Crow should stay. Yes find a capable backup but if the team is remotely thinking playoffs Crawford gives them their best chance. This is his team!! Glad to have him.

Always a good thing. I've said for awhile with AF that he's a guy that could sneak in under the radar and that that stabilizing defender that just does all the little things right to improve the defense. Hopefully he continues to get play and he can get more and more comfortable so that next year he can take another step. Playing consistently WITH THE SAME PARTNER will help with this.



From what I saw he looked solid enough. Give him the run to play in the top six the remaining 18 games and let him grow (through the good and bad) and develop chemistry. Last thing you want is him playing worrying that one mistake is gonna cost him minutes and/or even starting. Let the kid play and get comfortable and learn from his mistakes.
- Savetheembers33

Yes, even if he's a moron, with his pedigree he has to have hockey sense by accident. First half of the year he looked afraid to make a mistake. Some of his "floating" looks to be hedging to get back on defense. I would pay $100 to see him pull a Highmore and win a board battle just once.

2 years 8 millionish total is mostly fair i think for a 35 year old with his mileage and the possibility he could get bonked and out indefinitely. Knowing Stan he'll give him 10 or 11.
- fattybeef

Per season.

Interesting piece in Second City the other day on Subban. Not sure if that will come to fruition but but provides possible clarity on the GT’ing situation for next season.

That Carolina wouldn't give up a 1st for him says they didn't think they could sign him, or didn't want to sign him.
- rpeters01

If the ownership is looking past this year, especially with a team that is close to doing some damage in the PO this season, is a kick to the fan's groin. What are they playing this season for?

My money says the Sorokin rumor comes to fruition this summer.

Hawks get Sorokin + Brassard. Hawks buyout Smith to make room for cap.

Per season.

Interesting piece in Second City the other day on Subban. Not sure if that will come to fruition but but provides possible clarity on the GT’ing situation for next season.
- HawkintheD

I value the opinions of the community here over anything that those bloggers write.

Yeah here’s a side by side from January 1st through the TDL:



- walleyeb1

Do you have a link to this site? Like to see what else is available there. Thanks.

It would have been instructive to see the actual numbers of Lehner's contract discussions with the Hawks. I've always distrusted the Blackhawks methods of conducting business. Leave Lehner out of the discussion for a minute, and just breathe. Lehner and Crawford were implemented to obscure the fact that this team stunk, early on. After Lehner helped prevent the Hawks from becoming the Red Wings, we never were able to learn the actual terms? Chicago brass from top to bottom, is a genuine piece of work.

If the ownership is looking past this year, especially with a team that is close to doing some damage in the PO this season, is a kick to the fan's groin. What are they playing this season for?
- powerenforcer

A first is a lot to give up for a 20 game rental and no guarantee of winning in the playoffs. Regarding this year no doubt they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.

A first is a lot to give up for a 20 game rental and no guarantee of winning in the playoffs. Regarding this year no doubt they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.
- rpeters01

No Guarantee a first rounder (mid to lower) will amount to anything either. Just ask the Oilers. When you are close, there is no tomorrow. Because if you think that way, you are never going to see today.

Yes, even if he's a moron, with his pedigree he has to have hockey sense by accident. First half of the year he looked afraid to make a mistake. Some of his "floating" looks to be hedging to get back on defense. I would pay $100 to see him pull a Highmore and win a board battle just once.
- rpeters01

I would pay $200 if Highmore can create time and space vs a quality defender, with the puck like Nylander did in a corner/tight space and set up Keith for a quality SOG

Who was in the Tampa net here last night?

While I want to see Subban play a few games, Crawford absolutely should play at Florida. Verdict on Nylander, if I only have 2 choices ?? Bum...Is Kubalik getting an offer sheet of 4mil + totally unrealistic ? Heck no. He is a keeper. Ya know, the playoffs are probably not in the cards for this year, but it's not impossible. I have no clue why people keep mentioning something about Crawford's health. HE IS 100% HEALTHY !!! EVERY goalie has them posts back there, and EVERY goalie falls backwards. Regarding a post about trading Kubalik in offseason while he has high trade value. Well, guess who just had VERY high trade value at THIS year's deadline? Brandon Saad. Bowman had to get rid of Lehner because of multiple reasons. And the #1 reason is next years salary cap, he knows he HAS to try and sign Kubalik AND Strome. Cagg and Highmore and KooKoo can be easily replaced. We HAVE to understand something. Bowman is gonna do all he can to make next season's team the best it can be. There will NOT be any massive overhauls. Trades will ONLY be made, to ensure getting under the salary cap.

Per season.

Interesting piece in Second City the other day on Subban. Not sure if that will come to fruition but but provides possible clarity on the GT’ing situation for next season.
- HawkintheD

Subban has been brutal this season. Here are a few tidbits of information on him this year. In brackets I will put his rank among goalies with 10 games or more.

36.8% QS PCT (57th out of 62)
-10.37 GSAA (54th out of 62)
.890 Save PCT (56th out of 62)
3.18 GAA (53rd out of 62)


Subban is going to have to have a big time turn-around in order to stick with the Hawks next year. The only reason he has the backup job right now is because it seems pointless to bring Delia up. Might as well let Delia finish out the season in Rockford and get him ready for training camp next season.

Who was in the Tampa net here last night?
- wiz1901

That's besides the point! We won and we are awesome again! Playoffs here we come! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My money says the Sorokin rumor comes to fruition this summer.

Hawks get Sorokin + Brassard. Hawks buyout Smith to make room for cap.
- catrisc

This is what I'm thinking as well. Sorokin and Crawford as our one two next year would be interesting. Veteran to show him the ropes a bit so we have something for the present and the future at the same time.

We'll see if that happens though. I still got a feeling that Stan's plan was to use some of the pieces he got back from trading Lehner and Gus to Carolina (perhaps a 1st and 3rd; pure speculation) to then flip to get Sorokin and maybe take on a bad contract for the rest of the year to help the Islanders get something more at the deadline but it all fell apart

I guess the question is Lehner really a true #1 goalie. He has split time as a 1A/B the past 2 years, has only played more than 50 games twice (with Buffalo), and even though his stats were there, we know how that ended. Maybe the question that Lou and now Stan has, he might be very good sharing the net with someone, but if he has to play 55-60 games does he have the make-up to withstand the pressure?
- LAHawk

Now, we'll never know.

Who was in the Tampa net here last night?
- wiz1901

McIhlleny (spelling?)

I guess the question is Lehner really a true #1 goalie. He has split time as a 1A/B the past 2 years, has only played more than 50 games twice (with Buffalo), and even though his stats were there, we know how that ended. Maybe the question that Lou and now Stan has, he might be very good sharing the net with someone, but if he has to play 55-60 games does he have the make-up to withstand the pressure?
- LAHawk

i wonder how much the shoot out thing had to do with Lehner and this also impacts his play on breakaways during the game. He is just so bad with both and Crow is tremendous at both. If there is a breakaway during game...i feel like Crow saves it majority of the time and with Lehner, very good chance a goal is scored. I have to believe that went into the calculus

While I want to see Subban play a few games, Crawford absolutely should play at Florida. Verdict on Nylander, if I only have 2 choices ?? Bum...Is Kubalik getting an offer sheet of 4mil + totally unrealistic ? Heck no. He is a keeper. Ya know, the playoffs are probably not in the cards for this year, but it's not impossible. I have no clue why people keep mentioning something about Crawford's health. HE IS 100% HEALTHY !!! EVERY goalie has them posts back there, and EVERY goalie falls backwards. Regarding a post about trading Kubalik in offseason while he has high trade value. Well, guess who just had VERY high trade value at THIS year's deadline? Brandon Saad. Bowman had to get rid of Lehner because of multiple reasons. And the #1 reason is next years salary cap, he knows he HAS to try and sign Kubalik AND Strome. Cagg and Highmore and KooKoo can be easily replaced. We HAVE to understand something. Bowman is gonna do all he can to make next season's team the best it can be. There will NOT be any massive overhauls. Trades will ONLY be made, to ensure getting under the salary cap.
- MadHatter

I’m not so sure I’d lump Caggiula in with the “easily replaced” crowd. While he’s certainly not untouchable, replacing his combination of speed, skill, and grit without spending a significant amount of money is a tall order IMO. He’s not a world beater, but he does a lot of things very well and likely won’t cost too much to keep around.

People on this blog know I have been a Kubalik backer from early on. I wonder if after training with Kane's group last summer, ADB tries to much too be like Kane. He is much more the puck carrier this year than the last two years. I think ADB would be much more effective modeling his game after Kubalik or Sharp. Find an open area on the ice and set up for his shot.

i wonder how much the shoot out thing had to do with Lehner and this also impacts his play on breakaways during the game. He is just so bad with both and Crow is tremendous at both. If there is a breakaway during game...i feel like Crow saves it majority of the time and with Lehner, very good chance a goal is scored. I have to believe that went into the calculus
- glennjpawlak22

This is one of the reasons I was against spending big $ to keep him. As much as I hate the shootout, and as much as I wish this wasn’t the case, it is a part of today’s game...and with the margin between playoff teams and non-playoff teams being so thin, it’s actually a reasonably big part of the game.

While the 3 on 3 OT has helped to mitigate the impact of shootouts in the standings somewhat, it still occurs often enough that you can’t afford to have a guy that doesn’t give you at least a 50/50 chance to “earn” the extra point.

Plus, he seems like a giant D-bag to me.

Who was in the Tampa net here last night?
- wiz1901

McElhenny.

I’m not so sure I’d lump Caggiula in with the “easily replaced” crowd. While he’s certainly not untouchable, replacing his combination of speed, skill, and grit without spending a significant amount of money is a tall order IMO. He’s not a world beater, but he does a lot of things very well and likely won’t cost too much to keep around.
- Ogilthorpe2

He's a guy I would like to keep but only at a reasonable rate due to his concussion issues. Last thing we need is another guy taking up a bunch of cap stuck on IR. We already have two guys going into next year we'll have to worry about in de Haan and Shaw (possible Crow too if he resigns)

People on this blog know I have been a Kubalik backer from early on. I wonder if after training with Kane's group last summer, ADB tries to much too be like Kane. He is much more the puck carrier this year than the last two years. I think ADB would be much more effective modeling his game after Kubalik or Sharp. Find an open area on the ice and set up for his shot.
- -Doh-

I would guess he will go through a full evaluation of his game and determine the best course of action to improve upon the player he was. He seems to be another "gym rat" type that likes to work on his game a lot.