We hope the kids will be better. Reichel took a step back after showing well in his first shot with the big club. I can make a strong argument that Vlasic was worse than he was last year. Looking back, the elder Dach faltered was up and down in his first few years. I'm not saying this as an indictment of their long term future, but you can't just assume that everyone is going to be better than the year before.

I'm really not trying to pour cold water on everything, but it's just the nature of young players to be inconsistent.
- Chunk

Some will be better, others will need more seasoning. I expect Bedard and Nazar to have good years and Vlasic to play like he did the first half of the season. Vlasic played way too many minutes, and that obviously impacted his play later in the season. He mentioned at the end of the year that he ran out of gas, hopefully he works on his endurance this offseason and adds a few pounds.

Some will be better, others will need more seasoning. I expect Bedard and Nazar to have good years and Vlasic to play like he did the first half of the season. Vlasic played way too many minutes, and that obviously impacted his play later in the season. He mentioned at the end of the year that he ran out of gas, hopefully he works on his endurance this offseason and adds a few pounds.
- Angotti

For Vlasic, I think you could say the same thing about him the year before too. He was much better in the first half of the year and struggled more in the second half.

While I’d like them to add a top 6 fwd, what you mention seems to be overlooked by most here.

The team that started last season and the one that ended it looked largely different. Even if they send Arty, Moore, Greene or whoever down for some seasoning, it’s likley they are back up before long.

Also let’s account for them likley buying out Brodie (addition by subtraction) and the addition of Spencer Knight, but Steve and his less intelligent doppelgänger are still pissed they traded Jones.
- HawkintheD

Yep, the young kids getting better is what will move the needle more than anything else. They need the young guys to start to become the identity of the team, which will happen more and more as we go on.

I will question Davidson'a abilty to be GM if he signs Marner
Wow talk of a 7 year 13, to 14 million for him . Please stay clear Kyle

I will question Davidson'a abilty to be GM if he signs Marner
Wow talk of a 7 year 13, to 14 million for him . Please stay clear Kyle
- HamiltonHawk

It's like Toronto signing Tavares for all that money, a regular season darling

What a poorly run franchise

KD made three trades before/during that first draft.

Dach - for picks
Mrazek - for picks
ADB - for picks.

If he adds a single notable player (or hell, just doesn't trade ADB) instead of trading just for picks, he adds/keeps a useful piece that notably shrinks that difference, and he still has tons of picks.

Again: YOUR argument was that ANA's picks in the three previous years set them up better than the Hawks. I'm saying that those picks did very little to set the two teams apart. I don't necessarily mind the tear completely down and rebuild, but KD certainly could have done some things differently to provide a better structure for young kids to build upon.

Edit: Sorry, that is a bad argument on my part. Your argument was about what actually happened, and I threw a theoretical in.

I still don't think those differences add up to a 19 point difference, but I made a bad argument in this instance.
- Chunk

I guess that's where we differ for all the complaints about Zegras he played a better brand of hockey this past season, and McTavish is a solid hockey player as well. They both have over 200 games played after this season which in itself makes them all around better players because of the experience they have gained. My complaint is the lack of top 6 forwards and right there the Ducks have 2 more out of those drafts than we do. We traded a couple away to do an actual rebuild.

I do believe once we do get the top 6 forwards we will leap frog many of these franchises because of how talented our blue line and goalie is.

I also believe Anaheim played in a weaker division than the Blackhawks.

I will question Davidson'a abilty to be GM if he signs Marner
Wow talk of a 7 year 13, to 14 million for him . Please stay clear Kyle
- HamiltonHawk

Online, I've seen a lot of people ragging on Marner for his blind backhand pass that ended up turning around on them resulting in the 3-0 goal yesterday. Definitely would have wanted him to make a safer play, after I think his line was gassed from being hemmed in. Marner had to try to get back and cover for his D-man Morgan Rielly on the play who was way out of position.

I think a lot of blame to go around for the Leafs on their loss, this play that people are being critical about, I get the Marner made an iffy pass and then failed to get back in time but Matthews missed a pass he probably would catch about 80-90% of the time and Rielly (red circle) gambled and fled the zone even after he saw Marner wasn't going to move it clean as he was reaching back to get the puck off the boards. When you have two Panthers behind you and your forward is in this position, as the Dman, don't fly the zone hoping it works out.




I'm not saying we should go out and get Marner, but man there is blame to go around IMO.

After David Carle decided to stay at UD I haven’t heard anything about a new coach. I wonder what’s going on there?
- paulr

Waiting for Todd Nelson to finish up in the Calder playoffs

According to KFC, in an article I just read, they are talking to people. It didn't say they were interviewing people. The article went on to say that he keeps things close to the vest and will only release information through select venues. We won't know anything until he tells us.

Waiting for Todd Nelson to finish up in the Calder playoffs
- Assman22

Waiting for Todd Nelson to finish up in the Calder playoffs
- Assman22

You are on to something!

Maybe...

Waiting for Todd Nelson to finish up in the Calder playoffs
- Assman22

So are 5 other teams.

Online, I've seen a lot of people ragging on Marner for his blind backhand pass that ended up turning around on them resulting in the 3-0 goal yesterday. Definitely would have wanted him to make a safer play, after I think his line was gassed from being hemmed in. Marner had to try to get back and cover for his D-man Morgan Rielly on the play who was way out of position.

I think a lot of blame to go around for the Leafs on their loss, this play that people are being critical about, I get the Marner made an iffy pass and then failed to get back in time but Matthews missed a pass he probably would catch about 80-90% of the time and Rielly (red circle) gambled and fled the zone even after he saw Marner wasn't going to move it clean as he was reaching back to get the puck off the boards. When you have two Panthers behind you and your forward is in this position, as the Dman, don't fly the zone hoping it works out.




I'm not saying we should go out and get Marner, but man there is blame to go around IMO.
- breadbag

Marner is an interesting case. He puts up points and is sound defensively, but this is one where the eye test may be more important than the numbers. I'm not quite as against him as others here, but I also don't think he's worth a $13M price tag. At that point, I'd just trade for Petterson in VAN and hope he reverts to his good form. He's younger (26) and only has 6 years left on the contract.

So are 5 other teams.
- rpeters01

Three other teams. Tocchet went to PHI and Foote to VAN. Leaves CHI, PIT, SEA, BOS

So are 5 other teams.
- rpeters01

Don't worry they can hire Steve's favorite, Peter Laviolette

Don't worry they can hire Steve's favorite, Peter Laviolette
- BetweenTheDots

Nothing would make me happier than if the Pens hired him. Just pure poetry if that happened.

Don't worry they can hire Steve's favorite, Peter Laviolette
- BetweenTheDots

Trent yawney be my pick as of now then Nelson halpern woodcraft in that order

I voted for Larmer and Seabrook for the Blackhawks hall of fame.

I voted for Larmer and Seabrook for the Blackhawks hall of fame.
- 35Tony0

I went Mironov and Karpotsev.

Larmer and Keith...

Next round --- gonna be Roenick and Seabrook

Lots of good choices.

I went Mironov and Karpotsev.
- Chunk

Without them, where would we be?🙂

Without them, where would we be?🙂
- 35Tony0

Foley's blood pressure would be about 20 points lower.

I went Mironov and Karpotsev.
- Chunk

P. Esposito and K. Hodge.

Hawks talking to Jeff Blashill about the head coaching position.He's been an assistant coach for Tampa the last 3 years. Thoughts?

Hawks talking to Jeff Blashill about the head coaching position.He's been an assistant coach for Tampa the last 3 years. Thoughts?
- BGKarras

No no