You have to build a team through the draft, that’s a given if you want to be a cup contender. No one here is saying that you need twenty homegrown players on the roster, but you first need a nucleus of homegrown players before you bring in FA’s or make trades to fill holes to upgrade the team, those are called final pieces.

My point was if you are going to say Bowman and his talent evaluators were that bad and then you take one of his guys and make him GM, the
re isn't a lot of success to point to. Davidson was in a customer service role in Ottawa and then assistant here. It isn't like the Knights who have McCrimmon and his 32 years of talent evaluation making the calls.
- stevefrmglencoe

McCrimmon traded Suzuki, Tatar and a second for Paciortty and ended up having to give Pacioretty away. This was after trading a first, second and a third for Tatar. Than the Lehner, Fleury debacle. That is to name a few. I won’t even talk about cap management.

You can have your 32 years of experience.

My point was if you are going to say Bowman and his talent evaluators were that bad and then you take one of his guys and make him GM, there isn't a lot of success to point to. Davidson was in a customer service role in Ottawa and then assistant here. It isn't like the Knights who have McCrimmon and his 32 years of talent evaluation making the calls.
- stevefrmglencoe

Did I miss or forget something? Thought Davidson was hired by the Hawks as an unpaid intern on the bottom rung of the ladder and in 10 yrs worked his way up to assistant to StanBow? He was never with Ottawa as far as I know.

But yea, you/all Hawk's fans should be concerned about Davidson cuz if he proves to be incapable the organIzation will flail for 10 yrs. Remember the top of the hockey side ladder is Danny Boy, the guy who promoted and gave a raise to StanBow for his fine work in building the pipeline and not making the playoffs in 5-6 yrs just this last summer!!!!

This is the guy who will evaluate Davidson, not a president of hockey ops!! Danny Boy. When you complain about the Davidson hire direct your complaints to Danny Boy, the guy who was enamored with StanBow who would still be the GM today if not for the Beach thing!!

We all better hope Davidson is capable.

I think Seth Jones signed here knowing that Kane and Toews were old and would not be here long. He got a million a year more than he was worth and got it all in signing bonus so it is protected from lockouts and pandemics. It is original 6. One of the best cities in the World. Only guessing but I think he guts it out.

Trob made the best point earlier in the blog about building a winner. Drafting is huge but it takes other things. FA's and good trades.

I don't want to turn into the guy who wrote about "no fighting no Cup" so I am going to back off a bit on Richardson and try to give him time.

I think the Davidson signing was insult to Hawk fans. When did Chicago become a kindergarden? There are men who have spent 30+ years in this game who know everything and everyone in the game. Davidson could have been their Assistant for 10 years and then the Hawks GM if they loved him that much. And I am not the only one who feels this way. The few people I know with NHL jobs are shocked the Hawks would place this guy in charge fo the team at this moment.

As for the Wings, Perron, Copp and Chairot are all proven NHL guys who are going to produce and be good examples. You don't see those guys gliding back to the bench with their heads down after someone misses them on a pass.

Lalonde has 20 years of coaching. He won Championships and had the biggest 1 year turn around in ECHL history. Trying to lay off Richardson but he never won as a head coach or assistant.
- stevefrmglencoe

I have no idea if Davidson will turn out to be a successful GM or Richardson a successful HC. I won't rehash the reality of where the team was but they were definitely in need of a different direction.

While Perron, Copp and Chairot are proven NHL guys, it can be argued that he overpaid for two of them (Copp and Chairot) and that seems to be consensus around the league. I like Copp, but $6M for a guy who I believe has scored 20 G's once and was generally a 3rd liner seems a bit much. Can only imagine if Stan had signed him to that deal how much he'd be torched in these parts.

Lalonde is barely one season into his first year as an NHL coach with a team the Great Stevie Y felt was ready to compete. Maybe they can grab a playoff spot but I don't yet see a team in DET that's ready to compete for anything more than that and they are at least 3 yrs into their rebuild.

Did I miss or forget something? Thought Davidson was hired by the Hawks as an unpaid intern on the bottom rung of the ladder and in 10 yrs worked his way up to assistant to StanBow? He was never with Ottawa as far as I know.

But yea, you/all Hawk's fans should be concerned about Davidson cuz if he proves to be incapable the organIzation will flail for 10 yrs. Remember the top of the hockey side ladder is Danny Boy, the guy who promoted and gave a raise to StanBow for his fine work in building the pipeline and not making the playoffs in 5-6 yrs just this last summer!!!!

This is the guy who will evaluate Davidson, not a president of hockey ops!! Danny Boy. When you complain about the Davidson hire direct your complaints to Danny Boy, the guy who was enamored with StanBow who would still be the GM today if not for the Beach thing!!

We all better hope Davidson is capable.
- Mr Ricochet

I was for the Hawks going in a different direction or a fresh set of eyes in the GM seat at some point, but I'm pretty sure it was the other part of Stanbow's resume that prompted Danny to extend him.

I was for the Hawks going in a different direction or a fresh set of eyes in the GM seat at some point, butI'm pretty sure it was the other part of Stanbow's resume that prompted Danny to extend him.
- HawkintheD

The hockey side? What else would Danny Boy extend/promote him for?......... I'm not against the Davidson hire but if he was hired as GM I wanted to see an experienced hockey guy to be hired as Prez of Hockey Ops to oversee the young guy, as a safety net and a set of fresh eyes from outside the organIzation.

As is Danny is the overseer and the top of the hockey ops side and that scares the hell out of me.

Did I miss or forget something? Thought Davidson was hired by the Hawks as an unpaid intern on the bottom rung of the ladder and in 10 yrs worked his way up to assistant to StanBow? He was never with Ottawa as far as I know.

But yea, you/all Hawk's fans should be concerned about Davidson cuz if he proves to be incapable the organIzation will flail for 10 yrs. Remember the top of the hockey side ladder is Danny Boy, the guy who promoted and gave a raise to StanBow for his fine work in building the pipeline and not making the playoffs in 5-6 yrs just this last summer!!!!

This is the guy who will evaluate Davidson, not a president of hockey ops!! Danny Boy. When you complain about the Davidson hire direct your complaints to Danny Boy, the guy who was enamored with StanBow who would still be the GM today if not for the Beach thing!!

We all better hope Davidson is capable.
- Mr Ricochet

KD was in Ottawa for a year in a "supporter relations" role immediately after graduating from college. Then he went to the Hawks.

There are all kinds of roads to successful GM's in the league. I would be less concerned about who put him in place and more concerned about his moves the next 2-3 years. If he follows his own mantra and they succeed, great! If not, they will be looking for a new GM and we start all over again. You certainly have the option of not following them if you so feel.

The hockey side? What else would Danny Boy extend/promote him for?......... I'm not against the Davidson hire but if he was hired as GM I wanted to see an experienced hockey guy to be hired as Prez of Hockey Ops to oversee the young guy, as a safety net and a set of fresh eyes from outside the organIzation.

As is Danny is the overseer and the top of the hockey ops side and that scares the hell out of me.
- Mr Ricochet

It's still kind of a new thing and nowhere near as scary as George overseeing the Bears but I get your meaning.

It's still kind of a new thing and nowhere near as scary as George overseeing the Bears but I get your meaning.
- HawkintheD

Point taken about the Halas'/McCaskey's.......... Rooting hard for KD. Kid worked his way up from the bottom to get where he is not on the family's name. Great story of hard work and perseverance especially if he's successful.

I think every fan just wanted a GM that had a plan, any damn plan, and stuck to it. Very early but so far that's what KD has done.

McCrimmon traded Suzuki, Tatar and a second for Paciortty and ended up having to give Pacioretty away. This was after trading a first, second and a third for Tatar. Than the Lehner, Fleury debacle. That is to name a few. I won’t even talk about cap management.

You can have your 32 years of experience.
- LAHawk

Yo LA, Friedman and Marek had a good interview of McCrimmon that kinda changed how I thought of him. Think you'll find it interesting. One thing we have to admit is he thinks outside the box.
https://open.spotify.com/...de/45ICMJApZTKMJXyzz3LQb7

What did you think of Dcat's shortside goal on Quick last night? Kid can score the thing, that's for sure. Hope he signs long term with OTT. Would love to see him skate with Stutzle and Tkachuk for 6-7 yrs.

Yo LA, Friedman and Marek had a good interview of McCrimmon that kinda changed how I thought of him. Think you'll find it interesting. One thing we have to admit is he thinks outside the box.
https://open.spotify.com/...de/45ICMJApZTKMJXyzz3LQb7

What did you think of Dcat's shortside goal on Quick last night? Kid can score the thing, that's for sure. Hope he signs long term with OTT. Would love to see him skate with Stutzle and Tkachuk for 6-7 yrs.
- Mr Ricochet

A snipe for sure. With the team up for sale, not sure Dorian is going to commit $80 mil. (10 x 8) ?until the ownership is settled.

McCrimmon traded Suzuki, Tatar and a second for Paciortty and ended up having to give Pacioretty away. This was after trading a first, second and a third for Tatar. Than the Lehner, Fleury debacle. That is to name a few. I won’t even talk about cap management.

You can have your 32 years of experience.
- LAHawk

This is what happens sometimes when you are trying to win the Cup not the Lottery.

Actually didn't the Hawks ty this when they signed Khabibulin and Aucoin as big UFA splashes the same year? How did that work out?
- LAHawk

Don't forget Cullimore.

I think davidson has drafted well. The results wont be evident for a couple of years. This draft, in my opinion, is crucial to the development of the hawks. We need skilled forwards right now and i hope davidson will focus on that. Right now the score doesnt matter as long as we see improvement and development of our young prospects.

So if he were to be traded, he's still making the same amount of money no matter where he ends up unless I missed something.

Also, what's meaningful to you? The aforementioned Red Wings have played 6 seasons since their last playoff appearance. This is the first year they have a sniff of playoff contention but they're no shoe in. Yzerman spent a bunch of money in the offseason seemingly feeling it was time to push his chips in, but was it a good move?
- HawkintheD

Has to be the a good move, after all, he's the best GM to ever GM in history, or so I've been told.

Has to be the a good move, after all, he's the best GM to ever GM in history, or so I've been told.
- vabeachbear

In Tampa, Stamkos and Hedman had been recently drafted near or at the top of the draft when he arrived. He did a good job finding additional excellent players.

We shall see if he can be perhaps the first in the Cap era to build two dynasties (even if he gets full credit for Tampa).

I personally am skeptical that Detroit has enough high end talent to have a run where they are consistent Cup contenders. It does seem he is feeling pressure, given his (early, imo) buying of FA's.

You have to build a team through the draft, that’s a given if you want to be a cup contender. No one here is saying that you need twenty homegrown players on the roster, but you first need a nucleus of homegrown players before you bring in FA’s or make trades to fill holes to upgrade the team, those are called final pieces.
- Angotti

The Sabres have 13 first round picks on their roster and have 3 points more than the Hawks.

The Sabres have 13 first round picks on their roster and have 3 points more than the Hawks.
- stevefrmglencoe

Indeed, you also have to be good at drafting. I believe the point being made is that you cannot build a team through FA because it becomes too expensive too quick. The Hawks did all of their damage before Kane and Toews monster contracts really kicked in. You need to have inexpensive good talent and that comes from either the draft or through trading when there is fiscal pressure on the other team.

The Sabres have 13 first round picks on their roster and have 3 points more than the Hawks.
- stevefrmglencoe

Which Cup winning teams in the past 15 years were not built primarily through the draft?

I'll hang up and wait for the answer....

Which Cup winning teams in the past 15 years were not built primarily through the draft?

I'll hang up and wait for the answer....
- mohel

St. Louis Blues!

The Hawks are destined to be in the bottom 5 (and probably the bottom 3). That is a given. But they would be more watchable if:
1) Tyler Johnson returns to play with Toews and Raddysh
2) Lafferty returns and they reunite him with Kurashev and D!ckinson
3) Send Entwistle to Rockford. Run a 4th line of some combination of Khaira, Katchouk, Reese Johnson, Blackwell
3) Play Caleb Jones (Gus jr.) less and Filip Roos more

Right now after a few minutes you have to turn the tv off and go puke.

Oddity - Hawks have 3 Johnsons, 2 Jones and a Murphy. Pretty plain names for a Hockey team.

St. Louis Blues!
- powerenforcer

They weren't?

edit - let's say I agree on the Blues (I don't really), that would make one of fifteen. building through the draft won 14 of 15. And some want to choose the UFA route?

Could be true but to believe this you have to believe that Davidson has a better eye for talent than Gordon. Gordon has been in pro hockey since Davidson was in diapers.
- stevefrmglencoe

Not necessarily. Dach didn't seem to be a player that fit in Chicago. Could it be similar to Philly unloading Patrick Sharp?

Absolutely.

But when you take into account things like cap flexibility and ensuring that they are in the lottery the next 3 drafts and having high motor character guys to build around - I think Davidson made a good choice and the right one. Especially since Dach seems like more of a complimentary player than a building block. A lot of scouts, across most sports, get super hard over guys with size and good athletic ability and are willing to take that chance.

The injury was unfortunate but I think that taking a chance on a player like Nazar that fits into the type of player they described and offers true game braking potential while pushing back NHL impact 2 (or maybe 3 with the injury) is not a bad thing.

Could definitely be a trade both teams benefit from.

Would you be against signing Dylan Larkin and Miles Wood in the summer for 7 years to lead the team out of this?
- stevefrmglencoe

Yes. They need to draft in the top two in 2 of the next 3 drafts to get their pieces.

They shouldn't go after a major free agent piece until they have those players in place. so like 2025 at the earliest probably.

Chunk, I agree. The more you watch this team, the more you come to realize just how poor Bowman and his NHL talent evaluators were. S. Jones is...fine. Not $9.5M fine, but he is ok. He is not a true #1D and never will be. He is average in his own end, and not dynamic enough on the offensive side to be considered anywhere near the caliber of Makar, Josi, Hedman, Burns, Doughty, Letang, OEL, etc., etc. No one is taking that salary and the Hawks are not gonna eat that much space for that much term. We are stuck with him.

The other D Bowman acquired are just....blah. C. Jones is just bad. I wanted to give McCabe the benefit of the doubt, but he too has just been mostly...bad. He skates like the grocery cart with the one bad wheel, and is a horrible passer. Murphy is a serviceable d-man, but not much more. The D that KD brough in are just placeholders.

As for forwards, you have some nice role players. I personally like Kurashev and Lafferty. I think Blackwell plays hard, I think Raddysh may stick around at a decent price. The rest are just nothing to get excited for or hope for anything other than what they currently are. 4th line/ AHL tweeners. Even Domi and Anathasiou. They are ok at their current $3M, but not worth much more $ or term investments.
- TheTrob

Jones, Nurse, Pietrangelo are all very similar do everything pretty good but nothing outstanding players. The money is fine. In terms of a minute eater who isn't going to lose you a game, there isn't really a lot to complain about.

But Makar or Fox he is not which I think is why they were so hot for K2.

The other Jones is not good. McCabe is why you don't give a guy coming off major knee surgery money and term and Murphy is fine for 4 million.