Do you recall what Bowman said at the tail end of the season about there won't be that many changes over the summer.Well to date there hasn't been.For someone who's job is on the line,he is sure taking a chance that this squad will rebound.Lets hope that he is right.GOHAWKSGO
- Tatoo

And none of us know what the Hawks management team really decided to do over the next two years. Stan saying there wouldn’t be much activity and then there not being a lot of activity is probably the closest we will ever hear from them about the truth.

Management might have already written off next season’s team in terms of improvement from last year. Believe they will make enough money to be fine with the status quo for a couple of years and are hoping to come out of that in better position contract wise and with a new core of younger players ready to play. Then they can live the “kids can play” bs marketing for another couple of years. I don’t see anything really good relative to contending for five more years.

That’s what she said
- Assman22

Well said!

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

Scandalous....
- StLBravesFan

Don’t know anything about the current governor of NJ. Only one I had any knowledge of was Christie.

Just know that our potential governor is a billionaire who got a property he owned judged to be uninhabitable so he could save on property taxes.

As frustrating as this free agent period has gone, i’d Rather see the hawks do nothing than do something just for the sake of appearances. Don’t think there was anything they could do — meaning nothing was going to turn them into a contender —that wouldn’t hurt them going forward. Then only thing I see them possibly doing is getting a lower six forward/center from buffalo for Hossa’s contract. Think they need that off the books to let them have better use of the cap room for a multi-year signing next off season.
- Spec41971

Yep,

Hence the 24 month rebuild that started with these two 1st round picks. That is not unreasonable.

Where is Tim Söderlund playing this season? AHL? or Europe?

Patrick Maroon to STL 1yr $1.7MM.

Lookout for the Blues, your 2018-19 Central Division champs.

He signed with Columbus, 3 years @ $2.75 million per.

I think Derek Grant could be a decent option on a 1 or 2 year deal.
- DarthKane

Oh ok thanks , nice signing .Nice term and $$ . Do not know Grant that well . You are right they need a Centre , HAWKS are do to find a gem with one of their later picks . Maybe Wise or Nordgren will surprise and be the next Sharp or Shaw

Patrick Maroon to STL 1yr $1.7MM.

Lookout for the Blues, your 2018-19 Central Division champs.
- Return of the Roar

Not with that goaltending IMO

Just read an article from The Athletic talking about Panarin’s future and if he’ll be traded.
How did we go from unearthing an elite undrafted winger to trading back for our very good winger and a prospect goalie?

Stan spins about cost certainty but the fact is both Saad and Panarin were under Blackhawks control. Saad didn’t have to be traded, we could’ve dumped Bickell/Shaw/Kruger to fit him in.

Artemi did not need to be dealt because of one embarrassing sweep. He needed a new contract but there’s no reason we couldn’t do the two year deal, and then move things around to give him his earned mega deal. The cap went up.

We should have an embarrassment of riches on wing: Kane, Panarin, Saad, Teuvo, Debrincat. Instead we have Saad, AA, Forsberg in two trades that we decidedly lost.

Just hit sure what most on this board want...a time machine?

The prospects are germinating at the NHL level and more in the farm.

The highest end elite talent isn't drafted because they didn't stay a bottom feeder for the next decade after being one.

The places they DID draft, they did pretty well, thought I saw Kelley's name written on the gallows list too.

They paid the core just as EACJ and every Cup win g team did to their core, to avoid players looking for a fresh start.

They had to make countless difficult decision.

Yet...we in general, here refuse to let the natural process continue, whether it is a Wings like fall to the middle or if it is the what the management company line of ...team these days can re-tool improve and return to challenge...

The one thing we see is a team that has always been willing to spend near the top.

You prefer the ownership take a higher grip other wallet and set lower limitations to what they GM can do?

You prefer they just scrape all the old pieces (but the one or two you refuse to sour on) and go for a chancer at the top five lottery slots for the next decade while you haven't found replacements for the defenseman and forwards in that core?

I know it is fan board and all can vent, I just am not sure that the comments like the season is over, and the Stan Bowman quotes serve ME a happy environment because, they are not telling me anything st all.

Each and every summer I SAVE the various posts of how this player is this, the situation is this, and it always cheers me up when so many of these rash sweeping evaluations posted suddenly vanish when the the season starts and the comments re hilariously so out in left field.

I really don't mind you opinions or discourage you from typing them, but sometimes, I guess It don't understand where it is taking you as a fan, you know?
- wiz1901

Wiz,
management specifically McD promised us a competitive team year after year. He allowed Stanbo to do NTC/NMC clauses on contracts that handcuffed any rebuild or player movement to fill holes or make room for younger players. He just did it again with both Kunitz and Ward so neither can be traded at the deadline for picks or futures without their permission!.
High money/ long term contracts cannot have trade or movement clauses. It's one or the other. Paying Seabs (one of my favorite money players of the winning years) top dollar and giving him no movement,no trade clauses was just plain crazy, as was the term for a guy in his 30's. He's serviceable but over paid at even 5M.
Q's complete mishandling young dmen going back to Leddy is beyond the slack he's already been given for winning 3 cups. See Kepney as another example of a guy that was a #2 on a Cup winning team this year after being traded but was in and out of Q's doghouse all the time with the Hawks. Is his attitude going to change while Jokihuru and Boqvist learn the ropes, or do they go under the bus too?

Anyone want to discuss the elephant in the room #19? Where did the one that signed a 10.4M deal go? Was he playing hurt the last 2 years or does he just suck?
What's the word on him? As the Hawks have no chance of getting into the playoffs unless the original one shows up this year for atleast 70 games. With or without Crow, #19 is the most important player on this team and as he goes so go the Hawks. Was Hossa the key to Towes success? Panik got traded and Saad moved to the 2nd line because #19 can't play like he used to. Kane seems to find his spots no matter who his linemates are. Give him some NHL talent and he'd lead the league in scoring again.
Does it make alot of sense to pay 2 guys 21M per and not afford them wings and centers? McD and Stanbo made those decisions with big smiles on their faces.
Madden, Richards, and Handzues were all acquired to win draws, now after #19 its all downhill til you hit Kamph at #4C. Why was this not seen and addressed yet again?
So as a fan and a ticket buyer I want to know what my $150+/ticket is going to get me. Because I got ripped off more than once over the past 2 years, paying top dollar to watch some uninspired "cutouts" put on Hawk uniforms and play well below their pay scale: I'm not goofy enough to think they have to win every game At $15 a ticket,have a beer or two and watch the kids in Rockford, at $150 I want to see better than AHL talent in those Hawk uniforms, and frankly the talent gap between the two teams hasn't been too great recently. I'm sure I'm not alone feeling ripped off, kept in the dark, and basically treated the same as if "Dollar Bill" still owns the team. That Wiz is what you're reading on this site.

Patrick Maroon to STL 1yr $1.7MM.

Lookout for the Blues, your 2018-19 Central Division champs.
- Return of the Roar

Yeah. There is the missing link.

Where is Tim Söderlund playing this season? AHL? or Europe?
- breadbag

My guess is Europe.

Not with that goaltending IMO
- oldduffman

Their D isn't all that hot either. They are going to be slow af up front too. Schenn, ROR, Maroon, are slow.

Just read an article from The Athletic talking about Panarin’s future and if he’ll be traded.
How did we go from unearthing an elite undrafted winger to trading back for our very good winger and a prospect goalie?

Stan spins about cost certainty but the fact is both Saad and Panarin were under Blackhawks control. Saad didn’t have to be traded, we could’ve dumped Bickell/Shaw/Kruger to fit him in.

Artemi did not need to be dealt because of one embarrassing sweep. He needed a new contract but there’s no reason we couldn’t do the two year deal, and then move things around to give him his earned mega deal. The cap went up.

We should have an embarrassment of riches on wing: Kane, Panarin, Saad, Teuvo, Debrincat. Instead we have Saad, AA, Forsberg in two trades that we decidedly lost.
- ObeseOprah

Eh, you can't say they could have traded Bickell/Shaw in 2015 to have space for Saad and then say they'd still have Teravainen and Debrincat - the latter two are directly connected to with the movement of the former two.

First, Bickell was only tradable once a sweetener like Teravainen was included and he only had the one year left - even if someone was willing to take Bickell prior to his final season (reports said this wasn't the case but we'll run with it), Teravainen would have still been needed to move him. Second, the pick that the Hawks used to select Debrincat was from the Shaw trade in 2016 - so if they'd traded Shaw in 2015, they likely would never have the pick for Debrincat. No way to know if Montreal would still take Shaw then, that the return would be the exact same (instead of for 2015 picks for example), that the standings would be the same, etc etc.

You can say they might still have Panarin in addition to Saad, but not the other two. They likely couldn't afford them both for more than a season even with moves, not with Panarin hitting all his bonuses, though maybe he wouldn't have without AA as his center. Idk cause hypothetical revisionist history isn't something I care to put much thought into.

Also jfyi, Kruger wasn't actually signed when Saad was traded in 2015. He was an RFA coming off a two-year $1.2m ish contract and then did not sign the one-year $1.5m deal for the next season until September, well after Saad had been traded. They could have certainly not qualified him or traded his right, but the $1.5m wouldn't have been the difference to keeping Saad. I assume you thought he was already on his $3m deal but nah.

I totally think there is merit for complaint for the original Saad deal and how/when it went down (less so with Panarin imo but that's different debate) but it's impossible to claim they'd have had the other two wingers as well.

My guess is Europe.
- DarthKane

Yes. He is going to play for Frölunda in SHL next season. Don´t know why he moved there from Skellefteå but maybe he is going to have bigger role there or something? If he´ll make it to the NHL someday I bet he is going to be a fan favorite. Fast and never stops, excellent work ethic and have some scoring touch too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQj0InbUCvk

Patrick Maroon to STL 1yr $1.7MM.

Lookout for the Blues, your 2018-19 Central Division champs.
- Return of the Roar

at that price would have looked good on the Hawks

The Breadman has proven himself in the 3 years in the league almost a PPG player; yes he had Kane for the first two but it wasn't one sided as Kane had his best years as well points-wise. No he is not quite in the "stud" category commanding 10-11 million /yr but few are and nobody is comparing him to Kaner, Toews, Taveres, Ovie, etc as those guys are paid that. You mention his lack of D instincts well look at Kaner. When you command the puck in the O zone as muck as he has, that means way less time in your D zone; he is Forward that you are willing to compromise his D instincts for. I'll take that trade-off anytime! Possible solutions if so worried about his D zone work, put him out only in O zone FO and change on the fly when in D zone FO
- D2D

Fwiw, I think you might have bought in to that 'narrative' - frankly the guy you were replying to, if you think about it, was describing exactly what a winger does for zone exits.

Plus you don't get to be +20 by being a cherry picker - it's basically a furphy created by a person with an obvious axe to grind - although the 'why' that is, it a bit more murky.

Panarin was and is fine on D as a winger... does exactly what you expect a winger to do -- gets in to position for a D zone exit. Of course it isn't (and never was) limited to just that.

You should read/listen to the interview with Panarin's agent because it's pretty obvious now that the Hawks got the same message that Panarin/his agent are telling the Jackets now: there is a strong possibility that Panarin isn't/wasn't going to sign long-term and to look at trade options.


- L_B_R

I do think this is more to the point - it definitely was not play-related... he wasn't going to be happy as a 6 mil for 6 year type of guy ... so, I mean I guess it came down to choosing whether to fish or cut bait. They went with the cut bait. I suppose if they could afford his price now -maybe I guess you consider it; but maybe not. I mean if the guy was moved because his agent was playing games ... while to a degree you expect that I guess, but would you want to put up with that? It isn't like the team didn't eventually find success in a Panarin-less world/league. Might have to try doing that again. I guess it is a bit like having banana splits for dinner for a week ... sure is fun for a bit, but it probably isn't sustainable.

at that price would have looked good on the Hawks
- Revco38

You do know - he wouldn't have signed anywhere else for that price? "Hometown" discount.

Prospects camp this week, right? Looking forward to commentary from those whom attend. Realization of course not to make too much out of the display as this is no indication of impending stepping stone fast track to a roster spot next fall.

I recall sitting with wiz and he was considering the whether R Olsen made strides in his gap coverage. Pacan looks good. That Justin Holl, keep an eye on him. Froese - so so. Broadhurst kids are skating all over the rink. Leddy and Lalonde on pp - sign of things to come. We all had hoped Aliu, Beech, Makarov were going to contribute.

Well there is a higher talent level both quality and quantity whom will be playing at Rockford and elsewhere. Their success may get a boost by the support of older pro players who agree to play AHL. Might include Franson, DiDomenico, Kahun

You know likely a couple of collegiate dmen signees probably start AHL. Two dmen signees still somewhat to under the radar may be really close to NHL trial. Uncertainty about n my mind how Ulfie could help along but both prospects have distinct style. Both were strong in their league's last season and have shown good progress each year. Carlsson has been called a dark horse. Tuulola stepped in straight to AHL playoffs and Colliton played him their last three games.

I have asked Justin for any input as in teview based in this small sample set if Tuulola. He must not feel a qualified answer can be given

But take a gander at future Blackhawks. Many might, indeed, play Traverse City right before training camp opens.

If Boqvist is there watch his tremendous skating ability

Let's get back to the basics team.

New Blog up: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=93857

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?
- Scott1977

Hey Scott - sorry missed that.

I have incorporated your question into this morning's blog: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=93857

Fwiw, I think you might have bought in to that 'narrative' - frankly the guy you were replying to, if you think about it, was describing exactly what a winger does for zone exits.

Plus you don't get to be +20 by being a cherry picker - it's basically a furphy created by a person with an obvious axe to grind - although the 'why' that is, it a bit more murky.

Panarin was and is fine on D as a winger... does exactly what you expect a winger to do -- gets in to position for a D zone exit. Of course it isn't (and never was) limited to just that.
- steve-hist-sdc

I absolutely have no beef with the Breadman as he plays more D than Kaner when on that same line. And I agree with you 100% with him as a player. What I was referring to was winning board battles, say to chip puck out of D zone or keeping puck in zone. Whereas most players would use their body as leverage, Breadman chooses to use his hands/stick.

Wiz,
management specifically McD promised us a competitive team year after year. He allowed Stanbo to do NTC/NMC clauses on contracts that handcuffed any rebuild or player movement to fill holes or make room for younger players. He just did it again with both Kunitz and Ward so neither can be traded at the deadline for picks or futures without their permission!.
High money/ long term contracts cannot have trade or movement clauses. It's one or the other. Paying Seabs (one of my favorite money players of the winning years) top dollar and giving him no movement,no trade clauses was just plain crazy, as was the term for a guy in his 30's. He's serviceable but over paid at even 5M.
Q's complete mishandling young dmen going back to Leddy is beyond the slack he's already been given for winning 3 cups. See Kepney as another example of a guy that was a #2 on a Cup winning team this year after being traded but was in and out of Q's doghouse all the time with the Hawks. Is his attitude going to change while Jokihuru and Boqvist learn the ropes, or do they go under the bus too?

Anyone want to discuss the elephant in the room #19? Where did the one that signed a 10.4M deal go? Was he playing hurt the last 2 years or does he just suck?
What's the word on him? As the Hawks have no chance of getting into the playoffs unless the original one shows up this year for atleast 70 games. With or without Crow, #19 is the most important player on this team and as he goes so go the Hawks. Was Hossa the key to Towes success? Panik got traded and Saad moved to the 2nd line because #19 can't play like he used to. Kane seems to find his spots no matter who his linemates are. Give him some NHL talent and he'd lead the league in scoring again.
Does it make alot of sense to pay 2 guys 21M per and not afford them wings and centers? McD and Stanbo made those decisions with big smiles on their faces.
Madden, Richards, and Handzues were all acquired to win draws, now after #19 its all downhill til you hit Kamph at #4C. Why was this not seen and addressed yet again?
So as a fan and a ticket buyer I want to know what my $150+/ticket is going to get me. Because I got ripped off more than once over the past 2 years, paying top dollar to watch some uninspired "cutouts" put on Hawk uniforms and play well below their pay scale: I'm not goofy enough to think they have to win every game At $15 a ticket,have a beer or two and watch the kids in Rockford, at $150 I want to see better than AHL talent in those Hawk uniforms, and frankly the talent gap between the two teams hasn't been too great recently. I'm sure I'm not alone feeling ripped off, kept in the dark, and basically treated the same as if "Dollar Bill" still owns the team. That Wiz is what you're reading on this site.


- weakglovehand

very well written...both thoughtful and insightful!!!

I absolutely have no beef with the Breadman as he plays more D than Kaner when on that same line. And I agree with you 100% with him as a player. What I was referring to was winning board battles, say to chip puck out of D zone or keeping puck in zone. Whereas most players would use their body as leverage, Breadman chooses to use his hands/stick.
- D2D

That's objectively not true based on tracked defensive stats. Neither Kane nor Breadman have great defensive impact but Kane is slightly better.