It wouldn't have insulted the fans intelligence, and set McD up as a bold faced liar. So there's that.
- scottak

No insult really compared tp what an owner like Eugene Melnyk is doing to the fan base in Ottawa. All their good players being traded for nothing and then he expects to sell tickets.

Not suggesting the Hawks should or shouldn't explore it, but if Laine is in fact available do you trade Kane or Toews for him?
- paulr

Patrik Laine is as one-dimensional as they come. Hard pass. There's a reason he is -23 and the next worst player on Winnipeg is a -6. He has a negative Corsi REL despite starting 61.5% of his shifts in the offensive zone. -20 turnover differential. He has a great shot and that's about all he has.

This board would eat him alive.

we are on somewhat of a roll lately. I think me retracting my claws for both Seabs and Stan have helped remove me from the firing lines in here, though I still like to engage.

But this agreement thing actually isn't impacting me at all, I kinda like it.
- kwolf68

Your post about Seabrook was great. I admire the guy a ton, and it's tough to watch him play at a lower level. Hard, and weird, to get mad at heroes.

You hit the nail on the head about Stan, and the other gm's - they all have hits and misses. We can reasonably debate each move individually.

Cheers.

So who signs in Ottawa this summer? Only the most desperate UFA's?
To get to the Cap floor the Sens will most likely become a dumping ground for existing contracts.

Watch AA end up there on July 1 -serviceable player, higher Cap hit, cheap salary after bonus is paid.

So who signs in Ottawa this summer? Only the most desperate UFA's?
To get to the Cap floor the Sens will most likely become a dumping ground for existing contracts.

Watch AA end up there on July 1 -serviceable player, higher Cap hit, cheap salary after bonus is paid.
- 67hawks

Likely

I am not the President of McDonough's fan club, but what he said at that press conference in no way should impact any of our lives.

And honestly, HOW CLOSE was he to being right? The Hawks until 3 days ago were ONE POINT out of the Wildcard. And while the chances are more remote today, they still have a shot at it. So McDonough stating he thought this was a playoff team isn't as far-fetched as one may surmise.
- kwolf68

It also set a high bar for the players; the management believes they're good enough. Probably would have been worse to suggest the opposite.

Not suggesting the Hawks should or shouldn't explore it, but if Laine is in fact available do you trade Kane or Toews for him?
- paulr

No, the reason Laine might be on the block is that he is lazy, unmotivated, and doesn't play well without the puck.

No, the reason Laine might be on the block is that he is lazy, unmotivated, and doesn't play well without the puck.
- LAHawk

Laine is very inconsistent. He gets hot and scores a bunch of goals and then disappears for ten games. We do not need this type of player.

It also set a high bar for the players; the management believes they're good enough. Probably would have been worse to suggest the opposite.
- mohel

Agree. Like you said earlier, what is he supposed to do say the team sucks and they have no hope?

regarding Seabrook: The funny thing is he is not playing any worse than most of the other guys. In fact, yesterday with the exception of a few horrid defensive breakdowns leading to goals (NONE of which were Seabs), the team played great and I thought Seabrook had a solid game. He was playing more physical, more determined I thought.

It was a gut punch to lose a game the Hawks virtually dominated.

That all said, concerning my new-found willingness to "agree", if anyone sees me agreeing with PowerEnforcer and his tin foil hat gig just assume someone has stolen my logon credentials.

OldDuffman is a little too pom pom level for me as well.

That said, I love the fact both those posters bring their "unique view" to the table. Things would be boring as poop if we were all singing the same tune.

Watching Hockey Central, they have a lot of names that would be great fits for the Hawks with some term. A guy like Hampus Lindholm, Justin Faulk we knew about and has been mentioned, Connor Brown is a guy I would love to see in an Indian Head.

Unfortunately, this is playing out EXACTLY as I feared 3-4 weeks ago when the winning streak began.

I said then that the worse case scenerio is Hawks make a run, fall short....do NOT get a Top 5 dradft pick....AND also do NOT secure a playoff spot.

And here we are, stuck right in no-man's land.

I don't know if we can still manage a free-fall to get down far enough to get a Top 5. But at this point, the further we slide, the better. NOT SAYING lose on purpose. No players should do that. But as an organization the fact is, the lower in the standings we fall, the better liklihood of drafting a difference-maker.

I like the direction of the team. No quick fixes please Stan. Just trade to shed salary or add to the talent pool, and hope we get as good a pick as possible in the draft.
- hawk35

Fear not plenty of time to embrace the tank.

Watching Hockey Central, they have a lot of names that would be great fits for the Hawks with some term. A guy like Hampus Lindholm, Justin Faulk we knew about and has been mentioned, Connor Brown is a guy I would love to see in an Indian Head.
- nickmo2699

Not sure I'd have a lot of interest in Faulk, he's more an offensive guy. I want someone who takes the zone blue line back seriously. Toronto isn't moving Brown, he's a nice depth Dman on a good team. I like Hampus Lindholm as well, but doesn't he have a pretty large cap hit?

Fear not plenty of time to embrace the tank.


- walleyeb1

Agreed. Sitting 8th right now. Gross

Agreed. Sitting 8th right now. Gross
- mrpaulish

I can't see them going any higher than 5th overall. I suspect they end up in the 7-10 range.

I can't see them going any higher than 5th overall. I suspect they end up in the 7-10 range.
- kwolf68

Thats the worst.

Things moving a bit slow....

#TradeDeadline by the Numbers

2014- 20 Trades 36 Players
2015- 24 Trades 43 Players
2016- 19 Trades 37 Players
2017- 18 Trades 33 Players
2018- 18 Trades 37 Players

Listen LIVE Coverage
🎧- SiriusXM.ca/nhllive

Thats the worst.
- mrpaulish

Yep. The Bears used to win a couple late meaningless games at the end of the season to give away draft position.

It's hard to argue for them to lose, but ultimately if you're not making the post-season a nice consolation prize is a blue chip draft pick. The "worst of both worlds" is not making the playoffs and getting a prospect only marginally better than teams that are in the playoffs. This is (usually) NOT the case when drafting at the very top.

Not suggesting the Hawks should or shouldn't explore it, but if Laine is in fact available do you trade Kane or Toews for him?
- paulr

Not or...and.

Mario Tirabossi

Happy #NHLTradeDeadline Day!
I'd expect little to nothing from the #Blackhawks⁠ ⁠ today, other than maybe a minor deal to create roster space.

Not sure I'd have a lot of interest in Faulk, he's more an offensive guy. I want someone who takes the zone blue line back seriously. Toronto isn't moving Brown, he's a nice depth Dman on a good team. I like Hampus Lindholm as well, but doesn't he have a pretty large cap hit?
- kwolf68

Lindholm is just over 5 mil. Connor Brown is a forward Wolfie. I threw him in there as a possible hockey trade with our future in mind.

I can't see them going any higher than 5th overall. I suspect they end up in the 7-10 range.
- kwolf68

Never know, all you have to do is have balls in the machine to win it all.

Mario Tirabossi

Happy #NHLTradeDeadline Day!
I'd expect little to nothing from the #Blackhawks⁠ ⁠ today, other than maybe a minor deal to create roster space.
- mrpaulish

I expect a couple of deals to help Rockford playoff hopes.

I am personally not a tanker - cannot root for my team to lose.

But, in the interests of comity (no, Elbows, that's not about being funny), here's the current draft info...

http://www.tankathon.com/nhl/pick_odds

I expect a couple of deals to help Rockford playoff hopes.
- 67hawks

Jesus (frank)ing. Christ.

Thats so annoying.

Not you. But thats where we are at