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
- tomcat24

Are you simple boyy ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC8-PTTee0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZpqcdVMMEk

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
- miked23

You have clearly never been an athlete at a high level or known any.

Giroux played pretty much the whole second half of the season...

Crosby played half of march and all of April...

Those guys had time to acclimate to the speed and physicality of the game while Toews ended up straight in the fire. Returning to a high level sport after that much time of inactivity is very very difficult and your ignorance regarding those facts is laughable.

Toews has a Conn Smythe --- Something none of those other players have with as many Stanley Cups as Crosby. Glad you know what you are talking about and thanks for bringing something meaningful to the discussion.

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
- tomcat24

(Blank Stare)

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.
- JRoenick97

OH the double edge swoard.............its almost a Lovie Smith seniero

Yep I agree on the change, however I think McDope should stick to marketing and not Hockey decisions. Thats scary

OH the double edge swoard.............its almost a Lovie Smith seniero

Yep I agree on the change, however I think McDope should stick to marketing and not Hockey decisions. Thats scary
- blkhwkfn

Ughhhhhhhhhh really dislike Lovie as a coach.

But that seems like a similar circumstance as you mention it

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

This one is not connected to whispers, more speculation and I would think if Stastny was dealt it would happen without much advance notice.

Thanks for some really good questions and here is the link ....

Here's my answers to some very interesting questions. Reader's Mailbag on Fox Chgo:http://ow.ly/cBh6a

Are you simple boyy ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC8-PTTee0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZpqcdVMMEk


- mrpaulish

That first one, against Nashville: The goal that didn't just change the series, but changed the entire cup run. I feel if the Preds hadn't given up the shorty late in the 3rd, they would've won Game 6 at home, Blackhawks eliminated.

Right place, right time, Phil. Name one coach that had that kind of team to coach in the last half century. BTW, Rudy Pilous won it 49 years earlier.
- djd

Scotty had a pretty fair team in Montreal for the 72-73 season...

Thanks for some really good questions and here is the link ....

Here's my answers to some very interesting questions. Reader's Mailbag on Fox Chgo:http://ow.ly/cBh6a
- Al

Great read AL...now can you foward that to Stan.

Sorry that was aimed towards the person you commented on's post. My bad
- nickmo2699

Cool...thought it was a mix up of that kind.

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

Good point SoHawk...the oxygen was literally sucked out of the club when the cheapshottin' knob targeted Havvy.

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

Honestly, I was not told any specifically, just told, essentially: He's had deals ready and backed away at the last minute.

And that's where I am wiling to concede it might not be "his fault." Is someone else tying his hands (because he needs to understand "the thought process"), and is Bowman therefore just a symptom of a larger problem? (And this is actually my suspicion). Put another way, if everything else remained the same but Bowman were replaced with the kind of guy who would be acceptable within this structure, you might not see any different or better results. And just so no one puts any words in my mouth or accuses me of waffling, I am not saying keep Bowman. I am saying, the change needs to go beyond him.

You have clearly never been an athlete at a high level or known any.

Giroux played pretty much the whole second half of the season...

Crosby played half of march and all of April...

Those guys had time to acclimate to the speed and physicality of the game while Toews ended up straight in the fire. Returning to a high level sport after that much time of inactivity is very very difficult and your ignorance regarding those facts is laughable.

Toews has a Conn Smythe --- Something none of those other players have with as many Stanley Cups as Crosby. Glad you know what you are talking about and thanks for bringing something meaningful to the discussion.
- fattybeef

Cool it

You have clearly never been an athlete at a high level or known any.

Giroux played pretty much the whole second half of the season...

Crosby played half of march and all of April...

Those guys had time to acclimate to the speed and physicality of the game while Toews ended up straight in the fire. Returning to a high level sport after that much time of inactivity is very very difficult and your ignorance regarding those facts is laughable.

Toews has a Conn Smythe --- Something none of those other players have with as many Stanley Cups as Crosby. Glad you know what you are talking about and thanks for bringing something meaningful to the discussion.
- fattybeef

?

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


- Ogilthorpe2

Even then, it's a bad trade.

I´d rather take Luongo´s contract than give Shame Doan 7,5 mil for four years. And Luongo would fill the need more than Doan does. Just don´t think any team can win with two number 2 goalies. I say trade Leddy, Crawford, Montador and Olesz for Luongo and Ballard.
- MjulQvist

I'd rather take Doan over Luser. Too many years left on Luser's contract.

Great read AL...now can you foward that to Stan.
- southernhawk

Awesome read Al....surprised there weren't more questions. As a Steve Larmer FREAK...one question i have is

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED that forced him out of Chicago ? Gramps was a fave of Keenan's and i believe he saw his ice time cut when his former teammate Sutter took over. Is this a plausible reason ? I'm asking. It's a question i've wanted concrete answers to FOREVER. Anyone with theories and especially hard facts re: this...feel free to chime in.

I'd rather take Doan over Luser. Too many years left on Luser's contract.
- EKolb13

We already have a team that can make it to the playoffs, then lose. We don't need to add a goalie who can't do anything in the playoffs either. I don't know if I think Doan is worth 7.5 mil, but he's definitely an asset.

I would be all for stastny but why the love for Giggy? At this point in his career he isn't much of an upgrade over Crow, if at all.

Not too mention then we are in the same boat in a year or two that we are in now. Searching for that #1 goalie. I hate this revolving door of goaltenders we have had here in recent years.

The one guy that we should be heavily targeting is Bernier. I know people will say he isn't proven but we went into the the playoffs with unprovens before (crow,niemi) so that shouldn't be much of a deterrent. Make no mistake too, Bernier 's upside faaaar exceeds any goalie we have had here in a loooooong time. Not too mention we would now have our goalie of the future locked up for a few years.

As I say this, I know LA would never move him to us, but I can dream...

I'd rather take Doan over Luser. Too many years left on Luser's contract.
- EKolb13

So what about Hoss then?

Say what you want about Luongo but he is far better goaltender that he gets credit for. Yes, he has had some bad games but he is still better goalie that Hawks have had in many, many years. Belfour comes to mind.

Awesome read Al....surprised there weren't more questions. As a Steve Larmer FREAK...one question i have is

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED that forced him out of Chicago ? Gramps was a fave of Keenan's and i believe he saw his ice time cut when his former teammate Sutter took over. Is this a plausible reason ? I'm asking. It's a question i've wanted concrete answers to FOREVER. Anyone with theories and especially hard facts re: this...feel free to chime in.
- philco28

Thanks Phil and there were more questions but it was a long piece as it was...

Larmer..

Not sure excatly what happened but wouldn't be surprised it had something to do what you said or maybe he saw the chance to win a Cup slipping away.

Let's put it this way...A reason I heard was Larmer was getting sick of the drive from the burbs into the city for practices etc.

I have a feeling there was more to it...

He got his Cup and when the politics die down Larmer should enter the HOF as well.

I would be all for stastny but why the love for Giggy? At this point in his career he isn't much of an upgrade over Crow, if at all.

Not too mention then we are in the same boat in a year or two that we are in now. Searching for that #1 goalie. I hate this revolving door of goaltenders we have had here in recent years.

The one guy that we should be heavily targeting is Bernier. I know people will say he isn't proven but we went into the the playoffs with unprovens before (crow,niemi) so that shouldn't be much of a deterrent. Make no mistake too, Bernier 's upside faaaar exceeds any goalie we have had here in a loooooong time. Not too mention we would now have our goalie of the future locked up for a few years.

As I say this, I know LA would never move him to us, but I can dream...
- Bhawks35

You can't say whether Giguere is, or isn't, an upgrade over Crawford ("Crow") at this point. He had (much) better stats last year—albeit with a different team and he's been further in the playoffs on I believe more than one occasion.

Bernier is clearly better than anything the Hawks have behind Crawford, for sure. he might or might not be better than Crawford near term. But Bowman would have to pay dearly for him with a conference rival as well.

The guy out there who is proven statistically, experientially and arguably reputationally better than Crawford is Luongo, like it or not. And there is a unique opportunity right now—not just to take on another Hossa-like contract—but also to upgrade your goaltending for another 5 years or so—moreso than anything you presently have in the system likely will. But again, it probably takes some willingness to part with prospects you've been hyping.

We already have a team that can make it to the playoffs, then lose. We don't need to add a goalie who can't do anything in the playoffs either. I don't know if I think Doan is worth 7.5 mil, but he's definitely an asset.
- JRoenick97

I will say this for Luongo, he would improve this team in the goaltending department for the short term It's the length of his deal and the position he plays that makes him an awful player to recieve in a trade. I have a feeling there will be goalies out there that will be available come the trade deadline that can improve this team without having to sign onto someone for 7 years plus.

I have a hard time thinking Doan is worth $7.5 million per, however, even if the Hawks sign onto him for 4 years at that price, as long as the deal is heavily front-loaded, it may not be that bad after all.

Thanks for some really good questions and here is the link ....

Here's my answers to some very interesting questions. Reader's Mailbag on Fox Chgo:http://ow.ly/cBh6a
- Al

Great article and Q and A stuff.

Thanks.