Yes equal but upgraded from where they are now just look at the Lightning. They are pretty balanced with size and skill on lines one through three

Trade Kane and tank the next 2 years.
- Newgod77

Thank goodness someone finally said it. We finally have the blueprint. Kane won't really care about his NMC and the top 5 in the upcoming drafts are certain to be impact players.

Thank goodness someone finally said it. We finally have the blueprint. Kane won't really care about his NMC and the top 5 in the upcoming drafts are certain to be impact players.
- Chunk

Maybe Kane would like LA ? doughty came out over the weekend saying he is tired of rebuilding, the Kings have the cap space and young talent to dispose of and wants them to bring in an impact player.

Maybe Kane would like LA ? doughty came out over the weekend saying he is tired of rebuilding, the Kings have the cap space and young talent to dispose of and wants them to bring in an impact player.
- LAHawk

If that is the case, wouldn't it be more likely that LA just says "Hey Doughty, which teams will you waive for?".

Neither Kane, nor Keith, nor Toews, (nor Seabrook when he was actually healthy) have given any indication that they would like to be moved from the Hawks.

If that is the case, wouldn't it be more likely that LA just says "Hey Doughty, which teams will you waive for?".

Neither Kane, nor Keith, nor Toews, (nor Seabrook when he was actually healthy) have given any indication that they would like to be moved from the Hawks.
- Chunk

My red font wasn't working. Actually, I think that is what Doughty is aiming for, a trade to a contender.

I understand why but I still do find it so odd that the playoffs are going while the regular season for two teams play out.

After seeing Fleury put up a Vezina Trophy year, and the way he played in game 1 vs. Minnesota, and Vegas being as tight against the cap that they couldn't even replace an injured player during the year, do you think they regret giving Lehner 5 X $5 mil.?
- LAHawk

Yup they do, but at the time they thought they could just dump Fleury somewhere to rid themselves of his contract.

Vegas has led a charmed life so far in their few years in the league. They had better win it all now because those massiive deals that Stone, Paccioretty, Pietrangelo are on are going to look like a noose around their necks in a year or 2.

They are in tough this series against the Minnies.

We need more than that...
- rpeters01

Well, add Kane, Debrincat, Kubalik, Hagel, Suter, Kurashev, and Dach to 2015 Toews, Hossa, and Saad and I’ll take my chances with that forward group.

What Stan was saying was that the team needs dominant players and they don't have enough of them right now. The playoffs so far have highlighted the importance of having dominant players who can compete and often win against the other team's best players. Guys like Murphy and Z cannot compete against the best players of the other team. Suter and Kubalik, too. Slot them properly and they look much better. They guys who could provide the depth of a good team are present. The studs to compete against the best teams are not.
- Mohel

So basically we need a 2015 Seabrook, Hammer, Toews, Saad, and Hossa. Go get ‘em Stan!
- Angotti

Well, if the goal is to win the Cup..... you need top end players who will at least offset the other team's best players. Those great Hawks teams lost in 2011, 2012 and 2014. They also had some hellacious series in the years they won that could've gone the other way. So, you don't need ALL those guys to win, but you DO need quite a few.

And Shaw Sharp, Oduya and Crawford.
- LAHawk

Not to mention 2013 Keith.

Mornin' Theo
- vabeachbear

Good day, bear.

Thank you, Theo. As always, a must-read for Blackhawks fans.
It will be very interesting indeed. Who gets added, who gets jettisoned. Big questions needing to be considered.
One thing this year's team had from my far away perch: positivity, indicating plus team chemistry. And the adds and subtracts to next year's team will need to consider the chemistry factor.
- 35Tony0

You're welcome, Tony.

Chemistry is quite key as you affirmed. Colliton stresses communication and chemistry goes hand in hand, IMO. Chemistry during a rebuild is critical, too, at least amongst the youth and the veteran staples.

For the one-year rentals like Soderberg, Janmark, and Wallmark, that helps the youngsters understand the business of the game and how to handle those blips of disruption to the roster.

It's the egotistical players, head cases, and blockbuster trades that can upset the apple cart.

"We relied a lot on the back of young players to do it. And now what we need to do is we need some of them to continue taking a step forward and we need to supplement that group over the next year or two with some probably more experienced or accomplished players. That's the challenge."

Again, acquiring veteran experience is never a bad thing especially during a rebuild. But what does "accomplished" mean exactly? Brett Connolly is accomplished in that he has a Cup ring from 2018.

But is that what Bowman means? Connolly was a role player for the Capitals that season and is very much so in that role with the Hawks. Or does accomplished refer to elite level talent?

Then if such high-octane players are brought in, how does that jive with the team makeup and chemistry? Does that stunt the growth of the youngsters as everyone gets bumped down a peg on the depth chart?

Thanks for another blog Theo!

To the point above, did you really see any "youngsters" this past season you would truly worry about stunting their growth? Mitchell appears destined to spend as much time as needed in the AHL? I think there will be plenty of openings for players who show they belong. In the meantime, strike when you have the opportunity under a favorable scenario.
- rpeters01

The youngsters on D are the ones who I would worry about most especially if de Haan and Zadorov return to go with Keith and Murphy. That leaves Stillman with the 5th spot and one last spot for a youngster which I would assume goes to Boqvist.

If Bowman goes out to acquire another veteran, that bumps out Boqvist unless a current veteran(s) gets shipped out or drafted by Seattle.

Kalynuk is a keeper in my book in that I don't know how much more he'd gain by spending time in Rockford. He plays lights out in the minors.

Beaudin has spent an entire season last year plus stints this past year in the AHL. A few more stints wouldn't hurt him but think he is best off spending most of 2021-22 in the NHL.

Mitchell is the one who I think could spend the most time of the Big 4 with the Hogs but not necessarily the entire next season.

Regula needs another full year there at least. So do Phillips and Galvas. Krys could earn a cup of coffee to have a look see as he is entering his final year of his ELC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkw6uMg2D5A

Borgstrom highlights. gets alot of power on his wrist shot. Is a plus skater for 6-3.
most of his goals came from 12-15 feet

I could see one more year of signing a couple of cheap Janmark/Soderland types that could be flipped at the TDL for some draft capital or prospects.

I think this next season will be a further evaluation year for the organization to decide who they want on the team going forward. Maybe the following year Stan starts to add better players via UFA or trading away pieces that aren't in their long term plans.

Surely Stan sees that he does not have the impact/dominant players on the team or in the system that are required for a long playoff run. That "one poster" sees that too which is why he is pining for the likes of Barkhov and Jones, players who will be in their prime at 26 or 27 when they reach free agency, worthy of a 7 year contract, and would add some top level skill talent to the team. Yes, competition will be fierce for that type of player IF they reach free agency so it's a very long shot they would be Hawks in the future.

If the chances of adding these younger dominant players via UFA are slim to none, Stan is going to have to go the trade route.

He'll have to pull off Sharp type trades to get more talented players, or a blockbuster trade to get someone like Jones if CBJ knows they won't extend him.
- boilermaker100

Glad you saw the shout out to you on your proposals to pursue Jones and Barkov when they become free agents. Your line of thinking aligns with what Bowman is saying, i.e. be poised to make runs at top players when the time comes.

Competition will be tough for these caliber of players but Bowman admits he wants to be in that mix and has the team ready financially to do so by then.

With that in mind, I see big name signings coming in a few years with one-year veteran rentals being the M.O. again for at least this offseason.

That could change, though, if Toews is out longer or (heaven forbid) for good and/or Keith requests a trade.

Does Zach Parise's contract take over from Seabrook's as the worst in the NHL? Healthy scratch in game 1 of the playoffs at $7.35 mil. for the next 4 years, and the way the contract is structured a buyout helps them next year in cap space, but not the 3 years after?

Starting with the Capitals-Bruins game, my first thought was if you throw the past year's Blackhawk team in as a replacement for either, that Blackhawk team gets eaten and spit out on the curb.

The puck handling, the direction the on ice players know they want the puck/play to go and the willingness to go in hard, well, I think the current Blackhawk team falls very short.

I think that is why you see Bowman hoping he can secure another difference maker at some point as his current young roster does a little more than thread water.

You have to think there are 31 other teams looking a facelifts and the hawks have many kids who can help promote new looks elsewhere too.
Over the years, I know I have had my jaw drop when I would read an announcement about a "really good" player a team suddenly traded away where you thought he was a fixture. Maybe StanBo is simply saying he is keeping his eyes and ears open to ANY PLAYER that lifts the group closer to contention level.
We don't know how re-signing negotiations in the next couple go in terms extend the euro guys and they have never been shy trading the Euro signed if they thought the return added. I know I ma not breaking the bank to any current Euro hawks.

Maybe the strategy changes depending upon if they win the lottery.
- wiz1901

This current Hawks team ranks with the bottom 1/4 of the entire league IMO - that is to say they are among the 8 worst teams in the NHL. Playing a full 82 game season against all of the teams in the league next year would prove that.

Winning a series or even a couple of games against current playoff teams is miles above their capability. They would get destroyed.

Bowman has a helluva lot of work to do to make this team a playoff qualifier let alone a Cup challenger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkw6uMg2D5A

Borgstrom highlights. gets alot of power on his wrist shot. Is a plus skater for 6-3.
most of his goals came from 12-15 feet
- kmw4631

Kind of reminds me of Kubalik's highlights his last year in Switzerland

This current Hawks team ranks with the bottom 1/4 of the entire league IMO - that is to say they are among the 8 worst teams in the NHL. Playing a full 82 game season against all of the teams in the league next year would prove that.

Winning a series or even a couple of games against current playoff teams is miles above their capability. They would get destroyed.

Bowman has a helluva lot of work to do to make this team a playoff qualifier let alone a Cup challenger.
- RickJ

Rick, is the Leaf/Habs series tough for you, or is the Leaf hate strong enough to allow open cheering for Montreal?

Why? COL, FLA, and MIN all have D corps that are pretty much the same size.

COL: Makar, Girard, Toews all listed at least 10lbs sub 200
MIN: Anyone complaining about Dumba and Spurgeon, Brodin? Suter, and Cole are their bigger players.
FLA: Nutivaara, Montour, Forsling (The Great), Stralman, Yandle, Gudas is only 208.

If the Hawks D develop into guys that can actually play defense, they will not have a problem competing. If they are still making the same mistakes, they will have several issues.

I get why people like Hartman, but he's still the same guy. Puts up about 25-30 its, is willing to lay a hit, but still is inconsistent and gets lost defensively (from what I've seen).
- Chunk

You skipped Weegar
BTW Florida had 49 hits yesterday. Gudas with 11. .S Knight is their future in goal. Not sure whom they protect in goal due to possible no movement clause for Bob.

Take heart. Wiz. Regarding the difficulty working in your draftsite.com.

The SCORE app has continued listing goals scored in playoffs as if regular season goals. What's the problem over at the SCORE.

You skipped Weegar
BTW Florida had 49 hits yesterday. Gudas with 11. .S Knight is their future in goal. Not sure whom they protect in goal due to possible no movement clause for Bob.

Take heart. Wiz. Regarding the difficulty working in your draftsite.com.

The SCORE app has continued listing goals scored in playoffs as if regular season goals. What's the problem over at the SCORE.
- jhawk59

Panthers have Samuel Montembeault to expose as a goaltender. Watching the Stars playing defense man to man, difference is the Stars forwards are way more defensively aware than the Hawks (as is most every team in the league), although Vegas dominated possession for most of the game

Panthers have Samuel Montembeault to expose as a goaltender. Watching the Stars playing defense man to man, difference is the Stars forwards are way more defensively aware than the Hawks (as is most every team in the league), although Vegas dominated possession for most of the game
- LAHawk

Would you offer your thoughts on the progress this year and the expectation of reaching their ceiling insofar as Byfield and Byram. I realize Byram injured the past 10 -15 games

Hope you are feeling well and progressing well too on your healing.

Would you offer your thoughts on the progress this year and the expectation of reaching their ceiling insofar as Byfield and Byram. I realize Byram harassed the past 10 -15 gp with Injury

Hope you are feeling well and progressing well too on your healing.
- jhawk59

Thanks, about 75% there, the strengthening now will take a LONG time. Don't know about Byram, Byfield played 6 games with the Kings with protected minutes. My guess is they slot him as 2C behind Kopitar. They really like Trevor Moore, Viladri was inconsistent, and the Kings might be looking to move him, because he doesn't play defense enought o be a lower line center. They have moved Kempe to wing.

We have lots of difference makers - just not good difference makers.
- rpeters01

LOL, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Just to recap my thoughts. The Hawks played over their talent level and everyone’s preseason thoughts on their finish. Most, including myself thought bottom 5 without Toews/Dach for some time and unproven goalies. I’m not sure how I feel about this “retooling” vs more of a tear down and rebuild. Based on his comments, Stan knows they are lacking “elite” play makers besides Dcat and an older Kane. The youngsters got playing time, which will help them develop and grow, but it might be a few years until in their “prime”.

As a few mentioned, watching the other playoff games...there is definitely a difference...talent and system. There’s more knowledgeable people than myself, but the Hawks just don’t play “playoff” hockey now, and I’m not sure if it’s the players/talent or coaching. They don’t seem to be able to forecheck and then they have issues getting out of their own zone sometimes. Using their speed and passing/accepting pucks are also not adequate...but some is our young D.

It’ll be interesting to see what Stan does in the offseason and expansion draft. Does he use it as a way to add older (23-27) experienced players to help rebuild faster, or does he trade players for picks/prospects. Maybe package Big Z or Strome to our pick to move up in draft (if we don’t win it) to get into that 5-8 range.

Rick, is the Leaf/Habs series tough for you, or is the Leaf hate strong enough to allow open cheering for Montreal?
- mohel

It probably won't go well for the Habs but regardless they will have plenty of support outside of Toronto because there are many Leaf haters across the country hoping they fail miserably - as usual.

The media loves a story - what better one could there be than a spineless Maple Leaf anglophone rich boy team collapsing and burning at the hands of the insurgents from Quebec.