With all of the issues Gus has playing D, why can"t / won't he be moved to wing?
Seriously ? What can it hurt? The guy can skate. He can shoot. He doesn't play defenseman well. You can"t tell me he wouldn't be better than Nylander, Sikura, Highmore, Kampf, Smith, etc. Put him on a line with Dach and maybe Shaw when he returns. at this point what have they got to lose?
- Gary0301

I’m not sure I understand this belief that Gustafsson is some kind of offensive star.

Yeah - 17+43=60 last season - but had never approached those numbers before that, in Chicago, in Rockford, in Sweden....

And he’s nowhere close to last season’s production this season.

A one-year wonder who, if he’s not scoring like las season, is a liability because of his defensive issues.

Today's post makes me want to puke. What kind of dreck are the Hawks going to be able to sign to play alongside Aging Toews for $2-3M? Some of these touted youngsters better pan out or its late 1990's time all over again. Was fun while it lasted.

geez...32 games in and not even christmas and the board is full steam ahead fire, trade and draft mode...

i don't think I can take this...

Well that was crap.

Any one know how the 2020 draft looks? Can't nearly be as strong as 2019 was made out to be.

At this rate we're looking at a top 10 pick due to the lottery.

Dach shows flashes of stardom with his reach and quickness. He's doing well with 4th line and AHL-level teammates.

Nylander appears slow, holds on to the puck too long and unwilling to retrieve pucks.

Kubalik looks good. Big, fast and willing to shoot.

Strome is doing well but would likely be a third line center on a contender.

DKat is having a harder year, questionable choices and it might be that the League is prepared for him now.

If get a good pick, 4 of the 5 above aren't too bad of base of forwards if Boqvist, Mitchell, Krys, Beaudin live up to be all they are built to be.

Today's post makes me want to puke. What kind of dreck are the Hawks going to be able to sign to play alongside Aging Toews for $2-3M? Some of these touted youngsters better pan out or its late 1990's time all over again. Was fun while it lasted.
- ChiTownHawkFan

this has been an issue since 2015-2016...how many wingers have played along toews...it has to be in the 20's...since sharp and hossa left; not been able to fill that hole...

the price of winning eventually comes due and its called losing...

BTW stanbow has not said much publically this year...I suspect it will go something like this: certainly we are disappointed with where we are at right now, but injuries are a part of that. on the bright side dach and bokie and our other young players are getting meaningful minutes; i like our players

Good morning HawkintheD, while it's frustrating that Chicago will more than likely lose a solid goalie, the realization is Chicago is so far away from competing again that it's time to tear it down , trade off any players for picks or prospects.

MY GUESS is Crawford will be resigned on a 2 year deal and that's more or less to be the backup to whomever takes the reins for the future.

Good morning HawkintheD, while it's frustrating that Chicago will more than likely lose a solid goalie, the realization is Chicago is so far away from competing again that it's time to tear it down , trade off any players for picks or prospects.

MY GUESS is Crawford will be resigned on a 2 year deal and that's more or less to be the backup to whomever takes the reins for the future.
- Taylorst1

WTC mentioned that its possible both might walk...and i would discount that possibility..

crow out of loyalty and "hawk for life" type of thing might be willing to stay in backup role..however i don't think he sees himself that way and his play says he is not done being a number 1 guy...the questions are about his health

geez...32 games in and not even christmas and the board is full steam ahead fire, trade and draft mode...

i don't think I can take this...
- bogiedoc

Just wait until after they play the Blues tomorrow night.

Just wait until after they play the Blues tomorrow night.
- Rota's Rooter

Well we did catch the Bruins off guard to give hope for like a week...

this has been an issue since 2015-2016...how many wingers have played along toews...it has to be in the 20's...since sharp and hossa left; not been able to fill that hole...

the price of winning eventually comes due and its called losing...

BTW stanbow has not said much publically this year...I suspect it will go something like this: certainly we are disappointed with where we are at right now, but injuries are a part of that. on the bright side dach and bokie and our other young players are getting meaningful minutes; i like our players
- bogiedoc

He can only kick the can down the road for so long. At some point Rocky/McD will not allow the "we had injuries" anymore. A couple years ago an injured Crawford meant no playoffs, this year it is Keith/Shaw/deHaan, etc. Nevermind the injuries, well built organizations overcome them.

A better backup to Crow would have meant maybe making the playoffs a few years ago. Having more than one top 3 defensman in the organization means you can absorb an injury here or there. Is it swings and misses by scouting? lack of development in RFD? problems with the NHL staff?

With the success from 2010-15 its hard to believe that the issues are completely institutional. The number of draft picks that have come thru and are successful either with the Hawks or elsewhere leads me to believe that scouting is fine with identifying talent. Supposedly talented guys topping out or flaming out in RFD maybe leads to the conclusion that the minor league coaching needs to improve.

These things need to be taken into account before head (StanBo/JC) is cut off.

I’m not sure I understand this belief that Gustafsson is some kind of offensive star.

Yeah - 17+43=60 last season - but had never approached those numbers before that, in Chicago, in Rockford, in Sweden....

And he’s nowhere close to last season’s production this season.

A one-year wonder who, if he’s not scoring like las season, is a liability because of his defensive issues.
- StLBravesFan

Not saying Gus would be a star at wing, just asking what it could hurt? Everybody on this board complains about his defense and everybody knows his offensive potential. The eye test says his skating ability and stick handling are well above average. He loves to create in the offensive zone, why not try to make lemonade out of a lemon?

Form my perspective Rocky simply cannot have Stanbo making trade deadline decisions. this team has no compete and it is now all on Stanbo. From the horrible coaching decisions thought the infatuation with retreads, and the horse poop trades like Nylander.

I wish. The knock on Joki was he allegedly wasn't listening to the coaching staff. Maybe he knew what they were coaching was trash?

Joki wasn't a world beater by any means but, I'd rather see him on the Hawks rather then a guy who couldn't make a poor Sabre's team.
- Rota's Rooter

Top defenseman, and I think wore the ‘A’, for Finland’s victorious World Junior team last season. So he is, actually, a ‘world beater’.

WTC mentioned that its possible both might walk...and i would discount that possibility..

crow out of loyalty and "hawk for life" type of thing might be willing to stay in backup role..however i don't think he sees himself that way and his play says he is not done being a number 1 guy...the questions are about his health
- bogiedoc

And facing 50+ shots every game is not going to help the cause. More than likely he gets hurt while trying to make a spectacular save he shouldn't have had to make in the first place

Have the Hunters ever been at the wheel of an NHL franchise?

Have the Hunters ever been at the wheel of an NHL franchise?
- mohel

Mark was an assistant GM (with Dubas) and director of player personnel for a few years for the Leaves. Then Dubas was named GM and Mark went back to London.

Dale was HC of the Caps for a season.

Dave I think is on the scouting staff for Seattle now. Dale and Mark are still with the London Knights now.

Thank you and look.....All good things come to an end. Do I appreciate the glory years? Of course I do.....Do I appreciate what Toews USED to do on a consistent basis which apparently made me a "real fan" of course I did.

My issue is, is that this team is horrid. Awful. Anyone else notice the ongoing cap issue with this team and how do they get out from underneath it? They make a smart hockey trade and dump 1 of their MAJOR cap hits. They can continue to put lip stick on a pig but for the last 3 years, including this year....it hasn't worked. THey tried a major shake up when Nashville exposed them.....didn't work. They fired Q. Didn't work. They hired some hidden gem that I don't believe ever played in the show OR coached in the show yet was given the reigns for this team.....and how has that panned out? OH, they had a glimmer mid-late last year when the season was already over, and now his system is literally leading to both these goalies have nervous breakdowns either in game or post game...or both.

Bowman tried signing and acquiring veteran D men.....but that hasn't worked.

So to me....blow it up. Trading role players isn't enough. You aren't going to dig yourself out of this cap crunch.

Its not a matter of picking a side....you look at who is producing and your ROI and pick and chose. At this point, outside of Dach, I would listen on everyone. You have to. Its not going to be pretty...you're going to alienate some fans, but the reality is this team is stuck in a financial cap crisis, with aging assets, who are no longer capable of carrying a large portion of the work load. that's a fact, and it's been on going since the Nashville series.....

Or is this post too negative for you Paul?

Have the Hunters ever been at the wheel of an NHL franchise?
- mohel

Great question....but didn't Dale run the Red Deer team for years and have lots of players make the show.....I am having a Pierre McGuire flash back right now.....

WTC mentioned that its possible both might walk...and i would discount that possibility..

crow out of loyalty and "hawk for life" type of thing might be willing to stay in backup role..however i don't think he sees himself that way and his play says he is not done being a number 1 guy...the questions are about his health
- bogiedoc

Your absolutely correct in regards to Crawford and his loyalty. However it's becoming increasingly noticeable certain players are beyond frustrated.

I still believe this team could play a lot better. But IMO the problem is a inexperienced head coach.

Have the Hunters ever been at the wheel of an NHL franchise?
- mohel

That's the real question that has to be asked.

If you are launching StanBow/JC into the sun, who are you replacing them with?

Are Maciver or MacIsaac taking over? Mark Kelly? do you completely go outside the organization to the Hunters? Dale coached the Caps for a Season. Mark was an assistant GM in Toronto until recently.

If StanBow and JC are going, how much further do the cuts go? Scouting? Minor Leagues?

What competent GM would come to Chicago and take orders from Shovel Face. Nobody would. Nothing will change because McEgo knows best.

Trade Gus now not later for what ever is offer ..

Mark was an assistant GM (with Dubas) and director of player personnel for a few years for the Leaves. Then Dubas was named GM and Mark went back to London.

Dale was HC of the Caps for a season.

Dave I think is on the scouting staff for Seattle now. Dale and Mark are still with the London Knights now.
- Rota's Rooter

Thanks for the info.

All of the good will that was built up with the epic run has been destroyed in 2 years.

This overhaul is going to get worse from here not better. A complete shake up is needed

They were not very good before these injuries hit, the goalies masked the flaws. Sadly, this is one of the league's worst teams. Unseen decline of veterans, misses on trades, unrealistic expectations, the natural result after building for Cup runs, doesn't matter it is what it is.

The Hawks need to put ANYONE on the trade block. There will be no more Cups for the "core 5" of 88, 19, 7, 2 and 50. 88 is still playing at a high level, 19 is serviceable but for his cap hit they need more than just serviceable, Craw is aging and the injuries have piled up but man he can still play, Keith is now injured but like Toews I think serviceable but his cap hit makes it workable and Seabrook is washed up.

I think you offer any of those guys. But don't trade them for just anything. I think 88 and 50 could get you quite a haul (and don't move Kane unless it's for a franchise altering package of prospects), Keith also has quality value, 19 and 7 are not movable, but you at least try. Toews looks frustrated, not happy, complaining, I think the pressure has taken its toll. Maybe moving to another team where he can just be a hockey player and not "Captain Serious" could rejuvenate his career.

I don't know if anyone else aside from our top prospects has tons of value, but see what teams think of these guys. Maybe someone is jonesing for Dylan Strome and will offer a quality package. You at least have to check it out, this team is years away from relevancy and by that time 2, 50 and 7 will be completely finished, Toews may be a 10 million dollar fourth liner.

The time is now for monster changes but I am not sure Bowman is the guy to lead that charge. They need to find a GM with a keen eye for talent. Let that GM rebuild this thing and let him pick the next coach. Managing an already loaded team by making ancillary moves to support the core was something Stan was able to handle, but a complete rebuild I think is too heavy a lift for him.
- kwolf68

I agree....Kane is the one you can build around IF he's willing to be that guy, and the long term plan makes sense to him. LA approached Doughty and Kopitar and they bought in....same could happen for Kane.

To move 7 or 19 with their cap hits you take back a crap deal for less term and maybe buy it out at season's end.

Id like to see 12-77-88 take a spin and see if they can gel together. I think 17 unless he is willing to sign for less then 12 needs to be moved.

I dont' disagree on the trades but SHOCKINGLY to some.....I get why they were made. I think Murphy for Hammer may end up being a wash if Murphy can prove to be a top 4 guy on a winning team.....still never been in the playoffs in his career.

I would trade 50 out east or up north in Canada to Edmonton.
I would dangle Seabrook and retain money to move him.
I would offer Keith up to an eastern conference team who's window is wide open....I keep thinking Toronto and I know they have ZERO cap room but I would guess you take back a younger forward.
I would offer up Toews and see what comes back.....I think as a 2nd line center he would flourish for a cup contender.....somebody to go against Boston.

To me what they can't do is continue to stand pat......blow it up....get lots of young assets or picks back, and expedite the return to having a chance to win within 3-5 years.

Oh, I would sign Lehner.