Where I was going was that I think they had the wrong setup or people in Rockford for a long time. No one seemed to ever develop there.

I kind of think they finally fixed that, by hiring Colliton in Rockford. Seems to me he would be a good guy to have down there, working with players and developing them there. As Keith said last year, you don't develop players in the NHL.

Hopefully the new guy in Rockford is a developer. Hopefully they don't rush guys to the NHL going forward. Have to stop doing that and let them develop. You don't do a proper rebuild by rushing players, just ask Buffalo.

Listened to Edzo on a podcast yesterday, and he talked about his time in Pitt, how when he was coach, they had great player in the minors, and the GM wouldn't bring them up. He felt they could be better with them.

He didn't get what wanted, players didn't get rushed up, he got fired, and those core players went on to win 3 SC's.

Going to have to suck for a bit. Should've been honest about it after the Nash sweep. Everyone here knew there would not be another cup with that group. There probably was a way to rebuild with the 3 or 4 core guys, but things like Seabs contract wasn't the way to do it.
- vabeachbear

I don't know, i personally think if we had prospects in the past that were going to amount to anything they would of either in spite of the coaching or if it was that bad at the AHL level of any other we would of seen them thrive elsewhere over time, but we really haven't. What's the expression, can't make chicken salad with chicken poop.

The truth hurts. Can you handle the truth.

What I don't know for sure, is whether Bowman felt the team had to remain competitive. If McDonough had Rocky's ear up until recently, the attendance, the sales everything McDonough touched continued to be lucrative and maybe McDonough convinced Rocky to stay the course with a competitive team because it was financially prudent.

But recently Bowman got through to Rocky with a diminishing return and opportunity cost spelled out = rebuild. Rebuild on the fly because this rebuild so far does not have the earmark of a total rebuild.

Which I feel is the correct approach.

Now more than ever Bowman needs more players who will play a boards game. Recycling. But let's look at how the blueline crew interacts.

Colliton's defense can be three or four deep in new age type dmen although each may have a particular strength. Just as long as you have two dman within the six who will knock an opponent on their kiester. It helps too when a dman is willing to engage, to tie up the opponent even if it is not purely a body check. So for example Beaudin and Kris learning/applying the craft as we have seen & reported by Theo

It is all well and good should our bottom six become filled with youngsters who have a lot of compete in their game. I expect that will happen and that the bottom lines could become quite valuable. They may outplay their opponent and surely will be hungry to succeed and grow in their role.

So Stan has to get tougher in his top two lines. I foresee more toughness arriving with a top drafted forward and or one more dman - but this must be a dman whose game possesses snarl. The best way to obtain said players is through The Entry Draft.

I am always in favor of obtaining a first round selection. The 2021 draft is chok full of centers and dmen, top heavy according to wiz

I would offer something of value, something another team would have to seriously consider. I would offer Murphy and our 2nd for their first. You believe in drafting the best player available and hopefully they are a dman and center as befits the 2021 draft. It is a recipe for what we need. It is maybe a piece for another team to make a serious Cup run.
- jhawk59

I feel this is key, but in a way of anticipating. When i watch the playoffs the teams that succeed are the teams that have forwards and defenceman who anticipate the opponents play very well in the offensive zone. The Hawks for now are brutal at this. For now but they are young especially at the blue line

The Hockey News came out recently with their fantasy guide.

Delia, Subban, and Lankinen not projected in the goalies section but they are projected in that order on the depth chart

Notable ex-Hawks:

Saad, 50
Gustafsson, 30
Maatta, 21
Sikura, 16
Crawford, 17 wins, 2.65, .915
Lehner, 30 wins, 2.28, .917
- Theo Fox

It sure would be nice for a young, rebuilding team to have a solid, veteran goalie. And those young D men would benefit greatly from it too. Too bad someone like Crawford or Lehner wasn’t available this off-season.

I’d take 2.65 and .915 this season in a heartbeat.

It sure would be nice for a young, rebuilding team to have a solid, veteran goalie. And those young D men would benefit greatly from it too. Too bad someone like Crawford or Lehner wasn’t available this off-season.

I’d take 2.65 and .915 this season in a heartbeat.
- scottak

I wouldn't have paid CC years or $'s what he ended up getting.

I wouldn't have paid CC years or $'s what he ended up getting.
- rpeters01

I bet Stan trades for Crawford after the expansion draft.

I bet Stan trades for Crawford after the expansion draft.
- DarthKane

Only if he's sure he's done.

It sure would be nice for a young, rebuilding team to have a solid, veteran goalie. And those young D men would benefit greatly from it too. Too bad someone like Crawford or Lehner wasn’t available this off-season.

I’d take 2.65 and .915 this season in a heartbeat.
- scottak

Honestly what difference does it make, I'd rather have 5 players realize how important it is to play defense as opposed to believing their goalie will bail them out constantly

Honestly what difference does it make, I'd rather have 5 players realize how important it is to play defense as opposed to believing their goalie will bail them out constantly
- BetweenTheDots

IMO, this is exactly what the Hawks need to learn to do no matter who the goalie is. Defend as a full unit.

Growth as a team and succeeding towards contention again hinges on defense improving to this level.

IMO, this is exactly what the Hawks need to learn to do no matter who the goalie is. Defend as a full unit.

Growth as a team and succeeding towards contention again hinges on defense improving to this level.
- Theo Fox

A baseball analogy is useful in driving home a point about the impact of younger players and rookies in particular.

When you survey the players ability, we know there are for the most part solid prospects and I believe each have shown progress in development since drafted.

Among forwards overwhelmingly most are solid prospects but not exactly blue-chip rated. Among defenseman perhaps a few could become solid first or strong second pair if we can assign a tier level here.

We know that rookies and young players need to do more than just compete to be successful. They need to learn and adjust to the NHL speed + skill level. They need to learn how to play within the system and how to cover when a teamatte blows coverage or makes a mistake. They also need to gain confidence to apply their own skill set and that may be on going for a few years while they gain confidence and increase their own body physical strength to go along with experience.

But sometimes having a lot of compete among many newbies and showing marked improvement in other areas afforementioned can be at first a negative impact in the games as they fall behind on the scoreboard. Inexperience matters. They can prepare at the AHL level but inevitably when making the jump to the NHL their is the up and down moments.

But like a pitcher who surrenders.a few runs early but low and behold weathers the storm and is consistent and good for a few more innings - we can expect this to hold true for the younger players in our hockey example.

The fewer veterans, sometimes the better. Toews I think gets off to a slow start each season because he paces himself, and his body takes time to adjust to the hits. Mentally Toews has to push himself for the grind. He is not the same young pony but he is not yet broken down whereas he just needs to carefully tune up his body and get used to the physical and mental grind after taking so much abuse physically over the years. So Toews looks and is somewhat lackadaisical or behind in a check early season games

But veterans do not necessarily have to slow down the team when you have a whole lot of eager beaver youngsters who will compete and fight hard to stay in the lineup.

A Toews and a Keith may have a rough start or some rough patches early season games. But these kids can get better as the game progresses. Better too from game - to - game or after a few/even a 10 game stretch we could see marked improvement

So the kids compete level could take a beating early in games but their compete level and learning keeps them hanging tough and they perform better later in the game(s).

Now we do know to expect a majority of a roster being young kids in the upcoming seasons means growing with them. When they keep competing and the team catches up on the scoreboard....could be veterans and kids cranking out good.shifts late in games. Should our goaltending hold the fort we can come back and win some games

It is a process where we are both cursing and, later, elated in the ebb and flow in games.

But I respect and favor having a lot of youngsters in the lineup. Hopefully it gets better if not always later within games, then later in a season as well as season by season

A baseball analogy is useful in driving home a point about the impact of younger players and rookies in particular.

When you survey the players ability, we know there are for the most part solid prospects and I believe each have shown progress in development since drafted.

Among forwards overwhelmingly most are solid prospects but not exactly blue-chip rated. Among defenseman perhaps a few could become solid first or strong second pair if we can assign a tier level here.

We know that rookies and young players need to do more than just compete to be successful. They need to learn and adjust to the NHL speed + skill level. They need to learn how to play within the system and how to cover when a teamatte blows coverage or makes a mistake. They also need to gain confidence to apply their own skill set and that may be on going for a few years while they gain confidence and increase their own body physical strength to go along with experience.

But sometimes having a lot of compete among many newbies and showing marked improvement in other areas afforementioned can be at first a negative impact in the games as they fall behind on the scoreboard. Inexperience matters. They can prepare at the AHL level but inevitably when making the jump to the NHL their is the up and down moments.

But like a pitcher who surrenders.a few runs early but low and behold weathers the storm and is consistent and good for a few more innings - we can expect this to hold true for the younger players in our hockey example.

The fewer veterans, sometimes the better. Toews I think gets off to a slow start each season because he paces himself, and his body takes time to adjust to the hits. Mentally Toews has to push himself for the grind. He is not the same young pony but he is not yet broken down whereas he just needs to carefully tune up his body and get used to the physical and mental grind after taking so much abuse physically over the years. So Toews looks and is somewhat lackadaisical or behind in a check early season games

But veterans do not necessarily have to slow down the team when you have a whole lot of eager beaver youngsters who will compete and fight hard to stay in the lineup.

A Toews and a Keith may have a rough start or some rough patches early season games. But these kids can get better as the game progresses. Better too from game - to - game or after a few/even a 10 game stretch we could see marked improvement

So the kids compete level could take a beating early in games but their compete level and learning keeps them hanging tough and they perform better later in the game(s).

Now we do know to expect a majority of a roster being young kids in the upcoming seasons means growing with them. When they keep competing and the team catches up on the scoreboard....could be veterans and kids cranking out good.shifts late in games. Should our goaltending hold the fort we can come back and win some games

It is a process where we are both cursing and, later, elated in the ebb and flow in games.

But I respect and favor having a lot of youngsters in the lineup. Hopefully it gets better if not always later within games, then later in a season as well as season by season
- jhawk59

Or, the youngsters that get burned and not bailed out by their goalie develop bad habits and become discouraged. Losing begets losing. Mistakes can be a learning experience, or can lead to further mistakes.

Or, the youngsters that get burned and not bailed out by their goalie develop bad habits and become discouraged. Losing begets losing. Mistakes can be a learning experience, or can lead to further mistakes.
- scottak

My point is Crawford really isn't that good, his ship has sailed, it's time to move on he's not worth the investment/gamble. The numbers you cited are a projection and yet to be proven reality.

My point is Crawford really isn't that good, his ship has sailed, it's time to move on he's not worth the investment/gamble. The numbers you cited are a projection and yet to be proven reality.
- rpeters01

Crawford really isn’t that good? Not at all sure where you are coming up with this?

My point is Crawford really isn't that good, his ship has sailed, it's time to move on he's not worth the investment/gamble. The numbers you cited are a projection and yet to be proven reality.
- rpeters01

He really is though, he's a very very very good goalie.

Crawford really isn’t that good? Not at all sure where you are coming up with this?
- rwilliams88

Last season Lehner was considerably better the first half and slid back to him while he improved somewhat. Whether Covid19 related or rusty Crow was out of sync the Edmonton series. Lehner was the better goalie through the playoffs. What he is now is a big unknown. Why do we need to pay 2@$4m with the current team?

Or, the youngsters that get burned and not bailed out by their goalie develop bad habits and become discouraged. Losing begets losing. Mistakes can be a learning experience, or can lead to further mistakes.
- scottak

When your bad play doesn't have consequences that's when bad habits develop. That's when someone may believe they don't have to give the extra effort defensively. If a player gets discouraged instead of determined then we know which players to trade.

Last season Lehner was considerably better the first half and slid back to him while he improved somewhat. Whether Covid19 related or rusty Crow was out of sync the Edmonton series. Lehner was the better goalie through the playoffs. What he is now is a big unknown. Why do we need to pay 2@$4m with the current team?
- rpeters01

Thank God we didn't sign Lehner

No Lehner had the better team in front of him in the playoffs

Thank God we didn't sign Lehner

No Lehner had the better team in front of him in the playoffs
- BetweenTheDots

Got to admit, Vegas stole Lehner. Set at goalie for the next 5 years at $5M per. Compared to other contenders Vegas has a nice advantage price wise at goalie once they get rid of MAF.

Last season Lehner was considerably better the first half and slid back to him while he improved somewhat. Whether Covid19 related or rusty Crow was out of sync the Edmonton series. Lehner was the better goalie through the playoffs. What he is now is a big unknown. Why do we need to pay 2@$4m with the current team?
- rpeters01

Don’t get me wrong, at this point with age in play I’d definitely prefer lehner over CC, but by no means is Crawford a bead goalie, still top tier and could be for a couple more seasons

Don’t get me wrong, at this point with age in play I’d definitely prefer lehner over CC, but by no means is Crawford a bead goalie, still top tier and could be for a couple more seasons
- rwilliams88

You really don't know that 36 can be anything in a goalie.

Got to admit, Vegas stole Lehner. Set at goalie for the next 5 years at $5M per. Compared to other contenders Vegas has a nice advantage price wise at goalie once they get rid of MAF.
- rpeters01

I hope you're right but something tells me the relationship between LVGK and Lehner will not end well.

Let's just say i think he's a lot like Brandon Marshall who played for the Bears very good receiver but...

Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights..
This is the Pacific Division that the Avalanche blogger is suggesting, shoot, the Hawks would probably get in the playoffs if they played there.

I hope you're right but something tells me the relationship between LVGK and Lehner will not end well.

Let's just say i think he's a lot like Brandon Marshall who played for the Bears very good receiver but...
- BetweenTheDots

BTD, that just may end up being a very good comparison, but I hope it doesn’t end up that way. I’m not a Lehner fan, he blames his defensemen and doesn’t hold himself accountable, but I’d like him to stay healthy both physically and mentally.

Looks like the NHL and AHL would be happy to get a 35 game season.

https://www.prohockeyrumo...sons-germany-newhook.html

Got to admit, Vegas stole Lehner. Set at goalie for the next 5 years at $5M per. Compared to other contenders Vegas has a nice advantage price wise at goalie once they get rid of MAF.
- rpeters01

Lehner blows. Rebound machine.

Lehner blows. Rebound machine.
- Ogilthorpe2

That has nothing to do with CC's contract was up and now was not the time to invest in him with the state of the current Blackhawks team.