I know that Keith would get us a great return, but I still really can't stomach losing him. We're already the worst team in the NHL, losing Keith makes us the worst by a country mile, and makes it that much harder to recover in the coming years.

Buffalo and Edmonton did 'full tear down' rebuilds where they sold off everyone of an value (Miller, Pominville, Vanek, Regehr, Roy, Gaustad, Ehrhoff, Sekera, etc.). This made their hole to climb out of that much deeper. They got great pieces over the next couple years (Eichel, Reinhart, Ristolainen) but none of it mattered because those guys couldn't carry a team of AHLers to any kind of success. It wasn't until they restarted their rebuild with Botterill that they became relevant again. You don't have to have zero talent to be in last place and get a top pick. Once your new top 4-5 guys are ready, you need to have a solid supporting cast so these guys have someone to lean on.

Buffalo added Hutton, Skinner, Okposo, Berglund, Sobotka, and a few more to finally have a full roster of NHL players plus the kids. Now they're playoff contenders.

If the Hawks sell off ALL of our talent, it'll make the rebuild much much longer. I'd like to keep around most of this core or at least Keith and Kane, they will keep the team relevant and be great pieces for when our next wave of top talent hits (Boqvist, Beaudin, our 1st round this coming draft).
- ObeseOprah

I completely understand what you are saying, but at this point, we are still 2 or 3 years away from being a playoff team even with Keith. As much as I loved him as as Blackhawk, I say sell him now for as much as you can get. He is the type of player that teams will give up a lot for, especially the Toronto's of the league that are trying to win their first cup in forever. Time for the Hawks to fleece other teams going all in for a Stanley Cup. Hopefully it isn't Stan making that call. I don't trust he knows how to negotiate to get the most value...just look at the Timonen trade.

I am with you on that - crater the team completely and they dig themselves a 5 year hole to crawl out of.

And I am sick and tired of hearing how these 19 and 20 year old defenceman and pee wee size forwards are going to step in next year and fix things on the blueline. It rarely ever happens that way, more times than enough a team ruins the kid by rushing him into competition he isn't ready for.
- RickJ

You mean a D guy getting a point a game in the OHL doesn't scream savior to you?

They should keep the true NHL guys they have and rebuild from there.

I completely understand what you are saying, but at this point, we are still 2 or 3 years away from being a playoff team even with Keith. As much as I loved him as as Blackhawk, I say sell him now for as much as you can get. He is the type of player that teams will give up a lot for, especially the Toronto's of the league that are trying to win their first cup in forever. Time for the Hawks to fleece other teams going all in for a Stanley Cup. Hopefully it isn't Stan making that call. I don't trust he knows how to negotiate to get the most value...just look at the Timonen trade.
- spudrock512

I think you look at Keith from these three directions:

1. Who else out there earning a $5.5MM cap or less is better than a 75% Keith?
2. What is a realistic return for Keith in a trade?
3. What teams would he waive for that have assets/cap space to get him?

Yeah, mood policing is a bad look. Don't do it.

If the team is playing like poop, you're allowed to be mad that the team is playing like poop. You've all invested in this team emotionally and financially over the years. You can feel how you want to about them.
- BINGO!

That really is the operative phrase here...”If the team is playing like poop”.

They are now for sure, so absolutely feel free to shine a light on it. Problem is, these posts don’t look all that different from when the team was winning...maybe a little but not much.

Policing isn’t good as we’ve seen what that can lead to on this site, some of us anyway; but I don’t think it’s a bad thing to point out, that that 10 year period of hockey was what we all waited for as fans. I would think that’s what most of us waited for anyway. Like I said, that’s hard to gauge as some were complaining all the way through the Golden Age. Their loss I suppose.

I wouldn't mind the leafs getting Keith, but Zaitsev would have to the other way as part of compensation.
- aries1976

If Keith was legitimately available in the market the Hawks take the best offer available and unless they like Zaitsev as a player have no reason to take him back just so Dubas can balance his cap books. Lots of teams would pony up more than Zaitsev plus in return for Keith.

If Keith was legitimately available in the market the Hawks take the best offer available and unless they like Zaitsev as a player have no reason to take him back just so Dubas can balance his cap books. Lots of teams would pony up more than Zaitsev plus in return for Keith.
- RickJ

I think a fair package would be Zaitsev, Brown, a 2nd rounder and a prospect in our top 10.

If hypothetically Keith is available.

I think you look at Keith from these three directions:

1. Who else out there earning a $5.5MM cap or less is better than a 75% Keith?
2. What is a realistic return for Keith in a trade?
3. What teams would he waive for that have assets/cap space to get him?
- Return of the Roar

Winnipeg, Toronto, Vegas.

George McPhee is sitting in the bushes right now but I think he knows he has to improve his blueline somehow. I am expecting him to jump out with a big trade soon.

Winnipeg, Toronto, Vegas.

George McPhee is sitting in the bushes right now but I think he knows he has to improve his blueline somehow. I am expecting him to jump out with a big trade soon.
- RickJ

TO and WPG are about to enter cap hell next season. If we get good assets back in the form of an NHL ready guy or two (Trouba - WPG, a scoring forward from TO), I'm down for that.

I think the Hawks would be responsible for the difference between Q's new contract and the remaining dollars on his current Chicago deal.

Somehow, the league office would get involved to "make sure" that the new deal was reasonable - the new team couldn't sign him for $1, for instance....
- StLBravesFan

I’m not sure that’s how it works, the Blackhawks relieved him of his coaching duties, but they still have a contract with him. I’m pretty sure if he takes another coaching job that would terminate the contract with the Blackhawks.

Who knows, he may be in the running for the the job in Seattle and just sit out this season and next and run his contract out.

Yeah they're not minor penalties that he's racking up due to being slow or anything, which is a positive.

But that kind of frustration is... not great.
- BINGO!

It seemed to be OK when he was frustrated with Daniel Sedin and Jeff Carter, no?

It just keeps getting worse:

MEDICAL UPDATE: Forward Artem Anisimov (concussion protocol) will not practice today, and he will not make today's trip to Winnipeg.

I think a fair package would be Zaitsev, Brown, a 2nd rounder and a prospect in our top 10.

If hypothetically Keith is available.
- aries1976

2nd round pick is around #60 in the draft, not good enough.

Rasmus Sandin or Lilgegren would be on the Hawks request list.

But I don't believe Keith is legit on the market right now.

Sikura? The guy has what, 4? 5? garbage time NHL games under his belt and you project him as a first line wing? lololol

Any defense of the future with Keith, Seabrook, Forsling looks like a really poopty defense.

There are a poop-ton of IFS in this piece. First being that Jack Hughes at 5 foot nothing is the answer. The Hawks already have several small guys with skill. Im not saying Hughes is gonna be a bust, but for gods sake, cant they find someone with skill and a bit of size with a top pick? If they got the first pick, Id trade it to whoever has the 2nd pick and get even more for it, someone is gonna want Hughes. Id trade the top pick if it were me.

This team is 4-5 years away from being competent again, and thats being generous unless they trade their aging core players asap.

I think a fair package would be Zaitsev, Brown, a 2nd rounder and a prospect in our top 10.

If hypothetically Keith is available.
- aries1976

The circus in the Leafs end when other teams apply pressure would be limited with Riley and Keith heading up two defense pairings. It allows Gardner to be left for offensive situations. Nothing can possibly be more frustrating for a Leaf fan then to watch Gardner with one hand on his stick try to figure out what his job is in the defensive zone.

It just keeps getting worse:

MEDICAL UPDATE: Forward Artem Anisimov (concussion protocol) will not practice today, and he will not make today's trip to Winnipeg.
- walleyeb1

That puts the exclamation point on our toilet season.

Sikura? The guy has what, 4? 5? garbage time NHL games under his belt and you project him as a first line wing? lololol

Any defense of the future with Keith, Seabrook, Forsling looks like a really poopty defense.

There are a poop-ton of IFS in this piece. First being that Jack Hughes at 5 foot nothing is the answer. The Hawks already have several small guys with skill. Im not saying Hughes is gonna be a bust, but for gods sake, cant they find someone with skill and a bit of size with a top pick? If they got the first pick, Id trade it to whoever has the 2nd pick and get even more for it, someone is gonna want Hughes. Id trade the top pick if it were me.

This team is 4-5 years away from being competent again, and thats being generous unless they trade their aging core players asap.
- Poultryman

DING DING DING

Find guys in the Alex Tuch, Mark Stone mold to support the snipers we do have like Kane and ADB.

On defense need to find guys that at least create a perception to opposing forwards that zone entry might be a questionable choice to make.

This ^^^

I have a feeling the lottery gods will taketh if the Hawks end up last. I expect them to pick either 3rd or 4th. Hopefully we will pick a Toews and not a Barker.
- Popsghostly

These guys are alright, and they have size

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaLG_Mq23ns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaLG_Mq23ns

The circus in the Leafs end when other teams apply pressure would be limited with Riley and Keith heading up two defense pairings. It allows Gardner to be left for offensive situations. Nothing can possibly be more frustrating for a Leaf fan then to watch Gardner with one hand on his stick try to figure out what his job is in the defensive zone.
- paulr

Without a lot of their top players Saturday night, the Bruins gave the rest of the league a game plan on how to deal with Leaf's run and gun offence by jumping all over their defence. And Detroit of all teams gave them trouble too. And there has been many games that Anderson's play in net has saved the Leafs. That's not lost on Babcock who will drive Dubas crazy until he gets him a defenceman he likes.

2nd round pick is around #60 in the draft, not good enough.

Rasmus Sandin or Lilgegren would be on the Hawks request list.

But I don't believe Keith is legit on the market right now.
- RickJ

I suspect out of respect for Keith, Toews, Kane and Crawford Bowman wouldn't offer them around but would, I hope, listen if reasonable offers were made for them. And don't get me wrong I love what all of those guys did for the team but now they will help the Hawks the most by bringing back blue chip prospects and high picks.

Without a lot of their top players Saturday night, the Bruins gave the rest of the league a game plan on how to deal with Leaf's run and gun offence by jumping all over their defence. And Detroit of all teams gave them trouble too. And there has been many games that Anderson's play in net has saved the Leafs. That's not lost on Babcock who will drive Dubas crazy until he gets him a defenceman he likes.
- RickJ

Kinda shows how good Freddie has been for the leafs. I think before the Bruins Game, they were top 5 in GAA.... Rielly's emergence has been noticed by all by now.

If the leafs and parting with a 1st, Sandin, or Liljegren, I rather have Petro from the Blues.

Any other scenario, I would look at Duncan.

Leafs have cap issues next year, but that's not this year.

That really is the operative phrase here...”If the team is playing like poop”.

They are now for sure, so absolutely feel free to shine a light on it. Problem is, these posts don’t look all that different from when the team was winning...maybe a little but not much.

Policing isn’t good as we’ve seen what that can lead to on this site, some of us anyway; but I don’t think it’s a bad thing to point out, that that 10 year period of hockey was what we all waited for as fans. I would think that’s what most of us waited for anyway. Like I said, that’s hard to gauge as some were complaining all the way through the Golden Age. Their loss I suppose.
- HawkintheD

How exactly could people have been complaining for 10 years when most regular posters here joined the site AFTER 2014......??

I like where you're going with this blog, Justin.

You're pointing to the main task of the front office right now: make some moves that build hope for a positive future. Bonus: keep as many of the core as possible.

Anisimov, Kruger, Manning, Rutta, Martinsen, Gustafsson, Fortin, Ward, and, of course Kunitz, are guys on the current roster that aren't on your projection. I'd be ok with losing all of them.

It's an intriguing roster. Add the year after that some of the other younger defensemen and forwards in the system and a bright future starts to take form. (Other free agents could help too.)

As others have mentioned in their comments, Colliton is going to need to develop quickly to keep his job. I'm not sure he's the guy for the job.

For right now, this team sucks. But there are still some great pieces and some up and comers. McD and Stan need to get a good plan and then implement it.

Good and spot on! One further 56,44,29,24,84,64 are not NHL players on ANY team. They need to go back to their overseas beer league. There is a reason why none of these guys were drafted. But yet this illustrious GM thinks he can create the next Edmonton Oilers dynasty out of garbage. Agree with the previous poster that said Panerin is a once-in-a-lifetime hit in a situation like that.
- wonthecup10

I think Hayden has a spot in the NHL. Of the ones listed above I think #64 is a solid 4th line player who can spot onto other lines and not hurt you. #24 needs some AHL/Development time, but will turn out to be a servicable NHLer. #56 and #44 aren't kids anymore, if they haven't figured it out yet, I'm not sure they ever will. #29 is fine as a part time 4th line energy/banger on a team deep with talent.....this team isn't that. #84 is in over his head, Stahlberg 2.0.

>>>I’m hearing the Hawks management is finally admitting that this is not a playoff team and that means more changes.<<<

wow...well i am impressed...i wonder what changed their mind

Justin, I think the lineup you propose is a possible scenario for next season. My gut is that the lineup will be one of two things: (1) similar to what you are proposing or, (2) a complete overhaul with several of the core gone and several new faces to replace them in addition to the new faces that need to be in place anyway had some of the core not been traded.