They had not won in decades. The premier guy wanted to be there. He has played great. Point a game guy. Hawks had a decent pipeline and were on the way up. Hossa wanted to be here. Hawks got him. Forced a lot of guys out. Turned out pretty well. Final chapter of Tavares to Leafs has not been written.
- stevefrmglencoe

The Hawks had three excellent defensemen; the Leaves had zero. That's why saying "yes" to him was stupid - it hamstrung the team from getting one or two.

The Weiner Circle is about four blocks from my former residence.

The hot dogs there are grilled not steamed.

Most of us here could take or leave deep dish or stuffed and prefer thin pizza with the sauce up to a tiny crust not a giant knuckle of an end crust.
Or thin is square cuts.
- wiz1901

I work for imos in St. Louis. The square beyond compare. It’s thin St. Louis style. I despise it ha ha

The Hawks had three excellent defensemen; the Leaves had zero. That's why saying "yes" to him was stupid - it hamstrung the team from getting one or two.
- mohel

Reilly is pretty good.

I know you are a guy who loves the grinders and the 6th D.

There are others who want to win by getting the best possible players.

Different approach but far from stupid.

Then you are likely going to be disappointed. Two different players with different strengths and weaknesses. What if he turns into a guy like Morgan Reilly, or gasp even S. Jones? Considering the type of player he has been, I would assume they expect him to be close to a Burns or Karlsson type, but he’s going to have his own trajectory. I just hope they are able to build a strong stable of players that learn to play together. Is it a failure if Rinzel ends up a better player than KK?

I’m far less interested in comparing trades in a vacuum. If they swing and miss on a top 10 pick, but unearth a 6th rounder that turns into Datsyuk I’m still ecstatic.
- Chunk

Sorry but I'm going to respectfully disagree with you Chunk. I just can't trade a 24 yr old 2 time 40 GOAL SCORER for a gamble top 10 pick in Korchinski. All articles claimed that he was the guy they wanted at #7 so if the 6th rounder turns out better than KK, this organization is in trouble. He has to be top 2 minimum or KD
has some explaining to do.....OR..... find a way to bring DeBrincat back and make him part of the Core like he was when he was here.

Reilly is pretty good.

I know you are a guy who loves the grinders and the 6th D.

There are others who want to win by getting the best possible players.

Different approach but far from stupid.
- stevefrmglencoe

If Reilly were on the the 2010 - 15 Blackhawks he’d be a third pairing guy. Pretty good offensively, average defensively with some snarl to his game. When the Leafs signed Tavares they needed a defenseman, today they still need a defenseman.

If Reilly were on the the 2010 - 15 Blackhawks he’d be a third pairing guy. Pretty good offensively, average defensively with some snarl to his game. When the Leafs signed Tavares they needed a defenseman, today they still need a defenseman.
- paulr

Do you think Oduya was better?

If Toronto's new GM wants a D man he has 3 guys can trade for just about any defenseman in the league.

Not sure what kind of hockey you like to watch if you would not want Tavares on your team.

Do you think Oduya was better?

If Toronto's new GM wants a D man he has 3 guys can trade for just about any defenseman in the league.

Not sure what kind of hockey you like to watch if you would not want Tavares on your team.
- stevefrmglencoe

JFC, who said I wouldn’t want want Tavares on my team? I said Toronto’s GM acquired Tavares when he needed, and still does, defensemen. Have you ever done Business cost analysis, need vs nice to have? Tavares, was a nice to have, when Toronto needed a defenseman.

And no Reilly was better than Oduya, offensively. On the 2013-15 Reilly wouldn’t have been on the second shutdown pair over Oduya because Oduya was superior defensively. And Reilly wouldn’t have been on the top pairing over Keith and Seabrook. Therefore Reilly would have been, a third pairing defenseman on that team.

Did Hill throw his stick

Nevermind what a save

They had not won in decades. The premier guy wanted to be there. He has played great. Point a game guy. Hawks had a decent pipeline and were on the way up. Hossa wanted to be here. Hawks got him. Forced a lot of guys out. Turned out pretty well. Final chapter of Tavares to Leafs has not been written.
- stevefrmglencoe

Understood, but they had enough offense, they needed defense. They could have done much better with that $11M five years ago. I told this to my Canadian co-workers then, still stand by it today.

Speaking of Stan's draft picks playing with other teams, Freddy Olofsson has been pretty noticeable the last two games for Dallas.

Understood, but they had enough offense, they needed defense. They could have done much better with that $11M five years ago. I told this to my Canadian co-workers then, still stand by it today.
- Angotti

While I tend to agree with this, bottom line is that Matthews and Marner aren't great at playoff hockey.

Toews and Kane always produced for those cup teams. Matthews and Marner get shut down.

I don't care if you get 4 new defenseman. If those two don't perform, they ain't winning any cups.

If you are the Stars do you let Suter see the ice the rest of the 3rd period? I don't

While I tend to agree with this, bottom line is that Matthews and Marner aren't great at playoff hockey.

Toews and Kane always produced for those cup teams. Matthews and Marner get shut down.

I don't care if you get 4 new defenseman. If those two don't perform, they ain't winning any cups.
- vabeachbear

If Dubas knew Matthews and Marner would prove to be playoff dogs he would have traded one for a defenseman or two and signed Tavares as his playoff guy. At the time of the Tavares signing Dubas had no idea that M&M would prove to be so disappointing when games mattered.

While I tend to agree with this, bottom line is that Matthews and Marner aren't great at playoff hockey.

Toews and Kane always produced for those cup teams. Matthews and Marner get shut down.

I don't care if you get 4 new defenseman. If those two don't perform, they ain't winning any cups.
- vabeachbear

Of course not, but maybe with better defensemen they somehow up their game. With that $11M contract, not sure what quality they can add to the backend. If they trade AM. MM, or WN, they then diminish their offensive power. They’re screwed, not good enough roster construction to go deep in playoffs.

Things getting interesting in the West.

Something we haven't talked about for a while are offer sheets. I'm not suggesting the Hawks make an offer or will have one offered to one of their RFA's, but there are some prime candidates out there that, if offered,would make it difficult for their clubs to match.

Some are Miller and Lafrieniere of NYR, Zegras of the Ducks, Swayman of the Bruins, Byram of the Avs, Caufield of the Canadiens. Anaheim has plenty of cap space so they can afford to match a Zegras offer sheet.

Everyone says Carolina needs more offense. It would be something if they offer sheet Caufield. They got the picks (2 1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd) and the cap space to offer him something in the 8.58M to 10.725M range.

Edit - On second thought who would be in favor of Chicago offer sheeting Caufield?
- boilermaker100

Yes on Caufield but I highly doubt Habs let him go but would love it. Along with DeBrincat trade of course. Then we'd have the fastest 1st line in hockey with Bedard between ADB and CC. We had the SCOOTER line in the 60s, these 3 would have to be the CHEETAH line.

I'm not all in on Domi either. He had a nice year with Kane but I'm not sure he'd take the AAV that KD would be offering without Kane here.

Somebody posted David Kampf !!!! Seriously NO EFFING WAY. We have plenty of his type on this team already. AA is a ton better for 3C.

Of course not, but maybe with better defensemen they somehow up their game. With that $11M contract, not sure what quality they can add to the backend. If they trade AM. MM, or WN, they then diminish their offensive power. They’re screwed, not good enough roster construction to go deep in playoffs.
- Angotti

That's why i don't want the Blackhawks to take any shortcuts. I stand by the build your team through the draft, and hopefully we are able to. FA is to fill in on what you missed in the draft like a Marian Hossa.

That's why i don't want the Blackhawks to take any shortcuts. I stand by the build your team through the draft, and hopefully we are able to. FA is to fill in on what you missed in the draft like a Marian Hossa.
- BetweenTheDots

Also to your point, if Chicago sign a free agent even a really good one like Toronto signed Tavares, it may prove to be the wrong acquisition in a few years.

Also to your point, if Chicago sign a free agent even a really good one like Toronto signed Tavares, it may prove to be the wrong acquisition in a few years.
- paulr

Like Lou said the blue line was lacking. Blackhawks knew they had Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson, oh and Cambell contract they would have to get rid of. As good as the playoff performers were we had a 3rd and 4th line that would just pin the opponent in their own end 60 to 120 seconds at a time. Which really was a huge advantage for us. Toronto never had a 3rd or 4th line that could do that either.

I see the Panthers doing the same thing with the 3rd and 4th line

To answer the question posed by the blog: I only want a player that signs a 1 or 2 year deal because I so far am loving the rebuild. The time to sign anybody that will truly help will be the last year of Bedard’s entry level deal when the Hawks are competitive again.

To answer the question posed by the blog: I only want a player that signs a 1 or 2 year deal because I so far am loving the rebuild. The time to sign anybody that will truly help will be the last year of Bedard’s entry level deal when the Hawks are competitive again.
- ChicagoHope

I think that they can go three years for the right acquisition, that’s not really long term, and it’s not like they’ll have cap issues for awhile. Heck, their challenge the next couple of years is to get to the cap floor.

Isn't easier to talk about rebuild when you win Connor Bedard as the keystone?

My latest Laviolette diatribe was related to what Toronto should do now. They have had amazing talent for 6 or 7 years. Keefe has been 95 games over .500 in his 4 years. I don't know if they can trade their way out of this but a hard coach could change everything here. 3 of the 4 core guys are among the top forwards in the game. A hard coach might be able to get them to stop trying to win 5-4 during the regular season and be ready for the playoffs when you have to win 3-2.

As for the Hawks coaching staff, I don't think it is expereinced enough. Richardson is a first time coach. The assistants are Kevin Dean, who was an assitant for many years in Boston. Derek Plante is in his first NHL job. Derek King has been on an NHL bench for 1.5 years. Jimmy Waite has been the goalie coach here since 2014, they did win the Cup in his rookie coaching season since then they have not won a playoff round besides the bubble since.

I have heard that the two most important coaches are the head coach and goalie coach. Head coach makes all the touch decisions and because goaltending is so important the goalie coach has a large influence.

This staff would have been understandable if they were in a typical rebuild but the world has changed. It needs to be beefed up quickly. Let's see what Davidson does here.
- stevefrmglencoe

So its waite’s fault?! Really?

Yes on Caufield but I highly doubt Habs let him go but would love it. Along with DeBrincat trade of course. Then we'd have the fastest 1st line in hockey with Bedard between ADB and CC. We had the SCOOTER line in the 60s, these 3 would have to be the CHEETAH line.

I'm not all in on Domi either. He had a nice year with Kane but I'm not sure he'd take the AAV that KD would be offering without Kane here.

Somebody posted David Kampf !!!! Seriously NO EFFING WAY. We have plenty of his type on this team already. AA is a ton better for 3C.
- Hawkytalk

I doubt they'd be the fastest, I do know they'd get f'in crushed though.

What's that going to cost, 17 mil and about 3 or 4 draft picks

Isn't easier to talk about rebuild when you win Connor Bedard as the keystone?
- wiz1901

In many ways yes, but it adds some portion of dilemma where I think now you at least have to contemplate adjusting your original plan.


Do you do anything different since you got him? Does this increase your odds of doing something wrong?

Don't get me wrong, its a great thing, and KD keeps saying they'll stick to their plan.

The rebuild is a pretty intriguing storyline. Front office got a bit lucky. Normal rebuilds aren't this exciting to the fan base.