Going out on a limb and just thinking the Hawks personnel was a bit better when Q took over, but my memory isn't as good as it used to be.
- vabeachbear

Especially on defense. Back then Keith, Seabrook and Hammer entering their prime years. Last year 2 and 7 on the downhill side and no Hammer.

One of the fallacies that gets discussed is that Colliton did not have time, did not have a training camp. Colliton replaced Q very early in the season, very early. He had basically the entire season to implement his “system”. It wasn’t a question of implementation, it was a question of a grossly flawed “system”. Colliton’s “system” was in place but it was just awful.

When Q was hired early in the season, with no training camp, not one person said he should be given slack if there are problems, not one person. The difference? Q was an actual professional NHL-level Coach.

The Hawks never improved defensively over the course of the whole season. They were as awful at the season’s end as they were 2 weeks into Colliton’s tenure.
- Z3Hawk

So you're saying it was a fallacy Colliton didn't have a training camp to implement his system - that in essence he did implement his system on the off days during the season.

Careful ... your naivete is showing.

Just can't see how Lee is a good idea for what cap money should be spent on. If Lee is looking for $7M - I suppose that can be offset by getting rid of Saad's $6M but I'd rather have Saad's 200' game and PK duty than Lee's better offense.
- EbonyRaptor

I’m not sure about that, I haven’t watched Lee much so it’s hard to say. Just looking at stats it looks like Lee plays a heavier game and uses his size more.

While I hated to see Hammer go, Bowman had two things to factor in, age and salary cap. Hammer in his prime for Murphy in his prime would have been a terrible trade. Moving Hammer eliminated a cap problem and it brought in a younger player who had potential, who has since shown himself to be a lower pairing defenseman with little upside. I would still classify this as cap relief.

Other than one poster who fell head over heels in love with Leddy, very few thought much about him other than what he was/is. He's what he always was a guy who is good when he has the puck with no pressure on him and who's defense is still suspect, even though he has improved that aspect of his game. For pure offensive instincts I think Gus is better.
- paulr

True points on Hjammer, but you don't deal your best defensive defenseman (and he is still delivering stellar defense on a crappy Arizona team) and yield the return that he did unless Murphy winds up coming at least 90% to replacing him. Not even close IMO. And if they knew Murphy was going to take three years to be a legit top 4, the 2nd player should have been a much better prospect.

Do they need a back up goalie? I guess MAF can't play all 82
- BetweenTheDots

I’m guessing they resign Subban since they did QO him.

True points on Hjammer, but you don't deal your best defensive defenseman (and he is still delivering stellar defense on a crappy Arizona team) and yield the return that he did unless Murphy winds up coming at least 90% to replacing him. Not even close IMO. And if they knew Murphy was going to take three years to be a legit top 4, the 2nd player should have been a much better prospect.
- jrsamu

Rewatch the series where Nashville swept us, Hammer was very exposed in that series.

It will be interesting to see what San Jose's Timo Meier, 22 year old wing, signs for. He's had 51 goals and 51 assists the last 2 seasons.

Though not quite as high as Cat's 69 goals and 59 assists the last two years, it would be a good comparable to what Alex may be looking for.

San Jose only has 15 players signed with less than 15M in cap space. Somebody should offer sheet Meier for about 4.2M (at the cost of a 2nd round pick) to put the Sharks in a really tight cap situation.
- boilermaker100

Expanding on this idea. Toronto's Kapanen and Johnsson, each with only one recent 20 goal season reportely signed for about 3.25M. Meier's camp probably looking at 5M?

Hawks should offer sheet for 5M x 4 years at the cost of 1st and 3rd. He could take over for Saad. Move Saad to a team who strikes out in free agency signing a forward like Dzingel, Lee, Zucarello , etc. Could Saad get a 1st round pick back to make up for the offer sheet?

True points on Hjammer, but you don't deal your best defensive defenseman (and he is still delivering stellar defense on a crappy Arizona team) and yield the return that he did unless Murphy winds up coming at least 90% to replacing him. Not even close IMO. And if they knew Murphy was going to take three years to be a legit top 4, the 2nd player should have been a much better prospect.
- jrsamu

Unfortunately you do in the cap world. Bowman was under pressure to get the cap down and to get younger. I see your point but my premise is that there were three catagories when Bowman was dealing players or making player moves.

1. Cap issues
2. To try to win championships
3. Hockey trades and/or acquisitions

Unfortunately for Bowman and most other GMs, dealing because of the cap leaves them no leverage and in almsot all cases they will lose the trade.

Dealing to try to win championships means in most cases you are willing to overpay to try to make the team better for a playoff run.

Hockey trades or acquisitions you expect to win or come out even in almost all of them. Bowman has had a few bad signings but I think he made up for that with a few outstanding deals.

Agree on Joki completely. He should have been with the Hawks the whole year. Swedish Tier Two Coach Colliton was in over his head on so many issues including this one.
- Z3Hawk

You think Colliton had complete control over the roster? Or made the decision to send Joki down on his own? Guarantee that was a front office decision... Colliton maybe had some input.

Your hatred of Colliton is clouding your judgment

Also Q was head coach of 2 other teams in the NHL and had how many games experience behind the bench?
- LAHawk

And what did he win in those other 2 places, both with a bunch of all stars and HOF guys sprinkled in.

So you're saying it was a fallacy Colliton didn't have a training camp to implement his system - that in essence he did implement his system on the off days during the season.

Careful ... your naivete is showing.
- EbonyRaptor

Which probably was a tad bit difficult to do considering most of the veterans don't do all that much on the off days....

I likely missed the discussion about Kampf, I was surprised to see he didn't get a QO from the Hawks. I saw Powers said they are still talking contract. I wonder if it means he might get signed for less?

You’re funny
- Ogilthorpe2

Pretty sure Q inherited quite a stacked lineup

Yes, if they’re not in playoff contention.

Stan is looking to add forwards with one year expiring contracts, Gus fits the bill on defense. I don’t mind having Gus on the team, I actually quite like it. My only worry is a year from now he’ll want Gardiner or Myers type money.
- DarthKane

It’ll be interesting to see what the Blackhawks do with Gustafsson after July 1st. Peter Wallen is his agent, he represents Boqvist and Carlsson too.

Kampf no QO. Looks like he gone.

So you're saying it was a fallacy Colliton didn't have a training camp to implement his system - that in essence he did implement his system on the off days during the season.

Careful ... your naivete is showing.
- EbonyRaptor

The fallacy obviously is that the lack of a training camp had any influence. Why didn’t Q need a training camp when he was hired? Ask yourself if Colliton is fired tomorrow does any other NHL team hire him in any capacity let alone Head Coach? That would be a huge NO! When the Hawks hired him for Rockford was he even remotely on any other NHL team’s radar? Another huge NO! Was he on the radar of any team in the Swedish Elite League? Another huge NO! Remember Colliton came from the Tier Two Swedish Beer League. Just a heads up as there may not have been room in your thimble. Thanks for playing EB and go find a dictionary concerning what “naivete” means as highly educated, highly intelligent people never possess this quality.

I likely missed the discussion about Kampf, I was surprised to see he didn't get a QO from the Hawks. I saw Powers said they are still talking contract. I wonder if it means he might get signed for less?
- breadbag

I am not sure if Kampf was arbitration eligible. It may have had something to do with that. If he was eligible and the Hawks qualified him and he didn't like the terms he could have gone to arbitration? Maybe the Hawks didn't want to risk losing the arbitration and paying out a higher amount. Supposedly they are still in negotiations.

I think I prefer it when Z3 is bashing the Dach pick at #3 - at least it’s a more limited scope in forming a counter argument. This latest stuff... I just don’t know where to start.
- Chief4Feathers

Kampf no QO. Looks like he gone.
- kwolf68

I think they have their eye on another UFA guy who can PK and - F-O....and maybe. just maybe they revisit Kmappf, if that fails.


You cannot keep adding contracts of guys for the main roster and have them sitting...unhealthy atmosphere...and wasted $$$$

I think they have their eye on another UFA guy who can PK and -f-O....
- wiz1901

I suspect so.

Which probably was a tad bit difficult to do considering most of the veterans don't do all that much on the off days....
- bhawks2241[/quote

It was always remarked that Q had the shortest and least amount of practices during the season of any NHL coach.

I didn’t understand the Henri love at all last season. I didn’t see anything that warranted him staying up with the organization, so it was (to me) the right call to send him to Rockford where he played much better, and has had a pretty good showing since. Hopefully he’s more ready this time around and he makes it difficult on the coaching staff, but I would have no qualms with having him begin the year in Rockford again, or simply sending him down when de Haan comes off the IR (presuming he starts the season on it) if he’s not producing. We can’t lose sight of the fact that the kid just turned 20. There’s absolutely no need to rush him into anything.
- TommyHawk

De Haan isn’t presuming that:

But he's hoping to be cleared by the time training camp rolls around in September and be ready to go for the season opener on Oct. 4 in Prague.

"Things are progressing well," de Haan said. "I like to think I’m ahead of schedule. I’ve had shoulder surgeries in the past as well where I know how this goes and I’m gonna make sure I’m ready for camp. Then it’s going to be up to the training staff and the doctors whether they want me to play or take a few weeks here and there and just progress slowly. But my main goal is to be ready for camp. I don’t want to sit on the sidelines. I want to be on the ice with the guys and out there grinding away and try to get the team back in the playoffs.”

I think they have their eye on another UFA guy who can PK and - F-O....and maybe. just maybe they revisit Kmappf, if that fails.


You cannot keep adding contracts of guys for the main roster and have them sitting...unhealthy atmosphere...and wasted $$$$
- wiz1901

Or they think Quenneville can slot in.

Kampf no QO. Looks like he gone.
- kwolf68

The report was that they're still working out a deal with him. They likely wanted a deal under the QO required amount.

The fallacy obviously is that the lack of a training camp had any influence. Why didn’t Q need a training camp when he was hired? Ask yourself if Colliton is fired tomorrow does any other NHL team hire him in any capacity let alone Head Coach? That would be a huge NO! When the Hawks hired him for Rockford was he even remotely on any other NHL team’s radar? Another huge NO! Was he on the radar of any team in the Swedish Elite League? Another huge NO! Remember Colliton came from the Tier Two Swedish Beer League. Just a heads up as there may not have been room in your thimble. Thanks for playing EB and go find a dictionary concerning what “naivete” means as highly educated, highly intelligent people never possess this quality.
- Z3Hawk

At about the same time Colliton was hired, Hitchcock and Desjardins (experienced coaches), were hired in Edmonton and Los Angeles. How did that experience work out for those teams (they ended up hiring yet new coaches after the season).