I know it doesn't fit the doom and gloom vibe, but if you look at the roster last year compared to this year, the team is making progress. Young players are playing more minutes this season than last. When injuries happened last year a lot of the holes were plugged with scrap parts who weren't even "hasbeens"

Yeah, we are struggling and probably looking like we will finish about 10-15 points below reasonable expectations, but just playing all kids isn't the answer. They can not just hand roster spots to guys who are young, they have to actually earn it.

Going back to Allan, if he is struggling like he was right now, you don't just say, well that's okay, just get experience. No. You challenge him to step it up and use ice time as the carrot. They aren't trying to develop TJ Brodie or any of the vets, those guys can get shelled and take the heat, but they have to shelter the young guys when appropriate. Rockford is a useful place for guys to play too and play more minutes with less pressure on top of them. It also gives them something to work towards. I really like Allan, but let's be honest, he probably wouldn't be playing on most teams around the NHL right now. He is only in his second year pro and his first NHL season.
- breadbag

They are on pace for 57 points. 5 better than last year.

That's not good.

The 2 signings have term and a fair dollar amount for effective NHL forwards. I've said it before and I'll say it again look at that Skjei deal, you want to destroy a rebuild that's a terrible contract for a significantly declining player. I read what breadbag wrote about Bertuzzi and TT, and i agree with a lot of it

I know this is an unpopular opinion here but many here are all about instant gratification, so they rip everyone and every thing about the org. I'm glad that KD isn't throwing money away and frustrating the agents and not driving contracts up.

I agree with Elbows his next big decision is the coach he brings in.
- BetweenTheDots

Dots you know I’m not about instant gratification but I’m also realistic. If this team isn’t significantly better next season it’s because KD wasn’t able to make the necessary trades or Free Agent signings to make the team better and make no mistake he will be gone. And that could wind up being disastrous because the new GM will do god knows what.

As for coaching Richardson was on the right track, he was working with the players defensively to build defense out, the correct way. I have no idea what Sorensen is doing? If KD makes a coaching change back to a guy trying to coach correctly then it’s obvious he has no idea what he’s doing. With this terrible lineup no coach can do more than try to build a system to when the team has a good complement of players.

They are on pace for 57 points. 5 better than last year.

That's not good.
- SteveRain

No it's not, but you also can't just terminate contracts in the NHL. If anyone is going to be bought out they have to wait until the offseason. I also don't want Brodie taking time away from kids in Rockford. It's just not something that NHL teams do.

This year sucks. It's painful to watch many nights, but the plan was to build through the draft. They've done that. The problem (and I've female doged about this for a few months now) is that there is no foundation on which to bring the kids in and let the assimilate to the NHL. Instead, it looks like the Hawks are leaning on the kids to establish that foundation, which I think is short-sighted.

I think for sure, KD is going to go hard after at least one big time FA, and I think he'll certainly trade for a couple others. Assuming Nazar, Slaggert and maybe Dach make the team next year, that leave a spot or two open for another kid to push their way in.

Dots you know I’m not about instant gratification but I’m also realistic. If this team isn’t significantly better next season it’s because KD wasn’t able to make the necessary trades or Free Agent signings to make the team better and make no mistake he will be gone. And that could wind up being disastrous because the new GM will do god knows what.

As for coaching Richardson was on the right track, he was working with the players defensively to build defense out, the correct way. I have no idea what Sorensen is doing? If KD makes a coaching change back to a guy trying to coach correctly then it’s obvious he has no idea what he’s doing. With this terrible lineup no coach can do more than try to build a system to when the team has a good complement of players.
- paulr

Anyone know what kind of system Carle employs? I've done some research, but it's hard to find anything. I know he worked under Montgomery, but from what I've read he's taken bits and pieces from everyone that he's worked under.

Looks like Foligno is having an issue with his back and Kurashev finished the game with some sort of hand injury. We'll see how severe tomorrow I guess.

Anyone know what kind of system Carle employs? I've done some research, but it's hard to find anything. I know he worked under Montgomery, but from what I've read he's taken bits and pieces from everyone that he's worked under.
- Chunk

No idea but he’s had excellent results working with talented teams. This isn’t only a rebuild of talent but a coach will need to build a structure as the talent enters the team.

Doubt it with that contract lol.
- rpeters01

I know, they have only one retention slot remaining, and it's likely being used for Martinez.

If AA gets hot enough over the next week (yeah I know), then they'd have to find another team with a bad expiring contract to make the money work. And there are quite a few teams on the bubble in the east.

No it's not, but you also can't just terminate contracts in the NHL. If anyone is going to be bought out they have to wait until the offseason. I also don't want Brodie taking time away from kids in Rockford. It's just not something that NHL teams do.

This year sucks. It's painful to watch many nights, but the plan was to build through the draft. They've done that. The problem (and I've female doged about this for a few months now) is that there is no foundation on which to bring the kids in and let the assimilate to the NHL. Instead, it looks like the Hawks are leaning on the kids to establish that foundation, which I think is short-sighted.

I think for sure, KD is going to go hard after at least one big time FA, and I think he'll certainly trade for a couple others. Assuming Nazar, Slaggert and maybe Dach make the team next year, that leave a spot or two open for another kid to push their way in.
- Chunk

Waive him.....nobody will claim him....send him to Rockford (he wont' go) and then hope you go the Saad route and he asks for a resolution. Thought they ditched his money and Vegas signed him on the cheap?


You and I are on the page with the assimilation of the young kids.....has to be corrected and quick.

No idea but he’s had excellent results working with talented teams. This isn’t only a rebuild of talent but a coach will need to build a structure as the talent enters the team.
- paulr

Who's the USA Jr coach? Go get him....

Let him the be the groomer and see, like the kids, he can improve as he gains experience and you ride with as this team becomes a contender.

They are on pace for 57 points. 5 better than last year.

That's not good.
- SteveRain

Never said it was good, but it's not worse than last season. At least it's with more youth playing a bit more of a role and less garbage on the roster. Realistically the Hawks should have been on pace for somewhere between 65-75 points, but it is what it is. They've let too many games get away. Under Richardson it was because they couldn't score. Under Sorensen it's inconsistent defense, not playing a full 60 minutes and Mrazek giving up bad ones.

We'll have to see what happens with the coaching situation and the off season, but progress is progress. More prospects taking steps towards the NHL roster than we've seen in a long time.

Dots you know I’m not about instant gratification but I’m also realistic. If this team isn’t significantly better next season it’s because KD wasn’t able to make the necessary trades or Free Agent signings to make the team better and make no mistake he will be gone. And that could wind up being disastrous because the new GM will do god knows what.

As for coaching Richardson was on the right track, he was working with the players defensively to build defense out, the correct way. I have no idea what Sorensen is doing? If KD makes a coaching change back to a guy trying to coach correctly then it’s obvious he has no idea what he’s doing. With this terrible lineup no coach can do more than try to build a system to when the team has a good complement of players.
- paulr

I can't for the life of me figure out how Sorensen system works.....I also don't think he has the horses to implement it as if it weren't for Mrazek and Soderbloom this would be far more ugly. Guys are lost. Some just look resigned to giving up. IF anything the compete and effort level seem to have gotten worse after the fresh wave of "new coach" wore off.

Imagine getting 2 coaches fired as a group of players....how many coaches does KD get to hire? 6 pack? 12 pack? Bakers dozen?

Never said it was good, but it's not worse than last season. At least it's with more youth playing a bit more of a role and less garbage on the roster. Realistically the Hawks should have been on pace for somewhere between 65-75 points, but it is what it is. They've let too many games get away. Under Richardson it was because they couldn't score. Under Sorensen it's inconsistent defense, not playing a full 60 minutes and Mrazek giving up bad ones.

We'll have to see what happens with the coaching situation and the off season, but progress is progress. More prospects taking steps towards the NHL roster than we've seen in a long time.
- breadbag

Mrazek hasn't been the same since the injury.

No idea but he’s had excellent results working with talented teams. This isn’t only a rebuild of talent but a coach will need to build a structure as the talent enters the team.
- paulr

When was the last time a successful college coach been a successful NHL coach. Montgomery? (team #3), Hakstol? Quinn? Bob Johnson was over 30 years ago.

My preference is either Mike Sullivan (if he leaves Pittsburgh), or Todd Nelson from Hershey

Never said it was good, but it's not worse than last season. At least it's with more youth playing a bit more of a role and less garbage on the roster. Realistically the Hawks should have been on pace for somewhere between 65-75 points, but it is what it is. They've let too many games get away. Under Richardson it was because they couldn't score. Under Sorensen it's inconsistent defense, not playing a full 60 minutes and Mrazek giving up bad ones.

We'll have to see what happens with the coaching situation and the off season, but progress is progress. More prospects taking steps towards the NHL roster than we've seen in a long time.
- breadbag

I would disagree with you....

Bedard is on pace for fewer PPG than last year. He would need 12 pts (6 goals) in his next 9 games to equal last year's total. Again, not saying Bedard is bad....but also to fault of not his own, he's not taking the leaps forward due to coaching and a crap supporting cast.

There are some good things with Nazar, and Slaggert but we also got a small glimpse of those guys last year.

The veterans are just dog $hit, and that uFA goalie they signed....did they just waive the medical exam? I mean that's another miss by KD, no? Silver lining there, Soderbloom who was horrific last year, got a chance to redeem himself and has done pretty good given what's in front of him, and the grade A chances he faces 60 minutes a night.

Just hard to say it's an improvement. Special teams have carried them because if those matched their overall talent level, they may 5-10 worse than the Sharks right now.

I can't for the life of me figure out how Sorensen system works.....I also don't think he has the horses to implement it as if it weren't for Mrazek and Soderbloom this would be far more ugly. Guys are lost. Some just look resigned to giving up. IF anything the compete and effort level seem to have gotten worse after the fresh wave of "new coach" wore off.

Imagine getting 2 coaches fired as a group of players....how many coaches does KD get to hire? 6 pack? 12 pack? Bakers dozen?
- SteveRain

KD was hired on March 1, 2022. He's been in charge for 3 years and was an assistant GM since 2018. What NHL coaches has he brought in that have real NHL coaching experience? Who is supposed to be leading the development of the young players?

Even the Sharks had a better roster for Celebrini to join versus what the Hawks gave Bedard in year 1 and now in year 2. I can't think of a recent #1 overall that went to a worse situation, roster talent wise, then what Bedard was dropped into and it's continued throughout year 2.

Let's not forgot the Corry Perry and Taylor Hall failed signings.

3 years as GM and Bedard and Vlasic appear to be the only certain things. KD had nothing to do with Vlasic and Bedard was gift wrapped by the lottery. Luke Richardson was clearly a hiring mistake.

KD was hired on March 1, 2022. He's been in charge for 3 years and was an assistant GM since 2018. What NHL coaches has he brought in that have real NHL coaching experience? Who is supposed to be leading the development of the young players?

Even the Sharks had a better roster for Celebrini to join versus what the Hawks gave Bedard in year 1 and now in year 2. I can't think of a recent #1 overall that went to a worse situation, roster talent wise, then what Bedard was dropped into and it's continued throughout year 2.

Let's not forgot the Corry Perry and Taylor Hall failed signings.

3 years as GM and Bedard and Vlasic appear to be the only certain things. KD had nothing to do with Vlasic and Bedard was gift wrapped by the lottery. Luke Richardson was clearly a hiring mistake.
- bhawks2241

agreed 100%

I am still waiting for somebody to list a worst supporting cast since the lockout (2005) that's worse than Bedard's hand.

Dude was dealt 2/7 off suit playing hold'em for 12 hours straight and just folding non stop.....

Dots you know I’m not about instant gratification but I’m also realistic. If this team isn’t significantly better next season it’s because KD wasn’t able to make the necessary trades or Free Agent signings to make the team better and make no mistake he will be gone. And that could wind up being disastrous because the new GM will do god knows what.

As for coaching Richardson was on the right track, he was working with the players defensively to build defense out, the correct way. I have no idea what Sorensen is doing? If KD makes a coaching change back to a guy trying to coach correctly then it’s obvious he has no idea what he’s doing. With this terrible lineup no coach can do more than try to build a system to when the team has a good complement of players.
- paulr

I watch all these other teams rebuild and one constant is almost all of them don't get significantly better from one year to the next, i imagine that will be the case for this team, they will be mediocre for a couple of years and then probably pop.

As I've said before it's a win to draft in the top 4 this season. Then KD needs to hire a good coach.

I watch all these other teams rebuild and one constant is almost all of them don't get significantly better from one year to the next, i imagine that will be the case for this team, they will be mediocre for a couple of years and then probably pop.

As I've said before it's a win to draft in the top 4 this season. Then KD needs to draft a good coach.
- BetweenTheDots

year 4 is approaching....I'd love mediocre right now.

I watch all these other teams rebuild and one constant is almost all of them don't get significantly better from one year to the next, i imagine that will be the case for this team, they will be mediocre for a couple of years and then probably pop.

As I've said before it's a win to draft in the top 4 this season. Then KD needs to hire a good coach.
- BetweenTheDots

Yep, I shared the stats a while back, very rare to see a large jump from the bottom 3 up. I looked at 30 years of bottom 3 teams in the standings and historically, it's more likely that the team drops off in points even more, stays the same or has a modest increase of like 7-15 points. Very rarely do teams dramatically improve.

People also forget the fact that the Hawks situation is pretty unique. Not many teams were so devoid of talent in the pipeline and went into a deep rebuild only to land a huge #1 pick so early in the process. Most teams that land a "potential" generational player were rebuilding for at least a couple seasons when they come in or didn't have a GM trading away their former first round picks with regularity. I mean, let's look back a few years to what Stan was doing and he traded the pick or the player picked in the 1st round going back a long way.

Bedard didn't change the timeline. Bedard didn't change the plan. Anyone who is upset that the Hawks didn't load up immediately after getting him, it's more an issue of expectations. The Hawks are following the plan/timeline more or less.

Yep, I shared the stats a while back, very rare to see a large jump from the bottom 3 up. I looked at 30 years of bottom 3 teams in the standings and historically, it's more likely that the team drops off in points even more, stays the same or has a modest increase of like 7-15 points. Very rarely do teams dramatically improve.

People also forget the fact that the Hawks situation is pretty unique. Not many teams were so devoid of talent in the pipeline and went into a deep rebuild only to land a huge #1 pick so early in the process. Most teams that land a "potential" generational player were rebuilding for at least a couple seasons when they come in or didn't have a GM trading away their former first round picks with regularity. I mean, let's look back a few years to what Stan was doing and he traded the pick or the player picked in the 1st round going back a long way.

Bedard didn't change the timeline. Bedard didn't change the plan. Anyone who is upset that the Hawks didn't load up immediately after getting him, it's more an issue of expectations. The Hawks are following the plan/timeline more or less.
- breadbag

You know many here say sell high? I'm thinking KD did that on Kirby Dach, and if he's right about Nazar, who i think will be a better pro than Kirby, isn't that what you want from a GM.

I feel bad for Kirby but that was a hell of a move by KD.

Waive him.....nobody will claim him....send him to Rockford (he wont' go) and then hope you go the Saad route and he asks for a resolution. Thought they ditched his money and Vegas signed him on the cheap?


You and I are on the page with the assimilation of the young kids.....has to be corrected and quick.
- SteveRain

I doubt Brodie is willing to walk away from the last year of his contract. That's the only reason that Saad was able to be terminated and signed by Vegas.

Sorry, but there simply is no quick fix to Brodie this season. I fully expect that they will buy him out this offseason though. Again, I really don't want him in Rockford taking time from someone else, and don't think they'd do it either. We have to wait one more week then they will likely have less of an appetite to play vets. If they still play him with kids up and available, then yeah, it's stupid and Anders will be confined to Rockford next year.

I doubt Brodie is willing to walk away from the last year of his contract. That's the only reason that Saad was able to be terminated and signed by Vegas.

Sorry, but there simply is no quick fix to Brodie this season. I fully expect that they will buy him out this offseason though. Again, I really don't want him in Rockford taking time from someone else, and don't think they'd do it either. We have to wait one more week then they will likely have less of an appetite to play vets. If they still play him with kids up and available, then yeah, it's stupid and Anders will be confined to Rockford next year.
- Chunk

I don't think it would be a bad thing to have Brodie working with the kids in Rockford.

Pretty deep defensively wise.....they should know who is trending in the right direction.

Key is THEY SHOULD know......

Just not high on this coaching staff/hockey ops/pres at this point. They can pimp 100 years celebration all they want. THey can call me everyday and try slam tactics to make me think it's 2010 and demand is through the roof....wont' work. Games I want to go to, and I do go, I will easily find tickets....but this organization needs an ego check in the worst way possible.

You want to attract more people....then arm Bedard with talent so if they lose 5-2 at least people walk out saying "Bedard had a goal" like idiot Cubs fans would with their beanie babies and Sammy Sosa hrs.
- SteveRain

The other GM's should know as well and won't take our garbage.

year 4 is approaching....I'd love mediocre right now.
- SteveRain

Year 3, Stan set up that first year and KD didn't get the job permanently until the end of the season.

Year 3, Stan set up that first year and KD didn't get the job permanently until the end of the season.
- rpeters01

Tank for Bedard
Bedard rookie year
Thresh hold of Hell we currently reside in
2025-26 upcoming