Are you saying that if the Hawks had a different coach (lets say Gerard Gallant), they still would lose more often than not because Tampa has better personnel? Blasphemy!!!!

- LAHawk

Nope he said Yzerman is better at putting together a team than Stan

Thought he broke his wrist.
- HawkintheD

Yes he did and that can happen anywhere its the way it happen he was out of position and a sitting duck for a rather minor hit . .He looks like a scared cat on the ice just waiting for the next injury . He should have been brought along far slower
I just love how Zadorov is the new whipping boy well people fawn all over the golden boy who gets hit by a program and misses a week . Good tough teams are interested in Zadorov for a reason well the HAWKS take on Stillman who another well run team gave up on him .Next year at this time we will be watching Zadorov landing big hits for a playoff bound team well we debate if Stillmaan is worth 1,3 and if Boqvist will recover in time from his paper cut and spinning the tankathon wheel

I don't know if it is time to count him out but he is a lightweight who has been thrown in with the heavyweights way to early .He himself said he was 3 or 4 years away when drafted but was up with the big club in a year and a half he should have finished out his Jr. in London under Hunter then done 1 or 2 years in the A they have a real mess on their hands now the kids confidence is shot .Why the rush we were not going anywhere the last few years any way bad Asset management
- oldduffman

While I agree with you that he needed more time in Juniors and AHL, that is now water under the bridge. As far as his confidence, I don’t see any issues there while on the ice.

Last night was another example of the hawks needed more toughest not necessarily size, that would help, but team and individual toughest. Murphy and big z cannot not fight worth a lick either. Not saying go get a goon or tom Wilson although i wouldn't mind him on are team but a different discussion. But a response you our best players we hit your best players muck it up play dirty if have to etc..
- Scott1977

Does not deter a thing. Just scratches a primal itch.

There aren't any openings, maybe?
- gazza53

He was fired in January of 2020. I assume there have been openings since then.

Nope he said Yzerman is better at putting together a team than Stan

- gazza53

Who isn't?

He was fired in January of 2020. I assume there have been openings since then.
- mohel

Yep, 2, so I assume he should've gotten a job in at least one of those

Nope he said Yzerman is better at putting together a gteam than Stan

- gazza53

But does Yzerman maintain a team better than Bowman?

Does not deter a thing. Just scratches a primal itch.
- mohel

Of course a goon deters opponents from going after players on his team. Loooch, Chara, Thornton, McQuaid and Boychuck were able to prevent Matt Cooke from ending Marc Savard’s career.

I don't know if it is time to count him out but he is a lightweight who has been thrown in with the heavyweights way to early .He himself said he was 3 or 4 years away when drafted but was up with the big club in a year and a half he should have finished out his Jr. in London under Hunter then done 1 or 2 years in the A they have a real mess on their hands now the kids confidence is shot .Why the rush we were not going anywhere the last few years any way bad Asset management
- oldduffman

But Quinn Hughes is fine to put in against NHLers? He's listed at virtually the exact same size and plays a similar type of game.

Boqvist was coming along very well after he came back from the COVID list. He's been banged up a few times recently. A player like Boqvist should never be your "top" defenseman. He is theoretically a great complementary piece if his game rounds out to what he was projected as.

Kalynuk has thus far displayed the best overall game. He is pretty solid defensively (save for some head scratcher passes), and has been able to contribute and produce offensively. Again, the scary part is that a majority of the major mistakes are being made by the vet D-men. It would be great if he could keep that going.

Mitchell started the year playing very well, then regressed a bit. You don't just cut bait on these prospects because they hit a bump in the road. You keep working to develop them. It is the entire purpose of this season.

But does Yzerman maintain a team better than Bowman?
- paulr

Meaningless, what's Stan maintaining, non PO hockey?

Of course a goon deters opponents from going after players on his team. Loooch, Chara, Thornton, McQuaid and Boychuck were able to prevent Matt Cooke from ending Marc Savard’s career.
- paulr

Didn't the Hawks have a few tough guys who prevented Torres from trying to kill Hossa?

Yes he did and that can happen anywhere its the way it happen he was out of position and a sitting duck for a rather minor hit . .He looks like a scared cat on the ice just waiting for the next injury . He should have been brought along far slower
I just love how Zadorov is the new whipping boy well people fawn all over the golden boy who gets hit by a program and misses a week . Good tough teams are interested in Zadorov for a reason well the HAWKS take on Stillman who another well run team gave up on him .Next year at this time we will be watching Zadorov landing big hits for a playoff bound team well we debate if Stillmaan is worth 1,3 and if Boqvist will recover in time from his paper cut and spinning the tankathon wheel
- oldduffman

Remind of who the bad, poorly run team was who gave up on Zadorov was? And I don't mean BUF. The one that traded him to the Hawks.

While I agree with you that he needed more time in Juniors and AHL, that is now water under the bridge. As far as his confidence, I don’t see any issues there while on the ice.
- Angotti

Me either. Maybe he's shy around the ladies but AB and I haven't hung out in a while so no idea.

Meaningless, what's Stan maintaining, non PO hockey?

- gazza53

Why would someone be a Hawk fan? The moron owner put Stan in charge of Hockey Ops. Then moron Stan hires and re-ups the moron JC. There's no hope for the organization; one of the worst-run in all of sports.

But Quinn Hughes is fine to put in against NHLers? He's listed at virtually the exact same size and plays a similar type of game.

Boqvist was coming along very well after he came back from the COVID list. He's been banged up a few times recently. A player like Boqvist should never be your "top" defenseman. He is theoretically a great complementary piece if his game rounds out to what he was projected as.

Kalynuk has thus far displayed the best overall game. He is pretty solid defensively (save for some head scratcher passes), and has been able to contribute and produce offensively. Again, the scary part is that a majority of the major mistakes are being made by the vet D-men. It would be great if he could keep that going.

Mitchell started the year playing very well, then regressed a bit. You don't just cut bait on these prospects because they hit a bump in the road. You keep working to develop them. It is the entire purpose of this season.
- Chunk

Frankly, a lot of the rookies this season just hit the wall. With a compressed schedule and seeing the same 7 teams over and over it was a difficult season. I think you saw that after game 30 or so most of the young guys started to see their production tail off. Suter, Kurashev, Mitchell, Hagel, Boqvist, etc. All of them had a string of games where they were just not great. I think it bodes well for those who did get some extended time in the NHL, it shows them the level of talent, strength and speed and maybe more importantly the level of compete they will need to stick in a regular rotation in the NHL. It definitively should be an indicator as to what they need to work on in the off season.

I see Strome earned himself a -3 in 13 minutes of action.

Frankly, a lot of the rookies this season just hit the wall. With a compressed schedule and seeing the same 7 teams over and over it was a difficult season. I think you saw that after game 30 or so most of the young guys started to see their production tail off. Suter, Kurashev, Mitchell, Hagel, Boqvist, etc. All of them had a string of games where they were just not great. I think it bodes well for those who did get some extended time in the NHL, it shows them the level of talent, strength and speed and maybe more importantly the level of compete they will need to stick in a regular rotation in the NHL. It definitively should be an indicator as to what they need to work on in the off season.
- TheTrob

Good to read some sanity!

But Quinn Hughes is fine to put in against NHLers? He's listed at virtually the exact same size and plays a similar type of game.

Boqvist was coming along very well after he came back from the COVID list. He's been banged up a few times recently. A player like Boqvist should never be your "top" defenseman. He is theoretically a great complementary piece if his game rounds out to what he was projected as.

Kalynuk has thus far displayed the best overall game. He is pretty solid defensively (save for some head scratcher passes), and has been able to contribute and produce offensively. Again, the scary part is that a majority of the major mistakes are being made by the vet D-men. It would be great if he could keep that going.

Mitchell started the year playing very well, then regressed a bit. You don't just cut bait on these prospects because they hit a bump in the road. You keep working to develop them. It is the entire purpose of this season.
- Chunk

Hughes isn't exactly lighting the world on fire. -16 and is usually a mess in his own end. He is also an elite skater with elite speed. Boqvist is not. A lot of these highly touted youngsters aren't lighting it up. Look at Lafreniere and Kakko on the Rangers. Neither of them are really doing all that much.

I don't understand the rush to bring 19 and 20 years olds into the NHL.

I think they know exactly what they have in Delia and that is why he isn't playing.
- TheTrob

Agreed
Same with Carlsson

Good to read some sanity!
- mohel

Part of the 1/4 of posts not beating a dead horse.

Yep, 2, so I assume he should've gotten a job in at least one of those
- gazza53

New Jersey, Minnesota, Calgary, Montreal, and Buffalo have replaced their coaches since Gallant was fired. I count 5.

Me either. Maybe he's shy around the ladies but AB and I haven't hung out in a while so no idea.
- HawkintheD

Mo said that you’ll need a better wingman than AB.

Mo said that you’ll need a better wingman than AB.
- Angotti

For D? Maybe Hugh Jackman......

For all the sturm und drang (look it up) here, it’s overall been a positive year.

This year’s team is better than last year’s, which was better than the previous year
Lots of very young forwards have gotten time and development at the NHL level
A few of the young D have gotten their feet wet, and shown some promise
An at least average NHL goalie and average NHL backup goalie have been identified

For next year, add a summer of growth and development of this year’s young players, add a euro signing, a free agent or 2, a healthy and rested Toews, a healthy Dach, another kid or 2 from Rockford (Entwistle) and the Blackhawks will be poised to take another step. Still don’t expect them to contend for the playoffs next year, but the trend is up. 2022-23, maybe is the year.

Getting smoked by TB at this point is not unexpected. TB can overwhelm many NHL teams.