Lol. Last 3 drafts are good! Fire the bastage!
- mohel

Did you even read the rest of it?

Also, take a look at every draft since he's been here. How many of those players he's drafted in the last 10 years are on this team?

It's 5 players, two of them are rookies this year, two of them he traded away and then traded BACK for, and the last one left is Debrincat.

Since 2009, Stan has either fudged the pick, had to trade them away to get rid of bad contracts, or just straight up traded them for less talented players.

Prior to Boqvist and Dach, here is the list of first rounders.

Dylan Olsen
Kevin Hayes
Mark McNeil
Philip Danault
Teuvo Teravainen
Ryan Hartman
Nick Schmaltz
Henri Jokiharju

So don't be surprised when Bowman trades Boqvist in order to get a bottom feeder to take Seabrook. That's the GM we've got.

www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CHI/draft.html

Pittsburgh has a far better GM than the Blackhawks. Is that even a question?
- frafra

I am not a Bowman supporter by any means, but Rutherford is no peach. When he walks away in a couple of years that team will be in shambles. They have not had a first round pick in like 10 years, and when Crosby flames out it will be bad... "all in" mode every year.

...*checks in and confirms sky is falling again*...

Maybe in fact he is the UFA the hawks need...over Lehner.
- wiz1901

One thing I will say, as much of a fan of Lehner as I have been and as spectacular as he's played, the Hawks seem to be REALLY good at finding good goalies (see Niemi, Crow, Ranta, Nilsson, etc.) and developing guys so if they want to find someone a little bit cheaper who they feel can do close to as good of a job as Lehner has then it's worth exploring. Especially if that means adding depth elsewhere.

I'm gonna let this season play the rest of the way out at this point because the rollercoaster ride has been too nauseating to make proclamations one way or another. I will say though, if they miss the Playoffs again that fails on one person: Bowman...and we'll find out if Rocky is more concerned with being loyal to a fault OR putting a consistent winner together for the fans.

Smith is injured. Nothing can ruin this day
- Elbows15

Priceless. This is funny for the simple fact that you have been hoping for this for so long and now you get the release.

I don't wish an injury on anyone, and we obviously differ in our overall opinions of Smith, but this is funny as heck.

I am not a Bowman supporter by any means, but Rutherford is no peach. When he walks away in a couple of years that team will be in shambles. They have not had a first round pick in like 10 years, and when Crosby flames out it will be bad... "all in" mode every year.
- BlackhawkDown

I don't know how long Rutherford has been in charge there, but it seems that Pittsburgh has a pretty good - AND CONTINUING - record since 2007-08: three Cups, another Final, another Conference Final, in the tournament every year, still in the hunt....

If they're going to "be in shambles" after Crosby, it will be a small price to pay for the success.

Did you even read the rest of it?

Also, take a look at every draft since he's been here. How many of those players he's drafted in the last 10 years are on this team?

It's 5 players, two of them are rookies this year, two of them he traded away and then traded BACK for, and the last one left is Debrincat.

Since 2009, Stan has either fudged the pick, had to trade them away to get rid of bad contracts, or just straight up traded them for less talented players.

Prior to Boqvist and Dach, here is the list of first rounders.

Dylan Olsen
Kevin Hayes
Mark McNeil
Philip Danault
Teuvo Teravainen
Ryan Hartman
Nick Schmaltz
Henri Jokiharju

So don't be surprised when Bowman trades Boqvist in order to get a bottom feeder to take Seabrook. That's the GM we've got.

www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CHI/draft.html
- Toew Drags 4 Daze

ON Fire TD4D !! Love it.

I am not a Bowman supporter by any means, but Rutherford is no peach. When he walks away in a couple of years that team will be in shambles. They have not had a first round pick in like 10 years, and when Crosby flames out it will be bad... "all in" mode every year.
- BlackhawkDown

I think first round picks are worth the sacrifice when you are constantly or regularly a cup contender. As long as 87 and 71 are playing at a top level, I am not sure why their GM wouldn't be going all in every year.

Somebody made a post earlier about the difference in the two GM's...when one figures out a player isn't working, a move is made to fix it. That is a big difference.

I don't know how long Rutherford has been in charge there, but it seems that Pittsburgh has a pretty good - AND CONTINUING - record since 2007-08: three Cups, another Final, another Conference Final, in the tournament every year, still in the hunt....

If they're going to "be in shambles" after Crosby, it will be a small price to pay for the success.
- StLBravesFan

BINGO.

What state are the Hawks in now with 19 and 88? And where will they be when they are gone?

Priceless. This is funny for the simple fact that you have been hoping for this for so long and now you get the release.

I don't wish an injury on anyone, and we obviously differ in our overall opinions of Smith, but this is funny as heck.
- Chunk

Agreed on Smith's injury, however in now way shape or form should he ever be on the PP. Colliton needs to go back to Rockford next year after that lunacy.

Agreed on Smith's injury, however in now way shape or form should he ever be on the PP. Colliton needs to go back to Rockford next year after that lunacy.
- Hawkytalk

At this point in the season, and with how miserable their PP is, I don't see the shame in even trying Smith there. Their power play sucks as is- can him being on it really hurt it even more? To many guys who want to make cross ice passes for one timers, and to many D-men who can't get the puck on the net from the point, and low for the goalie to have a difficult time reading.

...*checks in and confirms sky is falling again*...



One thing I will say, as much of a fan of Lehner as I have been and as spectacular as he's played, the Hawks seem to be REALLY good at finding good goalies (see Niemi, Crow, Ranta, Nilsson, etc.) and developing guys so if they want to find someone a little bit cheaper who they feel can do close to as good of a job as Lehner has then it's worth exploring. Especially if that means adding depth elsewhere.

I'm gonna let this season play the rest of the way out at this point because the rollercoaster ride has been too nauseating to make proclamations one way or another. I will say though, if they miss the Playoffs again that fails on one person: Bowman...and we'll find out if Rocky is more concerned with being loyal to a fault OR putting a consistent winner together for the fans.
- Savetheembers33

This right here. We're gonna find out at the trade deadline if Stan is going to be back or not. I think we're starting to see a lot of the "Blackhawks likely to stand pat" deadline stuff because a decision has been made.

I don't think Rocky wants Stan making any more roster decisions after failing to hit his mark the last 3 years.

I'm betting the Hawks wait till the off-season to fire Stan and Jeremy and have a big press release thanking Stan for the Cups. Then they'll say something like in 2010 we revived the Hawks and in 2020 we're going to do it again and make this decade as special as the last decade etc...

Hopefully Gallant is still around at that point.

But one thing should be pretty clear, if we see any trades involving the Blackhawks come deadline, Stanley will be back.

Fatty, you know that Barry Trotz disagrees with you on the importance of "The System"? He's pretty accomplished on defensive hockey at the NHL level.
- mohel

He has his teams playing very structured hockey. Calling it a system or not is irrelevant. JC has these guys chasing players around like a bunch of jabronis instead of protecting the high danger areas on purpose.

Instructions, system, advice, whatever the behavior being coached is not suitable for this team.

Interesting numbers:

Ben Pope‏Verified account @BenPopeCST · 1h1 hour ago

Last night, the Blackhawks had:
- 78 shot attempts, 2nd-most this season
- 49 shots on goal, a season high

And allowed:
- 37 shot attempts, a season best
- 20 shots on goal, a season best

Aaaand they still lost. The story, ICYMI:

JC, how about a blog concentrating on "Things I'm Tired Of Seeing".

To keep it non-political, I'll start with two:

(1) I'm tired of seeing Keith and other defensemen shooting from the blue line with no one at - or going to - the net. Goalie has perfect vision on the shot, and it usually results in a TO. (Obviously, I'm not talking about shooting it in while changing lines - more often than not, that isn't the case.)

(2) I'm tired of seeing two-line passes as the attempt at a clearing pass from their own zone. They rarely work, and more often than not, lead to TOs, and the puck coming back at them. There have to be better ways to clear the zone and transition to offense.

This right here. We're gonna find out at the trade deadline if Stan is going to be back or not. I think we're starting to see a lot of the "Blackhawks likely to stand pat" deadline stuff because a decision has been made.

I don't think Rocky wants Stan making any more roster decisions after failing to hit his mark the last 3 years.

I'm betting the Hawks wait till the off-season to fire Stan and Jeremy and have a big press release thanking Stan for the Cups. Then they'll say something like in 2010 we revived the Hawks and in 2020 we're going to do it again and make this decade as special as the last decade etc...

Hopefully Gallant is still around at that point.

But one thing should be pretty clear, if we see any trades involving the Blackhawks come deadline, Stanley will be back.
- Toew Drags 4 Daze

The only thing I hope for is that they will move any player (Gus, Lehner, Crawford) for draft picks/prospects, if they feel/know they won't be resigned. Don't let them walk for nothing.

(3) Tired of seeing JC behind the bench, clueless

The only thing I hope for is that they will move any player (Gus, Lehner, Crawford) for draft picks/prospects, if they feel/know they won't be resigned. Don't let them walk for nothing.
- frafra

Draft picks are our only hope until our salary cap situation improves. Would have lot more options if we got Keith and Seabs off the books.

(3) Tired of seeing JC behind the bench, clueless
- PatShart

Was happy to see some emotion out of him last night.

Draft picks are our only hope until our salary cap situation improves. Would have lot more options if we got Keith and Seabs off the books.
- catrisc

I wonder if Seabrook will play again, and if he doesn't, I am curious to see how the Hawks work around that.

Draft picks are our only hope until our salary cap situation improves. Would have lot more options if we got Keith and Seabs off the books.
- catrisc

nothing wrong with Keith's caphit. he's still the #1D, for his caphit, hes lower than market price. But Seabs'.......

At this point in the season, and with how miserable their PP is, I don't see the shame in even trying Smith there. Their power play sucks as is- can him being on it really hurt it even more? To many guys who want to make cross ice passes for one timers, and to many D-men who can't get the puck on the net from the point, and low for the goalie to have a difficult time reading.
- frafra

This and too many people standing stationary. Smith or anybody needs to create traffic in front of the net. Hoping Shaw could have helped here.

I wonder if Seabrook will play again, and if he doesn't, I am curious to see how the Hawks work around that.
- frafra

I get the feeling, theyre going to Pronger-ed him.

DeHaan will probably be back. Hes still young. Lots of time to not walk away and he can make more money

Upping his trade value.
- DarthKane

Now we can get a "B" level prospect instead of a "C" level prospect.

The only thing I hope for is that they will move any player (Gus, Lehner, Crawford) for draft picks/prospects, if they feel/know they won't be resigned. Don't let them walk for nothing.
- frafra

Well that's just the thing... Do they trust Bowman enough to make those moves? It's pretty low risk so it could happen, but if it does I think we'd be more likely to see picks only and no prospects.

The other angle is, do any of those players want to re-sign with the team... if the answer is yes, and if the FO is thinking about firing Bowman, they may not want to piss off that player and run the risk of burning the bridge by trading them. Or vice versa, if the player does want to be traded, maybe the FO thinks holding on to them and having the new GM talk to them could away them to stay.

I don't know how likely either of those situations are but it could factor into them staying pat at the deadline if that does happen.

This and too many people standing stationary. Smith or anybody needs to create traffic in front of the net. Hoping Shaw could have helped here.
- Popsghostly

I am starting to wonder if Shaw will be playing again any time soon or even beyond...