Which is I think they're not going anywhere and they are the top players the statement referenced.
- boilermaker100

If Keith wants to go, someone will take him in a nanosecond. Especially if he retires and the cap hit the Hawks would face if he does (think Roberto Luongo)

Whether you like it or not Stan was pretty blunt. Saad was not in the rebuilding plans, Corey wanted a 2 year contract and Stan only wanted one.
- LAHawk

And I think both of those were the correct evaluations. We can debate the return for Saad and if the trade should have been made at another time to improve the return but there is no way the Hawks were going to cut #20 another multi year, big $ deal.

Kinda reminds me of when Geraldo kept everyone spellbound as he broke into Capone's vault.
- EbonyRaptor

That there is funny

Even given that (and I agree), I’m still surprised Rocky / Danny let him go.

He was an important player in getting the franchise to a billion-dollar value - yes, a lot of credit goes to $Bill’s demise, and all that led to, and the 3 in 6 run....But there is a marketing and organizational factor that McDonough made major contributions to.

Just MHO - I have no inside information about any of this.
- StLBravesFan

That's true the impact that McDonough had in marketing the team and exponentially increasing it's value. He definitely deserves a lot of credit to the success of the franchise.

But if he was a hindrance to the team making the right roster decisions, then parting ways with him is a good choice. McDonough isn't the only marketing guru in the sports industry.

This is A to B to C.

They may be thinking that Colliton is the developer - the coach to initiate the young talent into the Show and develop them into pro hockey players.

Then comes Tony LaRussa to take them to the promised land.

I’m betting that Colliton is not around for the Cup run.
- StLBravesFan

I bet we're not either.

That's true the impact that McDonough had in marketing the team and exponentially increasing it's value. He definitely deserves a lot of credit to the success of the franchise.

But if he was a hindrance to the team making the right roster decisions, then parting ways with him is a good choice. McDonough isn't the only marketing guru in the sports industry.
- Theo Fox

But he is by far the best. Just ask him.

I just hope we are.
- mohel

Sorry, I just stepped on your toes

So I’m not waving the super fan for Stan flag, but how do we know he’s not the right guy for the rebuild, has he tried to rebuild and failed? This is his first opportunity at a rebuild that basically started a couple of years ago. I’m not saying he’s the guy, but I’m not saying he’s not either, let’s wait until 2022 and see where he takes this team. Whether we acknowledge it or not he was at the helm for multiple cups, does he not deserve an opportunity to rebuild? I think yes.

I just hope we are.
- mohel

Yeah, I ain't got another 49 years to wait this time.

That's true the impact that McDonough had in marketing the team and exponentially increasing it's value. He definitely deserves a lot of credit to the success of the franchise.

But if he was a hindrance to the team making the right roster decisions, then parting ways with him is a good choice. McDonough isn't the only marketing guru in the sports industry.
- Theo Fox

Yes - I’m glad he’s gone, too - just surprised it actually happened.

Just listened to the entire Bowman call. A few things I picked up on:

1) He admitted that Boqvist was not necessarily ready when called up last year. He said it was done because they needed to give him an opportunity to see where he was and what needed to be worked on. Theo - you've stated this numerous times.

2) He stressed a number of times that they are trying to clear/clean up their salary cap situation. A lot of talk about 1-2 year deals.

3) Strome will be resigned.

4) Noted that they have a lot of d-men and they have to figure out the keepers and the lineup. Mentioned several times that he expects Mitchell in the lineup. My take on his comments were that he didn't expect that Seabrook would be a constant player. It sucks because I really like him, but I get it. Maybe he will request a trade.

5) The overriding idea is that they want to and need to get their young players time and experience. If they start to slip they will sit or possibly be sent to the Rock.

All good fun right now, but I'm excited to see where it goes.

Yeah, I ain't got another 49 years to wait this time.
- EbonyRaptor

It’s only 46 years now.

We can hang in for that....

Sorry, I just stepped on your toes
- 6628

No worries, 66.

The next moves (or not)are Tazer's, Seab's, and Keith's...I bet Kane is just gonna sit back and let things come to him about moving....
- wiz1901

Kane is the one who I would hate to see leave more than the others, but he would almost certainly be the one who could bring back a very nice return if the Hawks retain 50%. Hawks can retain one more salary in 2021 (Saad and Maatta are retained already). Just an idea I saw on another site - Kane to NYR for their 2021 1st and Kakko. Kane at $5.25M for 3 more years getting to play with Panarin or Lafreniere would be a big plus in the Rags reaching the Promise Land. Plus, Kane's salary would come off the books when Lafreniere's ELC expires. Hell, even take back a little salary to get their 1st and Kakko. Kane might drop his NMC for a chance to re-ignite his bromance with Panarin.

It’s only 46 years now.

We can hang in for that....
- StLBravesFan

Let me see ... 6 and 6, carry the 1 and then carry the one again and ... I'd be 112. So, yeah, 46 years won't work either.

We are in a different situation, because of the dollars & the term still assigned to those contracts with no trades. 4, yes, but still take up places to this "full investment in the development of youths." Keith might be pissed about that ... Younger players come up to contract renewal years at the same time. I like what Dach showed & I have no fears about Boq that more time won't fix.

I didn't like the statement at all & I don't fully buy the transparency either. Most posters here knew what was up & could guess the direction 3 years out. They used the "rebuild" word & that means nothing to me either. Idk, there's nothing for me to hang my hat on in that statement & nothing that offers optimism & I'm usually a notch under oldduffman in the optimism department.

I will gladly eat crow if I'm wrong about keeping the core, keeping Bowman or whatever. I don't expect anything different for a long while. Drafts & trades need to be A+ to move the dial for me.
- I Am The Breadman

I hear what you are saying. Bowman was pretty clear there wouldn't be a total teardown to nothing and they will retain vets. The value and term may determine which vets those are, but the young guys need the leadership in the room.

I think the thing to watch will be changes to ice-time going into next season. Who is playing on special teams? The Hawks already gave the net to the young guys moving Crawford. Some of the vets might not be handed as much ice-time.

I would take optimism in the fact they admit things need to change and that they haven't done enough. Bowman or not as the GM, the fact is all the vets have peaked. Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook have all had their best season (I'm not talking only points, but impact and ability to influence the game) . When Bowman is saying they need the young guys to start to take the load off those vets, I think that is the right choice for the team. Now, I'm not saying the young guys the Hawks have will be able to handle it, but they will need young players to start to carry the load.

I hope in this next season we see less of Keith leading the team in minutes played. Less of Toews having to lineup for Dzone draws against the opposing top line. Less double shifting Kane and riding him for a full 2 minutes on the PP. Let the other guys sink or swim more.

The rebuild has been on for about 3 seasons now and it doesn't seem like much change in direction based on today IMO.

Mostly seems like they are just going to give more chances to the young guys and let them sink or swim a bit more. Doesn't sound like a fire sale type rebuild, which will anger some old school folks who seem to be stuck on that being the only type of rebuild.

I think the biggest change right now is the team is being more transparent about their direction. This seems directly in response to letting Saad and Crawford leave and Toews comments to make it more publicly clear.
- breadbag

I agree this rebuild has been happening since they hired JC. Now it's official for the ones that had some sort of illusion this was not a rebuild.

The 4 horsemen aren't going anywhere

Bowman and Co know talent, sure they miss here and there, but considering their drafts picks, euroasian rookie free agent signings if I'm Rocky i give Bowman 2 more years to see progress.

I agree this rebuild has been happening since they hired JC. Now it's official for the ones that had some sort of illusion this was not a rebuild.

The 4 horsemen aren't going anywhere

Bowman and Co know talent, sure they miss here and there, but considering their drafts picks, euroasian rookie free agent signings if I'm Rocky i give Bowman 2 more years to see progress.
- BetweenTheDots

Thanks bro

Honestly, my preference is just as you described rather than putting all eggs in the Top 3 basket then have a diluted Bottom 3.

I would much rather have all 6 defenders plus the 7th one as well-rounded in the mold of reliable 2nd pair players, i.e. they can eat a lot of minutes, lock it down defensively and rarely kill you with costly mistakes, and generate moderate offense.

If you can have a stereotypical Top 3 and a Bottom 3 full of 2nd pair talent, then I'd be all for that instead but that seems less realistic. The well-balanced 6-7 blueliners seems more feasible given what the Hawks have in the system.
- Theo Fox

Seems reasonable but you have to have a 1st rate talent to run the PP and real shutdown players to be on the ice with McDavid, Eichel, Aho, Matthews' of the world. 6 number 3 Dmen can't do that for you......

Haven't read down but see you didn't list the new Cossack Beast from COL. He might be a long term answer in the group, no?

Now I've only seen him in jrs but Beaudin always intrigued me. Kid is a smooth operator, head up kinda player who can skate, shown skilled hands and always seemed poised. Seems like the kinda kid who develops from step a to b to c and not from a to b to f. ........... Intrigued to see him in 3 yrs.

Looking at your list even a pessimistic Hawk fan has to admit the organIzation has done some fine work restocking the defensive pipeline. Within the next couple yrs the rubber hits the road with these players as they ascend to the NHL.

Too bad.

Best single-sport announcer around along with Vin Skully.
- StLBravesFan

STL, as long as you've been around and heard em all surprised you're that big a fan of Emrick. Old school guys let the action come to them, were masters at the art of the pause, let the game breath... Doc is anything but that.

He'd be much much better on the radio side where you have no view of the game. 90% of what Doc says the viewer can see for himself and it just ends up as listener fatigue as Doc never ever ever shuts up.

Gimme John Wiedeman on the radio side 100 out of 100 times.

Kane is the one who I would hate to see leave more than the others, but he would almost certainly be the one who could bring back a very nice return if the Hawks retain 50%. Hawks can retain one more salary in 2021 (Saad and Maatta are retained already). Just an idea I saw on another site - Kane to NYR for their 2021 1st and Kakko. Kane at $5.25M for 3 more years getting to play with Panarin or Lafreniere would be a big plus in the Rags reaching the Promise Land. Plus, Kane's salary would come off the books when Lafreniere's ELC expires. Hell, even take back a little salary to get their 1st and Kakko. Kane might drop his NMC for a chance to re-ignite his bromance with Panarin.
- EbonyRaptor

Rebuilding or not the Hawks do not want $5.25mil of dead cap space. Maatta and Saad's retained hits are less than $2mil and it will only be for 1 season.

As I have stated before, especially for a player at the level Kane is still playing at, there is absolutely no reason to retain salary for him. You want picks and prospects, fine, you want to take back a bad contract with one year on it, fine, but you don't put your cap situation in a 3 year $5mil+ hole.

Dont see much happening the rest of this off season. Off the books by the end of next season assuming the core 4 will be around -

Smith walks as UFA or traded to a team needing a LTIR candidate.
Shaw bought out or traded to a team needing a LTIR candidate.
Murphy traded or lost to expansion draft.
deHaan same as Murphy.

13 to 15M cap savings. Stan would have more flexibility in acquiring those bad contracts and prospects he was talking about.

That's true the impact that McDonough had in marketing the team and exponentially increasing it's value. He definitely deserves a lot of credit to the success of the franchise.

But if he was a hindrance to the team making the right roster decisions, then parting ways with him is a good choice. McDonough isn't the only marketing guru in the sports industry.
- Theo Fox

Was really interested to see the first offseason without McD's 100 ft shadow over every damn thing but it seems to me nothing has changed. Janmark and Wallmark are pretty much the same thing as the older vets added to make the team a borderline playoff team since the sweep by the Preds. ...... Same retool/rebuild on the fly as the last 5 yrs of not making the playoffs with the caveat it's a backdoor tank going with the in house goalies.

Still straddling the fence like they did when ShovelFace was the prez.

Lets return to 2003 to 2007

Seabrook's contract is the longest term contract at 4 years that we have. Maybe in a good competitive spot then or shortly after ... hopefully drafting, development, & even coaching are at top tier NHL level. The dog days of rebuilding "officially begun."