Right on... Totally forgot about that. The problem with Murphy is, like most of the D this year, is he gets caught out of position. Coaching could fix that and confidence as well, confidence by not being benched. I've seen enough in Murphy that I don't want management to give up on him yet.

In any event, D takes a lot of time to develop. I see flashes in Forsling that remind me of Keith in his early career.
- Popsghostly

You would think Ulfie would have been just the perfect guy knowing the style he played. And it may still happen, I am a Q fan,but now I’m beginning to wonder who the culprit is when I see you guys like Hartman, John’s, and a few others did have that edge to their game being dealt away,Is it Bowman? Or the coach?, I also agree do not give up on Connor Murphy whatsoever. Not yet at least, I saw those rumors about him being on the block, I think it would be a mistake.

I read some comments on this board questioning whether or not to engage in a rebuild as if there is some sort of choice. This team is not making the playoffs this year. Unless something major - or there are a lot of little - changes, they won't make the playoffs next year either.

I'm wondering what the planning horizon is going to be. Stan sure sounds like a guy who thinks he has a job for the foreseeable future, what kind of roster does he build going into next season? Is it going to be similar to today with an aging core and a bunch of young guys still developing? The hope would be for bounce-back seasons from those who have slipped and leaps forward from the young guys, then maybe add some pieces during the season if the team shows potential - that's my guess.

Or maybe they try to add some veterans to the mix who are still at the top of their games - that's my wish. We'll see.

Either way, I still think the CBA gets reopened before 2019 and they agree to a compliance buyout or two then the Blackhawks let Seabrook go.
- matt_ahrens

Retool like the Bruins, but you absolutely have to hit on this year's draft. And you have to hope that one of Jokiharju or Mitchell is ready to step in next year. We have Keith and a bunch of crap. Seabrook would be a decent bottom pair, Oesterle needs to figure out his own end. Ruutta is meh. Forsling could be great.

Reading all this stuff and a common theme keeps popping up. That being we need a new plan. A new thought process. A new set of eyes. A change of attitude. A new HC is needed.
- z1990z

I came to that conclusion in 2014 after he sat Hossa because he didn't like his play. Why anybody would sit a guy like Hossa who worked his A-- off and was still a great defensive player, even if he wasn't scoring is beyond me.

Final group of games are here so,,,,

20 19 88 Let the big guns roll together
12 8 91 See if the kids gel
40 15 48 Hino/Hayden good mix
13 64 Highmore Happy he got the call up


Highmore to wear 36 BTW.
- z1990z

Rat's number. could use a player like Rat right now (and Shaw ain't Rat).

Rat's number. could use a player like Rat right now (and Shaw ain't Rat).
- tim62b

Bolland was way smarter than Shaw.

I always think back and say if you combined Shaw and Kruger, then you'd get Bolland.

Hayden-Schmaltz-Kane (just get #40 on #88s wing as his power forward and see if he can keep up)

Well, it took almost 6 months, but finally got what I was asking for as the season started.

Kind of a visionary

Still think I can make a lineup better than Q

the Hartman trade doesn't make sense ,
swap 4 with 5 th pick at that in the draft its a crap shoot , so no big gain there, you pick up a guy who is 6 4 or 6 5 , and he is I believe 22 or 23 , and not in the nhl by now , sounds like a minor league career for him .

so you trade a a top prospect for what will be a late first round in a so , so draft year. AND THEN for the next few years have to watch this guy come into your building and watch them beat you . I think Stan is going to regret this one

My lines
Toews - Saaad - Kane
Smaltz- Duclair- DCat
AA- Hayden- Hinnistroza
Lamp- Highmore - Jurco
- Colbyboy

I don't know why it hit me this way, but I can't stop laughing about that.

especially with the Dennis pictures attached. Hard to believe that's what a professional athlete looked like in the late 70s and 80s.

Although, that might explain the "life after baseball" section on Wikipedia

Life after baseball
Lamp has worked behind the seafood counter at Bristol Farms in Newport Beach, California since 2004.[2]

I liked what Bowman got back yesterday.

Ryan Hartman starting in the series vs Nashville lost whatever value he had. Fans were hoping for Shaw light and he was far from it. This year being unable to capitalize on numerous chances when playing with Kane, other skilled players. Wingels gets a chance at a cup, and Kempny proved to be a bust.

What I did not like from Bowman was his presser.....talking about veterans finding their form again.......In regards to 2/7/19 who have all regressed over the last 3 years what is Bowman expecting there? Truly? Isn't that the definition of insanity of wanting a different result given the same team? Maybe the younger guys take another step forward but before we ASSUME 12/48 become legit guys to rely on.....see Ryan Hartman.

If I'm the Hawks I'm ALL IN on Karlsson and then I ship out Keith and essentially trade out the 2. You have 2, 1st round picks....this team needs to get younger, and faster on the back end. Keith does not initiate offense anywhere near the level Karlsson does, and a team like Toronto may give you back a nice young F and some picks for Keith depending if they can't make it out of the triangle of death with Boston and Tampa this spring.

I also get a sense that neither Q or Stan are going anywhere, but time will tell.....after last summer's trades of Panarin and Hammer, Stan truly can't do much worse.
- SteveRain

I wouldn't put too much credence on what Stan say at a presser, what's he going to say "All the vets suck, I'm trading them in the offseason, I tried to trade them at the deadline, but no one wanted the bums"
He did say the team would look different next year.

Wonder if Darren Raddysh will be ready to come up next year? Pretty solid year in the Rock. 5g/11a and is a +9. Good size too at 601/200. I also think we see Rutta improve next year.
- z1990z

Like to see Ian Mitchell make the jump. I know he's only a frosh, but I've seen 3 or so of their games on TV, and he jumps off the TV Screen.

I am a recovering Q apologist, I am working on step 9...
- riozzo

Dammit riozzo, you skipped step 8 - you remember you were supposed to apologize to every Q hater on the board before you could move to step 9.

(if you know Seinfeld, you know of what I speak)

Dammit riozzo, you skipped step 8 - you remember you were supposed to apologize to every Q hater on the board before you could move to step 9.

(if you know Seinfeld, you know of what I speak)

- savvyone-1

Sorry you have a bulbous head!

Sorry you have a bulbous head!
- HawksHype

Nicely done

Retool like the Bruins, but you absolutely have to hit on this year's draft. And you have to hope that one of Jokiharju or Mitchell is ready to step in next year. We have Keith and a bunch of crap. Seabrook would be a decent bottom pair, Oesterle needs to figure out his own end. Ruutta is meh. Forsling could be great.
- ObeseOprah

Yokijaru is still in Portland, Mitchell is in his first year at Denver (I think) - neither will nor should be in the plans at the UC for next year - neither has a minute of pro ice time.

How many players are going to be ruined by getting them to the NHL way before they are ready? Especially blue liners?

Like to see Ian Mitchell make the jump. I know he's only a frosh, but I've seen 3 or so of their games on TV, and he jumps off the TV Screen.
- vabeachbear

Doesn't he have to spend two years in college?

Love the Hayden/Schmaltz/Kane line. Kaner has done well in the past with big bodies on his line who can provide him some protection. Could see Hayden carving out a role there, and has shown he can put up some points when paired with the right players.

the Hartman trade doesn't make sense ,
swap 4 with 5 th pick at that in the draft its a crap shoot , so no big gain there, you pick up a guy who is 6 4 or 6 5 , and he is I believe 22 or 23 , and not in the nhl by now , sounds like a minor league career for him .

so you trade a a top prospect for what will be a late first round in a so , so draft year. AND THEN for the next few years have to watch this guy come into your building and watch them beat you . I think Stan is going to regret this one
- Ging72

Hartman was a slower developing 30th overall. He didn't make or break anything on this team. The Swede guy was an off the radar late bloomer. Nash already gave him and NHL deal. He's got more potential than it seems. A lot like Kampf in his development, but a better power forward style player. 5th to a 4th is just a nice icing on the cake. If it's a couple year retool, this was a good return. Hartman was never going to be more than a decent 3rd line guy.

Doesn't he have to spend two years in college?
- StLBravesFan

Didn't think so, thought Toews left after Freshman year, could be wrong.

Didn't think so, thought Toews left after Freshman year, could be wrong.
- vabeachbear

They can leave anytime. Even mid year.

Yokijaru is still in Portland, Mitchell is in his first year at Denver (I think) - neither will nor should be in the plans at the UC for next year - neither has a minute of pro ice time.

How many players are going to be ruined by getting them to the NHL way before they are ready? Especially blue liners?
- StLBravesFan

You're right about both, although I think Henri's last name begins with a J.

Good point about ruining a blue liner, Keith and Hammer both spent time in the AHL before coming to the Hawks. It would probably be best for them to learn under Colliton in Rockford. If they look remarkable out of the gate though... things can change.

Dammit riozzo, you skipped step 8 - you remember you were supposed to apologize to every Q hater on the board before you could move to step 9.

(if you know Seinfeld, you know of what I speak)

- savvyone-1

Not that there is anything wrong with it

Not that there is anything wrong with it
- riozzo

Of course not!

via GIPHY

I don't know much about the draft style of NHL teams (vs. NFL). Are there times/teams in the NHL that actually like stocking draft picks and possibly moving back? Example: Hawks trade 7/8/9 pick + NASH pick to move up to 3/4. I know it happens a bit in the NFL, so wanted to see how it might work in the NHL. If that's the case, and you can get a Tkachuk, it makes the Hartman trade make that much more sense.

EDIT: if you can't view this as a no brainer hockey deal, you are looking at it through fan glasses.

the Hartman trade doesn't make sense ,
swap 4 with 5 th pick at that in the draft its a crap shoot , so no big gain there, you pick up a guy who is 6 4 or 6 5 , and he is I believe 22 or 23 , and not in the nhl by now , sounds like a minor league career for him .

so you trade a a top prospect for what will be a late first round in a so , so draft year. AND THEN for the next few years have to watch this guy come into your building and watch them beat you . I think Stan is going to regret this one
- Ging72

Actually it's a much stronger, deeper draft this year. And if you haven't noticed the Hawks have drafted in the bottom half in the last 8 years. So they get the late pick and their own earlier one.

Jesus H. Christ! It's Ryan Frickin' Hartman! It's not as if the Hawks just traded Jeremy Roenick for Alexei Zhamnov.

You're right about both, although I think Henri's last name begins with a J.

Good point about ruining a blue liner, Keith and Hammer both spent time in the AHL before coming to the Hawks. It would probably be best for them to learn under Colliton in Rockford. If they look remarkable out of the gate though... things can change.
- ObeseOprah

AHL time is not always necessary for a D-man, just usually. There are plenty of examples in the NHL now of guys who played little if no AHL hockey before making an impact. Seth Jones, Zach Werenski, Noah Hanafin, and Shayne Gostisbehere just to name a few have no, or almost 0 time in the minors. And before we start with the argument that they were all high draft picks Gostisbehere was a 3rd round pick.