Theo Fox: Not In the System The Blackhawks won’t win another Stanley Cup anytime soon as the next Toews, Kane, and Keith aren’t in the system. Is this true? Is the Blackhawks system really devoid of talent to build a contender?

You know...

Great write up Theo! It's hard to replace 2 and 3 time Cup winners and as you allude to, their carbon copies don't grow on trees.

Detroit is a great example. Good luck finding your next Lidstrom. Maybe the Hawks don't have ready made clones of the guys you've mentioned but don't necessarily need it.

To me when you are trying to replace that's a problem. There is no 1 formula to winning Stanley Cups, sure you can put yourself in a position to and i believe that really begins with all 18 players willing to play great defense, compete for board battles and most of all sacrifice, blocking shots, take a hit to make a play. The little things on yea and talent but if you can get talent to do this you have a chance

Great blog, Theo.

In people's hearts, I don't think you can ever replace these Champions.

However, as you pointed out, there are some great pieces coming up through the ranks. Considering the personnel is going to be different, maybe the playing style does as well.

The "High-Flying Hawks" of past could transform more into a hybrid - not as much offensive talent, but relentless and solid all over the ice. Watching the Islanders last night, you can see how they have all bought into Trotz and his system. On paper, they are an average team at best but they get the job done.

Yes and I like watching the Islanders because they take care of the puck. It's not easy to have that poise and confidence... so hopefully our young guys come back stronger after some more time off. Great blog, nice work thx

To me when you are trying to replace that's a problem. There is no 1 formula to winning Stanley Cups, sure you can put yourself in a position to and i believe that really begins with all 18 players willing to play great defense, compete for board battles and most of all sacrifice, blocking shots, take a hit to make a play. The little things on yea and talent but if you can get talent to do this you have a chance
- BetweenTheDots

In addition to talent, winning teams have players who know what to do in all on-ice situations, where to be, continually moving with purpose and speed through all three zones.

OK - maybe 80% of the time.

Watching these playoffs, looking at TB, NYI, COL, VGK - I see those attributes. Coaching - yes - but also skaters who understand what to do and where to be regardless of “system”. I haven’t seen much - some is inevitable - wide open weak-side players at the net for “easy” goals.

I often - way too often - don’t see that in the Blackhawks.

Great blog, Theo.

In people's hearts, I don't think you can ever replace these Champions.

However, as you pointed out, there are some great pieces coming up through the ranks. Considering the personnel is going to be different, maybe the playing style does as well.

The "High-Flying Hawks" of past could transform more into a hybrid - not as much offensive talent, but relentless and solid all over the ice. Watching the Islanders last night, you can see how they have all bought into Trotz and his system. On paper, they are an average team at best but they get the job done.
- Tyler Cameron

They didn't last night but a lot of that had to do with Carter Hart. Somehow I had a feeling that series would go to game 7. The Isles were outshooting and out chancing Philly by a big margin, yet Philly was still hanging around.

Isles are a fun team to watch. I think there forward lineup is pretty solid but agree that defense and goaltending are a bit meh.

To me when you are trying to replace that's a problem. There is no 1 formula to winning Stanley Cups, sure you can put yourself in a position to and i believe that really begins with all 18 players willing to play great defense, compete for board battles and most of all sacrifice, blocking shots, take a hit to make a play. The little things on yea and talent but if you can get talent to do this you have a chance
- BetweenTheDots

Great point. No need to replace, what the management team needs to do is retool. The game evolves, rules evolve, so you need to find players that excel in the current environment. Sometimes what worked in the past doesn't work today.
Thanks Theo for your insight on the younger players. It will be fun to watch who excels in the years to come.

Theo fantastic article you wrote. Imo the coin phrase you explained in detail is spot on.


Imo Chicago was riding high after 3 cups 5 western conference finals and many years of playoff hockey. The front office who chose to reward these guys with nmc and huge salaries never thought things would end so quickly for many reasons, health, age , bad luck and simply each player being taxed from so much hockey played.


This scatter shot approach with plugging in reclaims ( nylander , strome , slater ) with a fresh face behind the bench seems like a bridge or bandaid to mask the real problems Chicago is facing , stagnant salary cap with a few bad unmovable contracts on aging players , a core who's best days seem to be well behind then and a young group with high Hope's but not enough promise to assure everyone those needs are corrected and a lack of enough high draft picks to replenish their farm team with enough talent to compete .


This being a deep draft so I've heard would you move out some key players like a saad or strome or even cat to gain more high picks to inject plenty of future assets?

And with that, I'll be crawling out on the ledge now. Just me and the pigeons out there reminiscing of past glory. Hope it doesn't rain.

Theo fantastic article you wrote. Imo the coin phrase you explained in detail is spot on.


Imo Chicago was riding high after 3 cups 5 western conference finals and many years of playoff hockey. The front office who chose to reward these guys with nmc and huge salaries never thought things would end so quickly for many reasons, health, age , bad luck and simply each player being taxed from so much hockey played.


This scatter shot approach with plugging in reclaims ( nylander , strome , slater ) with a fresh face behind the bench seems like a bridge or bandaid to mask the real problems Chicago is facing , stagnant salary cap with a few bad unmovable contracts on aging players , a core who's best days seem to be well behind then and a young group with high Hope's but not enough promise to assure everyone those needs are corrected and a lack of enough high draft picks to replenish their farm team with enough talent to compete .


This being a deep draft so I've heard would you move out some key players like a saad or strome or even cat to gain more high picks to inject plenty of future assets?
- Taylorst1

Taylor, I tend to agree that the scattershot approach is not necessarily effective, though most of the swaps they have done, Schmaltz/Strome, Rutra/Koekkoek, etc. are a wash to slight upgrade. The Joki/Nylander one may bite them in the long run, time will tell.

While Keith, Toews, Kane, Crawford may be on the downsides if their careers, they are still effective players and can contribute to a winning club. The Hawks really need Dach, Boquist, etc. to take that next step. I think you saw a ton from Dach in the re-start. Hopefully he continues to take giant leaps. Across the league you can see plenty of young kids take a year or two to figure it out, then they explode.

History shows that teams with different styles of play have won the Cup. Teams like Vegas and the Islanders are showing that it doesnt take a squad full of superstars to be successful.

The championship run by the Hawks has spoiled the fan base and raised expectations. Where guys like Keith and Seabrook had time to come into the league and make their mistakes, current players are given a much shorter leash. Existing in that middle tier of teams is difficult, you dont draft high enough to consistenly get high immediate impact players, so you spin your wheels. Tanking has not been proven to be an effective strategy as evidenced by teams like EDM and BUF. You need a GM and Coach that will maximize the talent they have and play a style that fits that talent.

The key to that statement is Trotz system. JC system is an entirely different setup.

The key to that statement is Trotz system. JC system is an entirely different setup.
- RaleighHawk

You don't see forwards and dmen (actually i did see it from the dmen just to slow) sacrificing like the Isle or Philly, or Vegas or even Canucks, and you don't see any kind of spacing once we have the puck. Blackhawks are a young we don't really know what to do, or what it really takes to win in the playoffs team right now.

Sorokin NYI career starts next season
I don't know how good Pulock could become
They have some descent prospects in the pipeline too

I loved the player to player comparison Fox. Especially reflecting on the "Big 3" on the back-end...Keith, Seabrook, Hammer.

I agree with other posters who have already mentioned, we don't have to replace player for player to win another Cup, we could win one with a slightly different model.

No doubt...Dach, D-cat, Kubalick and company are not the Toews and Kane of yesteryear. But, maybe they can at least be 70-80% of what we had up front......because....if they can....the potential of our back-end can reach BEYOND what we had during the Cups.

Keith, in his prime, likely can't be replaced...But, if Mitchell can do a reasonable copy in 2-3 years...and we add in Boquist, Beaudin, Carlsson & Vlasic....heck...From 1-5 or 1-6 our defense may be BETTER than years past. I really like the fact we have so many "D" prospects. Wouldn't even mind another. Nothing is a better trade chip when you are close enough to go for it. Nothing fetches more than a Top 4 "D". Teams are clamoring for them in the off-season and at trade deadlines.Build with the "D". You can use them later to supplement the forwards!

Theo fantastic article you wrote. Imo the coin phrase you explained in detail is spot on.


Imo Chicago was riding high after 3 cups 5 western conference finals and many years of playoff hockey. The front office who chose to reward these guys with nmc and huge salaries never thought things would end so quickly for many reasons, health, age , bad luck and simply each player being taxed from so much hockey played.


This scatter shot approach with plugging in reclaims ( nylander , strome , slater ) with a fresh face behind the bench seems like a bridge or bandaid to mask the real problems Chicago is facing , stagnant salary cap with a few bad unmovable contracts on aging players , a core who's best days seem to be well behind then and a young group with high Hope's but not enough promise to assure everyone those needs are corrected and a lack of enough high draft picks to replenish their farm team with enough talent to compete .


This being a deep draft so I've heard would you move out some key players like a saad or strome or even cat to gain more high picks to inject plenty of future assets?
- Taylorst1

One issue that can arise is when too many big dollar contracts come up for renewal. Not just the already established players, but if you have too many kids all due a hefty raise in the same year.

One issue that can arise is when too many big dollar contracts come up for renewal. Not just the already established players, but if you have too many kids all due a hefty raise in the same year.
- jhawk59

True, most teams try and string them out so they dont have to make sweeping subtractions at the end of any off season.

Very nice blog this morning Theo, appreciate the time and effort you put into this. I agree mostly but I compare Kubalik to Patrick Sharp in a big way and I believe he will be a sniper for many years to come. As for Kirby Dach becoming a Toews replacement I would say he certainly has a chance of being that guy. He is just a baby and he was a force in the playoffs and he could be even better than Toews one day offensively. You have to remember Toews's stats were inflated over the years by playing with susperstar Kane throughout his career. The Hawks need a young goalie like draft eligible Askarov or should just go into free agency and sign arguably the best goaltender in the KHL right now Timur Bilyalov and get it over with. At 25 he is as good or better than Shesterkin or Sorokin and he is a free agent plus he want to play in the NHL. My sources say the Leafs are in on him but I have also heard due to Covid he may delay one year on his arrival. Get in the Chicago and sign this guy. Anyway fantastic blog and welcome aboard.

I hate saying this but 3 years will be here before we know it, and those 2 fat contracts will be off the books, probably the same amount of time it'll take our young core to get their poop together especially the green dmen.

Before we get to finding replacements...we have to see what the Hawks do in the next 4-5 years.

Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Hossa, Sharp, etc. are who they are because they won. You don't know if a player is going to win until they get there and win. Does anyone think Toews is better than Getzlaf if Toews never wins a Cup? Nope.

Put Toews, Kane, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook on other teams and they may never win or have the careers that they had/have.

Aside from Kane and maybe Keith none of the other guys are HOF players without winning.

Dach could end up being better than Toews...we just don't know. Mitchell could be better than Keith. When Toews was drafted nobody thought he would win 3 cups and be a HOF. No one thought Keith has going to win 3 Cups and 2 Norris trophies and be a HOF.

Aside from Kane and Toews none of the other guys were Top 5 draft picks either.

One thing is clear. The Hawks will need to get lucky and find some diamonds in the rough. Like a Keith level player in the 2nd round. A Sharp level guy in a small trade with another team.

I loved the player to player comparison Fox. Especially reflecting on the "Big 3" on the back-end...Keith, Seabrook, Hammer.

I agree with other posters who have already mentioned, we don't have to replace player for player to win another Cup, we could win one with a slightly different model.

No doubt...Dach, D-cat, Kubalick and company are not the Toews and Kane of yesteryear. But, maybe they can at least be 70-80% of what we had up front......because....if they can....the potential of our back-end can reach BEYOND what we had during the Cups.

Keith, in his prime, likely can't be replaced...But, if Mitchell can do a reasonable copy in 2-3 years...and we add in Boquist, Beaudin, Carlsson & Vlasic....heck...From 1-5 or 1-6 our defense may be BETTER than years past. I really like the fact we have so many "D" prospects. Wouldn't even mind another. Nothing is a better trade chip when you are close enough to go for it. Nothing fetches more than a Top 4 "D". Teams are clamoring for them in the off-season and at trade deadlines.Build with the "D". You can use them later to supplement the forwards!
- hawk35

I agree with this pretty much but the stud goalie is a priority. I believe to get it right you draft Askarov or sign Bilyalov but whoever he must be younger and the potential long term fixture like Crawford has been. San Jose just signed A. Melnichuk from the KHL, a 21 year old compared to Vasilevskiy as a free agent and he likely replaces Jones soon. I prefer not to go after guys like Markstrom, Lehner, and especially not Holtby. How good is Mitchell, Kalnyuk etc

It is truly difficult to look towards any team's prospects expecting to see and predict them as guys who are going to be as good as All-Stars, Cup winners, and dominant impact NHLers.

I think the point made here about the isles is a good one.
Start with their defense.
Most are homegrown drafted by them and except the additions Hickey Leddy and Greene, they were all BIGGER juniors at least 6' 1 185 when taken, and I ma not sure if that was by design, but I wonder if that accounts for their getting this far....

They drafted Pulock early first round because of his shot and upside.
They traded a long time ago for Leddy a first rounder who was not fully developed.
Thomas Hickey was a first rounder by la kings and it also took a great bit of time to develop.
Scott Mayfield 2ns rounder
Adam Pelech 3rd rounder
Devon Toews 4th rounder

Andy Greene, a UFA they traded for to bolster the Cup run.

I look around the league and I dont see the Oilers drafting Bouchard and patting themselves on the back, but I see them using their farm guys to gain experience and again going back to the well and selecting defender Philip Broberg...no one ever thought of Bouchatd as anything but a finesse defender and they weren't letting the chance of a two way skilled guy like Broberg slip by...(They weren't registering the concerns about his feet, that frequent this blog all the time like bigger defenders have to be deer.)

My point is the Hawks have to come up with more than surfs ferocity of st Pete recycling
m their system, or draft some.

To me when you are trying to replace that's a problem. There is no 1 formula to winning Stanley Cups, sure you can put yourself in a position to and i believe that really begins with all 18 players willing to play great defense, compete for board battles and most of all sacrifice, blocking shots, take a hit to make a play. The little things on yea and talent but if you can get talent to do this you have a chance
- BetweenTheDots

Dots, you stated succinctly what I took many paragraphs to lay out, i.e. the personnel doesn't matter as much as the compete level, commitment to defense, and willingness to do the little things to win.

Great blog, Theo.

In people's hearts, I don't think you can ever replace these Champions.

However, as you pointed out, there are some great pieces coming up through the ranks. Considering the personnel is going to be different, maybe the playing style does as well.

The "High-Flying Hawks" of past could transform more into a hybrid - not as much offensive talent, but relentless and solid all over the ice. Watching the Islanders last night, you can see how they have all bought into Trotz and his system. On paper, they are an average team at best but they get the job done.
- Tyler Cameron

That makes sense to me that with changing personnel, the strategies and systems need to change as well.

Communication styles are also changing, i.e. Colliton seems to connect well with the younger players, not so much the older ones. Not all of that is his fault, though.

What I see Colliton struggling to realize is that his systems seem to require perfection or else it just disintegrates if their structure breaks down.

The players don't know how to still be effective as they attempt to restore the structure on the fly. IMO, this is where it's on the players to execute fundamental hockey no matter the system.

In addition to talent, winning teams have players who know what to do in all on-ice situations, where to be, continually moving with purpose and speed through all three zones.

OK - maybe 80% of the time.

Watching these playoffs, looking at TB, NYI, COL, VGK - I see those attributes. Coaching - yes - but also skaters who understand what to do and where to be regardless of “system”. I haven’t seen much - some is inevitable - wide open weak-side players at the net for “easy” goals.

I often - way too often - don’t see that in the Blackhawks.
- StLBravesFan

The bolded is on point. System shouldn't matter as much. What matters more is having hockey sense and IQ that aid in executing smart fundamental plays.