All he truly had to say was "WE came out flat....I didn't help us by not playing up to the level I need to this time of year. I let in some goals I would like to have back"

Simple. accountable, and it's cliché....but it holds water.

Let a veteran like Kane or Keith or Toews go off on everyone else. They have earned it. He has NOT
- SteveRain

Agree 100%, he has not taken responsibility for bad games all year, he needs to go TODAY.

So people are suckers for supporting their favorite team no matter what? Fair weather fans that started watching and became so smart in 2009 like you are pathetic
- GPHawksfan

As a proud White Sox fan I'm all in on the storied tradition of not going to the stadium unless they're good or at least full assing something.

With how bad they've been and how haphazard they are getting coaches and players, they should have done what the cubs did when Maddon was available and hired the winner. Laviolette has been to three and won one. And has the boys running and gunning. May as well give it an honest shot these next 2 years.

Finding seams and getting behind the defense to prime scoring areas is Kubalik's forte and was readily noticeable in tape from his years playing pro in Europe and in tournaments.

Glad he brought that knack to the NHL and didn't lose it because of new systems. It's his calling card that will net him a nice contract renewal and cement his spot in the top 6 for years to come.
- AEL_Fox

Yup. And then hope he doesn't turn into Richard Panik 2.0.

Strome is a 50pt 2C who isn't going to break a game but reads it well and has very nice hands. Dach and Toews are 1a/b and you send Strome out to bum slay and things are looking good at one side of the ice. Kamf becomes Kruger 2.0 and that position looks good.

The dude will probably settle for 7ish million over two years maybe 10 over 3. Plus he's demonstrated he'll work really hard in the off-season to improve which should get a bunch of people here off.
- fattybeef

I thought Strome was looking pretty good before the ankle injury. He'll be 23 in March and I think he made some strides this year.

Like someone mentioned, will he ever be what AZ envisioned in picking him 3rd overall. Probably not, but the Hawks didn't make that pick and I still think he fits the team better than Schmaltz.

Also, there is no such thing as a proud White Sox fan.

If you are referring to an NHL coach, thats the hard way. Because of all of the travel and # of games, NHL teams really don't practice very much. The AHL is where the player development should occur. Or in Bovqist's case possibly in London playing for Dale Hunter.
- RickJ

That is a fact.

frustration setting in...they know the clock is about to hit midnight.

Big difference between coach, veteran guys talking big game and game results.

IS what it is.....just hope they maximize the return they can get for anyone and everyone on Monday.

Saw McKenzie said Hawks still "aren't committed sellers" which is frightening. I don't know what the hell else they need to see.

He also said Lehner, Crawford, Gustafsson as on there, and even Saad....god help this board if they trade Saad.…...
- SteveRain

Trading Saad makes the most sense. He's one of the few assets the Hawks have that can bring back a large return.

Saad won't resign here at a reasonable contract.

I've met Murray many times, the first when I was 12.... Ironically he ended up being a director of a rink a town over from mine (at the time)... Regardless of that my point is that this team isn't done yet in the near future.... Bowman has 12 million in cap space to improve this team - now - and I'm confused as to why he has not made any moves yet...... There are several players he could get for basically nothing... Byfuglien (who is being held hostage basically) and Kovalchuk - two guys the Hawks could afford...... Now I don't want to create a rabbit hole as to why, I'm just curious as to why he hasn't tried...

My thoughts:

Byfuglien will be a Blackhawk after the Jets terminate his contract...

As far as Kovi - well I'm sure Bowman doesn't want to give up the assets right now to acquire him right now - but a lot can change over the next week...

I just believe if this team can acquire the right players and are allowed to play and do what they do unlike JC's authoritarian method that this team could really turn around and slip into the playoffs and perhaps be the next Blues..... IMO, I just think JC is an authoritarian coach - and the guy is younger than some of the core... He's not a "players coach" like Q was and this has been a skill team and it's making it difficult for skilled players to play their game er "freestyle" on plays........
- Savard2Secord

You could be right. But a huge guy that figures to be out of shape on a bad wheel is most likely a waste of money. I could be right too, and from experience I'd say I probably am.

Currently the Hawks sit at #8 (from the bottom).

Early reports have them drafting Marco Rossi. He's 5' 9 ...............................

Mayers is full of poop. That poop gets old in a locker room real quick. You can do that once, maybe twice before it starts to cause some friction.

Mayers would be the 1st guy to get in his face.

in the room is fine. Putting it out there constantly? Nah.
- Elbows15

Agree, he might be right all day long, but it's not his place to put it out there. Five years of that kind of poop is not gonna be a good thing. Wheel him now.

Hey guys! Fun fact you may find amusing in a gallows humor kind of way - stopped by to talk to my ticket rep last night. She told me that season ticket renewals are going out next week. Looked at her and wryly said “you’re timing there is epic!” She responded with the idea they are toying with of having Bowman call season ticket holders and I wanted to just lose it right there and then. Instead I just told her that while some might view it as a good thing, others wouldn’t. Sigh. So out of touch. I told her that we would rather have a clear strategy to get back to contention. Going to tell her today (when not at a table surrounded by a bunch of fans in a loud UC hallway) About what a lack of confidence there is that Bowman is the guy to to get it done.

What are they thinking with having Bowman call ticket holders? That’s probably not good for Bowman or the person getting the call.

If you are referring to an NHL coach, thats the hard way. Because of all of the travel and # of games, NHL teams really don't practice very much. The AHL is where the player development should occur. Or in Bovqist's case possibly in London playing for Dale Hunter.
- RickJ

Agreed 100%! As well as Dach and Boqvist have played neither should have played in the NHL this season as neither is ready. The best place for both was in junior where they can work on the weaker aspects of their games. One real concern I have had all season is will them being in the NHL before they were ready impact their long term development.

Currently the Hawks sit at #8 (from the bottom).

Early reports have them drafting Marco Rossi. He's 5' 9 ...............................
- RedRevenge

If Marco Rossi is 4' 2" and is rated by the Hawk scouts as the best player available they take him. If there are two players close in ability and one is bigger or is a position of need you choose him. Best available is the only criteria to be followed, especially by a team who are rebuilding.

Currently the Hawks sit at #8 (from the bottom).

Early reports have them drafting Marco Rossi. He's 5' 9 ...............................
- RedRevenge

Most I’ve seen lately have they taking Perfetti

Most I’ve seen lately have they taking Perfetti
- Assman22

he is 5' 10".

he is 5' 10".
- powerenforcer

Potato chip eating, coattail riding Blowman and his love of the smurfs!

3/4 of the way thru another disappointing season, I think we can rely on the stats as being representative - defensive stats, 5x5, from Natural Statrick:

SOG against - 31st in league. SF % - 30th
SC against - 31st. SCF% - 28th
High Danger Chances Against - 30th. HDC% - 29th
HDGA - 28th. HDGF% - 24th

Almost all in the bottom 5 in the league - a couple at the very bottom....obviously, goaltending kept them in the hunt - and now that the goalies have regressed a bit....

After a season and a half, the young coach has not shown any ability in getting his charges to focus on defense and play responsibly. Last nite, as bad as Lehner’s comments were, he wasn’t wrong - inability to clear, inability to keep opponents from being one-on-one at the goal - is it yet time to say that Colliton isn’t ready for the Show - and isn’t showing that he will be any time soon?

As flawed as the on-ice personnel is (are?j, they should be better - there are enough veterans out there that you can’t blame it all on “mistakes of youth” - some of this is on the core that should be better at leading these guys out of the wilderness. A couple of weeks ago, after beating Arizona in a shootout on the road, they were in the thick of it - time for team leaders to be team leaders - but 1-5-2=4 points out of 16 against teams they were competing with for a post season spot.

Perhaps there is a future with good young players on Chicago - and in the pipeline - but the current team should be better - the current team should not have collapsed as they have.

Maybe it’s time to say if Colliton can’t get more out of this squad, perhaps he’s not the guy going forward. After 1 1/2 seasons worth of games, these guys should be better than being at the very bottom of the league defensively.

Strome is a 50pt 2C who isn't going to break a game but reads it well and has very nice hands. Dach and Toews are 1a/b and you send Strome out to bum slay and things are looking good at one side of the ice. Kamf becomes Kruger 2.0 and that position looks good.

The dude will probably settle for 7ish million over two years maybe 10 over 3. Plus he's demonstrated he'll work really hard in the off-season to improve which should get a bunch of people here off.
- fattybeef

DISAGREE. Strome has the capability to be a 2nd line center. However, he currently lacks the defensive prowess to play those top minutes. Just like Nylander, he seems disinterested when he doesn't have the puck.

Look how effective Dach is in front of the net. Dach is an 18 boy, Strome is a 22 man with a full body. He lacks the WILL to get to the greasy areas plain and simple.

If I'm Bowman, I'm not signing Strome unless it is cheap. (under 2m per year).

I've yet to see improvements from last year. He's just as slow on his feet as he was last year.

Agreed 100%! As well as Dach and Boqvist have played neither should have played in the NHL this season as neither is ready. The best place for both was in junior where they can work on the weaker aspects of their games. One real concern I have had all season is will them being in the NHL before they were ready impact their long term development.
- paulr

I'm not sure another year in juniors would have been that helpful - a year in Rockford, yes - that was not possible for one, but perhaps the other should still be there.

I keep thinking that perhaps (even with his goal-scoring success his first two seasons here) deBrincat would have been well-served with some Rockford time - perhaps he could have learned a bit about getting himself out of some slumps, like he's been in for 60 games now. And - now it's too late to send him back because of waiver rules.

Most I’ve seen lately have they taking Perfetti
- Assman22

There will be no parade with confetti which means we will take Perfetti.

I'm not sure another year in juniors would have been that helpful - a year in Rockford, yes - that was not possible for one, but perhaps the other should still be there.

I keep thinking that perhaps (even with his goal-scoring success his first two seasons here) deBrincat would have been well-served with some Rockford time - perhaps he could have learned a bit about getting himself out of some slumps, like he's been in for 60 games now. And - now it's too late to send him back because of waiver rules.
- StLBravesFan

Why would a year in junior not be helpful? Is the coach staff in Rockford better than the staff in London? Is Boqvist's game so complete that he can't learn in junior?

As for Dach, even if he could play in Rockford, while his overall game is really good for he never established himself as an elite scorer in junior and without that development we may never see him be anything more than a 2nd or 3rd line checking center.

Except in special cases, Kane, Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid the vast majority of players are not ready to play in the NHL as teenagers.

Agreed 100%! As well as Dach and Boqvist have played neither should have played in the NHL this season as neither is ready. The best place for both was in junior where they can work on the weaker aspects of their games. One real concern I have had all season is will them being in the NHL before they were ready impact their long term development.
- paulr

Junior? Dach played 3 seasons already lol. AHL is not much if a development league sadly. It should be but it isn’t. I might’ve agreed with you on Boq to start the season but in hindsight he’s done well at the NHL level. Dach has made leaps and bounds over his first full season as well.

I'm not sure another year in juniors would have been that helpful - a year in Rockford, yes - that was not possible for one, but perhaps the other should still be there.

I keep thinking that perhaps (even with his goal-scoring success his first two seasons here) deBrincat would have been well-served with some Rockford time - perhaps he could have learned a bit about getting himself out of some slumps, like he's been in for 60 games now. And - now it's too late to send him back because of waiver rules.
- StLBravesFan

DeBrincat's stats were inflated last year. The entire teams offensive production was inflated because of how they played...loose defense that allowed them to run and gun.

His 40 goal season played a huge role in determining his extension. At 6m, Saad brings you more value. Hopefully DeBrincat doesn't turn out to be a dud.

Also - Anisimov was a solid 2nd-3rd line center. That helped Cat last year. Carpenter is a solid center but he's a true 3-4th liner because of how he plays the position. More defensive, less play making. This shows you how thin this roster is.

There will be no parade with confetti which means we will take Perfetti.
- boilermaker100

Truer words have never been spoken

DeBrincat's stats were inflated last year. The entire teams offensive production was inflated because of how they played. His 40 goal season played a huge role in determining his extension. At 6m, Saad brings you more value. Hopefully DeBrincat doesn't turn out to be a dud.

Also - Anisimov was a solid 2nd-3rd line center. That helped Cat last year. Carpenter is a solid center but he's a true 3-4th liner because of how he plays the position. More defensive, less play making. This shows your how thin this roster is.
- catrisc

Didnt Cat play more with Strome than AA last season?

DISAGREE. Strome has the capability to be a 2nd line center. However, he currently lacks the defensive prowess to play those top minutes. Just like Nylander, he seems disinterested when he doesn't have the puck.

Look how effective Dach is in front of the net. Dach is an 18 boy, Strome is a 22 man with a full body. He lacks the WILL to get to the greasy areas plain and simple.

If I'm Bowman, I'm not signing Strome unless it is cheap. (under 2m per year).

I've yet to see improvements from last year. He's just as slow on his feet as he was last year.
- catrisc

That's completely unrealistic. Strome's an RFA and I forget how things work exactly, but if that was the Hawks final offer, couldn't Strome and his agent go to arbitration.

Either way, even with the Hawks holding the cards in terms of the RFA status, there is no way they are getting him for $2M or less.