Tyler Cameron: "Best of" Blackhawks Armchair GMing

Thanks for keeping this going and giving us new things to discuss!

Thanks Tyler! Interesting piece and way to get people engaged.

Nicely done Darth. I know you have to give to get, and I'll admit I don't know a ton about Sorokin, but I think I'd rather hang onto Mitchell.

I highly doubt isles move Sorokin as they brought in the ruskie to mentor their future starter.

Tyler Cameron: "Best of" Blackhawks Armchair GMing
- Tyler Cameron

I would like to see him make these guys a little more accountable for 3 consecutive seasons with no playoffs; All of these seasons with Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews and Corey Crawford playing at a very high level.

- TC

I can appreciate that but I think it's pretty typical that the owner/Prez/GM, etc. give the management team their vote of confidence. Who knows what he's thinking privately, but I'm not surprised by Wirtz's comments.

Would it make some fans happy if he said that everyone's on notice? I imagine, but they're just words and it's not like Wirtz can't decide to kick them all to the curb at the beginning or end of next season, though not likely at this point.

I think everyone is frustrated with no playoffs. While you list several Core players who were still playing at a high level, part of the problem was the ones who weren't (Seabs and Hammer).

Seabs game started to fall off the last year they made the playoffs and anyone who tells me Hammer was definitively the same guy he was in 2015 was seeing someone different on the ice that I was.

I think that year they were unceremoniously ousted by the Preds signaled a bit of a new direction with this team and disagree that we've seen the exact same thing for the last three years.

To me the difference this next season vs the last couple is how much youth and a lot of it homegrown will be on the team...just my .02.

If the youth movement doesn't start to bear fruit at some point soon, Stan will likely also be looking for a new gig, but I'm really not surprised or angry about Rocky's comments.

I highly doubt isles move Sorokin as they brought in the ruskie to mentor their future starter.
- ChrisMS

I highly doubt it as well but it's fun to dream.

I think Sorokin comes over for the 2020-21 season and could be the starter by the spring of 2021 with Varlamov being more the 1B and mentor to the kid.

I highly doubt it as well but it's fun to dream.

I think Sorokin comes over for the 2020-21 season and could be the starter by the spring of 2021 with Varlamov being more the 1B and mentor to the kid.
- Tyler Cameron

Really? What will he teach him, how to beat up women? The guy has been a failure in hockey, and in life.

I would like to see him make these guys a little more accountable for 3 consecutive seasons with no playoffs; All of these seasons with Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews and Corey Crawford playing at a very high level.

- TC

I can appreciate that but I think it's pretty typical that the owner/Prez/GM, etc. give the management team their vote of confidence. Who knows what he's thinking privately, but I'm not surprised by Wirtz's comments.

Would it make some fans happy if he said that everyone's on notice? I imagine, but they're just words and it's not like Wirtz can't decide to kick them all to the curb at the beginning or end of next season, though not likely at this point.

I think everyone is frustrated with no playoffs. While you list several Core players who were still playing at a high level, part of the problem was the ones who weren't (Seabs and Hammer).

Seabs game started to fall off the last year they made the playoffs and anyone who tells me Hammer was definitively the same guy he was in 2015 was seeing someone different on the ice that I was.

I think that year they were unceremoniously ousted by the Preds signaled a bit of a new direction with this team and disagree that we've seen the exact same thing for the last three years.

To me the difference this next season vs the last couple is how much youth and a lot of it homegrown will be on the team...just my .02.

If the youth movement doesn't start to bear fruit at some point soon, Stan will likely also be looking for a new gig, but I'm really not surprised or angry about Rocky's comments.
- HawkintheD

I hear you but Rocky didn't have to be so committed with his comments on March 19th for the following season.

It's such an uncertain time on all levels of life right now, it would have been very easy for Rocky to deflect and say something more along the lines, "we'll evaluate everything when the final outcome of this season is determined. First and foremost our focus is on our players and everyone in our organization to be supported and ensure they are all safe and healthy" ... or something like that.

To come out and say it now so emphatically questions the entire direction of this team publicly to a fanbase that is as frustrated as they have been in over a decade.

That's where my thoughts are today. And listen, if the Hawks can turn this thing around next season with those 3 leading the charge, I will be happy, I've just started to lose faith in their decision-making.

Really? What will he teach him, how to beat up women? The guy has been a failure in hockey, and in life.
- powerenforcer

Hey, he wouldn't be my mentor. But the Islnaders brought him in for that very reason so he's going to have the "mentor" tag once Sorokin gets over to NA.

I hear you but Rocky didn't have to be so committed with his comments on March 19th for the following season.

It's such an uncertain time on all levels of life right now, it would have been very easy for Rocky to deflect and say something more along the lines, "we'll evaluate everything when the final outcome of this season is determined. First and foremost our focus is on our players and everyone in our organization to be supported and ensure they are all safe and healthy" ... or something like that.

To come out and say it now so emphatically questions the entire direction of this team publicly to a fanbase that is as frustrated as they have been in over a decade.

That's where my thoughts are today. And listen, if the Hawks can turn this thing around next season with those 3 leading the charge, I will be happy, I've just started to lose faith in their decision-making.
- Tyler Cameron

I know i wrote this on previous blog, but i believe JC is here to develop at a NHL level. Once they feel the org is ready to compete for SC they will hire another coach.

With JC as coach and team's willingness to play young talent, i have to imagine that attracts rookie FAs who are considering where to sign and even our own draft picks

Bowman has made some questionable trades, but he does a great job of finding talent, we are young and very easy to play against right now, but that'll change once these kids start to become men.

Hey, he wouldn't be my mentor. But the Islnaders brought him in for that very reason so he's going to have the "mentor" tag once Sorokin gets over to NA.
- Tyler Cameron

Sorry, I wasn't directing my comment at you, it was more at the Islanders organization.

Would be very happy if this was accomplished.

But, living here on Long Island, I can tell you that it would take more to get Sorokin from the Isles. They love the kid. Ho-Sang they would hand off in a heartbeat, but to get Sorokin, you're looking at a higher round pick, a solid veteran on a good contract, and a solid, solid prospect.

If the Hawks were able to acquire him though, I would be one happy camper.

Decent goalies are a dime a dozen, plus we’ve got some promising netminders already in the system. No way I trade a blue chip defensman prospect for a goaltender. Not now, not ever.

Tyler,

Don't you think that the current situation with Corona, and everything being shut down, it makes it kind of hard to massive front office changes?

Decent goalies are a dime a dozen, plus we’ve got some promising netminders already in the system. No way I trade a blue chip defensman prospect for a goaltender. Not now, not ever.
- Ogilthorpe2

I’d concur. There are above average starting goalies on the FA market every year, and they generally have a limited amount of landing spots. Keep the prospects and picks, especially defensemen.

Remember, the Blues made the Stanley Cup Finals with an aging Glenn Hall & Jaques Plante as their backstops.

I’d concur. There are above average starting goalies on the FA market every year, and they generally have a limited amount of landing spots. Keep the prospects and picks, especially defensemen.

Remember, the Blues made the Stanley Cup Finals with an aging Glenn Hall & Jaques Plante as their backstops.
- scottak

But they made it in a separate expansion division, Playing other expansion teams in the first two rounds of the three round tournament.

Mix the six expansion teams in with the Original Six, with 8 playoff spots, the Blues probably make the post-season as the best of the expansion teams but get eliminated in the first round.

Really? What will he teach him, how to beat up women? The guy has been a failure in hockey, and in life.
- powerenforcer

If being a multi millionaire playing a sport I love is being a failure what is success?

Decent goalies are a dime a dozen, plus we’ve got some promising netminders already in the system. No way I trade a blue chip defensman prospect for a goaltender. Not now, not ever.
- Ogilthorpe2

Really, who? None of the kids in Rockford are NHL quality. Nalimov isn't anything special, Gravel as regressed big time, Basse is too far away from playing pro and his first year USHL numbers aren't great. I think goaltending is Hawks weakest position in the prospect pipeline.

I don't like losing Mitchell either, but the Hawks still have Boqvist, Beaudin, Carlsson, Vlasic and Krys (maybe Regula) as young solid/decent prospects. Plus, I question if Mitchell classifies as blue chip prospect, he's certainly not up there with the likes of Hughes and Makar.

Would be very happy if this was accomplished.

But, living here on Long Island, I can tell you that it would take more to get Sorokin from the Isles. They love the kid. Ho-Sang they would hand off in a heartbeat, but to get Sorokin, you're looking at a higher round pick, a solid veteran on a good contract, and a solid, solid prospect.

If the Hawks were able to acquire him though, I would be one happy camper.
- purepone

Sorokin has a prospect I targeted for the Hawks to get, my only hesitation was that I didn't give up enough for him. I've talked with some Isles fans and they think a fair return is Kubalik, Strome or DeBrincat with is just ridiculous. I toyed between Mitchell and Beaudin but went with Mitchell because he has higher value. What do you think it would take to get Sorokin (specifically)?

Really, who? None of the kids in Rockford are NHL quality. Nalimov isn't anything special, Gravel as regressed big time, Basse is too far away from playing pro and his first year USHL numbers aren't great. I think goaltending is Hawks weakest position in the prospect pipeline.

I don't like losing Mitchell either, but the Hawks still have Boqvist, Beaudin, Carlsson, Vlasic and Krys (maybe Regula) as young solid/decent prospects. Plus, I question if Mitchell classifies as blue chip prospect, he's certainly not up there with the likes of Hughes and Makar.
- DarthKane

If you're going to move Mitchell in a deal, wouldnt it be worth targeting one of the proven guys from the other NY team?

Really, who? None of the kids in Rockford are NHL quality. Nalimov isn't anything special, Gravel as regressed big time, Basse is too far away from playing pro and his first year USHL numbers aren't great. I think goaltending is Hawks weakest position in the prospect pipeline.

I don't like losing Mitchell either, but the Hawks still have Boqvist, Beaudin, Carlsson, Vlasic and Krys (maybe Regula) as young solid/decent prospects. Plus, I question if Mitchell classifies as blue chip prospect, he's certainly not up there with the likes of Hughes and Makar.
- DarthKane

I think Lankinen has a chance to be solid, and I wouldn’t write Subban off yet either. Goaltending is the least of this team’s worries.

As I sit here with our whole state shut down, I am wondering, is keeping the ice ready to play an essential service? How are players going to get any skating in before the restart of the season? If they start the season in June lets say and go through July and August, it will be so hot in a lot of the areas of the country that even in normal times the ice sheet would be horrible. How could the NHLPA allow this with what I believe is an increased likelihood of a serious injury (players not in the best of skating shape, and a horrible ice surface)? Let alone the hockey would be like playing road hockey with a tennis ball.

I think Lankinen has a chance to be solid, and I wouldn’t write Subban off yet either. Goaltending is the least of this team’s worries.
- Ogilthorpe2

What would Tallon take for Spencer Knight? They have Bob committed for $10.5 for the next 7 years.

What would Tallon take for Spencer Knight? They have Bob committed for $10.5 for the next 7 years.
- LAHawk

Probably young guys and draft picks the Hawks cannot afford to deal away, assuming Tallon is even willing to discuss trading Knight.

No thanks