Who has the better 5 year outlook, Hawks or Bears?
- mohel

Bears!!

I can see Pace trading his 3rd and the pick he got from Howard to move up a bit for a RB or an OLB. Howard was good, but very one dimensional. Davis is a sneaky good signing from Seattle. He can do it all and still hammer between the tackles. If that RB from Penn State falls into the 3rd, that will be Pace's pick.
- z1990z

I think they're at the point to take the best available player. I could see a trade to move up to get a guy they see as a bargain at a spot. Not sure it'll be a running back - it seems the league feels you can get one on Facebook garage sales whenever they want.

I can see Pace trading his 3rd and the pick he got from Howard to move up a bit for a RB or an OLB. Howard was good, but very one dimensional. Davis is a sneaky good signing from Seattle. He can do it all and still hammer between the tackles. If that RB from Penn State falls into the 3rd, that will be Pace's pick.
- z1990z

Yeah, I agree with you.

end of march and talking bears...

must mean this blog has finally turned the page on the hawks..AGAIN.

Paying for their most productive years now - a good paradigm, IF they have proven they can continue - or develop into - to have quality productive years.

I look at Schmaltz’ presumed deal - almost $6MM per for 7years - when he has had only one semi-productive season, has shown to have flaws in his game, and is now going to have to come back from a season ending knee injury. This contract could easily become an albatross starting in its first season.
- StLBravesFan

Supply and demand. Not a shot at you, but again, narrative wise, projecting schmalzt from this board is not very objective.

There is risk and reward and decision making, that is what makes this all fun. Blasting the Scmaltz deal ignores the constraints of the market. While most on the board need to be reassured of a players value every shift, in the real world, the people who get paid to evaluate talent, are able to get comfortable with a player based upon many things most do not/ can not see in practice and games.

The reality is there is not a ton of supply of Nick Schmaltz abilities. That is a fact. General Managers are more prone to focusing on now and the next few years, then fawning all over pre pubescent teen agers as some like to do here.

Sure there is a risk he is a bust in a few years and never materializes. There is also a great risk he takes it up a notch or 2 and is really underpaid. Giving a shorter deal, even if an option, may carry a bigger risk to a team. Fans often ignore this risk in evaluating everything. Like many Americans, they make the fatal error of assuming abundance in everything, which warps their perception of reality and what is really possible.

end of march and talking bears...

must mean this blog has finally turned the page on the hawks..AGAIN.
- bogiedoc

Didn’t that happen in October?

Didn’t that happen in October?
- DarthKane

More like July 1st.

Didn’t that happen in October?
- DarthKane

2017

Go back to these or their old purple ones. Can't recall whether Purple was home and yellow was away.

Either way, the current ones are pretty lame.
- HawkintheD

Purple (actually Forum Blue) was home, gold/yellow was away.

2017
- riozzo

This team has holes and a very important summer awaits Stan and Co. Its shame, Great bounce back year from the Captain and 88 with a 100 point season. Be swinging golf clubs in mid April.

2017
- riozzo

poop, it happened in October of 2015, and 2013.

Edit - actually, October of 2012 and 2014.

Definitely better than the married ones from a dating perspective.
- HawkintheD

My wife was a single mom, AND technically still married when we started dating.

poop, it happened in October of 2015, and 2013.

Edit - actually, October of 2012 and 2014.
- mohel

This is not a good team. We all know it.

Yeah that game-long battle Caggiula had with MacDermid was great to see. That's one way to energize your team and to ruffle the feathers of the opponent.

I could've sworn I saw MacDermid punch Caggiula to the face in the 3rd as they got to the end boards when they were both going fulls speed for a loose puck in the Hawks O zone.

Kruger was also being a pest as he'd have Kings all over him in crease battles and after whistles. But it's easy to gang up on a house fly.
- AEL_Fox

I said the hawks should of picked up Macdermaid when he was on waivers earlier in the year rather then manning or dahlstrom. Solid big and mean will clear the crease. And would probably be a top 3 fighter in the league.

This is not a good team. We all know it.
- z1990z

Not a Cup contender. Not really in contention to win the Central next year. But a solid chance to return to the playoffs next year, imo.

I said the hawks should of picked up Macdermaid when he was on waivers earlier in the year rather then manning or dahlstrom. Solid big and mean will clear the crease. And would probably be a top 3 fighter in the league.
- vandymeer23

Gotta love the face punchers. I guess.

Gotta love the face punchers. I guess.
- mohel

Looks good in that lavender Kings jersey...

Not a Cup contender. Not really in contention to win the Central next year. But a solid chance to return to the playoffs next year, imo.
- mohel

If they revert to the mean with the PK next year, that is worth 5 wins.

Not sure what so many believe separates them and Winnepeg, nashville and St. Louis?

I mean seriously. Both Win and Nas under performed. Will barely reach 100 points.

Not a Cup contender. Not really in contention to win the Central next year. But a solid chance to return to the playoffs next year, imo.
- mohel

Don't disagree. But Stan HAS to hit on everything this summer. Team D/PK need a re-build.

Don't disagree. But Stan HAS to hit on everything this summer. Team D/PK need a re-build.
- z1990z

I'm not sure why so many discount the 100 point pace for half a season after all the changes in the first half. If they can build a shutdown line and add a 2nd pairing guy, I think they can be pretty good next season. Assuming health, of course.

Don't disagree. But Stan HAS to hit on everything this summer. Team D/PK need a re-build.
- z1990z

He won't hit on everything this summer.

NO TEAM hits on everything "this summer" - or any summer.

He needs to make a couple of good moves to get them back into the play-offs - then develop the young young players and bring them up when they're fully cooked - and maybe be back in Cup contention in two or three years.

Don't look for a deep run next season - but making the tournament and having a competitive first round (maybe even winning a round) would be a success.

Not doing that would mean that Stan's effort would be a failure.

Or a penny saved is worth two in the bush. That's from Boondock Saints.
- I Am The Breadman

One of the funniest things I have ever seen was when the guy pounded down on the table and the cat vanished.

I'm not sure why so many discount the 100 point pace for half a season after all the changes in the first half. If they can build a shutdown line and add a 2nd pairing guy, I think they can be pretty good next season. Assuming health, of course.
- mohel

It's the Hawks. You've been reading here as long as I have if not longer. Like your post earlier alluded to, even when the team was winning Cups they weren't good enough, tough enough, built for the Playoffs, had no 2nd line center...on and on.

Even in a season where some positives materialized out of negatives, there will always be those who can only focus on the latter.

My wife was a single mom, AND technically still married when we started dating.
- tvetter

This is getting complicated. So separated and never divorced?

One of the funniest things I have ever seen was when the guy pounded down on the table and the cat vanished.
- 6628

"Is it dead?"