All of the concerns that the Hawks have are legit. But think of the concerns as opportunities for new faces to step up. When a team does not have many concerns, as the Hawks have had in the past, the tendency is to; "Don't worry. Come playoff time, just flip the switch" That is no longer the case. Figure this out early and have your poop together come playoff time. There is opportunity and plenty of competition. No reason at all to be complacent. That's a good thing Also new coaches around Quenville, except for Dineen. Another think that I like is that the Hawks are not getting that much attention .... good ! Hope everyone takes them for granted. Nashville's biggest concerns are to pick up where you left off ... some players have gotten big pay raises ...... show the world ... do it again. It's not that easy

There's a lot of stuff in this blog post to digest. I think several on the list will happen, but Bowman still needs to make a couple moves. The PK is still weak unless Arty or somebody starts channeling Toews faceoff ability. I would also like to see another vet D with more in the tank than the 3-wheeled shopping cart. That being said, this is where Bowman earns his money. He has to hope 2 & 7 have a couple more top pairing years in them, 19 can be Stanley Cup caliber with the re-addition of Saad, and Sharp's surgeries make him close to 2015 Sharp. In the meantime, Bowman needs to recognize the holes and fill them best he can. All the while trying to figure out what the roster is gonna need in 2020.

This team should be a playoff team, but as they are made up now, it's another first round and out. A couple moves gets them into a showdown with Nashville unless they cross over to play the Pacific in the playoffs. Then, who knows.

All of the concerns that the Hawks have are legit. But think of the concerns as opportunities for new faces to step up. When a team does not have many concerns, as the Hawks have had in the past, the tendency is to; "Don't worry. Come playoff time, just flip the switch" That is no longer the case. Figure this out early and have your poop together come playoff time. There is opportunity and plenty of competition. No reason at all to be complacent. That's a good thing Also new coaches around Quenville, except for Dineen. Another think that I like is that the Hawks are not getting that much attention .... good ! Hope everyone takes them for granted. Nashville's biggest concerns are to pick up where you left off ... some players have gotten big pay raises ...... show the world ... do it again. It's not that easy
- chuckdahammer

Good post, I like it.

there are concerns but he did swap out a skilled player for a Power player (we have a couple Skill players already) So I think this is a +, Hammer for murphy and daupin I think will be a - but not by as much as people think when you factor what hammer can do on the Right side. he gets no points and no primary assists. Trading Seabs is impossible so I never held out any hope of that. If he could have traded Craw (for something) and resigned Darling and saved 2 mil I would have given Bowman his 1st B off season in a long time. it would have been a A if he did not seem to really screw up the TVR and Kruger to Vegas. I know something went wrong there I just know I will ever hear what.

there are concerns but he did swap out a skilled player for a Power player (we have a couple Skill players already) So I think this is a +, Hammer for murphy and daupin I think will be a - but not by as much as people think when you factor what hammer can do on the Right side. he gets no points and no primary assists. Trading Seabs is impossible so I never held out any hope of that. If he could have traded Craw (for something) and resigned Darling and saved 2 mil I would have given Bowman his 1st B off season in a long time. it would have been a A if he did not seem to really screw up the TVR and Kruger to Vegas. I know something went wrong there I just know I will ever hear what.
- kmw4631

I agree with most of your points, but I think we need to look at the moves collectively instead of +/- on each one. It appears that they are going to change their playing style a bit and be a more aggressive judging from the player types and coaches they brought in.

Not really sure what Stan screwed up with TVR and Kruger. Each team needed a certain number of players to expose, so he couldn't trade either one early for a better return, and it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Kruger was gone this offseason (in some way shape or form) due to his salary.

I agree with most of your points, but I think we need to look at the moves collectively instead of +/- on each one. It appears that they are going to change their playing style a bit and be a more aggressive judging from the player types and coaches they brought in.

Not really sure what Stan screwed up with TVR and Kruger. Each team needed a certain number of players to expose, so he couldn't trade either one early for a better return, and it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Kruger was gone this offseason (in some way shape or form) due to his salary.
- Chunk

TVR did not have to be exposed resigning Roz fulfilled those requirement so we could have traded him to a team that had other good players to expose. Maybe not a 2nd in return but I would have thought something. Kruger Vegas flipped for a 5th so why didn't we just do that? I would love to hear the whole story on everything (never happen).

TVR did not have to be exposed resigning Roz fulfilled those requirement so we could have traded him to a team that had other good players to expose. Maybe not a 2nd in return but I would have thought something. Kruger Vegas flipped for a 5th so why didn't we just do that? I would love to hear the whole story on everything (never happen).
- kmw4631

I'm just happy to have both. We needed solid depth.

JJ - just for you - the hipsters have discovered pickle juice:

https://www.tastingtable....acebook&utm_medium=social


- pdx2ord

The Great Russian Strongmen of Old are spinning in their graves . . .

So if these good things happen as described in this blog, how far can this team go? Are they legitimate Stanley Cup contenders? Because even in the optimistic blog, JJ raised a lot of concerns.
- tvetter

Wait for the next one! Hopefully drops this evening.

TVR did not have to be exposed resigning Roz fulfilled those requirement so we could have traded him to a team that had other good players to expose. Maybe not a 2nd in return but I would have thought something. Kruger Vegas flipped for a 5th so why didn't we just do that? I would love to hear the whole story on everything (never happen).
- kmw4631

I don't believe it was they had to expose tvs it's that they didn't have enough slots to protect him

I don't believe it was they had to expose tvs it's that they didn't have enough slots to protect him
- Abadseed

I believe its more Stanbo getting rid of Q's crutches...

TVR did not have to be exposed resigning Roz fulfilled those requirement so we could have traded him to a team that had other good players to expose. Maybe not a 2nd in return but I would have thought something. Kruger Vegas flipped for a 5th so why didn't we just do that? I would love to hear the whole story on everything (never happen).
- kmw4631

Thay already have a bunch of somethings

I don't believe it was they had to expose tvs it's that they didn't have enough slots to protect him
- Abadseed

Yes. the exposure was a MINIMUM requirement, but it did not mean they were the only players exposed. To save TVR we would have had to protect him. Sure, we could have tried to trade before the draft, but not a lot of that was even happening.

I believe its more Stanbo getting rid of Q's crutches...
- riozzo

Tquality depth D-men are crutches?

Tquality depth D-men are crutches?
- Ogilthorpe2

Crutches, favorites, pets, what have you. Not saying it was the right decision, just believe it was a show of power.

If the money worked. Maybe they can flip AA and Dinglecat and Defensive prospect for Galchenyuk and some other prospect.

Most of the stuff I've read has Galchenyuk's best position as center and a guy with some size and speed and stremph and hands like that running up the middle like a bowling ball (210 at 6'1 is different than at 6'4) for Kane would be neat. Toss Saad over there for a mix up line and there's a lot of straight a head power going on. Sharp would just need to take some draws and tread water.

there are concerns but he did swap out a skilled player for a Power player (we have a couple Skill players already) So I think this is a +, Hammer for murphy and daupin I think will be a - but not by as much as people think when you factor what hammer can do on the Right side. he gets no points and no primary assists. Trading Seabs is impossible so I never held out any hope of that. If he could have traded Craw (for something) and resigned Darling and saved 2 mil I would have given Bowman his 1st B off season in a long time. it would have been a A if he did not seem to really screw up the TVR and Kruger to Vegas. I know something went wrong there I just know I will ever hear what.
- kmw4631

Seabrook should be okay at his salary until the next round of negotiations. We usually end up with a free buy-out or two then. No cap implications -only monopoly (Wirtz) money.

Sharp-Toews-Hartman
Fortin/Hayden-AA-Kane
Saad-Schmaltz-Panik
Wingles-Dauphin/Kero-Hinostroza

Fast, Deep, and elite if everything clicks and falls in our favor...

Sharp-Toews-Hartman
Fortin/Hayden-AA-Kane
Saad-Schmaltz-Panik
Wingles-Dauphin/Kero-Hinostroza

Fast, Deep, and elite if everything clicks and falls in our favor...
- SimpleJack

I'd say Sharp is a lot more likely to be a 3rd liner than Saad. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if he plays some 3rd line C. I'd also be shocked if Saad isn't on Toews' LW.

Sharp-Toews-Hartman
Fortin/Hayden-AA-Kane
Saad-Schmaltz-Panik
Wingles-Dauphin/Kero-Hinostroza

Fast, Deep, and elite if everything clicks and falls in our favor...
- SimpleJack

I agree with Ogie in thinking that Sharp will be on 3rd line more so than Saad, simply for the familiarity and connection he had with Toews.
Although this is all irrelevant if the Hawks get off to a mediocre start, as the Q-Blender will be in full effect, and we will somehow end up with Bouma playing 1LW.

What if beginning this season Mr Toewes is not even the less part of the so well paid dynamic duo? What if from game to game, and or week to week, even month to month we see a different level of performance? All linked to the condition of his back. I have seen murmuring about training method or training plan he tried.

The truth is.......presently no one is commenting at all about his back condition. Because no one knows or wants to touch this delicate issue......to be clear, no one associated with the Blackhawks.

So we are left sort of like on a merry go round. Around and around fans go, and nobody knows much anything whether Toews is still part of a dynamic duo

During training camp or by the end of game one of the season we should be able to ascertain something

Whatever that may be. Part II of JJ's what if could be foreshadowing.

You can argue, the re-connection of the Toewes - Saad combination points to a positive outcome as far as Bowman views developments

With any back issues I do not assume the Toewes - Saad dynamic will always be/ well- dynamic.

What if beginning this season Mr Toewes is not even the less part of the so well paid dynamic duo? What if from game to game, and or week to week, even month to month we see a different level of performance? All linked to the condition of his back. I have seen murmuring about training method or training plan he tried.

The truth is.......presently no one is commenting at all about his back condition. Because no one knows or wants to touch this delicate issue......to be clear, no one associated with the Blackhawks.

So we are left sort of like on a merry go round. Around and around fans go, and nobody knows much anything whether Toews is still part of a dynamic duo



During training camp or by the end of game one of the season we should be able to ascertain something

Whatever that may be. Part II of JJ's what if could be foreshadowing.

You can argue, the re-connection of the Toewes - Saad combination points to a positive outcome as far as Bowman views developments

With any back issues I do not assume the Toewes - Saad dynamic will always be/ well- dynamic.
- jhawk59

Let's all hope that 19 comes out like a house on fire with Saad back on his LW.
Then we can all question if he really had a back issue or was he just in pout mode for the TEAM not providing him that high level winger for the past 2 years.
Not sure which would be worse actually.

What, Dominoes and Little Caesar's don't hold up to Chicago pizza?
- tvetter

They don't, but you can keep the deep dish. Piece is good.

I'd say Sharp is a lot more likely to be a 3rd liner than Saad. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if he plays some 3rd line C. I'd also be shocked if Saad isn't on Toews' LW.
- Ogilthorpe2

I could see him with Kane and AA from time to time too. Ya know...cuz it's Q.

Let's all hope that 19 comes out like a house on fire with Saad back on his LW.
Then we can all question if he really had a back issue or was he just in pout mode for the TEAM not providing him that high level winger for the past 2 years.
Not sure which would be worse actually.
- Hawkytalk

I do not doubt there is some truth to being in a pout mode.

I am convinced he had a back and or other bodily injuries.

Here's the biggest concern we take out of this: it is a long season to remain healthy, he plays an aggressive, physical style, and his teammates often have not returned the punishment and abuse he suffers... on the other team's top player. This has to change. I suppose U Samuelson is a teacher whom believes in berating the opponent. No more, cane me again I can take it mentality. It is easy to be an armchair blogger and scream, if I played surely I would go after the biggest largest opponent and whack them. I can surmise these highly paid athletes are often more concerned to preserve their health and keep reeling in the muchos dollars. I realize I am stubbornly bent thinking this way. Anyone else have a different angle/enlighten me