Didn't DCat stats take a dip because he was working on becoming a better 200 foot player the previous year? so i wouldn't be so quick to get rid of him or assume he's going to break the bank on his next contract.

If Verhaege can score as many points as he did playing along side a premium center, i have to imagine Kubs would be close to a 40 goal scorer every year, like Cat even playing on the 2nd PP unit

Do the Hawks have anyone close to Barkov? Next this is a perfect example of overrating your own players. Kubalik is not a 40 goal scorer (unless he has an insane shooting percentage). Also, if he does score 40 goals in a contract year, do you think he signs for $3.5 mil. again? I still think he is no where close to being a 200 foot player. I see him more as a younger version of Mike Hoffman.

Didn't DCat stats take a dip because he was working on becoming a better 200 foot player the previous year? so i wouldn't be so quick to get rid of him or assume he's going to break the bank on his next contract.

If Verhaege can score as many points as he did playing along side a premium center, i have to imagine Kubs would be close to a 40 goal scorer every year, like Cat even playing on the 2nd PP unit

Do the Hawks have anyone close to Barkov? Next this is a perfect example of overrating your own players. Kubalik is not a 40 goal scorer (unless he has an insane shooting percentage). Also, if he does score 40 goals in a contract year, do you think he signs for $3.5 mil. again? I still think he is no where close to being a 200 foot player. I see him more as a younger version of Mike Hoffman.
- LAHawk

He's 1 of 2 players on this team who can score 5 on 5 goals and you want to get rid of him, even without a top 6 center last year? That'll be great

It's funny Habs play poopty teams to get to the semifinals and everyone thinks they are so great, the Blackhawks could beat them in a 7 game series

I agree, but not if he is the driver of the line. The Hawks need another couple of those, imo.
- mohel

Absolutely, that’s why I mentioned that we need to add a couple of talented top six forwards to the mix.
Kubalik/X/X, maybe Toews is one of the X’s, we shall see. I’m not saying we would get Tkachuk, but that type of talent would be needed.
ADB/Dach/Kane
Tkachuk/Toews/Kubalik
Would that top six work with more size and talent on the backend?

This feels like the wrong time to be going after players like these.

I hate to say it, but it feels like the future direction of this team is in one person's hands...Jonathan Toews. Once his status is settled, a lot will fall into place.
- hpk90

I think its criminal of toews/ Hawks not to let the fands know whats going on with toews. Whats the big secret? Toews owes the fans that mich.

THE HAWKS TO ME HAVE A GRADE OF D-, THERE 500 TEAM AT BEST, BEFORE THEY CA MOVE UP TO COMPETE FOR THE CUP , THERE PLAYERS NEED TO IMPROVE UP AROUND 50-53 WINS A YEAR , THATS
106 POINTS A YEAR. THEN GET INTO THE FREE AGENT MARKET BIG

I think its criminal of toews/ Hawks not to let the fands know whats going on with toews. Whats the big secret? Toews owes the fans that mich.
- LFS

Toews has his right to privacy. I am sure Bowman knows Toews status, the silence to the public won't hinder what Stan is planning to do in the offseason.

I think its criminal of toews/ Hawks not to let the fands know whats going on with toews. Whats the big secret? Toews owes the fans that mich.
- LFS

Criminal? Not much for hyperbole are we.

It's funny Habs play poopty teams to get to the semifinals and everyone thinks they are so great, the Blackhawks could beat them in a 7 game series
- BetweenTheDots

Nobody thinks the Habs are so great. And in a playoff-style 7 game series, the Hawks would not beat them.

0 for 2.....

THE HAWKS TO ME HAVE A GRADE OF D-, THERE 500 TEAM AT BEST, BEFORE THEY CA MOVE UP TO COMPETE FOR THE CUP , THERE PLAYERS NEED TO IMPROVE UP AROUND 50-53 WINS A YEAR , THATS
106 POINTS A YEAR. THEN GET INTO THE FREE AGENT MARKET BIG
- Ging72

Again with the yelling?

Absolutely, that’s why I mentioned that we need to add a couple of talented top six forwards to the mix.
Kubalik/X/X, maybe Toews is one of the X’s, we shall see. I’m not saying we would get Tkachuk, but that type of talent would be needed.
ADB/Dach/Kane
Tkachuk/Toews/Kubalik
Would that top six work with more size and talent on the backend?
- Angotti

Something like that. I think they need two really good pairs for the top six, with some good players to complete the line. Cat and Kane are one pair. As of now, that's it. Three pairs for the top nine is ideal, and Dach and Toews are in need of partners. Kubalik could be the 2nd guy on the 3rd line, but would also fit in as the 3rd member of one of the other lines. So, imo, they need a few more very good forwards.

Absolutely, that’s why I mentioned that we need to add a couple of talented top six forwards to the mix.
Kubalik/X/X, maybe Toews is one of the X’s, we shall see. I’m not saying we would get Tkachuk, but that type of talent would be needed.
ADB/Dach/Kane
Tkachuk/Toews/Kubalik
Would that top six work with more size and talent on the backend?
- Angotti

For those on the "5 Years to get to the Playoffs Plan", at that time Toews will be 38, Kane 37, Kubalik if still around, 30, and Dcat 28, at the downhill side at that age according to some. Hawks have to find some more top 6 forwards besides these for their next Cup run.

For those on the "5 Years to get to the Playoffs Plan", at that time Toews will be 38, Kane 37, Kubalik if still around, 30, and Dcat 28, at the downhill side at that age according to some. Hawks have to find some more top 6 forwards besides these for their next Cup run.
- boilermaker100

I don't think it's a "plan" at all. It's simply a reality. The Hawks don't have enough good players to be competitive right now. Many of them are very young, so we don't know what they are. Hagel, Kubalik, and Suter are useful pieces, but what is their ceiling.

We have very little idea about what the D-men will be.

We have NO idea who the goalie will be.

They've said they want to build this into something that can last. I would take that to mean that there will be more growing pains in the short term - hence no playoffs for a while. If some of the young guys step up and become big timers sooner, that pushes the timeline up. Or they can go the free agent/trade route but that could sabotage what they've stated they want to build. It's a tight line to walk.

I was really encouraged by the hustle this team showed. Now they just need the talent and IQ to catch up to the effort.

I don't think it's a "plan" at all. It's simply a reality. The Hawks don't have enough good players to be competitive right now. Many of them are very young, so we don't know what they are. Hagel, Kubalik, and Suter are useful pieces, but what is their ceiling.

We have very little idea about what the D-men will be.

We have NO idea who the goalie will be.

They've said they want to build this into something that can last. I would take that to mean that there will be more growing pains in the short term - hence no playoffs for a while. If some of the young guys step up and become big timers sooner, that pushes the timeline up. Or they can go the free agent/trade route but that could sabotage what they've stated they want to build. It's a tight line to walk.

I was really encouraged by the hustle this team showed. Now they just need the talent and IQ to catch up to the effort.
- Chunk

Fair enough. In 5 years though Hagel, Suter, Kubalik could be gone via free agency. The longer the rebuild takes, the greater the turnover of personnel. It will be a never ending process to keep retooling the team

Agreed, we will have a much better idea on how far we are along on the rebuild next year. All these young guys are like a box of chocolates, “you never know what you’re going to get”. Maybe Borgstrom surprises, there will be some trades like Strome for example, who goes with him to maximize return? Big 25 year old defensemen have some value, if Z is traded what will he bring back? Again they can add to maximize return. This off-season will be interesting, let’s see how and what Stan does to upgrade the team, hopefully good young assets are added, and of course I’m sure he’ll sign a couple of vets on the cheap to add some experience like Janmark and Soda last year.
- Angotti

Unless you add Dinky you get "garbage out garbage in."

Didn't DCat stats take a dip because he was working on becoming a better 200 foot player the previous year? so i wouldn't be so quick to get rid of him or assume he's going to break the bank on his next contract.

If Verhaege can score as many points as he did playing along side a premium center, i have to imagine Kubs would be close to a 40 goal scorer every year, like Cat even playing on the 2nd PP unit
- BetweenTheDots

Nobody thinks the Habs are so great. And in a playoff-style 7 game series, the Hawks would not beat them.
- mohel

Yeah, I think there are several reasons to thinks the Habs easily beat the current Hawk roster in a playoff series, most being the ones that worked in their favor against the "weak" teams they played.

Really good smart defenseman with size and tempered physicality,
Philipp Danault, strong in the dot and excellent both ways.
(you look past the goals stats and just see the positives, doesn't take much eyeball research.)
Their smaller forwards are ones that don't go tail between the legs when they go in and win board battles. (we need to see that from most of our newbies, not just Hagel.

They have a real NHL goaltender road tested elite.
It is difficult to envision a team winning Lord Stanley's cup w/o an elite backstop, or a goaler who is one in the 20 odd playoff games.
I guess I am happy for the hawks that the Finn worked out in the small division league, it basically relaxes panic mode to have to overpay and lure one to Chicago.

I am not gonna predict playoff success at this point when the traffic and speed is MUCH more and I just saw a year of his play in the home plate area and I thought results were "mixed."

and while we are at it...who is OUR Josh Anderson?
The guy is flying, pounding.
It just seems like that besides experience Corey Perry & Eric Staal (on the fourth line)they have a ton a guys that play both ways. Perry and Staal are not quick afoot as they were, but they bring more dimensions.

Granted Toffoli signed in the right place and added a lot, but I look at their three 20 year olds and they aren't shying away from competition.

The hawks aren't ready to be a surprise final four team.
Their surprise was not finishing next to the Red Wings in the standings and behind the weakened by injury Stars, and late to the party Press.

For those on the "5 Years to get to the Playoffs Plan", at that time Toews will be 38, Kane 37, Kubalik if still around, 30, and Dcat 28, at the downhill side at that age according to some. Hawks have to find some more top 6 forwards besides these for their next Cup run.
- boilermaker100

Yes and Yes...

Take this with a huge grain of salt considering the lack of confirmed sources but this rumor showed up on my Twitter feed. I don't read anything by Barstool but again, their post was retweeted by others I subscribe to.

The rumor is Nylander "went rogue with his surgery and rehab" and Hawks brass is pissed off thus trying to trade him. I don't know how you go rogue with surgery as I would imagine the team doctor has to authorize and monitor that closely.

Same with rehab but that seems easier to cheat on. Don't know how you lie about surgery.

To their credit Barstool also admitted to take that rumor with a grain of salt, too.

Likely nothing but garbage but interesting nonetheless.

I don't think it's a "plan" at all. It's simply a reality. The Hawks don't have enough good players to be competitive right now. Many of them are very young, so we don't know what they are. Hagel, Kubalik, and Suter are useful pieces, but what is their ceiling.

We have very little idea about what the D-men will be.

We have NO idea who the goalie will be.

They've said they want to build this into something that can last. I would take that to mean that there will be more growing pains in the short term - hence no playoffs for a while. If some of the young guys step up and become big timers sooner, that pushes the timeline up. Or they can go the free agent/trade route but that could sabotage what they've stated they want to build. It's a tight line to walk.

I was really encouraged by the hustle this team showed. Now they just need the talent and IQ to catch up to the effort.
- Chunk

We have too many forwards only good at one thing, "Shooting," "Puck retrieval," "Defensive minded," "Complimentary," "Checking," "Floating " Notice not many at skating and creating combined with something else...
The last two blogs we have gone away from the talk of taking on a bad contract to get something good back. I still see that as a valid way of speeding up the rebuild.

Take this with a huge grain of salt considering the lack of confirmed sources but this rumor showed up on my Twitter feed. I don't read anything by Barstool but again, their post was retweeted by others I subscribe to.

The rumor is Nylander "went rogue with his surgery and rehab" and Hawks brass is pissed off thus trying to trade him. I don't know how you go rogue with surgery as I would imagine the team doctor has to authorize and monitor that closely.

Same with rehab but that seems easier to cheat on. Don't know how you lie about surgery.

To their credit Barstool also admitted to take that rumor with a grain of salt, too.

Likely nothing but garbage but interesting nonetheless.
- Theo Fox

https://www.bleachernatio...ssing-after-knee-surgery/

https://www.bleachernatio...ander-returns-to-the-ice/

With all the talk about where the Hawks are and what they should or should not be doing, I though this an apropos quote to remind everyone that winning is hard in the NHL.

MacKinnon: "I'm going into my ninth year next year and haven't won s*it."

Fair enough. In 5 years though Hagel, Suter, Kubalik could be gone via free agency. The longer the rebuild takes, the greater the turnover of personnel. It will be a never ending process to keep retooling the team
- boilermaker100

That's the reality though unless some of their kids drastically improve or get lucky with some of the draft picks in the next year or two.

We have too many forwards only good at one thing, "Shooting," "Puck retrieval," "Defensive minded," "Complimentary," "Checking," "Floating " Notice not many at skating and creating combined with something else...
The last two blogs we have gone away from the talk of taking on a bad contract to get something good back. I still see that as a valid way of speeding up the rebuild.
- rpeters01

I'm with you as long as they aim high enough. I'd rather they look at guys who have at least proven they can be productive in the league instead of "potential". The Hawks have a ton of D prospects. They simply are not all going to make the big roster, by numbers alone. If they can utilize some of them as well as some potential cap space to get an actual good player, that would be the route I take.

https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks/2021/02/17/alex-nylander-progressing-after-knee-surgery/

https://www.bleachernatio...ander-returns-to-the-ice/
- LAHawk

Thanks for posting that link. I thought I read something a while back on Nylander's post surgery progress and rehab.