If you're not going to be buyers because prices are too high, and you have to lose salary in the offseason, then now is time to be sellers.

If they do nothing?
- John Jaeckel

Absolutely terrific analysis and reasoning, JJ.

StanBo has to either go for it or sell when he can procure a better return for assets that must be sold in the summer. Doing little or nothing now is the worst decision.

Mrpaulish I completely agree with you. I just don't see him as the type to make those trades. Ever. History suggests he adds minor pieces..

Honestly, I'd like to see Sharp shipped out (or Bickell).. and bring in a 2C and a quality D.. but I just can't see Bowman doing it.
- CaptainInsano

Yea man we're on the same page and if this is the script then ill be super pissed that will be a simmer and then if the playoffs are missed or its a 1st round exit then that simmer will be blown up into an anti bowman continual rant .

. (frank) .

Petrovic said he asked Campbell and Hayes to reach out to Kane #flapanthers

Right, if they stand pat, they will be over a barrel again this summer. No leverage, and nothing to show for this season, which could be their last shot for a while.
- John Jaeckel

I am ignorant as to how the Hawks would be at a disadvantage over the summer.

(That's not sarcasm, that's a mea culpa,

The counter-argument is that the Kane injury has irrevocably taken them out of true Cup contender status, regardless of the rental pieces available. If you accept that premise (which is arguable, I know) and acknowledge that next year is a "retooling" year due to Capocalypse II, I'd rather let this season play out and hoard my highest-end prospects in hopes that they will come through next season. Otherwise, you are sending your best assets out for returns that still don't make you a Cup contender this year, and you put yourself in a worse situation next season and beyond.
- BreakoutHockey

Which ones and why? The logic is flawed from there. And why do you just assume none of those assets acquired wouldn't be retained?

This is why I think this may be the year Stan does deadline work.....


Also I think the word "Aggressive" means Patrick Sharp....


McKenzie sees Bowman being "very aggressive" exploring trade options. #Blackhawks #Coyotes #Oilers #Flames http://t.co/AYP6iN33oG

I am ignorant as to how the Hawks would be at a disadvantage over the summer
(That's not sarcasm, that's a mea culpa,
- miked23

if the cap goes down or stays flat as predicted, there will be many sellers, a buyers market. The Hawks will have zero leverage in any deals. that's why.

WAKE UP STAN..OH GOD HELP US!!!!!!!!!!!

This is why I think this may be the year Stan does deadline work.....


Also I think the word "Aggressive" means Patrick Sharp....


McKenzie sees Bowman being "very aggressive" exploring trade options. #Blackhawks #Coyotes #Oilers #Flames http://t.co/AYP6iN33oG
- mrpaulish

FWIW, this is what I heard this AM too.

Excellent piece John...

I will be on with Boomer today at 12:30 CST talking about many of the points in your blog.

My issue is twofold...Is Petry/Vermette enough of an add to get to the 3rd round??
And....
Can Bowman at this point after Toew/Kane new deals(upcoming cap issues) take the chance to trade a 1 or 2 top Ice Hogs for basically rentals??

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

No, and no.

. (frank) .

Petrovic said he asked Campbell and Hayes to reach out to Kane #flapanthers
- mrpaulish

Why doesn't he reach out to Kane? Sounds a bit insincere to me.

WHO, Paul, with all due respect, is responsible for the salary (at least) architecture of the Hawks today?
- John Jaeckel

Bowman is primarily responsible for the make up of the team. He built the team based on skill and a certain way to play that required that skill and those players. Without injuries the Hawks are a top contender. With the style of play the Hawks employ they cannot withstand an injury to a key player. But if the Hawks are at the top of their game without injuries I'd argue there is not a team in the league who can play the high tempo, quick transition, attack the puck game they play.

No, and no.
- Ogilthorpe2

As usual-if not for a long time-I'm with Ogi

FWIW, this is what I heard this AM too.
- John Jaeckel

Im tired of hearing about Bowman knocking on doors

Id like for him to open one and walk through it finally

Why doesn't he reach out to Kane? Sounds a bit insincere to me.
- powerenforcer

He did reacH out.... With two hands and a stick......lol. (frank).

http://translate.google.c...re-till-kane/&prev=search

This is a Swedish news site reporting that Dahlbeck and Rasmussen have been pulled form Icehogs Practice as to not hurt themselves before a trade.

JJ, great blog, spot on.
Stan needs to get busy fast as the season is losing daylight.
Either improve the team for now, or next year.
Doing nothing is an insult to the work that the core of this team has put in.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sv&u=http://www.hockeysverige.se/uffe-bodin/2015/02/26/svenskduon-kan-vara-pa-vag-bort-fran-chicago-jagar-ersattare-till-kane/&prev=search

This is a Swedish news site reporting that Dahlbeck and Rasmussen have been pulled form Icehogs Practice as to not hurt themselves before a trade.
- JRoenick97

Oohhhhhhhhh rumors.......


The Sweedes have people at Rockford practice ?

No, and no.
- Ogilthorpe2

We all have different opinions but I think it boils down to those two questions....

Which ones and why? The logic is flawed from there. And why do you just assume none of those assets acquired wouldn't be retained?
- John Jaeckel

To me, there are 4 key prospects I don't let go. Teravainen, Danault, Pokka, and Johns. Teravainen because he is the only legit top 6 pro prospect you have. Danault because he is your long-term bottom 6 center solution, and should be ready for the role likely vacated by Kruger next season. Pokka because he has legit top 4 potential. Johns because he has a pretty rare combination of size, speed, and instincts on both sides of the puck - you don't have a similar prospect in the system at the position.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sv&u=http://www.hockeysverige.se/uffe-bodin/2015/02/26/svenskduon-kan-vara-pa-vag-bort-fran-chicago-jagar-ersattare-till-kane/&prev=search

This is a Swedish news site reporting that Dahlbeck and Rasmussen have been pulled form Icehogs Practice as to not hurt themselves before a trade.
- JRoenick97

Interesting. But why wouldn't this also be reported by any number of the gallion peopel cover hockey, blackhawks, or even the Hogs?

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sv&u=http://www.hockeysverige.se/uffe-bodin/2015/02/26/svenskduon-kan-vara-pa-vag-bort-fran-chicago-jagar-ersattare-till-kane/&prev=search

This is a Swedish news site reporting that Dahlbeck and Rasmussen have been pulled form Icehogs Practice as to not hurt themselves before a trade.
- JRoenick97

Interesting, wouldnt really lose any sleep moving either one of them

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and Stan is certainly not above criticism. But can we please dispense with the Stan missed out on Carter and Kesler arguments in addition to the Toews/Kane contracts crippling the team.

Carter and Kesler - if Stan acquired one of those two it would have caused cap issue in the short term and long term. In the short term we'd looking at something like losing Sharp is get Carter or Kesler. Would that have really improved the team? We could argue either way, but the difference would be minimal. In the long term it's likely that Carter or Kesler would have been gone this off season just like Sharp will be. This argument is old and been rehashed several times over, enough is enough.

Toews and Kane - can I please hear some more female doging about how we have two of the top elite forwards in their prime locked up for the long term. It's easy to say that Stan should have signed these guys for $9 - $9.5 million, but none of us were in the negotiations and know what options were available. For all we know Toews and Kane wanted $12 million and Stan got them down to $10.5. This is the cost of doing busy and having 2 superstars on the team. The only other option would have been to trade one or both of them. How would that have worked out? Anyone complaining about these contracts should remember the days when the ABC line was our top unit. So I'll say it again, to those who think Toews and Kane are paid too much - boo (frank)ing hoo, get over it.

Regarding the this trade deadline, yes Stan needs to make a move and yes his job became more difficult. But can we wait until the deadline has passed before ripping Stan apart. If Stan does nothing then he deserves whatever he gets, but until then lets show some patience.
- DarthKane

Won't speak for anyone else but from my stand point the $21 mil for the wonder twins will probably be crippling to this team for the near future a la the Penguin effect. You make a good point that we will probably never know if $10.5 was the best that could be done and speculating gets us nowhere. But having those contracts along with another year for Sharp and the contracts of Crow and Bicks just doesn't allow very much flexibility so Bowman has painted himself into a corner.

The lack of freeing up space last summer by making a trade or two has not helped. So he has made the purge II inevitable in my view point.

Still hope that some big leaps happen from some players at the Rock and/or Stan can do some magic and get some return on what he is holding but he does not have much leverage left.

This Kane injury really sucks in all aspects except for firing up the discussion here.

Oohhhhhhhhh rumors.......


The Sweedes have people at Rockford practice ?
- mrpaulish

Might be their swedish agents were informed

Those guys relay stuff to the press in Europe much more commonly than agents do here in the US where stuff is much more tight lipped

Interesting. But why wouldn't this also be reported by any number of the gallion peopel cover hockey, blackhawks, or even the Hogs?
- Bjm84

No clue... just rumors for the rumor thread.