Excited to the Forsling back in the fold. Hopefully he can play as well as he did at the beginning of last year if not with more confidence since he does feel he has to keep looking over his shoulder for Q to bench him.

Wonder when Kruger is ready who is gonna be the one to go out of Davidson, Rutta, or Manning or maybe even Gus. Gotta think that Davidson is the most likely to go due to his contract, but ya gotta think Stan is making calls to try and dump one of them on someone else
- Savetheembers33

Forsling....maaaaybe he is an upgrade. Time will tell.

Davidson can be sent to Rockford and salary buried. Gus, Ruuta, Manning all way over the $925K bury threshold. With Ruuta and Manning at $2.25MM each, to what other team are those deals of any independent value?

with the BS discipline calls from player safety (although they got the wilson susp right), brutal missed calls on the ice, and now this...

the Mora playoff?? gif should be player safety?? Player safety?? the nhl thoroughly uncommitted to cleaning its act up in this area. Its unfortunate the players settled for this bag of peanuts but they are dealing with HoF bettman's brass knuckle politics on this issue...but in some sense they are complicit in their own lack of safety and physical health

“The N.H.L.’s philosophy was scorched earth and deny every issue,” said Charles Zimmerman, the lead lawyer for the retired hockey players. “They denied the link between neurocognitive problems and the game of hockey, and felt that the players were not injured and wouldn’t participate in large numbers. They were right on that.”
- bogiedoc

Speaking of, is Seabrook going to get a call? Probably not, because Svech popped back up and got involved in the scrum, but still.

Getting closer to the lineup that I'd like to see at some point this year...

Cat-AA-Kane
Schmaltz-Toews-Saad
Sikura-Kahun-Ejdsell
Highmore/Johnson/Kampf/Hayden/Kruger

Keith-Joki
Forsling-Seabrook
Gus-Murphy
Manning/Davidson/Rutta (just one; though I'd rather one of the kids in Rockford get a chance)

Justice





More
BREAKING NEWS- as per @FriedgeHNIC Tom Wilson suspension reduced to 14 games by arbitrator.
- mrpaulish

The perfect storm has developed. In the Winter classic, someone on the Blackhawks needs to baseball swing his stick to Marchand's face. Hell, it will be a 2 game suspension when it's all over. Totally worth it, and the HOF commissioner will have to discuss it in one of his prize gems.

It is there for the taking. Make it happen Stan.

MEDICAL UPDATE: Defenseman Brandon Davidson (right leg injury) will not participate in practice today.

Yep.... Dirk Graham and Dennis Savard!!!
- Popsghostly

And Bill White and Keith Magnuson. None of these 4 ever coached an NHL team before or after their stint with the Hawks.

Yes. Bringing back past players to coach or manage has not been good for the Hawks.

Stan is playing Money Puck and losing badly

Maciver hopefully. Forner NHLer and intelligent mind. Please not MacIsaac. He's a yes man.
- AEL_Fox

But isn't he currently behind Stan? Wouldn't he already be making moves? And would he want it if he has McD above him? He may want out. Not disagreeing.

Interesting about Stevie Y. Hadn't considered that.

But isn't he currently behind Stan? Wouldn't he already be making moves? And would he want it if he has McD above him? He may want out. Not disagreeing.

Interesting about Stevie Y. Hadn't considered that.
- resqmed99

He's Stan's assistant GM currently so if Stan gets let go mid season he's a good bet to take over at least for the rest of the year until they decide what they wanna do long term.

The perfect storm has developed. In the Winter classic, someone on the Blackhawks needs to baseball swing his stick to Marchand's face. Hell, it will be a 2 game suspension when it's all over. Totally worth it, and the HOF commissioner will have to discuss it in one of his prize gems.

It is there for the taking. Make it happen Stan.
- powerenforcer

The Hawks lost every outdoor game when they were good....I'm not looking forward to the Winter Classic against a vastly superior Bruins team.

The Hawks lost every outdoor game when they were good....I'm not looking forward to the Winter Classic against a vastly superior Bruins team.
- EnzoD

Doesn't this then mean that they should play good and win??

But isn't he currently behind Stan? Wouldn't he already be making moves? And would he want it if he has McD above him? He may want out. Not disagreeing.

Interesting about Stevie Y. Hadn't considered that.
- resqmed99

There was the unsubstantiated rumour several weeks ago that said the front office is divided into a Stan camp and Maciver camp. Those pro-Maciver feel that his hockey sense is vastly superior to Stan's and that Stan ignores his recommendations. Take it for what it's worth as I said an unsubstantiated rumour.

The Hawks lost every outdoor game when they were good....I'm not looking forward to the Winter Classic against a vastly superior Bruins team.
- EnzoD

Speaking of the Winter Classic, anybody know how ticket sales are going? With the way things are going, wouldn't be surprised to see a 3/4 empty ND Stadium.

There was the unsubstantiated rumour several weeks ago that said the front office is divided into a Stan camp and Maciver camp. Those pro-Maciver feel that his hockey sense is vastly superior to Stan's and that Stan ignores his recommendations. Take it for what it's worth as I said an unsubstantiated rumour.
- Rota's Rooter

I heard the same rumor as well. Never really know with how reports get thrown out there left n right but I think any time you hear something that actually makes sense based on where the team is at, there's got to be some sort of truth to it.

The Hawks lost every outdoor game when they were good....I'm not looking forward to the Winter Classic against a vastly superior Bruins team.
- EnzoD

I don't look forward to any hawk game at this point...3 regulation wins in 18 games...

sounds playoff worthy to me...projects to about 13-14 regs wins over 82 games...WONDERFUL!

I don't look forward to any hawk game at this point...3 regulation wins in 18 games...

sounds playoff worthy to me...projects to about 13-14 regs wins over 82 games...WONDERFUL!
- bogiedoc

I would hate to see Colorado get the 1st pick......

I don't look forward to any hawk game at this point...3 regulation wins in 18 games...

sounds playoff worthy to me...projects to about 13-14 regs wins over 82 games...WONDERFUL!
- bogiedoc

Carolina is a very beatable team....Hawks up 2-0 in the 3rd and lose. The irony of it being Teravainen who started the rally should not be lost on anyone here..especially Stan Bowman

I can only speculate - but it appears Stan included the NMC/NTCs in the various contracts as part of his inducement to get the player to agree to the $/term being offered. Also, I think it may have been part of a signal to the player that he was considered part of the “core” of the team. (This of course doesn’t apply to the one-year deals for Ward and Kunitz - but those aren’t really the heart of the problem)

However, what most of us have been harping about since these deals were inked was that the $/term offered to each player was sufficient (or in excess - e.g. Seabrook) and NMC/NTC were excessive and problematic. In the NHL world of a hard cap and guaranteed contracts - the inability to move a player to address/improve the changing dynamics of a team is a significant problem.
- Chief4Feathers

That may or may not be the case. However if your trying to recruit talent and having a hard time #1 maybe the organization needs to asses itself and correct those issues #2 when your 3 years removed from winning the cup and just missed the playoffs by a mile for a lack of skill, depth, defense, scoring signing a 39 year old a at best number 7 defensemen doesn't check any of the immediate needs nor correct anyone of those skilled positions needed. Wasting money as well as hog tying this team further.

I loved Q. No comment on the suits at room temp upstairs, I think. JC is showing great promise with the kids, hawks played pretty good last night. It will be a long year, we will get a great pick and I'm sure Toews. Keith and Seabs will get more tired as year goes on. Some trades for future are inevitable. So my glass is half full and half empty and I still enjoy watching my team. We are in. Transition, it will unfold as it should. I love the knowledge on this board, starts with Justin. There is much more hard core fans here than BS. From a fan on the Rock. Of the cold North Atlantic, Newfoundland

Excited to the Forsling back in the fold. Hopefully he can play as well as he did at the beginning of last year if not with more confidence since he does feel he has to keep looking over his shoulder for Q to bench him.

Wonder when Kruger is ready who is gonna be the one to go out of Davidson, Rutta, or Manning or maybe even Gus. Gotta think that Davidson is the most likely to go due to his contract, but ya gotta think Stan is making calls to try and dump one of them on someone else
- Savetheembers33

We would all wish or hope Stan is making calls and working to dump , trade a significant amount of these players. But I fear that upper management is truly so blind and believes this team is a playoff team and just needs time to adjust .

We would all wish or hope Stan is making calls and working to dump , trade a significant amount of these players. But I fear that upper management is truly so blind and believes this team is a playoff team and just needs time to adjust .
- Taylorst1

Why would any team want them? Every NHL team has better,younger, or cheaper alternatives to Kruger, Rutta, Manning, Kunitz, Ward, Davidson, Gustafson, ect...


I think Anisimov should/could be traded and slot as a 3C on a Playoff Contender. Nobody wants Seabrook without getting Boquist or Debrincat too. Keith is tradeable.

Hey 66, I was thinking of you when I watched last night -- that Barry Smith is one dour-looking SOB. Can you just imagine that bastage behind the bench telling you what to do?

Also cannot imagine JC being named head coach and getting BS and DG foisted on him. Where was the wire going back to McDonut? I didn't happen to see it when Barry was in the TV camera's view -- maybe wrong angle? Blowman was probably at the teletype sending messages down from on high.
- savvyone-1

If Barry Smith can solve the PP issues like Scotty wanted him to try to do some years ago then he's ok in my book. A friend who remembers him from being in Arizona with the Yotes says he sucks. But the Yotes sucked too. So who knows.
I wish Colliton a lot of luck. He's going to need it.

As far as last night, I told my wife with 2 minutes left in regulation that the hawks better score soon. 3 on 3 there's no way they can cover the Canes, especially Aho. That kid is the real deal, great powerskater with the rest of the tool bag. Seabrook just laying there was (frank)ing sad. Maybe Seabrook at some point soon will take his money working as an assistant or behind the scenes.

That may or may not be the case. However if your trying to recruit talent and having a hard time #1 maybe the organization needs to asses itself and correct those issues #2 when your 3 years removed from winning the cup and just missed the playoffs by a mile for a lack of skill, depth, defense, scoring signing a 39 year old a at best number 7 defensemen doesn't check any of the immediate needs nor correct anyone of those skilled positions needed. Wasting money as well as hog tying this team further.
- Taylorst1

And wasting remaining productive years of Kane and Toews.

List of top 62 prospects available in 2019 draft.

https://www.tsn.ca/craig-...-draft-rankings-1.1196164