How is Dale doing in Florida? Guy gave a totally broken Bolland a 5 year 25.5M contract. He pissed away Reilly Smith and Marchessault in the expansion draft to keep a guy he eventually traded.

Tallon may be the most over-rated person on these threads.
- Elbows15

Bows, i'm not putting Tallon on any pedestal.
Simply saying Stanbeans had twice as many drafts to get/develop a top 4 D-Man and hasn't got it done yet.

BTW, re: Sikura, his dad is a friend and I asked him what he sees in his boy since being up with the big club. He said the main adjustments were

a) playing fewer minutes than he did in college, which is to be expected for a young player breaking in.

And b) moving the puck quicker instead of carrying it as much and being more of a focal point like he was at Northeastern.

He also conceded the lad needs to bulk up.
I was at the game in Toronto and was impressed with Sikura.
He's got NHL wheels and good puck sense. Think Colliton likes him too, so he should have more time to prove he belongs.

And Led pipe right?
- paulr

Well my friend, most likely.

But it's OK, time has moved on, so has Nick.
He appears to be pretty happy lacing em up for Barry these days.

How long did it take Hammer to make the NHL from when he was drafted?
- paulr

4-5 years by the look of it.
He was drafted in '05 and didn't break in full-time until first Cup season.
And, he was a pleasant surprise i think most would admit.
Wish he could clone Hammer.

Heyyyy Paul, then why spend millions employing scouts with huge travel budgets ?
Hawks took a flyer on Shaw'zer and it worked out for awhile.
Saw him play a ton in the '11 Mem Cup and was super happy to see Stan snag him.
- philco28

Well sure. In his five drafts with a 3, 7 and 11 pick, Uncle Dale made the smart play on Cam Barker, Jack Skille and Kyle Beach...so maybe he should have used the travel budget and sent his scouts elsewhere.

Well sure. In his five drafts with a 3, 7 and 11 pick, Uncle Dale made the smart play on Cam Barker, Jack Skille and Kyle Beach...so maybe he should have used the travel budget and sent his scouts elsewhere.
- HawkintheD

Hey Stan traded Barker for Leddy!!!

4-5 years by the look of it.
He was drafted in '05 and didn't break in full-time until first Cup season.
And, he was a pleasant surprise i think most would admit.
Wish he could clone Hammer.
- philco28

Best I can do.

4-5 years by the look of it.
He was drafted in '05 and didn't break in full-time until first Cup season.
And, he was a pleasant surprise i think most would admit.
Wish he could clone Hammer.
- philco28

So it took one of Dale's pick's 5 years to make the NHL and Bowman has 4 or 5 picks in the last two years. Let's wait 2 or 3 years to see if one or more of Bowman's picks makes the team. So we can compare apples to apples.

Well sure. In his five drafts with a 3, 7 and 11 pick, Uncle Dale made the smart play on Cam Barker, Jack Skille and Kyle Beach...so maybe he should have used the travel budget and sent his scouts elsewhere.
- HawkintheD

He got Toews and Kane too Bud.

Well my friend, most likely.

But it's OK, time has moved on, so has Nick.
He appears to be pretty happy lacing em up for Barry these days.
- savvyone-1

I'm glad to see you have finally come to terms with the trade.

So it took one of Dale's pick's 5 years to make the NHL and Bowman has 4 or 5 picks in the last two years. Let's wait 2 or 3 years to see if one or more of Bowman's picks makes the team. So we can compare apples to apples.
- paulr

For sure. It's amazing he's still employed, but sure we can do that.

Best I can do.

- riozzo

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Best I can do.

- riozzo

Don't touch that!!!!

Best I can do.

- riozzo

Sorry. Know it's like looking into the sun but couldn't resist.

Is there another Kempney/Rutta (before concussion) in the Euro leagues that Stan can snag?
- LAHawk

I hope someone keeps a watch on Ruutta post Blackhawks. Anytime they play with confidance or without always looking over your shoulder and bracing fir a hit.......is playing on a better team with a semblance ifvdefense and a handfulnof teammates who have your back......can lead to re- birth. To some extent Rutta may experience this in Florida.

For sure. It's amazing he's still employed, but sure we can do that.
- philco28

Why do you feel he shouldn't be employed?

He got Toews and Kane too Bud.
- philco28

Picks 1 and 3...if Stan made the same picks he'd still be a bum because they were the picks he should have made and you know it. It's the narrative that's run on here for years Phil...beancounter, spoon, etc. blah, blah blah.

Why do you feel he shouldn't be employed?
- paulr

On verge of missing playoffs again and haven't been beyond 1st round
since 2015.

On verge of missing playoffs again and haven't been beyond 1st round
since 2015.
- philco28

Typically, winning buys you time. Holland is still the Wangs GM and when's the last time they won?

Picks 1 and 3...if Stan made the same picks he'd still be a bum because they were the picks he should have made and you know it. It's the narrative that's run on here for years Phil...beancounter, spoon, etc. blah, blah blah.
- HawkintheD

Toews was no lock for greatness at 3.
Two other teams passed on him.

And Dale was bombarded with offers to trade the #1 pick that he got with Kane
and stuck to his guns and got the 'best player available'.

Worked out well with both i'd say.

Typically, winning buys you time. Holland is still the Wangs GM and when's the last time they won?
- HawkintheD

True and LOL

On verge of missing playoffs again and haven't been beyond 1st round
since 2015.
- philco28

I think after the team's success and after drafting later in the draft for so long a let down was to be expected. I think he's made some mistakes but he's also made some good moves too. I think after manovering the team past the cap for two more cups he deserves some time.

Toews was no lock for greatness at 3.
Two other teams passed on him.

And Dale was bombarded with offers to trade the #1 pick that he got with Kane
and stuck to his guns and got the 'best player available'.

Worked out well with both i'd say.
- philco28

And credit where it's due, apparantly there are reports that say Wirtz pressured Tallon to pick Kessel over Toews. Imagine where the Hawks would be now.

Toews was no lock for greatness at 3.
Two other teams passed on him.

And Dale was bombarded with offers to trade the #1 pick that he got with Kane
and stuck to his guns and got the 'best player available'.

Worked out well with both i'd say.
- philco28

I'm glad Dale stuck to his guns and like I said earlier, I appreciate Dale and his contribute to the Hawk Cup(s).

Part of my point is Bowman rarely gets the same credit for picking players in lower slots: Saad (43), Teuvo (16), Dinky (57). None of them were locks for anything either and yet people tend to dismiss the picks as something Stan should have done because now we know those players were good and they fell to him at the time...if that makes sense?

Not that those guys are Toews and Kane but Stan also hasn't had a pick at one and three.

Toews was no lock for greatness at 3.
Two other teams passed on him.

And Dale was bombarded with offers to trade the #1 pick that he got with Kane
and stuck to his guns and got the 'best player available'.

Worked out well with both i'd say.
- philco28

Hmmm - there was another #3 pick at one time in this town - fell to a mediocre GM but was the obvious pick after two other teams passed on him....

I’ll think of it.

Hmmm - there was another #3 pick at one time in this town - fell to a mediocre GM but was the obvious pick after two other teams passed on him....

I’ll think of it.
- StLBravesFan

Too small! French and he smoked