Some of you likely read this already in various Blackhawks news sites but in the recent interview with former GM Mike Smith, it was discussed how his predecessor Bob Pulford almost traded Keith (along with 3 other players) in 2004 to the Flyers to bring back both Roenick and Amonte.

The 2004-05 lockout put a nix on those plans. Hindsight is always 20/20 but thank goodness.

The article is in the Athletic (PDX shared it earlier). I don't subscribe so don't know if it was mentioned who the 3 other players were.
- AEL_Fox

Hi Theo - they didn't name them.

Did say he almost lost his job over both the Keith (too small) and the Big Buff (too fat) picks.

Chairman of the boards was Doug Jarrett
- 6628

Old #4

I was thinking the same thing after I typed that post. Of course, everything relies on the F and D youth hitting potential but that's the same hope that all teams have.

A primary question mark remains to be in net. Some prospects to work with but are any of them starter material?

Using baseball as an analogy, we would love to have a #1 starting pitcher in the pipeline but what if their ceiling is as a #5?

Essentially are we grooming a bunch of backup and 3rd string goalies or will one rise to the top as a strong reliable starter?
- AEL_Fox

I don't believe in drafting for positions ,but the stars are aligned for the HAWKS to select Askarov at 9th .If the HAWKS were lucky enough to move up to 5th or better then all bets are off . I would not be upset at taking Askarov at 5th ,depending on what's still on the table

Hi Theo - they didn't name them.

Did say he almost lost his job over both the Keith (too small) and the Big Buff (too fat) picks.
- pdx2ord

Thanks, PDX. I guess Smith got the last laugh at whoever threatened his job security for drafting Keith and Byfuglien.

Fluck Detoit!

There wasn't much better than slapping around some of their fans who almost outnumbered us!
- Drgonzo399

And "Muck Fishigan" while you are at it! Said this ND Grad

Stan has taken all kinds of crap for handing out NTC/NMC deals to anyone who asks.

In The Athletic article on what the owners would like to change in the new CBA, there is a chart of each team’s trade protected contracts.

The current Hawks have 6 such deals. The league average is 5.7. There are 13 teams with 7 or more, 6 more equaling Stan’s number. The Hawks are right in the middle.

Five of the Hawks’ six were negotiated with players who have won two or more Cups in Chicago. Of the teams with seven or more (13) - only three teams have won Cups with their protected players.

Stan has taken all kinds of crap for handing out NTC/NMC deals to anyone who asks.

In The Athletic article on what the owners would like to change in the new CBA, there is a chart of each team’s trade protected contracts.

The current Hawks have 6 such deals. The league average is 5.7. There are 13 teams with 7 or more, 6 more equaling Stan’s number. The Hawks are right in the middle.

Five of the Hawks’ six were negotiated with players who have won two or more Cups in Chicago. Of the teams with seven or more (13) - only three teams have won Cups with their protected players.
- StLBravesFan

Another Stan fail, he should not be in the middle of the pack for NTC/NMC, after all the cups he should have the least amount of NTC/NMC.

Some of you likely read this already in various Blackhawks news sites but in the recent interview with former GM Mike Smith, it was discussed how his predecessor Bob Pulford almost traded Keith (along with 3 other players) in 2004 to the Flyers to bring back both Roenick and Amonte.

The 2004-05 lockout put a nix on those plans. Hindsight is always 20/20 but thank goodness.

The article is in the Athletic (PDX shared it earlier). I don't subscribe so don't know if it was mentioned who the 3 other players were.
- AEL_Fox

Amazing story by Mark Lazerus in The Athletic.

Worth getting a subscription just for that Mike Smith story.

Old #4
- Angotti

Yep, and he wore #20 for a bit too.

Another Stan fail, he should not be in the middle of the pack for NTC/NMC, after all the cups he should have the least amount of NTC/NMC.
- Angotti

Wow, channeling your inner Darth very well this morning.

I remember those days too. After one OT loss to Detoilet, one of their fans was giving us some poop and I responded with “congratulations, you just barely beat the worst team in the league”. The look on his face was priceless. Like he couldn’t fathom someone actually admitting that their team sucked. He had no response.
- Ogilthorpe2

I was a bit more proactive, getting ejected by hawk's UC security probably due to the added security cameras, anyway:

I would quickly open and flash my wallet at some unsuspecting wing fan as he was in the underpass going in or out, tell him I was security and say we heard he had an octopus, and then would pat him down and warn him...and one ejection was directly related to a real octopus throw were I landed more than equal punishment on that fan in the same area of the UC with my fist.

What were we thnking? We were so loyal, embarrassed, and hungry for success that were over personalized and ramped a game sport into hate of another...I am going to my Blackhawk home church for somequiettime now.

It certainly looks like, but as I said earlier we will know by May23rd.

I know that it is a tricky read...after an initial round of all four sets of standing #1 and #2 playing each other to decide who GETS the #1 seed after their matches.
Let's say Philly wins is the Metropolitan champ,things then follow the Wild card set up and basically the mid standing teams (who were going to play each other under the old set up still will and those two winners from 3, 4, 5, 6, BOTH 1, & 2 (THAT IS FOUR TEAMS) and two are from teams that win the bottom end first round made up of 7, 8, 9, & 10.

So the REAL original playoff 16 is made up of possibly two under dog never were gonna get there if the season played out and they continued on that current winning percentage track, and not two teams originally in the standings at 3-6,that played terrible in this first round.

Four league cities (presumably spread across the United States and Canada) would host division-based playoff "tournaments"
Each of the league's four divisions would be assigned a city (or hub), with the top six teams from each division qualifying for the postseason and reporting to their respective hub
Each division's No. 1 and No. 2 seeds would play each other (best-of-three series) to decide a division winner
Each division's No. 3 seed would play the No. 6 seed, while the No. 4 would face No. 5 in a best-of-three for the right to keep playing
That would leave four remaining playoff qualifiers from each division (16 total playoff teams) and a seeding structure to play a more traditional Stanley Cup playoff tournament

It certainly looks like, but as I said earlier we will know by May23rd.

I know that it is a tricky read...after an initial round of all four sets of standing #1 and #2 playing each other to decide who GETS the #1 seed after their matches.
Let's say Philly wins is the Metropolitan champ,things then follow the Wild card set up and basically the mid standing teams (who were going to play each other under the old set up still will and those two winners from 3, 4, 5, 6, BOTH 1, & 2 (THAT IS FOUR TEAMS) and two are from teams that win the bottom end first round made up of 7, 8, 9, & 10.

So the REAL original playoff 16 is made up of possibly two under dog never were gonna get there if the season played out and they continued on that current winning percentage track, and not two teams originally in the standings at 3-6,that played terrible in this first round.

Four league cities (presumably spread across the United States and Canada) would host division-based playoff "tournaments"
Each of the league's four divisions would be assigned a city (or hub), with the top six teams from each division qualifying for the postseason and reporting to their respective hub
Each division's No. 1 and No. 2 seeds would play each other (best-of-three series) to decide a division winner
Each division's No. 3 seed would play the No. 6 seed, while the No. 4 would face No. 5 in a best-of-three for the right to keep playing
That would leave four remaining playoff qualifiers from each division (16 total playoff teams) and a seeding structure to play a more traditional Stanley Cup playoff tournament
- wiz1901

It's ridiculous end the season. It's nothing but exhibition that could lead to injuries.
"WILL" lead to injuries, FIXED.

Wow, channeling your inner Darth very well this morning.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yep, I beat Darth to this one, doesn’t happen often.

Yep, and he wore #20 for a bit too.
- 6628

I don’t recall him wearing #20, probably before Cliff Koroll joined the Hawks in ‘69. There are many things from my younger days that I don’t recall, or probably don’t want to recall. I remember Bill White as #2 and Stapleton wore #12. I had a classmate that I would give quiz answers to by hockey names, so if that answer was 11 I would say, “hey, John Marks had a good game last night”, or was that Doug Mohns...

I don’t recall him wearing #20, probably before Cliff Koroll joined the Hawks in ‘69. There are many things from my younger days that I don’t recall, or probably don’t want to recall. I remember Bill White as #2 and Stapleton wore #12. I had a classmate that I would give quiz answers to by hockey names, so if that answer was 11 I would say, “hey, John Marks had a good game last night”, or was that Doug Mohns...
- Angotti

Didn't Mohns change numbers also? Thought he was 2 when he played defense, then changed to 11 when he moved to forward on the Scooter line with Mikita and Wharram.

Another good Athletic article about the Pony Bar being the Hawks hangout for Cup celebrations and other events.

Another good Athletic article about the Pony Bar being the Hawks hangout for Cup celebrations and other events.
- boilermaker100

Just like Tyler and Theo, they're doing better than expected in regularly churning out interesting articles that keep us talking hockey and reminiscing.

It's ridiculous end the season. It's nothing but exhibition that could lead to injuries.
"WILL" lead to injuries, FIXED.
- rpeters01

Well, the not only is the season don, but after hearing Brian Burke on Sirius today, he thought the very idea of attempting to sequester all the players all the necessary staffs together and even pairing down from the four city site plan where all the divisions team swopped be living together until their playoff role is extinguished....was at powder keg and not very reasonable foe even August.

He thought if the league is hell bent on rushing, before a new normal including the social track g component in place, they should simply take the top 8 teams and quickly play them off.
Peter, that sounds like the same ridiculous start it all up campaign being waged even against states' governors who are asking to just be a little patient and watch the science and be sure that we are leveling before we open the Illnois western suburbs to th new outbreaks R+THEY WILL see for this stupid.
Burke's point was he like you, want to open things and do that rapped around terrific common sense and true future plans and protocols" not just starting setting a date EVEN NOW for an August date.
He thinks even with continual team testing the tests are in some cases only 40 % accurate, and the idea the players after even the possibility of being positive can play on is downright backward (of course the teammates would be informed) --I know if anyone's politics on this point are to refuse to go out and wear a mask or thinking that the sooner we all get it we all infected, we are done with might be an "opinion."

Burke a former GM, is for opening things up were they can be...to an extent...BUT...his point seems to be why not have a quick 8 team playoff get everybody out of their team pod quickly and back home and isolated, and try and watch for an actual plan for continued improvement in our continental defenses BEFORE we start thinking about 2020-21...but finish 2019 - as a playoff and be done with it...grab the TV glory before the other sports are sharing it (maybe)...

It is simply R I D I C U L O U S to think they would play the bullpoop season any more...it is already too long and has very little to do to the most playoff teams entrance ...at 16 teams YOU and I know 10 teams mininimun knew they were gonna be there because they were so good, and COULD have be so good over a 70-72 game schedule that the past decades had.

THINK
THINK

so they figure out the "rest of the games, start trying to play them...that requires all these DIFFERENT teams to travel for one game jaunts and then another and another...either you are of low IQ and really haven't come to grips with the enormity of the virius, the triggers or the reality, finishing the season is ridiculous, but you made need to seek other leaders to guide your reality.

I post 24 teams (with my rose colored hopes) and then Burkie carols the bed to me that just get 8 teams in and start it when it IS safer. (As in not now...not still safe now!)

Just like Tyler and Theo, they're doing better than expected in regularly churning out interesting articles that keep us talking hockey and reminiscing.


- pdx2ord

yeah, dont know if the Athletic wants the Chicago regulars at Pony to start posting...I have known the owner Mark for years and he and the staff could probably could write the "Untold Tales of the a Pony" book and sell a lot of them, but he isn't that kinda guy.
If safe to say, it was like a clubhouse.

Many guys lived close and 4 lived walking distance, so they had easy exits to get home, and the place the patrons were so happy with being in the in with the players being there, when they were downstairs, they felt willing to turn an eye to "things."

Yep, and Doug Jarrett wore #20 for a bit too.
- 6628

yeah we they Brough him up and he played with Al MacNeil and Doug Hillman, lol!

and when he play=ed...Ray McKay.

Talk about tall guys who seem to need to grow into their bodies, he always seemed gawky, chopping on his pins and looked uncoordinated whether he was or not...

yeah we they Brough him up and he played with Al MacNeil and Doug Hillman, lol!

and when he play=ed...Ray McKay.

Talk about tall guys who seem to need to grow into their bodies, he always seemed gawky, chopping on his pins and looked uncoordinated whether he was or not...
- wiz1901

Wayne Hillman, Wiz. Ray McKay was called spider, skinny and tall and all arms and legs.

Whitey Stapleton (RIP) wore #24 his rookie season.

What's happening: Wisconsin is in their phase of re-opening and tons of people will flock to their casinos and bars. No way is enforcement of social distancing going to occur.

Could use Ogi flowchart now if it was handy

Some people going to Wisc bars and casinos have the Corona virus or are carriers. They will pass it on;.people who went to Wisconsin for frolicking good times actually will next become suck and die. The Corona numbers will spike after.their careless behavior resulted in more heartache

The impact upon society.will be felt in the sporting world, when mayor's and governor's proclaim there may be no attendance - sparce, anyway.

A few months later each of the major sports will have suffered perhaps a significant economic blow. The fans stayed home. How minor league teams get by......I don't know how they can..

There is going to be great pressure when the mass of people rise up. I took an European Economic History collegiate course and learned changes occur within society when the mass of people rise up. The mighty powerful influential wealthy do not hold all the chips when our way of life is greatly altered.

Kenny Rogers had a song "The Gambler" (circa 1980's) in which he croaked or seemed to suggest he would, if he didn't play his cards right.

"You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to walk away; And know when to run

You never count your money when you're sitting at the table
There will be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done"

Well Trump has not handled the game of Life well, not since the onset of Coronavirus. Neither he or Biden give me much hope. But we will get through this with a lot of pain. The sportsworld will be forever changed. Exactly how is an ominous, arduous task I will not tackle right now.

But without fans shelling out dollars to attend games, it is like a vampire sucking blood out of a victim. Never be the same again. An innoculation you pray. Fine. Until the next Corona comes around. And people cannot stand to be bound up. Stir crazy people.

Hopefully better leaders in our government can steer the American Ship through treacherous times. We might find most of us paying more to watch televised games where mostly empty stadiums contain a much different paid group of athletes to rumble.. They may not be wearing facemasks.

In reality though we all should wear facemasks as we attempt to protect ourselves, our identity and our way of life changes. Which includes the way sports is played and viewed.

What's happening: Wisconsin is in their phase of re-opening and tons of people will flock to their casinos and bars. No way is enforcement of social distancing going to occur.

Could use Ogi flowchart now if it was handy

Some people going to Wisc bars and casinos have the Corona virus or are carriers. They will pass it on;.people who went to Wisconsin for frolicking good times actually will next become suck and die. The Corona numbers will spike after.their careless behavior resulted in more heartache

The impact upon society.will be felt in the sporting world, when mayor's and governor's proclaim there may be no attendance - sparce, anyway.

A few months later each of the major sports will have suffered perhaps a significant economic blow. The fans stayed home. How minor league teams get by......I don't know how they can..

There is going to be great pressure when the mass of people rise up. I took an European Economic History collegiate course and learned changes occur within society when the mass of people rise up. The mighty powerful influential wealthy do not hold all the chips when our way of life is greatly altered.

Kenny Rogers had a song "The Gambler" (circa 1980's) in which he croaked or seemed to suggest he would, if he didn't play his cards right.

"You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to walk away; And know when to run

You never count your money when you're sitting at the table
There will be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done"

Well Trump has not handled the game of Life well, not since the onset of Coronavirus. Neither he or Biden give me much hope. But we will get through this with a lot of pain. The sportsworld will be forever changed. Exactly how is an ominous, arduous task I will not tackle right now.

But without fans shelling out dollars to attend games, it is like a vampire sucking blood out of a victim. Never be the same again. An innoculation you pray. Fine. Until the next Corona comes around. And people cannot stand to be bound up. Stir crazy people.

Hopefully better leaders in our government can steer the American Ship through treacherous times. We might find most of us paying much to watch televised games where mostly empty stadiums contain much different paid group of athletes to rumbles;. They may not be wearing facemasks.

In reality though we all should wear facemasks as we attempt to protect ourselves our identity and our way of life changes. Which includes the way sports is played and viewed.
- jhawk59

If you want to pass blame then start with Fauci and Co. Go look at what he was saying in February about COVID. Talking about how we would never have lockdowns like China, etc. This virus has been spreading since December or January in our population. Maybe earlier than that....

China hid this from the world. Could we have been better prepared sure but hindsight is always 20/20.

With respect to testing, pre-Covid viral testing rarely happened. There is a reason the CDC estimates flu deaths and cases. Viral testing is expensive and rarely used. Ask any doctor. The US also imports most of its medical supplies and testing supplies.

Trump is a terrible president but I doubt that Obama or Bush or Clinton or any other president would've handled this much differently. None of them would've put the Nation in a lock down in February or early March.

Add in the fact America is one of the most unhealthy populations in the world.

If you want to pass blame then start with Fauci and Co. Go look at what he was saying in February about COVID. Talking about how we would never have lockdowns like China, etc. This virus has been spreading since December or January in our population. Maybe earlier than that....

China hid this from the world. Could we have been better prepared sure but hindsight is always 20/20.

With respect to testing, pre-Covid viral testing rarely happened. There is a reason the CDC estimates flu deaths and cases. Viral testing is expensive and rarely used. Ask any doctor. The US also imports most of its medical supplies and testing supplies.

Trump is a terrible president but I doubt that Obama or Bush or Clinton or any other president would've handled this much differently. None of them would've put the Nation in a lock down in February or early March.

Add in the fact America is one of the most unhealthy populations in the world.
- bhawks2241

You are 200% right,: it is not Trump alone in whom to find.fault. And other past Presidents would probably not have handled this much better