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 been a teardown, so not married to his picks, just it isn't time to push for win now. You need time for the draft picks to actually develop into NHL players. Patience and trust the process for a bit, rushing things can screw it all up and really shorten the window.

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

If Tinordi, Murphy were -2, and the 2 even strength goals were from Rossi, and Zucarello (Minn. first line). Maybe at the end of the game LR changed the match-ups, or Heinz eventually didn’t care about match-ups.

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

Yep, his arrogance has shown time and again with the numerous moves he's made in his almost 2 seasons as GM. His smartest guy in the room attitude comes through every time he's in front of a mic.

I think your characterization of Little Nappy is spot on.

Much like the posters who want to write the book on a player after a shift or two, you've got the GM's number. Kudos.

He sure wasn’t sheltering Jones or Vlasic.

Total TOI

Jones 23:34
KK 20:27
Vlasic 19:57
Murphy 18:49
Crevier 15:58
Tinordi 15:21

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

Honest question here LA. League wide, who do you think is/was the best GM in recent history, and how did he do the 1st two years at the helm?

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

It doesn’t need to be a big move. I’m saying if there is a chance to get a guy who is even a passable top six, i think you make the effort (trade or FA). Not sure how much learning is going to happen when you are getting blown out by 3-5 goals every night.

It doesn’t need to be a big move. I’m saying if there is a chance to get a guy who is even a passable top six, i think you make the effort (trade or FA). Not sure how much learning is going to happen when you are getting blown out by 3-5 goals every night.
- Chunk

You are proposing we give up draft capital as that is the only thing we have to trade for a player that may make us 4-10 points better and move us up say 3-5 draft places how does that improve us?

It doesn’t need to be a big move. I’m saying if there is a chance to get a guy who is even a passable top six, i think you make the effort (trade or FA). Not sure how much learning is going to happen when you are getting blown out by 3-5 goals every night.
- Chunk

Seems like that was Beauvillier - and that is about all you can do right now. Could do another similar move. Athanasiou is coming back though.

Anyone better who is still young is probably not available; either teams need them for playoff runs (like Nylander) or rebuilding teams are keeping and developing those guys.

It doesn’t need to be a big move. I’m saying if there is a chance to get a guy who is even a passable top six, i think you make the effort (trade or FA). Not sure how much learning is going to happen when you are getting blown out by 3-5 goals every night.
- Chunk

... and struggling to score just 1 goal per game.

It doesn’t need to be a big move. I’m saying if there is a chance to get a guy who is even a passable top six, i think you make the effort (trade or FA). Not sure how much learning is going to happen when you are getting blown out by 3-5 goals every night.
- Chunk

He will bring one or two top six forwards this offseason, in the mean time they will suck, just enjoy watching the kids this year, it is what it is. You are not getting a top six forward in the middle of the year, unless they’re on an expiring contract, the Hawks don’t need that. He brought in two guys plus AA to help with the offense, obviously that hasn’t worked out, that doesn’t make him a bad GM. Not directed at you, but more for the BOD.

The Hawks had its most success when they built from within. TT, Kane, toews, bufflen. When we built internally we succeeded. We brought in a few other guys year over year to fill in our lower spots. Besides sharp. Just about everyone who was part of our 3 Stanley's were homegrown. Crawford. That's what KFC is doing. The Hawks were terrible before Kane showed up. Even with toews only. They didn't start getting relevant until 2 or 3 years in with Kane and toews. You can't rush the farm. No sense in going out and signing another Seth Jones or trading for a large contract for several years. KFC is doing this right. When you build internally you can continue to filter out some people year over year to keep winning Stanley cups.

You are proposing we give up draft capital as that is the only thing we have to trade for a player that may make us 4-10 points better and move us up say 3-5 draft places how does that improve us?
- SaskHawkFan

They’ve had back to back 11 pick drafts and have 8-10 picks the next ten years. Does playing like they are now help the rookies improve? There are only so many of these draft picks that are going to make it in the roster. You can also look at FA’s.

I don’t care about the standings points. I want there to be some semblance of an NHL team on the ice so they can at least be competitive.

Are the kids learning anything getting embarrassed on the ice each night?

They’ve had back to back 11 pick drafts and have 8-10 picks the next ten years. Does playing like they are now help the rookies improve? There are only so many of these draft picks that are going to make it in the roster. You can also look at FA’s.

I don’t care about the standings points. I want there to be some semblance of an NHL team on the ice so they can at least be competitive.

Are the kids learning anything getting embarrassed on the ice each night?
- Chunk

That is a valid concern right now. The FA moves this off-season were not terrible on paper, but have turned out to be mostly duds (Hall injury, Perry). Foligno was good but probably not top 6 anymore.

Beauvillier was added, but who else is available to fill that gap right now? Not sure who is making guys available - Calgary maybe? What others - Buffalo, Columbus, Ottawa, Seattle, Nashville?

Honest question here LA. League wide, who do you think is/was the best GM in recent history, and how did he do the 1st two years at the helm?
- boilermaker100

Bowman won a cup 3 out of his first 5 years at the helm (I kid).

Actually Chunk and Totem’s comments encapsulates my feelings.

Blake had bad records, and sold players off but when he had a chance to improve his team he did, and now they are way ahead of schedule.

Even Sakic with his tear down and cup win, how many of his own draft choices played on his cup winner? I think I counted 7.

Did the Hawk GM really help Bedard out on the ice ? Who was his opening night RW? Ryan Donato. I was against the Perry signing from day 1. The GM must of thought Hall was enough for Bedard on the ice, he was much more concerned with off the ice. And Hall is a couple of down years removed from his MVP season, when he was even able to stay healthy

I would think Domi could have been had for the same contract as AA 2 x $4, same cap hit as Perry. That is just one player who was available besides Perry. They acquired Josh Bailey for nothing just to buy him out to get to the cap floor. The GM couldn’t have used the cap space to get a player that could play in the NHL?

Development year, well Kaiser and Phillips are back in Rockford, and Zaitsev or Tinordi are still on the club? Andreas England (remember him) I’d having a real nice year with the Kings.

And what about next year? You gonna have Bedard, Nazer possibly, Cellabrini hopefully, Reichel, Dach maybe.

Is KD going to sign players that are good enough to play with them? Or sign 3 over 35 vets whose functional years are way past them because of leadership.

I get leadership, but how many times do you hear Foligno say the right things, and the next game you see the same result ?

He will bring one or two top six forwards this offseason, in the mean time they will suck, just enjoy watching the kids this year, it is what it is. You are not getting a top six forward in the middle of the year, unless they’re on an expiring contract, the Hawks don’t need that. He brought in two guys plus AA to help with the offense, obviously that hasn’t worked out, that doesn’t make him a bad GM. Not directed at you, but more for the BOD.
- Angotti

How many kids that are worth watching are left? Vlasic, Bedard obviously, and KK. My guess is Reichel is soon to be in the A after his benching. Everyone else is a veteran or tops out as a 4th line energy guy.

How many kids that are worth watching are left? Vlasic, Bedard obviously, and KK. My guess is Reichel is soon to be in the A after his benching. Everyone else is a veteran or tops out as a 4th line energy guy.
- LAHawk

You can add Soderblom and Crevier to that group, plus Reichel, I’m sure will be dressed next game, that’s six. You also have another tier a bit older in Raddysh, Kurashev, and Katchouk,, those seven to nine players are why I tune in. Very hard to pick up top six forwards in season, will have to wait until off season.

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.
- totem

Just give me some skill with players that can produce and put pucks in the net… I understand the long term goal here but even with Bedard this team is unwatchable at times- I was at the leafs game and at least you saw some effort and push back there— don’t know how much consistency LR can conjure up especially when more than 80% of your forwards are bottom six players

You can add Soderblom and Crevier to that group, plus Reichel, I’m sure will be dressed next game, that’s six. You also have another tier a bit older in Raddysh, Kurashev, and Katchouk,, those seven to nine players are why I tune in. Very hard to pick up top six forwards in season, will have to wait until off season.
- Angotti

I think Soderblom is interesting to watch also, but some on here think that he should be Corey Crawford after 5 years in the A and 2 years in the big show, so are already writing him off.

Bowman won a cup 3 out of his first 5 years at the helm (I kid).

Actually Chunk and Totem’s comments encapsulates my feelings.

Blake had bad records, and sold players off but when he had a chance to improve his team he did, and now they are way ahead of schedule.

Even Sakic with his tear down and cup win, how many of his own draft choices played on his cup winner? I think I counted 7.

Did the Hawk GM really help Bedard out on the ice ? Who was his opening night RW? Ryan Donato. I was against the Perry signing from day 1. The GM must of thought Hall was enough for Bedard on the ice, he was much more concerned with off the ice. And Hall is a couple of down years removed from his MVP season, when he was even able to stay healthy

I would think Domi could have been had for the same contract as AA 2 x $4, same cap hit as Perry. That is just one player who was available besides Perry. They acquired Josh Bailey for nothing just to buy him out to get to the cap floor. The GM couldn’t have used the cap space to get a player that could play in the NHL?

Development year, well Kaiser and Phillips are back in Rockford, and Zaitsev or Tinordi are still on the club? Andreas England (remember him) I’d having a real nice year with the Kings.

And what about next year? You gonna have Bedard, Nazer possibly, Cellabrini hopefully, Reichel, Dach maybe.

Is KD going to sign players that are good enough to play with them? Or sign 3 over 35 vets whose functional years are way past them because of leadership.

I get leadership, but how many times do you hear Foligno say the right things, and the next game you see the same result ?
- LAHawk

LOL! That happened over a period of about 8 years no? Total apples to apples comparison.

The Hawks had ZERO 5 x 5 rush chances in the first 2 periods.

Bowman won a cup 3 out of his first 5 years at the helm (I kid).

Actually Chunk and Totem’s comments encapsulates my feelings.

Blake had bad records, and sold players off but when he had a chance to improve his team he did, and now they are way ahead of schedule.

Even Sakic with his tear down and cup win, how many of his own draft choices played on his cup winner? I think I counted 7.

Did the Hawk GM really help Bedard out on the ice ? Who was his opening night RW? Ryan Donato. I was against the Perry signing from day 1. The GM must of thought Hall was enough for Bedard on the ice, he was much more concerned with off the ice. And Hall is a couple of down years removed from his MVP season, when he was even able to stay healthy

I would think Domi could have been had for the same contract as AA 2 x $4, same cap hit as Perry. That is just one player who was available besides Perry. They acquired Josh Bailey for nothing just to buy him out to get to the cap floor. The GM couldn’t have used the cap space to get a player that could play in the NHL?

Development year, well Kaiser and Phillips are back in Rockford, and Zaitsev or Tinordi are still on the club? Andreas England (remember him) I’d having a real nice year with the Kings.

And what about next year? You gonna have Bedard, Nazer possibly, Cellabrini hopefully, Reichel, Dach maybe.

Is KD going to sign players that are good enough to play with them? Or sign 3 over 35 vets whose functional years are way past them because of leadership.

I get leadership, but how many times do you hear Foligno say the right things, and the next game you see the same result ?
- LAHawk

Appreciate your response. Seems to me KFC put a lot of eggs in the Hall basket. He also probably thought AA and Raddysh would perform like last year and Reichel was ready for prime time. Maybe Domi thought it was time for him to play for a contender. Who knows?

Had to laugh at your Bowman comment. I thought about him too winning the Cup within a couple of years. It didn't hurt having Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Hammer, Bolland, Buff on the team when he took over.

Regarding Sakic - looked him up, he took over in 2014 and Avs won the Cup in 2022. He did make that wise trade sending Duchesne to OTT, but still took him 8 years to win.

Sounds as if everyone here is on board with getting outside help, but differ on the timing.

Appreciate your response. Seems to me KFC put a lot of eggs in the Hall basket. He also probably thought AA and Raddysh would perform like last year and Reichel was ready for prime time. Maybe Domi thought it was time for him to play for a contender. Who knows?

Had to laugh at your Bowman comment. I thought about him too winning the Cup within a couple of years. It didn't hurt having Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Hammer, Bolland, Buff on the team when he took over.

Regarding Sakic - looked him up, he took over in 2014 and Avs won the Cup in 2022. He did make that wise trade sending Duchesne to OTT, but still took him 8 years to win.

Sounds as if everyone here is on board with getting outside help, but differ on the timing.
- boilermaker100

Will be interesting what Davidson gets back at the TDL. He really does not have much to work with. More interesting will be his approach to the off-season. Free agent pool is better and deeper, and he has a lot of money he needs to spend to even get to the cap floor.

Another question mark into next season is how much the Hawks can rely upon Hall coming back? Even if he is 100% back from ACL, his injury history doesn’t portend him being healthy a whole season.

Appreciate your response. Seems to me KFC put a lot of eggs in the Hall basket. He also probably thought AA and Raddysh would perform like last year and Reichel was ready for prime time. Maybe Domi thought it was time for him to play for a contender. Who knows?

Had to laugh at your Bowman comment. I thought about him too winning the Cup within a couple of years. It didn't hurt having Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Hammer, Bolland, Buff on the team when he took over.

Regarding Sakic - looked him up, he took over in 2014 and Avs won the Cup in 2022. He did make that wise trade sending Duchesne to OTT, but still took him 8 years to win.

Sounds as if everyone here is on board with getting outside help, but differ on the timing.
- boilermaker100

Don’t forget the faulty fax machine, that was key.

98 & 72 look like they might be able to stick around in the league.
- scottak

Wondering if you, or anyone else, noticed this about Vlasic. Seems every 5ish games he gets a little more aggressive. The kid is always smart about his pinches and gaps, D first for that high IQ kid, but I'm talking about his rushes up the ice with the puck.

More and more you see this. He's looking for these opportunities. With his reach/big body to shield the puck and his waaaay under talked about straight away speed along with his fine balance he reminds me of a young Bouwmeester.

No, even Vlasic doesn't skate like fellow big guy Bouwmeester, an elite skater, but the kid is a ++ skater. Some mention he could become a Pronger type but that dude was outright nasty with fine physical skills. Vlasic, like Bouwmeester, seems more smooth, cerebral and cunning.

Wondering if you, or anyone else, noticed this about Vlasic. Seems every 5ish games he gets a little more aggressive. The kid is always smart about his pinches and gaps, D first for that high IQ kid, but I'm talking about his rushes up the ice with the puck.

More and more you see this. He's looking for these opportunities. With his reach/big body to shield the puck and his waaaay under talked about straight away speed along with his fine balance he reminds me of a young Bouwmeester.

No, even Vlasic doesn't skate like fellow big guy Bouwmeester, an elite skater, but the kid is a ++ skater. Some mention he could become a Pronger type but that dude was outright nasty with fine physical skills. Vlasic, like Bouwmeester, seems more smooth, cerebral and cunning.
- Mr Ricochet

I see another big bird, Larry Robinson with less point totals.