The season is ending and as soon as it does I am personally doing nothing but looking forward.
Free agents, lottery balls, draft picks, and hopefully winning.
That makes this a time to reflect.
This has been a weird season.
Frustrating, but hopeful.
The last home game of the season was a microcosm of the entire year.
The speed, skill, and competitiveness of Nazar is something the Blackhawks DESPERATELY need going forward.
He has all the tools to make an impact.
And I think that has been the hardest part of watching this team.
It’s just not at the NHL standard.
There were not enough moments of “good” hockey.
I also didn’t think the effort was anywhere near acceptable on most nights.
Every team is guilty of that over the course of a season.
Maybe that is coming.
Maybe there are seedlings that I can’t see from my couch.
We’ll see how they come back next year.
Hopefully it is with more talent and more bite.
Let’s put this year behind us.
Everyone starts fresh next year.
Seabrook, Hossa, Keith, and Kane were all in the building.
They were at the post-party.
I hope it was a personal scheduling conflict or bitterness towards the organization rather than a health issue.
I don’t know what happened there and haven’t heard anything.
Hope he’s doing well.
I watched the entire interview Joel did with Andy Strickland.
I suggest you watch it as well.
I’ve never been able to square the punishment/suspension/ban of Joel Quenneville with what was actually in the report.
The NHL seems to believe what is written in the report.
That’s all we have to go off of.
Joel says that he wished he pressed for more details.
He says if he had those details he would’ve fired Aldrich.
This just comes down to whether or not you believe that Joel Quenneville is a monster.
I don’t believe he is.
I am of the opinion that he should be able to coach in the NHL.
Talking about it is the 3rd rail.
Nobody is ever going to change their mind.
I am not trying to.
I do wonder if Quenneville and Bowman are at their breaking point with the suspension.
I was told they had a gag order historically and that is why neither have done interviews until now.
Could they sue the NHL?
Is the NHL confident that the “suspensions” are legal?
Are they confident about what would come out in discovery?
This is probably the last time I will ever talk about this.
I read that report 4 times when it came out and the NHL acted.
My view has been the same.
Nobody changes their mind.
I would actually love it if this went to court.
Maybe more will come out that makes one side or the other change their mind.
I hope so, but I highly doubt it.
Never should’ve left.
He’d be the perfect RW for Bedard.
Imagine those two on a PP.
It’d be incredible.
I am very curious about what the Blackhawks do with the goalie situation this summer.
Stauber and Drew Commesso have virtually identical numbers in the AHL this year.
Numbers, especially with goalies, don’t tell the full story.
Soderblom has had a very difficult year for the Blackhawks as the backup.
I believe Soderblom is waiver exempt so he could be sent to Rockford next year.
If Stauber is the best goalie he should play.
Once you’re in the organization it shouldn’t matter where you were drafter or how you got there.
Crawford was the last goalie they drafted who actually played significant NHL games.
Maybe Commesso breaks that streak.
Maybe Stauber is the next Scott Darling.
I really don’t know or have an opinion on the guys in the system besides Soderblom.
I’d like to win.
I’d like to see the Blackhawks take a stab at get a real #1 this summer.
Boston needs to give Jeremy Swayman a new contract and freeing up Ullmark’s $5M will help them.
I’d love to see Davidson pursue a trade for Ullmark this summer.
Depends on what you mean by “contender”.
It won’t happen, but that roster would absolutely make the playoffs.
I think this depends on how the Blackhawks view the development of their current prospects.
Are they confident that they have top 6 forwards with Nazar and Oliver Moore?
Maybe they opt for more size with a guy like Lindstrom who is 6'3+ 210lbs.
They also may not want to take a Russian and wait.
Same thing applies to the defense.
There’s a ton of defensemen projected to go in the top 10.
They’re going to get a good player no matter what they do.
Hall is coming back.
A full season of Anthanasiou.
Further development of Bedard, Korchinski, Vlasic.
Hopefully Nazar added to the mix.
Maybe they can still get something productive out of Reichel.
I think everyone realizes that Korchinski wasn’t quite ready for the NHL this year.
Just a weird spot for him and the organization.
Too good for junior, not good enough for the NHL, not eligible for the AHL.
I do wish that they gave him PP mins with the 1st unit this year.
Maybe let him get some confidence and build around his strengths.
I really like this talent.
I expect a jump forward in his game next year.
My gut says no.
Starting to feel like maybe Richardson is Ricky Renteria or Dennis Savard.
I think the staff and this team leaves you wanting/expecting more.
First time NHL head coach with a BAD team.
I hope he’s the next Jared Bednard but we haven’t seen enough yet.
This is why the top of the draft is so interesting to me.
Eventually you need roster/pipeline balance.
How many defensemen do the Blackhawks have that are legitimate NHL talents?
Kaiser has good tools and skating.
Crevier is a monster.
Not everyone is going to make that leap to being an every day NHL defenseman.
Having said that…it’s starting to take shape.
I REALLY believe in Rinzel.
Vlasic is already one of the best defensive defensemen in the league.
This defense core is going to be BIG and mobile.
A tough season with moments of brilliance sprinkled in.
I think we have been patient enough.
I hope the Blackhawks give us something to talk about this summer and a good product come Fall.
Regardless, the teardown part of this era is effectively over.
It’s time to start building and climbing.
It’s time to start winning.
