The LA Kings snuck in to the last playoff spot one year and took the Cup. So not likely but not impossible. The playoffs are a different kind of season as is the officiating during the playoffs.
- 67hawks

That Kings team was actually good at hockey, and had underperformed for the regular season. Sorry, but this Hawk team doesn’t beat anyone of the top 6 Western teams in a 7 game series.

I believe you're right.

I think they will look at all options while still being respectful to #7.

The minors is not likely an option.
- Justin Lowe

Both of these guys said no as of right now. That may change but I doubt it. Bowman should resign himself to the fact that he has his #5&6 D men going into next season , the exact type of guys he’ll have to trade for come next year if the team is back in the hunt and give up young assets. JMO moving forward, these two ain’t going anywhere, unless they change their minds so time to MoveOn from them and focus on other things. And neither of these guys are going to go to the minors .
Hopefully Bowman has his sights on the number 2 or 3 defenseman and an impact Top six forward.

They wont do this to him.
- vabeachbear

If he has a no movement clause as opposed to a no trade clause they can't do it to him anyway.

According to Charting Hockey, Cam Ward is 5th from the bottom in Goals Saved Above Expectation. He’s ahead of only Talbot, Allen, Dubnyk and Craig Anderson.

Top 5 are Gibson, Lehner & Frederik Anderson, Greiss & Howard.

CC is 10 spots above Ward.

Delia ranks 7th among backups, and is the only Blackhawk goalie with a positive result.

Justin, you mentioned in your paragraoh 4) regarding Seabrook, that the Hawks may move him to the minors. Seabs has a full NMC (except for the last 2 years of his contract) so I believe he cannot be demoted to the minors.
- boilermaker100

This spot on he can’t be demoted while the full NMC is in place. The last two seasons are a different story, it changes to a modified NTC: submits a 5 team trade list in 2022-23; submits a 10 team trade list in 2023-24.

I think Seabrook may be better suited to play in a zone scheme versus man to man. Might be true of the whole D squad to be honest.

If a guy is struggling to keep up speed wise, wouldn't the last thing you would do as a coach be to put slower players in a position to be even more exposed?

We are probably un agreement if you had gone into more detail about Seabrook.

He is too proud and his history shows he will make a commitment to working out. He really cannot choose not to. Whether he didn't one particular summer is now moot. The question is, how much of a difference can he gain from working out vs fighting Father Time.

There is difficulty imagining anyone takes his contract. Since Chicago is not a strong playoff contender, you are nuts to give away a prospect if some GM actually takes Seabrook.

Wait until trade deadline next season and if some GM took Seabrook, no it won't happen if that GM has to protect him due to the no movement clause. If Seabrook waived the no movement for Bowman, is it still in effect with a new team.

We are probably stuck with Seabrook even if he manages to be in tip top shape. Whether Bowman is forced to protect Seabrook probably becomes a moot point up until the expansion draft. There is no way a re-tooling team looses a protection spot and a good player to expansion if at all possible. Creative ways to give Seabrook almost all the money but put him in scouting after next year?

I don't know but sooner or later Seabrook will not continue lacing them up and we will bid adieu to a long time good Blackhawk

I think Seabrook may be better suited to play in a zone scheme versus man to man. Might be true of the whole D squad to be honest.

If a guy is struggling to keep up speed wise, wouldn't the last thing you would do as a coach be to put slower players in a position to be even more exposed?
- Return of the Roar

There is a reason the NBA previously made the zone defense illegal. It’s easier to play and more effective, especially for weaker defenders. Like Seabrook at this point of his career. And Gustafsson.

I wonder if Seabrook has been playing through something. I think injuries are a culprit for these dropoffs more often than we want to believe.

His contract is front loaded, and it won't go below the AAV until the 20-21 season, and even then, not much below it for the remainder of the deal. So he is not going to a salary floor team anytime soon, even if he wanted to.

I remember when Campbell was dealt. He initially said no. It took a conversation with Tallon to get him to change his mind. And a return of the Olesz contract. Some backstory on it, though, I seem to remember that Scotty and Tallon had a big disagreement on whether or not to sign Campbell to that contract in the first place. Maybe that was part of the impetus for Tallon to take Campbell, but I'm obviously not privy to those conversations. Tallon also took Skille, as that was one of his picks, also.

If I had to guess, there would be another buyout opportunity with the next CBA, and that's how the Hawks get out of this contract. In the meantime, we just have to hope that he can regain what he had before. Not much else we can do at this point.

I'd like to see them lose more honestly. Picking 8th again doesn't do a whole lot.

"Sometimes when you win, you really lose, and sometimes when you lose, you really win, and sometimes when you win or lose, you actually tie, and sometimes when you tie, you actually win or lose. Winning or losing is all one organic mechanism, from which one extracts what one needs."

Top 3 maybe 5 pick is necessary at this point and what the Hawks need to go on a other run with Kane and Toews. Unless they can fleece another team out of a Dylan Strome.

According to Charting Hockey, Cam Ward is 5th from the bottom in Goals Saved Above Expectation. He’s ahead of only Talbot, Allen, Dubnyk and Craig Anderson.

Top 5 are Gibson, Lehner & Frederik Anderson, Greiss & Howard.

CC is 10 spots above Ward.

Delia ranks 7th among backups, and is the only Blackhawk goalie with a positive result.
- scottak

It is a team game my man - hard to argue that the whole Blackhawk goalie squad has been subject to the highest number of shots on goal against as well as the highest number of high danger chances in the league?

The Hawks are a team with little to no effective defense, whose possession numbers are actually worse than when Q was running the bench.

Matthew Barzal - 16th overall
Mikko Rantanen - 10th overall
David Pastrnak - 25th overall
Nikita Kucherov - 58th overall
Johnny Gaudreau - 104th overall
Braydon Point - 79th overall
Sebastian Aho - 35th overall


These are some of the best players in the NHL which shows that it’s talent evaluation as much as draft position in finding Elite game changers in the draft. I’d much rather see the team win and improve with guys developing than the poopshow we watched from Q’s firing until January.

Hawks will end up drafting 3-10 bc water always finds it’s level and this team can only rely on 3 guys scoring for so long.

It’s been fun watching this team, and hopefully Stan can dump the waste of space Anisimov before the deadline.

Matthew Barzal - 16th overall
Mikko Rantanen - 10th overall
David Pastrnak - 25th overall
Nikita Kucherov - 58th overall
Johnny Gaudreau - 104th overall
Braydon Point - 79th overall
Sebastian Aho - 35th overall


These are some of the best players in the NHL which shows that it’s talent evaluation as much as draft position in finding Elite game changers in the draft. I’d much rather see the team win and improve with guys developing than the poopshow we watched from Q’s firing until January.

Hawks will end up drafting 3-10 bc water always finds it’s level and this team can only rely on 3 guys scoring for so long.

It’s been fun watching this team, and hopefully Stan can dump the waste of space Anisimov before the deadline.
- EnzoD

Panarin.....Undrafted.

Stan and company must decide there the team is at, if they haven't already - are they trying to get one more kick at the can with the old Cup winning core or are have they decided to retool/rebuild the team to be a contender over the next 7-8 years. The answer to that question is the answer of whether or not to trade Keith. (Seabrook being either untradable or a detriment to the team to get rid of him by having to either take back bad cap space or include future assets).

Matthew Barzal - 16th overall
Mikko Rantanen - 10th overall
David Pastrnak - 25th overall
Nikita Kucherov - 58th overall
Johnny Gaudreau - 104th overall
Braydon Point - 79th overall
Sebastian Aho - 35th overall


These are some of the best players in the NHL which shows that it’s talent evaluation as much as draft position in finding Elite game changers in the draft. I’d much rather see the team win and improve with guys developing than the poopshow we watched from Q’s firing until January.

Hawks will end up drafting 3-10 bc water always finds it’s level and this team can only rely on 3 guys scoring for so long.

It’s been fun watching this team, and hopefully Stan can dump the waste of space Anisimov before the deadline.
- EnzoD

I agree with you. More important that the team find some success with their current roster and have some of the young talent in the organization find their game. A top 5 pick is nice, but you can still draft talent.

Matthew Barzal - 16th overall
Mikko Rantanen - 10th overall
David Pastrnak - 25th overall
Nikita Kucherov - 58th overall
Johnny Gaudreau - 104th overall
Braydon Point - 79th overall
Sebastian Aho - 35th overall


These are some of the best players in the NHL which shows that it’s talent evaluation as much as draft position in finding Elite game changers in the draft. I’d much rather see the team win and improve with guys developing than the poopshow we watched from Q’s firing until January.

Hawks will end up drafting 3-10 bc water always finds it’s level and this team can only rely on 3 guys scoring for so long.

It’s been fun watching this team, and hopefully Stan can dump the waste of space Anisimov before the deadline.
- EnzoD

And let’s not forget our own DBC and Keith

don't be fooled by this positive blip of winning...they had a good 7-8 game run in between 8 game losing streaks...

scoring is only coming from the 3-4 guys and when that dry's up with no improvement in their defensive play they will hit another streak of period 6 of 8 or 8 of 10.

they have held a team to less than 3 goals 2x in the last 12 games. Keep that up and a losing streak is wright around the corner.
- bogiedoc

I don’t think you have to worry. Most people on this thread know this a bad team. In fact they’ve always known this was a bad team. They didn’t let 3 cups fool them, so they certainly aren’t going to let a four game winning blip fool them.

Matthew Barzal - 16th overall
Mikko Rantanen - 10th overall
David Pastrnak - 25th overall
Nikita Kucherov - 58th overall
Johnny Gaudreau - 104th overall
Braydon Point - 79th overall
Sebastian Aho - 35th overall


These are some of the best players in the NHL which shows that it’s talent evaluation as much as draft position in finding Elite game changers in the draft. I’d much rather see the team win and improve with guys developing than the poopshow we watched from Q’s firing until January.

Hawks will end up drafting 3-10 bc water always finds it’s level and this team can only rely on 3 guys scoring for so long.

It’s been fun watching this team, and hopefully Stan can dump the waste of space Anisimov before the deadline.
- EnzoD

Hit rate much higher with 1-5 picks when one sees this list:

2014 Class - Ekblad (1), Reinhardt (2), Drasiaitl (3)
2015 Class - McDavid (1), Eichel (2), Strome (3), Hanafin (5)
2016 Class - Matthews (1), Laine (2)

We have had eight years of drafting near the bottom and the evidence of effective selection from this staff is not promising, and not likely to change. Only hope to improve via draft is to draft high enough to select NHL-ready impact players. The odds overwhelmingly support a lottery pick as the highest chance of finding a diamond.

And let’s not forget our own DBC and Keith
- pdx2ord

The draft is always a crap shoot, even at the top. The only real difference is, with a top 5 pick you’re more likely to find a high end talent that can contribute immediately.

I don’t think you have to worry. Most people on this thread know this a bad team. In fact they’ve always known this was a bad team. They didn’t let 3 cups fool them, so they certainly aren’t going to let a four game winning blip fool them.
- Ogilthorpe2

The draft is always a crap shoot, even at the top. The only real difference is, with a top 5 pick you’re more likely to find a high end talent that can contribute immediately.
- Ogilthorpe2

A couple months ago wiz told me top six players this year. I plan to get an update from him. If you want the top tier of players, i wish it could extend down a couple of spots. Chicago will garner too many points and would need a trade or good karma with those ping pong.

I think Seabrook may be better suited to play in a zone scheme versus man to man. Might be true of the whole D squad to be honest.

If a guy is struggling to keep up speed wise, wouldn't the last thing you would do as a coach be to put slower players in a position to be even more exposed?
- Return of the Roar

Good point. How easy or difficult would it be to bring in a new assistant coach to design, install, train a new system? Any particular candidates available out there? It could be key to the Hawk's future with so many young defensemen in the pipeline.

Chicago will garner too many points and would need a trade or good karma with those ping pong.
- jhawk59

Just like last year, foolish pride will get in the way of what is best for the long term prospects of this team.

According to Charting Hockey, Cam Ward is 5th from the bottom in Goals Saved Above Expectation. He’s ahead of only Talbot, Allen, Dubnyk and Craig Anderson.

Top 5 are Gibson, Lehner & Frederik Anderson, Greiss & Howard.

CC is 10 spots above Ward.

Delia ranks 7th among backups, and is the only Blackhawk goalie with a positive result.
- scottak

Was bummed we grabbed Ward instead of Lehner over the summer

Just like last year, foolish pride will get in the way of what is best for the long term prospects of this team.
- Return of the Roar

Yeah have a feeling this team will end up 10th and pick around 10th. Think Carolina had a better record than the Hawks last year but the lottery ball gifted them so if and when this happens, we can still possibly end up with the 1-3rd pick.

But heck even if we make the playoffs and then lose the first round like 4-0, wouldn't have it been better to get a high pick?