Another quote from Foligno.

“We have to change. I want to change. We can’t go through this again. And I certainly won’t allow it.

“Either the mindset changes from the group or personnel changes.”

—Nick Foligno pic.twitter.com/Cwb6q9Ap8K— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) April 19, 2024

I wonder if he is talking about anyone in particular about mindset changes. We can speculate - Seth Jones?
- boilermaker100

I expect it will be a bit of both. The natural development/progress for guys like Bedard, Korchinski, Vlasic etc will help improve the team.

I also expect significant turnover, maybe not the level the team had this year, but there will be new faces. I have to think that the likes of Megna, Tinordi, Johnson (both), Zeitsev, Soderblom, and Raddysh are gone. Entwistle, Blackwell or Anderson could return, but it’s far from certain.

IF (and it’s a big if) the team can stay relatively healthy then having Hall and Murphy for a full season (or 65+ games) that will also have a positive impact.

Another quote from Foligno.

“We have to change. I want to change. We can’t go through this again. And I certainly won’t allow it.

“Either the mindset changes from the group or personnel changes.”

—Nick Foligno pic.twitter.com/Cwb6q9Ap8K— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) April 19, 2024

I wonder if he is talking about anyone in particular about mindset changes. We can speculate - Seth Jones?
- boilermaker100

Richardson is not a yeller and Foligno did speak fondly of Torts on the interview I mentioned in another post. Could be there.

Jones has been inconsistent\streaky for most of his career. Has only played over 80 regular season games twice very early in his career. I don't think he moves the needle in either direction but I don't watch practices or hang out in the room so I dunno.

Some of it could have been a shot at Davidson. I think most of the guys they could stand to replace (Raddysh, Johnson, Johnson, Entwhistle, Donato, Blackwell, Athanasiou, Megna, Tinordi) probably played at about the level you would expect but no level of yelling or X's and O's is going to move the needle there.

Donato and AA are signed for another year but there isn't a reason any of those other guys should be on the roster next season.

Theoretically there should be a lot of turnover but we'll see.

In the last three seasons, there have been 246 Chicago Blackhawks hockey games with 492 points available in the standings. The Blackhawks have attained 179 of them, for a three-season points percentage of .364. That’s as bad as any three-year stretch for this team since the 1950s, and that includes the early/mid-2000s.
- LAHawk

The team has still been way more watchable than the late 90's and early 2000s and it's been refreshing to have them execute a clear plan without flip flopping.

It was always gonna be bumpy to finally get rid of Toews/Kane and we did it right after we jettisoned all the other tradable assets in a deep rebuild. We did that when we didn't have any "sure fire" NHL prospects ready to jump in either.

The GM sent a pretty clear message when the rebuild started and he traded guys like Hagel, Dabrincat, Dach, that this was an aggressive teardown. When this season started, the highest scoring returning forward was Athanasiou with 40 points and we saw we'd be playing about 3 (sometimes 4) rookie dmen nightly.

There was pretty much no chance we were going to move up in the standings in any meaningful way this season. That wasn't really in the cards, but the season was pretty damn successful in terms of the rebuild. We a solid rookie season from our franchise forward. We two young Dmen play top 4 minutes all season and take big strides along with several other rookies who got some solid minutes and icetime to bring along their game. Not to mention all the prospects that moved up the system that one step closer.

Guys on the ice, guys like Foligno will say what the say. That is his role, to motivate change, lead, build the culture of continued improvement.
- breadbag

Not calling out you, because I do not remember your prediction at the start of the season, but several posters with the addition of Bedard, Foligno, Perry, Hall, etc. was predicting the Hawks to improve about 4 or 5 places to be picking 7th or 8th in the draft this year.

But that all changes when for whatever happened, injuries, players don't progress, etc. etc. and the fall back is "it's part of the plan", "No one expected them to be good this year".

So at what point in the future should there be some accountability for the product on the ice?

1-1-3-3-2

You're a smart guy, you are well aware of the plan. You just don't like it; and to your credit, said so from the start.

As far as an answer, Detroit is a decent guide. Just add three years, and hope they get higher-end stars along the way.
- mohel

Detroit doesn't have anywhere near a Bedard type player which is part of their problem.

No superstars they gotta do it by committee and a big and mobile blue line not dissimilar to the Hurricanes and theoretically what they should have with all of the investments they've made there in draft capital soon. They have taken steps forward and tried to round out the line up. Aho is a vey good player but no one would put him in the same realm of MacKinnon, Matthews, Kucherov or McDavid. Same could be said for Larkin.

Stevie Y didn't walk into Vlasic, Kaiser, Slaggert, Reichel, Allen, Del Mastro, Philips, Crevier, Luypen, Kurashev - all already in the system. He's had to start from scratch.

Davidson has had some nice pieces to start with. Detroit and Buffalo do not have a player that can move the needle like Bedard. The Wings are not a like for like comparison to the Hawks and neither are the Sabres. Ottawa maybe has the closest comparable to Bedard in the lesser TheChuck but a lot of good being mediocre the past 6 years has done for him.

Not calling out you, because I do not remember your prediction at the start of the season, but several posters with the addition of Bedard, Foligno, Perry, Hall, etc. was predicting the Hawks to improve about 4 or 5 places to be picking 7th or 8th in the draft this year.

But that all changes when for whatever happened, injuries, players don't progress, etc. etc. and the fall back is "it's part of the plan", "No one expected them to be good this year".

So at what point in the future should there be some accountability for the product on the ice?
- LAHawk

My guess is Davidson has drawn up a plan with a timeline and presented it to upper management. I would assume accountability will be based on that plan and its timeline.

My guess is Davidson has drawn up a plan with a timeline and presented it to upper management. I would assume accountability will be based on that plan and its timeline.
- paulr

Wait a big, fat minute....the GM coordinates with ownership? I never thought of that! I guess that also means that ownership gave KFC the keys even KNOWING about this hideous plan. Unbelievable.

Richardson is not a yeller and Foligno did speak fondly of Torts on the interview I mentioned in another post. Could be there.

Jones has been inconsistent\streaky for most of his career. Has only played over 80 regular season games twice very early in his career. I don't think he moves the needle in either direction but I don't watch practices or hang out in the room so I dunno.

Some of it could have been a shot at Davidson. I think most of the guys they could stand to replace (Raddysh, Johnson, Johnson, Entwhistle, Donato, Blackwell, Athanasiou, Megna, Tinordi) probably played at about the level you would expect but no level of yelling or X's and O's is going to move the needle there.

Donato and AA are signed for another year but there isn't a reason any of those other guys should be on the roster next season.

Theoretically there should be a lot of turnover but we'll see.
- fattybeef

Yes and No.

Raddysh was a disappointment coming off of last year. Entwhistle underachieved. Athanasiou is tough to judge with so much missed time, I'd say underachieved bas on 7 points. Low or no expectations for Megna, Tinordi, Blackwell, R. Johnson, so yeah, I guess maybe played to expectation.

There's absolutely no reason to bring back Megna, Tinordi, Zaitsev. Plenty of young D-men in the pipeline who can outperform what they bring. Maybe you keep Raddysh and hope he bounces back a bit, he seems to be closest to Bedard from all accounts. Of the rest maybe you bring back T.Johnson at a much lower contract for some vet presence and familiarity. The rest, meh, roll the dice and get the Rockford shuttle running with Gutman, Seney, Dach, etc., etc. they can't be worse and may be better at this point

I set up a nil bracket challenge if you want to play:


https://bracketchallenge.nhl.com/en/leagues/23738
- wiz1901

Need a password to join the league Wiz

Wait a big, fat minute....the GM coordinates with ownership? I never thought of that! I guess that also means that ownership gave KFC the keys even KNOWING about this hideous plan. Unbelievable.
- mohel

Of course maybe KD has gone rogue and is trying to (frank) everything up and Management has no clue what he’s up to?

Yes and No.

Raddysh was a disappointment coming off of last year. Entwhistle underachieved. Athanasiou is tough to judge with so much missed time, I'd say underachieved bas on 7 points. Low or no expectations for Megna, Tinordi, Blackwell, R. Johnson, so yeah, I guess maybe played to expectation.

There's absolutely no reason to bring back Megna, Tinordi, Zaitsev. Plenty of young D-men in the pipeline who can outperform what they bring. Maybe you keep Raddysh and hope he bounces back a bit, he seems to be closest to Bedard from all accounts. Of the rest maybe you bring back T.Johnson at a much lower contract for some vet presence and familiarity. The rest, meh, roll the dice and get the Rockford shuttle running with Gutman, Seney, Dach, etc., etc. they can't be worse and may be better at this point
- TheTrob

Well if the plan is to use the cap space to get more draft capital to take on bad contracts, what kind of player do you think the Hawks get with a bad Contract?

Not calling out you, because I do not remember your prediction at the start of the season, but several posters with the addition of Bedard, Foligno, Perry, Hall, etc. was predicting the Hawks to improve about 4 or 5 places to be picking 7th or 8th in the draft this year.

But that all changes when for whatever happened, injuries, players don't progress, etc. etc. and the fall back is "it's part of the plan", "No one expected them to be good this year".

So at what point in the future should there be some accountability for the product on the ice?
- LAHawk

Personally, I thought they could move a few spots up, but I also knew it could be just as bad as last season. I think like most people, I can admit this season didn't go entirely according to plan.

I know we share different views and I hope nothing I post is taken personally either.
I think the accountability will come if the young players we are bringing in don't work out and we don't progress. Right now, kind of too early, we are just getting the start of the influx. If we are picking in the top 5 a couple years from now, that's much more concerning IMO.

Yep, lots of inflated expectations, imo. It is interesting to me that the board expected doom when the Hawks were great, but now expect greatness now that they suck.
- mohel

How else you going to play it?

So Foligno sending a not so subtle message to KFC. His season ending exit interview with management should be interesting.
- boilermaker100

I believe that message is from a captain who is competitive and is a strong leader. He has the right to express his views and surely is not clashing or trying to offend KD. There is no problem or issue here. Filigno wants to win, for the team to be better. That is natural and KD should recognize such. I'm sure thar he does

The team was tanking again so they weren’t trying to put up points. I know you had a hard time watching the terrible hockey, I did too, we all did. But most of us, I think you too, knew That KD wasn’t going to try to do anything to make the team better this season in his pursuit of a top draft pick. I expect next year there will be progression, albeit slow progression. I hope to see some younger hungry rookies push out the washed up NHL veterans and AHL caliber placeholders. I expect to see a free agent or two as well. Hopefully next year we see a team pushing for a playoff spot. And most importantly a team that gets better as the season goes.
- paulr

Two rookie defenseman made it through the season and held their own. Korbustski is already better than Boqvist.

4-4-4-4-4

(No joke)
- DarthKane

Sounds like my golf game.

So Foligno sending a not so subtle message to KFC. His season ending exit interview with management should be interesting.
- boilermaker100

Sounds like Toews when KD tore it down and recent trade deadlines. Foligno is just doing the Captain's job.

Where was the Reichel we’ve seen the past few weeks all season? What a beautiful goal! The power, skating and skill we all knew he had.
- paulr

He needs to become less of a wuss.

In the last three seasons, there have been 246 Chicago Blackhawks hockey games with 492 points available in the standings. The Blackhawks have attained 179 of them, for a three-season points percentage of .364. That’s as bad as any three-year stretch for this team since the 1950s, and that includes the early/mid-2000s.
- LAHawk

I don't like story problems.

Detroit doesn't have anywhere near a Bedard type player which is part of their problem.

No superstars they gotta do it by committee and a big and mobile blue line not dissimilar to the Hurricanes and theoretically what they should have with all of the investments they've made there in draft capital soon. They have taken steps forward and tried to round out the line up. Aho is a vey good player but no one would put him in the same realm of MacKinnon, Matthews, Kucherov or McDavid. Same could be said for Larkin.

Stevie Y didn't walk into Vlasic, Kaiser, Slaggert, Reichel, Allen, Del Mastro, Philips, Crevier, Luypen, Kurashev - all already in the system. He's had to start from scratch.

Davidson has had some nice pieces to start with. Detroit and Buffalo do not have a player that can move the needle like Bedard. The Wings are not a like for like comparison to the Hawks and neither are the Sabres. Ottawa maybe has the closest comparable to Bedard in the lesser TheChuck but a lot of good being mediocre the past 6 years has done for him.
- fattybeef

Kane?

Detroit doesn't have anywhere near a Bedard type player which is part of their problem.

No superstars they gotta do it by committee and a big and mobile blue line not dissimilar to the Hurricanes and theoretically what they should have with all of the investments they've made there in draft capital soon. They have taken steps forward and tried to round out the line up. Aho is a vey good player but no one would put him in the same realm of MacKinnon, Matthews, Kucherov or McDavid. Same could be said for Larkin.

Stevie Y didn't walk into Vlasic, Kaiser, Slaggert, Reichel, Allen, Del Mastro, Philips, Crevier, Luypen, Kurashev - all already in the system. He's had to start from scratch.

Davidson has had some nice pieces to start with. Detroit and Buffalo do not have a player that can move the needle like Bedard. The Wings are not a like for like comparison to the Hawks and neither are the Sabres. Ottawa maybe has the closest comparable to Bedard in the lesser TheChuck but a lot of good being mediocre the past 6 years has done for him.
- fattybeef

Interesting g that you included Luypen among probably the abbreviated list of prospects. I tried to watch him live in a couple games. He played on bottom two lines, essentially as a.checker. He appeared to skate average and willing to.play physical. Also seems to have some ability BUT hard to gage based on limited. New and his role without top offensive dive linemattes

He needs to become less of a wuss.
- rpeters01

Agree, but he also needs to play with better players. LR had him on the same line with the likes of Entwistle and Reese Johnson on too many occasions.

Two rookie defenseman made it through the season and held their own. Korbustski is already better than Boqvist.
- rpeters01

Sorry if you are tired discussing Boqvist
I am a fan of his primarily love his skill ser and wa t to see the acclaimed draft choi e make good fir ar least a couple seasons. I do suspect he will experience one too many concussions and that will force him to. Say his health and ability to still compete as reasons fir premature retirement

The last 1 - 2 months he received close to 20 TOI and I was curious if his game was better. Then with about a month remaining on the schedule he was felled again - concussion?

Agree, but he also needs to play with better players. LR had him on the same line with the likes of Entwistle and Reese Johnson on too many occasions.
- Angotti

Didn't he start with better players, and his play "earned" Reichel his time with Entwhistle and Johnson?