Bowman excited about putting pieces together for Hawks
As much as Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman can possibly sound excited on conference call, that's kind of what he sounded like while discussing what lies ahead for the Blackhawks in the days and weeks to come what with the draft just days away and the free agent signing period beginning shortly thereafter.
“I enjoy this time of year,” Bowman said Tuesday. “The focus is next year for everybody, and trying to assemble a team that is going to have a chance to win the Stanley Cup.
“It's fun to look at the different options. I think the summertime is the time when you can make the most headway. It's a good time. The draft and the young players … And then the other part is that there's a lot of trade talk leading into free agency.”
After a pair of one-and-done playoff runs, Hawks fans are no doubt hoping Bowman will translate some of that talk into action, whether it via trades or a free agent signing or two. Or both.
“We want to improve our team, and if it means through the free agent market, then we'll look at that,” he said. “When you're dealing with the free agent market you're competing with other teams so usually the term and the dollar amount goes pretty high. That's OK. That's not necessarily a deterrent to us.
“We're not going to be afraid to try and improve our team and that's one way to do it — through the free agent market. Another way is through trades. I think those are all avenues that we're going to pursue. It's just premature now to say which one we're going to end up doing … we'll be able to see that as it unfolds over the next few weeks.”
A longer term approach, of course is the draft. The Hawks have eight selections this weekend, including the No. 18 overall pick, and Bowman thinks he might be able to snag a good one at that spot.
“I'm optimistic we can get a very good player at that 18th pick,” he said of a draft that generally isn't considered too deep. “You may get a guy that you have ranked in your top 7 or 8, but just because of the way other teams view players differently, you can end up getting a guy you have rated pretty highly — even at the 18th spot.”
Hossa, Monty on the mend:It sounds like it's been a pretty good spring and early summer so far for Marian Hossa and defenseman Steve Montador, each of whom ended the year suffering from concussion-like symptoms.#8220;Marian continues to improve, and the same thing with Steve Montador; they're both on the mend and starting their summer training programs and getting ready for the season,#8221; Bowman said. #8220;It's not something anyone can guarantee how people will progress, but at this point we're very optimistic how they're both feeling.#8220;I suppose that can change, but most likely it's going to be full steam ahead.#8221;Carcillo almost there:Daniel Carcillo (knee) is back skating already and #8220;close to 100 percent,#8221; Bowman said.#8220;He's certainly ready to roll. Even if training camp were to start in a week or two, I think he'd be cleared.#8221;Goodbye Salak:Alexandar Salak's bid to be an NHL goalie almost came to fruition with the Hawks, but it turned out to be a case of close-but-no-cigar, and now he's back in Europe.#8220;When he came over a year ago he was very hopeful of making the NHL #8212; and it was close between him and (Ray) Emery,#8221; Bowman said. #8220;Then he had an up-and-down year, got injured. That provided the ability for Carter Hutton to come up and he really surprised all of us with how well he played.#8220;Alex looked at the situation and saw that he was likely going to be in a similar situation as he was at the end of the year, and he didn't want that and he made it clear that his objective was not to play in the American Hockey League next year. At that point we were ready to move on.#8221;