I agree and disagree, way way way to many odd man breaks given up by ill timed pinches and just being too far up ice.

It will help if the forwards don't turn over the puck at either blue line
- BetweenTheDots

Not saying it’s the only thing but it seemed to me a lot of the fire drills were at least in part due to insufficient fwd support last year.

IMO, that's what Vegas showed us. Team defense. Everyone getting back. Playing on the right side of the puck. Collapsing down to protect the house and keep the opponent on the perimeter.

We call this, the Babcock. (Sarcasm)
- hocktock

Watching that team in the playoffs rarely i saw a 2 on 1, or a breakaway chance against, in Blackhawks games this past year i saw at least 1 a period, and i watched a lot of games last year

Unlike many here, and i may be wrong, but I'll reserve judgment, i hope the year experience has made two thirds of the young forwards/ defenseman better NHL hockey players for the up coming season. Which in turn alone will make them harder to play against this year. Fingers crossed

Stan on the Score right now, sounds really iffy, trying to sell the additions are a positive, but he doesn't sound like he believes it.

Something weird to the interview, he's sounds like a guy with a gun to his head
- vabeachbear

A lot of times GM's get credit for draft decisions after they are long gone.

Not saying it’s the only thing but it seemed to me a lot of the fire drills were at least in part due to insufficient fwd support last year.
- HawkintheD

I do agree, even on the pk, forwards not blocking shots killed them. Center is your #1 defender if he's out of position then your defense struggles in its own zone, 19 let a lot pucks through.

I do agree, even on the pk, forwards not blocking shots killed them. Center is your #1 defender if he's out of position then your defense struggles in its own zone, 19 let a lot pucks through.
- BetweenTheDots

Hawks have been lacking a Sopel or (young) Hjalmarsson level shot blocker for a while now.

Jay Zawaski
@JayZawaski670
Stan Bowman tells @mullyhanley that their free agent signings are likely over, and that he's been working and will continue working on trades. "There's nothing imminent on that front."

Jay Zawaski
@JayZawaski670
Stan Bowman tells @mullyhanley that their free agent signings are likely over, and that he's been working and will continue working on trades. "There's nothing imminent on that front."
- TommyHawk

He sounded like he was lying. I can't really put my finger on it, just he sounded nervous, unsure of what he was peddling.

Jay Zawaski
@JayZawaski670
Stan Bowman tells @mullyhanley that their free agent signings are likely over, and that he's been working and will continue working on trades. "There's nothing imminent on that front."
- TommyHawk

Fail, fail, fail.

Stan on the Score right now, sounds really iffy, trying to sell the additions are a positive, but he doesn't sound like he believes it.

Something weird to the interview, he's sounds like a guy with a gun to his head
- vabeachbear

The Score's hockey coverage (or lack of coverage) is downright embarrassing.

He sounded like he was lying. I can't really put my finger on it, just he sounded nervous, unsure of what he was peddling.
- vabeachbear

He always sounds like that - boring, monotone voice, always sounds scripted....

He sounded like he was lying. I can't really put my finger on it, just he sounded nervous, unsure of what he was peddling.
- vabeachbear

The league knows his job is on the line and I doubt fellow GM's are in line to help save his job. My question for the group here: What would we need to part with to get the rights to William Nylander? Would he be a piece worth exploring? I play hockey down in Dallas with a few guys from Toronto and they make it sound like of the young 3 (Matthews Marner Nylander) that Nylander would be the odd man out.

Jay Zawaski
@JayZawaski670
Stan Bowman tells @mullyhanley that their free agent signings are likely over, and that he's been working and will continue working on trades. "There's nothing imminent on that front."
- TommyHawk

Probably means that Kane will be traded to Buffalo by noon today.

The league knows his job is on the line and I doubt fellow GM's are in line to help save his job. My question for the group here: What would we need to part with to get the rights to William Nylander? Would he be a piece worth exploring? I play hockey down in Dallas with a few guys from Toronto and they make it sound like of the young 3 (Matthews Marner Nylander) that Nylander would be the odd man out.
- nickmo2699

Of course not: GMs are out to save THEIR OWN jobs.

If there is a deal to be made with the Hawks that is GOOD FOR THEM, it will get made - helping Bowman keep his job (or hurting him) will be irrelevant.

Guess somebody thinks that all Canadians are red arse knuckle draggers....
- Beaver-Warrior

Yea Beav.

Everyone knows every Canadian can be traced back to a Sutter. Ya Red Arse !


Hope all is well pal.

Would you be okay if this was the top 6 d pairing opening night?

Keith - Faulk
Murphy - Manning -
Forsling - Seabs

Would you be okay if this was the top 6 d pairing opening night?

Keith - Faulk
Murphy - Manning -
Forsling - Seabs
- SoftServe

Very poor. Keith could probably cover for Faulk's poor D-zone play. But after that huge questions...Only way this becomes anything is if Forsling really steps up (or Seabrook becomes faster, almost a virtual impossibility at this stage) and Manning and Murphy can actually skate against top 6 guys because neither are good enough alone to cover for incompetent partner.

Otherwise, it's bottom level D pairings. Hawks really need TWO Top 4 guys to be a legitimate playoff team. Even if they get 2, they still only have 3 (w/Keith) and maybe one of the bottom 4 guys develops enough to play top 4, then you may have something. The game plan to let a "rehabilitating" Crawford or a past his prime Ward "stand on his head" behind pisspoor defense is foolish.

Very poor. Keith could probably cover for Faulk's poor D-zone play. But after that huge questions...Only way this becomes anything is if Forsling really steps up (or Seabrook becomes faster, almost a virtual impossibility at this stage) and Manning and Murphy can actually skate against top 6 guys because neither are good enough alone to cover for incompetent partner.

Otherwise, it's bottom level D pairings.
- kwolf68

Guess Ian Cole aint coming to Chicago.

Jay Zawaski
@JayZawaski670
Stan Bowman tells @mullyhanley that their free agent signings are likely over, and that he's been working and will continue working on trades. "There's nothing imminent on that front."
- TommyHawk

You beat me to it. I heard him on the Score and i am now so positive about what i said yesterday, If Wirtz does not fire this guy for total ineptness then something is wrong with wirtz. It looks like all Wirtz is concerned about now is getting rid of Rahm and his entertainment tax. Again Bowman said he thinks he can win with what he has, Just total BS and he should be long gone

Guess Ian Cole aint coming to Chicago.
- z1990z

He signed w/ COL for 4 mil

You beat me to it. I heard him on the Score and i am now so positive about what i said yesterday, If Wirtz does not fire this guy for total ineptness then something is wrong with wirtz. It looks like all Wirtz is concerned about now is getting rid of Rahm and his entertainment tax. Again Bowman said he thinks he can win with what he has, Just total BS and he should be long gone
- Maggie

Would have been beneficial to do that in April.

Rocky: "I'm happy to announce today that Stan Bowman has been made the VP of Hockey Operations. With today's announcement, Joel Quennville will be moving from behind the bench after a HOF coaching career leading the Chicago Blackhawks to 3 Stanley Cups during his tenure as head coach in Chicago, to GM of the club. John McDonough has decided to pursue other opportunities and we want to thank John for his many contributions and ONE GOAL leadership during his time as head executive of our franchise."

- savvyone-1

LOL....I always knew you had a special talent. Hey our boy Bollus is a free agent next year....

When it comes to Bowman i fully understand the criticism he gets, and its deservedly so. Those crying that the complaints are "arrogant and people need to show more respect" are being too nice these days, that was a legit counter maybe 3ish years ago(definitely 4-5 years ago, but not anymore). He's done an awful job, these past 4-5 years especially, and its been all downhill since then. So its not hard to place the blame on the front office for why this team has fallen so far.

The Toews contract

The Bickell contract and subsequent loss of Teravainen

The Seabrook contract

The Leddy trade

The Sharp trade

The Panarin trade

It's become an EXTENSIVE list of bad moves involving BIG MONEY AND BIG NAME TALENT.

This doesn't compare to the best of his positive contribution lists that people throw out there every now and then. Who's the best player on those lists? Oduya? Vermette?

These are all-star caliber players we're missing out on/trading for bags of chips/keeping long term for massive overpays.

Its not even a debate. The man has failed at his job(Bowman), and the front office has been terrible. No way around it at this point. All you can do is hope for the best and hope for change sooner rather than later assuming all continues to go south with this core/coach/FO.

And don't even get me started on all his lesser/2nd tier mistakes. Like giving up on Panik for Duclair and then losing Duclairs roster spot to essentially a washed up Kunitz/Icehog. Or the Danault trade. Or Rundblad. Or.....Rundblad.

You beat me to it. I heard him on the Score and i am now so positive about what i said yesterday, If Wirtz does not fire this guy for total ineptness then something is wrong with wirtz. It looks like all Wirtz is concerned about now is getting rid of Rahm and his entertainment tax. Again Bowman said he thinks he can win with what he has, Just total BS and he should be long gone
- Maggie

Yeah but he didn’t say how much he could win!!!

Somewhere between 70-80 pts would be my guess.

He sounded like he was lying. I can't really put my finger on it, just he sounded nervous, unsure of what he was peddling.
- vabeachbear

Might be on to something VABear - JJ on Twitter just now:
Digging on some stuff. There are some things going on. Weird (almost hard to believe) tidbits coming out. We'll see.