Thats what I figured, remember we were hearing how Q was going to quit but then didnt because he was promised a better roster ? Its still not better.

Remember how we were hearing that W.Rockwell was so steamed by 2 first round exits that everyones job was on the line ? Still no roster improvements.

I guess the main reason for frustration is that we're all just waiting. There is still a lot of summer left to improve the team just kinda tired of waiting.
- mrpaulish

If it makes you feel any better, our two biggest competitors are in the same boat, trying to figure out an even bigger problem of replacing a #1 dman. And one of those may have to replace two before long.

Think about this...what do we KNOW or are SURE as SURE can be for this upcoming year regarding this team? I dno't care about the other teams, I care about this one...

-Toews--only concern I have is his head
-Hossa--will he be gun shy? Is he 100% When does father time kick in?
-Kane--He's regressed BADLY since the cup. When will he EVER hit the god given potential he has? 80+ pts for him SHOULD be a LOCK every year
-Sharp--Like Toews, not much concern here
-Bolland--are you a top 6 or 3rd line player? can you show up for a regular season? Back health
-Stalberg--does he run with the success he had or does he regress? Still borderlnie stupid without the puck
-Carcillo--has he LEARNED his lesson? Most guys take a 1+ years to come back from ACLs
-Bickell--Can you become the power forward you should be? Contract year...
-Shaw--are you for real or are you Ben Smith?
-Kruger--Will you improve or is your ceiling Sammy Pahlsson?
-Frolik---can't get any worse then last year, can it?
-Bolig---He should become a smarter Ben Eager/
-Jamal Mayers--they need to find a way to keep him fresh so come playoff time he's useful
-Keith--Why can you show up for the worlds, and not the Hawks? LIke Kane...has regressed BADLY
-Seabrook--my 3rd safe bet behind Toews, Sharp. Best D man on the Hawks
-Hammer--He'll be missed if he's dealt. Mark it down. Steady
-Oduya--Are you the guy the last 20+ games who played well, OR the pile of crap that imploded in teh playoffs and made NJ+Atl/Wpg look smart for dealing you?
-Montador--By far the worst contract on this team.
-Brookbank--what can we REALLy expect out him?
-Olsen--see brookbank.
-Leddy--are you a top 4 or bottom pair player?
-Emery--looks very bad and very slow going side to side. How healthy are you?
-Crawford--Forget physical...You showed an inability to overcome bad goals all of last year. If you start off slow, do fans get on you? Do you lose whatever confidence is left?
- SteveRain

Steve, great post!

I think my X-factor for this coming season is Bryan Bickell. Here me out. If he can put up 120 hits this year and play the entire season like he did the last ten to fifteen games and in the playoffs, I think that is huge for this very soft up-front team. If Carcillo is 100 % and goes through the Matt Cooke revelation then I think his physicality with Bollig in the line-up as well, makes the Hawks very tough to play against for the opponents D.

My thoughts on the Subban deal is this. I dont like Plekanic. I dont think he is a bad player but he will be toast in a physical Western Conference. Subban is physical and the loan fact that opposing players need to be concious of him ending their life in open ice is something the Hawks have not had on their side. His shot could greatly benefit the hawks on the PP and in joining the rush. Here is the catch 22. If we trade Kane and Subban becomes a Hawk then we have lost the only player capable on our roster of making and finding Subban in the open ice which is his greatest strength. You know you cant get Subban without moving Kane so that deal is really not a beneficial one.

So the question becomes are they going "all in" on Shane Doan? Is there a contigency plan if Bowman misses on yet another UFA like Broduer, Suter, Parise, and whatever other ones he had interest in that hasn't been let out?

I agree with Pri$ey...The top 6 needs help in a big way. You can't roll out Toews-Sharp-Stalberg, and Kane-Hossa-Carcillo and expect big things. You are still relying upon 4 guys to carry you offensively. 1 of which, Kane, is/has been regressing since they won the cup.

Fact is we are approaching 1 week when they roll out the red carpet, and pat themselves on the back...Meanwhile, every major media publication has the hawks as LOSERS so far this offseason, and I can't blame them.

If in fact Bowman is feeling major pressure from above, per Chris Kuc, to add to this roster, then what happens when we as fans are treated to the same team that was inconsistent, small, and bowed out of the playoffs for the 2nd straight year in round 1? Does Bowman get fired?

I'm beginning to think, the egos and cockiness from the management team on west Madison is the driving force behind this steep decline.

Look out...Minnesota and Colorado are both VASTLY improved. The Hawks are NOT a lock for the playoffs by any means, and maybe a pure miss and major lost playoff revenue is what Wirtz needs to finally wake up and make the necessary changes to senior management team that keeps pointing to a cup win that 75% of them had VERY LITTLE to do with...
- SteveRain

Steve,
I agree with most of your statements but half the league would love to roll out those top 2 lines. It really comes down to depth and secondary scoring. I think Shaw will provide some of that in his first full season, and I really think Frolik has not been used properly. As a player, it is really tough to get in a rythem when your being bounced around all 4 lines and the press box. Play him a regular shift on the 3rd or 4th line and he will score 10 goals and provide good defensive play. We really need to be able to roll all 4 lines and I think we can.
My biggest concern still remains between the pipes!

Doubtful that he goes to the 'hawks, IMO, and here's why. He lives off-season right here in Kamloops, his wife is from here, he runs a charity golf tourney and he also is part owner of the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL. You should see the size of the house he is building here. Massive. He has a summer home at a nearby lake.

What does all that have to do with where he signs. Well, Tom Gaglardi, new owner of the Stars also has a share in ownership of the WHL Blazers. It is also fairly evident that Doan will retire to this city when he's done playing, and he could sign with any of the Canucks, Oilers or Flames in which case he would be no more than an hour (as the crow flies) from home. He wants to win, so the Canucks would seem like the obvious choice. Failing that he may sign with Gaglardi's Stars. If I were betting, a)he stays in Phoenix or b) signs with the Canucks, c) with the Stars a possible 3rd destination.
- djd

I don't dispute any of these ideas. Except the idea that he may go to the Canucks. Unless Doan is willing to play in Vancouver for $3 million per, or Vancouver can clear out some more cap space. Perhaps Gillis is willing to go over the cap to sign him, and worry about clearing space later?

Doan to the Canucks doesn't sound like a solid idea at the moment, at least to me.

That could be a part of the problem. He never really showed any grit in his game in Rockford. A big body like Hayes should be out there doing a hell of a lot more banging.
- EKolb13

Meh, as long as he learns how to park his ass in front of the net on the power play, take a beating and clean up the garbage it makes that other stuff superfluous

I don't dispute any of these ideas. Except the idea that he may go to the Canucks. Unless Doan is willing to play in Vancouver for $3 million per, or Vancouver can clear out some more cap space. Perhaps Gillis is willing to go over the cap to sign him, and worry about clearing space later?

Doan to the Canucks doesn't sound like a solid idea at the moment, at least to me.
- EKolb13

You're right EK, but Gillis will dump a certain goaltender, and Mason Raymond is also on the outs as well, even though he just signed a one year deal yesterday. Gillis has some options I think.

Steve, great post!

I think my X-factor for this coming season is Bryan Bickell. Here me out. If he can put up 120 hits this year and play the entire season like he did the last ten to fifteen games and in the playoffs, I think that is huge for this very soft up-front team. If Carcillo is 100 % and goes through the Matt Cooke revelation then I think his physicality with Bollig in the line-up as well, makes the Hawks very tough to play against for the opponents D.

My thoughts on the Subban deal is this. I dont like Plekanic. I dont think he is a bad player but he will be toast in a physical Western Conference. Subban is physical and the loan fact that opposing players need to be concious of him ending their life in open ice is something the Hawks have not had on their side. His shot could greatly benefit the hawks on the PP and in joining the rush. Here is the catch 22. If we trade Kane and Subban becomes a Hawk then we have lost the only player capable on our roster of making and finding Subban in the open ice which is his greatest strength. You know you cant get Subban without moving Kane so that deal is really not a beneficial one.
- nickmo2699

What do you mean by this? Subban is a defenseman, open ice doesn't really get created for them. He either has it from skating the puck out of his own zone, or when a team is running around in its own zone. Subban makes the PP better, gives the team an edge and swagger, can throw a big hit. This is a great trade for the Hawks, so it probably wont happen.

Meh, as long as he learns how to park his ass in front of the net on the power play, take a beating and clean up the garbage it makes that other stuff superfluous
- fattybeef

I guess we'll see if he is willing to do that.

You're right EK, but Gillis will dump a certain goaltender, and Mason Raymond is also on the outs as well, even though he just signed a one year deal yesterday. Gillis has some options I think.
- djd

It will be interesting to see how that shakes out.

New blog up guys.

I think if we add a few minor pieces and can roll 4 lines, we will contend for the West. We just need to stay healthy and find some chemistry.

Sharp Toews Stahlberg
Carcillo Kane Hossa
Shaw Bolland Bickel
Frolik Kruger Mayers (Hayes, Bolig) (Would love to add Winnick somewhere to this line-up)

Keith, Seabs
Hammer, Oduya
Leddy, Brookbank

Crow
Razor

What do you mean by this? Subban is a defenseman, open ice doesn't really get created for them. He either has it from skating the puck out of his own zone, or when a team is running around in its own zone. Subban makes the PP better, gives the team an edge and swagger, can throw a big hit. This is a great trade for the Hawks, so it probably wont happen.
- rollpards19

Im talking about on the rush and when Kaner like he always does wheels up the half wall and throws the cross seem to the defensman sneeking down on the far side. He makes that play a lot. With Kane on his forehand and subban being a right handed shot with the velocity he has he could have ten goals in that situation alone. Kane does that twice a game.

New Blog is up...

That could be a part of the problem. He never really showed any grit in his game in Rockford. A big body like Hayes should be out there doing a hell of a lot more banging.
- EKolb13

This is an issue I have with some preconceptions fans have with players.

As soon as someone sees a big player they think "power forward"

Sometimes a kid is just big and plays with skill and a team tries to mold them into a power forward.. Most of the time that doesn't happen over a couple of seasons, it takes a long time.

This is also a fact with Bickell as well. He was never a physical player, but Hawk fans want to think he is but he just doesn't play it.

It seems to me that bringing power forwards in via trades or UFA signings is a better bet than trying to develop your own because it just takes to long to do.

I'm with you.

Hayes has the sense and hands to be a Brower type player but everything depends on his skating.

As we've seen with every possible power forward thats come through here in the last 4 years, they aren't always consistent.
- pri$ey

But instead of the 'Hawks waiting on him or forcing him up too soon, they sign Winnik for a couple years. Done!

There's also the question mark on Monty. I don't for a minute believe he's gonna be healthy. Even if his is, he's not physical enough. Hannan is a nice addition, just like Winnik.

And the frustrating thing is these guys can be had right NOW whether or not they get Doan.

Here's the other thing that maybe you and Pri$ey may agree with...I don't think Stan has the connections with the agents, the ability to understand the marketplace, and the respect of his peers. He thought he was IN on Parise and Suter til the very end, where both players admitted the Hawks weren't finalists. He was played to drive up the cost to those finalists. Just like Brodeur did with him to get NJ to give him what he wanted. Meanwhile, quality UFAs 1 by 1 were signed, or valuable trading assets were gone as he sat by his phone waiting for a call that was NEVER going to happen.

.
- SteveRain

This for sure: has he made a deal with any GM other than Tallon?

If it makes you feel any better, our two biggest competitors are in the same boat, trying to figure out an even bigger problem of replacing a #1 dman. And one of those may have to replace two before long.
- 1goalLordStanley

It doesn't make me feel better: we should be judging our team based on what it does or doesn't do - whether it becomes a better team or not - not on whether other teams have gotten worse.

And on that note I submit this, also with JJ's talk on the MTL/Kane trade. Get Winnik and Hannan BEFORE they are both gone and it's a good summer.

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
MTL trade plus some FA's
FORWARDS
Patrick Sharp ($5.900m) / Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Shane Doan ($6.000m)
Viktor Stalberg ($0.875m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Marian Hossa ($5.275m)
Daniel Winnik ($2.000m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Michael Frolik ($2.333m)
Bryan Bickell ($0.542m) / Marcus Kruger ($0.900m) / Andrew Shaw ($0.565m)
Daniel Carcillo ($0.825m) / Jamal Mayers ($0.650m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Duncan Keith ($5.538m) / Brent Seabrook ($5.800m)
Johnny Oduya ($3.383m) / P.K. Subban ($4.650m)
Scott Hannan ($2.000m) / Sheldon Brookbank ($1.250m)
Nick Leddy ($1.117m) /
GOALTENDERS
Corey Crawford ($2.667m)
Ray Emery ($1.150m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $70,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,095,128; BONUSES: $375,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $2,104,872
- blackhawk24

Oduya and Subban would be a defensive liability.

Just came across this trade rumour of yours..... its obviously made-up because it doesn't make any hockey sens from at least the Montreal point of view.

Montreal's Dsquad cannot be used as trade bait This YEAR in order to bring in a top 6, nevermind a top 3 forward talent to our side..... but next season, once everyone knows about Markov's actual playing condition and that a bevy of our quality D prospects will be knocking on the door then, and only then, big trade could happen.

In the meantime, small scale trades could still happen but only if you hear names like Weber or Diaz being involved..... oherwise forget it.