This is the year that ****ing putz [Bowman] gets exposed. The roster talent masked his screw ups for years and with multiple teams and franchises. I look at how the terrible moves, contracts, et al have manifested itself in a team lacking in talent. It's just one game but Toews didn't look any better. Hossa has no hands any more, and while being a good possession guy, can't pass or shoot enough to be first line material. Kane's lack of desire on defense is sickening, and this team can no longer afford to have a player capable of so much more offering so much less. AA is really a third line center and the rest are hacks.
If this team gets any better than a 6th I'd be SHOCKED without rapid maturation from SEVERAL young guys. We just don't have the talent to compete with the big boys, and definitely aren't good enough for Q to keep using horrible PK deployment strategies and stupid ass lines.
Thanks to Stan being a dumbass and signing Bickell we had to give TT away for free. That hurts...a lot. Same with not making the moves to ensure Saad could be locked up earlier. Too many mistakes, and mistakes that can't happen in a cap world with two 10.5 million dollar players. Especially with neither of which being worth that money (I'm officially worried about Toews now).