To an extent but I'm not talking about a columnist who never steps foot into the press box at the UC, unless they are in the finals.

I'm talking about a beat guy who will see Bowman, Wirtz, McDonough enough to make it uncomfortable.

That's the difference....When does it NOT become "too early?" The biggest thing to overcome in marketing is negative word of mouth...that happens, and you watch how quickly McDonough springs into action. This team starts getting ripped on the airwaves, and in the paper...watch out.

So far, all they hvae done....is add a younger Sean O"donnell who may or may not even play every night. That's it. Otherwise you have the same team that was too small, too up and down, and too soft mentally and physically to advance in the playoffs.

And the days of 100 pts being some sort of grand achievement is over with. Look at last year's regular season standings....10 of 16 had 100 or more...or damn near 33% of the league...
- SteveRain

I get you but outside of Shero and Feaster not many have accomplished much.

If the end result is what is here now you know what I will say... and I don't think I will be alone.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Not offended, but even those who know the game will have different opinions on players...

Just a lot of bickering on here lately and most of it because people are bored/upset nothing interesting is happening.
- Al

I'd agree with that statement, about the bickering.

I want results. Not promises. Not try hards. Not spin control. Results. So far this offseason Bowman gets a nice FAT F

I"ll give them until the end of July OR until the top of line free agents are gone, adn that's rapidly approaching...to completely explode.

Interesting that the Hawks aren't on Nash's list - even though he's played here quite a bit and knows the team, the fans, and the building quite well being a division rival. Maybe not a big deal, but couple that w/ the fact that Suter also didn't have the Hawks on his final list (Wild, Wings or back to Nashville) and you can start to piece it together.

This isn't the same destination it was just a short time ago and that reflects quite a bit on the job or lack thereof that the front office is doing. Moving a Lady Byng winner and replacing him w/ crap wasn't quite the move that they had hoped. Adding Gauthier at this point certainly doesn't instill a lot of confidence either.

Arnott was a guy I wanted last summer and he had a productive season w/ the Blues. Wonder if they'll make him an offer before all of their other options dry up?
- DK002

Well, that may be partially true but I'm more inclined to think that there's not a lot of room at the top for premier players on the 'hawks roster. The 'hawks have too many of those now, and for guys like Suter and Parise and Nash it was never going to be a question of money. It's more about their role on the team. Do they have a chance to make an impact, etc. Let's face it, they come here and they're not going to be go-to guys. There's just not enough ice to go around for them. I think that's the reason we're losing out on some of these players.

This is EXACTLY why the Hawks under Bowman haven't been able to make trades. He's not part of that "club", and there are a LOT of teams that hate this organization. Make no mistake about that.

We'll see....is he the best man for this position? That's all I am getting at. Was he THE best hire, because everything I have read about this guy is bad. Just another cook in the kitchen....
- SteveRain

This is EXACTLY why the Hawks under Bowman haven't been able to make trades. He's not part of that "club", and there are a LOT of teams that hate this organization. Make no mistake about that.

That's another issue worth talking about in time...

How many Tweets have I made in the last two months about Bowman expanding his comfort zone??

From yesterday...For everyone's sake his comfort zone needs to expand ASAP. It doesn't get any easier if you only seem to deal with 2/3 teams.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

I get you but outside of Shero and Feaster not many have accomplished much.

If the end result is what is here now you know what I will say... and I don't think I will be alone.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

I know. I hope some irate fan gets a chance to rip Bowman, McDonough, or Wirtz and catch them off guard next weekend. Curious to see if that sort of question and answer session will be held, OR will they hide? My $$ says the top 2 will hide, and leave Stan to sit there and take the bullets.

People should be pissed....Everyone knew 2010-11 was a wash....Last year? No excuses. Same with this year.

This team, outside of the core, is all Bowmans...and that's where it's failed. That's why I don't get those who continually back this goof.

I'm also pretty confident the reason Quenneville hasn't hired an assistant yet is because he's trying to get a grasp of what his GM will provide him with. He gives him the same load of crap, he may alter his system to try and win that group, as he saw last year his style couldn't work.

This is EXACTLY why the Hawks under Bowman haven't been able to make trades. He's not part of that "club", and there are a LOT of teams that hate this organization. Make no mistake about that.

That's another issue worth talking about in time...

How many Tweets have I made in the last two months about Bowman expanding his comfort zone??

From yesterday...For everyone's sake his comfort zone needs to expand ASAP. It doesn't get any easier if you only seem to deal with 2/3 teams.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Exactly and you and I both know what that stems from.

This is EXACTLY why the Hawks under Bowman haven't been able to make trades. He's not part of that "club", and there are a LOT of teams that hate this organization. Make no mistake about that.

That's another issue worth talking about in time...

How many Tweets have I made in the last two months about Bowman expanding his comfort zone??

From yesterday...For everyone's sake his comfort zone needs to expand ASAP. It doesn't get any easier if you only seem to deal with 2/3 teams.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

How much of this "club" talk is true? You're obviously way more tapped in to the actual hockey operations, so I was just curious?

I'd agree with that statement, about the bickering.

I want results. Not promises. Not try hards. Not spin control. Results. So far this offseason Bowman gets a nice FAT F

I"ll give them until the end of July OR until the top of line free agents are gone, adn that's rapidly approaching...to completely explode.
- SteveRain

Well there's Doan Nash Semin ,a couple guys that can be had via trade Ryan Morrow....and when those start to go they should move with an ever increasing speed because the pickings are slim....so if you want doan Stan better throw the bank at him and hope he bites maybe 5 - 6.5 mill per cuz once he's gone or any of the other ones go the rest will have teams throwing any thing they can to get the final few top 6 FA left to help there team....will Stan do that?

How much of this "club" talk is true? You're obviously way more tapped in to the actual hockey operations, so I was just curious?
- rollpards19

Just ask yourself how many offer sheets HAVE EVER been extended to RFAs since that last CBA started, and that answers your question.

HOLY F*****n S**T, NO MOVEMENT YET!!

- MjulQvist

Dominoes need more fiber.

Well there's Doan Nash Semin ,a couple guys that can be had via trade Ryan Morrow....and when those start to go they should move with an ever increasing speed because the pickings are slim....so if you want doan Stan better throw the bank at him and hope he bites maybe 5 - 6.5 mill per cuz once he's gone or any of the other ones go the rest will have teams throwing any thing they can to get the final few top 6 FA left to help there team....will Stan do that?
- southernhawk

Nobody wants Semin. You don't want an egotisical Russian in that locker room.

Doan...throw the bank at him for 2 years. 5-5.5 for 2 years? Why not? You add another top 6, a physical player, and a big time leader.

Would love to add Ott, but what's the asking price? Is he worth a Hammer? Not sure.

This wasn't a deep team to begin with, so trading some proven parts for other proven parts is a wash to me. Now if you trade prospects, picks...different story.

For Saad's sake I really hope he pans out, because the marketing machine is in full gear building this kid into something he isn't.

How much of this "club" talk is true? You're obviously way more tapped in to the actual hockey operations, so I was just curious?
- rollpards19

In some ways hard to say but one thing is certain...

Every season it gets more difficult to make trades...More trade clauses etc.

At some point soon the Hawks have to make trades with other GM's Bowman hasn't worked with or for.

He did trade with Minny early on and Burke needed a 2nd round pick in the worse way but otherwiswe??

Then again you could chalk it up to a lack of opportunity.

Nobody wants Semin. You don't want an egotisical Russian in that locker room.

Doan...throw the bank at him for 2 years. 5-5.5 for 2 years? Why not? You add another top 6, a physical player, and a big time leader.

Would love to add Ott, but what's the asking price? Is he worth a Hammer? Not sure.

This wasn't a deep team to begin with, so trading some proven parts for other proven parts is a wash to me. Now if you trade prospects, picks...different story.

For Saad's sake I really hope he pans out, because the marketing machine is in full gear building this kid into something he isn't.
- SteveRain

Agreed...i say go over the top to make sure Doan lands here I don't think 2 years will get him it might take 4