Honestly, the only thing Murphy does well is not on the ice. He projects a nice, all-American kid image, he's vanilla, he's safe. On the ice he is a solidly uninspiring, unexciting, average at best D-man (i.e. #4). He wears a letter by default, not because he necessarily earned it. Am I a huge Murphy fan, not by a long shot, but I have had far more problems with other Hawks D-men over the past few years than him (Gus, Zadorov, McCabe, deHaan, Maatta, etc). He's paid in accordance to what he is.....average.

Who I have a problem with is S.Jones. Night in, Night out he shows that he is a #1D in salary only. For his size and skating ability he does not defend well, and does not play well in his own end. He is OK offensively, but by no means a difference maker. Look at the D-men that dominate offensively, Makar, Josi, Karlsson, Burns, Hedman, etc. S. Jones isn't close to any of them. No team is game-planning to account for S.Jones. His contract at some point will prove to be a bigger anchor than Seabrooks was.

McCabe, Jones, Murphy, Rundblad, deHaan, Gus...... man oh man was Bowman bad when it came to acquiring D talent.
- TheTrob

I hear you on Jones....Last year, 1st year, trying to prove his worth usually doesn't work....this year I want to see more out of him or else that's a deal KD is going to need to figure out, and figure out quickly what to do with.

I really expected more out of him offensively. Fact he was making a joke who was going to score more goals him or Caleb.....shouldn't even be a discussion. Seth needs to do more for this team....if he can't figure out in his own end, than he better damn well contribute a helluva lot more offensively....especially since this team lacks fire power. If he gets caught up ice...who cares.....they aren't a contender by any stretch.

They had a lot of guys who looked bad....2, 19, 4, 7.....panarin was pretty much non existent and all Foley did was rail 15 on the air.
- SteveRain

Panarin might have been nowhere in that series, but he still would have fetched a lot at a trade deadline if they held onto him. Nothing against Saad, but the retun on him ended up being Zadorov who in turn netted a third.

19 and 88 were marriage pacts. 'Til expiration do us part. Those have always been nearly impossible to trade for a real return until now.

7 was an untradable contract, period. The injuries had already taken their toll. A good GM would have let him walk. Hard decision to let a guy like that go, but it had to happen.

2 could have been moved. At that cap hit, no doubt. Not as easy with an NMC, though.

Maybe 50 could have been moved, also, but I gather he was pretty clever with his list of teams in his modified NTC.

If you want your copy of Stan Bowman's Worst Hits, call this number now. Operators are standing by!

I hear you on Jones....Last year, 1st year, trying to prove his worth usually doesn't work....this year I want to see more out of him or else that's a deal KD is going to need to figure out, and figure out quickly what to do with.

I really expected more out of him offensively. Fact he was making a joke who was going to score more goals him or Caleb.....shouldn't even be a discussion. Seth needs to do more for this team....if he can't figure out in his own end, than he better damn well contribute a helluva lot more offensively....especially since this team lacks fire power. If he gets caught up ice...who cares.....they aren't a contender by any stretch.
- SteveRain

I was never a huge S. Jones fan, but I expected a heck of a lot more out of him. Something, in one end or the other, but something. Whats amazing, is take a game like last night. There were times when the Hawks spent an extended period of time in their own zone. In the majority of those times, S.Jones was on the ice. If you're a #1D, that just should not happen. He is big enough and fast enough that he should be able to break-up a play and gain possession at some point in a 3 minute shift.

I was never a huge S. Jones fan, but I expected a heck of a lot more out of him. Something, in one end or the other, but something. Whats amazing, is take a game like last night. There were times when the Hawks spent an extended period of time in their own zone. In the majority of those times, S.Jones was on the ice. If you're a #1D, that just should not happen. He is big enough and fast enough that he should be able to break-up a play and gain possession at some point in a 3 minute shift.
- TheTrob

I fell asleep before the third but from what I saw Entwhistle broke up more plays than Jones. If he fills out and loses the Bambi legs he will be a solid player.

If anyone had a doubt as to this year's whipping boy, may I introduce Mr Connor Murphy. And it only took one game.
- boilermaker100

Nah more like ever since he came to Chicago, one of the poorest zone defenders in the league.

That's why Q was pissed, might as well just cut Nik when you make a trade like that

I was never a huge S. Jones fan, but I expected a heck of a lot more out of him. Something, in one end or the other, but something. Whats amazing, is take a game like last night. There were times when the Hawks spent an extended period of time in their own zone. In the majority of those times, S.Jones was on the ice. If you're a #1D, that just should not happen. He is big enough and fast enough that he should be able to break-up a play and gain possession at some point in a 3 minute shift.
- TheTrob

I'd at least like to see how well he does with another legit top 4 guy. But this contract was another marriage pact. The only defense Stan might have for this and all the other mistakes is that he had orders from above to try to compete now instead of rebuilding.

I'd at least like to see how well he does with another legit top 4 guy. But this contract was another marriage pact. The only defense Stan might have for this and all the other mistakes is that he had orders from above to try to compete now instead of rebuilding.
- 333inthe3rd

Why? If he is a legitimate #1 like he is being paid to be, he should be able to elevate the play of those around him, or at the very least control play at one end or the other like a #1 is expected to do.

From what I can see a legitimate #1 would turn S. Jones into a solid #2, without a #1 he is guy who gets a lot of minutes and as such will put up some points and fool people into thinking he is a #1.

Why? If he is a legitimate #1 like he is being paid to be, he should be able to elevate the play of those around him, or at the very least control play at one end or the other like a #1 is expected to do.

From what I can see a legitimate #1 would turn S. Jones into a solid #2, without a #1 he is guy who gets a lot of minutes and as such will put up some points and fool people into thinking he is a #1.
- TheTrob

How much better do you think the Hawks would be if Nick Lidstrom in his prime replaced Seth Jones? There's only so much one guy can do here. If a team only has one legit top 4 guy, they're not going anywhere. Even if it's a legit 1D. I think we all agree that this was a trade that never should have happened, and that they should have been rebuilding. Whether that's on Stan or his higher ups is anybody's guess.

Well, he IS going to bring us a draft pick close to the deadline whether we whip him or not....
- wiz1901

Not this year. But maybe someday.

Nah more like ever since he came to Chicago, one of the poorest zone defenders in the league.

That's why Q was pissed, might as well just cut Nik when you make a trade like that
- BetweenTheDots

Not sure if it was you, Trob, or 333 but somebody else pointed out Bowman's continued failures at the end with these D men he acquired. Some were ex 1st round picks, etc. I don't know if it was all Stanley, all the scouts, but likely a combination of both....but that's 1 thing lets hope KD does and does well.....they need to some win some of these trades for the LT coming up.

I know many are still hurting over the Dach or DeBrincat trades but if you look at say Colorado.....they shipped off guys like Duchene, O'Reilly while they were still rebuilding as they weren't ready to win.

I hope AD does great in Ottawa. I wonder if he would try to sign to a shorter deal in Ottawa and then go to Detroit when he is an UFA

How much better do you think the Hawks would be if Nick Lidstrom in his prime replaced Seth Jones? There's only so much one guy can do here. If a team only has one legit top 4 guy, they're not going anywhere. Even if it's a legit 1D. I think we all agree that this was a trade that never should have happened, and that they should have been rebuilding. Whether that's on Stan or his higher ups is anybody's guess.
- 333inthe3rd

The Jones deal I give Bowman a pass on because you'll never convince he that he wasn't ordered to build a winner on the fly to combat the impending Beach news.

However, Jones can't be a complete a train wreck in his own end. If that's the case move him up to F...we have seen Fs get moved back to D before like BUff and Burns...so why not Jones if he can't play a lick of defense? I really expected a Karlsson type D man who would push the play all the way into the zone and create offense.

Dude scored 5 goals...same as his brother but in 27 MORE games. that can't happen.....ever.

How much better do you think the Hawks would be if Nick Lidstrom in his prime replaced Seth Jones? There's only so much one guy can do here. If a team only has one legit top 4 guy, they're not going anywhere. Even if it's a legit 1D. I think we all agree that this was a trade that never should have happened, and that they should have been rebuilding. Whether that's on Stan or his higher ups is anybody's guess.
- 333inthe3rd

You are right, but people love to rag on Jones because they had to pay to get him and pay him market value. For the most part he does what he was brought in to do, but the team has larger issues. Complaints about his contract are kind of pointless until it actually becomes an issue, which it isn't and doesn't seem like it will be for a long time, if it ever is.

One thing was pretty noticeable last night with the Hawks offense. It's gonna be lean for goals since we traded our best forward as he was entering his prime.

Lack of offensive talent will continue to equal chasing the puck, chasing the game, and playing in their own end a lot.

Tonight should we expect Tinordi, Roos, and Regula in the lineup tonight and what is your evaluation of their performance vs the Avalanche?

I don't see C Jones as trustworthy to develop. When McCabe and Galvas return, they should sppt in. Mitchell should be here too. Each of themmprobsbly nned ice and practice time between games.

This is the year Arizona finally wins the draft lottery. San Jose and Montreal will draft #2 and #3, Chicago will draft #4.
- DarthKane

If this is the order, Bedard should hold out and NEVER play for Arizona. That would be a waste of his talent playing in a college stadium.

Stalock in goal.

C. Jones healthy and in for Regula.

R. Johnson in for Robinson.

***tap*** ***tap*** Is this thing on?

Stalock in goal.

C. Jones healthy and in for Regula.

R. Johnson in for Robinson.
- boilermaker100

Kurashev is off to a solid start this season. He’s one of the few Hawks forwards to stand out in a positive way.

Blackwell gets a breakaway then…..falls down.

Blackwell gets a breakaway then…..falls down.
- DarthKane

He got the memo on the tank.

***tap*** ***tap*** Is this thing on?
- mohel

Everyone must have fallen asleep watching the Besrs game.

He got the memo on the tank.
- mohel

The Hawks are playing well tonight, they’re the better team so far. We could use an Alex Stalock special right about now.

The Hawks are playing well tonight, they’re the better team so far. We could use an Alex Stalock special right about now.
- DarthKane

Only nine shots against. Nineteen hits! Holy crap! Woof, woof!

Scott Darling doing some between period studio analysis for NBCSportsChicago. Caley Chelios now a redhead.

Classy - I know y'all are not the sentimental type, but I'll always have a soft spot for some of the players who come through town. Cat is one.

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