Breadman, if you were unhappy with the Danault trade it's a good thing you weren't around for the Phil Esposito trade.
- boilermaker100

That was before my time as well. 2 trades i didn't like, Danault and Nik, all the others i understand. Got to move on though or at least i do. Living in the past sucks, and i just hope Bowman learns from his mistakes

You’re funny.
- Ogilthorpe2

Well explain your theory or reason as to why Chicago should continue holding out hope . Sikura has played enough games to get a great sense of his skill and impact. He has played in the top 6 and top 9 role and his numbers and lack of ability to finish doesnt justify wasting anymore time hoping and praying he somehow catches lightening in a bottle.


Stan has a window of 4 years or less to utilize toews and Kanes remainder contracts and skills to win 1 more cup.

This whole half hearted approach the team has taken doesn't instil confidence that Stan can put together all the right pieces .

Sure Perry has had some issues but he has a solid record and maybe a fresh start just like brad Richards could be enough to win.

Great, not only write about possibly getting Lowry but posting his height and weight, you're sure to give all the size queens their morning wood.
- paulr

Ha ha ha ha

Breadman, if you were unhappy with the Danault trade it's a good thing you weren't around for the Phil Esposito trade.
- boilermaker100

One of history's worst. Yeah, I'm glad I've missed some things.

I know I am going to take a bunch of crap for this statement, but I would rather have Corey Perry as the top line LW than Sikura. Do not want Perry either, but playing with 19 and 88 if Perry comes back motivated and on a cheap contract could be interesting.
- ChicagoHope

Agreed.
Perry on a one year cheap deal would offer us something our lineup lacks. Anisimov, if moved, was one a very few who scored from the dirty areas. Perry may consider us a contender with the changes we made and our recent success. I hated Perry when he played against us too, but the things that made us hate him made Perry effective against his opponents.

Can he play LW? Thought he was always RW
- Assman22

If he wants to play in Chicago with Toews and Kane, he plays LW. LOL!! You are right though, he is a natural right wing.

Great, not only write about possibly getting Lowry but posting his height and weight, you're sure to give all the size queens their morning wood.
- paulr

haha. Sorry. He's just a good player... size aside.

What has Delia done or not done that you have basically written him off?
- Z3Hawk

One thing I didn't add in there on the list is a veteran backup goalie that Stan should sign for Rockford.

Let Lankinen get the bulk of the games, but sign a guy like Hutchinson, Chad Johnson, Al Montoya just in case Crawford has health issues.

Sikura has played 38 games & a former 6th round pick. I guess he gets no time to develop. He plays a possession game, hits, battles along the board, & looks for the open man. I don't care if he doesn't score, he can chip in or not as we have a top 6 filling out nicely. He's a smart kid slowly honing his skills.
- I Am The Breadman

Being smart is great , but what is his purpose if he is not producing , skating around and holding the puck doesn't measure to success.

Even if you take that small sample and take into account his size and skill set , his numbers should be better , that's my entire point.

How come Debrincat came in and stepped up and produced. Maybe it's because he is a better player .

Repeating the same thing doesn't change the outcome.
If sikura could be part of this team and needs more time than keep him in Rockford until it's so obvious he is ready.

Tyler, I agree DeBrincat is a smart player, but did he officially change his name to DeBraincat?
- EbonyRaptor

Ha. Nice catch.

Edited.

Well explain your theory or reason as to why Chicago should continue holding out hope . Sikura has played enough games to get a great sense of his skill and impact. He has played in the top 6 and top 9 role and his numbers and lack of ability to finish doesnt justify wasting anymore time hoping and praying he somehow catches lightening in a bottle.


Stan has a window of 4 years or less to utilize toews and Kanes remainder contracts and skills to win 1 more cup.

This whole half hearted approach the team has taken doesn't instil confidence that Stan can put together all the right pieces .

Sure Perry has had some issues but he has a solid record and maybe a fresh start just like brad Richards could be enough to win.
- Taylorst1

Sikura is a good young cost controlled forward who has demonstrated he understands how to play a defensive game in the NHL on a team that doesn't play defense so well. He has also demonstrated he can score on each level of hockey he has played, except, so far, in the NHL. If you watched him play you'd know how he played, you'd see he had a number of opportunities to score and you'd also see a rookie playing a composed mature game and who didn't allow the pressure of not scoring affect other facets of his game. Next season when the Hawks are on TV, put down your gameboy and your phone and spend 3 hours watching the game. You may be surprised that there's a allot more to a successful team than scoring goals.

Is any Vegas deal dead?
- LAHawk

Not sure.

All is quiet.

I actually remember quite a few people being unhappy with that one.
- Ogilthorpe2

They’re coming out in droves now.

I remember a “let’s go for it now” attitude from many / most (here and other places) at the time - including after the trade.

Oh, well - I’m old - maybe I’m remembering the Timmonen trade....

I don't like the idea of moving Murphy simply because Seabs and soon Keith will be unmovable (and soon unusable).

We can't keep saying that for the next 3-5 years.

Sooner or later Stan is going to have to do something with them. Yes they were the life blood of the defense but that is in the past and there are too many players coming up behind them. The better players have to play. I don't doubt Stan knows this and it's not fair to Colliton to make him play them.

The buyout savings on Seabs according CapFriendly is crazy the savings go up and down each year they won't be much help. Nobody is going to take that contract there won't be any teams with that kind of cap space to waste no matter what you throw in. The logical move is get him to retire. Keith is owed very little real dollars soon he may retire on his own or actually be movable without a terrible sweetener. If they never dress they will become open to other ideas.

I don't like the idea of moving Murphy simply because Seabs and soon Keith will be unmovable (and soon unusable).

We can't keep saying that for the next 3-5 years.

Sooner or later Stan is going to have to do something with them. Yes they were the life blood of the defense but that is in the past and there are too many players coming up behind them. The better players have to play. I don't doubt Stan knows this and it's not fair to Colliton to make him play them.

The buyout savings on Seabs according CapFriendly is crazy the savings go up and down each year they won't be much help. Nobody is going to take that contract there won't be any teams with that kind of cap space to waste no matter what you throw in. The logical move is get him to retire. Keith is owed very little real dollars soon he may retire on his own or actually be movable without a terrible sweetener. If they never dress they will become open to other ideas.
- rpeters01

Last season Keith and Seabrook were still the best two Hawk defensemen. I think Keith will finish his career as a Blackhawk but I expect Seabrook will be moved to a team who can buy him out and use the cap hit to help reach the cap floor.

Sikura is a good young cost controlled forward who has demonstrated he understands how to play a defensive game in the NHL on a team that doesn't play defense so well. He has also demonstrated he can score on each level of hockey he has played, except, so far, in the NHL. If you watched him play you'd know how he played, you'd see he had a number of opportunities to score and you'd also see a rookie playing a composed mature game and who didn't allow the pressure of not scoring affect other facets of his game. Next season when the Hawks are on TV, put down your gameboy and your phone and spend 3 hours watching the game. You may be surprised that there's a allot more to a successful team than scoring goals.
- paulr

Scoring goals is a huge part of success, sikura is not a bang and crasher , in fact he is a small player. I've seen enough of him and I'm not eagerly impressed , if he can't finish at the nhl level and has had numerous chances and still couldn't produce , the maybe that tells you he either is not ready or he will never be true NHL talent.

Either way this season is not something Chicago should spend wasting away hoping that a cost controlled player who has had plenty of time up hasn't improved his game or take that chance.

It least drake plays a physical intense game I'd rather see him with toews and kane.

Well explain your theory or reason as to why Chicago should continue holding out hope . Sikura has played enough games to get a great sense of his skill and impact. He has played in the top 6 and top 9 role and his numbers and lack of ability to finish doesnt justify wasting anymore time hoping and praying he somehow catches lightening in a bottle.


Stan has a window of 4 years or less to utilize toews and Kanes remainder contracts and skills to win 1 more cup.

This whole half hearted approach the team has taken doesn't instil confidence that Stan can put together all the right pieces .

Sure Perry has had some issues but he has a solid record and maybe a fresh start just like brad Richards could be enough to win.
- Taylorst1

1 you can't afford to have a bunch of 20+ 60 point forwards on your team.

2 so a team has to rely on good possession forwards on their lower lines to maintain possession in the offensive zone to tire out the opponents defense.

Blues and Bruins were 2 of the best teams in the playoffs at this, i remember the bottom 2 lines of the Hawks from 2013-15 they would maintain o zone pressure easily for over a minute several shifts a game one of the reasons they were so hard to beat.

They’re coming out in droves now.

I remember a “let’s go for it now” attitude from many / most (here and other places) at the time - including after the trade.

Oh, well - I’m old - maybe I’m remembering the Timmonen trade....
- StLBravesFan

I think kwolf ranted for pages and pages about that trade

Being smart is great , but what is his purpose if he is not producing , skating around and holding the puck doesn't measure to success.

Even if you take that small sample and take into account his size and skill set , his numbers should be better , that's my entire point.

How come Debrincat came in and stepped up and produced. Maybe it's because he is a better player .

Repeating the same thing doesn't change the outcome.
If sikura could be part of this team and needs more time than keep him in Rockford until it's so obvious he is ready.
- Taylorst1

Adb doesn't play defense, he's a pure goal scorer who would have been a 1st round pick if it wasn't for his height. He will dominate Sikura in scoring always, but Sikura exceeds in a lot of areas that Adb lacks in. I wouldn't compare the two players. Sikura will find the back of the net, but I personally don't define hockey players by if they score. The little & smart plays make them useful.

Sikura has played 38 games & a former 6th round pick. I guess he gets no time to develop. He plays a possession game, hits, battles along the board, & looks for the open man. I don't care if he doesn't score, he can chip in or not as we have a top 6 filling out nicely. He's a smart kid slowly honing his skills.
- I Am The Breadman

Dylan Sikura hits? Which one of his 3 were the most impressive?

And you dont care if he scores?? Just be smart?

Hmmm...let me dust off my skates if that's all it takes. Scouts and coaches told me different back in the days but maybe things have changed and the "everyone gets a trophy culture" also means everyone can play in the NHL

Please expound on your comment. Why will JC's system not work and what makes it "immature"?
- paulr

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.

Dylan Sikura hits? Which one of his 3 were the most impressive?

And you dont care if he scores?? Just be smart?

Hmmm...let me dust off my skates if that's all it takes. Scouts and coaches told me different back in the days but maybe things have changed and the "everyone gets a trophy culture" also means everyone can play in the NHL
- PatShart

He's a useful complimentary player is my point. But I remember his 2nd hit being memorable.

Breadman, if you were unhappy with the Danault trade it's a good thing you weren't around for the Phil Esposito trade.
- boilermaker100

Yeah, you would have had to write to your penpals about it.

I loved typing it. It would be *fire emoji*
- Tyler Cameron

That line would give other teams fits and if some way hawks can sign little joe
Little Joe Toews kane
dcat strome dach(if he makes it) perlini kubalik either or
saad Lowery tanev
caggulia kampf perlini or kubalik
haley sikrua

keith gust
maatta joker
de hann seabrook
koko

Crawford
vet goalie to be named later
or delia

now that's looking like a playoff team hope bowman can do that trade murphy for lowery and 3rd

Dylan Sikura hits? Which one of his 3 were the most impressive?

And you dont care if he scores?? Just be smart?

Hmmm...let me dust off my skates if that's all it takes. Scouts and coaches told me different back in the days but maybe things have changed and the "everyone gets a trophy culture" also means everyone can play in the NHL
- PatShart

At some point an offensive player actually needs to score. 0 for 38 is a big sample size. Sikura must make it happen quickly as he is 24 and eventually the team will have to move on from him.