Because he farted in church.
- mohel

He didn't want to share a bunk bed at Seabs house.

This is true. Most under-appreciated superstar ever, imo.
- mohel

1100+ points in 750 NHL regular season games plus another 85 goals in playoffs.

4 years of junior hockey never scored less than 70 goals a season. And for that he gets drafted 15th overall because the experts decided he couldn't skate well enough.

And after a disappointing 38 goal season, he retires. Without a wonky back who knows how many total goals he would have put up. A sniper par excellance.

What major sports team owner do you think relies on the revenue from their sports team as their main source of income?
- -Doh-

Pretty sure the McCaskey’s are solely reliant on the Bears.

If he could only make Toews better...
- rpeters01

He did...last year

You want to get biggest value for your money with 19 and 88? Put them back together. Neither is really doing much on their current lines.

I know it's just optics, but Gus skating around with his mouth open reminds me of Leddy. Both look like mouth breathers, with games to match. Although Gus makes Leddy seem like Einstein on ice.
- mohel

They remind me of Jay Cutler. We should be able to blame him for something by now.

So the big question is does rocky have the stones to fire bowman? Does it happens time will tell if it happens then hawks nerd a gm that is a builder if not then hawks are turning into the white sox and bulls where loyalty to a certain figure is preventing the organization from moving forward.
- Scott1977

I would argue Hahn has been given a lot of leeway with the Sox.

Even Kane can't save Okposo. Reinhart would most likely be someone to play with Kane. McCabe is meh. Word is they are looking to move Miller.

Okposo would probably have to be moved in order to afford Kane's cap hit. Unless they are adding 2 1st(unprotected), I want no part of Okposo. BTW, Okposo is currently playing on the Sabres 4th line.
- Elbows15

The idea of Kane going to Buffalo is fascinating in a lot of ways but lets also recall the largest elephant in the room......kane's history off the ice in Buffalo. I don't think, and I could be 100% wrong, he goes back there in the summer any longer or if he does its' for a very short while. There are a LOT of challenges of playing in your home town and I think if we all compiled a list....there have been more athletes who have imploded then succeeded playing in their home towns.

I would say kane is a top 10 talent in the game, possibly a top 5....the off ice revenue who be appealing to any team and that factor is also why the Hawks wouldn't trade him.

Remember, when McDonough 1st got hired..what did he do?

He reached out to the previous generational talents and welcomed them back to the Hawks family....I was at the game where Hull, Esposito, Mikita were rolled out in the white convertible against the Sharks and "the pop" in the building rivaled anything during the glory years. They also lost that game to San Jose as Rene Borque batted one in with his glove......

To me this organization is at a crossroads. I think we can all agree that 2 of the 5 core guys can still be elite players on a team IF healthy in 50/88. 2/19 can be above average, and only 2's deal is truly a steal, and 19's deal looks worse and worse with each passing day.....and 7...is a shell of his former self.

They are far too damn slow right now to compete and have too many guys who are regressing at an alarming rate......and any minute they want to send 56 packing works for me. As much as I defended his offensive upside last year, when that doesn't happen....his defensive awareness is a complete joke.

Pretty sure the McCaskey’s are solely reliant on the Bears.
- HawkintheD

It's NOT the Wirtz family...

Since they show the Hawks with only 5 Championships, I wonder which one they're discounting - probably one of the ones that Stan had a hand in.

If an owner is not looking to sell the team, year-to-year income (and, more importantly to a privately owned operation) year-to-year cash flow is the driving factor.

Don't forget, Rocky has partners in the Hawks - family members, however many - and in the building.
- StLBravesFan

Points taken. A couple of other points to consider...

Rocky and 29 other franchises will receive $20M plus from the Seattle franchise fee. (Vegas not getting a piece of the pie.) I don't know the timing of that payment. Maybe a down payment has been received already and there is a balance due. Maybe it has all been paid, maybe it's coming in the future.

The TV contracts will be negotiated in a few years and some people think that multiple networks will bid leading to an increase in TV revenue.

Both of the above will offset some lost ticket revenue.

The bottom line is that Rocky and the next few generations of the Wirtz family ain't going broke.

I don't remember how Wirtz' wealth came into the discussion. Maybe I brought it in
with the Forbes article. So if the case is Rocky won't be hurt in the pocketbook due to the average product on the ice, what will drive him to improve the team?

Wanting to be one of the best and most popular franchises around? Keeping the franchise in the limelight? Reward the dedicated fans? He needs to improve the team to accomplish this. It looks like it's going to be 3 years without making the playoffs. Not saying it's going to happen overnight, but I would like to know the plan.

I don't see Kane wanting to wait years to be a cup challenger again. I think he asks out at some point, or says yes if asked like Chelios. Neither one can stand to play when they know they are going to lose.
- 6628

He has to say yes while he's still worth $10m otherwise it doesn't matter.

Points taken. A couple of other points to consider...

Rocky and 29 other franchises will receive $20M plus from the Seattle franchise fee. (Vegas not getting a piece of the pie.) I don't know the timing of that payment. Maybe a down payment has been received already and there is a balance due. Maybe it has all been paid, maybe it's coming in the future.

The TV contracts will be negotiated in a few years and some people think that multiple networks will bid leading to an increase in TV revenue.

Both of the above will offset some lost ticket revenue.

The bottom line is that Rocky and the next few generations of the Wirtz family ain't going broke.

I don't remember how Wirtz' wealth came into the discussion. Maybe I brought it in
with the Forbes article. So if the case is Rocky won't be hurt in the pocketbook due to the average product on the ice, what will drive him to improve the team?

Wanting to be one of the best and most popular franchises around? Keeping the franchise in the limelight? Reward the dedicated fans? He needs to improve the team to accomplish this. It looks like it's going to be 3 years without making the playoffs. Not saying it's going to happen overnight, but I would like to know the plan.
- boilermaker100

Have said before, I don’t think you’re going to know the plan. It’s not like the Cubs where they could afford some level of transparency where the casual fans show regardless.

Not disagreeing with anything you’ve said, but, to clarify, you can’t spend franchise value, unless you borrow against it, or when you sell the asset.

It’s like you home value. If the value of your home goes from $500,000 to $600,000, you don't have an additional $100,000. Unless you sell or take out a LOC against the value.
- scottak

True. Good analogy. I don't think Rocky has a cash flow problem. He's probably raking in millions annually through bond interest, stock dividends and other investments.

You make some valid points. But it's also fair to point out Stan while he did some positive moves to help Chicago win 2 more cups,
He was IMO having tunnel vision on trying to win that he lost sight of the age of the core .
- Taylorst1

Toews was 27-28 when he started going down hill.

Not many , but their are a few , and those who have or do are either bankrupt or so cheap that these teams don't compete i.e paying players , always at or below the floor of the cap. Example was the coyotes that comes yo mind a group of investors
- Taylorst1

Really. Take a look at this. Let me know if you think they are living day to day off of the Coyote's profits. https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/team/ownership

Really. Take a look at this. Let me know if you think they are living day to day off of the Coyote's profits. https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/team/ownership
- -Doh-

Yeah, Barroway was a bit out of his depth owning the team on his own, but the new guy is just fine and owns a Vegas hotel for (frank)s sake

I'm not projecting Gilbert as a future #1. Just saying it's going to take time for any D man a lot of time to learn the ropes whether his name is Gilbert, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Carlsson, etc.

Yes, some young players like Cale Makar and Charlie McAvoy have hit the ground running (hit the ice skating ?) and established themselves as very good defensemen right off the bat. But they are the exceptions IMO.
- boilermaker100

In the old days they used to say it took three years for a defense man to get a clue. Basically what it took dumber than a box of rocks Leddy.

In the old days they used to say it took three years for a defense man to get a clue. Basically what it took dumber than a box of rocks Leddy.
- rpeters01

Where's Gus at in this schedule?

I was there last night and both of those two were playing pissed the last half of the game. When Kane gains the line and shoots before looking for a play to make he's (frank)ing pissed. He was banging the bench door going off the ice. When Crawford kind of shrugs after a rocket goes past the net his body language is saying WTF like last night.
I'm guessing the players couldn't wait to get on the plane after sunday's game to go to Vegas. So I'm guessing they were playing guilty last night. Usually after a loss the goalie skates to the bench and the guys give him the love mostly there. But last night the hawks got off the bench and went over to 50 at his net with as much energy as the Knights did for Fleury. So I'm thinking they all know just how bad they poop the bed last night. Not sure what if anything is going to change, but they all know.

Good luck to DeHaan and Matta with their situations. Crawford and Lehner too.
- 6628

If it were me....I'd strip Toews of the "C"......his on ice leadership is a joke. All this guy does is female dog and moan and it cost them on the PP against when he got tossed as the linesman, and rightfully so, quick dropped it as Johnny was palms up whining and Toews was late getting to the point.

Id make Kane your captain. I have read more and more takes on him guiding young guys then Toews. Seabrook also would be a choice and truly is THE captain of this team.

It would be nice if Seabrook behind closed doors told Toews to stop whining.....

Steve and Elbows don't understand Canadians. Sure some will be upset that Gretzky's recored was broken and other may be upset it was a non canadian that did it, most Canadians will applaud the feat and arguw who was the better player while the smart money and posters know it was Bobby Orr.
- paulr

Man. Pretty sure I couldn't have laid anymore sarcasm on my post.

If it were me....I'd strip Toews of the "C"......his on ice leadership is a joke. All this guy does is female dog and moan and it cost them on the PP against when he got tossed as the linesman, and rightfully so, quick dropped it as Johnny was palms up whining and Toews was late getting to the point.

Id make Kane your captain. I have read more and more takes on him guiding young guys then Toews. Seabrook also would be a choice and truly is THE captain of this team.

It would be nice if Seabrook behind closed doors told Toews to stop whining.....
- SteveRain

Who's got that gif of Seabs talking to Toews while in the penalty box in that Detroit playoff series?

True. Good analogy. I don't think Rocky has a cash flow problem. He's probably raking in millions annually through bond interest, stock dividends and other investments.
- boilermaker100

Yeah the Wirtz family is estimated to be worth around $4.4 Billion, with Rocky himself having around $500 million of that.

Pretty sure the McCaskey’s are solely reliant on the Bears.
- HawkintheD

I agree that the Bears are their principle holding. But the revenue they have received from the Bears over the last 100 years have made them incredibly wealthy. Their day to day living is not reliant on the Bears making a profit. Their decisions are not based upon what they need to do to make a profit this year, next year or for several years.

Papa Bear threw nickels around like they were sewer covers. When he died he still had the first dollar he ever earned. I am guessing he invested well (besides the Bears). I am pretty sure his heirs are not relying on a check from the Bears each week for their day to day living expenses.

Where's Gus at in this schedule?
- boilermaker100

Year 6.

Where's Gus at in this schedule?
- boilermaker100

Behind Leddy...

I agree that the Bears are their principle holding. But the revenue they have received from the Bears over the last 100 years have made them incredibly wealthy. Their day to day living is not reliant on the Bears making a profit. Their decisions are not based upon what they need to do to make a profit this year, next year or for several years.

Papa Bear threw nickels around like they were sewer covers. When he died he still had the first dollar he ever earned. I am guessing he invested well (besides the Bears). I am pretty sure his heirs are not relying on a check from the Bears each week for their day to day living expenses.
- -Doh-

There are over 25 family members working in the Lake Forest office.