While it's hard to assess a coach because he's only as good as the talent he has, what Babcock did with the team Canada Olympic was sheer genius. No other team could get the puck and at no time was Canada in any jeopardy. I have no idea how to compare two coaches when one has a solid well balanced team and the other has a strong forward group and no defense?
- paulr

Was that the team Seabrook made? How could that be a good team?

Was that the team Seabrook made? How could that be a good team?
- mohel

Well it was 9 years ago.

Was that the team Seabrook made? How could that be a good team?
- mohel

Yeh, and Q was an assistant coach. Amazing they won gold with Seabs and Q dragging the rest of the team down.

Meant to ask you been grounded at all with the max issues?

SWA has a ton of them out in the Cali desert right now.....Seemed the whole thing was more pilot error then a mechanical thing, but better safe then sorry.
- SteveRain

It was definitely a mechanical thing at its core, but better training should have prevented a dangerous situation from turning fatal. Twice.

It hasn’t affected me directly yet. Company is canceling about 100 flights per day as a result, but mostly in Miami.

You people need reading comprehension, or you are watching too much of the cable news networks.
- powerenforcer

Comprehension is fine "If you don't win the game, at least make StL pay for a victory. Finish checks on Vlad, maybe you hit him off-balance and he tears up his knee. Now that is a victory in itself"

Any way you want to spin it that is an absolute assinine statement. Whether you love or hate an opponent, respect the game and the talent and skill of the players playing it. Never should you hope for an injury to an opposing player, especially one like Tarasenko who by all accounts is a clean player.......now Marchand, Backes, Perry.... thats another story

But you should be...and just because you are that isn't some argument or case for you not wanting more.

Most of the posters here seem to be of the ilk who waited a really long time to see the Hawks finally win it all, and fickle fan base or not, when people have a hard time taking any enjoyment out of that, they've likely got bigger fish to fry.

As great as Kane and Toews are, the fact the Hawks have struggled the last few years just shows this ins't basketball and you need at least 2-3 all world players surrounded by a bunch of really good ones.

Only one team wins every year and if you aren't that team then you have to keep getting better til you do.

Capt Obvious, I know, but I think the Hawks have got the ship pointed back in the right direction with Toews proving he isn't a has been or never was (as some would have it) and Bowman making a couple of hockey trades (Strome, Caggiula, Perlini) and FA signings (Kahun, Kampf).

I used to go to some of those games too as I lived a little more than a mile away from the UC in East Village from '04-10. This team hardly resembles those.

I have high expectations for the team every year too but I think some almost enjoy it when the team comes up short so they can take shots at the guy who designed an ad campaign they take exception to. Just a thought.
- HawkintheD

I would agree and I will make it point to eliminate my John MCDonough posts for awhile. You and few others bring up some valid points and I respect them. I just need to stop reading articles when he talks about expectations, etc. That's a no win for everyone.....

I like Gus a lot. I know hes a pylon at times, but he has some great vision on the back end that really helps in today's game. A pure offensive defensemen and you should be able to have 1 of those on your roster and be OK, IMO.

And I would put the Chad Kilger trade for Dumont and Gilmour ahead of panarin of saad for bad.

Chelios for Ericksson and picks
Belfour for Tereri/Cicconne and another

And the all time one that still burns my @ss......could have had Lindros for Belfour, larmer, and something else......hasek, chelios, Lindros,Roenick all in their primes but god forbid bill wirtz pay Lindros

Would have loved to hear that convo go down when Keenan got that all lined up only to get his hand slapped.

It was definitely a mechanical thing at its core, but better training should have prevented a dangerous situation from turning fatal. Twice.

It hasn’t affected me directly yet. Company is canceling about 100 flights per day as a result, but mostly in Miami.
- Ogilthorpe2

Always envisioned you standing by the gate typing on your phone to this blog as the gate agent blasts away in your ear.

Comprehension is fine "If you don't win the game, at least make StL pay for a victory. Finish checks on Vlad, maybe you hit him off-balance and he tears up his knee. Now that is a victory in itself"

Any way you want to spin it that is an absolute assinine statement. Whether you love or hate an opponent, respect the game and the talent and skill of the players playing it. Never should you hope for an injury to an opposing player, especially one like Tarasenko who by all accounts is a clean player.......now Marchand, Backes, Perry.... thats another story
- TheTrob

Marchand is going to get his one day. Everyone rips on Wilson but I think Marchand is helluva lot more of a dirty player then TW.

Yeh, and Q was an assistant coach. Amazing they won gold with Seabs and Q dragging the rest of the team down.
- scottak

That was a great gold medal game......ugh.....need NHL guys back in the Olympics. So great to see non hockey fans get into like the Oshie shoot out, etc.

When they beat Canada in pool play and Kesler laid out to put in the empty net goal...….

I would agree and I will make it point to eliminate my John MCDonough posts for awhile. You and few others bring up some valid points and I respect them. I just need to stop reading articles when he talks about expectations, etc. That's a no win for everyone.....

I like Gus a lot. I know hes a pylon at times, but he has some great vision on the back end that really helps in today's game. A pure offensive defensemen and you should be able to have 1 of those on your roster and be OK, IMO.

And I would put the Chad Kilger trade for Dumont and Gilmour ahead of panarin of saad for bad.

Chelios for Ericksson and picks
Belfour for Tereri/Cicconne and another

And the all time one that still burns my @ss......could have had Lindros for Belfour, larmer, and something else......hasek, chelios, Lindros,Roenick all in their primes but god forbid bill wirtz pay Lindros

Would have loved to hear that convo go down when Keenan got that all lined up only to get his hand slapped.
- SteveRain

No worries on any of what you said and respect your POV as well.

I think you got the Dumont/Gilmour return wrong but it was equally bad...Michal Grosek.

Now I have to look up who the Hawks traded for Kilger but I'm sure it was also bad.

All those trades were bad and I'd put them higher than the Saad for Panarin trade as well in terms of all time bad Hawk trades.

I think Steve Smith may have been included in the Lindros trade but I think that one would have been good as well, in large part because the Hawks would have gotten to keep Hasek.

I would agree and I will make it point to eliminate my John MCDonough posts for awhile. You and few others bring up some valid points and I respect them. I just need to stop reading articles when he talks about expectations, etc. That's a no win for everyone.....

I like Gus a lot. I know hes a pylon at times, but he has some great vision on the back end that really helps in today's game. A pure offensive defensemen and you should be able to have 1 of those on your roster and be OK, IMO.

And I would put the Chad Kilger trade for Dumont and Gilmour ahead of panarin of saad for bad.

Chelios for Ericksson and picks
Belfour for Tereri/Cicconne and another

And the all time one that still burns my @ss......could have had Lindros for Belfour, larmer, and something else......hasek, chelios, Lindros,Roenick all in their primes but god forbid bill wirtz pay Lindros

Would have loved to hear that convo go down when Keenan got that all lined up only to get his hand slapped.
- SteveRain

I don't think Gus is ever a pylon. I think his poor defense is a combination of indifference, poor situational awareness, bad gap control and skating tendencies which leave him vulnerable to being caught "leaning the wrong way" or "being on the wrong foot".

Gus reminds me a lot of the way Campbell played and how current guys like Byfuglien, Burns and other d-men play. They are constantly looking to transition to offense. As a result they are rarely purely skating backwards, but instead tend to turn circles. Because of this, their technique when being forced into a defensive role in which they must square up and match an opponents moves while skating backwards leads them to being caught off-balance, on the wrong foot, crossing over, etc. that a good, aware forward can and will exploit. Big guys like Buff can get away with it more, because they are strong enough to reach and push, Gus......not so much.

Yeh, and Q was an assistant coach. Amazing they won gold with Seabs and Q dragging the rest of the team down.
- scottak

It's easy to forget, given how bad he is today....but Brent Seabrook used to be a great hockey player. 2010 Olympics were nearly 10 years ago.

No worries on any of what you said and respect your POV as well.

I think you got the Dumont/Gilmour return wrong but it was equally bad...Michal Grosek.

Now I have to look up who the Hawks traded for Kilger but I'm sure it was also bad.

All those trades were bad and I'd put them higher than the Saad for Panarin trade as well in terms of all time bad Hawk trades.

I think Steve Smith may have been included in the Lindros trade but I think that one would have been good as well, in large part because the Hawks would have gotten to keep Hasek.
- HawkintheD

Was it game 3 of the cup final he came in and you saw a glimpse of what he would become in Buffalo?

You're right...it's Grosek. Dear lord.

There a helluva lot worse trades then Panarin for Saad/Forsberg.

It's easy to forget, given how bad he is today....but Brent Seabrook used to be a great hockey player. 2010 Olympics were nearly 10 years ago.
- EnzoD

He bailed Keith out so many times on bombs Keith would throw Seabrook in his own end, I was marveled by it watching it live.

His contract blows, but that's not on him...…..

Marchand is going to get his one day. Everyone rips on Wilson but I think Marchand is helluva lot more of a dirty player then TW.
- SteveRain

Yup. Marchand is "sneaky dirty". He does all the stuff with the ref turned and the play going the other way like stick work, slew foots, trips, etc. Wilson is above board, in your face, right on the edge dirty. So many of Wilsons hit's just straddle that clean/dirty line, and he knows the NHL is reluctant to deal with the NHLPA and assess a long suspension. His time will come eventually also. Outcry will force the DoPS to give him some extended time off.

All it takes is the right trade partner who is looking for a winger and is willing to move a capable Dman. Saad is tied for 80th in forwards goal scoring in the NHL with 23 goals. In a 31 team league, that ain't terrible. Not elite, but it is production that puts him in the top 6 production wise on most teams. Personally, I'm not hoping they move him, but they could definitely do it.
- breadbag

In the same vein, we have some highly thought of prospects and draft picks to use to acquire a top 4 dman. For teams near the cap they could be attractive. They may not want a $6 mil cap hit for two more years.

For the right dman I would trade one of our top prospects (protect maybe who we consider our top 3 prospects) or a #1 or #2 draft pick and fill out the trade with AA or a fringe defender (Koekkoek, Dahlstrom, Forsling).

Saad or a top 6 forward may not need to be part of the package.

Was it game 3 of the cup final he came in and you saw a glimpse of what he would become in Buffalo?

You're right...it's Grosek. Dear lord.

There a helluva lot worse trades then Panarin for Saad/Forsberg.
- SteveRain

There are a bunch of way worse trades.

Panarin for Saad reminds me in some ways of the Roenick for Zhamnov trade.

Zhamnov was not a bad, in actuality his numbers with the Hawks were similar to what Roenick put up with the Coyotes, but he wasn't Roenick. Didn't have the flash, the personality, etc.

Saad will never put up Panarin numbers, but he is far from a bust as an NHL player.

Was it game 3 of the cup final he came in and you saw a glimpse of what he would become in Buffalo?

You're right...it's Grosek. Dear lord.

There a helluva lot worse trades then Panarin for Saad/Forsberg.
- SteveRain

It was the coffin nail game (4). IIRC the Hawks ended up losing 7-5 but Hasek made some incredible saves that game.

There are a bunch of way worse trades.

Panarin for Saad reminds me in some ways of the Roenick for Zhamnov trade.

Zhamnov was not a bad, in actuality his numbers with the Hawks were similar to what Roenick put up with the Coyotes, but he wasn't Roenick. Didn't have the flash, the personality, etc.

Saad will never put up Panarin numbers, but he is far from a bust as an NHL player.
- TheTrob

I think that's a fair comp. I also think part of the problem with Zhamnov is he was more likely a 2C on a good team but was a 1C with the Hawks.

Even if the Hawks end up drafting at 10th, they should get another high end prospect for the future. Given the play of Kane and Toews this year, I imagine that Stan Bowman is under pressure to get this team back into the playoffs next year. They were not too far off, even with team defense being a complete trainwreck. Adding a Top 4 Defender via Trade, adding some better bottom 6 forwards, the emergence of Jokiharju as a Top 4 next year, and a healthy Crawford...they will be right there in the mix for the Wild Card.


I'm pretty excited for Tuesday's draft lottery as the Avs are my new home team so seeing them get Jack Hughes would be pretty sweet. Hughes-Mackinnon-Rantanen

Plus the Hawks are going to jump up to 2nd or 3rd in the lottery after they lose all 3 games this week. They could have as good as 7th/8th lottery odds, I can feel the lottery win coming!
- EnzoD

Might be stuck where we’re at. Assuming we lose all three, we still have to count on the Canucks winning one of their last two (Preds and Blues on the road) Oilers would have to win both of their last two games (Sharks home and Flames away).

Might be stuck where we’re at. Assuming we lose all three, we still have to count on the Canucks winning one of their last two (Preds and Blues on the road) Oilers would have to win both of their last two games (Sharks home and Flames away).
- walleyeb1

I'm hoping the best player available wherever the Hawks pick, has a bit of size and nasty to go with a nice set of skills; but part of me would like to see them pick Cole Caulfield just for the epic rants I'd read here...especially from Wonthecup10.

I'm hoping the best player available wherever the Hawks pick, has a bit of size and nasty to go with a nice set of skills; but part of me would like to see them pick Cole Caulfield just for the epic rants I'd read here...especially from Wonthecup10.
- HawkintheD

Yeah if we’re still at the nine or ten spot at the draft, that’s exactly who I think Stan takes.

https://www.draftsite.com...ayer/cole-caufield/30045/

In the same vein, we have some highly thought of prospects and draft picks to use to acquire a top 4 dman. For teams near the cap they could be attractive. They may not want a $6 mil cap hit for two more years.

For the right dman I would trade one of our top prospects (protect maybe who we consider our top 3 prospects) or a #1 or #2 draft pick and fill out the trade with AA or a fringe defender (Koekkoek, Dahlstrom, Forsling).

Saad or a top 6 forward may not need to be part of the package.
- -Doh-

The challenge will not be offering up prospects, it will be finding the cap space to pay a top four D guy without having to lose a roster guy and create another hole.

Say what you want about AA, but a solid 3C at $4.5MM isn't unreasonable money these days, and the jury is out on if there is a replacement of equal or greater value ready in the system yet.

And if you think AA is done, so will potential trading partners. Best scenario with AA is to let teams know he is available and see what they get in offers back without having to sweeten the pot with prospects. Hockey trades the Hawks do going forward have to be pretty revenue neutral transactions.

Just wondering....

On the outside chance that Seabrook were to just hang them up and walk away from his contract, what if any are the cap implications?

It's easy to forget, given how bad he is today....but Brent Seabrook used to be a great hockey player. 2010 Olympics were nearly 10 years ago.
- EnzoD

He was under-rated for a long time because he didn't stand out in any one area, but he did everything better than average for a long time. Easily one of my fav players because of how he played the game in his prime. He had skill, a great shot, good passing, could play physical, leadership qualities, good defensive play, shot blocking, fairly durable considering the minutes he played.