Crawford would have probably prevented some goals against but he would not be scoring any. If you are not scoring, it does not matter who is in net.
A few extra wins from Crawford would have put us just out of a wildcard spot with a low lottery draft pick.
- 67hawks

Good goaltending effects the team dramatically in small ways.
1) If you do not give up a soft goal in the first period, you often score the first goal. Teams that score first have a much higher winning percentage.
2) Handling the puck behind the net can lead to moving the puck out of our end better, thus leading to more offense. How many times have we seen the goalies turnover the puck which immediately turned into goals.
3) 21 Hawk games have been decided by one goal. Add to that the games that were one goal games until an empty netter was added. So one more save in some of those games turn losses into a point or two.
4) soft goals late in the game are back breakers.
5) winning instills confidence, confidence leads to more winning. A few key wins at the right time could have had a dramatic effect on this team.

You can both underestimate and overestimate the impact a healthy Crawford could have on this team.

If Kempny can net you a 3rd Wingels should be able to get at least that if not better. He brings a hell of a lot more to the table than Kempny has shown so far this year.

Team has looked horrible this year, but I'm not all doom and gloom when it comes to this team like most fans are. I think the loss of Hossa, Hammer, Breadman, Darling, and Crow (for half the season; possibly the rest of the year) have as much to do with this teams failures as anything. That's FIVE key pieces we lost and a lot of young rookies filling roles this years. I'm not backing Stan on this team completely as he's pretty much the reason why this team has fallen off so much since our last Cup win.

That being said, I feel there are enough pieces on this team to build something going forward.

Forward - Toews, Kane, Saad, AA, Schmaltz, DeBrincat, and a plethora of young forwards who can fill roles out on the team.

Defense - Keith, Seabrook, Murphy, Forsling, Oesterle, and a plethora of guys who can be a 5/6/7 D-man

We'll see once the Deadline passes who is still apart of this team and what assets we've acquired to fill pieces to the puzzle going forward. Also, if Bowman or Q will get the boot or if they're gonna give this "quick rebuild" another year before starting to pull the plug. It's clear we need to upgrade our Defense. I really think we have enough pieces at Forward that if we put our resources to the backend it could help this team lot next year. Not to mention a health Crow, more experienced young guys, and the Core possibly coming back more focused than ever after being embarrassed and missing the Playoffs for the first time in a decade. Idk maybe I'm one of the only ones out there, but I still have hope this team can do something going forward.

I think Hartman has played well enough the last 2 years to get some value. Trading Murph and Duke, Jurco would be for nothing so better to keep all three for the offseason and hope they learn, Train hard and come back knowing they have a Oppt in Chicago. Getting back 3rd for Murph 4th for Duke, 6th for Jurco make no sense.

I hope sharp would waive for 2-3 months and then retire in Chicago. Trade Bouma, Wingels. I would either trade Rutta or extend him. Kempny leads our team in +/1 by a country Mile he 48 in the league at +13 in 31 games. our next highest is Murph at +4 down to Keith at -13. the fact we got a 3rd for him shows people think he has talent. He has size speed and a big shot. Great Signing by Stan huge fail by Q. Like daley etc. playing Carl and Murph on there opposite sides almost makes you feel like he throwing the bird at Stan. How TVR could do not wrong but Murph can do no right is beyond me. Murph has a better shot skates better and when you play him consistently instead of moving him up and down around benching scratching etc what do you expect from him? He allows the VETS to play terrible or play thru it, Sharp, Bouma, Seabs. the young guys he does not. I'm fine with q going and give stan 2 years. AA should go as well. return will never be higher and we are not a ST team with him or without next year.

If Kempny can net you a 3rd Wingels should be able to get at least that if not better. He brings a hell of a lot more to the table than Kempny has shown so far this year.

Team has looked horrible this year, but I'm not all doom and gloom when it comes to this team like most fans are. I think the loss of Hossa, Hammer, Breadman, Darling, and Crow (for half the season; possibly the rest of the year) have as much to do with this teams failures as anything. That's FIVE key pieces we lost and a lot of young rookies filling roles this years. I'm not backing Stan on this team completely as he's pretty much the reason why this team has fallen off so much since our last Cup win.

That being said, I feel there are enough pieces on this team to build something going forward.

Forward - Toews, Kane, Saad, AA, Schmaltz, DeBrincat, and a plethora of young forwards who can fill roles out on the team.

Defense - Keith, Seabrook, Murphy, Forsling, Oesterle, and a plethora of guys who can be a 5/6/7 D-man

We'll see once the Deadline passes who is still apart of this team and what assets we've acquired to fill pieces to the puzzle going forward. Also, if Bowman or Q will get the boot or if they're gonna give this "quick rebuild" another year before starting to pull the plug. It's clear we need to upgrade our Defense. I really think we have enough pieces at Forward that if we put our resources to the backend it could help this team lot next year. Not to mention a health Crow, more experienced young guys, and the Core possibly coming back more focused than ever after being embarrassed and missing the Playoffs for the first time in a decade. Idk maybe I'm one of the only ones out there, but I still have hope this team can do something going forward.
- Savetheembers33

The Core possibly coming back more focused? Why wouldn't they be focused this year? Blow it up... unless the cap goes up dramatically, and the "Core" can become 3rd and 4th liners. SMH....doubt it....

If Kempny can net you a 3rd Wingels should be able to get at least that if not better. He brings a hell of a lot more to the table than Kempny has shown so far this year.

Team has looked horrible this year, but I'm not all doom and gloom when it comes to this team like most fans are. I think the loss of Hossa, Hammer, Breadman, Darling, and Crow (for half the season; possibly the rest of the year) have as much to do with this teams failures as anything. That's FIVE key pieces we lost and a lot of young rookies filling roles this years. I'm not backing Stan on this team completely as he's pretty much the reason why this team has fallen off so much since our last Cup win.

That being said, I feel there are enough pieces on this team to build something going forward.

Forward - Toews, Kane, Saad, AA, Schmaltz, DeBrincat, and a plethora of young forwards who can fill roles out on the team.

Defense - Keith, Seabrook, Murphy, Forsling, Oesterle, and a plethora of guys who can be a 5/6/7 D-man

We'll see once the Deadline passes who is still apart of this team and what assets we've acquired to fill pieces to the puzzle going forward. Also, if Bowman or Q will get the boot or if they're gonna give this "quick rebuild" another year before starting to pull the plug. It's clear we need to upgrade our Defense. I really think we have enough pieces at Forward that if we put our resources to the backend it could help this team lot next year. Not to mention a health Crow, more experienced young guys, and the Core possibly coming back more focused than ever after being embarrassed and missing the Playoffs for the first time in a decade. Idk maybe I'm one of the only ones out there, but I still have hope this team can do something going forward.
- Savetheembers33

Didnt SJ trade Wingels to OTT last year, what was that haul?

Didnt SJ trade Wingels to OTT last year, what was that haul?
- glennjpawlak22

Buddy Robinson, Zach Stortini and a seventh-round draft pick in 2017

If Kempny can net you a 3rd Wingels should be able to get at least that if not better. He brings a hell of a lot more to the table than Kempny has shown so far this year.

Team has looked horrible this year, but I'm not all doom and gloom when it comes to this team like most fans are. I think the loss of Hossa, Hammer, Breadman, Darling, and Crow (for half the season; possibly the rest of the year) have as much to do with this teams failures as anything. That's FIVE key pieces we lost and a lot of young rookies filling roles this years. I'm not backing Stan on this team completely as he's pretty much the reason why this team has fallen off so much since our last Cup win.

That being said, I feel there are enough pieces on this team to build something going forward.

Forward - Toews, Kane, Saad, AA, Schmaltz, DeBrincat, and a plethora of young forwards who can fill roles out on the team.

Defense - Keith, Seabrook, Murphy, Forsling, Oesterle, and a plethora of guys who can be a 5/6/7 D-man

We'll see once the Deadline passes who is still apart of this team and what assets we've acquired to fill pieces to the puzzle going forward. Also, if Bowman or Q will get the boot or if they're gonna give this "quick rebuild" another year before starting to pull the plug. It's clear we need to upgrade our Defense. I really think we have enough pieces at Forward that if we put our resources to the backend it could help this team lot next year. Not to mention a health Crow, more experienced young guys, and the Core possibly coming back more focused than ever after being embarrassed and missing the Playoffs for the first time in a decade. Idk maybe I'm one of the only ones out there, but I still have hope this team can do something going forward.
- Savetheembers33

I agree. If they have a healthy Crow and can add a top pairing defender and the young players continue to progress this team is not terrible. As awful as the D and goaltending has been the Hawks are 16th in goals allowed. If they stop 10 more goals over 60 games they are in the top 10 in goals allowed. As young as their forwards are they are 18th in goals scored. If they had 10 more goals over 60 games they would be in the top 10 in scoring. Goaltending and D impacts both goals scored and goals against. The difference between winning and losing in this league is razor thin. Small changes can make major impacts.

Good goaltending effects the team dramatically in small ways.
1) If you do not give up a soft goal in the first period, you often score the first goal. Teams that score first have a much higher winning percentage.
2) Handling the puck behind the net can lead to moving the puck out of our end better, thus leading to more offense. How many times have we seen the goalies turnover the puck which immediately turned into goals.
3) 21 Hawk games have been decided by one goal. Add to that the games that were one goal games until an empty netter was added. So one more save in some of those games turn losses into a point or two.
4) soft goals late in the game are back breakers.
5) winning instills confidence, confidence leads to more winning. A few key wins at the right time could have had a dramatic effect on this team.

You can both underestimate and overestimate the impact a healthy Crawford could have on this team.
- -Doh-

Agreed man. Just to add to #1, I think that in addition to getting the lead, it helps to hold the lead. The opposing team takes more chances to try and tie it up and the Hawks can capitalize on mistakes, pinching D, etc.. When the opposing team can tie it or grab the lead on a soft goal, then they can tighten up the neutral zone and slow the Hawks offensive push. The Hawks have issues, but weak goaltending can make it worse in so many ways.

This website would be so much better if you could agree or disagree with posts by just clicking on a thumbs up or thumbs down icon. Then for example if a post had 31 thumbs up and 10 thumbs down you would know how closely the post reflects the opinion (or dissent) of the majority.

The Q doghouse has always been a frustrating construct. How does Bouma get 30 seconds of ice-time, immediately take a penalty but is welcomed back into the penthouse? Wingels took a key penalty in a recent game, as time in a period was expiring, 200 feet from his own net, leading to the tying goal and these facts were just ignored. Wingels now in the penthouse with Toews and Saad? Really? Kempny lived in the doghouse. Daley too. Murphy far to familiar with. Hartman knows all the staff in the doghouse on a first name basis. Duclair in there now. Sharp has been too.

The disconnect between Bowman and Q is toxic. I don’t like to think back to the Daley situation because it turns my stomach. We trade Sharp get Daley and after Q and Bowman do their worst we trade Daley for zero return - zero.

We now have the Hammer trade. We get Murphy. Former First Rounder, previously named Captain of Team USA. Takes the body, can make a pass, seems to care. Moved in and out of the line-up and up and down the line-up and right to left. If someone said Q is clearly trying to break him with this treatment how could you argue? Murphy has been treated like garbage. If we now trade him for zero return it will seem like déjà vu.

We play Anisimov with Kane and Schmaltz. Anisimov is clearly too slow, not offensively gifted enough to compliment them and isn’t an aggressive forechecker. This line seems to have zero chance to score 5 on 5 - zero. However, Anisimov is welcomed into the penthouse no matter what he does or doesn’t do.

The coaching this year has been atrocious. Epitome of square peg round hole. Stubborn and ludicrous. My fav was actually creating the line of Bouma, Schmaltz and Kane. You’ve fallen off the cliff when you come up with that line. Don’t put DeBrincat put Bouma. Perfect. Below .500 record - look right at the coaching.

maybe Q wants to be fired, tired of dealing with StanBo

If Kempny can net you a 3rd Wingels should be able to get at least that if not better. He brings a hell of a lot more to the table than Kempny has shown so far this year.

Team has looked horrible this year, but I'm not all doom and gloom when it comes to this team like most fans are. I think the loss of Hossa, Hammer, Breadman, Darling, and Crow (for half the season; possibly the rest of the year) have as much to do with this teams failures as anything. That's FIVE key pieces we lost and a lot of young rookies filling roles this years. I'm not backing Stan on this team completely as he's pretty much the reason why this team has fallen off so much since our last Cup win.

That being said, I feel there are enough pieces on this team to build something going forward.

Forward - Toews, Kane, Saad, AA, Schmaltz, DeBrincat, and a plethora of young forwards who can fill roles out on the team.

Defense - Keith, Seabrook, Murphy, Forsling, Oesterle, and a plethora of guys who can be a 5/6/7 D-man

We'll see once the Deadline passes who is still apart of this team and what assets we've acquired to fill pieces to the puzzle going forward. Also, if Bowman or Q will get the boot or if they're gonna give this "quick rebuild" another year before starting to pull the plug. It's clear we need to upgrade our Defense. I really think we have enough pieces at Forward that if we put our resources to the backend it could help this team lot next year. Not to mention a health Crow, more experienced young guys, and the Core possibly coming back more focused than ever after being embarrassed and missing the Playoffs for the first time in a decade. Idk maybe I'm one of the only ones out there, but I still have hope this team can do something going forward.
- Savetheembers33

I think Hartman has played well enough the last 2 years to get some value. Trading Murph and Duke, Jurco would be for nothing so better to keep all three for the offseason and hope they learn, Train hard and come back knowing they have a Oppt in Chicago. Getting back 3rd for Murph 4th for Duke, 6th for Jurco make no sense.

I hope sharp would waive for 2-3 months and then retire in Chicago. Trade Bouma, Wingels. I would either trade Rutta or extend him. Kempny leads our team in +/1 by a country Mile he 48 in the league at +13 in 31 games. our next highest is Murph at +4 down to Keith at -13. the fact we got a 3rd for him shows people think he has talent. He has size speed and a big shot. Great Signing by Stan huge fail by Q. Like daley etc. playing Carl and Murph on there opposite sides almost makes you feel like he throwing the bird at Stan. How TVR could do not wrong but Murph can do no right is beyond me. Murph has a better shot skates better and when you play him consistently instead of moving him up and down around benching scratching etc what do you expect from him? He allows the VETS to play terrible or play thru it, Sharp, Bouma, Seabs. the young guys he does not. I'm fine with q going and give stan 2 years. AA should go as well. return will never be higher and we are not a ST team with him or without next year.
- kmw4631

Agree totally. Also, the Colorado G.M. said when he fired Q : “You have to merge your philosophy on how to play with the players that you have.” Sound familiar?

maybe Q wants to be fired, tired of dealing with StanBo
- glennjpawlak22

Maybe Q likes his Binny stint more - sometimes he coaches like he is sampling the merchandise.

Buddy Robinson, Zach Stortini and a seventh-round draft pick in 2017
- DarthKane

Although to be fair that really wasn’t a TDL trade. He’s a decent depth player for a deep run team.

In 2016 he played in 21 playoff games for the Sharks, close to ten minutes ATOI, and a total of 80 hits.

In 2017 he played in 9 playoff games for the Sens, close to ten minutes ATOI, and a total of 28 hits.

He might bring a 2nd which would be about the same as a third for a team that makes a deep run.

Although to be fair that really wasn’t a TDL trade. He’s a decent depth player for a deep run team.

In 2016 he played in 21 playoff games for the Sharks, close to ten minutes ATOI, and a total of 80 hits.

In 2017 he played in 9 playoff games for the Sens, close to ten minutes ATOI, and a total of 28 hits.

He might bring a 2nd which would be about the same as a third for a team that makes a deep run.
- walleyeb1

I'd be more than happy with a 2nd or 3rd for Wingels, and maybe a 3rd or 4th for Bouma.

This website would be so much better if you could agree or disagree with posts by just clicking on a thumbs up or thumbs down icon. Then for example if a post had 31 thumbs up and 10 thumbs down you would know how closely the post reflects the opinion (or dissent) of the majority.
- -Doh-

Great idea Doh.

I will bring that up with the HB bosses.

maybe Q wants to be fired, tired of dealing with StanBo
- glennjpawlak22

Actually that’s not all that far fetched, I wonder who wanted the shorter three year extension Stan or Q, or was it a mutual thing.

I'd be more than happy with a 2nd or 3rd for Wingels, and maybe a 3rd or 4th for Bouma.
- DarthKane

Even better: trade Wingels for a 2nd or 3rd and then re-sign him in the off season to an affordable contract again. It's been noted that Wingels wants to stay close to home so I imagine he's with the Hawks next year and beyond no matter whether he is playing playoff hockey this spring or golfing early.

Bouma, yes, trade him for a lower round draft pick and shop around this summer to see if what he brought to the Hawks this year can be upgraded. If not and he's still available, consider him on another cheap deal to be a 13th forward who can play 4th line in a pinch.

This website would be so much better if you could agree or disagree with posts by just clicking on a thumbs up or thumbs down icon. Then for example if a post had 31 thumbs up and 10 thumbs down you would know how closely the post reflects the opinion (or dissent) of the majority.
- -Doh-

Great idea. The Hawks official message board on their website has or used to have that feature. I haven't been on those boards in a few years.

BTW, are any of you on those boards regularly?

Interesting thoughts, on how to fix the Blackhawks:

https://www.nhl.com/video/t-278910374
- walleyeb1

I'm not about to sift through a 7 minute interview with Anti Raanta. What was so interesting?

I really hope we trade AA. I am a bigger fan of his than most on this board. But I think he is exactly what a trade deadline team wants for playoff hockey. Center, size, experience, stability. Net front presence. He would be a very positive upgrade for about any playoff teams 3rd line. I can't imagine he has less value than a Weiss trade from two years ago, or some of the trades we've made at the deadline in our playoff runs where we traded lots for sthe playoff upgrade. Make it happen, Stan.

This website would be so much better if you could agree or disagree with posts by just clicking on a thumbs up or thumbs down icon. Then for example if a post had 31 thumbs up and 10 thumbs down you would know how closely the post reflects the opinion (or dissent) of the majority.
- -Doh-

This site would be so much better if there weren't ads auto-playing video with sound, crashing your browser half the time. Or if you could navigate to the last page of a comment section without scrolling all the way to the bottom of a page.

I agree. If they have a healthy Crow and can add a top pairing defender and the young players continue to progress this team is not terrible. As awful as the D and goaltending has been the Hawks are 16th in goals allowed. If they stop 10 more goals over 60 games they are in the top 10 in goals allowed. As young as their forwards are they are 18th in goals scored. If they had 10 more goals over 60 games they would be in the top 10 in scoring. Goaltending and D impacts both goals scored and goals against. The difference between winning and losing in this league is razor thin. Small changes can make major impacts.
- -Doh-

No offense man, but if the queen had balls, she'd be king. If this team had stellar goaltending this season like it did last year, it might be just good enough to sneak into the playoffs and get its head kicked in in the first round again as this team, as presently constructed, is simultaneously both too old and too young and is still baby poop soft. Offensively, this team can't score in close games but has been good at piling on a few times when rolling with scores of 10-1, 8-2, 7-1, 7-3 so the offensive numbers look respectable. As has been well documented, the D is a train wreck.

If Kempny can net you a 3rd Wingels should be able to get at least that if not better. He brings a hell of a lot more to the table than Kempny has shown so far this year.

Team has looked horrible this year, but I'm not all doom and gloom when it comes to this team like most fans are. I think the loss of Hossa, Hammer, Breadman, Darling, and Crow (for half the season; possibly the rest of the year) have as much to do with this teams failures as anything. That's FIVE key pieces we lost and a lot of young rookies filling roles this years. I'm not backing Stan on this team completely as he's pretty much the reason why this team has fallen off so much since our last Cup win.

That being said, I feel there are enough pieces on this team to build something going forward.

Forward - Toews, Kane, Saad, AA, Schmaltz, DeBrincat, and a plethora of young forwards who can fill roles out on the team.

Defense - Keith, Seabrook, Murphy, Forsling, Oesterle, and a plethora of guys who can be a 5/6/7 D-man

We'll see once the Deadline passes who is still apart of this team and what assets we've acquired to fill pieces to the puzzle going forward. Also, if Bowman or Q will get the boot or if they're gonna give this "quick rebuild" another year before starting to pull the plug. It's clear we need to upgrade our Defense. I really think we have enough pieces at Forward that if we put our resources to the backend it could help this team lot next year. Not to mention a health Crow, more experienced young guys, and the Core possibly coming back more focused than ever after being embarrassed and missing the Playoffs for the first time in a decade. Idk maybe I'm one of the only ones out there, but I still have hope this team can do something going forward.
- Savetheembers33

Good post. I'm cautiously optimistic and think the Hawks have a decent nucleus to start from.

The Hawks need a stable RW to play with Toews and Saad. They could fill this position internally with possible options as Hayden, Sikura, or DeBrincat.

If Schmaltz stays at 2C, then 3C could be Anisimov. But if he's traded, then I'd think the Hawks would need to acquire one who can play a 200-foot game, relentless motor, and tough to play against. Highmore fits that description but not sure if he's ready or even suited to be anything above 4C. Kampf is already at 4C and I wouldn't want the bottom-6 centers to be filled by rookies.

Biggest need is on defense since I don't think that can be filled internally given the need for experienced blueliners who can play defense first, take the body, and hang back allowing a puck-moving D partner to wheel and deal. No one like that in the system.

Build out from Keith, Seabrook, Murphy (assuming he's still with the team), and Forsling which leaves 2 spots up for grabs. I imagine Oesterle will make the team if Q is still coach. That's fine as long as he's on 3rd pair (a) with a stay-at-home partner, and (b) the starting defense also doesn't include similar players as him like Gustafsson, Rutta, and Dahlstrom.