I know Toews has been playing quite decent but i honestly think we should trade him just to get ourselves out of salary cap hell. maybe pick up 1 or 2 good players with his 10.5 mil. Maybe trade Crawford as well.
- MichaeLionheart

I don't think you're getting a great return for Toews in a trade with that contract.

I know he's doing better, but it's still $10.5 Million per for a guy who hasn't had a point per game season in 6 years.

And that's based upon how many games you've seen the 18 year old Boquist play?
- BMWChiFan

Seems like last year Joki's game was an Offense first D-Man -- and D was going to be a project. Seems like his play this year is Strong D and will jump into the O Play only when necessary and not very often

I was talking hierarchy in general terms. I'm sure Bowman needs approval to buy stationary. But my point being he is clsest to management and has their ear more than a coach. It's funnier still that the lowest on the totem pole receive the highest salary of all. If Only my job as a toilet cleaner paid me more than my company's CEO.

- paulr

So, unlike Q, should we assume you're not a "hall of fame" (to be) toilet cleaner?!

Just read Powers latest article on Manning. It sounds like it will take the D a bit longer to adjust than the forwards going from zone to man defense.

While I'm sure it will be infuriating at times (see last night's game) I'm interested to see what the finished product looks like. It sounds like the overall concept is to me much more aggressive on the puck by the defensemen, but you have to make quicker decisions.

There was also mention of being a bit more physical on the puck carriers coming into the zone. This may help a bit when Murphy comes back as well. Time will tell.

I'm glad we lost, i was rooting for us to lose.

Every loss is another step in the right direction

Every win only further holds us back.

This should be obvious for all fans at this point, but of course there's still a large crowd that for whatever reason wants us to remain mediocre and eek out some wins every now and then.

I don't think you're getting a great return for Toews in a trade with that contract.

I know he's doing better, but it's still $10.5 Million per for a guy who hasn't had a point per game season in 6 years.
- BINGO!

You're probably right, but its still worth putting his name out there and seeing what kind of offers are available.

Kane on the other hand might land us a decent return.

He was on his heels in that 670 interview. So defensive and the DJ's weren't cutting him any slack. Tougher questions than I've heard asked of anyone in the FO in a long time.
- pdx2ord

I thought David Kaplan also asked McD some tough questions during his interview on ESPN1000:
http://www.espn.com/espnr.../chicago/play?id=25216972

I'm glad we lost, i was rooting for us to lose.

Every loss is another step in the right direction

Every win only further holds us back.

This should be obvious for all fans at this point, but of course there's still a large crowd that for whatever reason wants us to remain mediocre and eek out some wins every now and then.
- SimpleJack

I'd be all in on this, if there were surefire, blue-chip players at the top of the draft, and there wasn't a lottery. From all that I've read, Hughes is not exactly Matthews of McDavid.

I'm glad we lost, i was rooting for us to lose.

Every loss is another step in the right direction

Every win only further holds us back.

This should be obvious for all fans at this point, but of course there's still a large crowd that for whatever reason wants us to remain mediocre and eek out some wins every now and then.
- SimpleJack

Look at the Oilers. For 6 or 7 years their goals was to lose and get first round picks. How they have the best player in the game and all his teammates have been conditioned to lose. I want the Hawks to play their best hockey each night and get the draft spot they get. What I don't want to see is them trading for older vets or for bad contracts just to make the playoffs.

Thanks for the extra details on how contracts work. Good to know that contracts of juniors slide.

If that's the case, then ink Kurashev, Mitchell and Krys. I assume juniors also apply to NCAA players, not just juniors as in Canadian junior leagues.
- AEL_Fox

Pretty sure you give up your eligibility to play in college as soon as you sign a professsional contract.

For those with info on Rockford and the style they play, what can we expect? Is JC a proponent of the heavy forecheck? Does Rockford play physical? How is the PP? In all honesty, he has been put in a really tough spot trying to turn this train wreck around.

I thought David Kaplan also asked McD some tough questions during his interview on ESPN1000:
http://www.espn.com/espnr.../chicago/play?id=25216972
- BMWChiFan

Missed that one, thanks! Slightly less wienerly, but he seems to have a "tell" of repeating the interviewer's name with emphasis when he's not thrilled with a question.

Look at the Oilers. For 6 or 7 years their goals was to lose and get first round picks. How they have the best player in the game and all his teammates have been conditioned to lose. I want the Hawks to play their best hockey each night and get the draft spot they get. What I don't want to see is them trading for older vets or for bad contracts just to make the playoffs.
- paulr

The problem with the Oilers is that that wasn't their goal at all.

They weren't trying to tank, they were just terrible.

I don't think you're getting a great return for Toews in a trade with that contract.

I know he's doing better, but it's still $10.5 Million per for a guy who hasn't had a point per game season in 6 years.
- BINGO!

Don't rain on his parade. Rain on someone's on the Canes board.

Just read Powers latest article on Manning. It sounds like it will take the D a bit longer to adjust than the forwards going from zone to man defense.

While I'm sure it will be infuriating at times (see last night's game) I'm interested to see what the finished product looks like. It sounds like the overall concept is to me much more aggressive on the puck by the defensemen, but you have to make quicker decisions.

There was also mention of being a bit more physical on the puck carriers coming into the zone. This may help a bit when Murphy comes back as well. Time will tell.
- Chunk

whats more popular in today's NHL? zone or man to man ?

And that's based upon how many games you've seen the 18 year old Boquist play?
- BMWChiFan

It's based on whatever footage I can find online and on reports I read whether by professional analysts, bloggers, or fans. Just my conjecture and know my sources are limited. If I'm off base, totally cool by me.

And if you have a different perspective or analysis on Boqvist or anyone else, by all means, share.

Cap Hit doesn't include bonuses, AAV does. Both Boqvist and Beaudin have a $925,000 cap hit. Boqvist's AAV is $1.775 million whereas Beaudin's is $1.166 million.
- DarthKane

AAVs make sense given their relative draft positions.

Seems like last year Joki's game was an Offense first D-Man -- and D was going to be a project. Seems like his play this year is Strong D and will jump into the O Play only when necessary and not very often
- glennjpawlak22

Good perspective on Jokiharju's development a year ago to today. Can others like Boqvist do the same? Sure but it's on them to work hard on getting stronger in all areas, especially deficient ones.

Look at the Oilers. For 6 or 7 years their goals was to lose and get first round picks. How they have the best player in the game and all his teammates have been conditioned to lose. I want the Hawks to play their best hockey each night and get the draft spot they get. What I don't want to see is them trading for older vets or for bad contracts just to make the playoffs.
- paulr

Count me in that camp, too.

Pretty sure you give up your eligibility to play in college as soon as you sign a professsional contract.
- eagle50

Good catch on that. Thanks for rounding out my thinking on contracts today.

Did you also notice last night that Coliton was directly involved in instructing players during the timeout late in the game? This is something Q was rarely involved in -he had his assistants do that. Yet I have seen other head coaches directly involved as our coach was last night. This was something I often wondered about with Q.
- 67hawks

I’m not surprised seeing that his assistants were pretty much forced on him.

Not a very positive start to the JC era. It's one game and the team hasn't had time to really adjust much of anything, but they came out flat and there is no reason Kane should be playing that many minutes. It might be good for his individual totals, but I don't think it helps the Hawks win games.

Glad to hear more posters agreeing with what I've been saying about Kahun. Nice player, but not looking to be cut out for line 1. I wouldn't be surprised if he is part of a trade if things continue to slide.

It wasn't all bad. They did fight back and make a game of it (even it was against a flawed Carolina team) and the PP looked a bit more energized.

The concern is that after Kane, Debrincat and Toews, the next highest scoring players are AA and Seabrook. We need a new Patrick Sharp or Hossa to help round out the forwards or we have to find some secondary scoring in a big way. I hope Stan doesn't do anything knee jerk, but finds some positive moves.
- breadbag

Ya having, arguably, the most complete 200ft power winger of the 21st Century on the roster would change things. As would having another 30 goal 60+ point 200ft winger in the Sharp mold. They also need 3 better defenseman and bottom six forwards who can score.

“We like our team”

I’m not surprised seeing that his assistants were pretty much forced on him.
- walleyeb1

So are young athletes different than your average millennial? Perhaps JC knows something about communication that Q perhaps has forgotten or doesn't understand.JC probably has basically 0 inclination to expect his message to be conveyed in game by new asst.coaches but I am willing to wait and see what he candu.

Watching Stan last night on the pre-game with Pat Boyle gave me the same feeling as when CC had his concert mishap. Felt like to me McD : Stan you got us into this mess now take your medicine and get us out of this mess.

I don't think you're getting a great return for Toews in a trade with that contract.

I know he's doing better, but it's still $10.5 Million per for a guy who hasn't had a point per game season in 6 years.
- BINGO!

The point is not to get a lot in return as these players are no longer in their prime. The point is to move away from their high salary contracts which are sucking up large amounts of cap space and hindering the quality of players the team can sign. Nobody doubts the contribution or what these players have meant to the Hawks....its huge, legendary But it comes a time when an organization has to move on from players in order to stay competitive. I think now it's that time! They should really think hard about moving Toews and Seabs for starters. To me changing the coach is the first wave of a new era and the rest must follow. That change in itself was necessary but it will not make this team a playoff team as the players making the bulk of the money are too old, too slow, too tired....its just the harsh reality. I believe Kane and CC are still deserving and still strong enough to build around and even Keith as a vet is worth keeping but the rest not so much. Figure a top 5 pick along with 20 million of cap money, we'll there is a recipe for a potential renewal.....