Theo Fox: Start of a New Era?
A grab bag of Blackhawks topics in a busy week that began with the Olli Maatta trade:

* End of the Corey Crawford era
* Goalie options
* QOs and RFAs
* Retooling or rebuilding?
* Free agency expectations
* Draft recap
* Best player available revisited

Great blog Theo. I think that is a big concern of mine that they pick a direction and stick with it. Rebuild/retool. Makes me think of the movie Hitch, where Kevin James character tries to chase Allegra Coles car and the cab. He doesn't pick one and goes back and forth, not getting anywhere.

If we have learned anything about Stan, he does a lot of redirection. I fully expect him to trade for/sign a goalie.

Should be an interesting offseason.

And Uno!

If a Wirtz is running this ship again i feel so bad for you blackhawk fans. Will never see a game on TV again without the CenterIce package.

Great blog, Theo.

I have so many questions going through my head right now about Stan and the Blackhawks "plan".

I will reserve full judgement until I see what happens today and throughout (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend.

I wonder if this like the move Pace of the Bears makes. Says he's not interested then makes a big splash in free agency

Looks to me like there will be a few lean years on Madison St.

Thanks Theo - great blog as always.
I mentioned this in the last post, but I think the time is now to start a rebuild. Maybe a good thing about the covid crisis is it opened the organizations eyes to what is really needed.
I hope that Crow can stay healthy for the entire season, he is still a great NHL player, even though it looks like he will be wearing a different sweater (or jersey).

Great piece, Ted. I've always been reading when I haven't been posting. I did see your teacher shoutout. I'm glad you got the opportunity to take over after TC.

I hope Bowman stays quiet. He normally does. Minus last year when he signed Lehner last second. I definitely feel a trade & some signings. I think he tries to nab a goalie after the rfa's are taken care of.

Great stuff Theo!

Couple of things. Players are pretty much always going to back another player, so Darling's comments are no surprise.

I'm a huge CC fan and sorry to see him go. I think he was waaaaayyy under appreciated outside Chicago (hell even in Chicago) and hope he lands somewhere with a good deal and a chance at another Cup...maybe CAR.

I could see what you say in Subban possibly being the starter and Delia or Lanky backing him up. Have read before where Subban has played better when getting consistent starts vs occasional ones...small sample size but maybe we'll see.

Or to others points, maybe Stan pulls off a trade for a goalie.

I think the deals for Strome and Kubalik look about right. We'll see about Kubalik pulling a Richard Panik/David Copperfield act but I didn't get that sense where he ends up going long stretches of being invisible.

That was already a knock on Panik when the Hawks got him but not really on Kubalik.

DK had arbitration rights and potted 30 so his deal was going to be closer to $4M than $3M if I had to guess.

Nice summary of the week Theo.

I can't see the Hawks being very active today in the free agent market given the lack of cap space and Stan's street racer statement of "we're gonna race what we brung".

But, things change. Maybe some salary gets moved and Stan gets some wiggle room.

I think he is not in a position to spend silly amounts of money so I'll enjoy watching some teams cripple their futures on the Taylor Halls and Mike Hoffmans that are out there.

Wouldn’t T. Toffoli be a nice fit for the Hawks? Stan can pull that off.

I might be in the minority here but im all for a full rebuild. I knew as soon as the wonder twins signed there deals the hawks wouldn't make it to the cup again till those contracts were gone. Just no way to build depth with 21 million tied up in 2 players. embrace the tank and rebuild with youth.

I might be in the minority here but im all for a full rebuild. I knew as soon as the wonder twins signed there deals the hawks wouldn't make it to the cup again till those contracts were gone. Just no way to build depth with 21 million tied up in 2 players. embrace the tank and rebuild with youth.
- SaskHawkFan

I'm with you on this, only problem should have started a few seasons back .

Theo great blog. I like your quote pick a lane and stay in it. Just my observation but looking at teams like columbus , new york they made the decision and committed to selling offand rebuilding and it seems to have worked well. Both teams still play at a high level and have a nice young crop of prospects.


I think if chicago is going to go down the path of rebuilding imo with the salary cap staying flat any team that has enough. Cap space now who can absorb a keith or kane chicago should seek to try and move another core player for picks and young prospects.


Regarding Crawford stan should have years ago with his many moves did a better job scouting goalies and drafted or traded for one. Imo. Crawford is to risky health wise with this current defense to dump more than 3.5 and 1 year into him.

I might be in the minority here but im all for a full rebuild. I knew as soon as the wonder twins signed there deals the hawks wouldn't make it to the cup again till those contracts were gone. Just no way to build depth with 21 million tied up in 2 players. embrace the tank and rebuild with youth.
- SaskHawkFan

Too bad this rebuild? was not started a year ago. This past mediocre season messed up our Cap situation (DeHaan, Maata, Shaw) and our draft position. Any one of the top picks would have looked nice in our lineup going forward.

With so little Cap space league wide and several budget teams, there will not be much money left after the Hall's and Pietroangelo's are gone. And I agree that Bowman should sit back and wait for the dust to settle. I like the tactic that some GM's on rebuilding teams have used in the past. That is, sign useful players to one year deals that can be used for picks at the TDL.

Too bad this rebuild? was not started a year ago. This past mediocre season messed up our Cap situation (DeHaan, Maata, Shaw) and our draft position. Any one of the top picks would have looked nice in our lineup going forward.

With so little Cap space league wide and several budget teams, there will not be much money left after the Hall's and Pietroangelo's are gone. And I agree that Bowman should sit back and wait for the dust to settle. I like the tactic that some GM's on rebuilding teams have used in the past. That is, sign useful players to one year deals that can be used for picks at the TDL.
- 67hawks

I'm sure Detroit had the same idea.......never trust Bettman. He is a snake.

Jets get Stasny back

I'd love to have some enterprising reporter get in touch with Toews, Kane or Keith and find out what they think about going with youth and a goaltending group of Subban, Delia & Lankinen.

The lineup Theo posted is not good. While some younger players (Dach, Boqvist, maybe even Nylander) may improve, all the vets are a year older, and the goaltending is significantly worse than the Lehner/CC tandem.

My prediction is the Hawks are well beneath the playoff Mendoza line at the trade deadline, and Keith, de Haan & Saad are moved to SC contenders for picks and prospects.

Jets get Stasny back
- LAHawk

Read where Vegas was able to clear Stasny's whole 6.5M off the books with no money coming pick. A couple of picks going back and forth. Fixes WPG's 2C position for a season.

I wonder how Kane will enjoy sharing a line with Nylander all season. Stan is determined to show what a great move that was, despite all evidence to the contrary.

The proof is in the pudding. Holding firm on Crawford and letting him walk is a good first sign that the Hawks have transitioned from win now mode to build for the future mode. Now let's see if other moves, or lack thereof, prove it or not.

I'm OK with the Hawks sucking bad for a year or two as long as the plan to rebuild with the young players is stuck to. Going into 2021 with a goalie contingent of Delia, Lankinen and Subban would be more proof their actions meet their words. Let the kids play to separate the wheat from the chaff and that includes the goalies. Maybe there's a diamond in the rough - so let's find out.

What I don't want to see is a move that says "win now" because the Hawks are not in a win now position - acknowledge that and move ahead accordingly.

I'd love to have some enterprising reporter get in touch with Toews, Kane or Keith and find out what they think about going with youth and a goaltending group of Subban, Delia & Lankinen.

The lineup Theo posted is not good. While some younger players (Dach, Boqvist, maybe even Nylander) may improve, all the vets are a year older, and the goaltending is significantly worse than the Lehner/CC tandem.

My prediction is the Hawks are well beneath the playoff Mendoza line at the trade deadline, and Keith, de Haan & Saad are moved to SC contenders for picks and prospects.
- scottak

Maybe the same reporter could ask them their thoughts on how their two deals specifically impact the makeup of the team.

If the last part of your post pans out then Stan should be a seller at the deadline and accumulate draft capital.

With 2 yrs left on his deal, I doubt Keith goes anywhere at the deadline but never say never.

I'd love to have some enterprising reporter get in touch with Toews, Kane or Keith and find out what they think about going with youth and a goaltending group of Subban, Delia & Lankinen.

The lineup Theo posted is not good. While some younger players (Dach, Boqvist, maybe even Nylander) may improve, all the vets are a year older, and the goaltending is significantly worse than the Lehner/CC tandem.

My prediction is the Hawks are well beneath the playoff Mendoza line at the trade deadline, and Keith, de Haan & Saad are moved to SC contenders for picks and prospects.
- scottak

Who cares? It's time to focus on the future than worry about what players think. Stand firm with conviction - either they can be part of the rebuild, which will suck for a year or two, or they can pout and whine and the team will move forward without them.

The proof is in the pudding. Holding firm on Crawford and letting him walk is a good first sign that the Hawks have transitioned from win now mode to build for the future mode. Now let's see if other moves, or lack thereof, prove it or not.

I'm OK with the Hawks sucking bad for a year or two as long as the plan to rebuild with the young players is stuck to. Going into 2021 with a goalie contingent of Delia, Lankinen and Subban would be more proof their actions meet their words. Let the kids play to separate the wheat from the chaff and that includes the goalies. Maybe there's a diamond in the rough - so let's find out.

What I don't want to see is a move that says "win now" because the Hawks are not in a win now position - acknowledge that and move ahead accordingly.
- EbonyRaptor

Isn't that what the AHL is for?

Who cares? It's time to focus on the future than worry about what players think. Stand firm with conviction - either they can be part of the rebuild, which will suck for a year or two, or they can pout and whine and the team will move forward without them.
- EbonyRaptor