Losing every facet of the game right now. :-/
2015-16 Blackhawks
HOSSA!
Hawks are 18-0 in the playoffs when he scores. Let's see if the streak continues.
Hawks are 18-0 in the playoffs when he scores. Let's see if the streak continues.
I've liked Gustafsson as a low pairing guy but that play leading to the third goal was inexcusable. You can't check yourself out of a play in the neutral zone.
Disappointing way to end the season (so close to tying it with that double post...), but what an incredible series.
Already looking forward to next year.
Already looking forward to next year.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Yeah, that was tough. Hats off to the Blues.
Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
- Cynthiana, Kentucky
I agree 100% here.
There were lots of Blues fans complaining about bad calls, but my major complaint with this whole series was the non-calls. There were so many interference, slash, hooks, and even offsides that just weren't called.
The Blackhawks are about speed, precision, and puck possession. When the opposition is allowed to hold our forwards on the dump in, hook their hands when skating by, slash sticks out of the hands of dmen, and hold onto the forwards behind the Blues net when countering it really slows and shuts them down. Incredible that we were able to come back from 3-1 and looking forward to the opportunity to watch more Cubs games now. :thumb:
Team20Illini
- Halfway between Chicago and Rockford
Bummer, to see them ousted so early. Looking ahead, this might help them ahead of next year with the World Championships in September. They've already played so much hockey over the last several years with the Cup wins and deep runs.
I am curious, what the impact to the roster might be if there is a decision regarding the expansion.
I am curious, what the impact to the roster might be if there is a decision regarding the expansion.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
No expansion next season, so no impact. The following season almost definitely. The expansion draft will be after next season is completed.
You're right, the rest will help. Still sucks though. At least the Blues aren't the Coyotes.
Depth was a real problem for the 'Hawks this year. The front half of their roster was as good as anyone else in the league, but they never really had a set 3rd defensemen pairing and especially never had an effective 3rd or 4th line.
Seeing a guy like Troy Brouwer play so well for the Blues really brings home how the salary cap has eroded the 'Hawks depth. Let the Hawks keep Brouwer, Versteeg, Byfuglien and Leddy, and they're probably looking at trying to win their 5th or 6th Cup right now.
Seeing a guy like Troy Brouwer play so well for the Blues really brings home how the salary cap has eroded the 'Hawks depth. Let the Hawks keep Brouwer, Versteeg, Byfuglien and Leddy, and they're probably looking at trying to win their 5th or 6th Cup right now.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Stan Bowman gets a lot of credit for re-tooling the roster every year, but this year was pretty much an abject failure. In the off-season he traded Sharp and Johns to the Stars for basically nothing. The trade deadline moves made little if any impact for a huge cost. Adding Ladd, Weise, and Flieschman cost a no. 1 and no. 2 picks as well as two of the organizations top prospects. Coach Q didn't even want to play Flieschman. Ladd didn't have much impact and all three were just rentals. Signing Seabrook for eight years didn't make sense. And the albatross Bickell deal still has another year left.
Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
- Cynthiana, Kentucky
I don't think that abject failure is a fair descriptor here.
Johns was the cost of getting rid of Sharp. They had to dump Sharp prior to the season regardless due to "locker room issues" and nobody would take him without a sweetener being thrown in. It is unfortunate that our only return on this deal was cap space and a healthier locker room, but cap space is cap space.
I liked the trade deadline moves, they were understood as rentals from the start. The Seabrook deal is big, but he is considered part of the core. Seabrook is a polarizing figure on this team, fans either love him or hate him. Locking him up long term is no different.
Bickell got his paper after a huge playoff performance in 2013. It is unfortunate that he is suffering from medical issues now, but it could not have been foreseen.
Let us not forget about finding and signing Panarin and trading Saad when it became apparent there would be no home town discount. Anisimov was a huge get in the offseason, and came cheaper than Saad would have.
Johns was the cost of getting rid of Sharp. They had to dump Sharp prior to the season regardless due to "locker room issues" and nobody would take him without a sweetener being thrown in. It is unfortunate that our only return on this deal was cap space and a healthier locker room, but cap space is cap space.
I liked the trade deadline moves, they were understood as rentals from the start. The Seabrook deal is big, but he is considered part of the core. Seabrook is a polarizing figure on this team, fans either love him or hate him. Locking him up long term is no different.
Bickell got his paper after a huge playoff performance in 2013. It is unfortunate that he is suffering from medical issues now, but it could not have been foreseen.
Let us not forget about finding and signing Panarin and trading Saad when it became apparent there would be no home town discount. Anisimov was a huge get in the offseason, and came cheaper than Saad would have.
We have three cups because Bowman doubles down and doubles down again every single year. They have been unrelentingly present-focused.
I expect that is what will happen again.
I know I probably say this every year...
And I know this probably sounds like sour grapes, considering the Hawks have three Cups out of the deal...
But the NHL's salary cap really sucks. The NFL and NBA both have salary caps, but also have some mechanism that helps teams keep players they've drafted and developed.
The Hawks have had to trade away or let go Byfuglien at age 25 (4 All-Stars), Leddy at age 23 (1 All-Star), Versteeg at 24, Ladd at 25 (1 All-star and 5 20+ goal seasons), Saad at 23 (31 goals in his first year away), Brouwer at 26...
No other sport forces teams to give away their 20-something talent. They punish you when you try to hoard pricey free agents, but they don't force you to cast off young kids. It's really fan un-friendly in that it discourages fans from becoming invested in their team's young players.
But then, "NHL" and "fan-unfriendly" are pretty much synonymous.
And I know this probably sounds like sour grapes, considering the Hawks have three Cups out of the deal...
But the NHL's salary cap really sucks. The NFL and NBA both have salary caps, but also have some mechanism that helps teams keep players they've drafted and developed.
The Hawks have had to trade away or let go Byfuglien at age 25 (4 All-Stars), Leddy at age 23 (1 All-Star), Versteeg at 24, Ladd at 25 (1 All-star and 5 20+ goal seasons), Saad at 23 (31 goals in his first year away), Brouwer at 26...
No other sport forces teams to give away their 20-something talent. They punish you when you try to hoard pricey free agents, but they don't force you to cast off young kids. It's really fan un-friendly in that it discourages fans from becoming invested in their team's young players.
But then, "NHL" and "fan-unfriendly" are pretty much synonymous.
That level of parity is what the league has to do to remain economically viable in all the terrible hockey markets it blundered into in the 90's.
And yet they're talking about expansion again.
Seriously, if they contracted Carolina and Phoenix, would anyone notice?
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Whole lot of wrong here. Bowman got bent over by Nill, but that's what happens when you're over the cap. When you need a taker for a declining 35yo @ $6M per for 2 years (and you're over the cap), you're not exactly dealing from strength. Taking Daley back was the killer, because that meant losing Oduya. JO >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Daley.
Hawks picks are closer to next round, than the round they're in. What's the value of the 28th pick? Helluva lot less than 15, much less top 10.
Bowman went all in. Sorry, can't fault him for that. In fact, that was exactly the sort of message to send to a contender. Dano? Big deal. Danault? Ditto. Plus, losing them means no Foley confusion.
Bickell's big contract was inked after to 2013 playoffs. He gave the Hawks a discount. Yes, the contract is a giant albatross. Yes, there's another year left. Nobody could have predicted he'd fall off the table. Nobody.
Seabrook's AAV is fine, he took a hometown discount for sure. The term is too long, agreed. Think he'll be moved (Edmonton?) after next season.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Not sure what ammunition he has considering he shot the wad this year.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Not sure how there was a lot of wrong considering I was stating facts. In general over the years I have liked what Bowman has done, but this season was not good. Also ask yourself how much of the "core" was brought in by Bowman and how much by Talon.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I don't get the expansion talk either. Arizona has been on life support for years. I guess they want to go to 32 teams for two 16 team conferences. So they need to add two to the Western Conf.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
WRT expansion: TVR & Darling are going to be plucked. Not next season. In the following off season.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Hawks signed 19 yo Swedish d-man Gustav Forsling. Forsling played the last two seasons in the SHL, the top pro league in Sweden. Very high on this kid.