Time to goon it up. Were gonna be so bad this year let's make it somewhere entertaining and get some toughness.
No ones going to want to watch this poop team half ass it and play soft getting blown out. Keith and Kane got to be livid.
- vandymeer23

Both Clarence ‘Screaming Buffalo’ Swamptown & Tim McCracken are available UFAs.

Hey, you forgot Smith.
- Chunk

IMO, Smith is either on IR or LTIR, buried in Rockford, or on the taxi squad.

If Toews is out long-term, I would expect Stan to go find another center - with the LTIR of Toews (if it comes to that), there should be cap space available.
- StLBravesFan

Possibly but Bowman did seem to allude to Soderberg playing 2C which bumps Strome up to 1C (assuming her re-signs and isn't traded).

In what is a lost, rebuilding season, IMO, it's better to use that cap savings to take on a bad contract and gain a 1st round pick + any other futures.

That's all we do is speculate, it's all we have to go by.

If in fact he doesn't know what it is, hell it could be a severe case of depression, again why would he opt out if he doesn't know what he's suffering from? Let's say he opts out and starts feeling great after a week or two. There's no quitting in the captain that's why he's the captain
- BetweenTheDots

I don't think he is opting out as it is defined related to COVID (unless I missed something in the press release). This is more along the lines of Lundqvist shutting down because he has an ailment. He's stated in his press release that he is working with doctors to better understand his condition. I don't think he is quitting at all. He's one of the best conditioned guys on the team. If he feels that there is a problem big enough to sit out for an extended period then it's pretty significant.

A top 5 or even top 3 draft pick is definitely a silver lining. I've never believed in tanking but in this case, the Hawks don't have to purposely do so. They'll naturally make their way to the bottom.

It will be an overload of cognitive dissonance, though, if the Hawks over achieve and somehow become a contender this season. As we've seen, life is full of curve balls. An early Hawks resurgence could be a nasty slider.
- Theo Fox

EXACTLY

I’m not saying “hey go out there and just glide around and make sure you try less than normal so we get outscored”.

I’m saying because of the depleted roster which as it stands is a bottom feeder on paper...why not use this opportunity to audition as many prospects as possible and take advantage of the bad record/high draft position?

I honestly think we can amass a very large amount of young pieces for the “new core”(an amount on par with any team in the league) if we play our cards correctly. And now I truly believe that means not only “tanking” this season but exploring trade options for Kane as well.

There is already a solid foundation for the future, already a nice start to the “new core”. By adding multiple additional tier 1 prospects via a Kane trade(+ any other trades to clear cap space) and the upcoming draft we’d be in outstanding shape moving forward.

IMO, Smith is either on IR or LTIR, buried in Rockford, or on the taxi squad.
- Theo Fox

I don't remember if it was you or someone else, but I wouldn't be surprised if Carpenter was bumped to the taxi squad either, in favor of Hagel.

Possibly but Bowman did seem to allude to Soderberg playing 2C which bumps Strome up to 1C (assuming her re-signs and isn't traded).

In what is a lost, rebuilding season, IMO, it's better to use that cap savings to take on a bad contract and gain a 1st round pick + any other futures.
- Theo Fox

That cap space is a huge asset this year.....IF Rocky is willing to spend.

I assumed that was the case.

Edit: I assume everyone else is tied for 1st, leaving moi as his least favorite.
- mohel

BINGO! But you spoiled the (frank)ing punchline!

No one watching USA - CZE? US up 3-0 with 3 to go in the 2nd. I missed the 1st period but USA is dominating the 2nd.

BINGO! But you spoiled the (frank)ing punchline!
- paulr

Reason 1547 why I'm your 2nd favorite poster.

You'll get plenty of reaction to that one. Just have a moderator handy.
- mohel

No one watching USA - CZE? US up 3-0 with 3 to go in the 2nd. I missed the 1st period but USA is dominating the 2nd.
- scottak

Is Slaggert getting much/any time? I'm still technically working.

Knight just stoned Teply point blank.

And for all the JT speculation, please read the press release first. It’s not COVID related, because they would have said so. He doesn’t know what’s causing the fatigue, but they’re working to determine the cause.

Good god, it’s more likely that it’s Lou Gehrig’s disease than it is COVID.

Is Slaggert getting much/any time? I'm still technically working.
- Chunk

Announcers called him out late in the 2nd, said he’s not afraid to run into anything or anyone.

[img]https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xgGOWynu0Q/WRtavVlSxVI/AAAAAAAAACs/sfDSmVSphUgoIuqw0Iqs4VrF-IAk3hB5gCLcB/s1600/vecchione-1-2.jpg

Reason toews doesn’t want to leave his bed and is always tired
[/img]

Is Slaggert getting much/any time? I'm still technically working.
- Chunk

Through 2 periods, 11 shifts, 7:06 TOI, 2 shots. So likely 4th line. He’s #26.

Now I understand the dislike.

Theo rebuilt in Boston and won again. If you can identify and develop talent, you're on the road to being a good GM. The job is the same for teams on the bottom or the top.
- mohel

It’s not entirely what you think (not entirely). I also don’t like the way he’s treated the city.

He got 90% of what he wanted from Chicago - like the sidewalks around the outfield on Waveland and Sheffield, the new office building on Clark, the video boards in the outfield.

But the city wouldn’t give him funding (TIF money IIRC) for maintenance on the ballpark and a couple of other things - and he female doged like crazy, went after Alderman Tunney and City Hall, threatened a move to the suburbs....

In short, acting like a pro sports franchise owner.

Knight just stoned Teply point blank.

And for all the JT speculation, please read the press release first. It’s not COVID related, because they would have said so. He doesn’t know what’s causing the fatigue, but they’re working to determine the cause.

Good god, it’s more likely that it’s Lou Gehrig’s disease than it is COVID.
- scottak

Thanks, Doc.

I don't think he is opting out as it is defined related to COVID (unless I missed something in the press release). This is more along the lines of Lundqvist shutting down because he has an ailment. He's stated in his press release that he is working with doctors to better understand his condition. I don't think he is quitting at all. He's one of the best conditioned guys on the team. If he feels that there is a problem big enough to sit out for an extended period then it's pretty significant.
- Chunk

Well i wasn't the one saying he was going to opt out, i think i was making the argument why he won't opt out since he didn't know what was ailing him? I could be wrong but i think i know what i wrote

THEO: I like this lineup short term. One good thing, is that Hawks have several guys who can play center or wing. This is balanced lineup with defensive awareness on each line ....... well except for Cat-Strome-Kaner. Agree on Pirri and Quenville ... Q provides no offense and Pirri provides no defense. Hope Colliton really focuses on improving their play in the neutral zone. Better play in the neutral zone should equal less time in the defensive zone .... very much needed when you don't know what you have in goal yet
- chuckdahammer

Yeah, that 1st line won't be good defensively with Strome centering Kane and DeBrincat. At least the other 3 lines will each have a stronger defensive conscience.

Agree, if the Hawks can pressure as much as possible in the neutral zone, it will alleviate a lot of pressure in their own end. To do this, the forwards need to attack the other team and be on them like flies on honey.

No more passive defending being a stick-length away or more. It gives the team too much room to operate.

Instead, literally be on the opponent and badger them to death.

It’s not entirely what you think (not entirely). I also don’t like the way he’s treated the city.

He got 90% of what he wanted from Chicago - like the sidewalks around the outfield on Waveland and Sheffield, the new office building on Clark, the video boards in the outfield.

But the city wouldn’t give him funding (TIF money IIRC) for maintenance on the ballpark and a couple of other things - and he female doged like crazy, went after Alderman Tunney and City Hall, threatened a move to the suburbs....

In short, acting like a pro sports franchise owner.
- StLBravesFan

Did the city or state help the Cubs as much as they did the Bears? And who paid for Comisky II?

The city paid for the office building? And the video boards? No, they just allowed the Cubs to pay for it.

The more I think about it...as painful as it might sound...I agree with EbonyRaptor: it’s time to trade 88

Get another elite prospect + another 1st. Clear some cap space.

More importantly it will OFFICIALLY signal the full on 100% commitment towards rebuilding. You add an elite tier 1 prospect(like Cozens for instance), an extra 1st, and our upcoming 1st(which given how bad we’re gonna be this season will most likely be another lottery pick) to Dach, Cat, Kubalik, Boqvist, Strome, Nylander, Mitchell, etc...that’s an insane amount of young talent. Let’s make it happen!!
- SimpleJack

Nobody is going to trade that for an expensive guy at the later stages of his career. It's a wing and a prayer.

I don't remember if it was you or someone else, but I wouldn't be surprised if Carpenter was bumped to the taxi squad either, in favor of Hagel.
- Chunk

That could be an option worth exploring. I'm all for Hagel taking Carpenter's spot on the 4th line. Carpenter can be the 13th forward.

If Carpenter is on the taxi squad, it may make it tougher to regain optimal value with a TDL deal. Then again, it may just be the difference between a 4th rounder or 5th rounder, etc.

That cap space is a huge asset this year.....IF Rocky is willing to spend.
- mohel

That is the multi million dollar question?

Rocky knows he can do the same thing next year with a larger revenue stream why waste money this year?

Thanks, Doc.
- mohel

It’s about reading and comprehension, not medicine.