Maybe Rocky has done that and decided what is available isn’t as good as what he has.
- LAHawk

He don’t give two poops about fans like me what he’s going to give a poop about is all these corporate sponsors that are going to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to them and advertising that are going to bail out, and all the empty suites in skyboxs,maybe they’ll ring his bell and then when he has a convention next July that won’t even be sold out maybe half full at the most, but then they’ll just go and get free tickets to kids on the street and tell them just to show up so it looks like they have fans.

Why the (frank) is this so hard to understand?

I don’t necessarily think they suck, but Cat has been awful in a prolonged slump and Strome is inconsistent.

None the less...they, when packaged together, still have a lot of value and throughout the league would still gain a lot of interest.

And it’s not about what I think of them more so the current situation with us being sellers and the TDL looming. We might find a solid deal and that improves our future.

Is this concept seriously that hard to grasp that I have to repeat it multiple times to several different posters??
- SimpleJack

You have been saying most of the season they have no skill, etc. But you expect to get a haul for them. Do you not see the contradiction in the two beliefs? It really isn't that hard.

Haha! Not on this site.
- paulr

They are running out of time and it's time to move on from 2019-20 and start looking down the road.

We can all argue who should or shouldn't go......but IMO

Id really shop Saad hard after what Zucker got Minnesota last night. I like Saad as a player, just worry about his next AAV.

If florida or an eastern conference called about Keith Id listen hard. I think Keith like Kane Toews or Crawford deserves another chance at winning and Keith's hour glass is just about up and by the time the Hawks are ready to compete he'll be Timmonen from 2015...a shell of a great player. If Keith doesn't want to go that's HIS right but I'd present it to him.

If they don't trade either 40 or 50....my head may explode as both aren't coming back. Get the 1st from Carolina and another cherry and call it day.

SMith, Carpenter, Maata seem like no brainers for me. Small pieces a team looking for a minimal upgrade would take on.

Gus better be gone. Throw him in the 40/50 class of musts.

Saad and Lehner could both net you 1sts....and I know they would be later 1sts but package those and you could move up higher in the draft....or use them this summer at the draft to acquire a younger player who is locked up. NO clue who said player is....but it gives Bowman options.

A. Why would we trade 1 of the few somewhat proven younger forwards who can produce at the NHL level and still gets quality looks and still generates points.

He's pressing. It happens. Maybe an old poster, unnamed source, can have his so called friend get him on his couch and get his confidence up.

Since everyone is willing to ship off younger players who take a step back, why not Dach then?

B. Lots of younger guys who have success regress the 2nd year. Maybe it came too easy, the league adjusts, they get paid....who knows....lots do. Kubalik may regress. Kubalik may ask for the farm like Panarin and Bowman may have to deal him.

BIg difference in listening and trading either/both IF the offers are can't pass up vs trading them because they "suck"
- SteveRain

Dude, stop bringing up Dach...he’s 18 and played like 50 games in his entire life as a pro. Trading him away is a horrible comparison. That makes zero sense.

Also you keep saying this is Cats 2nd year. It’s his 3rd. Regardless though, I think he’s better than what he’s showing. He will improve. But doesn’t mean he and Strome aren’t still trade chips that might land us a package that Improves the roster.

I guess you have to give it through next Friday vs Nashville but I think they have to go 4 and 1 in that stretch. Can they perform at that level? I guess but it sure seems unlikely.

you ever seen that first hand before?

Way the stretcher was on the ice figured it came from the Ducks tunnel or the zam gate.
- SteveRain

I helped Pat Stapleton off the ice after he was cut in the cheek by a skate. We could see his top & bottom teeth through the side of his face. A couple guys hurled. Whitey wound up with a monster zipper across the side of his face.

One of the worst ones I ever saw was a woman who caught a puck in the side of the melon (the top one). She was yapping with the person next to her and not watching. A D man under pressure on the opposite side of the defensive zone tried to go off the glass with it and just missed the glass high and the puck smoked her. Maintenance guys had mops to clean up.

Also saw Brad Gassoff from St Louis put Lou Angotti through the glass right next to the Stl bench. The paramedics were digging laminated glass chips out the two ladies faces that were sitting in the front row. Sometime after that they changed out the glass for acrylic.

Many more, too much to type. I do know that the stretchers and medics are in the Zam tunnel during the game.

Dude, stop bringing up Dach...he’s 18 and played like 50 games in his entire life as a pro. Trading him away is a horrible comparison. That makes zero sense.

Also you keep saying this is Cats 2nd year. It’s his 3rd. Regardless though, I think he’s better than what he’s showing. He will improve. But doesn’t mean he and Strome aren’t still trade chips that might land us a package that Improves the roster.
- SimpleJack

So you hope to trade them to get player who may put up 50 points or score 25 goals? 3 years down the road. Maybe?

You have been saying most of the season they have no skill, etc. But you expect to get a haul for them. Do you not see the contradiction in the two beliefs? It really isn't that hard.
- Elbows15

Forget my hating on them and my poop talking.

I’m referring to what value they have across the league from the people that matter, like other GMs.

Big difference.

Just like how you might talk trash about Lehner...doesn’t mean that other NHL GMs agree.

So you hope to trade them to get player who may put up 50 points or score 25 goals? 3 years down the road. Maybe?
- Elbows15

Yes exactly. How did you know? That’s exactly what I hope happens.

SMith, Carpenter, Maata seem like no brainers for me. Small pieces a team looking for a minimal upgrade would take on.

- SteveRain

One is not like the others....

Carpenter is on a very team friendly deal at 1mm AAV for 3 years. He's very useful. A big part of a vastly improved PK. A good character guy.

Keep Carpenter.

Why the (frank) is this so hard to understand?

I don’t necessarily think they suck, but Cat has been awful in a prolonged slump and Strome is inconsistent.

None the less...they, when packaged together, still have a lot of value and throughout the league would still gain a lot of interest.

And it’s not about what I think of them more so the current situation with us being sellers and the TDL looming. We might find a solid deal and that improves our future.

Is this concept seriously that hard to grasp that I have to repeat it multiple times to several different posters??
- SimpleJack

Not sure that trading two 22 year olds that have proven to be NHL players is the best way to rebuild.

Not sure that trading two 22 year olds that have proven to be NHL players is the best way to rebuild.
- Angotti

Annnddd there is that!

One is not like the others....

Carpenter is on a very team friendly deal at 1mm AAV for 3 years. He's very useful. A big part of a vastly improved PK. A good character guy.

Keep Carpenter.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

Carpenter falls in the if someone wants him real bad and is willing to do something completely illogical and give you a 1st, you trade him. Otherwise, keep him away from Smith.

He don’t give two poops about fans like me what he’s going to give a poop about is all these corporate sponsors that are going to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to them and advertising that are going to bail out, and all the empty suites in skyboxs,maybe they’ll ring his bell and then when he has a convention next July that won’t even be sold out maybe half full at the most, but then they’ll just go and get free tickets to kids on the street and tell them just to show up so it looks like they have fans.
- wonthecup10

I'm not, nor have I ever been, a season ticket holder, but I've gone to a few games a year. Even I'm getting emails and calls from ticket reps begging me to buy ticket packages for remainder of the season.

He don’t give two poops about fans like me what he’s going to give a poop about is all these corporate sponsors that are going to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to them and advertising that are going to bail out, and all the empty suites in skyboxs,maybe they’ll ring his bell and then when he has a convention next July that won’t even be sold out maybe half full at the most, but then they’ll just go and get free tickets to kids on the street and tell them just to show up so it looks like they have fans.
- wonthecup10

I agree, but with corporate sponsors, corporate suites, and tv revenue, and the fact there are very few sports teams with family ownership that is just reality. Wirtz Corp. brings in about $2 billion in revenue annually. Basically the Hawks are a shiny toy for him, general attendance going down a few thousand a game is meaningless to him.

give you a 1st, you trade him.
- Elbows15

Yeah I don't think we have to worry about that, though.

Not sure that trading two 22 year olds that have proven to be NHL players is the best way to rebuild.
- Angotti

Still a solid core to build around without them. They aren’t cornerstones. They are secondary complimentary players.

Given their chemistry together, it creates a unique situation. Increases their value. The return would have to be right, but it’s definitely an option.

Only players I wouldn’t look to trade would be 88 and 77. And all our young D(Boqvist, Mitchell, etc). Anyone and everyone else is fair game.

Dude, stop bringing up Dach...he’s 18 and played like 50 games in his entire life as a pro. Trading him away is a horrible comparison. That makes zero sense.

Also you keep saying this is Cats 2nd year. It’s his 3rd. Regardless though, I think he’s better than what he’s showing. He will improve. But doesn’t mean he and Strome aren’t still trade chips that might land us a package that Improves the roster.
- SimpleJack

I was being sarcastic on Dach.

You are right on DeBrincat...it is 3rd year.

DeBrincat has a 8.3% shot percentage this year vs 15.5% and 18.6% in previous years......Even if he dipped to 12% he'd have 19 goals......So, I think it's safe to say he's had a lot of factors all hit at once....bad luck (posts, high danger saves by opposition goalies), missed shots (heel shots, shanks, missed the net), and overall frustration/lack of confidence.

Almost like a hitter who keeps hitting rockets at guys, and everything that could go wrong, did......

Forget my hating on them and my poop talking.

I’m referring to what value they have across the league from the people that matter, like other GMs.

Big difference.

Just like how you might talk trash about Lehner...doesn’t mean that other NHL GMs agree.
- SimpleJack

Here is the difference. I don't expect a haul for Lard Ass. Him being gone is good enough for me.

I agree, but with corporate sponsors, corporate suites, and tv revenue, and the fact there are very few sports teams with family ownership that is just reality. Wirtz Corp. brings in about $2 billion in revenue annually. Basically the Hawks are a shiny toy for him, general attendance going down a few thousand a game is meaningless to him.
- LAHawk

I don't think Rocky has the patience of his dad. That's a good thing when you want to make changes, but I don't see Rocky putting up with losing the money for years at a time like his dad did. I think he'd sell out at some point.

It’s not like I wanna throw cat and Strome away for nothing.

I legitimately think we can upgrade the team. It’s about improving, not subtracting for inferior value.

how many 2nd year players after a remarkable rookie year across all sports regress? A lot. League adjusts, players have to adjust to back.

Then throw in getting paid a large amount of money and the pressure that comes with proving you are worth it......he is getting chances. He is getting shots. He's on pace for 60 points.

He hasn't been as good as last year. It happens. Nobody here knows what the coaching staff or upper management is saying to him off the ice....the hawks need the kid to be a corner stone if they are to rebound.

Now, if he continues to make Vesteeg type mistakes and the risk outweighs the reward of what he brings offensively.....I don't disagree on possibly scratching him.

However this idiotic general notion of sending him to Rockford or shipping him out of town is just dumb. it isnt' happening unless Bowman is absolutely blown away by an offer.
- SteveRain

What you didn't also include is that you do not want to trade a known goal scorer when his value has dipped....the question and the answer is how to get DeBrincat in the groove he was last season. The most glaring evidence for his down season appears to be his physical conditioning. Meaning whether his summer training to get heavier and stronger impacted negatively in his skill package.

There have been other points made about DeBrincat and they have substance too. It is going to be up to DeBrincat and possibly Blackhawks advising what off season training regimen which could result in the old DeBrincat. You have to be smart about how you handle him; you definitely do not get pissed off and irrationally unload him.

On another topic: is Shea worth signing and including a promise to play at least one NHL game this season?

It’s not for me to figure out, as for the owner of the team, maybe he should start replacing the director of hockey operations with a guy that actually knows what he’s talking about and actually has prior experience at either being a general manager or a president of a national hockey league team. Then let that guy hire his own general manager, which in turn the new general manager will bring in an NHL proven coach instead of some kid that coached in a beer league somewhere overseas.
This (frank)ing sucks looks like three years in a row over $11,000 a year and season tickets not including parking in food and drinks, not included, and no goddamn playoffs again.
- wonthecup10

Dave Tippett has made a huge difference to the Oilers this season. They are far from a great team but he is shaping some real improvement in them because he knows what he is doing.

And they have size on the backend that makes playing in the Oilers zone tough on forwards. They controlled the middle of the ice tonight and just took advantage of Hawks stupid mistakes.

And compare how their little guy Yamamoto is playing vs what the Hawks are getting out of Dinky, Nylander and Strome.

Here is the difference. I don't expect a haul for Lard Ass. Him being gone is good enough for me.
- Elbows15

Lol...serious question. Why don’t you like Lehner?

Yeah I don't think we have to worry about that, though.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

Exactly. But then the TDL makes GMs do crazy things. I like Carpenter but I would really tempted to move him for a 2nd.