What if Stan Bowman actually became a GM oh wait he is lol.


Let's all stop living in fantasy land and come to terms this team and group of core players will never win a cup again with Stan running the ship and coach Q here.


As a GM Stan never bothered to retool this team at the farm level to account for these bad contracts he handed out to his core players with no exit plan in place in case of regression.


He traded all blue chip assets brought in utility players and paraded them off as blockbuster deals.


Coach Q lost his sense of control with his players by allowing them to not live up to their potential with no accountability.

Toews should have been benched long ago or lost his title as captain.The teams overall play was awful, showing up in a 60 minute game on avg 20 minutes 98% of the games .


I'd be happy if Stan between now and February finds a way to rid this team of Seabrook and toews, so this way it's only 4 or 5 years since winning the cup instead of 8 years and wasted opportunity to get a return of value.

Damn!! I'd be in divorce court. Damn.
- Mr Ricochet

We are lucky to have a similar situation here in Saskatchewan, lots of CHL nice and close!

https://theathletic.com/460910/2018/08/06/goalie-prospect-ivan-nalimov-will-wait-one-more-season-to-sign-with-blackhawks/

Goalie​ prospect Ivan​ Nalimov and the​ Blackhawks are​ on good​ terms again.

Nalimov​ had​ asked for the Blackhawks to trade​ his​​ NHL rights, but he’s rescinded that request after a recent conversation between his agent, Shumi Babaev, and Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman about his future.

According to Babaev, Bowman told him Nalimov was in the Blackhawks’ plans, but the organization would like for him to spend another season in the KHL before coming over.

Nalimov, who turns 24 in August, has since signed a one-year contract with Kunlun Red Star in the KHL. Babaev believes Nalimov will be the No. 1 goalie with the team.
- Mr Ricochet

Nalimov is a perfect example of why teams are so reluctant to go the John Gibson / more recent...Jake Oettinger routes using picks in the first two rounds that might garnish guaranteed safer NHL forward defender prospects.

The hawks taking really late, an uncertain unpolished kid who after ups and downs and he makes qualitative jump in his play in the KHL, and starts looking like a nice prospect.

All this signals they will make decisions fairly quickly with their kid goalies.

Pretty clear why they only wanted a vet goalie for more than a year.

Put the best product on the ice that you can. I hope this is the strategy going forward. This is what fans pay for and expect. "The tank" is a tactic not needed in Chicago as we are blessed with a scouting dept that produces year after year in spite of mgt. Trying to intentionally lose games in order to get a higher draft pick reminds me of the diving that goes on in soccer that ruins the game.

Put the best product on the ice that you can. I hope this is the strategy going forward. This is what fans pay for and expect. "The tank" is a tactic not needed in Chicago as we are blessed with a scouting dept that produces year after year in spite of mgt. Trying to intentionally lose games in order to get a higher draft pick reminds me of the diving that goes on in soccer that ruins the game.
- Savoy

The tank will require no effort to accomplish. The best product they can put on the ice likely ensures it by default.

The sheer volume of ifs that must be fulfilled for this team to take a turn for the better would truly require a complete realignment of the solar system.

Not all is bad - the pipeline is being restocked, and in a few years time we will know if there are any diamonds in the mine. There should be some measure of cap freedom improving over the next few years. Some of the rookies on the club or in Rockford now may prove serviceable.

However, beware cap prognostication. Every single economist worth their salt is predicting another recession in the next eighteen months. Recession equals lower demand for oil. That is bad for the Looney, which is in turn bad for the hockey cap.

The tank will require no effort to accomplish. The best product they can put on the ice likely ensures it by default.

The sheer volume of ifs that must be fulfilled for this team to take a turn for the better would truly require a complete realignment of the solar system.

Not all is bad - the pipeline is being restocked, and in a few years time we will know if there are any diamonds in the mine. There should be some measure of cap freedom improving over the next few years. Some of the rookies on the club or in Rockford now may prove serviceable.

However, beware cap prognostication. Every single economist worth their salt is predicting another recession in the next eighteen months. Recession equals lower demand for oil. That is bad for the Looney, which is in turn bad for the hockey cap.
- Return of the Roar

Wait, so you're telling me unprompted trade wars started by an egomaniac dotard are NOT good for the global economy???

Wait, so you're telling me unprompted trade wars started by an egomaniac dotard are NOT good for the global economy???
- EnzoD

I won't go there, but I will say the natural evolution of economic cycles says the number of years up equals the number of years down, and vice versa.

Answer: yes




Thanks for having my back... you will. notice my long posts don't involve much negativity...
- wiz1901

I'll raise my hand as someone who is guilty of some long posts on a regular basis. Generally, I like to think it means the poster is proving detail to support their point and provide context. While we (as a group) have some drastically varying opinions on nearly any topic here, I appreciate the thought that goes into many of the posts. I'll take that over some online forums that are just littered with short blanket statements and trolling.

I know if a player is drafted out of the KHL, the NHL team holds his rights indefinitely, and if a kid goes the NCAA route, the player can be a free agent on 8/15 after his college eligibility is done, but what are the rules for the other leagues?

I showed have never bit and gone to that Athletic link about the hawk Russian goalie...

I saw Corey was doing his very stupid organizational rankings and HAD to go after him for the entire process and his convenient criteria for the ranks...

He has never been right on these except for the obvious, and it rewards each and all teams who pick early, have more number ones, or ding midround Cap relief NHLers.


I couldn't help myself...it is like he wants to be a snob who sucks the life out of the fanbases across the country with his correctness and mostly for his incorrectness...

I showed have never bit and gone to that Athletic link about the hawk Russian goalie...

I saw Corey was doing his very stupid organizational rankings and HAD to go after him for the entire process and his convenient criteria for the ranks...

He has never been right on these except for the obvious, and it rewards each and all teams who pick early, have more number ones, or ding midround Cap relief NHLers.


I couldn't help myself...it is like he wants to be a snob who sucks the life out of the fanbases across the country with his correctness and mostly for his incorrectness...
- wiz1901

Did you also see on the Athletic the "NHL Front Office Confidence Rankings" that had the Chicago Blackhawks and Stanley Bowman at 26th!! (behind Buffalo!!!)

I know if a player is drafted out of the KHL, the NHL team holds his rights indefinitely, and if a kid goes the NCAA route, the player can be a free agent on 8/15 after his college eligibility is done, but what are the rules for the other leagues?
- tvetter

Wow...excellent question!

The initial agreement was when he was in a country with no agreement in place, so I think you may have found a loophole, except...

it is tough enough for these Russian kids to culturally adjust to the food, language, so I am thinking it would be a pretty rare bird who would be willing to get back in school (REMEMBER these hockey player kids have chosen a route after formal schools, which ends...they aren't taking side classes in chemical or cyber engineering on the side while playing...so that is huge commitment even if their formal education was top notch prior to hockey.)

Did you also see Blackhawks and Stanley Bowman at 26th!! (behind Buffalo!!!)
- EnzoD

That was the same FAN-based poll like the Hockey News used to do?


Now I will sound like a snob, but honestly after reading all the fan comments about who should play for each team, and postings lines the players should play on, and which prospects are gonna be SO good, I, eh, don't think they can judge much but their disappointments when their team loses in the play, doesn't make the playoff, loses in the semis or even the final...
fans are greedy they want more.

3 Cups they want more!

It is our nature b/c we are living through the teams success, personally emotionally tied to these results, so we lash out, think we know what's best, better than the people getting paid to know....

Did you also see on the Athletic the "NHL Front Office Confidence Rankings" that had the Chicago Blackhawks and Stanley Bowman at 26th!! (behind Buffalo!!!)
- EnzoD

How quickly the shine wears off. Just recently NHL put Toews as on 100 best of all time list, and Stan was among the top of best GM list, even after many of us complained of his contracts. Both did not change much since then, just issues became more obvious.
Seems to me that many fans can see better into play/trades than shallow NHL journalists that go by some magical past reputation.

Respectability for the next season depends in large part on how much Toews bounces back. I think he will have a very good year. If 50 can't make it at least there is a viable back up plan this year unlike last year. Hinostroza will be good for more than 50 points this coming year. We can almost put together an entire all-star team of good to great players mgt has completely wasted with nothing of equal value coming back in any case whatsoever. I have said previously the owner needs to hire one or two consultants, maybe ex-gms or head coaches to oversee and have veto power over any and all future 'trades' before any more damage is done to this poor decimated team.
- Savoy

Maybe you aren’t a culprit of this, but it is just funny to me to see how opinion has shifted on Hinestroza since his trade.

When he was on the Hawks, the consensus of this board was that he was a middle six, dime a dozen type of player who had wheels but was too small and not someone the Blackhawks really needed on the roster.

Now that he has been moved, some here are calling it a major loss and another egregious mistake by management.

In reality, the Hawks rid themselves of the Hossa contract, lost a decent player in Hinestroza but also brought back real assets in Kruger and potentially Entwistle.

Once again, maybe you aren’t a culprit of this, but it is just funny to see bird opinion change on players after they are shipped out. Anything to bash management.

I know there are some guys here who think Panarin is coming and that it can work.....and that Corey will be OK....and so on. I respect that passion.

This is just a dangerous time for the Hawks. Is the term "rebuild" toxic to the fan base and Wirtz fears a mass exodus like the 1997-2007 decade where except for the 01-02 year this team never sniffed the playoffs.

--Panarin: After seeing the money spent in UFA and the Hawks having 39.3 million locked into 2/7/19/20/88....and an additional 4.55 AAV to AA through 20-21, 3.85 AAV to CM through 21-22. and 6 AAV to CC through 19-20......and having to extend Schmaltz after this year, how does it work? Both AA and CC have NTC where they list only 10 teams they would go to, and with Murphy still an enigma is anyone taking that cap hit by just giving up a pick or prospect?

That's the reality to me. At a 82 million cap potentially you would have well over 50% committed to just 6 guys with 72's arrival, and you have 3 guys already (7/19/20) who are coming off horrific years and need a reboot. Not to mention an aging 2......lots of question marks with that rationale. That's still not factoring in 8's extension, who will probably get close to 6 AAV.


--Instead I am perfectly OK with rolling what you have, play some kids, get a feel for what you have vs don't and seriously consider trading some quality players at either the deadline or in March to acquire picks and prospects to restock this thing while Kane is still in his prime. HE, IMO, is the guy you need to build around and maximize talent. if Toews chips in 25 goals, fantastic, but I am done counting on any production out of him. To me has peaked and the rapid decline has already begun much like Seabrook's as well.

To keep this under 1000 words, I would trade Keith to Toronto for Nylander and their 2nd or 3rd pick. Babcock gets a defensemen he can trust and helps lock up that back end for a cup run, and the Hawks get another young, talented piece they build with. Put Nylander with Toews and Saad and move DeBrincat up with Schmaltz and Kane, put AA on line 3, and put Kruger on line 4.

That was the same FAN-based poll like the Hockey News used to do?


Now I will sound like a snob, but honestly after reading all the fan comments about who should play for each team, and postings lines the players should play on, and which prospects are gonna be SO good, I, eh, don't think they can judge much but their disappointments when their team loses in the play, doesn't make the playoff, loses in the semis or even the final...
fans are greedy they want more.

3 Cups they want more!

It is our nature b/c we are living through the teams success, personally emotionally tied to these results, so we lash out, think we know what's best, better than the people getting paid to know....
- wiz1901

I also read JJ's article over the weekend. Same old same old.


IF we take the rose colored fan glasses off as hawks fan, and put ourselves in a marque UFA on 7/1 and you look at this team on paper....talent wise, contract wise (who will be here for X number of years), health issues (Crawford), does Chicago still land as a top priority for a UFA? I'm not sure it does. I'm not saying it's toxic, but I also get why some marque guys wouldn't want to come here as of today.


What will be interesting is what happens when training camp starts and if CC is NOT skating? Gotta think Q, the players, will grow sick and tired of answering those questions on a daily basis. That storm is quickly approaching......

in 8's extension, who will probably get close to 6 AAV.


--Instead I am perfectly OK with rolling what you have, play some kids, get a feel for what you have vs don't and seriously consider trading some quality players at either the deadline or in March to acquire picks and prospects to restock this thing while Kane is still in his prime. HE, IMO, is the guy you need to build around and maximize talent. if Toews chips in 25 goals, fantastic, but I am done counting on any production out of him. To me has peaked and the rapid decline has already begun much like Seabrook's as well.

To keep this under 1000 words, I would trade Keith to Toronto for Nylander and their 2nd or 3rd pick. Babcock gets a defensemen he can trust and helps lock up that back end for a cup run, and the Hawks get another young, talented piece they build with. Put Nylander with Toews and Saad and move DeBrincat up with Schmaltz and Kane, put AA on line 3, and put Kruger on line 4.
- SteveRain

Given his age and production, if he's playing with Kane and in the 60-70 point range, Schmaltz WILL get $6mil AAV on his next contract IMO. I agree that Panarin is a fantasy, but if they somehow moved Seabrook + Anisimov...it's possible, if not probable.

I think they have to babysit Toews and Saad with Kane to help that line score. We saw it last year and the inability of 19 +20 to generate goals really made it Kane's line or bust in terms of offense. Toews PPG with Kane last year was probably a lot closer to 1.0ppg compared to his 0.50 ppg without Kane. Not only does this hopefully get 19 + 20 some easy looks to get their scoring confidence back, but it forces 8 to produce without 88 in his contract year....potentially lowering his AAV if he doesn't produce as well sans 88 on his line.

I showed have never bit and gone to that Athletic link about the hawk Russian goalie...

I saw Corey was doing his very stupid organizational rankings and HAD to go after him for the entire process and his convenient criteria for the ranks...

He has never been right on these except for the obvious, and it rewards each and all teams who pick early, have more number ones, or ding midround Cap relief NHLers.


I couldn't help myself...it is like he wants to be a snob who sucks the life out of the fanbases across the country with his correctness and mostly for his incorrectness...
- wiz1901

Actually, I don’t have a problem with Powers reporting generally, other than the fact that he really needs someone to edit his stuff. He sure makes a lot of silly mistakes.

Given his age and production, if he's playing with Kane and in the 60-70 point range, Schmaltz WILL get $6mil AAV on his next contract IMO. I agree that Panarin is a fantasy, but if they somehow moved Seabrook + Anisimov...it's possible, if not probable.

I think they have to babysit Toews and Saad with Kane to help that line score. We saw it last year and the inability of 19 +20 to generate goals really made it Kane's line or bust in terms of offense. Toews PPG with Kane last year was probably a lot closer to 1.0ppg compared to his 0.50 ppg without Kane. Not only does this hopefully get 19 + 20 some easy looks to get their scoring confidence back, but it forces 8 to produce without 88 in his contract year....potentially lowering his AAV if he doesn't produce as well sans 88 on his line.
- EnzoD

20/19/88 SHOULD be their top line.

Yes, it will expose 8 for his true talents if he has to play with players not wearing 88 on their back. ADB/Schmaltz/? then....

And yes, not likely 8 produces those numbers without 88, and contract negotiations become much easier for Bowman. I just don't see a repeat of last year's numbers without 88.

Given his age and production, if he's playing with Kane and in the 60-70 point range, Schmaltz WILL get $6mil AAV on his next contract IMO. I agree that Panarin is a fantasy, but if they somehow moved Seabrook + Anisimov...it's possible, if not probable.

I think they have to babysit Toews and Saad with Kane to help that line score. We saw it last year and the inability of 19 +20 to generate goals really made it Kane's line or bust in terms of offense. Toews PPG with Kane last year was probably a lot closer to 1.0ppg compared to his 0.50 ppg without Kane. Not only does this hopefully get 19 + 20 some easy looks to get their scoring confidence back, but it forces 8 to produce without 88 in his contract year....potentially lowering his AAV if he doesn't produce as well sans 88 on his line.
- EnzoD

Except for game 1. WTF was that? I was there and thought it can't be this easy. Turns out it wasn't. And it also turned out tougher than it should have been.

Except for game 1. WTF was that? I was there and thought it can't be this easy. Turns out it wasn't. And it also turned out tougher than it should have been.
- 6628

Pittsburgh was still hungover, or played that game while drunk like it was a midnight beer league game

Pittsburgh was still hungover, or played that game while drunk like it was a midnight beer league game
- EnzoD

Hawks did everything right - or Pens let them do everything right.

Saad had a hat trick - with all three goals probably a total of 15 feet from the net - just as an example.

Those may have been the last close-in goals going to the net for him all season - perhaps for the whole team.

(Yes, hyperbole, but....)

Did you also see on the Athletic the "NHL Front Office Confidence Rankings" that had the Chicago Blackhawks and Stanley Bowman at 26th!! (behind Buffalo!!!)
- EnzoD

Big deal, most people are skittish, look for immediate gratification and what have you done for me lately.

Maybe I'll be wrong, but if Corey comes back healthy, this team has another year experience together and the core is healthy and in shape, then most on here will be saying who can we get at the trade deadline ti help us over the hump, then once the season is over cry about the deadline trade that didn't help win the cup and how Bowman and Q should be fired.

I know there are some guys here who think Panarin is coming and that it can work.....and that Corey will be OK....and so on. I respect that passion.

This is just a dangerous time for the Hawks. Is the term "rebuild" toxic to the fan base and Wirtz fears a mass exodus like the 1997-2007 decade where except for the 01-02 year this team never sniffed the playoffs.

--Panarin: After seeing the money spent in UFA and the Hawks having 39.3 million locked into 2/7/19/20/88....and an additional 4.55 AAV to AA through 20-21, 3.85 AAV to CM through 21-22. and 6 AAV to CC through 19-20......and having to extend Schmaltz after this year, how does it work? Both AA and CC have NTC where they list only 10 teams they would go to, and with Murphy still an enigma is anyone taking that cap hit by just giving up a pick or prospect?

That's the reality to me. At a 82 million cap potentially you would have well over 50% committed to just 6 guys with 72's arrival, and you have 3 guys already (7/19/20) who are coming off horrific years and need a reboot. Not to mention an aging 2......lots of question marks with that rationale. That's still not factoring in 8's extension, who will probably get close to 6 AAV.


--Instead I am perfectly OK with rolling what you have, play some kids, get a feel for what you have vs don't and seriously consider trading some quality players at either the deadline or in March to acquire picks and prospects to restock this thing while Kane is still in his prime. HE, IMO, is the guy you need to build around and maximize talent. if Toews chips in 25 goals, fantastic, but I am done counting on any production out of him. To me has peaked and the rapid decline has already begun much like Seabrook's as well.

To keep this under 1000 words, I would trade Keith to Toronto for Nylander and their 2nd or 3rd pick. Babcock gets a defensemen he can trust and helps lock up that back end for a cup run, and the Hawks get another young, talented piece they build with. Put Nylander with Toews and Saad and move DeBrincat up with Schmaltz and Kane, put AA on line 3, and put Kruger on line 4.
- SteveRain

If Keith was 28 years old maybe Toronto would do that trade, but I highly doubt that they do it one for one and extremely unlikely they add picks to it.