To everyone who wants to fire everyone not named players, I'll ask the following question: Stan was put in his job as "the future of the Chicago Blackhawks." Rocky even had to pay Tallon not to sue him when he said at the time the move was made "you keep your young up and coming people and get rid of the old ones," to paraphrase.

Stan did not build this team. What Stan did was cut and paste them to two more Cups after Tallon's original creation. We will never know how much McD had to do with all the bad contracts or what would have happened if Stan had played hardball instead. Lombardi didn't have the balls to do it either and LA now in their second regime hanging on by a thread no better than when they cleaned house the first time.

Why would you not give Stan and Co. the chance to build their first team which is going to mean old core gone and new core developed - more than a couple years? Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
- rpeters01

Yeah, no.

Tallon paid off not to Sue? Where does that come from? Never heard that before.

Also, while McD may be a control freak, I'm not sure how much he has to do with contracts and any type of Hockey operations regardless of the narrative that people on here like to spin.
- TheTrob

Correct, we don't know with McD. Tallon made a lot of noise about the age thing and Rocky quickly backtracked what he said in the paper because it opened him up in his other businesses and made Tallon some sort of President/consultant I honestly don't remember the title except it was at full salary.

Yeah, no.
- Elbows15

While I certainly agree that Stan did not just cut and paste his way to two additional cups, I do think the roster as constructed has Bowman fingerprints all over it. Moves that haven't panned out, players that havent panned out from the farm, etc.

What we tend to forget as fans is that this is the cost of continued success in the salary cap era. The best GM's know when to retool with picks or retool with reclamation projects and plugs. Stan missed his mark in this respect. He kept trying to make one last run with the core that he exhausted assets and now is in a position where there truly is no answer outside of moving a big time player. Be realistic, who on this roster is going to fetch the pieces that will put them back in contention? Kane, The Cat, maybe Saad?

It's a tough spot to be in and right now it is Bowman's problem. He doesnt have anywhere to look but at himself to figure out how to get this thing back on track and not waste the season.

So, does Bortuzzo hold it together tonight after coming back from suspension or does he go head hunting? Seems to me like the kind of guy to do the latter.


"I thought it was pretty horse (bleep)," Toews said of the hit that earned Bortuzzo a four-game suspension and knocked Arvidsson out for 4-6 weeks.

"Nothing against guys that play hard," Toews said. "That's why I love playing this team (the Blues) because they play us hard all the time. But to me (the NHL is) doing everything to get rid of head shots and get rid of head injuries, but that to me seems like an intent to injure.

"Just because it's not contact on a guy's head doesn't mean it's not just as severe. So I thought it was pretty bad."

====

"Any time you're suspended, you're going to reflect on why and take what they said in the (disciplinary) interview," Bortuzzo said. "I'm going to do that. I'm going to reflect on what they had to say."

https://www.dailyherald.c...ortuzzos-hit-on-arvidsson

To everyone who wants to fire everyone not named players, I'll ask the following question: Stan was put in his job as "the future of the Chicago Blackhawks." Rocky even had to pay Tallon not to sue him when he said at the time the move was made "you keep your young up and coming people and get rid of the old ones," to paraphrase.

Stan did not build this team. What Stan did was cut and paste them to two more Cups after Tallon's original creation. We will never know how much McD had to do with all the bad contracts or what would have happened if Stan had played hardball instead. Lombardi didn't have the balls to do it either and LA now in their second regime hanging on by a thread no better than when they cleaned house the first time.

Why would you not give Stan and Co. the chance to build their first team which is going to mean old core gone and new core developed - more than a couple years? Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
- rpeters01

Tallon hasn’t been affiliated with the organization in over a decade.

Stan has had ample time to piece together a competitive roster. I’d wager he’s one of the longest tenured GM’s in the league at this point. He got to see this organization through the ups, and since 2015 has seen this team continuously spiral down. Why does he get to rebuild this organization from the ground up?

When any organization (in any industry) completely plummets, to the heads get to stay to turn the company around?

Stan, Colliton, McD...doesn’t matter.

The team is stale.
The leadership has waned.
We’re still attempting to cling on to past glory.

Let’s call a spade a spade. This team - top to bottom - isn’t competitive enough.

The foundation is there. Build off of it.

Time for Rocky to step in and turn the franchise around. And it’s been overdue.

To everyone who wants to fire everyone not named players, I'll ask the following question: Stan was put in his job as "the future of the Chicago Blackhawks." Rocky even had to pay Tallon not to sue him when he said at the time the move was made "you keep your young up and coming people and get rid of the old ones," to paraphrase.

Stan did not build this team. What Stan did was cut and paste them to two more Cups after Tallon's original creation. We will never know how much McD had to do with all the bad contracts or what would have happened if Stan had played hardball instead. Lombardi didn't have the balls to do it either and LA now in their second regime hanging on by a thread no better than when they cleaned house the first time.

Why would you not give Stan and Co. the chance to build their first team which is going to mean old core gone and new core developed - more than a couple years? Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
- rpeters01

That last paragraph is the poop. Fans just fire people because they're emotional. Actual management requires a question- "and replace him with what person?"

So, to all the "fire everyone" types, who is your new GM (and coach), and why will they be better? One more thing....your GM better have real experience if you've whined about JC not having experience.

Maybe I was just anticipating that when news came out. Skin condition clears up by spring time type thing.
- Gerk

Hossa was traded to ARI about a year and a half ago.

Tallon hasn’t been affiliated with the organization in over a decade.

Stan has had ample time to piece together a competitive roster. I’d wager he’s one of the longest tenured GM’s in the league at this point. He got to see this organization through the ups, and since 2015 has seen this team continuously spiral down. Why does he get to rebuild this organization from the ground up?

When any organization (in any industry) completely plummets, to the heads get to stay to turn the company around?

Stan, Colliton, McD...doesn’t matter.

The team is stale.
The leadership has waned.
We’re still attempting to cling on to past glory.

Let’s call a spade a spade. This team - top to bottom - isn’t competitive enough.

The foundation is there. Build off of it.

Time for Rocky to step in and turn the franchise around. And it’s been overdue.
- TommyHawk

Agree wholeheartedly with your premise - leaders grow stale and orgs follow a lifecycle and if not constantly changing and innovating, will fall behind.

Question is - outside of turning around the Blackhawks (no small feat, I understand), does Rocky (or, for that matter, McD) have experience with turning around an organization that was once great, but has fallen on hard times? What worked in 2006-07+ may (and probably will) not work now.

My take is as follows:
1) I don't know about the total money tied up , but they do not have more NMC's than other teams in the league. My issue with your contention is that you seem to think that simply by having a different GM, they can magically come in and trade these guys (and in doing so, solve all of this team's ills).
2) Rocky, Stan and McD probably do (and should) have SOME loyalty to the core, as they are a big part of why the team is still making money. At the end of the day, they are responsible for staying profitable.
3) There is not one single way to win a cup. There have been proven to be multiple ways. You can't perpetually be young fast and talented. The young guys need time to develop, and thus get older... and as we've seen ultimately slower. COL looks good now, but take a look at them in 5 years (after three cup wins) and see where they stand.
- Chunk

I'm not against loyalty. What I'm against is when people who's responsibility it is to step back and make tough decisions based on facts, numbers , performance.

Toews has had 1 great season in 5 years since getting his new contract each year was one excuse after another. I'm singling toews out because he is not only being paid for his past , but also the expectations he will deliver those same or close enough results along with the fact the team honored him as the captain.

So that being said at what point do you say to yourself this has gone on long enough and we've aloud this to happen and looked then other way.

Maybe it's time for JC to sit toews for a couple of games to garner his and the teams attention that he is not above reproach.

That's where by bringing in a new GM their are no emotional ties to the core, and I fully acknowledge it will take some time to put this team on the right track , but tinkering around the edges as to what Stan has been doing isn't truly working based on the teams record and overall performance.

While the speed was a problem, it was the fact the Hawks were getting shoved all over the ice that led to most of the goals the Avs scored. Every team in the league knows you can work this team over below the goal line. Special K, Gus and Maatta being the biggest culprits but far from alone. Kampf may be the only forward who can consistently win a board battle is a huge problem.

This team needs a new strength and conditioning coach. What may have worked before is no longer working. It is sickening to watch the Hawks get their asses shoved all over the ice.
- Elbows15

This team - especially the vets who've won - needs to see the wizard.

Lehner out with flu like symptoms. Lankinen recalled on emergency basis
- Savetheembers33

Is that the code phrase for getting sh*t faced? Isn’t that bad for Lehner?

That last paragraph is the poop. Fans just fire people because they're emotional. Actual management requires a question- "and replace him with what person?"

So, to all the "fire everyone" types, who is your new GM (and coach), and why will they be better? One more thing....your GM better have real experience if you've whined about JC not having experience.
- mohel

I believe Mark Hunter is the GM choice by the Blackhawk Hockeybuzz team. For coach, the pick seems to be the Steel coach just hired by the Maple Leafs to coach the Marlies.

Get ‘er done Rocky.

Seems like it is once again time for the IR and LTIR information to be shared once again.

Putting a player on IR opens up a roster spot. That's it. A team still needs to have the cap space available to absorb the full cap hit before the accrual process can begin. So putting Shaw, Keith or Lehner would do the Hawks no

Putting a player on LTIR does give a team cap relief in rudimentary terms. However, once a player is put on LTIR, said player must miss at least 10 games or a certain number of days. I think it is 30 but not sure about that part.
- Elbows15

Good info. LTIR minimum days is 24.

Tallon hasn’t been affiliated with the organization in over a decade.

Stan has had ample time to piece together a competitive roster. I’d wager he’s one of the longest tenured GM’s in the league at this point. He got to see this organization through the ups, and since 2015 has seen this team continuously spiral down. Why does he get to rebuild this organization from the ground up?

When any organization (in any industry) completely plummets, to the heads get to stay to turn the company around?

Stan, Colliton, McD...doesn’t matter.

The team is stale.
The leadership has waned.
We’re still attempting to cling on to past glory.

Let’s call a spade a spade. This team - top to bottom - isn’t competitive enough.

The foundation is there. Build off of it.

Time for Rocky to step in and turn the franchise around. And it’s been overdue.
- TommyHawk

Missing a new foundation. Dach is one block.

Good info. LTIR minimum days is 24.
- boilermaker100

There ya go.

Is that the code phrase for getting sh*t faced? Isn’t that bad for Lehner?
- gifman

It is code for he got his ass lit up.

Bowman has put together a roster that’s lacking in high end talent.

That basically sums it up. I have no idea how anyone can possibly sit there and blame this on coaching. No coach would be able to win consistently with this level of talent.

The goaltending is very solid. But the Dcore is literally the worst in the entire NHL. 1/2 of our Dcore are average 2nd pairing caliber defenseman(this includes Keith at this point), the other 1/2 don’t belong in the league. It’s slow and void of any skill whatsoever.

Our forwards were overrated by many of us, myself included. Toews is a borderline 3rd liner at this point based on his level of play. Saad and Shaw are 3rd liners. Both have plenty of effort but neither has much skill/finishing/play making abilities. DeBrincat, now that he can no longer shoot the puck, is an average 3rd liner. Average skater, not much explosive skill or playmaking ability. Strome is also slow and doesn’t really do much when his passing/vision is off like it has been this season. Very weak on the puck. Nylander looks worse and worse every game, a fast skater but sloppy overall whenever he tries to get cute. Kampf and Kubalik are average 3rd liners at best. Everyone else not named Kane or Dach is 4th line material.

Outside of 88 and 77 there’s really not much high end skill or speed at the forward position whatsoever. And 77 is still far too young.

Overall the roster is WEAK.

Bowman created this mess by giving out far too many stupid contracts and making far too many stupid trades. Too many to list.

Tallon hasn’t been affiliated with the organization in over a decade.

Stan has had ample time to piece together a competitive roster. I’d wager he’s one of the longest tenured GM’s in the league at this point. He got to see this organization through the ups, and since 2015 has seen this team continuously spiral down. Why does he get to rebuild this organization from the ground up?

When any organization (in any industry) completely plummets, to the heads get to stay to turn the company around?

Stan, Colliton, McD...doesn’t matter.

The team is stale.
The leadership has waned.
We’re still attempting to cling on to past glory.

Let’s call a spade a spade. This team - top to bottom - isn’t competitive enough.

The foundation is there. Build off of it.

Time for Rocky to step in and turn the franchise around. And it’s been overdue.
- TommyHawk

This sentence is very true. The whole one last shift stuff and other pre-game theatrics is part of it.

Pretty soon we'll be like the die-hard Bear fans that keep trotting out the glory of the 85 Bears.

Agree wholeheartedly with your premise - leaders grow stale and orgs follow a lifecycle and if not constantly changing and innovating, will fall behind.

Question is - outside of turning around the Blackhawks (no small feat, I understand), does Rocky (or, for that matter, McD) have experience with turning around an organization that was once great, but has fallen on hard times? What worked in 2006-07+ may (and probably will) not work now.
- pdx2ord

Rocky, when he took over the Blackhawks after his father died, turned the organization around. By bringing in McD.

Is that the code phrase for getting sh*t faced? Isn’t that bad for Lehner?
- gifman

I wouldn’t speculate on something like that. Not cool!

Bowman has put together a roster that’s lacking in high end talent.

That basically sums it up. I have no idea how anyone can possibly sit there and blame this on coaching. No coach would be able to win consistently with this level of talent.

The goaltending is very solid. But the Dcore is literally the worst in the entire NHL. 1/2 of our Dcore are average 2nd pairing caliber defenseman(this includes Keith at this point), the other 1/2 don’t belong in the league. It’s slow and void of any skill whatsoever.

Our forwards were overrated by many of us, myself included. Toews is a borderline 3rd liner at this point based on his level of play. Saad and Shaw are 3rd liners. Both have plenty of effort but neither has much skill/finishing/play making abilities. DeBrincat, now that he can no longer shoot the puck, is an average 3rd liner. Average skater, not much explosive skill or playmaking ability. Strome is also slow and doesn’t really do much when his passing/vision is off like it has been this season. Very weak on the puck. Nylander looks worse and worse every game, a fast skater but sloppy overall whenever he tries to get cute. Kampf and Kubalik are average 3rd liners at best. Everyone else not named Kane or Dach is 4th line material.

Outside of 88 and 77 there’s really not much high end skill or speed at the forward position whatsoever. And 77 is still far too young.

Overall the roster is WEAK.

Bowman created this mess by giving out far too many stupid contracts and making far too many stupid trades. Too many to list.
- SimpleJack

Somebody just tried to blame it on the strength and conditioning coach...

Rocky, when he took over the Blackhawks after his father died, turned the organization around. By bringing in McD.
- 35Tony0

Yep, that was in the first part of that question and I acknowledge that was no small feat. There's no argument the Hawks org was in the toilet before they took over. But, have they had to deal with turning around an organization that has been great and is no longer, all during their tenure?

I think that is a lot harder to do than coming in fresh to an org that needs turning around, particularly since this incarnation is their baby.

Bowman has put together a roster that’s lacking in high end talent.

That basically sums it up. I have no idea how anyone can possibly sit there and blame this on coaching. No coach would be able to win consistently with this level of talent.

The goaltending is very solid. But the Dcore is literally the worst in the entire NHL. 1/2 of our Dcore are average 2nd pairing caliber defenseman(this includes Keith at this point), the other 1/2 don’t belong in the league. It’s slow and void of any skill whatsoever.

Our forwards were overrated by many of us, myself included. Toews is a borderline 3rd liner at this point based on his level of play. Saad and Shaw are 3rd liners. Both have plenty of effort but neither has much skill/finishing/play making abilities. DeBrincat, now that he can no longer shoot the puck, is an average 3rd liner. Average skater, not much explosive skill or playmaking ability. Strome is also slow and doesn’t really do much when his passing/vision is off like it has been this season. Very weak on the puck. Nylander looks worse and worse every game, a fast skater but sloppy overall whenever he tries to get cute. Kampf and Kubalik are average 3rd liners at best. Everyone else not named Kane or Dach is 4th line material.

Outside of 88 and 77 there’s really not much high end skill or speed at the forward position whatsoever. And 77 is still far too young.

Overall the roster is WEAK.

Bowman created this mess by giving out far too many stupid contracts and making far too many stupid trades. Too many to list.
- SimpleJack

Another short-sighted, armchair hockey executive.

Stan is a total idiot for having such low draft picks in the 1st round for a decade! If only the Hawks had sucked those years, they'd be far better off now!

Rocky, when he took over the Blackhawks after his father died, turned the organization around. By bringing in McD.
- 35Tony0

Ahhhh no.

From the meticulously managed McD Wikipedia site:

"On November 20, 2007, McDonough left the Cubs and became president of the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago's National Hockey League franchise. The Hawks future stars had already been drafted."

Winning = full stadiums and merch counters.

McD contributed NOTHING to this team winning on the ice. He inherited a franchise set up to succeed. A monkey could have ridden that horse to the bank. Now that hard times have fallen, this is when we see the true test of a leader's character.

Trouble is there is no way out short of other teams taking players well past their prime for the balance of their now bloated contracts, short of career ending injuries, or other some such unfortunate incidents.

Or bums like 19 get a heart transplant. Tyler - its about time you call out the Captain in one of your next blogs.

Another short-sighted, armchair hockey executive.

Stan is a total idiot for having such low draft picks in the 1st round for a decade! If only the Hawks had sucked those years, they'd be far better off now!
- mohel

I mean...how is it not Bowmans fault? You can only hand out so many stupid contacts and make so many stupid trades before it catches up to you. Do you disagree that our talent is lacking, especially on defense? That falls squarely on the shoulders of the GM. He’s the one that put it together.