Well, i had to get back before the wall went up.
- Elbows15

Maybe that was who Drumpf was trying to keep out?

That is, exactly, my point. If he came in and put in a defensive system that hid some of the D weakness, I’d be impressed, but his system doesn’t fit these players. And running 2 soft chicken sh*t defenseman out on the same pair is just plain stupid.
- scottak

There is a reason why some have named this site the Board of Doom. The Hawks are playing their best hockey in the last 12 to 18 months and you focus on the negative. Man to man makes no sense looking at it from the outside but perhaps there is method and a long term plan here? How the Hawk play tactically right now as a mediocre team wild card team is irrelevant. What the GM and coaches need to understand is what they have and what they need in terms of talent. If the Hawks were a cup contender and were playing man to man defense or playing guys who look like they shouldn't be in the NHL I'd share your concern, but right now it really doesn't matter.

And I'm a Chicken Hawk!! 🤪

Maybe that was who Drumpf was trying to keep out?
- paulr

Let's hope.

Let's hope.
- Elbows15

When are you guys building a northern wall to keep our socialist influences and ideas out of your country?

When are you guys building a northern wall to keep our socialist influences and ideas out of your country?
- paulr

when Canada agrees to pay for it,

When are you guys building a northern wall to keep our socialist influences and ideas out of your country?
- paulr

A western wall which will replace the Pacific Crest Trail to keep all the left coast types in their place is next.

When are you guys building a northern wall to keep our socialist influences and ideas out of your country?
- paulr

Will it keep out Canuck fans, or just regular people?

And I'm a Chicken Hawk!! 🤪
- BGKarras

Oh this is fun.

I am Pops Hawk!!!

When are you guys building a northern wall to keep our socialist influences and ideas out of your country?
- paulr

They won't ask for one until they tell them they need one.

Oh this is fun.

I am Pops Hawk!!!
- Popsghostly

Lol😂

Since it was already brought up - I was thinking, all the Mexico Hawks on this board, maybe Trump can get them to pay for the wall.

Now, back to hockey talk

Since it was already brought up - I was thinking, all the Mexico Hawks on this board, maybe Trump can get them to pay for the wall.

Now, back to hockey talk
- powerenforcer

Nope... El Chapo is..

Anything can happen, but I think the Hawks would be better off focusing on draft rather than the playoffs... The draft can help this team in the long-run and the odds of the Hawks making the playoffs, let alone the Cup are slim to nil... If I were Bowman I would be exploring different long-term options right now than buying and hoping for the best.

Only problem is that the Hawks have nothing of real value to sell. Seabrook has no value, Keith has made it clear he's in it for the long-run and obviously Kane & Toews are going nowhere... Hawks could trade Saad or Anisimov but they're not rentals.. So who do the Hawks really have that they can sell? Kruger and Kunitz?... So yea I see the Hawks trading their pending UFA's but I don't expect anything of real value in return, perhaps a couple of mid-round picks or mid-level "project" prospects but nothing to get excited about..

I mean if the Hawks go on another win streak and find themselves in a playoff spot come TDL I could see Bowman just standing pat but not buying unless a gets a bargain or a piece that fits the Hawks now and their long-term plans.

If I were Bowman I would really be thinking about what it would take to acquire the 1st overall pick and take that Hughes kid because he could make an impact next season and for seasons to come, and the Hawks are in a position to make a move like that, they can afford to package next summers First Round Pick, with this summers First Round Pick and acquire another piece around the draft that will be hopefully enough to move up... The Hawks last couple of drafts have been really solid, they drafted several players that do have the NHL in their future, so the Hawks can afford to skip the first round next summer if it lands them an NHL ready prospect like Jack Hughes... Hughes, DeBrincat, Strome, Joker, Boqvist, Beaudin etc -- those are some solid players moving forward and they could be considered the "new core" - but they do need a young stud forward with superstar potential for the future and Hughes really fits that bill, the style he plays is perfect for the Hawks, his game is similar to Kane's and he would be perfect for DeBrincat..

So if I were in Bowman's shoes that's what I would be focusing on... The playoffs would be far out of my mind (even if the Hawks were in a playoff position).. My goal would be to have this team in the playoffs next season and contenders again by 2020-2021. And with a tweak here and those expectations aren't radical at all..

I mean for the first time in a decade Bowman will actually have some money to spend this summer to get players he wants, not players he can afford -- and I think that's been the problem these past 2 summers, Bowman was stuck shopping for UFA's he could afford - bargain bin UFA's not the UFA's he and his coaching staff wanted, so Bowman has been handcuffed the last 2 summers and stuck picking through the junk -- players that could be hit or miss no other teams wanted... So this summer will be Bowman's real test, he will have absolutely zero excuse for not making the playoffs next season -- he has cap flexibility to make significant improvements... The Hawks can afford pretty much any pending UFA this summer.. Of course the only UFA I would consider giving a long-term contract to would be Panarin.....I think bringing Panarin back would be huge, and then my other goal would be to sign a legitimate top 4 defensive defenseman to a deal no longer than 4 years, and preferably a 2-3 year deal - a guy that can help until Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Krys etc are ready for full-time NHL minutes... I think Seabrook could definitely use a partner with NHL experience and someone on his level.. I mean I think Seabrook just has too much mileage on his body to play with a kid and try to cover for their mistakes... So yea, if the Hawks can get their top 4 worked out and can keep pucks out of the net that this team with a couple of additions could be pretty good next season... They can put the puck in the net now without Panarin, they just cant keep it out of their net..... I would love to see the Hawks run 3 scoring lines and 1 "beast mode" banger shutdown line next year and they're scoring forward away from having that luxury..

So yea, that would be my agenda if I were Bowman... I don't see any other plans that make sense.... Of course someone will say "blow it up" and rebuild from the ground up...However in actual reality - the Hawks are not in a position to rebuild - the core all have NMC's Kane and Toews are ONLY 30 - Kane still has 7-8 more productive years if not more, and who knows about Toews - he seemed to be slowing down and turning into a 3rd line shutdown defensive center but this year he's done a 180 and is nearly a PPG... True you can see age affecting Seabrook and Keith somewhat, and Crawford is basically done. But the Hawks have their replacements in the system, will they be as good? can they fill the roles these guys filled? who knows but that's why they were drafted - that's why Bowman took Boqvist and Beaudin last summer, that's why he took Mitchell, Krys etc and let them develop at their own pace...

I could go on forever but I will leave it at that..

Anything can happen, but I think the Hawks would be better off focusing on draft rather than the playoffs... The draft can help this team in the long-run and the odds of the Hawks making the playoffs, let alone the Cup are slim to nil... If I were Bowman I would be exploring different long-term options right now than buying and hoping for the best.

Only problem is that the Hawks have nothing of real value to sell. Seabrook has no value, Keith has made it clear he's in it for the long-run and obviously Kane & Toews are going nowhere... Hawks could trade Saad or Anisimov but they're not rentals.. So who do the Hawks really have that they can sell? Kruger and Kunitz?... So yea I see the Hawks trading their pending UFA's but I don't expect anything of real value in return, perhaps a couple of mid-round picks or mid-level "project" prospects but nothing to get excited about..

I mean if the Hawks go on another win streak and find themselves in a playoff spot come TDL I could see Bowman just standing pat but not buying unless a gets a bargain or a piece that fits the Hawks now and their long-term plans.

If I were Bowman I would really be thinking about what it would take to acquire the 1st overall pick and take that Hughes kid because he could make an impact next season and for seasons to come, and the Hawks are in a position to make a move like that, they can afford to package next summers First Round Pick, with this summers First Round Pick and acquire another piece around the draft that will be hopefully enough to move up... The Hawks last couple of drafts have been really solid, they drafted several players that do have the NHL in their future, so the Hawks can afford to skip the first round next summer if it lands them an NHL ready prospect like Jack Hughes... Hughes, DeBrincat, Strome, Joker, Boqvist, Beaudin etc -- those are some solid players moving forward and they could be considered the "new core" - but they do need a young stud forward with superstar potential for the future and Hughes really fits that bill, the style he plays is perfect for the Hawks, his game is similar to Kane's and he would be perfect for DeBrincat..

So if I were in Bowman's shoes that's what I would be focusing on... The playoffs would be far out of my mind (even if the Hawks were in a playoff position).. My goal would be to have this team in the playoffs next season and contenders again by 2020-2021. And with a tweak here and those expectations aren't radical at all..

I mean for the first time in a decade Bowman will actually have some money to spend this summer to get players he wants, not players he can afford -- and I think that's been the problem these past 2 summers, Bowman was stuck shopping for UFA's he could afford - bargain bin UFA's not the UFA's he and his coaching staff wanted, so Bowman has been handcuffed the last 2 summers and stuck picking through the junk -- players that could be hit or miss no other teams wanted... So this summer will be Bowman's real test, he will have absolutely zero excuse for not making the playoffs next season -- he has cap flexibility to make significant improvements... The Hawks can afford pretty much any pending UFA this summer.. Of course the only UFA I would consider giving a long-term contract to would be Panarin.....I think bringing Panarin back would be huge, and then my other goal would be to sign a legitimate top 4 defensive defenseman to a deal no longer than 4 years, and preferably a 2-3 year deal - a guy that can help until Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Krys etc are ready for full-time NHL minutes... I think Seabrook could definitely use a partner with NHL experience and someone on his level.. I mean I think Seabrook just has too much mileage on his body to play with a kid and try to cover for their mistakes... So yea, if the Hawks can get their top 4 worked out and can keep pucks out of the net that this team with a couple of additions could be pretty good next season... They can put the puck in the net now without Panarin, they just cant keep it out of their net..... I would love to see the Hawks run 3 scoring lines and 1 "beast mode" banger shutdown line next year and they're scoring forward away from having that luxury..

So yea, that would be my agenda if I were Bowman... I don't see any other plans that make sense.... Of course someone will say "blow it up" and rebuild from the ground up...However in actual reality - the Hawks are not in a position to rebuild - the core all have NMC's Kane and Toews are ONLY 30 - Kane still has 7-8 more productive years if not more, and who knows about Toews - he seemed to be slowing down and turning into a 3rd line shutdown defensive center but this year he's done a 180 and is nearly a PPG... True you can see age affecting Seabrook and Keith somewhat, and Crawford is basically done. But the Hawks have their replacements in the system, will they be as good? can they fill the roles these guys filled? who knows but that's why they were drafted - that's why Bowman took Boqvist and Beaudin last summer, that's why he took Mitchell, Krys etc and let them develop at their own pace...

I could go on forever but I will leave it at that..
- Savard2Secord

There is no one in the system that has the capability of filling 19 or 88's role. That comes with elongated success and not enough high draft picks. I'm in no way complaining, but you cant replace a number 1 overall pick of Kane's ability with a 28th-31st overall. As far as Toews goes, he was a 3rd overall, and to get the pick that turns into talent like that, you pretty much have to throw a rockford roster out there for 75% of your games.

I am north and east of Mexico Hawk.

Bowman has to think about the long term future of this organization. Picking up a cuple of deadline moves does not make this team Stanley Cup contenders. A first round loss does not do anything for the organization, but inflate the ego of McDonough who believed we were a playoff team this year. If you can trade some veterans for picks and prospects, you do it. Any kind of cap relief is an added bonus for dealing certain players that are no part of the future here.

The era of Stanley Cups is over for this core. The Hawks need to get back to the level that thinks Cups every year, not just hoping to get in to the dance. The Hawks have no chance to win the Cup, so we need to look at getting back to that level not worrying about being the 7 or 8 seed. I don't want to hear, all you need to get in and anything can happen in the postseason. Sorry folks, pipe dream for this Hawks team.

Justin have you heard anything about any possible moves or things being discussed or all quiet for now?

Bowman has to think about the long term future of this organization. Picking up a cuple of deadline moves does not make this team Stanley Cup contenders. A first round loss does not do anything for the organization, but inflate the ego of McDonough who believed we were a playoff team this year. If you can trade some veterans for picks and prospects, you do it. Any kind of cap relief is an added bonus for dealing certain players that are no part of the future here.

The era of Stanley Cups is over for this core. The Hawks need to get back to the level that thinks Cups every year, not just hoping to get in to the dance. The Hawks have no chance to win the Cup, so we need to look at getting back to that level not worrying about being the 7 or 8 seed. I don't want to hear, all you need to get in and anything can happen in the postseason. Sorry folks, pipe dream for this Hawks team.
- ChicagoHope

Agree if the hawks get a top 5 pick like kappo who could slot right into there team right away or half way through next season that is a start. Sign a dependable veteran d man edmoundson coburn or stralman would be good start. Address the lack of forechecking player and physicallity on the team sign dcat and strone long term and make a run at panrin or stone. Plus what is the future of Crawford?

Just to be clear... have all the tankers finally quieted down? Has feel-good surrounding this team finally silenced those-who-say-nay-and-tank or are they just lurking in the shadows waiting for the next losing streak or "" distance in points from the last playoff spot to re-emerge and proclaim their way is the best way to build based on singular drafts and individual past picks?

There is no one in the system that has the capability of filling 19 or 88's role. That comes with elongated success and not enough high draft picks. I'm in no way complaining, but you cant replace a number 1 overall pick of Kane's ability with a 28th-31st overall. As far as Toews goes, he was a 3rd overall, and to get the pick that turns into talent like that, you pretty much have to throw a rockford roster out there for 75% of your games.
- nickmo2699

If I can add to this , ALL those up and coming defensemen, Only 1 will be really good, one will be a bottom 6 D and the rest won't pan out, law of averages and they are ALL smallish size, We need a little size on D, you can't have 6 175 pound defensemen,

Just to be clear... have all the tankers finally quieted down? Has feel-good surrounding this team finally silenced those-who-say-nay-and-tank or are they just lurking in the shadows waiting for the next losing streak or "" distance in points from the last playoff spot to re-emerge and proclaim their way is the best way to build based on singular drafts and individual past picks?
- Brownie's_Purse

Naah, I for one have the testicular fortitude to say tank is the preferred end to this season. While watching last night I was thinking of the extra wear and tear Kane is enduring double shifting in what will be a meaningless season playoffs or not. Q playing 4 D wore down 2, 4, 7. He had to do it but that check then became due. Sure, go out and play to win - but without extraordinary efforts such as double shifts or rental players.

As for money to spend going forward, the Hawks sit at just about $61MM for next year with no changes or trades, likely losing Kruger and Kunitz to UFA and will need to sign five forwards and three D to get to 23 spots.

All the while deciding to keep enough cap to give ADB, Strome and Kahun raises, and Sikura, Kampf, Perlini, KooKoo, Forsling and Dahlstrom who are all RFAs, an extension or a pink slip.

Again - with the cost of proven top 6/top4 guys starting at least at $6MM per, how much cap space will they really have to work with, and thus, how many FA's can they truthfully sign? If they pay just ADB and Strome $5MM each, that gives them only around $10MM in cap to do the rest.

The way I see it, this is who they have and where the holes are next year:

Forwards

?/Toews/Kane
DeBrincat/Strome/?
Saad/Caggiula/?
Kampf/Kahun/?

Defense

?/?
Murphy/Dahlstrom/Gus/Keith/Seabrook

If they stay out of the ballerina market and find a few grinders to balance out the top nine, and at least one solid D guy like a Stralman type and go back to zone defense...maybe they are in the mix sooner rather than later.

As for money to spend going forward, the Hawks sit at just about $61MM for next year with no changes or trades, likely losing Kruger and Kunitz to UFA and will need to sign five forwards and three D to get to 23 spots.

All the while deciding to keep enough cap to give ADB, Strome and Kahun raises, and Sikura, Kampf, Perlini, KooKoo, Forsling and Dahlstrom who are all RFAs, an extension or a pink slip.

Again - with the cost of proven top 6/top4 guys starting at least at $6MM per, how much cap space will they really have to work with, and thus, how many FA's can they truthfully sign? If they pay just ADB and Strome $5MM each, that gives them only around $10MM in cap to do the rest.

The way I see it, this is who they have and where the holes are next year:

Forwards

?/Toews/Kane
DeBrincat/Strome/?
Saad/Caggiula/?
Kampf/Kahun/?

Defense

?/?
Murphy/Dahlstrom/Gus/Keith/Seabrook

If they stay out of the ballerina market and find a few grinders to balance out the top nine, and at least one solid D guy like a Stralman type and go back to zone defense...maybe they are in the mix sooner rather than later.
- Return of the Roar

Ward's $3 mil is off the books too next season.......or are you thinking he will resign another 1 tr deal?

Ward's $3 mil is off the books too next season.......or are you thinking he will resign another 1 tr deal?
- powerenforcer

The $61MM assumes Ward, Kunitz Kruger all gone/not coming back, and includes Delia's deal.

FYI, last word from NHL offices is that cap could be as much as $83MM next year.