I think you’re right. Bedard’s not stupid, he sees other teams, he sees four or five guys taking half the cap leaving little for good depth players. And that’s why acquiring guys some fans are talking about like Nylander, Matthews, Marner, Draisaitl probably won’t happen. If any of these guys come on as free agents they sign for huge salaries making it difficult to talk Bedard, Korchinski etc. to take hometown discounts.
- paulr

Or like New Jersey did with Jack Hughes. No bridge, sign him to $9 x 8 and say no one makes more than our best player.

Watched practice yesterday at 5/3. No contact. Not even a pillow fight. Maybe nobody told the bottom players that there is a guy who has 4 points and -10 on Bedard's line and if they fight for it perhaps they can play on that line. Flow drills. Lots of powerplay. Surprisingly when the PP team losses the puck the coaches put another one in play without the PP having to exit the zone. Here you go. Not an intense practice. Richardson mostly stood in the corner by himself. Smiles all around from the players. First half of the practice was on the west rink. Once the ice got chewed up they switched to the east rink. Davidson sat in the Management loft on his phone the entire 2nd half. I thought there might have been a drill or two focused on defensive zone coverage. I don't understand Richardson. The Hawks are firmly in 31st with the 2nd worst goal differential and worst home record in the league by far. Progress?
- stevefrmglencoe

I do wonder if LR will be the coach when the team is ready to take the next step? When Boston was ready they hired Francona, Cubs hired Madden the 1st time and now they hired Counsell this year. I imagine Eberflus is gone this year, and as much as i like LR the Blackhawks may move on when they are ready. Infact the Blackhawks did it with Savard. So we'll see.

I wish they were winning more games but let's face it the Blackhawks have the best of both worlds, Bedard has kept the stadium full, they are able to play 5 to 7 rookies a game and develop them. They will draft in the top 5 the next draft.

I do wonder if LR will be the coach when the team is ready to take the next step? When Boston was ready they hired Francona, Cubs hired Madden the 1st time and now they hired Counsell this year. I imagine Eberflus is gone this year, and as much as i like LR the Blackhawks may move on when they are ready. Infact the Blackhawks did it with Savard. So we'll see.

I wish they were winning more games but let's face it the Blackhawks have the best of both worlds, Bedard has kept the stadium full, they are able to play 5 to 7 rookies a game and develop them. They will draft in the top 5 the next draft.
- BetweenTheDots

Well technically next year but hopefully Kevin Warren intervenes when the season is over and tells Poles he gets a Mulligan on this one...and I suppose that hinges on Warren wanting to bring in his own guy at GM, but Poles was left with a mess from the previous regime.

I think for now

Core players
Toews. Bedard
Hossa
Sharp. Reichel?
Kane

Keith. Korchinski?
Seabrook
Hjalmarsson. Vlasic?

Enigma Campbell. S Jones
But as 2, 4 and 7 got better Campbell wasnt as big a liability

We have a long way to go.

I think it’s pretty obvious the Hawks aren’t aiming at progress this season. The strategy seems to be acquiring another high draft pick and if they make a deal with Edmonton as speculated could have three first rounders next draft. Nothing from what I have seen suggests the team is trying to get better this season. And for that it has nothing to do with Richardson it’s all on Davidson, and his plan to build the team.
- paulr

Come on Paulie...they should be pushing for a playoff spot!

Not sure what some people expected a year after Davidson cratered the roster for a shot at Bedard, but it still won't stop some posters from getting out over their skis on a team that is clearly in the infancy stages of a rebuild.

I think you’re right. Bedard’s not stupid, he sees other teams, he sees four or five guys taking half the cap leaving little for good depth players. And that’s why acquiring guys some fans are talking about like Nylander, Matthews, Marner, Draisaitl probably won’t happen. If any of these guys come on as free agents they sign for huge salaries making it difficult to talk Bedard, Korchinski etc. to take hometown discounts.
- paulr

I can see KD doing something like the Maple Leafs did with Nylander, bunch of cash the 1st season then once he signs that contract sign him to a multi year deal with a friendly cap hit right after he signs the one year deal. If they do i hope it's not a 7 year contract, more like a 4 to 5 year deal.

Watched practice yesterday at 5/3. No contact. Not even a pillow fight. Maybe nobody told the bottom players that there is a guy who has 4 points and -10 on Bedard's line and if they fight for it perhaps they can play on that line. Flow drills. Lots of powerplay. Surprisingly when the PP team losses the puck the coaches put another one in play without the PP having to exit the zone. Here you go. Not an intense practice. Richardson mostly stood in the corner by himself. Smiles all around from the players. First half of the practice was on the west rink. Once the ice got chewed up they switched to the east rink. Davidson sat in the Management loft on his phone the entire 2nd half. I thought there might have been a drill or two focused on defensive zone coverage. I don't understand Richardson. The Hawks are firmly in 31st with the 2nd worst goal differential and worst home record in the league by far. Progress?
- stevefrmglencoe

What impact would a trade make. At what cost? is a better dman for third pair actually much better than what we have ?.,i would much rarher suffer with current group hoping Phillips stays and performs well. Kaiser maybe should go to AHL for a while

.My big hope is to trade our spot affer lottery.determination just move up and choose.Celebrini

I think it’s pretty obvious the Hawks aren’t aiming at progress this season. The strategy seems to be acquiring another high draft pick and if they make a deal with Edmonton as speculated could have three first rounders next draft. Nothing from what I have seen suggests the team is trying to get better this season. And for that it has nothing to do with Richardson it’s all on Davidson, and his plan to build the team.
- paulr

With a win today and an Edmonton loss in Washington the Hawks will leapfrog the Oilers with 12 standings points. And then McDavid will demand a trade to Chicago so he can play with Bedard.