I APPLAUD Bowman for dealing the Gustav Forsling of 2015 (aka Klas Dahlbeck) and a 1st round pick for Antoine Vermette. (As first reported . . . here . . . not by the REAL hockey journalists in Toronto, by the way, since someone needs to make an issue out of that).

I APPLAUD him for dealing Marko Dano and a first for Ladd.

I APPLAUD him for scouring the bargain bin this summer and going hard after Vesey and Hudler (also both first reported here, unless I'm mistaken, I have date-stamped links) with the resources he has.

Because that proves, whether it works out or not, he is trying hard to improve the team, year after year and win Cups. Period.

THAT SAID, where I WILL criticize Bowman is if the following scenario unfolds:

1) Brian Campbell ends up being a 38 year old Brian Campbell and not the Second Coming of Bobby Orr, AND,
2) Michal Kempny—who was signed "on the cheap" BEFORE the Campbell LoveFest started—ends up being a pretty solid NHL defenseman this year (by, say, April), AND,
3) The hawks end up being a mediocre 5-on-5 team again, relying on one line for over 40% of its scoring

Because THEN, it can be argued, Bowman made a mistake by signing Campbell for even $2 million and leaving himself with no room to make the necessary, overdue upgrade at LW. Leaving himself to have to try to get teams to retain salary in deals for 1-dimensional players.

I am not saying it WILL unfold that way. Could it? Abso-frickin-lutely. And if it does, then there's another discussion to have.
- John Jaeckel

I do believe Campbell will be more then fine , maybe not Bobby good . And also believe that fixing the hole on the back end is good idea .As proven in previous years a hole up front (2nd line center ) is easier to fix the one in the rear

Uhhhh, not necessarily. I get most of my stuff from people who are close to the Hawks in some way, but not necessarily "in Chicago." And I have gotten good stuff from people in Buffalo, Canada, Eastern US. . .

Also, it's not like GMs pick up the phone and call bloggers with stuff. Not to be sarcastic. Typically it is someone "close" to the team, or someone who speaks regularly with someone who works for the team.

So maybe someone from EDM calls a friend in Chicago and that person in turn gets it out to a blogger they know. There are LOTS of bloggers. Hell, BarStool alone has like 20 guys associated with it.
Y
Not saying or implying it happened THAT way. But could it have? Sure.
- John Jaeckel

Gotcha, thanks for the insight!!

Hey, How About Those CUBS! Great pitching by Lester. I got a feeling this is the year for the miracle to happen finally.

Hey, How About Those CUBS! Great pitching by Lester. I got a feeling this is the year for the miracle to happen finally.
- spanky

Blue Jays !!! fan myself . But rooting for the Cubs also .Will be tore if they are both in the series ..

Hey, How About Those CUBS! Great pitching by Lester. I got a feeling this is the year for the miracle to happen finally.
- spanky

Can't fall off a cliff if you don't get all the way up there. But THAT was a hell of a ballgame last night. Have you any idea how hard sox fans would have laughed if that ball didn't quite make the basket?

Hey JJ, now the Yak deal is dead why bring up Fournier, Pokka and Svedberg after cutting them already? Still shopping their d prospects to other teams?

Other than Forsling no prospect has a shot at the roster now...

Hey JJ, now the Yak deal is dead why bring up Fournier, Pokka and Svedberg after cutting them already? Still shopping their d prospects to other teams?

Other than Forsling no prospect has a shot at the roster now...
- BlackhawkDown

Because Hjalmarsson is suspended and Keith, Seabrook and Campbell will probably get the night off. So, Founier, Svedberg, Gustafsson, Forsling, TvR and Rozsival are probably the d-corps tonight.

Because Hjalmarsson is suspended and Keith, Seabrook and Campbell will probably get the night off. So, Founier, Svedberg, Gustafsson, Forsling, TvR and Rozsival are probably the d-corps tonight.
- EbonyRaptor

Duh... Well that logic makes too much sense.

Meanwhile, DeBrincat has 2g/3a in his first 2 games. He will be fun to keep an eye on this season.
- EbonyRaptor

Thought all of his points were just because of McDavid and Strome............

Only in the fact as to see Bowman wind up with more egg on his face.....Again!!
- wonthecup10

So, does the egg squarely land in your face, wonthecup, if yakupov craps the bed in St. Louis?

Discussing the performance of our GM is appropriate and really one of the life bloods of this and other hockey blogs - it's what we do here. But, in my (probably minority) opinion, too much hindsight "what if" logic is used to prove one's point. Too often multiple moves are lined up in a linear fashion to conclude that "move-A" resulted in moves B-C-D and E, and that is not necessarily correct. The moves made by GMs are done in a fluid space and rarely can be tracked linearly. That's not to defend Stan, as I have both lauded and criticized him in the past - but it is to point out that GMs should be judged by the totality of their work, not by each individual brush stroke.
- EbonyRaptor

Really great post, point I always try and make, but seldom actually accomplish.

Hey, How About Those CUBS! Great pitching by Lester. I got a feeling this is the year for the miracle to happen finally.
- spanky

there you go, just jinxed it

Actually, if you were to look at the Scuderi deal, retaining half allowed him to get rid of half of his salary. I could make the argument that the Scuderi deal with LA, allowed Stan to sign Campbell.

So Scuderi for Campbell, I'd could argue Stan is a genius.
- vabeachbear

I am guessing you often go to sales and see 20% off and then claim you've "saved" 20% when you buy something you don't need.

So, does the egg squarely land in your face, wonthecup, if yakupov craps the bed in St. Louis?
- wiz1901

Absolutely Bill! I will always be the first to admit when I am wrong, like yourself ,I have been going to games since the late 60's , you probably longer, I just won't drink the bow crap laced Kool aid that at times Ifeel is being served up by whom ever when it comes to this team. I sat thru the shlit in the late 90's to about 05, same with the late 70's till Saavy and Secord ect.. Came aboard so there were a lot of good times also.
Then maybe I am wrong at thinking Bowman is just a lackey for Wirtz and McDonough, but it sure seems like he's either afraid to go for the big one or ges had when he does make a trade.
Would you rather be going into amp this year with Dano, TT, Danault, Johns, andwhoI missedvs. A group of shoot from the hip undrafted Guys or guys like useless Svedberg,Gusteffsson ,and a few others? I would ,! Hers hopinthatFortin and Motte and a couple of other swing for The fences work out, I have my doubts. Yak at least gave ya potential and a base to work with. These other guys have been just playin against other rookies this pre season and here comes the Kool aid that they are slotted right in there with Tazer ect! Give him Panerin, but after that????? Like I said earlier, give him time, he'll screw that 1up also. Just look at the sharp, Saad, and maybe Shaw and Ladd coming back deals. JMO, that is all.

I am guessing you often go to sales and see 20% off and then claim you've "saved" 20% when you buy something you don't need.
- kwolf68

And then I give myself permission to spend that 20% on something else! High finance my frent!

I am guessing you often go to sales and see 20% off and then claim you've "saved" 20% when you buy something you don't need.
- kwolf68

No just looking at the facts, or at least both sides.

If you can identify the negative ones, not sure why bringing up the positive ones are wrong.

If Stan didn't trade Daley for Scuderi they would have lost another core player because of cap. If he then didn't move Scuderi for Ehrhoff, who's contract was expiring, he wouldn't have been able to sign Campbell without moving someone.

Its just facts.

Discussing the performance of our GM is appropriate and really one of the life bloods of this and other hockey blogs - it's what we do here. But, in my (probably minority) opinion, too much hindsight "what if" logic is used to prove one's point. Too often multiple moves are lined up in a linear fashion to conclude that "move-A" resulted in moves B-C-D and E, and that is not necessarily correct. The moves made by GMs are done in a fluid space and rarely can be tracked linearly. That's not to defend Stan, as I have both lauded and criticized him in the past - but it is to point out that GMs should be judged by the totality of their work, not by each individual brush stroke.
- EbonyRaptor

Gotcha. Discussing the performance of our GM is appropriate, but not appropriate.

As far as totality of his work, if you're not capable of analyzing this GM by each "individual brush" then for the sake of honesty you owe much of the credit for the Hawks run on previous General Managers who left Bowman the finest core group of players the NHL has seen in 20 years....

And I am sorry but I do not think his trades for Vermette or Ladd were anything marvelous. He gave up a ton to get them. Just a hockey trade.

I DO LIKE him getting Oduya. That was a great move. I did like getting Leddy for a cone. Awesome move. And he has made other solid moves.

But last year's post-season fail was AS MUCH on Bowman and Q as it was on a tired Seabrook or a kid tossing the puck to the other team in Game 7. That's what the apologists don't get. They like to celebrate Bowman as a genius when he makes a good move, while absolving him of any blame for the dumbpoop he does, because well HE MADE a good move before and he is "responsible" for Cups.

If we can bash Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews, then we can bash the suit who counts beans.

Hey JJ, now the Yak deal is dead why bring up Fournier, Pokka and Svedberg after cutting them already? Still shopping their d prospects to other teams?

Other than Forsling no prospect has a shot at the roster now...
- BlackhawkDown

Be interesting to see the scouts in attendance at tonights game.

I do believe Campbell will be more then fine , maybe not Bobby good . And also believe that fixing the hole on the back end is good idea .As proven in previous years a hole up front (2nd line center ) is easier to fix the one in the rear
- oldduffman

Probably - but -

Last year, 19 and 81 combined for 19 goals 5x5 (a second consecutive goal-drought-season for Hossa).

Reasons put forward for this very low top-line (or even 2nd line) total - too many short off-seasons led to tired skaters, and the lack of a competent wing on their left flank.

How much confidence should we hand that the latter condition can be solved with the current fostered players?

No just looking at the facts, or at least both sides.

If you can identify the negative ones, not sure why bringing up the positive ones are wrong.

If Stan didn't trade Daley for Scuderi they would have lost another core player because of cap. If he then didn't move Scuderi for Ehrhoff, who's contract was expiring, he wouldn't have been able to sign Campbell without moving someone.

Its just facts.
- vabeachbear

Hell, maybe if he doesn't trade Daley the Hawks go further in the playoffs. Maybe if he trades Daley for LEGIT cap relief this isn't an issue. Quit talking about Daley like he was Bryan Bickell. Daley was a proven 4/5 D-man, who showed up every game and did work. He is well worth more than a washed up has been. Don't tell me THAT'S the best he could get.

We've seen Bowman do this before...while Montreal is getting Jeff Petry for a #2, Bowman is handing out a PAIR of #2s for freaking Kimo Timmonen. That trade alone tells me either Bowman doesn't shop around or lacks a clear handle on the value of some of these stiffs he trades for. And it's that trade that tells me he did similar with Daley (either not gaining true value or getting worked over by another GM).

You want to believe he is wonderful. I see these type of trades and it's painful.

Bowman seems to excel in the under the radar pickups...Oduya, Leddy, maybe even Panik. Nice moves. I admit it. But I also wish the lapdog media in Chicago would ask him WTF was he thinking on some of these other moves.

Can't fall off a cliff if you don't get all the way up there. But THAT was a hell of a ballgame last night. Have you any idea how hard sox fans would have laughed if that ball didn't quite make the basket?
- 6628

Sox fans have bigger problems than the Cubs. Pretty much no home, at least as long as Kenny is still calling the shots.

Absolutely Bill! I will always be the first to admit when I am wrong, like yourself ,I have been going to games since the late 60's , you probably longer, I just won't drink the bow crap laced Kool aid that at times Ifeel is being served up by whom ever when it comes to this team. I sat thru the shlit in the late 90's to about 05, same with the late 70's till Saavy and Secord ect.. Came aboard so there were a lot of good times also.
Then maybe I am wrong at thinking Bowman is just a lackey for Wirtz and McDonough, but it sure seems like he's either afraid to go for the big one or ges had when he does make a trade.
Would you rather be going into amp this year with Dano, TT, Danault, Johns, andwhoI missedvs. A group of shoot from the hip undrafted Guys or guys like useless Svedberg,Gusteffsson ,and a few others? I would ,! Hers hopinthatFortin and Motte and a couple of other swing for The fences work out, I have my doubts. Yak at least gave ya potential and a base to work with. These other guys have been just playin against other rookies this pre season and here comes the Kool aid that they are slotted right in there with Tazer ect! Give him Panerin, but after that????? Like I said earlier, give him time, he'll screw that 1up also. Just look at the sharp, Saad, and maybe Shaw and Ladd coming back deals. JMO, that is all.
- wonthecup10

Don't live in Chicago ,visited a few times for games . But have been a HAWKS fan since birth in 62 , and been battling the local LEAF WING MONT BOST fans since .Been to the old OLYPIA In Detroit and the Joe to see the HAWKS many times over the years .Not always a pleasant trip ,but always worth it . I don't understand the bitterness at all .This is by far the best time ever to be a HAWKS fan .Sit back and enjoy the ride ,it a privilege many fans never get ..GO HAWKS and Pass the Kool Aid !!!!

Hell, maybe if he doesn't trade Daley the Hawks go further in the playoffs. Maybe if he trades Daley for LEGIT cap relief this isn't an issue. Quit talking about Daley like he was Bryan Bickell. Daley was a proven 4/5 D-man, who showed up every game and did work. He is well worth more than a washed up has been. Don't tell me THAT'S the best he could get.

We've seen Bowman do this before...while Montreal is getting Jeff Petry for a #2, Bowman is handing out a PAIR of #2s for freaking Kimo Timmonen. That trade alone tells me either Bowman doesn't shop around or lacks a clear handle on the value of some of these stiffs he trades for. And it's that trade that tells me he did similar with Daley (either not gaining true value or getting worked over by another GM).

You want to believe he is wonderful. I see these type of trades and it's painful.

Bowman seems to excel in the under the radar pickups...Oduya, Leddy, maybe even Panik. Nice moves. I admit it. But I also wish the lapdog media in Chicago would ask him WTF was he thinking on some of these other moves.
- kwolf68

I think you have to look at Q in the Daily trade ,Stan hand was forced . Maybe Q could have run a few more Practices to help Daily get accustom to the HAWKS style ..

Hell, maybe if he doesn't trade Daley the Hawks go further in the playoffs. Maybe if he trades Daley for LEGIT cap relief this isn't an issue. Quit talking about Daley like he was Bryan Bickell. Daley was a proven 4/5 D-man, who showed up every game and did work. He is well worth more than a washed up has been. Don't tell me THAT'S the best he could get.

We've seen Bowman do this before...while Montreal is getting Jeff Petry for a #2, Bowman is handing out a PAIR of #2s for freaking Kimo Timmonen. That trade alone tells me either Bowman doesn't shop around or lacks a clear handle on the value of some of these stiffs he trades for. And it's that trade that tells me he did similar with Daley (either not gaining true value or getting worked over by another GM).

You want to believe he is wonderful. I see these type of trades and it's painful.

Bowman seems to excel in the under the radar pickups...Oduya, Leddy, maybe even Panik. Nice moves. I admit it. But I also wish the lapdog media in Chicago would ask him WTF was he thinking on some of these other moves.
- kwolf68

The cupboard was stacked when he took over. I'm sure many GMs could have been able to get credit for at least a couple of Cups. He's made some nice moves in the draft, but at least a few were no brainers that fell to him (Shaw, Saad, and that little guy from the past draft).

I'd love to see what another GM, say Poile, Lombardi, or even Tallon (not ringing the bell for him, just throwing it out there), could have done with that starting group. Let's also not forget, Scotty didn't do so well as GM in Buffalo. Timmonen was a great story, but seriously, 2 #2s? GMs must salivate when they hear "Stan Bowman on line 1." I wonder how much of this falls on him, at least from a talent acquisition standpoint. I'm sure he's played a large part in how they operate, as far as being a professional hockey organization. Maybe Q is in a battle with the Bowmans on some level, and purposely tries to make his life difficult. Q's moves have become increasingly more questionable. While I thought the Dallas price was too high, I also felt both players were guys they could have molded in time. Daley was asked to play a much different game in Dallas, and his agility and skating could have worked out well in time.

I agree with you, and see a team sinking further and further down, and is quite possibly out of the playoffs this year should a significant injury put one of the core out. They're certainly not better than Dallas or Nashville in their own division, if not St Louis and maybe even Minny.

It's possible. Note I say, "may have."

But I do not believe, because I know better, the rumor was completely fabricated for that purpose. The Hawks and Edmonton were talking about Yakupov. I trust my source 100%, same person who has given me lots of stuff that has happened.

And by the way, what they told me about the players involved matched what was told to Chief.
- John Jaeckel

Aside from your particulars Yak was for sale for a long time. Also became increasingly obvious they wanted to do something before the season began. Because his value wouldn't go up as a healthy scratch it would go down.

I didn't see the fit from the standpoint Q isn't easier to play for than Mclellan and Edmonton would have to swallow a lot of the salary. But make no mistake-Bowman has young guys he will end up giving away unless he finds a place for them sooner or later.