Blackhawks 2024/25 regular season*

[Hot Sauce]

Nazar backchecking on McDavid and taking away that scoring chance makes me inexplicably happy. 
 

Söderblom was outstanding tonight. Tough way to lose but I love the heart they showed.  

[jersey cubs fan]

5 minutes ago, Hot Sauce said:

Nazar backchecking on McDavid and taking away that scoring chance makes me inexplicably happy. 
.  

It was fantastic. 

[BigbadB]

7 hours ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Really weird having a Blackhawks home game in second intermission as midnight approaches on the east coast. Are Blackhawks fans able to watch this game locally on TBT/max?
 

This feels like one where they are going to give up a few in the third 

We do have that game on TNT. And then the Blackhawks sweep a night of Illinois sports, with Illini losing to Rutgers, Bulls losing to Minny along with the Hawks. What I did see of the Hawks game, Soderblom looked really good.

[jersey cubs fan]

13 hours ago, Derwood said:

What were the top 5 teams? I don't subscribe

 

11 hours ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Process of elimination says Montreal Minnesota and San Jose round out the list 

Montreal came in at 3 and now Wild and Sharks are duking it out at the top. 

[bddavidson]

Maybe one of you who follow closer could explain the Bedard hate from the national media.  I believe I saw the Roenick thing was just him being butthurt about not getting a high five or something similarly petty.

[17 Seconds]

biz and anson carter suck ass. they want to be inside the NBA so badly

I don't know if they're wrong, but horsefeathers those guys anyways. also roenick is a big meathead and messier is one of the dirtiest players of all time, so horsefeathers them too

[jersey cubs fan]

23 minutes ago, bddavidson said:

Maybe one of you who follow closer could explain the Bedard hate from the national media.  I believe I saw the Roenick thing was just him being butthurt about not getting a high five or something similarly petty.

This does a decent job of breaking it down

 https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks/2025/02/07/lets-talk-about-the-connor-bedard-criticism/

[Hot Sauce]

6 hours ago, bddavidson said:

Maybe one of you who follow closer could explain the Bedard hate from the national media.  I believe I saw the Roenick thing was just him being butthurt about not getting a high five or something similarly petty.

I love JR and he is my all-time favorite Hawk but he was absolutely being petty. 

[jersey cubs fan]

Blackhawks scoring a plethora through two periods

 

[Hot Sauce]

Not signing Donato to an extension will be a major blunder by this front office if we do indeed trade him. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

6 hours ago, Hot Sauce said:

Not signing Donato to an extension will be a major blunder by this front office if we do indeed trade him. 

Signing Trey Mancini, oops, I mean TJ Brodie to a 2 year deal is a major blunder, trading Donato when his value is at his peak is what teams in the Hawks position, do.

[BigbadB]

8 hours ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Blackhawks scoring a plethora through two periods

 

That power play goal in the 2nd period was a thing of beauty. 

[Hot Sauce]

7 hours ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

Signing Trey Mancini, oops, I mean TJ Brodie to a 2 year deal is a major blunder, trading Donato when his value is at his peak is what teams in the Hawks position, do.

Donato is more valuable to the Hawks than whatever he likely brings back in a trade. 

[Tryptamine]

At some point the Hawks have to start adding talent around Bedard not continually shipping it out for more draft capital.

[jersey cubs fan]

Donato is a solid bottom six guy on a good team. He’s almost 29 and having a career year. If he’s willing to sign a team friendly contract with minimal term, sure sign him. 
 

But Teuvo, Mikhaev, Foligno, Reichel, Dickinson, Bertuzzi are all signed through next year. That’s half your forwards. Presumably they sign a big contract guy this summer. That leaves 5 spots for Bedard, Nazar, Slaggert, and a slew of young guys. 

[Hot Sauce]

16 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Donato is a solid bottom six guy on a good team. He’s almost 29 and having a career year. If he’s willing to sign a team friendly contract with minimal term, sure sign him. 
 

But Teuvo, Mikhaev, Foligno, Reichel, Dickinson, Bertuzzi are all signed through next year. That’s half your forwards. Presumably they sign a big contract guy this summer. That leaves 5 spots for Bedard, Nazar, Slaggert, and a slew of young guys. 

A slew of young guys who haven’t yet appeared in an NHL game and none that appear ready to step in full time by next season. Foligno, Dickinson and Mikheyev’s contracts all expire after next season. Donato wouldn’t block anyone. Signing him to a three year extension and keeping his effort and energy around the young stars is imperative to changing the culture in Chicago back to a winning one. It’s a no brainer for me, 

[jersey cubs fan]

There are at least three guys in the same situation that Nazar was in a year ago, guys who will be signing after college season and playing in the nhl. Then a guy who will be the 2nd pick in the draft who will likely play NHL minutes in 2025/26. About 5 guys for 2 spots. Not counting Donato 

[NorthsideAvenger]

4 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

At some point the Hawks have to start adding talent around Bedard not continually shipping it out for more draft capital.

True but the Hawks should be aiming for a higher quality of talent than Donato. Like Jersey said, if he signs a team friendly deal, great, but imo, if Donato can land the Hawks a 2nd round pick that can help land something better than Donato (via offer sheet or trade), then yeah, Donato should be traded. 

[Hot Sauce]

5 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

True but the Hawks should be aiming for a higher quality of talent than Donato. Like Jersey said, if he signs a team friendly deal, great, but imo, if Donato can land the Hawks a 2nd round pick that can help land something better than Donato (via offer sheet or trade), then yeah, Donato should be traded. 

There was blowback from Toews and Kane when they traded Hagel and made it clear the team was tanking. Trading Donato doesn’t make the Hawks better and I would argue that it sends a clear message that they aren’t competing next season either. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

6 minutes ago, Hot Sauce said:

There was blowback from Toews and Kane when they traded Hagel and made it clear the team was tanking. Trading Donato doesn’t make the Hawks better and I would argue that it sends a clear message that they aren’t competing next season either. 

I mean if the Hawks get something good for Donato, then bye but if he is still here after the deadline, cool. But Donato should not be an untradeable. 

[Hot Sauce]

15 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

I mean if the Hawks get something good for Donato, then bye but if he is still here after the deadline, cool. But Donato should not be an untradeable. 

I agree, but I’m of the belief that he’s more valuable to the Hawks than his return would be. 

[bukie]

8 rounds into the shootout I'm not sure I've seen a good move yet.

Granted, I was spoiled by Patrick Kane for 10 years, so maybe nobody else can do anything close to that.

[jersey cubs fan]

4 hours ago, Hot Sauce said:

There was blowback from Toews and Kane when they traded Hagel and made it clear the team was tanking. Trading Donato doesn’t make the Hawks better and I would argue that it sends a clear message that they aren’t competing next season either. 

Trading Donato isn’t tanking.

The second worst team in the league can’t tank. 
Anybody on the second worst team in the league that can not realistically be a part of the next great team is more than moveable 

[jersey cubs fan]

36 minutes ago, bukie said:

8 rounds into the shootout I'm not sure I've seen a good move yet.

Granted, I was spoiled by Patrick Kane for 10 years, so maybe nobody else can do anything close to that.

The Hawks have no skill. 
 

So many guys who are just fine NHL players, and very few impact guys. They are desperate for impact skill players. STL isn’t skilled either. 
 

the biggest takeaway from this game is the hawks are scoring more, and Soderblom can save a penalty shot. 
 

The rest is noise 

[Hot Sauce]

13 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Trading Donato isn’t tanking.

The second worst team in the league can’t tank. 
Anybody on the second worst team in the league that can not realistically be a part of the next great team is more than moveable 

I wasn’t suggesting they were tanking by trading Donato, but trading him doesn’t make the team better next season.