D is 4'8", how could he possibly defend himself even if he were here?
- paulr

4'8 canadian or american?

Lets assume Seabs is correct, and we have no reason not to believe him...how in the Hell do these rumors get started that are so blatently wrong
- glennjpawlak22

Reached by phone about an hour after Seabrook spoke, Friedman said: "I am very, very uncomfortable with being on the other side of Brent Seabrook on this. But I understand, at least once this season there was a conversation between team, player and agent about his future in Chicago. That's all I can really say. At some point this season, it happened."

Sure with Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, Jaques Lamaire, Yvan Cournoyer, Frank Mahovolich, Guy Lapointe, Steve Schutt ... He didn't exactly do it on his own.

The Canadiens '93 cup win was equal parts solid goaltending, good players and luck but that's the closest I have seen a goalie being dominant for a cup run.

I'd argue no weak team, which the Hawks currently are, has ever won the cup solely on the exploits of the goalie.
- paulr

What about J S Giguere with the ducks? I can't remember the year and they didn't win it but he carried that team.

Charlie Roumeliotis:

With the trade deadline on Feb. 25, Seabrook also declined to comment on whether or not he’d waive it before then if the right opportunity presented itself.

“I haven’t thought about it,” Seabrook said. “I guess I’ll deal with that when that day comes. But my focus right now is to try to help this team get into the playoffs. That’s what I’m thinking about.”

Maybe not really bad team but team not as skilled as another..

Mike Smith won at least 9 in 2012? Luongo in 96?
- Popsghostly

Craig Anderson carried a very underwhelming Sens team to OT of game 7 of the ECF against the Pens

I can't think of one example where a goalie on a really bad team was intrumental in the team winning 12 playoff games. Do you have one?
- paulr

Steve Penney with MTL took them to the conf finals in 83/84. They Habs thought they had Ken Dryden 2.0 in Penney only to have him prove to be just a flash in the pan.

Reached by phone about an hour after Seabrook spoke, Friedman said: "I am very, very uncomfortable with being on the other side of Brent Seabrook on this. But I understand, at least once this season there was a conversation between team, player and agent about his future in Chicago. That's all I can really say. At some point this season, it happened."
- walleyeb1

Ya Friedman is uncomfortable because he has a reputation for being 'infallible'. If he went with some rumor from an unreliable source then he has some explaining to do.

Maybe he spoke to Trump who heard it from El Chapo who got if from Nicolas Maduro.

Could be semantics too. Maybe the front office talked to Seabs, Keith, AA, Ward, Kunitz, and Kruger (and their agents) in general terms about the possibility or what if scenarios, but never directly asked the question because they did not have a deal in place.

Or the FO could have just asked their agents and not the players directly. So the player could truthfully say he was not asked.

Or it could be total media BS, fake news.
- -Doh-

I'm going to guess this. Remember after Q got launched Duncan Keith was playing with a don't give a crap attitude. My hunch is all players with NMC/NTC were asked/approached at this time.

Thoughts on the rebuild philosophy or model.

I said this before and will repeat it because it does not seem to stick with many folks. Las Vegas started at ZERO and took the unwashed and made playoffs and Cup Final. They remain competitive and a solid playoff team this year again. They never stocked the cupboards with years of draft picks and development. They opted to play a certain style that puts constant pressure on opponents. Even when there is more talent on the other side, they overwhelm it with energy and relentless play.

IF you were starting a team today and you already started with Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Debrincat and Crawford, how much farther along are you from the get go than Vegas last year?

As we see, even in Vegas, that the hardest part of getting your team over the hump is star power. We start with that. Yes, if the return was right, would I part with 1 or 2 of them, sure, but like Vegas, if you have someone (MAF) with some Cup Pedigree, you keep that pixie dust around.

While I know most will vehemently disagree with me, but SB attempted to transition the roster over the last 3 or 4 years to add more mobility and speed. Q clearly rejected these players, leading to his eventual dismissal. As loading up Manning and Kunitz (Q guys) were not going to make this team better.

It is always easy to play the hindsight games, but players who were either not ready or Q approved were given away for nothing. How much better off would we be with Danualt anchoring the third line and filling in on 2nd? It is not top 6 any more in NHL, but top 9, if you want to win a cup. Kempny too, would definitely be a guy to play top 4 minutes...he did that and won a cup last year. Again, he was not a Q guy, clearly run out of town.

The roster is being assembled with gritty, hard skating forwards a la Tampa. Kamph, Kahun, Perlini, are all guys that can skate, push the pace and be no fun to play against. They are like Yanni Gourd, Cirelli, Killorn. The hawks are building their team to this model. (Everyone is)

The genius of the Seabrook and Keith saga is playing out perfectly, which many are missing the most obvious point, is either they are in or out. They clearly know how this team is being put together and can either commit to be part of the solution NOW or move on. Once they commit to being on board, I would expect their games to kick up another notch. Otherwise, they can leave. The country club era of non accountability and built in excuses is over. I believe they will embrace the challenge.

And I do not disagree with Paul, who is one of the best posters on this board with his insights. Never a bad idea to stock the cupboards, I just think we are in a different world where the margins from top to bottom in the league are razor thin. Adding a few pieces and developing others in your system give you a chance. Vegas ruined it for every GM going forward, there is no more wait and see. A 4 and out playoff is better than no playoffs.

Reports out there that the Jets are willing to trade their #1 draft pick this TDL. Last year they traded their #1 pick to the Blues for Stastny.

Reports out there that the Jets are willing to trade their #1 draft pick this TDL. Last year they traded their #1 pick to the Blues for Stastny.
- AEL_Fox

What do they need and do the Blackhawks have it?

What do they need and do the Blackhawks have it?
- CanOCorn

Third line center. Doubt they'd want Anisimov though

Ya Friedman is uncomfortable because he has a reputation for being 'infallible'. If he went with some rumor from an unreliable source then he has some explaining to do.

Maybe he spoke to Trump who heard it from El Chapo who got if from Nicolas Maduro.
- RickJ

The question he was asked was “have you been approached by the team about trade talk or anything”.

When you read Seabrook’s denial, seems like there’s some wiggle room there.

"I haven't been approached by anybody," Seabrook said to a throng of media after the team practiced at MB Ice Arena. "So I don't know where the reports are coming from."

Third line center. Doubt they'd want Anisimov though
- GPHawksfan

Jeff Carter seems the obvious fit there.

Jeff Carter seems the obvious fit there.
- BINGO!

Ideally. But he's says he's going to retire if they trade him, but that could be all talk too

Ideally. But he's says he's going to retire if they trade him, but that could be all talk too
- GPHawksfan

True. I guess that remains to be seen. Probably just doesn't want to end up in Edmonton.

True. I guess that remains to be seen. Probably just doesn't want to end up in Edmonton.
- BINGO!

Or Carolina LOL just messin with you Bingo

OK, let's entertain your concept that we should tank (I don't personally agree with it, but I'm willing to discuss). The players aren't going to willingly go on the ice an drop for a draft slot. So you shift that onus to the FO. Is the idea that you trade away your best players to drop in the standings? Well, the only one you really have a shot with is Keith. All the other good players either make too much, or have NMC's (or both).

So what is your solution to get the Hawks to actually tank? Does mgmt tell Colliton to bench Toews, Kane, ADB and play Martinsen, Kunitz, Hayden, etc? Heck, they already sent down one of (if not the) best defenseman to Rockford. It's fine to say it would be better to have a higher draft pick, but there are so many factors that are out of control in that regard, that I think it's silly to entertain.

Build the group you have, acquire improvements where and when you can, and find ways to make the players you have as successful as possible.
- Chunk

I think sending Henri down is a solid tank move. Giving Kunitz ice time is a tank move. I would trade away Anisimov ASAP, even though he my not help our tanking if he was gone. Maybe give Ward a couple more starts than Delia, as he's demonstrably worse.

Or Carolina LOL just messin with you Bingo
- EnzoD

I was gonna say that but people complained about Canes talk earlier so was trying to steer clear.

Ya Friedman is uncomfortable because he has a reputation for being 'infallible'. If he went with some rumor from an unreliable source then he has some explaining to do.

Maybe he spoke to Trump who heard it from El Chapo who got if from Nicolas Maduro.
- RickJ

Didnt Brian Williams mention that he had dinner with Seabs last time the Hawks were in NY and Seabs as much told him. Brian, being good friends with El Chapo, even interviewing him several times, relayed it to him and the ball got rollin -

Maybe not really bad team but team not as skilled as another..

Mike Smith won at least 9 in 2012? Luongo in 96?
- Popsghostly

96 was John Vanbiesbrouck. Luongo hadn't been drafted yet.

They've won 4 straight and are still at 4th in the draft lottery....there is no way they make the playoffs or finish worse/better than 7/8th in the lottery IMO. Too poor of defense, absolutely no scoring depth, and average goaltending.
- EnzoD

God I hope you're right. Wouldn't be upset with roughly 30 close 1-goal losses in regulation.

From what I've seen there's 5 top forwards circling around at the top of the draft: Hughes and Kakko, then in a separate tier Podkolzin, Cozens, Dach.

If the Hawks finish dead last, they're guaranteed the 4th overall pick or better. Which essentially guarantees us a pretty great prospect forward.

Now if you'll excuse me I'll be in my room with my tinfoil hat and Hossa blanket.

Please no more Carolina talk unless something actually happens.


TT is irrelevant. Wish him well and move on. What's done is done and no one gives a crud anymore.
- stan-ley-cups

TT is a decent hockey player, but he is NEVER going to carry a team. TT gets a whole bunch of "somebody" points. What I mean by that is, in a typical NHL game the average goals per game for each team is around 3 goals, so "somebody" is going to score. TT is 3rd among Carolina forwards in ice-time. Get enough ice-time and throw enough crap at the net and somebody will score.

TT has 12 goals, take one of the boards favorite whipping boys Saad who has 17 goals and you can begin to see similar stats/results. Put skilled guys out there and they will tend to find some points. Doesn't make them dominant or mean they can carry/drive a team.

Sure with Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, Jaques Lamaire, Yvan Cournoyer, Frank Mahovolich, Guy Lapointe, Steve Schutt ... He didn't exactly do it on his own.

The Canadiens '93 cup win was equal parts solid goaltending, good players and luck but that's the closest I have seen a goalie being dominant for a cup run.

I'd argue no weak team, which the Hawks currently are, has ever won the cup solely on the exploits of the goalie.
- paulr

Plus, you’d need a goalie capable of doing it. CC still on IR and Ward/Delia aren’t exactly Hasek in his prime.

What about J S Giguere with the ducks? I can't remember the year and they didn't win it but he carried that team.
- GPHawksfan

03 I believe. Battle of the Niedermayers!