What exactly has McDonagh done to "prove himself right about being a playoff team"?? Bowman made some good LONG TERM hockey trades in acquiring Strome and Caggiulla who are both signed for 2 years on team friendly contracts. It turns out the Hawks are not one of the 5 worst teams in the NHL, are playing extremely high scoring and entertaining hockey every night, and are ONE POINT from 8th in the West and playoff birth. Will they win in the first round? HIGHLY unlikely. What exactly would you have done differently? You'd rather watch the Hawks play as they did in November-December just to draft a MAYBE impact player in this draft that lacks a McDavid/Matthews type talent??


I don't understand the people who are still on the tank train. IF, the Hawks start losing in bunches and they are close to top overall pick in March, I may get back onboard the tank train. But, as it stands today, they are a playoff bubble team in the very weak Western Conference. And all the teams at the top of the conference are serial chokers when it comes to the playoffs, so anything can happen, even if it is a prayer.


Hawks SHOULD get Crawford back soon and he is very likely a big upgrade over Ward/Delia.
- EnzoD

Hey Enzo, no question CC is an upgrade sadly you can't upgrade the entire defense in front of him at the same time. They gave up at touchdown last night. I'm interested to see what kind of moves are going to be made down the stretch.

McD more than anything wants them in so he can look right for the move on Q ...Several including myself have mentioned them going after Panarin in the summer which I'm sure is McD driven as well. I've made this point and several folks have mentioned they should focus on defense in the summer first - which was my thought as well - spread that money around and start with the back end and upgrade. But I don't know if the brass sees it that way...we'll see what happens...

I don't see the Hawks beating the Sharks/Preds/Jets/Knights in a series. Blues seem to be playing their best hockey right now and Calgary is leading the West.
Should be interesting to see how it shakes out down the stretch.

Except he is almost a PPG player in the playoffs......he doesn't shy away from contact either. Don't understand the Panarin bashing.
- bhawks2241

Because his second playoffs with us, he said at the conclusion of the season, he was tired. After 2 full seasons, and playoffs in the NHL, he got ragged on for being tired. Yes... you could see a lack of effort compared to regular season that year. But the whole, "he disappears in the playoffs" is a joke. 2015-16 and 2017-18 proved he doesn't disappear. But that wouldn't fit their narrative.

If you are able to add Panarin and a #3-4 defender in the offseason, this team could be, imo, moving towards the top of the league. Insert Joki back into the lineup, and you're building something strong.

Dzingel will cost 1/2 as much against the Cap, and is younger.
- EnzoD

Actually, Stone is younger by a couple months, but agree about the cost.

Actually, Stone is younger by a couple months, but agree about the cost.
- resqmed99

oh snap, good call. I thought Stone was a 1990 birth year! But yeah, Stone showed last night that he is an excellent 200ft player and worth the 1st rounder + top prospect rental payment for the Cup Contender that gets him. Dzingel has 22G, 22A and could probably be signed for $5 mil vs Stone who will probably get $9mil+

Hey Enzo, no question CC is an upgrade sadly you can't upgrade the entire defense in front of him at the same time. They gave up at touchdown last night. I'm interested to see what kind of moves are going to be made down the stretch.

McD more than anything wants them in so he can look right for the move on Q ...Several including myself have mentioned them going after Panarin in the summer which I'm sure is McD driven as well. I've made this point and several folks have mentioned they should focus on defense in the summer first - which was my thought as well - spread that money around and start with the back end and upgrade. But I don't know if the brass sees it that way...we'll see what happens...

I don't see the Hawks beating the Sharks/Preds/Jets/Knights in a series. Blues seem to be playing their best hockey right now and Calgary is leading the West.
Should be interesting to see how it shakes out down the stretch.
- DK002

I guess I'm in the minority, but I don't understand the angst of the fanbase with this team. They have no expectations this year, and after winning 3 Cups all we can ask for is competitive and entertaining hockey. They have certainly been competitive in 2019, and have provided a lot of scoring (for and against) the entire season for entertainment. Yeah there is something to say about a hard checking, great goaltending game 1-0, but for this fan, I like watching the best players in the world put the puck in the back of the net. We got to watch 15 goals last night, and the game came down to a last second back door pass breakup or it could've been OT.


What's not to love about the direction of this team with Strome, Caggiulla, Kahun, debrincat growing their games while Toews and Kane play the best hockey of their Hall of Fame Careers??

Question for the more “fundamental”-centric fans of the board:

How difficult is it to convert from F-D or D-F? In sports like baseball and football, you see it relatively frequently. Within this modern era of analytics, teams seemingly find competitive advantages by tailoring to players’ skill sets.

It seems to me like Gus is playing a rover role that would NOT be permitted in Q’s system. We all know of his defensive shortcomings, and at 26 he’s not going to significantly improve in his end of the ice, but we all see just how valuable a piece he is offensively and how integral a role he plays on the
- TommyHawk[revamped] PP that has led to this season’s turnaround.

If the team wanted to convert Gus to F in the traditional way, how difficult of an adjustment would it be? Would assume it’s easier than transitioning to defense, but at the same time, I like the concept of the Hawks potentially transcending hockey by introducing a new “hybrid” role for a player that truly has free reign on the ice to take advantage of his skill set, as long as they figure out a way to mask any defensive deficiencies.

Well there was John Scott, all kidding aside, Brett Burns and Dustin Byfyglin went from D to forward back to D, Doug Mohns (who scored 20 goals as a defenseman when that was unheard of) Wendell Clark and Red Kelley are the others I could think of.

Hey Enzo, no question CC is an upgrade sadly you can't upgrade the entire defense in front of him at the same time. They gave up at touchdown last night. I'm interested to see what kind of moves are going to be made down the stretch.

McD more than anything wants them in so he can look right for the move on Q ...Several including myself have mentioned them going after Panarin in the summer which I'm sure is McD driven as well. I've made this point and several folks have mentioned they should focus on defense in the summer first - which was my thought as well - spread that money around and start with the back end and upgrade. But I don't know if the brass sees it that way...we'll see what happens...

I don't see the Hawks beating the Sharks/Preds/Jets/Knights in a series. Blues seem to be playing their best hockey right now and Calgary is leading the West.
Should be interesting to see how it shakes out down the stretch.
- DK002

I think he is realizing that Debrincat's emergence has made signing Panarin even more difficult.

Because his second playoffs with us, he said at the conclusion of the season, he was tired. After 2 full seasons, and playoffs in the NHL, he got ragged on for being tired. Yes... you could see a lack of effort compared to regular season that year. But the whole, "he disappears in the playoffs" is a joke. 2015-16 and 2017-18 proved he doesn't disappear. But that wouldn't fit their narrative.

If you are able to add Panarin and a #3-4 defender in the offseason, this team could be, imo, moving towards the top of the league. Insert Joki back into the lineup, and you're building something strong.
- HawksHype

I am with you and I know the quote. He didn't show up in the Preds series but neither did the entire flipping team. We got steam rolled in 4 games. He probably was tired after the series beat down and demoralized. NHL players get up for playing for their home country. Even the USA players. I never thought Panarin was a soft player. He scores goals from all over the ice, including the tough areas.

If posters are going to bash Panarin then they better bash Saad even more. He's "200ft forward who excels at the PK". Except our PK is the worst in the league and Saad is a complete ghost for long stretches during the season and has been disappointing in the Pts department.

Bet Panarin has more hits than Saad this year.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I don't understand the angst of the fanbase with this team. They have no expectations this year, and after winning 3 Cups all we can ask for is competitive and entertaining hockey. They have certainly been competitive in 2019, and have provided a lot of scoring (for and against) the entire season for entertainment. Yeah there is something to say about a hard checking, great goaltending game 1-0, but for this fan, I like watching the best players in the world put the puck in the back of the net. We got to watch 15 goals last night, and the game came down to a last second back door pass breakup or it could've been OT.


What's not to love about the direction of this team with Strome, Caggiulla, Kahun, debrincat growing their games while Toews and Kane play the best hockey of their Hall of Fame Careers??
- EnzoD

Hey Enzo, no question CC is an upgrade sadly you can't upgrade the entire defense in front of him at the same time. They gave up at touchdown last night. I'm interested to see what kind of moves are going to be made down the stretch.

McD more than anything wants them in so he can look right for the move on Q ...Several including myself have mentioned them going after Panarin in the summer which I'm sure is McD driven as well. I've made this point and several folks have mentioned they should focus on defense in the summer first - which was my thought as well - spread that money around and start with the back end and upgrade. But I don't know if the brass sees it that way...we'll see what happens...

I don't see the Hawks beating the Sharks/Preds/Jets/Knights in a series. Blues seem to be playing their best hockey right now and Calgary is leading the West.
Should be interesting to see how it shakes out down the stretch.
- DK002

Maybe the Sharks but not the Preds/Jets/Knights. Panarin would be nice but you've got Kane annd Dcat proving he is a legit 30g NHL wing. With Strome as your play making 2C you don't need another play making/goal scoring wing. Really need bigger north to south guys to open up ice. Caggiula is doing a great job of that for Kane and Toews. He opens ice and gets to pucks to maintain possession.

Well there was John Scott, all kidding aside, Brett Burns and Dustin Byfyglin went from D to forward back to D, Doug Mohns (who scored 20 goals as a defenseman when that was unheard of) Wendell Clark and Red Kelley are the others I could think of.
- LAHawk

Right. Buff and Burns are obviously the two more recent examples, but they ended up being reverted back to defense.

Surprised we haven’t been seeing it more. I understand it’s a difficult transition, but at the same time, when you see the obvious potential/something not working as is, change could be good, no? It’s not as if the team is lacking with players trying to fill defensive spots, but they are surely lacking secondary scoring up front.

I am with you and I know the quote. He didn't show up in the Preds series but neither did the entire flipping team. We got steam rolled in 4 games. He probably was tired after the series beat down and demoralized. NHL players get up for playing for their home country. Even the USA players. I never thought Panarin was a soft player. He scores goals from all over the ice, including the tough areas.

If posters are going to bash Panarin then they better bash Saad even more. He's "200ft forward who excels at the PK". Except our PK is the worst in the league and Saad is a complete ghost for long stretches during the season and has been disappointing in the Pts department.

Bet Panarin has more hits than Saad this year.
- bhawks2241

Not to mention using a single post-game quote that was said in English for a Russian player that barely speaks 50 words in the entire English language...it's nonsense. There is a very real prejudice/stereotyping against Russian players as soft, lazy, and "don't care about the Stanley Cup".

I don't think the Hawks have any interest in Duchene...now Chicago boy Dzingel on the other hand.....sign me up!
- EnzoD

that would make much more sense. What do you think would be a reasonable cost ?

I am with you and I know the quote. He didn't show up in the Preds series but neither did the entire flipping team. We got steam rolled in 4 games. He probably was tired after the series beat down and demoralized. NHL players get up for playing for their home country. Even the USA players. I never thought Panarin was a soft player. He scores goals from all over the ice, including the tough areas.

If posters are going to bash Panarin then they better bash Saad even more. He's "200ft forward who excels at the PK". Except our PK is the worst in the league and Saad is a complete ghost for long stretches during the season and has been disappointing in the Pts department.

Bet Panarin has more hits than Saad this year.
- bhawks2241

I also remember Kane not having the greatest year last year and going to the WC's and leading the tourney in scoring. Bread would be welcomed back with open arms by everyone on the board.

Because his second playoffs with us, he said at the conclusion of the season, he was tired. After 2 full seasons, and playoffs in the NHL, he got ragged on for being tired. Yes... you could see a lack of effort compared to regular season that year. But the whole, "he disappears in the playoffs" is a joke. 2015-16 and 2017-18 proved he doesn't disappear. But that wouldn't fit their narrative.

If you are able to add Panarin and a #3-4 defender in the offseason, this team could be, imo, moving towards the top of the league. Insert Joki back into the lineup, and you're building something strong.
- HawksHype

Do the math and then you explain how Panarin is affordable. I am no expert and i do not know if Crawford's contract us up or can be knocked off books. It is a fair bet he still is playing, so there is one less contract you could have subtracted.

What is the status of Gus contract? No one will take Seabrook contract and even if they did i refuse to guve a top prospect. The future is all about prospects since it is the only affordable way to re- construct. We are darn fortunate to have weak competition for the last playoff spot.

Our offense will be hard pressed to win games btw as the playoff tilt begins in earnest. Expect games to be rough more physical play each night. The normal formula to win during the playoff stretch goes ordinarily to teams with strong goaltending and st least some of the defense is very good. Chicago is lacking in those areas. A Chicago post season entry would beat the odds given presently.

I think he is realizing that Debrincat's emergence has made signing Panarin even more difficult.
- nickmo2699

Another perspective is that DeBrincat's sensational sophomore year is making it easier to not need to sign Panarin. That's not meant to be a snarky remark, just the realization that top 6 offense is not a weakness and DeBrincat has been a more than suitable replacement for Panarin at LW.

Would it be nice to have both of them? Sure, but not at the expense of using salary and assets to strengthen higher priority areas like the blueline (top 4 guy) and 3rd line (at least a 3C if not another winger as well).

Stan Bowman and John McDonagh to fans walking out of the UC last night.....





God damn that was fun. (frank)ing pond hockey, but a treat to watch. Had a few buddies at the game, was very jealous.
- EnzoD

Totally agree, sir. Laughing out loud one minute, being terrorized the next. A great game to witness as a fan.

Right. Buff and Burns are obviously the two more recent examples, but they ended up being reverted back to defense.

Surprised we haven’t been seeing it more. I understand it’s a difficult transition, but at the same time, when you see the obvious potential/something not working as is, change could be good, no? It’s not as if the team is lacking with players trying to fill defensive spots, but they are surely lacking secondary scoring up front.
- TommyHawk

At face value that statement is true but the kicker is filling them with players that are consistently reliable in their own end. The Hawks are not there yet. That's half the battle, too, since the forwards also need to vastly improve their defensive play.

Another perspective is that DeBrincat's sensational sophomore year is making it easier to not need to sign Panarin. That's not meant to be a snarky remark, just the realization that top 6 offense is not a weakness and DeBrincat has been a more than suitable replacement for Panarin at LW.

Would it be nice to have both of them? Sure, but not at the expense of using salary and assets to strengthen higher priority areas like the blueline (top 4 guy) and 3rd line (at least a 3C if not another winger).
- AEL_Fox

If the cat hits 40-45 goals, how on earth are you signing him for under 9 million? And then if you are looking to seriously add Panarin, how are you signing him for under 9 mil? You will have 40+ million tied up in 4 forwards

- nickmo2699

Just need a top six forward who plays physical and a bottom six too of the same ilk. Stan has drawn or already had those who would play physical deriving from later round picks he or a predecessor made.

I am in favor of Entwhistle, Barrett, Knott maybe Nilsson and eventually the fast swedish kid (Sutherland?) adds another dimension. On paper sounds like it could be a quality goods. But two even three years formulation in the framing of a period -of- time.

Just an update for those interested.

Boqvist is producing pretty well right now. 5A, 9A = 14P in his last 8 games. He had a colder stretch in Jan, but has been doing great in Feb.

49 points in 43 games on the year.

If the cat hits 40-45 goals, how on earth are you signing him for under 9 million? And then if you are looking to seriously add Panarin, how are you signing him for under 9 mil? You will have 40+ million tied up in 4 forwards
- nickmo2699

I am not advocating having both. Yes, the math wouldn't work out unless a lot of salary is shed elsewhere which basically renders the team deficient in other areas to have more of last night's game (high offense, no defense).

A top 6 winger is a luxury that the team doesn't need right now. Priorities are the defense and 3rd line. Generally, overall team defense.

Do the math and then you explain how Panarin is affordable. I am no expert and i do not know if Crawford's contract us up or can be knocked off books. It is a fair bet he still is playing, so there is one less contract you could have subtracted.

What is the status of Gus contract? No one will take Seabrook contract and even if they did i refuse to guve a top prospect. The future is all about prospects since it is the only affordable way to re- construct. We are darn fortunate to have weak competition for the last playoff spot.

Our offense will be hard pressed to win games btw as the playoff tilt begins in earnest. Expect games to be rough more physical play each night. The normal formula to win during the playoff stretch goes ordinarily to teams with strong goaltending and st least some of the defense is very good. Chicago is lacking in those areas. A Chicago post season entry would beat the odds given presently.
- jhawk59

It's been discussed on here multiple times how you make the math work. With trading some players, not resigning a few, and the cap going up. Someone had broken it out and we had some good space. I'm not about to do it, but I think more or less my point was that people bashing Panarin for a bad playoffs, when everyone played like poop, is absolutely stupid. Because bringing him back would instantly, and greatly, improve the team.

Just need a top six forward who plays physical and a bottom six too of the same ilk. Stan has drawn or already had those who would play physical deriving from later round picks he or a predecessor made.

I am in favor of Entwhistle, Barrett, Knott maybe Nilsson and eventually the fast swedish kid (Sutherland?) adds another dimension. On paper sounds like it could be a quality goods. But two even three years formulation in the framing of a period -of- time.
- jhawk59

Think you mean Soderlund, not Sutherland. Would be nice to have Kiefer's type of agitation, though.

If Stan can pull it off , instead of the flashy names , How about adding a couple of players like Ryan Dzingel and Josh Manson . He did say he is open to making a hockey trade In Manson’s case. As far as the other kid, hell I would see what it would cost to trade for him now instead of getting into the bidding war, who knows he may be favorable to sign an extension once it settles in and he’s coming home to play. Both of those kids are good solid players.