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

No question on paper, and it may play out that way all season. But if one of those guys comes out of nowhere to claim the spot, and the team rallies around it....stranger things have happened.

Stan and his damn timing.....
- DarthKane

The teacher let the kindergarten nap run a little long?

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)
- LAHawk

Best post by anybody in months!

Nice job Theo.

I'll simply echo much of what has been said about McD being gone and now it is Stan's show. If we run 1-2A-2B-checking, Strome might be valuable if he can't crack the top 6 but I agree if we run 1-2-checking-4, his value takes a hit as shown throughout the season.

I think the rebuild was decided when McD was let go and way before the Hawks had a glimmer of a chance of the playoffs and upset the Oil in the play-in, which wasn't expected.

Think lots were disappointed after seeing us beat the Oil and lose several 1-goal games to the VGK and maybe thought we just needed a few more pieces. However, it was Crawford keeping us in games as VGK were crushing us in possession and zone time. A rebuild is in order but in thinking about the 2000's, it'll be tough after being so spoiled for the next 10.

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.
- just69sayin

You're definitely an optimist.

I saw a tweet that quoted Dreger that said oilers have inquired about keith he said boston may have interest as well.

what about something around broberg
+ rapheal lavoie and russell to keith?

it is quite clear that a substantial proportion of the fanbase is upset and frustrated with the Blackhawks public statement declaring the state and direction of the team.

What exactly are they upset about? The press release was simply a formality. In his interviews Stan stated numerous times that they want to be more open with the team and the fans.

I don't really understand why people keep complaining about the Saad trade. He is a good player, but he did not put up a ton of points (which is what gets paid in this league). He also had a pretty hefty salary. In return they got a monster defenseman who can actually skate and PLAY THE GAME, for less money. A team soure even said that there wasn't a better offer to be had for him. The team is not going to just put out a bunch of 1-2 yr players out on the ice to skate with the core. Zadorov is only 25 years old (about the time D-men come into their own) with 350 games of experience.

I implore anyone with questions (what direction are they going with this team?, why is X,Y,Z still on the team, etc) to listen to Stan's interviews with Blackhawks Talk or the Athletic. Most of your questions will be answered (maybe not to your liking, but they will be answered).

No question on paper, and it may play out that way all season. But if one of those guys comes out of nowhere to claim the spot, and the team rallies around it....stranger things have happened.
- jrsamu

Additionally, Crawford wanted more than one year. All that does is muddy the water going forward. These guys are the same age he was when he broke out. I'm not saying these guys will be world beaters, but most goalies are better when they play regularly and get a groove going.

Before yesterday:
“Why can’t Stan just admit that they’re rebuilding....”

After Yesterday:
“All he did is tell what we already knew...”

And around, and around we go.

#ficklefans

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

Exactly...huge issue

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?

- jrsamu

None of the core can be put on waivers without their express consent and they'd never do that. Their NMC prevents them from being moved in anyway, waivers or trades, that they don't want. They have absolute control.

And it's unlikely they won't play Toews, Kane, or Keith because they're still the best players at their position. It's different for Seabrook because he's declined to be a #7 at best but the other 3 are still good to great. Not only will they want the young players learning from them, but it would send a terrible message to those kids that they'll be treated less than ideal later.

The Hawks are really stuck in no man's land. Stan Bowman is not proper GM to perform a rebuild. Don't think you will see Kane or Toews dealt. Both have no trade clauses and not many teams can't afford a 10.5 million dollar cap hit. This really limits where they can be dealt. Seabrook, they are stuck with. Hopefully, good healtlh can enable Seabs to be a good mentor to the young defensemen, along with Keith. Also, you cannot trade somebody who is coming from long term injured reserve. Which means once Shaw and DeHaan, prove they are healthy and play, they should be dealt next. Zach Smith also falls into that cateory, but seems he might have even more time on long term IR. Any rebuild you have to keep some veterans or "young veterans" around to help guide the youth. Young veterans would be Murphy and Zadorov. We should expect more moves during the season maybe and before the trade deadline. Other "young veterans" would be Janmark and Wallmark. Both are not that expensive and may come or go. We have to see how everything shakes out once they start to play. Also, the goaltending is huge question mark. Maybe it will be ok but it will be terrible

Exactly...huge issue
- just69sayin

Why is it a huge issue? We don't really even know what these guys can do. Do the Hawks want to be competitive? Sure. Are they expected to be a true contender? No. They need cap and roster flexibility, hence, these three. Development takes time. Having an established goalie now is an unneeded luxury.

Before yesterday:
“Why can’t Stan just admit that they’re rebuilding....”

After Yesterday:
“All he did is tell what we already knew...”

And around, and around we go.

#ficklefans
- Ogilthorpe2

We all have varying opinions some think chicago could with few solid trades possibly compete , others except the slow tinkering around the edges and call it retooling, while I say it was long overdue and lost opportunity.


I'm not going to rehash stans moves , trades and resignings to much , imo stan and rocky lost focus after 2010 season with making decisions necessary for the teams future and cap space. Sure everyone can say but we won 2 more cups ok however heading into that few year run chicago took a step back and competed but in the process allowed a young unproven goalie named Crawford to gain. Experience in the net and the team relied on solid prospects , shaw, Saad ect and a couple of good moves oduya and handzus.

Thats what made stan look brilliant, his biggest downfall was trading away to many young prospects and seabrook.


My guess is next summer chicago will trade away one or 2 of the remaining core with the expansion of Seattle freeing up more space amongst teams.

You're definitely an optimist.
- rpeters01

Thank you sir. Let's also remember the desperation after 2010 and 2013

Why is it a huge issue? We don't really even know what these guys can do. Do the Hawks want to be competitive? Sure. Are they expected to be a true contender? No. They need cap and roster flexibility, hence, these three. Development takes time. Having an established goalie now is an unneeded luxury.
- Chunk

We could steal games. We could compete. Throw in a Kaner and Alex Debrincat snipage, we could steal a series. An opposition huge injury or two in the final and we might be able to sneak another Cup in

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

Jfyi that buying out Seabrook isn't ideal considering how much dead cap there would be.

If if happens in 2021, cap hit would be $3.7m, $6.7m, $5.2m, $833k, $833k, $833k

If it happens in 2022, it's $6.5m, $5m, $583k, and $583k

Unless they need that cap space desperately in the next 2 years, it'd be better to either retain later or just wait out his contract.

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)
- LAHawk

I’m just fine with Blake as GM. Kovi was the only bonehead move I think he’s made. The kings fans who aren’t fond of Blake are the ones still bitter about him leaving and eventually ending up in SJ. They need to get over it.

Brown isn’t going anywhere and the kings are lucky enough to have the cap space to keep quick around fir Peterson. Carter is the only one I see holding up a roster spot but again luckily they have the cap to keep him and be a mentor to the kids.

Blake is building something very nice fir the future.

Before yesterday:
“Why can’t Stan just admit that they’re rebuilding....”

After Yesterday:
“All he did is tell what we already knew...”

And around, and around we go.

#ficklefans
- Ogilthorpe2

We could steal games. We could compete. Throw in a Kaner and Alex Debrincat snipage, we could steal a series. An opposition huge injury or two in the final and we might be able to sneak another Cup in
- just69sayin

And who is to say that none of the three options we are talking about can't steal a few games themselves, or a series (if we got to that point)? Delia was coming on a lot stronger the second half of the season. Subban actually played well when Fleury was out and he was playing consistently, I don't know much about Lankinen, but I've heard several positive reviews.

Again, these guys are all the same age that Crawford was when he broke into the league.

I am far from any kind of authority here, but I would put any thoughts of another Cup back in your pocket for a while.

None of the core can be put on waivers without their express consent and they'd never do that. Their NMC prevents them from being moved in anyway, waivers or trades, that they don't want. They have absolute control.

And it's unlikely they won't play Toews, Kane, or Keith because they're still the best players at their position. It's different for Seabrook because he's declined to be a #7 at best but the other 3 are still good to great. Not only will they want the young players learning from them, but it would send a terrible message to those kids that they'll be treated less than ideal later.
- L_B_R

Unless you are God and know how Seabs is going to play, I think that is a very bold ( I wanted to use a different word, but I thought I would be nice about it) thing to say. No one has seen him play since his surgeries. Let's give him a chance to prove (or disprove) his worth.

Jfyi that buying out Seabrook isn't ideal considering how much dead cap there would be.

If if happens in 2021, cap hit would be $3.7m, $6.7m, $5.2m, $833k, $833k, $833k

If it happens in 2022, it's $6.5m, $5m, $583k, and $583k

Unless they need that cap space desperately in the next 2 years, it'd be better to either retain later or just wait out his contract.
- L_B_R

Seabrooks agent should get sports agent of the decade for that contract. 8 years when he was past his prime and buyout proof.

Unless you are God and know how Seabs is going to play, I think that is a very bold ( I wanted to use a different word, but I thought I would be nice about it) thing to say. No one has seen him play since his surgeries. Let's give him a chance to prove (or disprove) his worth.
- powerenforcer

I'm with you on the sentiment, and I hope he comes back like a monster. Stan's comments yesterday seem to imply (to me at least) that they expect him to be rotating 6/7 with one of the kids.

Seabrooks agent should get sports agent of the decade for that contract. 8 years when he was past his prime and buyout proof.
- kmw4631

Yup. 4 years too long and almost $1M per year too high.