Crawford is a product of having an elite team in front of him in 13 and 15.. plain and simple. If q doesn't pull him in the Nashville series that's another first round exit.. this team isn't old and slow now.... 6 million a year for an average goalie..... what a joke... now you deal a darling who would have probably have signed for 2 million less than Crawford....I'm gonna gonna get s*** on for saying this but you still have talent on this roster... the bowmans should know better... don't tie up cap with a goalie... looks at the wings in their hey day. Crawford in net? Never see a cup again.... remember that
- bigfly46

An average goalie?! Are you serious? I'll agree, I don't think we win in Nashville if Crawford isn't pulled, but you also have to remember, Darling was pulled in game 6 just the same. If Crawford isn't in net the remainder of the playoffs, you can argue we don't win the cup. But that is exactly the reason you always have a good #2 to step in (Emery/Raanta/Darling). Then, when the backup wants to get their money, you keep the better goalie, let the other walk and get theirs, and backfill with another goalie that you hope can be above average when called upon. I think many will agree that Crow is actually much closer to Elite status than Average status.

My point though for those wanting to trade Crow and sign Darling is this. First, you need to find a team that Crow is willing to be traded to. Then, that team needs to want/need a goalie. If those two things match up, then you have to deal him. I don't see a scenario where you're able to trade Crow and not take back or retain any salary. Let's say you have to bring back $1-$2M to make the deal happen. Then you sign Darling, who will command around $4M. So Crow at $6M or Darling at $4M with possible retained salary or a junk player at $1-$2M. I just don't see how that helps the team.

Panarin, Kruger and Nick Schmaltz for Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique and a draft pick.

Schmaltz is another guy who exasperates me.

This won't ever happen though.
- RickJ

Amazing such divergent opinions on this board.

Until the ecpansion draft, Carolina could sign Darling and protect him. Or he isn't signed, but gets drafted. Other scenario: is not drafted, or drafted but traded to Chicago.

Yes, in some scenarios Craword is traded.

We are putting the cart before the horse when doom and gloom is pronounced. Darling gone now does not mean either Crawfod or Darling returns here.

It is probably safe to say a couple of core players get moved. Let us just hope Stan reshapes the roster wisely. I have identified the sort of players Bowman should trade for. Just one or two physical players who play top minutes. I am loathe to even think what players Stan goes after. It is an exercise in futility. We just have to wait and see about all of this.

Stan may have mismanaged the cap and trades much worse to some than what others would say on this board.

But i do not think Stan is dumb enough to screw up his big off season of transactions. Some bloggers are just geting carried away.
- jhawk59

Good post. I think Stan got caught up in his ways, which we all can agree, have worked and brought cups to Chicago. So he continued with what he knew and did because why would you do anything different? The past two playoffs, mainly this one, show that he needs to adjust, and I agree, I think he is smart enough to make adjustments with how he does his business. We'll have to wait and see.

Darling leaving stings, but they made the best of a bad situation. Wild how so many are tearing at Crawford's bones despite him being far and away their best player this season. Sheesh.

I can remember a dozen games off the top of my head that he stole for them because they were playing LIKE ASS.

Then they go on a tear early this year, finally "playing the right way" while he stumbled a bit after his surgery. This throws the fans for a loop, making us all believe they've got their poop figured out.

Then they drop a sloppy steamer in the first round, leaving him on an island. He was the only consistent hawk player in that series outside of Hossa.

Darling paid his dues and it is time for him to get a shot as a #1 somewhere.
The 'Hawks got a draft choice for this guy who is a pending UFA, which is better than squat-ola.
During their run to 3 Cups, we had a remarkable run of injury-free time amongst our stars. This year, I posit this did not happen. That, combined with our young players playing more games of hockey than they ever have in one year - against a good team who got the most out of their players = the routing.
No easy answers but it's good to know they'll do everything possible to get back on track.

Biegs,

I noticed the avatar you choose and was wondering if you or someone else knows what year the tesm switched to the current Blackhawk design. The previous one i like better.
- jhawk59

I think the current design goes back to the 1955-56 season.

http://m.nhluniforms.com/...lackhawks/Blackhawks.html

Darling paid his dues and it is time for him to get a shot as a #1 somewhere.
The 'Hawks got a draft choice for this guy who is a pending UFA, which is better than squat-ola.
During their run to 3 Cups, we had a remarkable run of injury-free time amongst our stars. This year, I posit this did not happen. That, combined with our young players playing more games of hockey than they ever have in one year - against a good team who got the most out of their players = the routing.
No easy answers but it's good to know they'll do everything possible to get back on track.
- 35Tony0

Kane missed a good chunk of 15, sharp half of 13 and toews 25% of 10

Crawford is a product of having an elite team in front of him in 13 and 15.. plain and simple. If q doesn't pull him in the Nashville series that's another first round exit.. this team isn't old and slow now.... 6 million a year for an average goalie..... what a joke... now you deal a darling who would have probably have signed for 2 million less than Crawford....I'm gonna gonna get s*** on for saying this but you still have talent on this roster... the bowmans should know better... don't tie up cap with a goalie... looks at the wings in their hey day. Crawford in net? Never see a cup again.... remember that
- bigfly46

Let me guess....crow stole your girlfriend at a bar?

Very happy for Scotty Darling. Guy has come along way. He will get more money. Not sure if he starts with the Canes unless Carolina is ready to let Cam Ward go. It is a big loss for us though. He was a quality back up and won a lot of games for us. So again, we have lost more depth.

Darling paid his dues and it is time for him to get a shot as a #1 somewhere.
The 'Hawks got a draft choice for this guy who is a pending UFA, which is better than squat-ola.
During their run to 3 Cups, we had a remarkable run of injury-free time amongst our stars. This year, I posit this did not happen. That, combined with our young players playing more games of hockey than they ever have in one year - against a good team who got the most out of their players = the routing.
No easy answers but it's good to know they'll do everything possible to get back on track.
- 35Tony0

I don't know - squat-ola ain't bad with the frim fram sauce with the oss and fay, with shifafa on the side....

(With thanks to Nat "King" Cole Trio).

Kane missed a good chunk of 15, sharp half of 13 and toews 25% of 10
- riozzo

Arguably, they were healthy by playoff time with less miles on their legs during the regular season.

I really have to take issue with the slam on Crawford. If you listen to interviews that Kane gave after the cup in 13 he said Crow deserved the playoff MVP not him. In 15 while it's true Darling had to step in for a game, who finished the cup run and played great? And if you at all payed attention to the first half of this season (pre appendicitis) you saw Crow be absolutely lights out and get a number of pure goalie wins, keeping the Hawks in the mix until the rest of the team was able to play. In his exit interview he said he thought he wasn't at the level he wanted to be after the appendectomy. I am tired of the Crow isn't good goalie narrative. It is tired and inaccurate. And they got something- 3rd red pick - for nothing - a UFA player that they can't likel afford to resign. They also did that player a favor by getting him somewhere that really wants him and where he will be able to be the #1. I think it's a good move.
- Marlowe

It's a great move for Scott and he deserves it. He has turned his life around with hard work and dedication. I'm happy for him. Carolina is a team on the rise, the Hawks are a team on the decline. I'm thinking that hawks brass would have loved to keep him instead of CC for a few reasons, but Stan's NM contract was the issue. We can only wish him the best and hopefully CC can recapture his pre- surgery excellence for next year. They are going to make him really earn it next year with a probable sub standard back-up. Look for 60 plus starts IMO for CC.

Very happy for Scotty Darling. Guy has come along way. He will get more money. Not sure if he starts with the Canes unless Carolina is ready to let Cam Ward go. It is a big loss for us though. He was a quality back up and won a lot of games for us. So again, we have lost more depth.
- z1990z

That's a given......Darling will be the number 1.....Ward the backup.
If the Canes had Darling this past year, they make the playoffs.
Plus....they are loaded with YOUNG talent and will be a team on the rise next year.

That's a given......Darling will be the number 1.....Ward the backup.
If the Canes had Darling this past year, they make the playoffs.
Plus....they are loaded with YOUNG talent and will be a team on the rise next year.
- Hawkytalk

Agree. Not a bad spot to be in for Darling. A lot of their young talent is on defense. If they do sign Darling the Canes are my team in the east. Good luck Scott.

And SB string of stellar trades continues unabated
- fvineze

Hmmmm - getting something - even a low 3rd round pick - for only about 10 weeks worth of exclusive negotiating rights to a player you weren't going to be able to sign anyways....

Unless you think Stan should have been able to talk Darling into taking a $2MM haircut to sign with the hometown team.

Lots of knee-jerk anti-Bowman reactions around here, even when it's not really deserved.

Arguably, they were healthy by playoff time with less miles on their legs during the regular season.
- 35Tony0

Not sure, can't remember if I was pre-law or pre-med.

Hmmmm - getting something - even a low 3rd round pick - for only about 10 weeks worth of exclusive negotiating rights to a player you weren't going to be able to sign anyways....

Unless you think Stan should have been able to talk Darling into taking a $2MM haircut to sign with the hometown team.

Lots of knee-jerk anti-Bowman reactions around here, even when it's not really deserved.
- StLBravesFan

I think no matter how you slice it Darling was going to be cheaper than Crawford with likely very little downside in performance. There is always the chance we'd be stuck with CC due to his contract but a. Restive GM could do something with that- and we all know SB is anything but creative.