No, to Ottawa for Ryan.
- DarthKane

50% retained?

How come Toews hasn't been dropped down a line or two yet?

How come Toews hasn't been dropped down a line or two yet?
- Hank3Henshaw

In terms of ice time, he was 2C last night. Schmaltz line was line 1.

So Friedman suggested that the Hawks might be looking to move Brandon Saad. Could use a fresh start and the Hawks may want some cap relief...

...Would y'all look at a Saad for Justin Faulk+ style deal for him? Faulk's got two more season's at $4.8 Mill per and looks like he might need a fresh look elsewhere.

So Friedman suggested that the Hawks might be looking to move Brandon Saad. Could use a fresh start and the Hawks may want some cap relief...

...Would y'all look at a Saad for Justin Faulk+ style deal for him? Faulk's got two more season's at $4.8 Mill per and looks like he might need a fresh look elsewhere.
- PepinoPamplemousse

A fresh start? It's been half a season. I do like Faulk though. I doubt they are looing to move him. They got him for contract certainty over Panarin. He's only 25.

"This song is over
I'm left with only tears
I must remember
Even if it takes a million years"

- The Who

So....

What should the plan be going forward?

I am of the opinion that the front office should:

1. Look to unload as much cap as possible, and play with a skeleton crew of entry level guys and expiring UFAs next year, ending the season with as little cap hit as possible. Hopefully finishing in last place to get the top pick.

2. In the process of unloading cap, stock up on draft picks, and if they have to eat a turd contract or two back, make sure those deals expire after next season is over. Because....

3. The inevitable strike will be protracted and result in a new CBA with new rules to live by that will dictate in many ways what the path must be going forward. I am convinced Rocky will spend whatever it takes to win again. Additionally, you don't want to commit to payroll and deals now that bind your hands after a new CBA. Because....

4. Expansion draft will follow the CBA and have it's own pitfalls/opportunities. Don't want to sign players you don't want to lose, but want to be in a position to make deals with the new team.

5. Front office needs to promptly and honestly communicate its plan to the fan base so that they will be on board with them instead of questioning what the hell is going on. I can handle a year of ABC line hockey if I know there is a plan to return to building a quality team again. This is what McD CAN do best - craft the message for the masses. So...

6. Let the "hockey guys" build the plan and the team. Decide what kind of team they want to be and find the guys to fill the roles. The messaging should be a reflection of that plan with periodic communication to the fan base on its progress.

7. Be honest with the fans. Just tell it like it is. No TDL deals this year dressed up as "these additions will get us over the hump". Don't rush CC back - let him rest. Play Forsberg more. Stop chasing what isn't possible and just start setting the expectations properly.

8. Finally, look to Vegas as a possible formula for team building success - fast, big, hungry guys with chips on their shoulders who play as a team with something to prove; and look to Tampa on how to manage the cap. I find it hard to accept that all of our current core guys all at once crap the bed in the same season unless it is about not feeling like they have anything to play for but their paychecks and their families. Some may say that's OK because they won us three cups. OK, but if they want to play out the twilight of their careers in mediocrity....I say we should find another team for them to play for. ONE GOAL right?

A fresh start? It's been half a season. I do like Faulk though.
- JRoenick97

Yeah it seemed odd to me too.

Either way, Faulk is a RHD and only a year older than Saad, and if he can get it going again he puts up 15~ goals per year.

Just curious if that sort of thing would even be considered, though I think it may be too early from the Hawks' standpoint.

In terms of ice time, he was 2C last night. Schmaltz line was line 1.
- JRoenick97

I'd like to see next game's lineup with him officially on the second line. Make it a point and drive it home.

I like Toews and his demeanor, etc...but how is that he's not held accountable for his play?

Other guys are moved around for inconsistent or bad play. Why does Toews avoid this?

I want him to succeed, but maybe it's time for a demotion.

A fresh start? It's been half a season. I do like Faulk though. I doubt they are looing to move him. They got him for contract certainty over Panarin. He's only 25.
- JRoenick97

I look at a new coaching staff before I move a horse like Brandon Saad. Guy has all the tools. The whole team is a schit show at the moment. I'd rather the Hawks really start hunting for a new HC. (Unless Granato is the man.)

Now that the season is pretty much over, all I really look forward to is what moves Bowman can make at the deadline to improve his team for 2018-19.....we have 19 days and so far I see nothing reported on the hawks shopping anyone, which is disappointing.

insanity is staying with this crew and thinking it will change next year. It won't. As many have mentioned your core is older, slower, and worse off.....and you have a major issue in that room because for all the talk by this supposed leadership core, 1 has been scratched, 2 have been bad way more often then good, and most alarming the team isn't following the leaders or getting the message.

This won't be a quick fix.
- SteveRain

i think its the other way around...last 14 goals scored by the under 23 brigade other than kanes meaningless goal late ...

I'd like to see next game's lineup with him officially on the second line. Make it a point and drive it home.

I like Toews and his demeanor, etc...but how is that he's not held accountable for his play?

Other guys are moved around for inconsistent or bad play. Why does Toews avoid this?

I want him to succeed, but maybe it's time for a demotion.
- Hank3Henshaw

A loss of playing time could be seen as a demotion. He only played 12 minutes 5v5 last night.

I'd like to see next game's lineup with him officially on the second line. Make it a point and drive it home.

I like Toews and his demeanor, etc...but how is that he's not held accountable for his play?

Other guys are moved around for inconsistent or bad play. Why does Toews avoid this?

I want him to succeed, but maybe it's time for a demotion.
- Hank3Henshaw

he has...he is a 10.5 mildo 3rd line center...with anybody who kane plays with being the so called top line

also does not start OT and taken off top PP for a few games

I look at a new coaching staff before I move a horse like Brandon Saad. Guy has all the tools. The whole team is a schit show at the moment. I'd rather the Hawks really start hunting for a new HC. (Unless Granato is the man.)
- z1990z

You guys wanna swap coaches instead? I'd be up for that too.

Since the Core has been fine LOL. how about these lines.

SAAD-TEOWS-KANE
CAT-SCH-DUKE
HART-AA-WINGELS -after TDL Sikura, Hart, hayden after wingels and AA are traded.
JURCO-KAMPF-HINO

Keith-SEAB
OST-MURPH
KEMP RUTTA

If the core has been so good then let them play together and stop having to carry everybody else.

A loss of playing time could be seen as a demotion. He only played 12 minutes 5v5 last night.
- JRoenick97

Good point.

Yeah it seemed odd to me too.

Either way, Faulk is a RHD and only a year older than Saad, and if he can get it going again he puts up 15~ goals per year.

Just curious if that sort of thing would even be considered, though I think it may be too early from the Hawks' standpoint.
- PepinoPamplemousse

Think its too early for a Saad trade, he's better than he's been showing this season. Something with the team as a whole is totally off.

I like the idea of Faulk, but seeing as how the Cane's fans (at least the couple that stop by here every so often) seem so willing to deal him, it gives me pause. Whats the deal? He was being touted as a really big deal for a while, and now he's just fallen off? Hawks have enough of that on the roster currently.

he has...he is a 10.5 mildo 3rd line center...with anybody who kane plays with being the so called top line
- bogiedoc

Since the Core has been fine LOL. how about these lines.

SAAD-TEOWS-KANE
CAT-SCH-DUKE
HART-AA-WINGELS -after TDL Sikura, Hart, hayden after wingels and AA are traded.
JURCO-KAMPF-HINO

Keith-SEAB
OST-MURPH
KEMP RUTTA

If the core has been so good then let them play together and stop having to carry everybody else.
- kmw4631

tell that to Q. There's no balance on the team right now anyway, so might as well just slot them into their "on paper" positions in the lineup. I literally don't think it could be worse.

he has...he is a 10.5 mildo 3rd line center...with anybody who kane plays with being the so called top line

also does not start OT and taken off top PP for a few games
- bogiedoc

Schmaltz is 1C in terms of ice time.

move anisimov. find a taker for hossa's contract. find a team for seabrook.

again, all of a sort, there is 16-17M in cap space to go out and play with.

lets say nobody takes seabrook. anisimov and hossa clear up 10M

Think its too early for a Saad trade, he's better than he's been showing this season. Something with the team as a whole is totally off.

I like the idea of Faulk, but seeing as how the Cane's fans (at least the couple that stop by here every so often) seem so willing to deal him, it gives me pause. Whats the deal? He was being touted as a really big deal for a while, and now he's just fallen off? Hawks have enough of that on the roster currently.
- BlazinMike

I think the weight of the C is really bugging him. He's been making a lot of bizarre mistakes that he never used to make.

That and we've got a lot of young D coming up. Need to make some sort of move to gain an impact forward and Faulk is probably the most expendable that will gain any sort of return.

move anisimov. find a taker for hossa's contract. find a team for seabrook.

again, all of a sort, there is 16-17M in cap space to go out and play with.

lets say nobody takes seabrook. anisimov and hossa clear up 10M
- frafra

Not really. Hossa's contract is already gone in LTIR land, so there's no real gain in losing it.

How come Toews hasn't been dropped down a line or two yet?
- Hank3Henshaw

Intangibles.

move anisimov. find a taker for hossa's contract. find a team for seabrook.

again, all of a sort, there is 16-17M in cap space to go out and play with.

lets say nobody takes seabrook. anisimov and hossa clear up 10M
- frafra

How bout Seabs to Edmonton for Lucic?

Um...In 2105 the best line in hockey BY FAR was Saad-Toews-Hossa. So I don't get your point there.

All I can say is they've given up. Maybe for the better. That Monahan empty netter was laughable. The puck was bouncing around the in the slot and there were 4 hawks just watching it. I've never seen a player react so slow as Seabrook did. They're done.
- thepld

Saad was not welded to Toews when he was first here. He was moved around. One line that was totally magical occurred in the play-offs one year namely Saad, Shaw and Kane. The Kings could not even touch the puck when this line was out there.