I don't think Murphy is as bad as people say on here. He's not had a great year, but he's typically a solid guy. Not going to wow you, but not completely devoid of talent.

He's back practicing, but non-contact. If I had to throw a guess out there, KD will try to trade both Murphy and McCabe and sign some other placeholder types on 1-2 year deals. There are a bunch of guys that will be available that you can get for $1-2M and likely be about as effective as these two.
- Chunk

When was the last time this board didn't complain about any ~$4M Defenseman?

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
·
8m
Kevin Lankinen will start in goal tomorrow vs. Nashville.

Kirby Dach (shoulder sprain), Philipp Kurashev and Calvin de Haan will be out. Dominik Kubalik, Tyler Johnson and Erik Gustafsson will draw back in. #Blackhawks

Pretty sure LA just threw up in his mouth.

When was the last time this board didn't complain about any ~$4M Defenseman?
- rpeters01

WHen they still had a $6.85M defensman on the roster.

Please remember, and I cannot stress this enough, this doesn't matter at all.

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
·
11m
Derek King confirms Lukas Reichel will play tomorrow, which means the first year of his entry-level contract will be burned. #Blackhawks

I don't think Murphy is as bad as people say on here. He's not had a great year, but he's typically a solid guy. Not going to wow you, but not completely devoid of talent.

He's back practicing, but non-contact. If I had to throw a guess out there, KD will try to trade both Murphy and McCabe and sign some other placeholder types on 1-2 year deals. There are a bunch of guys that will be available that you can get for $1-2M and likely be about as effective as these two.
- Chunk

I just feel they can do better.....get similar results from a kid and turn murphy into long term pieces to help the rebuild. For what he was touted at, IMO...I think he's a fringe #4 on a cup contender on his best days. Still makes way too many asinine/bad reads in the neutral zone....running around trying to hit guys and in turn usually blows himself up.

I agree on McCabe...maybe he bounces back, but if he does and some of the other guys you mentioned do step forward next year...McCabe could fetch a decent return at the deadline. Teams are always looking for D men to help sure up holes...Could McCabe fill a 5-6 for a cup contender? Probably.

I hear you on your comment re Delia/Lankinen...my biggest beef on them is they don't seem to make the big save that most NHL caliber goalies make that helps calm down the back end.

Now the Hawks realistically have to score 4 a night to have a chance to win, likely 5 against good-better teams. Lot to ask for night in and night out.

Please remember, and I cannot stress this enough, this doesn't matter at all.

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
·
11m
Derek King confirms Lukas Reichel will play tomorrow, which means the first year of his entry-level contract will be burned. #Blackhawks
- Chunk

This is interesting....I guess they feel he has not much else to prove at the AHL level?

They either keep T Johnson or buy him out, nobody is taking him and his AAV.
- Angotti

Posted the other day his cap hit if bought out over next 4 years would be 2.6M, 1.6M, 1.4M, 1.4M.

When was the last time this board didn't complain about any ~$4M Defenseman?
- rpeters01

I just feel they could get similar results from a kid who could use the experience.

Murphy doesn't move the needle much for me....runs around and has a lot of bad reads in the neutral zone for a guy who has played 551 NHL games and in turn gets himself in bad spots where he gets physically hurt.

Why not explore trading him and getting pieces LT to fill organizational gaps?

I mean what does Murphy do very well?
Shot? No
Offensive game? NO
Defensive game? He's average
Physical game? Debatable based on his injury history

He just seems average and that's fine...but he's not a LT solution here.

This is interesting....I guess they feel he has not much else to prove at the AHL level?
- SteveRain

I don't know what they are doing with him. I guess they assume there is no pressure considering where they are in the standings, but it doesn't seem like they are putting him in a great position to learn or succeed.

Just let him finish the year in Rockford and let him show his stuff after a full offseason.

I just feel they could get similar results from a kid who could use the experience.

Murphy doesn't move the needle much for me....runs around and has a lot of bad reads in the neutral zone for a guy who has played 551 NHL games and in turn gets himself in bad spots where he gets physically hurt.

Why not explore trading him and getting pieces LT to fill organizational gaps?

I mean what does Murphy do very well?
Shot? No
Offensive game? NO
Defensive game? He's average
Physical game? Debatable based on his injury history

He just seems average and that's fine...but he's not a LT solution here.
- SteveRain

I remember an article on the Blackhawks web site a few months ago showing Murphy and Debrincat with the A on their sweaters and touting them as future leaders of this team. But I think that was before Davidson got the job and announced the rebuild. So we'll see what happens.

Please remember, and I cannot stress this enough, this doesn't matter at all.

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
·
11m
Derek King confirms Lukas Reichel will play tomorrow, which means the first year of his entry-level contract will be burned. #Blackhawks
- Chunk

I saw another comment where Davidson said they're going to play Reichel in his 10th game which would burn his first year of his ELC then decide what to do with him.

Unless the Hawks are defining "what to do with him" differently, shouldn't they decide what to do with him now before that 10th game?

In the long run, it likely doesn't matter. Just thought this comment was peculiar either way.

I saw another comment where Davidson said they're going to play Reichel in his 10th game which would burn his first year of his ELC then decide what to do with him.

Unless the Hawks are defining "what to do with him" differently, shouldn't they decide what to do with him now before that 10th game?

In the long run, it likely doesn't matter. Just thought this comment was peculiar either way.
- Theo Fox

Maybe the full intention is to burn that first year. If he was playing well and not getting overwhelmed he stays, if not he goes back down? Who knows.

The Kraken suck. Why would they trade one of their 2nds for a broken down player at the end of his career?
- rpeters01

Well, they can always put the "C" on him and sell to the fans he is a 2 time SC champion. Local guys, could spike ticket sales....... the media has a way to exaggerate stories you know.

Sorry to see Pat go but glad he's moving on before he started mailing it in - especially with the direction of the team.

Outstanding play by play person - one of the few who could call a great game while still being a huge fan. Impossible to replace.
- fattybeef

Don't disagree though I thought he was getting a bit stale with Edzo. When Dale was in the booth with Pat you saw what the broadcast has been missing. Dale's dry wit and delivery pairs so well with Pat's booming voice and those two were actually funny together.

Just curious, is this the same Pat Foley that people have been female doging about for the past couple of years for being too corny, and talking too much about ice cream?
- Chunk

Yes and he is and does but he's still better than a lot of the garbage that's out there...particularly the BOS announcers or the Yotes announcers (mostly Nash). Come to think of it, those are pretty low bars.

Yup:

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
·
44m
Kirby Dach has a right shoulder sprain. That's why he left in the 3rd period last night. He's not practicing today.

Toews also not practicing for maintenance.
- Chunk

Maybe Johnny is having a pow-wow KD to define what his role as captain is.

Maybe Johnny is having a pow-wow KD to define what his role as captain is.
- Rota's Rooter

I don't understand what the hubbub is about Toews wanting to know what is expected. New GM. I personally am assuming a new coach is coming. Team is rebuilding, and the only thing he has ever known is that their expectation is to make the playoffs and compete for a cup - however unlikely that is.

Why wouldn't you want to get a clear picture from new management about what is expected? Do they want to ship him out? Do they want him past his current contract? Do they want him to be more of a mentor?

I think it's idiotic not to ask those things.

Sucks for Delia. First and foremost for his family, but I'm guessing he would be getting a few more starts to finish the year.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
·
2h
Lankinen will start for the Blackhawks tomorrow against Predators. Collin Delia had a death in his family so he’s going home but will be back Monday; Cale Morris will be called up to back up tomorrow.

I don't understand what the hubbub is about Toews wanting to know what is expected. New GM. I personally am assuming a new coach is coming. Team is rebuilding, and the only thing he has ever known is that their expectation is to make the playoffs and compete for a cup - however unlikely that is.

Why wouldn't you want to get a clear picture from new management about what is expected? Do they want to ship him out? Do they want him past his current contract? Do they want him to be more of a mentor?

I think it's idiotic not to ask those things.
- Chunk

If I ping a exec that is I dunno lets just say 2 people above my current manager in the corporate structure and say "I don't understand my role" that would be pretty unacceptable.

Even if I was an earner - lets say most sales at the company but been out of the top sales person slot the last 3 years - If I bypass my sales manager, regional manager and go straight to the CEO about not understanding my role or what is expected of me then that makes me an ass hole at the worst or a dumbass at a minimum.

A GM doesn't owe the players anything aside from here's the overall vision and direction. Maybe Toews (and possibly others) having his arm up Bowmans behind was part of the problem.

I don't understand what the hubbub is about Toews wanting to know what is expected. New GM. I personally am assuming a new coach is coming. Team is rebuilding, and the only thing he has ever known is that their expectation is to make the playoffs and compete for a cup - however unlikely that is.

Why wouldn't you want to get a clear picture from new management about what is expected? Do they want to ship him out? Do they want him past his current contract? Do they want him to be more of a mentor?

I think it's idiotic not to ask those things.
- Chunk

I'm on the same page with Chunk on this, especially with the last year of his contract coming up.

Maybe Johnny is having a pow-wow KD to define what his role as captain is.
- Rota's Rooter

Play hockey, help the kids and let me know if I can trade you?

It seems pretty pretty pretty pretty simple.

I'm on the same page with Chunk on this, especially with the last year of his contract coming up.
- Popsghostly

Rebuild. He said it publicly to everyone. Could take 5 years. They literally said that to the media too.

How is there some mystery - to anyone - especially people on the team

I don't understand what the hubbub is about Toews wanting to know what is expected. New GM. I personally am assuming a new coach is coming. Team is rebuilding, and the only thing he has ever known is that their expectation is to make the playoffs and compete for a cup - however unlikely that is.

Why wouldn't you want to get a clear picture from new management about what is expected? Do they want to ship him out? Do they want him past his current contract? Do they want him to be more of a mentor?

I think it's idiotic not to ask those things.
- Chunk

I think KD clearly stated publicly that the Hawks are in a rebuild at the TDL. Whether he wants to be a part of that is between him, his agent and management.

I took Johnny's comment the other day as saying he doesn't know what is expected of a team captain on a rebuilding team. I'm assuming (maybe incorrectly), that Johnny may only know how to captain a winning team.

If I ping a exec that is I dunno lets just say 2 people above my current manager in the corporate structure and say "I don't understand my role" that would be pretty unacceptable.

Even if I was an earner - lets say most sales at the company but been out of the top sales person slot the last 3 years - If I bypass my sales manager, regional manager and go straight to the CEO about not understanding my role or what is expected of me then that makes me an ass hole at the worst or a dumbass at a minimum.

A GM doesn't owe the players anything aside from here's the overall vision and direction. Maybe Toews (and possibly others) having his arm up Bowmans behind was part of the problem.
- fattybeef

One of, if not THE, face of the franchise for the last 13 years, three time SC winner, all the other poop, plus fully controls the decision of whether he is traded somewhere or not. If not KD, who should he have gone to? King? The interim coach who may or may not be his coach next year?

KD is his current manager.

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
·
8m
Kevin Lankinen will start in goal tomorrow vs. Nashville.

Kirby Dach (shoulder sprain), Philipp Kurashev and Calvin de Haan will be out. Dominik Kubalik, Tyler Johnson and Erik Gustafsson will draw back in. #Blackhawks

Pretty sure LA just threw up in his mouth.
- Chunk

I am glad Gus is drawing back in. I really missed seeing him in the last game. red font.