Scott’s post was quadruplicated because the site hangs. I was just giving him the gears for that.

I said after the 2016 season that the core should be moved factoring in no move clauses and stuff. Had the Hawks done it I guarantee the return would have been high. Imagine the prospects and draft picks the hawks would have acquired, the cap space would have gone to zero and I bet today the team wouldn’t be a cellar dweller, in fact I’d bet they be close to, or contending.

If or when the Hawks ever get to the heights of the last decade, they have to seriously be ready to reset before their assets expire and before they find themselves with expired assets and in cap trouble.
- paulr

Or they could just, ya know, stop trading first round draft picks.

Or they could just, ya know, stop trading first round draft picks.
- ObeseOprah

Why were they trading those picks? Bowman was trying to piece together another lineup to win one more time. His hands were tied, he had those players, he had to do something to round out the lineup to try to win.

It’s like you owning a 1958 Ford Edsel that’s falling apart, you spend money to fix the transmission, you spend money to fix the engine, the electrical system etc., good money after bad. That’s basically what Bowman was doing, spending his drafts picks trying to salvage the team. At the end of the day you should have sold the Edsel for whatever you could get and used the money to fix it to buy a new car.

Not hockey related....Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps. Semper fi.

I know there are some veteran Marines on this board. Thanks for your service.
- powerenforcer

Semper Fi !

Why were they trading those picks? Bowman was trying to piece together another lineup to win one more time. His hands were tied, he had those players, he had to do something to round out the lineup to try to win.

It’s like you owning a 1958 Ford Edsel that’s falling apart, you spend money to fix the transmission, you spend money to fix the engine, the electrical system etc., good money after bad. That’s basically what Bowman was doing, spending his drafts picks trying to salvage the team. At the end of the day you should have sold the Edsel for whatever you could get and used the money to fix it to buy a new car.
- paulr

I know that Bowman’s hands were tied, we’ve all seen the Athletic piece where McIsaac says ‘we’ll all be fired!’ when bowman suggested a rebuild.
However, he didn’t just trade away first round picks, he traded away former first round picks that were just rounding into form or were exploding a year or two later.

We all know young ELC talent is paramount in the NHL’s setup, Stan mismanaged that and it’s why we’ve sucked for four years.

I would be ok with trading Toews to Calgary but it needs to be a 3rd draft pick and Calgary needs to take 60% of Toews contract.

Kane really sure did not look good on those two 2 on one breakaways. Kane seems to not have the confidence anymore. He prefers The Cat to take the shots for the kill. It’s ok with me most of the time but not when he has the best shot available. What I like about Debrincat is his cool quick releases regardless if the puck is rolling or 2 feet in the air…he jams the puck home and his patented grin takes him all the way to the bench. Sooner than later it will help the younger players on the team relax more and be more confident on scoring.
- spanky

Not understanding the interest in Toews rumour. We dont need centre depth, got it in spades. To me Treliving & Sutter are going all in this year & next & the guy we need & position is RW & Kane should be the guy the rumour of serious interest is in. Maybe Kane would like to play with some fellow yanks in Gaudreau, Chucky & Hanifin lol.

But I could see us giving up close to what was probably on the table for Eichel if Chicago were to absorb a few million of that contract. Monahan, Valamaki & a 2022 conditional 1st for Kane. The cap would be a wash for this year & next.
FYI, Monahan has been looking better & better. Most games he gets as much if not a bit more 5 v 5 minutes than Lindholm & he gets similar PP minutes as Lindholm. Lindholm does get top PK minutes as well, Monahan doesnt.
Toews rumours I just dont get. JMO

I know that Bowman’s hands were tied, we’ve all seen the Athletic piece where McIsaac says ‘we’ll all be fired!’ when bowman suggested a rebuild.
However, he didn’t just trade away first round picks, he traded away former first round picks that were just rounding into form or were exploding a year or two later.

We all know young ELC talent is paramount in the NHL’s setup, Stan mismanaged that and it’s why we’ve sucked for four years.
- ObeseOprah

What assets, other than prospects and draft picks, did Bowman have to try to build for one more cup?

Not understanding the interest in Toews rumour. We dont need centre depth, got it in spades. To me Treliving & Sutter are going all in this year & next & the guy we need & position is RW & Kane should be the guy the rumour of serious interest is in. Maybe Kane would like to play with some fellow yanks in Gaudreau, Chucky & Hanifin lol.

But I could see us giving up close to what was probably on the table for Eichel if Chicago were to absorb a few million of that contract. Monahan, Valamaki & a 2022 conditional 1st for Kane. The cap would be a wash for this year & next.
FYI, Monahan has been looking better & better. Most games he gets as much if not a bit more 5 v 5 minutes than Lindholm & he gets similar PP minutes as Lindholm. Lindholm does get top PK minutes as well, Monahan doesnt.
Toews rumours I just dont get. JMO
- Kevin R

There is zero chance Calgary are looking at Toews.

Not understanding the interest in Toews rumour. We dont need centre depth, got it in spades. To me Treliving & Sutter are going all in this year & next & the guy we need & position is RW & Kane should be the guy the rumour of serious interest is in. Maybe Kane would like to play with some fellow yanks in Gaudreau, Chucky & Hanifin lol.

But I could see us giving up close to what was probably on the table for Eichel if Chicago were to absorb a few million of that contract. Monahan, Valamaki & a 2022 conditional 1st for Kane. The cap would be a wash for this year & next.
FYI, Monahan has been looking better & better. Most games he gets as much if not a bit more 5 v 5 minutes than Lindholm & he gets similar PP minutes as Lindholm. Lindholm does get top PK minutes as well, Monahan doesnt.
Toews rumours I just dont get. JMO
- Kevin R

I don't know if Davidson would just hang up the phone, or laugh and hang up the phone with this proposal. Plus I do not see Kane waiving to go to Calgary,

Good advice. But it’s easy not to get attached to companies, hockey players are more difficult to “dump”. Had Bowman had the balls to move Toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook among others after the 2016 season, this site would have had a meltdown. But hindsight being what it is, that is what should have happened, a very hard business decision to try to rebuild very quickly.
- paulr

McD and Rocky, too.

I don't know if Davidson would just hang up the phone, or laugh and hang up the phone with this proposal. Plus I do not see Kane waiving to go to Calgary,
- LAHawk

Fair enough, but a former 1st whose what 20 in Valamaki, a 2022 1st in a good draft & Monahan with another year after this & is only 26 isnt a bad return for a an elite player that is turning 33 here shortly. But if Hawks are rebuilding, those are 3 pieces to start. Nothing I would thing to hang the phone up on. Point is it would be Kane not Toews as our target, the actual GM's could haggle over the return for all I care.

McD and Rocky, too.
- mohel

You’re right, in fact maybe it was just McD and Rocky who didn’t have the balls? But my point was more to making that move rather than who didn’t. It would have been a huge and risky move.

Fair enough, but a former 1st whose what 20 in Valamaki, a 2022 1st in a good draft & Monahan with another year after this & is only 26 isnt a bad return for a an elite player that is turning 33 here shortly. But if Hawks are rebuilding, those are 3 pieces to start. Nothing I would thing to hang the phone up on. Point is it would be Kane not Toews as our target, the actual GM's could haggle over the return for all I care.
- Kevin R

The royal we, or are you in the management group?

Fair enough, but a former 1st whose what 20 in Valamaki, a 2022 1st in a good draft & Monahan with another year after this & is only 26 isnt a bad return for a an elite player that is turning 33 here shortly. But if Hawks are rebuilding, those are 3 pieces to start. Nothing I would thing to hang the phone up on. Point is it would be Kane not Toews as our target, the actual GM's could haggle over the return for all I care.
- Kevin R

Hawks have a plethora of defense prospects in the pipeline. Monahan has seen declining production the last few years, been in the doghouse with coaches and is not good defensively, and your #1 pick (which you say is conditional) probably projects to #15-20 as a first rounder. I can see why you didn't land Eichel with that package, and it wouldn't get you Kane either, besides the NTC he has.

You’re right, in fact maybe it was just McD and Rocky who didn’t have the balls? But my point was more to making that move rather than who didn’t. It would have been a huge and risky move.
- paulr

I agree with your sentiment, just wanted to point out that moves of that size were company wide strategy choices. Pretty sure I would not have done it in 2016 (although hindsight clearly says they should have), but I would have after the beating Nashville gave them in 2017.

I agree with your sentiment, just wanted to point out that moves of that size were company wide strategy choices. Pretty sure I would not have done it in 2016 (although hindsight clearly says they should have), but I would have after the beating Nashville gave them in 2017.
- mohel

Well remember Q's temper tantrum after Stan trade Hjammer after the Nashville beating? He wasn't prepared as a coach to rebuild either.

I agree with your sentiment, just wanted to point out that moves of that size were company wide strategy choices. Pretty sure I would not have done it in 2016 (although hindsight clearly says they should have), but I would have after the beating Nashville gave them in 2017.
- mohel

So that means I have bigger balls than you, no? Unfortunately I can’t find them at the moment, but I’m pretty sure as soon as I find my wife’s purse I will.

I just googled “Calgary Flames interested in Jonathan Toews” and got two hits, HockeyBuzz and Ecklund. I’m surprised!

Well remember Q's temper tantrum after Stan trade Hjammer after the Nashville beating? He wasn't prepared as a coach to rebuild either.
- LAHawk

I don't blame him. He knew pain would be ahead in a rebuild.

I don't blame him. He knew pain would be ahead in a rebuild.
- mohel

Cuz he hated kids

Cuz he hated kids
- paulr

And losing.

I just googled “Calgary Flames interested in Jonathan Toews” and got two hits, HockeyBuzz and Ecklund. I’m surprised!
- paulr

2 sources. Maybe he is not a liar!

There is zero chance Calgary are looking at Toews.
- paulr

I agree that he is not going to Calgary or any where else for that matter. Hawks can only eat 1/2 the money and that is still an overpay for the player he is today, the leadership and other "soft skills" aren't worth the money. Bottom line we have Toews until his contract expires, and even in the extremely remote case that there was a willing taker of that contract (or portion thereof) it won't yield much in return. I have always liked JT, but he has a lot of miles on him and time takes its toll on everyone at some point, some sooner than others. From pure financial aspect I don't see JT being moved.

2 sources. Maybe he is not a liar!
- powerenforcer

PE, let’s look at it another way. Do you think Bettman is going to let the Blackhawks, the same team Tom Lysiak played for, get out of those contracts? No chance! Bettman loves it that the Hawks are in trouble.

Moving Toews is the easy way of taking the C away. Hawks will get Monahan in return.
If someone is willing to take Toews now you have to cut that deal and then move Kane next.

PE, let’s look at it another way. Do you think Bettman is going to let the Blackhawks, the same team Tom Lysiak played for, get out of those contracts? No chance! Bettman loves it that the Hawks are in trouble.
- paulr

Silly me, I forgot the red font.