I thought Carolina was supposed to suck this year? I guess Necas is proving he deserves top line minutes.
- LAHawk

Carolina Predators look real good.

16th year of a rebuild still no Cup

Strome with 2 assists in the first period already.

Strome with 2 assists in the first period already.
- LAHawk

I was told you can't win with a player like him.

I was told you can't win with a player like him.
- BetweenTheDots

Yup, KD gave him away for nothing.

He went for speed and signed Athanaseou.

Yup, KD gave him away for nothing.

He went for speed and signed Athanaseou.
- LAHawk

It was worth the trade off though we ended up with Bedard.

I was told you can't win with a player like him.
- BetweenTheDots

Washington aren’t winners, their sole purpose this season is to get Ovie to break Gretzky’s record. Strome isn’t what the Hawks need long term.

Washington aren’t winners, their sole purpose this season is to get Ovie to break Gretzky’s record. Strome isn’t what the Hawks need long term.
- paulr

Settle down Francis, i agree with you

Settle down Francis, i agree with you
- BetweenTheDots

Ok Bucko

Yup, KD gave him away for nothing.

He went for speed and signed Athanaseou.
- LAHawk

You can have either any time but I will never accept slow skaters and he doesn’t even play very good defense or is a boards guy. You use him solely for what he is, which is a descent offensive center.,,,,go ahead ….,if I am his opponent I find ways to expose his slow skating. Imagine a game where he goes against a very fast team.

One is just better than the other. The slow guy can’t make a check if he can’t get there in time or stay with his man down ice.

Not acceptable.

As far as Bedard, he will never accept a minor league demotion Get him a coach (ing) and enough better players in the cast. Send him down and he will pout and will demand a trade. He may never play for you again. He is a premiere talent and you need to find a way to coach him and allow him grow and improve in the NHL

You can’t have an entire team of the same guy. You need some size, a good amount of speed, lots of skill, some that concentrate mostly on defense, others you can coun ton to be able to generate chances on a whim.

These players come in many forms. I do t think you can say that you can’t win with “x” player. The Hawks won with Timonen FFS. And Handzus, and Versteeg, and a host of other flawed players that worked well together.

Carolina Predators look real good.

16th year of a rebuild still no Cup
- BetweenTheDots

Yet they’ve built their team on draft picks and patience. Isn’t that what you are asking for?

Yet they’ve built their team on draft picks and patience. Isn’t that what you are asking for?
- Chunk

It is what i want, but when the time is right i do want them to make moves for the playoff run, i felt last season was the only one where they really tried to improve themselves at the trade dead line.

Necas will be an UFA in 2 years. Didn't want to sign in Carolina, it'll be interesting, Blackhawks should be trending in the right direction.

It is what i want, but when the time is right i do want them to make moves for the playoff run, i felt last season was the only one where they really tried to improve themselves at the trade dead line.
- BetweenTheDots

KD has positioned himself differently and hopefully better than other teams by stocking up draft picks and prospects. When the time comes, when KD needs to bolster the lineup, he has provided himself lots of potential options to make trades. Or obviously he can look at free agency. The crucial things he has to be cognizant of is not over or undervaluing the talent in the system and being very careful with the cap.

Necas will be an UFA in 2 years. Didn't want to sign in Carolina, it'll be interesting, Blackhawks should be trending in the right direction.
- BetweenTheDots

I think this highlights a problem though. If you wait until you are a piece or two away, what do you do if those pieces are unavailable? What if the best available is someone like Meier (not that he’s bad, but I don’t think he’s a “final piece”)?

Necas’ biggest issue was that he wasn’t getting top line minutes. It seems as though he is now and they are being successful with him there. Why would he want to leave?

I think this highlights a problem though. If you wait until you are a piece or two away, what do you do if those pieces are unavailable? What if the best available is someone like Meier (not that he’s bad, but I don’t think he’s a “final piece”)?

Necas’ biggest issue was that he wasn’t getting top line minutes. It seems as though he is now and they are being successful with him there. Why would he want to leave?
- Chunk

But if you panic and build a team in fear, then he's doomed to fail. He'll either screw up the cap or trade 1 or a few really good pieces away before they develop.

I don't think Necas wants to be there just a guess but if he did wouldn't of he signed a long term contract

But if you panic and build a team in fear, then he's doomed to fail. He'll either screw up the cap or trade 1 or a few really good pieces away before they develop.

I don't think Necas wants to be there just a guess but if he did wouldn't of he signed a long term contract
- BetweenTheDots

I’m not saying he needs to make a panic signing, but if Rantanen actually makes it to market, 100% you go after him. The Hawks still have a ton of prospects and draft picks left. He can move a couple of each and still remain well positioned on both. Obviously he needs to be smart about it, but I don’t think you hold onto everything just because they could turn out good for another team.

It’s like the Strome argument. Would he be putting up these number if he was still on the Hawks? I highly doubt it.

But if you panic and build a team in fear, then he's doomed to fail. He'll either screw up the cap or trade 1 or a few really good pieces away before they develop.

I don't think Necas wants to be there just a guess but if he did wouldn't of he signed a long term contract
- BetweenTheDots

When he signed was he an RFA or UFA? If he was an RFA he may have signed to get him to UFA status? So it’s possible it was a strategic signing.

I’m not saying he needs to make a panic signing, but if Rantanen actually makes it to market, 100% you go after him. The Hawks still have a ton of prospects and draft picks left. He can move a couple of each and still remain well positioned on both. Obviously he needs to be smart about it, but I don’t think you hold onto everything just because they could turn out good for another team.

It’s like the Strome argument. Would he be putting up these number if he was still on the Hawks? I highly doubt it.
- Chunk

I just don't see Rantanen hitting the market

When he signed was he an RFA or UFA? If he was an RFA he may have signed to get him to UFA status? So it’s possible it was a strategic signing.
- paulr

I hope when he hits the market he wants to play in Chicago.

When he signed was he an RFA or UFA? If he was an RFA he may have signed to get him to UFA status? So it’s possible it was a strategic signing.
- paulr

That is exactly it. Plus he was going to arbitration, which would have meant a one year or 2 year deal anyway.

I just don't see Rantanen hitting the market
- BetweenTheDots

You missed the point. Also, I said “if”

I hope when he hits the market he wants to play in Chicago.
- BetweenTheDots

What if he doesn’t hit the market until he’s 35?

I hope when he hits the market he wants to play in Chicago.
- BetweenTheDots

Let’s see what Chicago have when he does hit the market. If Chicago need a forward and can afford him, fine. But If Chicago need defensemen or goalies they can’t make the same mistake the leafs did and sign a position player they don’t really need, like Toronto did with Tavares when what they needed were defensemen.

Besides when a player starts whining about playing time and his lot on another team, I don’t think they need that kind of attitude to potentially poison what they are trying to build.

What if he doesn’t hit the market until he’s 35?
- Chunk

Really? Hahaha