Because POINTS!
- tvetter

I don't like it when people become grammar police but you do realize there are a few components of a sentence (subject, predicate and adjectives are nice) needed to make it understood.

Compare TOI when he played for Q and for Colliton. I think with his demotion last year and the tea leaves are leading to another one this season, shows that Colliton does not think of him as highly as Q. Joki belongs on the top 4 in Chicago, not Rockford. All this talk of another demotion to Rockford gives me a bad feeling. Just my opinion.
- KMFDMLight

First, Forsling came back from injury and then Murphy came back from injury - that contributed to Joki's reduced TOI.

Second, Colliton was under the gun to right the ship in the midst of (2) 8 or 9 game losing streaks and any coach would lean on more experienced players in that situation.

Third, Joki played with exceptional poise for a rookie in the first month or so but then some cracks started to show - he had a few deer in the headlight moments in the December/January time frame that he didn't have early on.

And lastly, there's probably truth to the thought that Stan wanted Joki kept under 40 games last season to push the team's RFA rights to him out another year.

Or ... maybe Colliton is just an idiot.

It sounds like Pavelski didn't put Chicago on his list of teams to visit. Friedman said they were likely to try to convince him to come but that Pavelski had turned down several team - only Dallas and Tampa are known destinations for him.
- L_B_R

I can’t say I’m surprised. $/term expectations from Pavelski’s camp probably wouldn’t fit into Hawks’ plans.

Compare TOI when he played for Q and for Colliton. I think with his demotion last year and the tea leaves are leading to another one this season, shows that Colliton does not think of him as highly as Q. Joki belongs on the top 4 in Chicago, not Rockford. All this talk of another demotion to Rockford gives me a bad feeling. Just my opinion.
- KMFDMLight

They tried him out at the beginning of the year. He started strong but maybe the NHL grind effected him slightly. Another factor in ATOI was that at the beginning of the season Murphy was on the DL so Joki got more playing time because they were short a right side defender.

My guess is that they are so close to a deal that he feels confident he will be able to be signed before Monday.
- -Doh-

Seems like a needless risk. But ... at least the fax machine didn't jam.

Ulf got Q fired by using a D “system” that forced D-Men to be very aggressive in the O-Zone. Q had always had the team play responsibly defensively. Offence was build off of that cornerstone principle. Ulf’s system” caused an insane amount of odd man breaks and the Hawks overnight became porous defensively.

Enter Colliton. Initially I looked forward to a return to responsible defence as it made no sense to fire Q and bring in a new Coach with the same idiocy. Sadly not only did Colliton’s “system” incorporate Ulf’s “system” of being very aggressive, in the O-Zone, it had the added idiotic feature of being over-aggressive in the D-Zone. We saw constantly both D on the same side of the ice, along the same boards, in the same corner. This, of course, left the entire rest of the ice D-Man free, including the front of the net. There was a reason the Hawks gave up league high shots and league high grade A opportunities.

The reason Colliton’s “system” is immature is it does not work at the NHL level. It is a “system” that may have a chance to work in the Swedish Tier Two league or maybe to a degree in the AHL but has no chance to work in the NHL. If you aggressively pressure lower level players it may work. If you aggressively pressure NHL players it has no chance to work. The reason for this? NHL players welcome this and actually try to bait defenders to be overly aggressive, creating open ice. NHL players are simply too fast, too skilled and two smart to be trapped. A simple move or simple pass is all it takes to beat the aggressive defenders. NHL players easily find the open players on the created open ice.

It didn’t help to have D-Men like Gus who had no interest at all in being responsible defensively. That is why in spite of all his goals and points he was a negative player.
- Z3Hawk

Keep in mind that Colliton took over a team mid-season. I'll give him this year to implement his system. He also had Keith and Murphy, and 4 AHL players/Seabs. This year they added 2 top 4 Dmen, so he has Keith, Murphy, Maatta, and De Haan as his top 4. If after having a training camp with these players, the Hawks are last in the league on PK and HDSA, then move on from Colliton.

Blackhawk GM Stan Bowman part of a group that buys the USHL Tri City Storm https://nebraska.tv/sport...-city-storm-viaero-center

And why he has interviewed for every open GM post and never been hired?
- LAHawk

He's waiting for the right one to come along?

If you belive Pavelski would sign a 1-year deal - then trading Anisimov will make it work. However, if you're doubtful that Pavelski would sign a 1-year deal, like I am, then you can make the decision to have Pavelski in 2020/21 or DeBrincat for many more years. Your call.
- EbonyRaptor

Well Craw is off the books next season and AA will probably be dealt as well. That’s about 11 mil, is that not enough to sign Cat and Strome? Figure bridge deals.

Compare TOI when he played for Q and for Colliton. I think with his demotion last year and the tea leaves are leading to another one this season, shows that Colliton does not think of him as highly as Q. Joki belongs on the top 4 in Chicago, not Rockford. All this talk of another demotion to Rockford gives me a bad feeling. Just my opinion.
- KMFDMLight

To be fair, Q only had Sikura for 5 games at the end of the year in 17-18 after they had been eliminated from PO contention. In his first stint with the Hawks this year(Dec 12-Jan 3) he was averaging about 10-11 mins a nigh with a low of 7:01 and a high of 13:01. When he was recalled, he averaged about 1-2 minutes more per game. Overall, they used him about the same.

Second City Hockey: "Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman rumored to be receiving a contract extension, per report."

Well Craw is off the books next season and AA will probably be dealt as well. That’s about 11 mil, is that not enough to sign Cat and Strome? Figure bridge deals.
- gifman

But both of those players have to be replaced after they are off the books.

Compare TOI when he played for Q and for Colliton. I think with his demotion last year and the tea leaves are leading to another one this season, shows that Colliton does not think of him as highly as Q. Joki belongs on the top 4 in Chicago, not Rockford. All this talk of another demotion to Rockford gives me a bad feeling. Just my opinion.
- KMFDMLight

Maybe Joki made the team last year because Murphy and Forsling were on IR. Then they came off IR and it became a numbers game on the blue line and the Hawks brain trust thought it best for Joki to get ice time in Rockford.

He's waiting for the right one to come along?
- BlackhawkMike

He wants to show off his knowledge sooooo badly that they can smell the desperation when he interviews and it turns them off.

Second City Hockey: "Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman rumored to be receiving a contract extension, per report."
- SoftServe

ok stanbow haters...1...2...3

Maybe Joki made the team last year because Murphy and Forsling were on IR. Then they came off IR and it became a numbers game on the blue line and the Hawks brain trust thought it best for Joki to get ice time in Rockford.
- boilermaker100

Making the team is one thing but Q was giving Jokiharju top pair minutes. And considering Q didn't see Murphy or Forsling as top pairing, them being missing had little to do with Q wanting Joki on the team or playing so much.

JC cut Jokiharju's minutes pretty much immediately (and increased Seabrook's initially btw). It was only after Jokiharju was demoted to 3rd pair mostly that he started to have any issues.

On top of that, playing Jokiharju last season means he's eligible for the expansion draft - the Hawks FO isn't going to choose him to stay without him having legitimately made the team and Q feeling like he was the best option as a #2 with Keith.

First, Forsling came back from injury and then Murphy came back from injury - that contributed to Joki's reduced TOI.

Second, Colliton was under the gun to right the ship in the midst of (2) 8 or 9 game losing streaks and any coach would lean on more experienced players in that situation.

Third, Joki played with exceptional poise for a rookie in the first month or so but then some cracks started to show - he had a few deer in the headlight moments in the December/January time frame that he didn't have early on.

And lastly, there's probably truth to the thought that Stan wanted Joki kept under 40 games last season to push the team's RFA rights to him out another year.

Or ... maybe Colliton is just an idiot.
- EbonyRaptor

There are also quotes from guys like Kelley and Bowman that say that he needed to hone his game quite bit in regards to dealing with forecheck pressure, and playing in all situations.

I am a huge fan of Joki, but at the end of the day, he needs to beat out the guys they have in order to make the roster. Say what you will about Seabrook's speed, he knows what to do in all situations. Joki is supremely confident in his abilities, and I wouldn't have it any other way, but his expectations of ice time have to mirror reality as well.

I'm surprised that Toews was drafted in the first round the way you hate him.

I think if you read people's post more clearly you'll see that most posters see the upside to Sikura's game and are willing to be patient. He has many elements to his game that are strong but he had difficulty and bad luck scoring a goal, which seems to be the only issue you and some other posters have with him. If there is another player who outperforms him in camp I think anyone would agree Sikura doesn't deserve a spot on the roster. But if Sikura were to outperform other prospects, would you agree he deserves a spot in the roster?
- paulr

I think they should lock him up long term deal before he gets too expensive

With all his incredible untapped potential, hes bound to bust out and become too expensive. Then they have to pay ADB 8-9mil and Strome!

Seabrook and Keith's contracts are scrwing this team again

ok stanbow haters...1...2...3



- bogiedoc

Hawks have not won a Playoff Series since June 2015. So, naturally, let's get an extension for Stanley Bowman ASAP!

I don't like it when people become grammar police but you do realize there are a few components of a sentence (subject, predicate and adjectives are nice) needed to make it understood.
- paulr

While I believe that most people could follow the sarcasm, how about this... It appears that some people only judge players on whether or not they put up big numbers. Sikura does everything well except score points. He has been able to score at all other levels; therefore, I believe the points will come, and he will be a very good 2-way, top 9 forward.

Does this make more sense to you?

I agree, with most it is only June 26, for the sake of “what the heck “ and I know Tyler‘s projected lineup and his blog will not be the lineup hopefully that they start the season with but I’m going to compare the St. Louis/Boston final with the 12 forwards and gauge if they even make it into the arena Let alone the lineup.

Toews,Kane absolutely first line for either team.
Debrincat possibly first line but for sure second line for either team.
Strome,third or fourth line for either team .
Saad , At this point third line for either team.
Arty , probably third line depending on his intensity if he’s up to laying it out there every night.
Now let’s get to the good part,
Kampf, maybe, but maybe he squeaks into the fourth line depending on how his season went.
Perlini, unless he can use his God-given tools show some heart he is upstairs eating popcorn and hot dogs with the writers.
The drake, fourth line or bottom six, kid his heart, I would like to see him paired with Andrew Shaw back here.
Sikura?.....Outside the arena selling programs, or playing in a kids no check pick up hockey game next to Kathryn Tappan, JR, and Kevin weeks makeshift booth.
The other two? Who?
These guys want to get back to the promised land next year then they have to add at least two significant forwards. Once again I guess It May be a little early but starting to think about last year‘s fiasco After Bowman came out and talked a good game before the draft and last year’s free agency. And wind up with nothing.
- wonthecup10

Comedic gold as always. Not necessarily intentional, but good for a chuckle nonetheless.

Hawks have not won a Playoff Series since June 2015. So, naturally, let's get an extension for Stanley Bowman ASAP!


- EnzoD

I’m just following what my Jump To Conclusion mat said.

Well Craw is off the books next season and AA will probably be dealt as well. That’s about 11 mil, is that not enough to sign Cat and Strome? Figure bridge deals.
- gifman

Yes Crawford is off the books but he has to be replaced with a goalie good enough to take us where we want to go so for all intents and purposes we should just figure $6M for a starting goalie whether it's Crawford re-up'd or someone else.

There's armchair-GM ways to construct rosters so maybe there's a way to sign Pavelski and still be able to re-sign Cat and Strome but it will come at a cost and my opinion is the cost of Pavelski is better used in other areas - specifically areas more in need than top-6 scoring.

But both of those players have to be replaced after they are off the books.
- Chunk

Agreed that’s probably when Dach enters the picture and Lankinen backs up Delia. So there’s your replacements.

Wasn't the whole reason they sent Joki down when they did, is because they would be getting an extra year of service if they did? I can't remember the amount of games played that were needed, but I am pretty sure that is also why he never came back up at the end of the season. I don't think Colliton doesn't like him, I would think (if this was the case) they like him so much they didn't wan't to waste a year off is ELC on a team that was going nowhere.