How much longer until all you said about Toews hits the fan and is magnified in media?

I do not foresee playoffs or starting to turn things around until some new young forwards and dmen join the team. Some should get planted and grow next season, but the dmen will take root and begin to blossom the season after next.

A new center would likely have to arrive via trade or the draft

In house Barrett might become a productive center like Strome but a yapper! !and better effort defensivy. Barrett needs to improve his skating though
- jhawk59

Your new center is Dach, your 2 top 6 centers are Dach and Strome.

I would love to keep Cro, at a salary commensurate with a #2 goaltender. I don't think the market will be that great for him anyways. Currently the big UFA's would be Holtby, and Lehner. The Kings want to trade Quick in the worst way to make way for Cal Peterson. You have Greiss, Halak and Khudobin that are the same age as Corey, not had the injuries that Crow has had, and frankly will fit in as a number 2 salary wise with the hard cap era.

Kelly Hrudey said the reason why young goalies replace older ones, is not necessarily because the younger ones are better. but they are cheaper, and have less wear and tear on them, less prone to injury. Look at the NHL today, there are more 1A 1B goalie tandems than ever. The days of a Brodeur playing 70 games is over.

Do you think Crow would be as sharp if he played 16 of the 23 games, how would Delia have done in the remaining 7? Look what happened in Toronto with their goalie situation.

Love Crow, but this is a business, not a video game. If he wants to sign a Cam Ward type contract 1 year $3 mil. no movement, I would be glad to give him that, otherwise, good luck and we will see you back next year with a great video tribute.
- LAHawk

well said.....goalies in NHL is becoming like RBs in the NFL....you need 2 very good ones to limit workload.

I just don't see how they ride with Crawford and Delia in 2020-21......Even on a 1 year deal for 50....they have put all their eggs in that basket before and in recent years he is doomed for an injury and a DL stint.

Question is what will Lehner be paid? You could always extend Lehner, if he wants to, and then deal 50 at the deadline.....Teams are ALWAYS looking and right now Id say CC > Quick if Im a contending team.....what bowman asks back vs la is a whole different animal but I keep looking at Edmonton and Mike Smith will implode. You can bet on it.

well said.....goalies in NHL is becoming like RBs in the NFL....you need 2 very good ones to limit workload.

I just don't see how they ride with Crawford and Delia in 2020-21......Even on a 1 year deal for 50....they have put all their eggs in that basket before and in recent years he is doomed for an injury and a DL stint.

Question is what will Lehner be paid? You could always extend Lehner, if he wants to, and then deal 50 at the deadline.....Teams are ALWAYS looking and right now Id say CC > Quick if Im a contending team.....what bowman asks back vs la is a whole different animal but I keep looking at Edmonton and Mike Smith will implode. You can bet on it.
- SteveRain

the problem with Quick is he has a cap hit of $5.8 mil. for 3 more years, and is just as injury prone (legs/groin) as Cro. The Kings will only get to move him IMO if they retain salary, which I think they would do.

Would you pay Saad more then 6.4 AAV? Say for 3-4 years after next year?
- SteveRain

I personally would. If you are just looking at points, sure he is behind the pace right now, but as a total package, I think he is worth it.

I personally would. If you are just looking at points, sure he is behind the pace right now, but as a total package, I think he is worth it.
- Chunk

He has all the physical attributes, I think he lacks in hockey sense.

He has all the physical attributes, I think he lacks in hockey sense.
- LAHawk

I don't think so, but you could be right. The only area where I think he is actually weak is that he doesn't have the best hands. He goes through stretches where he can't handle the puck, or get off strong/clean shots. Like several players, I think that is a bit cyclical.

He has all the physical attributes, I think he lacks in hockey sense.
- LAHawk

I don’t think he lacks in hockey IQ, he’s a real good two way forward, he lacks good hands. How many two way forwards out there that score 20-25 goals? Not many. If Saad had great hands he’d be worth 9M, but he doesn’t, therefore 6M it is. I’ve mentioned this a few times, this team needs more two way forwards, not less. As for people saying we need a Hossa, it ain’t happening, there’s only one Hossa, one of the most complete players in the history of the NHL.

Welcome to the world of being a "Cro hater"

Im sure, where's the red font, that having Lehner a legit 1 and also playing very well has nothing to do with CC playing very good......friendly competition is good.

The amount of point blank chances opposition gets game in and game out on the PP, or 5 on 5 is insane....Its almost as a fan I expect either of these goalies to make grade A save after save after save because we have seen it early on this season...…

I still think this is a fringe playoff team when everyone is doing their part......but right now the biggest bust of the year is 19.
- SteveRain

"Captain Buyout"

well said.....goalies in NHL is becoming like RBs in the NFL....you need 2 very good ones to limit workload.

I just don't see how they ride with Crawford and Delia in 2020-21......Even on a 1 year deal for 50....they have put all their eggs in that basket before and in recent years he is doomed for an injury and a DL stint.

Question is what will Lehner be paid? You could always extend Lehner, if he wants to, and then deal 50 at the deadline.....Teams are ALWAYS looking and right now Id say CC > Quick if Im a contending team.....what bowman asks back vs la is a whole different animal but I keep looking at Edmonton and Mike Smith will implode. You can bet on it.
- SteveRain

Hey Rainer, I made the call the first time I saw Crawford play that he would play in the NHL. And while I'm not as confident making this call as I've only seen this guy play a couple of times, but I have been impressed with Tomkins down on the farm. Big guy, moves well, blocks shots and makes saves. I don't know anything about him other than he was impressive to me when I saw him.

Agree on Mike Smith, can't stand that actor.
Maybe they sell Crow on going at the deadline as a rental and that earns him a contract here next year as a 1B guy.

Problem with Saad is that goal production doesn't equate the salary. Hard to float a guy on a 6 AAV contract, when other parts aren't producing OR you don't have the cap space.

Defensive forwards are nice....Bolland (before his big pay day), KRuger, Madden, Frolik, and on it goes....those were all nice when slotted right against the cap. When not, its really tough to justify them.....Notice all of them are usually the 1st to go when push comes to shove vs salary cap OR they are pushing for a raise.

The Hawks best players need to start producing or else Bowman has to really think about putting some of these guys on the block come the deadline or draft or later this upcoming summer...…..to keep icing the same roster built around the same key guys and expecting different results is insanity.
- SteveRain

I agree adn the same can be said about Toews. Both are really solid defensively but so are a lot of other guys in the league that produce 40-50 point seasons.

Both are paid to play defensively sound games and produce top 6 points. The fact some justify both players current play because they "get the toughest matchups" or are defense first guys is a joke. They are paid to be elite two way guys. Neither of them are doing it. Simply as that. This team would look a lot better if Toews was driving play and scoring points as the #1 center.

Toews is on pace for 14 goals and Saad is on pace for 21.

5-7 more goals out of Toews and 2-3 more out of Saad at this point in the season probably equates to 3 or 4 more wins for the Hawks.

You will not win in the NHL unless your top players produce like top players.

I agree adn the same can be said about Toews. Both are really solid defensively but so are a lot of other guys in the league that produce 40-50 point seasons.

Both are paid to play defensively sound games and produce top 6 points. The fact some justify both players current play because they "get the toughest matchups" or are defense first guys is a joke. They are paid to be elite two way guys. Neither of them are doing it. Simply as that. This team would look a lot better if Toews was driving play and scoring points as the #1 center.

Toews is on pace for 14 goals and Saad is on pace for 21.

5-7 more goals out of Toews and 2-3 more out of Saad at this point in the season probably equates to 3 or 4 more wins for the Hawks.

You will not win in the NHL unless your top players produce like top players.
- bhawks2241

This year I think Kampf is getting the toughest match ups, and Carpenter is taking
more of the defensive faceoffs (on his strong side). Toews defensive responsibilities are not the same as they have been in past years.

His decision to decline a pro contract and go back to school was not a positive sign. I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but I would not count on Mitchell signing with this organization when all is said and done.
- Instamatic

Ian Mitchell

“I just want to make it known that my intentions are to sign with the Blackhawks 100 percent,” Mitchell said. “It’s just I’ll be going back for one more year. I don’t want people to think I may be bailing because loyalty is very important to me and that’s why I’m going back to Denver.
“But that’s also why I want to sign with the Blackhawks. They’ve been great to me.”

If he doesn’t he would be considered a liar.

*NEW* blog up: http://bit.ly/2qKUKI2

If you are referencing 12 with your 1st paragraph I don't disagree. Snipers run on confidence and when they lose it, they struggle.

The problem with the Hawks is, and really has been since Hossa "retired" is that they are a 1 line team.....and that line is whatever line 88 is on. Why? Because 19 can't carry a line by himself OR make those around him better. That's the issue.

Hell at this point they could make 17.77 the top 2 pivots and I'd be fine with it, much like the Canadians used to do in the Olympics...Very rarely did Toews play top 6 minutes but instead was in a glorified 3rd line role.....

19 is a large reason why this team can't overcome some short comings, and IMO if he doesn't start producing I would trade his @ss asap. Thank you for the glory years but starting in 2013-14 production went down every year.....up until last year's mirage, and now he's back to not showing up on the stat sheet.....thus, putting all the scoring onus on Kane and his linemates.

Lehner is a damn good goalie....hawks would be sniffing a lottery pick without him right now.
- SteveRain

They are sniffing a lottery pick with him.