Theo Fox: Rebuild the Rebuild
Dissecting the #Blackhawks public statement on the state and direction of the team and offering alternative perspectives to consider.

This statement puts the team in a Catch-22. Many big contracts that are pretty much going nowhere unless they are taking another big contract back. And if they are not going to play the veterans, what are they going to do with them? Put them on waivers and send them to Rockford?

To really make an impact, there is more pressure on Stan to make progress in every trade, and that is not something that he has a great track record at doing. In fact his track record is pretty dismal. Schmaltz for Strome has pretty much been a wash. Joker for Nylander - that one is going the wrong direction so far.

And now every team is going to be fighting that same static salary cap - the price to move stupid contracts is going to be very high for some time.

The Hawks probably need a top 5 pick the next two years to have any chance at moving the needle. Once fans actually come back, are they going to pay today's ticket prices to see that product?

Pretty lame letter...especially since it is 2 years too late.
Also, the moves Stan has made this year have done NOTHING to bring picks or young talent this way. I said several posts back. Stan seems to be stuck in-between, tinkering to stay competitive, not stripping it right down. LIMBO.

Maybe the REAL purpose of this letter is NOT to the fans....but to Keith, Toews and Kane (Cuz I dont think Seabrook can be traded in any situation). Maybe the REAL purpose is to tell the remaining core...."Hey guys, we gonna suck the next 3-4 years, if you want out lemme know, give me a list of teams, and let's do this."

Seems it is Stan's way of wiping his hands....and putting it on the "core" to see if they rather win elsewhere, or endure the pain as their career winds down.

Fantastic read, Theo!
Since 2015, the team I've watched didn't have the horses. Even in 2015, it seemed they made it more by force of will, almost every game in the playoffs was one wrongly deflected puck from going south.
Now, I cannot help but envision 88, 2, 19 and 7 as true grizzled veterans benefiting from the up and coming young kids providing THEM energy like they did in 2010.
It's a great time to be an up and coming Blackhawk and I will most certainly be watching.

Good morning Theo excellent work you've done laying out a great forum to talk about.

I'm not sure if you happened to read the chicago tribune online piece but , imo I thought it summed everything up to a Tee.

Yesterday's letter was long overdue, as a fan it was obvious chicago was trying to rebuild but I think the way they where going about it wasn't healthy to the fans, team or players, people had the sense of being mislead.


A few other points trading for Zadorov imo he is young. Big and hits like a train he at this point replaces maatta but at a cheaper rate with a show me year opportunity.


I also think now that everything is out in the open it was a signal to the core that we tried it your way with bringing back fan favorites like shaw or Saad or sharpie ect and that dog didn't hunt.

This gives them a chance to either fully embrace the direction chicago is going in or waive their nmc

Thanks Theo - much to think about. My initial reaction while reading your post was "Man, are we a spoiled fanbase". I understand as fans we purchase tickets to see a good product, so we cannot just sit back and let the organization "fail" I don't think they are failing. But sometimes it is nice to watch a game when expectations are lower. There is less stress. I will leave it at this....The sooner the young guys play (who are ready to play from Rockford) the better. Give then a couple seasons in the "A" then let them go in in the big show. If veterans don't like it, find older players who are fine with that and replace them. The Chicago Blackhawks have had a great run for a while, maybe now it it time to change things up.

Good article, Theo.

Unfortunately, your baseball analogy doesn’t seem to work anymore: it’s all or nothing now - HR or K - launch angle, one good swing a game - don’t go the other way against the shift, don’t go up the middle with two strikes....

The hockey equivalent might be the 200 foot player vs. the sniper who can’t / won’t be a factor in the dzone. I don’t think it’s come to that it hockey - I don’t think it will. The sport still values, as you say: the drum that I beat constantly which is for every player to compete hard every shift, contest every puck, and commit to defense in every zone. Doing all three demonstrates the willingness to lay it all on the ice, do the little things that help the team win, and prioritize the team over the individual.

Unfortunately, teams and players won’t have the luxury (and I agree, it should be a necessity for most players, not a luxury) of fully developing in the minors - not with a stagnant hard cap. Used to be - in baseball, the conventional wisdom said a player needed about 1,500 PAs in the minors. There is probably some hockey equivalent.

But the stagnant cap says the parent needs more players on ELCs, bringing them up way before they’re ready. Not good for the player, not good for the team - not good for hockey.

Excellent read, Theo
While Bowman did a nice job of laying out his philosophy on the rebuild in the latest Athletic interview with Powers and Laz, my biggest concern/question is whether Bowman is one to lead such a rebuild. I honestly don't think he has a clue on how to construct a balanced and competitive team but I guess time will tell....

Wait ... there's a compelling hockey topic to talk about? I came here to discuss politics and religion.

Just kidding. Well done Theo. I'll be back later after I let this stew for a bit.

One year too late. In addition to the cap implications presented by his big 4, Bowman added 3 big cap hits last summer that will hinder us for another couple years through stagnant salary, LTIR, buyout and or retention.
It will take 3 years before we can talk about a real rebuild. Prepare for 3 years of mediocrity with patchwork lineups.

Good to put the pressure on the "big 4" and see if they are agreeable to moving on to new teams. Toews to Whinny, Kane to Buffalo, Keith to ?, all will have to have salary retained. Seabrook will be bought out next year. I don't see all these moves this year, unless it happens at the deadline. Gonna be very interesting, and why is Stan still in charge??? It is a couple years late on a rebuild!

Just an outsider but I thought the Hawks were coming out of a rebuild or at least a retool.

These moves and this language strikes me as a management team disappointed they made and won a playoff round and are determined not to make the playoffs again for another few years.

Your core is absolutely untradable in a flat cap world and would be difficult in a non flat cap world.

In short your management sounds messed up and clueless.

Excellent read, Theo
While Bowman did a nice job of laying out his philosophy on the rebuild in the latest Athletic interview with Powers and Laz, my biggest concern/question is whether Bowman is one to lead such a rebuild. I honestly don't think he has a clue on how to construct a balanced and competitive team but I guess time will tell....
- FourOrr

It's a concern, but to someone's point in the last blog, it's not exactly like he's been in this situation before.

There will always be the Great Debate about Stan vs. Uncle Dale, or people who want to give backhanded credit because he only "nibbled around the edges" while having to replace half the team after the 2010 bloodletting.

As always, time will tell if he's up to the task, but I'm willing to see where he goes with this thing. I'm not a Wirtz and I'm a Hawk fan so it's not like I really have a choice.

Again, while a concern I have some faith. While he didn't draft the Core, he figured out who to anoint "The Core" and resisted the urge to trade everyone not named Toews, which I believe a great many fans were in favor of after successive first round playoff exits.

He then managed to rebuild the depth around the Core which produced two more Cups, when most fans (me included) felt this was likely a one and done run.

So now the task is different and if The Core is up for a few more years of a rebuild, he'll need to find talent for them to pass the torch to while they potentially become the depth around the new Core...except for 88 if he's still here.

Wait ... there's a compelling hockey topic to talk about? I came here to discuss politics and religion.

Just kidding. Well done Theo. I'll be back later after I let this stew for a bit.
- EbonyRaptor

Well I came for the tax seminar, but I suppose hockey talk will have to suffice.

Great work as always Theo!

I look at this formalized statement as twofold. First, there was a pretty negative reaction to the Saad trade and Crawford release from the fans, the players, and the league to some extent. I think this was Bowman owning up to finally being in a rebuild mode. Like it has been stated many times, it should have started sooner instead of signing some mid-range FAs last year. The second thing I took away is Bowman basically is stating nobody is safe. There would have to be some NMCs waived or a ridiculous return for somebody like Kubalik or DBC, but there is still a possibility.

Just an outsider but I thought the Hawks were coming out of a rebuild or at least a retool.

These moves and this language strikes me as a management team disappointed they made and won a playoff round and are determined not to make the playoffs again for another few years.

Your core is absolutely untradable in a flat cap world and would be difficult in a non flat cap world.

In short your management sounds messed up and clueless.
- Aerchon

Nah. Fans are clueless. Management wont get rid of Kane. That's ridiculous. Toews is our #1 center for at least 3 years.

You mean one year too late of Rocky deciding the build around the aging core wasn't working, and I need a new CEO of hockey ops, I agree.

What I found most striking about Stan's presser, was no Danny Wirtz looking over Stan's shoulder, like McDonough was. It's Stan's team now, Danny has given him the reigns and told him to run with it. I don't know what time period Rocky and Danny have given Stan, but if they feel he has not done the job, they will fire him, but at least they will give the hockey department total say in how the team is constructed.

For those that are saying this isn't a rebuild because the core is still here, well due to the NHL cap, you have to find trading partners to want the players and to be able to fit them under the cap. Look at the Kings, they have been "rebuilding" since Blake (the one a lot of posters thinks has the resume to be GM, because he played the game at a high level) for the past 3 years. Yet they still have high salary players Kopitar, Doughty (both still useful), Quick, Brown, Carter (not worth the cap space). Heck, Blake even signed Kovalchek to a 3 year deal, and traded for (and ended up buying out Phaneuf). You don't think Blake has not been trying to trade the latter 3 the past couple of years? Let me summarize what King fans poster thinks about Blake, they can't wait till he is launched.

I read JJ's analysis of the rebuild in his blog this morning, and I thought it was real shallow. Stan should be fired for not getting a drat pick for Saad. I bet Stan has been trying to trade Saad since the TDL, and my guess is the best deal anyone has laid on the table was Zadorov, unless Stan just wanted to take a middling prospect and a third.

Rambling rant over (for now)

One year too late. In addition to the cap implications presented by his big 4, Bowman added 3 big cap hits last summer that will hinder us for another couple years through stagnant salary, LTIR, buyout and or retention.
It will take 3 years before we can talk about a real rebuild. Prepare for 3 years of mediocrity with patchwork lineups.
- 67hawks

Thank you John "one goal" McDonough

Good to put the pressure on the "big 4" and see if they are agreeable to moving on to new teams. Toews to Whinny, Kane to Buffalo, Keith to ?, all will have to have salary retained. Seabrook will be bought out next year. I don't see all these moves this year, unless it happens at the deadline. Gonna be very interesting, and why is Stan still in charge??? It is a couple years late on a rebuild!
- HenryHockey

Because Stan was never really in charge, McDonough set the direction of the team.

I look at this formalized statement as twofold. First, there was a pretty negative reaction to the Saad trade and Crawford release from the fans, the players, and the league to some extent. I think this was Bowman owning up to finally being in a rebuild mode. Like it has been stated many times, it should have started sooner instead of signing some mid-range FAs last year. The second thing I took away is Bowman basically is stating nobody is safe. There would have to be some NMCs waived or a ridiculous return for somebody like Kubalik or DBC, but there is still a possibility.
- biskit67

I'm still of the mind that if ADB was the 40 goal sniper ...we could have possibly beaten Vegas a few other games. We arent that far off if ADB can fix his hand issues. We have Beaudin coming, that guy is awesome. Zadorov will provide some protection. We got Dehaan, Seabrook, Murphy...We're going to kick some ass. We have guys here, and we have guys coming.

Agreed that ADB will come back in 2021 with a strong season, assuming he stays healthy.

The inconvenient truth for rebuilding is that the core guys are still good enough (especially if, and it is a giant if, Seabrook comes back unbroken and with something left in the tank) that if one of these goaltenders catches fire, they could surprise and finish middle of the pack. Good enough to contend for the final playoff spot, not good enough to achieve. And every season like that may extend the rebuild.

Stan and organization have on balance been subpar on the trading front. At times abysmal.

And their current coach, at best, is a TBD. And I'm giving him a lot of rope - he hasn't shown me a whole lot so far.

Agreed that ADB will come back in 2021 with a strong season, assuming he stays healthy.

The inconvenient truth for rebuilding is that the core guys are still good enough (especially if, and it is a giant if, Seabrook comes back unbroken and with something left in the tank) that if one of these goaltenders catches fire, they could surprise and finish middle of the pack. Good enough to contend for the final playoff spot, not good enough to achieve. And every season like that may extend the rebuild.

Stan and organization have on balance been subpar on the trading front. At times abysmal.

And their current coach, at best, is a TBD. And I'm giving him a lot of rope - he hasn't shown me a whole lot so far.
- jrsamu

Yes, but then there looks to be a weak goaltending tandem...........

Theo Fox: Rebuild the Rebuild
Dissecting the #Blackhawks public statement on the state and direction of the team and offering alternative perspectives to consider.
- Theo Fox

Well Theo to me the ones that are upset are the ones who don't understand there are cycles to championship teams. If you don't honor these cycles you become the Red Wings. For those saying it should of happened a couple of years ago? I've got news for you, It Did.

I don't want some floundering bubble team with the illusion of winning a SC let alone a playoff series. Keep the 4 horseman for marketing, ticket sales and mentoring. Let the kids play and coach.

Well Theo to me the ones that are upset are the ones who don't understand there are cycles to championship teams. If you don't honor these cycles you become the Red Wings. For those saying it should of happened a couple of years ago? I've got news for you, It Did.

I don't want some floundering bubble team with the illusion of winning a SC let alone a playoff series. Keep the 4 horseman for marketing, ticket sales and mentoring. Let the kids play and coach.
- BetweenTheDots

I agree and don’t think the Red Wing comps are on target. I think the rebuild has essentially been going on since the unceremonious playoff ouster at the hands of the Preds.

Even that year there were like 7 new faces in the lineup and there has been just about every year since.

People who are unhappy are generally going to be unhappy, no matter the situation,so even though Stan finally put it out there in the press, it was pretty much a given that people would still be unhappy with it...

Didn’t go far enough, the timing of it , etc.

As fa as the Red Wing comparisons, I think they delayed their inevitable rebuild several years longer by extending a somewhat meaningless string of postseason appearances.

From what I can tell, Holland wasn’t doing much if any rebuilding so they brought in Yzerman to take on that task.

I agree and don’t think the Red Wing comps are on target. I think the rebuild has essentially been going on since the unceremonious playoff ouster at the hands of the Preds.

Even that year there were like 7 new faces in the lineup and there has been just about every year since.

People who are unhappy are generally going to be unhappy, no matter the situation,so even though Stan finally put it out there in the press, it was pretty much a given that people would still be unhappy with it...

Didn’t go far enough, the timing of it , etc.

As fa as the Red Wing comparisons, I think they delayed their inevitable rebuild several years longer by extending a somewhat meaningless string of postseason appearances.

From what I can tell, Holland wasn’t doing much if any rebuilding so they brought in Yzerman to take on that task.
- HawkintheD

Stan and his damn timing.....