denver, CO
Joined: 02.19.2014

Apr 2 @ 12:43 PM ET
The forward group is fine, both with the veterans and the young guys coming up. The issue is defense. Keith is still solid and Seabrook can be serviceable (contract aside). Murphy can be good but Q needs to utilize him better. Other than that there are some major question marks. Hillman will likely be in Rockford next season and I'm not sold on Oesterle and Rutta. I'm not a big Gustafsson fan but I can live with him on the team if he plays on the 3rd pairing and on the PP. Forsling is still a question mark too. Hopefully the kid can finally stick next season, when he plays well he's definitely a top 4 d-man.

Goaltending is a concern too. When healthy Crawford is a good as anyone in the league. But it will get injured every year and the back-ups just aren't good enough. On top of that the team doesn't have any goaltending prospects ready to make the jump. Next season does Stan bite the bullet and pay for a more expensive back-up like Condon or Nilsson?

- DarthKane


Option A: Hawks Go For It
-Sign John Carlson
-Sign John Moore
-Sign Leo Komarov
-Sign Wingels
-Sign Grubauer or Khudobin

Option B: Hawks Tank Again + Full Rebuild
-Fire Bowman and replace with former NHL Player
-Fire Q and replace with young development coach
-Trade Anisimov for Prospects/Picks

Option C: Somewhere in between the two....
riozzo
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Cornwallis Island
Joined: 06.17.2014

Apr 2 @ 12:46 PM ET
Hawks didn't miss Hossa or Hammer one bit this year, now did they?
- Beaver-Warrior



Az didn't miss Hammer, now did they? Hammer is done. Its sad but true.
bogiedoc
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: VA
Joined: 09.27.2011

Apr 2 @ 12:47 PM ET
younger yes...upgrade in talent and skill...not quite
walleyeb1
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Petersburg, IL
Joined: 09.25.2014

Apr 2 @ 12:49 PM ET
No, they had to be on Rockford's roster on a specific date to qualify. I think Kampf, Hayden, Berube and Delia can play but that's it.
- DarthKane


I think Martinsen could play as well.
Abadseed
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Arlington hts, IL
Joined: 01.20.2014

Apr 2 @ 12:58 PM ET
I don't believe it's how many games played it's what type of contract there on . Hino did pass the number of games played.
purepone
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: 07.24.2014

Apr 2 @ 1:07 PM ET
If the Hawks were able to get Grubauer, that would be a monster homerun. But I don't see it happening.

I have full faith in the offense next season, but what I would love is to see AA and his contract get moved somehow to help bolster the D.

I actually like this rosters chemistry. Should they still stick around, StanBo and Q need to structure from the back, forward. The pieces are there, now they need to make some fill ins. Easier said than done of course, but I don't think the roster needs to be a major reconstruction process.

Certain players are stuck here no matter what, just have to build around it and make them worth their contract(s)
walleyeb1
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Petersburg, IL
Joined: 09.25.2014

Apr 2 @ 1:08 PM ET
I don't believe it's how many games played it's what type of contract there on . Hino did pass the number of games played.
- Abadseed


It’s has to do with who was on their (IceHogs) roster at the trade deadline.
DarthKane
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: 5.13.4.9
Joined: 02.23.2012

Apr 2 @ 1:13 PM ET
I think Martinsen could play as well.
- walleyeb1



Correct, I missed him.
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