Q had Bicks totally up on a pedestal in an interview yesterday. I was starting to think maybe 40 goal season, now this. Just what the hell could have gone wrong overnight?
- RickJ

Nothing, its just part of the game that Coaches and GMs are forced to play sometimes. Teams wanted to see if the Hawks were actually going to dump Bickell to RFD or continue with him on their NHL lineup...I believe it was a game of chicken and someone has apparently blinked.

Good point. Probably should have written: however he justifies it in his mind, he now has experienced the consequences of the partying lifestyle and knows the risks are too high and he needs to settle down for good if he wants to get the remainder of that contract.
- Only_A_Ladd

I also think that's why he showed up to camp, start of a new contract and I bet if he didn't show up for camp the Hawks probably had an out clause, if he had been in this contract even for one year I bet he doesn't show up to camp fwiw

In other news:

@TramyersCSN: NHL rosters must be finalized by 4 p.m. CT today. #Blackhawks

@BrianHedger: Q: "We've got to make a decision or two here with our lineup, going into tomorrow for cap purposes and reasons. We'll see on (Svedberg)."

@BrianHedger: Stay tuned today for #Blackhawks roster moves. Things might be about to get a little weird. We'll see.

@MarkLazerus: There are definitely some moves coming. Maybe a few. Should be interesting. #Blackhawks

@ChristopherHine: Quenneville after saying nice things about Bickell the last few days, had some ominous quotes today. Will get those in a few.
- Marlowe

Svedberg to Rockford, Rozsival to LTIR, then Svedberg recalled.

Some very good points made in the blog but one thing I wouldn't do is cast any doubt as to the effectiveness of Kane overall in the playoffs. Sure Hedman had his number for awhile and Kane does benefit from playing on the "2nd line" but the record shows in crunch time he makes a difference.....Even from returning from a lengthy injury. Toews also has disappeared for a time in each of the past two Cup runs...it's the nature of the game and why 3rd and 4th lines are so important.

The Hawks could be set for years as a competitive Cup contender with or without Kane but...I want to see the younger guys mentioned come through night after night and on the biggest stage before I can consider them collectively as a Kane replacement.

Like Kane or not...Knucklehead or not if he never dressed again he probably has a great shot at being a 1st ballot Hall Fame inductee.

If the young skill players have the same winning know how and effectiveness as Kane/Toews have had when needed....Then the Hawks are in a great shape even without Kane but it's too early to tell.

Now? Totally correct. Two years from now? Don't count out SB.
- blackhawk24

I think quite highly of Bowman. Two years from now Hawks might get a very good return for Kane- if they are rebuilding.

Snapper said: >My take is that if everything "returns" -- not sure there is a word to really describe it -- to normal -- for the rest of the season
>Hawks will not actively look to move Kane
>And any actual trade after those year-long circumstances would have to be close to fair value by the other team for Kane
>But rival GMs will be offering Stan one-sided deals in their favor -- which equals -- Kane stays

If some GM really wants Kane at his $10.4MM cap hit, he will offer value for him - not comparable value, perhaps, but enough value to get him.

It all depends on how many want to get Kane, and how much they want him.

Some very good points made in the blog but one things I wouldn't do is cast any doubt as to the effectiveness of Kane overall in the playoffs. Sure Hedman had his number for awhile and Kane does benefit from playing on the "2nd line" but the record shows in crunch time he makes a difference.....Even from returning from a lengthy injury. Toews also has disappeared for a time in each of the past two Cup runs...it's the nature of the game and why 3rd and 4th lines are so important.

The Hawks could be set for years as a competitive Cup contender with or without Kane but...I want to see the younger guys mentioned come through night after night and on the biggest stage before I can consider them collectively as a Kane replacement.

Like Kane or not...Knucklehead or not if he never dressed again he probably has a great shot at being a 1st ballot Hall Fame inductee.

If the young skill players have the same winning know how and effectiveness as Kane/Toews have had when needed....Then the Hawks are in a great shape even without Kane but it's too early to tell.
- Al

Exactly Al, there is no doubt that Hedman did his job with Patrick Kane, but while Hedman was tied to Kane (out of fear of what Kane could do against them), it opened up the ice for everyone else. At least Kane is an elite talent that gives his all forcing teams to "deal with him". If Kane just floated, then Hedman wouldn't have been necessary to "shut him down", but Tampa did need Hedman on Kane, and over the series the rest of the Hawks took advantage of this, while Kane found a way to contribute.

Kane is an elite player in this league and every GM in the NHL knows it.

I think this is what happened - shoe may drop...(later tweet)

@ChristopherHine: Q on Bickell: Job competition is tough and we’ve got cap issues that are tough

Or maybe not - more just in:
@ChristopherHine: Q on Bickell (cont): I think one thing with Bick is we want to see him play here, we want to see him succeed here

And
@ChristopherHine: One more Q on Bickell: Tough deal. Tough situation to go through being him. That’s where he’s at in his career.
- Marlowe

Sounds like Bickell maybe getting sent down

Is Cumiskey hurt because the Hawks have him in the roster now? Another LTIR?

Q just interviewed on the score and he stated the biggest positive surprise of camp was Svedberg. Did not commit to him stating but had huge praise for his improvement
He also said TT is on the first line and he had an excellent camp and is bigger and stronger this year. Also feels playing with Toews and Hossa will allow him more freedom in the offensive zone since he is so defensively responsible first and foremost
Q also excited to watch the second line with the chemistry Panarin and Kane are developing
Lastly he stated that Hossa had his best camp to date and he is skating better than he ever has

The hawks are $300K under the cap so if they put Roz on LTIR ($600K) They only get $300K of his salary. I think they are working so they can be at the cap when they put him on LTIR and so they can bring up a player that makes $900 K. Sveberg makes only $575, so my guess is they will send him down. Call someone else up that makes 900K and then put Roz on LTIR and then swap Svedberg and the 900K player.

Do I have that correct?

Q just interviewed on the score and he stated the biggest positive surprise of camp was Svedberg. Did not commit to him stating but had huge praise for his improvement
He also said TT is on the first line and he had an excellent camp and is bigger and stronger this year. Also feels playing with Toews and Hossa will allow him more freedom in the offensive zone since he is so defensively responsible first and foremost
Q also excited to watch the second line with the chemistry Panarin and Kane are developing
Lastly he stated that Hossa had his best camp to date and he is skating better than he ever has
- molly2522

I need to hire a PI to tail him so I can find his fountain of youth source.

Q just interviewed on the score and he stated the biggest positive surprise of camp was Svedberg. Did not commit to him stating but had huge praise for his improvement
He also said TT is on the first line and he had an excellent camp and is bigger and stronger this year. Also feels playing with Toews and Hossa will allow him more freedom in the offensive zone since he is so defensively responsible first and foremost
Q also excited to watch the second line with the chemistry Panarin and Kane are developing
Lastly he stated that Hossa had his best camp to date and he is skating better than he ever has
- molly2522

That says a lot about TT and Svedberg. Usually when Q is high on a young player right away it takes a lot to change his opinion.

The Stupidest thing the world would be to trade him as was previously mentioned, you'll never get the full value for him. You have a great player. He's not been charged with anything. It will take time, but when he's scoring game winning goals, I think all will be forgotten.
- mattsox

"Stupidest thing the world" to trade him—regardless of return?

What if he got suspended two years from now—or another extended period where nobody knows what the hell is happening while the DA investigates? It's not like it's never happened before, right? You guys keep ignoring this.

Snapper said: >My take is that if everything "returns" -- not sure there is a word to really describe it -- to normal -- for the rest of the season
>Hawks will not actively look to move Kane
>And any actual trade after those year-long circumstances would have to be close to fair value by the other team for Kane
>But rival GMs will be offering Stan one-sided deals in their favor -- which equals -- Kane stays

If some GM really wants Kane at his $10.4MM cap hit, he will offer value for him - not comparable value, perhaps, but enough value to get him.

It all depends on how many want to get Kane, and how much they want him.
- StLBravesFan

Bingo.

"But if, IF, the Blackhawks were growing tired of public dramas involving Kane every 3rd summer, and they weren’t convinced it was going to change, could there also be a hockey argument that the team might look at trading Kane?"

The Hawks are tired of winning the Stanley Cup every 3rd/2nd season and all the "drama" is too much to live with for a CRUCIAL part of the Salary Cap Dynasty??? Give me a break.

Sure, history tells us that anyone can be traded and you raise a couple reasons why Kane is "expendable" that are complete stretches.

Essentially, you are saying the Hawks will not need Kane in 2 years bc Tuevo and Dano are going to replace him in the top 6 RW spots. Even if TT and Dano end up as Top 6 RWs, are they the #1/2 RW in the entire NHL like Kane?? PPG players that dominate the ice with the puck on their stick like nobody besides Crosby/Malkin/Tavares?? Highly unlikely. Given the small sample size for these young skill players, it is absurd to predict that Kane's production can be replaced by Dano/TT/Panarin. Kane lit up the league at age 18. HE IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL. If this is a "Win-Now" roster for the next 3-4 years, which has been made clear by StanBo's recent trades, Kane will be a Blackhawk until Keith/Seabs are no longer top-pairing Defenseman....aka in 3-4 years after his 30th birthday.

Nobody held a gun to the Hawks' heads to make them sign the contract they did with known commodity Kane, which includes a no trade clause. But they did. Are they going to claim their figners were crossed behind their backs? Besides, finding a team that could afford Kane, would be willing to give up what it takes to get him, and that Kane would agree to go to seems like it might be a bit difficult.
- Louielou

4-5 teams inquired this past summer—even as toxic as the situation was.

"But if, IF, the Blackhawks were growing tired of public dramas involving Kane every 3rd summer, and they weren’t convinced it was going to change, could there also be a hockey argument that the team might look at trading Kane?"

The Hawks are tired of winning the Stanley Cup every 3rd/2nd season and all the "drama" is too much to live with for a CRUCIAL part of the Salary Cap Dynasty??? Give me a break.

Sure, history tells us that anyone can be traded and you raise a couple reasons why Kane is "expendable" that are complete stretches.

1. Essentially, you are saying the Hawks will not need Kane in 2 years bc Tuevo and Dano are going to replace him in the top 6 RW spots. Even if TT and Dano end up as Top 6 RWs, are they the #1/2 RW in the entire NHL like Kane?? PPG players that dominate the ice with the puck on their stick like nobody besides Crosby/Malkin/Tavares?? Highly unlikely. Given the small sample size for these young skill players, it is absurd to predict that Kane's production can be replaced by Dano/TT/Panarin. Kane lit up the league at age 18. HE IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL. If this is a "Win-Now" roster for the next 3-4 years, which has been made clear by StanBo's recent trades, Kane will be a Blackhawk until Keith/Seabs are no longer top-pairing Defenseman....aka in 3-4 years after his 30th birthday.
- EnzoD

Problem is, I didn't say that. At least argue with what I actually said. I said it was unlikely ever would completely replace him. Go back. Read it. Then tell me what you want to argue about.

This is a great blog. Well done, sir.

Yeah, the kid's gotten into trouble before but nothing like this. Wait and see. I'm guessing he was "scared straight". If not, and his behavior hasn't changed, ship him out. But he's too good to pull the trigger on without waiting to see whether this situation changed him for the better.
- Only_A_Ladd

No disagreement.

This is a great blog. Well done, sir.
- Lato649

Thanks, much appreciated.

As for Kane, as JJ said the Hawks just want the press around Kane to disappear. Stopping a pre-planned bobble-head night for Kane would have been a "bobble-head" move by the Hawks. Rocky and company have been forced throughout this matter into merely bystanders (probably a very good thing in hindsight), and they still are. They are now in a position to allow the matter to fall from the public imaginations, and they aren't going to restrict it. Next summer will make an ideal time to decide what to do with Kane, and as JJ said, while the public might forget about the matter, the Hawks haven't and won't! But this really shouldn't be the discussion right now, the Hawks are focused on picking up two points tomorrow night, and then being ready for a tough road game Friday.
- MexicoHawk

Exactly. They aren't playing with Monopoly money. They don't care who has a Kaner Fathead. It's a business. They would still sell out every game—without Kane—provided the team is still competitive. And they would be without Kane—especially if they got a good return for him.

Does that mean they should trade him? No. But Kane is not the only straw (not even close) that stirs this drink.

I don't get the "Hedman shut down Kane" reasoning/argument. (Couldn't you say he shut down Toews and Hossa as well - they only had 3 points each in the same, low scoring series)

But lets say, for arguments sake, that Hedman was used to "shut" down Kane for only 3pts in the 6gms.

Then doesn't that leave the Toews/Hossa line to face the other teams second pairing? And every other team that has to put their Doughty, Weber, Suter, etc vs Kane - leaves matchup nightmares for every other line?

And while Kane has been "shut down" in his playoff career (to the tune of 114pts in 116gms)....how many of his teammates have had more success due to the fact that Kane has to face other teams top D pairs?

Until TT, Dano, Panarin or any other "next one" proves they can be an 70-80pt player while facing other teams top pairing, I'll reserve the thought they can carry that same mail Kane has carried since stepping into the NHL.

While Kane should be able to get some decent players, unless someone can create that matchup problems for the other team....it will be a lHUGE loss for the Hawks, and every other team in the Hawks division will be thrilled with that move.
- PatShart

Kane didn't get going until Q juggled (with last change in Game 4 and game 6 especially) and got a mismatch–i.e. Hedman off Kane. Fact. Everyone saw that.

No one doubts you'd be trading a really really good player. I'm not saying they SHOULD trade him. My opinion is, they might.

Exactly. They aren't playing with Monopoly money. They don't care who has a Kaner Fathead. It's a business. They would still sell out every game—without Kane—provided the team is still competitive. And they would be without Kane—especially if they got a good return for him.

Does that mean they should trade him? No. But Kane is not the only straw (not even close) that stirs this drink.
- John Jaeckel

Exactly and that was my point on the previous thread. if McDonough COULD trade the only straw that stirs the drink, as you say, in Sosa in his Cub tenure, why do people have a hard time understanding he could easily trade Kane and still have marketable faces, super star power here?

Lets not forget their are some VERY large, influential media members who are still very anti Kane and slowly making inroads with their reasoning. Not saying they are right, just pointing out not everyone is NOT giving him a standing ovation.......

I still dont see much of anything other than A. A rape rumor was created with no charges filed and B. Eventually the girls lawyer quit her case because her family lied/created fake tampered evidence. Those are the 2 main facts about this recent incident. Will more come out? Its not impossible, but i highly doubt at this point(given how bad the girls side has appeared in recent weeks) there could be something that leads to charges(and further negative publicity) for Kane.

Now, if you want to say this is about his past, thats different. In those occasions he was out in public and seen/reported by witnesses in some way shape or form acting out. But not this time. So, if its about his past then how come nobody wanted him traded up until this recent event? I think that is where everyone is getting twisted, and not realizing how much this rumor driven by vast media attention has altered their perception. Kane up until this August was seen as an untouchable cornerstone face of the franchise, with not a single fan(that i know of) considering him otherwise, regardless of his past. Not anymore. Really sucks.
- SimpleJack

A. YES!

B. No, you don't know that, that's your opinion (I suspect) because you've wanted to exonerate Kane all along. Fine. But there are all kinds of scenarios that could have unfolded that night—with or without his participation, or knowledge—but definitely in his home when he was there.

I also suspect nothing more will come to light publicly. My opinion is it's because money will exchange hands. The actual facts will never come to light publicly. The Hawks likely know a lot more than you or I, that's what matters.