Does anyone really see any major lineup changes to the Hawks for next season. I sure don't!
- walleyeb1

This is the $64,000 question. Were they the club that led the West with 109 points with rookies scattered all over the lineup or the one that was outplayed, outcompeted, outcoached? They are in PR mode right now and haven't had any orgaIzational meetings so even they don't know what they're gonna do............ I'll take the stance I take with an 8 yr old, don't tell my ears show my eyes.

I'm one despite the playoffs that is very satisfied with the season in that it showed me the organIzation seemed on the same page, this after TDL moves last year that the coach wouldn't play the players the GM brought in for valued pieces.

No stretch to say they were a bubble team going in with only a top 5 and that included Hossa with a SPG of .98376275% over the last 2 years, Toews' production down with little evidence he's bouncing back to 70 points (still a question) and no 1LW or cap space to go get one compounding the Toews question/problem.

Q was as patient as I've seen him with rookies and IMO got the most out of what was given.

Loved what the scouts provided in Schmaltz, Hartman, Panik. A reasonable top 6 and two middle 6 types. Hayden looks like he's a possibility as does Kempny. Hino and Motte were not terrible in a year they should have never been up with the big club.

Not hitting on cap or defense overall I couldn't have hoped for more and won't let the playoffs distort the good I saw in the regular season.

I'm not sure it matter so in 2 years. This Oilers team is so stacked at forward and is fast. What great signings in Maroon and Lucic. Forwards you need in the playoffs.

Rest of the Weat might chasing McDavid and Draitsal for the next decade.
- bhawks2241

Not at all unreasonable. Toronto in the East as well.

I think a lot of the talk about removing Bowman and Q is a bit overblown right now. Yes, it wasn't a pretty end to this season, but both have a track record of successes. However, of the two, I would say Q has (and should) have more leash than Bowman. Lately some of Bowman's trades have been quite sour and his love for locking up core players for too much term and too high of cap hits with NMCs (how much influence did McDonaugh have here?) has put this team in a very difficult position. I think he's going to need to show some real progress and shrewd trades/signings that give the team some success the next few seasons or he'll be on the hot seat.

The problem with the people putting positive spin on this team like it's 2011 or 2012 is that it's 5-6 years later. The Toews/Keith/Seabrook/Hossa/Hammer's of those years aren't the same version as they currently are. And the hard pill to swallow is they certainly aren't going to improve or peak back at elite status if they've all truly lost a step. If they are now just very good players, rather than great players, this team has huge issues. In my mind, this team's championship window is officially closed and is now merely a perennial playoff team, not Cup Contender.

The Hawks probably can retool their defense well enough on the fly with improvement and maturation from Forsling and Kempny, but honestly its the forward crop that is a bigger problem. All the key 3rd/4th line players the Hawks had during the Cup years are long gone or aren't the same players anymore, and if your top 6 aren't scoring or being threats at an elite level, then you're in deep dog crap. Anisimov and Panarin just don't have the feel of playoff performers, and Kane can't do it alone. Toews clearly has lost a step, and I don't know if that will ever get better. He seems on his way to becoming the next Brent Sutter at this stage in his career; a nice 3rd line shutdown center, but not an offensive force.

The young players and depth up front is alarming. Hartman and maybe even Panik seem to have a future as important grinder/scorers, but Schmaltz needs to take it to another level next year and get stronger, get more aggressive, and drive to the net more. Anismov is looking like a huge mistake, while it's nice he's a big body and can chip in 15-20 goals, he's been injury prone his whole career, isn't overly physical, and his lack of defense/faceoffs doesn't really make him the ideal #2 center Bowman made him out to be. Kruger is now overpaid at his salary for a 4th line center and he just doesn't provide enough offense. The Hawks also got almost nothing out of Tootoo and Desjardins this year that were supposed to be 4th line veterans. Rasmussen probably will work out fine as a 4th line winger, and guys like Hayden, Motte, etc are all too unknown. This forward group is entirely too one dimensional and almost resembles nothing of what it was 2-3 years ago.

To top all of this all, the cap hell they are in isn't going to allow for easy fixes, and may not allow for any fixes at all unless Stan can somehow hit immediate home runs in the draft with impact players. However, even if that happens, we are still talking about 2-3 years before those players get to the NHL level, and by then it's too late. The Hawks aren't going to be able to "fix this" via free agency, and their one bargaining chip in Crawford that may net them something may only buy them 1 player when they need about 4-5 player upgrades. Personally, I as much as I really like Crawford I think Stan's only chess move here is to trade him and re-up Darling. He's in check right now, and if he's not careful, this team is going to be in checkmate.

I will say after 49 years of waiting, we all should still be thankful we saw 3 Cups in our lifetime and the joy it brought all of us to see such a quality team over the last 8-9 years. But we also need to face a harsh reality that this may be the swan song of this team and the championship parades are over. for the foreseeable future.
- Budi1782

Good post...... I do wonder though if defense will be a bigger problem going forward than the forwards? Not saying it will but it may just be. Possible (probable?) improvement from Hartman, Schmaltz, Panik but I'm not sure we can expect any improvement from any Dman (possible regression), maybe Kempny or Forsling takes the step.

Really can't see them trading Panerin,
Kane would be pissed , they're arguably the best duo in hockey, Kane has had carrier years since he's played with him. And you have to wonder if Panerin had come over a couple years earlier if Kane didn't have a couple heart trophies and scoring titles by now.
And if they don't go anywhere next year or he's invisible in the playoffs you trade him in his last year of the the contract.
- Blackhawks4life

Kane Pissed - So Fracking what. He got his, and is earning it, got that. The team as built cannot compete. Assets go, as long as we get more that Dale Weiss or Meatman in return.

If I where GM I would ask every agent of those with NMC regardless of variety - of what teams they would aqueous and agree to a trade with. Every one! Not saying trade everyone, just compile the list but more important - Send a message. And, at least two would go.

This is the $64,000 question. Were they the club that led the West with 109 points with rookies scattered all over the lineup or the one that was outplayed, outcompeted, outcoached? They are in PR mode right now and haven't had any orgaIzational meetings so even they don't know what they're gonna do............ I'll take the stance I take with an 8 yr old, don't tell my ears show my eyes.

I'm one despite the playoffs that is very satisfied with the season in that it showed me the organIzation seemed on the same page, this after TDL moves last year that the coach wouldn't play the players the GM brought in for valued pieces.

No stretch to say they were a bubble team going in with only a top 5 and that included Hossa with a SPG of .98376275% over the last 2 years, Toews' production down with little evidence he's bouncing back to 70 points (still a question) and no 1LW or cap space to go get one compounding the Toews question/problem.

Q was as patient as I've seen him with rookies and IMO got the most out of what was given.

Loved what the scouts provided in Schmaltz, Hartman, Panik. A reasonable top 6 and two middle 6 types. Hayden looks like he's a possibility as does Kempny. Hino and Motte were not terrible in a year they should have never been up with the big club.

Not hitting on cap or defense overall I couldn't have hoped for more and won't let the playoffs distort the good I saw in the regular season.
- Mr Ricochet

Its a fact that Playoff hockey is a different game - Both are true they are a 109 point regular season game. And they are a sucky playoff team. EDM, STL, NAS cannot sustain those efforts over 82 which drops them in the pack during the regular season. The hawks meandering long pass wait a freaking year for a one timer from the half boards offense is sustainable - not much effort put out. And don't get me started on their lazy arse PK.

And how often do you see a top tier team keep its PP units out virtually the whole 2 minutes. Kane has been doing it since the trade deadline, same with the Muffin Man. Is their endurance that top flight - or are they not expending energy on the PP? One of those questions that call coaching into play.

I listened to Al Cimaglia's interview with a Winnipeg radio station (link posted back on this thread) good breakdown and he mentioned that he thought Hjalmerrson was the logical player to trade not Crawford. It made sense. If they trade Crawford they still have to sign Darling and give him a raise along with signing a back up so there really wouldn't be that much money saved.

I listened to Al Cimaglia's interview with a Winnipeg radio station (link posted back on this thread) good breakdown and he mentioned that he thought Hjalmerrson was the logical player to trade not Crawford. It made sense. If they trade Crawford they still have to sign Darling and give him a raise along with signing a back up so there really wouldn't be that much money saved.
- jhawk159

Crawford - 6.0 + Back-up .800 = 6.800
Darling 4.5 + Back-up .800 = 5.300
Savings = 1.5 which equals up to 2 players

Ekblad is going Nowhere plus hes 1 or 2 concussions from being done IMO
- GloveHandStrong

Yes concussions are a big risk for the team that has him playing 23+ minutes a night for them. Those concussion issues and Dale's Chicago past are reasons Florida is a possible trade partner. Both teams did not meet the expectations of management so I'd expect Tallon to be his usual aggressive self...I just hope Bowman can pull off a Panik type find on defense while shedding cap space. TJ Oshie would look damn good in the Hawks Top Six. Oshie has been the best forward on the Caps besides Backstrom. Vegas will probably give Oshie $7mil a year though...

Keith Seabs and Hammer have 1-2 more years of being a Contender Top 3 of the D-Core and Hossa was the best 200ft RW in the NHL for 2010 and 2013 Cups...he's nearly 40. Father Time catches up with everyone and with the Core of this team, Hawks need to raise the Cup in June 2018 or 2019 or it might be a long while until they do...

This is the $64,000 question. Were they the club that led the West with 109 points with rookies scattered all over the lineup or the one that was outplayed, outcompeted, outcoached? They are in PR mode right now and haven't had any orgaIzational meetings so even they don't know what they're gonna do............ I'll take the stance I take with an 8 yr old, don't tell my ears show my eyes.

I'm one despite the playoffs that is very satisfied with the season in that it showed me the organIzation seemed on the same page, this after TDL moves last year that the coach wouldn't play the players the GM brought in for valued pieces.

No stretch to say they were a bubble team going in with only a top 5 and that included Hossa with a SPG of .98376275% over the last 2 years, Toews' production down with little evidence he's bouncing back to 70 points (still a question) and no 1LW or cap space to go get one compounding the Toews question/problem.

Q was as patient as I've seen him with rookies and IMO got the most out of what was given.

Loved what the scouts provided in Schmaltz, Hartman, Panik. A reasonable top 6 and two middle 6 types. Hayden looks like he's a possibility as does Kempny. Hino and Motte were not terrible in a year they should have never been up with the big club.

Not hitting on cap or defense overall I couldn't have hoped for more and won't let the playoffs distort the good I saw in the regular season.
- Mr Ricochet

I am with you Mr R....

did any of the self professed with brilliant hind sight gms on this blog see

1. panik (formerly Jeremy Morin) and hartman combining for 40 goals and 80 pts? I sure as hell didn't.

2. Hossa with a bounce back year with 26 goals? I sure as hell didn't

3. this team going 24-4-2 from feb-mar (usually a mediocre stretch for them)? I sure as hell didn't

so now stanbow has raised bar of saying changes are coming...and already we have post after post of rabid speculation of trade scenarios...

but with an aging core in their thirties (keith, seab, hossa, craw) with untradeable contracts other than craw and the rest of the core approaching 30 all with 120 plus hard tough playoff games behind them..

how does stanbow make any changes that are a net positive...i don't see it

he is not going to get a keith or seab like dmen in their twenties, hossa may play one more year and then they have to deal with recapture penalty, craw might be replaceable if they keep darling, but does he bring back in a trade...cap relief...maybe a pick and prospect..

my worthless and ignorant opinion says this:

>>need to see panik and hartman have repeat years and become playoff contributors
>>need to see a couple young dmen emerge next year
>>toews must somehow find a way to return to the toews of 3-4 years ago
>>AK72 need to perform again but playoff performance must get turned up a level or 2
>>some of these young guys like hino, smaltz and hayden need to become next years panik and hartman and produce...
>>keith finds rekindles the fire
>>hopefully seab does not lose another step: he got beat alot this year

I"ll assume Stanbo and Q didn't see any of the Montreal - NYR series until last night and when they did the first thing that should have occurred to them is how both teams competed like hell physically and at both ends of the ice. It was one hell of a series. Same thing in the Pitt - Columbus series and even the one between the Flames and Ducks.

There was no other first round playoff where a team absolutely declined to compete like their Blackhawks did. It was obvious to any hockey observer, even though nobody in the press will ever state the facts publicly. For that reason alone, Stanbo better act on what he sees as the roots of the problem.
- RickJ

There's no way that the Preds were THAT much faster than the Hawks. None...unless the Hawks skate at the sub-ECHL level. The Hawks players are capable of playing at a higher tempo. Million dollar question is why, exactly, they didn't

I"ll assume Stanbo and Q didn't see any of the Montreal - NYR series until last night and when they did the first thing that should have occurred to them is how both teams competed like hell physically and at both ends of the ice. It was one hell of a series. Same thing in the Pitt - Columbus series and even the one between the Flames and Ducks.

There was no other first round playoff where a team absolutely declined to compete like their Blackhawks did. It was obvious to any hockey observer, even though nobody in the press will ever state the facts publicly. For that reason alone, Stanbo better act on what he sees as the roots of the problem.
- RickJ

They did in Scott Powers podcast dig through the blog I posted it earlier.

Hadn't seen that article, thanks for putting it up.

Who really knows what is going on in that dressing room with individual personal problems, personality clashes, some guys hating coaches, too much money, wives that have a big say in things, divorces etc; with that you get problems that are common to every workplace. Except all of the employees in this one are fairly rich.

I won't defend or slam Keith but you know as well as I do that continuing to soar like an eagle as in the past is hard when all of a sudden flying you're in formation with a bunch of turkeys, of which the Hawks now have quite a few. It may not be right and it isn't, but I doubt Keith would be "disinterested" if he were playing with Babcock and Team Canada in a big tournament. (Or maybe he would and that's really why he declined to play in the WCOH). Who knows, maybe the guy is burned out and/or dealing with pain on regular basis.
- RickJ

Uh, that article is quite old. Trying to remember....did Keith do anything in 2015?

I read earlier than McD was 'livid'. Livid people do crazy things. I'm waiting for some craziness.
- RickJ

He was livid with Kane's rape story, also.....but he got over it...

You just summed up hundreds of hours spent in my life... in one paragraph...

It's funny because it's true... but it's also very sad.
- Chief4Feathers

Yes, Pat Foley is a shadow of himself when he was with WYEN on the FM. And Eddie....will you two just shut up! The sad thing is many of the national broadcasters are worse!

Phillip Danault is a damn good hockey player.
- EnzoD

And we could have used Dale Weisse's net front presence.

Phillip Danault is a damn good hockey player.
- EnzoD

And we could have used Dale Weisse's net front presence.