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!

Bingo! (I mean, right on target).......

Why?

If de Haan is out for the year, and Keith is very possibly on LTIR for a LT (long time), where do we think Gus (as opposed to Boqvist) and / or Maatta (as opposed to another Rockfish call-up) is going to lead them?

I'm not reacting to each win or loss - and not looking to tank for whichever 18 year old becomes the next superstar in waiting - only to the generally inconsistent and ragged play (even in many of the wins) and looking at losing 2 of the top 3 defensemen for long periods.
- StLBravesFan

attempting to consider things from the hawks organizational perspective: how are they going to get a replacement for dehahn (assuming he is out for months or more) and trade matta and/or gus to become net stronger at the blueline in december. Serviceable and top dmen in this league aren't given away and are going to cost you in trade and contract. Would it be surprising the hawks work out deal say with the habs for either one...no not all...but that deal will tell you alot about what they think about the rest of the season and the coming seasons.

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.
- SteveRain

Shows how good Kane is. Same for Crosby, Malkin and Ovechkin.

Look at the other stars of just yesterday- Toews, Keith, Perry, Getzlaf, Kopitar, Dougherty, Lundquist, Price, Stamkos, Weber, Suter All B or C-Level now

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?
- mohel

Honestly......no. I don't blame Bowman for this roster. He has proven NHL d men....at least 5 of them.....are they the fastest or most talented? no....but the amount of quality chances this team gives up is hilarious. No wonder 40 and 50 take turns losing their minds. The best part of last night's game was 50 firing a puck off the glass and down...clearing the zone....while The hawks were on the PP.....message received Cory.

I blame JC. hes not a NHL coach. Hes not. They could go into a more conservative trap style and they'd be more competitive then whatever crap system he has them playing right now.

Im all for them detonating this thing and moving on. Attendance will dip.....the 1 goal commercials will get more desperate but they need to admit their window has slammed shut and figure out the best way to get back to a long run with a new core.


IMO.....everyone is available. Cater to the vets and see if you can get them a chance at winning again before their careers are over, but this team as constructed playing this crap system with this crap special teams.....the only thing worth watching is 50/40 stoning guys and 88. That's it.

Shows how good Kane is. Same for Crosby, Malkin and Ovechkin.

Look at the other stars of just yesterday- Toews, Keith, Perry, Getzlaf, Kopitar, Dougherty, Lundquist, Price, Stamkos, Weber, Suter All B or C-Level now
- Popsghostly

i personally cant wait for all of Canada to burn to the ground when Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's goal record. If he wants it, he can get there. Im pulling hard for the great 8, next to the Hawks they are my eastern conference team I pull for EVERY year.

Agreed...those guys you listed Im guessing continue to work on their games and get better.

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!

the core players: toews, kane, seab, keith, craw...

toews had one of his best years last year, kanes production has not degraded he is even better, craws play has been outstanding most of the year, keith..yes not a top flight norris candidate anymore but still effective, seab...yes a well attested drop off..

so its not all about the core falling apart

the core players: toews, kane, seab, keith, craw...

toews had one of his best years last year, kanes production has not degraded he is even better, craws play has been outstanding most of the year, keith..yes not a top flight norris candidate anymore but still effective, seab...yes a well attested drop off..

so its not all about the core falling apart
- bogiedoc

Agree- the new supporting cast hasn't equaled the old cast plus the degrade of the core.

Even with Toews scoring his career year last year he was not the defensive beast and complete player he once was.

Honestly......no. I don't blame Bowman for this roster. He has proven NHL d men....at least 5 of them.....are they the fastest or most talented? no....but the amount of quality chances this team gives up is hilarious. No wonder 40 and 50 take turns losing their minds. The best part of last night's game was 50 firing a puck off the glass and down...clearing the zone....while The hawks were on the PP.....message received Cory.

I blame JC. hes not a NHL coach. Hes not. They could go into a more conservative trap style and they'd be more competitive then whatever crap system he has them playing right now.

Im all for them detonating this thing and moving on. Attendance will dip.....the 1 goal commercials will get more desperate but they need to admit their window has slammed shut and figure out the best way to get back to a long run with a new core.


IMO.....everyone is available. Cater to the vets and see if you can get them a chance at winning again before their careers are over, but this team as constructed playing this crap system with this crap special teams.....the only thing worth watching is 50/40 stoning guys and 88. That's it.
- SteveRain

i enjoy the binny beverage commercials...but you are correct. The goaltending has been amazing to watch. with out them they shaking hands with the kings or within striking distance of the redwings...

attempting to consider things from the hawks organizational perspective: how are they going to get a replacement for dehahn (assuming he is out for months or more) and trade matta and/or gus to become net stronger at the blueline in december. Serviceable and top dmen in this league aren't given away and are going to cost you in trade and contract. Would it be surprising the hawks work out deal say with the habs for either one...no not all...but that deal will tell you alot about what they think about the rest of the season and the coming seasons.
- bogiedoc

Unless they admit their mistake and fire JC.....they could drag any top d man they wanted and it wouldn't change a thing. The way they approach teams is a joke....they blow leads against superior teams at an alarming rate. They go in the box and it feels like 75% of the time the opposition is scoring, and if they don't its because 1 of the goalies made miracle save after save.

They can't generate much on the PP.....at all. Decline the penalty or just play keep away to ensure the opposition doesn't get a chance.

This team is toast. They'll win some games they shouldn't, and lose some games they shouldn't, but overall they are outmatched skill/speed vs 75% of the league.

Has this team had ANY easy games where their goalies aren't making above the norm quality saves? I can't think of one....I consider the fact our goalies will break down because each night they are getting 40 shots a game and probably close to half ARE prime quality chances......Box score tells you CC let in 5 last night, but if he wasn't "on" Vegas drops 10 easy......

the core players: toews, kane, seab, keith, craw...

toews had one of his best years last year, kanes production has not degraded he is even better, craws play has been outstanding most of the year, keith..yes not a top flight norris candidate anymore but still effective, seab...yes a well attested drop off..

so its not all about the core falling apart
- bogiedoc

Look up Toews production.....outside of last year;s fluke, he has been on a regressive path for multiple years

Keith could fetch something to an eastern conference team looking for a low tiered top 4 guy.

Kane is still extremely valuable.

I have no clue what 19 would fetch....If I were another team's fan I view him as washed up and would either expect the Hawks to eat a portion of his money OR take on 1 of my turds....but I wouldn't give them much.

IMO...in order of return from a trade from highest to lowest

1 Kane
2. Crawford OR lehner
3. Keith--and this is a large drop from 1 and 2
4. Toews.....and this is a decent drop from 3
5. Seabrook....only because of his age vs Toews

i enjoy the binny beverage commercials...but you are correct. The goaltending has been amazing to watch. with out them they shaking hands with the kings or within striking distance of the redwings...
- bogiedoc

I have a feeling, unless JC is fired asap, they will be in that group......both of these goalies can't keep this up AND stay healthy.

Unless they admit their mistake and fire JC.....they could drag any top d man they wanted and it wouldn't change a thing. The way they approach teams is a joke....they blow leads against superior teams at an alarming rate. They go in the box and it feels like 75% of the time the opposition is scoring, and if they don't its because 1 of the goalies made miracle save after save.

They can't generate much on the PP.....at all. Decline the penalty or just play keep away to ensure the opposition doesn't get a chance.

This team is toast. They'll win some games they shouldn't, and lose some games they shouldn't, but overall they are outmatched skill/speed vs 75% of the league.

Has this team had ANY easy games where their goalies aren't making above the norm quality saves? I can't think of one....I consider the fact our goalies will break down because each night they are getting 40 shots a game and probably close to half ARE prime quality chances......Box score tells you CC let in 5 last night, but if he wasn't "on" Vegas drops 10 easy......
- SteveRain

Pretty sure JC will make it to the end of the year but we've seen stranger things.

But if canned now, who would replace him?

Eddie O? Hitchcock? Steve Konroyd?

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

After Aliu was demoted to ECHL at Peters' request, more stuff ensued.

Nothing at all like Peters and nothing that could not have a legit reason behind it, but here's the quote for you:

That off-season, in 2010, the Blackhawks traded Aliu to the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers, in what he felt was a chance to get a fresh start with a new organization. But a year later, it transformed into another moment of misfortune unrelated to his race: The Thrashers moved and became the Winnipeg Jets, and the Jets happened to hire an executive from Chicago, the team that had just traded him away, as their general manager.

Aliu’s agent was then told that the same team that had just traded for him now didn’t see a future with him. Just days into training camp, Aliu was demoted two levels, to the team’s ECHL affiliate at the time, the Colorado Eagles. He was still just 22.

It was while with the Eagles that the equipment manager and team mocking him with a blackface incident occurred.

He bounced around after that, making it back up to the NHL with the Flames before the lockout-shortened season.

Honestly......no. I don't blame Bowman for this roster. He has proven NHL d men....at least 5 of them.....are they the fastest or most talented? no....but the amount of quality chances this team gives up is hilarious. No wonder 40 and 50 take turns losing their minds. The best part of last night's game was 50 firing a puck off the glass and down...clearing the zone....while The hawks were on the PP.....message received Cory.

I blame JC. hes not a NHL coach. Hes not. They could go into a more conservative trap style and they'd be more competitive then whatever crap system he has them playing right now.

Im all for them detonating this thing and moving on. Attendance will dip.....the 1 goal commercials will get more desperate but they need to admit their window has slammed shut and figure out the best way to get back to a long run with a new core.


IMO.....everyone is available. Cater to the vets and see if you can get them a chance at winning again before their careers are over, but this team as constructed playing this crap system with this crap special teams.....the only thing worth watching is 50/40 stoning guys and 88. That's it.
- SteveRain

Pretty sure JC will make it to the end of the year but we've seen stranger things.

But if canned now, who would replace him?

Eddie O? Hitchcock? Steve Konroyd?
- Popsghostly

Oh...I know they aren't firing. The hiring of him is the smug, smarter then you based on our hidden top secret analytics we swear by...……

Believe they are still paying Q, so they can't pay both......or else Rocky will have Crain's on speed dial to cry about losing more money.

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.
- boilermaker100

Just speaking as someone who had the same kind of cancer as Maatta, it can also take FOREVER to find the right balance of meds to make you feel "normal" again. It's been 12 years for me, and during the first two years post surgery, we had to change my levels at least 4 times. Now, we're still having to do it every 2-3 years.

And, you're right, being out of whack can knock you on your ass with fatigue and muscle weakness, etc., and negatively impact so many other bodily systems.

Blackhawks to honor Kris Versteeg with ‘One More Shift’

The two-time Stanley Cup champion was the Rockford IceHogs captain earlier this season.

https://www.secondcityhoc...y-minnesota-wild-nhl-2019

So when does Toews get his night for "One More Shift"?

It has begun. The current iteration of the Black Hawks is so poor that they are now reliving the past just like Bears fans do with the 85 team.

Just speaking as someone who had the same kind of cancer as Maatta, it can also take FOREVER to find the right balance of meds to make you feel "normal" again. It's been 12 years for me, and during the first two years post surgery, we had to change my levels at least 4 times. Now, we're still having to do it every 2-3 years.

And, you're right, being out of whack can knock you on your ass with fatigue and muscle weakness, etc., and negatively impact so many other bodily systems.
- pdx2ord

Best of health to you. Hope things work out for Maatta also.

Oh...I know they aren't firing. The hiring of him is the smug, smarter then you based on our hidden top secret analytics we swear by...……

Believe they are still paying Q, so they can't pay both......or else Rocky will have Crain's on speed dial to cry about losing more money.
- SteveRain

Nope. Somehow the Panther's are on the hook for it.

https://www.secondcityhoc...icago-blackhawks-nhl-2019

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.
- SteveRain

I always thought Seabrook was the more polished leader between he and Keith. He does a better job of keeping his head about him and not taking extra shots at guys when he gets frustrated.

Oh...I know they aren't firing. The hiring of him is the smug, smarter then you based on our hidden top secret analytics we swear by...……

Believe they are still paying Q, so they can't pay both......or else Rocky will have Crain's on speed dial to cry about losing more money.
- SteveRain

on the analytics part...yes stanbow has bragged about that...

on Q...no...once he signed with the panthers the hawks are off the hook...

the core players: toews, kane, seab, keith, craw...

toews had one of his best years last year, kanes production has not degraded he is even better, craws play has been outstanding most of the year, keith..yes not a top flight norris candidate anymore but still effective, seab...yes a well attested drop off..

so its not all about the core falling apart
- bogiedoc

Toews was a dead cat bounce.

Best of health to you. Hope things work out for Maatta also.
- boilermaker100

Thanks.

Yes, definitely hope it's run-of-the-mill seasonal flu or something and he's not having any reoccurrence (tho rarer with thyroid cancer). And, if it is a med level thing, they've figured it out and fixed it. Unfortunately, can just take a few weeks to stabilize.

Toews was a dead cat bounce.
- BINGO!

that maybe true..as steverain pointed out....

but i prefer not to be as definitive and certain as most of the "experts" on this board

Blackhawks to honor Kris Versteeg with ‘One More Shift’

The two-time Stanley Cup champion was the Rockford IceHogs captain earlier this season.

https://www.secondcityhoc...y-minnesota-wild-nhl-2019

So when does Toews get his night for "One More Shift"?

It has begun. The current iteration of the Black Hawks is so poor that they are now reliving the past just like Bears fans do with the 85 team.
- Rota's Rooter

I thought Versteeg was in Europe playing on a team with his brother.