Hey, lets go back to 1983 a guy by the name of Jim D'Maria hired Jon McEgo for the Sting. Guess what Jon McEcEgo for Jim from the Hawks after 25 years. A real good guy.

Fired Jim

On one hand you want the Hawks to rebuild, on the other you want the team to keep Kane. You do realize a rebuild will take 2 to 4 years, before a rebuilt team with very few prospects, are competative and a other couple of years, assuming everything falls into place, before the Hawks are again a contender? Kane will be long retired before the Hawks are again contending. Kane will recoup the most of all current Hawks so wouldn't you see that Kane is more important to Chicago as a trade chip then as their future?
- paulr

With the right moves - and some very good player development - a team in this league could rebuild into a contender in two or three years.

Again - with the right moves - draft, trades, free agent signings.

With the right moves - and some very good player development - a team in this league could rebuild into a contender in two or three years.

Again - with the right moves - draft, trades, free agent signings.
- StLBravesFan

Exactly right. 2020/21 should be the playoffs target with Kane at 32/33 yrs old with plenty of Elite Hockey left.

With the right moves - and some very good player development - a team in this league could rebuild into a contender in two or three years.

Again - with the right moves - draft, trades, free agent signings.
- StLBravesFan

Do you have example of a team that rebuilt, not retooled , in two to three years. Make sure that example is of a team that has a roster of core players coming off a decade being a top contender during which time they drafted in the lower part of the draft most of those years. Then include that team having to trade some of the prospects they did have to by did them with bad contracts to stay cap compliant or traded them to remain competative. Oh and that example should also have happened in the salary cap era.

Exactly right. 2020/21 should be the playoffs target with Kane at 32/33 yrs old with plenty of Elite Hockey left.
- EnzoD

Again, don’t overlook the fact that by trading Kane now we wouldn’t just be getting top prospects/picks in return....we’d be turning ourselves into such a bad team that we’d have a realistic chance to possibly draft #1 or 2 overall in the upcoming draft, and again in next years draft.

Again, don’t overlook the fact that by trading Kane now we wouldn’t just be getting top prospects/picks in return....we’d be turning ourselves into such a bad team that we’d have a realistic chance to possibly draft #1 or 2 overall in the upcoming draft, and again in next years draft.
- SimpleJack

They are already a bottom feeding team that looks like a lock for Top
5 in the lottery odds. Whatever man you want to trade Kane, fine. I vehemently disagree, unless someone is dumb enough to give you Barkov, Dahlin, Eichel, Matthews, Ect...it’s a loss in talent that’s almost irreplaceable

Who didnt Q play?
Q will have his choice of jobs. When Bowman is canned, I doubt he'll ever get another GM job.
- tompo1015

tompo - relax - you have no objectiviy where Q is concerned. Which is fine but relax. However, don’t get confused between missteps StanBo may have made and Q’s arrogance, disdain and poor coaching since the last Cup. In an NHL where the saying “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” absolutely rules, Q was given 4 chances out of respect. After the Blues won against the Hawks in the First Round, in a Series that could’ve been easily won by the Hawks, Q could have been shown the door. The Hawks gifted that Series. After the sweep by the Preds Q could have been shown the door. After missing the play-offs altogether Q could have been shown the door. Instead the Hawks gave him a 4th chance this year. I’m unsure how much loyalty you expect the Hawks to show Q as the Hawks showed lots.

The one thing that was obvious from last year’s play-offs was this - all the play-off teams were beatable and no team was crazy deep. Every coach is beyond criticism if it is an out to simply say “Well the GM didn’t give him enough to work with.” The Hawks have lost their first 2 games under Colliton but the Hawks were not run off the ice. Also, much, if not all of the damage was self-inflicted. The moral is the Hawks are competetive and have been competetive since the last Cup.

Do you have example of a team that rebuilt, not retooled , in two to three years. Make sure that example is of a team that has a roster of core players coming off a decade being a top contender during which time they drafted in the lower part of the draft most of those years. Then include that team having to trade some of the prospects they did have to by did them with bad contracts to stay cap compliant or traded them to remain competative. Oh and that example should also have happened in the salary cap era.
- paulr

I’m not going thru rosters looking for your criteria - what does this have to do with past roster mistakes?

Consensus seems to be that the system has some quality potential NHL defensemen - possibly (not definitely, not even probably) enough develop to give them a set top four in two-three years. Luck yes - development more.

Kane still productive - Toews not worth $10.5 but still a quality center - develop Schmaltz into a quality NHL forward (now only in his third season at 22), Saad is quality, Sikura top-6 maybe, Ejdsell as a middle-6 power forward maybe - the likes of Kahun, Kampf, Johnson, Hayden - one or two become useful players - I don’t know who else is going to develop but that’s where this year’s draft, plus some trades and signings....

Look, I said with the right moves this was all possible. The cupboard isn’t full, but it’s not bare of potential and possible trade pieces. As I said, I dont think it’s definite or even probable - but certainly possible if they make good decisions and identify and develop the talent they have.

The question is - do they have the right decision-makers in control of the team?

They are already a bottom feeding team that looks like a lock for Top
5 in the lottery odds. Whatever man you want to trade Kane, fine. I vehemently disagree, unless someone is dumb enough to give you Barkov, Dahlin, Eichel, Matthews, Ect...it’s a loss in talent that’s almost irreplaceable
- EnzoD

Look maybe we have been spoiled over the last years since 2010 Cup , and I have followed the Hawks since the 70's. But I do not want this organization to end up like the Islanders and god forbid like Edmonton after their cup years .it's hard to let go of these cup years but do not want the Bowmans ruling over this team any longer. Like the kids they are trying to develop, but need to let go of the past and be bolder in the moves we make for the future .

I’m not going thru rosters looking for your criteria - what does this have to do with past roster mistakes?

Consensus seems to be that the system has some quality potential NHL defensemen - possibly (not definitely, not even probably) enough develop to give them a set top four in two-three years. Luck yes - development more.

Kane still productive - Toews not worth $10.5 but still a quality center - develop Schmaltz into a quality NHL forward (now only in his third season at 22), Saad is quality, Sikura top-6 maybe, Ejdsell as a middle-6 power forward maybe - the likes of Kahun, Kampf, Johnson, Hayden - one or two become useful players - I don’t know who else is going to develop but that’s where this year’s draft, plus some trades and signings....

Look, I said with the right moves this was all possible. The cupboard isn’t full, but it’s not bare of potential and possible trade pieces. As I said, I dont think it’s definite or even probable - but certainly possible if they make good decisions and identify and develop the talent they have.

The question is - do they have the right decision-makers in control of the team?
- StLBravesFan

Come on Sage you know you don't have to look through rosters because you know no team has rebuilt, not retooled, to contender status in two to three years when being in the same or similar situation as the Hawks.

Come on Sage you know you don't have to look through rosters because you know no team has rebuilt, not retooled, to contender status in two to three years when being in the same or similar situation as the Hawks.

- paulr

Look I have followed the Hawks since the 70's and don't want them ending up like the Islanders and god forbid the Oilers after their cups . The Bowmans must go. Like the kids but bold moves need to made to support them.

Come on Sage you know you don't have to look through rosters because you know no team has rebuilt, not retooled, to contender status in two to three years when being in the same or similar situation as the Hawks.

- paulr

I guess I think they have a bit more in the system than you do. A start, at least.

The Hawk situation now has nothing to do with past bad trades, cap hit losses, mis-drafted youth - those only affect our view of the competence of certain front office execs to manage what has to happen going forward.

Come on Sage you know you don't have to look through rosters because you know no team has rebuilt, not retooled, to contender status in two to three years when being in the same or similar situation as the Hawks.

- paulr

Boston had an aging, highly paid core and a couple of down years and then fired their GM Chiarelli. While they kept Julien as coach for a while, they took off when he was replaced by Cassidy, who loosened the reins and played some of the youngsters he knew from coaching in the A

I guess I think they have a bit more in the system than you do. A start, at least.

The Hawk situation now has nothing to do with past bad trades, cap hit losses, mis-drafted youth - those only affect our view of the competence of certain front office execs to manage what has to happen going forward.
- StLBravesFan

Like you I think the Hawks have some decent prospects. Unlike you I don't see the team being able to be a contender in less than five or six years and I too think that's with some really good no as and development AND by trading some or all of the core for picks and prospects.

Boston had an aging, highly paid core and a couple of down years and then fired their GM Chiarelli. While they kept Julien as coach for a while, they took off when he was replaced by Cassidy, who loosened the reins and played some of the youngsters he knew from coaching in the A
- Davewn

Agreed! They retooled and kept their core. But the Bruins are not a contender.

I know this hindsight but just image if bowman at 25 woulda took pasterak instead if smaltz plus he traded up to get smaltz. I wonder if carolina would make this trade
Smaltz fortin forsling and krys FOR
Fleury and rask and zykov forgive any misspelling.

They are already a bottom feeding team that looks like a lock for Top
5 in the lottery odds. Whatever man you want to trade Kane, fine. I vehemently disagree, unless someone is dumb enough to give you Barkov, Dahlin, Eichel, Matthews, Ect...it’s a loss in talent that’s almost irreplaceable
- EnzoD

Why would anyone in their right mind looking at this team and each and every position, the amount of players needed and the lack of talent up and down the line up including the lack of talent in Rockford with a core that is old and 5 steps slower and skills diminished along with contracts that eat up almost 40% of your cap space and contracts that extend them out til their into their late 30' early 40's?


At this point the show is long over , this team is not a playoff team and unless Stan is moved out and A GM who knows what he is doing is put into place then maybe you keep kane if that GM is willing to gut keith , seabrook and some other dead weight non productive players .


Otherwise Fire Stan and burn this poop show down.

Marty St Louis was a Point per game player at age 38. Patrick Kane is a much more talented and bigger player. Trading Kane is crazy talk.
- EnzoD

Agreed, as bad as this roster looks right now, Kane is the last guy I’d move.

I’m still not convinced the Hawks need to do a complete tear down, as there is still the possibility of rebuilding around some version of this current core. HOWEVER... I have lost any confidence in McD/Bowman being the duo to put this back together. I hope the result of what is shaping up to be another disappointing season is that both are fired by Rocky and bonafide hockey professionals are hired to replace them.

I just find it sad that your best player is an entitled jerk who beat up a Cab driver over pocket change, is likely a Rapist, you couldn’t score a goal on Home ice your last playoff trip, you might not make the playoffs for Years, your City is cold, overpriced, dangerous, smells and you treat the best Coach you ever had like garbage.


- VopatsRash

And you southerners enslaved blacks, fought against the Union, got your asses kicked, and have a habit of marrying your cousins. What’s your point?

The cupboard isn’t full, but it’s not bare of potential and possible trade pieces. As I said, I dont think it’s definite or even probable - but certainly possible if they make good decisions and identify and develop the talent they have.

The question is - do they have the right decision-makers in control of the team?
- StLBravesFan

This is where I am at with the team. Some good pieces to work with on the big club, some good pieces to work with in Rockford, and some good pieces to work with in prospect ranks around the globe. Yes, there are mediocre and bad pieces at all levels as well but that's where either management needs to replace them with better pieces or the coaching staff (from head coach to assistants to skills coaches to video coach, etc) has to develop them more strongly.

Agree that the concern is whether the right decision makers are in control of the team. The Hawks have good evaluators and developers with the scouting department and personnel like Colliton and Maciver. Good pieces to work with there but doesn't really matter if the ultimate decision makers ignore them or do things that run counter to a healthier direction.

Like you I think the Hawks have some decent prospects. Unlike you I don't see the team being able to be a contender in less than five or six years and I too think that's with some really good no as and development AND by trading some or all of the core for picks and prospects.
- paulr

Easy quick rebuild. Just need to get a
Crosby and a Malkin in successive years.

The problem for the Hawks is the Central Division, the division of death. Their time has passed for now, Nashville and Winnipeg are the best currently but Colorado will overtake both of them in a year or 2 (remember when everybody was calling Joe Sakic a dummy).

Easy quick rebuild. Just need to get a
Crosby and a Malkin in successive years.

The problem for the Hawks is the Central Division, the division of death. Their time has passed for now, Nashville and Winnipeg are the best currently but Colorado will overtake both of them in a year or 2 (remember when everybody was calling Joe Sakic a dummy).
- RickJ

Or a Toews and a Kane!

Agreed, as bad as this roster looks right now, Kane is the last guy I’d move.

I’m still not convinced the Hawks need to do a complete tear down, as there is still the possibility of rebuilding around some version of this current core. HOWEVER... I have lost any confidence in McD/Bowman being the duo to put this back together. I hope the result of what is shaping up to be another disappointing season is that both are fired by Rocky and bonafide hockey professionals are hired to replace them.
- Chief4Feathers

I am reading The Breakaway, about the Wirtz family, the Hawks, and....

About half finished, so I don’t have the whole picture yet, but the Blackhawks were a completely dysfunctional organization - not just on the ice, but from a business standpoint.

McD has been in charge of the change to a modern sports franchise - profitable, good cash flow, high value - certainly helped along by some fortuitous actions (high draft picks, etc.) that led to three Cups and a good 8 or 9 year run (depending on how you define “good”).

A franchise that I doubt was worth $200MM (which is the beginning number people reference) is now worth over $1B. McD gets a lot of credit for that - and even f some of us don’t believe that, Rocky does.

McD leaves only on his terms and his timeline.

Rock and Chi playing now. End of first period, turned it on late. 1-1, Chi scored on a pp at the tail end of the period. Delia looks great. Auger got his 2nd goal and Fejes got in a fight, so far I like the 2 Pto's. Whoever said Forsling reinjured his wrist, he's playing tonight. I'll keep you guys updated through the periods.