Look...I just see a current roster that gets killed every night in the fancy stats and using the eye test seems to be lacking in skill/speed. I also see A LOT of former Hawks with plenty of skill/speed all over the league that it seems we gave up on early or didn’t get equal value for in return. A good number of them are defensemen. When I look at our current blue line(arguably the worst in the NHL) that makes it all the more frustrating. Then to top things off I look at the contracts and NMCs we’ve handed out to a couple vets that have become crippling.

I think it’s silly to act like all of this is /was inevitable because of the cap, as if we just ran in to bad luck. There is blame that must be placed on the shoulders of the GM. I don’t see any way around that when you look at the status of our current roster and all the moves that led us to this point. This regression was avoidable, there were much better decisions that should have been made.
- SimpleJack

You're kidding, right? Who are all these great ex-Hawk defensemen?

DeHaan was playing so well....(frank)

Look...I just see a current roster that gets killed every night in the fancy stats and using the eye test seems to be lacking in skill/speed. I also see A LOT of former Hawks with plenty of skill/speed all over the league that it seems we gave up on early or didn’t get equal value for in return. A good number of them are defensemen. When I look at our current blue line(arguably the worst in the NHL) that makes it all the more frustrating. Then to top things off I look at the contracts and NMCs we’ve handed out to a couple vets that have become crippling.

I think it’s silly to act like all of this is /was inevitable because of the cap, as if we just ran in to bad luck. There is blame that must be placed on the shoulders of the GM. I don’t see any way around that when you look at the status of our current roster and all the moves that led us to this point. This regression was avoidable, there were much better decisions that should have been made.
- SimpleJack

I don't think anyone has stated that Stan is without fault. You've noted a number of transactions that were trash. A fall off is not inevitable because of the cap, but it makes it extremely difficult to do. The higher line guys that played well during the cup run are going to get paid. Guys like Bolland, Brouwer, Bickell, etc all ultimately got deals in the $4-5M range. At the time of those contracts, that was more like a $5.5-7M contract now. Guys like Fraser, Kopecky, Eager, and maybe Burish could be retained for cheap, but who else? just an example.

I'll say it again. The Kane line is playing crap hockey. Not enough skating, and too many weak passes through eight legs/sticks. I can't stand that line.

DeHaan was playing so well....(frank)
- EnzoD

only can hope this is not another major injury to that shoulder..

This team sucks. Just end the (frank)ing season and make a pick. ZERO shots in 9 minutes is a laugh. Hawks getting blitzed again. I say traded both goalies for high picks. This team is going nowhere.

Disgusting hockey...if hockey is what you even want to call it..

looks like another typical hawk game...poor puck management and getting ripped on possession again...weak play by bokie and it cost them...

this one looks to be ovah

This team sucks. Just end the (frank)ing season and make a pick. ZERO shots in 9 minutes is a laugh. Hawks getting blitzed again. I say traded both goalies for high picks. This team is going nowhere.
- kwolf68

Keith, De Haan, Maata out leaves one good Defender in Murphy...going to be a
very ugly stretch of hockey.

This team sucks. Just end the (frank)ing season and make a pick. ZERO shots in 9 minutes is a laugh. Hawks getting blitzed again. I say traded both goalies for high picks. This team is going nowhere.
- kwolf68

Pretty brutal to watch. They are chasing the entire time, getting gassed and making bad decisions. Watch this year as developmental hockey. You'll go nuts expecting anything else. If they end up playing well enough to make it that's just gravy.

Will somebody please wake up Debrincat and his line mates!

Keith, De Haan, Maata out leaves one good Defender in Murphy...going to be a
very ugly stretch of hockey.
- EnzoD

it's a tough go with those guys...yikes...

You're kidding, right? Who are all these great ex-Hawk defensemen?
- mohel

Leddy, Kempny, Hjalmarsson, TVR, Jokiharju, and Oesterle. Never said they were great. But they’d be a lot of help right now. That’s a lot of mobility(outside of TVR), and our blue line is currently lacking in mobility.

There’s no excuse for our Dcore to be as bad as it is. The GM has to be better at putting together a quality product. Had a lot of pieces here over the past several seasons that he decided weren’t of any use. And now we’re left with the likes of Gus, Murphy, Slater Koekkoek and whatever’s left of Brent Seabrook. Maatta and de Haan are nice plug ins on the bottom 2 parings as defensive defenseman, but they don’t offer much skill/mobility.

Hoping that the future holds better options with Boqvist and Mitchell. Also hoping Bowman doesn’t trade them away like he has so many in the past.

How is Maatta still sick? Is there something else going on there? Sorry if I missed an update.

How is Maatta still sick? Is there something else going on there? Sorry if I missed an update.
- SimpleJack

He's got the 144 hour flu.

geez...quite the double save on toews...

Nice work by DeBrincat there on the PP

another shorty....good night...

Nice work by DeBrincat there on the PP
- SimpleJack

How many shorties against the Hawks this year.?Seems like there's one every couple of games lately.

seriously, what the hell!!

why the smack didn't gus lay down?????

Gus is worthless. Has no trade value at all. Cut him loose. He costs them games.

Defense 101 - on a two on one, D man prevents the pass, goalie has the shooter.

Cue the youth movement.

I'll say it again. The Kane line is playing crap hockey. Not enough skating, and too many weak passes through eight legs/sticks. I can't stand that line.
- Chunk

Probably playing soft so they can hit Spearmint Rhino hard after the game. What a fabulous establishment that is. Just incredibly accommodating.

looks like another typical hawk game...poor puck management and getting ripped on possession again...weak play by bokie and it cost them...

this one looks to be ovah
- bogiedoc

I don’t get why they can play a possession game instead of dump/chase. They have great passers up and down the lineup. Cycle not chase.

Sikura is showing nothing for all the whining to have him in the lineup. He needs to go. Career AHLer.

Keith, De Haan, Maata out leaves one good Defender in Murphy...going to be a
very ugly stretch of hockey.
- EnzoD

These injuries (sickness for Maatta) plus The Drake and Shaw are saving Bowman's job.