Just because it's good marketing?
- Mr Ricochet

Just because it is Stan Bowman and I think he leans to college guys and local area folks. That's OK if they are the best for the job but .......

Just because it is Stan Bowman and I think he leans to college guys and local area folks. That's OK if they are the best for the job but .......
- RickJ

Bowman should not be making that decisions or any more decisions as a gm after this failure of a season and the moves he has made over the last almost 3 years since the last cup. No gm is perfect they make mistakes but bowman made the cardinal sins as a gm paid for past performances and fell in love with the core and the team is paying dearly now. No one knew not even bowman that seabrook and towes would decline like this, still say towes is playing through some kind of injury or injuries if not shame on him. So wait and see what draft posistion we get.

Lack of Sustained offensive zone pressure minus net front presence= inability to score, the beginning of this season I said they are going to have to score in transition unfortunately I'm right, which is exactly why they have issues on the power play, no net front presence

Btw in previous years 3 goals won a lot of games for the Blackhawks between 2009 and 2017
- BetweenTheDots

Which they haven’t been able to get to in more than half of their games.

Net front presence - a couple of comments: they seem to take a lot of quick shots upon entering the o-zone before giving linemates th3 chance to get to the net, and which have no chance of getting past the goalie, thus killing possession (but increasing Corsi stats).

The second is that even when they do go to the net, they not in position to do damage - often off to the side, not in the goalies line of sight, not in position for a deflection, and easily moved out by opposing defensemen. If they set up to the left of the goalie, the shot goes to the right. It’s like they don’t know how to productively use NFP.

Just from my eyes - I have no stats on these conclusions.

And next year this team could be even worse. Huge contracts tied up on guys who have simply come apart and have zero impact. If Q does go, I would like to see a new GM as well. Doubt that happens. This team needs sweeping change. i just hope this does not prevent Sikura from signing. He and Highmore are the two guys I want to see come up and play.

Bowman should not be making that decisions or any more decisions as a gm after this failure of a season and the moves he has made over the last almost 3 years since the last cup. No gm is perfect they make mistakes but bowman made the cardinal sins as a gm paid for past performances and fell in love with the core and the team is paying dearly now. No one knew not even bowman that seabrook and towes would decline like this, still say towes is playing through some kind of injury or injuries if not shame on him. So wait and see what draft posistion we get.
- Scott1977

While we can get on Stan for negotiating some (ok, several) bad contracts, we all seem to at least like most of Schmaltz, AdB, Hinostroza, Hayden, Duclair, Hartman (?), Forsling (?), plus some good potential still in juniors (Jokiharju) or college (Sikura)....

Which GM brought them in?

Bowman should not be making that decisions or any more decisions as a gm after this failure of a season and the moves he has made over the last almost 3 years since the last cup. No gm is perfect they make mistakes but bowman made the cardinal sins as a gm paid for past performances and fell in love with the core and the team is paying dearly now. No one knew not even bowman that seabrook and towes would decline like this, still say towes is playing through some kind of injury or injuries if not shame on him. So wait and see what draft posistion we get.
- Scott1977

While we can get on Stan for negotiating some (ok, several) bad contracts, we all seem to at least like most of Schmaltz, AdB, Hinostroza, Hayden, Duclair, Hartman (?), Forsling (?), plus some good potential still in juniors (Jokiharju) or college (Sikura)....

Which GM brought them in?

agree what the hell is he doing holding hands with the other dman...WTF
- bogiedoc

We sit Seabrook for one game this year....and we win 8-2. Then he comes back into the lineup and we are 3-5-2 since his return. I know it was against Ottawa...but typically Q stays with same lineup after a win. At some point his loyalty to Seabrook is going to make the Hawks miss the playoffs....and him get fired. Seabrook offers nothing at this point. Roll with the faster, young guys and see what happens. I assume the first rounder from last year (Finnish right handed D-man) will be on our roster next year. That said...I have no clue how they handle Seabrook from this point forward. No other team wants that contract. He is not going to play better as he ages. They are really stuck.

Which they haven’t been able to get to in more than half of their games.

Net front presence - a couple of comments: they seem to take a lot of quick shots upon entering the o-zone before giving linemates th3 chance to get to the net, and which have no chance of getting past the goalie, thus killing possession (but increasing Corsi stats).

The second is that even when they do go to the net, they not in position to do damage - often off to the side, not in the goalies line of sight, not in position for a deflection, and easily moved out by opposing defensemen. If they set up to the left of the goalie, the shot goes to the right. It’s like they don’t know how to productively use NFP.

Just from my eyes - I have no stats on these conclusions.
- StLBravesFan

Completely agree, last night is a perfect example of a game they would of won, costly mistake by Murphy and its in the back of the net. The past stat of the Hawks having the lead going into the 3rd period and winning the game I believe is over 98%, I have no idea what it is this year but don't even believe its in 90 percentile bracket

It's not the team I dislike so much it's the fans. I do like the "Catfish" girl though.
- Mrwirtz

This is so true. The team is good and has my respect. They play hard every night. The fans though...that is a whole different topic. Individually I think they are fine. But get them in the stadium together and their chants are childish and really rude. They are like the Donald Trump of fan bases.

And you would still have to retain some salary along with that pick.
- 67hawks

That looks to be a top 10 pick in what sounds like a pretty good draft. Rather wait for the new CBA buyout (hopefully). Put him on ice for a year. Either that or package Hartman, who looks like a bottom six winger, and a prospect. I think we're stuck with him.

toews like saad has never been hit/check type of players...they mentioned last night that saad has 15 hits IN 52 games ADB has more than that....that was very surprising...

the hawks have left their goalies to flap in the breeze all year: all three of them have done credible jobs keeping the hawks in games...even Q mentioned that about glass last night as unorthodox and technically deficient he is...he battles for every shot.

2-4-2 and one of those win required a stand on head performance from forsberg vs the preds or their 1-5-2...even last night the flames had 3-4 grade A chances because of poor possession and turnovers...they easily could have lost that game in regulation...anyway 6 points of 16 over these last 8 games...wow..so much for "playoff" push hockey

Q luvs to preach defense first...preach all ya want this team for all the reasons many here have set forth creates to many unforced errors and their goalies can't bail'em out all the time
- bogiedoc

Problem is no one else hits. Hawks have never been a team that hits a lot but there is even less from the top 9. Opposing D have no fear holding pucks. It’s pathetic. This team is so easy to play against. With the new rules on stick work the Hawks will have to hit more moving forward.

It's unfortunate to say but this team would be better off without Toews and Seabrook on the roster. Both cap wise and in production they are no longer relevant and worth the investment.

Time to release, trade or dump even if you have to retain salary. It would hurt short term but hurt the team less than carrying these two for another 5 years.

That looks to be a top 10 pick in what sounds like a pretty good draft. Rather wait for the new CBA buyout (hopefully). Put him on ice for a year. Either that or package Hartman, who looks like a bottom six winger, and a prospect. I think we're stuck with him.
- walter34

I really want to see some D brought in with some nasty to them. Guys who will move forwards out of the crease. This team is so friggin soft. In the past they got away with it due to the talent level. Not anymore.

I look at Pitt and how they changed with the new HC. BUT their star players (87/71) play like star players. Here? Outside of Kane? Could be a rough 2-3 years for this franchise. Fantastic run, but its over.

And you would still have to retain some salary along with that pick.
- 67hawks

Agreed. You would likely have to retain half his salary. Then you have to find a team that will do the deal. Then you have to have Seabrook waive his no trade or no move or whatever he has. Its pretty insurmountable that all that happens. I think we are stuck with that awful contract.

i don't think the preds as a team are "dirty" but they know how to grab, hold and use their sticks without getting called...

i don't know what went down in the ranger game...
- bogiedoc

Yeah, this for sure. They basically mauled the Hawks in the playoffs last year with their holding. And refs put away the whistle in playoffs quite a bit. That said, they still were no doubt the better team.

Agreed. You would likely have to retain half his salary. Then you have to find a team that will do the deal. Then you have to have Seabrook waive his no trade or no move or whatever he has. Its pretty insurmountable that all that happens. I think we are stuck with that awful contract.
- onehundredlevel

If that is the case, then his minutes get cut way back. I would then only play on him on the PK. No PP time anymore. He has zero recovery speed to catch anyone.

Sheldon Keefe is the guy I would target as the new head coach.

I mentioned this abut a month ago. He did wonders with the Grey Hounds in the OHL and has done a fantastic job coach the Toronto Marlies over that last 3 seasons.

Each prospect the Leafs call up are ready to play at the NHL level. He has a great track record with young hockey players. If the Hawks don't get him I expect he will get a call from a team really soon for an interview.
- scott.jackson

Hard pass based on information passed on to me from someone who worked directly with him on his coaching staff.

From the outside he has a nice resume to date but isn't what the Hawks want.

Hard pass based on information passed on to me from someone who worked directly with him on his coaching staff.

From the outside he has a nice resume to date but isn't what the Hawks want.
- Justin Lowe

Are their any Hawks D prospects in Rockford worthy of a look-see before the year is out?

Dahlstrom maybe?

Don't know if I'm reading it correctly but it looks like Hawks with the lead going into the 3rd period have won 83.3% of those games the worst year was in 2011 at 82.5%, otherwise the other years at 86% to 90% or better, 2015 100% wow.

You brought Saad back to play with Toews....so play him with Toews. Saad, Toews, DuClair, DeBrincat, Kane and Schmaltz need to be on the top two lines....in whatever combo is best. Put Hartman and Vinny on AA's wings. Kampf with Sikura and another winger on line four. Those are not bad forward lines.

The defense is where we really are screwed. Murphy and Oesterle could be your third pairing. Keith and hopefully Jokiharju can be a first dman pairing. I still have faith that Forsling can be a solid 2L Defenseman. But we need a really good 2R Defenseman to team with him. I have seen enough of Seabs, Ruuta and Kempny to know they are not the answer.

While we can get on Stan for negotiating some (ok, several) bad contracts, we all seem to at least like most of Schmaltz, AdB, Hinostroza, Hayden, Duclair, Hartman (?), Forsling (?), plus some good potential still in juniors (Jokiharju) or college (Sikura)....

Which GM brought them in?
- StLBravesFan

Ok, but the crippling long term high dollar contracts negate the finds in the draft. In fact using Saad as an example he got the kid in the 2nd rd and due to crippling contracts had to move him out when he was a productive player cuz he didn't have cap room to keep him.

You can't separate evaluating/drafting and managing the cap with a GM. He has to excellent at both or the one cancels out the other.

While we can get on Stan for negotiating some (ok, several) bad contracts, we all seem to at least like most of Schmaltz, AdB, Hinostroza, Hayden, Duclair, Hartman (?), Forsling (?), plus some good potential still in juniors (Jokiharju) or college (Sikura)....

Which GM brought them in?
- StLBravesFan

Agree bowman has done some nice things but the book is still out on those players next year will be the telling point with those players and how well they have progress. Yes bowman has done some good things i just think the cons outweigh the pros and the bowmans just have ran its course and new eyes direction and plan might be the best thing for the moving forward.

Problem is no one else hits. Hawks have never been a team that hits a lot but there is even less from the top 9. Opposing D have no fear holding pucks. It’s pathetic. This team is so easy to play against. With the new rules on stick work the Hawks will have to hit more moving forward.
- bhawks2241

The 4th line did this yr then that plan was abandoned by Q. Obviously the offseason plan of getting some size, grit and push back in the bottom 6 was agreed upon cuz StanBowPops&McD went out and got Bauma and Wingels to play with Hayden and Q played them. Then, that plan sees all but Wingels, the least physical of all of them, nowhere to be found.

Garbutt acquired, not played. Weise acquired, not played, Bouma acquired, not played. But conversely Mashinter plays, Scott plays. ... As soon as anyone figures Q out share with me.

Q is always gonna lean speed skill no matter their size or what line. He may agree of the need for some push back guys but that never lasts long with him.

Pissing and moaning about the high dollar long term contracts is big now and understandable. I was involved with the game for many years and am now just a couch potato watching on tv. And the reason I chose to do so in one word is money. It's more about money than hockey for the last 25 years or so. Which of course is about when Bettman was hired. What you have now is a glorified mens league with huge ticket prices for a game. Touch a guys stick with your stick and it's a penalty, but crosscheck the poop out of a guy and that's ok. Great. And a working class fan can't take a family of four to a game anymore, which I think is really sad.

So after a lockout the NHL get's it's salary cap. And I have to give credit where credit is due. Bettman called it, he said GM's will regret the long term contracts. He warned them again and again. he said "don't do it". Annd he is the one who before Toews, Kane, and Seabrook got their contracts said that the cap was going up right before the cap went down. Call me powerenforcer junior, but it wouldn't surprise me a bit if that was an intentional misleading by Bettman. All things considered I'll take the couch.

I can't help but to notice how the precipitous decline of Mike Richards has uncanny parallels to that of our own Johnny Toews.