hawks picked a poopty time to lose what was their strength: scoring goals..

ADB can't get a shot let alone a goal; kane is in the freezer as is strome and goal tending is biting their ass

I see we don't agree and that's fine. From my perspective everything Bowman tried to do to win a Cup was the right thing to do which precedes the 2 early playoff exits, after the sell off of 2010, built the lower lines back up got rid of Campbell's contract brought in Oduya and traded for Leddy.

2013 to 2017 he was trading high draft picks for complimentary players to win SCups and so on.

2017-19 realizes Panarin isn't enough to win the SC so trades him away which leads to a bad year from Saad and Toews, so he gets a chance to rebuild and drafts a bunch of dmen and brings in a young bright minded coach who is willing to develop players at the NHL level

Time will tell but i think they are much closer to being good again than others do
- BetweenTheDots

This Bowman review is a fresh breath of air. Although some questionable moves over the years - which were rightfully criticized - Bowman has done the right things to keep the team in the playoff hunt. Just not seriously these last two campaigns. It is a sad commentary regarding league wide parity and poor defense thoughout this league. That said behold the way this team is constructed and competes yet in the final eight games they still have an outside chance.

And Sikura is a player. Moves the puck, thinks the game well when playing with top linemates. Sikura may not get recognition for what he can do similar to the trial Saad went through. Instead of pouncing on his shortcoming, I see what he can do and it is obvious in the eye test. I won't predict offensive numbers yet. Wait until xmas and you will most likely know by then

The Sikura critique is really a cup half full or half empty response.

Sikura was one of second round and later Bowman drafts. You will see more of those drafts come aboard. There are some very good prospects whose strength would fit well on bottom lines. We should find more snarl and grit plus speed. If you pay attention to AEL_FOX you know the names. Carlsson please get here.

Now to continue about Bowman -

Not only did he identify the core but he has tried to supplement around them and keep the team in the playoff hunt WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT ROCKY & MCDONOUGH WANTED.

All GM's gamble and some GM's make more mistakes than others. Runsblad and Timmonen were mistakes

The Montreal trade might be considered poor although I feel Q sabotaged some of the good results Weise could have provided. I believe that Q found fault with Weise - he whom had certain attributes which went unrealized. I did not expect Weise to be a playoff surprise and major acter on the stage like he did that one year for the Canadiens. Q power fight with Stan and us fans and the players suffered when we did not advance to next playoff round. We advanced there and even if we lose round two it cushions the Danault loss.

Bowman misjudged the ceiling of the 2nd round draft and long tenure AHlL dman received for Leddy. Basically he waited too long to receive better value for Ledxy.

The Dallas trade was another case of waiting too long to deal. In this trade the salary cap issue forced his hand. I suspect Stan held out for a #1 or something of better value but no one would pay .....Dallas added the veteran Sharp. Although Sharp had some serious Injuries while playing for Dallas. He was on the decline.

It was not wrong to move a too expensive weak defensive Leddy because his salary was out of line. It was not wrong to settle on the Sharp trade Last year on his deal on the Chg signed contract at time of trade was just to much to bear.

. Bownan opined that John's was not going to develop into more than a third pair. To be fair, John's could have been a servicable tough third pair with certain offensive help. Instead he has been hampered with Injuries and now appears a chronic Injury headache.

I would say now that Bowman really needs to keep drafting well. The sooner prospects filter in the sooner we see the light at the end of the tunnell. I fear Bowman will stick to adding toughness with later round picks and not a power type forward or skill competes forward gritty first round pick.

This would be a good time for the power play unit to convert!
- BGKarras

Other teams have figured it out. What's that about 20 PPs in a row without a goal now?

Many times over the past 10 years the hockey gods smiled on the Hawks - they probably got more than their fair share of puck luck. Well ... maybe things are evening up a little bit here lately. Yeah Gustafsson took a bad penalty but I didn't see what happened to his stick - he probably doesn't take that penalty if he had a stick. Then, yeah, Kampf was careless but also a little unlucky that his stick rode up Barrie's stick and there you go - 5 on 3 and 2-1.

I blame #95 for his decline.

Teams cover him more and knock him off the puck while he tries his fancy puck manuevers.
- I Am The Breadman

Agree---he has been playing MUCH better than earlier in the season, but Saad is a better fit for that line

Agree---he has been playing MUCH better than earlier in the season, but Saad is a better fit for that line
- KMFDMLight

Sorry, that was red font intended. I've liked Sikura, agree, he has been noticeably better. I think Caggiula helped 19 and 88.

Need to catch a break ,Sikura playing well Kane looks better tonight . HAWKS working hard good things will happen .. GO HAWKS !!!!

I smell an explosive 3rd coming up. Unless that was Elbows.....

I smell an explosive 3rd coming up. Unless that was Elbows.....
- mohel

He who smelled it, dealt it.

Many times over the past 10 years the hockey gods smiled on the Hawks - they probably got more than their fair share of puck luck. Well ... maybe things are evening up a little bit here lately. Yeah Gustafsson took a bad penalty but I didn't see what happened to his stick - he probably doesn't take that penalty if he had a stick. Then, yeah, Kampf was careless but also a little unlucky that his stick rode up Barrie's stick and there you go - 5 on 3 and 2-1.
- EbonyRaptor

If he had a stick he wouldn't have been able to wrap both arms around the forward. Stupid obvious penalty that referees call every time.

I smell an explosive 3rd coming up. Unless that was Elbows.....
- mohel

Saad up with Kane and Toews - Sikura down one - Perlini or Kahun to line 3???

Limited minutes for the bottom 6 anyways - need to get the top-2 lines going.

Now who's improper?

I do agree with you besides that.
- I Am The Breadman

autocorrect (frank)ed me.

autocorrect (frank)ed me.
- Elbows15

Hahahahaha!!!!

I smell an explosive 3rd coming up. Unless that was Elbows.....
- mohel

We haven't had many prime scoring chances. They've obviously tightened up the D but now sacrificing O chances. Looks like this group can't do both. 3rd period offensive forecheck needs to ramp it up to create some close-in chances.

Many times over the past 10 years the hockey gods smiled on the Hawks - they probably got more than their fair share of puck luck. Well ... maybe things are evening up a little bit here lately. Yeah Gustafsson took a bad penalty but I didn't see what happened to his stick - he probably doesn't take that penalty if he had a stick. Then, yeah, Kampf was careless but also a little unlucky that his stick rode up Barrie's stick and there you go - 5 on 3 and 2-1.
- EbonyRaptor

He lost his stick behind the net when he failed to go get the puck and bailed out on the play. He had inside position and all he had to do was box the guy out but decided to hug him instead.

Saad up with Kane and Toews - Sikura down one - Perlini or Kahun to line 3???

Limited minutes for the bottom 6 anyways - need to get the top-2 lines going.
- StLBravesFan

Kahun is already on line 3.

Other teams have figured it out. What's that about 20 PPs in a row without a goal now?
- RickJ

1-23...

Im so (frank)ing sick and tired of Saad not shooting the puck. He looks concussed or high. Wtf

Well that might be overturned

Kahun is already on line 3.
- Elbows15

Yes. I meant maybe line 2.

Im so (frank)ing sick and tired of Saad not shooting the puck. He looks concussed or high. Wtf
- mrpaulish

He's both 😉

Saad is very frustrating. That’s (frank)ed.

I don't think interference, but high stick. Possibly.

Not. 3-1. Welp......

Yes. I meant maybe line 2.
- StLBravesFan

(frank) - I don’t know what I meant any more.

time to get desperate...for what its worth.