This is a joke, right?
- Atomic Wedgie

Wait - I'll see if I'm laughing - nope, must not be a joke - just an opinion.

If you have a different one, let's hear it - instead of a snarky comment which says nothing.

Not sure if it was shared
#16 Chico Maki passes away, a good player

Not sure if it was shared
#16 Chico Maki passes away, a good player
- Cup-Bearer

No. What a darn shame. Good little player. Pretty good line back in the day with Phil Esposito centering Bobby Hull and Maki.

RIP Chico.

If there is a deal done for Kane, which I think will happen, it will be with a team that has a proven star veteran player that they can't or don't want to re-sign. The best example I can give is with WPG. The Jets are in a position where the resigning of Byfuglien after this season is highly unlikely. So what does Chevy do? Let him walk for nothing at season's end? Again, highly unlikely. Thus, packaging up Byfuglien as the key part of the deal for a repentant Patrick Kane (saying and doing all the right things publicly), would be a no-brainer for WPG...and Chicago.

WPG is loaded with good, young players either already playing, or ready to play; thus, they could add a top talent along with Byfuglien and not have it hurt their "future". WPG would get Kane and his potential for trouble and the Hawks would get a game-changing, all star DMan who understands Q system, along with a ready to play, cost effective young forward.

So, who loses in this deal? The obvious answer would be the Hawks because they are moving Patrick Kane, a generational talent...but if the Hawks believe "they have to", then how do they lose in this deal? They could easily extend Buff with a "reasonable" 4 year $4.5 million per contract and not have to worry about the younger forward's deal for another 2 to 3 years. What the Hawks would lose in Kane's scoring and prowess in the clutch, could be compensated for by possessing the best D core in hockey, and adding a clutch DMan that can also play wing next to Toews if he had to!

THIS is the kind of deal that will occur for Kane, not an exchange straight up for Stamkos or Tavares...that will never happen. There are a few players and teams around the league who are in this position that could make a deal work with the Hawks without giving up their "best" player.

IMO, a deal for Kane that returned Byfuglien and say Adam Lowry or even prospects Ehlers or Lemeiux would be a reasonable exchange that would benefit both teams, with an equal exchange of "risk". A Hawks lineup minus Kane, but with Byfuglien and Lowry could still contend for another Cup, especially as it would mean that Crawford was in net and Seabrook was extended for another 5+ years.
- MexicoHawk

I think the Hawks would want an A grade D prospect to develop tossed in. They have to think about reloading at some point and in the next 3-4 Keith's minutes are going to have to shrink and they will need a young player to step in and carry that torch.

Buff may help them now but he is also on the wrong side of 30 with Seabs and Keith. Hammer is already 28 soooooooooo they are going to need to break someone in sometime soon.

The last thing they need is a 31 year old Toews wasted on 3 of the top 4 defenders over 35. In my opinion that is what has railroaded Detroit and the twilight of Zberg and Datsyuk's careers.

If they can secure some sexy futures and a blue chip defender while balancing the roster a bit better then I think they come out a head and still compete for a Cup this year provided TT gets better and Panarin ends up being a stud.

Kane for a 3rd line centre and Buff winnipeg would so have to add something more. i know lowry having watching his entire jr career. but Kaner is a top 5 player in this league im guessing they could get a much better offer than that. also trading him within your own division were he could kill you in the playoffs.
- SaskHawkFan

If the Hawks deal him anytime soon, they won't get value for value. But they might do so to get the headache behind them. Assuming the legal things gets "cleared up."

I will just tell you this, Patrick Kane is persona non-grata at 1901 W. Madison Street, with the people whose opinions matter most.

Where this goes from here has to do with a) the outcome of the legal issue and b) whatever he can do to salvage trust.

Trust is the issue. The organization cannot have $10.5 million a year locked up in a guy who can get arrested (and suspended) at any time, is a risk to himself and others, and is continually surrounded by bonehead enablers who perpetuate the problem.

I know some are trying as hard as they can to blame the victim in this case or just write it off as Kane is just a "partier."

They are missing a very significant point, I think because they choose not to see it.

If the Hawks deal him anytime soon, they won't get value for value. But they might do so to get the headache behind them. Assuming the legal things gets "cleared up."

I will just tell you this, Patrick Kane is persona non-grata at 1901 W. Madison Street, with the people whose opinions matter most.

Where this goes from here has to do with a) the outcome of the legal issue and b) whatever he can do to salvage trust.

Trust is the issue. The organization cannot have $10.5 million a year locked up in a guy who can get arrested (and suspended) at any time, is a risk to himself and others, and is continually surrounded by bonehead enablers who perpetuate the problem.

I know some are trying as hard as they can to blame the victim in this case or just write it off as Kane is just a "partier."

They are missing a very significant point, I think because they choose not to see it.
- John Jaeckel

Including, possibly, his family - who seem not to be able to help him stay away from trouble (or trouble makers).

I think the Hawks would want an A grade D prospect to develop tossed in. They have to think about reloading at some point and in the next 3-4 Keith's minutes are going to have to shrink and they will need a young player to step in and carry that torch.

Buff may help them now but he is also on the wrong side of 30 with Seabs and Keith. Hammer is already 28 soooooooooo they are going to need to break someone in sometime soon.

The last thing they need is a 31 year old Toews wasted on 3 of the top 4 defenders over 35. In my opinion that is what has railroaded Detroit and the twilight of Zberg and Datsyuk's careers.

If they can secure some sexy futures and a blue chip defender while balancing the roster a bit better then I think they come out a head and still compete for a Cup this year provided TT gets better and Panarin ends up being a stud.
- fattybeef

As usual, really good insight fatty.

Developing prospects takes time . . . and prospects. Not all of the top prospects become top players. The Hawks could really use 2-3 high-end defense prospects to develop, because their system is basically bereft of them. Yeah, a guy like Forsling could maybe become a "Keith-like" (sort of) player, but the odds are not great.

Bowman should be looking to acquire these guys somehow other than the draft, because the odds, again, are not high when your first pick is 25-30 every year.

If the Hawks deal him anytime soon, they won't get value for value. But they might do so to get the headache behind them. Assuming the legal things gets "cleared up."

I will just tell you this, Patrick Kane is persona non-grata at 1901 W. Madison Street, with the people whose opinions matter most.

Where this goes from here has to do with a) the outcome of the legal issue and b) whatever he can do to salvage trust.

Trust is the issue. The organization cannot have $10.5 million a year locked up in a guy who can get arrested (and suspended) at any time, is a risk to himself and others, and is continually surrounded by bonehead enablers who perpetuate the problem.

I know some are trying as hard as they can to blame the victim in this case or just write it off as Kane is just a "partier."

They are missing a very significant point, I think because they choose not to see it.
- John Jaeckel

Im sure someone would put up a much better offer then Buff and Lowry if Kane does indeed hit the market.

If the Hawks deal him anytime soon, they won't get value for value. But they might do so to get the headache behind them. Assuming the legal things gets "cleared up."

I will just tell you this, Patrick Kane is persona non-grata at 1901 W. Madison Street, with the people whose opinions matter most.

Where this goes from here has to do with a) the outcome of the legal issue and b) whatever he can do to salvage trust.

Trust is the issue. The organization cannot have $10.5 million a year locked up in a guy who can get arrested (and suspended) at any time, is a risk to himself and others, and is continually surrounded by bonehead enablers who perpetuate the problem.

I know some are trying as hard as they can to blame the victim in this case or just write it off as Kane is just a "partier."

They are missing a very significant point, I think because they choose not to see it.
- John Jaeckel

If you trust, your sources so do I. And that sentence says it all.

Conduct detrimental to the business supercedes the value of all of the on-ice heroics.

Is Toews involved with Onnit? I know Keith was endorsing some of their products.
- Bustov22

Idk if he's involved but there was a photo of him chilling with Aubrey on instagram a month or so ago.

If you trust, your sources so do I. And that sentence says it all.

Conduct detrimental to the business supercedes the value of all of the on-ice heroics.
- RickJ

I would agree i just dont think they will give him away for nothing nor trade him within our own division

If you trust, your sources so do I. And that sentence says it all.

Conduct detrimental to the business supercedes the value of all of the on-ice heroics.
- RickJ

What he's DONE (or NOT done) will get figured out, or swept under the rug.

The issue IS . . . what will he do next summer, or on a road trip this Spring, or . . . t

The stakes are way too high, the track record and contributing factors are always there and not changing despite warnings and promises to change.

The team can't just ignore it and assume it'll go away of its own. It has been an issue for at least 6 years and there are no meaningful indications it's going to change. Yet.

JJ,

Long time lurker, infrequent poster, frequent reader. Your blogs are always insightful, thanks for keeping us up to date!

I definitely see where you're coming from (and where the team may be regarding Kane), but unless the legal proceedings come out with something damaging, I have a really hard time believing they would get rid of Kane as a result of this. From a hockey standpoint, unless they get 90 cents on the dollar in a trade, that severely hurts this team's ability to win, and ultimately that's the main factor of the renaissance of this franchise.

You'd better have a coaching change in there because nothing Leddy did in NY would lead me to think Q would want him back in Chicago.
- paulr

Q would take Leddy in a NY second....Now that Oduya and Rozsival are gone.

Not sure if it was shared
#16 Chico Maki passes away, a good player
- Cup-Bearer

That's a shame.

I played in the Blackhawk Alumni Golf outing yesterday. The "celebrity/player" in our group was J.P Bordeleau, in speaking with him I asked how many guys he still stayed in touch with and he mentioned Chico Maki as one of the few he spoke with regularly.

I think the Hawks would want an A grade D prospect to develop tossed in. They have to think about reloading at some point and in the next 3-4 Keith's minutes are going to have to shrink and they will need a young player to step in and carry that torch.

Buff may help them now but he is also on the wrong side of 30 with Seabs and Keith. Hammer is already 28 soooooooooo they are going to need to break someone in sometime soon.

The last thing they need is a 31 year old Toews wasted on 3 of the top 4 defenders over 35. In my opinion that is what has railroaded Detroit and the twilight of Zberg and Datsyuk's careers.

If they can secure some sexy futures and a blue chip defender while balancing the roster a bit better then I think they come out a head and still compete for a Cup this year provided TT gets better and Panarin ends up being a stud.
- fattybeef

28-32 is not old for dmen...More like the prime age for some.
I do agree the minutes here are heavy and that will need to change at some point.
But great dmen play heavy minutes to just about the end.
Pronger/Niedermayer were prime examples when they won the Cup in Ana.
Keith/Seabrook/Hammer are of the same quality.

That's a shame.

I played in the Blackhawk Alumni Golf outing yesterday. The "celebrity/player" in our group was J.P Bordeleau, in speaking with him I asked how many guys he still stayed in touch with and he mentioned Chico Maki as one of the few he spoke with regularly.
- TheTrob

A lot of players from that era are dead....Unfortunately.

These are trades that take place after legal issues are resolved?
- Canada Cup

Yes, NOTHING will happen with Kane until it is decided whether there will be criminal charges or not. Kane won't attend camp, he won't skate with the team...nada until his "fate" is decided.

As usual, really good insight fatty.

Developing prospects takes time . . . and prospects. Not all of the top prospects become top players. The Hawks could really use 2-3 high-end defense prospects to develop, because their system is basically bereft of them. Yeah, a guy like Forsling could maybe become a "Keith-like" (sort of) player, but the odds are not great.

Bowman should be looking to acquire these guys somehow other than the draft, because the odds, again, are not high when your first pick is 25-30 every year.
- John Jaeckel

Because of having so many really good young players come up all at once...There's been very little development of useful players in Rockford.

The good ones come up right away....Only players I can think of that spent a good deal of time in Rockford and became productive players here are Crawford-Bickell and Ben Smith.
Hammer was there for not long enough to credit "Rockford development" same with TT.

Including, possibly, his family - who seem not to be able to help him stay away from trouble (or trouble makers).
- StLBravesFan

This is what I was told.

Yes, NOTHING will happen with Kane until it is decided whether there will be criminal charges or not. Kane won't attend camp, he won't skate with the team...nada until his "fate" is decided.
- MexicoHawk

Been saying same since this broke...It wouldn't do Kane or the team any good to have him around.

Yes, NOTHING will happen with Kane until it is decided whether there will be criminal charges or not. Kane won't attend camp, he won't skate with the team...nada until his "fate" is decided.
- MexicoHawk

Thanks Mexico. Any idea when Hawks might make other deals with camp less than 3 weeks away?

Q would take Leddy in a NY second....Now that Oduya and Rozsival are gone.
- Al

Easy for either of us to speculate because it ain't happening, but I'd put money on him not wanting any part of him. Leddy's salary puts him in the top four and he just doesn't have the defensive game that Q needs for the team to be successful.

A lot of players from that era are dead....Unfortunately.
- Al

Yeah, Chico Maki was 76, so by no means a youngster. Bordeleau is 66 and in pretty good shape. A nice guy, very personable. Fun to play a round of golf with.

Not sure how valid a source this is but ...

http://sportsmockery.com/...not-be-charged-with-rape/