I think when you take an objective look at this team, a few things come into focus that suggest it will be a long while before the Hawks can build a contending team again.

1. 50, 19, 2 and 7 all are on the other side of the mountain and likely will never see their old level of performance again.

2. There are NO prospects in the pipeline ANYWHERE that come close to replacing any of the above talent, now, or in the foreseeable future.

3. At best, some of the prospects in Rockford may become decent lower tier players, and nothing more. Kampf, Hayden, Highmore - bottom six upside at best.

4. The decent talent that has made the roster - ADB, Schmaltz, Hino - all lack any grit to speak of to keep a puck in the zone. That said, they also lack anyone with size and speed to partner with on their lines.

When you watch teams like Boston, Tampa, Vegas - that level of balance, skill, speed, grit and attitude is the new benchmark. This Hawk team is VERY far from closing that gap.

The bottom line is the most over-rated goalie "the Bob" needs to own the CBJ loss. Another gas pipe performance. Three years running now.

5-14 with a 3.49 goals-against-average and a .891 save percentage.

The guy is NOT a prime time player and they never win a Cup with him. I'd sell high on him and get more depth on that team. They have some very nice players, but not enough of them.

Now it's off to see what level of hilarity will Washington conjure up to blow ANOTHER series against Pittsburgh as the pens march toward a 3-peat.

On another note, anyone think Jack Johnson has anything left in the tank? Ian Cole? CBJ may be saying goodbye to both (certainly to Johnson).

I'm not arguing that....my point was they cater to 19 all day, every day. I give 88 credit....at some point it would grow tiresome and you may think about moving on.

Looking up UFAs
F: Jvr, Tavares, Neal, Kane
D: Green, Cole, Carlson

If bowman stands pat, you will see a mass exodus of fans and season ticket holders when this team duplicates this year's performance. Already hearing about Hawks ticket reps refusing to take no on non renewals and hammering talking points......
- SteveRain

Arguably for a while now Kane has been the clear Leader of the team. Time he had an “A” on his jersey every night. Just add a 3rd “A” - other teams do when makes sense. Only way to give Kane the “C” is to trade Toews. It is certainly fair to argue that Toews has not been doing much leading either off or on the ice. His crazy off-ice regime seems to have left him weak and frail on the ice. Pump that Kale.

On another note, anyone think Jack Johnson has anything left in the tank? Ian Cole? CBJ may be saying goodbye to both (certainly to Johnson).
- kwolf68

I would like to see new trade partners, CMH, PHX, RDU are worn out...

I would like to see new trade partners, CMH, PHX, RDU are worn out...
- riozzo

Those guys are impending UFAs, but I get your point. Tired of the same teams being dance partners.

Agreed. Well said.

Lastly, what drives me nuts is this organization's constant catering to #19. 19 always had Hossa on his wing, albeit 95% of the time, where the Hawks ran kane out with anyone and everyone.....only when did they pair him with a talent similar to his.....he won the hart. Coincidence? I think not.....yet all they are concerned with is how to get "toews going". That's on Toews, and if he can't then you have to accept the fact you signed a border line top 6 player to an asinine deal as his production continues to tank.

And you also have the concussion factor, and I have never seen a "top nhl player" fall down as much as Toews does. It's crazy.
- SteveRain

Ticket sales drying up is one very big concern.
Toews game and career is trending toward drying up as well. How fast ticket sales and Toews slide is going to cause both McDonough and Bowman much angst. Sooner or is it later the truth hurts and will really hit home.
First however i want to give the backdrop regarding a Keith departure.

Bowman is tasked with improving the on ice product. He might get some improvement with enough young guys channelling. But how the defense can hold the fort minus Keith is almost unfathomable. Sure Keith has declined and i understand the reasoning to move him now. But this begs the question, who replaces him. Not Karlsson with the achillies heel and the fact you would obviously overpay when enough foolish GM create a bidding war.

Regarding ticket sales, if the on ice product does not perform with a great deal more promise and verve, those business calls for ticket renewal is not going to reproduce ticket sales.

Now for captain America, the odds appear stacked against him. I would wager that his game declines, at best remains the same. He is reluctant to return to the old style..
...concussion has to be an issue. There may be some wear and tear on some body part as well. If Toewes declines enough he is too proud to keep playing? Well he surely wants to collect at least two more annual paychecks. The fact is Toews somewhat holds the team back to improving NOW and it is only going to get worse.

Once the old core is cleared out the new kids will have to carry on. I do not think Bowman is 100% focused here as he tinkers with horizontal moves to keep the big holes from becoming craters.

Having Q as coach does not help

Those guys are impending UFAs, but I get your point. Tired of the same teams being dance partners.
- kwolf68

Sorry, missed that part.

I beg to differ.
Hossa in his prime is an entire league above Panarin.
Kane has never come close to experiencing the "help" Toews has had with Hossa, even with Panarin on his wing and AA opening up the middle...
- Slofire94

This is all very apples to oranges but this whole Kane vs Toews debate is silly. They are such different types of players, have played different positions and roles and have had very different value to the team. Same with Hossa and Panarin. When to going got tough, Toews and Kane were best together on the same line with a winger creating space for them or playing with speed. Byflugien, Bickell, Sharp, etc.

There are situations where each players is more useful than the other. Looking for a PP goal, than Kane or Panarin are a better fit. Trying to hold a lead, Toews/Hossa are stronger choices.

Kane/ Panarin were very nice together in the regular season, one of the better lines in the league (there were better lines in terms of playing both sides of the puck) but they didn't get it done together in the playoffs.

Hawks should keep Toews/Kane together... they are still the best two forwards on the team, the eye test and the numbers support this. Most of the new guys had their best hockey playing with either Kane or Toews. Both of them had a disappointing season but the team needs to fix the defensive side of the equation first, because they have enough scoring depth, but they have got to plug the leaks in the goals against/chances against department. The reality is, some teams have the ability to outscore their problems, but the Hawks aren't one of them.

Sorry, missed that part.
- riozzo

No problem. I just think the Hawks need a capable veteran who isn't ancient that can play top 4 minutes. Cole can for sure, though he isn't durable. Johnson didn't even play a game for CBJ...what makes me think he can play top 4 here?

The Hawks have ONE LEGIT, proven/capable Top 4 D-man, Keith. Every other D-man on the team is third pairing at best, though some have potential. I really did like Hillman when he came up last year, but I don't believe he has top 4 upside.

I don’t like the way they do the draft lottery, why not do it live???

Daniel Cleary will know before anyone else with the Detroit Red Wings if they get lucky.

Cleary, the Red Wings’ player development assistant, will be the Wings man in the room Saturday in Toronto when the NHL holds the draft lottery to determine where this year’s non-playoff teams will pick in the first round of June’s draft. Cleary, along with other teams’ lottery witnesses, will not have any means of communication and will be sequestered until the news is revealed while televised (time TBD).

http://themalikreport.com...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I don’t like the way they do the draft lottery, why not do it live???

Daniel Cleary will know before anyone else with the Detroit Red Wings if they get lucky.

Cleary, the Red Wings’ player development assistant, will be the Wings man in the room Saturday in Toronto when the NHL holds the draft lottery to determine where this year’s non-playoff teams will pick in the first round of June’s draft. Cleary, along with other teams’ lottery witnesses, will not have any means of communication and will be sequestered until the news is revealed while televised (time TBD).

http://themalikreport.com...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
- walleyeb1

You know the answer to that - so they can fix it! I will say it ere first, if Chicago wins the lottery and gets #1 pick, then we all can understand why they played like dogs this past season.

I'm not arguing that....my point was they cater to 19 all day, every day. I give 88 credit....at some point it would grow tiresome and you may think about moving on.

Looking up UFAs
F: Jvr, Tavares, Neal, Kane
D: Green, Cole, Carlson

If bowman stands pat, you will see a mass exodus of fans and season ticket holders when this team duplicates this year's performance. Already hearing about Hawks ticket reps refusing to take no on non renewals and hammering talking points......
- SteveRain

It is tough to compare Kane and Toews.
Kane is an offensive player who makes everyone he plays with a better offensive player. But he is a so so 200' player at best. His plus minus numbers reflect that. He is huge on the PP.
Toews is a very good 200' player that can play in all situations, win faceoffs with plus offensive skills. But he will not put up big offensive numbers without two good offensive players on his wings. Hossa / Saad. Kane/Sharp.
Because Kane scores pretty goals and scores more points he is a favorite. It is hard to appreciate a 200' game.
Kane is a generational player. Toews is very good to elite with the right linemates.
I think it is very important to find a RW scorer/sniper to play with Toews in 2018/19.
Kane can play with Anisimov and Debrincat. They will score plenty, and be so so defensively.
I like Schmaltz, but I think I would build a 3rd line around him. Maybe Hayden (RFA) and Duclair (RFA)

I'm not arguing that....my point was they cater to 19 all day, every day. I give 88 credit....at some point it would grow tiresome and you may think about moving on.

Looking up UFAs
F: Jvr, Tavares, Neal, Kane
D: Green, Cole, Carlson

If bowman stands pat, you will see a mass exodus of fans and season ticket holders when this team duplicates this year's performance. Already hearing about Hawks ticket reps refusing to take no on non renewals and hammering talking points......
- SteveRain

WOW......... I for one here am absolutely and 100% in agreement with everything you've posted on Toews and Keith, so no reason for me to repeat. I'll just add to your opinion that if I were SB I would be looking to move BOTH of them for as many prospects and picks as possible and start this rebuild now. There is no sense in waiting for another year of hope and prayer on declining players, as GREAT as they were.

It's time to salute the accomplishments of the past and focus on building the future as fast as possible. Waiting another year is only delaying the inevitable.

Arguably for a while now Kane has been the clear Leader of the team. Time he had an “A” on his jersey every night. Just add a 3rd “A” - other teams do when makes sense. Only way to give Kane the “C” is to trade Toews. It is certainly fair to argue that Toews has not been doing much leading either off or on the ice. His crazy off-ice regime seems to have left him weak and frail on the ice. Pump that Kale.
- Z3Hawk

1) How can you honestly gauge that without being in the room or on the bench? Perception isn't always reality. I think we only see a small piece and the coaches/team know better than any of us what is going on.

2) Impossible to know how Kane would handle the it or and does he really want it?

3) If as you say, Kane is the clear leader and so many fans are complaining about poor leadership, why would you give him the "C"

WOW......... I for one here am absolutely and 100% in agreement with everything you've posted on Toews and Keith, so no reason for me to repeat. I'll just add to your opinion that if I were SB I would be looking to move BOTH of them for as many prospects and picks as possible and start this rebuild now. There is no sense in waiting for another year of hope and prayer on declining players, as GREAT as they were.

It's time to salute the accomplishments of the past and focus on building the future as fast as possible. Waiting another year is only delaying the inevitable.
- Hawkytalk

If they do move #2 and/or #19 then it would need to be full rebuild. They don't have replacements for either guy and both are still top of the Hawks depth chart at their respective positions. If they tried to replace either via free agency, they are gonna pay full market value and won't really gain much. Maybe they luck out in a trade, but it is a roll of the dice.

It is tough to compare Kane and Toews.
Kane is an offensive player who makes everyone he plays with a better offensive player. But he is a so so 200' player at best. His plus minus numbers reflect that. He is huge on the PP.
Toews is a very good 200' player that can play in all situations, win faceoffs with plus offensive skills. But he will not put up big offensive numbers without two good offensive players on his wings. Hossa / Saad. Kane/Sharp.
Because Kane scores pretty goals and scores more points he is a favorite. It is hard to appreciate a 200' game.
Kane is a generational player. Toews is very good to elite with the right linemates.
I think it is very important to find a RW scorer/sniper to play with Toews in 2018/19.
Kane can play with Anisimov and Debrincat. They will score plenty, and be so so defensively.
I like Schmaltz, but I think I would build a 3rd line around him. Maybe Hayden (RFA) and Duclair (RFA)
- -Doh-

IMO, that could be a decent 3rd line if Schmaltz continues to grow his 200 foot game and maybe keeps getting that FO% up. To me, that third line has to play both sides of the puck well. Duclair was strong in the neutral zone with his stick breaking up plays. Schmaltz can steal pucks and has that great speed. Hayden has the size and actually shows good signs of protecting the puck well.

You know the answer to that - so they can fix it! I will say it ere first, if Chicago wins the lottery and gets #1 pick, then we all can understand why they played like dogs this past season.
- powerenforcer

He's baccck...

It is tough to compare Kane and Toews.
Kane is an offensive player who makes everyone he plays with a better offensive player. But he is a so so 200' player at best. His plus minus numbers reflect that. He is huge on the PP.
Toews is a very good 200' player that can play in all situations, win faceoffs with plus offensive skills. But he will not put up big offensive numbers without two good offensive players on his wings. Hossa / Saad. Kane/Sharp.
Because Kane scores pretty goals and scores more points he is a favorite. It is hard to appreciate a 200' game.
Kane is a generational player. Toews is very good to elite with the right linemates.
I think it is very important to find a RW scorer/sniper to play with Toews in 2018/19.
Kane can play with Anisimov and Debrincat. They will score plenty, and be so so defensively.
I like Schmaltz, but I think I would build a 3rd line around him. Maybe Hayden (RFA) and Duclair (RFA)
- -Doh-

Toews and his "Selke years" and amazing 200' game also happened yo have Hossa on his wing...now he gets rag dolled by Johannson and Zuccarello

He didn't beat them by himself. Those teams were better than the Bluejackets team today. I'm not really a Panarin fan, but to say he is worthless isn't true or that Saad is the better player. They wouldn't have been able to afford him anyway so it doesn't much matter.
- GPHawksfan

I'm with ya, just pointing out that Kane didn't completely ghost in those finals. He was a major factor in some really/the most important goals of those series.

You know the answer to that - so they can fix it! I will say it ere first, if Chicago wins the lottery and gets #1 pick, then we all can understand why they played like dogs this past season.
- powerenforcer

yeah 20+ players and 3 coaches in on a tank job for a draft pick

He's baccck...


- kwolf68

Lmfao....😅👍

Already have seen one response who you pick to win next round. Plus there is game seven yet Boston - Toronto.

I originally thought Boston would win
But now i say either team could win. Toronto has incredible deep number skill forward/centers and Andersson has been better than Rask. Previously in the series Toronto could not corral the Bruins top line.

Nashville-Winnipeg
Vegas-Sharks
Toronto/Boston - Tampa
Penguins - Capitals.

Who do you like?

Already have seen one response who you pick to win next round. Plus there is game seven yet Boston - Toronto.

I originally thought Boston would win
But now i say either team could win. Toronto has incredible deep number skill forward/centers and Andersson has been better than Rask. Previously in the series Toronto could not corral the Bruins top line.

Nashville-Winnipeg
Vegas-Sharks
Toronto/Boston - Tampa
Penguins - Capitals.

Who do you like?
- jhawk59

Winnipeg - Sharks
Tampa - Penguins

Sharks - Penguins

Sharks win it.

Panarin really had a tale of two series.

First 3 games: 2G, 5A, +2
Last 3 games: 0G, 0A, -6