Two questions for you (no snark intended here):
1) Do you want a panic move by Bowman? If he waits until deadline day and makes a flurry of moves, does that change your opinion of him?

2) When the Hawks were playing well before the break, does Colliton get any credit for that?

OK, so technically that is three questions. My second question speaks to the point that the Hawks were playing very well leading up to the break. Solid D, scoring, good PK. Virtually the same team is out on the ice and now they are playing poorly. I'm not absolving Colliton of everything, but there is a lot of blame to be placed on the players too.
- Chunk

Don't forget the refs (red font)

As expected. How can we take seriously your critique of Stan if you're unable to identify who would do the job better? These things are judged in comparison to others doing the job.
- mohel

There are certain decisions by Stan of which you can be very critical. The question becomes, how many has he made and how egregious were they? If it goes past the point of tolerance (from the team's perspective), he's out.

For instance, my personal gripes:
1) Seabrook contract (yep still beating this one)
2) Firing Q mid-season - this is in a fight for number 1.
3) All of the "get the band back together" moves.

What I have liked:
1) Most of the Euro pick ups.
2) Drafting well.

Obviously, this is not all there is to consider, and these are completely subjective on my part, but at the end of the day, the team management will look at what he's done (and what is available to him) and evaluate the results. If they think they can do better, they find a new guy.

Don't forget the refs (red font)
- boilermaker100

And Bettman! That guy hates everyone!

Don't forget the refs (red font)
- boilermaker100

Oh always the Ref's fault. always 100% they are trying to screw the Hawks over every night.

My only slight comeback to that is that the two major contracts are 19 and 88. Was the number a little high when they signed it? Yes. Is Kane worth it? In my mind absolutely. Toews, less so, but he is at 0.8PPG and plays well in all situations. At the time they signed them both, it was very hard to argue which one was worth more to the team.

Additionally, and I will say this until I am blue in the face, there are many factors that contributed to the Hawks downfall. Some of what Q did, the players themselves, etc. Ultimately, the GM is responsible for it all. If I had to handicap it, I would say they let him ride out the rest of his contract (through next year). If they are in the same position they are now, he'll get the boot.
- Chunk

Oh absolutely, I have no problem with the Kane contract, he's still worth it today. I'd rather have Toews slightly lower than 10.5 but it is what it is.

I also agree with everything in your second paragraph except the last part. They fired Q (which was a widely unpopular decision) because they believed the current roster was still good enough to compete in the playoffs. That part is very important in trying to figure out what might happen in the off-season.

Leading into this season the goal was to return to the playoffs, same as it was last year. So I see two scenarios...

1) Either Rocky and McD will come out after the season and say, we failed to hit our mark BUT we've added some solid pieces to build around moving forward and we want to let Stan continue to build upon that.

OR

2) Rocky and McD come out and say "The results of the last two years are not acceptable. We still hold the view that this team can be competitive as long as we have cornerstone players like Toews and Kane. We will be doing a full evaluation of all staff, including Stan." And then Stan would likely be fired pretty soon after.

If they decide option 1, and people want to let Stan handle the rebuild, fine. I'll even support it so long as it's an actual rebuild.

What I don't support, is the idea that Stan can retool this team on the fly. I don't trust him to make the right moves as evidenced by the last 3 straight years of being either the worst or 2nd worst team in the division.

Wow! didn't realize it was THAT many.

Frank Seravalli‏Verified account @frank_seravalli · 1h1 hour ago

Bruce Boudreau is the eighth head coach fired this season, matching the bloodiest season for in-season coaching changes in league history, according to Elias.

He asked what it would take for me to can Stan. I gave him my criteria.

Of course, said yesterday that Stan has drafted well last three years, so he should be fired..... Make sense?
- mohel

Yeah i wasn’t going to go back and read 20 pages of posts.

I’m just over rehashing the previous decade over and over and over again. Some point out only failures or bad deals or trades. And some just hang to 3 cups and think that deserves a type of career invincibility for the management.

Still don’t know if he has drafted “well” or “bad”. Too bad early still.

What are your expectations for the next 10 days in regards to the deadline? As in if this doesn’t happen you consider it a miss by Stan. Ie specific players who shouldn’t be here 2/25

Wow! didn't realize it was THAT many.

Frank Seravalli‏Verified account @frank_seravalli · 1h1 hour ago

Bruce Boudreau is the eighth head coach fired this season, matching the bloodiest season for in-season coaching changes in league history, according to Elias.
- Chunk

There are no good coaches.

Two questions for you (no snark intended here):
1) Do you want a panic move by Bowman? If he waits until deadline day and makes a flurry of moves, does that change your opinion of him?

2) When the Hawks were playing well before the break, does Colliton get any credit for that?

OK, so technically that is three questions. My second question speaks to the point that the Hawks were playing very well leading up to the break. Solid D, scoring, good PK. Virtually the same team is out on the ice and now they are playing poorly. I'm not absolving Colliton of everything, but there is a lot of blame to be placed on the players too.
- Chunk

1) I use the "no panic" as a possible proof that he feels secure enough in his job to feel that little to no change need to happen this TDL.
If he makes a flurry of moves that make the team better, then that would be ideal wouldn't it?

2) Yes, Colliton deserves credit on all the good things (as is SB). But there is something called "overall success" of the team. JC has shown what this team is capable of, that's why I think this team is better than what they are. But he's incapable of sustaining that success.

We can all discuss the good things both JC and SB has done, I probably will agree with most of them. But the overall success of the team has been on the decline since 2015. (I'm ok with the 2016, just trying to prove a point).

if you really believe that next year would be better, then I cant argue that. I'm hoping they would, but I don't see it happening, at least without a big change in coaching, players or management. I mean, its going to be more of the same thing, wouldn't it?

Didn't you say yesterday that Stan drafted well the last three years? Doesn't that involve scouting?
- mohel

If the hill you want to die on is Stans drafting record be my guest lol, you're gonna be pretty lonely up there. Look at his record as a whole.

I gave you all the information you need to do your own homework.

There are certain decisions by Stan of which you can be very critical. The question becomes, how many has he made and how egregious were they? If it goes past the point of tolerance (from the team's perspective), he's out.

For instance, my personal gripes:
1) Seabrook contract (yep still beating this one)
2) Firing Q mid-season - this is in a fight for number 1.
3) All of the "get the band back together" moves.

What I have liked:
1) Most of the Euro pick ups.
2) Drafting well.

Obviously, this is not all there is to consider, and these are completely subjective on my part, but at the end of the day, the team management will look at what he's done (and what is available to him) and evaluate the results. If they think they can do better, they find a new guy.
- Chunk

Indeed, ALL GM's make bad moves. I agree on your list, although the Q decision almost certainly was more than Stan's decision.

He has has success and failure. All will.

Still don’t know if he has drafted “well” or “bad”. Too bad early still.


- SteveRain

Ask yourself this question to get the answer:

Are there 2.0 versions of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crawford etc in the pipeline today?

Mic drop.

I am not excusing Seabrook’s contract, but we had just won three cups, the man was a horse, and at that time we did not have any other defenseman that brought his attributes. He had size, heart, a great shot, and cleared the front of the net like no other Blackhawk defenseman on that team, he needed to be resigned, no question. Was $6.9M too much, yes no doubt, but what would have been fair at the time, $5.5M? It would still be a decent cap hit, again, you win championships, you have to pay. At least we paid for championships, take a look around the league, plenty of teams in cap hell and no cups.

Yet strangely spot on
- Return of the Roar

Not really...different day, same old narrative.

I know it’s hindsight now that allows you and some of the other armchair GM’s to keep talking about “nibbling at the edges” when in reality pretty much everyone on this site wanted Stanbo to blow the whole thing up after the second first round out vs PHX.

Unfortunately they won a couple more Cups with the Mainteiner at the helm which only served to momentarily delay the rebuild. Bummer.

Ask yourself this question to get the answer:

Are there 2.0 versions of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crawford etc in the pipeline today?

Mic drop.
- Return of the Roar

The only way to get these 2.0 versions is to crap the bed for 5-6 seasons. We won three cups, can’t get Toews and Kane drafting in the 2nd round.

If the hill you want to die on is Stans drafting record be my guest lol, you're gonna be pretty lonely up there. Look at his record as a whole.

I gave you all the information you need to do your own homework.
- Toew Drags 4 Daze

Lol. You've given enough for me to know your opinion is as meaningful as JJ's.

Ask yourself this question to get the answer:

Are there 2.0 versions of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crawford etc in the pipeline today?

Mic drop.
- Return of the Roar

Lol. 4 Hall of Famers. Any GM could replace them!

#tempertantrum

The only way to get these 2.0 versions is to crap the bed for 5-6 seasons. We won three cups, can’t get Toews and Kane drafting in the 2nd round.
- Angotti

Aaaaand we have a winner.

Welcome to hard cap sports.

Too bad McD won't ever let that happen on his watch.

I have said ever since the NYR waved their white flag in a full page ad in the NYT that it was the best, most honest and most transparent way to communicate with their fanbase. TELL THE TRUTH.

And because this front office crew won't do that, I am proud to say I have not spent a dime on anything related to this franchise since 2016.

Ask yourself this question to get the answer:

Are there 2.0 versions of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crawford etc in the pipeline today?

Mic drop.
- Return of the Roar

I mean, Teuvo Teravainen has 91 points in the 90 games since he signed his 5 year extension at only $5.4 million per....

Okay okay I'll shut up.

Uh

Ask yourself this question to get the answer:

Are there 2.0 versions of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crawford etc in the pipeline today?

Mic drop.
- Return of the Roar

So Your realistically asking if there are three HOF’ers, one other potential and an elite goalie marinating in RFD?

I get it the answer is no, but ask the Oilers how long it took to find their next Gretzky, Messier, Coffey, Fuhr, etc...or the Isles to find another Bossy, Trottier, Potvin, and Smith.

Ask the Wings and the Kings how easy it is to replace some of their stars picking toward the end of the first round.

I’m sure when Sid and Geno hang ‘em up, there are two new versions just waiting in Wilks Barre/Scranton.

The only way to get these 2.0 versions is to crap the bed for 5-6 seasons. We won three cups, can’t get Toews and Kane drafting in the 2nd round.
- Angotti

You can, but it's pretty rare.

Ask yourself this question to get the answer:

Are there 2.0 versions of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crawford etc in the pipeline today?

Mic drop.
- Return of the Roar

Hold on to that Mic for a sec. Dach is showing very well and is 19. Boqvist the same and he is the same age. Those are the only two top 10 pics they have had in quite a while.

We don't know what a lot of these kids will do until they get in the league and play for a couple years. Hossa had 30 and 56 points his first two years and didn't become the 200' player we know and love until a bit later in his career.

Despite his struggles this year, ADB put up great numbers his first two years in the league. There are certainly good parts to build around.

If you can determine which players are going to be the next Kane, Toews, and Keith then unless you are already an NHL GM, you should be.

Ask yourself this question to get the answer:

Are there 2.0 versions of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crawford etc in the pipeline today?

Mic drop.
- Return of the Roar

Dach, noone, BoQvist,Saad is the closest currently, anyone who puts pads on (since most think Crow is not an elite goaltender)

Lankinen got injured last night and left the ice. Tweaked an old shoulder injury. Not sure if he's out for any extended period. And so goes our luck this year.
- pdx2ord

Wondering how the injury impacts Lankinen's contract renewal as he is a pending RFA. It's late enough in the season for the Blackhawks to know now whether or not to resign him but perhaps they are also waiting to determine the fate of Crawford and Lehner first.

Minor league goalie depth at least isn't hurt by Lankinen going down as Delia has really come on strong to unofficially become the #1 goalie in the system and Tomkins proving to be a capable backup.

The situation may get complicated after this season, though, when factoring in what happens with Crawford and Lehner as well as with Gravel who should be set to go pro after 4 seasons in Halifax.

I am not excusing Seabrook’s contract, but we had just won three cups, the man was a horse, and at that time we did not have any other defenseman that brought his attributes. He had size, heart, a great shot, and cleared the front of the net like no other Blackhawk defenseman on that team, he needed to be resigned, no question. Was $6.9M too much, yes no doubt, but what would have been fair at the time, $5.5M? It would still be a decent cap hit, again, you win championships, you have to pay. At least we paid for championships, take a look around the league, plenty of teams in cap hell and no cups.
- Angotti

I personally don't have any issue with the cap number. I just thought the contract was easily four years too long. I fully agree with the bolded, but it is simply a bad idea to extend a guy at that number until he is 38/39.