This is their year
- EnzoD

Maybe...or Winnipeg.............as long as it's not the Preds.

The "bring back Tallon" rhetoric gets a little old. Has never won a thing in Florida, and has missed the playoffs and finished near the bottom of the division in 6 of 8 years, was eliminated in rd.1 in one of the seasons and rd. 2 the other. Tallon also horrendously messed up the expansion draft in not only losing Jonathan Marchessault but giving Vegas Smith so they would take them, and they went on to score 75 and 60 pts. respectively for Vegas. If Stan had made that deal he would have been villified more than he already is.
- TheTrob

Totally agree on Tallon. The Hawks are never going to move forward if they keep going backwards and trying to bring back former players or coaches.

I think we can all agree the horses are their like they used to be. Clearly Stan has done a pretty poor job the last few years managing salaries and talent. However, why does Q keep running out guys like Kunitz and Manning? BC Q likes those type of guys.

Q's system worked for many years. He had the players to play it while the rest of the league was slow and heavy still.

Now the NHL has adjusted. It is all about speed speed and more speed.

What adjustments has Q made to his overall system? None. The Hawks are trying to play a system that just doesn't work anymore. Q has failed to adapt. For 3 years now it has been then same issues over and over and over again. Q just keeps doing the same thing thinking it will eventually work. It won't. He needs to go.

Will it solve the big issues salary and player wise? No, but Q has shown he cannot adapt to the new modern game. What is the point in keeping him around?

Edit: He has made a few changes a passive box PK and a 1-3-1 crap PP.

- bhawks2241

So I assume you became a fan after the 2013 Cup then? Because that season there was no team that looked faster than the Hawks. They played fast because they had the personnel to pass and or skate out of their zone and trigger the attack. The system as you point out hasn't changed much. But the system was never a 'let's play slow.'

The Hawks have more than any other team influenced the current NHL trend of playing fast and puck possession.

I get that you don't like Q. But try to pick something to complain about that is based in reality.

The diff between Saad and Panarin moneywise in the near term was negligible. The spin offered was cost certainty after Panarin's contract, and that they will still be guaranteed to have an asset after that two years. The problem with this spin is that if they were really worried about losing him, they can still trade him at the deadline and get a big haul of picks and prospects for him. In fairness, most of us thought that Saad would be better than he was last year, but still, it's pretty obvious who the better player is here. How does this trade happen in a vacuum?

Add: If it's true what nickmo says, that is probably reason enough to deal him. I had heard something to that effect, also. I don't know the truth of the matter, though, and sometimes things get lost in the translation.
- 333inthe3rd

THIS!!! Bingo. You could get a king's ransom for Panarin at the deadline if he was moved then. There was no reason to handle moving him the way it was handled. Other than to show how serious Bowman was at being mad about being swept.

Worst trade Hawks have made since the Phil Esposito trade, and probably the Hasek trade.

Anders Lee is a UFA next summer.. I thought Edmunsson was UFA too but CapFriendly shows him as an RFA.
- EnzoD

After letting Tavares walk my guess is zero chance Lee becomes a UFA. They have plenty of cap space and no reason to let him get to UFA status.

I'm sure Toews. Kane, I love both are a case in point to other teams. Beware of lucrative. Long term contracts. At age 28 to 35 it can suck the future from the team. In this case, I feel the boys lost value WAY too early. We can be pissed at Keiths ability to score, but his contract was a stea for the team, unlike Toews and Kane. Compare. Malkin. Crosbie

Return of the roar. You nailed it there buddy, Q reporting to two non hockey people is the defining pickle we are facing. It's why we are where we are, imagine what the boys in the room are whispering as they lace them up. Bowmans dad knows hockey, but. our Bowman has not shown it. I swear ever fan on here and twitter have second guessed Bowman on. 95 percent of his moves the last three years, but succinctly. You nailed it roar. In contrast look at stevie. Y in the box. And the leafs brass last year. There is no comparison. Bobblehead mentality will never work this PP on the ice.
- holyJumpin_NL

Wonder what they were whispering the previous three years from '13-'15...probably not the dissension and second guessing you're alluding to.

Stevie Y seemed like a great GM but, again, you pay for winning. If/when Tampa wins, let's see how amenable players are to taking sweetheart deals to keep the band together.

Theo Epstein hasn't had that kind of experience - Jed Hoyer either - and they've been successful so far at a couple of franchises.

I don't think it's "played the game" that's important but the ability to develop and execute the "plan".

Stan has yet to prove able to do that.
- StLBravesFan

This

I look at Vegas. Here is a bunch of Rejects who bought into a system and went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals. I put the blame equally on Stan and Q. Stan needs to provide the players to let Q run his system, however in my opinion a coach needs to be able to adapt to what they have. Injuries happen, trades happened, yet the Hawks power play has looked identical the last 4 years. The defense the past two years has looked atrocious, yet we see the same attempts to gain the zone via dropped pass over and over. The style is not working, but it is the definition of insanity. The Blackhawks followed the Detroit model to a t and are now seeing the results. Despite all that, I still say let's go Hawks and hope that changes are made instead of an entire year of watching the same stuff over and over

This
- riozzo

Baseball and Hockey are JUST a bit different......

Maybe...or Winnipeg.............as long as it's not the Preds.
- TheTrob

I wouldn't mind seeing the Jets... But phuck Trashville..

Saad-Toews-Cat
Anders Lee-Anisimov-Kane
Kahun-Schmaltz-??
Hayden-Kampf-??


Joki-Keith
Boquist-Seabs
Mitchell/Forsling-Joel Edmunsson


Crow
Delia/Forsberg
- EnzoD

Isn't Edmunsson the guy Foley kept calling Edmonton? I don't think we can handle an entire season of that.

Based on the "winning it all logic" that puts Kenny Williams in the being a competent GM category which for much of his tenure he wasn't. They got lucky with several guys having a career year, a few retreads finding the fountain of youth, staying injury free and having some goofy stuff go their way literally all at the same time. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed every minute of it (except most of August) but that doesn't mean I was happy with that guy running the team the next several years.

Trading Seguin and Hall (who unlike Panarin are complete players) for basically nothing or an OK role player makes you a bad GM. There isn't a lot of gray area there.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Jets... But phuck Trashville..
- BGKarras

Much like Washington winning last year, San Jose could possibly finally get over the hump and win a cup.

I look at Vegas. Here is a bunch of Rejects who bought into a system and went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals. I put the blame equally on Stan and Q. Stan needs to provide the players to let Q run his system, however in my opinion a coach needs to be able to adapt to what they have. Injuries happen, trades happened, yet the Hawks power play has looked identical the last 4 years. The defense the past two years has looked atrocious, yet we see the same attempts to gain the zone via dropped pass over and over. The style is not working, but it is the definition of insanity. The Blackhawks followed the Detroit model to a t and are now seeing the results. Despite all that, I still say let's go Hawks and hope that changes are made instead of an entire year of watching the same stuff over and over
- ikeane

Bunch of rejects who all had a career year at the same time and a goalie who played out of his mind. Because sports always make sense.

That isn't a formula to follow as it isn't sustainable.

Probably gets better when Murphy is back and maybe Forsling (who didn't play over the weekend because he hurt his groin which is great) but well see.

Once upon a time they had a guy named Anisimov, who scored 20+ for 3 years with this team.

Once upon a time they had a guy named Schmaltz, who scored 21 goals for them one season.

Once upon a time they had a guy named Saad, who scored as many as 30 in a season for CBJ and 28 and 29 for Chicago.

Once upon a time they had guys like Seabrook and Keith, who would combine for 15 goals per season.

If they still had those guys, maybe they wouldn't be 6 wins 9 losses and on a five game losing streak.

Whatever happened to them?
- StLBravesFan

Schmaltz & Saad, those are the two guys I wish they had back. AA is AA. Keith, and Seabrook seem to have found what was missing over the past couple of years. 20 might be showing signs but what is going on with #8 this year?

Isn't Edmunsson the guy Foley kept calling Edmonton? I don't think we can handle an entire season of that.
- powerenforcer

Isn't Edmunsson the guy Foley kept calling Edmonton? I don't think we can handle an entire season of that.
- powerenforcer

That's funny. I have NHL centre ice package. I've got to listen to Foley more. No game to Thursday. A terrible schedule

Actually, the word out of Philly was that he had a great year and took major steps as a Dman for a 4-5-6 spot. What happened to his game now I have no idea.

Also, I have noticed that when players move from conference to conference, sometimes the speed is different. The Western Conference has serious speed up and down where the East plays a bit more physical brand game. Just something I noticed as we look for answers in Manning and Kunitz even though he is just old.
- nickmo2699

The Flyers could not have had a positive view of Manning if you look at the situation with common-sense. The Flyers had to have soured on Manning by season’s end as he signed with the Hawks for very little more than he was making with the Flyers. The Flyers obviously let him walk. Wished the Flyers had re-signed him. Manning, the way he is playing at present, is not an AHL D-Man. Manning is constantly out of position.

Firing Q is not the answer.
- Hank3Henshaw

Yes it is. It is the only answer.

Baseball and Hockey are JUST a bit different......
- EnzoD

How are they different from a “building a winner” standpoint? Other than no cap in baseball - a big “other than” to be sure....

Each (and football, basketball, soccer) have their peculiarities and it’s equally hard to build a championship team in each sport. Baseball has the same long player development time as hockey - perhaps longer - and the same uncertainty, on draft day, about whether the chosen will succeed.

Having been a player is not as important as being able to put together a scouting staff, understand what they’re telling you, being able to evaluate talent yourself, and as I said develop a plan and execute it.

How are they different from a “building a winner” standpoint? Other than no cap in baseball - a big “other than” to be sure....

Each (and football, basketball, soccer) have their peculiarities and it’s equally hard to build a championship team in each sport. Baseball has the same long player development time as hockey - perhaps longer - and the same uncertainty, on draft day, about whether the chosen will succeed.

Having been a player is not as important as being able to put together a scouting staff, understand what they’re telling you, being able to evaluate talent yourself, and as I said develop a plan and execute it.
- StLBravesFan

In terms of baseball being the most dependent, by far, upon analytics, advanced stats, ect. in talent evaluation.

Firing Q is not the answer but firing the gm is. Q didn't put this roster together or hand out bad contracts or draft undersized and unproductive player and i know the draft is a crap shoot plus who dent stay to long when it was apparent no prospects were being devlop correctly. Has bowman done good things yes but the bad had outweigh the good by a large margrin. And this last offseason was just complete failure and waste of money when it was clear a top 6 forward and top4 d man was much needed. Plus another center and couple of shaw type players i know its a lot but its what was needed and bowman failed big time along with scouting staff and other upper management. How do fix this mess build around joki Keith, unless hawks get a proposal they cannot pass on, dcat toews and kane everyone else trade. Thats all for now just venting and giving my honest opinion on things.

I think Ward and Gus have been ok. Ward's only signed through this year and Gus's deal for a 5-6 dman is reasonable. I agree on the rest though.

Signing one decent dman or a center could have helped vs the $5M or $6M tied up in Rutta, Manning, Kunitz and Davidson.
- HawkintheD

HawkintheD - It is unclear to me that Ward, at his age, with a NMC is an upgrade over Forsberg. Just so many goals against. I’ll admit that I have totally soured on Gus - he is just looks so awful defensively. Now there is a question to be asked - is Gus actually this poor or is his poor play a least in part a function of the idiotic “Defensive System?”

HawkintheD - It is unclear to me that Ward, at his age, with a NMC is an upgrade over Forsberg. Just do many goals against. I’ll admit that I have totally soured on Gus - he is just looks so awful defensively. Now there is a question to be asked - is Gus actually this poor or is his poor play a least in part a function of the idiotic “Defensive System?”
- Z3Hawk

Hey Z, didn't say I loved the move, thought it was ok, but I'm not sure he's a huge upgrade over Forsberg either.

I thought Forsberg's biggest issue was lack of a short memory after giving up a bad goal.