probably a dumb question, but here is goes

what if a player retires before end of his contract. team is not liable i assume for the remainder of the contract? is there cap impact the following season(s)?
- glennjpawlak22

Most contracts no, some yes. For the Hawks, Keith and Hossa's contract would still apply.

I have never seen Duncan Keith this checked out/unplugged in his on ice performance. What the hell is up with him? Or is it a symptom of the team wide problem?
- z1990z

He’s been there before:

“I felt like it had really good stretches and then there (were) times I would just … I don’t want to say … lose focus, but just was not really … interested for whatever reason.” Duncan Keith, 4/22/2011

Here’s the story, it’s an old one:

http://thethirdmanin.com/...ing-interest-this-season/

He’s been there before:

“I felt like it had really good stretches and then there (were) times I would just … I don’t want to say … lose focus, but just was not really … interested for whatever reason.” Duncan Keith, 4/22/2011
- walleyeb1

That was the season we barely scraped in to the playoffs as the 8 seed.

been wondering the same thing for quite some time:

1. continued impact of difficult divorce and personal issues from a couple of years ago
2. chronic knee issues
3. he doesn't like hockey anymore
4. he wants out of chicago
5. pssed off he sighed that damn 13 year contract
- bogiedoc

Trying to analyze any of this is a waste of time unless you know him personally - if anything he's exasperated with the state of the team on the ice. The guy is a top end pro who shows up every night, plays hard and takes the losses even harder because he's used to winning more than just regular season NHL games - and he's got all the skins to prove it. If you are surrounded by turkeys for D partners, its pretty hard to soar like an eagle every night. Does he make mistakes - for sure like every single NHL defenceman that has ever played the game.

If available to other NHL teams, 30 of them gonna be very interested and lining up. And they would be getting a player who's actual salary is decreasing every year going forward. And on the ice, don't think Drew Doughty wouldn't be interested in Duncs being his D partner for a few years, or Aaron Ekblad or Shea Weber or Erik Karlsson, guys that can actually play the game at the highest level.

So for all the armchair QB's who want to slam #2 continually, consider how thrilling it will be to watch Mike fk'n Kempny or Gustaffson or Oesterle be his replacement. Wanna tank for a few years - that's a good way to start.

got this in an email today...

should be very interesting convention this summer...

got this in an email today...

should be very interesting convention this summer...


- bogiedoc

i see Q, i dont think i see StanBo

Trying to analyze any of this is a waste of time unless you know him personally - if anything he's exasperated with the state of the team on the ice. The guy is a top end pro who shows up every night, plays hard and takes the losses even harder because he's used to winning more than just regular season NHL games - and he's got all the skins to prove it. If you are surrounded by turkeys for D partners, its pretty hard to soar like an eagle every night. Does he make mistakes - for sure like every single NHL defenceman that has ever played the game.

If available to other NHL teams, 30 of them gonna be very interested and lining up. And they would be getting a player who's actual salary is decreasing every year going forward. And on the ice, don't think Drew Doughty wouldn't be interested in Duncs being his D partner for a few years, or Aaron Ekblad or Shea Weber or Erik Karlsson, guys that can actually play the game at the highest level.

So for all the armchair QB's who want to slam #2 continually, consider how thrilling it will be to watch Mike fk'n Kempny or Gustaffson or Oesterle be his replacement. Wanna tank for a few years - that's a good way to start.
- RickJ

Nothing new here when the team struggles. Someone has to be blamed and gotten rid of. It can't be that maybe we just aren't elite as a team this year. I mean, we went form 4 players under 25 to 13 or something in one season. There's gonna be some adjustment there.

been wondering the same thing for quite some time:

1. continued impact of difficult divorce and personal issues from a couple of years ago
2. chronic knee issues
3. he doesn't like hockey anymore
4. he wants out of chicago
5. pssed off he sighed that damn 13 year contract
- bogiedoc

Tin hat theory - he's the one who originally got Toews into that Onnit stuff.

But seriously, could be any or all of those things at one time. His son is out in BC and starting school, so maybe he is rethinking living this far away from him.

Tin hat theory - he's the one who originally got Toews into that Onnit stuff.

But seriously, could be any or all of those things at one time. His son is out in BC and starting school, so maybe he is rethinking living this far away from him.
- pdx2ord

Even if he wanted to waive to get closer to his son, I’m not sure we could move him or what we’d get in return.

Even if he wanted to waive to get closer to his son, I’m not sure we could move him or what we’d get in return.
- walleyeb1

Yep. Sal cap concerns AND teams he would waive to go to would be drafting 30th in the 1st round...

Don't workout, buy my various endorsed foods and get obese, like me. I am strong, I am beautiful, and I am most certainly Obese.
- ObeseOprah

Steadman feeds you that?

Nothing new here when the team struggles. Someone has to be blamed and gotten rid of. It can't be that maybe we just aren't elite as a team this year. I mean, we went form 4 players under 25 to 13 or something in one season. There's gonna be some adjustment there.
- JRoenick97

In days of yesteryear these are the games the Hawks would win w/regularity,
today's team loses them with regularity. And criticizing their play is know taboo?
I'd do the same with any other team in Chicago.

Keith had a miserable game, even Seabs has played better since his benching
maybe 2 need's a benching, is it really going to change the seasons outcome?

Maybe it's the stadium, you don't have the same fans of yesteryear, today's
fans are there to be seen rather than to see, but I'll leave that for other.

Trying to analyze any of this is a waste of time unless you know him personally - if anything he's exasperated with the state of the team on the ice. The guy is a top end pro who shows up every night, plays hard and takes the losses even harder because he's used to winning more than just regular season NHL games - and he's got all the skins to prove it. If you are surrounded by turkeys for D partners, its pretty hard to soar like an eagle every night. Does he make mistakes - for sure like every single NHL defenceman that has ever played the game.

If available to other NHL teams, 30 of them gonna be very interested and lining up. And they would be getting a player who's actual salary is decreasing every year going forward. And on the ice, don't think Drew Doughty wouldn't be interested in Duncs being his D partner for a few years, or Aaron Ekblad or Shea Weber or Erik Karlsson, guys that can actually play the game at the highest level.

So for all the armchair QB's who want to slam #2 continually, consider how thrilling it will be to watch Mike fk'n Kempny or Gustaffson or Oesterle be his replacement. Wanna tank for a few years - that's a good way to start.
- RickJ

Keith is bound to perform better if he us surrounded by better players. Ask yourself this: how well would you or any professional player perform if you went from having a fairly good cast to a set of teamattes with many issues? Would you be frustrated. Try not to have an attitude? Winning masks a lot of issues. The Blackhawks, though, look putrid, thoroughly beaten in many phases of the game despite their plus .500 record.

In a long season a player with a lot of mileage is going to conserve his body and protect himself from the physical toll playing roughly 23 TOI each night. Which is understandable. Anyone in his shoes wants to finish the contract at his pay if at all possible. The fact that he is divorced probably adds to his desire to collect all that he can from playing hockey. Yes, there is that too

Now if you want to say he has lost a tad in his skating, this only means he is not elite capable but still very good. If you want to say he gets burned by the style he plays and not having Hjalmarsson or Seabrook to cover for him like they did previously, sure that is true. But come playoff run and especially in the playoffs, any team reaps the reward of his service big time. He won't be perfect but there are few whom would be better as a teamatte on a good team in playoff contention. You win with Keith, although everyone but Q will acknowledge he is not a good option on the PP.

Because the Blackhawks do not have much experience on their blue line, trading Keith would be a disaster. Everything Rick said is spot on. I do not see how he is tradeable until players on our defense become much more reliable. Which isn't happening in any sense of imagination at least through next season.

If you want to trade him now you are so wrong. I do not believe it is wise to deal him even if it led to drafting Dahlin first overall. Even if that were to happen, there would be the necessity of another trade to bring in a veteran defenseman better than anyone currently rostered

Keith is bound to perform better if he us surrounded by better players. Ask yourself this: how well would you or any professional player perform if you went from having a fairly good cast to a set of teamattes with many issues? Would you be frustrated. Try not to have an attitude? Winning masks a lot of issues. The Blackhawks, though, look putrid, thoroughly beaten in many phases of the game despite their plus .500 record.

In a long season a player with a lot of mileage is going to conserve his body and protect himself from the physical toll playing roughly 23 TOI each night. Which is understandable. Anyone in his shoes wants to finish the contract at his pay if at all possible. The fact that he is divorced probably adds to his desire to collect all that he can from playing hockey. Yes, there is that too

Now if you want to say he has lost a tad in his skating, this only means he is not elite capable but still very good. If you want to say he gets burned by the style he plays and not having Hjalmarsson or Seabrook to cover for him like they did previously, sure that is true. But come playoff run and especially in the playoffs, any team reaps the reward of his service big time. He won't be perfect but there are few whom would be better as a teamatte on a good team in playoff contention. You win with Keith, although everyone but Q will acknowledge he is not a good option on the PP.

Because the Blackhawks do not have much experience on their blue line, trading Keith would be a disaster. Everything Rick said is spot on. I do not see how he is tradeable until players on our defense become much more reliable. Which isn't happening in any sense of imagination at least through next season.

If you want to trade him now you are so wrong. I do not believe it is wise to deal him even if it led to drafting Dahlin first overall. Even if that were to happen, there would be the necessity of another trade to bring in a veteran defenseman better than anyone currently rostered
- jhawk59

Wish that logic worked with Toews

Just to be really clear on this idea about trading Keith, yes it would be very difficult to acquire the top two picks in the draft. It would take Keith to do it. And that is not happening. Sure certain teams would be especially interested in Keith. All teams like to acquire good players and there is always a businessmen who would gladly rip you off. They would also sell their grandmother down the river if it was a good deal for them.

You win with him despite some flaws he has. He would rise his level of play. It is probably wishful thinking that Keith could help us in a playoff run next season. We need to seriously improve in many areas. We need an experienced dman at the top of our defense while we improve. Keith is the only descent one of those we have.

Mark Lazerus
@MarkLazerus

I asked Joel Quenneville to evaluate Duncan Keith's play this season.

"He's been OK."

=============

So. . .for those thinking our eyes are deceiving us, Q seems to be seeing what we are.

It had to hurt him to admit this as Duncs is one of his favorites (with good reason). Wonder if he will try the Seabs approach to light a spark.

I get why playing with lesser talents has a tendency to frustrate, but you can go one of two ways in reacting (or anywhere in between): 1) redouble your own efforts (a la Kane) and try and coach the kids you're playing with to work with you or 2) say F it and phone it in much of the time.

ETA:

Looks like he may have thought he was being too harsh?

Mark Lazerus
‏@MarkLazerus

More from Q on Keith: "He’s had some good stretches. I think his play over the last little while has been better."

Q on Keith (continued): "Offensively, maybe the production there is down. But he still plays a lot of valuable minutes and he still gets to see a lot of the top guys and a lot of nights he does a good job on them."

Mark Lazerus‏Verified account
@MarkLazerus

I asked Joel Quenneville to evaluate Duncan Keith's play this season.

"He's been OK."

2:20 PM - 25 Jan 2018

Mark Lazerus
@MarkLazerus

I asked Joel Quenneville to evaluate Duncan Keith's play this season.

"He's been OK."

=============

So. . .for those thinking our eyes are deceiving us, Q seems to be seeing what we are.

It had to hurt him to admit this as Duncs is one of his favorites (with good reason). Wonder if he will try the Seabs approach to light a spark.

I get why playing with lesser talents has a tendency to frustrate, but you can go one of two ways in reacting (or anywhere in between): 1) redouble your own efforts (a la Kane) and try and coach the kids you're playing with to work with you or 2) say F it and phone it in much of the time.

ETA:

Looks like he may have thought he was being too harsh?

Mark Lazerus
‏@MarkLazerus

More from Q on Keith: "He’s had some good stretches. I think his play over the last little while has been better."

Q on Keith (continued): "Offensively, maybe the production there is down. But he still plays a lot of valuable minutes and he still gets to see a lot of the top guys and a lot of nights he does a good job on them."
- pdx2ord

In light of your points 1 and 2 how to react to being frustrated with your "co workers," I like to hope to see the Blackhawks overachieve much like Ottawa did by surrounding Karlsson with enough talent and role players to go quite deep in the playoffs last season.

This would mean having enough sandpaper and grit and at least a couple big size players who when necessary can throw their weight around. There needs to be a higher face off proficiency. Crawford remains healthy. Protect Kane much like Edmonton had Semenko cover Gretzky. Of course back then there was greater reverance for a star player of Gretzky's magnitude. We would need the right coach, whomever that is.....It is not Q.

This team transformation would is dependable on Bowman adding the necessary pieces. He has a resume which includes an aversion to big tough players. I hope he now truly, 200 % gets it: toughen up. Not just your fourth line and Saad. I always am interested in giving kids a shot, too, as they are hungry and play hard. This works obviously better with forwards. The dmen need some maturation and getting used to not such a huge turn over in personnel is also of less concern. Coaching helps deal with things like neutral zone trap and dump and chase.

Is this totally a pipe dream?

He’s been there before:

“I felt like it had really good stretches and then there (were) times I would just … I don’t want to say … lose focus, but just was not really … interested for whatever reason.” Duncan Keith, 4/22/2011
- walleyeb1

That was the year he played a ridiculous amount of minutes, burnt him out

Mark Lazerus‏Verified account
@MarkLazerus

I asked Joel Quenneville to evaluate Duncan Keith's play this season.

"He's been OK."

2:20 PM - 25 Jan 2018
- matt_ahrens

Management knows

It's a pipe dream to think Keith will be involved in the next Stanley Cup the Hawks win as our top defenseman, offensively game is gone, defensively not bad until he faces a physical forecheck. Management has a lot of work ahead of them

Just to be really clear on this idea about trading Keith, yes it would be very difficult to acquire the top two picks in the draft. It would take Keith to do it. And that is not happening. Sure certain teams would be especially interested in Keith. All teams like to acquire good players and there is always a businessmen who would gladly rip you off. They would also sell their grandmother down the river if it was a good deal for them.

You win with him despite some flaws he has. He would rise his level of play. It is probably wishful thinking that Keith could help us in a playoff run next season. We need to seriously improve in many areas. We need an experienced dman at the top of our defense while we improve. Keith is the only descent one of those we have.
- jhawk59

https://blackhawkup.com/2...trend-be-turned-around/3/

Mark Lazerus
@MarkLazerus

I asked Joel Quenneville to evaluate Duncan Keith's play this season.

"He's been OK."

=============

So. . .for those thinking our eyes are deceiving us, Q seems to be seeing what we are.

It had to hurt him to admit this as Duncs is one of his favorites (with good reason). Wonder if he will try the Seabs approach to light a spark.

I get why playing with lesser talents has a tendency to frustrate, but you can go one of two ways in reacting (or anywhere in between): 1) redouble your own efforts (a la Kane) and try and coach the kids you're playing with to work with you or 2) say F it and phone it in much of the time.

ETA:

Looks like he may have thought he was being too harsh?

Mark Lazerus
‏@MarkLazerus

More from Q on Keith: "He’s had some good stretches. I think his play over the last little while has been better."

Q on Keith (continued): "Offensively, maybe the production there is down. But he still plays a lot of valuable minutes and he still gets to see a lot of the top guys and a lot of nights he does a good job on them."
- pdx2ord

the not so ok.."he's been ok" from Q...

i have no counter to what RJ said about keith...of course i have no inside information...he still makes plays that few dmen can make; certainly lost a step and yeah he has to do his job as well as be aware of his young exp partners...

maybe that all explains the what i see as increase in unforced errors and really questionable actions in the offensive zone...Q moved him down off the #1 pp (finally) for an entire season of sub play on the pp and there he ain't playing with the young guys

https://blackhawkup.com/2018/01/25/the-chicago-blackhawks-have-statistically-declined-both-offensively-and-defensively-against-the-central-division-this-year-why-has-this-happened-and-how-can-this-trend-be-turned-around/3/
- gazza53

>>How often do we see Jonathan Toews, Keith or Brandon Saad lay down to block a slapshot, or hit someone on the forecheck to get a turnover instead of a stick check or skating away?<<<

you don't want toews blocking shots...i don't think he blocked many shots during their winning years, keith has never been a shot blocker

>>The ‘Hawks are negative-66 on giveaways/takeaways so far this year. If the team becomes more relentless on the puck, this stat will change and wins will come.<<

that is a bad stat which does explain poor checking and puck pursuit as well as lousy puck protection when they do have it...how in the hell are they near the top in off zone posession time?