It seems to me the Blackhawks have scenarios in mind based on how the team does and other circumstances.

I don’t think they could have gone full rebuild this summer because they would have had to trade low on some of their core assets or keep them and let a new coach try to deal with high paid veterans who know their era has ended. So, they keep the band together for another season and see what happens.

But what they don’t want to do is sign guys to long term contracts who might play a role next season but who might not have a place on the team in a year or two with a new coach and the baby core hitting adolescence.

Adding a veteran on the right side of 30 with only a couple years on his contract like Faulk fits the plan. Maybe he shows something that leads to an extension of he doesn’t and gets moved.

Going into the season, maybe the timing is right for it to all work - core comes back strong, baby core grows up, role players do their jobs, and a couple of surprises emerge. Then maybe add a piece or two or theee and make a run and reassess after the season (maybe Q goes then)

Or maybe this season is just a continuation of last season. Then you go into sell mode and move guys like 2, 7, 19, 50, etc., fire Q, and start the next chapter that way.

Either way, the team is in transition. They just need to see how things unfold before making the moves that make the direction clearer.

Why would Bowman not consider Lehner over Ward. I see he signed at half price with the Isles. He is still young (26), has good size, had decent stats for a lousy team, and did not require a movement protection clause.
We would then have an extra $1.5M to spend on another player.
- 67hawks

With Bowman Lehner would have gotten 4million + a no movement clause.

I see Cap Friendly has us with the least amount of cap space remaining. We are really adhering to the "Detroit Model"
-up against the Cap
-crappy older team
-dead cap space tied up in LTIR
- 67hawks

Bingo.....other NHL fans are probably glad the Hawks aren't dominating anymore. In a year or two there will be pity watching Kane run around with scrubs...."remember when he had a mullet and lit the SCF on fire?". Kind of like watching Zetterberg fumble around with nobodies while the slow bleed was on.

With Bowman Lehner would have gotten 4million + a no movement clause.
- kwolf68

And would have paid for his condo and newspaper subscription!!!!!

Well Ward aint much better. All things considered I would have just gone with Forsberg as the back up and spent what I could to improve the D core.
- z1990z

Forsberg is the backup - to Cam Ward. There is nothing to indicate CC will be back anytime soon, NHL goalies aren't off the ice for or 7 month and then get ready in a 2 week training camp.

Forsberg is the backup - to Cam Ward. There is nothing to indicate CC will be back anytime soon, NHL goalies aren't off the ice for or 7 month and then get ready in a 2 week training camp.
- RickJ

If true then there was NO reason for a No Movement Clause in the deal. I don't think the Hawks actually know what they are doing.

IF Crawford returns at any point during the year and it is determined that his absence was not to a "hockey related injury", I think he could end up being a good TDL chip to move, too. Prospect, pick and somebody's expiring cap hit in return.

If true then there was NO reason for a No Movement Clause in the deal. I don't think the Hawks actually know what they are doing.
- kwolf68

You are 100% correct. This team is in uncharted waters. Since 2009, they have been a power house. Now they have to rebuild and they don't appear to know how to do it. We will see how this unfolds, but if they are in the dumpster early and out of it by the dead line, I trade Keith to a contender for a high pick or a highly touted prospect. Seabs too if a team will do it. Thank you for your hard work and the Cups, but you and your million dollar contracts will need to go. Its life in pro sports.

Q will be the first to go if the team struggles out of the gate. Not all his fault, but a HC switch could ignite the team. Stan maybe survives the season, but another bad year/no playoff and he is out too.

If true then there was NO reason for a No Movement Clause in the deal. I don't think the Hawks actually know what they are doing.
- kwolf68

All of Stanbo's copies of the standard players contract (SPC) have NMC and NTC typed in at the bottom. It is a printer error but since Stan has never bothered to read it he doesn't know and Michal Rozsival has kept it a secret for years.

All of Stanbo's copies of the standard players contract (SPC) have NMC and NTC typed in at the bottom. It is a printer error but since Stan has never bothered to read it he doesn't know and Michal Rozsival has kept it a secret for years.
- RickJ

Rick, Rozy has been working on his skating all summer! He's the top 4D they've been waiting for! Book it Danno!

Outstanding find Marlowe.
For anyone that doesn't think Stan is in WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY over his head, that should be further proof.

Pay Ward MORE than the other FA goalies AND make sure you are unable to move that salary or bury it in AHL. Perfect. Just more proof that Stan is a bumbling idiot and it is due to his Dad's legacy that he has GM role.

Well, when Rocky is tired of having no playoffs providing revenues, maybe something will change. Until then, I'm sure we're going to hear all about "playing the right way, playing with pace, being tougher to play against . . . ."

Yep.
- savvyone-1

I dunno, one year, to be one of three rostered goalies, who is there to provide insurance and was willing to sign a one way deal...see anybody better on the the market who was willing to JUST have a one year deal?

Well that really sucks. This team just cannot do anything right. So now if these guys fail and /or the team fails, we are stuck with them.
The good thing with one year contracts on non-playoff teams is the cashout opportunity at the TDL. How many times did the Leafs trade and re-sign Polak?
- 67hawks

So, you thought they signed both to get demoted, and not upgrade the PK and back-up situation?

Mrazek would have been a better option. Cheaper, younger and prolly more skill at this point.
- z1990z

Nope

Well Ward aint much better. All things considered I would have just gone with Forsberg as the back up and spent what I could to improve the D core.
- z1990z

there was a period last year when the sat Darling and Ward went on a tear..

When I saw “baby core”, the names associated with it, and “locking them up” all in the same sentence, I shot the milk from my morning cereal through my nose.

NOTHING about Schmaltz, ADB or any of those other names points to them coming close to half of the calibre of our over the hill group’s peak to suggest they are a group to build around.

Again, so far away these Hawks are. David Haugh’s article was spot on, and likely the sharpest assessment of this team by the Chicago “beat writers” in YEARS.

If the Hawks make no more major moves, than at least we should see some more chemistry and less uncertainty from the team. The Hawks roster changed over a lot of players before last season and there is something to be said about letting some chemistry build. I don't buy that the core are all over the hill and washed up early. I think some consistency could go a long way.

If I had to pull a lineup out of thin air based on the current roster, this would be what I guess they might start with. This could end up being way out to lunch, but this is what I'd try out of the gate.

DeBrincat - Toews - Kane
Saad - Schmaltz - Hinostroza
Kunitz - AA - Hayden
Martinsen - Kampf - T Sikura
Kahun

Keith - Rutta
Gus - Seabs
Manning - Murphy

CC
Ward
Forsberg

There are 9000 different line combinations they could go with and Q will probably try 8999 of them, but here is why I would go with this.

Line 1 - Hockey IQ and skill. Kane as the setup man doing what he does. Toews drives possession (he was extremely effective in this area) and Debrincat is smart enough to play with these two effectively and find those soft scoring areas.

Line 2 - Youth and speed. All 3 have wheels and wouldn't have to face the top pair D. If they get Hinostroza to back check like Saad/Schmaltz, this could be a good line for fast transition attack. Force a turnover and burn the other team in the counter attack. Not saying they'd be as effective as Saad - Toews - Hossa when they hounded the puck in 2013, but they could really catch teams who have D jumping up too early.

Line 3 - I'm not saying this is the best scoring 3rd line in the NHL, but I think they could be a physical 3rd line. I think Hayden will have to earn some minutes, but the assumption is he took the AHL time to heart and continues his strong off-season work ethic (he pushed hard to be NHL ready last off season). AA struggled in 3rd line duty but I think he bounces back his game a bit.

Line 4 - I think this is a realistic option.

The d pairs, I think Rutta will handle a larger role. Most of his issues were with his partner and he was part of the 4 that handled a lot of PK time last year. I think that continues and he stays in the top 4. I do think Gus and Seabrook work decently together deployed offensively. Manning and Murphy could round things out. Maybe the Hawks still do trade Murphy and get another RD and that would change things, but I think the pairs could work like this.

Finally, i think they will carry 3 goalies and let the others get minutes in Rockford.

I dunno, one year, to be one of three rostered goalies, who is there to provide insurance and was willing to sign a one way deal...see anybody better on the the market who was willing to JUST have a one year deal?
- wiz1901

C'mon Wiz, tell me how well that worked out for the Islanders (Berube, Halak & Greiss)? No way you give a guy a NTC/NMC if he is "just insurance." As RickJ just highlighted, no way an NHL-caliber goaltender is off the ice for 7 months with an expectation to come back and be what he was by simply going through camp/preseason.

Hawks brass should be straight-up with the fan base. If this isn't a "soft" (like Charmin soft) rebuild, I don't know what is. So why waste $3M on a goalie when you are in rebuild mode except to attempt to fool the casual fan?

Again, so far away these Hawks are. David Haugh’s article was spot on, and likely the sharpest assessment of this team by the Chicago “beat writers” in YEARS.
- Return of the Roar

McDonut just ran down to the head catering guy at the UC to give orders to him to take away Haugh's buffet privileges. Also gave them a pic to post just in case someone doesn't know what he looks like. The nerve of Haugh to write something so damning.

Tortz voluntarily left after Washington wouldn't commit to five years for a new deal with him with a hefty raise

He didn't get fired
- Stan_Bowman

Thanks, Stanley...... In that case I say give Q another extension, since he's won 3 cups and all and before he gets swooped out from under us.

Justin, thank you for the U.S. Independence Day blog. Hope you and our other Canadian brothers and sisters can enjoy the day, too.

While I like the relentless philosophy, it remains to be seen whether Q can implement such a strategy that comes even close to what Gallant implemented with Vegas. I'll be happy if Q follows through and can instill a relentless philosophy in all 3 zones for a full season, but I'm just not confident it will happen. Wait and see, I guess.

Also, the philosophy of riding the energy of cast-offs who have something to prove would also be nice but may also be a "lightning in the bottle" phenomenon. However, put both the relentless philosophy and the cast-offs philosophy together, then that could be a formula to propel the Hawks forward as a competitive team worth watching and able to push for a playoff seed.

With that in mind, just toying around with your proposed pick-ups in Faulk and Lindberg in addition to the already acquired Kunitz, Manning, and Ward, here is a proposed lineup with suggested trade to obtain Faulk and Lindberg:

TRADES

Anisimov, Forsling, draft picks for Faulk
Gustafsson and draft pick for Lindberg

LINEUP

Saad - Toews - Sikura
DeBrincat - Schmaltz - Kane
Hinostroza - Lindberg - Hayden
Kunitz - Kampf or Johnson - Martinsen

Keith - Seabrook
Murphy - Faulk
Manning - Rutta
Oesterle

Crawford
Ward
Forsberg

Not sure how realistic those trades are so others may have better ideas.

This lineup doesn't seem all that great, but if the dual philosophies of relentlessness and cast-offs work like a charm, then this team could be going places and be exciting to watch.

Same here. Whole lotta ifs in Justin’s excellent analysis. I’d like to believe it’s true, but still feels to me like even if everything aligns they are still only treading water next year.

Mr R - just to clarify you believe the Hawks would look to replace Stan with Kelly? If they are truly rebuilding it would make sense to put your best judge of talent in that position - like Kikalinen in Columbus. Does Q stay or get replaced by Colliton (or is it too soon for him) or who?
- Marlowe

I really have no answers except to say the thing stinks. No, Kelley would be replaced as running the scouting dept by another GM.

If the Hawks make no more major moves, than at least we should see some more chemistry and less uncertainty from the team. The Hawks roster changed over a lot of players before last season and there is something to be said about letting some chemistry build. I don't buy that the core are all over the hill and washed up early. I think some consistency could go a long way.

If I had to pull a lineup out of thin air based on the current roster, this would be what I guess they might start with. This could end up being way out to lunch, but this is what I'd try out of the gate.

DeBrincat - Toews - Kane
Saad - Schmaltz - Hinostroza
Kunitz - AA - Hayden
Martinsen - Kampf - T Sikura
Kahun

Keith - Rutta
Gus - Seabs
Manning - Murphy

CC
Ward
Forsberg

There are 9000 different line combinations they could go with and Q will probably try 8999 of them, but here is why I would go with this.

Line 1 - Hockey IQ and skill. Kane as the setup man doing what he does. Toews drives possession (he was extremely effective in this area) and Debrincat is smart enough to play with these two effectively and find those soft scoring areas.

Line 2 - Youth and speed. All 3 have wheels and wouldn't have to face the top pair D. If they get Hinostroza to back check like Saad/Schmaltz, this could be a good line for fast transition attack. Force a turnover and burn the other team in the counter attack. Not saying they'd be as effective as Saad - Toews - Hossa when they hounded the puck in 2013, but they could really catch teams who have D jumping up too early.

Line 3 - I'm not saying this is the best scoring 3rd line in the NHL, but I think they could be a physical 3rd line. I think Hayden will have to earn some minutes, but the assumption is he took the AHL time to heart and continues his strong off-season work ethic (he pushed hard to be NHL ready last off season). AA struggled in 3rd line duty but I think he bounces back his game a bit.

Line 4 - I think this is a realistic option.

The d pairs, I think Rutta will handle a larger role. Most of his issues were with his partner and he was part of the 4 that handled a lot of PK time last year. I think that continues and he stays in the top 4. I do think Gus and Seabrook work decently together deployed offensively. Manning and Murphy could round things out. Maybe the Hawks still do trade Murphy and get another RD and that would change things, but I think the pairs could work like this.

Finally, i think they will carry 3 goalies and let the others get minutes in Rockford.
- breadbag

Again why is hino in the top 6 when he is a depth energy player 4th line player and sikura should never see the nhl ice next year at all no matter what let him develop on rockford instead of rushing players. So here is a question say bowman does not get a top 4 d man a center or 2 whats the backup plan or is the same i like our team quote.

DeBrincat - Toews - Kane
Saad - Schmaltz - Hinostroza
Kunitz - AA - Hayden
Martinsen - Kampf - T Sikura
Kahun

Keith - Rutta
Gus - Seabs
Manning - Murphy

CC
Ward
Forsberg

The d pairs, I think Rutta will handle a larger role. Most of his issues were with his partner and he was part of the 4 that handled a lot of PK time last year. I think that continues and he stays in the top 4.

Finally, i think they will carry 3 goalies and let the others get minutes in Rockford.
- breadbag

That lineup is as realistic as it could get if the status quo is what it is by training camp.

I feel that both Tyler and Dylan Sikura will be pushing for spots in camp. Johnson as well.

Agree that Rutta is likely going to get more responsibility and a chance to prove himself in his 2nd year.

With the Hawks keeping 3 goalies up, that would have Delia and Lankinen in Rockford and Tomkins and whoever in Indy.

Nalimov is good as gone. Good riddance, I say. I know there's a glut of goalies but if you're not willing to compete and win the job you want, then go find a team willing to hand you a job on a platter. Sounds eerily familiar to the Kevin Hayes situation.

We had this on JL’s previous blog, I think - a somewhat misleading stat - or maybe just irrelevant.

On the current roster, there are only five players older than 30, and two are goalies: Kunitz, Keith, Crawford, Ward, and Seabrook. Two defensemen - perhaps an issue - only one forward.

Three are at (or will be) 30, which shouldn’t be a problem - Kane, Toews, Anisimov.

The problem is not over-age - it’s inexperience - of the rest of the players - all under 30 - only Saad has both experience and proven Cup-contributing skill (and he needs a comeback).
- StLBravesFan

Wonderful more context for a last place club, with the last place GM, the last place coach all back and ready to say the right things. ....... I think the new motto now that's it no longer One Goal or Younger, Faster, Bigger should be But When Put Into Context. They'll roll that one out for 2019/20 cuz this yrs is Relentless Like Vegas!

Again why is hino in the top 6 when he is a depth energy player 4th line player and sikura should never see the nhl ice next year at all no matter what let him develop on rockford instead of rushing players. So here is a question say bowman does not get a top 4 d man a center or 2 whats the backup plan or is the same i like our team quote.
- Scott1977

When breadbag is referring to Sikura, he is referring to Tyler and not Dylan.