A defensive rebuild.

[LordKOTL]

I’m not sure what key piece he is as well. Placeholder absolutely, veteran to help Vlasic and Regula absolutely.

Not to mention a key advisor to all the kids as proof of why you should never trust your sperm donor and incubator when it comes to financial matters.

I don’t want to take away from young captain Toews to compliment Hossa who deserved a top 100 affirmation, IMO.

Hossa was the man. Maybe the best player in the team, the most complete player!

The defense is already rebuilt. I didn’t actually agree with the Boqvist jettison, I felt we never used him properly which was as a third pairing sparing power play stud who got bumped upward when you were down a goal late.

The minutes we asked if him, pairing him with Keith, were outrageous mistakes.

I'm not going to slag on Toews or Kane; but yeah, Hossa was the one guy who always gave 100% in every zone and was a consummate player who lead by example. I don't necessarily agree that the departure of Hossa precipitated the downfall--after all, come mid-March 2017 if memory serves when when the 'hawks completely disappeared like Yahoo Serious' acting career. Hossa didn't do much more than Toews and Kane when Nashville embarrassed the **** out of us. Hossa might have been subbed a Selke in his career, but let's not pretend that Toews and Kane suck(ed).
I think Hossa aging out and the 'hawks falling off the cliff is more coincidence. There were many other pieces, like Seabrook, who also fell off the cliff that made the core not have that critical mass of talent, not to mention losing Hjammer (of which Murph is a pale comparison), losing the real blue chip for a rebuild-in-situ in Panarin, and of course Stan running the team like he bleongs at H&RBlock.

But no, the defense was not rebuilt. It's not until it is. Guys like Boqvist, Joker, etc. would have needed a defensive system to learn (which we didn't have here) and the time to learn it. We didn't have that thanks to Bowman and his lackey JC. With the right coaching and system Boqvist and Joker could have been some of the next pieces, but I don't think it was happening with the 'hawks. Just like the peices we got now: the D is not in place until it is; we can't hang future success on guys who have (a) never placed that role and most importantly (b) never played in the NHL. I'm excited about guys like Korch, but he's got a lot to prove still and the road will be long.

 

[MassHavoc]

Sweet Jesus! The season needs to start

 

[KBIB]

I mean….if you want to say Hossa was a “lead by example” guy, who was 100% commited every shift and in the work out room at his age influencing younger players with the type of dedication it takes to stick in this league, your not wrong.

But a better leader then Toews? Idk about that. I don’t hear anybody saying anything bad about Toews outside of butt hurt fans who blame the Beach shit on the guy even tho Beach to this day still follows him on social media.

I sort of think the big dogs in the club house during the Cup runs were Toews and Seabrook. That’s not a knock on Hoss, I just think those two had the personalities guy’s gravitated to.

 

[LordKOTL]

I mean….if you want to say Hossa was a “lead by example” guy, who was 100% commited every shift and in the work out room at his age influencing younger players with the type of dedication it takes to stick in this league, your not wrong.

But a better leader then Toews? Idk about that. I don’t hear anybody saying anything bad about Toews outside of butt hurt fans who blame the Beach shit on the guy even tho Beach to this day still follows him on social media.

I sort of think the big dogs in the club house during the Cup runs were Toews and Seabrook. That’s not a knock on Hoss, I just think those two had the personalities guy’s gravitated to.

I side with you on that; Hossa never struck me as anything but a lead-by-example type of player. Toews was out there and more of an active leader--the guy who would talk to you (as a player), the press, etc. Hossa never seemed comfortable out there in the limelight. He just did his job exceptionally well. Toews, on the other hand, seems like to type who would engage other players more. I could be wrong; I was never on the ice or in the locker room, but that how it appeared to me.

I'm glad we have/had both, but I think it's more of an apples-to-oranges comparison in terms of comparing their leadership. I won't slag-off either of them.

And you are right; I think Seabrook deserves a lot of credit for being the man behind the scenes when it comes to leadership.

 

[HSBOB]

I think we'd all agree that 'Big Hoss' was a marvelous ,two-way winger who led by example as did other members of that great team. Was there a greater example of leading by example than Keith's returning from losing seven teeth only 6 1/2 minutes later in the '2010' WC clincher?

I always thought postseason GWG's were leading by example myself since they're so important,Kane and Toews have 11 each and 'Big Hoss' has a dozen for his career.........six in Chicago.

Hossa was the last piece for an UBER talented team that lost the year before in the WCF after losing one of their best plyers to a dirty hit and turning to Huet after Khabibulin shit the bed.

The team couldn't have done it without 'Big Hoss' but he did get here at an opportune time and he also left at one.

 

[LordKOTL]

I think we'd all agree that 'Big Hoss' was a marvelous ,two-way winger who led by example as did other members of that great team. Was there a greater example of leading by example than Keith's returning from losing seven teeth only 6 1/2 minutes later in the '2010' WC clincher?

I always thought postseason GWG's were leading by example myself since they're so important,Kane and Toews have 11 each and 'Big Hoss' has a dozen for his career.........six in Chicago.

Hossa was the last piece for an UBER talented team that lost the year before in the WCF after losing one of their bet plyers to a dirty hit and turning to Huet after Khabibulin shit the bed.

The team couldn't have done it without 'Big Hoss' but he did get here at an opportune time and he also left at one.

I personally think you can't really diminish any of the pieces for any of the cup runs (season included)--at least at the expense of another. No hockey team runs on a single player--and even some of the fringe guys get credit. Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Hossa, Hjammer, Crawford--I don't feel like you can really diminish what they brought. Guys like Bolland, Oduya, Sopel, Campbell, Niemi, Handzus, Rosival, Frolik, Bickell, Madden, Ladd, etc. who might not have had as much press as the aforementioned players also stepped up tremendously in the wins (and I know someone could add someone else to the list I haven't mentioned).

Sure, no player is perfect. But I do think every player played their role needed to get the cups. Per the discussion at had, Hossa did what Hossa needed to do. Toews did what Toews needed to do. Kane did what Kane needed to do. Hossa could not do Toews' job any more than Toews could do Hossa's job. Ditto with Kane.

 

[KBIB]

Well it’s a good thing we have Jack Johnson as a key piece on this defense. Lord knows what this defense would look like without him getting pinned in his own end like all the other guys the Hawks are gonna be putting out there every 45 seconds.

As a life long Hawks fan, I’m happy dropping this year into the toilet and flushing so long as the end result is Bedard.

But there’s also a part of me that wants this team to make the playoffs and start out so hot KD starts trading everyone weeks after so there’s proof they are tanking hard just for the drama aspect.

Seriously, what if those two big defenseman just click and the Hawks have a huge shut down tandem in Vlasic and Regula?

What if the Hawks buy into the coaches trap system?

You still have Patrick friggin Kane out there who can create something out of nothing.

Sure, the odds are like 2% this team does anything but lose 60 games, but wasn’t the odds the Hawks moved up the one draft to pass on Seider like 2%?

 

[Raskolnikov]

Well it’s a good thing we have Jack Johnson as a key piece on this defense. Lord knows what this defense would look like without him getting pinned in his own end like all the other guys the Hawks are gonna be putting out there every 45 seconds.

As a life long Hawks fan, I’m happy dropping this year into the toilet and flushing so long as the end result is Bedard.

But there’s also a part of me that wants this team to make the playoffs and start out so hot KD starts trading everyone weeks after so there’s proof they are tanking hard just for the drama aspect.

Seriously, what if those two big defenseman just click and the Hawks have a huge shut down tandem in Vlasic and Regula?

What if the Hawks buy into the coaches trap system?

You still have Patrick friggin Kane out there who can create something out of nothing.

Sure, the odds are like 2% this team does anything but lose 60 games, but wasn’t the odds the Hawks moved up the one draft to pass on Seider like 2%?

Good shit.

Any who..,

My take was that if new GM got the hard-??on I got for our young defenseman at JRs, foresee Jones as a long term PP King who can second pair the blue line and keep us in trailing games with big minutes,

The pieces for a solid NHL defense in 1-2 years already exist in our house. It’s been a long time since I could say that.

So basically, theGM didn’t want to take the viagra too early in the night…he saw the world juniors and did what I do…picture my naked grandmother beating my **** with a bat full of protruding nails, until it goes down…

And then he signed him a Jack Johnson. The irony of which I swear I didn’t see until just now, just like you, which makes this rant sad or great.

Jack Johnson is a determined GMs forced patience(think tantric delay).

The defense is finally cumming. The best the remaining dinosaurs ? ? can do, is acquire “ass”ets. The Captain via trade to Vancouver, and Kane by continuing to make plays that attract contract hopeful LWs and European players who grew up on him.

 

[HSBOB]

I personally think you can't really diminish any of the pieces for any of the cup runs (season included)--at least at the expense of another. No hockey team runs on a single player--and even some of the fringe guys get credit. Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Hossa, Hjammer, Crawford--I don't feel like you can really diminish what they brought. Guys like Bolland, Oduya, Sopel, Campbell, Niemi, Handzus, Rosival, Frolik, Bickell, Madden, Ladd, etc. who might not have had as much press as the aforementioned players also stepped up tremendously in the wins (and I know someone could add someone else to the list I haven't mentioned).

Sure, no player is perfect. But I do think every player played their role needed to get the cups. Per the discussion at had, Hossa did what Hossa needed to do. Toews did what Toews needed to do. Kane did what Kane needed to do. Hossa could not do Toews' job any more than Toews could do Hossa's job. Ditto with Kane.

I don't diminish any contributor to any of the cups,you left out 'Big Buff' and his 5 GWG's in the '2010' cup run,Kane,Toews and Hossa had as many combined that year. His overt physicality,single-handed abuse of Vancouver,it's goaltender and their fans set quite the tone for the WCF and SCF to come......two veteran HC's said we had no answer for Byfuglien and you rarely hear a HC say that.

'Big Hoss' and JT's defensive games complemented each other beautifully and Saad was the perfect linemate as well with his board work,defense and offensive contributions.

Marian Hossa was indeed a sterling example of outstanding two-way hockey,game in-game out but he's the only legend to immerge from the group of elite players in some eyes and I think there's room for more than just one.

 

[Diehardfan]

I don't diminish any contributor to any of the cups,you left out 'Big Buff' and his 5 GWG's in the '2010' cup run,Kane,Toews and Hossa had as many combined that year. His overt physicality,single-handed abuse of Vancouver,it's goaltender and their fans set quite the tone for the WCF and SCF to come......two veteran HC's said we had no answer for Byfuglien and you rarely hear a HC say that.

'Big Hoss' and JT's defensive games complemented each other beautifully and Saad was the perfect linemate as well with his board work,defense and offensive contributions.

Marian Hossa was indeed a sterling example of outstanding two-way hockey,game in-game out but he's the only legend to immerge from the group of elite players in some eyes and I think there's room for more than just one.

Well said.....problem is that it's now old news. I get the feeling that while we wait for some sort of turnaround, we will all turn into Bear fans rehashing the 85 Bears SB. Sad in a lot of ways but on the other hand we got to enjoy a decade of some great hockey....

 

[Raskolnikov]

Its not over for me until Kane leaves.

Quick turnaround would not surprise me. We have to play our talent and find the the right fits for our guys via trade.

New York arrived a year early in their cup window. They have a good decade ahead.

As long as there is Kane there is hope. He’s a way better defender than he’s given credit because he takes pucks whenever he wants. His defensive stick is fucking awesome.

It’s a conscience team and player best interest choice to limit his physical battles.,

 

[HSBOB]

Its not over for me until Kane leaves.

Quick turnaround would not surprise me. We have to play our talent and find the the right fits for our guys via trade.

New York arrived a year early in their cup window. They have a good decade ahead.

As long as there is Kane there is hope. He’s a way better defender than he’s given credit because he takes pucks whenever he wants. His defensive stick is fucking awesome.

It’s a conscience team and player best interest choice to limit his physical battles.,

Hope for what Rask? Other than asses in seats,Kane's only value to a team on a total 'tank mission' is that of a return in the form of draft picks and very young prospects. The Rangers we are NOT...........the Hawks current rebuild relies on players not even here yet!

Patrick Kane's HoF career has many fine aspects,it's odd you mention defense and physicality though. His outstanding, consistent offensive production duties and responsibilities(which he's fulfilled beyond expectations IMO)haven't required or even allowed him to play much defense at times throughout his career. I believe any HC worth his salt would have a winger as FAST and SKILLED as #88 play 'high' in his own end ,lookin' for a break-out all the time and it's hard to play D from there but referring to any part of his defensive game as 'awesome' is a bit odd too.....also JMO.
His longevity/durability IS due to his avoidance of the game's most physical duties as you said and I'm sure that's fine with most of us but it's also a good thing it isn't required from him at his size.

Do you really expect a tanking team to trade for an offensive player to play with Kane this year?

 

[KBIB]

Hope for what Rask? Other than asses in seats,Kane's only value to a team on a total 'tank mission' is that of a return in the form of draft picks and very young prospects. The Rangers we are NOT...........the Hawks current rebuild relies on players not even here yet!

Patrick Kane's HoF career has many fine aspects,it's odd you mention defense and physicality though. His outstanding, consistent offensive production duties and responsibilities(which he's fulfilled beyond expectations IMO)haven't required or even allowed him to play much defense at times throughout his career. I believe any HC worth his salt would have a winger as FAST and SKILLED as #88 play 'high' in his own end ,lookin' for a break-out all the time and it's hard to play D from there but referring to any part of his defensive game as 'awesome' is a bit odd too.....also JMO.
His longevity/durability IS due to his avoidance of the game's most physical duties as you said and I'm sure that's fine with most of us but it's also a good thing it isn't required from him at his size.

Do you really expect a tanking team to trade for an offensive player to play with Kane this year?

Well, I either got some of the good shit Rask smokes or I think I see what he’s saying.

A quick turnaround happens if certain things fall into place;

Say the Hawks get Fantilli instead of the two prized guys. I could see a Blowman three year special, resigning Kane and Toews and pushing all the young kids into the NHL along with a couple key free agent signings for one more run with the two Chicago icons.

Could it happen? Sure.
Would it work? Probably not.

If they luck into Bedard or the Russian, I think all bets are off and the rebuild takes a good five years of stockpiling a new attempt at the next dynasty.

The best case scenario is drafting lottery when the teams on the upswing. Worst case is missing out on the top three this year.

 

[HSBOB]

Well, I either got some of the good shit Rask smokes or I think I see what he’s saying.

A quick turnaround happens if certain things fall into place;

Say the Hawks get Fantilli instead of the two prized guys. I could see a Blowman three year special, resigning Kane and Toews and pushing all the young kids into the NHL along with a couple key free agent signings for one more run with the two Chicago icons.

Could it happen? Sure.
Would it work? Probably not.

If they luck into Bedard or the Russian, I think all bets are off and the rebuild takes a good five years of stockpiling a new attempt at the next dynasty.

The best case scenario is drafting lottery when the teams on the upswing. Worst case is missing out on the top three this year.

Got plenty of my own good shit!LOL!
I just don't see the new FO rushing any of this year's or next year's picks and the temptation of going for it one more time with K&T HAS to be put aside this time,like you said........"probably not".

It will be interesting to see Kane's #'s w/o a single,consistant goal scorer to set up and nobody to set him up except JT IF they play together. Both will be looking for #'s in their contract year and playing together might be the only way they get em. A bottom three finish MUST be the goal next year IMO.

 

[KBIB]

Got plenty of my own good shit!LOL!
I just don't see the new FO rushing any of this year's or next year's picks and the temptation of going for it one more time with K&T HAS to be put aside this time,like you said........"probably not".

It will be interesting to see Kane's #'s w/o a single,consistant goal scorer to set up and nobody to set him up except JT IF they play together. Both will be looking for #'s in their contract year and playing together might be the only way they get em. A bottom three finish MUST be the goal next year IMO.

Knock on wood I would hope if the Hawks luck into Bedard they don’t rush him.

Sure he’s probably NHL ready offensively, but I’d much rather the kid get some meat on the bones before he’s playing with grown ass men who know he’s the next big thing.

But, I’m going to throw this out there;

This team, on Hockey Simulator playing a 1-3-1 trap which is similar to the system Richie ran during his brief run during their Cup run…

Makes the playoffs eight out of ten times.

That is concerning only because the way I have the game set up it over relies on fancy stats. Granted, the injury option is more miss then hit and one time the Hawks power play was first in the league with Kane potting 48 pp goals alone, but the gist of this is right now as constructed, I don’t think this is a bottom three team in the league if they play a structured defensive game.

This team isn’t making the playoffs, but I don’t think they will be bad enough to pick top three without some lottery luck.

 

[HSBOB]

Knock on wood I would hope if the Hawks luck into Bedard they don’t rush him.

Sure he’s probably NHL ready offensively, but I’d much rather the kid get some meat on the bones before he’s playing with grown ass men who know he’s the next big thing.

But, I’m going to throw this out there;

This team, on Hockey Simulator playing a 1-3-1 trap which is similar to the system Richie ran during his brief run during their Cup run…

Makes the playoffs eight out of ten times.

That is concerning only because the way I have the game set up it over relies on fancy stats. Granted, the injury option is more miss then hit and one time the Hawks power play was first in the league with Kane potting 48 pp goals alone, but the gist of this is right now as constructed, I don’t think this is a bottom three team in the league if they play a structured defensive game.

This team isn’t making the playoffs, but I don’t think they will be bad enough to pick top three without some lottery luck.

I think they will be.
A 28-42-12 team loses DeBrincat,Strome,Kubalik and Dach and their combined 87gls/184pts last year and replaces them with AA,Domi and Blackwell and their combined 32gls/71pts last year. They replace MAF with Mrazek and deHAAN's 4th best 172 blocked shots with a 33yro Johnson.
I recall more PP struggles for the team even when it was good,48 PP goals? Kane's best season ever was 46 goals.........total.

Who's even left for Kane to work with on the PP?

 

[Diehardfan]

I think they will be.
A 28-42-12 team loses DeBrincat,Strome,Kubalik and Dach and their combined 87gls/184pts last year and replaces them with AA,Domi and Blackwell and their combined 32gls/71pts last year. They replace MAF with Mrazek and deHAAN's 4th best 172 blocked shots with a 33yro Johnson.
I recall more PP struggles for the team even when it was good,48 PP goals? Kane's best season ever was 46 goals.........total.

Who's even left for Kane to work with on the PP?

That simulator had to be made by EASports. A horrible hockey team trades two serviceable players plus two that probably had their best seasons and replaced them with a bucket of chum.....yet if coached right, they make the playoffs. Lololololol

 

[KBIB]

That simulator had to be made by EASports. A horrible hockey team trades two serviceable players plus two that probably had their best seasons and replaced them with a bucket of chum.....yet if coached right, they make the playoffs. Lololololol

Did you miss the part where I said this isn’t a playoff team but not a bottom three team?

 

[KBIB]

I think they will be.
A 28-42-12 team loses DeBrincat,Strome,Kubalik and Dach and their combined 87gls/184pts last year and replaces them with AA,Domi and Blackwell and their combined 32gls/71pts last year. They replace MAF with Mrazek and deHAAN's 4th best 172 blocked shots with a 33yro Johnson.
I recall more PP struggles for the team even when it was good,48 PP goals? Kane's best season ever was 46 goals.........total.

Who's even left for Kane to work with on the PP?

28 wins would be bad.

This team needs to be a 20 win team and guarantee a top three pick.

This team had 28 wins last year. With teams tanking for Bedard the Hawks really need to tank without making it obvious they’re tanking.

Edit- I see now what your saying. We’re on the same page.

 

[Diehardfan]

Did you miss the part where I said this isn’t a playoff team but not a bottom three team?

Defensive much? Unless you changed your name to "simulator", I never even mentioned your name. The simulator SAYS they make
the playoffs 8 of 10 times.