At at glance, this looks good. Although, I will admit, I haven't seen much of Scandella since he joined BUF last year and haven't seen CJ Smith play.

Is Scandella not playing well? Is he not top 4 quality?
- Justin Lowe

He's on IR.

At at glance, this looks good. Although, I will admit, I haven't seen much of Scandella since he joined BUF last year and haven't seen CJ Smith play.

Is Scandella not playing well? Is he not top 4 quality?
- Justin Lowe

Scandella has been a tremendous addition to the Sabres... It would be a steal for us to give him to you...

Nice write up again JL I have been a Hawks fan my whole life and right now is the worst it's been to watch. This may because of the great success they have had the last 10 years. Unfortunately this will be a long haul before they start back up that mountain. They really don't have much realistically they can trade to help the rebuild. Saad and a Crawford if he can regain his top performance. Others contracts dollars and length make them almost impossible to deal. Others Manning Ruuta ect are not getting much, if they can be traded; mid to late picks. A few young players that would make no sence to trade Cat Joker Storme. I know everyone excited about the young Defenceman coming and hopefully a few will make it bUT to think all will seems unrealistic. Saying that, after this very very long season ends hopefully I will start getting excited about the journey back up the mountain and I will continue to cheer the Hawks on
I just don't know if Bowman is the man to lead this expedition up the mountain .
- HamiltonHawk

Thanks HamiltonHawk - it's been bad to watch.

I have a flashback blog coming up next week as well. It'll take us all back (for better or worse) of how bad things really used to be.

Are we there yet? Or has this just hit everyone so hard due to the recent success?

I will answer these.

Is Pit shopping Kessel? If so, I would like him very much. 2 great American players on one team. Our pp wouldn't suck as much then. What would Pit look for as a return? Young dmen, I'm guessing.
- I Am The Breadman

Kessel is 31.

He is not the missing piece that makes this team a contender.

He will be 34 when this team is POSSIBLY READY to be a contender.

I'm just curious what the average Hawks fan thinks Anisimov is worth.
- jcragcrumple

I 90's Jofa helmet and a bag of pucks?

Kessel is 31.

He is not the missing piece that makes this team a contender.

He will be 34 when this team is POSSIBLY READY to be a contender.
- StLBravesFan

I did not say he would make us a contender.

I said he would help our crap pp. Plus having him on a team with Kane would be awesome to see.

They won’t move the core unless they ask to, so that ain’t gonna happen, start with the disaster of a d corps, hopefully the young blood helps next year, snag a Panarin, Sikura a high draft pick on O and see what happens, teams turn it around now a lot quicker than in past.

Count me as one that is now ready for the rebuild. Keep Toews and Kane like you said and build back around them again. It will be exciting to see them progress over the next 2-5 years.

At at glance, this looks good. Although, I will admit, I haven't seen much of Scandella since he joined BUF last year and haven't seen CJ Smith play.

Is Scandella not playing well? Is he not top 4 quality?
- Justin Lowe

I'd say he is a 4/5

He was really good last year. He has not been great this year

Last night was better.

On a high note it looks like they have a player in Strome and if he gets his fitness up a bit and fills out that frame he will be a very good hockey player. Maybe somewhere around a Johansen or Spezza type. He always seems to be in the right spot and being just a little stronger on his skates and able to start and stop with out huffing and puffing after a few direction changes and i think you start to see some dominant shifts more consistently there.

I think they pick up some points against Montreal but if they're going to make a roster move make it now. The rest of December is horrific qualcomp wise and a lot of games over two weeks.

Now. Skating Kane 27 minutes is ridiculous in a season that is already lost. Also, Gus skating 26 and Lil Henri skating 12 blows my mind. The TOI management and line combinations make my brain hurt. Unless they're showcasing guys as throw ins this doesn't make a lot of sense.

However, AA looks spry AF and finishing some dope goals. Definitely some value there.

I 90's Jofa helmet and a bag of pucks?
- apeman

Christian Ruttuu style?

Seemingly from Day 1 Forsling jumped Joki on the depth chart. Q was using Joki-Keith as the Top pair and he was lighting it up. It’s possible Joki is wearing down as a 19yr old, maybe has a minor injury? I’ve got No qualms with playing Forsling a lot as a young development guy...but Seabrook, Manning, Rutta are all not good and provide no offense. Gustafson provides offense so I see the rationale in playing him....Joki 12 mins tn and 14 mins last night SMH
- EnzoD


There is no spinning possible concerning Gus. He is so bad defensively that his offence is irrelevant. IRRELEVANT! Every time he is on the ice he drags the other 4 players into his abyss.

There was one absolutely insane play yesterday that Eddie and Pat didn’t even take notice off. A Hawks D-Man was fighting for the puck along the boards. He ended up losing the battle and the Vegas player just skated unobstructed right to Crawford. We paused our coverage and re-played it as the other D-Man was nowhere to be seen and it seemed it was Gus. It seemed he was also along the same boards just a bit up ice DOING NOTHING. Sure enough our replay confirmed this. Gus had taken himself as far out of the play as it was possible to be FOR NOTHING. So both D-Men were along the boards and NO D-MEN thought maybe covering the front of the net was a freakin’ issue. Only Gus would do this. If Gus sits out the team is instantly better.

"The remainder of the core Seabrook, Keith and Crawford I believe can and will be shopped to see if there is anything out there that can help 2-3 years down the line in a big way."

You better ask for a Christmas miracle on this one, that has to be top 3 worst contracts in the NHL.

That thing is on the books for another 5 years, unless a lockout bails Chicago out with a 1 time buyout that does not hit the cap

Which is entirely possible

He's on IR.
- I Am The Breadman

He's close to coming back. The sabres are playing IR games because they have a lot of guys, and they're tight to the cap

Count me as one that is now ready for the rebuild. Keep Toews and Kane like you said and build back around them again. It will be exciting to see them progress over the next 2-5 years.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

A rebuild suggestion from TK. Does this change your cup prediction? Haha.

He's close to coming back. The sabres are playing IR games because they have a lot of guys, and they're tight to the cap
- jcragcrumple

Ok, thanks. What was the injury? I only knew he was out.

I liked your trade proposal, but I don't think it would happen, as we are right on top of the contract limit.

If you really feel that way why do you follow sports and write so passionately, if somewhat misguidedly, about the Blackhawks?
- paulr

2 wins and a disallowed goal and he will be back complaining about the referees and Bettman fixing games and the lottery balls. He's a fan.

Christian Ruttuu style?
- hehateme

That might have been the best of them

Last night was better.

On a high note it looks like they have a player in Strome and if he gets his fitness up a bit and fills out that frame he will be a very good hockey player. Maybe somewhere around a Johansen or Spezza type. He always seems to be in the right spot and being just a little stronger on his skates and able to start and stop with out huffing and puffing after a few direction changes and i think you start to see some dominant shifts more consistently there.

I think they pick up some points against Montreal but if they're going to make a roster move make it now. The rest of December is horrific qualcomp wise and a lot of games over two weeks.

Now. Skating Kane 27 minutes is ridiculous in a season that is already lost. Also, Gus skating 26 and Lil Henri skating 12 blows my mind. The TOI management and line combinations make my brain hurt. Unless they're showcasing guys as throw ins this doesn't make a lot of sense.

However, AA looks spry AF and finishing some dope goals. Definitely some value there.
- fattybeef

Gus is ATROCIOUS. He has no idea whatsoever how to play in the D-Zone. He is not an AHL player in the D-Zone. He drags every other player he plays with into hockey hell when he is on the ice. So JC plays him and is trashing Joki - are you kidding me?

Rather then lament the demise of the Hawks I think our focus should be on helping John McD keep the house near capacity since the band-wagon fans have now all bailed and are now rabid Bears fans.

I propose:

Reaching out to Jaromír Jágr or Jarome Iginla to see if they would do us the honor of wearing the Indianhead sweater. Think of the feel-good stories. "Grizzled vet returns for one last moment of glory", "veteran presence", etc...

or:

Orval Tessier or Alpo Suhonen return as honorary bench coach for a game.

or:

One Last Shift for Tim Trimper or Pat Ribble or (my favorite) Dave Logan.

A rebuild suggestion from TK. Does this change your cup prediction? Haha.
- I Am The Breadman

Yeah...I'm starting to wake up...

Realistically I think Bowman gets one more chance this summer to retool again, and if next year is going anywhere close to how this season is going, they send Bowman packing.

Rather then lament the demise of the Hawks I think our focus should be on helping John McD keep the house near capacity since the band-wagon fans have now all bailed and are now rabid Bears fans.

I propose:

Reaching out to Jaromír Jágr or Jarome Iginla to see if they would do us the honor of wearing the Indianhead sweater. Think of the feel-good stories. "Grizzled vet returns for one last moment of glory", "veteran presence", etc...

or:

Orval Tessier or Alpo Suhonen return as honorary bench coach for a game.

or:

One Last Shift for Tim Trimper or Pat Ribble or (my favorite) Dave Logan.
- Rota's Rooter

An empty house will light a fire under ownership's butts a full house ensures Management do nothing. Look at what 50 plus years of full houses in Toronto accomplished.

Gus is ATROCIOUS. He has no idea whatsoever how to play in the D-Zone. He is not an AHL player in the D-Zone. He drags every other player he plays with into hockey hell when he is on the ice. So JC plays him and is trashing Joki - are you kidding me?
- Z3Hawk

Gus is trying to reinvent the position because somebody must have told him that he would be a good rover.

The real problem is he is an insanely stupid bone head on the ice and it affects every other player out there with him.

Every night this team gives up 4 goals or more. No way possible to win in the NHL doing that and Colliton knows it. Maybe he's been told to muzzle it with Gus comments so they can trade him.

Christian Ruttuu style?
- hehateme

Nice. I haven't heard or seen that name since going through an old box of early 90's hockey cards last year!

The Hawks have lost all these games in the first 5-10 minutes of the first period.

Not sure how they keep allowing multiple goals within this time frame, but playing from behind every game makes it nearly impossible to win.