Justin Lowe: Set Up to Be Losers Another loss last night (4-3 to Vegas) makes that just 3 wins in their last 20 games. 3(!) victorious matches in their last 20(!). Wow.

We’re not at the bottom yet.

What would you guys want from the Sabres for Anisimov?

My proposal would be 2020 2nd, Scandella and CJ Smith

Great blog Justin. It's truly a sad time here in chicago, I think complacency along with a weak front office and a desire to worry about marketing .


As much as I'd like to see Kane stay , I'm at the point where everyone needs to be addressed and tradeable.


What would it take to move say Seabrook , Crawford, Toews ,anisimov to Edmonton in a package deal for either drasati or Nugent Hopkins, and nurse , Talbot?


Then move Keith to Winnipeg for trouba as well as saad for laine?


Edmonton as well as Winnipeg are both in good positions to want to make a run.


Would you envision a deal like that?

Justin Lowe: Set Up to Be Losers
Another loss last night (4-3 to Vegas) makes that just 3 wins in their last 20 games. 3(!) victorious matches in their last 20(!). Wow.
- Justin Lowe

Great perspectives, JL. Do you think those 3 core players will be gone this season?

I'm tired of the hawks digging themselves into a hole a) early in the game and b) at such a fast pace. That 4th goal though was bs and I stand by it. I like seeing a pissed off team that fights, it shows they all care. Besides certain individual player bounce backs and evaluations, them fighting back has been the only bright spot for me. It's just always too little, too late. Sadly.

The jig is up...

Sell the entire core. Get a massive haul. Reap as much as possible. The longer they wait to sell, the less of a return and the longer it will be before they get "good" again. There are no sacred cows, see: Seabrook's contract.

If they want to try to keep the fan base happy, sell them all, lose every game this year, get as many first round picks as possible for the next draft and make a statement in free agency.

Keeping 19 and 88 around to sell tickets isnt working that well NOW. They are 4 defensive players and probably 3-4 offensive players away from being a high level competing team again.

They should be doing everything they can to maximize the number of high draft picks and minimize their high value contacts. They are losing even with the high value contacts so they should be doing everything they can to shed those now and complete the tank. Over pay in free agency next year for the short term to cover the losses.

I cant see 88 wanting to hang around for 3-4 more years for maybe one last twilight run for a cup. He is in his prime. Send him to Buffalo so he can lead their charge for the next couple of seasons. Send 19 to Winnipeg and bring Trouba to Chicago.

Send Keith anywhere. He is done. Seabrook is Done. It breaks my heart but it is over. Let them help another team.

And if they all decide not to waive their NMC's, well, then we are going to watch some really bad hockey for the next 5-6 years and probably still not get high enough draft picks.

My biggest fear is that they will keep these “core” players longer than they should and not get anything of value in return when they finally do decide to light the place on fire. Then our rebuild will take twice as long.

I agree that everyone should leave except for Toews and Kane, but I think Kane will demand a trade to wherever Panarin ends up. Most of these guys want to win and a six year rebuild may not be what Kane wants.

The reality of this entire thing is....Does Rocky really care? He just signed up to get another payday of millions of dollars with the Seattle announcement (along with the LV announcement a few years ago. What difference does it make if there is a winning team on the ice or not? He still pockets money.

Stop investing in this team (in all pro sports for that matter). They don't care about the fan, they only care about the fan's money.

Accept the fate that this team has little talent and aging talent .Change GM and let him start trading off talent before its to late .the statement that we are a playoff team is insulting to the fans .long time fan who is turned off by the rhetoric !!!

What would you guys want from the Sabres for Anisimov?

My proposal would be 2020 2nd, Scandella and CJ Smith
- jcragcrumple

The vultures are here to pick the bones.

The vultures are here to pick the bones.
- 67hawks

I'm just curious what the average Hawks fan thinks Anisimov is worth.

Nice write up again JL I have been a Hawks fan my whole life and right now is the worst it's been to watch. This may because of the great success they have had the last 10 years. Unfortunately this will be a long haul before they start back up that mountain. They really don't have much realistically they can trade to help the rebuild. Saad and a Crawford if he can regain his top performance. Others contracts dollars and length make them almost impossible to deal. Others Manning Ruuta ect are not getting much, if they can be traded; mid to late picks. A few young players that would make no sence to trade Cat Joker Storme. I know everyone excited about the young Defenceman coming and hopefully a few will make it bUT to think all will seems unrealistic. Saying that, after this very very long season ends hopefully I will start getting excited about the journey back up the mountain and I will continue to cheer the Hawks on
I just don't know if Bowman is the man to lead this expedition up the mountain .

Accept the fate that this team has little talent and aging talent .Change GM and let him start trading off talent before its to late .the statement that we are a playoff team is insulting to the fans .long time fan who is turned off by the rhetoric !!!
- hawk66

There is nothing left that is tradeable. Most of that is the result of player management decisions over the last few years.

The reality of this entire thing is....Does Rocky really care? He just signed up to get another payday of millions of dollars with the Seattle announcement (along with the LV announcement a few years ago. What difference does it make if there is a winning team on the ice or not? He still pockets money.

Stop investing in this team (in all pro sports for that matter). They don't care about the fan, they only care about the fan's money.
- powerenforcer

If you really feel that way why do you follow sports and write so passionately, if somewhat misguidedly, about the Blackhawks?

I'm just curious what the average Hawks fan thinks Anisimov is worth.
- jcragcrumple

Most would just give him away and then complain about how bad the team is. To me he is one of the few guys that looks like an NHL player on this team. I cannot count the number of guys the coaches have tried at that 2C position but AA always ends up back in there.

Most would just give him away and then complain about how bad the team is. To me he is one of the few guys that looks like an NHL player on this team. I cannot count the number of guys the coaches have tried at that 2C position but AA always ends up back in there.
- 67hawks

And complain he was given away.

Buffalo would take PK88 off your hands, Here is my offer, 1st, CJ Smith, Victor ollofson and MCcabe

Hey Taylor 1, what's the weather like in rainbow land? Your trade proposal are so one sided and ridiculous. You're living in a dream world.

Most would just give him away and then complain about how bad the team is. To me he is one of the few guys that looks like an NHL player on this team. I cannot count the number of guys the coaches have tried at that 2C position but AA always ends up back in there.
- 67hawks

He's on a really nice contract too. I feel like he's a guy who has always gone under the radar in the NHL, but he pretty consistently puts up 20 goals. As a Sabres fan, he would be a perfect stop-gap 2C until Mittelstadt puts on his big boy muscles

Losing culture - all who think that “tanking” for a top draft pick is a good idea - please consider the “losing culture” concept and what it really means for a rebuilding franchise - both to the vets and to the young players that you’d like to have winning attitudes.

AND to potential free agents you’d like to bring on going forward - who talk to their friends and would certainly hear talk of what the room and the attitudes are at the UC and MB ice arenas.

Money talks for free agents - but given equal offers - culture means something - and so does coaching. If Colliton can’t show the world that he is a legitimate NHL head coach (with legitimate NHL assistants behind him and a front office working well with the on-ice leaders) - why would any quality free agent with other options come here? The young, inexperienced head coach has about four months to prove that he is able to run a contender in the Show. Jury is still out (but the contract says two more years after this one).

Trades - the NMC/NTC provisions in all (?) of the veterans’ contracts will limit Bowman’s ability to move players out for a quality return. I’ve believed that the restrictive covenants were unavoidable for Cup winners in the 21st century NHL - but they will limit what Stan can do this spring and summer.

I fear this will not be an easy rebuild.

Is Pit shopping Kessel? If so, I would like him very much. 2 great American players on one team. Our pp wouldn't suck as much then. What would Pit look for as a return? Young dmen, I'm guessing.

Someone should have had a follow up then -- ok, Coll, what about the out of position bit? No?

He's an NHL no 1 d-man???

Seriously...


I don't think you can put those choices on Stan, directly, unfortunately -so it is a bit more of a complex issue to unravel.

I think some of Seabrook's problem is gear related --- he needs to invest in some non-rubber sticks - his weenie passes in the past couple of games have directly led to goals - and I think that is whatever his sticks are ... although this last one tonight, he was draped all over the guy that scored, after his really bad weenie pass.
- steve-hist-sdc


You know dating back a long while Seabs has had stick problems. However, you wouldn’t see it on passes, you’d see his sticks explode as he tried to get a grade A opportunity shot off. He’d be in the perfect position...and then poof. Haven’t seen as much of that recently, although we did see it last night - Seabs ended up taking a penalty. Have seen the weak rubber stick passing recently.

Watching the Hawks is like watching a team version of Eeyore. If it can go wrong it will. You gotta think it doesn’t help to have a Coach who thinks it is OK for Gus to have turnovers and who thinks he can “raw, raw” players with 3 Cups, who were an OT goal away from 4. He has also idiotically said he had more challenging times in the Swedish Low League as the team could have folded. Does he listen to himself? Q treated the players as men. Hope in the background Rocky brings on a killer hockey mind to advise him ‘cause this a poop show of epic proportions.

"What would it take to move say Seabrook , Crawford, Toews ,anisimov to Edmonton in a package deal for either drasati or Nugent Hopkins, and nurse , Talbot?

Then move Keith to Winnipeg for trouba as well as saad for laine?"


These are the most ridiculous trade proposals I have heard.

What would you guys want from the Sabres for Anisimov?

My proposal would be 2020 2nd, Scandella and CJ Smith
- jcragcrumple

At at glance, this looks good. Although, I will admit, I haven't seen much of Scandella since he joined BUF last year and haven't seen CJ Smith play.

Is Scandella not playing well? Is he not top 4 quality?

Losing culture - all who think that “tanking” for a top draft pick is a good idea - please consider the “losing culture” concept and what it really means for a rebuilding franchise - both to the vets and to the young players that you’d like to have winning attitudes.

AND to potential free agents you’d like to bring on going forward - who talk to their friends and would certainly hear talk of what the room and the attitudes are at the UC and MB ice arenas.

Money talks for free agents - but given equal offers - culture means something - and so does coaching. If Colliton can’t show the world that he is a legitimate NHL head coach (with legitimate NHL assistants behind him and a front office working well with the on-ice leaders) - why would any quality free agent with other options come here? The young, inexperienced head coach has about four months to prove that he is able to run a contender in the Show. Jury is still out (but the contract says two more years after this one).

Trades - the NMC/NTC provisions in all (?) of the veterans’ contracts will limit Bowman’s ability to move players out for a quality return. I’ve believed that the restrictive covenants were unavoidable for Cup winners in the 21st century NHL - but they will limit what Stan can do this spring and summer.

I fear this will not be an easy rebuild.
- StLBravesFan

Buffalo Fans were told to prepare for Suffering by our GM at the time Darcy Regier. Man was he right!! It was the worst hockey I have witnessed in my 40 years of watching the Sabres. At least you have won the Cup a few times and you can fall back on that. As a Sabres fan I would give me left nad to win a cup, give me one win and I would gladly rebuild for another 10 years....