Eh, this is why single quotes taken out of context in a much larger discussion are stupid.

“We’ve been in scenarios where people have picked us as one of the favorites to win a Stanley Cup, and they’re not just going to hand you the Cup because of that. You obviously got to find that belief and you got to work on that belief in your locker room every single day. So for us, it’s not like we’re sitting there thinking, ‘We’re toast. Throw in the towel for the year.’ We’ve kind of identified a lot of things we need to work on just amongst the players in the locker room. We’re excited about making those changes and seeing where it goes."

And he finished with: "But I think once you win one, you want to do it again. So, I think we still got that itch here in Chicago, and we know we got a lot of potential.”
- L_B_R

I'm not worried about Toews, he'll be great.

I think the disappointing season coupled with the lack of proven NHL talent (not to say the team lacks talent) could be a good thing. Hopefully it forces the team to play more as a unit and rely less on individual skill.

I'm not worried about Toews, he'll be great.

I think the disappointing season coupled with the lack of proven NHL talent (not to say the team lacks talent) could be a good thing. Hopefully it forces the team to play more as a unit and rely less on individual skill.
- DarthKane

That's the way it should be. Knock on wood, but if your stars go down with injury, you don't want the team to be SOL as they recover. If the team can play as a cohesive unit no matter who is in and out of the lineup, that at least makes them competitive to either win games out right or not being thoroughly beaten and go on losing streaks.

I'm not worried about Toews, he'll be great.

I think the disappointing season coupled with the lack of proven NHL talent (not to say the team lacks talent) could be a good thing. Hopefully it forces the team to play more as a unit and rely less on individual skill.
- DarthKane

Correct since Stan wasn't able to draft any generational talent with his late 1st round and 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks the past 7 years. Sad!

Looks like Tim Dent landed a role as a Scout with Arizona.

@CraigCustance
Toews on low external expectations surrounding the Blackhawks: “It’s not like we’re thinking ‘We’re toast, throw in the towel for the rest of the year.’”
- walleyeb1

Plus Toews doesnt eat toast. It's not part of the EATpoop i mean ONNIT fad

Getting a 3rd (Matheson Iacopelli) for Brandon Bollig.
- Rota's Rooter

Can someone explain to me why this is routinely given as an example of a good Stan trade? Not being critical, the only reason I ask is because I've seen this multiple places.

Bollig was a useful or semi useful legit 4th line player for a few years. He got to a second contract. From what we've seen so far, Iacopelli may never play in the NHL at all.

Third round picks have a track record of something like 25% playing in the NHL at all, and much lower for guys having any kind of a career. It's not like the NFL.

You could make the argument that trading any 3rd round pick for a bone fide NHL player even a 4th line one is a good deal for the team getting the NHL ready talent.

I know what's going to be on the back of Bollig's hockey card, I don't think Iacopelli will ever need to pose for a picture for one.

Can someone explain to me why this is routinely given as an example of a good Stan trade? Not being critical, the only reason I ask is because I've seen this multiple places.

Bollig was a useful or semi useful legit 4th line player for a few years. He got to a second contract. From what we've seen so far, Iacopelli may never play in the NHL at all.

Third round picks have a track record of something like 25% playing in the NHL at all, and much lower for guys having any kind of a career. It's not like the NFL.

You could make the argument that trading any 3rd round pick for a bone fide NHL player even a 4th line one is a good deal for the team getting the NHL ready talent.

I know what's going to be on the back of Bollig's hockey card, I don't think Iacopelli will ever need to pose for a picture for one.
- hereismike1

Can't answer your question but just wanted to say welcome aboard! Always glad to see new posters whether you're a brand new to the boards or a long-time reader.

I do wonder how many readers this blog has on an average day. Imagine there are a lot more readers who don't post anything which is fine. I do encourage the long time readers to post; like reading different perspectives.

Can someone explain to me why this is routinely given as an example of a good Stan trade? Not being critical, the only reason I ask is because I've seen this multiple places.

Bollig was a useful or semi useful legit 4th line player for a few years. He got to a second contract. From what we've seen so far, Iacopelli may never play in the NHL at all.

Third round picks have a track record of something like 25% playing in the NHL at all, and much lower for guys having any kind of a career. It's not like the NFL.

You could make the argument that trading any 3rd round pick for a bone fide NHL player even a 4th line one is a good deal for the team getting the NHL ready talent.

I know what's going to be on the back of Bollig's hockey card, I don't think Iacopelli will ever need to pose for a picture for one.
- hereismike1

Bollig got to the next contract because he was more valuable as trade option if he was already signed. And Bollig was a 'useful' player in that he ate some minutes but then was poop when it really mattered - the playoffs. Getting anything for a 28 year old replacement level 4th liner, even if it's just a slim possibility of turning into a future player, is fine - not like the greatest achievement ever but good enough. And lbr about the NHL talent line - there's varying levels. Plus Bollig was pretty bad for the Flames.

It shouldn't be touted as like a great trade or anything but it's solid asset management to get something for little to nothing.

Toews in The Athletic - interview re: attitude and readiness at the media day today

https://theathletic.com/5...ng-long-offseason-to-use/

ETA: McD on the message that has "been sent"

https://www.nbcsports.com...rning-page-painful-season

Neither one gave me the warm fuzzies about a better year.

Panik for Morin, Panarin signing as a RFA, Shaw for 2 2nds, Drafting Cat at 39. signing darling. bad: timo for 2 2nds, Sharp and Johns for junk, Junk for worst junk, danult + 2nd Weiss. Pan for SAAD. Jurco and Bladder trades.
- kmw4631

When you add Toews/Kane/Seabrook being handed almost 30mil combined annually it becomes impossible to defend him any longer. Those overpays above all else are why we’re stuck in this rut of mediocrity.

This year has the potential to be a bloodbath of a Calder competition. Dahlin, Svechnikov, Mittelstadt, Tolvanen, Heiskanen are just some of the very highly regarded players expected to make their full time NHL debuts. Let alone some of the more sleeper players like Chytil, L. Andersson, Cirelli, Necas, Vesalainen, Vilardi, Jokiharju, Borgström or Sikura.

I didn't know we had so many potential Calder candidates in the pipeline...
I guess those two have the short track to be on the roster opening night?

When you add Toews/Kane/Seabrook being handed almost 30mil combined annually it becomes impossible to defend him any longer. Those overpays above all else are why we’re stuck in this rut of mediocrity.
- SimpleJack

Beg to differ but two of those three players not being able to sustain their high level of play is likely a bigger reason.

Beg to differ but two of those three players not being able to sustain their high level of play is likely a bigger reason.
- HawkintheD

I would say that Toews maintained a high level of play, but his offensive output was lacking. He's still great at almost everything else.

A new BHTV theme to reassure the fans??

We got DBC's routine, and next they'll profile Seabs' workouts:

https://twitter.com/NHLBl...tatus/1037874692550483969

Can someone explain to me why this is routinely given as an example of a good Stan trade? Not being critical, the only reason I ask is because I've seen this multiple places.

Bollig was a useful or semi useful legit 4th line player for a few years. He got to a second contract. From what we've seen so far, Iacopelli may never play in the NHL at all.

Third round picks have a track record of something like 25% playing in the NHL at all, and much lower for guys having any kind of a career. It's not like the NFL.

You could make the argument that trading any 3rd round pick for a bone fide NHL player even a 4th line one is a good deal for the team getting the NHL ready talent.

I know what's going to be on the back of Bollig's hockey card, I don't think Iacopelli will ever need to pose for a picture for one.
- hereismike1

I think I can shed some light on the matter. Well you have heard about Bollig; now I will talk about Iacopelli. He was probably noticed playing for Muskegon (USHL) where he was big goal scorer with a big and heavy shot (wrister's and snapper's). He kind of reminded of Al Secord back in the day. Matt was a big body and a lefty. For some reason once he went on to Western MI that production went way down for whatever reason. Was it him or Coach Andy Murray? Whatever the reason Matt has not been the same since Juniors. Also as I recall Matt was a second or third year draft eligible, getting drafted in the 3rd round, very uncommon unless you have this flying under the radar late-bloomer.

So back then on draft day, it was a great move to draft Matt. Now fast forward 5 or years, it appears not so great! Remember these are prospects, some pan out some don't!

A new BHTV theme to reassure the fans??

We got DBC's routine, and next they'll profile Seabs' workouts:

https://twitter.com/NHLBl...tatus/1037874692550483969
- pdx2ord

They do this pretty much every summer - pick a few players to do behind the scenes, in the life of, training, blah blah blah videos.

Edit: Sometimes it's training or just normal routines in the summer, at training camp. They've released vids that were more team focused of them at Notre Dame and other places as well. And it's not just summer, they do them in-season too, though not quite as much (the Kane vid with Goodman in 2011/12 comes to mind).

They do this pretty much every summer - pick a few players to do behind the scenes, in the life of, training, blah blah blah videos.
- L_B_R

Don't recall any official BH videos the past three summers with this specific focus, unless put out by the players themselves or their training camps. Have seen draftee day-in-the-life, charity outings, etc., but not, "look at how hard player X is working this offseason."

Have seen enough commentary on social media wondering if the veteran Hawks are coasting on their past success, I wondered if that was a part of the reason behind this series. DBC seems to have been chosen from the "new core" for the spotlight in BHTV spots, so that didn't surprise me. When I saw Seabs, I said hmmmm.

ETA: Yeah, the Kane one was the last sole focus on a single player's routine I could remember.

Toews is totally useless

Don't recall any official BH videos the past three summers with this specific focus, unless put out by the players themselves or their training camps. Have seen draftee day-in-the-life, charity outings, etc., but not, "look at how hard player X is working this offseason."
- pdx2ord

I can remember the day in the life of during the summer that included training stuff with Shaw and Teravainen - the TT one had people concerned about how skinny he looked. In 2014 or 2015, there was an All-Access series with Goodman where he was working with a bunch of prospects - I remember in one they were in like a parking deck, which I thought was weird, and Dahlstrom and Hartman were both there for sure. The Hawks tend to retweet or post vids from player's own things, like with Hjammer or Toews, so I could be adding those into my recollection of BHTV stuff.

I don't remember any from last season, though - think their vids then focused more on "getting to know the new young players" kind of thing. The closest was prob when they followed Hayden at camp.

Post-cup wins, the summer vids are much more about celebration obvs. Keith and Seabrook's are usually about their charities.

https://www.instagram.com...sheet&igshid=ud2ydre5a332

Toews is totally useless



- DarthKane

Thank vishnu for empty net goals and 3 on 3 hockey

Have seen enough commentary on social media wondering if the veteran Hawks are coasting on their past success, I wondered if that was a part of the reason behind this series. DBC seems to have been chosen from the "new core" for the spotlight in BHTV spots, so that didn't surprise me. When I saw Seabs, I said hmmmm.

ETA: Yeah, the Kane one was the last sole focus on a single player's routine I could remember.
- pdx2ord

I mean, I wouldn't doubt that they're shifting to focus on more "look what we're doing to prepare" kind of series. I just don't think it's necessarily new to focus on the summer activities of a player, but less common to focus just on training / strength though, sure. It probably had a bit to do with the sponsor, Cigna, as well.

I think Debrincat was partially "chosen" because he stayed in Chicago for his summer. Like Schmaltz goes to UND for most of the summer, though last year he spent a while in Chicago with Kane (and went to Belfry's camp in Florida with him), and Hayden spends time away as well (but also came back last year for long periods).

I mean, I wouldn't doubt that they're shifting to focus on more "look what we're doing to prepare" kind of series. I just don't think it's necessarily new to focus on the summer activities of a player, but less common to focus just on training / strength though, sure. It probably had a bit to do with the sponsor, Cigna, as well.

I think Debrincat was partially "chosen" because he stayed in Chicago for his summer. Like Schmaltz goes to UND for most of the summer, though last year he spent a while in Chicago with Kane (and went to Belfry's camp in Florida with him), and Hayden spends time away as well (but also came back last year for long periods).
- L_B_R

Oh, hadn't thought about the Cigna/health connection. With DBC, he seems to have the most on-camera personality of the new guys outside of Hayden. Schmaltz, to me, has the on-camera personality of a house plant.

Thank vishnu for empty net goals and 3 on 3 hockey
- PatShart

Toews doesn't even have the most ENGs of those players on that list in his span (11 years) - Ovechkin has 27, Kane has 18, and Toews comes in 3rd with 13 (so he's averaging 1.18 a season, wow so much). Neal and Kessel are not as likely to be put out in last minute close-game situations so their totals are under 10. It's kind of weird you even mention it cause the Hawks as a team score 6 or less ENGs a year pretty much and Hossa was who got lots of the ENGs - Hossa is tied for 3rd in the league since coming to the Hawks and he has between like 100-150 less games played than the guys all around him in the rankings.

Toews also would have 20 goals even if you removed the 3-on-3 ones from his goal count (prorated) - he only has 5 total and 4 of them came in the season in which he scored 28 goals. He had the same amount of 3-on-3 goals as Ovechkin and Kessel (Kane and Neal have one less).

What you should say is thank vishnu for 5v5 and SHG goals, where Toews is 3rd and 1st amount those on that list (obvs on that last one since none of the others are two-way guys who can PK and thus none have more than 1 SHG to their name).

Thank vishnu for empty net goals and 3 on 3 hockey
- PatShart

Toews scores 2-3 empty net goals per season, in a couple seasons he even scored 0. He’s average to below average in empty net goals.