People typically keep an eye on their favorite team growing up when they eventually do grow up and move on. Anyone here think Kane isn't a little homesick right about now? A proactive move when they realize they are falling off a cliff (no matter what they say) would be to get a bundle for Kane sending him to Buffalo and I think he would have waived to go. But it has to be done when Buffalo has a high draft pick. It's too late now. And if you think Kane is going to waive to go to any other bottom team with a high pick at this point I would have to disagree. The hawks management seems reactive, not proactive. That's probably because they didn't build it in the first place.

Q spent a little bit of time as a "vulture" too.
- 6628

The Hawks brought Q on as a non-traveling scout for the Denver area after he was let go by the Avalanche. Bergevin was the guy who was pushing for the Hawks to bring him on board. Q wasn’t hanging around the UC waiting to replace Savard.

Justin Lowe: Spinning Out of Control or All According to Plan?

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.

Thinking about the past success of this Blackhawks team, thinking about what Joel Quenneville is doing at this very second and thinking about what's to come in Chicago in the near future.

Coaching changes usually boost a team's spirit and they go on a bit of a run. Looking no further than Edmonton's change bringing in Ken Hitchcock who's coached his way to a 4-2-1 record in the last 7 games.
- Justin Lowe

There were a myriad of smarter short-term and long-term moves available when the change was made with Q. Dineen could have been named interim Coach. Q moved, Ulf moved. Tweak the D System taking out the insane risky pinching. Q was loyal to Ulf who was/is dumber than a plate of Swedish Meatballs and it cost him. Some continuity, some common-sense. What was done instead was crazy. Hard to envision a more disruptive transition. Perhaps if the Hawks had just named someone walking down the street as the new Coach. “Hey anyone want to take a shot at coaching the Hawks? What about if we give $1.4M?”

Does it sicken everyone else too that the Vulture who spied at Q’s shoulder stayed on as an Assistant? Wouldn’t be at all surprised if the players just despise him. Let’s face it the Hawks’ coaching staff is a complete freak show.

How about Rockys interview on news radio 78.com yesterday, everybody’s wishing in one hand crappin the other thinking they’re going to trade everybody This year And teams are going to help us out.
I am sure they will investigate moves as it comes closer to the deadline. Personally I would like to see them land Artemi Panerin, probably at the strong behest of Patrick Kane which I totally agree with, But not at the risk of doing it now and possibly having to give up a kings ransomto the Jackets but rather just wait till the summer. I am sure Patrick Kane carries a lot of weight in this kids heart.
We know what was said about him wanting to be in the limelight and play on either coast, but when I think it is all said and done he will be a Hawk come next September.
Regarding the upcoming draft in the summer, and I could be looking at this in a completely different angle, but the animosity towards BLACKHAWKS and possibly some downright jealousy because of winning three Stanley cups and seven years, I would not put it past some teams if some of the races are Decided come March to dress crap Lineups when they play the Hawks enabling them to get on a little bit of a roll just enough to take them out of the Jack Hughes derby.
Speaking of past drafts, how is Brady Tkachuk looking now ?He would’ve looked damn good wearing the Indianhead this season, but our bull headed general manager decided to keep both of those picks and draft two small defenseman instead of the next generational big power forward. Spit balling with some of these things here,Once again do you trust Stan Bowman will do the right things this summer? Or do you think it is another case of a duck farting in shallow water!

They don't have "4 faster, younger, promising defenseman" in the system who are ready to play at the NHL level. Gus is playing in the NHL instead of whomever is playing in the AHL because at this point he is better than them. Think about what that says about what is available before you go moving out Keith and Seabrook.

Yeah, Seabrook is a shell of his former self and his cap hit is atrocious, but he is still better than anyone in Rockford right now.

So next year maybe Boqvist steps up and plays in the NHL (anad make no mistake there will be growing pains with him defensively). Who else is ready.
- TheTrob

Gus is not better than anyone playing anywhere.

Gus is not better than anyone playing anywhere.
- Z3Hawk

True, but I’d rather Gus be part of this train wreck right now, in order to avoid rushing a defensive prospect up and ruining his confidence/development.

People typically keep an eye on their favorite team growing up when they eventually do grow up and move on. Anyone here think Kane isn't a little homesick right about now? A proactive move when they realize they are falling off a cliff (no matter what they say) would be to get a bundle for Kane sending him to Buffalo and I think he would have waived to go. But it has to be done when Buffalo has a high draft pick. It's too late now. And if you think Kane is going to waive to go to any other bottom team with a high pick at this point I would have to disagree. The hawks management seems reactive, not proactive. That's probably because they didn't build it in the first place.
- 6628

OMG! THIS - a thousand percent. The thing bugging me the most over the past two years is that they don’t seem to have any plan, other than tweaking and propping up. That’s the heart of why I don’t trust Stan or the rest of management. You nailed it.

Gus is not better than anyone playing anywhere.
- Z3Hawk

Totally agree, that was a bad signing by Stan Bowman, he sucks,Hopefully him and Ruutta are the two that are sitting up in the press box once everybody gets healthy.

The Hawks brought Q on as a non-traveling scout for the Denver area after he was let go by the Avalanche. Bergevin was the guy who was pushing for the Hawks to bring him on board. Q wasn’t hanging around the UC waiting to replace Savard.
- Chief4Feathers

I'm not sure Bergy had that kind of pull at the time. But I do know Q had gotten whacked by Colorado after he got a DUI so he would have jumped on anything at the time.

How about Rockys interview on news radio 78.com yesterday, everybody’s wishing in one hand crappin the other thinking they’re going to trade everybody This year And teams are going to help us out.
I am sure they will investigate moves as it comes closer to the deadline. Personally I would like to see them land Artemi Panerin, probably at the strong behest of Patrick Kane which I totally agree with, But not at the risk of doing it now and possibly having to give up a kings ransomto the Jackets but rather just wait till the summer. I am sure Patrick Kane carries a lot of weight in this kids heart.
We know what was said about him wanting to be in the limelight and play on either coast, but when I think it is all said and done we will be a Hawk come next September.
Regarding the upcoming draft in the summer, and I could be looking at this in a completely different angle, but the animosity towards BLACKHAWKS and possibly some downright jealousy because of winning three Stanley cups and seven years, I would not put it past some teams if some of the races are Decided come March to dress crap Lineups when they play the Hawks enabling them to get on a little bit of a roll just enough to take them out of the Jack Hughes derby.
Speaking of past drafts, how is Brady Tkachuk looking now ?He would’ve looked damn good wearing the Indianhead this season, but our bull headed general manager decided to keep both of those picks and draft two small defenseman instead of the next generational big power forward. Spit balling with some of these things here,Once again your trust Stan Bowman and he will do the right things this summer? Or do you think it is another case of a duck farting in shallow water!
- wonthecup10

Still too early to truly know what Brady will do. He may come down to earth. Don’t forget that Brady was a very old Draftee. Just missed being eligible for the previous Draft year. Boqvist a very young Draftee. Both Boqvist and Beaudin will have better NHL careers than Brady.

True, but I’d rather Gus be part of this train wreck right now, in order to avoid rushing a defensive prospect up and ruining his confidence/development.
- Chief4Feathers

A player who is not an NHL player should not be in the NHL.

Jeremy Colliton is mad and he's got a reason to be. This team is not picking up on these tweaks and despite Stan Bowman's comments on Spittin' Chiclets that out of the 11 games that Jeremy has coached the Hawks have had 10 strong showings (form an effort level).

WTF kinda lying BS is this. They are unprepared for the starts of games, they fall behind and have not had a lead in regulation in over 7 games. Some effort shows up after they fall behind when the other team throttles back. STRONG SHOWINGS???

Yes let’s have the HOF phone Brady right now. He’ll come down to earth. Don’t forget that Brady was a very old Draftee. Just missed being eligible for the previous Draft year. Boqvist a very young Draftee. Both Boqvist and Beaudin will have better NHL careers than Brady.
- Z3Hawk

Hope you are right, I don’t know but watching those two brothers play, seems like they are picking up right where daddy left off. I think both of these kids will have Very solid careers also, just seems that we have a knack for missing out on those type big power forwards.

The plummet from the Hawks' "Golden Age" is tough to watch but it's not unexpected. A team of young guns with outstanding complimentary players glued together by the two way veteran Marian Hossa and other veterans. Right from the first cup the Hawks' started getting weaker, first the top end depth had to be moved, then some of the secondary veterans. When Hossa finally left the glue that held it all together was gone leaving a team with almost no depth,no cap room and five core players all on the downsides of their careers.

The only way to have avoided this freefall was to have started moving core players after the 2015 cup win. I know this for certain because hindsight makes me smarter than Bowman, or Q or McD or Rocky. But without hindsight how many here who are moaning about what the Hawks are today, would have been able to handle the Hawks trading Seabrook for some young prospects or draft picks? What if the rumour of the Sabres and the Hawks having a deal in place if the Sabres had won the lottery pick in McDavid's draft year, for A 26 year old patrick Kane were true? What if Toews were moved as a 26 or 27 year old for an up and coming Mark Scheifele? What if Keith was traded for some young guy? How about Crow? Posters on this site would have been jumping off buildings!

The Glory days are over, the Hawks are unlikely to get better until they get worse. Now we see what the Hawks organization is made of. Big decisions need to be made to rebuild the team. Unlike many fans who were whining and female doging about the Hawks when they were winning, I enjoyed the ride. Maybe that's why I'm not as angry and bitter as many of the fans who didn't enjoy the Blackhawk's Golden Age as much as I did.

Hope you are right, I don’t know but watching those two brothers play, seems like they are picking up right where daddy left off. I think both of these kids will have Very solid careers also, just seems that we have a knack for missing out on those type big power forwards.
- wonthecup10

Not only do the Hawks seem to always be lacking the Players with Size and Skill, when the Hawks have one, which they did with Buff, they fail to realise how great he is and he is gone.

The plummet from the Hawks' "Golden Age" is tough to watch but it's not unexpected. A team of young guns with outstanding complimentary players glued together by the two way veteran Marian Hossa and other veterans. Right from the first cup the Hawks' started getting weaker, first the top end depth had to be moved, then some of the secondary veterans. When Hossa finally left the glue that held it all together was gone leaving a team with almost no depth,no cap room and five core players all on the downsides of their careers.

The only way to have avoided this freefall was to have started moving core players after the 2015 cup win. I know this for certain because hindsight makes me smarter than Bowman, or Q or McD or Rocky. But without hindsight how many here who are moaning about what the Hawks are today, would have been able to handle the Hawks trading Seabrook for some young prospects or draft picks? What if the rumour of the Sabres and the Hawks having a deal in place if the Sabres had won the lottery pick in McDavid's draft year, for A 26 year old patrick Kane were true? What if Toews were moved as a 26 or 27 year old for an up and coming Mark Scheifele? What if Keith was traded for some young guy? How about Crow? Posters on this site would have been jumping off buildings!

The Glory days are over, the Hawks are unlikely to get better until they get worse. Now we see what the Hawks organization is made of. Big decisions need to be made to rebuild the team. Unlike many fans who were whining and female doging about the Hawks when they were winning, I enjoyed the ride. Maybe that's why I'm not as angry and bitter as many of the fans who didn't enjoy the Blackhawk's Golden Age as much as I did.
- paulr

All good points, I like the post a lot.

Q spent a little bit of time as a "vulture" too.
- 6628

Q wasn’t on the bench with Savard watching and recording his every move. Didn’t like the optics there either though.

I'm not sure Bergy had that kind of pull at the time. But I do know Q had gotten whacked by Colorado after he got a DUI so he would have jumped on anything at the time.
- 6628

You don’t have to take my word on it - go read the article Scott Powers wrote for The Athletic about how the Hawks transitioned from Savard to Q - that’s how it played out. Bergevin made the initial contact with Q about being a scout and it went from there. Direct quotes from all of the primary people involved - it’s a good read.

The plummet from the Hawks' "Golden Age" is tough to watch but it's not unexpected. A team of young guns with outstanding complimentary players glued together by the two way veteran Marian Hossa and other veterans. Right from the first cup the Hawks' started getting weaker, first the top end depth had to be moved, then some of the secondary veterans. When Hossa finally left the glue that held it all together was gone leaving a team with almost no depth,no cap room and five core players all on the downsides of their careers.

The only way to have avoided this freefall was to have started moving core players after the 2015 cup win. I know this for certain because hindsight makes me smarter than Bowman, or Q or McD or Rocky. But without hindsight how many here who are moaning about what the Hawks are today, would have been able to handle the Hawks trading Seabrook for some young prospects or draft picks? What if the rumour of the Sabres and the Hawks having a deal in place if the Sabres had won the lottery pick in McDavid's draft year, for A 26 year old patrick Kane were true? What if Toews were moved as a 26 or 27 year old for an up and coming Mark Scheifele? What if Keith was traded for some young guy? How about Crow? Posters on this site would have been jumping off buildings!

The Glory days are over, the Hawks are unlikely to get better until they get worse. Now we see what the Hawks organization is made of. Big decisions need to be made to rebuild the team. Unlike many fans who were whining and female doging about the Hawks when they were winning, I enjoyed the ride. Maybe that's why I'm not as angry and bitter as many of the fans who didn't enjoy the Blackhawk's Golden Age as much as I did.
- paulr

As we head back into the days of Jean-Yves Leroux and the like, I'm grateful that I saw the Hawks skate the cup before I'm dead.

The plummet from the Hawks' "Golden Age" is tough to watch but it's not unexpected. A team of young guns with outstanding complimentary players glued together by the two way veteran Marian Hossa and other veterans. Right from the first cup the Hawks' started getting weaker, first the top end depth had to be moved, then some of the secondary veterans. When Hossa finally left the glue that held it all together was gone leaving a team with almost no depth,no cap room and five core players all on the downsides of their careers.

The only way to have avoided this freefall was to have started moving core players after the 2015 cup win. I know this for certain because hindsight makes me smarter than Bowman, or Q or McD or Rocky. But without hindsight how many here who are moaning about what the Hawks are today, would have been able to handle the Hawks trading Seabrook for some young prospects or draft picks? What if the rumour of the Sabres and the Hawks having a deal in place if the Sabres had won the lottery pick in McDavid's draft year, for A 26 year old patrick Kane were true? What if Toews were moved as a 26 or 27 year old for an up and coming Mark Scheifele? What if Keith was traded for some young guy? How about Crow? Posters on this site would have been jumping off buildings!

The Glory days are over, the Hawks are unlikely to get better until they get worse. Now we see what the Hawks organization is made of. Big decisions need to be made to rebuild the team. Unlike many fans who were whining and female doging about the Hawks when they were winning, I enjoyed the ride. Maybe that's why I'm not as angry and bitter as many of the fans who didn't enjoy the Blackhawk's Golden Age as much as I did.
- paulr

Good post. It’s really the best perspective to have right now. We witnessed three championships - there’s a lot to be thankful for. But, now it’s time for change toward the long slow climb back up, hopefully.

How about Rockys interview on news radio 78.com yesterday, everybody’s wishing in one hand crappin the other thinking they’re going to trade everybody This year And teams are going to help us out.
I am sure they will investigate moves as it comes closer to the deadline. Personally I would like to see them land Artemi Panerin, probably at the strong behest of Patrick Kane which I totally agree with, But not at the risk of doing it now and possibly having to give up a kings ransomto the Jackets but rather just wait till the summer. I am sure Patrick Kane carries a lot of weight in this kids heart.
We know what was said about him wanting to be in the limelight and play on either coast, but when I think it is all said and done he will be a Hawk come next September.
Regarding the upcoming draft in the summer, and I could be looking at this in a completely different angle, but the animosity towards BLACKHAWKS and possibly some downright jealousy because of winning three Stanley cups and seven years, I would not put it past some teams if some of the races are Decided come March to dress crap Lineups when they play the Hawks enabling them to get on a little bit of a roll just enough to take them out of the Jack Hughes derby.
Speaking of past drafts, how is Brady Tkachuk looking now ?He would’ve looked damn good wearing the Indianhead this season, but our bull headed general manager decided to keep both of those picks and draft two small defenseman instead of the next generational big power forward. Spit balling with some of these things here,Once again do you trust Stan Bowman will do the right things this summer? Or do you think it is another case of a duck farting in shallow water!
- wonthecup10

Tkachuk went 4th to Ottawa.

Was there a deal out there to move up to get him? Probably not with Ottawa - who, don’t forget, traded their #1 to Colorado - which they decided to move until next draft which could be #1 overall. Moving two high first round picks would not have been palatible to whatever fan base remains.

Q wasn’t on the bench with Savard watching and recording his every move. Didn’t like the optics there either though.
- Z3Hawk

I know, just laying in the weeds.

You don’t have to take my word on it - go read the article Scott Powers wrote for The Athletic about how the Hawks transitioned from Savard to Q - that’s how it played out. Bergevin made the initial contact with Q about being a scout and it went from there. Direct quotes from all of the primary people involved - it’s a good read.
- Chief4Feathers

I wouldn't believe everything you read. Or everything anybody says, either.

Another great blog Justin.

Stan Bowman and McD both need to go and start the rebuild with the proper people pulling on the reigns.

They need to move out Anisomov, Manning, and Gus at the deadline to free up some much need cap space for the summer.

I wouldn't be against trading a core player or two also.

This team and each player need an identity or role going forward for this to turn around in a year or two.

Signing a bunch of UFA's isn't going to turn this team around, but signing a guy like Stone will certainly help the young guys going forward.
- scott.jackson

I do not see the sense in moving any of the 3 players stated.

Gus barely makes minimum salary so where is the cap gain? Actually for the extra year on that contract, he is a bargain and would be unnecessarily easily snapped up.

Anisimov is one of the very few players we have who goes into the tough areas in the offensive zone and the further we get into his contract the less it is out of line. Also as thin as we are at the center position who do we have to replace him? Some may say to go the UFA route, but do you see what centers are going for?

Manning types are on every team. Our forwards are being mugged at the other end while their forwards get 5/6 whacks at the puck in our blue paint when we go with a roster full of soft defencemen. I would retain Manning and welcome Murphy back so we can retake possession of the area in front of our net. I also do not want to see Debrincat or other skilled players have to fight because they have no one backing them.

With the Cap rising to $83M so will players' salaries next year and I do not see these three salaries as out of line. I know changes are necessary, but those changes have to make sense.

I respectfully disagree with your theo and thinking. Keith and Seabrook eat up 12 million in cap space for the next 5 and 6 years both are in their mid 30's neither brings anything to the table on this team anymore.


Between their cap hit, contract terms, dimished play and skill, it's time to move on this team isn't winning or playing sound defense with them on the team as well as showing leadership .

If this team is going to improve and go forward , it's time to depart with them.

If Keith and Seabrook where playing lights out each night then your thinking might have validation, however the losses, lack of defense, scoring , moving the puck, pp,and pk as well as chemistry shows.


Stan has the best chance to move each of them to a team that wants a veteran defenseman whom is battle tested this year. Holding onto shoulda woulda, maybe , hope is beyond ridiculous at this point.


If this team is going to lose at least lose with the next generation getting experience and honing their chemistry and skill.