No return from Vegas? They left Fleury at the end of their driveway and Bowman picked him up for nothing. If he doesn't play, no cost. If he does play, one year commitment for a starting goaltender with a winning pedigree and a smile on his face.

Or would you have preferred Martin Jones, Holtby, Brian Elliott or Mikko Koskinen.
- RickJ

I’d prefer Lainkenen

Is this Stans new plan? Confuse the fanbase so much they don't know who to be mad at, or why they're mad, or how mad to be.
- AusHawk

Mission accomplished.

Sup Aus, how have you been?

Mission accomplished.

Sup Aus, how have you been?
- I Am The Breadman

At the moment? Cold. Damn this winter. Bored as I can't travel. Otherwise tracking well.
Hows things with you?

No doubt, remember the mt seats last time the Hawks played in the UC? ...... In 5 yrs the Hawks went from going for it adding Maata, Z Smith types, to shedding those types and going young, back to "going for it" this coming yr all the while missing the playoffs every step of the way.

Curious about your earlier post about NYR. During their rebuild in a couple-3 yrs they added, and correct me if I'm wrong, Trouba, Fox, Kakko, Chytil, Panarin, Lafreniere, Kravstov, K'Andre Miller and made the playoffs in 19/20 going 37-28. .. The Hawks in their 1 yr rebuild added Dach, Reichel, Jones and Fluery.

Which team did it correctly and which owner has a right to say, ok, time to win?
- Mr Ricochet

2019/20 I think the Rangers were 2nd last in the Metro and would up getting smoked by Carolina in a short series. Trouba and Panarin were free agents they threw big money at and they got Fox cheap because he wouldn't play in Calgary or Carolina. And then they got lucky consecutive years by getting the #2 pick in the draft one year and then the #1 (Lafrenier) the next year. At that point the Owner and fans expect results and watched the Islanders have 2 long playoff runs. So Dolan fires his President and GM. Bottom line - they are better than the Hawks but not by a great deal. Both owners want playoff games and sellouts.

I’d prefer Lainkenen
- Ogilthorpe2

I like him too. Unfortunately he can't play 82 games, needs a rest.

You don't really know Fleury doesn't want to play in Chicago. If he doesn't he will just retire at no cost to the Blackhawks.

And the other misnomer you have bought into is that the Hawks are/were rebuilding. They never were. Not with two $10.5M players still on their roster.

Rebuiding is what Detroit and NJ are trying to do. There are no comparable similarities going on in Chicago.
- RickJ

Could swore they came out with letter and press conference that was there intent to retool/rebulid and its was going not to bad and in last 5 days have done complete 360. Plus the fans were on board but now its something different. Oh well wait and see what's coming next.

Dear God, I hope he has something brilliant up his sleeve. Losing assets, not getting sweetners, & possibly losing players for nothing are not good. Idk what he could do at this point as he's changed lanes so much. I think I'd be more mad if I wasn't so confused.
- I Am The Breadman

He's definitely all over the map and that has me thinking he's definitely up to no good 😂.
Hope you are doing good bread

At the moment? Cold. Damn this winter. Bored as I can't travel. Otherwise tracking well.
Hows things with you?
- AusHawk

Swimming in the summer. Not doing much of anything atm.

And a new family sized bag of chips
- AusHawk

The Pens will throw in a vegamite sammich.

The Pens will throw in a vegamite sammich.
- mohel

It's Vegemite you heathen . And it's delicious

Swimming in the summer. Not doing much of anything atm.
- I Am The Breadman

The curse of the current world. Thus why we are all here discussing the hawks and their ongoing madness

You don't really know Fleury doesn't want to play in Chicago. If he doesn't he will just retire at no cost to the Blackhawks.

And the other misnomer you have bought into is that the Hawks are/were rebuilding. They never were. Not with two $10.5M players still on their roster.

Rebuiding is what Detroit and NJ are trying to do. There are no comparable similarities going on in Chicago.
- RickJ

What was starting the season with Delia and Subban (Good God) splitting starts then near hitting the lottery with their THIRD option in goal, Lankanin? Or starting an overwhelmed 19/20 yr old Bogvist and rookies Mitchell, Beudein, Kalnyuk in front of them at defense and rookies Hagel, Highmore and Kurashev along with a 20 yr old Dach at forward sprinkling in Entwhistle and Hardman types?

Was it a rebuild, retool or tank to start last season when they were on record, for what that's worth, they were going young?

It's Vegemite you heathen . And it's delicious
- AusHawk

My apologies on the misspelling! And I will admit to identifying with the heathen part! If a whole country eats it, it is likely good.

Although, nobody make a Vegemite sammich like Ogi. Nobody!

My apologies on the misspelling! And I will admit to identifying with the heathen part! If a whole country eats it, it is likely good.

Although, nobody make a Vegemite sammich like Ogi. Nobody!
- mohel

I reckon I would have him covered. He's got nothing on my Vegemite and Cheese sanga. Nothing!

I could see Stan giving MAF a 1 or 2 year extension at a reasonable price to help him feel a little better about joining the Hawks. Have his new contract end at the same time as Toews and Kane’s contracts.
- Ztra

nah, I think this will be a final hurrah...

Man...I don't get the anger over this one.....as there were reports, again, of the Hawks looking to add a veteran netminder to supplement Lankinen.

If Fleury retires, and that's a huge IF, Hawks are responsible for $0 towards the cap. SO this chicken little cap crap needs to stop.

IF Fleury plays....a few things.....

1. Your young goalie maybe of the future, maybe not, gets to learn from 1 of the best. Does that matter? How much of an impact did a guy like Hossa have on young forwards?

2. Your young D has the confidence knowing that every single mistake isn't going to be turning on the red light....young d gains confidence similar to the last go around when the Hawks signed Khabibulin.

3. Maybe you compete for a playoff spot, maybe you don't. Tons of variables there but they are 100000 times better with Fleury and Lankinen than Lankinen and which ever turd Subban and/or Delia you want to place there.

4. If you aren't in playoff contention come deadline time.....what would the going rate be for a rental goalie who has won a cup, played in another cup final, and looks to be still at the top of his game? Think BOwman may able to get a 1st back from the JOnes deal? LIKELY.....Think a team like Toronto if the Hawks retained salary, wouldn't give that up to lock down the spot that ails them and a guy who won't flinch in big games and a big city?

Instead, lets just bash the living hell out of Bowman who gave up a nobody prospect for a roll of the dice that either still will NOT count against his cap in the worst case scenario OR allow his young D men to take strides improving with a PROVEN #1 NHL caliber goalie AND/OR trade this piece at the deadline for assets.....

Who gives a crap about Pius Suter. Nice player? SUre....is he going to break this team not being here? Nope. WHo gives a crap about Zadorov or DeHaan.....they can throw Shaw/Seabrook on LTIR and get Hagel in and if they make a trade or 2 or 3 and dump some of the other turds.....DeHaan, Connolly, Strome, they can still
add a guy or two in UFA and be cap compliant by opening night....believe you can spend up to 10% over the cap at 1 particular time....I am sure Stan has multiple irons in the fire and just going progressing through as his offseason plan takes shape.
- SteveRain

Agree

The Score reporting Fleury has no interest in joining the Blackhawks.
- Ogilthorpe2

and I have no interest in doing the Wscr

I reckon I would have him covered. He's got nothing on my Vegemite and Cheese sanga. Nothing!
- AusHawk

I'm sure you would. I'm just not gonna be the one to tell him.

I reckon I would have him covered. He's got nothing on my Vegemite and Cheese sanga. Nothing!
- AusHawk

Sorry Mate, you don’t know Ogi. There isn’t a cuisine on this earth that Ogi doesn’t make and make better than anyone, just ask him.

Same way Crawford did. All to do with the time the contract was signed, length of time, players age at signing and those sort of factors. I'm sure someone smarter and more versed in the CBA can cover it in more detail
- AusHawk

There's a rule in Section 64 of the current NHL CBA MOU that allows players 35 years plus who are signed to contracts after 2012 to not count against the cap if they retire.

Fleury signed his latest 3-year contract at 35 in 2019. Crawford did the same.

There's a rule in Section 64 of the current NHL CBA MOU that allows players 35 years plus who are signed to contracts after 2012 to not count against the cap if they retire.

Fleury signed his latest 3-year contract at 35 in 2019. Crawford did the same.
- Popsghostly

There we go. Thankyou for clarifying. Knew the board wouldn't let me down

Sorry Mate, you don’t know Ogi. There isn’t a cuisine on this earth that Ogi doesn’t make and make better than anyone, just ask him.
- paulr

I don't think I'll ask. I will just live in my happy ignorance

At minimum Bowman should have requested compensation should Fleury retire, like he said he would if he were to be traded. Compensation in the form of a top prospect or 1st pick.
- Diamondhands

No

What was starting the season with Delia and Subban (Good God) splitting starts then near hitting the lottery with their THIRD option in goal, Lankanin? Or starting an overwhelmed 19/20 yr old Bogvist and rookies Mitchell, Beudein, Kalnyuk in front of them at defense and rookies Hagel, Highmore and Kurashev along with a 20 yr old Dach at forward sprinkling in Entwhistle and Hardman types?

Was it a rebuild, retool or tank to start last season when they were on record, for what that's worth, they were going young?
- Mr Ricochet

https://ontapsportsnet.co...erall-for-the-blackhawks/

With Fleury coming to Chicago, Vegas is able to shed a lot of salary. Since Vegas did not retain any salary, as well as not take back a significant contract, they freed up cap space they didn’t initially have. In theory, given the uncertainty around Fleury’s hockey future, the Blackhawks essentially gave Vegas cap space for free.

Sure, Fleury could always change his mind. However, even then this trade feels like something that Bowman could have done more with. In many instances, when a team is taking on salary from another team, teams will get more than just said player in the trade. Take a look at what the Arizona Coyotes have done this summer and you’ll understand what I mean.

Rather than attempting to gain assets from the Golden Knights, the Blackhawks simply settled for Fleury. Yes, getting the reigning Vezina trophy winner is a nice add, but why stop there when Vegas was clearly desperate for cap space? The Blackhawks could have asked for draft capital, a significant prospect, or even a roster player in the deal too.

While a roster player isn’t realistic, the other two options make a ton of sense. Perhaps one of Vegas’ better prospects would have been a great add to a Blackhawks talent pool that is admittedly depleted. Instead, Bowman settled for a goaltender who didn’t even want to leave Vegas, and may simply retire. We’ll examine the positives in a moment, but bear with me here.

Possibly the worst part about the Fleury move is the lack of certainty. If the 36-year-old goaltender waits until the middle of August to make a decision on his future, for example, then the Blackhawks may be sitting ducks. If time ticks too long, any possible additions they would have made if not for Fleury’s contract may go elsewhere, leaving the Blackhawks with an inability to improve. He could make a decision quickly, essentially meaning nothing, but the risk is still present

What was starting the season with Delia and Subban (Good God) splitting starts then near hitting the lottery with their THIRD option in goal, Lankanin? Or starting an overwhelmed 19/20 yr old Bogvist and rookies Mitchell, Beudein, Kalnyuk in front of them at defense and rookies Hagel, Highmore and Kurashev along with a 20 yr old Dach at forward sprinkling in Entwhistle and Hardman types?

Was it a rebuild, retool or tank to start last season when they were on record, for what that's worth, they were going young?
- Mr Ricochet

I'd call that an undefined, inconsistent, uncommitted failed strategy linked to the uncertainty of the pandemic, no fans in the stands and very few other leagues/places to play a lot of these kids at their level. i.e. no chance to win, especially in the division they were put in.

Bowman did bring in vets like Janmark, Soderburg, Walmark, Zadorov, Pirri to go with Keith, de Haan, Seabrook, Shaw, Carpenter and it went south in a hurry without Toews and Dach.

To me Bowman is a GM who has a big hand in ruining young players, he just can't wait to put his draftees in an NHL uniform. I never liked Boqvist much but I wish him well and hope he can avoid bad injuries going forward. Noah Dobson was there for the taking and Trotz is turning him into a real defenceman who will probably play 12-15 years in the league.