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.
- Al

Thanks. I'm curious if they could have taken draft picks instead of Daley, though, and kept Oduya. I have read on here that Stanley insisted on Daley in the deal, though no context was given for that insistence.

Thanks. I'm curious if they could have taken draft picks instead of Daley, though, and kept Oduya. I have read on here that Stanley insisted on Daley in the deal, though no context was given for that insistence.
- 333inthe3rd

It sort of looks now as if Nill insisted on Daley. Oduya looks more like the key loss of the OS. Having TVR and Rosi/Gus/Sved at 5-6 would have been acceptable and this team would be very, very solid on D.

It sort of looks now as if Nill insisted on Daley. Oduya looks more like the key loss of the OS. Having TVR and Rosi/Gus/Sved at 5-6 would have been acceptable and this team would be very, very solid on D.
- tredbrta

Nobody will disagree with this.

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.
- tredbrta

But - I keep hearing that TT has always been a left-winger in his career until now.

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

I agree and though I'm not a fan of his game I think TT could probably have more success on the right side as well.

What I really wonder about is why inexperienced wings like TT and Dano are slated for their off wing while Hoss is not.

It sort of looks now as if Nill insisted on Daley. Oduya looks more like the key loss of the OS. Having TVR and Rosi/Gus/Sved at 5-6 would have been acceptable and this team would be very, very solid on D.
- tredbrta

Tred, who's your avatar? I can't see that well!

I think Oduya might be the key loss, but if he was here, that's one more exhausted member of the core. The more I think about everything, it seems like all the games logged over the last 3 years have finally caught up to the Blackhawks. Or the exhaustion is causing everyone except Kane to be snakebitten when taking a shot on net. And since everyone else (Toews, Hossa, Kruger, Shaw) plays a more physical game than Kane, the games they have logged have been much more taxing.

Problem is: how do you re-energize those core guys this year?

Thanks. I'm curious if they could have taken draft picks instead of Daley, though, and kept Oduya. I have read on here that Stanley insisted on Daley in the deal, though no context was given for that insistence.
- 333inthe3rd

I think the important context is the $400k difference between the two...So they couldn't afford Oduya and Daley was the option at that point.

I think the important context is the $400k difference between the two...So they couldn't afford Oduya and Daley was the option at that point.
- Al

Sharp also had a big say on where he was willing to go because he had a NTC or NMC. He wasn't going to accept a trade to just anywhere Stanbo felt like dealing him to. I'm betting he wanted to play for a winner and a few players with the Stars were whispering in his ear.

So it essentially became Sharp, Oduya and the kid defenceman in trade for Daley and Garbutt to acquire the required cap space.

I think the important context is the $400k difference between the two...So they couldn't afford Oduya and Daley was the option at that point.
- Al

Interesting. Thanks for clarifying that, though I thought that Oduya was willing to take that kind of discount. He was very patient through the summer as Stanley tried to find the room to keep him.

But - I keep hearing that TT has always been a left-winger in his career until now.
- StLBravesFan

I'm pretty sure he has always been a center who played some RW when he started playing for Jokerit in sm-liiga.

I agree and though I'm not a fan of his game I think TT could probably have more success on the right side as well.

What I really wonder about is why inexperienced wings like TT and Dano are slated for their off wing while Hoss is not.
- Hawkshead

I agree with your comment about Hossa on the off wing Hawkshead. Hossa's results couldn't be any worse than they have been so far. Here's what my line combo's look like.....

Hossa Toews Kane ( kane will get those two on track )

Panarin Anisimov Tikhonov ( Putin line )

Garbutt Teravainen Dano ( Gritty with some finesse )

Des Jardins Kruger Shaw ( excellent 4th line )

Instant balance between scoring and defense

Bickell + TT + prospect for a road grading LW is the deal that has to be made to get the top line, and by effect, the bottom two lines back in order.

Question is what team has what they need and could/would make that deal.

I am not seeing TT playing hurt. I am seeing a boy playing against men who couldn't win a board battle to save his life, and seems to be a floater, skating more to prevent contact than anything else. If he is hurt, then playing him is just another stupid thing to do. No question in my mind that Dano is the player with the higher NHL upside - especially if he is kept at RW. Bigger, nastier, and goes to the net.

The longer the Toews line is in a drought, the longer the Bozoputer keeps grinding out players forced to play out of position, or in the NHL at all when they belong in the lower levels. That in turn exposes the weakened defense, forcing Q to overplay 2, 4 and 7, and the road to a quick playoff exit.

Sharp also had a big say on where he was willing to go because he had a NTC or NMC. He wasn't going to accept a trade to just anywhere Stanbo felt like dealing him to. I'm betting he wanted to play for a winner and a few players with the Stars were whispering in his ear.

So it essentially became Sharp, Oduya and the kid defenceman in trade for Daley and Garbutt to acquire the required cap space.
- RickJ

Sharp had a say but the overriding issue is..Who really wanted him without taking back salary??

The trade to some extent was scripted...Agents were involved -Oduya's for sure and Jim Nill not Stanbo was in control.

I agree with your comment about Hossa on the off wing Hawkshead. Hossa's results couldn't be any worse than they have been so far. Here's what my line combo's look like.....

Hossa Toews Kane ( kane will get those two on track )

Panarin Anisimov Tikhonov ( Putin line )

Garbutt Teravainen Dano ( Gritty with some finesse )

Des Jardins Kruger Shaw ( excellent 4th line )

Instant balance between scoring and defense
- Gary0301

I like the Putin line idea. I wouldn't mind TT as 2LRW instead of Tiki but I would love to see that line as you have it.

TT as a center doesn't work for me. I might move Shaw to 3LC, TT to 3LRW, and Dano to 4LRW. Or use Kero as 3LC and TT or Dano at 3LRW, the other in Rockford.

Great piece! Very thought provoking.

I doubt last year's roster could repeat this year, it needed upgrading. That happened at 2LC and 2L LW but 1L LW, 3LC, 3L LW, and 4th defenseman are all worse than last season.

The thing about trading the future (TT, Dano, etc.) for today (JVR, Ladd, Buf, Marleau, Staal, etc.) is that it's great only if it works. If those trades happen but the Blackhawks don't win another Stanley Cup this year (or maybe next if the players are still here) then StanBo will be criticized forever.

A question I have is if this core has another cup run in them even if three critical pieces could somehow be added or are they too worn out?

I hope they add a top 6 LW. Maybe they add one who is on the younger side of 30 with a few years of contract like JVR or Skinner. That way if this year doesn't work out, there is still value for the years to come.

It sort of looks now as if Nill insisted on Daley. Oduya looks more like the key loss of the OS. Having TVR and Rosi/Gus/Sved at 5-6 would have been acceptable and this team would be very, very solid on D.
- tredbrta

This team is NOT solid with the three wheeled cart #32 on the ice!!! He was finished last year, he is more than finished this year. Why any of you can't see this is beyond my comprehension.

Any dman on Rockford is a definite upgrade to #32.

Interesting. Thanks for clarifying that, though I thought that Oduya was willing to take that kind of discount. He was very patient through the summer as Stanley tried to find the room to keep him.
- 333inthe3rd

A lot of you here are missing a very important point on Oduya. He is 33, with a lot of heavy miles on his small body, and started to break down over the past 16 months. A badly broken foot in the WCF in 2014, a separated shoulder last February, and a triceps injury in game 7 against Anaheim that he claimed left him without feeling in that arm throughout the finals.

You can blame Bowman for a lot of decisions, but choosing to cut ties with a 3-4 million a year defenseman with a recent history of injury is not one of them.

On a related topic, you can blame Bowman and possibly the minor league coaches for acquiring defense prospects that either could not play in this system, or were never developed to acclimate to Q's system.

Tred, who's your avatar? I can't see that well!

I think Oduya might be the key loss, but if he was here, that's one more exhausted member of the core. The more I think about everything, it seems like all the games logged over the last 3 years have finally caught up to the Blackhawks. Or the exhaustion is causing everyone except Kane to be snakebitten when taking a shot on net. And since everyone else (Toews, Hossa, Kruger, Shaw) plays a more physical game than Kane, the games they have logged have been much more taxing.

Problem is: how do you re-energize those core guys this year?
- DMChi2010

By missing the playoffs this year, and getting those cote players a good spring and summer off to let their bodies regenerate properly.

Because one thing I can tell you about professional athletes: when playing tired, season ending injuries usually occur. It's the body's way of telling a player that it can't take the punishment.

Think the Hawks are going to regret trading Nillson, had another over 40 shots victory for the Oilers, can't remember was there a reason they had to get rid of him?

Think the Hawks are going to regret trading Nillson, had another over 40 shots victory for the Oilers, can't remember was there a reason they had to get rid of him?
- HamiltonHawk

Indeed. Goalie moves were the most puzzling for GM. Getting rid of Nilsen and Raanta for no return. For comparison, look at what Rangers got back for trading their backup goalie.
I would trade Crawford last year and have Darling, Raanta and Nielson battle for starting and backup position. Saved money could be used for Saad, here is the answer to 1LW problem.
I think trading Crawford later might be an issue since pipeline of goalies is depleted now, plus he will not be as hit anymore and other GMs will see him for what he is, inconsistent goalie at best. I do not agree he is a clutch goalie either, if you compare his performance in last year playoffs against some eastern goalies, Holtby. Lundquist, Price. Heck in 2014 Quick was sharper in that final game 7 than him. I think he is the piece which should have been gone last summer and other goajies remained with perspective to fight for #1 slot.

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

Just sayin
- FourFeathers773

Totally agree with this ,love the Saad trade on the surface but who would have guessed that SANs Saad Toews and Hossa would be so (frank)ed up ? Neew a real NHL LW to play on that line . Hawks over loaded at RW

My point is, 2010 and 2015, same thing. He was in a no-win situation. Had to deal talent, EVERYONE IN THE NHL KNEW IT, not a position of strength in terms of negotiating trades. We can argue ad infinitum whether he had better offers earlier on for Sharp (for example). Impossible to prove, doesn't matter.

I'm not finding fault with Bowman here, and I DO agree, the bloodletting eventually allowed them to tweak the lineup back to what became the 2013 team

But that took two years. That's my point. And with a younger core.
- John Jaeckel

But he got talent back this time. 'A' prospect in dano, the guy he wanted in AA, a veteran blue liner in Daley and a useful grinder in Garbutt. Doesn't count striking gold with Panarin. The talent is mostly there IMO. This team is a tweak away from last years level.

Tweak could be the right trade or light bulb going off roster wise.

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.
- Al

Agree with this, and it might actually be happening now.

Double edge sword though right? On one hand, they are being tasked with putting guys and Rockford and develop them. If they don't turn out to be NHL'rs (which what 95% of AHL'rs don't) they're labelled failures at developing their own.

This year was a bit of an exception, but usually there isn't a ton of spots open on the Hawks either. Especially Top 6.

Guys are being brought into Rockford now, and letting play a while. (McNeill, Danault, Hinostoza, Hartman), and I'm sure you'll see Hayden, Louis, Schmaltz, Radke, Knott all go through there as well. Realistically though what 1 or maybe 2 in any given year can make the big club. That sets up a pretty low hit rate.

Taking the argument that they should develop them and trade them for a piece the big club needs is a fair one, but again, how many spots every year are there for a vet either.

Saad drafted and went to a top 6 player - you can argue that he didn't spend time in Rockford, but honestly he would have been in Rockford a year earlier if he, because of age, didn't have to go back to the O.

Dalhbeck traded for a important piece.

They have used the model.

I think its easy to say they could have traded the Hayes', Pirris', etc earlier and got more. Its hard for me to believe that the other teams didn't realize how good they really were or weren't at an earlier time.

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.
- Ogilthorpe2

In this lineup they probably should be rotating 14 and 11.

Great work as usual JJ...

and some great thoughts from the board...personally I think you go all in now with your core guys still in their window.

It's been an interesting mixed bag at best so far. At times we see the Hawks playing lights out (roadies at St. Lou, Sharks) other times not so much. It's a long season and this team has played a ton of hockey the last few years.

But you still have to believe they can dial it up come playoff time. Some have mentioned they've played a lot of games close and just aren't finishing some chances...

I'll chime in with everyone else on this move - package TT with Bickell and get yourself a #1 LW.

Daley moved for picks and then pick up a vet dman by the deadline if not sooner that fits this team...meanwhile play the kids Sved/Gus and for God sake waive Rundblad. Have to agree that the biggest loss on this squad is Oduya...


Desi/Kruger/Shaw put them together and leave them be.