Man I disagree with all of this. Murphy is awful, always. The return for Lafferty, a bottom 6 grinder who we got for next to nothing, and McCabe, a slow bottom four guy who was in over his head… was a first and a second. You take that every day.
- ObeseOprah

Exactly. Buncha clowns in here

C'Mon, IF PK waives. He has already waived, KD is trying to save both his and Kane's behind for the way Kane handled it, and to be quite frank that KD let him get away with it.

In my opinion at some point (probably around when the Rangers got Tarasanko, IKD should of told Kane, hey it's your decision, but crap or get off the pot. You want to be moved, I have a deal. You dawdle anymore and you can go to FA at the end of the year.
- LAHawk

Managing people is always a challenge in terms balancing personal vs organizational needs. You then need to dial up the degree of difficulty when said employee is the star of the organization, is represented by a professional agent who only serves the employee’s interests, and the employee has press microphones in his face after every day at the “office.” Given how this situation could have broke bad in so many ways at virtually every turn, I give KD and co. credit that this has been a fairly peaceful process.

The rebuild of the Blackhawks is not going to be made or broken by what happens with Patrick Kane. Whether what should be a 1st + only materializes into a 2nd - it’s relatively immaterial to the larger concerns of how the Hawks treat Kane in his departure.

JFC, you were the guy posting McCabe would bring back two firsts.
- paulr

You're just making poop up now

I understand this happens as you get older

It’s very hard to compare the two GMs. Yes to this point KD is showing to be much more adept at drafting and building a team, although he hasn’t built a team just yet. Also part of building has an element of luck, ie: drafting first overall and getting a potential superstar, finding a gem later in the draft and getting a Duncan Keith. Bowman balanced cap problems while finding the right guys to win an additional two championships. Bowman’s task wasn’t to stock pile the prospect cupboard, but to try to keep winning. KD is tasked with building a team from the ground up.
- paulr

Look at the comments Brisebois has made in regard to the acquisitions he's made over the last few seasons with players like Hagel, Goodrow, and now Jeannot just the other day and how he weighs that with the draft picks he gave up.

Just like the Hawks were at the time under Bowman, he's in win now mode. While he didn't have anything to do with drafting Keith, Seabs or Hammer, he did have something to do with keeping them around. Seabs was in hindsight too long, just like in hindsight Bowman and the Hawks overestimated how long they were in a viable window to compete for Cups and didn't pivot soon enough.

Like you said though, two different phases in the franchise history and kind of apples to oranges.

C'Mon, IF PK waives. He has already waived, KD is trying to save both his and Kane's behind for the way Kane handled it, and to be quite frank that KD let him get away with it.

In my opinion at some point (probably around when the Rangers got Tarasanko, IKD should of told Kane, hey it's your decision, but crap or get off the pot. You want to be moved, I have a deal. You dawdle anymore and you can go to FA at the end of the year.
- LAHawk

As Paul Harvey used to say "and now the rest of the story". I think in the next couple days and maybe even this summer a lot of things will be revealed. The Hawks will not get much for Kane. But it will be something. Were there other offers? Better offers? Did other teams contact Brisson and try to get Kane to consider their team. Was Kane's expectations in dollars or term for his next contract an issue with the Hawks or with other teams? Will Kane be extended or resign with the Rangers? Will he come back to the Hawks? Sign somewhere else? And probably lots of other background information. The Athletic recently did a story on the Saad trade. I imagine there will be a story about how the whole Kane escapade played out. Kane's role. Brisson's role. KD's role. Other teams involvement. Miscalculations and regrets.

It’s very hard to compare the two GMs. Yes to this point KD is showing to be much more adept at drafting and building a team, although he hasn’t built a team just yet. Also part of building has an element of luck, ie: drafting first overall and getting a potential superstar, finding a gem later in the draft and getting a Duncan Keith. Bowman balanced cap problems while finding the right guys to win an additional two championships. Bowman’s task wasn’t to stock pile the prospect cupboard, but to try to keep winning. KD is tasked with building a team from the ground up.
- paulr

paul, you're correct. It is difficult to compare them at this point, given no history for KD. I was never necessarily a Bowman basher, but hindsight has really revealed how much he failed, at the very least to have any kind of vision and stick to it.

I agree that C. Jones has played better. But almost every game there are 3 or 4 shifts when you say to yourself "where is Caleb going", "what was Caleb thinking" or "why is Caleb on the wrong side of the play". If we resign him to a one year deal as a 6th or 7th defender it would not be the worst thing in the world, as long he is not blocking a prospect. In fact it could be good if it prevents the prospect from being rushed or it gives the prospect more time to marinate at the Rock. Who knows if he actually does get better he could have trade value at the next TDL. (but please nothing longer than a very cheap one year contract.)
- -Doh-

Well if not on the Hawks, he will find a job as a 5/6 defenseman with another team in the league.

Well if not on the Hawks, he will find a job as a 5/6 defenseman with another team in the league.
- LAHawk

Probably true. Bottom pair or 7th defender. Only 25 years old, but about 200 games in NHL.

I wonder if we can attribute his marginal improvement to LR and his system, teaching, structure (and the fact that C. Jones may have had some sub par coaching throughout his career). If so maybe he can improve further the rest of this season and next season.

I am curious to see where Kane goes once the season is over?

paul, you're correct. It is difficult to compare them at this point, given no history for KD. I was never necessarily a Bowman basher, but hindsight has really revealed how much he failed, at the very least to have any kind of vision and stick to it.
- TheTrob

Bowman failed at drafting and rebuilding, but he succeeded brilliantly at guiding a team in cap trouble right from the beginning to win two more championships. Bowman had a vision but it was completely different from KD’s vision.

You're just making poop up now

I understand this happens as you get older
- BetweenTheDots

I agree that C. Jones has played better. But almost every game there are 3 or 4 shifts when you say to yourself "where is Caleb going", "what was Caleb thinking" or "why is Caleb on the wrong side of the play". If we resign him to a one year deal as a 6th or 7th defender it would not be the worst thing in the world, as long he is not blocking a prospect. In fact it could be good if it prevents the prospect from being rushed or it gives the prospect more time to marinate at the Rock. Who knows if he actually does get better he could have trade value at the next TDL. (but please nothing longer than a very cheap one year contract.)
- -Doh-

His defensive instincts are poor (as are Seth's), he is consistently on the wrong side of the play, the wrong half of the ice, over pursues, etc. If the Hawks didn't have a glut of young D waiting in the wings, i'd say sure, keep him as a #7. BUT, he has been drawing 2nd pairing minutes regularly. That doesn't say 6 or 7D to me. I'd rather see any of Phillips, Mitchell, Regula, etc. pull regular minutes at this point than watch Caleb. He is what he is. I'm not real worried that he becomes Forsling or Rutta pulling regular minutes and being a contributor on playoff teams. Let him go. figure out which of the young D you have can cut it in the NHL.

Probably true. Bottom pair or 7th defender. Only 25 years old.

I wonder if we can attribute his marginal improvement to LR (and the fact that C. Jones may have had some sub par coaching throughout his career.)
- -Doh-

I would think that. Look at last night, yes they lost. But they looked more like a team
then they ever did with Colliton, even with 2 guys who were barely there a day, and 2 career AHL players.

Full disclosure I was one of those that for most of his time here, said it was the players and not JC. I was dead wrong. The way LR (and his staff, have to give them credit too) have handled this year, both on the ice and off, no wonder Domi wanted to come here to play for LR.

I'm just glad the analytic crowd loved McCabe this year, otherwise i don't think we get what we get from the Leafs
- BetweenTheDots

Except it wasn't just the analytics crowd. I've seen he had up to seven purported suitors for his services. Despite all of our collective wisdom, NHL GM's and their staff are actually paying attention to all of these players throughout the year. They don't just randomly throw around 1st round picks because some jabroni on a hockey blog said that he "should" bring back a haul.

The TDL does inflate values, but it's not like McCabe is Dylan Olsen.

Bowman failed at drafting and rebuilding, but he succeeded brilliantly at guiding a team in cap trouble right from the beginning to win two more championships. Bowman had a vision but it was completely different from KD’s vision.
- paulr

Guiding a team in cap trouble.....much of which he created. He had no vision other than to try and save his own job. Rebuild/retool, then goes out trades Boqvist, etc. and signs T. Johnson, S. Jones, McCabe, Fleury, etc. in an attempt to save his own ass.
If you're gonna rebuild, then rebuild. You managed to get out from under the Seabrook, Hossa, Keith contracts, and put yourself back into hell

I am curious to see where Kane goes once the season is over?
- BetweenTheDots

If we end up with Bedard, I think he'll be back.

Man I disagree with all of this. Murphy is awful, always. The return for Lafferty, a bottom 6 grinder who we got for next to nothing, and McCabe, a slow bottom four guy who was in over his head… was a first and a second. You take that every day.
- ObeseOprah

Agreed, what did he want McJesus?

As Paul Harvey used to say "and now the rest of the story". I think in the next couple days and maybe even this summer a lot of things will be revealed. The Hawks will not get much for Kane. But it will be something. Were there other offers? Better offers? Did other teams contact Brisson and try to get Kane to consider their team. Was Kane's expectations in dollars or term for his next contract an issue with the Hawks or with other teams? Will Kane be extended or resign with the Rangers? Will he come back to the Hawks? Sign somewhere else? And probably lots of other background information. The Athletic recently did a story on the Saad trade. I imagine there will be a story about how the whole Kane escapade played out. Kane's role. Brisson's role. KD's role. Other teams involvement. Miscalculations and regrets.
- -Doh-

Which one?

Guiding a team in cap trouble.....much of which he created. He had no vision other than to try and save his own job. Rebuild/retool, then goes out trades Boqvist, etc. and signs T. Johnson, S. Jones, McCabe, Fleury, etc. in an attempt to save his own ass.
If you're gonna rebuild, then rebuild. You managed to get out from under the Seabrook, Hossa, Keith contracts, and put yourself back into hell
- TheTrob

With what was going on with the Beach incident, who knows if the pivot didn't come from Wirtz ?

I would think that. Look at last night, yes they lost. But they looked more like a team
then they ever did with Colliton, even with 2 guys who were barely there a day, and 2 career AHL players.

Full disclosure I was one of those that for most of his time here, said it was the players and not JC. I was dead wrong. The way LR (and his staff, have to give them credit too) have handled this year, both on the ice and off, no wonder Domi wanted to come here to play for LR.
- LAHawk

Agree. Everyone on this board can point to certain decisions that Stan made that did not help the team. But almost everyone would agree that Stan's decision that set the Hawks back the most was the hiring of Colliton (and keeping him for 205 games. Sheesh)
Very similar to Jerry Krause hiring Tim Floyd. Ugh!

Except it wasn't just the analytics crowd. I've seen he had up to seven purported suitors for his services. Despite all of our collective wisdom, NHL GM's and their staff are actually paying attention to all of these players throughout the year. They don't just randomly throw around 1st round picks because some jabroni on a hockey blog said that he "should" bring back a haul.

The TDL does inflate values, but it's not like McCabe is Dylan Olsen.
- Chunk

Whatever it is I'm grateful we were able to get a 1st and 2nd, for Lafferty and McCabe. Blackhawks are going to be on the clock in the 1st two rounds of the next 4 drafts a lot. This is really exciting. It'll take a while but like fine wine you can't rush it.

If we end up with Bedard, I think he'll be back.
- chitownfan92

I hope not, once the cord is cut, i wouldn't sew it back up again.

Whatever we get for Kane is fine, i would prefer a couple of 1sts but probably not. If it's a 2nd then that's fine as well, going back on hockey reference from 2010 to 2016, 10 to 15 players drafted in those years have played over 100 games, some very nice names in those 2nd round, and Wiz is saying this is a talented draft, so 6 picks out of 62 picks in this year's draft will only help us
- BetweenTheDots

A second round pick is probably wishful thinking too. Think more along the lines of what Vegas got from the Hawks for Fleury

If we end up with Bedard, I think he'll be back.
- chitownfan92

If I'm KD, I don't touch Kane with a 20' pole in the offseason. If they are back being a bottom feeder team, every reporter and their mother will be asking if KD is going to try and trade Kane again. I would assume that Kane would want the same kind of protection that he has now (look at Bergeron, Letang, Krejci, and Malkin). All it would do is tie your hands, and you don't really have any utility for him. Any young player on his line is going to defer and he's just going to get you a couple more wins than you would anyway.

I hope not, once the cord is cut, i wouldn't sew it back up again.
- LAHawk

I could see a Kane return, but I hope not next year. Maybe on a one year team friendly contract the following year or the following year if his play merits it.