Well, this ought to get people talking again

Jimmy Greenfield
@jcgreenx
Pretty big news: Stan Bowman will stay with the Blackhawks despite the team missing the playoffs for a 3rd straight season.

(with quotes from Rocky)
- pdx2ord

The realist already knew this was happening.

Here is something to get some convo going. List your Top 5 favorite Hawks. List your Top 5 least favorite Hawk.

Annd go

Don't you have toilet paper to buy?
- paulr

Not anymore. Finally was able to beat the maniacs this morning.

Well...yeah.

Here was the second possible offseason scenario Powers and Lazerus outlined where franchise savior Max Shalunov gets a mention...

Option 2: Mild tweaks

For all the talk about the Blackhawks’ defensive issues, they’re 19th in the league at just 2.93 goals per game. The defense, like it or not, is pretty well locked in at this point with veterans on long-term contracts and young players cracking the lineup. So if they’re going to spend some money in free agency, what they need is another scoring winger to round out the top nine.

We went with Tyler Toffoli, a familiar face from back when the Kings were the Blackhawks’ biggest rival atop the league. Another option would be Evgenii Dadonov, who could help the power play (he’s got 11 PPGs this season), but he’s now 31 and we’ll err on the side of youth. Either way, this will require dumping a contract or two, and Smith and Maatta are really the only options. They can both be bought out, or ideally, at least one of them can be traded, even if it’s just for a mid-round pick or two.

And yes, we’re bringing Max Shalunov — who’s 27, even though it feels like he’s 37 by now — over from Russia at long last.

Offseason transactions
• Re-sign Dominik Kubalik at two years, $3.5 million cap hit
• Re-sign Dylan Strome at three years, $3.5 million cap hit
• Re-sign Corey Crawford at two years, $4 cap hit
• Re-sign Drake Caggiula at two years, $1.25 million cap hit
• Re-sign Slater Koekkoek at one year, $750,000 cap hit
• Sign Max Shalunov at one year, $925,000 cap hit
• Buy out Zack Smith ($1,083,333 cap hit for next two years)
• Trade Olli Maatta
• Sign free agent Tyler Tofolli at five years, $5 million cap hit
- HawkintheD

Eww on Toffoli. And Special K. He can be replaced easily. Shalunov isn't coming over

I have similar thoughts. I'd much rather have Saad over Toffoli if only one could be on the team. Saad is a much stronger 200-foot player. If both are on the team, then that leads to the next point.

Nylander needs to play top 9 with hopes he has the capacity to play top 6. Another season on the 4th line really does not help him or the team. If he plays 4th line again, I'd much rather trade him and get assets back that can be used more effectively.

And I am starting to like Nylander more and more so would rather retain him to let him reach potential.
- AEL_Fox

Toffoli would just be more slow on a team that needs more speed.

Compliance buyout scenario...if we trade Seabs (50% retained) plus a 4th to a team for the purpose of buying him out, would the 50% retained go away when they do? Would we be able to resign him?
- tvetter

Why trade him for someone else to buy him out? The Hawks can just buy him out themselves?

I think the Caps did that with Alsner, IIRC

Eww on Toffoli. And Special K. He can be replaced easily. Shalunov isn't coming over
- Elbows15

Not my idea. The guys on the Athletic were kicking around offseason scenarios and this was one of the four. Option 1 was "Stand pat" and then there's...

Option 3: Youth movement

You want a rebuild? This is as close as you can probably get.

At the very least, it’d be a full-on youth movement, pushing aside every pushable veteran to make way for a player under 25 or on a first-year contract. That includes buying out Smith, trading Maatta, letting Crawford walk, and doing a probably unwise thing and trading Brandon Saad (again) for (hopefully) at least a first-round pick in the draft.

This team might not be very good, but it could be pretty entertaining. And at the very least, by the end of the season, you’d know what you have in some of these guys. And you’d have all sorts of cap space to either add during the season, or make a splash the following season.

Offseason transactions
• Re-sign RFA Dominik Kubalik at two years, $3.5 million cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Dylan Strome at three years, $3.5 million cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Drake Caggiula at two years, $1.25 million cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Slater Koekkoek at one year, $750,000 cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Matthew Highmore at two years, $700,000 cap hit
• Sign Max Shalunov at one year, $925,000 cap hit
• Buy out Zack Smith ($1,083,333 cap hit for next two years)
• Trade Brandon Saad
• Trade Olli Maatta
• Let Corey Crawford leave as a UFA

Not my idea. The guys on the Athletic were kicking around offseason scenarios and this was one of the four. Option 1 was "Stand pat" and then there's...

Option 3: Youth movement

You want a rebuild? This is as close as you can probably get.

At the very least, it’d be a full-on youth movement, pushing aside every pushable veteran to make way for a player under 25 or on a first-year contract. That includes buying out Smith, trading Maatta, letting Crawford walk, and doing a probably unwise thing and trading Brandon Saad (again) for (hopefully) at least a first-round pick in the draft.

This team might not be very good, but it could be pretty entertaining. And at the very least, by the end of the season, you’d know what you have in some of these guys. And you’d have all sorts of cap space to either add during the season, or make a splash the following season.

Offseason transactions
• Re-sign RFA Dominik Kubalik at two years, $3.5 million cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Dylan Strome at three years, $3.5 million cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Drake Caggiula at two years, $1.25 million cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Slater Koekkoek at one year, $750,000 cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Matthew Highmore at two years, $700,000 cap hit
• Sign Max Shalunov at one year, $925,000 cap hit
• Buy out Zack Smith ($1,083,333 cap hit for next two years)
• Trade Brandon Saad
• Trade Olli Maatta
• Let Corey Crawford leave as a UFA


- HawkintheD

The best thing about that roster is it will likely put the Hawks in the best position to get the #1 pick in 2021.

and JHawk59 prefers Chinese beef from Hong Min on 111th in Palos Hills....
- wiz1901

The dish I like so much is made very simple but no one does it like them ...called sauteed beef with a few green onion...I eat it with very little rice

I really liked the pot stickers we had at Hong Kong 3904 N.Cicero Chicago a couple blocks from the six corners. They sell a few hundred orders a day, it must be reknown Looking at customer reviews I want to try a chicken with basil selection. Huge portions, cheap too.

ALSO Angelo's on York road only about a block south of North Ave. Has incredible lunch buffet owned by an Italian from Italy everything is made perfect, even crust on pizza. Anyway fresh salmon and several seafood ..their sausage, eggplant parmesan are favorites. You will see a handful of older Italians here each day..they know authentic made very demanding to perfection. And it is inexpensive, about $15 for buffet m-fri if u can make it.

They have a deli and catering service attached. Tiramsu to go always

Here is something to get some convo going. List your Top 5 favorite Hawks. List your Top 5 least favorite Hawk.

Annd go
- Elbows15

Top 5 Hawks

Stan Mikita
Jonathan Toews
Duncan Keith
Marian Hossa
Brent Seabrook
Patrick Kane
Steve Larmer
Dave Bolland
Bobby Hull
Dustin Byfuglien
Denis Savard
Doug Wilson
Sorry impossible to stop at five

5 Least Favourite

Alexander Karpotsev
Chris Chelios
Jeremy Roenick (liked him as a Hawk can’t stand him now)
Victor Stalberg
Daniel Carcillo

Another thing to occupy ourselves is to determine who the Hawjs protect in next summer's expansion draft. Teams can protect either 7F,3D and a G, of 8 F/D and a G.

My guess, using the 7-3-1 option - F would be Toews,Kane, Dcat, Strome, Kubalik, Nylander and ?, the D Keith. Seabrook, one of Murphy,/deHaan/Carlsson. I think Maatta would be traded by then. Goalie depends on the off season moves.

Might be too early for this. We would know more about the shape of the roster after the off season.

Top 5 Hawks

Stan Mikita
Jonathan Toews
Duncan Keith
Marian Hossa
Brent Seabrook
Patrick Kane
Steve Larmer
Dave Bolland
Bobby Hull
Dustin Byfuglien
Denis Savard
Doug Wilson
Sorry impossible to stop at five

5 Least Favourite

Alexander Karpotsev
Chris Chelios
Jeremy Roenick (liked him as a Hawk can’t stand him now)
Victor Stalberg
Daniel Carcillo
- paulr

Impossible to stop at five. How about Tony Esposito. Maybe not Bannerman but I will never forget Foley exclaiming "Ban -ner-man" on his sliding saves or toughest saves

Have to hope some new age dmen can stay healthy and make your list one day

Laz and Powers on their podcast just said that Bettman expects the NHL to lose $1 Billion if the season is not played out.

Here is something to get some convo going. List your Top 5 favorite Hawks. List your Top 5 least favorite Hawk.

Annd go
- Elbows15

Top 5 Favorite:
1) Seabrook - Just latched onto the guy as soon as he was drafted. Solid defensively, and timely offense.

2) Chelios - The "other" #7. Consistently one of the best of his era.

3) Larmer - no justification needed.

4) Roenick - when he was here, gave 100%. 100% of the time.

5) Toews - It is really hard for me to keep Kane off this list, but I just really value a 200' game.

Least favorite (for players that were on the Hawks for at least a full season):
1) Boris Mironov - Just miserable.

2) Cristobal Huet - Just no reason to give him that contract. He was never that good.

3) Tyler Arnason - To me, he was the king of try hard and not get anything accomplished.

4) Alex Zhamnov - I'll admit this has a lot to do for who he was traded for, but he was always a guy who would put up the most unnoticeable points year after year.

5) Steve Poapst - I still can't pronounce this guy's name... and he was just a guy.

Laz and Powers on their podcast just said that Bettman expects the NHL to lose $1 Billion if the season is not played out.
- pdx2ord

Assuming that this disease acts like a "typical" flu, and cases recede in the summer, it will be interesting to see what the total global impact will be once we get back to whatever normal is. I would guess that entertainment would be the hardest hit industry, simply because there is not as much of a pent up demand once the restrictions are lifted. Yes, people want their movies, shows and sports, but I would imagine there would be an initial reluctance to go back to larger gatherings.

I sell materials that go into the printing and packaging industry. People will always need to buy things, and those things come in packages that are printed on and/or use adhesives to seal them. The industry will take a hit simply because movement is restricted, but overall the demand is conceptually always there.

Deep Thoughts, by Chunk. Now back to hockey.

Top 5 Favorite:
1) Seabrook - Just latched onto the guy as soon as he was drafted. Solid defensively, and timely offense.

2) Chelios - The "other" #7. Consistently one of the best of his era.

3) Larmer - no justification needed.

4) Roenick - when he was here, gave 100%. 100% of the time.

5) Toews - It is really hard for me to keep Kane off this list, but I just really value a 200' game.

Least favorite (for players that were on the Hawks for at least a full season):
1) Boris Mironov - Just miserable.

2) Cristobal Huet - Just no reason to give him that contract. He was never that good.

3) Tyler Arnason - To me, he was the king of try hard and not get anything accomplished.

4) Alex Zhamnov - I'll admit this has a lot to do for who he was traded for, but he was always a guy who would put up the most unnoticeable points year after year.

5) Steve Poapst - I still can't pronounce this guy's name... and he was just a guy.
- Chunk

Top 5

1. JR- I was in elementary school when I saw his first game as a Hawk. Fearless, uber competitive and gave it all. His OPC Premier RC was my treasure for so many years.

2. Kane- I get excited every time he touches the puck. He's a magician. There's a chance for something special every time he's on the ice. He scored the clincher versus TB and the winner vs Philly.

3. Hossa- The team upped their level from very good to elite when we signed one of the best two way players in history. Just as important, it meant the Wings did not have him. The loss of Hoss might be the biggest substraction that caused our decline as he was a monster on both ends of the ice. Tazer while still very good looks noticeably less without him.

4. Chelios- Chicago-born and like JR, perfect combo of skill and snarl. One of the biggest regrets is he didn't raise the cup playing on his hometown team.

5. Dave Manson- Loved Charley, tough young D-Man, favorite of Keenan with a laser slapper. His fight with Scott Stevens at center ice was probably my most exciting hockey moment (unfortunately, I only heard the play by play because it was a home game). If we didn't get Smitty for him, I don't think I could've handled the trade.

Least Favorite

1. Tyler Arnason- We traded Nylander's dad because we thought Arnason would be decent as a second-line pivot. Yeah we got an aged Simon and Nikolishin inreturn, but that second line of Sullivan, Nylander and fill-in-the-blank propelled us to the playoffs in our only appearance in the drought.

2. Zhamnov- We got a good player for the complete package in JR. There just wasn't a chance he could fill JR's shoes.

3. Krispy Kreme AKA Boris Mironov- Big, skilled, lazy so never met his potential. In the post-Chelios days, he was to be our number one but lack of willingness to make plays or play hard drove me nuts.

4. Wendell Clark- When we signed him, I expected the fierce player who'd get in front of the net, score those dirty goals and then drop the mitts with heavyweights like Joey Kocur. What we got was a player that was an absolute shell of his former self.

5. All those players we signed after the strike- Daddy Tallon signed Khabby, Cullimore after their Cup win, Aucoin as the new captain, Curtis Brown as a second-line center and Marty LaPointe. Meshed with Arnason, Calder, Bell, Ruutu and a young Seabrook and Keith I believe, we were supposed to compete. Instead we should have gotten Malkin but since the Caps won the lottery we ended up with... Barker Edit: My bad- we ended up with Toews... I guess those players should not be my least favorite lol.

Why trade him for someone else to buy him out? The Hawks can just buy him out themselves?

I think the Caps did that with Alsner, IIRC
- Elbows15

Orpik

Here is something to get some convo going. List your Top 5 favorite Hawks. List your Top 5 least favorite Hawk.

Annd go
- Elbows15

Favorites:
Toews
Larmer
Steve Smith
Chelios
Savard

Least favorite:
Karpstov
Mirronov
Creigton
Kruger
Konroyd

Toffoli would just be more slow on a team that needs more speed.
- Elbows15

I take a flyer on jo hon sang i know he has not done much in the league yet but maybe a change. Of teams and new city. Maybe fortin for jo. Hon sang type of deal.

Not my idea. The guys on the Athletic were kicking around offseason scenarios and this was one of the four. Option 1 was "Stand pat" and then there's...

Option 3: Youth movement

You want a rebuild? This is as close as you can probably get.

At the very least, it’d be a full-on youth movement, pushing aside every pushable veteran to make way for a player under 25 or on a first-year contract. That includes buying out Smith, trading Maatta, letting Crawford walk, and doing a probably unwise thing and trading Brandon Saad (again) for (hopefully) at least a first-round pick in the draft.

This team might not be very good, but it could be pretty entertaining. And at the very least, by the end of the season, you’d know what you have in some of these guys. And you’d have all sorts of cap space to either add during the season, or make a splash the following season.

Offseason transactions
• Re-sign RFA Dominik Kubalik at two years, $3.5 million cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Dylan Strome at three years, $3.5 million cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Drake Caggiula at two years, $1.25 million cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Slater Koekkoek at one year, $750,000 cap hit
• Re-sign RFA Matthew Highmore at two years, $700,000 cap hit
• Sign Max Shalunov at one year, $925,000 cap hit
• Buy out Zack Smith ($1,083,333 cap hit for next two years)
• Trade Brandon Saad
• Trade Olli Maatta
• Let Corey Crawford leave as a UFA


- HawkintheD

I know it wasn't idea but the EWW remains

I take a flyer on jo hon sang i know he has not done much in the league yet but maybe a change. Of teams and new city. Maybe fortin for jo. Hon sang type of deal.
- Scott1977

Pass.

Orpik
- GPHawksfan

Yeah. I couldn't remember his name. Thought it might be Alsner but really wasn't sure. But Orpik it was.

Top 5 Hawks

Stan Mikita
Jonathan Toews
Duncan Keith
Marian Hossa
Brent Seabrook
Patrick Kane
Steve Larmer
Dave Bolland
Bobby Hull
Dustin Byfuglien
Denis Savard
Doug Wilson
Sorry impossible to stop at five

5 Least Favourite

Alexander Karpotsev
Chris Chelios
Jeremy Roenick (liked him as a Hawk can’t stand him now)
Victor Stalberg
Daniel Carcillo
- paulr

I thought about 10 but 5 makes you have to think about it.

Top 5 Favs
Mikita
Nesterenko
Larmer
Seabs
Savvy.
5 is hard so I went with the guys came to me 1st. The Cup winners just fall under a team thing for me. Especially the guys that were on all 3

Top 5 Least

Adrian Aucoin
Greg Fox
Joe mother(frank)ing Murphy
All Russian D-men except Kravchuk.
Robin Lehner

I thought about 10 but 5 makes you have to think about it.

Top 5 Favs
Mikita
Nesterenko
Larmer
Seabs
Savvy.
5 is hard so I went with the guys came to me 1st. The Cup winners just fall under a team thing for me. Especially the guys that were on all 3

Top 5 Least

Adrian Aucoin
Greg Fox
Joe mother(frank)ing Murphy
All Russian D-men except Kravchuk.
Robin Lehner
- Elbows15

Love it!

I know it wasn't idea but the EWW remains
- Elbows15

I love that they still have Sikura on the team.