Just love seeing Borstrom penciled in game after game as a 3C. Let the kid earn more than 12:00 per game and 1:00 on the PP but give him a long consistent look.

Saw Slavin as a Steel when they made a TDL move to bring him in. They won their first ever cup that yr and IMO Slavin put them over the top.

The kid is captain material, doesn't take short cuts or cheat the game or a shift. He'll peel the thing off the 1/2 wall and bull to the hash marks, rip and follow the puck for a rebound. Lift a stick, block a shot, take and make a hit, get a puck deep, fill a lane, win a draw, set a screen.

Not gonna light the scoresheet up, average hands and skater, great size, maybe not an NHLer, maybe a glue type 11:00 4th liner but the 22 yr old is a blood and guts dude who says Jesus every other word and is an addition as a human being wherever he goes.

Love that the kid is getting a look. One thing I do know he won't cheat the chance.
- Mr Ricochet

Good intel on Slavin from his USHL days. Sounds quite accurate to how he’s been performing so far in the AHL. He plays the game right, executing the little things that help teams compete.

And yes, he is very devout in his faith like older brother Jaccob. After every game, win or lose, he goes to center ice to kneel and pray.

Yup, I saw him with the Steel the year before he went to Colorado College. He was noticeable all over the ice, and in all 3 zones, in a good way. I think he only played 1 year in CC? Quick move up the the show.
- scottak

Slavin played 2 years at Colorado College. A mediocre freshman year but stepped it up as a sophomore. Was actually surprised he left early. Thought he’d at least play through junior year.

Yup, I saw him with the Steel the year before he went to Colorado College. He was noticeable all over the ice, and in all 3 zones, in a good way. I think he only played 1 year in CC? Quick move up the the show.
- scottak

2 years at Colorado College, then to the Hogs last season for a few games after the college season ended. Dovetailing in to the previous discussions, this kid is a 7th round pick, so the scouting staff either getting real lucky, or someone saw something, or maybe just his size and his last name.

They'd be wise to hire an exec search firm with a speciality in professional sports hires. Do it like all the other organizations who are seeking a chief exec after not properly succession planning.

NOTE: I realize that a housecleaning during a scandal is not the normal scenario and they may have had a succession plan in place that got obliterated in that process.
- pdx2ord

Agree on the succession plan being shelved, most likely. I have PTSD (figuratively, of course) about the executive search firm idea, given how poorly it has worked for the Bears. I hope that Rocky and Danny have taken the time to do the ONE thing they have to get right - identify through league and ownership contacts, who the best person to run the hockey operations.

Good intel on Slavin from his USHL days. Sounds quite accurate to how he’s been performing so far in the AHL. He plays the game right, executing the little things that help teams compete.

And yes, he is very devout in his faith like older brother Jaccob. After every game, win or lose, he goes to center ice to kneel and pray.
- Theo Fox

This team could use some Tebow...

Good intel on Slavin from his USHL days. Sounds quite accurate to how he’s been performing so far in the AHL. He plays the game right, executing the little things that help teams compete.

And yes, he is very devout in his faith like older brother Jaccob. After every game, win or lose, he goes to center ice to kneel and pray.
- Theo Fox

Jaccob Slavin on brother Josiah Slavin: "I was so excited, he (told) me yesterday & I was thrilled. He's a smart kid, he works his bag off, he's gonna work hard. He's got a good stick, big boy like I am and he moves well. I'm so pumped. I wish we could watch him on Thursday"

They're in a state right now where taking a swing on someone new is a good idea. Especially since they need to rebuild that part of the organization anyway.

If they were a competitive team and they just needed to keep the ship going then you could argue someone with a track record in that position would be better but at this point they don't lose anything by starting from scratch.

The people who scout Europe can stay but the US and Canada based scouting as well as their pro scouting needs a complete over haul as well and someone with a fresh perspective leading that group would be fun. Gotta get excited about something.
- fattybeef

Hasn't the board been blasting them for three years because this was the epitome of JC? I'm confused.

Elbows I have proposed this question quite often does Kubalik and his next contract fit with the hawks now and the Future?
- Scott1977

Below $4M AAV it does.

My guess is that KD is the long-term GM but the Hawks hire a more experienced President of Hockey Operations.
- DarthKane

That's putting the cart before the horse the Pres will pick his own person or you won't get anybody worth getting.

Below $4M AAV it does.

- rpeters01

Unfortunately to qualify him next year it would be at a minimum of $4.150, 10% bump over his $3.750 this year.

Don't be fooled by the messaging the Hawks sent out about the rebuild. They were already well into the rebuild for about 3 years before that.
- breadbag

The rebuild began whether they knew it or not in 2016 (loss of Sharp and Oduya). But without a doubt it began with Hossa's "retirement."

Unfortunately to qualify him next year it would be at a minimum of $4.150, 10% bump over his $3.750 this year.
- LAHawk

He can be signed without qualifying. Otherwise trade him. I'm all for keeping strong Forwards (see Saad and I'm positive Saad was not thinking $4.5 AAV when traded more like $7...which is why he had to go) and not starting over but I'm not ready to anoint Kubalik as such.

.

IDK Rick, you can argue Arizona was (is) a worse mess, and they ended up with a pretty good hockey guy (Armstrong)
- LAHawk

They do everything with a $ sign first you can't count them.

What - The - Hell.

Per
@cmasisak22
, Jack Hughes signs 8x8 in NJ

The guy is not even a 0.5PPG player at this point. Is this is Keith method, where you just expect him to grow into the contract and it is considered a bargain by the end of it?

What - The - Hell.

Per
@cmasisak22
, Jack Hughes signs 8x8 in NJ

The guy is not even a 0.5PPG player at this point. Is this is Keith method, where you just expect him to grow into the contract and it is considered a bargain by the end of it?
- Chunk

So much for the league moving back towards "Bridge Contracts." I contend it's impossible to build a team without your players accepting Bridge contracts.

Unfortunately to qualify him next year it would be at a minimum of $4.150, 10% bump over his $3.750 this year.
- LAHawk

Capfriendly has his QO at $4M.

https://www.capfriendly.c...alifying-offer-calculator

Agree on the succession plan being shelved, most likely. I have PTSD (figuratively, of course) about the executive search firm idea, given how poorly it has worked for the Bears. I hope that Rocky and Danny have taken the time to do the ONE thing they have to get right - identify through league and ownership contacts, who the best person to run the hockey operations.
- mohel

Someone prior mentioned Rick Dudley. He has been a senior advisor for Montreal, Tampa, and Florida the past 6 years, with GM stints before. I like him for Pres. of hockey ops more that I read he has had front office experience besides being a GM, scout, etc.

Someone prior mentioned Rick Dudley. He has been a senior advisor for Montreal, Tampa, and Florida the past 6 years, with GM stints before. I like him for Pres. of hockey ops more that I read he has had front office experience besides being a GM, scout, etc.
- LAHawk

Help build hawks cup winning teams

Capfriendly has his QO at $4M.

https://www.capfriendly.c...alifying-offer-calculator
- mohel

I would trade his rights for a wheelbarrow with a square wheel before I would give him $4 mil.

I would trade his rights for a wheelbarrow with a square wheel before I would give him $4 mil.
- LAHawk

On a usefulness scale of Strome to Dinky he's closer to Strome.

Someone prior mentioned Rick Dudley. He has been a senior advisor for Montreal, Tampa, and Florida the past 6 years, with GM stints before. I like him for Pres. of hockey ops more that I read he has had front office experience besides being a GM, scout, etc.
- LAHawk

6628 is a huge fan of Mr. Dudley.

I would trade his rights for a wheelbarrow with a square wheel before I would give him $4 mil.
- LAHawk

- mohel

Obviously a fan of the Flintstones.

Vlasic pickles.

As Rick pointed out the only way Wilson is coming to Chicago is at a higher level then GM.

I wonder if the Beach fiasco will stop some candidates from being interested?
- paulr

Doubt it very much. And I think NHL Head Office will be involved if Rocky asks for help finding a suitable candidate who passes both the image and hockey acumen test.

The Blackhawks are a big brand issue for the league right now and they need to get the Beach problem resolved and out of the headlines with a settlement that brings closure and works for everybody - Beach, the Hawks, TV broadcast partners, the print media.

But how many guys are out there who meet the senior executive smell test - Doug Wilson, Pat Brisson, Gretzky, Lombardi?

Capfriendly has his QO at $4M.

https://www.capfriendly.c...alifying-offer-calculator
- mohel

I thought the QO was the same as the current salary for anyone making over $1M. When did it change?