I guess one could make the point that the Hawks farm system did produce some NHL players for other teams - guys like Pirri, Hayes, Dahlbeck, Ben Smith who just weren't good enough at the time to stick with the Hawks after they skimmed off Saad, Shaw, and Kruger.
- RickJ

Yes and for the most part not much in return.

As I've said before - without those free agent signings like Raanta, Gus, TVR, Kero, Baun, and obviously Panarin there would be a serious issue.
- tredbrta

Yes and very little if any Rockford time for those boys...TVR, Kero and Panarin.

Yes and for the most part not much in return.
- Al

I think its a little unfair to describe the return as not much;

Hayes and Olsen got Versteeg back at half salary - he played a role in the last cup

Dahlbeck got back Vermette - he played a huge role in the last cup

Ben Smith got back Desi at partial salary - he played a large role in the last cup.

In fact, I'd argue without trading those guys (who were never going to play here with maybe exception of Dahlbeck) they wouldn't have won the last cup.

I'll add in Clendening and getting back Forsling. I'd do that trade every day of the week.

All in all, don't really think Stan really got screwed in those deals, especially with the last cup in his pocket now and who those guys are as players now in the league.

This feels like last year to me .Beating or competing hard against the good teams , then mailing in a few against lesser teams . A lot of hand ringing and blaming the GM for doing or not doing something .Finding scapegoats and Questioning 3 time Cup Coach Q Line-ups . There will be a lot of up and downs in any year .But this team is still a very good team and will find away ..

Agree. Very well written, but I hope your hunch is incorrect as far as the Front Office's view of the season. I think if StanBo sits on his hands at the TDL, this team is destined to be the Bruins post 2013. Also, Stan certainly signed the right KHL UFA...

http://thehockeywriters.c...on-unconditional-waivers/
- EnzoD

Maybe more like LA. I hope we make the playoffs but when Stan made the deals for rentals he was going all out for the Cup. This year is a rebuilder. JJ has it correct, not a hater just a realist. The Hawks are a bubble team in the Central

I think its a little unfair to describe the return as not much;

Hayes and Olsen got Versteeg back at half salary - he played a role in the last cup

Dahlbeck got back Vermette - he played a huge role in the last cup

Ben Smith got back Desi at partial salary - he played a large role in the last cup.

In fact, I'd argue without trading those guys (who were never going to play here with maybe exception of Dahlbeck) they wouldn't have won the last cup.

I'll add in Clendening and getting back Forsling. I'd do that trade every day of the week.

All in all, don't really think Stan really got screwed in those deals, especially with the last cup in his pocket now and who those guys are as players now in the league.
- vabeachbear

All how you look at it and it wasn't a question of getting screwed imo. Ice Hogs were held too long in almost every case and by the time they were dealt they had little value or the world knew they had to be dealt ...as in the case of Pirrie or lost as was the case with Stanton. Many haven't turned out to be much but not one has been traded for a player who was a big impact here and wasn't on an expiring contract.

I would rather have Smith then Desi...Dahlbeck for Vermette yep because he didn't win over Q. Versteeg was better than most gave him credit for but not as good as I thought he would be.

Clendening was dealt before he had to be puked and that looks like a good deal but only because they won the Cup. Otherwise he would have played after the Rozsival injury in the playoffs....He would have been better than what they had left.

Bottom line is they still won the Cup....But at some point young players need to be developed and stay here for awhile.

You know, if all they did was move Hossa lines would be more balanced;

81 - 19 - 56
72 - 15 - 88
65 - 67 - 86
11 - 16 - 28

Seems like 1 guy (and a vet real pro) out of position makes more sense then having like 5 of them playing the wrong position.

I like this...makes sense to me.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/ct-artemi-panarin-russian-home-blackhawks-panarin-spt-1206-20151205-story.html

I forget who it was on here that I was talking with about Panarin being homesick at first, but looks like he's adjusting well
- maria_wyeth

I'll assume it's a positive article but I'm blocked from reading it because I don't have a subscription for the Trib. What's the gist of it?

Max Domi just did what no Hawk has done in forever - breakaway under some pressure, forehand-backhand-top shelf from about the top of the crease.

I think the comparison to last year's Kings team is pretty apt. The loss of Oduya will continue to adversely impact the top 3 Ds, as they are going to get run into the ground at this rate. Furthermore, Rozsival should not be playing every night. Q platooned him before this ankle injury, for good reason. Post-injury, this is going to turn out ugly as the season progresses.

I don't know what the projected upside of Daley is here, given that he did have hip surgery last spring. I agree that ultimately he should be paired with Hammer. If he's never going to be the 4th D, trade him. He didn't come here to play 3rd pair minutes, and they didn't bring him here to do that, either. If they believe that when he's 100%, he will be the 4th guy, I guess we should let it run its course.

I still believe Hossa has been playing hurt at times. I wish that possibility was mentioned on here more. I wouldn't be surprised if it affects his shot, even.

Given the imbalance between LW and RW, they should try to figure out a trade to remedy this. Value for value.

I will say that the biggest difference between this year and 2011 is this team has established goaltending.

Agreed that the core is not getting any younger, particularly 2,7, and 81. Hopefully Q doesn't kill them with too much ice time this year.

Kruger has had a slow start. I think missing camp couldn't have helped him at all.

Double shifting Kane will take a toll eventually.

This team has a second line center. Finally. This is a huge plus. We are finally seeing Kane showcase his 100 point talent to the fullest.

This year, there is no in season cap flexibility at all. It means that they can't very easily bring back Bickell if they actually wanted to do that, and it means they can't very easily send Mashinter down, even if they actually wanted to. What is there now, that's probably what will be there for the foreseaable future, unless a trade happens.

Artem Anisimov outscoring Saad, at a fraction of the price.

Just sayin

Max Domi just did what no Hawk has done in forever - breakaway under some pressure, forehand-backhand-top shelf from about the top of the crease.
- StLBravesFan

I just checked the scoreboard and the Coyotes game is still 0-0 - was the goal disallowed?

I just checked the scoreboard and the Coyotes game is still 0-0 - was the goal disallowed?
- EbonyRaptor

No - 1-0.

Max Domi just did what no Hawk has done in forever - breakaway under some pressure, forehand-backhand-top shelf from about the top of the crease.
- StLBravesFan

Proof that genetics are irrelevant in hockey. His old man couldn't do that in 1000 tries.

No - 1-0.
- StLBravesFan

Yep, my bad - I checked ESPN and they're late in updating the scoreboard. Checked TSN and they had Domi's goal.

I think the comparison to last year's Kings team is pretty apt. The loss of Oduya will continue to adversely impact the top 3 Ds, as they are going to get run into the ground at this rate. Furthermore, Rozsival should not be playing every night. Q platooned him before this ankle injury, for good reason. Post-injury, this is going to turn out ugly as the season progresses.

I don't know what the projected upside of Daley is here, given that he did have hip surgery last spring. I agree that ultimately he should be paired with Hammer. If he's never going to be the 4th D, trade him. He didn't come here to play 3rd pair minutes, and they didn't bring him here to do that, either. If they believe that when he's 100%, he will be the 4th guy, I guess we should let it run its course.

I still believe Hossa has been playing hurt at times. I wish that possibility was mentioned on here more. I wouldn't be surprised if it affects his shot, even.

Given the imbalance between LW and RW, they should try to figure out a trade to remedy this. Value for value.

I will say that the biggest difference between this year and 2011 is this team has established goaltending.

Agreed that the core is not getting any younger, particularly 2,7, and 81. Hopefully Q doesn't kill them with too much ice time this year.

Kruger has had a slow start. I think missing camp couldn't have helped him at all.

Double shifting Kane will take a toll eventually.

This team has a second line center. Finally. This is a huge plus. We are finally seeing Kane showcase his 100 point talent to the fullest.

This year, there is no in season cap flexibility at all. It means that they can't very easily bring back Bickell if they actually wanted to do that, and it means they can't very easily send Mashinter down, even if they actually wanted to. What is there now, that's probably what will be there for the foreseaable future, unless a trade happens.
- 333inthe3rd

Some good comments but Daley was brought in because as things unfolded there was little choice. He isn't as good defensively as a fairly green rookie in TVR and he can't pass nearly as well either. It will take an injury or a long while to change Q's view of Daley...And has been shown in the past Q could care less what a player makes or what role he supposedly was targeted for when acquired.

I'll assume it's a positive article but I'm blocked from reading it because I don't have a subscription for the Trib. What's the gist of it?
- EbonyRaptor

He has become friends with a Russian couple that the team sort of hooked him up with to help adjust because he moved here before Tikhonov. The guy half of the couple came to the US from Russia for school and stayed, he's still a huge KHL fan, SKA St. Petersburg specifically, and his wife moved from Russia even more recently. So they helped Panarin go to the social security office, open a bank account, get a new phone, find an apartment, etc. They hit it off and became close, so now Panarin goes to their house to watch his old team's games and he raids their fridge for Russian food

I think its a little unfair to describe the return as not much;

Hayes and Olsen got Versteeg back at half salary - he played a role in the last cup

Dahlbeck got back Vermette - he played a huge role in the last cup

Ben Smith got back Desi at partial salary - he played a large role in the last cup.

In fact, I'd argue without trading those guys (who were never going to play here with maybe exception of Dahlbeck) they wouldn't have won the last cup.

I'll add in Clendening and getting back Forsling. I'd do that trade every day of the week.

All in all, don't really think Stan really got screwed in those deals, especially with the last cup in his pocket now and who those guys are as players now in the league.
- vabeachbear

Clendening for Forsling was a great one. Particularly because it bought 3-4 more years of development. Clendening was half a year from having to play or cut bait.

Also, how many teams successfully graduate a player from the AHL every year? Very few IMO.... and those that do are usually bottom feeders. The Hawks could do better. I think the Rangers, Bolts and Ducks do a solid job developing. The Kings are good too and obviously the Wings probably do the best BUT the draft (as Jason Lewis showed with some great stats loaded blogs earlier this year) is really a crap shoot. The top "drafters" really aren't that far from the worst in graduating NHL talent. Maybe drafting outside of the top 10 is really more about having quantities of picks and playing the math? Not saying cut amateur scouting but the statistics seem to indicate it may be less important than one would think.

JJ that was your best blog this year. Bravo!
- Cup-Bearer

Thx Bearer.

You know, if all they did was move Hossa lines would be more balanced;

81 - 19 - 56
72 - 15 - 88
65 - 67 - 86
11 - 16 - 28

Seems like 1 guy (and a vet real pro) out of position makes more sense then having like 5 of them playing the wrong position.

I like this...makes sense to me.
- onehundredlevel

You might be right, and Dano, to me, looks like a completely different player on the right side.

Yes and for the most part not much in return.
- Al

Hi Al

Great write up JJ , so many good points. One in particular, just how much hockey these guys have played the last 7 years. I think there is a stupid world cup this year too! Hope the Hawks fine a way to keep the core from participating. Not giving up on this year but I really hope the Hawks play the young guys in there proper position including TT at centre (so he can get more ice time)Play Daley more and let's see what happens.

You know, if all they did was move Hossa lines would be more balanced;

81 - 19 - 56
72 - 15 - 88
65 - 67 - 86
11 - 16 - 28

Seems like 1 guy (and a vet real pro) out of position makes more sense then having like 5 of them playing the wrong position.

I like this...makes sense to me.
- onehundredlevel

I like this if for no other reason than the fact that Mashinter isn't anywhere to be found.

I still sure would like to see Tikhonov get another chance too.

Great write up JJ , so many good points. One in particular, just how much hockey these guys have played the last 7 years. I think there is a stupid world cup this year too! Hope the Hawks fine a way to keep the core from participating. Not giving up on this year but I really hope the Hawks play the young guys in there proper position including TT at centre (so he can get more ice time)Play Daley more and let's see what happens.
- HamiltonHawk

Whatever his reasoning is, Q clearly isn't handing out more ice time gratis to Daley unless he has no other choice. If we see the flaws in his game, the coaching staff probably has many more reasons for parking him with Rosy.

You might be right, and Dano, to me, looks like a completely different player on the right side.
- John Jaeckel

Looked much more aggressive and was driving the net and looking to shoot. At LW it almost looked like getting engaged in the corners or behind the net was the priority. Probably worrying about the coaches too much at LW.

The kid clearly has heart and real desire. I'm disappointed in his skating but he can easily be a Hornqvist/Holmstrom type for the Hawks. Give him a lengthy shot at RW and see what he does IMO.

And TT does look hurt. Let him heal.... and if Q loves Mashinter so much give him a trainer's jacket or something but KEEP him OFF the ICE. Time to roll 4 lines and seriously see what you have evaluating the new faces (like Dano) in optimal positions to succeed. The LW experiment for TT/D should end for now.