Yep, keep the prospects coming so we can continue stocking Arizona as the Coyotes' farm team.
I cannot get excited about prospects anymore with this management team which continuously frithers away assets.
- 67hawks

Don't look now, but the joke is on the hawks. Arizona is the better team right now. It would be hilarious if the Yotes were in playoff chase and Hossa came back in March....

Don't look now, but the joke is on the hawks. Arizona is the better team right now. It would be hilarious if the Yotes were in playoff chase and Hossa came back in March....
- TrueGrit

I would honestly be more upset at this than anything that's happened since the Panarin/Hjalmarsson debacle.

FWIW, the Oilers were also .500 (10-10-1) when they fired their coach. Now 4-1-1 (.750) since hiring Hitch.

https://thehockeynews.com...rformance-under-new-coach

I like that idea as well. In general, wherever the Hawks are sorely deficient, then hire coaches with solid track records to teach and develop whether that's defense, PP, PK, faceoffs, etc.

I know the Hawks have Perreault as a faceoff coach but his track record of developing stellar faceoff takers isn't that great. One would think it's time to look at other faceoff coaches. Just because Perrault was supreme at it as a player doesn't mean he's an excellent coach at it.

Point of information but wasn't Colliton a defenseman in his playing days?
- AEL_Fox

Colliton was a center

Colliton was a center
- pdx2ord

Thanks for verifying!

Don't look now, but the joke is on the hawks. Arizona is the better team right now. It would be hilarious if the Yotes were in playoff chase and Hossa came back in March....
- TrueGrit

Grit, I sent you a pm a whiles back, don't know if you ever saw it ......

After that first 9 minutes in which we could have been down by at least 3, we could have pulled it off if not for Kunitz’s boneheaded major penalty. They look better without Gus on the backend. Perhaps he would be better suited as a forward? Why not, we did it reverse for Buff and I Q would play Brookbank as a forward.

As much as everyone attacks Manning, I’m impressed that he stands up for Crow or Ward. For years it would drive me crazy to see everyone poking at our goalie with no repercussions.

Anyhoo, are we in tank mode officially? Or does anyone here think Bowman/management will attempt to salvage the season?

Don't look now, but the joke is on the hawks. Arizona is the better team right now. It would be hilarious if the Yotes were in playoff chase and Hossa came back in March....
- TrueGrit

Hawks need to hire Hossa as a Coach. He’d teach these floaters how to play 200ft hockey AND command respect from the locker room.

I think he wants out and Bowman wants him asap. The past Olympics or whatever the big competition was, Anisimov was talking after a game and told Shalunov in Russian, "Come play for the hawks." He could get out of that contract, I don't know what will happen, but I'm leery about his dipping production, but would still like to see him on NA ice. It's not like we got anywhere to be or going anywhere this year, and quite possibly next year.
- I Am The Breadman

If I am not mistaken and lbh, he isn't worth the time to research, but I believed he found a way out of his last contract to sign with this team.

Fine. He sucks. He has been on a few of the national teams over the years and I never once had the thought..man, they need to get him back over here but whateves.

After that first 9 minutes in which we could have been down by at least 3, we could have pulled it off if not for Kunitz’s boneheaded major penalty. They look better without Gus on the backend. Perhaps he would be better suited as a forward? Why not, we did it reverse for Buff and I Q would play Brookbank as a forward.

As much as everyone attacks Manning, I’m impressed that he stands up for Crow or Ward. For years it would drive me crazy to see everyone poking at our goalie with no repercussions.

Anyhoo, are we in tank mode officially? Or does anyone here think Bowman/management will attempt to salvage the season?
- Popsghostly

As much as everyone attacks Manning, I’m impressed that he stands up for Crow or Ward. For years it would drive me crazy to see everyone poking at our goalie with no repercussions.
- Popsghostly

Agree on Manning. Said it after the Nashville game, too, but I love his physicality and push back even if he is a low-skill player who has consistency issues playing defense. Not just the fight with Hathaway but also instances like his shoving match with either Monahan or Bennett or another Flame. The Hawks can definitely do much better than Manning, but until they upgrade him, I like what he brings.

Rutta showed similar push back last night against the Flames. I know the incident of Neal falling onto Crawford wasn't his fault and he did try not to, you still need to stick up for your goalie and let the other team know that crashing the net will be dealt with. Happy to see Rutta protect his goalie. More of that please.

After that first 9 minutes in which we could have been down by at least 3, we could have pulled it off if not for Kunitz’s boneheaded major penalty. They look better without Gus on the backend. Perhaps he would be better suited as a forward? Why not, we did it reverse for Buff and I Q would play Brookbank as a forward.

As much as everyone attacks Manning, I’m impressed that he stands up for Crow or Ward. For years it would drive me crazy to see everyone poking at our goalie with no repercussions.

Anyhoo, are we in tank mode officially? Or does anyone here think Bowman/management will attempt to salvage the season?
- Popsghostly

No one attacks Manning. They just state the truth. He is a terrible hockey player. Even at the NHL level, crappy players can still make a decent play or two but overall he is not very good. He takes forever to move the puck. Handles it like a grenade. Doesn't skate well. Especially in corners where falls face first at least once a game. He does not fight well but at least is willing to get his ass kicked. I will give him that.

He was a terrible signing and should be in the AHL. He is a great Tank commander, tho.

After that first 9 minutes in which we could have been down by at least 3, we could have pulled it off if not for Kunitz’s boneheaded major penalty. They look better without Gus on the backend. Perhaps he would be better suited as a forward? Why not, we did it reverse for Buff and I Q would play Brookbank as a forward.

As much as everyone attacks Manning, I’m impressed that he stands up for Crow or Ward. For years it would drive me crazy to see everyone poking at our goalie with no repercussions.

Anyhoo, are we in tank mode officially? Or does anyone here think Bowman/management will attempt to salvage the season?
- Popsghostly

It depends on what the return is on the next trade. If it's an NHL ready body then they are still hoping to squeak in. If it's picks or prospects, they are in tank mode and will fill empty roster spots with warm bodies from Rockford.

After that first 9 minutes in which we could have been down by at least 3, we could have pulled it off if not for Kunitz’s boneheaded major penalty. They look better without Gus on the backend. Perhaps he would be better suited as a forward? Why not, we did it reverse for Buff and I Q would play Brookbank as a forward.

As much as everyone attacks Manning, I’m impressed that he stands up for Crow or Ward. For years it would drive me crazy to see everyone poking at our goalie with no repercussions.

Anyhoo, are we in tank mode officially? Or does anyone here think Bowman/management will attempt to salvage the season?
- Popsghostly

He can't seem to remember or cover his defensive assignments as a D-man, what makes you think he can do it as a forward? Knowing where to be and who to cover has a lot more reads as a forward.

No one attacks Manning. They just state the truth. He is a terrible hockey player. Even at the NHL level, crappy players can still make a decent play or two but overall he is not very good. He takes forever to move the puck. Handles it like a grenade. Doesn't skate well. Especially in corners where falls face first at least once a game. He does not fight well but at least is willing to get his ass kicked. I will give him that.

He was a terrible signing and should be in the AHL. He is a great Tank commander, tho.
- Elbows15

He can't be any worse than Brookbank or Scottie Walker under Q. That said, Walker and Brookbank played very sheltered minutes due to our strong 5 and were paid significantly less. I agree with all the above on the skill set above to a certain extent all which would be solved with limited minutes.

He can't seem to remember or cover his defensive assignments as a D-man, what makes you think he can do it as a forward? Knowing where to be and who to cover has a lot more reads as a forward.
- TheTrob

True, true, true... His positioning is terrible and he was caught out of place constantly. But every so often he'd skate up with the puck with such grace and skill that for our beginning 6-2-1 run made us think we finally had the puck carrying DMan we needed so badly.

If I am not mistaken and lbh, he isn't worth the time to research, but I believed he found a way out of his last contract to sign with this team.

Fine. He sucks. He has been on a few of the national teams over the years and I never once had the thought..man, they need to get him back over here but whateves.
- Elbows15

I hear you. I'm fine if he does or doesn't. I wouldn't mind it because we need help, but he's no savior. We have better prospects we know more about than the one-antlered Max.

Hawks need to hire Hossa as a Coach. He’d teach these floaters how to play 200ft hockey AND command respect from the locker room.
- EnzoD

I'm not sure that would work since he is under contract as a player for Arizona. Plus, why would he want to be involved with this train wreck.

I'm not advocating for a trade, just laughing at the hilarity of it, but I think the Kings are wanting to trade Kovalchuk.

I'm not advocating for a trade, just laughing at the hilarity of it, but I think the Kings are wanting to trade Kovalchuk.
- I Am The Breadman

Our new cellar buddies, along with Pittsburgh. My how the mighty have fallen.


I want a soft cap considered at the new CBA, after the Leafs get stuck with mega-deals for Marner/Matthews of course.

I'm not advocating for a trade, just laughing at the hilarity of it, but I think the Kings are wanting to trade Kovalchuk.
- I Am The Breadman

He is on IR for a month with an ankle problem. Untradeable.

https://itunes.apple.com/...5552?i=1000425011015&mt=2

Bowman's interview on Spittin' Chiclets podcast. It's a long one, but here were some of the key things IMO, all based on my interpretation:

1. Learned in 2010 that you never want to try and trade someone when you have no leverage (might explain some possibly premature moves of late, like Panarin)
2. Speaking of Panarin - "we cannot afford another guy" making in neighborhood of $10M
3. Says that both Rocky and John are laissez-faire bosses and rarely get involved in the hockey operations
4. Claimed disagreements, but no fundamental relationship issues with Q - Q definitely not happy about the Hammer trade
5. Felt team needed a change in approach behind the bench as old approach wasn't working with roster team has now or with way league playing style has changed
6. Nashville series was tipping point into on-the-fly rebuild - he doesn't say it outright, but said they've been moving away from a "win this year" mode to acquiring youth with potential since then (sooooo about those PR talking points)
7. He reads his press, that much was clear (for some reason, I picture McD dropping copies of all articles and the top tweets on his desk every morning)
8. Just my opinion, but I expect after hearing this that we will see some beloved vets gone this year if he's able to find a partner and get them to waive. As someone else postulated on here, maybe getting rid of Q was supposed to be a catalyst for the latter?

Bonus: The hosts actually told him "we're selling the poop out of our 'Fire Stan' t-shirts' - that went over well.

He is on IR for a month with an ankle problem. Untradeable.
- RickJ

Ahhh, thanks.

Our new cellar buddies, along with Pittsburgh. My how the mighty have fallen.


I want a soft cap considered at the new CBA, after the Leafs get stuck with mega-deals for Marner/Matthews of course.
- ObeseOprah

How do you do a soft cap - it would effective increase the "cap", leading to either:

(1) The players getting more than 50% of HRR. I doubt the league would go for that.

(2) The escrow would have to be increased to account for the amount teams would go over the cap to accommodate the "softness". I doubt the players would go for that.

I doubt there will be any kind of "soft cap" in the new CBA - and I doubt there will be any "compliance buyouts" because the cap would not be scheduled to be dramatically reduced (as it was after 2013).

I see the major conflict as being over the escrow and somehow mitigating its effects on players cash compensation.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/spittin-chiclets-episode-130-featuring-stan-bowman/id1112425552?i=1000425011015&mt=2

Bowman's interview on Spittin' Chiclets podcast. It's a long one, but here were some of the key things IMO, all based on my interpretation:

1. Learned in 2010 that you never want to try and trade someone when you have no leverage (might explain some possibly premature moves of late, like Panarin)
2. Speaking of Panarin - "we cannot afford another guy" making in neighborhood of $10M
3. Says that both Rocky and John are laissez-faire bosses and rarely get involved in the hockey operations
4. Claimed disagreements, but no fundamental relationship issues with Q - Q definitely not happy about the Hammer trade
5. Felt team needed a change in approach behind the bench as old approach wasn't working with roster team has now or with way league playing style has changed
6. Nashville series was tipping point into on-the-fly rebuild - he doesn't say it outright, but said they've been moving away from a "win this year" mode to acquiring youth with potential since then (sooooo about those PR talking points)
7. He reads his press, that much was clear (for some reason, I picture McD dropping copies of all articles and the top tweets on his desk every morning)
8. Just my opinion, but I expect after hearing this that we will see some beloved vets gone this year if he's able to find a partner and get them to waive. As someone else postulated on here, maybe getting rid of Q was supposed to be a catalyst for the latter?

Bonus: The hosts actually told him "we're selling the poop out of our 'Fire Stan' t-shirts' - that went over well.
- pdx2ord

Thanks for the interview overview. Definitely sheds some light on his thinking and experiences in the past and moving forward. It will be interesting and hopefully exciting to see how the roster shakes out over the next year including this summer with the draft and free agency.