Vegas Unloads On Terrible Blackhawks
We’re not going to waste much time on a full recap here. Marc-Andre Fleury allowed three goals and deserved better.
The Hawks allowed three goals in the first period.
The Hawks allowed three goals in the second period.
The Hawks allowed “only” two goals in the third period.
Here’s your sugar coating on the shit.
Dylan Strome made his Blackhawks debut, beginning the night between his best friend, Alex DeBrincat, and Patrick Kane. He actually had a pretty good night in spite of the final result. He had a good scoring chance in the first period and scored his first goal with the Hawks in the second period. Strome also added an assist on Erik Gustafsson’s third period goal to give him two points in his first game as a home skater at the United Center.
Brendan Perlini also made his Hawks debut. He skated more than 12 minutes in the game and was credited with two hits and one shot on net. He was one of eight Chicago skaters who was at least minus-two in the game.
Gustav Forsling scored the Hawks’ first goal of the night, followed by Strome in the second and Gustafsson in the third.
The Blackhawks out-shot the Golden Knights 11-9 in the first period (but were outscored 3-0). In the 40 minutes that followed, with the Hawks trying, in theory, to fight their way back into a home game, Chicago was out-shot 34-13.
The players should be embarrassed. The front office should be held accountable. The fans were booing, and it’s only a matter of time until there are noticeable empty seats at the United Center where there were once fans lining up to pay double the face value of tickets to see a championship-caliber team.
Before the game the Hawks announced defenseman Brandon Davidson will miss 6-8 weeks.
MEDICAL UPDATE: Brandon Davidson underwent surgery today on his right knee. The surgery went well and further complications are not anticipated.
The expected recovery time is six-to-eight weeks. #Blackhawks
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 28, 2018
Love it Tab lol ?
Ugh, they suck louder than Adam Burish! The difference between Keith and Seabrook and Rutta and Manning is about 9 million a year.
Sigh…
About it Tab, this is a mess and not good at all.
This 0-6-2 stretch and games like this could be the difference in another top 3/5 pick that’s will be way better then getting a 16-22 pick player.
We can still win half our games and get a pick/player like that.
2yrs and were laughing.
After Saturday’s encouraging comeback with a really good third period effort that shell shocked the Panthers, there was some hope. That hope has been extinguished. The score in the first period did not really reflect the effort the Hawks were making. Yes, Vegas had some puck luck and yes, Vegas made the Hawks pay for every mistake. But once Forsling got the Hawks within 2 early in the second, you would have thought there might be a frenzied effort. BTW, Patrick Kane needs to quit hitting people in the face with his stick. Every time he does it, the hapless PK lets in a goal and it seems like he has been doing it a lot lately. Speaking of hapless, the PP brought out the boo birds and anyone sitting at home watching their TV probably felt like booing too. Maybe some of us were.
Can we chalk this up to an aberrational night where everything went wrong? Or is this who they are? Probably both.
The players with no movement clauses might be willing to give them up at this point. They have to see that the Cup chances are done. But who is going to trade for them and take those salaries? The Hawks would have to retain huge chunks in some cases. Especially Seabrook. Maybe Toews. Keith is a $5.5 cap hit but does not receive that in actual salary anymore.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a mess on our hands.
I want want Morrison is drinking / smoking / shooting.
I’m searching for something positive … ahhh … umm … I’m going to have to get back to you.
BLS2. LOL. Morrison has to be doing at least two of the three!
This is way too ugly to watch! There are so many problems with this team, I don’t know where to start.
Love the dumpster fire, Tab!! Love it!!
Somewhere in Hinsdale, Q is laughing and counting down the days until SB gets his walking papers.
EBONYRAPTOR
End of Bowman “dynasty”????
That puts a big smile on my face :)
I think the ghost of Stan Mikita was trying to help because otherwise I cannot explain who Toews and Crawford were passing to in the first period.
Happy for Strome 1g 1a and +1 – good start to his Blackhawks career
I know with the way the Hawks played it wouldn’t have mad a difference to the final outcome but again Kane turns his back on the play in the D zone while Vegas has the puck and his man scores (the 3rd Vegas goal) – that’s 4 games in a row he’s been directly responsible for a goal against by not giving a shit in the D zone
JC called out the Hawks in his presser for lack of defensive compete – Kane is as guilty as any one
That sort of lazy bs has got to be deflating for the team from a supposed leader
Speaking of leaders Keith was probably our worst D man tonight (Forsling our best) and that’s saying something on a D corps with Manning and Rutta
And how about CC gifting Vegas a goal – wow – the core stunk it up tonight
In the first everything Vegas no doubt had some bad puck luck but how many games are the Hawks going to lay an egg in the first?
Not loving Hayden on the top line – give Perlini a look there
I meant Bowmans’
There are a few shortcomings on the Hawks we can point to which will keep them from being legitimate Cup contenders but the most troubling is defensive zone structure – players being in the right spot to defend. It seems to have gotten worse since Colliton took over so I’m going to assume it’s at least, in part, due to Colliton wanting them to play a different defensive structure than they were playing under Q, and that the players are thinking and not reacting instinctually yet. If that is the case, it usually isn’t something that can be remedied quickly in season with lack of training camp type practice time. I’m fine with changing the system but that means having to be patient with lots of losing. So be it.
Maybe there’s a method to this madness. Maybe players with NMC clauses will be happy to get traded out of town which could speed up the rebuild and at the same time tank enough to get a good draft pick. Hawks management probably isn’t that devious (or smart?) but it could work out that way even if it isn’t intentional.
Bottom line is all championship runs come to an end in a salary cap world and the Hawks run has ended. The question that remains to be answered is what needs to be done and how soon it can be accomplished. Losing games is hard to watch but it’s better in the long run than being a non-contending bubble team.
The Hawks weren’t terrible. Crow was, once again. Fleury played like an elite goaltender in first period, while Crow played like a rookie. The first period demoralized the team, is all.
JC should put Ward in the net next game. He did a much better job than Crow– he was at least average. Can’t say the same about Crow.
Wraparound
Good call on Kane. Ive been noticing that too. I see him constantly floating around the dzone looking to charge up the ice but rarely has a man covered.
The young kids are impressionable. What do you think this tells them? Ive wondered if this is why Schmaltz pulled up constantly to avoid a hit.
Kane is now a leader. He has to be better in the dzone.
Stan ( Not the Man ) Bowman replaced a future HOF coach with a no NHL experienced coach. He’s using the same(Puck Possession ) system , and same players.What is this coach going to do to get different results . Blend the lines every period? The Vaunted Puck Possession System is more noticeable on the power play.They possess the puck so well , that they don’t get any shots on net.They need to get a new system and draft players for that system. Right now they are playing the Limbo game. HOW LOW CAN THEY GO?
Only drinks and good drugs/marijuana.
Belushi or Farley were doing that.
What I donot get is why people think we wont get back to a top team/in 2yrs.
This is exactly what transition yr means/looks like, at times. Last yr and this yr.
Actually this reality check by the Hawks is actually reality. The roster that Stan has pieced together is awful.
After they fired Q on Election Day, McDonough and Stan said this IS a playoff team.
That is false !
This past Saturday, Stan Bowman told the Athletic, the Hawks need to get to .500 then go on a run like Buffalo ( 10 wins in a row ). That’s unrealistic and not possible with this roster. Somebody call Bryan Muir, Jamie Allison and Burke Henry to see if they are available on defense. Same quality if you will.
What this team truly needs is exactly what’s happening, a thorough cleansing for the hockey world to see. Sell, sell sell at the deadline.
Draft and Develop.
Wrap I can’t agree with you more. Been saying it here too. Kane needs to play some defense or sit his expensive behind. I was hoping Keith could at least be helpful to the kids this year and then get sold at the TD, but based on his play this year a 3rd rounder might more than anyone would give. He is putting some serious tarnish on his career right now. And I also agree that Perlini seems like an obvious choice for some first line time.
I thought our PP couldn’t look any worse, and then tonight happened.
Tab’s picture says it all.
Let’s see if there is a response on Thursday. Of any kind. A hit. Some effort. A good first period.
Boy- the dumpster was the best part of the night! Again no coverage in Ontario ( thank Goodness!) but stats say alit ( even Tab used the +/- to point out Hiw Keith and others sucked tonight!
But when your “ELITE” players ( Kane, Toews, Saad!) DONT score- the latter 2 NOT even a shot on net- your chances of winning plummet!!
Yes Strome a bright spot, D-zone play NO better ( maybe worse!) Is this a coaching issue, motivational issue, skills issue, system- wide issue (or ALL 4?)
Stan’s noose couldn’t be tighter! Hell, Hextall now available ( but so are some chimpanzees!)
Sad state of affairs… fans SHOULD stay away- send the message Wirtz needs to see!!
Bad business decisions have consequences. The Hawks have been trying to stay one step in front of the salary cap hounds for the past 7 or 8 years. They managed to win 2 more Cups because they had an elite core of players and had some luck staying relatively healthy. But every off season it was more a matter of trying to minimize the negative impact of the salary cap moves than it was trying to make the team stronger. Shrewd moves and some luck was the recipe and when the moves didn’t pan out and the good luck turned to bad it meant the winning would not be sustainable.
It started with the Toews and Kane signings in the summer of 2014, right after they lost to LA in the WCF. Salary Cap projections were already starting to be tempered after having been wildly high through the early months of 2014. But Stan signed T&K to $10.5M max deals the summer before their (then) current deals expired. The Hawks went on to win the 2014/15 Cup on the last year of T&K deals paying them $6.3M. The Salary Cap didn’t go up anywhere close to what the early projections were and The Hawks had $21M tied up in 2 players and were in Salary Cap hell from that point forward. Was it a mistake for Stan to sign them a year early to the highest contracts in league history when the inside people already knew the cap wasn’t go up as much as predicted? I don’t know – but he did and here we are.
Two other deals are worth considering – Bickell and Seabrook. Bickell was signed for $4M for 4 years and before the end of the next season he was having health issues and Stan ended up trading Teuvo just to offload Bickell’s salary. I suppose that can be racked up to bad luck but Bickell’s $4M would have been easier to carry if Stan hadn’t blown the wad on T&K. It cost the Hawks Teavo who scored 64 points last season.
Finally Seabrook. The question is do you pay a player for past production or for future production. It seems Stan gave Seabrook almost $7M for 8 years with a NMC because of past service which is a fine and honorable thing to do for a hero of the Cup wins, but it has consequences and those consequences are impacting the team we have this year and the inability to improve the team enough to be a contender again.
None of the moves Stan has made, both good and bad, should be looked at in isolation – it is a continuum with each move influenced by previous moves. Therefore assessing individual moves is not as important or accurate than assessing current status and current status is the mess we’ve been watching on the ice this season.
The question Rocky should ask himself is whether he trusts the person responsible for the current mess to make the decisions necessary to fix it. I know what my answer would be.
GLENNHALL61,
Toews actually looked like the only vet who gave a damn, regardless of no shots on net. He made some nice plays that just weren’t finished.
The vets I have issues with in this game are Crow (absolutely terrible), Kane (pathetic defensive effort, looked disinterested 70% of the time), and Keith.
I would love to see STAN’S “5 year plan”!!!
Like any great business plan he has to answer the W5 and H!
WHY do Hawks need to change- ( we could answer this!)
WHAT does he ( and his superiors!) want this team to BE POST Kane-Toews-Seabrook-Keith-Crawford ERA?
WHEN will it start to take place and be achieved?
WHERE will they go for talent? including coaching!
WHO is ultimately accountable for implementing??
Then HOW are they going to get there? What’s the plan STAN??
Right now it seems to be a bandaid approach to keep his job, changing daily, and with NO clear vision – at least for the fans to see?
I think Kane has the right to do whatever he wants on the ice. Bowman”s taken away Panarin and now Schmaltz who compliment his game. We brought back Saad for Toews who should have never left for AA . And Schmaltz was building chemistry until Q started to put him on the wing. Strome looks like Handzus at 36 years of age!!!
To let Bowman trade away those veterans will be chaos. He will ger nothing in return and he should not be allowed to do so. Those are Tallon’s guys who brought us 3 cups. He has screwed everything up by giving big contracts to guys like Kruger, Bickell and Rosy on D!!! He had Danault younger and cheaper yet he trades him away for two additional 4th line players? It was the beginning of his downfall. Teuvo gone, the Panarin trade, the Hammer trade and firing the coach’s best friend…Bowman is an arrogant GM who has no idea how to build a hockey team. And he and his father need to go. If one of those vets gets traded and he keeps his job, I think many of us will leave for awhile. We all remember the JR, Belfour, Chelios fiascos! Nothing in return…Decade of poor hockey. Last night was a glimpse into it. And Jack Hughes is not a solution. Neither is Strome. The Caps have only one Cup because the Pens have 3 but the roster has always been updated with prospects.
I’ve been preparing myself for the bad times that were sure to come… but getting smacked in the mouth still hurts like hell. It looks like we’re riding the time machine back to 2004.
Each season the Caps, Pens, Hawks, Kings, Sharks, Bruins for instance would finish pretty high inn standings, it did not prevent them from building a roster intelligently.
Take 2011 for instance, Hawks have Toews, Sharp, Bolland and a young Kruger at center. What does Bowman do at the draft? He picks two centers in Danault and McNeil. Why 2 centers? Why not a winger or a dman? And where has the philosphy gone with Bowman? Small, light players can play in the NHL? Of course they can if your name is Kane!!! But you watch those CUP teams of the Hawks, the Bruins, the Pens, the Kings, and the Caps last year, and tell me what they all had in common? Speed combined with size and skill. With one or two smallish players but the majority of those rosters had some weight and speed. Now we have the Cat, the Kahun, the Sikura, etc…. and our 4 dmen high draft picks the last 2 seasons are all under 6 feet tall? I would have liked a winger like Tkachuk in a Hawks uniform instead of a Sens? DId you see the Vegas defence last night? That is Vegas, not the Preds who have one small dman named Ryan Ellis, that’s it. This is Bowman’s mess. And the moves he has done the last two seasons with free agents is embarassing to say the least. Did we need a 34 year old backup goalie at 3million? No! Manning for 2 years?
oh btw, last year’s Rockford playoff team was made up of NHL rejects. Apart from another epic slow forward in Edjsell, the rest where all ex-NHL journeymen. Sikura did not play, Hayden had not impact, and Jeff Glass had to step in as goalie.
Knott and Iacobelli, both 3rd round picks no where to be seen last year or this year.
I just remembered the Kevin Hayes fiasco? Has he done anything right Mr. Stan?
I had a bad feeling about this game last night and not only arrived at the UC late(which almost never happens), but left after seeing enough at the end of the 2nd(has happened rarely). It just wasn’t worth wasting my time watching a team that had pretty much accepted defeat as they skated off with shoulders hunched and heads hanging.
Hawks were out skated, out hustled, out classed. Simply a pathetic and not acceptable performance, especially on UC ice. This shit show that blew up last night has been simmering now for awhile. Add another poor start to the growing list of games where this Hawks team is simply is not prepared to play at a level necessary to be competitive. The Knights just dominated with better team speed and strength and poured it on.
Colliton really has a massive challenge to keep this Hawks ship from going belly up. The team leaders are on call as well. Toews at least gave an honest post mortem assessment and manned up by taking lots of questions. Colliton appeared to be in shock with his post game recap. It was a jarring experience to see this Hawks team get beat that bad at home.
The rest of the league is watching and will give this Hawks team no mercy. Road games at Jets and Preds to close out the week. Time to buck up boys or face more blow outs like last night. Yikes, the darkness approaches.
Dare I say?
Let’s Go Hawks!
My mistake, Knott was #54, a 2nd round pick!!!
As I started to say last year-this team need to start to think about this team post Hall of Famers, not what can be done to magically patch the holes to keep the aging core happy, and win another Cup. Cups need timing, luck and a vision.
is this team that close-no 2 to 3 years off (at least) and the core will be in the 33 to 39 age range.
All moves that get this team better (at the right time) need to be considered.
And can we move on from the Hayden experiment, he is a 4th line player on any playoff team.
20 19 12 (and please can SAAD play left wing)
11 17 88 (and please can Kane play right wing)
The rest of the roster makes no difference. No talent!
And if JC starts benching any of the vets like Q did which caused him to lose the room, then Kane will definetly want out of the Bowman household and head back to Buffalo at 30 years old and win 2-3 more cups.
Go Hawks!
Fire Bowman!
wow
just wow
no other words
If AA is going to play wing, why not put him with Toews instead of Hayden, brings offence needed for top line. If Kane stays with 17 and 12 not convinced yet on that being the right spot.
Kahun and Kampf with AA actually looked not bad.
Faceoffs still an issue, Strome 6 of 15 and Kampf and Kruger both under 30% on the night. Toews only one dependable there.
Team defence another story.
Sell Sell Sell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But- This is a Playoff team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with you Sven. Keith is the one that has been horrible and Crawford was extra bad. What the H was Rutta doing on that 4th goal. He stood there and watched the Vegas player go to the net untouched.
That was a lot of puck luck for Vegas . Crow did not stand a chance on 3 goals ,.,.,put that behind us .
Tab – outstanding video!!!!
Dunlop – spot on re: Q in Hinsdale (and local equine parlors hanging out)
The most important reason to relieve Bowman of his duties is to ensure (if the no trade contract players decide to waive so they can go to a contender) that the best possible trades are made for them. Bowman has proven for three solid years he is incompetent as far as NHL player related trades and free agent signings. He cannot be trusted to trade away whoever decides to leave for fair value to improve the team. It never should have gotten to this point if the roster was generally managed properly; not necessarily long playoff runs every year, but being a consistent playoff team even on the lower end.
Good day.
P.S. Although it’s not in all of our DNA, the only way Bowman will get fired is if the Hawks not only keep losing, but not showing much of a pulse like last night. Based upon what McDonough when Q was fired that the roster is “a playoff team” and then if you get in “anything can happen,” the sorry product on the ice should help seal Bowman’s fate.
So those of us (the vast majority) who want Bowman fired have to root for the Hawks to keep losing, and from the looks of their upcoming schedule, that looks more likely than not.
AA needs to be traded. If Stan would have traded him we would have had Schmaltz playing center with Kane like last year. 52 POINTS! We could have gotten a prospect or a pick for him…rid of his salary and then sign a real free agent.
Btw, Strome lost a draw against Ryan Reeves??? Now if that was NICK, everyone would have been on his case. The only good face off guys the HAWKS have ever had are Toews, Bolland, Vermette and Brad Richards. AA, Kruger, Schmaltz and now Strome below average.
There is one thing that is making everything else worse. It is systemic and therefore can be fixed – defensive zone coverage. Fixing defensive zone coverage, alone, doesn’t fix this team, but not fixing defensive zone coverage means all the other weaknesses are magnified. Gifting the opponent a goal or two or three gives them energy and momentum where they can attack and puts the Hawks back on their heels where they can not play to their strengths.
If/when the Hawks play solid man to man defense and eliminate the breakdowns that give the opponent open uncontested shots – they will still have a lousy PP, and they will still be a physically weak team, and they will still have a bunch of 5/6/7 d-men, and they will still have a mish mash of quasi-NHL level talent on their forward lines – but they would be able to compete and not be spanked the way they were last night.
I don’t know if fixing defensive zone coverage is possible without a training camp – it is probably not with the limited practice time during the season. So this is probably going to get only marginally better through the rest of the season.
Here is an analysis of SB performance.
https://www.barstoolsports.com/chicago/a-stan-bowman-performance-review-blog-2/
EB i think fixing the defensive zone coverage means the veterans have to buy into it and play it right. Toews seems to be only one doing so, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, AA and even Saad seem to spend alot of time out if position running around or watching. The young guys especially Fortin who i hope for, seems to want to be more Kane in defensive zone and have someone feed him a breakaway pass rather than help out defensively, all are taking this approach. Until the leaders buy into it, tough to get much improvement.
The Knights schooled the Hawks on effort, quickness, and defensive coverage and play by the d-men—not even close.
These one offs happen, (remember how they crushed Washington last year) let’s see how they respond-they aren’t a playoff team but that was an AHL team against an NHL team.
Also JC has been practicing the team more than Q would have – understandably to get a new D system in place and hopefully do something with that embarrassment of PP
but I wonder if…
A) the team was a bit tired – they practiced some the day of yesterday’s game – not just a morning skate and/or…
B) some of the veterans are sulking a bit at not having the same amount of time off that Q gave and now Schmaltz traded and therefore not really buying in to doing their utmost to make the transition from Q to JC
If B) is in any way true (and I suspect it may be in part) they need to give their head a shake – they’re supposed to be pros
Hull65, that’s a good call out on Strome cleanly losing an important draw in Hawks zone to of all people Ryan frick’n Reaves that resulted in a goal. Are there no people in the vast Hawks system that are consistently good at faceoffs? If so bring em up, and give them a shot. If not draft someone.
ER makes a good point regarding team defense. Systems and responsibilities can be learned, but players have to buy in and commit to working hard at reducing scoring chances. This deficiency has been growing over the past few years. It makes sense that with less talented players the quality goes down on both ends of the ice, but certain players are good defensive players on this team when they want to be. Perhaps we need to step back and watch to see if JC can get this worked out with the players he has available. Winning faceoffs also helps a lot. It seems that most teams play heavy puck pressure defense in their own end, whereas the Hawks have been passive in comparison. Not sure why that is? If the Hawks could cut out 4-5 opposition wide open slot scoring opportunities a game(which is what they seem to give up), Crows job would be quite a bit less painful. This is something that can get better if the players commit. If Hawks players would at least try and put some bodies on opposing players and finish checks good things could happen. Lots of what ifs.
Let’s Go Hawks!
DREWP1033– excellent read… thx
No GM gets it right- all the time… but even an idiot like me– saw the Bickell/TT deal as Horrible, add letting go of the Only good player From Rockford (Danault)
and lastly the “straw that broke the camel’s Back” Seabrook signing – all as Horrible moves
They were all HUGE mistakes- that even an Idiot like me saw and called from day 1
Lastly- is the FAT lie- that SB/McD- keep selling- This is a Playoff team!!!???
Stop it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sell- Crow/AA/Keith and or Seabs… anything that can relieve Cap/and or get High Picks or prospects back
Dumpster Fire!
That was my point about vision – in 2012-2013 it should have been obvious that the “Hall-of-Famers” contracts would bloat, as their skill levels diminished- normal occurrence ….THAT’S when you nap out the future- who’s going, who’s staying and what does the team look like/need in 2017/18?! Obviously this wasn’t done! Or it was done with morons because the pieces of the puzzle aren’t fitting?! No contingency plan ( no obvious one anyway?!) and now Bowman is “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic”!!
Fans deserve more! The players deserve better! And “Q” should NOT have been the scapegoat!
I think we are likely the easiest team in the league to play against. Any team that puts in a decent effort can come out with two points, without having to pay much of a price. We are the pinata on everyone’s schedule.
April 23,2017:
AND I QUOTE:
Bowman said he was “frustrated and angry” at the team’s first-round playoff sweep at the hand of the Predators and pledged to make the necessary changes in an attempt to avoid such a “complete failure” next season.
Bowman, speaking at the Hawks’ end-of-season news conference at the United Center, would only guarantee that coach Joel Quenneville would be back. Beyond that, a somber Bowman said he would not rule making sweeping changes to the roster if that is what an internal review of the season concludes.
WTF happened STAN??
Best GIF ever. So true.
Very sad to see all the top picks now on other teams. How does a fan base rally behind the new, up and coming players when there are none? I don’t like the Schmaltz trade. He should never have been playing wing – he’s not that type of player to forecheck, win board battles and keep the D looking over their shoulders. He needed players like a Ladd, Brouwer, Bickell to create space. Stan provided none. When you put little people from Nintendo Ice Hockey as your wingers, the physical teams like Nashville, St. Louis, Washington, Colorado, will eat you up. Stan doesn’t seem to understand that yes, hockey is getting faster, but the rink isn’t expanding, so the players need to have physical play as part of the skill set.
I’ll say this, I’ve seen enough of Ruuta and Manning to last a lifetime. Can’t believe the pay both receive for their play. Unacceptable. And though Gustafsson is a skilled player and has nice vision, he is a defensive liability. In addition, with all the “why doesn’t Schmaltz shoot more”, that should be asked of Gustafsson. There are so many times he passes when he has a clear shot. And when he does take a slapper from the point, guaranteed he misses the net. He couldn’t hit the side of a barn.
Wall don’t forget gifting Johns to Dallas in the Sharp trade.
And add to that putting Hino under the tree for Arizona to take the Hossa contract so we could create some cap space that we used on…..NOBODY!
As far as Bowman saying Q wanted some of the crappy free agents he signed, coaches generally tell GMs what system they are running and what types of guys they think they need, but not who to get. I don’t think he could have set out to make our team any worse than he did with the off season acquisitions that were made this past year.
At practice today Perlini with Toews/Saad
Kampf between Hayden/Kahun
AA (on 4th line where he belongs) between Kruger/Martinsen
So there’s that
Wrap seeing different line combos on a daily basis may be normal thing for a big part of this season, unfortunately.
Tough year but having patience and hope it works out for the better is about all that i can do. The mixed messages coming from the front office aren’t helping.
Going through these comments its great to see the talk, but at least stay on course. I thought Strome had a good first game playing with Kane and the cat. 2 points is a bright spot in this blowout. The hawks depth on D is on the way, and its evident that they need it. Hull you said it yourself you need a mix of big forwards and d to create space while also having smaller faster players, and as far as forwards go they’re on the way there. People complain about the lack of speed for Strome, but also say we need to get bigger which is what Strome does, he a big skilled center mixed with the faster Kane and Dcat. That line was great. It’s not like Strome is the new Brunette, he can keep up, just doesn’t have blazing speed which is made up for by Kane and Dcats quickness
On defense they need more size for sure, but not Seabrook size, they need size that can at least be a bit mobile. We’ve already drafted Boqvist, Beaudin, and Jokiharju.
This year we must embrace the suck and hope for Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko, or other forwards high in this draft like Cozens and Podkolzin.
I still don’t know how McDounagh can stand up and say that this is a playoff team but that’s beside the point. We cant change what has been done with Bowmans horrid management, with all the bad trades and firing Q. Now we just should hope Q gets fired, Colliton can succeed and coach this team into being good in a few years, and hope that we win the draft lottery this summer. However, I do like this Schmaltz trade, he looked lazy and unmotivated the past few weeks, and like I’ve said Strome looked to fit nice with Kane and his buddy Dcat. Perlini I’m not sold on yet, but I hope he turns out alright.
Also Strome is a 56% face off guy just under JT. Hull I know the loss to Reaves was brutal, but he’s no slouch on the draws.
Strome was 40.3% and 43% his first 2 seasons on faceoffs. This season in a he is up to 58% mostly in a bottom 6 role where he may not have been up against the top faceoff guys. Hopefully his improvement is as good as it seems but time will tell on that.
McD can say this is a playoff team because he is a marketing guy – a salesman. His expertise is selling snow to an Eskimo. He is selling hope to the faithful for the express purpose of keeping money coming in to the Hawks coffers. That’s his job first and foremost. The actual product on the ice only matters in so much as it affects the bottom line. McD probably doesn’t know the nuances of hockey any more than most fans, if that, so any comment from him regarding the on ice expectations of the team should only be looked at through the prism of how it affects the business side of the operation.
Hard to argue with everyone’s frustration. But keep in mind that you can’t just plug-‘n-play a new coach and two new players, while removing one, with instant results. No doubt Bowman has made more bad than good decisions, but withhold judgement on the latest trade for a reasonable period.
Murphy will soon return but it may take a few weeks before he is up to speed. He and the developing Jokiharju can help to stabilize our awful D.
As this is not a playoff season, the best we can hope for are a lot of competitive one or two-goal losses with several in OT. We trade AA for a prospect/pick, package Seabrook with another player/prospect (just reality) to get his contract off the books, etc. Then we make a smarter first round draft pick than Arizona always does and use cap space for an elite goalie (veteran or prospect) and other needs.
Have never had a high opinion of Bowman, but if this latest trade, with other moves to come, are for the better, I will not be calling for his head. I still like the two D-men he drafted in the first round, even though we will not know how this turns out for possibly 3-4 years.
Well said, Trip Forever! Bowman didn’t realie or was just too lay and arrogant to realize that teams were building their roster in the image of the HAWKS. Fast and skilled combined. The wingers that won those cups paved the way for Kane, Versteeg, and Sharp. BUFF, LADD, BROUWER, BICKELL, HOSSA, EAGER, KOPECKY, FROLIC, STALBERG, for example. Look at the KINGS, the BRUINS, The PENS, The CAPS? So, what was he watching? Is he trying to reinvent hockey? Small forwards are the future…Not on the ice surface if the rest of the league has big players who can skate and have skill combined. Why did the LEAFS not get to the final? Maybe like the Bolts they are too smallish on the wings?
Good points Hull about other teams modeling after the Hawks, that’s exactly what happened. I think the Leafs problems start at D. They may have the strongest forward core in the league without Nylander.
Anyways AA and Seabs should be shipped out by the end of this season.
ER I get McD isn’t a hockey guy and has to say that we’re a playoff team to look better, but it just makes him look so unintelligent and makes SB look stupid. Why fire Q if you think you have a playoff team, why trade a more established player in Schmaltz for 2 unestablished players. Who knows
Anyways I hope they continue to have some competitive games, and develops young guys like Jokiharju, Strome, Perlini, Kahun, and Forsling. But come summer this franchise might improve instantly with a Jack Hughes who is the real deal, but until then we can just hope they are competitive.
100% agree, Hull65. And when you have such a small sized team – physically those players will get worn down because other teams are tee-ing off on them. I recall Paul Kariya’s Hall of Fame speech, where he thanked Steve Rucchin for “going into the corners” and “doing the dirty work”. Now, Kariya was a winger, but he had Rucchin, a bigger guy with skill, to help clear space. You’re 100% correct – teams emulated the Hawks because of their perfect mix of skill and size.
Or, Stan needs to find wingers that can also be physical – not just being 6′ 4″. (Eric Daze was a giant who never checked anyone), but I think of even Andrew Shaw – a smaller player, but knew how to be physical and combined it with some skill. He also was hard to play against. Other than Saad and maybe Towes, who’s hard to play against on this team?
Ian, if Strome was 55 or better as a 3rd line center and did less then 50 at 2nd line.
Then its the same thing as 15 and 8 when they did bad or good.
Its who your going against is whats making the difference.
That said if hes a 50% guy on 2nd line competition and 55 on 3rd line competition then hes going to be good.
Not sure why people are more mad at a 8-3 loss then a 4-2 loss against top 5 teams.
In order to get another top 3 pick like BoQ we need to do exactly what were doing.
Its the best way to reload, draft develope.
If any of the core guys arnt good in 2yrs, then trade them. Your not getting a 3rd for Keith, then why. Didn’t Kempny get a 3rd or something. If your thinking that way then you mide as well sign guys as ufas and trade them for 3rds each yr, if 3rd rd picks are going to get you to a top 5 team.
Its these steals we get like 12 and BoQ and others, that are coming, that will get us there not trading everybody in sight.
Were doing exactly what best to reload. Sucking in half the games so we can get a better wave. The rst will take care of itself. Donot even half to answer the questions, they answer themselves.
If we really want Highes, then isint everything Bowman and crew, the players who are sucking/arnt as good as you want for certain positions, ufas we did last summer and this summer the perfect recipe to get a chance at a top 3 pick. Crow had one bad game, give me a break after how well hes played/hes back. Maybe he wants to pitch in to get that top 3 pick/for a chance at hughes. Like how we 88.
20/19/24
72/Hughes/88
12/17/11
84/62/40
or Stone instead of Breadman
Defense is already on the way.
Q: What do you call a center who can’t win face-offs?
A: A left wing.
Left wing, power forward star Brady Tkachuk would have looked nice drafted 3rd overall by the HAWKS this year. Looks like he may win the Calder for the Sens.
Mo- I think you need to define “we”. Even if the Hawks have the best odds to get the number 1 pick, there’s still an 80% chance they don’t. We as fans fans might embrace the suck. But management won’t because that probably means their job. I personally would also embrace not seeing an old fart dress up like it’s halloween for a “last shift”. Let them drop the puck, we clap, and be done. Gotta be a Mcdoughnut brainstorm.
For those that are pining for Stan to be fired. Who do you like to replace him? Who do you want to do the hiring? Yzerman isnt happening, so don’t bring him up.
Hull, you realize the Hawks had the 7th overall pick. A team like the Sens wasn’t going to trade that pick. I’m all for throwing shit against the wall and see what will stick in the name of hockey fodder…but at least make it a reasonable discussion. Mcdavid would look pretty good right now too. Too bad the Hawks didn’t have the number 1 pick that year either.
Mo fantastic points and a great read.
I’d say we did get Hughes I would be hesitant to play him with Kane since they are very similar players besides Hughes being maybe more of a straight line skates with blistering speed North/South. I would consider using Hughes at a 1 or 2 slot center and moving Toews down to 3 behind Strome. And don’t forget Dylan Sikura and Ejdsell are other players that might be full time next year along with free agents like bread man. I would be hesitant to all split up Kane and bread man if he came back but I would think forwards would look like this.
72-Hughes-95
12-17-88
20-19-40
84-64-24
Mo thats my point hope he has improved on faceoffs and doesn’t go back to 40- 43% he was before this season.
A top forward pick and big forward fa signing and Strome, Perlini become keepers with Sikura and Kahun plus one or 2 of other prospects arrive, forwards look alot better. Defense is going to get deeper. A quality big defenseman can be added too if needed. Behind Crawford needs some development or work. Nalimov signed a tryout with a KHL team, hopefully develops some more this year and can help.
Yea I know you meant that. I was just repeating agreeing/saying the same thing.
We are going to be a lot better in 10mths with what we know were adding.
I want to be deep in 2yrs.
It could all come together with a top 3 pick just the way thing are going/the way were doing it, like the temps ufas we ‘wanted’ last summer and this summer.
How do you tank without throwing games, you have those kind of guys (nothing against them) which means we donot have 6 NHL defensemen and guys like Knutz and Martinesen in the lineup.
That’s pretty genius if planned.
To me were not trying until we get a 81 and 4 back (not players as good just an elite FW and D man). Then were talking.
Hold back then release all at once, with the good wave coming.
Some of you remind me of how I feel when my spouse is excited about an upcoming lottery with her single $2.00 ticket.
She is so excited I hate to break her enthusiasm by reminding her of the odds. I just hold my tongue and let her enjoy.
Of course I know she is crazy but deep down I can’t help but share in her hope.
We won with 88.
Lucky that PIT is stupid and picked someone else.
Ian, how are 64 and 62 at faceoffs. I know they havnt played 82 games or 41 in 41 yet.
Krugs was terrible his first yr, like 45 or 43, then he was awesome every yr after like 56-57% until the cheap f-er. Same for those guys or whoever we have in 2 yrs from now on the 23man.
BLS2 can the Blackhawks build another dynasty with the current core, no thats a once in a lifetime accomplishment. Just look at the Oilers, Habs, Isles and how long they have been wirking on doing a rebuild. Can they reload and be a good team who can be a contender for another cup with the current core, definitely. Thats my opinion anyways.
Mo Johnson was 50% on faceoffs in games he played. Kampf struggled a bit this year at 46.8% down from his 50%+ last year. Seems to have a good game then a real bad one. Hopefully he gets it together, should be ok, same for Strome like you saying just find his feel for faceoffs after a couple of years like Kruger.
Tripping into Fantasy Land – let’s say the Hawks are fortunate enough to get Jack Hughes in the draft AND fortunate enough to sign Panarin. It’s likely Hughes plays wing, at least to start his NHL career – so maybe something like this:
Saad-Toews-Hughes
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
DCat-Strome-Sikura
Perlini-Kampf-Fortin/Hayden
Don’t say anything … I don’t want to wake up yet.
This team isn’t 10/12 months away. The young D are at least 2 years away. Crawford will be 34, turning 35 next year-and turning 36 the year after. There is a certain point in any athlete where it just gets worse. Where’s the next goalie?
7 will be slower and Keith, even this freak of nature will be 36-37.
Even two superstars like Toews and Kane can’t carry the enormous uphill load, and even they will (if they haven’t already) plateau and start to decline.
Reality isn’t always pretty and sometimes hitting the floor needs to happen. Believe me I’d rather be very optimistic. The tough times are OK, they need to occur.
As a fan I got more than I ever could have expected from 09-16
I think we can win 4th Cup.
Maybe wo 7 and some others.
Crow could be good until 40, Thomas was.
Its not ideal, we can be deep again and be there/2yrs.
Good thing is cap will keep other top 5 teams close.
Once we get a 81 and 4 back and good players are NHL ready were going to be good, with older core players. Made some trades and get young/prime yrs core players. Then some of these guys arnt so old.
Look at BOS, they might not be top 5 but there close with just 4or5 young guys being NHL ready. We have that coming.
It doesn’t look good roster wise, but that’s changing a lot in 10 and 22 mths from now.
Besides this Hughes guy, is there 4or5 top6 elite FW in this draft. So if were top 5ish pick we get one.
Seriously were adding two top 6 FW this summer and we have maybe 4 top 4 D with the Four Horsemen. Going off of ER FWs.
Saad-Toews-top 5 pick
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
DCat-Strome-Sikura
Perlini-Kampf-Fortin/Hayden
Keith/Buckaroo
Buckaroo2/Buckaroo3
Buckaroo4/Forsling/Murphy/FA
Crow
I think it gets good fast/2yrs.
The quickness of this “retool” depends on the defense old and young. Can Seabs and Duns continue to be serviceable long enough for 28 to become a beast and Boq, Beaudin, and Mitchell to get ready. 28 stepping in this year gives me hope Boq and maybe Beaudin will be ready next year, at least Boq.
If we get this top 5 forward and the situation on D improves dramatically we will be ready in 10/12 months to go on a run. I would also look for a goalie that’s a 2nd or 3rd rounder in this years draft to look at due to our weak pipeline and an aging crow.
Noonan this team doesn’t have to be 12 months away from a cup run next year. It has to be 18 months away from aa cup run next year. That may make a big difference, especially to the developnent of the young defence. Also Mitchell will be ready next year too.
There is a young goalie Spencer Knight i think is his name who the scouts say looks like a future star, probably go in the 2nd rd. and be somebody to watch for at draft.
Best logo in sports ! ,.,.,Now that`s something to build on .
Now JC thinks AA is a left winger??? What is wrong with these coaches. He is a 3rd line center at best but a center for sure. He is already slow imagine him chasimng Wheeler on the wing? Now time for experiemnts JC…This why the team looks out of sorts.
Left Center Right
11 19 12
20 17 88
24 15 40
84 64 ?
Once again nothing has changed bottom 9 very week. And the reality is, top six not as scary as many top six of the CAPS, PENS, PREDS, JETS, LEAFS, etc… NO HOSSA in prime and no SHARP in prime.
How did Buffalo land Skinner from Hurricanes?
Apart from the great 88 who drives our offence, not much there in top six either compared to the big contenders in NHL. Wait until JC sees the size and speed of the JETS, a GM who buillt his team like Tallon did with the HAWKS. SIZE and SPEED combined…Maybe one smallish playmaking player up front like Kyle Connor, the rest….well JC will find out as Strome comes to the bench after his first shift wondering if he would rather skate in AHL or NHL. Number 12 will not be seen in the Jet (BOBBY HULL) stream!
Duncan Keith kills our momentum every game! You don’t have to be the best team on he ice to win, but when your star defensemen gives up or scores for the other team, it deflates the entire squad. Stan please get rid of Keith! In the words of Carlos Zambrano, “We Stinks!”.
Get rid of Keith? He has to make passes to bottom six forwards whose IQ’s total less than Keith’s number 2!
Do we want to see more ice time for 23, 22, 56, 42, 44? Let’s be honest, 2 and 7 can still play, the rest of the blueline makes them look bad everytime they are paired up with these guys. Play 2 and 7 together and let Stan watch free agents and late drafted dmen perform…Oh wait, here comes Connor Murphy….he’ll get here, just give him a few hours…..slow…???
On a more constructive note, Dudley and Tallon, Hockey people who actually played hockey and were not just accountants, pegged out guys like Versteeg from Boston and Sharp from the Flyers in the AHL because their NHL teams were loaded at the time up front. So, they pulled off trades that made the HAWKS CUP wiiners! So, instead of, as Stan says and I quote, “We now got two NHL bodies for Nick Schmaltz”, how about looking at the CAPS, LEAFS, Bolts farm system for example and see which 1st, 2nd or 3rd round picks can be had for a minor league trade? XXXX Flames beat Stan to the punch by getting Dman Neilson from LEAFS a few days ago. This is where pro scouting needs to be up to par. But since Dudley and Bergevin left, Pierre Gauthier and whoever is there has failed…What idiotic GM would take back Jeremy Morin, what 2-3 times. If you want to rebuild on the go because you have no farm system, then try getting high drafted players who may or may not get a chance with their NHL teams. Players like Martin Jones, Thomas Hickey, Ty Rattie, and now Yaskin in WASHINGTON? Just a thought.
Forsling has been the best D since he’s come back. Keith has been bad regardless of what forwards are in front of him. Play D first, then move the puck.
The Leafs are in need of D. If they thought Andrew Neilsen was the answer theyd have kept him.
Jaskin 284 gp- 64 points- Pass
Rattie 62 gp- 23 points- will turn 26 in 2 months. Pass
Hickey- will be effing 30!
Martin Jones was never drafted… so try again
Hawks tried the whole taking a flier on a former high pick with Panik. He was a flash in the pan and now he’s a routine scratch. Of all people I thought you’d be loving the trade. The Hawks got 2 former first round picks who were drafted 3rd and 12th overall from Canadian junior. Both also have size. So what gives? Just like to bitch and find something to complain about?
KUDOS to Sidney Crosby!!! Doesn’t matter how many AHL wingers play on his line last night or past undrafted free agents like Dale Kunitz or the last pick of a draft like Hornquist, he still scores a HAT TRICK!!! Unbelievable.!!!! Still best player in the league although McDavid and McKinnon are fighting for the new crown!
KUDOS to our own Illinois native Ryan Hartman scoring his 7th goal of the season tuesday night. Big win for the Yotes as well with Schmaltzy geting 3 shots on net as a center.
Who are the top FW after the skinny and tiny Hughes.
Hughes 170
Kakapo 195
Dach 200
Cozens 180
Turcotte 190
Boldly 175
Podkolzin 190
Lavoie 190
Krebs 180
Who’s the guys we would want.
Just goes to show where you’re drafted doesn’t mean squat. Hornqvist was a 30 goal scorer and has scored 20 goals every year except the lockout. He played the first 5 years of his NHL career without Crosby. Numbers are almost identical. Not bad for the last pick of the 05 draft…and he’s a European! Gasp!
It’s close between 2nd-8th pick.
Being in the hardest division actually helps in more ways then one.
Sure but I want a top 5 guy, that’s going to be good, and another Debrincat/at the 30th area.
Was talking to Hull and his incessant need to acquire washed up 1st or 2nd round Canadian drafted players. Hows Henrik Samuelsson?
Cool man.
You always have good ideas, just adding.
Ian thanks for the info on the goalie, somebody to look at. 7 cant play anymore the best D have been 28 and 42 and 2 is still serviceable.
To all the “we should have never traded Darling” or “We should have traded Crawford and kept Darling” fans….Darling is on waivers.
Mo I think we need a winger now that we have acquired Strome though we just need forwards in general. I would have Kakko right after Hughes and then Cozens. Podkolzin also intrigues me as a big two way scorer. The Canadians are all pretty much similar besides Dach and Cozens being two big guys who can drive and finish. I am not really sold on Turcotte and other Canadians. Lavoie is interesting due to his height and weight, his build is like Petterssons but plays a more physical game.
I would NOT pass up on Hughes for any of these guys, and the rankings will be much more accurate after the World Juniors in a month. We can base more opinions off that but for now I would say the top 3 are Hughes, Kakko, and Cozens.
Let me run this by you guys and see what you think:
This team has become (1) dimensional. NOBODY checks anyone on the ice. NOBODY. They completely play the puck, it’s almost like watching a college women’s game. It’s really sickening.
In 2014-2015 we had players like Bryan Bickel, Andrew Shaw, Andrew Desjardins, Patrick Sharp, Chris Versteeg and the good version of Brandon Saad. These guys CHECKED people off the puck. I can’t believe that we can compete against teams like Nashville and Winnipeg because NOBODY wants to check on this team!!
This is killing me!! It’s horrible and disgusting how we pass up a chance to even put a body on a guy just to wave at the puck on his stick. This has to change!!
Am I too old of an “old school” guy????
Hey Scott Darling just got waived by Carolina. Let’s bring him back too!! Let’s pay him $4.2 mil / year for 3 more years and resurrect his career!!!
That’s a sad story, too. The guy was awesome in Chicago, deserved a good raise, went to a place that needed a #1 goalie, got a TON of money……….and will be playing his days in the minors. Tough story.
As usual, I am being a sarcastic jerk with my “bring him back” comments.
Reg-when the playoffs start taking the body becomes crucial-some real grit would be nice. Talented, quick grit. Someone in the top 6 forwards and top 3 D. Many examples in today’s NHL.
It’s old school meets new school.
‘When the playoffs start’ is reserved for playoff teams, however.
After struggling behind Carolina’s defence i shudder to think what Darlings numbers would’ve been had he stayed.
JC should try getting Saad or Toews to hit, maybe even Strome with their size, but you are right physicality is what is needed along with skill. On D Seabs is about it but he is to slow. Cozens, Dach, and Podkolzin are probably the most physical top 10ish forwards in this draft so if not Hughes, maybe one of those guys. Kakko can also be physical, just a bit smaller than all those guys.
@Reg Dunlop
to me the lack of physical play is just more and more evidence the team is in fact tanking. The veteran players now this is a rebuild year and are not playing physical; this was even more evident when Q was coaching last year once Crawford went down and no goalie stepped up to play in the NHL.
Alot of hockey people high on Podkolzin after Hlinka tournament but reading scouts who have watched him this fall in russia. They are saying he is showing a disinterested attitude, so that could be a concern.
Right Reg, but all those guys could skate and played fearless but let’s not kid ourselves or not forget who drove those teams…we had wingers in the past like Hossa, Ladd, Buff,Kopy, Brouwer and then later Stalberg, Frolic, Saad who all caused havoc with their speed and size and occassional finish!!!
Right on Ernie, that was BOWMAN’s choice! Do you see this lazy Bowman trend? Every player from Arizona he got, apart from Duclair, can’t skate; Samuelsson, Tikhonov, Murphy, and now Strome.
I am talking about taking those risks more than a div.2 swedish hockey player who can’t skate like Edjsell while Hartman can skate and has 7 goals so far.
Hey, not all will work out but if you have good pro scouts, some will, especially if you tap into a good team like the LEAFS or CAPS not ARIZONA, let’s get real.
Hawks need wingers badly with size, speed and scoring ability. Cozens would be my pick or Kakapo. Trade AA and Murphy at trading deadline, shed salary get draft picks and sign a real free agent NHL player in the summer before KANE leaves.
Reg, a happy middle ground needs to be found i agree. The days if the real heavy hitting teams like the kings and Ducks seem to be gone in favor of speed and skill, the Blackhawks seem to have taken a bit far though.
That’s not good to hear about Podkolzin Ian. Those issues could be there because he’s a Russian, and we don’t want a Kovalchuk situation if he just decides to go back. We will see how he plays at Juniors, though the Russian coach doesn’t really use underage players that much and he’ll probably get limited minutes like Svechnikov at last years. I still wouldn’t pass on him due to just that.
Also don’t forget that the Beaudin pick was in the Hartman trade and he’s looking more and more valuable with ppg in Drummondville. We already have big wingers and now Strome at center, I think a Jack Hughes pick would be fine, but skating might be and issue for Cozens or Dach right out of the draft similar to Strome.
Yes, 200Foot, I’ll take Beaudin over Hartman. Hartman may have scored his 7th, but he will continue to take bad penalties. Assuming good health, Beaudin will be wearing an Indian head sweater in a couple of years.
We may criticize Bowman for his many mistakes, but his Darling trade sure looks good right now.
Reg, its a bit far.
Whats this bunch ooooof puuuuusys.
This qtr used to be a nickel.
For the Keith haters, did everyone see the bonehead play by number 42? Where was he going on the 2nd Jets goal?
Again, Keith and Seabs are the onlyn ones who know how to play the game. The rest are awful…And to have JC put the worse of the group 23 with Seabs is sad.
Wow, Strome loses puck to number 55 and then youn why he is not a top 6 forward, he was so slow coming back….insane. We need a 2nd line centre and maybe Strome can play 3rd line with number 12 next season. Kane needs Panarin and a new centre with speed in 2019. Matt Duchene?
I got a feeling we ll get some grit/shawzer players when were deep again.
Right now just keep doing whats best, that’s best players available.
Nothing against 65/38/8 but these were good trades that got us
Debrincat/Krys/Beaudin/Ejdsell/Perlini/Strome
and
Clendening to Vancouver for Forsling. Might be part of top 6 D.
3rd for Darls. 4th for Wingels.
Drafted the Four Horsemen.
This is right moves for building the 23man for when were deep.
Also sigin ufas Bouma/Knutz/Manning/Martensen might be best moves yet.
Those moves could get us BoQ and Hughes, Kakko, Cozens, or Kakko.
We forget how good defensively Nick Schmaltz was as a centre with his takeaways.
Like Perlini who was rumoured to go on waivers whcih means we could have traded Hayden for him. That would of been a good deal. Ah well…
How much of this can Kane take…. imagine this roster visiting the Leafs and Caps…
Crawford is going to look like Mike Veisor!!! 8,9,10 goals against! And to think Strome said he trained all season and had a skating coach??? Thx Stan.
Mo, Kurashev was a pick from the Hartman trade as well. That trade could be one of the best in a long time.
Yea I looked it up fast.
I like what you guys/wall says about that guy.
This is what we want/need. Its just going to be some strange shit we see until we get there.
I saw something tonight I havnt seen since pre 2009. Waugh.
Keep making the right/good moves.
Ouch-Strome looks slow-hope his skating gets better-more like Wheeler
Kahun looks faster with Schmaltz gone.
2 NHL bodies Stan? Strome on bench last 8 minutes of the 2nd period? Another dumb trade for Bowman’s book.
Feel for Kane.
Kaliyev– nice player 2019 draft… sniper… good size… speed/ finisher
Hawks should go after this kid hard