I am all in on Stastny and Giguere was a Cup winner.
- Al

I agree.

Don't see why SB will not go hard on this one instead of trying to make a splash with Doan. Doan is a good player but as he's in high demand teams will have to overpay for a guy whose getting close to 40. Not worth it at 7m +.

Money better spent with Stasny.

The time to make an offer is now while the other teams are fighting over Doan.

I didnt hear much talk of Maloney putting a better squad on the ice last year.. But, maybe Gillis the year before (of course stan had the summer of cap hell)

Tippett's a great coach, but I didnt hear much about Q getting outclassed last year. ANd I think he held his own against AV in the 7 gms 2 yrs ago.

Yet, our top 3 players Toews, Keith and Hossa havent really shown up on the score sheet. A good game here or there, sure. But no where NEAR the consistent performance that is expected of players of their stature. Regardless of who the coach is; Jonathon Toews needs to dominate. Quietly winning FO, board battles and solid 3 zone play are the work of today's second line center. In the last 2 playoff years that's what he has become. He's played with Hossa, Sharp, or Kane. Yet he cant score, help them score, or generate success on the PP. If he's our Captain and best player I want him doing what NO ONE else can do. Lately he seems unable to lift himself or his teammates to the level of play required. We btiched about Bollig, and Bickell, and Frolik forever last year. They all had decent playoffs. Toews did not.



Who are the top teams in the league? Where does our center fit? Is he better than Pits.? LA's? How about Vancouver (he's a 3rd liner there). Carolina? Detroit? Is he even better than Backes in Stl anymore? NY Rangers? Captain Serious? How about Captain, seriously, can you play any better?

Sure we can fire the coach, replace the GM. But our core is where it's at. And no one can tell me that they've been blameless in this. I need more from Toews. I need more from Hoss, I need more from Keith. If they play well AND we lose, I'll look at the front office. But I believe we lost BECAUSE of them...not in spite of.
- miked23

Dude, you realize he was coming of a concussion and those were his first games in about 2 months...

Congratulations on a ridiculously silly comment.

Mike, you are an example of a guy I disagree with on a bit, but you aren't a hyper-critical, name-calling jerk. So there you go. And on this, we disagree quite a bit:

Toews: really? Guy comes back form a concussion and got better every game in the playoffs, scored a huge goal (I believe forcing an OT).

Hossa: was in the running for the Hart Trophy til the ASG where I was told he pulled a groin and had to battle that the the rest of the season, slowing him down (a bit). Hard to contribute when your neck's ion a brace and you're in a dark room.

Keith: yeah, but history shows when you keep his minutes and situations inline, he's a great defenseman. And hold on that thought.

THAT'S the issue.

When you ask Toews to take more draws on the PP and especially the PK because you have only one other guy who is over 50% (a 37 year old 4th liner named Mayers) . .

When you ask Keith to play 29 minutes a night because you dealt away Brian Campbell (and waited until March) to do anything with the cap room). . .

When Kane and Toews don't have a complementary winger who can create space and maybe keep other team's hitters a bit more honest, because Brouwer was deemed too expensive ion light of Michal Frolik's contract demands . . .

That is all about a lack of a supporting cast.

People want to blame Q, and maybe he did over-juggle (I think so). But maybe he had no choice. As we so often say here: insanity is trying the same thing the same way over and over again and expecting a different result.

And it seems to me the arrows point back at Stanley Bowman.
- John Jaeckel

I think you are both correct. I agree with Mike that Toews ( and I will put in Kane Hossa Sharp ) need to dominate the play and score for us to be successful. That hasn't happened the last 2 years getting bounced early. Why? John's point of the right top 6 role players. A better goalie MAYBE could have got us by Phoenix. Returning our top 6 to dominating the scoresheet and we are talking back to Cup contention. Doan helps us dramatically in this area. I am not so sure anyone is shutting down Doan Toews Kane. And the right role players playing top 6 will also improve defense. Doan over Lu all day.

Toews gets to play with Kane and/or Hoss and/or Sharp. Better wingers than MOST of the top centers in the league. Keith plays with Seabrook. The REST of the roster can make "continuity" excuses. Not Toews and Keith.
- miked23

The point was made becasue the Hawks have a problem playing a consitent effective style and that is an issue with 40-50% of the roster turning over the past two yrs..

Mike, you are an example of a guy I disagree with on a bit, but you aren't a hyper-critical, name-calling jerk. So there you go. And on this, we disagree quite a bit:

Toews: really? Guy comes back form a concussion and got better every game in the playoffs, scored a huge goal (I believe forcing an OT).

Hossa: was in the running for the Hart Trophy til the ASG where I was told he pulled a groin and had to battle that the the rest of the season, slowing him down (a bit). Hard to contribute when your neck's ion a brace and you're in a dark room.

Keith: yeah, but history shows when you keep his minutes and situations inline, he's a great defenseman. And hold on that thought.

THAT'S the issue.

When you ask Toews to take more draws on the PP and especially the PK because you have only one other guy who is over 50% (a 37 year old 4th liner named Mayers) . .

When you ask Keith to play 29 minutes a night because you dealt away Brian Campbell (and waited until March) to do anything with the cap room). . .

When Kane and Toews don't have a complementary winger who can create space and maybe keep other team's hitters a bit more honest, because Brouwer was deemed too expensive ion light of Michal Frolik's contract demands . . .

That is all about a lack of a supporting cast.

People want to blame Q, and maybe he did over-juggle (I think so). But maybe he had no choice. As we so often say here: insanity is trying the same thing the same way over and over again and expecting a different result.

And it seems to me the arrows point back at Stanley Bowman.
- John Jaeckel

HA! that first sentence is brilliant. And I dont REALLY think that toews is the problem. Just pointing out (probably a little too emphatically) that we win as a team and lose as a team. I love Johnny and Hoss and Keith-though I expect more from each of them. I'm just not as hard as a lot of you are on Q and Stanbo.

And by the way, we really dont disagree that much. I dont post that much when I agree with you-it sounds redundant, and my hunt and peck typing skills discourage the "great stuff, JJ?" posts.. You guys at HockeyBuzz inspire some 10+ pages of dialogue a day you dont need me saying "great write up" everytime you make sense-which is the usual. But I'll say it now...KEEP IT COMIN JJ..WE LOVE YA!!

Chi: Kyle Okposo, Travis Hemonic

NYI: Nick Leddy, Viktor Stalberg

Chi: Kyle Okposo, Travis Hemonic

NYI: Nick Leddy, Viktor Stalberg
- nickmo2699

I'd hate to see Leddy go but I'd love to see BookerT(2116) on the team any day!

Dude, you realize he was coming of a concussion and those were his first games in about 2 months...

Congratulations on a ridiculously silly comment.
- fattybeef

so what? he's got to PLAY. didnt slow Crosby down. Giroux. You want him in that class he has to play with those guys and Sedin and Kopi and Datsyk. Everything else is a ridiculously silly excuse

In theory, I agree.

In reality, there has to be some reason at this point that this deal has not been discussed and/or consummated.

Stastny checks too many boxes for the Hawks and I suspect Giguere is at least an upgrade over Emery. Chances are, Colorado does not want to deal Stastny within the conference, or not for anything less than a premium price (and Bowman—reputationally at least— approaches trades with what some feel is overvaluing his prospects and pieces).

Or there is some stink on Stastny that has the Hawks shying away? Just my thoughts.
- John Jaeckel

Trading within the conference:

If I'm a GM - and I understand the reasons why they might not want to trade within the conference - I can't worry about how good the guy I give up might be, I have to not limit my potenal trading partners: whether it's Gillis or Colorado, why in effect say that I won't trade with half the league, even tho my best deals might be within my conference?

Also, going forward, at some point the league will re-allign along the lines they propose before - play-off positions are all within the four divisions, conferences don't matter; perhaps you could say they don't want to trade within a future division (and they know how the divisions will likely come out) but the conference doesn't matter. Neither Colorado nor Vancouver will be in the Hawks' division.

In theory, I agree.

In reality, there has to be some reason at this point that this deal has not been discussed and/or consummated.

Stastny checks too many boxes for the Hawks and I suspect Giguere is at least an upgrade over Emery. Chances are, Colorado does not want to deal Stastny within the conference, or not for anything less than a premium price (and Bowman—reputationally at least— approaches trades with what some feel is overvaluing his prospects and pieces).

Or there is some stink on Stastny that has the Hawks shying away? Just my thoughts.
- John Jaeckel

I have think it's because COL wants too many of the sacred cows in the system.

I believe I've put together the perfect package for the Hawks to acquire Lu...


- Ogilthorpe2

I think you're giving them a little too much for him. Let's pull half of those pucks out.

I have think it's because COL wants too many of the sacred cows in the system.
- furso27

+1

My opinion on the whole lack of of movement on the part of the hawks is this. I really think there is something we dont know about the possible outcome of the CBA. It is possible the cap drops, if this is the case Stan is sitting on a roster that wont need to be shaken up if the cap plumits to a lower number. It's hard to evaluate the kind of money you can throw at a big name if your not sure what kind of money your working with.

Now, does this mean Im making excuses for stan? No. I feel he has failed this team. He hasn't addressed the holes that would help this team go deep in the playoffs. What worries me most, the fact that we have heard players turn down offers from Chicago because they dont want to come here. That being said, what's going to happen when 19, 7, 88 need to be re upped and they laugh in Stan's face and ask him why they should sign when he hasnt surrounded them with players that will help them return to glory.

Q took over during the 2008-9 season, faltered in the playoffs when he got outcoached in the Wings series. The year we picked up Pauhlson (another gamble - injured and coming off of mono - poor move by Tallon, SB and Q) and Walker saw lots of time.
- Topshelf2010

Sorry, forgot about that year...that was the year we were cruising and then Khabby got hurt....Sieve'al O-lay was good in the elimination game and we lost in o/t.

+1

My opinion on the whole lack of of movement on the part of the hawks is this. I really think there is something we dont know about the possible outcome of the CBA. It is possible the cap drops, if this is the case Stan is sitting on a roster that wont need to be shaken up if the cap plumits to a lower number. It's hard to evaluate the kind of money you can throw at a big name if your not sure what kind of money your working with.

Now, does this mean Im making excuses for stan? No. I feel he has failed this team. He hasn't addressed the holes that would help this team go deep in the playoffs. What worries me most, the fact that we have heard players turn down offers from Chicago because they dont want to come here. That being said, what's going to happen when 19, 7, 88 need to be re upped and they laugh in Stan's face and ask him why they should sign when he hasnt surrounded them with players that will help them return to glory.
- nickmo2699

Everyone is in the same boat and there have been many players who have received hefty raises and a couple of mega signings.

Above all else Bowman appears content...It wouldn't have taken much to add a good PK player/ or solid faceoff man.

Sorry, forgot about that year...that was the year we were cruising and then Khabby got hurt....Sieve'al O-lay was good in the elimination game and we lost in o/t.
- philco28

Always value your opinion Philco, while you think Q got out coached, I disagree. Our third pairing of Walker and Barker was too slow to keep with the wings. Not to mention it was not the Hawks time yet. They beat a good Calgary team, beat a favored Vancouver team, and were ousted by the wings in 5, in a series that was closer then the length would suggest.

JJ,

I know you have mentioned it in the past, but can you hint to us the deals or trades Bowman had lined up and green lit that he balked at last minute?

Thanks

Always value your opinion Philco, while you think Q got out coached, I disagree. Our third pairing of Walker and Barker was too slow to keep with the wings. Not to mention it was not the Hawks time yet. They beat a good Calgary team, beat a favored Vancouver team, and were ousted by the wings in 5, in a series that was closer then the length would suggest.
- nickmo2699

Nick...i appreciate the nice words and right back at you bro



I also agree with your assessment of that nice run to the Final 4 that we had....ONLY...where did i write or say we were out coached ? We may or may not have been...but i never expressed that we were in that series.

JJ,

I know you have mentioned it in the past, but can you hint to us the deals or trades Bowman had lined up and green lit that he balked at last minute?

Thanks
- FourFeathers773

and if any of the trades Bowman lined up were vetoed by Rocky/McD .......

Nick...i appreciate the nice words and right back at you bro



I also agree with your assessment of that nice run to the Final 4 that we had....ONLY...where did i write or say we were out coached ? We may or may not have been...but i never expressed that we were in that series.
- philco28

Sorry that was aimed towards the person you commented on's post. My bad

Nick...i appreciate the nice words and right back at you bro



I also agree with your assessment of that nice run to the Final 4 that we had....ONLY...where did i write or say we were out coached ? We may or may not have been...but i never expressed that we were in that series.
- philco28

Havlat got knocked the phuck out by kronwall too....

Q took over during the 2008-9 season, faltered in the playoffs when he got outcoached in the Wings series. The year we picked up Pauhlson (another gamble - injured and coming off of mono - poor move by Tallon, SB and Q) and Walker saw lots of time.
- Topshelf2010

While sammi P. Didn't score that much and did look a little drained with the illness, I still think he played a pretty big role in the playoffs with his leadershhip. This was the hawks 1st playoffs in a long time with a few really young kids leading the way. Pat annd eddie kept commenting how big sammi was in calming everyone down in the calgary series. I think a huge reason they won the Cup the next year was all the confidence gained in the playoffs the year before. Imagine if they ended up losing to Calgary that year?

Dude, you realize he was coming of a concussion and those were his first games in about 2 months...

Congratulations on a ridiculously silly comment.
- fattybeef

Toews is one of the best players in the league. A great captain. Heart and soul of the team. Someone I want to retire in the indianhead, but, I actually count 3 straight series where I think he didn't dominate as much as needed. Not just this year. I give himm a little pass this year. But I don't think he was amazing against philly or last year against Vancouver. Hossa has been a huge playoff disappoinment since we got him. Of course that was always his rep

While sammi P. Didn't score that much and did look a little drained with the illness, I still think he played a pretty big role in the playoffs with his leadershhip. This was the hawks 1st playoffs in a long time with a few really young kids leading the way. Pat annd eddie kept commenting how big sammi was in calming everyone down in the calgary series. I think a huge reason they won the Cup the next year was all the confidence gained in the playoffs the year before. Imagine if they ended up losing to Calgary that year?
- tomcat24

Also wasn't Pahlsson a 3rd or 4th liner? We got him for Wiz which I don't really regret seeing as we won the cup the next year and he would be gone by now anyways. That was a good move acquiring a useful player with leadership. For some reason, the front office seems to be equating leadership with over 35 now.

SoHawk...sorry bro...but we never won SH ! T until McCub came along. He's good at what he does and i sincerely believe his karma was helpful to the organization FINALLY realizing the ONE GOAL in 2010.
- philco28

I am WAY late on this but I am sure McD can drum up another Stanley Cup winning marketing campaigne. Go McD!!!!!


Side Note: I now feel dirty and have to shower.............I got BS all over me.

I am WAY late on this but I am sure McD can drum up another Stanley Cup winning marketing campaigne. Go McD!!!!!


Side Note: I now feel dirty and have to shower.............I got BS all over me.
- blkhwkfn

While McD may be a tool bag and Bowman a man of very little action, I have faith that Rocky is committed to winning. He's done a ton to get the Hawks popularity way up and brought home the cup. If nothing happens to improve the team and they are a 1 and done again this year, I don't expect the same front office (or coach) to be there next year.