Great treatise JJ !!!

First things first....Q's D blender is a giant shart stain. And it must END.

Get 2-7 and 4-27 (when he's ready) BACK TOGETHER ASAP.
Saddling Duncs with Runstank night in, night out is tough on the peepers and ticker.
Sit Rozy down for a week or two and get Johns or Dahlbeck up. Rozy's on vapor and his clumsiness is all to apparent too many nights. A decent freshening would do him a world of good imo.

I too have loved the Hawk killer Vermette for years, but as another poster said, the price will be high. It usually is for most flavors of the month.

I really hope this brain trust can go and make a strong strategical move, like they did for Oduya, and get someone that is off enemy radar, and improve the team that way.
It really is time to look outside the org and get a VET now.

Also, it's time to get McNeill, Danault and Garret Ross a shot. They've all languished on the farm too long. GET 'EM UP either individually or all at the same time.

This team NEEDS ENERGY.
- philco28

I liked nordy's energy the other night. I'd like to see some young fast skatin hard hitting guys come up. McNeill a good skater? I vaguely remembner Danault being alright when he was called up. Never seen Ross

See my post above for a couple reasons I don't like him. To add to that list, he was a Richard to Mannely when Mannely first joined the show, constantly laughing at him and poking fun at him because he wasn't a polished radio pro. It was just annoying, and I just don't like him. just my opinion. I bet he's not a bad guy in real life, but he just is unprofessional in my opinion
- BlazinMike

I liked Mannelly. Wasn't thrilled about his hiring, again I was hoping for Barry, but I really enjoyed Pat's insight on the NFL, and he didn't come in with the "I'm a former pro athelete" ego.

If Spiegel was launched, I wouldn't lose any sleep either. I like Mully and Hanley in the am on the drive in. Seem to have fun, and enjoy their stories, and catch B&B on ride home. They can annoy the hell out of me, but it occasionally make me laugh, when Bernstein is playing his fun character for the day.

The next several months may give us the answer.

Is Stan going to be an actor or continue to be a reactor. So far, most of his trades have been dictated to him by the cap. He reacts to the cap and the returns are weak. Aside from Saad his drafting hasn't been that solid either. If the opportunity is there for value - address the cap now - collect younger, lower cost talent and high picks if possible for top 6 replacements.

Time for this front office to manage the cap instead of allowing the cap to manage them.
- tredbrta

Too early to judge that yet. Has never drafted above #18, and Does have some success with Saad, Shaw and others playing in the NHL already. Also, not a lot of guys drafted after his picks that are burning up the league, so not a bunch of "misses"

Whatssss up Phil ????

Agree all around and with the bolded get em up or move them for help.
- mrpaulish

Mr. P


What time's the vulcanized disc drop ?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, maybe, yes
- John Jaeckel

I liked nordy's energy the other night. I'd like to see some young fast skatin hard hitting guys come up. McNeill a good skater? I vaguely remembner Danault being alright when he was called up. Never seen Ross
- BlazinMike

Danault is a good skate. Not sure on McNeill but he has size. I hear Ross is Shaw 2.0

Mr. P


What time's the vulcanized disc drop ?
- philco28

We are 6 hours and 33 minutes away from puck drop ....

Danault is a good skate. Not sure on McNeill but he has size. I hear Ross is Shaw 2.0
- Bjm84

Id put better offensive futures in the order of Hartman then Shaw then Ross

I liked nordy's energy the other night. I'd like to see some young fast skatin hard hitting guys come up. McNeill a good skater? I vaguely remembner Danault being alright when he was called up. Never seen Ross
- BlazinMike

Nordy did look good the other night, maybe the best i've ever seen him. His skating
was fleet, he was taking direct routes on the forecheck and he was finishing his checks. He even took a shot or two.

Haven't seen McNeill of late, but he was a first rounder so i'm pretty sure he can skate.
Danault has had a cameo or two. And Ross is a left-handed Shaw and my fave of the three. Need to see these guys at some point.

We are 6 hours and 33 minutes away from puck drop ....
- mrpaulish

Thx Mr. P

Id put better offensive futures in the order of Hartman then Shaw then Ross
- mrpaulish

I liked Hartman when he came up. He wasn't really out of position and of course that first shift he had was awesome against the Devils.

Too early to judge that yet. Has never drafted above #18, and Does have some success with Saad, Shaw and others playing in the NHL already. Also, not a lot of guys drafted after his picks that are burning up the league, so not a bunch of "misses"
- TheTrob

Saad dropped to him in the second, almost had to take him, Shaw was another lucky find IMO. I'd like to see first round hits. I know the draft is a c-shoot, but I don't see a whole bunch of stars down there, or even like the group in Rockford in 2008 I believe.

John Jaeckel: What’s The Plan, Stan?
- John Jaeckel

Awesome blog and you nailed it.

I don't have time to read all the comments and I don't wholly agree with everything written, but I STRONGLY agree with the premise of this blog.

Seriously, the major roadblock preventing the Hawks from acquiring a solid player has been fitting said player(s) under the cap. Kane's injury, while devastating, has a sliver lining in that now you don't have to trade away current NHL players for somebody out there. Is this a deep draft? Absolutely. But there's no reason why you hold onto picks when you have a chance to make a run at a cup NOW.

Worst case scenario, keep your 2015 picks, give up a 2016 1st, 2nd, whatever, and unload one of the many blocked prospects growing older in Rockford.

Not every prospect can make the team, even in the future. Turn one of them into a cup ring.

Just throwing that out there.
- DMCsPulledHammy

Oh, no doubt, man. I was just saying, I think a lot of that stuff happens but all is forgotten eventually. Not saying that guys don't hold grudges, but I think when it comes to dollars and management decisions, if it will work to better the organization, they'll have to learn to play together, you know?

Hossa,Keith,and 4 are the best, maybe most underrated, things going for the Hawks capwise based on talent
- Vegas Trotzkies

Oil prices are going to increase (already starting) and the Loonie will benefit in relation to the dollar. We may see the cap increase minimally this year but it will begin to increase at a higher level sooner rather than later and, when it does, the Toews/Kane deals will be net benefits to the cap (assuming no injuries or career impacting events). This long term cap doom from many is based on an incorrect assumption - that cap increases will continue to be low.

The real question is whether Stan can add some value through the needed cap subtractions. Based on his past cap dumps it is NOW time for him to address the subtractions and the cap aggressively so he is no longer perceived as a slave to it.

Oil prices are going to increase (already starting) and the Loonie will benefit in relation to the dollar. We may see the cap increase minimally this year but it will begin to increase at a higher level sooner rather than later and, when it does, the Toews/Kane deals will be net benefits to the cap (assuming no injuries or career impacting events). This long term cap doom from many is based on an incorrect assumption - that cap increases will continue to be low.

The real question is whether Stan can add some value through the needed cap subtractions. Based on his past cap dumps it is NOW time for him to address the subtractions and the cap aggressively so he is no longer perceived as a slave to it.
- tredbrta

Not arguing tred, cuz I don't know a lot on the topic beyond that there are a variety of factors, not least of which is the Saudis keeping production high. I have seen oil jump then drop and now gas seems to be settling about $2.30 a gallon. Thoughts?

I don't have time to read all the comments and I don't wholly agree with everything written, but I STRONGLY agree with the premise of this blog.

Seriously, the major roadblock preventing the Hawks from acquiring a solid player has been fitting said player(s) under the cap. Kane's injury, while devastating, has a sliver lining in that now you don't have to trade away current NHL players for somebody out there. Is this a deep draft? Absolutely. But there's no reason why you hold onto picks when you have a chance to make a run at a cup NOW.

Worst case scenario, keep your 2015 picks, give up a 2016 1st, 2nd, whatever, and unload one of the many blocked prospects growing older in Rockford.

Not every prospect can make the team, even in the future. Turn one of them into a cup ring.
- Sandus

yesssssssssssssssss

Not arguing tred, cuz I don't know a lot on the topic beyond that there are a variety of factors, not least of which is the Saudis keeping production high. I have seen oil jump then drop and now gas seems to be settling about $2.30 a gallon. Thoughts?
- John Jaeckel

Unless I am mistaken Beaver Warrior follows this stuff pretty closely , is he around ?

Saad dropped to him in the second, almost had to take him, Shaw was another lucky find IMO. I'd like to see first round hits. I know the draft is a c-shoot, but I don't see a whole bunch of stars down there, or even like the group in Rockford in 2008 I believe.
- howiehandles

I think 2011 was a very good draft for them, because Danault and McNeill are going to be NHL players.

But . . . where do they all play. Shaw, Danault, McNeill all 3rd to 4th line players.

Unless I am mistaken Beaver Warrior follows this stuff pretty closely , is he around ?
- mrpaulish

Oh, I know he'll have an opinion! Haha

Saad dropped to him in the second, almost had to take him, Shaw was another lucky find IMO. I'd like to see first round hits. I know the draft is a c-shoot, but I don't see a whole bunch of stars down there, or even like the group in Rockford in 2008 I believe.
- howiehandles

Saad fell to the 43rd pick, so 29 other genius GM's passed on him, some multiple times. He has put up more points than all but the top 2 picks of that draft.

Not sure which group you are talking of. 2008 was the Beach draft, maybe one of the worst in history. Ben Smith as a 6th rounder is what you have to show for that one.

My point is that for all of Bowmans faults, I don't think the Draft can be pointed out as one of his weaknesses, at least not yet. If you take any individual draft year, you can look at who the Hawks drafted and who was drafted after them, and see if they "missed" someone. In Bowmans years there are not any pure misses. Unlike the 08 Beach year, where Guys like Myers, Karlsson, Eberle, Ennis, Voynov, Stephan, Josi, Nyquist and others were all drafted after Beach (not a good year for Tallon draft wise).

Brian Hedger :

No #Blackhawks stuff yet, because CHI didn't hold a.m. skate in FLA, which I'm sure was crushing news to the traveling beat writers.

I think 2011 was a very good draft for them, because Danault and McNeill are going to be NHL players.

But . . . where do they all play. Shaw, Danault, McNeill all 3rd to 4th line players.
- John Jaeckel

I can see Shaw getting dealt JJ. How about you? Hartman and Ross...both with slightly more size knocking on the door--though Hartman is further away of the two IMO

#Sens GM, Bryan Murray on the next four days: "We're open-minded, we're certainly open for business."