After the Nashville playoff debacle, Stanley decided it was his team to run and he was going to show Q who was boss. First act was he sh$t canned Q's best friend Mike Kitchen, probably due to deep seated anger over Kitchen not ever being able to turn any of David Rundblad, Michael Kempny, Ville Pokka, Christian Erhoff or Eric Gustaffson into the potential Norris Trophy winners that Stanley thought they could be.

And then he decides Connor Murphy had the potential to be great, that it was a Coyote's issue that was preventing him from realizing his potential.
And to boot, he'd be a cost effective upgrade on Hammer. And if something really went wrong, he could always fall back on Cody Franson.

Don't expect better going forward with Stan at the helm as GM, chief talent evaluator and trading desk supervisor. He's up against professional hockey men in the Central Division who can identify a real hockey player when they see one - Jim Nill, Doug Armstrong, Joe Sakic and David Poile. And those guys can spot a hockey amateur like Stanbo a mile away.
- RickJ

Agreed 100%. 30yr old (unwanted by 30 teams) UFA Cody Franson, AHLer Eric Gustafson, 27 yr old Czech Leaguer Jan Rutta, 26yr old Czech Leaguer Mikal Kempny, or 20yr old Gustav Forsling.........

When John Chayka in AZ trades Hjallmarsson for a 1st round pick and better prospect than Murphy, will Stan Bowman be fired on the spot?
- EnzoD

that is speculatively unfairly stacking the deck against stanbow...nobody is coughing up a first for hammy now...let alone plus a prospect...hell its possible stan wanted a first and prospect and there were no tackers...

he is 30, 1 year left on ctr, missed 25 games this year, talk about miles on the tread: this guy sacrificed his body and physical well being game after game...

How do you assess more upside than murphy..a guy with 4 plus years and under contract control 3 more years...

If Murphy is traded then that is a huge failure. Q jacked Murphy around all year. Off side. Then out of the line up. It will be TD part two. Again how can anyone on this team, especially the D get into any flow with this friggin circus Q runs.

#TimeForChange
- z1990z

Especially if it is for Zack Smith. Rebuilding teams do not trade 24 year olds for questionable 29 year olds. In addition defencemen carry more value than forwards.

i do get a kick out of these trade ruminations spewed out here...let's see yeah...trade the hawks sows ears for another teams potential silk purse and oh yeah they will luv this over 30 guy with cap killing contract...

Especially if it is for Zack Smith. Rebuilding teams do not trade 24 year olds for questionable 29 year olds. In addition defencemen carry more value than forwards.
- 67hawks

i don't participate much at all in trade banter: you are correct, a trade like this is epic fail...

i don't participate much at all in trade banter: you are correct, a trade like this is epic fail...
- bogiedoc

Don't put anything past this team right now. I still shake my head with the fact that Cody Franson is not with this team. One of the few D that had a positive effect on the PP.

Any idea when Toews is going to step up with some of that Leadership he supposedly has an abundance of?

Asking for a Friend....

Any idea when Toews is going to step up with some of that Leadership he supposedly has an abundance of?

Asking for a Friend....
- TheGame316

See 81, Marian Hossa

Debrincat with Kane would be the nuclear option and won't happen until the Hawks are dowm 3 games to 1 in the playoffs as Q must be Q.
- eagle50

Been calling for Schmaltz, Debrincat and Kane all year since they were dynamite in the preseason. But NO.....Q always has a better "blend". How's that worked all year ???

See 81, Marian Hossa
- z1990z

Bingo. z1990z has Bingo!

Especially if it is for Zack Smith. Rebuilding teams do not trade 24 year olds for questionable 29 year olds. In addition defencemen carry more value than forwards.
- 67hawks

He’d fit right in with all are other older declining players!!!

I want to see Bowman do to another GM what they have been doing to him for years.....trade the Hawks a 1st round Pick and Highly touted prospect for an overrated player like Murphy or Anisimov. I will dislike him less if he's able to make some positive moves towards the rebuild this trade deadline. If he does nothing, that's unacceptable. He should be selling who he can for 1st round picks or high end prospects. This is going to be a long, ugly few years if drastic action isn't taken this TDL and summer....
- EnzoD

Exactly correct....let's see what he gets for Anisimov, Murphy, Wingels etc. I'm betting he'll have to throw in Hartman if he wants anybodys 1st. That would be typical Bowman, or should I say McDonough.

Watch bowman will trade AA for shaw since both gm suck at trading of late.

Been calling for Schmaltz, Debrincat and Kane all year since they were dynamite in the preseason. But NO.....Q always has a better "blend". How's that worked all year ???
- Hawkytalk

they have played together...but together they are defensive liability...

so gals and guys...

the hawks break this miserable streak somehow or is it 9 in a row and 7 @ home..
wings vs preds....hawks could drop another spot...

i can't believe we are talking about the the hawks dropping in the league standings as opposed to rising...

Watch bowman will trade AA for shaw since both gm suck at trading of late.
- Scott1977

That would be outstanding.

THIS is the problem. Keith, while still good, no longer walks on water, Seabrook and Murphy are slow, both looking more like bottom pairing guys than the 2/3 in any team's attack.

The blue line sucks, pure and simple. You got some guys who do some good things, but by and large ONE player on this Defense would play a Top 4 role for any of the major contenders, except for maybe Pittsburgh who seems to win with limited D depth.
- kwolf68

Quite frankly as fans we have no idea what Murphy can or cannot do. He was a First Round Draft Pick and is respected enough that he was named Captain of Team USA. Has been given absolutely no opportunity by Ulf and Q to get into any rhythm whatsoever. The coaching for the Hawks has been a freakin’ joke. Ulf was a joke as a player and is a bigger joke as a coach. His idiotic defensive system gives up more odd-man breaks in a game than other teams give up in 20 games. On top of it Murphy has been asked for no reason to play his off wing. He has been sat out repeatedly in favour of AHLers. Q was never going to be happy as Murphy was the return for Hammer. Many of the D have looked worse than they are because they are asked to play in a manner that makes no sense to them.

I am getting tired of the Seabrook slamming. For years now Seabrook has been assigned a babysitting role - always having to cover for whatever Rockfordtite is around. I’ve watched as Seabrook has attempted to cover both sides of the ice at once. On a team that has been a defensive tire fire, when he has also been asked to cover for rookies or struggling young players, he has a freakin’ +1. Do you know how freakin’ miraculous that is? Duncan Keith? Well he is -13.

The D should have been built around Keith, Seabrook and Murphy from day 1. Kempny assuming he played physical hockey as the 4. However let’s keep trotting out Oesterle and Rutta who can only compete if the NHL adopts a no hitting rule. The jury’s out on Gus. Forsling has obvious talent but if he doesn’t add some physicality to his game he’ll have no impact.

Quite frankly as fans we have no idea what Murphy can or cannot do. He was a First Round Draft Pick and is respected enough that he was named Captain of Team USA. Has been given absolutely no opportunity by Ulf and Q to get into any rhythm whatsoever. The coaching for the Hawks has been a freakin’ joke. Ulf was a joke as a player and is a bigger joke as a coach. His idiotic defensive system gives up more odd-man breaks in a game than other teams give up in 20 games. On top of it Murphy has been asked for no reason to play his off wing. He has been sat out repeatedly in favour of AHLers. Q was never going to be happy as Murphy was the return for Hammer. Many of the D have looked worse than they are because they are asked to play in a manner that makes no sense to them.

I am getting tired of the Seabrook slamming. For years now Seabrook has been assigned a babysitting role - always having to cover for whatever Rockfordtite is around. I’ve watched as Seabrook has attempted to cover both sides of the ice at once. On a team that has been a defensive tire fire, when he has also been asked to cover for rookies or struggling young players, he has a freakin’ +1. Do you know how freakin’ miraculous that is? Duncan Keith? Well he is -13.

The D should have been built around Keith, Seabrook and Murphy from day 1. Kempny assuming he played physical hockey as the 4. However let’s keep trotting out Oesterle and Rutta who can only compete if the NHL adopts a no hitting rule. The jury’s out on Gus. Forsling has obvious talent but if he doesn’t add some physicality to his game he’ll have no impact.
- Z3Hawk

I agree. You can't fire 9 defensemen, but you can fire one or two coaches.

Just throwing this out there
AA+forsling for ceci + pague
Murphy + hartman/hino/duclair for brady skeci and 2018 4th. Just spitballing just waiting foe the game tonight thought do some arm chair gm

So you are saying that the guy scores over 70 points in each of his FIRST two seasons , finishes 9th in scoring in the entire league one season and 11th the next season and wins the Calder Trophy in his rookie year all because he has no dedication to hockey and can't speak english. Then they trade him for a player who is little more than half as good and of course this somehow leads you to think Chicago won this trade. IMO Propaganda is still a problem on this board. See how
pissed off Kane feels about what you said.

https://www.secondcityhoc...columbus-blue-jackets-nhl
- Savoy

What would you expect Kane to say? Rumour had it at the time of the trade that the very same Kane had made it known along with Toews that they would love to get Saad back. Also after the trade happened there there was absolutely no contact between Panarin and Kane admitted Kane. The absolute tight “friendship” actually non-existent. You’d think that Panarin would maybe have wanted to thank Kane. Nobody talked about the annoying issues around TT either. Saad has had an off year no doubt but he is young, still has a similar number of goals to Panarin and kills penalties.

Also you seem to be saying that it’s OK for someone like Hall of Famer Ovie to feel he should learn English but the great Panarin shouldn’t have to. It is also interesting that Panarin is no longer a sniper away from Kane.

You can deal with it or not but Panarin couldn’t have cared less about First Round losses. I followed him at the World Cups where he always upped his game wearing the Red.

they have played together...but together they are defensive liability...
- bogiedoc

I get that point but since we are in lottery draft territory why not have a look?I would perhaps try them with Kempny and Seabs as perhaps some more defensive D can help curtail the sort comings of the forwards.I am not a talent evaluator so feel free to insert a better D tandem or throw AA in place of Schmaltz to get the net front presence.

What would you expect Kane to say? Rumour had it at the time of the trade that the very same Kane had made it known along with Toews that they would love to get Saad back. Also after the trade happened there there was absolutely no contact between Panarin and Kane admitted Kane. The absolute tight “friendship” actually non-existent. You’d think that Panarin would maybe have wanted to thank Kane. Nobody talked about the annoying issues around TT either. Saad has had an off year no doubt but he is young, still has a similar number of goals to Panarin and kills penalties.

Also you seem to be saying that it’s OK for someone like Hall of Famer Ovie to feel he should learn English but the great Panarin shouldn’t have to. It is also interesting that Panarin is no longer a sniper away from Kane.

You can deal with it or not but Panarin couldn’t have cared less about First Round losses. I followed him at the World Cups where he always upped his game wearing the Red.
- Z3Hawk

It does appear to be that the longer Q is coach, the faster Bowman's grave gets dug. You have to hope that Bowman figures out the right type of players to add and drafts well. Putting correct players who can produce together on a forward combo or defense combo is what he must do. Or leave for his new coach to figure out.

He needs a few candidates from within and transactions. From within some of those players need experience. Murphy is really not a good enough skater under Ulfie ways but if a new headt coach leaves him alone, then I want him on third pair. Forsling probably gets first crack to stick; maybe Rutta may be depth because if paired correctly he does have ability and can make good plays. Just do not put him with another offensive dman. I bet someone bites on Kempny. Jokiharju should not be rushed. Hillman and Mitchell intrigue but they are better off one more year where they are
..

Smith - $3.2MM for next three years. Ceci at $2.8MM RFA next year. $6MM in cap leaving OTT, which Murray would do if his return costs him less.

Murphy at $4MMish saves Murray $2MM net and replaces his lost D man in Ceci. Question is who goes the other way with Murphy to sweeten the deal that still saves OTT money? Or AA is the guy who goes and Smith is the cheaper replacement for him on our side, with some random D guy of ours going with AA. Just hope it is not Kempny.

FYI - AAs NTC does not kick in until next year.

At the end of the day, deals made now are/should be about creating cap relief for after the strike.

they have played together...but together they are defensive liability...
- bogiedoc

Some....not a lot. Can't have it all. This team scores 2 or less a game. Put the 3 together for the remainder of the year and allow them to get some continuity.
Who cares right now about their freekin defensive liabilities. A scoring line is needed to be defined for next year.

how about a couple of weeks ago the in the ducks/kings game...3 post face off "fights" immediately at the start of the game...

they probably texted each other before the game...hey lets go..WWF on skates...nothing accomplished, didn't change a damn thing...had nothing to do with actual playing the game...wow so happy we got that out of our system; retribution, energized the crowd and we showed them...pure nonsense...

want to energize the crowd or your team mates...how about making a play, great saves, a good clean hit...
- bogiedoc

Probably those teams fans favorite game of the year. Rather have guys fight then hit from behind and use there sticks. Watch the video the place was electric after that the players settled down. Would that have wrecked the game for you completely if you saw that? If so pro hockey isn't for you watch the ncaa or khl.