That's a tall statement. Some may have been OK with it but I would bet a majority would not(especially after battling STL to seven games).

Your overall point is spot on though. The one thing that I see as a positive is that they have a lot of the big money contracts coming off the books in three years (Toews, Kane, ADB). I'm less concerned about what we will have to extend Strome at (if we do at all).

Barring some major turnaround in play by the vets and some significant contributions by newcomers, the next three years are going to be tough to watch (regardless of who is coach or GM). The fact of the matter is that they need the younger guys to actually mature into hockey players.
- Chunk

I said yesterday you would need a crystal ball to know when the core was done and people still hate Jerry Krause for blowing up the Bulls. Hindsight is always 20/20 but I'm throwing the BS card on anyone who says they knew to blow up the Hawks after 2015 unless they mean 2019.

boy a lot of folks weren't around for 1st Line C Tuomo Ruutu, huh?
- BINGO!

Oh sweet mother of god. His rookie year was 03/04. That Hawks team finished with a whole 59 points. I took a look at the roster for that season and my stomach turned.

boy a lot of folks weren't around for 1st Line C Tuomo Ruutu, huh?
- BINGO!

Sadly, most were around for that. They're spoiled now.

I said yesterday you would need a crystal ball to know when the core was done and people still hate Jerry Krause for blowing up the Bulls. Hindsight is always 20/20 but I'm throwing the BS card on anyone who says they knew to blow up the Hawks after 2015 unless they mean 2019.
- rpeters01

Yup. I get that everyone is furious at the product on the ice right now (I am too). The fact of the matter is that this is where we are. Not a good team. The excuses get old (hearing the same things they need to improve every game). I'm not currently happy with anyone on the team (players, coach, GM), but that doesn't mean you can just flip a switch, get new FO, Coaches and players and poof you have a competitive team again. I'm sticking to my 4-5 year window to get back to competitive. Bank as many higher draft picks as possible and develop them.

Sadly, most were around for that. They're spoiled now.
- mohel

Bring back Wendell Clark... Today's Wendell Clark!

Yup. I get that everyone is furious at the product on the ice right now (I am too). The fact of the matter is that this is where we are. Not a good team. The excuses get old (hearing the same things they need to improve every game). I'm not currently happy with anyone on the team (players, coach, GM), but that doesn't mean you can just flip a switch, get new FO, Coaches and players and poof you have a competitive team again. I'm sticking to my 4-5 year window to get back to competitive. Bank as many higher draft picks as possible and develop them.
- Chunk

Ask the Kings and Wings how that "poof flip a switch" is working. It took Buffalo and Edmonton 10 years and how many regimes to get back to the playoffs.

Update on a Hawks-adjacent story. Sounds like Chevy in WPG was also involved in decisions related to Aliu's career.

https://www.wsj.com/artic...ing-to-hockey-11576082222

Ask the Kings and Wings how that "poof flip a switch" is working. It took Buffalo and Edmonton 10 years and how many regimes to get back to the playoffs.
- rpeters01

There is a coaching genius out there lurking on the last year of his contract - Bruce Boudreau.

Say what you want about Porky Pig but he gets his teams into playoff contention every year. And if he finds a way to make the playoffs this year with that awful squad he should be given Coach of the Century honours. Meanwhile the Hawks have a minor league instructor behind the bench .........

There is a coaching genius out there lurking on the last year of his contract - Bruce Boudreau.

Say what you want about Porky Pig but he gets his teams into playoff contention every year. And if he finds a way to make the playoffs this year with that awful squad he should be given Coach of the Century honours. Meanwhile the Hawks have a minor league instructor behind the bench .........
- RickJ

I wonder how much his health insurance premiums are?

I wonder how much his health insurance premiums are?

- Rota's Rooter

Frito Lay pays the monthly premium as long as he eats a large bag of chips per day.

There is a coaching genius out there lurking on the last year of his contract - Bruce Boudreau.

Say what you want about Porky Pig but he gets his teams into playoff contention every year. And if he finds a way to make the playoffs this year with that awful squad he should be given Coach of the Century honours. Meanwhile the Hawks have a minor league instructor behind the bench .........
- RickJ

Rick, do you think barely making the playoffs for a bunch of years should be the Hawks goal? I thought this august board wanted to avoid the Detroit model?

More specifically, will the Hawks be closer to Cup contender status in three years if they make the playoffs this year, or if they have a very high draft pick?

After reading the 1st 3 pages, I'd like to add my 2 cents.

Stan SIGNIFICANTLY upgraded the roster over the summer.

He added 2 veteran, proven NHL defensemen. Do you remember the flotsam and jetsam that was Manning, Forsling, Davidson & Dahlstrom?

He also upgraded the forwards. Guys like Hayden, Fortin (wasn't ready) Luke Johnson & Martinsen took regular shifts last season.

He added a Vezina quality goalie, plus got a healthy CC back. Anyone want to go back to the Ward/Delia combo?

Realistically, I knew this wasn't a Cup contender at the beginning of the season, but I expected them to compete for a WC slot.

So, with this upgraded roster, with many more NHL quality players, they may be worse than last year.

So, who is responsible?

I'd say it's the guy that didn't have the team ready for the start of the season. The guy that decided to go to a dump & chase without players capable of playing that style.
The guy who has never had an effective defensive team in his now 7th year as a HC.
A guy who plays Gustafsson top pair minutes.
A guy who took 30 games to realize Nylander isn't good enough, yet, to play with Saad & Toews.
A guy who thought it was a good idea to break up his best line from last season, to start this season.

I'm sorry, JC may be a great HC in the league some day. But he isn't TODAY, he's in way over his head.

#FireColliton

Oh sweet mother of god. His rookie year was 03/04. That Hawks team finished with a whole 59 points. I took a look at the roster for that season and my stomach turned.
- Rota's Rooter

ABC- line
Lazy-DazE
long list of russian misfits.

Currently the rebuild should be real. Even if it is a few years to late.

Update on a Hawks-adjacent story. Sounds like Chevy in WPG was also involved in decisions related to Aliu's career.

https://www.wsj.com/artic...ing-to-hockey-11576082222
- pdx2ord

I'm not a subscriber; how does it look for Chevy?

I wonder how much his health insurance premiums are?

- Rota's Rooter

ABC- line
Lazy-DazE
long list of russian misfits.

Currently the rebuild should be real. Even if it is a few years to late.
- camfor

Yeah it feels pretty hopeless after the past few years.

I almost feel we're in those times again.

Definitely don't feel we can win games. When we have leads, I feel we'll squander them. I guess it's because of being spoiled for 6-8 years with greatness.

After reading the 1st 3 pages, I'd like to add my 2 cents.

Stan SIGNIFICANTLY upgraded the roster over the summer.

He added 2 veteran, proven NHL defensemen. Do you remember the flotsam and jetsam that was Manning, Forsling, Davidson & Dahlstrom?

He also upgraded the forwards. Guys like Hayden, Fortin (wasn't ready) Luke Johnson & Martinsen took regular shifts last season.

He added a Vezina quality goalie, plus got a healthy CC back. Anyone want to go back to the Ward/Delia combo?

Realistically, I knew this wasn't a Cup contender at the beginning of the season, but I expected them to compete for a WC slot.

So, with this upgraded roster, with many more NHL quality players, they may be worse than last year.

So, who is responsible?

I'd say it's the guy that didn't have the team ready for the start of the season. The guy that decided to go to a dump & chase without players capable of playing that style.
The guy who has never had an effective defensive team in his now 7th year as a HC.
A guy who plays Gustafsson top pair minutes.
A guy who took 30 games to realize Nylander isn't good enough, yet, to play with Saad & Toews.
A guy who thought it was a good idea to break up his best line from last season, to start this season.

I'm sorry, JC may be a great HC in the league some day. But he isn't TODAY, he's in way over his head.

#FireColliton
- scottak

Um, more like Toews hasn't been good enough to play with Nylander. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Players play and coaches coach. At the end of the day it's 95% on the players. Scotty Bowman in his prime couldn't win with this team.

Um, more like Toews hasn't been good enough to play with Nylander. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Players play and coaches coach. At the end of the day it's 95% on the players. Scotty Bowman in his prime couldn't win with this team.
- rpeters01

Nor could Q. Scottie blows past that fact, but it is relevant, imo.

Please tell me that Collition will be smart enough to change his defensive philosophy to fit the players that he has.... Oh wait, he isn't. That being said, when then are they going to fire him? Replace him with King and get it over with.

Nor could Q. Scottie blows past that fact, but it is relevant, imo.
- mohel

I met Scottie Bowman at Midway in August. My plane to atlanta was having issues, so they moved us over to Scotty's gate as we waited for a new plane. He was traveling with what I assume was either his son or daughter and their respective kid.

He was standing looking at the TV as his traveling party was up at the gate agent asking where their flight was being moved.

Its amazing that NOBODY recognized this guy at Midway, during the week at lunch time. I confirmed it was him, and we chatted for all of 3 minutes. I asked him what he thought of the current hawks and after pausing for a solid minute he told they had an uphill battle. He's aged A LOT

Regarding Maatta's illness, having flu like symptoms and fatigue for over a week could mean it's not the flu. Fatigue , along with who knows how many illnesses, is a symptom of a thyroid problem.

Just saying this because he had a cancerous tumor removed from his thyroid in 2014. Hope to hell it's not a reoccurrence and he is being checked thoroughly.

After reading the 1st 3 pages, I'd like to add my 2 cents.

Stan SIGNIFICANTLY upgraded the roster over the summer.

He added 2 veteran, proven NHL defensemen. Do you remember the flotsam and jetsam that was Manning, Forsling, Davidson & Dahlstrom?

He also upgraded the forwards. Guys like Hayden, Fortin (wasn't ready) Luke Johnson & Martinsen took regular shifts last season.

He added a Vezina quality goalie, plus got a healthy CC back. Anyone want to go back to the Ward/Delia combo?

Realistically, I knew this wasn't a Cup contender at the beginning of the season, but I expected them to compete for a WC slot.

So, with this upgraded roster, with many more NHL quality players, they may be worse than last year.

So, who is responsible?

I'd say it's the guy that didn't have the team ready for the start of the season. The guy that decided to go to a dump & chase without players capable of playing that style.
The guy who has never had an effective defensive team in his now 7th year as a HC.
A guy who plays Gustafsson top pair minutes.
A guy who took 30 games to realize Nylander isn't good enough, yet, to play with Saad & Toews.
A guy who thought it was a good idea to break up his best line from last season, to start this season.

I'm sorry, JC may be a great HC in the league some day. But he isn't TODAY, he's in way over his head.

#FireColliton
- scottak

Or, and hear me out here, the core players have continued to degrade faster than their replacements have been found, so while the added depth has prevented a complete catastrophe, the very expensive core just isn't good enough to win games with any sort of consistency anymore.

I echo the earlier poster or maybe it was the blogger who praised Crawford for visibly getting upset. they were dominated for large portions of the game and their team speed is truly lacking.

The IQ of DeBrincat is shocking as literally 12 seconds after Eddie O warned us about Vegas short handed, here is Alex turning it over at the blue line and I truly wish somebody could tell what the hell 56 was doing on that 2 on 1? He didn't take away the pass, he didnt' get down, he basically half @ssed it allowing an easy tap in...…

THis team is a damn dumpster fire in their own end.....See Toews not skating hard to get back on goal 4? Complaining with palms up over being tossed at the dot, and I used to rip Crosby for always whining....I truly think 19 may be the BIGGEST whiner in the NHL today.

Blow it up. Please....enough of this Sox/Bulls patchwork retooling on the fly. Its not working. The core is breaking down daily, and 12 looks lost almost every shift he's out there.

I didn't check to see if 50 ripped this team but I will say when Lehner does it's warranted and Im glad he's not putting lip stick on a pig. Play the kids....deal off the veterans who aren't on board to rebuild like Doughty and Kopitar are out in LA.

Enough of this crap....their damn special teams are a colossal failure and JC couldn't coach a mite team let alone a professional team. He has NOT adapted to what he has on his roster.

I met Scottie Bowman at Midway in August. My plane to atlanta was having issues, so they moved us over to Scotty's gate as we waited for a new plane. He was traveling with what I assume was either his son or daughter and their respective kid.

He was standing looking at the TV as his traveling party was up at the gate agent asking where their flight was being moved.

Its amazing that NOBODY recognized this guy at Midway, during the week at lunch time. I confirmed it was him, and we chatted for all of 3 minutes. I asked him what he thought of the current hawks and after pausing for a solid minute he told they had an uphill battle. He's aged A LOT
- SteveRain

Cool story, Rain Man, although I was referring to the poster Scottak.

Hope you're well. Are you excited about the possibility of your guy McD selecting Stan's replacement?

Or, and hear me out here, the core players have continued to degrade faster than their replacements have been found, so while the added depth has prevented a complete catastrophe, the very expensive core just isn't good enough to win games with any sort of consistency anymore.
- BINGO!

When 100% healthy the only 2 of the 5 that are worth a damn are Kane and Crawford.

Toews isn't even a top 20 centermen in the league.

Keiths body is finally breaking down, and Seabrook is just there to help lead the next generation. Fascinating that Dach lives with him over other veterans. Just shows you who really is considered the leader of this team.