So you want a complete overhaul of the team that won 2 of the last 3 Cups?

Makes total sense to me.


Please enlighten all of us with some of your suggestions for personnel changes and strategic changes.
- TTtime

Technically 2 of 4 now, and not a massive roster overhaul, but maybe gaining some much needed cap space to resign the Calder Trophy winner?

So you want a complete overhaul of the team that won 2 of the last 3 Cups?

Makes total sense to me.


Please enlighten all of us with some of your suggestions for personnel changes and strategic changes.
- TTtime

The change you can probably be assured of is anything less than a trip to the Cup puts Hitchcock on the street.

Not what your asking......just sayin

I agree with you on his spot in the depth chart and you can't argue against the '15 Cup win. My gripe has always been the return for this top pairing Dman(on 20+NHL teams) with 300 NHL games and at age 23(when traded).
- EnzoD

You have been consistent and so have I..

The biggest issue I had was waiting so long to trade Leddy....Needed to be proactive to get a decent return-Which would if happened. But nobody gets a decent return 72 hours before the season begins.

I'm seeing Johns and Oduya with less TOI than the other 4 D-men. There's only been one PK for Dallas and one short PP (they scored on a Spezza highlight-reel goal)... Does this mean Oduya is a #4 in Chicago but a #6 in Dallas?????

Edit: TOI is 14 minutes for the top4 and 9 each for the former Blackhawks.

So you want a complete overhaul of the team that won 2 of the last 3 Cups?
- TTtime

Red herring, nice work there.

Please enlighten all of us with some of your suggestions for personnel changes and strategic changes.
- TTtime

And the point would be?

I'm seeing Johns and Oduya with less TOI than the other 4 D-men. There's only been one PK for Dallas and one short PP (they scored on a Spezza highlight-reel goal)... Does this mean Oduya is a #4 in Chicago but a #6 in Dallas?????
- DMChi2010

Wait, that can't possibly be right.
Is it possible that Oduya's play has fallen back to the mean?
Or that it was Hjalmarsson that was propping up his play in Chicago.

If the latter, it goes back to so many on this board begging for certain defenders to be paired with #4 to:

stabilize their play and the play of the overall Hawk D
maximize their specific talents and minimize their deficiencies

I recall many saying this about Gustafsson's time this year, Leddy and of course Campbell. Leads one to think the staff has missed as often as they've gotten it right.

Wait, that can't possibly be right.
Is it possible that Oduya's play has fallen back to the mean?
Or that it was Hjalmarsson that was propping up his play in Chicago.

If the latter, it goes back to so many on this board begging for certain defenders to be paired with #4 to:

stabilize their play and the play of the overall Hawk D
maximize their specific talents and minimize their deficiencies

I recall many saying this about Gustafsson's time this year, Leddy and of course Campbell. Leads one to think the staff has missed as often as they've gotten it right.
- savvyone-1

Hjalmarsson should win the Defensive Defenseman of the Year award just about every year. The only player he can't prop up is Keith!

Hjalmarsson should win the Defensive Defenseman of the Year award just about every year. The only player he can't prop up is Keith!
- DMChi2010

Nik is a warrior.
And for whatever reason, this year the 2/4 pairing was not great all year. Unlike what we saw last year in the playoffs where those guys were both incredible.

The NHL CBA is friggin' terrible. The formula for success is to have a core of 4-6 top earners, have 3-4 mid-salary guys who are loyal to your franchise, and then hope you can find lightning in a bottle with the other 10-13 players.

If any of those bottom guys develop into top-6/top-4? Likely gone through free agency. The NHL's cap is the most punitive in terms of making a successful franchise lose developing players year after year. Hoping Bettman is gone for the next contract negotiations.
- phantasmo

Exactly what small market owners wanted. Think Bettman and the wonks wanted to see 3-in-6? The best hope small market teams have ever had is a result of the last CBA. Betchya a "new" thing next time is extending the cap thru the playoffs. Can't have more "Kane injury cap circumventions" any more.

Technically 2 of 4 now, and not a massive roster overhaul, but maybe gaining some much needed cap space to resign the Calder Trophy winner?
- EnzoD

he is signed for next season. Can't be re-signed until after July 1st. Seems a little early for all the hand wringing.

Red herring, nice work there.


And the point would be?
- savvyone-1

you have nothing then.

Nik is a warrior.
And for whatever reason, this year the 2/4 pairing was not great all year. Unlike what we saw last year in the playoffs where those guys were both incredible.
- savvyone-1

If you're Q, why use them together all year? The only thing I can think is that he wanted a little offense on each pair, but then I remember that last year Oduya and Hammer weren't exactly an offensive pairing.

Hjalmarsson should win the Defensive Defenseman of the Year award just about every year. The only player he can't prop up is Keith!
- DMChi2010

He was terrible all season.

Exactly what small market owners wanted. Think Bettman and the wonks wanted to see 3-in-6? The best hope small market teams have ever had is a result of the last CBA. Betchya a "new" thing next time is extending the cap thru the playoffs. Can't have more "Kane injury cap circumventions" any more.
- blackhawk24

Argh... But the league's revenues are tied to the teams in northerly climates, so why not play to that audience??? Then there is the Phoenix native Auston Matthews story... I don't know what to hope for -- I used to hope for league contraction, but I guess there are some players where the game has grown.

With all the issues with concussions and football, I don't think many parents who are worried about serious injury are going to encourage their kids to play hockey...

He was terrible all season.
- TTtime

Hence the "just about every year."

Damn St. Louis. They are dominating so I guess it was only a matter of time before they got a second goal. I think St. Louis comes back from being down 3-0 to win this and clinch...

Exactly what small market owners wanted. Think Bettman and the wonks wanted to see 3-in-6? The best hope small market teams have ever had is a result of the last CBA. Betchya a "new" thing next time is extending the cap thru the playoffs. Can't have more "Kane injury cap circumventions" any more.
- blackhawk24

That would be fine by me: a team shouldn't ge able to take advantage of an injury like that.

It was within the rules, so I have no problem with what they did, but I'd like to see the rule changed.

Red herring, nice work there.


And the point would be?
- savvyone-1

Does it come with Swedish dingleberries and jam?

Dallas can barely frickin' clear the zone... I think all 6 Dallas D would be a number 5 or 6 on the Hawks at best...

Let's leave Nick out of the conversation. We can agree to disagree on why he's not here: in my world, run off by Q and not trusted and would never make it as top 4. Cap casualty? Sort of. He was still an RFA with $2.7M contract, team still had his rights and probably could have gotten him signed for less than his new agreement but again, none of us will ever know.

My point really is there are others who seem to be NHL caliber and are not given a shot. Those that are are typically put through Q's meat grinder (or in this year's parlance, given the Gus treatment where he comes in, does fairly well but then ends up getting yo-yo'd because of some mistakes while others are given a free pass).

In Johns' case, never even got a sniff. I've never said Q has run off NHL all-stars with his treatment. Most of the guys we are talking about here are simply "serviceable" NHL players.

Q is not always going to have the luxury of 88/19/2/7/4 bailing his ass out of his idiotic lineups or game strategies. And they didn't this year, they couldn't overcome making the overall lineup weaker for the 1st 5 games against the Blues. Those guys in their post-series pressers alluded to much of this. For anyone that's skated on a roster with a few stars, you know how much the rest of the lineup matters.

With the Toew/Kane contracts taking up $21M, we're going to be seeing even more how Q is able to patch together a band of over-the-hill players PLUS low paid, entry level guys and make them successful. All fingers will point to Stan. Some should point to Q.
- savvyone-1

Good post Savvy.

Damn St. Louis. They are dominating so I guess it was only a matter of time before they got a second goal. I think St. Louis comes back from being down 3-0 to win this and clinch...
- DMChi2010

nope...gonna have to do it big D...i expect they will...its time for another star goalie crap fest...

Dallas can barely frickin' clear the zone... I think all 6 Dallas D would be a number 5 or 6 on the Hawks at best...
- DMChi2010

No. Not at all.

Does it come with Swedish dingleberries and jam?
- DMChi2010

oh, I love dingleberries. just picked some today

No. Not at all.
- TexasFlood

agreed. Alex Goligoski is solid. He moves the puck well and has a wicked shot.

That would be fine by me: a team shouldn't ge able to take advantage of an injury like that.

It was within the rules, so I have no problem with what they did, but I'd like to see the rule changed.
- StLBravesFan

I don' think the rule should be changed the NHL has to enforce it properly. Certainly the Hawks wouldn't want to lose Kane for 5/6 weeks...And for the record Vermette was coming here one way or the other...The Kane injury and added cap space was overstated, the Hawks still won the Cup with 4 dmen playing 96% of the time...

The NHL has bigger fish to fry...How about actually getting a concussion protocol that protects players and can actually be enforced??