Ok, Ask Johnathen Toews what he thinks after not having a 6"2 220 lb. 22year old left wing who probably will put up John LeClair numbers by the time his career will be over.
You don't think Toews wasn't biting his tongue many nights this year with the revolving door on left wing and a declining hurt some time Hossa on the right side.
9 out of 10 guys would take Saad over AA. The problem I have with the deal isn't AA , but it's the rest of the garbage Bowman got in the deal. Columbus has a lot of good up and coming players he could have asked for. Brett Gallant is 1, Jenner is another, he had a great year this year so I doubt he goes anywhere.
Stephan Johns is another huge burr under some fans skin especially after having to watch the other 2goofs he brought in. This last month was the true Hawks we saw, the rest of the league caught up. Hmmm gotta sign Shaw and Ladd also this summer.
If this summer turns out to be a flop Stan Bowman will be fired at some point next season. This last month pissed me off big time.
- wonthecup10

While you are asking Toews that question, remind him what his salary is this season. $21M between him and Kane is the reason there are holes in this lineup and this won't change in the near future.

Whether they win or lose may depend on whether Q can stop being dysfunctional and puts the right people on the right lines, both front and back.

JMHO -

1 - reunite 2 with 7
2 - pair 4 with 57 on their good sides
3 - don't play 53 when we've got 14 and 25 who will actually hit and battle for puck
4 - hope that 16 plays better (I thought he'd be better than he has been - not bad, just not as good for what they 'paid' to get him)
5 - keep up the PK and PP
6 - quit chasing the puck around like a bee swarm - spread out and play your position. It seemed to me that they've lost the puck too many times because they were all clustered around the puck and no one available once the puck got loose. On a similar note, don't skate right up to your teammate that has the puck. That's one less player to pass to.
7 - don't all three of you go behind the net when the puck goes back there in the offensive zone (see #6). Who you gonna pass it to to shoot if you're all back there? Some great goals were scored because SOMEONE had the sense to park himself in front of the net.

Hawks can take the first round (probably will take 7 games). Not so sure they can go deep if they don't do #1 and #2.
- conwell

GREAT POST


Points 1, 2 6, 7 are SPOT F'N ON. Have to wait for G2 to fully implement the pairings. Hope it happens, but with the stubborn, blender obsessed Q, who knows WTF we're going to see pairings wise. If 4/57 comprise the 2nd pairing, i really like our chances of winning this series. If Q f's around with pairings we're doomed.

Q said the Hawks will need their "A+ game." So will he. NO STUPID TOO MANY MEN PENALTIES. Roll 4 lines. Good zonal spacing in the d-zone. No overloading one side like we saw on the tying goal against this opponent last week. And FFS, can somebody, anybody...PICK UP THE F'N TRAILER when defending counter attack rushes. Also, every point shot must be CONTESTED. Won't happen with the soft, flamingo approach Q tolerates, but it should.

The Crow question looms huge. Hope he's 100 % ready for this series.

P.S. who is hatching a playoff beard ?

If you can't watch 52 and 43, how do you think Q feels about watching Ehroff?

This might be the year of big surprises - Preds could give the Ducks all they can handle, Sharks will stand up to the Kings more than people expect, Blues probably slight favorite over the Hawks based on home ice. Dallas might win the West or blow their brains out against the Wild.
- RickJ

That's going to be a good one. Sharks have a great PP and have some size up front and on the back end. Pavelski had a great regular season. Kings are going to slug that one out.

Especially since he now plays in Nashville!!
- Alwaysahawk

Yea, we already been through that. He's gonna feel it in the past. You just don't understand how bad we're gonna beat em.

got to give the quacks their due....won the division after starting out 1-7-2 and unable to put the puck in the ocean; they may have had the best record since 1/1

very impressive....

would have liked to see the preds vs kings but instead its the ducks...

and the kings get the sharks...

Blues in 6!
Then weregonna see what Stan Bowman is really made out of. The magic carpet ride will be done and it will be "what have ya done for me lately?"
On the positive side, the deadline deals. On the What the FFFF side, Broken record, Sharp deal, Bickell contract, and if he doesn't re sign Ladd then the Saad trade looks like a loss, throw the Leddydeal in there also,
I can't watch 52 and 43 much more either, if not for the top 3 covering up most nights, those 2arent even good enough to make any other NHL team, they are minor leaguers at best, but Bowman gives em both 1way deals. So we need a #4 D man and if Ladd bolts a #1left wing again next season for Toews , and yoyo gave away Dano. I hope Toews puts up a major stink also.
On the Blues end , Hitch will tell them Hit them hard every time you can, they have zip this year to answer back, the Blues have added, Brouwer, Fabbri, Amundson, Paryko, Teresenko is playing well they are deep on back and in secondary scoring.
They look good, looking forward to all the playoff series. Hawks are small, soft a year older and not as deep. Butler National by End of April!
- wonthecup10

WTC...this griping about stan and his deals is getting old...there is a context to these deals...they are not done in a vacuum...there are multiple complex issues trying to make deals with the dam cap, NTC clauses, physical and performance criteria...

got anything positive to say about scouting and signing panerin....

Game 1 April 13th 8:30. Yehaw.

Ok, Ask Johnathen Toews what he thinks after not having a 6"2 220 lb. 22year old left wing who probably will put up John LeClair numbers by the time his career will be over.
You don't think Toews wasn't biting his tongue many nights this year with the revolving door on left wing and a declining hurt some time Hossa on the right side.
9 out of 10 guys would take Saad over AA. The problem I have with the deal isn't AA , but it's the rest of the garbage Bowman got in the deal. Columbus has a lot of good up and coming players he could have asked for. Brett Gallant is 1, Jenner is another, he had a great year this year so I doubt he goes anywhere.
Stephan Johns is another huge burr under some fans skin especially after having to watch the other 2goofs he brought in. This last month was the true Hawks we saw, the rest of the league caught up. Hmmm gotta sign Shaw and Ladd also this summer.
If this summer turns out to be a flop Stan Bowman will be fired at some point next season. This last month pissed me off big time.
- wonthecup10

I loved Saad as much as any Hawks fan. His size, his speed, ability to play on special teams, etc. But let's not forget, he didn't want to be here. He was asking for a ton of money and mostly well deserved. His motivation was for the contract and money and good for him. He could have easily done the same thing Kruger did and sign a one year deal or a less amount to stay in Chicago. Can't sign a guy that doesn't want to get signed.

WTC...this griping about stan and his deals is getting old...there is a context to these deals...they are not done in a vacuum...there are multiple complex issues trying to make deals with the dam cap, NTC clauses, physical and performance criteria...

got anything positive to say about scouting and signing panerin....
- bogiedoc

Nicely said , jeez I know we all questions moves from time to time but WTF WTC , 3 cups this is/ has been the golden era for Hawk fans.

Nicely said , jeez I know we all questions moves from time to time but WTF WTC , 3 cups this is/ has been the golden era for Hawk fans.
- HamiltonHawk

It should have been 5 or 6 cups! And Bowman should win every trade!

Not that I'm sticking up for Bowman, but what current GM in the NHL has an excellent track record for trades? What I've liked about Bowman in the past 2 seasons is that he's grown some balls. Remember how gun shy he used to be?

Oh Geeeeez, Darth you usually have a lot of good tosay, but Frucken Panik is a journeyman who happened to catch alittle wind. Stevie Y and Babcock both sent him packing, and our illustrious GM brings a guy back twice in a trade he probably had the pick of the litter from with Saad going the other way
- wonthecup10

I'm not saying Panik will be a star, just that he'll likely be as good as Dano could have been in Chicago. Likely 3RW at best.

Blues in 6!
Then weregonna see what Stan Bowman is really made out of. The magic carpet ride will be done and it will be "what have ya done for me lately?"
On the positive side, the deadline deals. On the What the FFFF side, Broken record, Sharp deal, Bickell contract, and if he doesn't re sign Ladd then the Saad trade looks like a loss, throw the Leddydeal in there also,
I can't watch 52 and 43 much more either, if not for the top 3 covering up most nights, those 2arent even good enough to make any other NHL team, they are minor leaguers at best, but Bowman gives em both 1way deals. So we need a #4 D man and if Ladd bolts a #1left wing again next season for Toews , and yoyo gave away Dano. I hope Toews puts up a major stink also.
On the Blues end , Hitch will tell them Hit them hard every time you can, they have zip this year to answer back, the Blues have added, Brouwer, Fabbri, Amundson, Paryko, Teresenko is playing well they are deep on back and in secondary scoring.
They look good, looking forward to all the playoff series. Hawks are small, soft a year older and not as deep. Butler National by End of April!
- wonthecup10

Holy crap they haven't even played one game yet



Did somebody break into the liquor cabinet

I'm gonna go against the trend and pick the Blues in 5. Hawks rebound next season to be a dominant force again.
- golfingsince

This is what I think as well..

I'm not saying Panik will be a star, just that he'll likely be as good as Dano could have been in Chicago. Likely 3RW at best.
- DarthKane

He does look good and I hope so.

FWIW
Panarin scored more points than Saad did last year
AA scored as many points as Sharp did last year
TT not bad with 35

I loved Saad as much as any Hawks fan. His size, his speed, ability to play on special teams, etc. But let's not forget, he didn't want to be here. He was asking for a ton of money and mostly well deserved. His motivation was for the contract and money and good for him. He could have easily done the same thing Kruger did and sign a one year deal or a less amount to stay in Chicago. Can't sign a guy that doesn't want to get signed.
- MNHawksfan

Hockey is a career for these guys so I harbor no ill will towards Saad. He did what was in the best interest of his family. I wish there was a way Saad could have stayed but given his demand the only option was to trade him. I hope Saad has a long, healthy and successful career.

The Saad/Anisimov trade is a difficult one to analyze. Since Stan's hand was forced and the threat of an offer sheet loomed large he had to act fast. I think Stan did very well in the return he got for Saad, I have no complaints about that. Had Stan signed Saad at $6 million then we would have likely lost Shaw too. So for at least this season it was either Saad or Anisimov & Shaw. Maybe Stan could have unloaded Bickell, but look at the cost he paid to unload Sharp. I'd have to think that teams would be asking for Schmaltz in any deal for Bickell.

Hawks in 6.

The Captain admitted that he hasn't had a great season and turned it up the last couple of weeks of the season. He's got another gear or two. He's going to benefit from having 16 on his wing.

81, 65, and 15 will all give it all they have.

As JJ said, the second line is the best in hockey. The fourth line does what no other bottom six line does.

I'm curious to see if 86 makes it the whole series at C or if he moves to RW and Ras plays C.

2, 7, and 4 have the pedigree to carry the other three d-men, who all need to play good enough.

Crow has been stellar at times this season. I think he bounces back into mid-season form soon enough.

On the ice, this core is still the best in hockey.

Behind the bench Q knows exactly what he's doing. Everything he's done has been about getting this team ready for the post season.

I'm looking forward to Wednesday!

This team is the best in the NHL until someone proves they're not over 7 games. In the last few years only the Kings have been able to take them down.

Predicting the outcome of this series is quite a conundrum...have they been playing possum all year, or are they gassed from a lot of hockey over recent seasons and too thinned out by the salary cap?

The latter may be true, but I wouldn't underestimate the psychological advantage they have over the Blues. I'm still not convinced the Blues' goaltending can get them to the next level. I think the Hawks make it out of Round 1. Going to be an interesting couple of weeks.

He does look good and I hope so.

FWIW
Panarin scored more points than Saad did last year
AA scored as many points as Sharp did last year
TT not bad with 35
- BetweenTheDots

Saad is a good player and getting better, but Panarin is worth more to the Hawks. It's not only the 77 points Panarin put up, but he helped Kane unlock at least an additional 20 points this year as well. He has clearly made Kane a better player.

I just re-watched a clip of Toews handing the cup over to Timonen last year, and immediately got goose bumps. I re-watched it a good three or four times. That look he had on his face when he finally held it up was priceless and I cannot even put into words. It was a beautiful moment and hopefully something we as fans can experience once again soon.

I don't know what will happen starting on Wednesday. I don't want to think about the pros and the cons of this team. I don't want to focus on other teams either nor do I want to make predictions. In the playoffs, anything can happen, and that's the beauty of it. I CAN attest to one thing, however, and that is I am more than ready for Wednesday to get here to cheer our boys on again during one of the best times of the year. Whatever happens on this run, regardless of how deep, I will always support our team. Wednesday can't get here soon enough. I want nothing more than to see Toews hoist Lord Stanley for the fourth time in June. Brace yourselves everyone, this should be fun. I, for one, am more than ready.

Impossible to handicap this series.

The Hawks' lack of consistency, lack of success against the divisional teams in the playoffs, the injuries to key players, and the complete lack of stability in the composition of their day to day lineup, lead me to believe they are as likely to be swept as win the series at all.

Perhaps most frustrating has been the seemingly senseless defensive pairings, putting guys on their wrong sides, and saddling Seabrook with project player of the day. As mentioned earlier, 2/7, 4/57, 32/55/43/52 should be the way to roll.

Solving Elliott is the key to me though. Get the first one and he will leak like a sieve. That means they need to crash the net and win board battles. That means 81 and 15 have to be healthy, and 12 and 25 have to create enough space for TT's lack of physicality to not be a liability. Hitchcock is going to release the hounds, and no Hawk head will be spared. If lines 1, 3 and 4 can play hard, the second line's speed and talent can carry them if they take a shoot when open mentality.

Play like the last game against Boston and this could go well. But do not underestimate the weight of Q's comment about needing the A+ game. At the end of the day, he knows what his team has in the tank better than any of us idiots.

WTC...this griping about stan and his deals is getting old...there is a context to these deals...they are not done in a vacuum...there are multiple complex issues trying to make deals with the dam cap, NTC clauses, physical and performance criteria...

got anything positive to say about scouting and signing panerin....
- bogiedoc

Stan Bowman gets a fair share of criticism here. He has been slow and stubborn to act on potential deals. It has been reported by John and a few others that Stan is perceived around the league as arrogant and always having to get the better of the team he is dealing with.

He dropped the ball on buying out Bickell this past summer - and that cost them re-signing Oduya. Many also believed he held out for too much on Sharp, and in the end had to take what was being offered.

There were deals for Sharp at the draft that would have brought back draft picks for him, opening up valuable cap space, but he held out for a 1st round pick - that was never going to happen.

Yes, his scouts have hit on college and overseas free agents, but Stan has made his share of mistakes that this current team is now paying for - and he deserves what the fans say about him.

I think the Blues will win this series.

Looking forward to Wed night. Although I have a feeling with the late start we could see overtime/multiple overtimes and basically be useless on Thursday at work.

I think the Blues will win this series.

Looking forward to Wed night. Although I have a feeling with the late start we could see overtime/multiple overtimes and basically be useless on Thursday at work.
- carcus

I am not sure how this series will go, but I can tell you this - if the Blues don't want to have another first round exit this year, they had better win Game 1 of this series.

Because if they lose at home to the Hawks without Keith, I just don't see them beating the Hawks four times.

Stan Bowman gets a fair share of criticism here. He has been slow and stubborn to act on potential deals. It has been reported by John and a few others that Stan is perceived around the league as arrogant and always having to get the better of the team he is dealing with.

He dropped the ball on buying out Bickell this past summer - and that cost them re-signing Oduya. Many also believed he held out for too much on Sharp, and in the end had to take what was being offered.

There were deals for Sharp at the draft that would have brought back draft picks for him, opening up valuable cap space, but he held out for a 1st round pick - that was never going to happen.

Yes, his scouts have hit on college and overseas free agents, but Stan has made his share of mistakes that this current team is now paying for - and he deserves what the fans say about him.
- dahawks8819

Spot on sir. IF this team is being held to the highest standard then the GM needs to be as well. The Hawks biggest need heading into this season was a #4dman - whether that was Oduya or a replacement and Stanley whiffed badly. I'm sick of the majority giving Bowman a pass. With the talent that was and is here your window to win is right now and Stan failed to address that need. The clock is running on all your core guys. And the goal is to win it all is it not?

But how bout that he targeted Timonen last spring (who was done) and then went out of his way to resign Runny immediately last summer when the guy clearly had no business being on this team. Whether most of Runny's cap space can be taken off the books is irrelevant...the fact that he signed this clown is. And then he's forced to take Daley in a horrid deal with the Stars no less while gift wrapping three players which have certainly helped Dallas this season.

Its extremely hard to win one Cup let alone 3. But this is the golden age of hockey in this town and its not going to last forever. Bowman needs to do whatever is necessary to try to maximize winning the Cup every year in that window that he has.

Stan Bowman gets a fair share of criticism here. .
- dahawks8819

[/band that cost them re-signing Oduya.

Sometimes I wonder if the Hawks really wanted to sign Oduya for another 3 years, at 34 he had definitely had reached his peak. Having him here until he was 37 , along with the other aging defenceman would had limited new blood being put in to develop. For this year sure would have been nice but going forward it would have not been beneficial