the beginning of the end...
- bogiedoc

Sharpie was here from the start - that core five - wowsa...a great trade by Dale to get Sharp here. Still think Sharp should have won the Conn Smythe in 2010 - 11 g 11a in the playoffs that year. Yikes.

They had that last summer also. How did that work out?
- Rota's Rooter

It is mysterious the total extent and EVEN what the injuries or health condition exist for Seabrook and Keith.

The additional time away from practice and games can only help them. The question then is, is adfitional rest, perhaps training and or therapy going to put them in a position to elevate their game.

Probably not. I am guessing that both cannot elevate their game anywhere close to where it once was. They have long term contracts. They could be exposed for the expansion draft. If they are not selected, assuming the expansion draft is after next season the Blackhawks will reevaluate the performance of both players. Did performance capability fall after next season. Can the team continue to absorb their salary cap hit. The new expansion team setting foot on ice without a CBA settlement is problematic for the league. All the rich owners will very much want the extravgent payout from Seattle too. I wonder if Seattle can witthold that money until a CBA is in place and training camp opens.

When play resumes after next season, perhaps there will be a stipulation in the new CBA allowing compliance buyout. That may turn out to be the escape clause for the Seabrook and Toews contracts.

Both players IMHO are not worth keeping at their inflated contractual term. If it were possible to sign a lesset contract, then i would consider keeping them on a year to year basis. But with an emphasis on youth perhaps absorbing their salary cap hit will not be the team's biggest concern with retaining a roster spot for both players. After next season their performance capability could become more telltale. How bad do they become before severance is necessary?

Justin don’t feel bad at all. This was not a “hockey” decision, it was a “business” decision.Q has 2 years left at 6M. Bowman also has contract left. There was actually no chance either got fired. So while the Penguins have 2 Cups and will shoot for a 3rd Cup making true hockey decisions the Hawks will be saving money. At the very, very least Q shoud’ve been fired. Same for Ulf. The Hawks have not played real games for so long we are forgetting just how awful the record is.

Justin don’t feel bad at all. This was not a “hockey” decision, it was a “business” decision.Q has 2 years left at 6M. Bowman also has contract left. There was actually no chance either got fired. So while the Penguins have 2 Cups and will shoot for a 3rd Cup making true hockey decisions the Hawks will be saving money. At the very, very least Q shoud’ve been fired. Same for Ulf. The Hawks have not played real games for so long we are forgetting just how awful the record is.
- Z3Hawk

You don't know that the decision to have both continue in their role was based 100% on the remaindet of the signed contracts. You do not know how McDonough feels loyalty is part of the big picture on whether to retain. Did you see McDonough's comments on that?

While i agree that Bowman and Q have some faults, i also would not dusmiss them if i didnt know thete is a replacement i would be happy with. The there is the fact that much of their mistakes are overblown by ppmpous, ignirant, immature hit head bloggers on tbis site whom if they haved such oral presetation with family and work, would be a disgrace and embarrassment. Expression of viewpoints should be fair, which means researched and both pro and con point if view given. But thus is the internet where bloggers can soujnd off and not be responsible journamists. We have to acceot their comments fir what they are and wonder if they are an embarrassment to the people in their lives. Just the facts.

@NHLBlackhawks

ROSTER MOVES: Forwards John Hayden, David Kampf, Andreas Martinsen and Victor Ejdsell and goaltenders Jeff Glass and J-F Berube have been assigned to Rockford.

All players would be eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs. #Blackhawks 

@NHLBlackhawks

ROSTER MOVES: Forwards John Hayden, David Kampf, Andreas Martinsen and Victor Ejdsell and goaltenders Jeff Glass and J-F Berube have been assigned to Rockford.

All players would be eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs. #Blackhawks 
- DarthKane

Remind me - why hadn’t Hayden played since March 24 against NYI - has he been playing in Rockford? Injured? Healthy scratched?

I forget...lots of things....

Justin don’t feel bad at all. This was not a “hockey” decision, it was a “business” decision.Q has 2 years left at 6M. Bowman also has contract left. There was actually no chance either got fired. So while the Penguins have 2 Cups and will shoot for a 3rd Cup making true hockey decisions the Hawks will be saving money. At the very, very least Q shoud’ve been fired. Same for Ulf. The Hawks have not played real games for so long we are forgetting just how awful the record is.
- Z3Hawk

Has the message gotten stale from Q possibly is the pp crap - sure, but take a good look at the jackwagon putting the roster together and the awful moves he's made starting with the Leddy fiasco in the summer of 14.

All roads lead to the fanboy GM and his God awful track record. You can fawn on and on about how Stan brought two more Cups to the city with a deep core provided by others before him. All the caretaker had to do was just keep it going tweaks here and there. But his overpays, no movers, and horrid trade moves have put this team in the state it's in now. Overpaying certain players and locking them in has cost this team the depth it once had. And moving bad deals with sweeteners has also killed depth. And we won't even get into his drafting record.

How bout the fact that his best backup goalie this season was a 36 year old accountant? Take a good look at Panarin's numbers with the Jackets this season and then reach for a scotch - cause you're gonna need it. While last offseasons moves rival the summer of 15 meltdown, it's over a period of time that Bowman's actions have finally brought us to this.

If Stan's last name was say Jones or anything other than Bowman he'd be gone. The only reason he's still here is because of daddy. McD may be the PT Barnum of hockey/baseball marketing...but his wanna be feeling to be in charge of hockey Ops and be Scotty's BFF are killing his team.

Remind me - why hadn’t Hayden played since March 24 against NYI - has he been playing in Rockford? Injured? Healthy scratched?

I forget...lots of things....
- StLBravesFan

He’s been injured, there wasn’t much information other than it being an “upper body injury”.

Joel Quenneville is largely regarded as the Blackhawks best coach, ever. He will be in the Hall of Fame.

Please enlighten us with who was a better coach: Trent Yawney?
- ObeseOprah

Q has impressive win totals for the same reason that Scotty Bowman has impressive win totals. Both coached loaded teams all the time. Remember as well that Q was available because Colorado didn’t want him anymore. There are loads of coaches that are better coaches than Q. Start with Babcock. It is interesting that in a year that actually may have required some coaching Q failed miserably.

Vigneault was fired in NY although he has 8M left owing to him. Q kept on with 12M owing to him. I have said Q kept as coach because of the money. CBC’s Kypreos confirmed this when he said NY was prepared to stroke departing cheque for Vigneault, Chicago not prepared to stroke departing cheque for Q. Business decision not a hockey decision. As well how does a marketing cretin like McDonough have any input in matters beyond what hot dogs are served at the UC?

The Kane EXCUSES are a joke

10.5 gets you 75 points despite playing the MOST PP minutes in the League this year
-21
00000 Defense
Cherry Picking galore
No PK
No Face off wins
0 hits
Extended shifts habging out at Center ice

Let him play with Panik & Saad like 19 has been stuck with for 3 years now



TRADE

Only good thing Bowman did was get a 3rd for Kempny
And a 1st for Fartman 3g 3a & -4 in 21 games with NASH
4th liner at best

Seabiscut is a PYLON now RETIRE or Trade with 88
- Goalie-33

I really hope you’re sarcastic about kane kings or Kane being traded. If you’re not, take a lap

Has the message gotten stale from Q possibly is the pp crap - sure, but take a good look at the jackwagon putting the roster together and the awful moves he's made starting with the Leddy fiasco in the summer of 14.

All roads lead to the fanboy GM and his God awful track record. You can fawn on and on about how Stan brought two more Cups to the city with a deep core provided by others before him. All the caretaker had to do was just keep it going tweaks here and there. But his overpays, no movers, and horrid trade moves have put this team in the state it's in now. Overpaying certain players and locking them in has cost this team the depth it once had. And moving bad deals with sweeteners has also killed depth. And we won't even get into his drafting record.

How bout the fact that his best backup goalie this season was a 36 year old accountant? Take a good look at Panarin's numbers with the Jackets this season and then reach for a scotch - cause you're gonna need it. While last offseasons moves rival the summer of 15 meltdown, it's over a period of time that Bowman's actions have finally brought us to this.

If Stan's last name was say Jones or anything other than Bowman he'd be gone. The only reason he's still here is because of daddy. McD may be the PT Barnum of hockey/baseball marketing...but his wanna be feeling to be in charge of hockey Ops and be Scotty's BFF are killing his team.
- DK002

This is not an either/or situation. I believe Bowman should also have been fired. However, that Q could not guide this team to the play-offs should have resulted in his firing. Also you have got to let the Leddy trade go - yes Bowman did poorly but this rewriting of history as if Leddy is Doughty must stop. Leddy was MINUS 42.

Hey Justin enjoyed your updates all year.

I'm glad the Hawks didn't bend to the opinion of many fans on this blog or in sports that Q and Bowman should go.

It's impossible task with the hard cap to continue winning championships. It's next to impossible to do it without a salary cap, just ask the NY Yankees.

Justin don’t feel bad at all. This was not a “hockey” decision, it was a “business” decision.Q has 2 years left at 6M. Bowman also has contract left. There was actually no chance either got fired. So while the Penguins have 2 Cups and will shoot for a 3rd Cup making true hockey decisions the Hawks will be saving money. At the very, very least Q shoud’ve been fired. Same for Ulf. The Hawks have not played real games for so long we are forgetting just how awful the record is.
- Z3Hawk

Nonsense, if Rocky was willing to bury Huets $5 million in the minors to win a Stanley Cup he would of fired bothof them immediately if he felt they didn't know what they were going.

What's sad that most fans don't realize the Hawks have young talent that have to learn how to play at the NHL level. The worst thing to this organization is for the owner to panic and make a bad situation worse.

Fwiw, i always eventually make a killing when people panic playing the market, always.

You don't know that the decision to have both continue in their role was based 100% on the remaindet of the signed contracts. You do not know how McDonough feels loyalty is part of the big picture on whether to retain. Did you see McDonough's comments on that?

While i agree that Bowman and Q have some faults, i also would not dusmiss them if i didnt know thete is a replacement i would be happy with. The there is the fact that much of their mistakes are overblown by ppmpous, ignirant, immature hit head bloggers on tbis site whom if they haved such oral presetation with family and work, would be a disgrace and embarrassment. Expression of viewpoints should be fair, which means researched and both pro and con point if view given. But thus is the internet where bloggers can soujnd off and not be responsible journamists. We have to acceot their comments fir what they are and wonder if they are an embarrassment to the people in their lives. Just the facts.
- jhawk59

Hockey insiders like Kypreos are saying same things as I am. McDonough is a moron - he should be fired too - how is he even involved in hockey decisions? - because he chose good hot dogs for Wrigley and the UC? Q was AWFUL this year deal with it. LA won 2 Cups but Sutter was fired when there was a downturn - GM too. Team bounced back big time. Q is not a great coach - incredible line-ups have masked his deficiencies. Listen to Babcock talk and listen to Q talk and decide who is the intelligent one and who is the caricature coach. We need to “play the right way”, “play with consistency” and “play with predictability” - sound familiar? Part of every single Q presser.

Nonsense, if Rocky was willing to bury Huets $5 million in the minors to win a Stanley Cup he would of fired bothof them immediately if he felt they didn't know what they were going.

What's sad that most fans don't realize the Hawks have young talent that have to learn how to play at the NHL level. The worst thing to this organization is for the owner to panic and make a bad situation worse.

Fwiw, i always eventually make a killing when people panic playing the market, always.
- BetweenTheDots

Colorado is the youngest team in the NHL and just made the play-offs lead by a 19 year-old D-Man. All teams have young players. Insiders saying same things I am.

Here is a good question for this board. Why don't Chicago put Crawford on the LTIR? It makes me wonder why Wirtz decided to pay Crawford instead of putting him on LTIR and let the insurance company pay his salary. Is there more to the Crawford injury?

Colorado is the youngest team in the NHL and just made the play-offs lead by a 19 year-old D-Man. All teams have young players. Insiders saying same things I am.
- Z3Hawk

Where we differ is I'm not interested in making the playoffs, i want Stanley Cups, great Avs made the playoffs luckyto get to round two. Barely as well

Hockey insiders like Kypreos are saying same things as I am. McDonough is a moron - he should be fired too - how is he even involved in hockey decisions? - because he chose good hot dogs for Wrigley and the UC? Q was AWFUL this year deal with it. LA won 2 Cups but Sutter was fired when there was a downturn - GM too. Team bounced back big time. Q is not a great coach - incredible line-ups have masked his deficiencies. Listen to Babcock talk and listen to Q talk and decide who is the intelligent one and who is the caricature coach. We need to “play the right way”, “play with consistency” and “play with predictability” - sound familiar? Part of every single Q presser.
- Z3Hawk

How many SC does he have? Just saying, he took the money and ran. I don't care for McNuggets either but Q and Bowman have earned the opportunity to develop, nurture, and build this team back up again, 2years willbe here before we know it, just don't understand the immediate gratification

This is not an either/or situation. I believe Bowman should also have been fired. However, that Q could not guide this team to the play-offs should have resulted in his firing. Also you have got to let the Leddy trade go - yes Bowman did poorly but this rewriting of history as if Leddy is Doughty must stop. Leddy was MINUS 42.
- Z3Hawk

It would have been difficult for anyone in Bowman"s shoes to be perfect. Would you as GM been able to sign everyone, smiles all around, for less? How much less?

Look i agree Bowman made mistakes. The biggest mistakes were keep the core together after the last Cup. I truly believe he gambled, trying to get more for Sharp then overpaying to get rid of Sharp's contract. He gave away TT because of cap mismagement. He probably gave higher dollars than necessary in some cases. But all criticism by these haters neglects the good contracts he negotiated - Keith, Crawford, Hjalmarsson.

Oh just asking but do you believe a lot of other people in Bowman's shoes would have traded earlier a core player due to salary cap? How much less could they really have saved if they got some contracts done for less dollars. And was Bickel contract too much/could have paid less?

These hotheads do have some valid points but they blow things up much worse than they are, they spew hatred and anger plus they aren't responsible jurnalists looking objectively at everything. A law judge would admonish them for their shallowness. They cannot handle the whole truth.

And yes a good coach.would do a better job with a depleted roster than Q has done.

Saad 35 points. Bread Man 83 points. Yikes. That one hurts.
- EnzoD

Here is a good question for this board. Why don't Chicago put Crawford on the LTIR? It makes me wonder why Wirtz decided to pay Crawford instead of putting him on LTIR and let the insurance company pay his salary. Is there more to the Crawford injury?
- scott.jackson

Teams can only insure 3 contracts

Toews, Kane and either Seabrook or Keith is my bet

Here is a good question for this board. Why don't Chicago put Crawford on the LTIR? It makes me wonder why Wirtz decided to pay Crawford instead of putting him on LTIR and let the insurance company pay his salary. Is there more to the Crawford injury?
- scott.jackson

Bowman is not that dumb. You can be assured he checked out the repercussions thoroughly regarding the Crawford situation. He has a degree in economics from Notre Dame. He can rationalize. He can look at figures. At least in this example. I do not know why he thought he had to pay as much as he did in contract overpayments. But i suggest many of us or in the professional hockey would have done much better in contract negotiations. The business world rewards success

Is it the players or is it the system? Popular debate here, and they break it down on the D side in this article:

https://theathletic.com/3...-catastrophe-this-season/

[quote=dahawks8819]


retard? come on dude. not that name calling is really gonna solve any problems, but retard?

[quote=Goalie-33]
We will eventually find out if either is dealt. You have little support on this board from what i see. Not all your opinion is wrong over past few months. But on this you are clearly wrong.

I will give one additional reason why.

Ticket sales. Trade Kane and ticket sales nosedive. He is the one star people want to see.