Your Chicago Blackhawks offseason thread

[Gustavus Adolphus]

I think because it's a far cry from the 2008 Toews who, as a rookie, called out the locker room containing guys like Lapointe, Lang, Havlat, etc. saying, "The team doesn't hate to lose enough."

A year ago the general consensus of Toews was that he had a seriously down year, and most of his supporters were saying stuff like, "He was gasses after the deep runs, he'll bounce back next year.

Didn't really happen...in fact, Hossa schooled him in Goals, Takeaways, and leadership in general--and made him look like Arkhipov in the playoffs in terms of tenacity. Yeah, we're talking about a Demigod of Hockey here, but still, Hossa was much more of a lead-by-example captain than Toews was this year, and that stings not only for Toews Paycheck, but looking forward you gotta wonder if Toews is, like Seabs, pissed at the outcome and his play, or just flipping lipservice.

Between Toews and Keith I think it's justified that the fans would be pissed at them because they got shellacked and looked like some of the worst guys on the ice in the playoffs, yet are comparatively blase about it as opposed to a couple of their teammates and GM that are rightfully upset. it's like a 180 from how they built their reputation.

Pretty sure a few guys got the ban-hammer bc of being critical of Toews in the past. That's what I was referring to.

 

[DMelt36]

The tweet was enough.... I trust he quoted Seabrook correctly.

I watched all of Toews post-game interview and just once wanted him to say "I let this team down, that C is on my chest and I didn't do anywhere near enough... I am the Captain and this team followed my lead and it was embarrassing. I am embarrassed by my performance and the effect it had on my team. I know I am not playing well enough and that is going to change."

Take it on you just the way Bowman did.... own the hell out of it, tell the brutally honest truth about how you failed, don't give me a bunch of "Idk they just wanted it more and hats off to them"... they did want it more, but that fact should have you fuming... the fact you didn't want it more, the fact you couldn't muster enough effort to carry the team to 1 single win in the playoffs should get you mad, get you motivated.

Maybe it did, maybe it will and he just didn't express it in that interview.... I certainly hope it does.

Eh, it's been a while since I put much stock into what players tell the media. More interested in their actions. Toews said he was going to spend the offseason working on his speed so he can back to playing the way he did "in his younger years" or something like that. If he commits to that in the offseason and we see reinvigorated Toews in 17-18, I'm in.

Just so odd to hear you guys talk about Toews like this. Sure seemed like a year ago if you spoke of him like we are now, you'd get a paddling.

Think it was the 2015 postseason when I first noticed that Toews' struggles. He wasn't doing much of anything for the first few rounds and the criticism reached its zenith when he hadn't done anything while the Hawks fell behind 3-2 to Anaheim in the conference finals. Then he went off for two first-period goals in Game 7 to help them advance, and the critics died down. But his last two regular seasons have fallen well short of the standard he set for himself.

I still think any notions of trading Toews are just unrealistic. He isn't going anywhere. You're not trading the 28-year-old captain of your franchise. But the decline in his play cannot be ignored by even the most fervent Toews supporters.

 

[DMelt36]

Pretty sure a few guys got the ban-hammer bc of being critical of Toews in the past. That's what I was referring to.

This is just not true, Gus. No one on this entire website has been banned solely for things that were said/done on this forum.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

I could be mistaken. My fault.

 

[LordKOTL]

Pretty sure a few guys got the ban-hammer bc of being critical of Toews in the past. That's what I was referring to.

I wasn't paying attention...maybe they came off as trolls or threatened other members trying to be internet tough guys...dunno.

Eh, it's been a while since I put much stock into what players tell the media. More interested in their actions. Toews said he was going to spend the offseason working on his speed so he can back to playing the way he did "in his younger years" or something like that. If he commits to that in the offseason and we see reinvigorated Toews in 17-18, I'm in.



Think it was the 2015 postseason when I first noticed that Toews' struggles. He wasn't doing much of anything for the first few rounds and the criticism reached its zenith when he hadn't done anything while the Hawks fell behind 3-2 to Anaheim in the conference finals. Then he went off for two first-period goals in Game 7 to help them advance, and the critics died down. But his last two regular seasons have fallen well short of the standard he set for himself.

I still think any notions of trading Toews are just unrealistic. He isn't going anywhere. You're not trading the 28-year-old captain of your franchise. But the decline in his play cannot be ignored by even the most fervent Toews supporters.

If Toews puts his money where his mouth is, that is...I agre though, if he does, all's right in the world.

And I agree about Toews...his stock tanked this offseason so there's no chance whatsoever the 'hawks would be able to get near his value in the trade market.

 

[DMelt36]

I wasn't paying attention...maybe they came off as trolls or threatened other members trying to be internet tough guys...dunno.


If Toews puts his money where his mouth is, that is...I agre though, if he does, all's right in the world.

And I agree about Toews...his stock tanked this offseason so there's no chance whatsoever the 'hawks would be able to get near his value in the trade market.

Exactly. LA would've dumped Dustin Brown years ago if they could've found a taker. But it's incredibly difficult to trade older players with diminishing skills and a high salary cap hit. A lesson the Hawks are quite familiar with these days.

 

[MassHavoc]

I think it doesn't help to that the first thing that Q always tries to do to shake things up is put new people with Toews... I would imagine there is no other top line center in the league that has played with some many different line combinations over the last few years. It's not an excuse, but he needs at least one guy that can anchor the line with him like when it was Toews and Kane.... Kane has breadman now, I thought Toews would have Hossa, but Q threw him all over the place too. Then it became a rotation of rookies, and young guys he thought was Saad... Would be nice if we could find someone else who played as well with Breadman maybe, to let Kane and Toews back together. But I don't think you can break those two up, And Q's not going to put all the eggs in one basket, even though you saw it a bit in the playoff desperation.

 

[MassHavoc]

Kitch out. Nothing says we won't tolerate a team that scored 3 goals like firing the coach who coached the D & PK the past 5 seasons.

Wonder if Dineen still has HC interview offers like what is Vancouver thinking... maybe Tallon will be weird and in his rehiring he will bring Dineen back to Florida

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Also... wow... Kitch out, I guess it can't hurt, but sometimes change just for change can become too much change.

 

[Raskolnikov]

If I had to guess, Suppan took out Toews MCL with that cheap shot where he swept/bashed his legs out by skating under him and launching him to the ice...play went uncalled right in front of the ref.

He never skated fast or tenaciously again the rest of the series, I believe it was game 2. Anisimov was skating ten second shifts in game 3, was finished. Had nothing. Keith probably needs to look at his off-season training also...although I believe surgeries have prevented him from having an off-season the last couple years and he hasn't lasted the season.

The young guys were physically overwhelmed, and Panarin is included in that. Bread Man, Smaltz, Kero need to put some weights on a bar and deadlift the shit out of it as many times as it takes to become men.

Q had a terrible series. Bowman had a bad couple of years.

Tootoo for instance I don't think was a top 12 forward. Hino/Hayden had speed/size to add to this series and were never deployed. ???? They earned it? How did Hayden's season point total compare to Tootoo on the season? In like 10 games!!! Look how many hits he got in those games and tell me why the **** he wasn't out there? He had toughness, size, and proved his hands are dangerous enough to validate a 4th line selection, as dangerous a guy as we could have rolled on the 4th, because by the end of next year he will be top 9 for sure.

Hartman you got to love but he isn't a monster. Just willing.

The Kruger/Hossa thing is so fucking stupid given what the season taught us. That is on Q. The defense is on Q.

You can't have an aging big 3 and then fortify them with fucking dinosaurs like Soupie, Oduya and expect anything different then what happend.

TVR/Kempny/Forsling all day over Soupie, Oduya, and Rozi and the fucking season taught us that!!! If its all a big surprise or whatever ...but honestly with the way Smatlz was getting ***** slapped around, Q needs to recognize the playoffs are different QUICKLY!!! AND GET HARTMAN or Hossa up on line 1, or Hayden, to protect Toews.

Panik was about the only guy I saw moving well and agressvively.

I don't buy that our skill level has dropped so terrribly. I think the future is bright, and while we blew the **** out of this series in every way, at least thats two years of less destructive hockey, and we rested the old guys and give these young guys a chance to learn from what happened to some of them(I hope they were all watching and hit the fucking weights ....does this team even lift weights?)

Smatlz, Hartman, Hayden, Kero, Hino, Motte, Debricat, Bondra(6'5" 230lbs), Baun, Panarin, Panik, TVR, Kempny, Forsling, Forslin, Pokka, the Swede brigade,


ALL CAN AND WILL BE BETTER NEXT YEAR THAN THEY WERE THIS YEAR. Why the **** would I give up on this team and feel like the dynasty is dead?

The horses are already in the system. Bondra, Hayden, Smaltz, Hartman, Motte, Hino, Forsling in particular can make gigantic strides in physical strength.

We aren't done, but I agree with some that the Hawks are masters of pointing games and cleaning up overtime/shootouts to get to 50 wins. Its not comparable to the old system and should raise eyebrows, and Crow won like 20 of those by himself. So it was skewed.

Our focus should be to get back to the playoffs, because obviously the Wild, Blues, Preds will be back and the Stars, Edmonton, Kings and others are going to make it a nasty tight race.

Just get back, hope for a better matchup, hope the vets can get back to some old school or new school training or something and next year we should have a massive chip on our shoulder and something to prove again if we make the playoffs.

I think the "dynasty" is dead...but it would be really cool and solidfy some of these legacies if we can find 1 more cup in their waning years.

That should be the goal. One more cup for Keith, Toews, Kane, Crow. And Hossa if he can still move himself here or there occassionally, 3rd line 4th line...I have a hard time believing he is close to being out of the top 12. Fucking Hartman will retire before Hossa isn't top 12 if he wants to be, allah Jagr. But the end is nigh, another year or two and he'll hang them up and we'll be free.

Bondra is my favorite prospect up, but of course I'm already righting in Hayden as the 1LW. Smaltz and Kero may be the bottom 6 centers of the future without some trade movement.


Probably Hammer or Seabs is gone, I hope not but probably. I'd rather see the big 3 split up into sepearate lines and begin a search for the right young guy to pair with each of them. They can't play together anymore, imo, but each bring something special to the team. Hammer with the PK, Seabs with the size and reliable skill in all zones, and Keith with the ice time and leadership.

They all belong here, but at the expense of Panik I can't answer that? Hammer might look the oldest, although Keith just has farther to fall and has fallen the furthest. Given his injuries I would wait on keith with healthy optimism.

We gotta stop looking for the Shaw/Debricat/Hino's of the world though. We struck gold in Kane/Toews but we need to fortify them with size/speed monsters that put a different pressure on opponents than we already got. We can't just bite your ankles to death and hope it works. Getting our ass kicked is taking a toll and is embarrassing.


Bondra...Hayden...Panik (should be system prioriities)....even Motte and Hartman are healthy strapping young men. But Motte/Hartman/Smatlz/Hino need to hit the weight room until they are all wolverines.

Its not about dynasty, its about 1 more cup. If everthing played out right. with the youth crop I don't think that is completely blasphemous over the next 3 years.

If I had to bet on whether Toews can soul search and figure out if he needs a steak or needs to lift heavy weights or do yoga...whatever it is he is going to do it. He went out and learned MMA shit just to smack some people for gods sake. (shhhh)

He had an atrocious two years by his standards. He is still a tenacious hockey player, a good skater, and has skills lots of guys don't have. Let him figure it out, he is the C and we follow him. We'll be back.

 

[Raskolnikov]

but to add to the Hayden point, if we are going to lose at least get Hayden/Hino some valuable playoff taste in their mouth.

To roll Oduya out after the first 2 games is to be blind. Same with AA.

And yes..Danult is the biggest mistake Bowman has made, and it will continue to haunt us if Vegas steals Kruger over TVR though I don't know why they would.

 

[MassHavoc]

Tl:dr?

 

[ClydeLee]

Tl:dr?

I read the end part which seems backwards. Losing Kruger to Vegas would be a blessing over the other and maybe current best defensive RHD man on the team now.

Kruger hefty pricetag is a part of the danault decision mistake

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[Raskolnikov]

Tl:dr?

good plan actually. just frustrated raging at the page. I gave up trying to make sense to anyone a long time ago. Fake news. Fake rage. Fake fucking people in a fake ass world.

 

[LordKOTL]

I think it doesn't help to that the first thing that Q always tries to do to shake things up is put new people with Toews... I would imagine there is no other top line center in the league that has played with some many different line combinations over the last few years. It's not an excuse, but he needs at least one guy that can anchor the line with him like when it was Toews and Kane.... Kane has breadman now, I thought Toews would have Hossa, but Q threw him all over the place too. Then it became a rotation of rookies, and young guys he thought was Saad... Would be nice if we could find someone else who played as well with Breadman maybe, to let Kane and Toews back together. But I don't think you can break those two up, And Q's not going to put all the eggs in one basket, even though you saw it a bit in the playoff desperation.

The thing is Hossa had a revolving door on the 3rd line and still put up very respectable numbers for a 5.25M forward--much less one that's 38.

Toews at 10.5? He's neither the best defensive forward, best offensive forward, or overall combined better. Again, he needs to put his cap hit where his mouth is and get the **** off that paleo diet--especially if it's (and this is pure spitballing and not based in fact) to put in spadework for his GF.

 

[ClydeLee]

Ted Dent Rockford icehogs coach has been relieved of his duty per announcement... which would be an odd phrasing to use to announce he's the new Assistant coach, so I doubt it's that but I saw some people speculate he could be.

But really dents time at Rockford hasn't been too productive. Too few long time in Rockford guys under him developed nor did the team do too well.

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[Raskolnikov]

They got the ban hammer because they were as effective at bashing Toews as you could train a parrot to be.

If you are going to troll be better at it.

 

[winos5]

Anybody paying attention to draft prospects? Blackhawks have stockpiled draft picks, they have like 12 picks this year.

Saw an article about the Vegas GM being open to taking draft picks to influence him on which player he should draft from prospective NHL teams.

 

[DMelt36]

Anybody paying attention to draft prospects? Blackhawks have stockpiled draft picks, they have like 12 picks this year.

Saw an article about the Vegas GM being open to taking draft picks to influence him on which player he should draft from prospective NHL teams.

Not gonna lie, the NFL and NBA Drafts are the only ones I have interest in and it's remote at best. Especially with drafts like the NHL and MLB, those guys are often so far from the NHL level that I struggle to spend much time figuring out who the Hawks are going to draft at any point. That said, once guys are under control of the organization, then it's something fun to watch as a young player starts making noise on whatever team's playing (Hello DeBrincat!).

But it's encouraging to hear the Hawks have stocked up on draft picks. The cupboard has felt bare for a while now, and with guys like Schmaltz, Hartman, and Forsling appearing to be up with the parent club for good now, it's time to find some new blood to produce the next wave of Hawks talent.

 

[HawkWriter]

Just to clarify, I believe the Blackhawks have 9 picks and not 12.

 

[winos5]

Just to clarify, I believe the Blackhawks have 9 picks and not 12.

My bad, guess the ones in red were traded away. Confusing if you just glance at the page. Why list the pick if you no longer own it?