Glass half full
- glennjpawlak22

That's leaving out the 4 preseason losses

That's leaving out the 4 preseason losses
- I Am The Breadman

True, there is a win in there, so probably shouldn't count.

First overall + Boq + Dcat. Gaborik brings a lot of intangibles.
- I Am The Breadman

Ottawa needs a first round pick in 2019. I think they’d be stupid enough to make that deal. What losers.

Don’t forget that they’ll also lose the draft lottery too.
- DarthKane

I remember someone on these boards posted a picture of the Hawks 2018 lottery ball about to go into the chute to claim the #1 pick but then another team's ball knocked it away at the last second. Classic bad luck.

Not even an otl or shootout loss. What a depressing bunch you guys are. Are your rainbows monochrome? Your sunshine always cloudy obscured? Is your unicorn a goat with an ice cream cone on its head?
- I Am The Breadman

First overall + Boq + Dcat. Gaborik brings a lot of intangibles.
- I Am The Breadman

Gaborik intangibles = fragility and injuries. He and Havlat are like Samuel L. Jackson's character in that Unbreakable movie.

True, there is a win in there, so probably shouldn't count.
- breadbag

It turned out to be a fluke because we couldn't beat Ott again.

Ottawa needs a first round pick in 2019. I think they’d be stupid enough to make that deal. What losers.
- DarthKane

Joe Maddon = Joel Quenneville.

They share the same blender mentality.
So many headshaking questionable lineup changes day in and day out.

What ever happened to the philosophy of sticking with who's HOT ?

Quenneville's line changes and Maddon's line up changes I'm certain have these professional athletes getting frustrated all the time.

Gaborik intangibles = fragility and injuries. He and Havlat are like Samuel L. Jackson's character in that Unbreakable movie.
- AEL_Fox

Ltir for Weber. It's plot and strategy.

Ottawa needs a first round pick in 2019. I think they’d be stupid enough to make that deal. What losers.
- DarthKane

Cue Homer Simpson saying, "Sucker."

Cue Homer Simpson saying, "Sucker."
- I Am The Breadman

Hard to believe they are about to start Season 30 of the Simpson.

Hard to believe they are about to start Season 30 of the Simpson.
- breadbag

That is crazy. Only a little over 1/3 of it was good. Futurama was all good in my opinion.

The scouts The Athletic talked to are generally as optimistic as most on this board. Not much upside, but some bright(?) spots:

- DBC as a consistent 20-25 goal scorer
- Johnson may surprise
- Jokiharju's future (some question whether he is ready)
- Kahun's speed
- Kruger coming back is a win

https://theathletic.com/5...-saying-about-blackhawks/

This about Saad is not suprising, but very concerning. If true, how did the Hawks not know/see this about him? Though, I guess putting with Toews should have negated the issue mentioned by Scout 2.

Brandon Saad

Scout 2: I got to be honest with you, I didn’t see Brandon Saad the other night. He was invisible. When he’s not playing with top guys, he doesn’t respect who he’s playing and he’s selfish. He’ll try to carry it himself instead of moving the puck. When he gets frustrated, he shows it with his body language. They have to recognize that and have a talk with him. Whether they put him with one of the big guys, he’s got to have a better attitude.

Scout 3: I think Saad is a guy who plays for a contract. I’m not convinced that he’s a guy who plays for you every night.

The scouts The Athletic talked to are generally as optimistic as most on this board. Not much upside, but some bright(?) spots:

- DBC as a consistent 20-25 goal scorer
- Johnson may surprise
- Jokiharju's future (some question whether he is ready)
- Kahun' speed
- Kruger coming back is a win

https://theathletic.com/5...-saying-about-blackhawks/

This about Saad is not suprising, but very concerning. If true, how did the Hawks not know/see this about him? Though, I guess putting with Toews should have negated the issue mentioned by Scout 2.

Brandon Saad

Scout 2: I got to be honest with you, I didn’t see Brandon Saad the other night. He was invisible. When he’s not playing with top guys, he doesn’t respect who he’s playing and he’s selfish. He’ll try to carry it himself instead of moving the puck. When he gets frustrated, he shows it with his body language. They have to recognize that and have a talk with him. Whether they put him with one of the big guys, he’s got to have a better attitude.

Scout 3: I think Saad is a guy who plays for a contract. I’m not convinced that he’s a guy who plays for you every night.
- pdx2ord

To Justin or anyone that would like to chime in. So now that the hawks looked brutal in the preseason with the some exceptions luke Johnson and kampf the rest of the young players did not impress enough to gain a spot on the big club. So is bowman and company still in the mode of wait and see with what the kids can bring to the party. Now that joki sikrua and others are headed to Rockford because they actually need developing, wow what a surprise, who is to blame for this roster? I don't see the hawks being even a .500 team this year probably worse than last year. There was no upgrades and bowman was relying on kids and vets to get better no not happening got older and slower IMO. So how long until wirtz and mcego finally see the writing on the wall and start the rebuild and clean house. Sorry if I'm just rabbling on just venting my frustration being a die hard fan like everyone on this panel its just disappointing to see the fall of the hawks so quickly.

The scouts The Athletic talked to are generally as optimistic as most on this board. Not much upside, but some bright(?) spots:

- DBC as a consistent 20-25 goal scorer
- Johnson may surprise
- Jokiharju's future (some question whether he is ready)
- Kahun's speed
- Kruger coming back is a win

https://theathletic.com/5...-saying-about-blackhawks/

This about Saad is not suprising, but very concerning. If true, how did the Hawks not know/see this about him? Though, I guess putting with Toews should have negated the issue mentioned by Scout 2.

Brandon Saad

Scout 2: I got to be honest with you, I didn’t see Brandon Saad the other night. He was invisible. When he’s not playing with top guys, he doesn’t respect who he’s playing and he’s selfish. He’ll try to carry it himself instead of moving the puck. When he gets frustrated, he shows it with his body language. They have to recognize that and have a talk with him. Whether they put him with one of the big guys, he’s got to have a better attitude.

Scout 3: I think Saad is a guy who plays for a contract. I’m not convinced that he’s a guy who plays for you every night.
- pdx2ord

Saad has always been a douche, talented, but a douche. He just has that vibe to him. I'm on a God awful team, but I know I can still make it work because I'm me. I saw that in him early on in his career. That ties with playing for a contract, which I don't mind. Your performance should pay you well, but he's the kind of guy that needs a year to year, not to get too comfortable like he is now, or maybe too pissy like he is now.

To Justin or anyone that would like to chime in. So now that the hawks looked brutal in the preseason with the some exceptions luke Johnson and kampf the rest of the young players did not impress enough to gain a spot on the big club. So is bowman and company still in the mode of wait and see with what the kids can bring to the party. Now that joki sikrua and others are headed to Rockford because they actually need developing, wow what a surprise, who is to blame for this roster? I don't see the hawks being even a .500 team this year probably worse than last year. There was no upgrades and bowman was relying on kids and vets to get better no not happening got older and slower IMO. So how long until wirtz and mcego finally see the writing on the wall and start the rebuild and clean house. Sorry if I'm just rabbling on just venting my frustration being a die hard fan like everyone on this panel its just disappointing to see the fall of the hawks so quickly.
- Scott1977

There are one hundred factors for this roster, probably. 1, always being good means you sell off youth for rentals in playoffs. 2, always being good means you draft late. 3, have coaches to develop players and help them with the system. 4, long playoff runs cause deteroriation quicker. 5, cap management and contracts. 6, we are no longer on top of the world and ufa's know that and don't want that. 7, we rekindle old flames that don't usually pan out as well as they did the first time. 8, bowman does what he is told, pursues who others think are good, he's too simple to do this on his own. He needs parental supervision. The hammer and (myself) Panarin trades weren't expected or welcome. 9, we are quickly stuck in limbo. This was bound to happen, teams try to avoid it, most times can't, and we had no plan in win-now mode.

There isn't just one person to blame. Reminisce on then and wait out the bad times. The kids will come and I think a large handful will pan out. Maybe not to Kane, Toews, Keith level, but not a lot of teams can say that. I think there needs to be a change throughout all of our management. Right the ship there. They will never say rebuild, but it's happening. Very slowly and that is a huge part of the problem. There is no commitment to a plan. Keep the faith, Scott.

To Justin or anyone that would like to chime in. So now that the hawks looked brutal in the preseason with the some exceptions luke Johnson and kampf the rest of the young players did not impress enough to gain a spot on the big club. So is bowman and company still in the mode of wait and see with what the kids can bring to the party. Now that joki sikrua and others are headed to Rockford because they actually need developing, wow what a surprise, who is to blame for this roster? I don't see the hawks being even a .500 team this year probably worse than last year. There was no upgrades and bowman was relying on kids and vets to get better no not happening got older and slower IMO. So how long until wirtz and mcego finally see the writing on the wall and start the rebuild and clean house. Sorry if I'm just rabbling on just venting my frustration being a die hard fan like everyone on this panel its just disappointing to see the fall of the hawks so quickly.
- Scott1977

Is it confirmed that Jokiharju and Sikura are going to Rockford? Haven't seen any reports on that.

If Jokiharju does not make the team, then that leaves only 6 defenders with Murphy and Forsling out. Who comes up? Maybe Dahlstrom?

Johnson is sick so Sikura gets an extra life to prove himself. Depending on how long Johnson is out, it seems to come down to Sikura and Martinsen.

Is it confirmed that Jokiharju and Sikura are going to Rockford? Haven't seen any reports on that.

If Jokiharju does not make the team, then that leaves only 6 defenders with Murphy and Forsling out. Who comes up? Maybe Dahlstrom?

Johnson is sick so Sikura gets an extra life to prove himself. Depending on how long Johnson is out, it seems to come down to Sikura and Martinsen.
- AEL_Fox

Jokiharju has made the team.

Only 1 cut left and it's looking like Sikura.

They are only keep 22 + Crawford as it doesn't appear that Crawford is officially going on the IR.

Or maybe Crow will hit the IR on day 1 and a player (like Sikura will get the call back up).

Jokiharju has made the team.

Only 1 cut left and it's looking like Sikura.

They are only keep 22 + Crawford as it doesn't appear that Crawford is officially going on the IR.

Or maybe Crow will hit the IR on day 1 and a player (like Sikura will get the call back up).
- Justin Lowe

Sounds accurate to me as to how things will play out.

Jokiharju has made the team.

Only 1 cut left and it's looking like Sikura.

They are only keep 22 + Crawford as it doesn't appear that Crawford is officially going on the IR.

Or maybe Crow will hit the IR on day 1 and a player (like Sikura will get the call back up).
- Justin Lowe

IMO joki and sikrua have not shown enough to stay with the big club to me this out of necessity due to lack of moves in the offseason. Just saying from what I watched during these preseason games.

Looks like Martinsen made the team, thank god. We can all breath a big sigh of relief. Wait, who am I kidding? There was never a doubt he’d make the team.

Not that I don't like the hockey talk and sarcasm, I know I'm the new guy, but I just want to pose a question to all who want to answer, Justin included. If you don't, that's fine, I'll just look stupid, and I accept that. Not that I'm looking for friends or anything, just discussion. What's your favorite band/solo artist? Movie and TV show to those who answer.

Not that I don't like the hockey talk and sarcasm, I know I'm the new guy, but I just want to pose a question to all who want to answer, Justin included. If you don't, that's fine, I'll just look stupid, and I accept that. Not that I'm looking for friends or anything, just discussion. What's your favorite band/solo artist? Movie and TV show to those who answer.
- I Am The Breadman

Band overkill tv show blacklist/24 movie depends on the genre.

Band overkill tv show blacklist/24 movie depends on the genre.
- Scott1977

The head banger type.
I always wanted to watch blacklist, I do like Spader

To Justin or anyone that would like to chime in. So now that the hawks looked brutal in the preseason with the some exceptions luke Johnson and kampf the rest of the young players did not impress enough to gain a spot on the big club. So is bowman and company still in the mode of wait and see with what the kids can bring to the party. Now that joki sikrua and others are headed to Rockford because they actually need developing, wow what a surprise, who is to blame for this roster? I don't see the hawks being even a .500 team this year probably worse than last year. There was no upgrades and bowman was relying on kids and vets to get better no not happening got older and slower IMO. So how long until wirtz and mcego finally see the writing on the wall and start the rebuild and clean house. Sorry if I'm just rabbling on just venting my frustration being a die hard fan like everyone on this panel its just disappointing to see the fall of the hawks so quickly.
- Scott1977

You're more than weclone to ramble and vent your frustrations that we all agree with. For an organization to drop this far and this quickly is an indictment on their own management qualities and responsibilities.

This team's success over the past decade is the result mainly of the 2 Super Stars Kane and Toews. Keith and Seabrook were just developing, and MarIan Hossa was signed at the perfect time. Those 5 players were the CORE and everybody else brought on board came along for the ride. A GREAT RIDE I'm sure we all agree. However, once the Hard Salary Cap took a stranglehold on the NHL, there was no team that got hurt by it more than the Blackhawks. Unfortunate but true.

Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville have not worked well together in the past several seasons and have obviously disagreed on several personnel decisions. We Blackhawk fans realize it's time for the overhaul and this should hopefully be their final year together.

I don't think I'm alone here in saying that I do not trust these 2 managers to rebuild this team. From bad contracts to bad trades to bad on ice performances, there's no way this hierarchy doesn't see it as well. No matter what players say of their coach. Business is business and it will continue to fail under these 2 men.

One last thing......I found it incredibly strange that Chris Chelios stated in an interview last week that he felt this current team could compete for the Stanley Cup this year. He cited the Bruins and Lightning as 2 teams that missed the playoffs one year and returned the following year to compete strongly for a Cup run. He either doesn't realize what's gone on here since the 2015 Cup, or he's already in the Mac "marketing pipeline"

Whatever is going on there, I'm sure it will all surface very quickly if this team performs as we all expect out of the gate.

Food for thought.