With MC gone my gut tells me - Bowman & JC will not be here much longer.
- Colbyboy

Could be.

Could also be that McD being gone means SB “won” the power struggle.

Who knows?

NHL's latest version of a draft before the resumption of the regular season.

Highlights -
Looking at around June 5 for the draft.
Draft position based on the team's point percentage.
There will be only one lottery winner with that winner limited to moving up only 4 spots.

So if Hawks are 9th in point percentage, they can only move as high as fifth.

https://www.spectorshocke...fee-headlines-may-2-2020/

And he never got tired of letting everyone know it either. For the handful of times he was right, he was frequently wrong, and God forbid you mentioned it.
- JPBurke27

By that logic, so did Stan....

From Wiki:
“Bowman joined the Chicago Blackhawks in 2001 as a special assistant to the general manager for four seasons. For the next two years, he would serve as the director of hockey operations. Afterwards, Bowman was promoted to assistant general manager of hockey operations”
- Ogilthorpe2

Yes but that tidbit never finds it's way into the narrative cause Stan's a tie wearing bean counter who road Daddy's coattails.

NHL's latest version of a draft before the resumption of the regular season.

Highlights -
Looking at around June 5 for the draft.
Draft position based on the team's point percentage.
There will be only one lottery winner with that winner limited to moving up only 4 spots.

So if Hawks are 9th in point percentage, they can only move as high as fifth.

https://www.spectorshocke...fee-headlines-may-2-2020/
- boilermaker100

What if Detroit wins the lottery?

What if Detroit wins the lottery?
- powerenforcer

they move into the next year

After the first cup Chicago was so loaded with young talent currently on the team and its farm system . Stan made the right moves at the time by trading and letting players walk.

They had a young promising goalie in crawford .

Everyone keeps saying the price of winning is sacrificing the depth and long term viability of the team.

I realize your draft positions determine the quality of your best possible choice, however while this team got more worn down and older the talent Stan traded away and the returns never even came close to working out or building up their depth in Rockford.

Stan IMO lost his focus after their 2nd cup in making the right moves . I'm not knocking Bickells MS what I'm pointing out is his regular season stats showed that even though he was the hero in 2013 cup run just like 2010 when Stan had choices of who stays and who goes Bickell IMO should have been cut .
- Taylorst1

By that logic, so did Stan....

From Wiki:
“Bowman joined the Chicago Blackhawks in 2001 as a special assistant to the general manager for four seasons. For the next two years, he would serve as the director of hockey operations. Afterwards, Bowman was promoted to assistant general manager of hockey operations”
- Ogilthorpe2

Bowman was brought in as a numbers guy - not a judge of talent. That came with time and as Bowman said himself when he was promoted to GM, he learned a lot from how to build a team from Dale Tallon - especially on the importance of continued success in drafting and developing players.

NHL's latest version of a draft before the resumption of the regular season.

Highlights -
Looking at around June 5 for the draft.
Draft position based on the team's point percentage.
There will be only one lottery winner with that winner limited to moving up only 4 spots.

So if Hawks are 9th in point percentage, they can only move as high as fifth.

https://www.spectorshocke...fee-headlines-may-2-2020/
- boilermaker100

Why is the timing of the Draft a reason for changing the rules as set out at the start of the season .This seems very fishy to me .Looks like a obvious attempt to manipulate the draft out come .. Bettman !!

Bowman was brought in as a numbers guy - not a judge of talent. That came with time and as Bowman said himself when he was promoted to GM, he learned a lot from how to build a team from Dale Tallon - especially on the importance of continued success in drafting and developing players.
- FourOrr

He probably left out the word, not

Blackhawks supposedly in the race to sign Finnish defender Mikko Lehtonen. He seems to be an offensive mail carrier. If he's not consistently solid in his own zone, not sure if I'd invest in him. Kempny and Rutta come to mind.

Also, the blueline is crowded where I don't think the Hawks really need to search outside the organization if Seabrook and de Haan bounce back.

Even if Seabrook is a compliance buy out (hopefully the NHL will consider this scenario), not sure I'd take a Euro import over a promising young D man:

Keith - Boqvist
de Haan - Murphy
Maatta - Mitchell

7th man could be Koekkoek but also rely on Carlsson and/or Beaudin, especially if de Haan gets injured again.

If the Hawks are to sign a Euro free agent, I'd go with Pius Suter as a top 9 winger. Defensively reliable and able to be around a 0.50 PPG forward. Reminds me of Kahun.

It sounds like the league is tinkering around with ideas for the draft in June. The lottery rules are different, the highest the Hawks could get to would be 5th.
- DarthKane

If the Hawks are lucky to get to 5th, that pack is likely to include Stutzle, Rossi, Perfetti, Holtz, and Raymond.

That's a really good spot to be in to snag a talented top 6 talent. Most if not all of them are also reliable 3-zone forwards.

Guessing that after Lafreniere as #1, Byfield and Drysdale also go top 4 with Stutzle seemingly in that group, too.

If the Hawks are lucky to get to 5th, that pack is likely to include Stutzle, Rossi, Perfetti, Holtz, and Raymond.

That's a really good spot to be in to snag a talented top 6 talent. Most if not all of them are also reliable 3-zone forwards.

Guessing that after Lafreniere as #1, Byfield and Drysdale also go top 4 with Stutzle seemingly in that group, too.
- AEL_Fox

If the Hawks draft 9th and Askarov has been taken I like the idea of selecting Lundell. A team can never have too many centres and Strome could move to the wing if needed.

If the Hawks draft 9th and Askarov has been taken I like the idea of selecting Lundell. A team can never have too many centres and Strome could move to the wing if needed.
- DarthKane

If picking 9th, still some great choices there with Lundell, Sanderson, Holloway, etc.

I expect there to be a few surprise picks in the top 8 (i.e. when the Yotes took Hayton 4th and Wings took Seider 6th) that could grant the Hawks a gift option at 9th like say Raymond.

If the Hawks draft 9th and Askarov has been taken I like the idea of selecting Lundell. A team can never have too many centres and Strome could move to the wing if needed.
- DarthKane

I'm on the fence with Lundell. He does project to be a solid NHL center with 2C as his ceiling but likely may top out as a really good 3C with capacity to play top 6 as needed.

Thinking that Lundell could be similar to Danault or Jere Lehtinen (I know he was a winger, not center) as far as stellar 3-zone play and 40-50 point potential.

Although I'd much rather strive for a top 6 forward or top 3 defender at the 9 spot (whoever is BPA), Lundell does seem to be the most able to jump to the NHL next season (as a defensive specialist as he grows his offensive game).

The other draftees around that spot likely need at least 1-2 more seasons of development.

A guy with no hockey experience should not be involved in making hockey decisions. Period.

McD should have stuck with advertising, marketing, buying new scoreboards, making sure the players wore hats for post game interviews, etc. Getting involved in hockey decisions was way outside his area of expertise.

I'm on the fence with Lundell. He does project to be a solid NHL center with 2C as his ceiling but likely may top out as a really good 3C with capacity to play top 6 as needed.

Thinking that Lundell could be similar to Danault or Jere Lehtinen (I know he was a winger, not center) as far as stellar 3-zone play and 40-50 point potential.

Although I'd much rather strive for a top 6 forward or top 3 defender at the 9 spot (whoever is BPA), Lundell does seem to be the most able to jump to the NHL next season (as a defensive specialist as he grows his offensive game).

The other draftees around that spot likely need at least 1-2 more seasons of development.
- AEL_Fox

If not Askarov .What about Quinn seems to be developing well ,Halloway also looks like a exciting add ,still young . Sanderson also seems to be coming along well . Could be a real cluster around 9th .

If the Hawks are lucky to get to 5th, that pack is likely to include Stutzle, Rossi, Perfetti, Holtz, and Raymond.

That's a really good spot to be in to snag a talented top 6 talent. Most if not all of them are also reliable 3-zone forwards.

Guessing that after Lafreniere as #1, Byfield and Drysdale also go top 4 with Stutzle seemingly in that group, too.
- AEL_Fox

Hard pass on Perfitti. Kid has a lot of good qualities, but he skates like Strome and is worse defensively. Yeah, defense can be taught and all that. However, he seems to lack instincts defensively.

Again, like Lundell, probably tops out as a marginal 2C in the NHL. I think with a top 10 pick you aim for a higher ceiling. Comes with a higher floor, too. I am willing to take the risk in that spot

In the mid teens? I am fine with both Lundell and Perfitti.

If not Askarov .What about Quinn seems to be developing well ,Halloway also looks like a exciting add ,still young . Sanderson also seems to be coming along well . Could be a real cluster around 9th .
- oldduffman

I would take Mercer over Quinn at this point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRqkGHIHEsk



He definitely is going to need to learn how to use his teammates but those hands and quick feet

Now Quinn. Mercer is just a bit more of a preference. I like both.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPTUW8dxJz8

Dylan Holloway #4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm0zNQ_ff_s

I initially brought this up a few blogs ago, but like many of my late night posts it was soon forgotten with the creation of a new blog and even more so with the firing of McDonough....but now that the dust is starting to settle from that blockbuster announcement, I'll bring it up again(and this time during a time of day in which normal people are actually awake ):

Do the Hawks win the 2011 Stanley Cup if they win that game 7 OT @Vancouver?

After rewatching all of our playoff games from 2009-2015 that question has been driving me crazy.

I think there’s a legitimate chance we would have carried that momentum to a championship. Or at least made it to the SCF(beating Boston would have been very tough but not impossible). Getting Bolland back changed EVERYTHING. Gave us a legit 3rd center and 3rd scoring line that could also shut down opposing teams top lines. One things for sure had we had him to start that series against the Canucks there’s ZERO chance we don’t win that series. We owned them with him in the lineup. Made all the difference. Also I believe Seabrook missed 2 games in that series as well. Vancouver got extremely lucky...smh

Our forward depth and overall roster was Cup worthy:

Stalberg-Toews-Kane
Brouwer-Sharp-Hossa
Bickell-Bolland-Frolik
Smith-Kruger-Scott/Johnson/Kopecky

Keith-Seabrook
Campbell-Hjalmarsson
Leddy-Campoli

Crawford

Edit: not sure if those D pairs are accurate but those were our 6 defenseman.

HawkintheD responded with:

"For 2 or 3 games anyway. I haven't re-watched game 7, but seem to remember the Canucks generally having the better of the play til Toews willed in a shorthanded goal.

Man that would have been amazing to complete that comeback. It was so cool how the air was sucked out of Rogers Arena with Toews goal. Unfortunately, Campoli had the giveaway and you know the rest.

Hard to say on your premise. Bolland definitely gave the Hawks a lift as he was back in the Sedin's heads. I just remember the start of that series seemed to have a different feel than other Hawk vs Canucks series.

No Bolland but I think even more importantly, no Buff, no Ladd and no Eager seemed to embolden all of the Nuck dbags who were running around all over the ice taking liberties with Hawk players.

Was a good series...almost a great one. That SCF was one of the few times I've rooted for this vintage of the Bruins."

To that i say yes Vancouver was the better team in game 7, but it was still close(Sharp should have won it in OT). And the point is with Bolland over the course of 7 games i don't think there's a chance the Canucks would have won 4 of those games. The Hawks dominated games 4 and 5, and were slightly better in game 6.

And yes we weren't quite as deep or powerful at the forward position as we were the year before, but we were still VERY dangerous. Bickell took his game to another level as a power forward and the additions of Stahlberg and Frolik helped maintain our elite team speed.

BetweentheDots said:

"I think it's a stretch, they just didn't have the depth, to me it seemed like it took all their ability just to get to 7 games vs Canucks. I think they would of been like the 2017 Cubs, i think. Cubs threw the kitchen sink to win the Nationals series and were done.

That bottom 6 other than Bolland was very green at the time, much better players in 2013, including Brouwer."

My response would be that they certainly did have the depth, and the only reason it went to 7 games was because Bolland wasn't there. His return changed the complexion of the series. Also Seabrook missed 2 games. And just because they went 7 games in round 1 doesn't necessarily mean they would have been too fatigued to carry on further. I think getting out of that war would have only made them stronger as the playoffs went along. Also we still had Brouwer. And Bickell, Frolik, and Stahlberg/Kopecky were all still very solid 3rd liners.

Elbows said: "Nope. That team barely made the playoffs."

The Kings barely made the playoffs in 2012, then went on to win the Cup as the 8th seed. Its definitely possible, and the key is that the way we were playing by the end of that Canucks series was on a completely different level then how we looked that regular season. We had completely gained our swagger back as the defending champs, were finally getting healthy, and had for the most part established 3 DANGEROUS scoring lines(like we did the previous year).

So again....i know everyone recognizes 2014 as the year where we missed out. The year that should have been our 4th Cup. But don't overlook 2011. Had we won that damn OT we would have carried that momentum all the way to the promised land. I truly believe it. Our team was JUST starting to hit their stride.

JFC, Jack. How many people have to tell you are out of your (frank)ing mind for you to believe it?



Also. What did you do to Brunette? Shooting him is acceptable

Never(frank)ingmind. He came the next year. Though, shooting him remains acceptable

JFC, Jack. How many people have to tell you are out of your (frank)ing mind for you to believe it?



Also. What did you do to Brunette? Shooting him is acceptable

Never(frank)ingmind. He came the next year. Though, shooting him remains acceptable
- Elbows15

Definitely more than 3

But seriously its not that crazy. We were THAT close(despite not having Seabrook for 2 games and not having Bolland for 3 games) to taking out the eventual Western Conference champs. If we win that game 7OT, who's stopping us from making it to the SCF? Defending champs just hitting our stride with a HUGE wave of momentum coming back from down 3-0 in round 1? Nobody. We would have AT LEAST made it to the SCF, maybe won it too.

And what you should have asked was "What did you do with Pisani?"

Definitely more than 3

But seriously its not that crazy. We were THAT close(despite not having Seabrook for 2 games and not having Bolland for 3 games) to taking out the eventual Western Conference champs. If we win that game 7OT, who's stopping us from making it to the SCF? Defending champs just hitting our stride with a HUGE wave of momentum coming back from down 3-0 in round 1? Nobody. We would have AT LEAST made it to the SCF, maybe won it too.

And what you should have asked was "What did you do with Pisani?"
- SimpleJack

Yeah. Him you bludgeon.

They may have made it the WCF. They were the reigning SC Champs but that was far from the team that won the previous season.

Story time. I was working up in nowhere Michigan during that series and I had to sit in my car listening to games on the radio. 2 minutes left to go and the Hawks SH, I got out of the car cause I couldn't bear to listen to the end against those (frank)ers.

i am heading into the house and I get a text telling to go back in the car cause Toews just tied it up.

Should have just went inside.

The whole, Bowman to MacIsaac to McD and back down the chain of command to make a hockey decision is ridiculous if true.

This has been speculated on for years and it proves that McD hampered SB more than help him.

As far as where the organization should go, definitely split the role up. One business side and one hockey side. If they hire for analytics, they should keep it as an appendage versus making it head of hockey ops.

By the way, while analytics has a place in team planning, the one thing you can never measure is heart and hockey players have some of the biggest hearts and play through injuries and grind better than any other sport.

I would take Mercer over Quinn at this point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRqkGHIHEsk



He definitely is going to need to learn how to use his teammates but those hands and quick feet

Now Quinn. Mercer is just a bit more of a preference. I like both.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPTUW8dxJz8

Dylan Holloway #4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm0zNQ_ff_s
- Elbows15

I am not a fan of Mercer .I put him behind Quinn .And I always even if equal would draft the player from the OHL 1st . At 9th or 8th I think you will be picking from a very good group #Askarov