Asset management is something Bowman & Co. can be criticized heavily for retrospectively. The Ladd trade I hated as well as the Timonen deal. In general their drafts havent been very good.

But most importantly the Hawks have done what Bill Torrey criticized himself fpr at the end of the great Islanders run - holding on to too many players out of extreme loyalty.
- RickJ

Phasing out players during Torrey's time was a lot easier than it is today. Our anchor contracts will affect us for a long time.
Hopefully the playing field will be somewhat levelled as other GM's stupidly hand out new contracts in anticipation of steep Cap increases.

Sam Gagner demoted to the AHL again. Sad.
Kane's draft class and some scouts were saying that he would turn out a better pro than Kane during that draft year.

Well said. Thats what some people are not realizing. In order to improve this team had to part ways with 3 of the remaining core players while their value was high.


This team isn't a playoff team it's God awful to watch this clown show, might as well shed thenremaing value and money and a few years from now be competitive and inspiring again.
- Taylorst1

Except that wasn't the point- they have all been held past their "best by" dates in the name of keeping the Cup winning core together and all, with the possible exception of Kane and maybe Keith, are very expensive relative to their current levels of play. All, with the exception of Crawford, have too much term left on their deals so I don't think trading these core guys at this point will be anywhere near as easy as you make it seem, at least without giving sweeteners or taking bad contracts back.

Suffering from a major short-term pleasure vs long term gain dilemma here.

My mind knows that it’s best for the team to tank for the rebuild but of course my heart wants them to make the playoffs. At this point, probably the worst case scenario is the Hawks just miss the playoffs and get the 15th pick overall.

Are there any last year’s Ian Cole-type defensemen out there that are on the bubble on deep teams that could give the Hawks D immediate help even if just an improvement over Manning, Rutta, Gus, etc.?

On a related note, my boss just asked me if I’m going to watch the Anaheim game tonight even if the Hawks are so terrible and the game is so late. I answered of course lol.
- Popsghostly

Connor Murphy?

I'd do a package deal maybe picks , but edmonton their has been some rumors, maybe you move Seabrook or Keith, toews Crawford, anisomov for drasaiti,nurse, and Talbot and a couple of young prospects .

Toews has lost his confidence and he made some progress in the off season butmi still believe hossa made toews a better player.
- Taylorst1

I Realize your hell bent on trading the Core players but i don’t think nhl19 would accept your trade above the Oiler aren’t giving up there best defenseman 2nd best forward and there top goalie for that what we have,let alone the salary cap. The rest of the league sees what we see older player who are shells of there former selves.

Not to mention they all have nmc our best asset is Crawford which is a luxury for this team. Some teams might want Gus or aa maybe even rutta but that’s about it without us adding to dump which we did with hino/hossa and didn’t really use that money. The front office needs to stop trading assets to to rid of poor contracts

Does anyone else find it just a bit odd that Coach Q seemingly hasn't been seen or heard from since his departure?? At least I haven't seen any interviews on TV, read any on the net or in any papers. I would have thought someone in sports media would have wanted to talk to him to get his take on things. Have I just missed such an interview?? Thanks.
- BobP.

The team is still paying him to the tune of $6 million per year this year and next.

He is not going to go on the radio and blast them as much as he might want to.

Sam Gagner demoted to the AHL again. Sad.
Kane's draft class and some scouts were saying that he would turn out a better pro than Kane during that draft year.
- 67hawks

Second city saying Stan may be interested

Would any team entertain the idea of taking Seabs for a 7th, no salary retained?

Sam Gagner demoted to the AHL again. Sad.
Kane's draft class and some scouts were saying that he would turn out a better pro than Kane during that draft year.
- 67hawks

Maybe we should trade somebody for him since he was a high first round draft pick.

Hawks are a lock for Top 5, possibly Top 3 Lottery Odds....at that spot they will draft an impact forward in Hughes, Kappo Kakko, Cozens, or the strong Russian Podkolzin.. SO, next year is another development/suck year in 19/20 BUT a realistic Playoff Contention in 20/21 should be the target....

20/21 Starting point....

Saad-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Cozens/Kakko/Hughes/Podkolzin


Boquist-Jokiharju
Mitchell-xx
Keith-Seabs


EDIT: Looks like Tankathon has Kirby Dach as the #2 Center over Cozens now...6'4" 185lbs

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ec-city-william-nylander/

Bowman scouting the Kings heavily, lord help us. Please god don't mortgage the future to make this team win an extra 4 games.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/31-thoughts-seattle-expansion-quebec-city-william-nylander/

Bowman scouting the Kings heavily, lord help us. Please god don't mortgage the future to make this team win an extra 4 games.
- ObeseOprah

"14. Chicago might be thinking about Sam Gagner, too. He chose Vancouver over them in the summer of 2017. They were interested."

Sam Gagner

Hawks are a lock for Top 5, possibly Top 3 Lottery Odds....at that spot they will draft an impact forward in Hughes, Kappo Kakko, Cozens, or the strong Russian Podkolzin.. SO, next year is another development/suck year in 19/20 BUT a realistic Playoff Contention in 20/21 should be the target....

20/21 Starting point....

Saad-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Cozens/Kakko/Hughes/Podkolzin


Boquist-Jokiharju
Mitchell-xx
Keith-Seabs


EDIT: Looks like Tankathon has Kirby Dach as the #2 Center over Cozens now...6'4" 185lbs
- EnzoD

Let's say for S's and G's that we get #1, and Vancouver gets #2. What would it take for us to swap picks and get Pettersson? IMO, Vancouver would overpay to draft Quinn's brother at #1 at home, but there's no way they give us #2 and Pettersson. Maybe if they're picking 5 or 6 though.

Connor Murphy?
- fattybeef

In addition to Murphy lol. Yes, he's an improvement over Manning, Rutta, Davidson and Gus.

Let's say for S's and G's that we get #1, and Vancouver gets #2. What would it take for us to swap picks and get Pettersson? IMO, Vancouver would overpay to draft Quinn's brother at #1 at home, but there's no way they give us #2 and Pettersson. Maybe if they're picking 5 or 6 though.
- tvetter

In that scenario, I'd rather try and trade for Quinn Hughes to have both USA Studs in Chicago...that would be sweet

"14. Chicago might be thinking about Sam Gagner, too. He chose Vancouver over them in the summer of 2017. They were interested."

Sam Gagner
- EnzoD

Tank Commander Sam Gagner

Let's say for S's and G's that we get #1, and Vancouver gets #2. What would it take for us to swap picks and get Pettersson? IMO, Vancouver would overpay to draft Quinn's brother at #1 at home, but there's no way they give us #2 and Pettersson. Maybe if they're picking 5 or 6 though.
- tvetter

Let's stop with the cutesy Hughes brothers narrative. If we get the Number 1 pick, we're taking the #1 pick. Vancouver isn't derailing their rebuild to have a feelgood story, and neither are we.

Hughes is a team-changing pick, I'm not trading that pick ever. Petterson is not going anywhere. Stop the frivolous Disney scenarios.

If you're in the middle of a rebuild and you trade the number 1 pick, you should be fired.

Let's stop with the cutesy Hughes brothers narrative. If we get the Number 1 pick, we're taking the #1 pick. Vancouver isn't derailing their rebuild to have a feelgood story, and neither are we.

Hughes is a team-changing pick, I'm not trading that pick ever. Petterson is not going anywhere. Stop the frivolous Disney scenarios.

If you're in the middle of a rebuild and you trade the number 1 pick, you should be fired.
- ObeseOprah

Draft Jack Hughes, trade Mitchell/Beadin+ for Quinn Hughes. BOOM, Dynasty 2.0

Second city saying Stan may be interested
- ikeane

I doubt that. At $3.1M for another 2 years no chance (unless Vancouver eats a full 50%).

I doubt that. At $3.1M for another 2 years no chance (unless Vancouver eats a full 50%).
- 67hawks

Seabs for Gagner + Tanev

Let's stop with the cutesy Hughes brothers narrative. If we get the Number 1 pick, we're taking the #1 pick. Vancouver isn't derailing their rebuild to have a feelgood story, and neither are we.

Hughes is a team-changing pick, I'm not trading that pick ever. Petterson is not going anywhere. Stop the frivolous Disney scenarios.

If you're in the middle of a rebuild and you trade the number 1 pick, you should be fired.
- ObeseOprah

The idea is to make your team better. If we could get Pettersson AND a top 5 pick, I think that makes us better than just getting Hughes. Pettersson is a stud in the NHL, while Hughes is most likely going to be a stud. Don't get me wrong, I think that we should draft Hughes if we are lucky enough to win the lottery, but we could get 2 team-changing players.

ETA...I like Enzo's idea more, but think it would cost a lot more than Mitchell and Beaudin.

Draft Jack Hughes, trade Mitchell/Beadin+ for Quinn Hughes. BOOM, Dynasty 2.0
- EnzoD

Enzo, you must like those 150 lb hockey players these days.

Myself, I liked what I watched in the Vegas-Washington game last night. Big bodies playing good hockey and running into each other.

Enzo, you must like those 150 lb hockey players these days.

Myself, I liked what I watched in the Vegas-Washington game last night. Big bodies playing good hockey and running into each other.
- RickJ

I like 150lb players that have out of this world skill...Kane, Gaudreau types which is what Jack Hughes will be, book it! Quinn Hughes is a stud too.


Watching AZ vs LA I'm so happy they traded Schmaltz. he was playing the EXACT same way he was this year in Chicago...no intensity, over-passing, no strength on the puck. SEE YA!

I like 150lb players that have out of this world skill...Kane, Gaudreau types which is what Jack Hughes will be, book it! Quinn Hughes is a stud too.


Watching AZ vs LA I'm so happy they traded Schmaltz. he was playing the EXACT same way he was this year in Chicago...no intensity, over-passing, no strength on the puck. SEE YA!
- EnzoD

Enzo, i was watching a bit of that game and thought the same. Did you notice when he went to the boards he would get there first but very quickly would let himself get pushed to the back of the scrum and then just stick poke at the puck avoiding all contact. very weak and certainly not playoff type hockey player you go to war with.

I like 150lb players that have out of this world skill...Kane, Gaudreau types which is what Jack Hughes will be, book it! Quinn Hughes is a stud too.


Watching AZ vs LA I'm so happy they traded Schmaltz. he was playing the EXACT same way he was this year in Chicago...no intensity, over-passing, no strength on the puck. SEE YA!
- EnzoD

Both Hughes brothers are already bigger than Gaudreau and Gaudreau is not getting bigger at 25 years of age. Jack Hughes has similar skills and I would have a Gaudreau on my team any day.