Starting from scratch, who would you prefer to coach the team next year?
- Chunk

Mike Keenan

Anisimov, Kunitz, Kruger & Ward
- scottak

Scottie, not reading posts before responding could make one sound ignorant. All four of those players will not have a clause after this season, and are therefore not going to impact the team going forward. I asked about Kane, Toews, Keith, Crawford and Seabrook (which clearly shouldn't have happened). Which of those were candy?

"cheaper" in the sense that RFAs aren't as far along in their careers and generally don't get as high of salary as UFAs. It's riskier because you're paying for upside. Yeah, it'd have to be strategic based on the other teams salary cap picture. But I don't think it should be dismissed because this team needs help.
- matt_ahrens

Presuming that you are offer sheeting someone who has shown to be more than "serviceable", you have to also consider that on top of the money owed for the offer sheet, you are also surrendering draft picks (and high ones at that) to sign RFA's. Not completely out of the question, but definitely something to consider.

Mike Keenan


- BlackhawkMike

Jacket is badass

Don't kid yourself, for the right return, anyone on this roster sans Kane is a gonner.
- riozzo

Not as a sale at the TDL though. The Hawks weren't going to ship off good players now for hope in the future. They will trade for parts that they feel can help they more immediately.

Not as a sale at the TDL though. The Hawks weren't going to ship off good players now for hope in the future. They will trade for parts that they feel can help they more immediately.
- breadbag

2nd rounder for Kuntz OR Kruger OR Hayden OR etc at TDL - yes or no?

"cheaper" in the sense that RFAs aren't as far along in their careers and generally don't get as high of salary as UFAs. It's riskier because you're paying for upside. Yeah, it'd have to be strategic based on the other teams salary cap picture. But I don't think it should be dismissed because this team needs help.
- matt_ahrens

It would have to be a trade then cause I really can't see Bowman putting offer sheets out there,

2nd rounder for Kuntz OR Kruger OR Hayden OR etc at TDL - yes or no?
- riozzo

None of those are realistic, though.

I looked at several teams NMC / NTC contracts about a year ago - when the Hawks had 7 (IIRC) - to see if the Hawks really were handing them out like candy.

At the time - looking at Western Conference competitors - when the Hawks had 7, other teams had between 5 and 7.

And none of those teams had won a Cup.

Yeah - Hawks - after winning 3 Cups - were at the high end - but not by much.
- StLBravesFan

Yeah, it's a narrative that really means nothing. SJ has 9, Tampa has 10, Dallas has 8, lots of teams have like you say have 5-7. Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah......yes Seabrooks contract is bad when his play has deteriorated so much, but there are few teams out there who don't have at least one regrettable contract on the books.

2nd rounder for Kuntz OR Kruger OR Hayden OR etc at TDL - yes or no?
- riozzo

If only any of them could fetch a 2nd rounder in this year's market. Are any of them worth a 5th? I think a reasonable case has been made on here to maintain status quo in light of the team's relatively recent performance. If this team still had failed to gel by the TDL, then the case can be better made to sell those guys for 5ths. I'm sure they would have been dealt for 2nds if that was possible.

Jacket is badass
- mrpaulish

Coach Q mustache before Coach Q too.

The four things that make this powerplay better are, Keith was removed, Gus is the quarterback and he has a decent shot with a quick release from the point, Strome's netfront presense has allowed Toews to play out high in the slot and I think the biggest factor of all is ADB in the sniper role. And JC deserves the credit for putting the right players on the powerplay.
- paulr

Another way of looking at it is you have two duos that play well together - Kane and Toews, and Strome and Debrincat. The first unit sure is fun to watch, regardless.

Starting from scratch, who would you prefer to coach the team next year?
- Chunk

Alpo Suhonen or Orval Tessier

[quote=scottak]Neutral on Stan. Some great trades this year. Some not so good previously. They’ve been well documented on the blog by others. He’s also the guy that signed Seabrook to his current contract, when almost all here said was too long/expensive. He’s also the guy that hands out NMCs like candy on Halloween.

JC is not a qualified NHL coach. 4 years with Tier 2 Mora and 1 in Rockford don’t cut itquote

I have to imagine that JC got the job because every time he did something, tinkered with something, and when asked had a reason why and probably in some cases management were/ are very impressed. Its not like he's walking into an organization that doesn't know hockey?

Experience is important but insight is the most important to coaching. To be able to see things and how they work in relationship to each other. Say whatever you like but since the all star break this team is playing better. Will it continue? Time will tell. But to say in an absolute manner he's not head coaching material is i don't have a pleasant word to put here.
- BetweenTheDots

He took over a dumpster fire. I have been impressed with how he has handled the team up to this point. The Hawks are significantly more competitive than they were last year. A lot of people have added that they are only 1 point ahead at this point of the season than they were at the same time last year...they also have had two 8 game losing streaks this season? Arguably one of the greatest coaches in the game struggled with this group and pushing them forward (I am also a huge Q fan), but JC deserves some credit. I would love to see how this roster is assembled at the start of camp next season. I do think that this team is headed in the right direction.

2nd rounder for Kuntz OR Kruger OR Hayden OR etc at TDL - yes or no?
- riozzo

Maybe one fourth rounder for Kunitz, Kruger, & Hayden if we could be so lucky. All three are barely above the AHL level and would be in Rockford if we had a better team.

If only any of them could fetch a 2nd rounder in this year's market. Are any of them worth a 5th? I think a reasonable case has been made on here to maintain status quo in light of the team's relatively recent performance. If this team still had failed to gel by the TDL, then the case can be better made to sell those guys for 5ths. I'm sure they would have been dealt for 2nds if that was possible.
- 333inthe3rd

Kunitz and Kruger are free agents after this year so they would not have garnered much of anything at the TDL as rentals. A 4th or 5th maybe was the best you could have hoped for...maybe. Hayden is still young and shows potential, he is signed for another season at $750K (lower than his entry level deal), so possibly you could get as high as a 2nd or 3rd for him from someone that wants a cheap, NHL ready player as opposed to waiting a few years for a prospect to develop.

If only any of them could fetch a 2nd rounder in this year's market. Are any of them worth a 5th? I think a reasonable case has been made on here to maintain status quo in light of the team's relatively recent performance. If this team still had failed to gel by the TDL, then the case can be better made to sell those guys for 5ths. I'm sure they would have been dealt for 2nds if that was possible.
- 333inthe3rd

What is wrong with this site it it does not spool comments together. the point of this was to say given a great return Stan would pull the trigger regardless of how it impacted a white flag theory from the players perspective. Note: I am paraphrasing several comments of others together and may not be 100% precise - but directionally correct.

Jacket is badass
- mrpaulish

Yeah, it is I wish they still made those, yeah I know I'm still living in the '90s

Yeah, it is I wish they still made those, yeah I know I'm still living in the '90s
- BGKarras

I have one of them in a closet......wish it still fit.

He took over a dumpster fire. I have been impressed with how he has handled the team up to this point. The Hawks are significantly more competitive than they were last year. A lot of people have added that they are only 1 point ahead at this point of the season than they were at the same time last year...they also have had two 8 game losing streaks this season? Arguably one of the greatest coaches in the game struggled with this group and pushing them forward (I am also a huge Q fan), but JC deserves some credit. I would love to see how this roster is assembled at the start of camp next season. I do think that this team is headed in the right direction.
- frafra

i fully agree, great job/write up. next step has to be seeing an improvement in the overall team D which is horrendous, and the PK. is Brookbank really the answer?

i fully agree, great job/write up. next step has to be seeing an improvement in the overall team D which is horrendous, and the PK. is Brookbank really the answer?
- glennjpawlak22

What about line matchups? Putting players in advantageous situations - Especially at home with last change - instead of just rolling lines out there?

Is there a reason why more people do not mention brock nelson or Anders lee as possilities for the hawks? both have size and are on the younger size of UFA's? if you look at them and dzingel I would think they are better fits for what we need assuming AA is traded after his 2 mil bonus?

Also Corey P was not particular high on Dominick Kubliak. FYI.

I am not sure I am with folks celebrating how great Stan is by not making any moves. This TDL is an indictment of Hawks GM who does not get any assets to sell. None of the players short of Kane/Cat/Murthy have any value with current contracts, and some do not have any value with half of contract retained. Kruger could not find his place on the roster of several bottom NHL teams so no GM would want him even with 2 mln retained for 7th round pick. Same goes for many other assets.
Many teams out of contention managed to get something out of this TDL, so standing pat is not a sign of great GM. And for those who celebrate sending Manning out - who was it who signed him, when everyone saw how terrible Manning was on Philly, so finding better fool of a GM was his salvation this year.

Jacket is badass
- mrpaulish

I still have one. Available BTW if anyone here thinks they can still fit into an adult men's medium.

2nd rounder for Kuntz OR Kruger OR Hayden OR etc at TDL - yes or no?
- riozzo

I tend to agree with the majority of the replies. We wouldn't get that for those guys. If I was the GM and offered a second for a 4th line guy, I'd probably do it, because we have a ton of 4th line types.