Throughout this skid, I havent looked at a game after it ended and felt like, "Wow, the Hawks should have won that game." Last night, I feel like they should have, I was impressed with the effort, and most importantly the compete level.
- nickmo2699

It is very encouraging to see them play a good, if not great, 40 minutes in each of these games. Now, if they could somehow slay the 1st period beast and stop getting behind, they might actually win some of these. Here's hoping. . .

I would not include Crawford in that group because his contract expires after the next season. If we hang on to him until the 2020 TDL he will actually have trade value. There is always some team looking to upgrade in goal due to injury, poor play, etc at every TDL.
- 67hawks

I have not researched this year's draft vs. next year's draft, but if next years is shaping up to be stronger then wait to move Crow. If it is weaker, why wait? The "one goal" should be to restock the organization with the best players possible.

I think he is doing good with his bestest friend, Cat. They still got chemistry. I like watching them play, keep them together, JC.

I don't care for Perlini. He didn't take advantage of his top 6 opportunities. Maybe he's just not a top 6 guy. He isn't creating chances for himself. In his defense though, I will say, he's going around the line-up and got benched. Not cool.
- I Am The Breadman

I think Perlini has something to offer, I'm just not sure it's on the top lines. I think he's a lower line guy. I like his size, speed and he apparently has a good shot which he used to use a lot in Arizona (according to Biz). He has to get that going here.

I agree that JC needs to keep that Cat-Strome-Kane line together. Let them gel and catch a groove.

JC's blender is 100% based on self-doubt and terrible play. He's lost as to what to do, so he's just jumbling things and hoping something sticks - like grasping at straws. I think he needs to just set lines and see it through,, even if it gets rough.

Can't keep bouncing guys around IMO. They need some stability and structure.

I think another big issue is lack of identity/role for some of these guys. When you're moving guys all over, they have no clue what their role is. They seem to try to play a certain way dependent on the line they're on. JC needs t plant these guys on a line and say, "This is where you're playing and this is what I need."

If you look at Hartman before he was shipped out, he was caught in the middle of whether or not he needed to be a role player or a skilled guy. The end result was that he was a ghost on the ice because he didn't know what to do.

Potash posted this and I found it quite interesting. He's been a big opponent of the Q firing/JC hiring, but seems the record of mid season replacements has been a 60/40 proposition, even for those, like Sullivan, that everyone points to as prime examples of why you would want to make a change.



I've admittedly become more skeptical after initially being a big fan of JC as the replacement. I liked what I'd heard about his development chops and how the players spoke of him. I liked his positive energy. I liked that he was going to erase the "country club" arrogance and how he seemed to recognize this team would need more practices together to make it work with all the new guys. Thought he would be perfect for a young, developing team. What the effect has been on the vets and watching him coaching them on the bench makes me wonder if it was a bridge too far, at least for now.
- pdx2ord

The team is garbage talent wise. The only reason Q was .500 was because the core shot the lights out the first half dozen games.

No one could win consistently with this group.

I am completely opposed to this roster playing to lose. I am not opposed to the reworking of the current roster to get rid of players without long-term values andbusing then to acquire longer-term assets — young players and pucks— that will help two or three years down the road. I don’t expect victory every night but I do want to be entertained. I’d rather watch a poor team playing valiantly and with enthusiasm than what I am seeing these days. This is a mentally and physically weak team going nowhere....at least make watching the game fun again

Great blog Justin. It's truly a sad time here in chicago, I think complacency along with a weak front office and a desire to worry about marketing .


As much as I'd like to see Kane stay , I'm at the point where everyone needs to be addressed and tradeable.


What would it take to move say Seabrook , Crawford, Toews ,anisimov to Edmonton in a package deal for either drasati or Nugent Hopkins, and nurse , Talbot?


Then move Keith to Winnipeg for trouba as well as saad for laine?


Edmonton as well as Winnipeg are both in good positions to want to make a run.


Would you envision a deal like that?
- Taylorst1

You're kidding right? This is sarcasm? Please tell me this is sarcasm.

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

Supposedly at last year's trade deadline Columbus offered a 3rd round pick. I think Hawk fans would be happy with that, maybe even a 2nd. Offloading his salary would be the big gain.

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

He can snipe. He is not a complete player now and sure won't be a few years from now. But he can improve the PP, and if that is all he does he's worth thinking about. Not ideal, I know.

I think Perlini has something to offer, I'm just not sure it's on the top lines. I think he's a lower line guy. I like his size, speed and he apparently has a good shot which he used to use a lot in Arizona (according to Biz). He has to get that going here.

I agree that JC needs to keep that Cat-Strome-Kane line together. Let them gel and catch a groove.

JC's blender is 100% based on self-doubt and terrible play. He's lost as to what to do, so he's just jumbling things and hoping something sticks - like grasping at straws. I think he needs to just set lines and see it through,, even if it gets rough.

Can't keep bouncing guys around IMO. They need some stability and structure.

I think another big issue is lack of identity/role for some of these guys. When you're moving guys all over, they have no clue what their role is. They seem to try to play a certain way dependent on the line they're on. JC needs t plant these guys on a line and say, "This is where you're playing and this is what I need."

If you look at Hartman before he was shipped out, he was caught in the middle of whether or not he needed to be a role player or a skilled guy. The end result was that he was a ghost on the ice because he didn't know what to do.
- Hank3Henshaw

Great points, H3H, I totally agree!

Great points, H3H, I totally agree!
- I Am The Breadman

Thanks!

I am completely opposed to this roster playing to lose. I am not opposed to the reworking of the current roster to get rid of players without long-term values andbusing then to acquire longer-term assets — young players and pucks— that will help two or three years down the road. I don’t expect victory every night but I do want to be entertained. I’d rather watch a poor team playing valiantly and with enthusiasm than what I am seeing these days. This is a mentally and physically weak team going nowhere....at least make watching the game fun again
- Spec41971

I agree 100% with your opening line. I said the same on the first page.

I really feel like this is placeholder season for young guys, and I can't wait for this ample supply of bottom 6 and fringe dmen to move on out.

Connor Murphy on his view from the sidelines:

“I feel comfortable,” he said. “It’s hard, because I’ve only had a few practices, so I haven’t been able to see too many of the details. But when it comes down to it, when you watch the differences in our games lately, it’s not so much about systems as it is about your compete level and your play and your confidence. That’s how you win games. Systems help, but as you see in some of these games that we’ve lost or given up early leads, it comes down to your compete and your desire and your will and wanting to win. And that trumps the systems. Or the systems take care of themselves when you’re working hard.”

Far too many of the guys talking about a lack of compete. You know you have a less than NHL ready roster so you just give up?

I don't want Stan in charge of the sell-off. He rarely ever gets fair value for his trades, and I have zero evidence to prove he'd win trades this year.

Don't sell list: Kane, Debrincat, Jokiharju, Saad, Forsling, Strome

Sell only if a great deal: Keith, Kahun, Fortin, Hayden, Toews

Sell for picks/prospects: Anisimov, Murphy, Gustafson, Rutta, Crawford, Ward, Kruger

Sell for anything you can get: Seabrook, Manning, Kunitz, Davidson



I think you sell as many guys as you can, and call up guys who could be part of the future. A big missed opportunity by Stan for not signing UFAs to one year deals this offseason so he could rent them out for picks. He knew this team was glorified poop, maybe he can get a nice Wendy's coupon for his big signings from this last summer (Kunitz, Ward, Manning).

I am completely opposed to this roster playing to lose. I am not opposed to the reworking of the current roster to get rid of players without long-term values andbusing then to acquire longer-term assets — young players and pucks— that will help two or three years down the road. I don’t expect victory every night but I do want to be entertained. I’d rather watch a poor team playing valiantly and with enthusiasm than what I am seeing these days. This is a mentally and physically weak team going nowhere....at least make watching the game fun again
- Spec41971

Oh they're playing to lose whether they're trying or not. It's Kane/Toews/Keith vs. the league every dang night.

He can snipe. He is not a complete player now and sure won't be a few years from now. But he can improve the PP, and if that is all he does he's worth thinking about. Not ideal, I know.
- 6628

That's what I said, 66, not saving but helpful. I agree that he is nearing the end. "He brings a lot of intangibles!"

I am completely opposed to this roster playing to lose. I am not opposed to the reworking of the current roster to get rid of players without long-term values andbusing then to acquire longer-term assets — young players and pucks— that will help two or three years down the road. I don’t expect victory every night but I do want to be entertained. I’d rather watch a poor team playing valiantly and with enthusiasm than what I am seeing these days. This is a mentally and physically weak team going nowhere....at least make watching the game fun again
- Spec41971

Its really not. Its a team trying hard but not having enough talent or wherewithal to execute.

Q hid that a bit better than JC who is letting some guys loose to play and we are seeing how bad they really are.

5 third pairing and AHL defenders. Lil Henri has been the best and playing the least.

Martinsen, Hayden, Kunitz provide little to no value. Kahun looks uncomfortable at times on the smaller sheet. Some time in the AHL would have been more appropriate. Kruger has been meh, Fortin tries really hard but not quite there yet so the bottom six talent is kind of messy. Goaltending hasnt been otherworldly.

They're just not good and that doesn't have a lot to do with the coach lol.

Great blog Justin. It's truly a sad time here in chicago, I think complacency along with a weak front office and a desire to worry about marketing .


As much as I'd like to see Kane stay , I'm at the point where everyone needs to be addressed and tradeable.


What would it take to move say Seabrook , Crawford, Toews ,anisimov to Edmonton in a package deal for either drasati or Nugent Hopkins, and nurse , Talbot?


Then move Keith to Winnipeg for trouba as well as saad for laine?


Edmonton as well as Winnipeg are both in good positions to want to make a run.


Would you envision a deal like that?
- Taylorst1

There is NO way Winnipeg trades Liane for Saad...that is asinine to suggest lmao.
I feel Keith for Trouba is a great deal for both teams however.

Its really not. Its a team trying hard but not having enough talent or wherewithal to execute.

Q hid that a bit better than JC who is letting some guys loose to play and we are seeing how bad they really are.

5 third pairing and AHL defenders. Lil Henri has been the best and playing the least.

Martinsen, Hayden, Kunitz provide little to no value. Kahun looks uncomfortable at times on the smaller sheet. Some time in the AHL would have been more appropriate. Kruger has been meh, Fortin tries really hard but not quite there yet so the bottom six talent is kind of messy. Goaltending hasnt been otherworldly.

They're just not good and that doesn't have a lot to do with the coach lol.
- fattybeef

Isolating on the Bottom 6 comments (which are shared by many around the league) you wonder why they don't at least shuffle the deck with some of the Rockford crew....unless they are marginally worse? That would speak to an unbelievably depleted F corp on the farm. If I'm DeBrincat's agent, I'm licking my chops because the Hawks will probably overpay on his next deal due to the dearth of F talent in the pipeline.

Hey Taylor 1, what's the weather like in rainbow land? Your trade proposal are so one sided and ridiculous. You're living in a dream world.
- GPHawksfan

You should really get out from mommy and daddy's house and stop watching the paint dry, it's clouding your judgement.

If you have something to add to the conversation say it otherwise trying to slander someone shows just how shallow and ignorant you truly are.

I don't want Stan in charge of the sell-off. He rarely ever gets fair value for his trades, and I have zero evidence to prove he'd win trades this year.

Don't sell list: Kane, Debrincat, Jokiharju, Saad, Forsling, Strome

Sell only if a great deal: Keith, Kahun, Fortin, Hayden, Toews

Sell for picks/prospects: Anisimov, Murphy, Gustafson, Rutta, Crawford, Ward, Kruger

Sell for anything you can get: Seabrook, Manning, Kunitz, Davidson



I think you sell as many guys as you can, and call up guys who could be part of the future. A big missed opportunity by Stan for not signing UFAs to one year deals this offseason so he could rent them out for picks. He knew this team was glorified poop, maybe he can get a nice Wendy's coupon for his big signings from this last summer (Kunitz, Ward, Manning).
- ObeseOprah

I don't want Stan in charge of the sell-off. He rarely ever gets fair value for his trades, and I have zero evidence to prove he'd win trades this year.

Don't sell list: Kane, Debrincat, Jokiharju, Saad, Forsling, Strome

Sell only if a great deal: Keith, Kahun, Fortin, Hayden, Toews

Sell for picks/prospects: Anisimov, Murphy, Gustafson, Rutta, Crawford, Ward, Kruger

Sell for anything you can get: Seabrook, Manning, Kunitz, Davidson



I think you sell as many guys as you can, and call up guys who could be part of the future. A big missed opportunity by Stan for not signing UFAs to one year deals this offseason so he could rent them out for picks. He knew this team was glorified poop, maybe he can get a nice Wendy's coupon for his big signings from this last summer (Kunitz, Ward, Manning).
- ObeseOprah

Kahun, Fortin and Hayden make the sell only if a great deal list? Sorry but those 3 stiffs are bottpm of the roster players that wouldnt pull much better than a 4th rounder each. At best they are throwins in multi player deals.

Isolating on the Bottom 6 comments (which are shared by many around the league) you wonder why they don't at least shuffle the deck with some of the Rockford crew....unless they are marginally worse? That would speak to an unbelievably depleted F corp on the farm. If I'm DeBrincat's agent, I'm licking my chops because the Hawks will probably overpay on his next deal due to the dearth of F talent in the pipeline.
- phantasmo

This is the grim reality, I'm afraid- the fringe NHL talent currently playing bottom 6 (and defense for that matter) isn't blocking a bunch of high level prospects, just different ones. The higher rated prospects are playing in lower levels and are a couple of years away, unless they're rushed to the slaughter.

You should really get out from mommy and daddy's house and stop watching the paint dry, it's clouding your judgement.

If you have something to add to the conversation say it otherwise trying to slander someone shows just how shallow and ignorant you truly are.
- Taylorst1

Well first of all there was no slander, GP was just saying how ridiculous your trade proposals were (and they really are) and secondly it's not really a conversation when the first party is simply spewing drivel.

Great blog Justin. It's truly a sad time here in chicago, I think complacency along with a weak front office and a desire to worry about marketing .


As much as I'd like to see Kane stay , I'm at the point where everyone needs to be addressed and tradeable.


What would it take to move say Seabrook , Crawford, Toews ,anisimov to Edmonton in a package deal for either drasati or Nugent Hopkins, and nurse , Talbot?


Then move Keith to Winnipeg for trouba as well as saad for laine?


Edmonton as well as Winnipeg are both in good positions to want to make a run.


Would you envision a deal like that?
- Taylorst1

PIPE DREAM!!! Laine is arguably the best goal scorer in hockey, and Trouba is a very good young defenseman. No way on God's green earth does Winnipeg trade for a d-man past his prime and Saad for 2 young studs!! Sorry, but unrealistic and no chance of it happening.

I think he was 100% serious on those trade ideas too