If I recall, wasn’t Chris Chelios working in the Detroit redwings front office under Ken Holland? , they just hired Stan Bowmans eventual replacement. At least Cheli will not turn his ass up When it comes to hard nosed ,good-sized players That played the game the way he did.. I for one am glad he is back in the organization. Under the garbage that we had to Endure back in the early 2000’s, I can’t blame him for going to a team with a winning culture . I know he had stated that he was not interested in any kind of assistant coach job. But it would be great if he would work with some of the D. Break them of the three stooges Joe “ not so hard, bit ch slap, stick check mentality “ At the coach and general manager have instilled.
- wonthecup10

He'd butt heads with McD the first week and that would be that.

Why is it when a fringe 4th liner gets traded out, its Q that used him incorrectly. Watching Hino, he played in the middle of the ice, is contact adverse, and has no D. A average 4th liner at best.
- riozzo

why is their uproar when stan brings in a surf like player. "we are too small" . Trade one and get the same amount of uproar. Can't believe Stan traded Vinny.

I like Vinny as a player, but am happy with the trade overall. Haven't we wanted cap flexibility? Stan got Krugs to help on faceoffs, Rockford depth, and an intruiging prospect for whipping boy Oesterle, Vinny, and Hossa's contract

What would it take to pry Sami Vatanen out of New Jersey? Stan could upgrade the top 4 D and find Jokiharju a fellow countryman to make his life easier. Vatanen has a reasonable contract for 2 more years which would fit into the Hawks longer term plans.
- DarthKane

I know they are tickled with Sammi and NOT trading him...

The hawks have the right idea, with so many defenders in the system they will actually have a commodity team with have interest in.
The guys they drafted won't bring them any NHlers, but they will provide the extras for teams who are woefully weak on defense in their farms to actively talk trade.

I would expect a decent exodus of season ticket holders who may have barely came back this year and will bail after this year.

You will see a lot of empty seats IF, and that's a big IF, they do have a similar season to last year. that will send a message to the upper management. May get the ticket sales, but lose out on concession, parking, etc.
- SteveRain

A lot of the tickets in the 100 level and club level were some kind of corporate tickets. Same thing for the boxes. Going to be interesting to see what happens when those writeoffs go away.

Regarding Hinostroza, I posted this in the last blog so just cutting and pasting that post here:

IMHO, Hinostroza was a "nice to have" player but not a "must have" player. There are prospects in the system who do the same as him and possibly better like Soderlund, From, or even Barratt. Not a huge loss in the long term. In the short term, European free agents like Kahun and Nilsson could potentially take Hinostroza's spot for the next few years.

If I wanted to get technical I could list at least two dozen off the top of my head.
- Hawks_49

Knock yourself out, doesn't mean I or anyone else would necessarily agree with you

I know they are tickled with Sammi and NOT trading him...

The hawks have the right idea, with so many defenders in the system they will actually have a commodity team with have interest in.
The guys they drafted won't bring them any NHlers, but they will provide the extras for teams who are woefully weak on defense in their farms to actively talk trade.
- wiz1901

Wiz how many 5'10" offensive defensemen are in the NHL? 4? Ghost, Krug, Barrie and Butcher are the only ones last year that did anything. Picking all these undersized puck movers is a huge question mark.

HA...exactly

I don't mind it as much. I think I've come around to accepting this slight downturn and would rather see younger guys play, see what you have, give them experience and hope in 2-3 years you can make 1 last run while some of your core is still young enough.

It's just hard for me to get overly excited watching a prospect dominate another one of our prospects in a camp when you truly don't know how good they all are. It's best to curb the "hype" until so.

I hope they contend, but I just can't see it with the current roster. Not unless so much goes right, they avoid injury, and other teams take a step back. I'd rather get a good pick in the draft, and seriously consider selling high on some guys who could help expedite the new wave of younger talent this team needs.

As many have said, it's time for this organization to pick a lane. The band aid approach doesn't work.....
- SteveRain

If they had fired Bowman after the Pred's playoff series and the new GM was able to:

Convert Panarin into Saad before losing him as a free agent.
Trade the penalty machine Hartman for a 1st round pick and a marginal prospect.
Not overpay July 1.
Trade two smurfs with Hossa's contract for lots of flexibility.

Most would think the GM was doing well.

Don't think Bowman is going anywhere soon.

He'd butt heads with McD the first week and that would be that.
- 6628

You may be right. However, what are the board's opinions on:
1) What kind of GM Chelios would make?
2) If/when Bowman is finally canned, under what circumstances, if any, would Chelios be offered the job?

I think one of the reasons many are so hopeful about the prospects is the fact that the team as currently constructed is in such desperate need of holes to be filled to be a true contender again, any glimmer of hope that arises from these young players creates a tendency to wish things to be true sooner than they might be.

No question the crop of new players offers more hope than the past when good prospects were traded at the TDL for Cup runs, depleting the ranks, and not replacing them.

I am just happy that the emphasis is back on building the pipeline, and whatever happens happens. I just think I am being a bit more realistic with my personal expectations, and being willing to be more patient than some others are to anoint eighteen year old players not at the level of a McDavid or a Matthews as close to NHL ready. I mean what is the percentage of prospects drafted and signed that actually get an NHL career? One of four? One of six?

I just don't want to see a crap show on the UC ice for another year - unless they do it right and and tank all the way to draft high again next year. Another first round and out embarrassment is really nothing to get excited about.
- Return of the Roar

I did a 15 year study of the draft a few season's ago and unless the numbers have changed dramatically,
50% of 1st round picks played 300 NHL games.
25% of 2nd round picks played 300 NHL games.
8% of players drafted after the 2nd round played 300 Games.

The first round numbers still shock me. I would have thought more.

The second round seems high still.

The later rounds seem really high.

In the next recession I will have time to study all 100 years of draft history.

I too believe Jokiharju will make the big club. Just about everyone interviewed within the Hawks inner circle (including Bowman) admit offensively Jokiharju is NHL ready, with that said how much can he learn defensively in the AHL? if they want him to improve defensively IMO the NHL is the right setting for him to do that. Keith and Seabrook are players he could really learn from... So my expectation is that Jokiharju starts the season with the Hawks, gets his 10 game look and if he is really "that bad" defensively he will be assigned to Rockford.

As far as Shanulov, it's interesting his name is out there again. He is a center, but it would be ideal if he was the solution to the Hawks 2nd line left wing hole. However I think if he did come over it would be under the impression that he's guaranteed a top 6 role, however I don't know if the Hawks could guarantee that or if it would be wise for the Hawks to guarantee him a top 6 position.. On the flip side of the coin the Blackhawks own Shanulov's rights indefinitely, so if or when he decides to come over the Hawks will own his rights so he would be a fantastic trade chip if the Hawks don't have a top 6 role for him.. You can bet many teams would have interest, so perhaps he could be a "trade sweetener" if the Hawks are looking to bring Faulk, Skinner or Patches in...

As for the rest of the prospects, I look forward to the Hawks future because they certainly have some gems and Bowman/Mark Kelley got themselves some draft day steals over the last couple of years - especially this past draft.. Wise & Nordgren are going to be great players.. I must admit I was kind of ticked off the Hawks didn't take Wahlstrom over Boqvist, however drafting Wise and Nordgren more than makes up for that.... Not only that but in 2-3 years the Hawks will have one of the most dynamic defenses in the NHL - the Hawks PP will certainly be feared with these PP QB's... And Boqvist looks like and plays like a forward out there - I'm almost thinking one day he could perhaps play wing at some point (like Byfuglien) on an as needed basis...

So yea, overall I'm happy with the prospects the Hawks have, it seems the Hawks have some great players (maybe even franchise in Boqvist) a couple of years away from making a tremendous impact....

The real question I have is what do we do with the likes of Seabrookm Murphy and others in 2-3 years when these defensive studs are NHL ready... I mean there are only 7 spots and the Hawks have Boqvist, Beaudin, Jokiharju, Mitchell, Hillman, Krys, Carlsson, Gustavsson, Dahlstrom, Forsling...... And lets not forget Duncan Keith, who has plenty of mileage left and I would expect he plays out his contract.

So yea it might not show now but the Hawks blue line is pretty loaded, and most of those guys mentioned have 2nd or 3rd pair potential...

I did a 15 year study of the draft a few season's ago and unless the numbers have changed dramatically,
50% of 1st round picks played 300 NHL games.
25% of 2nd round picks played 300 NHL games.
8% of players drafted after the 2nd round played 300 Games.

The first round numbers still shock me. I would have thought more.

The second round seems high still.

The later rounds seem really high.

In the next recession I will have time to study all 100 years of draft history.
- stevefrmglencoe

Drafts are kind of flawed because not every draft has the same amount of talent... I mean this 2018 draft was the deepest I can recall... So a first round pick in one draft, may be a late 2nd round pick in another ... So it's really hard to formulate the odds of a players chances to play 300+ NHL games when every draft has a different talent pool....

Wiz how many 5'10" offensive defensemen are in the NHL? 4? Ghost, Krug, Barrie and Butcher are the only ones last year that did anything. Picking all these undersized puck movers is a huge question mark.
- stevefrmglencoe

You serious clark?

Ellis, Karlsson is 5'10"-5'11" depending who you ask, Spurgeon, Goligoski, Enstrom, Mete, Girard, Carrick, Vatanen, Honka, Greene, etc.

As plenty of teams have shown, you don't need to have a bunch of Dolphe Lundgrens to win a cup. You need speed, skill, compete, the right system, and plenty of factors to win a cup. Size can help, but putting too much weight on one variable is a myopic view of a winning formula.

You serious clark?

Ellis, Karlsson is 5'10"-5'11" depending who you ask, Spurgeon, Goligoski, Enstrom, Mete, Girard, Carrick, Vatanen, Honka, Greene, etc.

As plenty of teams have shown, you don't need to have a bunch of Dolphe Lundgrens to win a cup. You need speed, skill, compete, the right system, and plenty of factors to win a cup. Size can help, but putting too much weight on one variable is a myopic view of a winning formula.
- ObeseOprah

Points well taken and well said but I think Karlsson in 6ft.

The others are 30 point guys. Nice players but not needle movers.

I think the top defensemen, the guys who put up points and coaches play more than 15 minutes per game are still big and strong.

I wish the Hawks would draft bigger.

Drafts are kind of flawed because not every draft has the same amount of talent... I mean this 2018 draft was the deepest I can recall... So a first round pick in one draft, may be a late 2nd round pick in another ... So it's really hard to formulate the odds of a players chances to play 300+ NHL games when every draft has a different talent pool....
- Savard2Secord

100% correct.

The reason why I studied it was because I wanted to put some type of realistic value on what a pick was worth in a trade.

Steve Sullivan for two 2nd round picks seemed too low at the time. Now we know that Sullivan for Garlock and Blunden was a real stinker.

Points well taken and well said but I think Karlsson in 6ft.

The others are 30 point guys. Nice players but not needle movers.

I think the top defensemen, the guys who put up points and coaches play more than 15 minutes per game are still big and strong.

I wish the Hawks would draft bigger.
- stevefrmglencoe

Duncan Keith was 5'11" 176lbs and the Hawks 20th prospect in 2004 blackhawks top 20 prospects.

Kinda bucks that theory they must be over 6ft tall - Especially at 17-18yrs old

100% correct.

The reason why I studied it was because I wanted to put some type of realistic value on what a pick was worth in a trade.

Steve Sullivan for two 2nd round picks seemed too low at the time. Now we know that Sullivan for Garlock and Blunden was a real stinker.
- stevefrmglencoe

But what if it was for Stastny & Dubinsky or Yandle and Krejci or Quick and Franzen
All those guys available when they picked in those years. Get even one of any of those pairs and it was worth it for Sullivan.

Focus not on what they wound up drafting, but on what they could have drafted and its a whole different story.

Knock yourself out, doesn't mean I or anyone else would necessarily agree with you
- vabeachbear

I don't care if you agree with me. It's factual, not opinion-based. Superstar players that came into the NHL young would not have become better players playing in the AHL for a year. You made a blanket statement and it was wrong.

You may be right. However, what are the board's opinions on:
1) What kind of GM Chelios would make?
2) If/when Bowman is finally canned, under what circumstances, if any, would Chelios be offered the job?
- BMWChiFan

1) Awful
2) No circumstances

Duncan Keith was 5'11" 176lbs and the Hawks 20th prospect in 2004 blackhawks top 20 prospects.

Kinda bucks that theory they must be over 6ft tall - Especially at 17-18yrs old
- PatShart

Keith is an awesome player no doubt. But there aren't that many top NHL defenders his size. And his style, which is positioning and poke checking, requires top conditioning, great hockey sense and quickness. He's one in a million. That's my point.

He also benefited from time in the minors and a couple of NHL seasons while nobody was watching. He was given a lot of rope and time.

Many of the next wave will get their AHL time but once here in front of this coach and these fans, a couple of risky moves that end up in the back of the net will be over analyzed and a ticket to Rockford.

Why is it when a fringe 4th liner gets traded out, its Q that used him incorrectly. Watching Hino, he played in the middle of the ice, is contact adverse, and has no D. A average 4th liner at best.
- riozzo

Vinny far from a average 4th liner . I guess your take is educated as Q .Just throw him all over the place ,what's wrong with the kid he don't get it . Great coaching , that is why he will soon be looking for work ..

But what if it was for Stastny & Dubinsky or Yandle and Krejci or Quick and Franzen
All those guys available when they picked in those years. Get even one of any of those pairs and it was worth it for Sullivan.

Focus not on what they wound up drafting, but on what they could have drafted and its a whole different story.
- TheTrob

Great point and it is always fun to go back years later and see who could have been picked instead. Yet all 30 teams passed on those players because projecting the player and putting them in the developmental position to succeed is very complicated and unpredictable.

Don Cherry even admitted that when he watched Rick Nash as a junior he had no idea that Nash would turn out to be such a successful NHLer.

Regardless of how each 2nd rounder turns out, over 15 years only 25% of them played 300 NHL games.

I don’t follow the overseas stock that much, is it true that kid Shalunov is 6”4 220 with High end skill,? If so, Any chance of him coming over here for training camp? What kind of player is he? Hopefully could put some numbers up and not afraid to go into the dirty areas.

I don’t follow the overseas stock that much, is it true that kid Shalunov is 6”4 220 with Heidi and skill,? If so, Any chance of him coming over here for training camp?
- wonthecup10

6'3" 224, with skill and a bit of edge. Signed 3 year contract last year with CSKA Moskova, so no chance he is here this year.

Vinny said he was never given a role ,and when he was it changed day to day and period to period . Q blender is not a good environment for young players ,or any players for that matter .Q was making up line ups like he was pulling names from a hat last year . In Murphy case it was just a case of giving the Bowmans a big middle finger .Q ego has exploded since he was given his contract .
- oldduffman

You really do live in your own little fantasy world - don't you.

I mean seriously - do you really think if you keep repeating the same nonsense over and over, then it somehow becomes true???