Justin Lowe: Thank You!
Well, there you have it. The 2017-18 Chicago Blackhawks finished the season on Saturday like they did 49 other times this season, with a loss.

As a fan, you shouldn't be happy with a 33-39-10 record because you know the players all the way up to Rocky Wirtz aren't.

What you should be happy about is the 424 regular season wins, 76 playoffs wins and, of course, 3 Stanley Cups during their incredible run (since 2008-09).

First

Thanks Justin for your insight. Never missed a beat when you replaced JJ

Second--thanks Justin

Thanks so much, Justin.
Money is very tight at our house, but we are going to contribute to the Humboldt families. So very horribly tragic, my prayers are with them.

A 33-39-10 season seems pretty minor when you look at what happened to those young kids and coaches on the bus accident in Canada. My heart goes out to all of those involved and hope that community can find a way to recover. Lives were lost and lives will never be the same, and that is what hurts the most. My comments about the Hawks will come at another time as I feel hockey takes a backseat today when things like this happen in life.

Thanks for the work JL! Long time reader, random poster. Tough shoes to fill with JJ, but you've done well! Keep it up!

Anyone who has children can feel for the people of Humboldt. It will take time to heal and my condolences to those affected by this.

I had read on a different site that people were placing a hockey stick on their porch. I guess similar to tying a ribbon around a tree. Can some kind Canadian please explain the meaning of that to this ignorant American.

Justin Lowe: Thank You!

Well, there you have it. The 2017-18 Chicago Blackhawks finished the season on Saturday like they did 49 other times this season, with a loss.

As a fan, you shouldn't be happy with a 33-39-10 record because you know the players all the way up to Rocky Wirtz aren't.

What you should be happy about is the 424 regular season wins, 76 playoffs wins and, of course, 3 Stanley Cups during their incredible run (since 2008-09).
- Justin Lowe

It is a time for reflection. Perhaps only for a couple of days when payoff action begins. Yet we still harbor sadness and regret over our team not advancing, we can put a positive spin on all things needing improvement from players on up. We would do well for our own health sake to wait and see the moves Bowman makes and if they appear to be prudent - even if they are not ideal, not the best move or not what you hoped for - this may very well be true BUT i am confidant there will be no bad transactions.

Bowman has time to gather his team and plot strategy. He had the right strategy with trades last summer as he began to change the identity and age of the team. Having no pushback and an older core necessitated movement then and may again prove true this off season. And i do understand with the season gone bad early on, why not play all the third pair depth guys so that you establish even smallest of value. That way means you could move them when the timing is right. Even a draft choice renumeration keeps the prospect chain flowing.

And can we stop talking about past trades, please, since we all know how each other feel and it has become ad naseum. Yes Panarin was the best player in his trade. But there was solid reasons why the trade was made. So let us focus on the successful management we have seen over the years from both GM and coach. They are under a microscope more than ever and the past season hopefully will go down as the beginning of the slow transformation toward a playoff capable team.

Until a bad transaction occurs, we should all rise up like men and brush aside past differences on this board. I will be the first to admit i have occassionally wrote sternly when i could have tried better how i express my thoughts in a "less negative way."

This is a very exciting time of year. We watch hockey at its highest level and cheer when the players break through to score against the backdrop of intense competition which is muddied by blatantly poor refereeing. The clutch and grab stuff returns full force.

All the drafts are eagerly anticipated, not just the NHL. I know that wiz is a huge Bears fan, too, while i cheer ardently for Cubs but do follow and wish the White Sox do well. I am sure many of you are fans of those teams and i would be remiss to not mention the Bulls and collegiate teams.

This NHL draft has a yet to be talked about angle, which is it may be the players you pick will have non NHL American and everywhere else to develop much like when the last strike occured. Yes, one more season then a new CBA must be in place for camps to open.

You're killin' it, buddy. HB is lucky to have ya.

Great write up JL. I think we all echo the same feelings regarding the tragic crash.

Also I had the similar thoughts about the team here. Not a great season, but I do enjoy seeing these guys play even if they aren't at the top of their game. We get to see some of the greatest players this team has ever had suit up and play and I think they have some wins left in them.

Here are the draft rankings according to an aggregate of 6 sources (ISS Hockey, Marek, Hockeyprospect.com, Scott Wheeler, Dobber, McKenzie)
1. Rasmus Dahlin, D
2. Andrei Svechnikov, RW
3. Filip Zadina, LW
4. Brady Tkachuk, LW
5. Adam Boqvist, D
6. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW
7. Evan Bouchard, D
8. Quinton Hughes, D
9. Noah Dobson, D
10. Joe Veleno, C
11. Joel Farabee, LW
12. Barret Hayton, C

I'll be posting a few write-ups on each guy so we can have a sense of what each guy brings to the table, and who they might compare to. If anyone wants to take a crack at any of them, let me know.

Here's a link to the profiles: http://www.hockeybuzz.com...p?thread_id=151806&page=1

Here's the latest one for Joel Farabee:

11. Joel Farabee, LW, 5'11", 161 lbs.
A Boston Univ. commit, Joel Farabee is an American Left Wing on every version of the US National teams he has played on.
He'll be continuing the pedigree of high-profile players who have recently attended BU of late (Tkachuk, McAvoy). This also means that anyone who drafts Farabee will have to wait until at least late March next year for him to arrive.

Although he is speedy and under 6'0", Farabee can tailor his game to physical matches. Joel can bull his way to the net, and as he's doing it flash plenty of impressive hands.

He has a lethal shot, and his backhand can be equally as deadly. His two way play has been commended in at least a few scouting reports, but most of the praise centers on how deadly he is with the puck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvlUFgbyPJY

Best case scenario: Jonathan Marchessault, Artemi Panarin
Worst case scenario: Michael Frolik, Tomas Tatar
Plausible scenario: Nik Ehlers, Jonathan Huberdeau

Justin - Thanks for a good season of discussion. I look forward to keeping it going over the summer. It will be fun to hear what your insiders have to say.
Prayers go out to all who have been touched by the event in Humboldt. Life is much more important than wins and loses.

You're killin' it, buddy. HB is lucky to have ya.
- John Jaeckel

Mr Jaeckel, I must say you and your new crew are also doing quite well and I wish you all the best there.
Coming from here in Springfield, IL where maybe putting the 'Hawks line score in the paper to now have Hockey Buzz, The Rink and The Athletic is SUCH a blessing!

Anyone who has children can feel for the people of Humboldt. It will take time to heal and my condolences to those affected by this.

I had read on a different site that people were placing a hockey stick on their porch. I guess similar to tying a ribbon around a tree. Can some kind Canadian please explain the meaning of that to this ignorantAmerican.
- Rota's Rooter

Apparently, it started as a tweet in the twitterverse.....
http://www.cbc.ca/news/ca...umboldt-broncos-1.4611069

Mr Jaeckel, I must say you and your new crew are also doing quite well and I wish you all the best there.
Coming from here in Springfield, IL where maybe putting the 'Hawks line score in the paper to now have Hockey Buzz, The Rink and The Athletic is SUCH a blessing!
- 35Tony0

Is it all Blues/Cardinals down there? My in-laws are from about 45 minutes west of you, and there might get an AP report on Chicago teams in the papers.

Justin...thanks for a great season of coverage. It wasn't an easy year to start covering the team but you did a great job. I enjoy your balanced, yet realistic approach.

I'm looking forward to your updates for the draft and free agency, this is shaping up to be an interesting off season.

Is it all Blues/Cardinals down there? My in-laws are from about 45 minutes west of you, and there might get an AP report on Chicago teams in the papers.
- powerenforcer

We in Chicago are getting AP reports on the Hawks and Sox in the Tribune.

Justin...thanks for a great season of coverage. It wasn't an easy year to start covering the team but you did a great job. I enjoy your balanced, yet realistic approach.

I'm looking forward to your updates for the draft and free agency, this is shaping up to be an interesting off season.
- DarthKane

I would guess that teams that generate the most interest on the blogs are either very good or very bad: mediocrity doesn't lead to much controversy.

We've now seen both sides of that coin - very and AND very bad - I would guess that "very good" is probably better (but that might be just my opinion).

Yes - and thanks, Justin, for keeping all of this going, and I too look forward to taking part in this community as the "summer of rebuild" plays out in the next few months.

Apparently, it started as a tweet in the twitterverse.....
http://www.cbc.ca/news/ca...umboldt-broncos-1.4611069
- itwasin

A terrific and unique way to to show support and if I may say, so friggin' Canadian (in a good way). Thanks.

Same old crap for Bowman’s mouth during the exit interviews just now.

Regurgitates how their #1 focus is on continuing the youth development and locking in the younger players long term, and how short-term contracts will be the more preferred route this offseason.

If you’re commiting to the youth, COMMIT TO THE YOUTH and sell off your veterans and continue to rebuild the right way.

If you’re building on the fly, BUILD ON THE FLY and make acquisitions that would help IMMEDIATELY (i.e top-4 d-man).

Just pick a lane and stay in it. Nothing irritates me more than uncertainty and that’s exactly how Bowman sounds. No plan, no direction.

Seems like barring a miracle recovery by a Crawford (which is what they are probably banking on), this mess will continue next season until a concise plan is in place with new heads at the top.

Today @ 11:42 AM ET
"Same old crap for Bowman’s mouth during the exit interviews just now.

Regurgitates how their #1 focus is on continuing the youth development and locking in the younger players long term, and how short-term contracts will be the more preferred route this offseason.

If you’re commiting to the youth, COMMIT TO THE YOUTH and sell off your veterans and continue to rebuild the right way.

If you’re building on the fly, BUILD ON THE FLY and make acquisitions that would help IMMEDIATELY (i.e top-4 d-man).

Just pick a lane and stay in it. Nothing irritates me more tha uncertainty and that’s exactly how Bowman sounds. No plan, no direction.

Seems like barring a miracle recovery by a Crawford (which is what they are probably banking on), this mess will continue next season until a concise plan is in place."




I for one do not believe this current regime is capable of this. I also think that the possibilities of the CBA getting opened up after next season loom over all of this to some extent.

Mr Jaeckel, I must say you and your new crew are also doing quite well and I wish you all the best there.
Coming from here in Springfield, IL where maybe putting the 'Hawks line score in the paper to now have Hockey Buzz, The Rink and The Athletic is SUCH a blessing!
- 35Tony0

Thanks Tony, we're doing what we can.

Class act....

Right back at ya Justin! Even to the guys who can’t stand my posts, have a good summer:
With that being said, my wish list:
1) Trade up to draft Brady Tkachuk
2) Healthy Cory Crawford
3) sign a high end D man or tradefor 1.
4) address the long term D position thru the draft.
5)sign JVR for a top 6 role.
6) Start eating Jonathan!
7) Join. Planet Fitness Brent!

Pick for the cup, someone who hasn’t won it before!

Is there a hockeybuzz bracket challenge this year?