Stan Bowman is an idiot

[Ruutu15]

Congrats Blues fans, you're gonna finish ahead of the Hawks this year. Stan Bowman is a (Franking) moron. I'm all for getting rid of Brian Campbell, but there's absolutely NO REASON to trade Troy Brouwer less than an hour before clearing cap space. The Campbell trade is all about cap room, which I agree with, but WTF is this guy doing?!?!?!

[Winning Unlimited]

[Ruutu15]

Really though, I was drunker than 700 dollars last night when I posted that, but the thought remains. The Blues are going to be a lot better next year. Forget the Campbell deal, but think about the scenario for a minute. Picture it as if it were the Blues who made a similar trade. You have about 4 guys who need to be either re-signed or dealt due to cap concerns, all of whom are a big part of your team. So...you trade one of the best players on your team since he's due a modest raise. Later in the same day, you get rid of a guy who carried a 7+ million dollar cap hit. Would you think the GM was insane? Not for getting rid of the big cap hit, but for trading a guy earlier in the day that the team desperately needs.

I'm all for getting rid of Campbell, but Bowman had to know that he had the framework of a deal in place before he traded Brouwer to the Capitals. There was no reason for him to trade Brouwer if he knew that he was going to trade Campbell. And, he had to know that he was going to trade Campbell because he agreed to waive his NTC to Florida the night before.

I realize that this is a Blues board, and you guys don't give a damn about this, but the reason for me posting this here is because NO ONE is calling Stan Bowman out for that. So, am I crazy or would you guys agree with me if it was the Blues GM who did the same thing? Stan Bowman is an idiot. He gets a ton of leeway just because of his last name.

[philco_3]

So would you consider this Chicago's Pronger for Brewer trade, minus all the AHLers that came with him?

[glen a richter]

The bigger idiot is Tallon. I mean honestly, how lucky is Chicago to get Campbell's albatross of a contract off their necks? Florida has to be one of the most incompetently run franchises in the NHL.

[ohio BLUES]

The bigger idiot is Tallon. I mean honestly, how lucky is Chicago to get Campbell's albatross of a contract off their necks? Florida has to be one of the most incompetently run franchises in the NHL.

And he's off touting it like it gives Florida legitimacy. Screw that. The Panthers had to make up $30 million just to get to the FACKING CAP FLOOR and trading for overpaid albatrosses like Campbell is a great way to jumpstart that AND ruin your franchise for the next five years at the same time.

Troy Brouwer? Meh. You'll find another Troy Brouwer. I'm not saying the move makes sense (it doesn't), but there are bigger things to concern yourself with.

[Winning Unlimited]

Brouwer isn't that big of a piece. Sharp is. You got a first round pick for him.

Maybe, Bowman didn't want to trouble himself with tendering offers until just after the deadline passed?

[Ruutu15]

The bigger idiot is Tallon. I mean honestly, how lucky is Chicago to get Campbell's albatross of a contract off their necks? Florida has to be one of the most incompetently run franchises in the NHL.

Florida was incompetent before Tallon got there. He built the Blackhawks, and made a few questionable decisions along the way, but the team that won the cup was his. It's also widely recognized that the Campbell signing wasn't Tallon's decision, neither was Huet. We'll never know 100%, but McDonnough pretty much took credit for getting those guys because they were marketable (at the time). Florida will be a lot better with Tallon.

Brouwer isn't that big of a piece. Sharp is. You got a first round pick for him.

Maybe, Bowman didn't want to trouble himself with tendering offers until just after the deadline passed?

Yes, Sharp is the most important, and he will be retained. You're missing my point, though. With Campbell being gone, they could have kept both...as well as Kopecky. Brouwer was arguably the best player on the ice more than 20 times last season, played first line minutes, and has grit that cannot be matched at that price by any of the free agents. So we got a first for him, big deal. Draft picks are like lottery tickets.

And Bowman should know about tendering offers late. Just ask Byfuglien and Versteeg.

[flyingnote38]

I'm no fan of the current CBA. The payroll range is too narrow in my opinion which causes many problems for the small to mid market US teams. An ancillary probelm is posed by the current state of the Panthers. Prior to the Campbell deal they had 11 players signed for around $18 mill leaving them 12 roster spots and having to spend $30 mill to get to the new floor.

So Florida is in a spot where, in a marginal free agent year, they have to spend like, well Dale Tallon. So taking Campbell's bad contract actually helped them as much as the Hawks.

As for the Hawks, being able to dump Campbell's 5 more years of $7 M+ cap hit is a huge help. I figured they'd only be able to dump him through recall waivers and be stuck with half the salary/cap hit. Not only can they afford to keep Campoli, Stahlberg and if they want Frolik and Kopecky, they can probably afford a decent backup goalie and Hendry, too.

If they manage things right, they can extend Sharp with the savings they pick up starting next year when Huet's contract goes away.

[WaukeeBlues]

Only problem I have is that you said Troy Brouwer was one of the best players on your team

As you know I live in the Chi-town area and of any non-Blues team, it's the Hawks that I follow the most closely. And I'm kinda stupified about Troy Brouwer being dealt being a travesty. I don't know, maybe I just haven't followed him as closely as I thought but if you guys retain Campoli, Frolik, Stalberg, etc... you tend to forget about Campbell and Brouwer because you guys made some nice trades during the year to add some more skill and depth and I figured it'd all walk this offseason. Losing Campbell hurts but realistically you just have to do it...

[STLADOGG]

Please tell me they didn't trade Kopecky for just a 7th rounder did they?? Sorry Ruutu, your team is screwed.

[STLADOGG]

Please tell me they didn't trade Kopecky for just a 7th rounder did they?? Sorry Ruutu, your team is screwed.

Wait it was just for his rights...but still wow.

[Ruutu15]

Only problem I have is that you said Troy Brouwer was one of the best players on your team

As you know I live in the Chi-town area and of any non-Blues team, it's the Hawks that I follow the most closely. And I'm kinda stupified about Troy Brouwer being dealt being a travesty. I don't know, maybe I just haven't followed him as closely as I thought but if you guys retain Campoli, Frolik, Stalberg, etc... you tend to forget about Campbell and Brouwer because you guys made some nice trades during the year to add some more skill and depth and I figured it'd all walk this offseason. Losing Campbell hurts but realistically you just have to do it...

Maybe. I can see why someone might say that losing Brouwer isn't that big of a deal, but remember that he plays on the first line. He is very adequate as a top 3 forward. Laugh all you want, but he was on the first line last season as well, and he won a Stanley Cup. True, he only scores around 20 goals per season, but he has the grit that allows guys like Toews or Kane to succeed. His goal totals are misleading due to the role that he plays (well). He created a ton of space out there. Is he one of the best players on the team? That's debatable, but what isn't disputed is the fact that he played his role very well, and did so while getting top line minutes a lot of nights. Again, my main problem isn't so much the movement of Brouwer. I hate the fact that he's gone, but they could have easily retained him because they knew that Campbell was as good as gone. Name a free agent that can step in at that price and play that role. Not gonna find one. I was always hard on Campbell, but he was a decent player, even if not as advertised. Now we're out both guys. Campbell is not so bad because Keith can play the same role very well, but there's no one on the roster that can play Brouwer's, and there's no one affordable that can play first line minutes out there.

STLADOGG - Yeah, I wasn't too happy with Kopecky's rights being traded tonight, either. I was having a good night until I came home and saw that deal. Kopecky is another one of those players who, while not great, fit the team and mold perfectly. He's also Hossa's best friend...which may not mean much, but hey, comfort is always good. You're right, this team is imploding...and for no reason. I hate the salary cap, but this is just a shitty GM...I can't blame these moves on the cap.

Listen, I've hated the Blues my whole life...much like you guys have hated the Hawks. But I've been posting here for almost a decade. I post here more than I post at any Hawks forum. This is always the first place I come to talk about hockey. I'll be happy for you guys when the Blues get better, which won't be long. With the exception of "Jack Adams", I've never met any of you guys personally...but I'd be lying if I said that my hatred for the Blues is as strong as it was 10 years ago, because I like everyone here without exception. It just blows when your team implodes for no reason.

[STLADOGG]

Only problem I have is that you said Troy Brouwer was one of the best players on your team

As you know I live in the Chi-town area and of any non-Blues team, it's the Hawks that I follow the most closely. And I'm kinda stupified about Troy Brouwer being dealt being a travesty. I don't know, maybe I just haven't followed him as closely as I thought but if you guys retain Campoli, Frolik, Stalberg, etc... you tend to forget about Campbell and Brouwer because you guys made some nice trades during the year to add some more skill and depth and I figured it'd all walk this offseason. Losing Campbell hurts but realistically you just have to do it...

Maybe. I can see why someone might say that losing Brouwer isn't that big of a deal, but remember that he plays on the first line. He is very adequate as a top 3 forward. Laugh all you want, but he was on the first line last season as well, and he won a Stanley Cup. True, he only scores around 20 goals per season, but he has the grit that allows guys like Toews or Kane to succeed. His goal totals are misleading due to the role that he plays (well). He created a ton of space out there. Is he one of the best players on the team? That's debatable, but what isn't disputed is the fact that he played his role very well, and did so while getting top line minutes a lot of nights. Again, my main problem isn't so much the movement of Brouwer. I hate the fact that he's gone, but they could have easily retained him because they knew that Campbell was as good as gone. Name a free agent that can step in at that price and play that role. Not gonna find one. I was always hard on Campbell, but he was a decent player, even if not as advertised. Now we're out both guys. Campbell is not so bad because Keith can play the same role very well, but there's no one on the roster that can play Brouwer's, and there's no one affordable that can play first line minutes out there.

STLADOGG - Yeah, I wasn't too happy with Kopecky's rights being traded tonight, either. I was having a good night until I came home and saw that deal. Kopecky is another one of those players who, while not great, fit the team and mold perfectly. He's also Hossa's best friend...which may not mean much, but hey, comfort is always good. You're right, this team is imploding...and for no reason. I hate the salary cap, but this is just a shitty GM...I can't blame these moves on the cap.

Listen, I've hated the Blues my whole life...much like you guys have hated the Hawks. But I've been posting here for almost a decade. I post here more than I post at any Hawks forum. This is always the first place I come to talk about hockey. I'll be happy for you guys when the Blues get better, which won't be long. With the exception of "Jack Adams", I've never met any of you guys personally...but I'd be lying if I said that my hatred for the Blues is as strong as it was 10 years ago, because I like everyone here without exception. It just blows when your team implodes for no reason.

I feel bad for you, I have to respect someone who sticks with there team through good and bad times. Although I get a happy felling thinking about all of those bandwagon fans stop caring about the Hawks.

But I guess Bowman thinks with Toews, Kane(prick), Hossa, Seabrook and Keith, he thinks they will still be a contender. But what made them so good over the last couple of years wasn't their great players but was their depth...a bunch of of kids won't be able to step in and do what all these players did.

[tomcat16]

Tallon must have done this as a favor to his old team. I can't think of any other reason why anyone would take this contract. At first I thought this must be a front loaded contract so the Panthers would have a $7M cap hit but wouldn't have to pay that much, but I can't find any evidence of this. Capgeek says its the same $7M every year. Boneheaded trade if I've ever seen one and it pisses me off that it lets the Hawks off the hook for it.