Blame their boss for not doing something about a dysfunctional GM/Coach relationship where the GM would trade assets for players that the coach had no intention of using - and there not being any communication from the coach - so that you basically traded players for nothing ...

Daley was only one example ... Fleischmann/Wiese was another example ... Vermette nearly was another ...

You can't blame just one guy on that -- it was the both of them together.
- SC116

Q was definitely right about Condiments/Weisse. Vermette was pretty useless except for a couple of games in the PO. Yeah, I know. Faceoffs. Who is to say that Vermette even contributes unless he got the kick in the ass from Q? He came over from a team with a country club atmosphere into a high pressure situation.

You can blame Q for Daley, I guess. It was Daley who asked for the trade because he wasn't able to play the way Q wanted.

All those names you mentioned at the bottom Rick, not a 1 will make this team,better yet none of them will touch any NHL roster,
Hayden for us promising as we thought he was he’s about two years away from working in the trades or carrying a briefcase to work every day using his East Coast college education hopefully to have a good job and just play in a men’s league somewhere. Same with Dylan Sikura and a lot of the other Bowman gems.
I am holding out hope that this Ian Mitchell kid turns in the something.
I hate to sound cynical but at least with some of the other teams the ownership came right out and was upfront with the fans what is going on. I still stand by what I said the word rebuild is not in their vocabulary.
- wonthecup10

Agreed you win with difference makers.

They trade lard ass yet?
- Elbows15

Stan needs to trade Saad to Pittsburgh for Jack Johnson first. Pitt loves dealing with Stan, it's like taking candy from a baby.

Getting back to Lehner's comments about him wanting a fair deal as an UFA, I wonder if Stan is negotiating with him at this time or if Lehner wants to test the market this summer. If Stan is making no progress with the negotiations he should be traded by the TDL to get a return for him.

The Carolina blogger say it may be time for the Canes to look for another goalie. So Lehner to Carolina?? They will probably want to give back either Reimer or Mrazek. They are signed through next year which will give the Hawks a veteran goalie as some insurance if Crow retires or is not re-signed to a short team deal. But a goalie for goalie swap is not enough of a return IMO. Maybe the Hawks can get a pick or prospect thrown in. Hawks can even retain some of Lehner's salary to get a better return.

The ideal situation, while not wishing injury on anyone, is if a contender's goalie goes down soon with a long term injury and is out for the remainder of the regular season. Someone like Vegas' Fleury or Toronto's Andersen comes to mind. I would think that at least a pick and a prospect could be the return from a team like that with a good chance at an extended playoff run.
- boilermaker100

his comments make it clear..both/and: he wants to stay here but its also a business and he wants to get paid and have some security. I would think there have been conversations between his agent/stanbow. If they can't come to an agreement you gotta think he is moved at the TDL to a team that will sign him him, psss poor management to allow him to walk into UFAdom for nothing.

The goalie decision is the most critical decision stanbow has to make: which way this breaks will say alot about the hawks direction

The Teravainen deal was just the cost of moving Bickell - unfortunate but understandable.

The Danault deal was just inexcusable, a dreadful trade.

As was the Trevor Daley for Scuderi deal.
- RickJ

the stench of this deal still hangs over stanbow

Well said and think that's why this team can't seem to rebound as quickly....they aren't getting the hits on the 2nd tiered and 3rd tiered guys like before.

Im not down on Gilbert as much as others....let the kid play and see where he is at. Gus is a WHOLE other story.

To your point, and I think we are on the same page, they need to make some evaluations and flip some of their guys to other teams for other young players who may not be working out.....This Nylander trade is exhibit A and lets hope he shows some consistencies sooner rather then later but I am far from giving up him....
- SteveRain

although his metrics are poor...i agree..he has some physicality to his play...i mean lets be honest they never figured gilbert or bokie would be playing this year...

so which team show up...

as another struggling team show ups at the UC...ducks have lost 3 in a row and they suck on the road...well they suck period.

perfect conditions for the hawks to play Mr. Hyde again the ducks to get healthy for a game.

Stan needs to trade Saad to Pittsburgh for Jack Johnson first. Pitt loves dealing with Stan, it's like taking candy from a baby.
- Dieselhead

Stan will likely retain half of Saad’s salary too.

The Teravainen deal was just the cost of moving Bickell - unfortunate but understandable.

The Danault deal was just inexcusable, a dreadful trade.

As was the Trevor Daley for Scuderi deal.
- RickJ

Which was worse, trading away Danault or Jokiharju?

Q was definitely right about Condiments/Weisse. Vermette was pretty useless except for a couple of games in the PO. Yeah, I know. Faceoffs. Who is to say that Vermette even contributes unless he got the kick in the ass from Q? He came over from a team with a country club atmosphere into a high pressure situation.

You can blame Q for Daley, I guess. It was Daley who asked for the trade because he wasn't able to play the way Q wanted.
- Elbows15

Maybe- but I was talking about the lack of communication that resulted in what turned out to be wasted roster spaces. I'm not actually blaming Q so much as that a gm/coach relationship when it comes to sourcing players should work better than what had happened in Chicago.

although his metrics are poor...i agree..he has some physicality to his play...i mean lets be honest they never figured gilbert or bokie would be playing this year...
- bogiedoc

Regarding Gilbert, we're going to need some $2m defensemen down the road. If all the new guys are "great" we won't be able to afford them.

Wasn't Q know for going easy on practicing to keep the boys fresh? Even in the last year or so?
- mohel

Yes.

although his metrics are poor...i agree..he has some physicality to his play...i mean lets be honest they never figured gilbert or bokie would be playing this year...
- bogiedoc

I wouldn’t say people are down on him. Yes his analytics are awful, but I think he pretty much is what he is, a 3rd pair career guy who can do ok with sheltered minutes. He’s better than some of the guys that played 3rd pair in the Cup years. He’d have been a great upgrade over the crap that skated 3rd pair in 2015.

And playing with Maatta doesn’t help. I’d take a Gilbert over Maatta any day. He’d do better with KK, that would be a decent, physical, 3rd pair.

Which was worse, trading away Danault or Jokiharju?
- DarthKane

Probably a coin flip, due to them having a wide disparity of time in the NHL.

Which was worse, trading away Danault or Jokiharju?
- DarthKane

TBD...

I am like other's here (like sage), nylander is only 21...he has skills/talent...can he get it togehter in other areas to be consistent top line guy (25/35 = 60 pts) in the coming year or 2. To early to quit on this guy.

JR finally apologizes

https://twitter.com/Jerem.../1216083146602577920?s=20
- pdx2ord

It's really sad that JR had to apologize for his comments, but people who say things like "The world is going to end in 12 years", or "the President is a racist" can continue to spew those lies. JR's comments didn't hurt anybody (especially if you understand he is an ex-athlete who shoots his mouth off).

Kane got mugged.

helluva pass by Gus...helluva no call by the officials...my gawd a bear hug and hit to the head...

foley just called: TO and another early goal against...

four games at home..all give up first goals...

on and on it goes

Weak back handed passes by the Hawks in the d zone. Behind the net or at the blue line. They do it over and over and pick it out of the back of their net.

blown call by the ref and then toews pokes the post from crease...WTF

Kane got mugged.
- Angotti

As usual. Kane is the only player that never gets a call when he is on a breakaway.

Weak back handed passes by the Hawks in the d zone. Behind the net or at the blue line. They do it over and over and pick it out of the back of their net.
- -Doh-

yep has happened way to often this year...some time crow/lehner have made the great save but no so much of late...

the tazer 5 hole special and gibson looked for it and still could not get em closed fast enough

Nice pick by Kubalik on Toews goal.