Chicago officially rebuilding.....

[STONE.]

Timing was strangest. I suppose if it's a reaction to social media frustration, that's more explainable. But rebuilding now...after the draft and FA?

Unless bigger changes happen this summer, the timing is dumb. If they head into this year with Kane and Toews and Keith playing big minutes, then they would've been better off waiting until next offseason. Keep people hopeful this year that the playoff win wasn't a fluke, then declare a rebuild when you're actually prepared to do some rebuilding. Maybe closer to trade deadline if you think you're moving one of the bigger pieces then.

Or maybe they'll trade Kane, Keith or Toews in the next month and this will make a lot more sense.

[2014olympicgold]

It worked with the Rangers because it was a seriously hard choice for the team to do. Chicago was half doing it already then decided to send the letter out. They were the youngest team in the bubble.

[Daydream Nation]

It worked with the Rangers because it was a seriously hard choice for the team to do. Chicago was half doing it already then decided to send the letter out. They were the youngest team in the bubble.

Yes, they were the youngest team in the bubble but they don't have the right kind of young prospects. Dach looks like he could be a #1 C but the rest of the Hawks young players look to be complimentary pieces. Boqvist might top out at Torey Krug. What is Debrincat? Kubalik is a nice piece. Maybe Ian Mitchell and Reichel turn out to be contributing pieces but the Hawks need play-driving, difference-making players. Besides Dach, the Hawks have no young players that have that ceiling. Winning that meaningless Edmonton series really cost this team. The Hawks would have been in a much, much better position if they had gotten a Rossi or Perfetti this year and then fully tanked next season and got a true #1 dman in next year's stacked top 10 of the draft.

[2014olympicgold]

Yes, they were the youngest team in the bubble but they don't have the right kind of young prospects. Dach looks like he could be a #1 C but the rest of the Hawks young players look to be complimentary pieces. Boqvist might top out at Torey Krug. What is Debrincat? Kubalik is a nice piece. Maybe Ian Mitchell and Reichel turn out to be contributing pieces but the Hawks need play-driving, difference-making players. Besides Dach, the Hawks have no young players that have that ceiling. Winning that meaningless Edmonton series really cost this team. The Hawks would have been in a much, much better position if they had gotten a Rossi or Perfetti this year and then fully tanked next season and got a true #1 dman in next year's stacked top 10 of the draft.

They were already rebuilding is what I was getting at. They are young, not good and young.

Rangers were old and the letter was saying it's time we rebuild. We need to get younger and there will be losses in the future. The Blackhawks have had those losses already and are young. Because the GM was making moves to go for the rebuild over the last yr or two but half - buttedly, this is just lip service to me.

[butch]

isles made it to conference finals with leo komarov playing top 9 minutes . I think you'll be alright Chicago

[Daydream Nation]

isles made it to conference finals with leo komarov playing top 9 minutes . I think you'll be alright Chicago

Grinding it to a conference final is not the Hawks goal.

[newfcollins]

I think the Hawks want to rebuild the same way as Montreal in the last couple of years. Get lots of draft picks, and let your veterans push for a playoff spot at the same time. By getting lots of picks, you hope enough of them turn out to be decent enough in the long term.

[Axeman33]

I think the Hawks want to rebuild the same way as Montreal in the last couple of years. Get lots of draft picks, and let your veterans push for a playoff spot at the same time. By getting lots of picks, you hope enough of them turn out to be decent enough in the long term.

So basically play terrible hockey with a few stars on your roster to keep fans coming to the games, all the while rebuilding but never really rebuilding?

[newfcollins]

So basically play terrible hockey with a few stars on your roster to keep fans coming to the games, all the while rebuilding but never really rebuilding?

Exactly. It helps to have a pandemic to artificially make the playoffs as well.

[HeitorMartini]

Now Tavs and Kane have heard of the makeover!
True, the management never consulted with them about the candidates!

[Axeman33]

So basically play terrible hockey with a few stars on your roster to keep fans coming to the games, all the while rebuilding but never really rebuilding?

Hey, it helped both Montreal and Chicago get in their crack at it where before there was no hope, at least.

[Daydream Nation]

So basically play terrible hockey with a few stars on your roster to keep fans coming to the games, all the while rebuilding but never really rebuilding?

The Hawks don't have a choice unless Kane, Toews, and Keith want to move since they have NMCs. Kane and Toews are both owed around 7 M per for the next 3 seasons while Keith is owed under 3 M. My question is- Can teams retain cap hit or is it just salary or both? With the bonuses of Kane and Toews contracts and the front-load status of Keith's contract, they should be valuable IF Chicago is willing to eat the maximum amount. The Hawks should be able to get a quality return if Kane and Toews have a cap hit of 5.25 M and a salary of 3 M or so for the next 3 seasons. Keith is owed even less than that. But I could see Keith just retiring since his contract is 2.1 and 1.6 M over the last 2 seasons.

[stevegamer]

Keith would be nice for a team trying to get to a salary floor. I'd wager that's the best 13 year contract ever signed in pro sports. The duration is crazy, and he's been worth the pay.

Toews & Kane would be more easily moved after their bonuses are paid, as that would reduce actual outlay to their new team.

They need to hope Seabrook can't ever play again, so they can LTIR him.

[Axeman33]

Keith would be nice for a team trying to get to a salary floor. I'd wager that's the best 13 year contract ever signed in pro sports. The duration is crazy, and he's been worth the pay.

Toews & Kane would be more easily moved after their bonuses are paid, as that would reduce actual outlay to their new team.

They need to hope Seabrook can't ever play again, so they can LTIR him.

Still four years left on that brutal contract for Seabrook. Ugh.

[bondon]

I find it funny how players can complain about the direction of the team when the contracts of the players are often a big reason for why a team ends up in this situation.

I'm not saying the blame is all on the players - obviously the GMs are responsible for managing their cap space efficiently, but I think Toews' public comments about the team's direction were kind of stupid.