Do you think Bickell was traded then the trade was rescinded?
- paulr

Yes.

The team was reportedly close to acquiring Tyler Seguin, but Mike Modano burst through the walls and saved Jim Nill who was tied down to a chair and was held at gunpoint.

Yes.

The team was reportedly close to acquiring Tyler Seguin, but Mike Modano burst through the walls and saved Jim Nill who was tied down to a chair and was held at gunpoint.
- TommyHawk

Wow, that would have been a steal!

Wow, that would have been a steal!
- paulr

On a side note, just thought I'd analyze Bowman's transactional history a little further:

Trades: 38
NHL players acquired:
Nick Leddy
Nick Boynton*
Viktor Stalberg
Jimmy Hayes
Chris Campoli
Rusty Olesz
Steve Montador
Brendan Morrison
Johnny Oduya
Henrik Karlsson
Michael Handzus
Kris Versteeg
Peter Regin
David Rundblad
Tim Erixon

The players in bold are players that have actually contributed something to the team. Only two of those players are with the team today.

NHL Signings (excluding extensions):

Jassen Cullimore
John Scott
Marty Turco
Fernando Pisani
Ryan Potulny
Garnet Exelby
Ryan Johnson
Steve Montador
Jamal Mayers
Sean O'Donnell
Andrew Brunette
Dan Carcillo
Sami Lepisto
Ray Emery
Sheldon Brookbank
Michal Rozsival
Antti Raanta
Brad Richards?

As you can see, the signings have been fairly lackluster. Only a couple of those players made an impact.


Draft Picks - currently in the NHL:
Saad
Shaw
TT
TVR

Given the team's depth, it's not easy for young prospects to make and stick with the organization, and some prospects are always light years away from making it to the real club. I think that Stan's success is attributed to the draft, but prospects are just prospects. They are TBD until they make it to the club and stick. Until then they simply cannot be judged.

Bowman's biggest hit, I think, is the decision to match Hammer over Niemi, which allowed Crawford to get his shot and it proved to be the right call, as Hammer is one of the best defensive d-men in the league, and losing him would be as critical a loss as losing any of your vital pieces. Niemi proved to be expendable. Everything else, for the most part, has been him reaping the benefits of the squad that Dale put together. Bowman certainly deserves some credit, but as far as judging him as a GM goes, I don't think that it would be right considering the circumstances and the situation that he stepped in to. He has yet to leave a lasting mark on the organization in my opinion.
- TommyHawk

This argument again? Look at Dale's transactions....and Mike Smith had an equal impact on this team as well.

net minding outstanding tonight....

neimi has not played this well vs the hawks in quite some time...

This argument again? Look at Dale's transactions....and Mike Smith had an equal impact on this team as well.
- DoTheMath

Come on, this is Dale's team it has his fingerprints all over it!

F'n Pizza man centering to a Shark in front of Raanta

On a side note, just thought I'd analyze Bowman's transactional history a little further:

Trades: 38
NHL players acquired:
Nick Leddy
Nick Boynton*
Viktor Stalberg
Jimmy Hayes
Chris Campoli
Rusty Olesz
Steve Montador
Brendan Morrison
Johnny Oduya
Henrik Karlsson
Michael Handzus
Kris Versteeg
Peter Regin
David Rundblad
Tim Erixon

The players in bold are players that have actually contributed something to the team. Only two of those players are with the team today.

NHL Signings (excluding extensions):

Jassen Cullimore
John Scott
Marty Turco
Fernando Pisani
Ryan Potulny
Garnet Exelby
Ryan Johnson
Steve Montador
Jamal Mayers
Sean O'Donnell
Andrew Brunette
Dan Carcillo
Sami Lepisto
Ray Emery
Sheldon Brookbank
Michal Rozsival
Antti Raanta
Brad Richards?

As you can see, the signings have been fairly lackluster. Only a couple of those players made an impact.


Draft Picks - currently in the NHL:
Saad
Shaw
TT
TVR

Given the team's depth, it's not easy for young prospects to make and stick with the organization, and some prospects are always light years away from making it to the real club. I think that Stan's success is attributed to the draft, but prospects are just prospects. They are TBD until they make it to the club and stick. Until then they simply cannot be judged.

Bowman's biggest hit, I think, is the decision to match Hammer over Niemi, which allowed Crawford to get his shot and it proved to be the right call, as Hammer is one of the best defensive d-men in the league, and losing him would be as critical a loss as losing any of your vital pieces. Niemi proved to be expendable. Everything else, for the most part, has been him reaping the benefits of the squad that Dale put together. Bowman certainly deserves some credit, but as far as judging him as a GM goes, I don't think that it would be right considering the circumstances and the situation that he stepped in to. He has yet to leave a lasting mark on the organization in my opinion.
- TommyHawk

You forgot:

Frolik
Darling
Kane/Toews re-signing
Hammer re-signing
Smith re-signing
Bickell re-signing
Shaw re-signing
Seabrook re-signing
Crawford re-signing

Yep. Stan has done nothing that has made an impact, just cutting Dale's crust.

tought that 2-1 with thorton was the adios for the nite....how does he miss that...

Icing?! Lmao. Who hired these clowns?

Well that suck'd...waste o' time...SO yet again.

Raanta looked good...only legit goal was scored by Dunc's

Hawks trying to tie and Nordstrom is out there?

The Hawks should have never traded Niemi.

Hawks trying to tie and Nordstrom is out there?
- ikeane

Q's way of protesting this terrible roster Stan has forced upon him

Well that suck'd...waste o' time...SO yet again.

Raanta looked good...only legit goal was scored by Dunc's
- ArlingtonRob

Raanta misplaying the puck and being way out of position had more to do with it.

The Hawks should have never traded Niemi.
- Beaver-Warrior

If the play in Niemi's net was blown dead, then the first goal should have been blown dead. LA and SJ cannot win without the stripes on their side.

Raanta misplaying the puck and being way out of position had more to do with it.
- Elbows15

Yep. That was on him.

If the play in Niemi's net was blown dead, then the first goal should have been blown dead. LA and SJ cannot win without the stripes on their side.
- powerenforcer

This one is a stretch even for you.

If the play in Niemi's net was blown dead, then the first goal should have been blown dead. LA and SJ cannot win without the stripes on their side.
- powerenforcer

I thought you'd be more upset about the icing call on a pass that was on net

net minding outstanding tonight....

neimi has not played this well vs the hawks in quite some time...
- bogiedoc

No pressure on him, except for Toews' short handed sequence.

SJ excellent in the neutral zone and on the blue line - Hawks couldn't set up at all.

Boyle and Mayers using the 3 in 4 nites excuse - bullpoop - they had a week off before losing 2 of the 3 - they were outplayed tonite.

I thought you'd be more upset about the icing call on a pass that was on net
- CBHawks88

Clueless. And the worst part, I was watching the Hogs/Wolves game tonight and they said the back-to-back games were officiated by Koharski's. So there is no improvement in the NHL officiating if that clown has offspring doing it.

No pressure on him, except for Toews' short handed sequence.

SJ excellent in the neutral zone and on the blue line - Hawks couldn't set up at all.

Boyle and Mayers using the 3 in 4 nites excuse - bullpoop - they had a week off before losing 2 of the 3 - they were outplayed tonite.
- StLBravesFan

I wouldn't go that far. SJ didn't exactly set the world on fire. I thought it was a sloppy game by both sides. They got one to bounce in and the Hawks didn't.

What does Jamal Mayars know? He only played for a thousand years.

Clueless. And the worst part, I was watching the Hogs/Wolves game tonight and they said the back-to-back games were officiated by Koharski's. So there is no improvement in the NHL officiating if that clown has offspring doing it.
- powerenforcer

Rigging games is a family business

No pressure on him, except for Toews' short handed sequence.

SJ excellent in the neutral zone and on the blue line - Hawks couldn't set up at all.

Boyle and Mayers using the 3 in 4 nites excuse - bullpoop - they had a week off before losing 2 of the 3 - they were outplayed tonite.
- StLBravesFan

all 3 observations are right on....in particular #2...sharks were spot on in their coverage and zone play the whole damn game...

third 1-0 loss of the year (don't give rip abt the empty net goal)

Rigging games is a family business
- CBHawks88

And Bettman's specialty. Just look at Ariz/Phoenix. When they were close to a sale, they made the playoffs and won a round. Now that the sale has has been approved, they are garbage again. Same coach, same goalie, mostly same team.