Really? Now he's HOF bound? Hadn't heard that. It's cool you guys can look up points but not remember actual contributions. Not a shocker for the BOD though.
- HawkintheD

First ballot Hall of Fame Bucko!

They don't win a cup without Bob and they don't make the finals the year before without him either.

I dunno man - he had a pretty good run with the Panthers on first round picks. Sure the Gunbranson one wasn't great. But the rest of that draft wasn't great either if you look at it.

In terms of top 15 or 10 picks;
Huberdeau, Barkov, Ekblad, Tippett, Lundell.

Weegar was a 7th round find. Trocheck turned into a pretty good player.

I think he got the guys to build around (which included Huberdeau until it didn't but got them their guy) and someone else had to figure out the rest of the puzzle. Laying the foundation for two cup winners is pretty neat even though he wasn't the guy to ultimately get them over the hump.
- fattybeef

I was told on this board if you don’t have your name on multiple cups you are a horrible GM.

If your team is st the cap ceiling every year becausr you are trying to win a cup you are a horrible GM.

If you have to pay players market rates, you are a horrible GM.

If you don’t outright win every trade, you are a horrible GM.

Of a player you draft ends up developing with another team, no matter the circumstance or return, you are a horrible GM.

Did I miss anything?

First ballot Hall of Fame Bucko!
- paulr

Maybe the Magician HOF for the Houdini act he's mastered in the playoffs.

What "bad contracts" has he gotten rid of?

The only one I can kind of consider "bad" is Fleury.
ADB
Dach
Lafferty
McCabe
Kane (end of last year of contract)
Toews retired
Domi

He still has Jones and Murphy. AA is signed for too much, as is Foligno. Perry was his own doing.

There's plenty of things I think he's done right, but getting out of bad contracts isn't one of them.

You can probably argue that Grier has been better at getting out of nasty contracts (despite salary retention).

Lucking into Bedard isn't really an accomplishment.


- Chunk

While I mostly agree with this, the steps he took before and during the season lead to him "lucking" into him

Bickell had 2 points in 6 games vs Phoenix. Had a Cinderella run with Toews and kane in 13. Had 10 points 19 games in 14, hardly a barnburner. The most points he ever had in one season was 37, and never averaged more than half a point per game. But you’d take him over hall of fame bound Panarin? I wonder if Stan’s hiring you should apply.
- ObeseOprah

Actually, in the playoffs, Bickell was very good. I remember Panarin against Nashville in the sweep, woof..............Not saying i'd take Bickell over Panarin if i was building a team, but if you gave me the choice of the two for a playoff roster, i'd probably pick Bicks

I was told on this board if you don’t have your name on multiple cups you are a horrible GM.

If your team is st the cap ceiling every year becausr you are trying to win a cup you are a horrible GM.

If you have to pay players market rates, you are a horrible GM.

If you don’t outright win every trade, you are a horrible GM.

Of a player you draft ends up developing with another team, no matter the circumstance or return, you are a horrible GM.

Did I miss anything?
- LAHawk

I don't know Yzerman doesn't have it on the cup as a GM and he is the best one God ever created

Bickell was overpaid for a Cinderella playoff run. He had never had a regular season of note, and at that time $4M was a good chunk of the little space the Hawks had. We jettisoned Bolland, Frolik, and a few others after 2013, which was fine. But Bickell’s chunk of change would cost us the prime of Teuvo.
- ObeseOprah

Stan had a whole season prior to the playoffs to sign Bickell for a lot less. He waited until after the playoffs and paid a lot more

Actually, in the playoffs, Bickell was very good. I remember Panarin against Nashville in the sweep, woof..............Not saying i'd take Bickell over Panarin if i was building a team, but if you gave me the choice of the two for a playoff roster, i'd probably pick Bicks
- vabeachbear

I'd say this is a probably a fairer statement than my original. Panarin's a decent player though his regular season success hasn't exactly spilled over into the playoffs.

And you're right...that was an absolute dog performance vs NSH in 2017. People want to give him a pass because the rest of the team was pretty much a no show. There was nothing in his play though that said "Yeah, I'm an $11m player...pay me".

The delusion of some people losing an argument… Panarin has averaged 95 points per season. Bickell has never had even half of that. Panarin has played 82 playoff games since he joined the league, and won multiple playoff series.

If you average 95 points per season, plus have a Calder and numerous all first and second teams… you’re going to be a hall of famer.

Bickell was fine in 2013 for the playoffs, and that’s it. Page me when you’ve got another 3rd liner you’d like to have on your playoff squad instead of 95 point winger.

The delusion of some people losing an argument… Panarin has averaged 95 points per season. Bickell has never had even half of that. Panarin has played 82 playoff games since he joined the league, and won multiple playoff series.

If you average 95 points per season, plus have a Calder and numerous all first and second teams… you’re going to be a hall of famer.

Bickell was fine in 2013 for the playoffs, and that’s it. Page me when you’ve got another 3rd liner you’d like to have on your playoff squad instead of 95 point winger.
- ObeseOprah

This often happens with my wife also, so

The delusion of some people losing an argument… Panarin has averaged 95 points per season. Bickell has never had even half of that. Panarin has played 82 playoff games since he joined the league, and won multiple playoff series.

If you average 95 points per season, plus have a Calder and numerous all first and second teams… you’re going to be a hall of famer.

Bickell was fine in 2013 for the playoffs, and that’s it. Page me when you’ve got another 3rd liner you’d like to have on your playoff squad instead of 95 point winger.
- ObeseOprah

Based on how Bickell played in the playoffs vs how Marner, I mean Panarin played in the playoffs. I’d take what Bickell gave the Hawks any day. Panarin had his Calder and his 95 points and was ok in the playoffs. Bickell was a solid contributor during two Stanley cup runs. Panarin was a nice to have kind of player, the Hawks needed Bickell and what he contributed.

Speaking of Bickell, my granddaughter may be playing on a hockey team out of Clarington that Bickell is coaching.

Based on how Bickell played in the playoffs vs how Marner, I mean Panarin played in the playoffs. I’d take what Bickell gave the Hawks any day. Panarin had his Calder and his 95 points and was ok in the playoffs. Bickell was a solid contributor during two Stanley cup runs. Panarin was a nice to have kind of player, the Hawks needed Bickell and what he contributed.

Speaking of Bickell, my granddaughter may be playing on a hockey team out of Clarington that Bickell is coaching.
- paulr

If so remind her to tell Brian he was merely fine in the 2013 playoffs and that the Hawks probably would've won that year regardless of his 9 goals, 17 points and 2 game winners.

I was told on this board if you don’t have your name on multiple cups you are a horrible GM.

If your team is st the cap ceiling every year becausr you are trying to win a cup you are a horrible GM.

If you have to pay players market rates, you are a horrible GM.

If you don’t outright win every trade, you are a horrible GM.

Of a player you draft ends up developing with another team, no matter the circumstance or return, you are a horrible GM.

Did I miss anything?
- LAHawk

Yea, if you rebuild like KD you are a horrible GM.

Had he not had MS he would not have needed to be traded. I don't understand why this is so difficult?
- rpeters01

They would have still needed to dump a 30 point player making 4 million per year. Great dude and one great playoff performance but really not the mythological player he's made out to be.

The delusion of some people losing an argument… Panarin has averaged 95 points per season. Bickell has never had even half of that. Panarin has played 82 playoff games since he joined the league, and won multiple playoff series.

If you average 95 points per season, plus have a Calder and numerous all first and second teams… you’re going to be a hall of famer.

Bickell was fine in 2013 for the playoffs, and that’s it. Page me when you’ve got another 3rd liner you’d like to have on your playoff squad instead of 95 point winger.
- ObeseOprah

So what you are saying is you would trade that 2013 Cup win for a 95 point season by Panarin??

Because I guarantee you, they don't get to the finals, let alone win it all without Bickell that year.

They would have still needed to dump a 30 point player making 4 million per year. Great dude and one great playoff performance but really not the mythological player he's made out to be.
- fattybeef

What's being missed is he was obviously playing with MS a few seasons before he was traded which affected his performance those seasons. Nobody knows how many?

I was told on this board if you don’t have your name on multiple cups you are a horrible GM.

If your team is st the cap ceiling every year becausr you are trying to win a cup you are a horrible GM.

If you have to pay players market rates, you are a horrible GM.

If you don’t outright win every trade, you are a horrible GM.

Of a player you draft ends up developing with another team, no matter the circumstance or return, you are a horrible GM.

Did I miss anything?
- LAHawk

Only one team can win it. There are 30 teams. I think only 17 or 18 teams have won in the last 30 years. 13 in the last 20 years.

I could give a (frank) if they won another cup. I just want to see an entertaining hockey team that does highlight reel poop on a consistent basis and has likable players. That should get them a few shots and if they make it cool and if they don't they don't.

They have Bedard so the priority, in my opinion (which hasn't changed since they drafted him), should be putting the best players possible around him to put a wildly entertaining product on the ice.

None of that boring Boston or Vancouver nonsense where they turtle and clutch and grab but an open high scoring entertaining brand of hockey that is conducive to growing the game.

I'd rather be entertained for 82 games than put to sleep. Thats why I've been on the side of trading for Marner. Because it would be more fun than it wouldn't be.

If so remind her to tell Brian he was merely fine in the 2013 playoffs and that the Hawks probably would've won that year regardless of his 9 goals, 17 points and 2 game winners.
- HawkintheD

Oh yeah it was wOW when Bickel showed up in the playoffs. Knowing he had motivational issues going back to his AHl years, I wondered if giving him that big contract was worth doing. Just chalked it up to the cost of doing business and hoped his playoff success would return even in spurts during next regular season and in future playoffs.

Then the MS diagnosis was revealed and I had to question if perhaps his motivational issues during his career was connected to just not totally mentally prepared as he just didn’t feel 100% but battled on I thought it must have been like operating on short sleep and just needing to push harder. But no not even energy drinks can lift you out of the effect of MS. Could be he had MS but it wasn’t advanced enough for him to realize he had a health issue until late in his career

Now when I see players sign long term contracts - Konecny today - I just ask, how often are these players still performing well in the last year or two of that contract?

Perhaps Steve from Glencoe son would have this documented if he embarked upon a league wide data profile. Sigh knowing with all the first round choices KD will undoubtably face thus hurdle although probably a few years away from occurance

So what you are saying is you would trade that 2013 Cup win for a 95 point season by Panarin??

Because I guarantee you, they don't get to the finals, let alone win it all without Bickell that year.
- dahawks8819

Thats a straw man argument.

The real question - would you rather have Bickell or Panarin or which one actually is a top line winger is Panarin.

Only one team can win it. There are 30 teams. I think only 17 or 18 teams have won in the last 30 years. 13 in the last 20 years.

I could give a (frank) if they won another cup. I just want to see an entertaining hockey team that does highlight reel poop on a consistent basis and has likable players. That should get them a few shots and if they make it cool and if they don't they don't.

They have Bedard so the priority, in my opinion (which hasn't changed since they drafted him), should be putting the best players possible around him to put a wildly entertaining product on the ice.

None of that boring Boston or Vancouver nonsense where they turtle and clutch and grab but an open high scoring entertaining brand of hockey that is conducive to growing the game.

I'd rather be entertained for 82 games than put to sleep. Thats why I've been on the side of trading for Marner. Because it would be more fun than it wouldn't be.
- fattybeef

Goddamn you sound like those cub fans i can't stand and I'm a Cubs fan. So are you one of those that go to the game and don't pay attention and when something happens you cheer with the fans?

So what you are saying is you would trade that 2013 Cup win for a 95 point season by Panarin??

Because I guarantee you, they don't get to the finals, let alone win it all without Bickell that year.
- dahawks8819

Bickell was so underrated when it came to playoff hockey, its the same as Anisimov when he was on the same line as Kane and Panarin.

I mean how can someone watch the Rangers in the playoffs and say Panarin style of play isn't an issue when it comes to playoff hockey.

Bickell was so underrated when it came to playoff hockey, its the same as Anisimov when he was on the same line as Kane and Panarin.

I mean how can someone watch the Rangers in the playoffs and say Panarin style of play isn't an issue when it comes to playoff hockey.
- BetweenTheDots

My point exactly.

In the playoffs, you can't stand outside your blueline tapping your stick for the puck. You have to fight for every puck. It's all hands on deck, and to this day, Panarin shies away from the rough play.

In 2013, Boston would have made him a non factor, and probably swept the Blackhawks, if they made it to the Finals.

I forgot what year Keith had knee surgery. He was never the same after that either
- LAHawk

after they won the cup in 2015
- fattybeef

when Duncan keith was named the winner of the Conn Smythe?

I will never forget in that FIRST seires vs Nashvill, the way HE brought them back, I never disappointedly Turned away as Preds started scoring, and that comeback was lots of good hockey with Duncan in the middle.

Only one team can win it. There are 30 teams. I think only 17 or 18 teams have won in the last 30 years. 13 in the last 20 years.

I could give a (frank) if they won another cup. I just want to see an entertaining hockey team that does highlight reel poop on a consistent basis and has likable players. That should get them a few shots and if they make it cool and if they don't they don't.

They have Bedard so the priority, in my opinion (which hasn't changed since they drafted him), should be putting the best players possible around him to put a wildly entertaining product on the ice.

None of that boring Boston or Vancouver nonsense where they turtle and clutch and grab but an open high scoring entertaining brand of hockey that is conducive to growing the game.

I'd rather be entertained for 82 games than put to sleep. Thats why I've been on the side of trading for Marner. Because it would be more fun than it wouldn't be.
- fattybeef

I prefer cups.

Thats a straw man argument.

The real question - would you rather have Bickell or Panarin or which one actually is a top line winger is Panarin.
- fattybeef

I would rather have panerin if he performed and produced like bickel in the playoffs. If not, ill take bickel and the cups any day of the week.