No Bickell in 2013, no Cup, period
- BetweenTheDots

100% agreed.

I don’t blame the players for the deals.

Excuse me, but your Murphy praise isn’t welcomed here. He’s a bust and a horrible acquisition by Stan. He needs to be shipped out at all costs and should have been the one sent packing rather than Joker.

But seriously, it truly BAFFLES me how disrespected Murphy is amongst Hawks fans (especially here). He was - easily - our mostly consistent defensive d-man last season, and is without a doubt our best option on the right side as things stand right now. But hey, because he’s not as sound defensively as Hammer was we lost that trade and need to move him to recoup cap space. Not sure what Colliton is thinking in using him more than Q did. After all, Q is the HOF coach *rolls eyes*.
- TommyHawk

Hall of Fame coach that won 3 cups here, gets eye rolled

Beer league coach that's won nothing gets all the benefit of the doubt. Got it.

And yes, Murphy was consistent, I'll give you that.

Hjalmarsson was declining and his contract was coming up. It was the right move to trade him but just ended up with Murphy, unfortunately, who is as good as he'll ever be...which was a #6 on a bad AZ team
- PatShart

#6 on a bad AZ team is as good as he’ll ever be?

SMH.

I doubt Saad goes anywhere, Stan re-acquired him in large part for these next two seasons. Plus, Saad has MNTC (10 team trade list) in the last year of his deal.

If Crawford and Lehner are both back next season I would expect it to be for less than $11 million combined. #50 would be transitioning to a back-up role. Anisimov should be easy to move next summer if needed and one of Murphy, Maatta or de Haan could be moved as well if one of the D prospects are ready to go.
- DarthKane

Well
When you start cranking the numbers and look at cap room and order of importance to fit under the cap.....it gets dicey quick.

Saad taking a 1 million raise for maybe 5-6 years (which may be too long) is possible. Saad wanting 8+ million for what he brings? Nope.

Hall of Fame coach that won 3 cups here, gets eye rolled

Beer league coach that's won nothing gets all the benefit of the doubt. Got it.

And yes, Murphy was consistent, I'll give you that.
- PatShart

We’re all cognizant of what Q accomplished here.

But his evaluation of talent was solely dependent on whether they fit into his system or not. Just because they didn’t fit his doesn’t mean they aren’t capable players.

100% agreed.

I don’t blame the players for the deals.
- SteveRain

Bickell also took very team friendly deals when he was a RFA (1yr 500k...then 3yrs 1.6mil)...which were pay cuts from his original contract. He did this while the Hawks were fighting the cap all those years.

He came in and contributed huge in Cup 2, and was a physical force for cup 3 while unknowingly battling MS

He even took less than Ryan Clowe and David Clarkson, other UFAs at the time when he probably could have took more if he left elsewhere, but wanted to stay

Not to bring facts into what Bickell did for the organization or anything

We’re all cognizant of what Q accomplished here.

But his evaluation of talent was solely dependent on whether they fit into his system or not. Just because they didn’t fit his doesn’t mean they aren’t capable players.
- TommyHawk

Kinda like JC not like Joki to fit in his system? Or playing Gus all the minutes he does, because it fits his system? It's ok for him but not ok for Q to do it....while winning cups? Got it

Hall of Fame coach that won 3 cups here, gets eye rolled

Beer league coach that's won nothing gets all the benefit of the doubt. Got it.

And yes, Murphy was consistent, I'll give you that.
- PatShart

I remember when they got murphy and somebody here on this board was all excited because he led the C list American team at the worlds. Wow.

He’s a borderline top 4. He’s expendable.

Meanwhile hammer is just rolling along in AZ. This is the trade that sent q into the tirade before the draft. Giving up Their best defensive defenseman and they still haven’t plugged the hole he left.

And here comes all the graphs and what not. That’s fine but point is 2,4,7 are all declining but hammer wasn’t LT locked and he got dealt.

I have to disagree. Although HJalmarsson was a great player, he was showing signs of decline. I think it was a good move by Stan to trade a declining player for a younger player. Sometimes we need to remember it is a business, and players are assets only.
- powerenforcer

It is about the return relative to the asset given up. Perhaps you are right, but you don't deal one of the best defensive defensemen in the game with three cups under his belt at age 30 and receive back, after three years, a wannabe 2nd pair guy (who has not proved it consistently) and a throw-in that is/was garbage.

If Murphy becomes that clear 2nd pair guy this year, we can talk. And I'm talking legit 2nd pair in the league, not 2nd pair because the Hawks blue line is trash (aka the last two years). Murphy is nowhere near the PK asset that #4 was, and that has to be part of the litmus test.

#6 on a bad AZ team is as good as he’ll ever be?

SMH.
- TommyHawk

It's kind of what he was towards the end there and why they shipped him out. If you watched him there when he played in AZ and knew something different, that's cool. But that's why they moved him...guys coming in were passing him up the depth chart quickly amd they realized his contract was a mistake, and they moved him. Stan took a chance

Bickell also took very team friendly deals when he was a RFA (1yr 500k...then 3yrs 1.6mil)...which were pay cuts from his original contract. He did this while the Hawks were fighting the cap all those years.

He came in and contributed huge in Cup 2, and was a physical force for cup 3 while unknowingly battling MS

He even took less than Ryan Clowe and David Clarkson, other UFAs at the time when he probably could have took more if he left elsewhere, but wanted to stay

Not to bring facts into what Bickell did for the organization or anything
- PatShart

I enjoyed watching him. Regular season he was skittish at times but big boy hockey he was a beast. Played through injuries.

I hope he finds LT health care. Seems like a great guy. Very down to earth.

I remember when they got murphy and somebody here on this board was all excited because he led the C list American team at the worlds. Wow.

He’s a borderline top 4. He’s expendable.

Meanwhile hammer is just rolling along in AZ. This is the trade that sent q into the tirade before the draft. Giving up Their best defensive defenseman and they still haven’t plugged the hole he left.

And here comes all the graphs and what not. That’s fine but point is 2,4,7 are all declining but hammer wasn’t LT locked and he got dealt.
- SteveRain

I think Hjalmarsson is showing a little wear and tear in AZ now, but I agree the fact he wasnt locked up was the biggest reason Stanley moved him. Figured do that instead of Seabrooking him

Kinda like JC not like Joki to fit in his system? Or playing Gus all the minutes he does, because it fits his system? It's ok for him but not ok for Q to do it....while winning cups? Got it
- PatShart

What? That’s not what I was alluding to at all. Coaches have their own system preferences and some players fit better in that regard.

I can guarantee you Gus doesn’t break out the way he did last season offensively if Q was coaching all season.

Joki remains a prospect so who knows what’ll transpire. But right now, Colliton has the roster built the way he wants it to be and now it’s on him to put the players in the best position to succeed.

We’ll see what happens.

It's kind of what he was towards the end there and why they shipped him out. If you watched him there when he played in AZ and knew something different, that's cool. But that's why they moved him...guys coming in were passing him up the depth chart quickly amd they realized his contract was a mistake, and they moved him. Stan took a chance
- PatShart

I can’t speak for certain, but that doesn’t sound right. Chayka was trying to speed up the rebuild and bring in successful veterans that would help the young Yotes get to that next level (which they haven’t done).

As aforementioned earlier given the fact that Hammer wasn’t locked up long term it made sense that he was the one moved whether we agreed with it or not. Given the fact that he still had a couple impact years left, he had a good amount of value.

A cost-controlled d-man who was pretty young is still a steep price for any team to pay (if they aren’t crunched for cap space).

Q played Versteeg over Vermette in a playoff game. Q often had strange line ups in games 1-4 of playoff series. Like he was just trying to see what happened.

Hossa covered up a lot of Qs mistakes.

We’ll see how Q does in Florida. Just like Tallon. How good of a coach is Babcock in Toronto without Datysuk and Zetterberg ?

Coaches get too much credit sometimes . IMO

Q played Versteeg over Vermette in a playoff game. Q often had strange line ups in games 1-4 of playoff series. Like he was just trying to see what happened.

Hossa covered up a lot of Qs mistakes.

We’ll see how Q does in Florida. Just like Tallon. How good of a coach is Babcock in Toronto without Datysuk and Zetterberg ?

Coaches get too much credit sometimes . IMO
- mrpaulish

Babcock is the most overrated coach in NHL history and I will take that thought with me to the grave.

Q played Versteeg over Vermette in a playoff game. Q often had strange line ups in games 1-4 of playoff series. Like he was just trying to see what happened.

Hossa covered up a lot of Qs mistakes.

We’ll see how Q does in Florida. Just like Tallon. How good of a coach is Babcock in Toronto without Datysuk and Zetterberg ?

Coaches get too much credit sometimes . IMO
- mrpaulish

Vermette had 3a in 19gms after he came over. Maybe he needed a fire lit under him because if that's all he was going to contribute in the playoffs, it wouldn't be enough

Kurashev looks like a centre to me. Plays the position really well.

Hope the Hawks keep him there through his development.
- Tyler Cameron

I prefer Kurashev plays center as well. He has the skills, skating, defensive awareness, and 200 foot game. Not sure how he is on draws but he has shown a noticeable willingness and drive to improve.

He has mentioned on a few occasions how he wants to work more on his explosiveness so he has an additional gear to not only keep up at NHL speed but leverage it with his other strengths to compete at the highest level he can each shift.

If Bowman was fired tomorrow and the new guy was asked what he thought he was left to work with what do you think his answer would be?

I'm not Bowman's biggest fan, but I think he is doing a terrific job overhauling this team and planning for the future. There is now real depth of young kids in the forward ranks. Many wont make it but they will be given a chance to develop in Rockford. Some will be used as trade chips. Goaltending depth has been addressed. There are a bunch of defenceman on the horizon.

Every team has some bad contracts to deal with, Bowman has some responsibility for those. But I think a new GM would be excited for what he has to work with. This team doesnt have to tank in order to rebuild.
- RickJ

Great post, Rick. Wholeheartedly agree across the board.

Bickell also took very team friendly deals when he was a RFA (1yr 500k...then 3yrs 1.6mil)...which were pay cuts from his original contract. He did this while the Hawks were fighting the cap all those years.

He came in and contributed huge in Cup 2, and was a physical force for cup 3 while unknowingly battling MS

He even took less than Ryan Clowe and David Clarkson, other UFAs at the time when he probably could have took more if he left elsewhere, but wanted to stay

Not to bring facts into what Bickell did for the organization or anything
- PatShart

Exactly, that was the point I made in a previous post. The summer of 2013 had 3 power forward UFA's hit the market. Clowe signed for $4.8M x 5-years and had one decent year after he signed that deal. Clarkson signed for $5.2M x 7-years and didn't score more than 15 points in any year after signing the deal.

We now have the luxury of hindsight to see none of those deals worked out very well - but in the frenzy of the UFA signing period in the summer of 2013 - Stan actually made the best deal.

Finally had time to digest....as my 1st emotion was the poop emoji. I’ll see what he looks like at the prospect & training camps before I try to make sense out of it.

It does give me some optimism that Stan might have 1 more under the radar move we’re not seeing out there.

I’m not advocating it....well maybe a little bit, but LW Eriksson will get his bonus money 7/15. Maybe Stan has something planned like a AA, Seabrook (waives NMC), and Perlini for LW Eriksson, 3C Brandon Sutter, and RHD Stetcher. This would be almost matching AAV’s.

I’m not really a “fan” of any of them, Sutter used to be good on PK and faceoffs... and I thought both him & Eriksson were looking for a fresh start. I’m a big fan of Seabrook and his jersey, I’m guessing, will be in the rafters; but I think Stan will do his best to try and move contracts/assets if he can find willing trade partners....based on the out of left field trade of Joki.

I would really like to see Nylander on the top like with Toews and Kane. If you have a "offensive gift," you better get goals with Kane's passing and Toew's body always in front on the net. Poor poor man's Panarin on Kane's line. If you can't succeed there, his destiny is probably set not in the NHL. He wanted a situation to succeed, if he's given that, he has no more excuses.

Q played Versteeg over Vermette in a playoff game. Q often had strange line ups in games 1-4 of playoff series. Like he was just trying to see what happened.

Hossa covered up a lot of Qs mistakes.

We’ll see how Q does in Florida. Just like Tallon. How good of a coach is Babcock in Toronto without Datysuk and Zetterberg ?

Coaches get too much credit sometimes . IMO
- mrpaulish

Probably - players have to get it done, but coaches need to put them in the right positions / systems / situations to succeed.

As for Q’s strange lineups in games 1-4 of series - he must have been doing something right, considering his Blackhawk teams record in games 4-5-6 of tournament series.

Phil Jackson was a great coach with the Jordan / Pippen teams that were supposed to win. They did. But he probably would not be the coach for a rebuild.

Same with Q - he won with teams that should have won (most coaches don’t / can’t) - but not the right coach for the current Hawks. Maybe Miami...?

Don't forget you have $11 mil. in goaltending alone coming off the books next year.
- LAHawk

Possibly 6 or 7 of that for a veteran replacement and young backup?

Q played Versteeg over Vermette in a playoff game. Q often had strange line ups in games 1-4 of playoff series. Like he was just trying to see what happened.

Hossa covered up a lot of Qs mistakes.

We’ll see how Q does in Florida. Just like Tallon. How good of a coach is Babcock in Toronto without Datysuk and Zetterberg ?

Coaches get too much credit sometimes . IMO
- mrpaulish

^^^ This ^^^