When you look at Saad - traded for Panarin - and Hartman- 19 goals last year - on the 4th Line the Coaching staff better be looking in the mirror. Toews/Saad was obviously not working and just eroded Saad’s confidence. The Coaching staff doesn’t seem to put any responsibility on Toews to make other players better. Also they have moved Hartman up and down the line-up and in and out of the line-up so much he is ruined and afraid to make a mistake. The coaching this season has been ludicrous.

Toews is obviously weak as steamed Kale. He has no strength, no power. His off-ice preparation is obviously garbage. He isn’t old he has made himself old. Crosby looks strong, Kane looks strong - Toews looks like a weakling - that is his $10.5M choice.
- Z3Hawk

Hey, that’s being being pretty darn disrespectful to steamed kale!

Do we really need another $10 million contract on the team? Losing Seabrook would help but it's a big risk to take on, even for Tavares.
- DarthKane

Also some of the young guys are going to need raises soon. Nick should be getting a Long term deal after this year IMO Hartman Hino, and Duclair will need modest raises. would be great if they could get slightly longer Deals on all of these. Contracts have not been Stan's strength. Along with deadline moves and Trades after July 1st.

Move Anisimov and find a taker for Hossa's contract. All of a sudden you have quite a bit of cap room.

I would not trade Kane for Tavares.
- frafra

Why, exactly? I'm just curious since I would do that trade. Looking for a counter point.

Murphy is sick.
- JRoenick97

Sick of Q.... And his stupidity with the line combos

Do we really need another $10 million contract on the team? Losing Seabrook would help but it's a big risk to take on, even for Tavares.
- DarthKane

Skating is the weakest part of Tavares' game, which will likely result in a significant drop in his production in a few years as he ages. Patrick Kane's style of play and commitment to training should allow him to play at a high level until his late 30s.

Hey, that’s being being pretty darn disrespectful to steamed kale!
- Spec41971

Not if its "grown yourself"

Skating is the weakest part of Tavares' game, which will likely result in a significant drop in his production in a few years as he ages. Patrick Kane's style of play and commitment to training should allow him to play at a high level until his late 30s.
- EnzoD

In that same article I was reading, they were commenting on the fact that he has been working on his skating, and that he has as strong of a work ethic as Kane does to improve his game.

The only reason I thought of Tavares, is that I was reading an article about him and the Isles woes, and wondered if he is going to re-sign with them. It then brought on the thought that he would look great as a hawk!...and then today I thought of a way that he could fit under the cap on the Hawks, but only if Seabrook retires...trading seabrook would almost definitely net you a bad contract in return, and there then wouldn't be enough room.

That is one thing that no one ever brings up. Could Seabrook decide to retire if he thinks he can't keep up anymore?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

But, would Duclair give up his #91 for Tavares?

Conversations should revolve around getting more cost controlled. Going after Tavares is basically trading card collecting and doesn't represent anything realistic.

Hawks already have a salary structure that is bloated at the top and JT is probably looking at over 11 Million per year.

Glad to see Seabrook for all his poor play has been rewarded with top powerplay unit time.

@MarkLazerus

Blackhawks this morning:

DeBrincat-Toews-Duclair
Anisimov-Schmaltz-Kane
Hinostroza-Kampf-Jurco
Sharp-Hartman-Saad

2 seasons ago, that 4th line is a second line anywhere.
- JRoenick97

Now that is funny


What kind of Vodka you drinking?

I'd like to see the Hawks grab Noah Dobson in the draft this year.

http://www.mynhldraft.com...raft-Profiles/Noah-Dobson
- DarthKane

According to this site's mock draft, the Hawks are picking a 5'11" 155 lb winger (Joel Farabee) at the 11th spot. Seems about right; matches Bowman's M.O.

In that same article I was reading, they were commenting on the fact that he has been working on his skating, and that he has as strong of a work ethic as Kane does to improve his game.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Schmaltz has clearly cemented his role at 2C with Anisimov now playing on his wing, and Toews isnt going anwhere. Why would you trade Kane for Tavares when Kane is the higher point producer, better skater, better passer, and face of the franchise for a decade who has the opportunity to be the greatest American Born Player in NHL History with his entire career as a Blackhawk??

Schmaltz has clearly cemented his role at 2C with Anisimov now playing on his wing, and Toews isnt going anwhere. Why would you trade Kane for Tavares when Kane is the higher point producer, better skater, better passer, and face of the franchise for a decade who has the opportunity to be the greatest American Born Player in NHL History with his entire career as a Blackhawk??
- EnzoD

Who also is a proven post season performer. Kane is on my no trade list too. THAT said Wayne Gretzky was traded and if someone offered a bounty for Kane you'd be stupid to not at least listen. But no need to shop him...and the guys they should shop are not worth anything.

Now that is funny


What kind of Vodka you drinking?
- Goalie-33

Jesus, do you think before you type? 2 seasons ago Saad had 53 points and Sharp had 55. That is second line talent.

This is the reason why I would trade AA now. He is the type of player that playoff teams are looking to add, and his salary is not too high that they can't take on. Is AA the type of player that the Hawks build around? No, he is a nice player to have but is replaceable with the proper scouting and draft. This is where is comes to Bowman. It is his turn to fleece the other teams trying to find those players to make a big push to the cup. A late 1st round pick and a prospect for AA - sign me up. The mini rebuild has started - the Penguins when through the same thing a 5 or so years ago, now they are back to back champs. No reason we can't do the same.
- spudrock512

I never meant that AA is not a good player. I even mentioned how he has been productive while on a line with Kane. I stress that if you go with the premise that the game is going more and more to speed .....read carefully here....AA still can be a value player despite the speed factor. I like having a large size player like him. Yet if it part of a premise that we do not make a serious Cup run for at least two years, then retaining his services is not smart asset management. Therefore move him while he has good value. I would love to see him replaced by a large size forward who skates better and has some grit and nastiness along the boards. Either a center like this must be at minimum descent on face offs. The expectation going forward for this team must be better results in the face off circle. Whom stays and whom goes at center position, then, keeping focus upon improvement at the dot. A-ha, AA does make sense to move now while hus value is high. And though he is only 29, it is the value as in playoffs another team really craves his service. Hopefully he won't get injured in their playoffs

Schmaltz has clearly cemented his role at 2C with Anisimov now playing on his wing, and Toews isnt going anwhere. Why would you trade Kane for Tavares when Kane is the higher point producer, better skater, better passer, and face of the franchise for a decade who has the opportunity to be the greatest American Born Player in NHL History with his entire career as a Blackhawk??
- EnzoD

Because the goal of the team is to win cups, not get personal accolades. Tavares is a 1C. He's 2 years younger, and has 27 more points this season than Kane. Schmaltz can easily move to wing and still kill it. Center depth is better than wing depth.

Schmaltz has clearly cemented his role at 2C with Anisimov now playing on his wing, and Toews isnt going anwhere. Why would you trade Kane for Tavares when Kane is the higher point producer, better skater, better passer, and face of the franchise for a decade who has the opportunity to be the greatest American Born Player in NHL History with his entire career as a Blackhawk??
- EnzoD

If Stan is looking to make more significant change I would start on defense. Sure Toews and Saad are under-performing, but I think it's realistic to believe that at least Saad will bounce back offensively. Otherwise the other forwards are performing well, the young guys are really stepping up.

On defense Keith is the only guy who's played well all season and even then he's been below his usual standards. Beyond that the defense has been shaky. Maybe another year of maturity helps the likes of Forsling and Murphy, but Stan needs to upgrade the defense overall, specifically guys like Oesterle, Rutta and Kempny. Maybe they haven't been terrible, but they aren't even close to championship caliber. At most I think I could live with Oesterle as the 6D or 7D.

Schmaltz has clearly cemented his role at 2C with Anisimov now playing on his wing, and Toews isnt going anwhere. Why would you trade Kane for Tavares when Kane is the higher point producer, better skater, better passer, and face of the franchise for a decade who has the opportunity to be the greatest American Born Player in NHL History with his entire career as a Blackhawk??
- EnzoD

If I knew how to add gifs/images on here, I would post the Office Space "Oh face" gif. Hawks marketing should hire you #OneGoal

If Stan is looking to make more significant change I would start on defense. Sure Toews and Saad are under-performing, but I think it's realistic to believe that at least Saad will bounce back offensively. Otherwise the other forwards are performing well, the young guys are really stepping up.

On defense Keith is the only guy who's played well all season and even then he's been below his usual standards. Beyond that the defense has been shaky. Maybe another year of maturity helps the likes of Forsling and Murphy, but Stan needs to upgrade the defense overall, specifically guys like Oesterle, Rutta and Kempny. Maybe they haven't been terrible, but they aren't even close to championship caliber. At most I think I could live with Oesterle as the 6D or 7D.
- DarthKane

I agree. I'd absolutely trade Kane for Tavares (with a re-sign), but I'd make a move for a top 4 D before any of that.

I never meant that AA is not a good player. I even mentioned how he has been productive while on a line with Kane. I stress that if you go with the premise that the game is going more and more to speed .....read carefully here....AA still can be a value player despite the speed factor. I like having a large size player like him. Yet if it part of a premise that we do not make a serious Cup run for at least two years, then retaining his services is not smart asset management. Therefore move him while he has good value. I would love to see him replaced by a large size forward who skates better and has some grit and nastiness along the boards. Either a center like this must be at minimum descent on face offs. The expectation going forward for this team must be better results in the face off circle. Whom stays and whom goes at center position, then, keeping focus upon improvement at the dot. A-ha, AA does make sense to move now while hus value is high. And though he is only 29, it is the value as in playoffs another team really craves his service. Hopefully he won't get injured in their playoffs
- jhawk59

I agree with this. AA was a good pickup and added value when he came over. I think the Hawks focus on evolving their game does not fit his mold. Agree with you when saying, that doesn't mean he's not good, but for where I believe their focus is going, he doesn't necessarily fit. To me, he is a valuable trade piece and has a very reasonable cap. He can be a very serviceable 2C on a playoff team, for $4.5M, not bad at all. In the end, I think a trade of AA will be a mutually beneficial one. It allows, hopefully for AA, a playoff team to add a big body scorer to their lineup for the next few years, and allows the Hawks to get something of value back and continue their push to change their style of game play.

If I knew how to add gifs/images on here, I would post the Office Space "Oh face" gif. Hawks marketing should hire you #OneGoal
- HawksHype

There's irony seeing a handle of "HawksHype" criticize someone for being too hyped.

Is this Glass half empty or half full?

Because the goal of the team is to win cups, not get personal accolades. Tavares is a 1C. He's 2 years younger, and has 27 more points this season than Kane. Schmaltz can easily move to wing and still kill it. Center depth is better than wing depth.
- JRoenick97

Like I said, look no further than another former 1C who was never a plus skater in Jonathan Toews. 19 has lost a step and he is now producing at a bottom level 2C/high end 3C level. Tavares is a worse skater than Toews at 27, and Schmaltz has been thriving in his natural position at Center. When 8 adds more muscle and improves his faceoffs slightly, he is essentially the 1C on this team (like Olcyzk said last postgame). This is a silly conversation. Now if we're talking Toews for Tavares? Sign me up!

There's irony seeing a handle of "HawksHype" criticize someone for being too hyped.
- JRoenick97

Literally was not criticizing... I loved it.

Literally was not criticizing... I loved it.
- HawksHype

Oh, my mistake!