Sadly (for me), Chicago is also No Good.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Spoiler!

[Erick Estrada]

That looks like the roster of a team that's tanking. I wonder how Kane feels about wasting what's left of his career on this? At least it's a short season so they can stink for 50+ games, pick high and maybe retool a bit next offseason.

[GirlySports]

It's just a cycle. We're not talking no good as in no hope ever and mismanagement.

[Robbob]

Since I always try to find the silver lining in things, at least this dumpster fire of a season is shortened. Short term pain for a high pick and long term gain.

[Geeoff]

Hawks need to rebuild IMO, so if I was a Hawks fan, I would understand this horrible lineup is a necessary evil and when things got bad, I'd just watch one of the cup runs.


Like Holy heck is it tough to feel sorry for the Hawks.

[Buff]

Even if they had Toews and Dach, that's still one weak roster!

[thefoss1957]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Chicago is the type of team that wins lotteries. Like LA and NY, I wouldn’t be surprised to see things move quickly.

In their history, the only time the 'Hawks "won" the lottery, was a year where there was no consensus 1st overall. Kane was criticized as "too small" and a poor defender before the pick.


And I don't think you can look at this lineup (which is the way they practiced on Monday), and say that they are one super rookie away from contention.


I am, firmly, opposed to the concept of "tanking" , and do hope that some of the gambles step up.

[The Yen Man]

I know that line up sucks, but man, would I still trade Blackhawks situation for the Flames if it meant we got to celebrate multiple championships in the past 10 years. Heck, if it was past 30 years, I'd still think it was worth it.

[BurningYears]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Spoiler!

Woof!

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I know that line up sucks, but man, would I still trade Blackhawks situation for the Flames if it meant we got to celebrate multiple championships in the past 10 years. Heck, if it was past 30 years, I'd still think it was worth it.

The team would also have Toews and Soderberg on it without those issues arising, and that would make it significantly stronger. You're absolutely right though: in the cap world there is a long term cost associated with building and maintaining a competitive roster. Chicago is in a bad situation now, but they're paying for the 3 cups they won. If we were good enough to win 3 more cups in the next decade i would eagerly trade for the following decade of mediocrity.

[Wastedyouth]

I bet this lineup still beats the Oilers.

[Calgary4LIfe]

You just have to take the positives out of this, that's all.


1) You still get to watch one of the league's more exciting players in Kane every night.
2) It is a shortened season, so at least it will be a shortened season of pain.
3) You will end up following the draft a lot more than usual, and that brings a different sense of excitement.
4) They will surprise you on some nights.


When the Flames tore things down and started rebuilding, I was surprised at how good they were. There were lots of fun to watch games throughout that first season, and it didn't go unnoticed. I remember on a few occasions all the fans in the Saddledome gave the team standing ovations. It wasn't such a terrible season, and though there were many more losses than wins, there were many exciting games still. The worst happened in that shortened season, and hopefully for you, the worst will happen in this shortened season as well.


Even if this season ends up being terrible in every way for you and doesn't bring you any enjoyment, then it is simply part of the story and history of your fan experience. The one thing that you have is an owner that wants to win and cares about winning, not just saving a buck, so things will be different than the last 'dark time' in your franchise's history. You can watch your team struggle and lose most nights, but it will just make the good seasons that much better and more enjoyable later.

[Locke]

Unfortunately you cant just play against Edmonton for the whole season.

[thefoss1957]

Originally Posted by Locke

Unfortunately you cant just play against Edmonton for the whole season.

Sadly, my guys don't get to play Edmonton at all!



(Also sad that there are no H2H matchups with your guys to have spirited game threads, with my friends here at CP!)

[thefoss1957]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

You just have to take the positives out of this, that's all.

The one thing that you have is an owner that wants to win and cares about winning, not just saving a buck, so things will be different than the last 'dark time' in your franchise's history.

Cal...the sad thing, for me, is I have no confidence in Stan Bowman, being in charge of a rebuild. I feel that he gets far too much credit for a well constructed team that he inherited. He has made poor contract decisions. His trades have mostly been salary dump panic moves. He was allowed to scapegoat a future HOF coach, that he stuck with a badly flawed roster.

I feel that he has been able to skate on his father's reputation, despite his own mistakes.

[CSharp]

The Hawks have won enough Cups. So, meh.

[Beatle17]

Toews, Soderberg, Dach and all of a sudden Strome becomes the 4th center. Changes the look of the team a lot. And no matter how much Seabrooke has fallen back he still is a top 4 dman on most teams.

The weakest area is really the goalies (Subban - brutal since year one)

[Inglewood Jack]

Once upon a time the Toews/Kane tandem was thought of as equal, if not superior to their Crosby/Malkin counterparts out east. Kane is still at a similar level as the Pens guys, Toews not so much. but even if he were, they've clearly done a considerably poorer job with the support cast to keep the contention window open.

that being said, the Pens upcoming dark period will easily rival what they went through in the mid 80's and early 00's. we'll see if they once again get the generational player rebuild.

[Blaster86]

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Once upon a time the Toews/Kane tandem was thought of as equal, if not superior to their Crosby/Malkin counterparts out east. Kane is still at a similar level as the Pens guys, Toews not so much. but even if he were, they've clearly done a considerably poorer job with the support cast to keep the contention window open.

that being said, the Pens upcoming dark period will easily rival what they went through in the mid 80's and early 00's. we'll see if they once again get the generational player rebuild.

Excellent case comparison IMO. Both have built rosters based off of multiple consecutive top 5 picks and then solid late round drafting + acquisitions to round off the squads. I'd say we have another 5 years yet of tracking to determine the support cast and contention window results though... for all we know toews comes roaring back and the hawks are a low seed threat again. Malkin or Crosby could face a limiting injury. There's still time. If you had asked this question in 2013 it would have seemed like Chicago was built better.