So the train wreck of mistakes Kempny made here is of no concern? Was it Q or the player woke up when he was traded? I am not defending Q, however far too many times there is at least equal blame to go around.
- riozzo

I'm not sure Kempny has woken up, he may be the exact same player in WSH that he was here. Different teams have different systems and styles and ask different things of their players. Daley was the same horrible defenseman in PIT that he was here, but he was asked to do different things. Maybe its the same with Kempny and the Caps.

Has Q jerked some players around, of course he has, but until you know what was asked of Kempny and what he did or didn't do, it's hard to just blame the coach.

I know a top 4 D man in priority, and goaltending depending on the Crow situation. But how realistic is a JVR signing? What do you think he would ask for?

Saad Toews JVR
Cat Schmaltz Kane
or flip flop JVR and Cat.

That would make a mighty fine top 6.

I know a top 4 D man in priority, and goaltending depending on the Crow situation. But how realistic is a JVR signing? What do you think he would ask for?

Saad Toews JVR
Cat Schmaltz Kane
or flip flop JVR and Cat.

That would make a mighty fine top 6.
- SoftServe

An awful lot of "soft serve" in that group. Who holds the puck in the zone for more than one rush in that bunch? The compensatory coaching move for that this year was to pinch the puck moving D guy which resulted in TONS of odd man rushes the other way.

They need to get much tougher up front, much tougher on D, and have decent goaltending.

They have NO prospects in Rockford, no one new on the club that can play that elite level physical/skill/speed game, and not enough cap space absent some trades of untradeables to make meaningful enough strides to seriously compete any time soon.

Committing to a speed and skill only roster will result in another poor year.

Toews is over rated and over paid. Hawks miss the playoffs again next year. Q gets fired halfway through next season. The dynasty is over. Welcome back to reality.

I don't get the Hino love by management. He is an energy guy that gives effort every night. But I can never seeing him being a staple on the top two lines (or maybe even the top 3 lines), PP or PK. Players like him are a dime a dozen and the Hawks have a bunch of them that played in the NHL and Rockford this year. If we are going to carry such a borderline player on the big club let's carry one that weighs 200+ pounds and takes the body. A definite need on a marshmallow soft team. Hino is an RFA. If they resign him I hope it is at the $800,000 level at most.
- -Doh-

Could not agree more. Vinnie had a nice stretch when he first got called up, but went completely ICE COLD offensively to finish the last dozen games of the season. As you said, yet another sub 180lb player on this lineup. I truly believe the biggest flaw in Stan Bowman as a roster creator is an over-reliance on skilled and undersized players. I think his defense core of 4 guys who never take the body (Rutta, Oesterle, Gustafson, and Forsling) shows you that he never played the game at a high level. Look at what former NHL players as GM look for in a defenseman....good skating and size/physicality. Winnipeg, Boston, and Tampa were 3 of the best teams in the NHL this season, all 3 GMs played in the NHL, and all 3 GMs built a defense core with HUGE size. Every forward in the league is drooling when looking at the Hawks defense group bc they 1) aren't good and 2) won't hit anyone. Tampa has more skilled forwards than the Jets and Boston, but you can't win in the NHL with a bunch of perimeter 175lb forwards and 180lb stick check defenseman that can't clear the crease or win a physical board battle.

Toews is over rated and over paid. Hawks miss the playoffs again next year. Q gets fired halfway through next season. The dynasty is over. Welcome back to reality.
- benderboots

Probably right, but come back when Nashville has 3 Cups in 5 years......or even a SINGLE Cup?? How's that participation trophy from last year? You can add the Regular Season Trophy to the collection this year and get ready for a rude awakening when the Jets knock your team out in Round 2.

Toews is over rated and over paid. Hawks miss the playoffs again next year. Q gets fired halfway through next season. The dynasty is over. Welcome back to reality.
- benderboots

Get ready for everyone to start pissin and moanin about an outside perspective.

Hard to argue with you based on the season we just saw though

I know a top 4 D man in priority, and goaltending depending on the Crow situation. But how realistic is a JVR signing? What do you think he would ask for?

Saad Toews JVR
Cat Schmaltz Kane
or flip flop JVR and Cat.

That would make a mighty fine top 6.
- SoftServe

I think JVR would be a solid addition to the Hawks, but we should keep in mind that this is also his 'cash in' free agency time. He's been on a $4M+ deal for a while, and now is his chance to get overpaid for too-long by some team who thinks he's the answer. Unless we can get him for a 3-4 year deal I don't want to overpay him. He's 29 in less than a month, and nobody outside of the superstars does better after their age 29 year.

Goaltender-wise, here's hoping Delia continues his upward trajectory. He might be ready to be a quality #2 with the big club at some time next year.

Probably right, but come back when Nashville has 3 Cups in 5 years......or even a SINGLE Cup?? How's that participation trophy from last year? You can add the Regular Season Trophy to the collection this year and get ready for a rude awakening when the Jets knock your team out in Round 2.
- EnzoD

well that didn't take long

well that didn't take long
- benderboots

I agreed with you and raised a counter-point. Also, your team has the ugliest jerseys in pro sports. Who decided to go Mustard Yellow EVERYTHING!

I think JVR would be a solid addition to the Hawks, but we should keep in mind that this is also his 'cash in' free agency time. He's been on a $4M+ deal for a while, and now is his chance to get overpaid for too-long by some team who thinks he's the answer. Unless we can get him for a 3-4 year deal I don't want to overpay him. He's 29 in less than a month, and nobody outside of the superstars does better after their age 29 year.
- ObeseOprah

There is no reason to add JVR or John Carlson as they are fast approaching 30 and will be getting huge contracts with huge term. Evander Kane is only 26 and fits the profile, but he will probably re-sign in San Jose where he has thrived with Pavelski.

Could not agree more. Vinnie had a nice stretch when he first got called up, but went completely ICE COLD offensively to finish the last dozen games of the season. As you said, yet another sub 180lb player on this lineup. I truly believe the biggest flaw in Stan Bowman as a roster creator is an over-reliance on skilled and undersized players. I think his defense core of 4 guys who never take the body (Rutta, Oesterle, Gustafson, and Forsling) shows you that he never played the game at a high level. Look at what former NHL players as GM look for in a defenseman....good skating and size/physicality. Winnipeg, Boston, and Tampa were 3 of the best teams in the NHL this season, all 3 GMs played in the NHL, and all 3 GMs built a defense core with HUGE size. Every forward in the league is drooling when looking at the Hawks defense group bc they 1) aren't good and 2) won't hit anyone. Tampa has more skilled forwards than the Jets and Boston, but you can't win in the NHL with a bunch of perimeter 175lb forwards and 180lb stick check defenseman that can't clear the crease or win a physical board battle.
- EnzoD

Interesting interview with Maciver, who did play, coach, and manage all around the NHL, and has been StanBo's assistant GM for a while.

https://theathletic.com/3...roster-building-and-more/

"Maciver: You're constantly trying to evaluate where guys are going to be not only this year but two or three years down the road. That includes our prospects, but that includes our guys here in Chicago. You know as well as anybody, we've had to make some tough decisions around here the last four or five years, but that's part of it. We have to constantly evaluate and try to project where players are going to be at a certain time frame. My job is try to give Stan the best opinion I can, my best evaluation of players and hopefully help with his decision moving forward.

SP: How much does age of a player come into that? Is there a certain point where you start worrying about where a player's game may begin to decline? Does that come into the equation?

Maciver: I think it's always in the equation. I think most athletes in any sport the prime years are early 20s towards their later 20s. But obviously there's some great athletes that sustain it even into their early 30s, but not all of them. There's usually a decline at some point. Some athletes are different than others. Some age better than other, and some there's a quicker decline based on certain skillsets. So, it's just something you have to be aware of. All athletes they're going to decline at some point. Some are going to do it sooner than others, and you just have to be aware of certain signs you need to be looking for."

Toews is over rated and over paid. Hawks miss the playoffs again next year. Q gets fired halfway through next season. The dynasty is over. Welcome back to reality.
- benderboots

Nothing new. Half the posters would agree with you (and have been saying it for over a year). Welcome to the party Mr. Johnny Come Lately. Come back when you have something new or interesting to post.

Throw rug? Accent chair? Ooooo I know, thatch balls. They are the best

Re: Toews

I'm most curious about how he does next year. Him being kept out of the lineup once they were statistically eliminated from the playoffs reinforces the idea that he's been hurt and still recovering from some issue or issues: back, concussions, etc. I don't know, just speculating, but I wonder if he changed his game in order to avoid re-injuring himself. I don't think he's enjoyed these past few years because he hasn't been able to play like he did before. If he can somehow regain most of what he's lost, it will have a very positive impact on this team.

Saad/Anisimov/Oesterle

to Montreal for

Galchenyuk/Drouin

Sign JVR

19/88/ JVR

Gal/Drouin/8

or switch 8-19

To OTT.....Hossa/Gus/Vinnie

for Pageu

3rd line then Pageu/Hayden/Cat

4th line Kampf/Highmore/Duclair???

Sign DeHaan/Cole that shores up the D

all this is based on Corey being healthy cuz if he isn't
we are back in LOTTERYVILLE

"Core-4" - I like it!

Those guys remain the best players on the team. Kane the best offensive player, Toews the best center, Keith and Seabrook the best two defensemen (although Seabs is slipping quicker than the rest.) And none of them were as good this season as they were in the last Cup year. So the top of the roster isn't as good.

Then think about everyone who has left compared to who is still on the roster and there is a big decline in that second tier as well.

That leaves the young guys to develop and get better. How fast can they do that?

It'd be good if they could add a player or two as good as the Core-4, but if they can't then some guys to fill the gap between them and the young guys - in age and talent - could go along way to solidify the room.

Interesting interview with Maciver, who did play, coach, and manage all around the NHL, and has been StanBo's assistant GM for a while.

https://theathletic.com/3...roster-building-and-more/

"Maciver: You're constantly trying to evaluate where guys are going to be not only this year but two or three years down the road. That includes our prospects, but that includes our guys here in Chicago. You know as well as anybody, we've had to make some tough decisions around here the last four or five years, but that's part of it. We have to constantly evaluate and try to project where players are going to be at a certain time frame. My job is try to give Stan the best opinion I can, my best evaluation of players and hopefully help with his decision moving forward.

SP: How much does age of a player come into that? Is there a certain point where you start worrying about where a player's game may begin to decline? Does that come into the equation?

Maciver: I think it's always in the equation. I think most athletes in any sport the prime years are early 20s towards their later 20s. But obviously there's some great athletes that sustain it even into their early 30s, but not all of them. There's usually a decline at some point. Some athletes are different than others. Some age better than other, and some there's a quicker decline based on certain skillsets. So, it's just something you have to be aware of. All athletes they're going to decline at some point. Some are going to do it sooner than others, and you just have to be aware of certain signs you need to be looking for."
- pdx2ord

Next season is critical for Bowman to follow through on points MacIver surely made in conversations originating prior to last summer, and certainly the same points come out again before the Entry Draft

i don' know how Bowman is going to go about the changes he needs to do, but he did start in the correct direction with trades last summer. Don't you believe that he finally will own up to the fact that he needs at least one more dman who will clear the net and make a check? don't you believe that he realizes he has to get some additional physical play in lines #1 - #3?

How could he let Martinsen and Samuelson's kid slip away. They are cheap contracts and Q can slip either into the lineup meaning maybe Bowman adds only one additional top nine player who brandishes a physical edge in his game

Of course DeHahn looks to be a nice top two pairing. Will he clear the net? If Bowman moves down in round one as part of getting an NHL dman, I can easily see Garth Snow recreating his roster by moving upin the draft; Bowman is his chump. We really need to try to add an NHL dman by trading one of our players, our second #1 and a prospect. But no, Bowman will try to grab a prospect steal late round one and move down to the Islanders spot to draft a non future core piece. I can envision that.. ...and if he gets that NHL dman, he will feel justified.

Toews is over rated and over paid. Hawks miss the playoffs again next year. Q gets fired halfway through next season. The dynasty is over. Welcome back to reality.
- benderboots

Toews is overpaid??? What??? Why is the first time I am hearing about this?

Best of luck in the playoffs, I am looking forward to a Jets/Preds match-up in the 2nd round.

Next season is critical for Bowman to follow through on points MacIver surely made in conversations originating prior to last summer, and certainly the same points come out again before the Entry Draft

i don' know how Bowman is going to go about the changes he needs to do, but he did start in the correct direction with trades last summer. Don't you believe that he finally will own up to the fact that he needs at least one more dman who will clear the net and make a check? don't you believe that he realizes he has to get some additional physical play in lines #1 - #3?

How could he let Martinsen and Samuelson's kid slip away. They are cheap contracts and Q can slip either into the lineup meaning maybe Bowman adds only one additional top nine player who brandishes a physical edge in his game

Of course DeHahn looks to be a nice top two pairing. Will he clear the net? If Bowman moves down in round one as part of getting an NHL dman, I can easily see Garth Snow recreating his roster by moving upin the draft; Bowman is his chump. We really need to try to add an NHL dman by trading one of our players, our second #1 and a prospect. But no, Bowman will try to grab a prospect steal late round one and move down to the Islanders spot to draft a non future core piece. I can envision that.. ...and if he gets that NHL dman, he will feel justified.
- jhawk59

Calvin De Haan is 6'1"187lbs so definitely not a crease clearer, but bigger than Oesterle, Gustafson and Forsling.....

There is no reason to add JVR or John Carlson as they are fast approaching 30 and will be getting huge contracts with huge term. Evander Kane is only 26 and fits the profile, but he will probably re-sign in San Jose where he has thrived with Pavelski.
- EnzoD

A few days ago you were saying the offseason is a complete failure if they don't sign Carlson or trade for Karlsson. Now it's a stupid idea? Make up your mind

A few days ago you were saying the offseason is a complete failure if they don't sign Carlson or trade for Karlsson. Now it's a stupid idea? Make up your mind
- GPHawksfan

What's the old saying, to assume makes an ass out of you and me? I don't care to go back and pull the comment to appease your angry mind, but I know for a fact that I listed several possible off season action plans with one including an "All-In" to add via UFA/trade for big name Win-Now players. That is extremely unlikely with Stanley Bowman as captain of the ship, and it is much more probable that he signs some cheap depth and ices a very similar roster and "hopes for the best".

What's the old saying, to assume makes an ass out of you and me? I don't care to go back and pull the comment to appease your angry mind, but I know for a fact that I listed several possible off season action plans with one including an "All-In" to add via UFA/trade for big name Win-Now players. That is extremely unlikely with Stanley Bowman as captain of the ship, and it is much more probable that he signs some cheap depth and ices a very similar roster and "hopes for the best".
- EnzoD

You've got it all figured out then, congratulations

Q will never change his stripes ,his ego is over the moon .He needs to be reign in or better yet let go .Heard today on Sports Net playoff show that Scotty Bowman said with a good PP you could win the cup every year(see pitt) . I can't believe the Bowman"s have sat and watch coach Q inept PP for years ,and not made a move .Tells me that Stan and dad are not making the big decisions in this organization anymore