Yes but a huge "but!" The cheap hit on McMahon by Charles Martin when Ditka "owned" Forest Gregg and the Packers effectively ended his career with rotator cuff surgery. I've said for years, replace Montana and Young with Tomczak and Harbaugh and whomever else you want to throw in and see how many Super Bowls the 49ers win then... They should have kept Flutie but hindsight is 20/20.
- rpeters01

Do not forget the 1987 strike. The 87 Bears were setup to win it all, Ditka calling the scabs the Real Bears just killed team chemistry. Then the thing with Flutie. McMahon divided the locker room saying Mike T should be the QB and further mocked Flutie. Instead of being a leader and bringing the team together he divided it.

Both Ditka and McMahon screwed up.

The comment about Mugs Halas earlier also spot on.

Sorry about the repetitive quotes Eklunds site crashed on me and I didn’t catch it.

Amen, he was their best LB, and that includes #50 and #55, he was a beast with Washington as well.
- Angotti

Watching that guy dominate for Washington as they won multiple Super Bowls was sad. The Bears had a great front office in the late 70s/early 80s, they built the Bears powerhouse. The new guys after Halas died, including McCaskey, were clowns.

Watching that guy dominate for Washington as they won multiple Super Bowls was sad. The Bears had a great front office in the late 70s/early 80s, they built the Bears powerhouse. The new guys after Halas died, including McCaskey, were clowns.
- kwolf68[/quote

Jim Finks was the best and passed away too soon.

[quote=kwolf68]Watching that guy dominate for Washington as they won multiple Super Bowls was sad. The Bears had a great front office in the late 70s/early 80s, they built the Bears powerhouse. The new guys after Halas died, including McCaskey, were clowns.
- rtang415[/quote

Jim Finks was the best and passed away too soon.

He sure was. Vainisi was also fairly solid after Jim left.

He sure was. Vainisi was also fairly solid after Jim left.
- kwolf68

Yes

That is why I said this years version, would you agree the first 6 games he was not the Toews we are accustomed too? I had no expectation that he would, but I think a lot of the board did.

Also the goaltending has been at the bottom of the league, worst save percentage 5 on 5.
- LAHawk

I will agree that so far he has not been the Toews that we are accustomed to, but I’ll give him twenty games. Although the defense in front of him has been a crap show, Fleury has not been very good at all. Also, I was not anti JC before this season, but I don’t think things will turn around with JC at the helm, time to make a change, the sooner the better.

I don't know what Dach is still....I don't think he's a bust, and I don't think it's fair to say he's a top 6 player either at this point. I think like Justin Fields, we see flashes, but we need to see more before hitching our wagon to him.
- SteveRain

Kid is 20 and played one season total in his teens against NHL players. GMAFB!

Watching that guy dominate for Washington as they won multiple Super Bowls was sad. The Bears had a great front office in the late 70s/early 80s, they built the Bears powerhouse. The new guys after Halas died, including McCaskey, were clowns.
- kwolf68

If this turns into a football board, as we lose interest in the Blackhawks this season, can Theo still run the blog?

if coliton stays then he needs to start holding players accountable no more lazy plays on t he defensive and offensive side no matter who you are. Even if it is shift or more. Just way too many plays like that through out this 6 games.
- Scott1977

Just curious how you bench half the team during a game?

Only market asset left from the glory years is Kane

Zero reason to keep him in Chicago to play with one of the worst teams in the NHL
Broker a deal - retain salary & look for picks

Same goes for the Cat - Murphy & Fleury if AF finds his game in November which I suspect he will.

Just curious how you bench half the team during a game?
- rpeters01

One at a time

Only market asset left from the glory years is Kane

Zero reason to keep him in Chicago to play with one of the worst teams in the NHL
Broker a deal - retain salary & look for picks

Same goes for the Cat - Murphy & Fleury if AF finds his game in November which I suspect he will.
- Colbyboy

Unfortunately the current GM can’t pull this kind of stuff off.

Sabres playing great hockey under new coach
Granato

Hinnestroza a nice goal 3-1 over Tampa Bay in the 3rd

Vinnie not offered a contract in Chicago
Another management dream team move

In the Who Gives a Sh!t department, Zadarov scratched for the 3rd straight game tonight while Calgary is on to their 3rd victory in a row. Didn't take Suter long to figure out he's better in the press box than on the ice. Kudos to Stan for getting a 3rd round pick for him.

In the Who Gives a Sh!t department, Zadarov scratched for the 3rd straight game tonight while Calgary is on to their 3rd victory in a row. Didn't take Suter long to figure out he's better in the press box than on the ice. Kudos to Stan for getting a 3rd round pick for him.
- boilermaker100

Stan is passable plugging in a player here and there on a solid team like the ones that won the cup 3 times. If you’re looking to tear it down and start over he’s not the guy. You need someone who can work with nothing and build it. (Cough, Cough, Dale)

Lazarus, in today’s The Athletic, writes that rumors out there say that the lack of revenues due to Covid last season, and declining ticket sales this season, could stop Rocky / Danny from making a move on Bowman and Colliton, both with new extended contracts - declining revenues causing them to lock down on costs. Paying them off and hiring quality replacements might be too much money going out for the family to bear.
- StLBravesFan

Doubting the ACs make that much at all. JC is being paid $1.4M - they should make that up in ticket sales and merch *IF* (and that's a big if) the team turns it around and starts winning at least 50% of its games. Otherwise, the revenue influx is going to continue to plummet. They're going to kick this can down the road until they've driven away a good percentage of their remaining loyal fanbase? You want a big name? Backload the contract to make up the difference for them and still cover JC's remaining.

As for Stan, if they can't afford to pay him to go away, kick him upstairs and release one of the other big salaries (non-contracted) to bring in a decent GM.

Not easy, but they are going to end up creating a much bigger financial pit if they don't fix it soon.

Doubting the ACs make that much at all. JC is being paid $1.4M - they should make that up in ticket sales and merch *IF* (and that's a big if) the team turns it around and starts winning at least 50% of its games. Otherwise, the revenue influx is going to continue to plummet. They're going to kick this can down the road until they've driven away a good percentage of their remaining loyal fanbase? You want a big name? Backload the contract to make up the difference for them and still cover JC's remaining.

As for Stan, if they can't afford to pay him to go away, kick him upstairs and release one of the other big salaries (non-contracted) to bring in a decent GM.

Not easy, but they are going to end up creating a much bigger financial pit if they don't fix it soon.
- pdx2ord

This…

This…

Stan is passable plugging in a player here and there on a solid team like the ones that won the cup 3 times. If you’re looking to tear it down and start over he’s not the guy. You need someone who can work with nothing and build it. (Cough, Cough, Dale)
- rtang415

I do wonder who was involved back in the halcyon days in determining which players to target. Did Q have a say? How much were the scouts involved, etc.? In other words, how much of the players targeted to fill those perceived gaps were chosen by Stan? Was he the one who recognized the gaps that needed to be filled?

I get sense (maybe wrongly) that the draft choices are mostly Kelley and team, with Stan giving the final blessing. He's found some good ones for us, but not sure how his record stacks up against other head scouts.

This…

This…
- rtang415

Wanna know what will go over like a fart in church with a big majority of your fan base? Multi-billionaires crying poor as a reason for not fixing the team.

Between this and the not-needed-at-all attempt at a positive spin on the sellout streak ending, am questioning this PR team’s approach so far.

I do wonder who was involved back in the halcyon days in determining which players to target. Did Q have a say? How much were the scouts involved, etc.? In other words, how much of the players targeted to fill those perceived gaps were chosen by Stan? Was he the one who recognized the gaps that needed to be filled?

I get sense (maybe wrongly) that the draft choices are most Kelley and team, with Stan giving the final blessing. He's found some good ones for us, but not sure how his record stacks up against other head scouts.
- pdx2ord

I'll summarize for the rest of the board....Stan was never responsible for anything successful.

I'll summarize for the rest of the board....Stan was never responsible for anything successful.
- mohel

Absofrickin correct

I'll summarize for the rest of the board....Stan was never responsible for anything successful.
- mohel

Not what I’m asking, but thanks for once again misreading my intent and mansplaining it for me. He’s the boss and gets credit for the good and the bad.

What I am wondering about is how much of the talent spotting and roster construction expertise was his and how much was the people he hired? Has he taken more of that role on, himself, in the past few years or less?

I really don't think this is simple minded. Colliton's scheme has always been questionable and what has he done as a coach to be given the benefit of the doubt? Nothing.

It's time to dump him and if Wirtz is smart he brings in Crawford on an interim basis and evaluates Bowman at seasons end. Giving him the ability to bring in another coach at this point is not wise.

Do I know who should replace Bowman...no I do not but suggesting that's a reason for keeping him when the Hawks have been subpar for 4 years is not thinking big picture. The Hawks made the playoffs once in 4 years and that one time was during a shortened season due to a pandemic. They tore up the rebuild to spend...what looks like at this time bad money...that is all on him. They are consistently outclassed by better teams...their D looks like 6 turnstiles...and they lack effort and fight. Enough.

Stan is passable plugging in a player here and there on a solid team like the ones that won the cup 3 times. If you’re looking to tear it down and start over he’s not the guy. You need someone who can work with nothing and build it. (Cough, Cough, Dale)
- rtang415

Hmmm, suppose it kind of helps when you get a 1st and 3rd rounder in successive drafts.

Just like Mike Smith and Stan, I thank Dale for his contributions but I think his legend as the Builder is more than a bit overstated.

Just like former players, let's not make a habit of bringing back former GM's.