The Blackhawks will go 6-6-0 in November.

Well how much does a 1st round power forward make during his career? Then add 2 or 3X for the pain and emotional suffering?
- LAHawk

Shouldn't that be on the perp, given that Beach was under the impression (apparently) until his hockey prospects were long gone that the Hawks had "handled things"?

Not directed at you, Theo, but I don't get why the organization is hard to cheer for right now. Rocky became aware of a serious issue and did exactly what is expected of him in today's......environment. If what Rocky did does not satisfy the mob, what would? I'd think they'd be celebrated as the model on how to handle this type of issue. Unless, of course, Rocky knew all along.
- mohel

I don't find it hard, just like I didn't find it hard (as some did), when the Cubs picked up Chapman at the TDL in the world series run, Or when Addison Russell was let back on the team after his domestic violence. I don't think Rocky knew, Beach has said he doesn't believe Rocky knew. McDonough (who hasn't said anything), hasn't come out with any statement insinuating he went upstairs with it. It may be harder for me to cheer certain players currently playing, but I still want the team to do well.

Shouldn't that be on the perp, given that Beach was under the impression (apparently) until his hockey prospects were long gone that the Hawks had "handled things"?
- mohel

The perp was working for the Blackhawks, and they didn't handle it properly. They also have the big checking account balance. I guess Beach could sue McDonough, Bowman, Q, each individual member of the 2010 Blackhawks for covering up?

Interesting about the goaltending. With all the glut of goaltenders the Hawks have this year, the only one signed next year is Soderbloom. All the rest are UFA's. Lankinen since the second half of last year has not shown that he is even close to being #1 material. Does the new GM even offer him a contract?
- LAHawk

Top 10 FA goalies at the end of this season, ranked by current salary:

1. Marc-André Fleury Chicago
2. Darcy Kuemper Colorado
3. Mikko Koskinen Edmonton
4. Thomas Greiss Detroit
5. Joonas Korpisalo Columbus
6. Alexandar Georgiev NYR
7. Martin Jones Philadelphia
8. Braden Holtby Dallas
9. Ilya Samsonov Washington
10. Pavel Francouz Colorado

Do you mean because of the slow (backward) start or the scandal?

The scandal was very disheartening and, for me, took away some of the luster of the championships. As for the poor start I look forward to see how or if the team can rebuild the team into a contender. While some fans enjoyed the team from 2010 on, I enjoyed watching the team from about 2006 when it became apparent they were stockpiling some decent young talent.
- paulr

I think the best PR move for all is for a sizable settlement; divided something like this, 25% to the lawyer (contractual obligation), 10% to Beach, 65% to sexual violence charities.

The PR goes both ways. If Beach is after some crazy amount of money, the sympathy I had for him is diminished.
- paulr

What do you think this whole thing is about dumbass?

On an individual shot, you are correct. But not when you juxtapose the Hawks % with the cumulative % of every shot of every team.

It's most likely that over the course of the season, each Hawk player's shooting % will return closer to that players norm.

Sort of like when Joe Maddon says that each player is what it says on the back of his baseball card. Over time, the player's stats return toward the norm.

To me, most disturbing is the awful play of the goalies. 13 less goals against probably gets the Hawks to around .500.

The biggest problem isn't JC's system, or protecting the house, or Seth Jones. It's the 2 guys that are at the absolute bottom of goalie ranking so far. Nothing can cover up bad goaltending.
- scottak

It's never just one thing, it is always multiple things that determine success or failure. I agree with the statistical theory of "back of the card" the difference is that baseball has 162 games in a season to sort that out. History has proven a hot goalie can carry a team to a cup, to your point we need better goaltending in order to get into the playoffs. I believe if this team can find consistency in execution, play better at 5 on 5, improve positioning/routes to puck etc. that the goaltending will improve. I don't have the stats to prove it out, but observationally to me it seems that there has been an increase in goals going in from deflections off of our players this I attribute to positioning, forwards collapsed down to front of the net with their back to shooters trying to cover open man because Defensemen are chasing in corners or behind the net. To Theo's question can they build confidence upon a solid effort on the road in back to back games? I would love to think so, but there have been several opportunities for this team to take advantage of confidence as well as opponents mistakes this year and have not been able to do so.

Well how much does a 1st round power forward make during his career? Then add 2 or 3X for the pain and emotional suffering?
- LAHawk

Of course then there is the question of if the hawks had handled it properly, would Beach have become an NHL Power Forward ? Also, as mentioned earlier, you would think Aldrich would be liable for some of his salary loss and damages ? Courts will figure it all out.

The Blackhawks will go 6-6-0 in November.
- scottak

Are they playing Rockford times?

Are they playing Rockford times?
- RaleighHawk

6 times

6 times
- RaleighHawk

maybe 3-9-0 then ?

Of course then there is the question of if the hawks had handled it properly, would Beach have become an NHL Power Forward ? Also, as mentioned earlier, you would think Aldrich would be liable for some of his salary loss and damages ? Courts will figure it all out.
- bhawk1s

Aldrich was an employee of the Blackhawks, if the Blackhawks handled it properly we wouldn't be even talking about settlements, or executives coaches resigning. Even if Aldrich was an independent contractor, with how the Hawks handled it they are liable. That is why there is E & O insurance. Errors and Omissions. Hawks are on the hook for the settlement 100%.

Top 10 FA goalies at the end of this season, ranked by current salary:

1. Marc-André Fleury Chicago
2. Darcy Kuemper Colorado
3. Mikko Koskinen Edmonton
4. Thomas Greiss Detroit
5. Joonas Korpisalo Columbus
6. Alexandar Georgiev NYR
7. Martin Jones Philadelphia
8. Braden Holtby Dallas
9. Ilya Samsonov Washington
10. Pavel Francouz Colorado
- scottak

Only name on that list that’s above replacement level right now is Samsonov. The rest are fantasy hockey players dreams to play against.

Maybe in November, Danny will decide who is going to run the hockey side of the operations, get some certainty on JC status, and Kane and Toews amend their tone deaf statements on what they knew. Until the above happens, watching this team will be like watching a funeral march.

They start negotiation with Beach tomorrow. If Beach asks for $100 mil. does Rocky pay up? I am sure they have E & O insurance to cover it.
- LAHawk

One way or another, John Doe is going to wind up being John Dough. (someone had to make a joke at some point)

The perp was working for the Blackhawks, and they didn't handle it properly. They also have the big checking account balance. I guess Beach could sue McDonough, Bowman, Q, each individual member of the 2010 Blackhawks for covering up?
- LAHawk

The perp was clearly acting far outside the scope of his authority. The team would be on the hook if they were aware of the perp being previously involved in similar situations. And there is no way to prove Beach flamed out because of anything the Hawks did to Beach (or that the perp did). Theo Fleury did pretty well after suffering awful abuse. (Note to pdx2ord, so she doesn't "misinterpret" what I mean - the previous statements were about proving economic damages in a trial, they were not a suggestion that Beach did anything wrong or deserved what he got, or anything the mind can imagine).

There will be a sizable settlement, but it won't be because of legal reasons. It will be a PR settlement.

Well by the time Tom Wilson's contract ends in 04-05, he will have total earnings of $40 million, not including playoff shares. If I was arguing on behalf of Beach, that would be a good comparison. He was drafted 16th overall.
- LAHawk

You assume that Beach would have made the show. From what I saw in the camp I witnessed I would have bet against it. Of course a settlement is in order, but a comparison to an existing NHL player is off base says me. If I were Beach I would let the attorney handle the whole thing so no one could accuse him of being greedy.

Aldrich was an employee of the Blackhawks, if the Blackhawks handled it properly we wouldn't be even talking about settlements, or executives coaches resigning. Even if Aldrich was an independent contractor, with how the Hawks handled it they are liable. That is why there is E & O insurance. Errors and Omissions. Hawks are on the hook for the settlement 100%.
- LAHawk

I would think if the hawks handled it properly, and Beaches career stalled, he could still bring a settlement case against Aldrich for damaging his career ? Or no ?

The most glaring issues to me besides the goaltending are Toews, Murphy, de Haan, McCabe.

Each one coughs up the puck, gets outskated and outworked, and seems generally disinterested in their game. Toews looks like a shell of himself, even from two years ago. His speed is completely gone, and his work along the boards doesn’t bail him out as often anymore.

Murphy is a one man turnover machine in our own zone, chasing his guy out to the blue line and leaving his post wide open. de Haan also can’t seem to separate forwards from the puck. McCabe has been ok at stopping shot attempts or breaking up passes, but I’ve watched a dozen passes skip under or over his blade. He’s also whiffed on more shots than Happy Gilmore. Seems to have the offensive ability of Marcus Kruger and David Kampf.

This team reminds me of Ottawa four years ago. Trading away a first round for a ‘win now’ guy (Duchene), having the bottom fall out, and watching another franchise select a franchise player with your boneheaded pick (Cale Makar). Thanks Stan :/

On an individual shot, you are correct. But not when you juxtapose the Hawks % with the cumulative % of every shot of every team.

It's most likely that over the course of the season, each Hawk player's shooting % will return closer to that players norm.

Sort of like when Joe Maddon says that each player is what it says on the back of his baseball card. Over time, the player's stats return toward the norm.

To me, most disturbing is the awful play of the goalies. 13 less goals against probably gets the Hawks to around .500.

The biggest problem isn't JC's system, or protecting the house, or Seth Jones. It's the 2 guys that are at the absolute bottom of goalie ranking so far. Nothing can cover up bad goaltending.
- scottak

I disagree, both guys don't go horsepoop overnight. They are being hung out to dry.

What do you think this whole thing is about dumbass?
- GPHawksfan

I might be angry until I see where you reside then I feel nothing but extreme sympathy.


You know why it’s windy in Saskatchewan don’t you?

The perp was clearly acting far outside the scope of his authority. The team would be on the hook if they were aware of the perp being previously involved in similar situations. And there is no way to prove Beach flamed out because of anything the Hawks did to Beach (or that the perp did). Theo Fleury did pretty well after suffering awful abuse. (Note to pdx2ord, so she doesn't "misinterpret" what I mean - the previous statements were about proving economic damages in a trial, they were not a suggestion that Beach did anything wrong or deserved what he got, or anything the mind can imagine).

There will be a sizable settlement, but it won't be because of legal reasons. It will be a PR settlement.
- mohel

I agree it is for PR reasons. For that reason, I think Beach can name his price. And what does he care if he gets the settlement, and some call him greedy?

I disagree, both guys don't go horsepoop overnight. They are being hung out to dry.
- 6628

Lankinen hasn't been good since the middle of last season.
And Vegas decided MAF wasn't their guy, and went with 'fat ass' (shout out to Elbows), so clearly Vegas had some concern about MAF going forward.

The most glaring issues to me besides the goaltending are Toews, Murphy, de Haan, McCabe.

Each one coughs up the puck, gets outskated and outworked, and seems generally disinterested in their game. Toews looks like a shell of himself, even from two years ago. His speed is completely gone, and his work along the boards doesn’t bail him out as often anymore.

Murphy is a one man turnover machine in our own zone, chasing his guy out to the blue line and leaving his post wide open. de Haan also can’t seem to separate forwards from the puck. McCabe has been ok at stopping shot attempts or breaking up passes, but I’ve watched a dozen passes skip under or over his blade. He’s also whiffed on more shots than Happy Gilmore. Seems to have the offensive ability of Marcus Kruger and David Kampf.

This team reminds me of Ottawa four years ago. Trading away a first round for a ‘win now’ guy (Duchene), having the bottom fall out, and watching another franchise select a franchise player with your boneheaded pick (Cale Makar). Thanks Stan :/
- ObeseOprah

Actually I am mistaken, the pick that Ottawa lost in the Duchene trade ended up being Bowen Bryan.

I agree it is for PR reasons. For that reason, I think Beach can name his price. And what does he care if he gets the settlement, and some call him greedy?
- LAHawk

Well regardless of what Beach gets I’m sure Wirtz wants this behind him as fast as possible.