Weren’t you the ne that said you are glad Blake is not the Hawk GM because he went and got Fiala, Gabrikov, and Dubois ?

The Kingsvare still young, and still has talent in Ontario.

Blake’s big miss was signing Peterson to that contract after one good season as Quicks back up
- LAHawk

I am. If they win the SC in the next 3-5 years my hats off to them. It's true i don't like trading the futures for older players who need new contracts. I feel you are getting hammered twice when you manage that way, but i guess they are still younger than Doughty and Kopitar.

Now I'll throw it back at you, aren't you the one crying about how bad we are right now? LA was bad as i recall for 5 years, but by your theory Blake should of just kept throwing money and draft picks to other teams players the entire time they stunk.

There's a time and a place and it isn't 2 years into a rebuild.

While I also have been on board with bringing in a couple of forwards this offseason, I would only trade young for young coming back, and I would not go more than four-five years on a FA. This team is not ready for the star FA at this time, but I would take Lindholm, just not for more than five years.

While I also have been on board with bringing in a couple of forwards this offseason, I would only trade young for young coming back, and I would not go more than four-five years on a FA. This team is not ready for the star FA at this time, but I would take Lindholm, just not for more than five years.
- Angotti

Agree. Let's look at the Detroit example. Stevie is an acclaimed GM (respected by most, adored by some, slobbered over by a few), and he has been there for five drafts. This season he's finally made his moves in the trade and FA market. We'll see how it goes for them, but my guess is they don't have enough elite talent. Anyway, they're five plus years in, and the Hawks are two years in.

I guess KFC needs to do it in half the time as Stevie to avoid the HB firing squad.

Agree. Let's look at the Detroit example. Stevie is an acclaimed GM (respected by most, adored by some, slobbered over by a few), and he has been there for five drafts. This season he's finally made his moves in the trade and FA market. We'll see how it goes for them, but my guess is they don't have enough elite talent. Anyway, they're five plus years in, and the Hawks are two years in.

I guess KFC needs to do it in half the time as Stevie to avoid the HB firing squad.
- mohel

No NOW! It all needs to happen NOW!!!

No NOW! It all needs to happen NOW!!!
- HawkintheD

Well, it might happen. I’m sure that KD comes to this site to gather knowledge from all the bright minds on the BOD. He will trade two first round picks for Nylander, just so Bedsy has someone to play with, he will then proceed to lose him to free agency, but that’s okay, Bedsy will be happy for the rest of the season.

No NOW! It all needs to happen NOW!!!
- HawkintheD

Effing A, Bubba!

For review, let's look further at Detroit under Stevie.

2019-20 ..... 39 points.
2020-21 ...... 48 points (56 games because of Ebola-lite)
2021-22 ..... 74 points
2022-23 ..... flew near the sun, with 80 points, for 7th in the division.

I'd rather the Hawks go quicker and better, but reading the gnashing of teeth here would be an enjoyable cushion for the pain. Of course, an occasional visit from Edzo, aka Enzo (who is now having his tattoo of Jordan Hendry altered to look like Cale Makar) would be even better.

I got to admit, this season has been less enjoyable than last year. The emergency of Bedard, Korchinski and Vlasic has been great but not enough to make the season enjoyable. I didn't expect the team to contend for a playoff spot, but I expected them to lose less than last season, but that's not happening.

I guess I do not know how to feel about UFAs and signings in the summer.


I think you have potentially one of the best young offensive players in your line-up, but the other hyped youth in Reichel and Kurachev with the veteran influx, even if Perry was still here, is simply not enough.
The Bedard is learning and improving every day sounds nice, and the kid is the real deal when it comes to hard word to get better & better, but...

if you go out and get another true impact attacker and a big physical attacker might cause him to score a few more times, of set up a few more scores...

I honestly don't see the horizon with this SS Blackhawk season cruise. We can endure it, the constant reminders of the Bedard show and all the heaping piles of exuberance their TV telecasts revolve around.

(Over each and every year of my NHL fandom, even when there were just 6 teams, home fans were happy THEIR stars, no matter where the team was in the standings. That is the nature of fans...we want to value of stars as tru TOP players, even sometimes if they are not.)

Does anybody think the coaching staff is going to inspire a level of play that exceeds the abilities of the this roster?
Sure, most are NHL journeyman who can play well, win some games, but it is a stretch to think they are a group able to come back in a 3rd period and dominate in comebacks.

I think that there are going to be UFAs of higher star than the ones they signed who will think it could be a future landing place for success.

(P.S. The Athletic duo did an article on the above that I just saw...)

I got to admit, this season has been less enjoyable than last year. The emergency of Bedard, Korchinski and Vlasic has been great but not enough to make the season enjoyable. I didn't expect the team to contend for a playoff spot, but I expected them to lose less than last season, but that's not happening.
- DarthKane

I think the conscious decision to keep all the young defenders for better or for worst has something to do with it, and handing the top six spots to who they did.

Honestly expected this type of season...

Alex Stalock made it more fun, and Domi & AA were buzzing all around.

I got to admit, this season has been less enjoyable than last year. The emergency of Bedard, Korchinski and Vlasic has been great but not enough to make the season enjoyable. I didn't expect the team to contend for a playoff spot, but I expected them to lose less than last season, but that's not happening.
- DarthKane

This is why rebuilds are tough, and why teams on a great run are very hesitant to start the next cycle. Rebuilds are not always linear; they sometimes top out as a borderline playoff team; sometimes less than that; and sometimes they never get off the ground. Odds are very high that this rebuild will not result in a Cup, but watching it will be interesting.

Pittsburgh is unlikely to win another Cup with Syd and Geno, but I understand holding on for as long as possible.

This is why rebuilds are tough, and why teams on a great run are very hesitant to start the next cycle. Rebuilds are not always linear; they sometimes top out as a borderline playoff team; sometimes less than that; and sometimes they never get off the ground. Odds are very high that this rebuild will not result in a Cup, but watching it will be interesting.

Pittsburgh is unlikely to win another Cup with Syd and Geno, but I understand holding on for as long as possible.
- mohel

Bullpoop! Rebuilds are easy. Just gotta get a draft pick, sign a few superstar free agents, trade for great players and great depth players, get them all to sign contracts with low dollar amounts and low term and I’m sure no star player wants a NMC. Easy peasy.

I think it is time to fire a couple of coaches just to placate this board.

Bullpoop! Rebuilds are easy. Just gotta get a draft pick, sign a few superstar free agents, trade for great players and great depth players, get them all to sign contracts with low dollar amounts and low term and I’m sure no star player wants a NMC. Easy peasy.
- paulr

Look, Jerky, message boards are no place for differing opinions.

I think it is time to fire a couple of coaches just to placate this board.
- bjphawkfan

No, no, no, they must SET fire to a couple of coaches to placate this board.

I got to admit, this season has been less enjoyable than last year. The emergency of Bedard, Korchinski and Vlasic has been great but not enough to make the season enjoyable. I didn't expect the team to contend for a playoff spot, but I expected them to lose less than last season, but that's not happening.
- DarthKane

I am feeling the same way. I was hoping they might have 80 pts as a possibility down the stretch. Not happening. I think the volume of "rookie" mistakes (being made by rookies AND veterans) has been hard to take. Special teams are a disaster. The Perry debacle looms large. Injuries. No real progress towards better overall team play or structure. Just so much that is taking the wind out of the sails, so to speak. I'll keep watching, reluctantly.

I am feeling the same way. I was hoping they might have 80 pts as a possibility down the stretch. Not happening. I think the volume of "rookie" mistakes (being made by rookies AND veterans) has been hard to take. Special teams are a disaster. The Perry debacle looms large. Injuries. No real progress towards better overall team play or structure. Just so much that is taking the wind out of the sails, so to speak. I'll keep watching, reluctantly.
- GreenJeans

What do you mean the “Perry debacle looms large”?

I am feeling the same way. I was hoping they might have 80 pts as a possibility down the stretch. Not happening. I think the volume of "rookie" mistakes (being made by rookies AND veterans) has been hard to take. Special teams are a disaster. The Perry debacle looms large. Injuries. No real progress towards better overall team play or structure. Just so much that is taking the wind out of the sails, so to speak. I'll keep watching, reluctantly.
- GreenJeans

It took Stevie Y five seasons to get his rebuild to that point.

https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2024wjcroster

Rinzel, Hayes, Moore & Nazar named on the 24 US WJC preliminary roster.

I got to admit, this season has been less enjoyable than last year. The emergency of Bedard, Korchinski and Vlasic has been great but not enough to make the season enjoyable. I didn't expect the team to contend for a playoff spot, but I expected them to lose less than last season, but that's not happening.
- DarthKane

I was thinking they would have the seventh spot or so in the next draft.

The injuries to Hall and AA, and the implosion of Corey Perry were bad beats. But we know that Bedard can carry a line, though we can only imagine what he'd be like if he had top tier linemates and a top tier PP QB.

Kurashev has been a revelation, as has Vlasic.

Mrazek had a great start. Not sure it's going to hold up. Is he dealing with an undisclosed injury again? Part of why I suggested sell high earlier.

Kaiser should come back stronger after his next callup. I liked what I saw last year.

I was hoping to see an uptick after that brutal schedule they started with. Seems they are even worse when they play against other lower tier teams.

Here's hoping that Guttman can produce at the same clip as his short stint here last season. And that Joey Anderson can overperform expectations.

I feel like they were damned if the kept Korchinski here, and damned if they sent him back to juniors. The odds are always against someone this young having an immediate impact as a defender, and sending him back to juniors seems like it would have been a wasted year for him.

I think the conscious decision to keep all the young defenders for better or for worst has something to do with it, and handing the top six spots to who they did.

Honestly expected this type of season...

Alex Stalock made it more fun, and Domi & AA were buzzing all around.
- wiz1901

Lafferty was faster and better than many here now as well not that he moves the needle far.

What do you mean the “Perry debacle looms large”?
- paulr

As a major blow to the team psyche and leadership group that has dramatically affected on-ice play, IMO.

As a major blow to the team psyche and leadership group that has dramatically affected on-ice play, IMO.
- GreenJeans

Umm, no. Not having good players affects the on ice play far more dramatically.

Umm, no. Not having good players affects the on ice play far more dramatically.
- rpeters01

For the overall season, sure, but like I said, my hope was that the personnel they had could do better than last year. Turn back time and put Perry in the lineup with no scandal and these last 3 train wreck games since his contract termination (and how the team gels going forward) propably looks quite a bit different. Am I still wrong?

I was thinking they would have the seventh spot or so in the next draft.

The injuries to Hall and AA, and the implosion of Corey Perry were bad beats. But we know that Bedard can carry a line, though we can only imagine what he'd be like if he had top tier linemates and a top tier PP QB.

Kurashev has been a revelation, as has Vlasic.

Mrazek had a great start. Not sure it's going to hold up. Is he dealing with an undisclosed injury again? Part of why I suggested sell high earlier.

Kaiser should come back stronger after his next callup. I liked what I saw last year.

I was hoping to see an uptick after that brutal schedule they started with. Seems they are even worse when they play against other lower tier teams.

Here's hoping that Guttman can produce at the same clip as his short stint here last season. And that Joey Anderson can overperform expectations.

I feel like they were damned if the kept Korchinski here, and damned if they sent him back to juniors. The odds are always against someone this young having an immediate impact as a defender, and sending him back to juniors seems like it would have been a wasted year for him.
- 333inthe3rd

Nice post, agree 100%. I had the Hawks improving by about 10 points, but the issues with Hall, Perry, and AA have put a damper on that. Hopefully Beauvillier and AA can help some in the next few months.

Did LR change defensive systems or have the players forgot how to play it?
- LAHawk

Players just very bad. Most of what makes good professional players - not great - is being able to execute fundamentals consistently.

Bad players are going to make the same mistakes over and over and over again.