If KFC is unsure when to pull the trigger on starting to target real players the time is coming quickly. You can't keep waiting for draft choices that may never materialize.
- rpeters01

Losing Hall hurts,I don't care that he is "washed up". He is better than all of the forwards not named Bedard on this team.
Still think they should make a move for someone this year or next. Whether that is Nylander or someone else,I honestly don't care,but I do think they should start "building" this team. Waiting for draft picks is a good way to screw yourself over if you ask me.

+1
- LAHawk

End of this season who do they have left on the team? AA, Donato, Kurashev, Bedard, Hall. Probably Reichel. You need far more than that to actually build around. How many rookies forwards are truly going to be ready to step in next year? Hall (if healthy) and Bedard are top 6. Kurashev you can start to make the argument, but who knows. You need at least two more top six forwards even if they are not great ones.

I was hoping that Crevier would draw in today. TBH, the only thing worth watching on this team for me is the kids. I don’t really care about Zaitsev or Tinordi, or any of those guys. In regards to Reichel, I know that many are down on him, but I wonder if how Reichel looks today on the Hawks, is how Sharp looked on the Flyers before he came over. I guess I have a little more patience with the young guys than most. Reichel will not carry a line, he needs to play with more talent than T Johnson, who has really been struggling. I’m hoping that KD gets a NHL caliber center next year for Reichel, and a good forward for Bedard, either through free agency or trade, or both.
- Angotti

I don't care how bad Reichel looks NOW, kid has explosion to be dangerous and despite handling passes like they're a hand grenade lately kid has slick hands. He has more tools than Sharp except for his shot and time will tell IQ too....... I'm in on the kid no matter what but right now he's overwhelmed and would be ok sending him down.

It looks like the decision makers stunted him a tad playing TWO C in the NHL and it's screwing with his head. Kid has had ZERO consistency in his slotting. Center, wing, back to center, back to wing,

What happened to shelterin a kid? Problem is the roster is sooo weak and they have so many rookies, especially at D, you cant shelter them properly.

Losing Hall hurts,I don't care that he is "washed up". He is better than all of the forwards not named Bedard on this team.


- captainserious

Yep! Former #1 overall, an MVP and you could see the polish on the player every shift. A legit NHLer.

Want to see Crevier also.


- rickboardman

Crevier is not showing the heavy legs/feet you see outa a player 6ft 8in.

Boy we are slow. We cant play D so thecleast we could do is hit someone. Frustrating to see the same mistakes game after game.

End of this season who do they have left on the team? AA, Donato, Kurashev, Bedard, Hall. Probably Reichel. You need far more than that to actually build around. How many rookies forwards are truly going to be ready to step in next year? Hall (if healthy) and Bedard are top 6. Kurashev you can start to make the argument, but who knows. You need at least two more top six forwards even if they are not great ones.
- Chunk

Maybe they resign Beauvelier, add an FA and trade for another top 6 guy. Who knows?

Oh right...my bad, the BOD knows and with that the Hawks are doomed to forever suck because in his almost 2 yrs as GM, Little Nappy has shown he's married to his draft picks and will never make moves to improve the team. RF

Maybe they resign Beauvelier, add an FA and trade for another top 6 guy. Who knows?

Oh right...my bad, the BOD knows and with that the Hawks are doomed to forever suck because in his almost 2 yrs as GM, Little Nappy has shown he's married to his draft picks and will never make moves to improve the team. RF
- HawkintheD

It's not the time to make big moves. Its hard to be bad but lets really be bad and grab a Top 1 or 2 again. Can never have to many high end pieces to build upon. Our defence looks good just need to fill in the forward depth.

I must be missing something with Anderson i really like his game, sure 4th liner but still
- BetweenTheDots

Lotta backclass with Anderson. One of 330 million to make the NTDP roster 2 yrs, a 3rd rd NHL pick, about a pt per game as a true freshman for a fine MN Duluth roster, near a pt per in a couple AHL yrs, 75 NCAA games, 180 AHL games, 100 NHL games. On THIS roster he's a fit at 25 yrs old.............. To me I see a Katchouk kinda player. Solid IQ and some offensive upside. Kid reads the play nicely, how many times you see him jump a pass?

https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/247964/joey-anderson

It's not the time to make big moves. Its hard to be bad but lets really be bad and grab a Top 1 or 2 again. Can never have to many high end pieces to build upon. Our defence looks good just need to fill in the forward depth.
- SaskHawkFan

I was kidding and agree with a previous post of yours that drafting top 3 or 5 again next year will help the rebuild.

I don't think NOW is the time for big moves but I could see them making a couple moves after the season to augment the forward group.

Austin Matthews was always a pipe dream but I could see them adding a top 6 forward next year to help ease Bedard's suffering.

Lotta backclass with Anderson. One of 330 million to make the NTDP roster 2 yrs, a 3rd rd NHL pick, about a pt per game as a true freshman for a fine MN Duluth roster, near a pt per in a couple AHL yrs, 75 NCAA games, 180 AHL games, 100 NHL games. On THIS roster he's a fit at 25 yrs old.............. To me I see a Katchouk kinda player. Solid IQ and some offensive upside. Kid reads the play nicely, how many times you see him jump a pass?

https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/247964/joey-anderson
- Mr Ricochet

Rather have his brother.

I was kidding and agree with a previous post of yours that drafting top 3 or 5 again next year will help the rebuild.

I don't think NOW is the time for big moves but I could see them making a couple moves after the season to augment the forward group.

Austin Matthews was always a pipe dream but I could see them adding a top 6 forward next year to help ease Bedard's suffering.
- HawkintheD

Agreed. Bedard needs someone to play with. I havn't looked at the UFA crop yet. Im guessing with the amount of cap space we will have we should be able to make next year somewhat better?

Q. Which 2 Blackhawk defensemen haven’t been on ice for a goal against today?
A. 46 & 55

Q. Which pair has been on for 3 goals against?
A. 5 & 25

So best case scenario next year is Bedard, Cellabrini, Nazer Reichel and a healthy Hall up front?

That leaves a lot of dinero’s to entice some veterans to sign for leadership.

Q. Which 2 Blackhawk defensemen haven’t been on ice for a goal against today?
A. 46 & 55

Q. Which pair has been on for 3 goals against?
A. 5 & 25
- scottak

And which pair has been on against Minnesota’s top line, and which pair has been sheltered?

I don’t often agree with Lazerus but:


Mark Lazerus
@MarkLazerus
The most alarming part of this soon to be 0-3 road trip is how boring and lifeless these games have been. From a fan perspective, the Blackhawks can afford to be bad a little while longer. They can't afford to be dull.

So best case scenario next year is Bedard, Cellabrini, Nazer Reichel and a healthy Hall up front?

That leaves a lot of dinero’s to entice some veterans to sign for leadership.
- LAHawk

That might be your best case scenario so you can keep up the mopey narrative about how Little Nappy forever ruined the team this past offseason.

I don’t often agree with Lazerus but:


Mark Lazerus
@MarkLazerus
The most alarming part of this soon to be 0-3 road trip is how boring and lifeless these games have been. From a fan perspective, the Blackhawks can afford to be bad a little while longer. They can't afford to be dull.
- LAHawk

Fans don't find any entertainment in a 1 goal a game offence?

Just play Jones and 5 rookies. I can’t watch Murphy get out-played, out-battled & out-thought any more. Let the kids make their mistakes over the next 60 games.

Plus, every one of the kids skates better than old number 5.

Toronto likes Blackhawk castoffs, send him there.

Losing Hall hurts,I don't care that he is "washed up". He is better than all of the forwards not named Bedard on this team.
Still think they should make a move for someone this year or next. Whether that is Nylander or someone else,I honestly don't care,but I do think they should start "building" this team. Waiting for draft picks is a good way to screw yourself over if you ask me.
- captainserious

I agree . Right now they they have two Rockford Ice Hog teams. Can only hope we see some progress going later into the season.

That might be your best case scenario so you can keep up the mopey narrative about how Little Nappy forever ruined the team this past offseason.
- HawkintheD

Yes the zero experience GM that can do no wrong. Smarter than any other NHL exec. Out there.

And which pair has been on against Minnesota’s top line, and which pair has been sheltered?
- LAHawk

Without looking it up, I believe 4 & 72 are catching the top Wild line.

Korchiniski has been decent today. Seemed to have listened to the coaches and what they wanted.

Just play Jones and 5 rookies. I can’t watch Murphy get out-played, out-battled & out-thought any more. Let the kids make their mistakes over the next 60 games.

Plus, every one of the kids skates better than old number 5.

Toronto likes Blackhawk castoffs, send him there.
- scottak

I was thinking a repeat trade like last year. Richardinson and Murphy for a first and a second and a tweener AHL player like Anderson. Sign me up.

Agreed. Bedard needs someone to play with. I havn't looked at the UFA crop yet. Im guessing with the amount of cap space we will have we should be able to make next year somewhat better?
- SaskHawkFan

Think they will continue on this year and hope for improvement from Reichel and Kurashev, Athanasiou return, Beauvillier, etc. and take back some expiring contract money at the deadline. Not looking for any big moves in-season; they do have too many average guys for the number of spots and will have to clear some out late season or off-season.

Should have $20-30 million or so that they have to spend on 3-4 free agents this summer to reach the floor. May have to overpay for good top-6 guys, especially for a short-term (1-2 year) contract.

https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-agents/forward/

Expect a lot of ELC guys coming into Rockford next year:
Nazar (think he will be in CHI)
Slaggert
Greene
Savoie
Ludwinski
Hayes
Kantserov
Misiak
with Dach, Luypen, Saarela, Rolston, Marcel^2 already there

Harding and maybe Kelley on D

Time to embrace the suck for this year. I expect next year to be better.