If true, then the delay is that his agent — JB pritzker — is probably still tied up at the dinner table and can’t get away to finish the negotiations.
- Spec41971

Are you implying that the potential future governor of Illinois has something in common with the present governor of New Jersey?

Scandalous....

Looks like Maroon is going to sign in St. Louis.

They have been making moves this offaeason. Still don't love their Allen/Johnson duo in net... but will be hard to play against this year.

If true, then the delay is that his agent — JB pritzker — is probably still tied up at the dinner table and can’t get away to finish the negotiations.
- Spec41971

Naah, he is busy pulling toilets

And like I am teaching my 3 yr old (OK, 31 months) grand-daughter. Good call JL.
- blackhawk24

It's a true test of your character isn't it?

Good luck to you, sir!

Yes, the Hawks pipeline is starting to get stronger especially on the blueline. Coincidentally, the top prospects and those who many would argue are untouchable as far as trades, are all RHD: Boqvist, Jokiharju, and Mitchell. Start with these 3 as a potential nucleus of the future backend then complement them with more defensively-minded partners. Maybe something like:

Carlsson - Boqvist
Gilbert - Jokiharju
Hillman - Mitchell

Can't forget about other D prospects like Beaudin and Krys with big offensive upside as well as some potential 3rd pair guys like Raddysh, Snuggerud, Tuulola, Shea, and Galvas.

This of course assumes no acquisitions from outside the team like trades and free agency. As others have mentioned, having a deep prospect pool on D allows trading from a place of strength to bolster other areas of need, like forward and particularly top 6. I'd argue Sikura and Wise are the only top-6 prospects.
- AEL_Fox

It's fun to think about finally having some depth in the prospect pool on defence.

I will be curious to see where they rank in a couple years for overall organizational depth.

Stan, with Mark Kelley's help is really starting to stock the cupboards again.

Canucks suck
- mrpaulish

Ha. Nice.

But wouldn't it be great to have that Canucks/Hawks rivalry back in full force again?

Ha. Nice.

But wouldn't it be great to have that Canucks/Hawks rivalry back in full force again?
- Justin Lowe

I think the competition between the Hawks and Canucks will be fierce next season. Both teams will be fighting intensely for the #1 overall pick.

Ha. Nice.

But wouldn't it be great to have that Canucks/Hawks rivalry back in full force again?
- Justin Lowe

I'd settle for the Hawks and anyone great rivalry.......................

I'd settle for the Hawks and anyone great rivalry.......................
- vabeachbear

Touche

Justin,

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!

JB
- JPBurke27

Thanks for JB. Appreciate the note and comment more often!

Justin, All - going to check out of here for a bit. There’s no constructive discussion about the Blackhawks, only a bunch of whining, complaining and trash talking management.
- Marlowe

Hard to argue with you there, Marlowe.

We'll get back on track shortly. Pop back in soon.

Jack some great points here and ones I usually cover. You may also want to point out that Bowman's priority that summer after the Cup win in 15 was not resigning the 4D he needed so badly (see the Blues series in spring of '16),but instead first resigning David Rundblad.

The Sharp trade remains an absolute disaster not only for the return but because the return cost valued cap space he needed to hang onto Oduya (left to twist in the wind) or Saad. Saad should have never been moved in the first place. He also was able to buyout Bickell at that point but instead ended up giving up TT to make him go away.

Meantime Bowman never got the 4D needed (not at the TDL either and instead gave up a promising young center in Danault for hot garbage). And what are the Hawks sorely lacking amongst other things center depth.

Last summer Stan made moves for the sake of making them not necessarily for the betterment of the club, but for cost control. You point out the two major ones, your second leading scorer and your best defensive dman, but not having a bonafide NHL backup unless you count a 36 year old accountant ranks right there.

He still can't unload Hossa's deal without a sweetener a la TT/Bickell...and teams aren't exactly lining up to help Stan out. And his big free agency moves this summer are certainly not a wowsa. You've added a 39 year old center, a backup goalie with a full NMC/NTC who won a Cup 14 years ago or so...and another #6 defenseman. And now you want to save cap space for some kids who might or might not be the next core of this team? What does that say to your veterans hoping for some help this season? And the One-Goal mantra...lol...

It's time for the Hawks to move on from the current FO and get a new Pres of Hockey Ops...Rocky you're on the clock.
- DK002

Well DK, as far as Rundblad goes, yes Stan doubled down on his mistake (Stan bad); but while they didn't get a number 4 dman as you've pointed out for about 2 years now pretty much every time you post, they lost to StL in 7 games and if memory serves, Toews, Kane and Panarin accounted for 4 goals that series (and I believe one of Artie's was an EN, though I could be wrong).

Sometimes all the holes can't be filled, but your stars need to be your stars. They weren't which I don't believe ever gets mentioned...by you anyway.

I and pretty much everyone agrees Danault should never have been traded.

Sending a message to the veterans? They've gotten paid. Maybe some of them need to start helping themselves.

Ha. Nice.

But wouldn't it be great to have that Canucks/Hawks rivalry back in full force again?
- Justin Lowe

Really happy that the Sedins, Burrows, and Bieska have never won.

Always liked Kesler as a player.

come on already....

It's fun to think about finally having some depth in the prospect pool on defence.

I will be curious to see where they rank in a couple years for overall organizational depth.

Stan, with Mark Kelley's help is really starting to stock the cupboards again.
- Justin Lowe

Hey Justin I propose a couple of trades earlier in the current blog because asked for trade proposals also ask what trades would you make if you were the gm of the hawks. No beating around the bush just like an honest direct answer. Just like to see what kind of trades you would make?

Really happy that the Sedins, Burrows, and Bieska have never won.

Always liked Kesler as a player.
- mrpaulish

That's lame and petty...but I agree; with everything but the Kesler part.

It's fun to think about finally having some depth in the prospect pool on defence.

I will be curious to see where they rank in a couple years for overall organizational depth.

Stan, with Mark Kelley's help is really starting to stock the cupboards again.
- Justin Lowe

It certainly helped that the team shifted directions and stopped trading their early picks and acquired some instead. The win now mentality could only continue for so long.

Say all that you will about declining performance of our top $ vets, having them be the grizzled old veterans that perform in a couple more Cup runs while the young'uns carry the main mail would be freakin' awesome.
And say what you will about management, nothing they have done indicates to me they are not on this particular page.

That's lame and petty...but I agree; with everything but the Kesler part.
- HawkintheD

Always thought he would look great between Kane and Saad. Oh wellz

Say all that you will about declining performance of our top $ vets, having them be the grizzled old veterans that perform in a couple more Cup runs while the young'uns carry the main mail would be freakin' awesome.
And say what you will about management, nothing they have done indicates to me they are not on this particular page.
- 35Tony0

Couple more cup runs ?


This team as is not even a playoff team and if they get in can they even win one series ?

The Jets
The Wild
The Preds
The Avalanche
And maybe even the Stars are much better rosters than the Blackhawks right now. Getting into the playoffs will be very hard for this Blackhawks team.

come on already....
- bogiedoc

👍

come on already....
- bogiedoc

Ha. Nice.

But wouldn't it be great to have that Canucks/Hawks rivalry back in full force again?
- Justin Lowe

I don't think that rivalry will ever really get up to where it was. I think it was more of a rivalry of the personalities (most of which are now gone) on each team. The fans will always remember though.

Looks like Maroon is going to sign in St. Louis.

They have been making moves this offaeason. Still don't love their Allen/Johnson duo in net... but will be hard to play against this year.
- Justin Lowe

Agreed. St. Louis, Nashville, Winnipeg will be rough ones to watch. Hell, Dallas and Colorado will have better teams as well.

Couple more cup runs ?


This team as is not even a playoff team and if they get in can they even win one series ?

The Jets
The Wild
The Preds
The Avalanche
And maybe even the Stars are much better rosters than the Blackhawks right now. Getting into the playoffs will be very hard for this Blackhawks team.
- mrpaulish

Completely agreed. Barring any miracles happening (i.e. Karlsson or Faulk acquisition) this team will be another top 10 (or even top 5) draft pick team. Not that I'm hating.. Just think it will be another 2 years of what we saw last year and some players taking some huge steps forward before this team smells the playoffs again. I'm looking forward to watching it grow.