Yes. He took a team that was worse than the one previously and had them playing regularly as a unit and playing hard for each other. At a bare minimum he is a great motivator. Scotty Bowman (and certainly Laviolette) could not have done much better with this collection of players.
- Chunk

I respect your opinion but they did get outscored by around 100 goals and did just win the Bedard lottery. I thought Stalock and Stauber won them some games they were outplayed. If those guys had not stood on their heads they Hawks would have had Anaheim odds. Hard year to show his stuff for sure.

agreed on Kane being best born and arguably best Blackhawk. Disagree on him chasing a cup. If he does it's likely in the eastern conference and on a team on the rise....New Jersey? islanders? Lots of dynamics there....his live in girlfriend who is from here, his son, his dad.....see where it fits in early July.

I am in the small minority but I truly believe if Kane and his camp wanted to come back, and wanted a 2-3 year deal to retire as a Hawk.....i don't see the Hawks saying "no". Just my opinion and others disagree with me which is fine. Doubtful we ever find out.

I thought Richardson did a great job. Zero qualms about his style and this team was dog $hit on paper, worse on the ice, they never quit on him, and were competitive a lot more so than anyone could have guessed back in October. Is he a guy who can be with them when they are ready to take the next step? no idea....but if you want to talk about an AHL coach, look at Jeremy Colliton. Even then, I don't think he's even an AHL coach or even a college or highschool coach. He's absolutely horrific and the fact Stan Bowman thought that clown could coach in the show is a huge blemish on whatever legacy he has.

My main concern with Bedard is not Bedard himself or the coaches. It's who is this kid going to skate with and is this kid going to be OK learning to be a pro with a turd like Connor Murphy spewing cliche after cliche at him while running into people and harming himself? OR even Seth Jones who has quit on 1 organization already and was quickly moved out of Nashville? I mean who the hell is going to be there who can help mold Bedard as a voice from a player who demands respect? That to me is a hole Davidson is going to quickly need to fill.
- SteveRain

Hey Steve. First bolded - nothing he has said publicly indicates he has any interest at all in coming back to the Hawks. He may have when the year started, but that's done and buried. If he goes anywhere (and is healthy enough to play) it will be with a team he thinks can win. Also, KD has slammed that door shut and padlocked it four times over. Neither 19 nor 88 are coming back.

Second bolded - I've read this a coupe times on this board. The point I keep coming back to is who did Toews and Kane "learn" from? Aucoin? Lapointe? Lang? Give the young kids a solid structure and environment to grow their games, and I think they will turn out fine.

I could not disagree with you more about Richardson. What he did with mostly an AHL roster while doing a fine job developing rookies, Dmen to boot, having his group prepared, hungry and competitive is truly amazing to me.

But I'll concede this, it's one thing to get a rag tag group to play hungry it's quite another to get a group of legit NHL talent to buy in and execute and match NHL coaches in game is another.

As good as 95% of the people, you're in a tiny minority, think LR was this yr there are still questions as the rebuild turns into it's time to win. I'm one who thinks LR is the right guy but until he proves he can win with legit NHL talent we just don't know.
- Mr Ricochet

Yes people seem to really like him. I was hoping he was going to help the young D develop. Not sure if Caleb is a young D but I did not think he played solid. Mitchell was the other young guy who got a lot of time but he doesn't look like he is going to be a regular.

If you go back and look draft after draft it is in the top 15 with some notable exceptioins later in the first. Of course the guys drafted high get the most chances from teams and the guys drafted later in the first round go to better teams and have a tougher road to get to the NHL.
- stevefrmglencoe

Those notable exceptions are Cup Contenders.

I respect your opinion but they did get outscored by around 100 goals and did just win the Bedard lottery. I thought Stalock and Stauber won them some games they were outplayed. If those guys had not stood on their heads they Hawks would have had Anaheim odds. Hard year to show his stuff for sure.
- stevefrmglencoe

They certainly did, because they were built to do so. The best player on the Hawks this year, IMO, was Domi (and I really don't think it is close). You had one half of a Jonathan Toews. 2/3 of a Patrick Kane. not a single sniper on the team. For large stretches of games Lafferty was one of the most noticeable players on the ice. And that's before you even look at the blue line.

If you actually watch the games, they played hard and with pretty solid structure for most of the year. They simply did not have any of the talent (that we've been discussing at length here) to compete with actual teams.

They certainly did, because they were built to do so. The best player on the Hawks this year, IMO, was Domi (and I really don't think it is close). You had one half of a Jonathan Toews. 2/3 of a Patrick Kane. not a single sniper on the team. For large stretches of games Lafferty was one of the most noticeable players on the ice. And that's before you even look at the blue line.

If you actually watch the games, they played hard and with pretty solid structure for most of the year. They simply did not have any of the talent (that we've been discussing at length here) to compete with actual teams.
- Chunk

I just think he came here to female dog about the Blackhawks and is pissed we have the chance to draft a generational player in Bedard. I guess he thinks Rome was built in a day.

And complain about LR after we had JC as a coach. (frank)ing night and day difference between the two.

Almost every one of the recent Red Wing cups.
- Popsghostly

All the russians would jave been first rounders if not for the uncertainty of them being able to come over .

I just think he came here to female dog about the Blackhawks and is pissed we have the chance to draft a generational player in Bedard. I guess he thinks Rome was built in a day.

And complain about LR after we had JC as a coach. (frank)ing night and day difference between the two.
- BetweenTheDots

LR would of been Montreal’s head coach if he was French, especially after the job he did taking over when Montreal made the cup final. All I read is the players on that team ( Domi being one, and the main reason he signed with the Hawks) was that LR was outstanding in that playoff run.

Yes people seem to really like him. I was hoping he was going to help the young D develop. Not sure if Caleb is a young D but I did not think he played solid. Mitchell was the other young guy who got a lot of time but he doesn't look like he is going to be a regular.
- stevefrmglencoe

Do we know exactly the reason(s) C Jones and Mitchell failed to play solid? C Jones had a huge ego and skates terrific. I doubt he has what it takes to improve much. Mitchell is a mystery but I will take a hint by whether the coaching staff and KD brings him back next season. I can point to physicality & strength as an issue but I really don’t know

LR would of been Montreal’s head coach if he was French, especially after the job he did taking over when Montreal made the cup final. All I read is the players on that team ( Domi being one, and the main reason he signed with the Hawks) was that LR was outstanding in that playoff run.
- LAHawk

Hint hint

Use all of this year’s capital as you can this year, these players are going to take years.

The hawks can draft too many players?? LOL look at the roster. It’s great that some are assuming all our picks are going to hit, I hope they do..
But the reality is that we need all these picks to get SOME real NHL players.

And the quick dismissal of those questioning Bedard’s response to the Hawks holding the top pick… No one in the public has heard from Connor on his feelings of the lottery results. So I ask, don’t jinx things by dismissing the idea completely.
- TheDrumonMadison

I also find it strange that Bedard has not come out in a interview speaking about the draft lottery even if it just the standard it will be a privilege to play with who ever drafts me . .Lot of people playing lip service to the idea of Bedard pulling a Lindros ,I heard that rummor awhile back . Would like to here it from the horses mouth personally . Never count your chickens till their hatched .

I also find it strange that Bedard has not come out in a interview speaking about the draft lottery even if it just the standard it will be a privilege to play with who ever drafts me . .Lot of people playing lip service to the idea of Bedard pulling a Lindros ,I heard that rummor awhile back . Would like to here it from the horses mouth personally . Never count your chickens till their hatched .
- oldduffman

Duff, let it rest bud. The kid is notorious for not being all that public. Very little social media. I forget if it was a teammate or coach who was recently quoted as saying that rumor was complete BS. Just let him keep training and be excited when the Hawks draft him.

Duff, let it rest bud. The kid is notorious for not being all that public. Very little social media. I forget if it was a teammate or coach who was recently quoted as saying that rumor was complete BS. Just let him keep training and be excited when the Hawks draft him.
- Chunk

Ya I get it I heard the same .Were there is smoke there fire as they say .Him being a Vancouver kid and most likely hating the Hawks can't blame him and all the sex abuse BS flying around and Gretzky shooting off his mouth about parents not wanting kids to go to Chicago makes me a little nervous that all . I do find it strange his agent or someone in his inner circle has not spoken out yet . I will sleep better when he is signed. Thats all I will say on the matter

Maybe Bedard might want to go to Quebec City?
https://bleacherreport.co...n-arizona-to-be-evaluated

If I was the hawks i would definitely go after braydon yager with their second pick in the first round.. trade up to get him.

Ya I get it I heard the same .Were there is smoke there fire as they say .Him being a Vancouver kid and most likely hating the Hawks can't blame him and all the sex abuse BS flying around and Gretzky shooting off his mouth about parents not wanting kids to go to Chicago makes me a little nervous that all . I do find it strange his agent or someone in his inner circle has not spoken out yet . I will sleep better when he is signed. Thats all I will say on the matter
- oldduffman

Personally i believe he just wants to play hockey. Now if he says nothing when the Blackhawks draft him that'll be different, as great as this kid looks to be i don't see him with an ego and assuming he will be the 1st pick overall.

I also find it strange that Bedard has not come out in a interview speaking about the draft lottery even if it just the standard it will be a privilege to play with who ever drafts me . .Lot of people playing lip service to the idea of Bedard pulling a Lindros ,I heard that rummor awhile back . Would like to here it from the horses mouth personally . Never count your chickens till their hatched .
- oldduffman

Too busy prepping for prom and pulling senior pranks.

Looks like Matthews will not be able to play for yhr Coyotes in a few years
If I'm not mistaken,they coul be in another city starting the 23/24 season,right?

Seven more posts to reach 1000. Git er dun.

Looks like Matthews will not be able to play for yhr Coyotes in a few years
If I'm not mistaken,they coul be in another city starting the 23/24 season,right?
- captainserious

That might be tough to pull off in several months, but who knows?

Seven more posts to reach 1000. Git er dun.
- mohel

Bedard will never come to the Hawks. We're doomed!

That might be tough to pull off in several months, but who knows?
- mohel

thank goodness. stick a fork in them they might finally be DONE!

Ya I get it I heard the same .Were there is smoke there fire as they say .Him being a Vancouver kid and most likely hating the Hawks can't blame him and all the sex abuse BS flying around and Gretzky shooting off his mouth about parents not wanting kids to go to Chicago makes me a little nervous that all . I do find it strange his agent or someone in his inner circle has not spoken out yet . I will sleep better when he is signed. Thats all I will say on the matter
- oldduffman

No way in hell he pulls any crap like that. He will play for the Hawks for years. Very different league now and sitting out for 2+ years not playing in the top league in the world. ya smoke made up by some idiots in Vancouver who are butt hurt the lost the lotto and have a joke of a franchise.

oh post 998 BTW!

999

1000