In reality, if the Blackhawks weren't going to win the Cup this year, it's probably better that they didn't have another fruitless playoff run.

 

It sucks that Ladd will be gone again. Tough enough to see him go the first time.

 

Yeah, as much as the core has played hockey over the last 8 years or so, it is nice for them to get a couple of extra months off.

NHL Playoffs RD2:

 

1 vs. 4

2 vs. 3

11 vs. 6 or 14

10 vs. 12

I agree that the extra time off is nice, but I absolutely felt that this team could handle Dallas. I was a bit more uncertain about Anaheim or San Jose in the Western Finals, but it would have been a good series either way. Beyond that, I feel that the Hawks could handle any of the Eastern teams in the Final.

 

It's nice to get that time off, but extremely disappointing to lose because I wanted to see how far this particular group could go if they were able to get by St. Louis.

 

 

I agree that the extra time off is nice, but I absolutely felt that this team could handle Dallas. I was a bit more uncertain about Anaheim or San Jose in the Western Finals, but it would have been a good series either way. Beyond that, I feel that the Hawks could handle any of the Eastern teams in the Final.

 

It's nice to get that time off, but extremely disappointing to lose because I wanted to see how far this particular group could go if they were able to get by St. Louis.

I just don't know which Stars team shows up next round. If Lehtonen is good, they have a shot against anyone but they have to score a ton.

NHL has to be pissed with Chicago, Rangers, and Kings all gone. They did it to themselves with this dumbass format though.

f***ing post-to-post..... f***.

 

All I want is for the Blues to go home now. Please.

I am surprised how much Panik came on in this series though. He really stepped his game up I thought.

NHL Playoffs RD2:

 

1 vs. 4

2 vs. 3

11 vs. 6 or 14

10 vs. 12

Stupid.

Callers on local radio saying Hossa needs to retire. Hossa is going to be with the Hawks for years in some fashion. That recapture is nasty.

 

Also, everyone calling this a complete failure of a season. I don't disagree, but let's be honest, if this team wasn't going to win the Cup, it's best that they go out in the first round. The Blackhawks are playing so much extra hockey every year, this is probably a deserved long offseason.

Edited April 26, 20169 yr by AustinIllini

Callers on local radio saying Hossa needs to retire. Hossa is going to be with the Hawks for years in some fashion. That recapture is nasty.

He's fine if he's not on the top two lines.

 

St. Louis was the better team for much of the series, although they had really shaky goaltending last night. Hawks failed to convert a few real nice chances.

 

It's officially baseball season now.

He's fine if he's not on the top two lines.

 

St. Louis was the better team for much of the series, although they had really shaky goaltending last night. Hawks failed to convert a few real nice chances.

 

It's officially baseball season now.

I agree with you, heck, in the regular season we can get away with Hossa on the top two lines, but when it all comes down to it, it might be time to run Kane-Toews together regularly given how much better they look together.

Callers on local radio saying Hossa needs to retire. Hossa is going to be with the Hawks for years in some fashion. That recapture is nasty.

 

Also, everyone calling this a complete failure of a season. I don't disagree, but let's be honest, if this team wasn't going to win the Cup, it's best that they go out in the first round. The Blackhawks are playing so much extra hockey every year, this is probably a deserved long offseason.

 

 

It's not even close to a complete failure. They lost in 7 to one of the best teams in the NHL. It's very hard to repeat and nobody should have "expected" them to.

It's not even close to a complete failure. They lost in 7 to one of the best teams in the NHL. It's very hard to repeat and nobody should have "expected" them to.

Radio callers are the bottom 1% of a fanbase. The Hawks are one of the best teams in the league, it happens.

Callers on local radio saying Hossa needs to retire. Hossa is going to be with the Hawks for years in some fashion. That recapture is nasty.

 

Also, everyone calling this a complete failure of a season. I don't disagree, but let's be honest, if this team wasn't going to win the Cup, it's best that they go out in the first round. The Blackhawks are playing so much extra hockey every year, this is probably a deserved long offseason.

 

All you had to do was consider the first four words of your post, and then stop there.

He's fine if he's not on the top two lines.

 

Bingo. He's an elite 3rd liner right now. Vision and speed still there.

 

I still believe if Keith didn't get suspended game 1, we won this series in 6. But it is what it is.

Bingo. He's an elite 3rd liner right now. Vision and speed still there.

 

I still believe if Keith didn't get suspended game 1, we won this series in 6. But it is what it is.

Who is your new first line? Kane-Toews-Panarin?

This was pretty awesome.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post...nate-blackhawks

 

Jeff Nuich

‏@JeffNuich

 

OFFICIAL: @CSNChicago posts new ALL-TIME RECORD 19.1 TV rating for #Blackhawks Game 7 --> http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-blackhaw...ks-blues-game-7 …

Who is your new first line? Kane-Toews-Panarin?

Panarin and Kane are somewhat redundant in that scenario. I do like Kane and Towes together but they need someone with size and that can go to the net, and it cant be Hossa. I wish we had a top 6 forward with size ready to come up but they flat out dont. I liked Ladd on the top with Towes but they will not be able to afford him.

 

Most of the forwards I like for scoring happen to be pretty damn tiny with the exception of Bondra.

For those of us less informed on salaries and caps, which players are the Hawks likely to lose before next season? I've heard a lot about Shaw being gone, but who else?

For those of us less informed on salaries and caps, which players are the Hawks likely to lose before next season? I've heard a lot about Shaw being gone, but who else?

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/blackhawks

 

 

Good place to start.

They will have roughly 10 million to sign 7 players.

Stan Bowman has nailed the model as best he can. Don't get attached to anyone outside the core. And the core has reached peak expansion at this point, so don't get too attached to anyone no longer under contract, as the core can only swap out pieces with contracts expiring.

Sign cheap foreign free agents and draft well and it's sustainable. However at some point maybe 2018 or 19 you are going to have to start chipping away at the core.

Sign cheap foreign free agents and draft well and it's sustainable. However at some point maybe 2018 or 19 you are going to have to start chipping away at the core.

The next piece to have a contract end (assuming not Panarin, who needs to be extended or Teuvo, who is super inexpensive) is Bickell in 2018 and Hjalmarsson in 2019.

 

I would expect both of them to come off the books when their time comes.