No offense but that’s a horrible trade. J-Bo is ok but Allen sucks (last night notwithstanding) and I think you could get more if you packaged Schmaltz and Crow.

I’m not opposed to trading Schmaltz but you’d better get something decent/comparable for him.

At this point, I might even send him down if that’s an option at all and tell him he needs to work on his compete level and shooting the puck to get back up here...to Chicago not Detroit.
- HawkintheD

Well I think you are not looking at the entire picture - yes Allen sucks, but if the goal is to be a lottery pick then yes the goal would be closer.

Well I think you are not looking at the entire picture - yes Allen sucks, but if the goal is to be a lottery pick then yes the goal would be closer.
- powerenforcer

If the Hawks are looking to tank to get into the lottery, wouldn't the better trade be for young players and draft picks and not over the hill useless veterans? That said I don't believe for one second Bowman is trying or shoud tank.

Well I think you are not looking at the entire picture - yes Allen sucks, but if the goal is to be a lottery pick then yes the goal would be closer.
- powerenforcer

The goal is NOT lottery pick/tank job. They may miss the playoffs but that won't be because they have written the season off at the 20 game mark..

If the Hawks are looking to tank to get into the lottery, wouldn't the better trade be for young players and draft picks and not over the hill useless veterans? That said I don't believe for one second Bowman is trying or shoud tank.
- paulr

Think you’re right and that the plan was to bring Colliton in and let him establish his culture which I’d bet was to develop a winning one.

If the Hawks are looking to tank to get into the lottery, wouldn't the better trade be for young players and draft picks and not over the hill useless veterans? That said I don't believe for one second Bowman is trying or shoud tank.
- paulr

Truth be told, I don't know if the Hawks know what direction they're going in, or trying to go in.

The trades and signings over the past couple years kind of suggest that. It's just sort of all over the place and it's hard to tell what the direction or end goal sort of it.

We just have to hope they can spark and start to get things going.

The goal is NOT lottery pick/tank job. They may miss the playoffs but that won't be because they have written the season off at the 20 game mark..
- RickJ

Chicago might sneak into the playoffs, but it won't be because the team is any good.

Reputation. Just like in the NBA, rookies don't get the calls.

You're going up against the Micheal Jordan of sarcasm.

Keep it up though, in a year or two it'll start going your way
- vabeachbear

Now that's funny.

Truth be told, I don't know if the Hawks know what direction they're going in, or trying to go in.

The trades and signings over the past couple years kind of suggest that. It's just sort of all over the place and it's hard to tell what the direction or end goal sort of it.

We just have to hope they can spark and start to get things going.
- Hank3Henshaw

The moves the Hawks, or any team makes, are part of an overall plan we as fans aren't privy to. I read lots of complaining about Bowman's drafting, mostly because the players he drafts are small. But what i see is the guys he does draft early on have the same traits in common, great skaters and high end skill. The trades he made were for either cap compliance or to try to bolster the team for one last cup run. I will admit the player signings this summer are curious but I have to assume Bowman and his staff have a plan and understand what they are doing.

Can the Hawks Buy-Out Seabrook's contract? I am not suggesting they do. I only want to know if it would be totally within their legal rights to buy him out at the end of the season. I really don't want to hear "they likely won't" or "it would cost them a ton in the long run". I just want to know factually if at the end of season they can legally buy him out?

The moves the Hawks, or any team makes, are part of an overall plan we as fans aren't privy to. I read lots of complaining about Bowman's drafting, mostly because the players he drafts are small. But what i see is the guys he does draft early on have the same traits in common, great skaters and high end skill. The trades he made were for either cap compliance or to try to bolster the team for one last cup run. I will admit the player signings this summer are curious but I have to assume Bowman and his staff have a plan and understand what they are doing.
- paulr

Other than Manning, they were all one year deals I believe. Gotta think it was to give some of the kids time to play in RFD til they are ready.

Pretty sure most of these guys won't be here next year: Rutta, Freddie, Ward, Kunitz, Davidson.

Can the Hawks Buy-Out Seabrook's contract? I am not suggesting they do. I only want to know if it would be totally within their legal rights to buy him out at the end of the season. I really don't want to hear "they likely won't" or "it would cost them a ton in the long run". I just want to know factually if at the end of season they can legally buy him out?
- onehundredlevel

It would not save us a whole a lot because Seabrook's contract is so top loaded. We are better off to play him on the third pairing down the road and hope for permanent LTIR like Hossa's.

The moves the Hawks, or any team makes, are part of an overall plan we as fans aren't privy to. I read lots of complaining about Bowman's drafting, mostly because the players he drafts are small. But what i see is the guys he does draft early on have the same traits in common, great skaters and high end skill. The trades he made were for either cap compliance or to try to bolster the team for one last cup run. I will admit the player signings this summer are curious but I have to assume Bowman and his staff have a plan and understand what they are doing.
- paulr

Oh, yea. I totally get that and respect it about pro sports - we (as fans) don't know what goes on behind closed doors and don't need to know all the time.

I'm just saying that sometimes you can gauge what direction a team is going in from moves that make, or a GM or coach coming out and saying something like, "we're trying to get younger and faster" etc. or whatever.

We don't get any of that from the Hawks and that's fine, we only have the trades and signings to go off of - which makes it kind of tough to get a feel for where they're going.

Can the Hawks Buy-Out Seabrook's contract? I am not suggesting they do. I only want to know if it would be totally within their legal rights to buy him out at the end of the season. I really don't want to hear "they likely won't" or "it would cost them a ton in the long run". I just want to know factually if at the end of season they can legally buy him out?
- onehundredlevel

Teams can buy out players but its rare for a reason: They pay 2/3 of the salary over the contracts term remaining. In seabs case that would be 5 yrs and the team's NHL salary cap hit is stretched over a period of twice the remaining length of the contract and in seabs case that is 10 yrs. Hawks are not going to do this!

Other than Manning, they were all one year deals I believe. Gotta think it was to give some of the kids time to play in RFD til they are ready.

Pretty sure most of these guys won't be here next year: Rutta, Freddie, Ward, Kunitz, Davidson.
- HawkintheD

Is that in reference to #16?

Even better when Pierre is elsewhere
- Abadseed

I don’t mind Pierre. The key is to not take him seriously.

Chicago might sneak into the playoffs, but it won't be because the team is any good.
- BINGO!

A team doesn't 'sneak' into the playoffs in the Central Division, they either make it by winning or else. Look to the Pacific or Atlantic Divisions for mediocrity. That said, I don't expect the Hawks to make it and if they do it will be with a 5th place finish.

I don’t mind Pierre. The key is to not take him seriously.
- Spec41971

Years ago he did an on ice interview after a game, and the player told him that he was an idiot. I wish I could remember the player. Mike Milbury doesn't like him ... I don't really like MM, though.

With Gus slowly getting better, I'll take a trade for 44. Picks or whatever.
- I Am The Breadman

If this season doesn't look like it will end up in a playoff birth, make trades that take back expiring contracts to get better picks/prospects. We have the cap space, so let's use it to restock.

A team doesn't 'sneak' into the playoffs in the Central Division, they either make it by winning or else. Look to the Pacific or Atlantic Divisions for mediocrity. That said, I don't expect the Hawks to make it and if they do it will be with a 5th place finish.
- RickJ

Bad teams can win games sometimes.

Brent Seabrook has 10 points already this year and glaciers move faster than he does. Anything is possible.

FWIW, full season Corsi for % for all Blackhawks D, through last night's game. (From Natural Stat Trick)

Jokiharju 56.06
Keith 54.91
Gustafsson 52.62
Rutta 50.00
Manning 49.30
Seabrook 47.33
Davidson 44.38
Forsling 41.94

A team doesn't 'sneak' into the playoffs in the Central Division, they either make it by winning or else. Look to the Pacific or Atlantic Divisions for mediocrity. That said, I don't expect the Hawks to make it and if they do it will be with a 5th place finish.
- RickJ

The trend has been positive through JC's first set of games. Forget the damn playoffs. Continue to improve team play by way of compete, purpose and structure and make some roster moves.

Damn it if stanbow and McD think this team is playoff competitive then use that remaining 4 mil in cap space and bring a couple of players (and subtract a couple) who can play and add something.

I don’t mind Pierre. The key is to not take him seriously.
- Spec41971

Never understood the Pierre hate.

It feels more like one of those things where it's the thing to hate him. It's moronic frat house stuff to me.

Problem is he doesn’t get assists either as his passes normally become easy turnovers. No rebounds, no nothing. If you play with Kane you must shoot. Schmaltz dragging this line down.
- Z3Hawk

Agree totally. First, you don't need two (primarily) playmakers on one line. Second, his passes are too often not when/where Kane or Toews needs them to make something happen. Both have to either find and settle the puck before acting or they have to cycle back around. It's killing momentum and some clear chances and, too often, leading to turnovers.

I think he'd be much better off with two players to whom he doesn't automatically defer, away from the other team's top lines and D pairings, and one in which he is the shooter. He'll either sink or swim, then, but JC and the FO need to see that.

In meantime, I'd move DBC to the LW on Toews' line. He is tenacious on the puck, not afraid to battle bigger guys (well, who isn't?) for it, and thinks shoot first. When he doesn't have a shot, he at least usually makes clean, accurate passes.

High Danger CF% 5 v 5 for Blackhawk D this season (Natural Stat Trick)

This paints a little different picture.

Gustafsson 47.24
Seabrook 46.81
Keith 46.72
Jokiharju 44.67
Rutta 42.62
Manning 41.82
Davidson 25.00
Forsling 0.00

Can the Hawks Buy-Out Seabrook's contract? I am not suggesting they do. I only want to know if it would be totally within their legal rights to buy him out at the end of the season. I really don't want to hear "they likely won't" or "it would cost them a ton in the long run". I just want to know factually if at the end of season they can legally buy him out?
- onehundredlevel

Teams can buy out players but its rare for a reason: They pay 2/3 of the salary over the contracts term remaining. In seabs case that would be 5 yrs and the team's NHL salary cap hit is stretched over a period of twice the remaining length of the contract and in seabs case that is 10 yrs. Hawks are not going to do this!
- bogiedoc

I think what you meant to say was "yes, it is."