Here is a fact, the Hawks are the exception to the rule when it comes to winning Stanley Cups after 2 high draft choices. Hawks did it in 3 after Kane and Toews. It took Tampa Bay 11 years after drafting Stamkos #1 and Hedman #2 to win cup #1. Jon Cooper was the head coach for 7 years before the cup win.

Oh, and Brian Lawton was the GM who drafted both. Does that make the great Steve Yzerman a builder or a maintainer?
- LAHawk

Stevie Y drafted Slater KKKK 10th overall and then they dumped him before the Lightning won the Cup last year.

And here is another fact about the draft - since the 2010 draft, there has been no player drafted in the Top 10 picks who have played on a Stanley Cup winner. The last one is V.Hedman (2009).

And there are only 2 players drafted in the top 10 since 2010 that have played in the Stanley Cuo final (and lost) - can you name them?

Per Cliff Fletcher - "Draft/Schmaft'

I agree with your post in general.

Regarding the stats...we should use them consistently. They can't be useful to demean or degrade the Hawks performance when they win, and ignored when they lose.
- mohel

Stats are there to prove an narrative PERIOD!

Here is a fact, the Hawks are the exception to the rule when it comes to winning Stanley Cups after 2 high draft choices. Hawks did it in 3 after Kane and Toews. It took Tampa Bay 11 years after drafting Stamkos #1 and Hedman #2 to win cup #1. Jon Cooper was the head coach for 7 years before the cup win.

Oh, and Brian Lawton was the GM who drafted both. Does that make the great Steve Yzerman a builder or a maintainer?
- LAHawk

To some of the “grass is greener” crowd on this site Steve Yzerman is a genius and much better than Blowman.

They need either a new GM or a new coaching staff, and like it or not Kanes glory year's are appearing to be well behind him now.

Early in the year when this team was first put together they played well above their weight. Now after months of "coaching" they are worse.
- fvineze

The Hawks need a new GM, coaching staff, 1C, 2C, 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, 1LW, 2LW, 3LW, 2RW, 3RW, 1G, 2G and mascot.

To some of the “grass is greener” crowd on this site Steve Yzerman is a genius and much better than Blowman.
- paulr

At the time, Stanbo was still working with fax machines and trying to get up to speed with the internet. His internet inexperience caused him to draft Graham Knott, Beau Starett and somebody named Iacopelli. Stevie Y had better IT guys helping him and they told him to draft Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli.

The Hawks need a new GM, coaching staff, 1C, 2C, 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, 1LW, 2LW, 3LW, 2RW, 3RW, 1G, 2G and mascot.
- DarthKane

And 1RW as well, as Kane’s glory years are behind him, 49 points in 39 games notwithstanding.

At the time, Stanbo was still working with fax machines and trying to get up to speed with the internet. His internet inexperience caused him to draft Graham Knott, Beau Starett and somebody named Iacopelli. Stevie Y had better IT guys helping him and they told him to draft Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli.
- RickJ

Stan was actually too busy winning cups, and “maintaining” cup winning teams.

Stan was actually too busy winning cups, and “maintaining” cup winning teams.
- LAHawk

Yea he really impressed me with his moves from 2010 to 2013, lot of things had to go right to get 2 more cups after the huge sell off and its really under appreciated by a few fans on here.

Yea he really impressed me with his moves from 2010 to 2013, lot of things had to go right to get 2 more cups after the huge sell off and its really under appreciated by a few fans on here.
- BetweenTheDots

Speaking of drafts at that time, Shaw, Kruger and Saad were key cogs for 2 of the cups (granted Kruger was 2009). Not bad for a second and 2 5th round draft picks.

Best Stan move, Crawford over Niemi, and keeping Hjarmalsdon after being offer sheeted by San Jose that got Niemi as the consolation prize.

Johnson, Entwhistle, Beaudin, Mitchell and Carlsson reassigned to the taxi squad.

Speaking of drafts at that time, Shaw, Kruger and Saad were key cogs for 2 of the cups (granted Kruger was 2009). Not bad for a second and 2 5th round draft picks.

Best Stan move, Crawford over Niemi, and keeping Hjarmalsdon after being offer sheeted by San Jose that got Niemi as the consolation prize.
- LAHawk

Agree, also able to trade Campbell with that fat contract and bring in Oduya was pretty good too

Frolik for Skille
Rozy as a FA very underrated dman
Leddy the more i think about it the more i marvel at all the moves he made

The Hawks need a new GM, coaching staff, 1C, 2C, 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, 1LW, 2LW, 3LW, 2RW, 3RW, 1G, 2G and mascot.
- DarthKane

And a new anthem singer and TV broadcast crew.

I think the Zamboni driver does a good job and should be retained.

And a new anthem singer and TV broadcast crew.

I think the Zamboni driver does a good job and should be retained.
- boilermaker100

While we're at it let's build a new stadium like the old barn where the upper levels are almost on top of the ice

While we're at it let's build a new stadium like the old barn where the upper levels are almost on top of the ice
- BetweenTheDots

Smoking has to be allowed to obscure the vision from the 2nd balcony.

The Hawks need a new GM, coaching staff, 1C, 2C, 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, 1LW, 2LW, 3LW, 2RW, 3RW, 1G, 2G and mascot.
- DarthKane

You forgot fans. They are the worst. Hawks need new fans.

You forgot fans. They are the worst. Hawks need new fans.
- MjulQvist

I’d be happy if they dumped Cornellison, even if they kept everyone else.

Well, Foley can go, too.

I agree with your post in general.

Regarding the stats...we should use them consistently. They can't be useful to demean or degrade the Hawks performance when they win, and ignored when they lose.
- mohel

Hawks had all of the stats - including, on the heat chart, the in-close shots attempted - lots.

But most of those shots were right into Saros. Maybe they were in too close to do much with the puck, but these guys can’t shoot - can’t find the top-shelf corners, even on a goalie who isn’t over-sized (5’11” 180 lbs.). That, IMO, was one of the main difference in the game.

Maybe it’s a teachable skill, like pitchers learning a new pitch - it takes time to master it. Perhaps a good “shooting coach”....

What number will Vinnie wear this time around? Both 48 and 13 are taken. Barring a trade, I say he goes with 14.

And a new anthem singer and TV broadcast crew.

I think the Zamboni driver does a good job and should be retained.
- boilermaker100

In typical Blowman fashion I’m betting he brings back an ex Blackhawk, Antti Niemi!

[quote=jhawk59]I am guessing there is something about being fair insofar as giving an equal or at least trying to spread out playing time among an overload of prospects this season in Rockford.

I feel that Altybarmakian and Soderlund have shown well, have provided evidence via their performance that they are moving quite nicely positive in their development. Perhaps I am.expecting too much from them, Theo, but I wince when they are omitted from the lineup. I have to believe the orders come from on high (Bowman). Or has to be with his blessing these line up choices/omissions. /quote]
- jhawk59

Don't think too much about the reasons why Altybarmakian and Soderlund are scratched. There's just 1.5x as many forwards as there are spots so some are invariably going to have to sit.

Doesn't help the numbers game when more get added like Slavin. Glad Slavin is in the fold now but it does complicate who dresses and who gets scratched.

Good Team.. well coached... genius General Manager that truly knows how to draft and develop players.. pretty sure no one with the exception of Kane Dach and the cat will be on this team in three years...
- bigfly46

Who is this genius GM that you speak of, David Poile or Stan Bowman? Last time I checked no cups and one finals in 38 years for Poile. As far as Hawks in three years, besides the three you named, Boqvist, Mitchell, Hagel, and Kurashev will be there as well. There are some maybes’ like Kubalik, Kalynuk, Murphy, Beaudin, Zadorov, and Lankinen...

The above is from last blog.

Thanks for all you do Theo, we appreciate the daily blogs and the effort you put in.
- Angotti

You bet, Agnotti.

A regular 82-game season will be nice when the pace isn't as frenetic. Yet, there's still plenty to talk about even on off days.

Good morning, Theo. Thanks for your efforts.

You wrote, "The Blackhawks dominated the metrics in shooting and scoring attempts but were simply outworked by the Predators in all zones."

I don't see how both of these can be true at once. How do you dominate shot metrics while being outworked in all zones?

Seems we've been on the other end of this situation quite a few times this season - Hawks are badly outshot and outchanced by the opposition, but win somehow. In those games, board members grumble "yeah they won, but not sustainable....goalie win...". The story in those games is that, despite winning, the Hawks aren't as good as team X.

Happy Easter to those to whom it matters.

Edit - high danger scoring chances 5x5 were 17-4 Hawks. Isn't that supposed to tell us who played better?
- mohel

You're welcome, mo.

I may be over simplifying things but the advanced stats paint one picture but the eye test showed the Hawks still getting beat in a large proportion of battles up and down the ice.

Except for the PP, the Hawks weren't putrid by any means but the Preds were just that much better.

Colliton talked about teams beating the Hawks at their own game. That seems like an arrogant statement to me as if the Hawks are the only team that works and competes hard.

Other teams work and compete hard, too. And in most cases lately, they've been working and competing harder.

What number will Vinnie wear this time around? Both 48 and 13 are taken. Barring a trade, I say he goes with 14.
- DarthKane

Any of those numbers available for him in Rockford...

Any of those numbers available for him in Rockford...
- BGKarras

Hogs captain Garrett Mitchell wears 14.

To some of the “grass is greener” crowd on this site Steve Yzerman is a genius and much better than Blowman.
- paulr

Then there are others in the David Poile is a genius camp vs Bowman the schlub.

As Lou mentioned, Poile the genius is 30 plus years and counting coming up empty for winning the only hardware that actually matters.

Josi's a great dman but 7 more years after this one at $9M? He'll be 38 when that contract expires so...pass.

Couple of 2C's signed at $8M for 4 and 5 more years.

Kyle Turris' buyout which represents $2M in dead cap space on the books for 7 more years.

That all sounds like pretty genius stuff.