Still think Crawford would have been a better option as HC. JC could have been an AC to gain some experience at the NHL level. Crawford has repented publicly about bad decision making and behavior in the past. At some point, I'd consider placing him at the top, if JC continues with his structured mayhem, especially the defensive schemes. Thanks for the honesty, Theo. - gabriel
Sorry for the late response to your post. I was out of pocket most of the day as I drove from the Bay Area down to San Diego and it ended up being almost a 10-hour drive due to traffic in Los Angeles.
I can only see Crawford being an interim head coach if Colliton ever gets the hook but can't see the Hawks naming him permanent head coach.
Expectations for the team just seem different this offseason than a year ago or even two years ago so patience with Colliton could be shorter. Then again, I don't have any proof of that either. Just a hunch.
Maybe the plan all along was to retool on the fly.
After McD was let go, he was blamed for trying to extend the window by holding on to the core and tinkering around them. Then when he was let go many thought Stan, without his hands being tied, was going into full rebuild mode.
Now after I look at it, last year, the supposed 1st year of the true rebuild, was an outlier IMO, and the retool was delayed. Others have pointed out the covid implications which resulted in the younger players given an opportunity. Maybe another thing that contributed to the pause into getting back into contention, was the fact that Bowman knew about the condition of Toews and Seabrook after the bubble playoffs and knew way ahead of time they wouldn't be playing last year. Based on that he decided to write off last year and see what the kids had to offer. - boilermaker100
I am starting to think the same thing that the team knew well in advance that Toews, Seabrook, and even Crawford weren't going to be available plus all teams knew about the condensed season with taxi squad, COVID protocols, etc. so circumstances aligned to do some trial by fire with rookies.
Following this line of thinking, the team got to see who impressed enough to stick (i.e. Hagel and possibly Kalynuk and Kurashev) and who needs more time in the minors (i.e. Mitchell and Beaudin).
Also, who knows if Toews and Kane told management they want to win now due to their closing window, at least for the captain due to his chronic illness, thus all the transactions this summer to remake the roster.
Theo, if the Hawks do end up having to flip Fleury to the Pens and were willing to retain 50% of his cap hit, what kind of draft choice do you think they could get? Don't forget, the Pens are also trying to make one last Cup run for Crosby, Letang and Malkin, they are desperately in need of a goalie, and Fleury is a very popular player in Pitsburgh. - BMWChiFan
I may be greedy, but if the Hawks retained 50% of Fleury's cap hit, then a 1st rounder should be achievable. If not, then a 2nd + one of their top prospects like Samuel Poulin.
I may be greedy, but if the Hawks retained 50% of Fleury's cap hit, then a 1st rounder should be achievable. If not, then a 2nd + one of their top prospects like Samuel Poulin. - Theo Fox
Nobody is holding a gun to Stan's head to trade. If Stan can't get a good return he can let Fluery retire and keep his cap space for other moves. The trade will be totally "how nice a guy is Stan." His time finally to be an AH.
And Gilles Marotte and Jack Norris, who I saw stop a penalty shot by Mike "Shakey" Walton (unfortunately that was the only thing he stopped). - LAHawk
ohhhh. You are older than me. My first memory is the Habs Lemaire long shot goal on Espo. Our 2-0 lead snapped, and the rest of the game was a dark memory that stuck with me for close to 40 years until the Hawks won their 2010 Cup. I was 7. Living in a province in Canada with all Habs and Leaf fans. It was horrible.
Yes.....therapy helped some, but it took the 3 Cups in 6 years to REALLY get that tramatic episode out of my mind.
And, I too, was guilty of liking Pit Martin....but that trade HAS to go down as one of the BIGGEST steals in NHL history. The Bruins really raped us on that one!!!
***Oh, to this day. I hate the Habs to Hell and back. Was so glad to see the Lightning stop the insanity that would have followed the Habs flukily winning this year. Now they can go back to being a non-playoff team and all will be right.
In those days Hull wasn’t small. John Ferguson who pulverized Hull and was one of the tougguys in that era was under 6 tall.
Do you remember seeing Hull lifting hay bales looking like A body builder? I’ve seen photos of Gordie Howe fishing with no shirt. He was an absolute beast. - paulr
Nick Richie is apparently signing in Toronto, 2 years @ $2.5 AAV. #ASF - DarthKane
They also signed Josh Ho-Sang to a PTO, the Leaves are really scraping the bottom of the barrel. Is Dubas the only one in the world who can’t see four players taking up 50% of the team’s cap isn’t going to work?
Location: I was going to do the math on this but I don't think it will help., IL Joined: 08.04.2013
Jul 31 @ 10:13 AM ET
They also signed Josh Ho-Sang to a PTO, the Leaves are really scraping the bottom of the barrel. Is Dubas the only one in the world who can’t see four players taking up 50% of the team’s cap isn’t going to work? - paulr
Tavares may go down as one of the worst FA signing in history. Not because of the player, but the fact there was absolutely no need for him in Toronto.
Tavares may go down as one of the worst FA signing in history. Not because of the player, but the fact there was absolutely no need for him in Toronto. - Elbows15
When they signed Tavares the Leafs needed defensemen. They still need defensemen and all Dubas does is sign forwards. Dubas is the new breed of GM who came up embracing analytics but his take on analytics and his “hockey eye” make absolutely no sense. To the casual fan who wants to dismiss analytics as being useful just have to point at this guy to “prove” their point.
Location: I was going to do the math on this but I don't think it will help., IL Joined: 08.04.2013
Jul 31 @ 10:24 AM ET
When they signed Tavares the Leafs needed defensemen. They still need defensemen and all Dubas does is sign forwards. Dubas is the new breed of GM who came up embracing analytics but his take on analytics and his “hockey eye” make absolutely no sense. To the casual fan who wants to dismiss analytics as being useful just have to point at this guy to “prove” their point. - paulr
Yep. They haven't been able to replace Kadri, either. He bring a lot of production from that 3C spot. He is a powder keg and can blow up a team's playoff chances at any time.
Tavares may go down as one of the worst FA signing in history. Not because of the player, but the fact there was absolutely no need for him in Toronto. - Elbows15
Not sure about the worst FA signing, but definitely the dumbest. They had plenty of top end talent up front and no defensemen, shoot, they make our current set of defensemen look like HOF’s. For the money they gave Tavares, they could have signed Larsson and McCabe.
Not sure about the worst FA signing, but definitely the dumbest. They had plenty of top end talent up front and no defensemen, shoot, they make our current set of defensemen look like HOF’s. For the money they gave Tavares, they could have signed Larsson and McCabe. - Angotti
Watching the playoff series between the Habs and the Leafs, they just kept forechecking the dmen and pounding the forwards, each game the Leafs kept playing further and further away from Price
