IMO there is nobody in the organization that doesn't have some stink on them for how things have unfolded since last year's playoffs. Players under performing; Coaches keeping 8 Dmen to start the season and doing scrambled eggs on the lineup every night; Scouts; Front Office decisions that are really looking poor.

So you feel they sold high on the Hammer deal, but let me ask you - who would you rather have Connor Murphy or Stephen Johns on the blueline? Not only is there is a large salary difference between the 2 but its really very obvious that the coaching staff in Dallas has done a superior job this year with Johns (and Greg Pateryn for that matter who could have been acquired cheap if Stanbo was paying attention). Meanwhile, Murphy flaps in the breeze from night to night wondering if the coach will dress him and where he will play and with whom.

Big picture, it starts with a hockey ops organizational problem in Chicago. Bowman has been bent over a park bench with his pants down by at least 7 or 8 GM's in this league over the past couple of seasons. I don't know who ultimately approves these transactions but it has to stop and will, because the assets have now dwindled as a result of many horrendous trades and subsequent crappy drafting. To look back on a few:

Ron Hextall - Timmonen deal
Garth Snow - Leddy deal
Marc Bergevin - Danault trade
Jim Knill - Sharp trade
Cheveldayoff - Ladd reacquisition
Kekalainen - Saad, Panarin, AA
Ron Francis - high cost of trading TT

There should be many on the hot seat when performance reviews are done come April 15.
- RickJ

Considering there is a hard cap and the Hawks have been buyers since 2009, given out big contracts, deservedly so, and forced to trade players due to cap constraints, the Hawks have been taken advantage of and have had to give a part of the future to get, not just you but I don't understand how fans don't understand this. First time in 10 years they are sellers?

Murphy shows promise, it took Oduya a season to pick up Q's defense/ style of play. John's is okay but I'll be curious to see how he does in the playoffs.

The one thing the Hawks org has done is showed the league they are going to take care of their players that goes a long long long way and will pay off in the long run for the Hawks I truly believe this.

+1,000,000,000,000,000
Rick, outstanding post.

To the bolded: yes it does.
And for me, it begins and ends with Q's deployment of assets, his "scheme" that he steadfastly refuses to change/refine based on personnel he has to work with, along with Q's proving a point by in many cases, deploying those assets in a ridiculously insane way to prove a point to Blowman or McDonut or Rocky.

We can go all the way back to the John Scott days and Q's playing of him on D when it was quite clear he didn't fit. At all. Game after game Q deployed him and it was pretty obvious John would have been a pretty good beer league D man. Mashinter, Bollig, Rundblad (that out to get folks' hackles up) with Blowman going out to re-sign Bambi.

How about Q's infatuation with Rozy? Yes, when he 1st arrived, he was still a good, serviceable D man. There's no doubt it was Q's push to get him re-signed even though it was apparent there was maybe 2/32nd tread left on Rozy's tires. And that had something to do w/Leddy being traded (yes, Oduya was injured but you also had IIRC Rozy with a $2.8m contract and Q's refusal to let go).

Q's a very good coach when he has exactly the right pieces but I think as we've seen this year, not so much when he has to figure out a new scheme (still hasn't happened) and some consistency with the lineup. It's no big wonder guys aren't leaving it all out there. Why would you when it's pretty apparent Q has no answers?
- savvyone-1

Usually I'm a defender of Q (and most coaches) because I really believe they have to coach what they are given to work with. Great coaches are a result of having great players usually. And it has become an overcoached game with systems and line matching etc. etc.

You make some great points about who Q favoured and didn't and his stubbornness in general. I didn't even mention the Trevor Daley deal in my original post. The John Scott thing was a joke until somebody took that toy away from Q.

I don't know if you watched the Dallas Pittsburgh game last night but it was an outstanding match and highlighted for me how far off the Hawks are now from where those 2 teams are. I'm no Ken Hitchcock fan but he and Rick Wilson have done an incredible job on improving their defence group. Last year under Lindy Ruff they were as bad or worse than the Hawks D this year. I just knew Hitchcock would turn Stephen Johns into a good NHL defenceman and he has done the same with Pateryn and Klingberg is their wheelhorse back there.

Meanwhile 50+ games in, the Hawks still have nothing more than a group of 7 who show little or no improvement. Now they are going to take a look at the Swedish kid tonight. They have given up on the season, just haven't announced it publicly.

Considering there is a hard cap and the Hawks have been buyers since 2009, given out big contracts, deservedly so, and forced to trade players due to cap constraints, the Hawks have been taken advantage of and have had to give a part of the future to get, not just you but I don't understand how fans don't understand this. First time in 10 years they are sellers?

Murphy shows promise, it took Oduya a season to pick up Q's defense/ style of play. John's is okay but I'll be curious to see how he does in the playoffs.

The one thing the Hawks org has done is showed the league they are going to take care of their players that goes a long long long way and will pay off in the long run for the Hawks I truly believe this.
- BetweenTheDots

With the "win now" philosophy out of the way, we can and we need to be a lot smarter with the deals we make going forward. It is time to take advantage of other teams.

Now I would never expect Stan Bowman to know this but the Maple Leafs have 50 contracts and no flexibility whatsoever. Plus Nikita Soshnikov must be recalled after this weekend or he has an out that lets him go back to the KHL. He is p$ssed about being in the AHL and is one Russian that likes to play a tough aggressive in your face game and he's the type who would help the youth movement in Chicago by creating internal competition. Plus the Leafs have Leivo as you mention and a kid like Jeremy Bracco is going to have a tough time finding a spot on the Leafs roster. Some attractive young pieces.

Whether Franson is something the Leafs would take back is questionable. All he is is depth on D for a team in a playoff spot.
- RickJ

Love this player. ..... For being a 9 point bottom 6 guy last yr with the Leafs it didn't take many shifts to notice this 93 in any game. Not what one would call a difference maker in the classical sense but the kind that changes a culture.

Considering there is a hard cap and the Hawks have been buyers since 2009, given out big contracts, deservedly so, and forced to trade players due to cap constraints, the Hawks have been taken advantage of and have had to give a part of the future to get, not just you but I don't understand how fans don't understand this. First time in 10 years they are sellers?

Murphy shows promise, it took Oduya a season to pick up Q's defense/ style of play. John's is okay but I'll be curious to see how he does in the playoffs.

The one thing the Hawks org has done is showed the league they are going to take care of their players that goes a long long long way and will pay off in the long run for the Hawks I truly believe this.
- BetweenTheDots

Don't completely get it either and I have a hard time being angry with the way things have turned out.

I agree with your last sentence and think even with the current downturn they won't have to again resort to handing out deals like they did with Campbell just to get FA's to even consider the Hawks as a possible landing spot.

Usually I'm a defender of Q (and most coaches) because I really believe they have to coach what they are given to work with. Great coaches are a result of having great players usually. And it has become an overcoached game with systems and line matching etc. etc.

You make some great points about who Q favoured and didn't and his stubbornness in general. I didn't even mention the Trevor Daley deal in my original post. The John Scott thing was a joke until somebody took that toy away from Q.

I don't know if you watched the Dallas Pittsburgh game last night but it was an outstanding match and highlighted for me how far off the Hawks are now from where those 2 teams are. I'm no Ken Hitchcock fan but he and Rick Wilson have done an incredible job on improving their defence group. Last year under Lindy Ruff they were as bad or worse than the Hawks D this year. I just knew Hitchcock would turn Stephen Johns into a good NHL defenceman and he has done the same with Pateryn and Klingberg is their wheelhorse back there.

Meanwhile 50+ games in, the Hawks still have nothing more than a group of 7 who show little or no improvement. Now they are going to take a look at the Swedish kid tonight. They have given up on the season, just haven't announced it publicly.
- RickJ

IMO, Q many times "takes what he is given" and makes a complete farce of it. John Scott, Mashinter, Bollig, Daley, Rundblad, Montador (RIP). The list is pretty long. Is it done to embarrass Blowman? To prove a point to the front office? An inside joke amongst the coaches? Who knows. Pretty obvious when guys either don't belong or DO belong but aren't given a chance to fit.

I'm not the biggest Murphy fan (still needs work on his skating IMO) but one thing you can't do is teach size (like with S Johns). So what's the deal? We all know Q isn't the guy for this (evident by what he did with Leddy) so he gets to bring in Ulf after his drinking buddy Kitch gets the hook. Ulf was one of the meanest/dirtiest players during his time (I hated the guy) and he still seems to have that pr!ck attitude evident whenever he is forced to put the headset on for TV.

Appears Ulf has done nothing with the D -- or is he not allowed to and it's just like the PP when Dineen is asked and replies "it's Q's after all." Well, we've seen how that's turned out now for how long?

I am wondering why Granato was brought on board -- unless, like when Q was hired as a "scout" but was waiting in the wings when Savard was given the hook, Granato takes over as a "teaching" coach?

Nevertheless, something is rotten in Denmark when a team with Toews, Kane, Saad, Keith and Seabrook cannot fare better than they have. Yes, Crawford is out but you'd think even going to an old NJ Devils style of hockey would afford this club much better results. Would not be surprised if some of the guys simply want out.

Considering there is a hard cap and the Hawks have been buyers since 2009, given out big contracts, deservedly so, and forced to trade players due to cap constraints, the Hawks have been taken advantage of and have had to give a part of the future to get, not just you but I don't understand how fans don't understand this. First time in 10 years they are sellers?

Murphy shows promise, it took Oduya a season to pick up Q's defense/ style of play. John's is okay but I'll be curious to see how he does in the playoffs.

The one thing the Hawks org has done is showed the league they are going to take care of their players that goes a long long long way and will pay off in the long run for the Hawks I truly believe this.
- BetweenTheDots

I doubt anybody isn't aware that there was a price long term for winning Cups and paying players for past performance.

I think if you really evaluate Connor Murphy honestly, he is a 5-6 Dman on a very good team. Enthusiastic, physical, good effort player but his speed, mobility and offensive skills are what they are and aren't going to improve much. They had the same type of player in the system in Johns on an ELC. But he was given up in order to send Sharp packing. And then a year later Bowman decides that he wants the same type of player back so he moves Hammer out to do it and absorbs a salary 5X what Johns is making.

Obviously can't prove it, but I happen to think Hammer is a player who would have returned more than Connor Murphy if the GM had shopped in a few more stores around the league. Maybe a good young forward.

But is shovel face a part of this? Does he interject himself into ANYTHING to do with player personnel? As president does he think there is a problem between the coach and GM's relationship as far as personnel decisions/usage/acquisitions and make recommendations to the owner or does his lack of hockey knowledge not allow him to identify a managerial hockey problem?

This mans #1 duty is to extract every single nickel out of every conceivable source and he's done that in spades but can he oversee a franchise that no longer has overwhelming talent, which he fell into, and is at a crossroads of sorts.........

As you mention it ain't rocket surgery to sell a cup winning team but I'd add it is to sell a team that might be out of the playoffs for a few yrs with a price structure he created that will see tons of empty seats.
- Mr Ricochet

Have to give McD credit for making Wrigley Field a place to be long before the Cubs were a great team. But when I consider the Sosa signing & hyping it seems that method of management has carried forward to the last decade. It remains to be seen if he can make the UC a place to be during a rebuild. I'll never forget him saying first when he came on board " well, we have to win, but if we do...."
He made his bed. Going to be real interesting following how all this shakes out.

IMO, Q many times "takes what he is given" and makes a complete farce of it. John Scott, Mashinter, Bollig, Daley, Rundblad, Montador (RIP). The list is pretty long. Is it done to embarrass Blowman? To prove a point to the front office? An inside joke amongst the coaches? Who knows. Pretty obvious when guys either don't belong or DO belong but aren't given a chance to fit.

I'm not the biggest Murphy fan (still needs work on his skating IMO) but one thing you can't do is teach size (like with S Johns). So what's the deal? We all know Q isn't the guy for this (evident by what he did with Leddy) so he gets to bring in Ulf after his drinking buddy Kitch gets the hook. Ulf was one of the meanest/dirtiest players during his time (I hated the guy) and he still seems to have that pr!ck attitude evident whenever he is forced to put the headset on for TV.

Appears Ulf has done nothing with the D -- or is he not allowed to and it's just like the PP when Dineen is asked and replies "it's Q's after all." Well, we've seen how that's turned out now for how long?

I am wondering why Granato was brought on board -- unless, like when Q was hired as a "scout" but was waiting in the wings when Savard was given the hook, Granato takes over as a "teaching" coach?

Nevertheless, something is rotten in Denmark when a team with Toews, Kane, Saad, Keith and Seabrook cannot fare better than they have. Yes, Crawford is out but you'd think even going to an old NJ Devils style of hockey would afford this club much better results. Would not be surprised if some of the guys simply want out.
- savvyone-1

At least 60% of those five need to look in the “mirror of blame” - they may see Q’s visage behind them, but their own punim will also be staring directly back at them.

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

Done!! Although I like Forsling more than most and like Dcat's upside getting a sure fire big Dman who can skate, has run a PP at 24 who's signed for 5 more yrs at 4.1 mil you gotta make that deal. A lot of certainty with this player for a franchise with little that is certain right now and in the near future.

Not sure Edmonton makes that deal as is but the thought of Dcat and McDavid having success together will have them thinking.

Good post, but as mentioned earlier can you oversee/sell a franchise in transition without the overwhelming talent you inherited?
- Mr Ricochet

That’s a fair question, especially at the current ticket prices. I have a pretty good track record with losing teams, see the north side. Winning teams sell themselves. The plan for those is take opportunities when they present themselves and just don’t mess it up. Losing teams require more work, but there is still money to be made.

As far as the hockey side, good management knows what they don’t know. The job there is to hire the people that do know the sport and give them the room to do their jobs. Should personal or organizational issues arise then it’s time to step in. But that’s how management should work in any business. Hire good people and let them work. Success should buy leeway. If your employees are working to avoid mistakes then they aren’t maximizing their potential. They should not be afraid to make mistakes, they should be striving for the best at all times and with that will come errors. Have we arrived at the point where we need to start making hard decisions in the hockey ops and coaching areas? I think we are. Rash decisions now aren’t going to do any good but the evaluations are ramping up. It’s going to be an intersting off-season.

IMO, Q many times "takes what he is given" and makes a complete farce of it. John Scott, Mashinter, Bollig, Daley, Rundblad, Montador (RIP). The list is pretty long. Is it done to embarrass Blowman? To prove a point to the front office? An inside joke amongst the coaches? Who knows. Pretty obvious when guys either don't belong or DO belong but aren't given a chance to fit.

I'm not the biggest Murphy fan (still needs work on his skating IMO) but one thing you can't do is teach size (like with S Johns). So what's the deal? We all know Q isn't the guy for this (evident by what he did with Leddy) so he gets to bring in Ulf after his drinking buddy Kitch gets the hook. Ulf was one of the meanest/dirtiest players during his time (I hated the guy) and he still seems to have that pr!ck attitude evident whenever he is forced to put the headset on for TV.

Appears Ulf has done nothing with the D -- or is he not allowed to and it's just like the PP when Dineen is asked and replies "it's Q's after all." Well, we've seen how that's turned out now for how long?

I am wondering why Granato was brought on board -- unless, like when Q was hired as a "scout" but was waiting in the wings when Savard was given the hook, Granato takes over as a "teaching" coach?

Nevertheless, something is rotten in Denmark when a team with Toews, Kane, Saad, Keith and Seabrook cannot fare better than they have. Yes, Crawford is out but you'd think even going to an old NJ Devils style of hockey would afford this club much better results. Would not be surprised if some of the guys simply want out.
- savvyone-1

Yeah but all those years the team made the playoffs.

I do think in an unhealthy way he loved Nik and when he was traded for Murphy, Murphy is paying the price for it, same scenario when the Hawks traded for Daley and Oduya signed with the Stars. I do think Murphy has to realize he's a defenceman first.

That’s a fair question, especially at the current ticket prices. I have a pretty good track record with losing teams, see the north side. Winning teams sell themselves. The plan for those is take opportunities when they present themselves and just don’t mess it up. Losing teams require more work, but there is still money to be made.

As far as the hockey side, good management knows what they don’t know. The job there is to hire the people that do know the sport and give them the room to do their jobs. Should personal or organizational issues arise then it’s time to step in. But that’s how management should work in any business. Hire good people and let them work. Success should buy leeway. If your employees are working to avoid mistakes then they aren’t maximizing their potential. They should not be afraid to make mistakes, they should be striving for the best at all times and with that will come errors. Have we arrived at the point where we need to start making hard decisions in the hockey ops and coaching areas? I think we are. Rash decisions now aren’t going to do any good but the evaluations are ramping up. It’s going to be an intersting off-season.
- John McDonough

All right uncle John, you can start by directing your hockey people to do whatever it takes to get in position to draft Brady Tkachuk, that would be a good start, your GM seems to focus On euro Smurfs and Chicago born kids, if they are of a Chris Chelios Pedegree that is understandable, but enough of the feel good local kid story. Just my opinion.

So you feel they sold high on the Hammer deal, but let me ask you - who would you rather have Connor Murphy or Stephen Johns on the blueline? Not only is there is a large salary difference between the 2 but its really very obvious that the coaching staff in Dallas has done a superior job this year with Johns (and Greg Pateryn for that matter who could have been acquired cheap if Stanbo was paying attention). Meanwhile, Murphy flaps in the breeze from night to night wondering if the coach will dress him and where he will play and with whom.

- RickJ

Remember Johns did poorly under Ruff, lotta healthy scratches, and it wasn't until this yr under Hitch he started to really develop. Still a young player but no doubt who's coached him has a lot to do with his development/success.

That’s a fair question, especially at the current ticket prices. I have a pretty good track record with losing teams, see the north side. Winning teams sell themselves. The plan for those is take opportunities when they present themselves and just don’t mess it up. Losing teams require more work, but there is still money to be made.

As far as the hockey side, good management knows what they don’t know. The job there is to hire the people that do know the sport and give them the room to do their jobs. Should personal or organizational issues arise then it’s time to step in. But that’s how management should work in any business. Hire good people and let them work. Success should buy leeway. If your employees are working to avoid mistakes then they aren’t maximizing their potential. They should not be afraid to make mistakes, they should be striving for the best at all times and with that will come errors. Have we arrived at the point where we need to start making hard decisions in the hockey ops and coaching areas? I think we are. Rash decisions now aren’t going to do any good but the evaluations are ramping up. It’s going to be an intersting off-season.
- John McDonough

An even better post than your last. IMO the smartest people in any facet of life, sorry for the Toyota Mike Ditka (Japanese Iron Mike) life philosophy, know what they don't know and find people who do. Make a decision on managerial personnel and stay out of their way reviewing their results as needed.

And that's where we are now, evaluating the results of your managers, no?

Also will be very interesting to see what happens with season tickets. Ticket sales are very soft right now and you can’t count on recouping the money you laid out.

This morning from @ByScottPowers:
The Blackhawks have mailed out renewal information to season ticket holders. There is a four percent average increase for tickets next season.

The Blackhawks have also added seven new price levels to provide more price options. There are also seven-month payment installments and a “Pay-As-We-Play” option for the postseason for season ticket holders.

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

Cant trade the Cat Justin. I'd try to trade Saad over DBC if the goal was to bring a top 4 D back. DBC still has more to his game and in 2 years the kid could be a total Theo Fleury style player.

In terms of more of the same for next year? I sure hope that changes. Especially with the guy behind the bench. Q HAS TO GO!

Remember Johns did poorly under Ruff, lotta healthy scratches, and it wasn't until this yr under Hitch he started to really develop. Still a young player but no doubt who's coached him has a lot to do with his development/success.
- Mr Ricochet

He is 2 months away from his 26th birthday so not really that young. What you see now is probably the best you will get from him.

Edit: I just checked Dallas game stats for last couple games. Johns is still getting 3rd pairing minutes -lowest on the team. Are we over-valuing him?

Also will be very interesting to see what happens with season tickets. Ticket sales are very soft right now and you can’t count on recouping the money you laid out.

This morning from @ByScottPowers:
The Blackhawks have mailed out renewal information to season ticket holders. There is a four percent average increase for tickets next season.

The Blackhawks have also added seven new price levels to provide more price options. There are also seven-month payment installments and a “Pay-As-We-Play” option for the postseason for season ticket holders.
- Marlowe

I'm sure they bumped it. For the math gurus, does the 4% hike cover the loss of the playoff revenue?

I'm sure they bumped it. For the math gurus, does the 4% hike cover the loss of the playoff revenue?
- z1990z

Great point! But man, coming off of 2 first round exits and this season’s flat out bad play - especially lately on home ice - seems super myopic and as others have pointed out (on Twitter) likely to see sales down.

Great point! But man, coming off of 2 first round exits and this season’s flat out bad play - especially lately on home ice - seems super myopic and as others have pointed out (on Twitter) likely to see sales down.
- Marlowe

I’ve always thought the Rocky apple didn’t fall as far from the $Bill tree as we thought.

He is 2 months away from his 26th birthday so not really that young. What you see now is probably the best you will get from him.
- 67hawks

Most defenceman are in their prime between 25-30. Physically mature, experienced, understand the game. Johns will never be a star but a good, useful player on the back end to eat up minutes, bang some bodies and kill penalties.

Great point! But man, coming off of 2 first round exits and this season’s flat out bad play - especially lately on home ice - seems super myopic and you point out likely to see sales down.
- Marlowe

Owners will be owners. And no doubt ticket sales will be down for next year. We have slipped down the back side of the mountain in terms of being any type of Cup contender. It happens. Hawks need to face reality and make some hard decisions very soon. If they continue with past practice, done they are. Stan got over emotional with the contracts to 19, 88 and now 7. 88 still has elite skill. 19 and 7? I can understand 7's decline, but 19? 19 has to be hiding some serious injury. That or his body simply cant do it anymore. Either way, be honest about it. If you need to medically retire do it. You have your whole life ahead of you.

We need a total rebuild and depending on CC health, it could be from the net out. We need 2 top 4 D to start with. How do we get that? Saad with his nose dive performance this year is now near worthless. Cant trade 19 or 7. 7 and the first round pick moves the salary. Rough days ahead brothers.

Have to give McD credit for making Wrigley Field a place to be long before the Cubs were a great team. But when I consider the Sosa signing & hyping it seems that method of management has carried forward to the last decade. It remains to be seen if he can make the UC a place to be during a rebuild. I'll never forget him saying first when he came on board " well, we have to win, but if we do...."
He made his bed. Going to be real interesting following how all this shakes out.
- 6628

I give more credit to cable tv, since the Cubs were being broadcast during the day all over the country in the 80s 90s 00s, also to the area going through a regentrification, tons of young people began living in the area and it became a life style on the north side. He does get credit for being in the right place at the right time

Usually I'm a defender of Q (and most coaches) because I really believe they have to coach what they are given to work with. Great coaches are a result of having great players usually. And it has become an overcoached game with systems and line matching etc. etc.

You make some great points about who Q favoured and didn't and his stubbornness in general. I didn't even mention the Trevor Daley deal in my original post. The John Scott thing was a joke until somebody took that toy away from Q.

I don't know if you watched the Dallas Pittsburgh game last night but it was an outstanding match and highlighted for me how far off the Hawks are now from where those 2 teams are. I'm no Ken Hitchcock fan but he and Rick Wilson have done an incredible job on improving their defence group. Last year under Lindy Ruff they were as bad or worse than the Hawks D this year. I just knew Hitchcock would turn Stephen Johns into a good NHL defenceman and he has done the same with Pateryn and Klingberg is their wheelhorse back there.

Meanwhile 50+ games in, the Hawks still have nothing more than a group of 7 who show little or no improvement. Now they are going to take a look at the Swedish kid tonight. They have given up on the season, just haven't announced it publicly.
- RickJ

no question...they are in development and evaluation mode...its now preseason for next season...

craw may get a few starts to see how he does...but he should basically be shut down.

Q should throw away his lineup roulette and stick with the same line as much as possible and try to develop some structure and identity for this team...since the great stanbow has announced most of this team and its youth will be back next year...

get saad back up with toews and ADB and stay with it.