Pretty sure it's ok to multi-task and follow more than one sport. Besides, it gives me something to look forward to especially after watching the Hawks, then coming here and reading about the impending zombie apocalypse.

If you're a Bear fan and not enjoying this season, you're a twit.

Should be a good one Sunday night vs the Vikes, and the Lions usually play tough at home, so the Turkey Day game's no gimme.
- HawkintheD

The way this season is going, that's the least of our problems. Too many guys on the ice that require "walkers" just to move around. And Q was just "Michonne" the door.

I am excited for Sunday night and possibly gaining even more division ground against Det.

Pretty sure it's ok to multi-task and follow more than one sport. Besides, it gives me something to look forward to especially after watching the Hawks, then coming here and reading about the impending zombie apocalypse.

If you're a Bear fan and not enjoying this season, you're a twit.

Should be a good one Sunday night vs the Vikes, and the Lions usually play tough at home, so the Turkey Day game's no gimme.
- HawkintheD

That wasn't my point.

The point is, as soon as this team stops winning, most of the rats are going to jump ship - just like they did in the 1970s when Bobby Hull left for the WHA.

Cubs fans, Bears fans and even Bulls fans have stayed loyal to their teams - even during some pretty crappy seasons. And if you look around the NHL, 5 of the 6 original 6 have had some awful years, but their fan bases stayed loyal. But the Hawks "fan base" has shown in two different periods that they only show up if the team is contending. To an educated eye, that is not loyal.

As big of a jerk that Dollar Bill Wirtz was, he knew his "fan base" here sucked. It always did - it always will. That's why he pulled the home games from free tv. It's why he fired Wayne Messmer from singing. It's why he hired management to gut rosters to the bare bone of talent. It's why they drafted so poorly for so many years.

He sat in his glass tower - laughing at the misery he caused hockey fans here. I know this for a fact. He didn't care about the hockey fans in this town - because he knew they are a disloyal bunch.

And the ones who come here to whine and complain - after a period of a decade of contending - and winning three cups. You listen to it, and it's hard to believe they are so disillusioned to think that they are actually entitled to more.

Be happy with what you had - because if the old man had not died, you would still be waiting for your first cup since 1961!!!!!!!

Why does Stan Bowman still have a job??....better yet, why did he get this job in the first place? Why did he think it was smart to trade Saad for Anisimov and save $1.3mil after 2015? Why did he think it was smart to trade Danault for Weise + Fleischmann? Why did he trade for Ladd instead of a dman in 2016? Why did he think David Rundblad was good enough to play in the NHL on 2 separate contracts?? Why does he build this team like its no-check Euro league hockey on the larger ice surface? Why did he think it was smart to trade Sharp and the only good dman he's drafted in Johns for Garbutt and Trevor Daley (also saving no virtually nothing on the cap)? Why did he trade Hjallmarsson for Murphy? Why did he sign Kunitz? Why did he sign Ward? Why did he sign Manning? Why did he trade Hossa's cap (with a useful player in Hinostroza)...only to not use the cap space? Why did Jan Rutta deserve a $2.3mil contract?

Questions aplenty!
- EnzoD

Questions only Scotty Bowman can answer

That wasn't my point.

The point is, as soon as this team stops winning, most of the rats are going to jump ship - just like they did in the 1970s when Bobby Hull left for the WHA.

Cubs fans, Bears fans and even Bulls fans have stayed loyal to their teams - even during some pretty crappy seasons. And if you look around the NHL, 5 of the 6 original 6 have had some awful years, but their fan bases stayed loyal. But the Hawks "fan base" has shown in two different periods that they only show up if the team is contending. To an educated eye, that is not loyal.

As big of a jerk that Dollar Bill Wirtz was, he knew his "fan base" here sucked. It always did - it always will. That's why he pulled the home games from free tv. It's why he fired Wayne Messmer from singing. It's why he hired management to gut rosters to the bare bone of talent. It's why they drafted so poorly for so many years.

He sat in his glass tower - laughing at the misery he caused hockey fans here. I know this for a fact. He didn't care about the hockey fans in this town - because he knew they are a disloyal bunch.

And the ones who come here to whine and complain - after a period of a decade of contending - and winning three cups. You listen to it, and it's hard to believe they are so disillusioned to think that they are actually entitled to more.

Be happy with what you had - because if the old man had not died, you would still be waiting for your first cup since 1961!!!!!!!
- dahawks8819

I know. Just saw an opportunity to take a shot at all the people who were so anxiously awaiting the banner raising for Cups 7, 8 and 9 that they forgot to enjoy 4, 5 and 6.

So we have established he has potential if holes in his game get filled. OK.

Then we can conclude they should give him enough rope to fix some stuff. OK, but how long do you wait??

Therefore, they shouldn't sign him to ANY deal until after this season is over so they have an idea of what he is worth.

If after another whole season he has regressed, and is still Tinkerbell in the contact department, IN A CONTRACT PROVING YEAR, they not only must question a long term deal, but they must question, even on a $2-3MM AAV bridge deal, if other players give them better value for even that money.

Paying for potential is a fool's game, especially in a hard cap environment.

The performance of NS and Saad were key components in the FO's future composition of the team. If they both collapse/regress, that is $7MM in cap (not counting what they might re-up NS for) a smart GM needs to think about better spending elsewhere.

Until then this is a one line team that will be easy to beat on most nights.
- Return of the Roar

Well said you are spot on, hit the nail on the head. Hindsight is 20/20 but in reality Schmaltz is expendable , if the window to asses each players, skills, abilities, decision making is in between contract years schmaltz had flashes of potential , but he hasn't been willing to correct his bad habits and is not willing to take a hit nor play hard in the corners, he is a pass first player and is not a true center.



With that if a deal is to be made and we don't end up on the short end of the stick id move him. I only wish Stan would have made that trade for Skinner and shipped schmaltz out. Skinner is a proven , reliable and dominant player who's next contract will be in them7 to 9 million range which Chicago was willing to pay schmaltz something In that range.

The way this season is going, that's the least of our problems. Too many guys on the ice that require "walkers" just to move around. And Q was just "Michonne" the door.

I am excited for Sunday night and possibly gaining even more division ground against Det.
- I Am The Breadman

Pretty sure we're talking football, so here goes. The Lions aren't very good this year under new coach Matt Patricia, but have won a couple big games against GB and NE at home.

Given the Bears putrid record vs the NFC North in recent years, this past Sunday's game shouldn't have been, but was still a ? for me.

They dominated in all but one phase of the game, thanks Cody Parkey...and I surprised the running game couldn't get going vs the Lions.

The next two games give them an opportunity to put distance between MN and GB who are usually the ones to worry about.

Your crying and whining is old. No one cares what you attempt to think.

The fact is the organization has increased dramatically in value under McDonough and Stan Bowman - and that's all that matters in the eyes of the Wirtz family.

And add the fact that the Hawks have drafted well over the past few years - and seem to be able to find talent overseas for minimal cost - the ownership thinks better of his G.M. and the people under him - and really doesn't care about what you think.

I can tell you this - knowing some of the people in the Wirtz family - one of the lessons Bill Wirtz taught his sons was that neanderthal fans like you are nothing more than fair weather fans - and not to listen to any of you - because as soon as tough times come, you will jump ship on them.

Dollar Bill hated your fathers, your brothers, and you. He actually enjoyed the misery he caused you in the 90s and 2000s - because no matter how much the team lost, it was a fantastic write-off against his liquor and real estate profits. It was all gravy to him that he could actually make the team so unpleasant, that you would stay away. The empty building was music to his ears.

And at the time this was told to me, I thought what a complete a$$, but the more I read what you ungrateful "fans" post, the more I get what he was saying.

And the funny thing is, I would bet this lesson did not fall on deaf ears when it comes to Rocky - he saw the writing on the wall that something special was about to come together right after his father's passing - so he let it run it's course. It was great fun for him to lift the Cup three times.

I know Rocky is a loyal man - giving the contracts to Kane, Toews and Seabrook were the ultimate way to say thank you for helping to increase the team's value - and he sleeps very well at night knowing they are well taken care of. He sees them as family - and doesn't give a rat's a$$ what you think. And he knows WAY more than you EVER will!!!!!

So get over yourself - and go jump ship to the White Sox, or Bears. It's what non-loyal fans do.

You and your kind are "classless mouth breathers" another Bill Wirtz quote.
- dahawks8819

It's clear your just another apologetic mouth piece tool. Who when faced with the facts and reality you whine and talk like you have so much inside knowledge. In reality your living in LA LA LAND.

Well said you are spot on, hit the nail on the head. Hindsight is 20/20 but in reality Schmaltz is expendable , if the window to asses each players, skills, abilities, decision making is in between contract years schmaltz had flashes of potential , but he hasn't been willing to correct his bad habits and is not willing to take a hit nor play hard in the corners, he is a pass first player and is not a true center.



With that if a deal is to be made and we don't end up on the short end of the stick id move him. I only wish Stan would have made that trade for Skinner and shipped schmaltz out. Skinner is a proven , reliable and dominant player who's next contract will be in them7 to 9 million range which Chicago was willing to pay schmaltz something In that range.
- Taylorst1

I see you're familiar with the concept but not totally clear on the meaning or application.

What moves? There is almost nothing left of value. Trade ABD? The healing won't begin until there is a change of mgt. The owner needs to stop any more damage right now or else nobody will want to be gm of this slow motion train wreck.
- Savoy

This is the mindset I entered the offseason with, don't make things worse. StanBow had some cap space, his team stunk, missed the playoffs and it was reasonable for him to think his job was in jeopardy and would use that cap space on an older player (JVR/Stansty) with term. This makes things worse and ties the hands with even more big money contracts with term on guys who are on the wrong side of the usefulness.

I'll always appreciate Stan for this.

And yes IMO the healing/improvement won't happen until there is a change in management. The hope is moving Q out and the team still struggles gives Rocky a push towards change, big change.

The outcome to NOW being Stan"s team is probably a mixed bag of groceries. Some you like,, others not much or not at all.

Of course we are talking about transactions.
Of course due to the salary cap and having won Thr Holy Grail thtrice in a short or small window frame of time, this left Bowman with the obvious choice to let borderline talent to roast a while longer in Rockford

Before writing off the attitude and tenure of .Gus, instead consider him a caretaker until some bloated prospect((s) arrive.for immediate or fast ttack assignment on the blueline.

Of you can talk up all you want about Bowman bad moved more weight bearing on his resume. And you abr good perspective to feel that our GM is the next one who should go mobile. As in, new address for him.

Before that possible happenstance, Gus should.chsnge his defensive effort. I do think Bowman will wind up detatching him for a draft choice.

That seems like a good idea.....Bowmam may receive a draft choice.

Whether you now choose to listen to the Who "Going Mobile," it is Stan's team and he just may go mobile if he doesn't bring in better players.

This is the mindset I entered the offseason with, don't make things worse. StanBow had some cap space, his team stunk, missed the playoffs and it was reasonable for him to think his job was in jeopardy and would use that cap space on an older player (JVR/Stansty) with term. This makes things worse and ties the hands with even more big money contracts with term on guys who are on the wrong side of the usefulness.

I'll always appreciate Stan for this.

And yes IMO the healing/improvement won't happen until there is a change in management. The hope is moving Q out and the team still struggles gives Rocky a push towards change, big change.
- Mr Ricochet

If you look at next season, they have about $60M committed with only Schmaltz, Forsling, Sikura, Kampf and Johnson needing to be signed, which should give the team some flexibility to make a better splash in FA.

Maybe they assess what they have and need and someone like Stone is signed in the offseason.

It's clear your just another apologetic mouth piece tool. Who when faced with the facts and reality you whine and talk like you have so much inside knowledge. In reality your living in LA LA LAND.
- Taylorst1

You are just too funny!!!!!

Keep whining - like you have a say in the conversation.

Rocky Wirtz is doing just fine with the current team. And fully trusts the people he employs to manage it.

Don't like it - do what you do - jump ship. His family will wake up tomorrow still VERY wealthy - while you keep on living paycheck to paycheck.

If you look at next season, they have about $60M committed with only Schmaltz, Forsling, Sikura, Kampf and Johnson needing to be signed, which should give the team some flexibility to make a better splash in FA.

Maybe they assess what they have and need and someone like Stone is signed in the offseason.
- HawkintheD

I would not put it past Stan to waste that space on Kruger 4 years * 3.5 mln and some other useless defensive failure like Runblad/Manning. After all this is what he did this year with Hossa contract. What was the point in shipping young players like Vinnie and Osterlie out and acquiring aging UFAs?

It's clear your just another apologetic mouth piece tool. Who when faced with the facts and reality you whine and talk like you have so much inside knowledge. In reality your living in LA LA LAND.
- Taylorst1

And you want facts and reality??

Ok, the Hawks went from an asset value of around 200 million 10 years ago, to over 1 billion today. From a business standpoint, McDonough and Stan Bowman deserve a huge raise for their work. Don't be surprised when it happens.

The talent pipeline has been replenished over the past few years - Stan and his staff are sitting on solid ground in that category. Again, fact and reality - but keep spewing your nonsense - it's always good for a laugh!!!!!

I thought so too until I saw Seabrook and Kampf in OT. Neither of these players should see the ice unless they're on the PK. OT is about puck control and speed and only the top 6 should get the ice time to be "relentless" for the extra point. It is not the time to experiment for the future.
Maybe later in the year when ColliTANK is in full swing.
- Hawkytalk

He's new to the league, the rest of the year will be one
big experiment, give everyone including the core a
chance to succeed, fail, and if I'm not mistaking Kampf
was one of the best forwards all game long. Seabs was the
one flailing all over the ice that he could reach.

The fo might just need to be reminded of what they have.

I would not put it past Stan to waste that space on Kruger 4 years * 3.5 mln and some other useless defensive failure like Runblad/Manning. After all this is what he did this year with Hossa contract. What was the point in shipping young players like Vinnie and Osterlie out and acquiring aging UFAs?
- vshun

Because what so many of you fail to grasp is that cap space was not used because there weren't players of value willing to come here for what the Hawks could offer.

NHL players seldom give discounts when they hit free agency. This is not NHL19 - where a fan gets to dictate where a player goes. They have free will, and want to make the most they can.

And you people keep pining for Vinnie. He is at best bottom six talent. Just because he is scoring at an average rate for a bad Arizona team, it doesn't make him a top six talent lost just because you choose to see more of him than there actually is.

I would not put it past Stan to waste that space on Kruger 4 years * 3.5 mln and some other useless defensive failure like Runblad/Manning. After all this is what he did this year with Hossa contract. What was the point in shipping young players like Vinnie and Osterlie out and acquiring aging UFAs?
- vshun

Count me as liking more of what Stan has done than not, though not necessarily recent moves, but, no way is Kruger getting that kind of money if he's resigned at all.

Stan's last deal to him was a thank you for taking less to bring back the band in '15 or '16, whenever the previous deal was.

That said, watch Stan make a liar out of me and give Kruger a Seabrook like deal commensurate for 4th line centers who don't score.

While Vinnie would have provided some ok bottom 6 depth, I don't view it as much of a price to move Hossa's deal but really, Oesterle? He is another bottom pairing dman on team that already has 4 of them.

I still think when Forsling and Murphy eventually return, the defense sorts itself out somewhat and looks better. Shouldn't be too hard.

Pretty sure we're talking football, so here goes. The Lions aren't very good this year under new coach Matt Patricia, but have won a couple big games against GB and NE at home.

Given the Bears putrid record vs the NFC North in recent years, this past Sunday's game shouldn't have been, but was still a ? for me.

They dominated in all but one phase of the game, thanks Cody Parkey...and I surprised the running game couldn't get going vs the Lions.

The next two games give them an opportunity to put distance between MN and GB who are usually the ones to worry about.
- HawkintheD

Yeah football, wasn't clear haha. Bears should have 1 or 2 less losses. That GB game ...

Agree on how they play division teams. I'm liking this team a lot. I feel like Fuller isn't worth his money. Good plays, not all around good game. Parkey!?!?!? Wtf does he do at practice!?!?

Det has played good games. Patricia sticking it to BB in NE was huge. I see the Bears as a playoff team.

Your crying and whining is old. No one cares what you attempt to think.

The fact is the organization has increased dramatically in value under McDonough and Stan Bowman - and that's all that matters in the eyes of the Wirtz family.

And add the fact that the Hawks have drafted well over the past few years - and seem to be able to find talent overseas for minimal cost - the ownership thinks better of his G.M. and the people under him - and really doesn't care about what you think.

I can tell you this - knowing some of the people in the Wirtz family - one of the lessons Bill Wirtz taught his sons was that neanderthal fans like you are nothing more than fair weather fans - and not to listen to any of you - because as soon as tough times come, you will jump ship on them.

Dollar Bill hated your fathers, your brothers, and you. He actually enjoyed the misery he caused you in the 90s and 2000s - because no matter how much the team lost, it was a fantastic write-off against his liquor and real estate profits. It was all gravy to him that he could actually make the team so unpleasant, that you would stay away. The empty building was music to his ears.

And at the time this was told to me, I thought what a complete a$$, but the more I read what you ungrateful "fans" post, the more I get what he was saying.

And the funny thing is, I would bet this lesson did not fall on deaf ears when it comes to Rocky - he saw the writing on the wall that something special was about to come together right after his father's passing - so he let it run it's course. It was great fun for him to lift the Cup three times.

I know Rocky is a loyal man - giving the contracts to Kane, Toews and Seabrook were the ultimate way to say thank you for helping to increase the team's value - and he sleeps very well at night knowing they are well taken care of. He sees them as family - and doesn't give a rat's a$$ what you think. And he knows WAY more than you EVER will!!!!!

So get over yourself - and go jump ship to the White Sox, or Bears. It's what non-loyal fans do.

You and your kind are "classless mouth breathers" another Bill Wirtz quote.
- dahawks8819

First quote-- no doubt about it. I remember when there was a ceremony at center ice years ago, might have been the banners in the new building being raised, when Bill was introduced. And of course he got the poop boo'd out of him. He loved it, and the quote I heard was "ok, beer prices are going up''. And the next game they were 50 cents more. I also remember Bobby Hull waving his banner around like he was fighting a bull.

Second quote-- there is no doubt that from the top to the bottom they all came in at the perfectly timed moment. And the club might be worth a billion these days, but if they don't make the right moves now it won't stay that way. My grandmother could have marketed this team when they were winning 3 cups and she's dead. It was that easy. But this ain't the Cubs. Tough decisions have to be made and Q getting launched was a good start. Collition and open minded guys like him are the future. Now we all need patience. If the hockey sucks at least it will be fun seeing the order in which guys get launched.

Yeah football, wasn't clear haha. Bears should have 1 or 2 less losses. That GB game ...

Agree on how they play division teams. I'm liking this team a lot. I feel like Fuller isn't worth his money. Good plays, not all around good game. Parkey!?!?!? Wtf does he do at practice!?!?

Det has played good games. Patricia sticking it to BB in NE was huge. I see the Bears as a playoff team.
- I Am The Breadman

He doesn't practice at Soldier Field. The winds off that lake are crazy and take a while to get used to. If he's going to F up let him do it in a game they win anyway. Didn't cost them. All the socer style kickers I've ever seen have a draw (moves a bit left) on their kicks. But this guy has a fade. I know from golf that a draw goes farther than a fade. So a game winner from 50+ is less likely. If I heard correctly, Robbie Gould has missed fewer kicks since he left than this guy missed last week. WTF.

Meh on Francis. There was a reason that he he was reassigned then terminated in Carolina, they kinda sucked when he was GM.

Putting a retired player like Chelios in a coaching or management role usually doesn't work well. Those type of players had a skillset and mindset that simply can't be taught or coached.

Typically it's the role players and tweeners that do well in these positions because they are the ones that usually spent a lot of the time on the bench watching.
- Rota's Rooter

Most of this team is thanks to Ron Francis. He's the one that got them Aho, Teravainen, Slavin, Pesce....

What he didn't do is make any adjustments at all.

Next 2 games (against the Blues and the Kings) feature battles of the giants for first place overall (in the draft lottery).

Watching the Sabres and Lightning last night makes you realize how much work the Hawks need to do.

Aside from the overall speed of that game, what stood out to me was the quickness of players and the simplicity of passing and putting the puck on net.

It was really fun to watch.

Most of this team is thanks to Ron Francis. He's the one that got them Aho, Teravainen, Slavin, Pesce....

What he didn't do is make any adjustments at all.
- BINGO!

What type of adjustments were expected?

so did wilson kill anybody tonight? he will...guys like him will not change
- bogiedoc

Mitch Robbins: Hi Curly. Killed anyone today?

Curly: The day ain't over yet...