I never said I expected Sikura to be the team’s saviour. I didn’t even say I expect him to make the team.

Sikura is a top prospect and that’s been reports by some non-Blackhawks media/hockey analysts too. I’d just rather have Sikura signed than let him walk for nothing. Maybe Sikura is an NHLer maybe he isn’t, I just want to see him develop as a Blackhawk and not a Ranger.
- DarthKane

I wasn't suggesting you were pumping Sikura's tires. He"ll sign because Stan will let him burn a year off his ELC. by dressing him for a game or 2 in April. After that probably needs Rockford time - just like Hayden, Forsling and a bunch of the others.

Starting Glass is Q sending a message to Bowman

So Childish
- Colbyboy

Do you seriously think that’s what Q’s do here with Glass, because I’ve been at a loss to explain it? There’s just no logic, Crawford goes down Forsberg is your backup, normally he slides in to the starter slot and Glass gets called up and becomes his backup.

Do you seriously think that’s what Q’s do here with Glass, because I’ve been at a loss to explain it? There’s just no logic, Crawford goes down Forsberg is your backup, normally he slides in to the starter slot and Glass gets called up and becomes his backup.
- walleyeb1

FWIW Berube is playing again at Rockford.

Kempny is the only new guy and "youngster" who will check. All others are inclined not to throw a body check I mean, it's Murphy, Seabrook, Kempny if Kempny is suited up. Four guys who won't throw a check, although Keith is so so in this area of the game.

Hjalmarsson used after oh about 7-8 Others in the shootout. He failed. Then Domi failed and Philly got a shootout winnner.

I think he needs a new back or a year on LTIR to fully recover his back injury. It's the only explanation for a sure fire HOF player age 18-26 falling off a cliff to be the guy we see now at 29yrs old looking like he's in the final years of his career.....
- EnzoD

If you saw Toews in the street and didn’t know who he was you would never guess he was a hockey player. He looks like the joked about 98lb weakling. He seems extremely skinny, extremely lean which is fine once his career is over but not now. He actually looks gaunt. He has no muscle mass. Crosby who is actually older looks like a tank. The fact that Toews has no strength, no toughness is by his choice. Toews used to also be a tank. If Toews thought being this skinny, this lean would be beneficial with speed he needs to fire everyone giving him advice. I don’t believe he is injured unless denseness is an injury.

The Oilers are dying to find a scoring winger that can play with McDavid.

Rumours have surfaced that the Oilers would consider listening on Oscar Klefbom.

It wouldn't be able to happen until the summer, but how would you guys feel about:

CHI trades:
Debrincat
Forsling
+ prospect(s)

EDM trades:
Klefbom
Caggiula



Edmonton gets a talented winger who has proven he can score in the NHL in Debrincat. Oh and the Oilers already know that he can play with McJesus.

They also get a dman back in Forsling to insert into their lineup and grow into a potential top 4 role.

The Hawks get a top 4 defenceman in Klefbom who is under contract @ $4.1M for another 5 years, who would instantly be their #2 dman behind Keith. He's a big body 6'3/215 and is only 24-years old. He has a ton of skill but it appears that Edmonton is looking at all options right now and would consider moving him.

The Hawks would also get Drake Caggiula, who was Nick Schmaltz's linemate for a couple years at Univ. ND.


Thoughts?

#latenighttradeproposals #babywon'tsleep #Hawkswillbebetternextyear #right?
- Justin Lowe

Are you serious? Klefbom is awful. Caggiula isn’t even an AHL player. So NO!

I don't think it's unreasonable either. IIRC, the analogy for Anisimov garnering a 1st rounder comes from Hanzal netting the same last year.
- AEL_Fox

Well we shall all wait for it not to happen. Hanzal should never have garnered a 1st. Foolishness one year often is learned from more than setting a precedent.

I've never seen a Blackhawk team with such a lack of guts.
- Mrwirtz

I think stan and Q need to go.

Trading Wingels..... Have we learned anything from Las Vegas?

Trading Wingels..... Have we learned anything from Las Vegas?
- Savoy

I've heard even if they trade Wingels now, he could return on to Chicago in the off-season and work with them on a deal.

He has a young family and is from the area. He would love to stick around for a while.

Tough to watch this team these days crew.

Enjoy the ride though. This is a position the Hawks haven't been in for a while. Let's hope Stan can grab some picks and Mark Kelley kills it this year at the draft.

I'm excited to see what steps are taken from a business and performance perspective to get this team back.

I think stan and Q need to go.
- Flatz

i do not think MCD and rocky have the stones to fire both...with three cups and the 7 year run they had...just like Q talks about the the respect the core has earned so to this applies to them...

the only way i see either of them going is if this dreadful losing continues until the end of the season...

weeks ago i though this team was no more than a 85 point team...still on target for that...

I've heard even if they trade Wingels now, he could return on to Chicago in the off-season and work with them on a deal.

He has a young family and is from the area. He would love to stick around for a while.
- Justin Lowe

ahh...the ole vermette play...i like wingles...prefer he stays or does come back...

probably get 5th rounder for him at best

all i can say is go habs, oil, panthers, and wings...start winning and pass the hawks...

the battle for better draft positioning is on...

Are you serious? Klefbom is awful. Caggiula isn’t even an AHL player. So NO!
- Z3Hawk

I don't agree. Klefbom isn't terrible IMO, he's an great skater, can play in all situations and is 24 years old making 4.1M. Caggiula is just added in as he played on Schmaltz's line for 2 years and he may be a borderline player so I'll give you that one.

It was a late night thought. My rationale is that rumours surfaced that Klefbom might be available and the Hawks are in desperate need for a top 4 defenceman moving forward.

You have to give to get so unless the Hawks deal someone of significance (current NHLer or prospect) they won't be getting one.

And I for one will not be content with rolling out Keith-Seabs-Oesterle-Murphy-Forsling-Rutta-Dahlstrom next year on the back end.

Toughness is a very important attribute to have for a hockey team. Toughness does not mean driving opposing players through the boards every 5 seconds. What it does mean is always being tough on the puck, fighting to the maximum to win every puck battle, aggressively challenging puck carriers, applying pressure on the opposing players at every turn and being tough on your skates.

There is obviously a mental component to toughness as well. Being tough on the puck also applies to possessing the puck. When you have the puck you don’t pass blindly and you don’t pass foolishly through coverage. Bottom line you don’t make foolish passes. You certainly don’t do this when you are already in a great position to shoot.

If there is a definition of toughness applying to a hockey team it is this - you do not make it easy for the opposing team - you are always a tough team to play against.

The Hawks are not a tough team to play against and it is systemic. Ulf is an awful coach. His defensive system regarding the D-Men is reckless and offence first. For example last night the score was only 2-0 going into the 2nd period with Hawks carrying the play. Inexplicably, Oesterle gets caught deep - DEEP - in the Wild zone. Wild break out - goal - 3-0. Constant turnovers, constant bad passes and constantly getting caught for 2 on 1s. Makes for a team that is not tough to play against.

The Hawks are their own worst enemies. If you are scouting the Hawks you play safe and just wait for their errors - they are surely to come. No physical toughness. No mental toughness.

Toughness is a very important attribute to have for a hockey team. Toughness does not mean driving opposing players through the boards every 5 seconds. What it does mean is always being tough on the puck, fighting to the maximum to win every puck battle, aggressively challenging puck carriers, applying pressure on the opposing players at every turn and being tough on your skates.

There is obviously a mental component to toughness as well. Being tough on the puck also applies to possessing the puck. When you have the puck you don’t pass blindly and you don’t pass foolishly through coverage. Bottom line you don’t make foolish passes. You certainly don’t do this when you are already in a great position to shoot.

If there is a definition of toughness applying to a hockey team it is this - you do not make it easy for the opposing team - you are always a tough team to play against.

The Hawks are not a tough team to play against and it is systemic. Ulf is an awful coach. His defensive system regarding the D-Men is reckless and offence first. For example last night the score was only 2-0 going into the 2nd period with Hawks carrying the play. Inexplicably, Oesterle gets caught deep - DEEP - in the Wild zone. Wild break out - goal - 3-0. Constant turnovers, constant bad passes and constantly getting caught for 2 on 1s. Makes for a team that is not tough to play against.

The Hawks are their own worst enemies. If you are scouting the Hawks you play safe and just wait for their errors - they are surely to come. No physical toughness. No mental toughness.
- Z3Hawk

I agree with your toughness definition - and the Blackhawks’ lack of it.

On the defensemen concentrating on offense first - Q keeps talking about how he likes it when they get involved in the offense.

But if that’s the philosophy - and they want defensemen going down low - isn’t there a forward who’s supposed to cover the vacated point? Hard to coordinate, and they still have to pick their spots, but - everyone down low is not ideal.

And it would help to get a big goalie save when that happens - like Forsberg at the end of the second against the Stars after Keith’s TO, and Glass last nite after Osterlie’s gamble. Tough shots - ok - saveable each - make a damn save when you team needs you to have its back.

It’s not just the save percentage / goals against average for goalies - it’s not just the goals they give up - but the ones they don’t save at important times. That’s what great (even just good) goalies do.

Unloaded the remaining tix for this season a few days before the superbowl. And likely will not renew next season. Someone else perhaps can get a shot in section 115 for 18-19 and beyond.

Like the frog in water heating up to a boil, I can now verify the slide to mediocrity started Oct-15.

It was a nice run and three cups in six was awesome. An over excited fan in me thought the 2015 core can carry the team to two more. I was wrong.

stanbow is attempting to blow some dense ass covering smoke with comments that his remaining hollow core is in their prime.

toews (30 in april): 3 strt under performing seasons 1-3
seabs (33 in april): 7 mildo 4-5 dman at best 1 4
keith (35 in july): certainly a drop off since his norris con smythe days 0-2

during a playoff push that began with the wing game before the break (11 GAMES) they have combined for 2 goals and 9 assists...these guys are trending away from their prime years

saad and kane are still producing...but kane has dropped off recently and saad has been lost since the first 2 games...

patrick sharp (36) was and is done...my guess he retires...doubt anyone offers him a contract

i do not think MCD and rocky have the stones to fire both...with three cups and the 7 year run they had...just like Q talks about the the respect the core has earned so to this applies to them...

the only way i see either of them going is if this dreadful losing continues until the end of the season...

weeks ago i though this team was no more than a 85 point team...still on target for that...
- bogiedoc

I hope you're wrong. Look at Boston and LA this year- the last couple of seasons they were underachieving, highly paid, veteran teams with quality longtime coaches and GMs with a long history of success with their respective groups, just like the Hawks. Both those teams have responded well to new blood in their respective organizations and have had nice bounce back years this season. Fresh perspectives are needed here if for no other reason than the "core" ain't going anywhere and the trading for former Hawks has to stop, lol.

If Edmonton is looking for a scoring winger for McDavid and defense, how about something like this:

RNH/Lucic and Klefbom

For

Seabs, Kempny, and saad

Seabs and RNH/Lucic would be the swap of bad contracts, saad for klefbom, kempney as sweetner. Then trade AA for a dman, maybe like Petry from MTL

Are you serious? Klefbom is awful. Caggiula isn’t even an AHL player. So NO!
- Z3Hawk

I was baffled by that one too. Edmonton couldn't say "Yes" fast enough. They would immediately gain cap space with 2 ELC contracts with high upside. Cap room to re-sign Nurse who is a better defenceman, a sniper to play with McDavid which they lack, and a future PP quarterback (again something they need going forward with this young group).
The reasons Edmonton jumps all over this are the same for us not making this deal. We are rebuilding and should not be trading young assets for a defencemen with questionable ability. I watch the Oilers enough to see that Klefbom is not an impact defenceman. The Oilers are struggling with their current lineup as much as we are.

If Edmonton is looking for a scoring winger for McDavid and defense, how about something like this:

RNH/Lucic and Klefbom

For

Seabs, Kempny, and saad

Seabs and RNH/Lucic would be the swap of bad contracts, saad for klefbom, kempney as sweetner. Then trade AA for a dman, maybe like Petry from MTL
- ikeane

Edmonton would never include RNH in a deal for Seabrook. Lucic, maybe, but RNH's age, contract term, and the fact that he is a good 2nd line center does not make his contract even remotely as bad as Seabrook's.

Edmonton would never include RNH in a deal for Seabrook. Lucic, maybe, but RNH's age, contract term, and the fact that he is a good 2nd line center does not make his contract even remotely as bad as Seabrook's.
- 67hawks

Hence the either/or. Agree though that RNH has a lot more upside

stanbow is attempting to blow some dense ass covering smoke with comments that his remaining hollow core is in their prime.

toews (30 in april): 3 strt under performing seasons 1-3
seabs (33 in april): 7 mildo 4-5 dman at best 1 4
keith (35 in july): certainly a drop off since his norris con smythe days 0-2

during a playoff push that began with the wing game before the break (11 GAMES) they have combined for 2 goals and 9 assists...these guys are trending away from their prime years

saad and kane are still producing...but kane has dropped off recently and saad has been lost since the first 2 games...

patrick sharp (36) was and is done...my guess he retires...doubt anyone offers him a contract
- bogiedoc

If he had any notion to trade any of the core, I'm not sure a comment like "These players are all mere shells of their former selves and likely won't be much of an asset to your on-ice product" is the kind of sales pitch you run with.

all i can say is go habs, oil, panthers, and wings...start winning and pass the hawks...

the battle for better draft positioning is on...
- bogiedoc

Panthers play the Oilers tomorrow. Here is hoping for a 3-point game.