I understand your points. I may be proven totally wrong but I have already made it completely clear that I have confidence about next season. Not one of the teams that made the play-offs this year struck me as a complete, great team. Not one. The Hawks are not far away. Their record of last season is skewed downward by poor goaltending, uncustomary blown leads, an expected late season fall off after they were out of the play-offs and an awful, ineffective “Defensive System” that was a disaster.
It is ludicrous to pretend that the Hawks are simply full of massive holes when they can ice at forward Kane, Toews, Saad, DeBrincat and Schmaltz along with a second level of players like Hino, Hayden and Anisimov. On D we
have more than enough quality and quantity. We actually don’t have a true reading on how high the quality is as the “Defensive System” was simply so awful. A player like Forsling didn’t go from being full of talent and potential one second to useless the next.
It does not take a lot of additional wins for the Hawks to get 100 points and make the play-offs and I predict they will do both. - Z3Hawk
Agreed. The big tell toward improvement would be a vast decrease in odd-man breaks against.
Did one of your "inside sources" provide you with this information? Or did you just pull it out of the dumpster like most of your opinions? - BMWChiFan
With respect you have me confused with someone else. I have NEVER, NOT ONCE stated that I have “inside sources”. However, I’ll confirm it here again - not only do I not have “inside sources” I do not have a single “inside source.”
However, I was born in Canada and have been totally immersed in hockey since birth. Totally immeresed. That immersion has given me knowledge and perception concerning hockey issues. It is why I could accurately predict that DeBrincat would not only make the Hawks but would excell - I argued with JJ on this very point. It is also why I could predict that at the 2018 Draft there was no possible way the Hawks would draft either Bouchard or Dobson, if they were available, which they both were. I also knew they would fall. It was also why I could promote Merkley and simply knew some team would step up and take him safely in the First Round regardless of what certain “experts” were negatively saying about him.
Rightly or wrongly I expect the Hawks to make the play-offs next season. Rightly or wrongly I believe that Boqvist is closer to the NHL than anyone realises. Rightly or wrongly I believe the Hawks have both quality and quantity on D that was undermined last season by poor coaching. These are my opinions not opinions I obtained from a “source” or “sources.”
At the end of the day we are always simply discussing hockey issues - it is supposed to be enjoyable not personal.
Location: I was going to do the math on this but I don't think it will help., IL Joined: 08.04.2013
Jul 7 @ 4:42 PM ET
This site was created for hockey fans to discuss hockey, of course there is passion and emotion that can happen during these discussions. But there has to be a level of common respect when responding to a poster.
If you or anyone else feels that this is an imposition, then I would suggest that you (goes for everyone) find another site to make personal attacks against posts or posters you do not agree with.
I see there has been a lot of deleted posts in the blog, next up is lengthy bans, time you guys read the CoC. - Makita
OMG, CC is an employee of the Blackhawks. They are not at liberty to discuss his medical condition with the public, no more than General Electric could tell acquatances of an employee, “you know, he/she has a drinking problem” or, “Joe Smith has cancer”.
There are a few things that supersede sport. Confidential medical information is one of them. That why management has been less than forthcoming. We do not have a ‘right’ to know what’s up with CC. - scottak
It is not that straight-forward. I admit that I have not extensively researched the competing laws. However, it appears that teams can discuss medical conditions to some degree. If there was an absolute prohibition NO discussion of any kind would be allowed. It may be that the NHLPA generally or the player specifically or both can “contract out” or give up certain protections. There are certain pieces of legislation which prohibit “contracting out.” Someone has posted the CBA says that in any event the player must consent which actually makes complete sense. My initial point was that regardless of what medical condition or conditions CC is dealing with I believed he’d receive close to unanimous support from the fan-base. Consequently, regardless of the actual laws applicable I don’t see an advantage to the secrecy.
Panarin's record speaks for itself. He outdid every single Blackhawk this past year. He was the Calder Trophy winning ROY in his first year, etc scoring, etc playoffs, and his many other accolades. Now he is recognized as a top 10 Lwing in the NHL. These are the facts. He made the Hawks better and he made Kane better. I'm sorry he's gone and even more sorry incompetent management has not replaced him or TT or Hammer or Darling or several others..
Panarin's record speaks for itself. He outdid every single Blackhawk this past year. He was the Calder Trophy winning ROY in his first year, etc scoring, etc playoffs, and his many other accolades. Now he is recognized as a top 10 Lwing in the NHL. These are the facts. He made the Hawks better and he made Kane better. I'm sorry he's gone and even more sorry incompetent management has not replaced him or TT or Hammer or Darling or several others.. - Savoy
Ok. You seem to keep intimating he may be better, but who would you rather have?
Kane or Panarin?
Also, are you saying they haven't replaced current Hjalmarrson or Hammer from 3-4 years ago...big difference.
While it's true the current FO group has not produced much/any D in the pipeline, they are beginning to and didn't need to much previously. For all the vaunted "Builder" status affixed to Tallon, let's try to remember the only dman he produced through the draft and developed was Hammer...unless you want to loosely account for Dylan Olsen as well...I don't.
Location: I was going to do the math on this but I don't think it will help., IL Joined: 08.04.2013
Jul 7 @ 6:07 PM ET
Panarin's record speaks for itself. He outdid every single Blackhawk this past year. He was the Calder Trophy winning ROY in his first year, etc scoring, etc playoffs, and his many other accolades. Now he is recognized as a top 10 Lwing in the NHL. These are the facts. He made the Hawks better and he made Kane better. I'm sorry he's gone and even more sorry incompetent management has not replaced him or TT or Hammer or Darling or several others.. - Savoy
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL Joined: 06.06.2009
Jul 7 @ 6:17 PM ET
It is not that straight-forward. I admit that I have not extensively researched the competing laws. However, it appears that teams can discuss medical conditions to some degree. If there was an absolute prohibition NO discussion of any kind would be allowed. It may be that the NHLPA generally or the player specifically or both can “contract out” or give up certain protections. There are certain pieces of legislation which prohibit “contracting out.” Someone has posted the CBA says that in any event the player must consent which actually makes complete sense. My initial point was that regardless of what medical condition or conditions CC is dealing with I believed he’d receive close to unanimous support from the fan-base. Consequently, regardless of the actual laws applicable I don’t see an advantage to the secrecy. - Z3Hawk
If the FO would say, "CC and the team are addressing a potentially serious condition, and are evaluating our options. Perhaps some time later, we can share more info", IMO it would be enough for nearly everyone.
Just a statement. No interviews. No pressers. Just a statement. There isn't a 'Hawks fan alive who doesn't believe CC is a great goalie, a great kid and a key to two titles in three seasons.
Ok. You seem to keep intimating he may be better, but who would you rather have?
Kane or Panarin?
Also, are you saying they haven't replaced current Hjalmarrson or Hammer from 3-4 years ago...big difference.
While it's true the current FO group has not produced much/any D in the pipeline, they are beginning to and didn't need to much previously. For all the vaunted "Builder" status affixed to Tallon, let's try to remember the only dman he produced through the draft and developed was Hammer...unless you want to loosely account for Dylan Olsen as well...I don't. - HawkintheD
Panarin is not the point. Management is the point. Anybody can get traded. What you receive back in a trade determines success or failure. The only way the Panarin give away could have blown up any worse is if Panarin winds up curing cancer or finding the long sought after remedy for baldness. Imo the story is far from over and this will go down in history.
Great job with the blog! I'm a long time reader, but I don't comment very often. Thank you for being so positive in your writing even in the face of some questionable moves by the front office. The tone of your blogs have been a breath of fresh air over all of the negativity that had become part of the norm. Keep up the good work and go Hawks!
It is ludicrous to pretend that the Hawks are simply full of massive holes when they can ice at forward Kane, Toews, Saad, DeBrincat and Schmaltz along with a second level of players like Hino, Hayden and Anisimov. On D we
have more than enough quality and quantity. We actually don’t have a true reading on how high the quality is as the “Defensive System” was simply so awful. A player like Forsling didn’t go from being full of talent and potential one second to useless the next.
It does not take a lot of additional wins for the Hawks to get 100 points and make the play-offs and I predict they will do both.
I notice you mention the talent the Hawks have at forward, but then make no statement about the defense, rather choosing to place blame on "the system". The "system" had NOTHING to do with Murphy and Seabrook being walked wide night in and night out, the "system" had nothing to do with Forsling, Gus and Osterle being scared of their own shadows in the D-zone.
Yes, the Hawks have a pretty nice forward group.
Kane is a super star.
Toews and Saad SHOULD be super stars.
Schmaltz, DinkyCat, Hayden, Vinnie show potential. Other players like AA provide a role.
However, there IS legit reason to think this team is not a good team. YES, they have 8 or 9 really good players but what team in the NHL doesn't? The key isn't to rattle off 6 or 7 good forwards and "prospective" great players, it's can these guys produce?
The Hawks are, at current, a bottom feeder...COULD they have a great year? You bet they can, these following things must occur
-Crawford healthy
-Toews and Saad return to 70/60 pt ways
-Locate/find/construct out of spare body parts of dead hockey players a center who can win draws and serve PK time lessening wear on Toews.
-Hawks need at least TWo players to play meaningful top 4 D-minutes. Will rolling out a washed up Seabrook be one? Do we have faith that Murphy is that guy? Or defensively challenged players like Gus, Forsling, Osterle? Are we expecting Manning to be one? We have ONE SINGLE capable top 4 guy.
And on top of that a little luck or health.
The problem with this team as it stands is they are "in the middle"...are they rebuilding "on the fly", which is some justifications for the Free Agent moves made this Summer, old guys on short contracts.
And we're told they are going to let the young guys develop...and then what? In 2, 3 years join a team with an even older Seabrook, an older Keith, an older Toews? What gives? Meanwhile 7 and 19 will continue to suck up a huge share of the cap and unless production can once again line up with those salaries, the Hawks will never be worth a poop, because to make up for their lack of production you have to go FIND a top pairing D-man to replace (and when I say replace I mean replace their production, but the salary remains) Seabs and a top 6 center...neither will be cheap.
The bottom line is the salary structure as well as the production versus salary will NOT allow this team to compete for the Stanley Cup for a long time. Other teams are bigger, faster, younger, have more cap flexibility.
I do believe the Hawks can maybe take one more run, hope 7 or 8 things "come together" and make a run and see what happens. But the last couple years do NOT indicate in any way, shape or form the high priced veterans are ready to actually start carrying the mail again. I hope I am wrong, but it is very reasonable to doubt where this team is currently headed.
Bingo! I don’ think there are any short term moves that make them a Cup contender. The only way that happens is if the original “core” play like they did pre 2015 and thats not bloody likely. I think as fans we should be thrilled about the run they had from even 2009 to 2015 but if they don’t have a solid plan going forward it’s just going to take them a longer time to get back in the cup picture - jhawk159
If I were a betting maven in Vegas I would bet everything on Stan saving face, which is to suggest that he wants the line up to produce at a very competitive pace throughout most of the season. I would not be surprised if Stan decided time to look at kids, deal veterans at the trade deadline. But up until the deadline and perhaps throughout the season Bowman and his bosses are so very scared of dwindling attendance and an eroding season ticket base, that moves need to be made with competitiveness first and foremost. A .500 record is the best Blackhawks likely would produce.
I notice you mention the talent the Hawks have at forward, but then make no statement about the defense, rather choosing to place blame on "the system". The "system" had NOTHING to do with Murphy and Seabrook being walked wide night in and night out, the "system" had nothing to do with Forsling, Gus and Osterle being scared of their own shadows in the D-zone.
Yes, the Hawks have a pretty nice forward group.
Kane is a super star.
Toews and Saad SHOULD be super stars.
Schmaltz, DinkyCat, Hayden, Vinnie show potential. Other players like AA provide a role.
However, there IS legit reason to think this team is not a good team. YES, they have 8 or 9 really good players but what team in the NHL doesn't? The key isn't to rattle off 6 or 7 good forwards and "prospective" great players, it's can these guys produce?
The Hawks are, at current, a bottom feeder...COULD they have a great year? You bet they can, these following things must occur
-Crawford healthy
-Toews and Saad return to 70/60 pt ways
-Locate/find/construct out of spare body parts of dead hockey players a center who can win draws and serve PK time lessening wear on Toews.
-Hawks need at least TWo players to play meaningful top 4 D-minutes. Will rolling out a washed up Seabrook be one? Do we have faith that Murphy is that guy? Or defensively challenged players like Gus, Forsling, Osterle? Are we expecting Manning to be one? We have ONE SINGLE capable top 4 guy.
And on top of that a little luck or health.
The problem with this team as it stands is they are "in the middle"...are they rebuilding "on the fly", which is some justifications for the Free Agent moves made this Summer, old guys on short contracts.
And we're told they are going to let the young guys develop...and then what? In 2, 3 years join a team with an even older Seabrook, an older Keith, an older Toews? What gives? Meanwhile 7 and 19 will continue to suck up a huge share of the cap and unless production can once again line up with those salaries, the Hawks will never be worth a poop, because to make up for their lack of production you have to go FIND a top pairing D-man to replace (and when I say replace I mean replace their production, but the salary remains) Seabs and a top 6 center...neither will be cheap.
The bottom line is the salary structure as well as the production versus salary will NOT allow this team to compete for the Stanley Cup for a long time. Other teams are bigger, faster, younger, have more cap flexibility.
I do believe the Hawks can maybe take one more run, hope 7 or 8 things "come together" and make a run and see what happens. But the last couple years do NOT indicate in any way, shape or form the high priced veterans are ready to actually start carrying the mail again. I hope I am wrong, but it is very reasonable to doubt where this team is currently headed. - kwolf68
I think you're first point is the key. If Crow can't go, this season could very well be a repeat of the last. I truly believe that the reason they went out and signed Ward was that they know Crawford won't be able to go on day one.
#loseforhughes
ETA: if Crawford comes back and plays well, I think he's gone at the TDL for a haul
I think you're first point is the key. If Crow can't go, this season could very well be a repeat of the last. I truly believe that the reason they went out and signed Ward was that they know Crawford won't be able to go on day one.
#loseforhughes
ETA: if Crawford comes back and plays well, I think he's gone at the TDL for a haul - tvetter[/quote]
I highly doubt it, since his significant other if from Chicago, they have a young child, Crow can only be traded to 10 teams of his choice and he can pick teams who don't want/need him or his $6M cap hit , and he reportedly has already turned down a trade a few years ago.
If I were a betting maven in Vegas I would bet everything on Stan saving face, which is to suggest that he wants the line up to produce at a very competitive pace throughout most of the season. I would not be surprised if Stan decided time to look at kids, deal veterans at the trade deadline. But up until the deadline and perhaps throughout the season Bowman and his bosses are so very scared of dwindling attendance and an eroding season ticket base, that moves need to be made with competitiveness first and foremost. A .500 record is the best Blackhawks likely would produce. - jhawk59
More moves now like Ward, Kunitz and Manning? No thanks. And as for moves at the TDL, which veterans are they going to be able to move? The ones with inflated cap hits and NMCs like Toews and Seabs? Or the ones that will bring back little in return, like Anisimov and Murphy?
The bottom line is the core is no longer good enough to overcome/hide Bowman's chronic mismanagement and Q's stubbornness. There is no hope until both are gone.
[quote=tvetter]I think you're first point is the key. If Crow can't go, this season could very well be a repeat of the last. I truly believe that the reason they went out and signed Ward was that they know Crawford won't be able to go on day one.
#loseforhughes
ETA: if Crawford comes back and plays well, I think he's gone at the TDL for a haul - BMWChiFan[/quote]
I highly doubt it, since his significant other if from Chicago, they have a young child, Crow can only be traded to 10 teams of his choice and he can pick teams who don't want/need him or his $6M cap hit , and he reportedly has already turned down a trade a few years ago.
I highly doubt the Hawks resign him, so at the TDL, he'll only have another season and a half. Therefore, he may be willing to waive.
More moves now like Ward, Kunitz and Manning? No thanks. And as for moves at the TDL, which veterans are they going to be able to move? The ones with inflated cap hits and NMCs like Toews and Seabs? Or the ones that will bring back little in return, like Anisimov and Murphy?
The bottom line is the core is no longer good enough to overcome/hide Bowman's chronic mismanagement and Q's stubbornness. There is no hope until both are gone. - BMWChiFan
I agree mcego to needs to go rocky needs to grow a set put his foot down and clean house unless something dramatically happens from now until start of the season that improves the hawks to where they can contend for a playoff start then I see the same results as of last year.
Panarin's record speaks for itself. He outdid every single Blackhawk this past year. He was the Calder Trophy winning ROY in his first year, etc scoring, etc playoffs, and his many other accolades. Now he is recognized as a top 10 Lwing in the NHL. These are the facts. He made the Hawks better and he made Kane better. I'm sorry he's gone and even more sorry incompetent management has not replaced him or TT or Hammer or Darling or several others.. - Savoy
Yup
Alllllllll this. Don't let the few naive homers that remain here stop you from speaking the truth. This teams front office has been abysmal and made some unbelievably bad decisions, including letting go of Panarin.
Panarin is not the point. Management is the point. Anybody can get traded. What you receive back in a trade determines success or failure. The only way the Panarin give away could have blown up any worse is if Panarin winds up curing cancer or finding the long sought after remedy for baldness. Imo the story is far from over and this will go down in history. - Savoy
Exactly, and lets examine the key pieces we've lost over the years and what we got in return:
Sharp for Daley and Garbutt? That's bad
Saad for Anisimov and Dano is okay....but not if you're gonna end up trading away a stud like Panarin just to reacquire Saad anyways....
Leddy for some AHLer i forgot the name of, Pokka or something like that
Danault for Weise and Fleichmann.....AWFUL!
Hjalmarsson for Murphy....looks bad so far, don't see it turning around its not like Murphy has some unseen/hidden potential and once again the player going should have fetched a much better return.
These were CRITICAL trades involving some of the crucial pieces of the roster, forget all the lesser ones that you could dig into.
Add these to the contracts that were given out:
Toews at 10.5mil per.
Bickell 4.0(so badly overpaid we had to trade away a budding top 6 talent in Teravainen)
Seabrook 7.0 per and its been well documented how bad of a (frank) up this was.
Again these are big names, key pieces on the roster that were not handled correctly.
And all the NTCs and all the lesser contracts and overpays and yada yada.....
You can't dance around it. You can't sugar coat it. This front office has ruined everything, there is no recovering from these mistakes, and they should all lose their jobs(though they surely won't). Its (gotten)THAT bad.
Exactly, and lets examine the key pieces we've lost over the years and what we got in return:
Sharp for Daley and Garbutt? That's bad
Saad for Anisimov and Dano is okay....but not if you're gonna end up trading away a stud like Panarin just to reacquire Saad anyways....
Leddy for some AHLer i forgot the name of, Pokka or something like that
Danault for Weise and Fleichmann.....AWFUL!
Hjalmarsson for Murphy....looks bad so far, don't see it turning around its not like Murphy has some unseen/hidden potential and once again the player going should have fetched a much better return.
These were CRITICAL trades involving some of the crucial pieces of the roster, forget all the lesser ones that you could dig into.
Add these to the contracts that were given out:
Toews at 10.5mil per.
Bickell 4.0(so badly overpaid we had to trade away a budding top 6 talent in Teravainen)
Seabrook 7.0 per and its been well documented how bad of a (frank) up this was.
Again these are big names, key pieces on the roster that were not handled correctly.
And all the NTCs and all the lesser contracts and overpays and yada yada.....
You can't dance around it. You can't sugar coat it. This front office has ruined everything, there is no recovering from these mistakes, and they should all lose their jobs(though they surely won't). Its (gotten)THAT bad. - SimpleJack
Three years ago, Toews was a top 3 center in the game. No one could have seen that his game was going to fall off a cliff. Bickell has MS. No one could have seen that he was going to have those issues after the playoffs in 2013.
I'm not a Bowman apologist, and actually wish he was gone, but those are 2 bad examples IMO. I agree with everything else.
