Even though they are a middle of the road team now, the Preds are still fun to beat.

AFAIC the Hawks can lose most of the rest of their games and continue on the quest for a top 5 pick...but the Preds have become my new Blues, Wings or Canucks.

I actually don't hate the Nucks like I used to. That team was just vile and it was fun to flip roles where the Hawks were playing the role of the 80's Oilers and the Nucks were that era's Hawks...though I don't recall the Hawks having any bags of pus in the Burrows, Lapierre, Bieksa, Kesler, Torres mold.

Will always hate the Wings but they're pretty harmless right now. Maybe the greatest GM ever, Stevie Y can catapult them into contention and make them truly detestable again.

Was looking today and saw they've already been eliminated from the playoffs with 19 games left. They've won a grand total of 15 games and started the season 3-1.
- HawkintheD

D, interesting take on the Red Wings. I never hated them, my team to hate originally was the Montreal Canadiens. Like the Wings, it's sort of sad to see how they have faded to insignificance in the NHL, no longer interesting or relevant.

But for a sport or team to capture the emotions of fans, there is a real need for villains (or bags of pus as you call them.) But that's hard in this age of worrying about who you might offend by saying or doing something a little bit unpopular.

Duncan Keith is still a villain in Vancouver and yet he says when he retires he is going back to Penticton, B.C.

Something big goes missing in sports when there is no hatred anymore for the NY Yankees, Duke basketball, Mike Tyson, Notre Dame football, the Russian national hockey team, Vince McMahon, Al Davis & the Oakland Raiders, Ryan Kesler. And it won't be better as Belichek and the Patriots fall on hard times.

I don't get some of you. You say proudly say Stan was gifted a young, deeply talented team (therefore excusing the results because he didn't do the work to get the team there), yet you can say Q is a hall of fame coach. He was gifted an even more stocked team, so his results should be excused.
- powerenforcer

Not being rude here , I'm not sure what your trying to make as your point?

Stan took over as GM, he was gifted a young deeply talented team and stocked with young talented depth and a soon to be hall of fame head coach,

Stans had since Chicago's last cup enough time to have put together a product worth watching especially with having a young core toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook, but his actions involving trades , contracts that he himself created put this team into a downward spiral.

I'm sorry but Stans decision yo fire coach Q with the roster he gave him and turn around a hire a guy whom is inexperienced and the same age as the core players shows in Chicago's record.

Stan maintained this team but in doing so he made more awful choices than positive ones.

Agreed. I grew up in Toronto and I loved the Toronto/Chicago rivalry. I was able to watch the Hawks a lot which helped contribute to me becoming a fan.
- DarthKane

I second that point. I remember wendell Clark, Doug Gilmore, Felix the cat , the Domi. Always great games to watch with lots of emotions.

Both Crawford and Lehner have played over 30 games this year, we now have enough data points to compare stats. One goalie has played great according to most here, and the other one has played okay to good.
Goalie 1 - 3.01 GAA and .918 SP
Goalie 2 - 2.82 GAA and .915 SP

Agreed. I grew up in Toronto and I loved the Toronto/Chicago rivalry. I was able to watch the Hawks a lot which helped contribute to me becoming a fan.
- DarthKane

In the annals of NHL history some of the best bench clearing brawls occurred between the Leafs and Hawks. Always on a Saturday night.

But that stuff offends people in 2020.

Both Crawford and Lehner have played over 30 games this year, we now have enough data points to compare stats. One goalie has played great according to most here, and the other one has played okay to good.
Goalie 1 - 3.01 GAA and .918 SP
Goalie 2 - 2.82 GAA and .915 SP
- Angotti

Keep CC. 2 years at $3M per. Trade Lehner.
Look at Jacob Markstrom as a FA.

Crazy concept....put the best top 9 with the best top 9

The top 3 centers on the team are Toews, Dach and Strome. So play them at center

Caggulia-Toews-Kubilak
Saad-Dach-Kane
ADB-Strome-Nylander

Highmore-Kampf-Carpenter where they all belong
- PatShart

This is the best, most logical post in the last 48 hours.

#JCStillSucks

I'm not sure how you can criticize Stevie Y and give bowman kudos.
Stevie Y did a tremendous job putting together Tampa and quite honestly, Chicago's past experience played more of a beneficial factor in that series to help them win.

Imo Stan was gifted a young , deeply stocked and talented team with a gifted hall of fame coach, what big bold serious moves did Stan ever make throughout his time here that has truly impacted Chicago? He handed out more bad contracts , term and salary along with NMC like candy , shipped out so much depth and draft picks for mediocre at best rental players , than any youngn talent he did have he traded them away due to his inability to manage contracts and salaries knowing full well Chicago had cap issues.

Talon and company buildt the foundation , bowman just rode it taking the credit.
- Taylorst1

Yzerman gave NMC/NTC's to..Stamkos, Killorn, Palat, Johnson, Killorn, Hedman, Shattenkirk, Coburn and McDonough.

He gave Vasilesky 8yrs-9.5m per year, without a NTC...but good luck trading a goalie at that dollar amount.

Seems like golden boy Yzerman gives out just as many

In the annals of NHL history some of the best bench clearing brawls occurred between the Leafs and Hawks. Always on a Saturday night.

But that stuff offends people in 2020.
- RickJ

Rick great points. Toronto , st Louis Chicago rivalries where always fisty cuffs and brawls especially back to back games. I think as a society people have lost the basic ability to just sit back and enjoy one of the best things about each sport and have become so angered and trivial over things.

I don't get some of you. You say proudly say Stan was gifted a young, deeply talented team (therefore excusing the results because he didn't do the work to get the team there), yet you can say Q is a hall of fame coach. He was gifted an even more stocked team, so his results should be excused.
- powerenforcer

Excellent job of pointing out the hypocrisy, PE.

It is amazing.

Not being rude here , I'm not sure what your trying to make as your point?

Stan took over as GM, he was gifted a young deeply talented team and stocked with young talented depth and a soon to be hall of fame head coach,

Stans had since Chicago's last cup enough time to have put together a product worth watching especially with having a young core toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook, but his actions involving trades , contracts that he himself created put this team into a downward spiral.

I'm sorry but Stans decision yo fire coach Q with the roster he gave him and turn around a hire a guy whom is inexperienced and the same age as the core players shows in Chicago's record.

Stan maintained this team but in doing so he made more awful choices than positive ones.
- Taylorst1

His point was clear as a bell. He called out hypocrisy.

Rick great points. Toronto , st Louis Chicago rivalries where always fisty cuffs and brawls especially back to back games. I think as a society people have lost the basic ability to just sit back and enjoy one of the best things about each sport and have become so angered and trivial over things.
- Taylorst1

I am ready to sign up as a member of the Houston Astros Fan Club. Want to join too? Should be an interesting season.

Keep CC. 2 years at $3M per. Trade Lehner.
Look at Jacob Markstrom as a FA.
- scottak

If the Hawks keep Crawford it will be as the #1 or at least #1A. Markstrom has been impressive, I wouldn’t have an issue with Stan targeting him.

The only concerns I have with Crawford as the starter are about his health. If Crawford can remain healthy re-signing him to a 1-2 year deal is a good move. I would look to bring in a top quality young goalie via trade or free agency to back up #50 and eventually take over.

Excellent job of pointing out the hypocrisy, PE.

It is amazing.
- mohel

Not really.

They are 2 completely different roles

A GM has to build/acquire the pieces and the coach has to win with those pieces

IMO, both get credit for winning - or losing. While a good GM canngive a coach good/bad players...making their job easier. Coaches, I think, can have a harder time if not given talent

Not sure why though Stan wouldn't get credit for winning cups while he was the GM of those teams. Seems kind of pointless but if it makes people feel better...so be it.

D, interesting take on the Red Wings. I never hated them, my team to hate originally was the Montreal Canadiens. Like the Wings, it's sort of sad to see how they have faded to insignificance in the NHL, no longer interesting or relevant.

But for a sport or team to capture the emotions of fans, there is a real need for villains (or bags of pus as you call them.) But that's hard in this age of worrying about who you might offend by saying or doing something a little bit unpopular.

Duncan Keith is still a villain in Vancouver and yet he says when he retires he is going back to Penticton, B.C.

Something big goes missing in sports when there is no hatred anymore for the NY Yankees, Duke basketball, Mike Tyson, Notre Dame football, the Russian national hockey team, Vince McMahon, Al Davis & the Oakland Raiders, Ryan Kesler. And it won't be better as Belichek and the Patriots fall on hard times.
- RickJ

My team to hate was, is and always will be the LEAVES!!!

Did the NHL announce yet that Chicago's first goal belongs to Kane? It deflected off of the Nash defender's stick, never touching Cat's.
- powerenforcer

I'm sure Bettman was somehow behind this!!!

D, interesting take on the Red Wings. I never hated them, my team to hate originally was the Montreal Canadiens. Like the Wings, it's sort of sad to see how they have faded to insignificance in the NHL, no longer interesting or relevant.

But for a sport or team to capture the emotions of fans, there is a real need for villains (or bags of pus as you call them.) But that's hard in this age of worrying about who you might offend by saying or doing something a little bit unpopular.

Duncan Keith is still a villain in Vancouver and yet he says when he retires he is going back to Penticton, B.C.

Something big goes missing in sports when there is no hatred anymore for the NY Yankees, Duke basketball, Mike Tyson, Notre Dame football, the Russian national hockey team, Vince McMahon, Al Davis & the Oakland Raiders, Ryan Kesler. And it won't be better as Belichek and the Patriots fall on hard times.
- RickJ

Yes to all this, though I’m now more skeptical of you since you can’t join me in my purely irrational hatred (at this point) of the Wings.

I grew up hating the Habs too...and the Bruins and the Flyers. In the ‘80’s it was more about the Norris Div rivals, with the North Stars occupying the top spot followed by the Blues, Leafs and Wings.

The Wings getting good in the 90’s was a pisser, just like them passing the “Longest Drought” torch to the Hawks.

My God I need therapy.

Yzerman gave NMC/NTC's to..Stamkos, Killorn, Palat, Johnson, Killorn, Hedman, Shattenkirk, Coburn and McDonough.

He gave Vasilesky 8yrs-9.5m per year, without a NTC...but good luck trading a goalie at that dollar amount.

Seems like golden boy Yzerman gives out just as many
- PatShart

Handing out certain clauses in a players contract is a risk. Imo and other posters , Stan never buildt this team , he took over a young deeply talented with a plethora of depth team .

Stevie Y buildt and rebuildtt Tampa team and did a great job , he took them to the cup and within a couple of short years had a dominant team albeit it for a first round loss but still the credit goes to him.

Handing out certain clauses in a players contract is a risk. Imo and other posters , Stan never buildt this team , he took over a young deeply talented with a plethora of depth team .

Stevie Y buildt and rebuildtt Tampa team and did a great job , he took them to the cup and within a couple of short years had a dominant team albeit it for a first round loss but still the credit goes to him.
- Taylorst1

So...every single player on TB was a Yzerman draft pick?

I am ready to sign up as a member of the Houston Astros Fan Club. Want to join too? Should be an interesting season.
- RickJ

Lol Rick awesome statement lol. I unfortunately don't follow baseball , I've heard the chatter about the signals. But I agree cheating in any sport should be disallowed and stomped out.

My team to hate was, is and always will be the LEAVES!!!
- paulr

80s it was the oilers
90s it was the wings leafs and occasional north stars and blues
00s didn’t really matter. Not until late

08-12 it was Vancouver
13 and on...I don’t really have one.

I get the “Detroit sucks” but only facing them twice a year that is going to die off. Much like the leafs.

Weird thing for me is that I still hate the damn leafs more then the wings. Maybe it’s the overhype the Canadian media sheds on them but every year they got bounced under “the greatest coach ever” in Babcock, I would enjoy it. Guy never won a series there and there gm has burried them in a cap hell that no other gm thought was possible.

I do miss the back to back sat/sun games. Always led to some good fight vs the blues wings or north stars. Don’t recall as many vs Toronto.

Back when you had a Legit home ice advantage as each rink had its own character. Stadium, met center, arena, maple leaf gardens and the joe. Fun times.

Now it’s all cookie cutter stadiums and rave music blasted at 150 decimals.

Rick great points. Toronto , st Louis Chicago rivalries where always fisty cuffs and brawls especially back to back games. I think as a society people have lost the basic ability to just sit back and enjoy one of the best things about each sport and have become so angered and trivial over things.
- Taylorst1

Don't forget the Minnesota North Stars. Secord vs Dino Ciccarelli, Basil McRae etc.

So...every single player on TB was a Yzerman draft pick?
- PatShart

I wouldn't go that far as to say, but you can't deny what he accomplished and the facts about his team and its depth

Don't forget the Minnesota Nort Stars. Secord vs Dino Ciccarelli, Basil McRae etc.
- boilermaker100

Omg how could I forget that, great call. Dino was such a dirty player and McRae was tough as nails

Yes to all this, though I’m now more skeptical of you since you can’t join me in my purely irrational hatred (at this point) of the Wings.

I grew up hating the Habs too...and the Bruins and the Flyers. In the ‘80’s it was more about the Norris Div rivals, with the North Stars occupying the top spot followed by the Blues, Leafs and Wings.

The Wings getting good in the 90’s was a pisser, just like them passing the “Longest Drought” torch to the Hawks.

My God I need therapy.
- HawkintheD

I heard Ryan Kesler on Toronto radio the other day. He's living in beautiful downtown Livonia right arpund the corner from you. He's retired with a new hip and is looking for a new gig for the rest of his life. He probably available to you if u need a hockey psychoanalyst.