The Jets lost in the Conference Final after beating a Preds team the round earlier that wiped up across the ice in our last playoff appearance. Boston and San Jose? Competitive teams that made the playoffs. Toronto? Playoffs too. There is a theme here. Those teams are trending the right way. We are not!
- z1990z

We'll see how the jets handle cap hell.
San Jose trending? Down.
Boston? Rebuild on the fly.
Toronto? The great Babcock. The greatest coach that never won. (Great p.r. machine.)

Whatever. All losers. Nice spin.

Go Hocks.

Not contradicting you SR but more thinking aloud....

What is the point of terminating anyone if the roster is hot garbage and there is no real room to manuver and make the team competitive? Why let Bowman handle the draft and FA if he is to get fired midseason? It seems to me that this would have been better to do once the Hawks were in the 17-18 toilet than it does now.
- phantasmo

IMO their (q/bowman's) past got them the summer.

Wirtz came out all tough with his buddies over at crain stating nothing lasts forever so if this team flops out of the gate....have to think a fresh set of eyes on the current roster and, IMO, more importantly at what you have down the line would help.

Somebody posted it yesterday....both have a shelf life, as does McEgo, and you thank them for what they have done and move along.....Pittsburgh won again with a new staff/GM...….

Jj

Hawks are working on trades (C, top 4D) today. Would expect Anisimov (at minimum) to be elsewhere at some point. Hearing Ottawa mentioned but sounds like several avenues being pursued.

IMO their (q/bowman's) past got them the summer.

Wirtz came out all tough with his buddies over at crain stating nothing lasts forever so if this team flops out of the gate....have to think a fresh set of eyes on the current roster and, IMO, more importantly at what you have down the line would help.

Somebody posted it yesterday....both have a shelf life, as does McEgo, and you thank them for what they have done and move along.....Pittsburgh won again with a new staff/GM...….
- SteveRain

I hear ya, just don't agree with the bureaucratic approach that JJ alluded to. No idea who is really making decisions. This is absolutely the same thing that happened in DET....just watching these guys circle the drain slowly. Would love for Kane and Keith to be on a team that has a chance in the spring next year.....hate them going to waste....

This board has become a drag overnight. Haha.

Nothing wrong with being disappointed, but it's not like the Hawks are a team of Mites going out there to compete against NHL teams. Now people are already declaring the TDL as a failure..? How can you when it hasn't even happened yet.

What did people want to see from Free Agency? The Hawks get Tavares, Karlsson, Stastny, or any of the high-caliber (and priced) players? I mean, it just wasn't going to happen.

Gotta' make due with what you have for now.
- Hank3Henshaw

Yea. Cause the market was so deep.

I like our team.

Jj

Hawks are working on trades (C, top 4D) today. Would expect Anisimov (at minimum) to be elsewhere at some point. Hearing Ottawa mentioned but sounds like several avenues being pursued.
- mrpaulish

Here are my wish trades (only listing key pieces)

Keith to Tor for Kadri
Toews to Win for Buf

We'll see how the jets handle cap hell.
San Jose trending? Down.
Boston? Rebuild on the fly.
Toronto? The great Babcock. The greatest coach that never won. (Great p.r. machine.)

Whatever. All losers. Nice spin.

Go Hocks.
- hocktock

Love the optimism.....

How is San Jose trending down?
Winnipeg has 27 million cap space now, and will have at least an additional 18 million next year. NOt sure I'd consider that cap hell. They may lose 1 guy, but this isn't the 2009-10 Hawks who had 1 chance to win and had to deal away MULTIPLE guys.

Bruins had a pretty darn good year

And the Leafs….I agree....pressure is ON to win NOW. See how they all survive arguably the 2nd toughest market (Montreal being 1) to win vs media pressure.

Here are my wish trades (only listing key pieces)

Keith to Tor for Kadri
Toews to Win for Buf
- powerenforcer

Wasn't a fan of Kadri head-hunting in BOS series.

Jj

Hawks are working on trades (C, top 4D) today. Would expect Anisimov (at minimum) to be elsewhere at some point. Hearing Ottawa mentioned but sounds like several avenues being pursued.
- mrpaulish

Would love to pry Stone out of Ottawa. Bulldozer of a RW that could easily play on the top line with 19.

We'll see how the jets handle cap hell.
San Jose trending? Down.
Boston? Rebuild on the fly.
Toronto? The great Babcock. The greatest coach that never won. (Great p.r. machine.)

Whatever. All losers. Nice spin.

Go Hocks.
- hocktock

Lol.


Hell yea.

Frank evwryone else


Maybe the Hawks will make a deal or two and be competitive. We’ll see.

AA and ROR are not comparable.
- z1990z

AA and perhaps Kieth at the deadline if we are sellers and maximize our assets

Would love to pry Stone out of Ottawa. Bulldozer of a RW that could easily play on the top line with 19.
- z1990z

I'd be down. Where does the Cat go if Stone takes his spot on the first line?

One thing they have to do is keep the fan base. Can't go back to 6k and 7K fans a night.

In my opinion they get more slack and room to work it if they come out and admit it.

i don't mind that he drafted guys with a higher ceiling but longer time to get here, or that he didn't over pay yesterday and take on more bad contracts.

I will mind if he comes out this summer and says "We like our team, and our goal is a SC.

We aren't that stupid.

Theo and Jed got lots of space by being honest about the entire process. Fans can take the losing if they know you working at the best way to get great again.
- vabeachbear

Agree, and the signing of a Ward along with the uncertainty of Crow answers that to a degree. Same with Manning, a legit NHL player at a position that still has uncertainty. There is enough so the club doesn't stink out loud causing an empty building.

With Schmaltz, Dcat, Saad at 25, Sikura a reasonable hope, Joki close, Bovquist 3 yrs out, reasonable to expect 1 of Forsling/Gus/Oesterle/Dahlstrom/Gilbert to step into a 2nd rotation role next yr or the next and guys like Wise and Beudin reasonable prospects 3-4-5 yrs out they have a young foundation to work from.

Here are my wish trades (only listing key pieces)

Keith to Tor for Kadri
Toews to Win for Buf
- powerenforcer

Best defenseman in Hawks history for a 3rd line center.

And Chevy does so much meth that he thinks trading his best defenseman for a declining $10.5 cap hit is a good idea.

Did your NHL18 disc get scratched or something?

I'd be down. Where does the Cat go if Stone takes his spot on the first line?
- Hank3Henshaw

Stone is a great RW, underrated defensively as well. No way are Ottawa shipping him our for anything less than a haul. Debrincat could easily play on the third line.

The biggest issue would be finding the money to fit Stone under the cap, he's RFA at a relatively old age so he'll want quite a bit of money here.

Would love to pry Stone out of Ottawa. Bulldozer of a RW that could easily play on the top line with 19.
- z1990z

This is why you some of you guys are constantly disappointed - you always want the sky.

Jj

Hawks are working on trades (C, top 4D) today. Would expect Anisimov (at minimum) to be elsewhere at some point. Hearing Ottawa mentioned but sounds like several avenues being pursued.
- mrpaulish

If Bowman pulls off a trade that brings in a top 4 d... he will TOTALLY REDEEM HIMSELF.

...Well depending on the return.

Hearing Murphy's name a lot as well as Anisimov.

This is why you some of you guys are constantly disappointed - you always want the sky.
- L_B_R

Wait a sec...you were talking about wanting some guys last week that were relatively expensive as well. Haha.

I said I'm happy with the roster. We were just commenting on another persons wish of wanting to get Stone.

People need to accept this -
Kane, Keith and Toews wont ever be traded - unless they request it.

Same with Seabrook. And buying him out doesnt solve anything financially either.

The only one "left" of the core group to be moved, is Crawford. Seeing as how he has 2yrs left on his contract, his health and team record this year can/will deeming if hes moved in season, or next off season.

This is why you some of you guys are constantly disappointed - you always want the sky.
- L_B_R

Shoot for the stars and land on the moon!

I've seen some comments about how Chicago is no longer a free-agent destination market under Stan Bowman, which sparked my curiosity. Remembering the Dale Tallon signed Marian Hossa about two weeks before his demotion, the Blackhawks free agency signings under Stan Bowman roughly amounts to the following:

July 2010
John Scott
August 2010
Marty Turco and Fernando Pisani
July 2011
Jamal Mayers, Sean O'Donnell, Andrew Brunette, Dan Carcillo, and Sami Lepisto
October 2011
Ray Emery
July 2012
Sheldon Brookbank
September 2012
Michal Rozsival
July 2013
Theo Peckham and Michael Kostka
July 2014
Brad Richards, Scott Darling, Peter Regin, and Kyle Cumiskey
October 2014
Dan Carcillo
May 2015
Artemi Panarin
July 2015
Viktor Tikhonov and Dennis Rasmussen
July 2016
Brian Campbell and Jordin Tootoo
July 2017
Tommy Wingels, Lance Bouma, Jordan Oesterle, JF Berube, and Patrick Sharp
October 2017
Cody Franson

I pulled this data from Committed Indians. HB won't let me post the link, but the article is entitled "Stan Bowman History as Chicago Blackhawks GM." Note: I did not include ELC signings or guys that I haven't heard of.

It seems to me that Chicago should not have a reputation for ever being a highly sought-after free agent destination (certainly not under Stan Bowman). The biggest signing I see in that list is Brad Richards, and he was getting paid more to NOT play for the New York Rangers than to play for the Blackhawks that year.
- tgentry1084

Let's keep in mind starting in 2010 the Hawks never had the cap room to land big ticket free agents. Hell most seasons they had to trade assets just to get cap compliant. So really this list does not at all indicate Chicago is or isn't a sought after destination.

Here are my wish trades (only listing key pieces)

Keith to Tor for Kadri
Toews to Win for Buf
- powerenforcer

Lol.


WPG is never going to trade Big Buf.

No one is ever going to trade for Toews.


Get real Captain TinFoil.

Maybe Hossa $ , AA, maybe some AHL and maybe some draft picks on the way out

This is why you some of you guys are constantly disappointed - you always want the sky.
- L_B_R

Stone is the sky? With a team like Ottawa in a total overhaul why not inquire?

Lol.


WPG is never going to trade Big Buf.

No one is ever going to trade for Toews.


Get real Captain TinFoil.

Maybe Hossa $ , AA, maybe some AHL and maybe some draft picks on the way out
- mrpaulish

Lmfao.... 😂😂😂

Lol.


WPG is never going to trade Big Buf.

No one is ever going to trade for Toews.


Get real Captain TinFoil.

Maybe Hossa $ , AA, maybe some AHL and maybe some draft picks on the way out
- mrpaulish

Hossa's $5.5 + Anisimov's $4.5mil moved before next summer would give the Hawks some REAL UFA buying power. I've got to think that Anisimov + Forsling/Sikura could get a decent return of picks/prospects from a contender who would love to add 15 at 2c/3c