Reality check time, the first contract problems came after 2009, when Bowman as Assistant GM did not make sure that qualifying offers were recorded with the NHL for our RFAs. That was the start of over payments. Since then all NHL GM's have played funny money hoping that a rise in the Cap will solve any bad decisions and as long as Arizona wasn't interested in contending there was a place to dump contracts.

Now there is a new loophole being used the Voluntary Termination, what a joke that a valid contract is voided the team loses the Cap Hit and the player is declared a Free Agent. The only thing worse is the NBA where a player is Bought out and then is a Free Agent.

So here we are at a tipping point of the season, is it over I think so. So what to do? Well for once work on a few variations to the Power Play, one of which should be to move DCat inside to s shooters position so that he can stop over handling the puck. Second if he is still here move Strome back to center he doesn't have the speed for the wing. Third how is it every one on our opponents is able to hit the corners on cue and we constantly miss either high or wide, unless you are Dunc's and you are still working as a shin pad tester. Stop deferring to Kane and Dcat, if the play calls for you to shoot, then shoot. Finally forget fighting, it seems it does nothing for the Hawks except guarantee a win for the opponent. It is all fixable, unless you make the wrong personnel choices, it's not time to rely on Lady Luck.

I can't believe anyone is still reliving the Panarin-Saad trade - that's just a bit loopy. Panarin was not interested in signing in Chicago when he became a UFA -so getting anything at all for him was a bonus. It was a pretty good move, really - and he wasn't really left all that much of a choice at the time.

Now, should all of that ever have gotten to that point? That's the $60,000 question, isn't it? Doesn't matter, as it didn't have it.

As for Colliton getting moved on - look, it is pretty simple, if there is someone out there that is a better, and a proven coach that is available - then ... why wouldn't you do it???

I can't believe anyone is still reliving the Panarin-Saad trade - that's just a bit loopy. Panarin was not interested in signing in Chicago when he became a UFA -so getting anything at all for him was a bonus. It was a pretty good move, really - and he wasn't really left all that much of a choice at the time.

Now, should all of that ever have gotten to that point? That's the $60,000 question, isn't it? Doesn't matter, as it didn't have it.

As for Colliton getting moved on - look, it is pretty simple, if there is someone out there that is a better, and a proven coach that is available - then ... why wouldn't you do it???
- SC116

Says you've been here since 2015. Can't believe you can't believe that. It's part of the bread and butter of this place...at least as long as I've been stopping by.

I thought it was a decent deal, especially at the time, and so did 99.9% of the people that post here. It's not like the Hawks could keep him for his next deal. He wasn't taking $6M again. So essentially the Hawks would be able to keep one of Kane or Panarin but not both.

I did like the hit Dach put on Roussel. Knocked the wind right out of him. Blackhawks owed him a clean, devastating hit for all the cheap shots he's put on them over the years.

Says you've been here since 2015. Can't believe you can't believe that. It's part of the bread and butter of this place...at least as long as I've been stopping by.

I thought it was a decent deal, especially at the time, and so did 99.9% of the people that post here. It's not like the Hawks could keep him for his next deal. He wasn't taking $6M again. So essentially the Hawks would be able to keep one of Kane or Panarin but not both.
- HawkintheD

The deal was ok, I just question the timing of it.

Says you've been here since 2015. Can't believe you can't believe that. It's part of the bread and butter of this place...at least as long as I've been stopping by.

I thought it was a decent deal, especially at the time, and so did 99.9% of the people that post here. It's not like the Hawks could keep him for his next deal. He wasn't taking $6M again. So essentially the Hawks would be able to keep one of Kane or Panarin but not both.
- HawkintheD

Glass half full on my part, maybe?

Been here longer than that- just never bothered to register until 2015.

I've always been someone that finds it hard to join a parade, as in if it seems like most people want Colliton and/or Stan fired - that's reason enough for me to want both of them to stay ... and I always liked the Dave Clark 5 more than the Beatles.
- EbonyRaptor

Hope you feel...”glad all over”.

The real standings.

_____________ GP PTS PTS/G
Blues_________57 74 1.298 1st Cen
Av's__________56 72 1.286 2nd Cen
Stars_________ 57 71 1.246 3rd Cen
Canucks______58 69 1.190 1st Pac
Oilers________ 57 66 1.158 2nd Pac
Flames_______59 66 1.119 3rd Pac/WC (tie)
Knights_______59 66 1.119 3rd Pac/WC (tie)
Preds________ 56 61 1.089 WC
Jets __________58 63 1.086
Wild _________57 61 1.070
Yotes________ 60 64 1.067
Hawks_______ 57 58 1.018
Ducks________57 53 0.930
Sharks________56 52 0.929
Kings_________58 45 0.776

Based on these results you will need a minimum of 1.089 pts per game. So 82 games x 1.089 = 90 pts. The Hawks have 25 games left and have to get 32 points. So 15W- 8L – 2 OTL. They have to win or tie in regulation 17 of the of their last 25 games.

Sell wisely Stan.

Hope you feel...”glad all over”.
- StLBravesFan

Stop saying the same shi* "Over and Over".

*NEW* blog up: http://bit.ly/2SX8c5R

The trip that broke the camel's back.

Anyone see the Flames/Ducks game last night. How does Bob Murray still have a job?

In my mind, Blackhawks' braintrust should be and is formulating the pieces of the team going forward. Working to identify the players who will contribute when they are ready to contend again. I would think the NMC players will all be here though their contracts. I would feel confident Dach and Boqvist will soon be mainstays and improve their performance.
Who are the guys getting regular minutes this year they decide to move on from, and what will the return be? How long will it take for chemistry to develop with the new roster? (IMHO, that only sporadically happened this year due to injuries)
And how much of an eye should the braintrust have on the upcoming expansion draft, because they will likely lose a player they do not want to lose.
Still pretty darn confident they'll get back up the mountain during the Kane/Toews years.