Stan Bowman

[Rinkrat21]

We won 3 Cups under his tenure, I am betting they give him at least 2-3 more years.

Not saying it is necessarily the right decision, but it is what I think happens.

I think we look to be in year 2 of a mini-rebuild with a new coach, hoping to eek out 1 more Cup run with our aging core.

This team isnt in a rebuild. The off season moves are clearly reflective of a team trying to compete right now.

 

[Rinkrat21]

Bowman should have been fired years ago. He has been coasting off of Tallon’s success for the past 10 years.

Exactly. He has been riding the coat tails of previous regimes, gutted the dynasty he took overt from the inside out, and is nothing but a fraud. He loses this job, he'll never work in the NHL again. No other team can be this stupid.

 

[RacerX]

How much longer does he get? It's early and I thought this team was a real playoff contender after struggling the past two seasons. But all indications look like we are in for another non-playoff year unless they can turn it around.

So, how much longer does Bowman get in Chicago?

Stan should be canned, but not sure how you could look at this roster pre-season and see a playoff contender??? At the very best a marginal playoff qualifier, but the lack of size and speed would get them quickly swept out by a real playoff team.

I'm kind of ok with it I guess, if this is the price to pay for the Cup runs of my lifetime then it was well worth it.

 

[Rinkrat21]

Stan should be canned, but not sure how you could look at this roster pre-season and see a playoff contender??? At the very best a maringal playoff qualifier, but the lack of size and speed would get them quickly swept out by a real playoff team.

I'm kind of ok with it I guess, if this is the price to pay for the Cup runs of my lifetime then it was well worth it.

Same as last year. The entire front office was preaching how they were a playoff team last season. They seem to have lost touch with reality.

 

[Granada]

Stan should be canned, but not sure how you could look at this roster pre-season and see a playoff contender??? At the very best a maringal playoff qualifier, but the lack of size and speed would get them quickly swept out by a real playoff team.

I'm kind of ok with it I guess, if this is the price to pay for the Cup runs of my lifetime then it was well worth it.

I agree, but in his defense, a lot of people thought the Hawks would be a playoff contender. I did not; I said so before Game 1 I couldn't see this team making the playoffs, but the majority of people (fans and both national/local analysts) thought they could. It's still early of course and anything can happen, but my personal opinion of this team before the year started has only been reinforced thus far.

 

[Granada]

Same as last year. The entire front office was preaching how they were a playoff team last season. They seem to have lost touch with reality.

It's either that or they're completely full of shit. Neither would surprise me.

 

[RacerX]

I agree, but in his defense, a lot of people thought the Hawks would be a playoff contender. I did not; I said so before Game 1 I couldn't see this team making the playoffs, but the majority of people (fans and both national/local analysts) thought they could. It's still early of course and anything can happen, but my personal opinion of this team before the year started has only been reinforced thus far.

If you're an opposing GM/HC, and your team is far from intimidated when heading to Chicago for a game.

Currently, any playoff team is disappointed leaving Chicago without 2 points; compare and contrast that with 2010 - 2015 when teams assumed they would have to bring their A-game and get a few lucky bounces in order to escape with any points.

I have never been a hater or Debby-Downer, or whatever negative labels get thrown around but this team is a bottom-dweller. It's just reality and it's ok.

 

[Granada]

If you're an opposing GM/HC, and your team is far from intimidated when heading to Chicago for a game.

Currently, any playoff team is disappointed leaving Chicago without 2 points; compare and contrast that with 2010 - 2015 when teams assumed they would have to bring their A-game and get a few lucky bounces in order to escape with any points.

I have never been a hater or Debby-Downer, or whatever negative labels get thrown around but this team is a bottom-dweller. It's just reality and it's ok.

Definitely. Especially over the last two seasons, you've noticed how opponents will start their back-up goalies more often than not when they face the Hawks -- obviously, that's not an accident and is just more proof of how teams around the league view Chicago. They expect it to be an easy game.

 

[Rinkrat21]

I agree, but in his defense, a lot of people thought the Hawks would be a playoff contender. I did not; I said so before Game 1 I couldn't see this team making the playoffs, but the majority of people (fans and both national/local analysts) thought they could. It's still early of course and anything can happen, but my personal opinion of this team before the year started has only been reinforced thus far.

I saw a lot of analysts and pundits say they still werent gonna be good enough despite all the moves made in the off season.
Either way, I dont see it as a defense for SB. Regardless of what anyone thinks, the results are all that matter.

Its still early, but after these next 2 games, the schedules becomes brutal. We will know soon enough what we are looking at with this club.

 

[Granada]

I saw a lot of analysts and pundits say they still werent gonna be good enough despite all the moves made in the off season.
Either way, I dont see it as a defense for SB. Regardless of what anyone thinks, the results are all that matter.

Its still early, but after these next 2 games, the schedules becomes brutal. We will know soon enough what we are looking at with this club.

Do you remember who? Honestly just curious. Every pundit in Chicago (Olczyk, Kaplan, Roumeliotis, Myers, Sharp, Mayers, Konroyd, Burish, Boyle) said they're a playoff team (before the year began). Didn't Dreger say they'd make the playoffs too (during the draft)? And Mackenzie and Button?

 

[Rinkrat21]

Do you remember who? Honestly just curious. Every pundit in Chicago (Olczyk, Kaplan, Roumeliotis, Myers, Sharp, Mayers, Konroyd, Burish, Boyle) said they're a playoff team (before the year began). Didn't Dreger say they'd make the playoffs too (during the draft)? And Mackenzie and Button?

Mike Johnson is one off the top of my head.

As I said on the Blackhawks board, and to quote a term used in politics a lot - I just dont see a path to the playoffs for these guys.

They arent good enough to be top 3 in their division. And I think the competition for the wild card spots will be too difficult to overcome considering the improvements of both Phoenix and Vancouver.

Everyone who said this team was better was merely comparing them only to last years version of the Hawks. Are they better than them? Perhaps. But the real comparison is did they close the gap enough with their superior competition and so far the answer is absolutely not.

The Hawks arent the only team that tries to improve themselves during the off season.

 

[Granada]

Mike Johnson is one off the top of my head.

As I said on the Blackhawks board, and to quote a term used in politics a lot - I just dont see a path to the playoffs for these guys.

They arent good enough to be top 3 in their division. And I think the competition for the wild card spots will be too difficult to overcome considering the improvements of both Phoenix and Vancouver.

Everyone who said this team was better was merely comparing them only to last years version of the Hawks. Are they better than them? Perhaps. But the real comparison is did they close the gap enough with their superior competition and so far the answer is absolutely not.

The Hawks arent the only team that tries to improve themselves during the off season.

Hah. That's not a surprise. That penis always picks against the Hawks. He definitely did so in their Cup runs (along with McGuire, who did so in the 2010 run -- "who's gonna play goalie for the Hawks," etc.).

Almost everyone I've heard has said this is a playoff team, but I agree, they're not. They are still a very shallow team and the "improvements" they did make are standard Bowman "improvements" (i.e. not good enough to make a substantial difference).

 

[hawkinmontreal]

It's either that or they're completely full of shit. Neither would surprise me.

Stan is selling the front office on his philosophy and John and company are buying into it, he has them believing his own crap.

 

[hawkinmontreal]

Hah. That's not a surprise. That penis always picks against the Hawks. He definitely did so in their Cup runs (along with McGuire, who did so in the 2010 run -- "who's gonna play goalie for the Hawks," etc.).

Almost everyone I've heard has said this is a playoff team, but I agree, they're not. They are still a very shallow team and the "improvements" they did make are standard Bowman "improvements" (i.e. not good enough to make a substantial difference).

The belief is there because of last season and the spectacular season Toews had, and how Strome was playing and how Dcat was going to elevate to even a higher level than he was playing. There was also a thought that the Hawks found a PP specialist in Gus and the help of Smith and Carpenter would help the PK.
On paper Calvin and Matta should help the defence and make them stronger and better. If all these things were to lineup, Yes they should be a playoff team, but nothing is lining up and the coach stinks(I had to throw that in).

 

[Rinkrat21]

Stan is selling the front office on his philosophy and John and company are buying into it, he has them believing his own crap.

Well whatever his philosophy is, it certainly isnt adding up to playoff revenue. How much longer will that be acceptable to the owner?

Its not like SB is in the middle of a complete tear down with an eye towards making more runs at the Cup. Sure Dach looks good and maybe Boqvist will be a player. But who else is there to be excited about?

Winning one playoff round seems like the ceiling for the next few years if not longer, with simply qualifying for the playoffs as the new "One Goal".

 

[hawkinmontreal]

Well whatever his philosophy is, it certainly isnt adding up to playoff revenue. How much longer will that be acceptable to the owner?

Its not like SB is in the middle of a complete tear down with an eye towards making more runs at the Cup. Sure Dach looks good and maybe Boqvist will be a player. But who else is there to be excited about?

Winning one playoff round seems like the ceiling for the next few years if not longer, with simply qualifying for the playoffs as the new "One Goal".

Rinkrat I have no idea why Stan is still around, it’s mind boggling to say the least, as for there ‘One Goal’ I don’t know what that is either.

 

[Rinkrat21]

The belief is there because of last season and the spectacular season Toews had, and how Strome was playing and how Dcat was going to elevate to even a higher level than he was playing. There was also a thought that the Hawks found a PP specialist in Gus and the help of Smith and Carpenter would help the PK.
On paper Calvin and Matta should help the defence and make them stronger and better. If all these things were to lineup, Yes they should be a playoff team, but nothing is lining up and the coach stinks(I had to throw that in).

T&K both had career years which is an unusual thing to do at their age. A regression seemed far more likely than a repeat. Pretty much common sense there.

Maybe Strome has some room to grow but potting 40 a year seems to be Dcats ceiling. Nobody should confuse him with Ovechkin.

While deHaan and Mattaa are ok, they are carbon copies of Seabs and Murphy - big and slow with limited ceilings.

Gus is who is he. Smith doesnt even play every night. And Carpenter has been ok but not a game changer.

Im just not seeing it. People seem to forget that the teams most successful hot streak was right in the middle of the absolute tear Kane went on for awhile. When he was playing as his usual self, the team was average at best. I dont see anything all that special from last year that would have led me to believe that this team was gonna be any good this year.

Before the season started they looked like a team that would compete but fall just short of a playoff spot, and they still look that way 11 games in. Again, you cant only compare this years version of the Hawks to last years and assume they will be in the playoffs because they look better on paper. You have to compare them to the other teams they are contending with who have also improved this past off season.

 

[hawkinmontreal]

T&K both had career years which is an unusual thing to do at their age. A regression seemed far more likely than a repeat. Pretty much common sense there.

Maybe Strome has some room to grow but potting 40 a year seems to be Dcats ceiling. Nobody should confuse him with Ovechkin.

While deHaan and Mattaa are ok, they are carbon copies of Seabs and Murphy - big and slow with limited ceilings.

Gus is who is he. Smith doesnt even play every night. And Carpenter has been ok but not a game changer.

Im just not seeing it. People seem to forget that the teams most successful hot streak was right in the middle of the absolute tear Kane went on for awhile. When he was playing as his usual self, the team was average at best. I dont see anything all that special from last year that would have led me to believe that this team was gonna be any good this year.

Before the season started they looked like a team that would compete but fall just short of a playoff spot, and they still look that way 11 games in. Again, you cant only compare this years version of the Hawks to last years and assume they will be in the playoffs because they look better on paper. You have to compare them to the other teams they are contending with who have also improved this past off season.

Rink, I am not sure what your trying to sell me on, I think the team is garbage, I am not proclaiming them to be a playoff team now or at the beginning of the season, but many TSN analysts and hockey media pundits believed this team is and should be a playoff team.

 

[Rinkrat21]

Rink, I am not sure what your trying to sell me on, I think the team is garbage, I am not proclaiming them to be a playoff team now or at the beginning of the season, but many TSN analysts and hockey media pundits believed this team is and should be a playoff team.

Not trying to sell you on anything.

I havent seen it myself, but I am surprised so many pundits picked this team to be in the playoffs. They certainly arent a top 3 team in their division and a wild card is gonna be tough as well.

I dont see a path to victory!!! lol

 

[hawkinmontreal]

Not trying to sell you on anything.

I havent seen it myself, but I am surprised so many pundits picked this team to be in the playoffs. They certainly arent a top 3 team in their division and a wild card is gonna be tough as well.

I dont see a path to victory!!! lol

I agree with you Rinkrat, All I see is mediocrity for many years to come.