Simple -- as I posted earlier, from Crain's Chicago Business today:
"As the Chicago Blackhawks try to reinvent themselves on the ice after their worst season in more than a decade, the team has hired a new agency, backed by two guys who built the Pitchfork music brand, to give it a fresh voice in its advertising.

The NHL team is taking a flier with an upstart Chicago creative firm called Varyer, launched this year by former Pitchfork President Chris Kaskie and former Pitchfork Creative Director Mike Renaud. They're still in the process of building out a West Loop studio for their eight employees, but expect to deliver new advertising ideas for the team later this year, the co-CEOs said in an interview.

Bringing on Varyer appears to mark an end to the Blackhawks' long-standing relationship with Ogilvy Chicago, the ad firm behind the Blackhawks' "One Goal" campaign.

Hawks Executive Vice President Jay Blunk said in a statement that the team has "drawn from many sources successfully in the past"—including Ogilvy—for its advertising and content creation efforts, but that Varyer "will consolidate our efforts moving forward as our agency of record."

Blackhawks spokesman Adam Rogowin did not respond to questions about whether Ogilvy will continue to play a role in crafting the team's messaging. An Ogilvy spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.

The move is another example of Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz keeping the team's business extensions in the family. His son, Danny Wirtz, is a partner in the Varyer venture."

What's that well-worn line about fooling all of the people some of the time?
No more ONE GOAL.
Who knows, maybe this is why it was reported by 6628 that McDonut secretly reached out to an executive recruiting agency.
Cannot wait to hear what the new agency comes up with. And if Rocky thinks he can fool the fanbase.
- savvyone-1

Thanks for posting this...I figured it was a matter of time to get away from "One goal" as the championship window has slammed shut. I look to something along the lines of the "kids can play" or some BS like that.

Speaking of which, if the Hawks go the Sox route and keep adding "names" of veterans who are past their prime to keep fans in the seats, that will set this team back further.

IMO, blow it up......Trade 2/19 and build around Kane. Send 2 to a team like Toronto or Pittsburgh or Columbus that needs D help. Send 19 anywhere that will take him. Build around 88.

Yes, it was a great run 10 years but it's time to move along. IF the rumors swirling around 50, (one of which I trust 100%) they will be after a goalie who is capable of starting and carrying this team.....

I'm not expecting much via trade or UFA signing.

ALSO, I had heard years ago that McEgos dream job is in the NFL. I would expect that to happen soon.

Actually I see this as a positive development, it’s going to take a few years for this team to truly be competitive again. Better to get out in front of it and shoot straight with the fan base.
- walleyeb1

Advertising is not about shooting straight. It's about manipulating the audience to believe something that is not necessarily true. In short, advertising is corporate propaganda. The ONLY thing I personally give a poop about with the hawks is quality of play on the ice. Slogans, commercials and superfluous non-sense does NOT inspire me to goto games, buy shirts, or order NHL Center Ice.

Great question. I don't know.

Anyone know the answer to this?

I would think even if they did the player would feel slighted and try their luck on the open market.

Someone will scoop up Duclair if he isn't QO'd. Heck, someone might even take a chance on Jurco.

I would like them to bring Duclair back, but if they don't, they obviously didn't like what they saw in his short stint because a 1-year / 1.8M(ish) contract wouldn't break the bank.
- Justin Lowe

If they don't qualify Duclair, my understanding is that he then becomes a UFA, free to negotiate with other teams. If he stays here for less than what others are offering, I would imagine the union would have something to say about it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/...iki/Restricted_free_agent

Actually I see this as a positive development, it’s going to take a few years for this team to truly be competitive again. Better to get out in front of it and shoot straight with the fan base.
- walleyeb1

walley, can we help them out with some new themes?

"Playoff dreaming"
"Line Blender Frenzy"
"Shinpad City" (maybe they can do a free food giveaway when Duncan fires more than 5 shots into shinpads in a game)
"Going Wide" (another free giveaway for every shot blown wide of the net by the D)

Decent size with a ++burst that makes this kid dynamic, flashes great hands at times, had 44 points in what was really his rookie season (18 games the yr before), is 22 yrs old with 200 NHL games. If this kid hits his ceiling it would likely start to show real soon and will come in as you mention with a low cap hit.

You don't give up on these types yet. Coming over midseason the kid didn't have the benefit of a full camp and preseason with Q's systems it's reported being difficult to grasp in season even for vets at the TDL.
- Mr Ricochet

I agree give this guy one more shot , I would even try him with Kane. Just a feeling but I could see him going somewhere and getting 25 goals. Qualify him and give him a chance , no much to lose
If it doesn't work

Count me in as one who doesn't care about Duclair. I know he has his defenders here, but he was completely useless for the Hawks. Skated really fast, but offered very little otherwise. Also incredibly soft....makes Vinnie look like Tom Wilson.

Advertising is not about shooting straight. It's about manipulating the audience to believe something that is not necessarily true. In short, advertising is corporate propaganda. The ONLY thing I personally give a poop about with the hawks is quality of play on the ice. Slogans, commercials and superfluous non-sense does NOT inspire me to goto games, buy shirts, or order NHL Center Ice.
- kwolf68

I agree 100%....that's why you blow this up and start a new. As a fan I can appreciate that approach more then adding and over paying guys to make the playoffs as 7/8 seed and get waxed.

walley, can we help them out with some new themes?

"Playoff dreaming"
"Line Blender Frenzy"
"Shinpad City" (maybe they can do a free food giveaway when Duncan fires more than 5 shots into shinpads in a game)
"Going Wide" (another free giveaway for every shot blown wide of the net by the D)
- savvyone-1

Rebuilding brick by brick!

I agree 100%....that's why you blow this up and start a new. As a fan I can appreciate that approach more then adding and over paying guys to make the playoffs as 7/8 seed and get waxed.
- SteveRain

I agree. But there is too much ego in Hawks front office to do that. Celebrating kids that are 2-3 years out means little when by the time you get there the team will be even worse. EVERY TEAM has prospects they can hang their hat on. What you need is a dominating core group. It used to be 7, down to 5, now it's heading toward what...3? That core group of Kane, toews, Keith, Crow, Seabrook looks positively terrible....Kane is still great, Keith is good and 35, Crow is who the hell knows, Seabrook is washed up and Toews is making 3x more than his overall value. These guys alone comprise almost HALF the Hawks cap.....With a core like that, you don't have a chance in hell of winning.

Simple -- as I posted earlier, from Crain's Chicago Business today:
"As the Chicago Blackhawks try to reinvent themselves on the ice after their worst season in more than a decade, the team has hired a new agency, backed by two guys who built the Pitchfork music brand, to give it a fresh voice in its advertising.

The NHL team is taking a flier with an upstart Chicago creative firm called Varyer, launched this year by former Pitchfork President Chris Kaskie and former Pitchfork Creative Director Mike Renaud. They're still in the process of building out a West Loop studio for their eight employees, but expect to deliver new advertising ideas for the team later this year, the co-CEOs said in an interview.

Bringing on Varyer appears to mark an end to the Blackhawks' long-standing relationship with Ogilvy Chicago, the ad firm behind the Blackhawks' "One Goal" campaign.

Hawks Executive Vice President Jay Blunk said in a statement that the team has "drawn from many sources successfully in the past"—including Ogilvy—for its advertising and content creation efforts, but that Varyer "will consolidate our efforts moving forward as our agency of record."

Blackhawks spokesman Adam Rogowin did not respond to questions about whether Ogilvy will continue to play a role in crafting the team's messaging. An Ogilvy spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.

The move is another example of Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz keeping the team's business extensions in the family. His son, Danny Wirtz, is a partner in the Varyer venture."

What's that well-worn line about fooling all of the people some of the time?
No more ONE GOAL.
Who knows, maybe this is why it was reported by 6628 that McDonut secretly reached out to an executive recruiting agency.
Cannot wait to hear what the new agency comes up with. And if Rocky thinks he can fool the fanbase.
- savvyone-1

None of this has anything to do with Bowman's task - or activity - or ability or lack of ability to get positive things done - or the ultimate results this summer.

Dobson is as skinny as my arm his legs and will not play for some time...he is on the right track but he's a skinny kid that will need strength/girth to compete later.

Bouchard, well I never doubted his innate talent as a terrific vision and long passer and PP Q /shot, but honestly if he was in this league NEXT year, he would be a bigger fines defender than Carolina's Hamilton.


- wiz1901

Wiz, firstly nicely done during the draft. I know it's a stressful time for an evaluator in normal yrs and with the Hawks in a kind of "transition" of sorts the organIzation having the 8th pick and another in the 1st rd made the angst doubly so. They just can't miss in this draft, can't. Well done, Wiz.

Don't discount Dobson, man. I'm reading a lot of justifying the Bovquist selection from fans who never once said Bovquist is a must get and now devaluing some players as justification. In fact, and I could be wrong, but in the week coming into he draft and a couple hundred pages of comments don't think I heard one fan say the Swede is the guy to get. ........ Comment is not directed at you, just an observation.

Dobson's own coach said he gave him top defensive minutes, 1st unit PP and all the responsibilities of a #1 Dman all as a 17 yr in Major Junior and the killed killed it all the way to a Memorial Cup.

Keep hearing he's built slight and this from others who say Bovquist will fill out and grow a bit. No doubt in my mind Dobson will be +200lbs as a 23 yr old man and he's already 6ft 3in.........I saw Gilbert try out for the Steel and leave the building in shorts and a t-shirt. The kid was a wiry 165-170, 6ft 2in and now as a 21 tips the scales at 220lb. They both had the same builds at 17. If he doesn't reach his ceiling it won't be cuz of his size.

I know you watched film on him and even in the Hlinka tournament before the season started he was strong on the puck. Kid is strong now and will only get a lot stronger.

There are reasons McKenzie's ranking, the average of 10 paid NHL scouts, had their final rankings this way:

14: Veleno
10 Bovquist
9: Wahlstrom
8: Hughes
7: Bouchard
6: Dobson.

Simple -- as I posted earlier, from Crain's Chicago Business today:
"As the Chicago Blackhawks try to reinvent themselves on the ice after their worst season in more than a decade, the team has hired a new agency, backed by two guys who built the Pitchfork music brand, to give it a fresh voice in its advertising.

The NHL team is taking a flier with an upstart Chicago creative firm called Varyer, launched this year by former Pitchfork President Chris Kaskie and former Pitchfork Creative Director Mike Renaud. They're still in the process of building out a West Loop studio for their eight employees, but expect to deliver new advertising ideas for the team later this year, the co-CEOs said in an interview.

Bringing on Varyer appears to mark an end to the Blackhawks' long-standing relationship with Ogilvy Chicago, the ad firm behind the Blackhawks' "One Goal" campaign.

Hawks Executive Vice President Jay Blunk said in a statement that the team has "drawn from many sources successfully in the past"—including Ogilvy—for its advertising and content creation efforts, but that Varyer "will consolidate our efforts moving forward as our agency of record."

Blackhawks spokesman Adam Rogowin did not respond to questions about whether Ogilvy will continue to play a role in crafting the team's messaging. An Ogilvy spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.

The move is another example of Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz keeping the team's business extensions in the family. His son, Danny Wirtz, is a partner in the Varyer venture."

What's that well-worn line about fooling all of the people some of the time?
No more ONE GOAL.
Who knows, maybe this is why it was reported by 6628 that McDonut secretly reached out to an executive recruiting agency.
Cannot wait to hear what the new agency comes up with. And if Rocky thinks he can fool the fanbase.
- savvyone-1

Well so far he's strung us along for three Cup runs and two WCF appearances. Am I supposed to be more pissed or something?

Nobody has really talked about Dominik Kahun--could he be in the mix for a bottom 6 spot this season?

Kotkaniemi is least one year away. Next season he will play center in FEL. He played wing last season.
- MjulQvist

Qvist, interested your take on the Hawks draft, particularly Bovqvist. Have read many times you have thoughts, insight and info on Euro players.

Justin - Congrats on moving past 100. That’s Great. Sportsnet’s coverage was actually awful. I missed TSN. Cosentino is a light weight and has little real insight. Burke is a blowhard who hasn’t won much. Cosentino lost his mind that the Hawks did not take Bouchard or Dobson at 8. I knew there was no chance the Hawks would draft either. They didn’t fit the Kelley Trinity - high-end skill, high-end skating, high-end ceiling.

Burke lost his mind when the Sharks grabbed Merkley at 21. A few teams had him on a No Draft List said Burke. Cosentino piped in to Burke that it was even more teams than you know. Wilson in a post-choice interview basically said we heard the complaints by these “experts” against Merkley and cared...not at all.

Sportsnet had a weird multi-box screen to give information but it rarely had great information. Looked like one of those psycho news channels with boxes all over making the main screen smaller. Where was the highest ranked players left available list? I swear that until Boqvist was actually taken by the Hawks at 8 his name hadn’t been on the screen nor had he been discussed by the neanderthal “experts.”

Best thing about the Sportsnet night. Our boy wiz getting his draftsite referenced on the ticker. Would have been even better if wiz had been on the panel.

I added some at JJ's board and will paste what I did on USHL guys:


I’ll add some things on the USHL kids, a league I follow both at Steel games and my subscription to Hockey TV where I watch all USHL teams.

Hakkarainen: Keep in mind Hak is a 2nd yr draft eligible player and turned 20 in January. He is a natural centerman and veeeery good at the dot with legit 6ft+ size. Steel drafted him 6th overall in 2016, watched him at tryout camp and was a fan right away. Kid showed skill, good skating and that Euro look of a skilled, responsible 2 way player with really silky hands and good vision. No doubt a skilled kid. But he just wasn’t getting it in that the #’s production just wasn’t there. Keep in mind this would end up being the club to win the cup so he was in against very good players for ice time.

After 16 games he was moved to Muskegon for a vet top 4 minute munching Dman with size. He had 4 points in 16 gms with the Steel. Muskegon is my 2nd favorite team in the league and I watch em a lot, 20 times a yr, and Hak showed what he did with the Steel. The light didn’t click on for a Muskegon team that made the Finals.

Now this yr that changed as he started the yr as a 19 yr old. Hak was their 1C and as an older player dominated. He centered the league points leader, Del Gaizo, and in 36 games he put up 46 points on 15 goals. The season is 60 games and Hak played 36. I know he was out for a concussion at least once.

Hak by yrs end as a 20 yr old showed an incredible shot (sizzling snappers from the end line from 20 ft that found a 4 inch hole over the tenders shoulder type snipes), great play making skills, strong skating, good vision, very good compete and a great 2 way game.

Projecting him is for the professionals. Took him awhile to get going and by 20 in a young league (average age about 18.3 yrs) he was dominant.



Slavin: Brother Jacob played for the Steel and I ranked his skating for the 10 yrs I’ve watched the Steel live as 2nd only to John Moore. One thing that needs to be understood about the Slavin family is they are devout Christians. One can’t hear an interview with brother Jacob and not hear him mention the Lord in most sentences.

Josiah plays for Lincoln Stars and is another 2nd yr draft eligible and is 19 yrs old. I love that Lincoln club in that they play north-south, knock people down and are always 1-2-3 in Majors and PIM. They draft those types and have for a decade at least. Backes was a Lincoln Star.

Never saw Josiah live but have on film at least 10 times last yr, his 2nd yr in the USHL. He’s a wing and although not the skater Jacob is he’s an average to good one with his brothers size but is slight at 170ish pounds. He has room to fill out and I have no doubt will. Super high compete and character, north-south skater, good top end speed but not quick or dynamic, not physical but fears no dirty area, makes his money in the slot, 2 way effort, not highly skilled in his hands or vision.

No doubt a long term project and would be a high energy bottom 6 type with size, effort with impeccable character. If he has NHL talent no doubt in my mind he’d fulfill that as a high character coachable kid.

The Sens are not nearly as desperate rn to reach the floor as some seem to think. Technically, they're already $2m above it. Yeah, they'll move Karlsson, Anderson, and maybe Ryan but they also have to sign Stone, Ceci, and Claesson and others (they will need a goalie).

On top of that, even when trading to a team that needs to get to the floor like Arizona, teams have always had to give something up to offload a contract. Ottawa is going to want salary going back or an asset (doesn't need to be a top one, but something).
- L_B_R

True - But the owner is loosing money, so having to spend only 1 mil for a 5 mil cap hit shoud bring joy to that man. That is the reason Hossa to Ott makes sense.

Joel Quenneville on @ESPN1000 with @thekapman regarding Corey Crawford: "We're making progress with him. There's lots of time between now and camp. He feels he wasn't that far away last year from coming back."

Justin great job up till now keep it going. I agree and disagree about size of players since bowman has taken over he drafts for the most part have small to average size players and a lot of euros. What I 'm saying is with those type of players need complement them with bigger physical board players to create room so those players can create offense and cycle in the o zone. Also need the bigger more physical players to win in the playoffs hawks need good balance of both throughout there lineup in the nhl ahl and other leagues like they had in 2010 speed kills so does constant physical play. At first I was upset with the draft selection but the more I look and read more it was a solid draft for the Hawks only problem should've took Veleno at 27. Need top 6 centers in our system do not have any. IMO smaltz is better suited to play wing (LW) than center not consistent on faceoffs good on the backcheck and takeaways not strong enough to up against the other big centers in the league he just have that edge to him same with AA. So hopefully going forward Bowman realizes this that size along with edgy play and physical players are essential to winning.
- Scott1977

Beaudin AND Veleno both played for Drummondville so the Hawks had an additional way to compare them. Hawks obviously saw Beaudin as the better choice. Beaudin was discussed by some as being far higher than 27. Beaudin was great choice.

So in other words, StanBo isn't doing much of anything until he can move Hossa's contract. This is not good.
- purepone

How so? They have 9M in cap space. They only have 9 forwards on the roster but to fill those 4 spots would be 3-4M max.

Has anyone seen Andrej Sustr play much? On paper he appears to have the potential to be a decent depth d-man.

Justin - Congrats on moving past 100. That’s Great. Sportsnet’s coverage was actually awful. I missed TSN. Cosentino is a light weight and has little real insight. Burke is a blowhard who hasn’t won much. Cosentino lost his mind that the Hawks did not take Bouchard or Dobson at 8. I knew there was no chance the Hawks would draft either. They didn’t fit the Kelley Trinity - high-end skill, high-end skating, high-end ceiling.

Burke lost his mind when the Sharks grabbed Merkley at 21. A few teams had him on a No Draft List said Burke. Cosentino piped in to Burke that it was even more teams than you know. Wilson in a post-choice interview basically said we heard the complaints by these “experts” against Merkley and cared...not at all.

Sportsnet had a weird multi-box screen to give information but it rarely had great information. Looked like one of those psycho news channels with boxes all over making the main screen smaller. Where was the highest ranked players left available list? I swear that until Boqvist was actually taken by the Hawks at 8 his name hadn’t been on the screen nor had he been discussed by the neanderthal “experts.”

Best thing about the Sportsnet night. Our boy wiz getting his draftsite referenced on the ticker. Would have been even better if wiz had been on the panel.
- Z3Hawk

The "experts"?. McKenzie's ranking, had Boqvist behind Wahlstom, Hughes, Bouchard and Dobson.

Respectfully I hope Merkely hits, besides rooting for any kid, so you can come back and post another accomplishment. No way you take that kid top 10, no way. Taking a swing on him in the bottom 1/3 of the 1st rd is good GMing IMO... Kid is the real deal on the ice lets hope he can put it all together.

Beaudin AND Veleno both played for Drummondville so the Hawks had an additional way to compare them. Hawks obviously saw Beaudin as the better choice. Beaudin was discussed by some as being far higher than 27. Beaudin was great choice.
- Z3Hawk

Thing that jumped out watching Beaudin's highlight film was how fantastic a skater Veleno is! You watch any film on Merkley? Watching film on Beaudin I got 1/2 way in and thought this kid has vision and IQ like Merkley hitting guys wide open thru traffic weak side for a slam dunk. Take the time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_usO7XdaCs

Beaudin fits. Silky, poised, head up, oozes IQ.

I will have to respectfully disagree on the right pick being made at # 8. Just what we need a very small D man who does not play D very well. And he won't be ready for NHL for 2 - 3 years. Bouchard and Dobson could play this year or next at the latest. So we have done nothing to help on offense, and nothing to help on defense for this coming year, or next,or maybe even the following year. Boqvist may be a fine player in the distant future, but he is of no help now and we need help now. I fear Stan was right about one thing, he doesn't see much change next year and so far that id coming true. Which could mean the same result at the end of next year. I hope the only change is in our GM. We need new directions from the top.
- [email protected]

I can’t say this more strongly. The Hawks had NO interest at all in Bouchard or Dobson. Not enough High-end Skill, High-end Skating or High-end Ceiling. Bouchard and Dobson were both available at 8 and I knew there was no possible way the Hawks chose either. Hawks were very fortunate Boqvist was available at 8. Great pick. Boqvist has the chance to be really something special. He was also one of the youngest in the Draft too - doesn’t even turn 18 until August 15.

Nobody has really talked about Dominik Kahun--could he be in the mix for a bottom 6 spot this season?
- RaleighHawk

Don't know about Colliton's evaluating skills but he can coach and loves this guy's game as he coached him overseas.