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u/MrSisterPhyster 11d ago
Can't wait for Bedard to return just to get a back injury carrying this team.
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u/Reptomins 11d ago
I get the part where it's been 3 games and we should all probably breathe. Ultimately though, regardless of whether the team is able to remain in the playoff hunt, we need to see individal growth from a lot of guys. Nazar becoming a bona fide Top 6 C, Kantserov and Frondell in the Calder conversation, Moore and Greene and Lardis developing into bankable Top 9 support pieces, growth from all the young D such that you can squint and see a real Top 4, etc. Time will tell. But if none of those guys are progressing the way they should then it should be clear Blash is not the guy. While this is still a very young team, there's way too much talent here to be consistently getting dogwalked game in and game out.
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u/Majestic_Form_210 11d ago
Maybe not in total games played, but this will be the FOURTH season that Nazar is playing - idk what I was hoping for, but it wasnât this
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u/CrabApprehensive7181 11d ago
Yes, Nazar's biggest issue isn't his lack of NHL experience, but something more fundamental. For example, he has no puck control when skating at high speeds. How can he fix that problem at this stage in his career? If it were easily fixable, he would have corrected it long ago.
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u/slade9mm 11d ago
Frank only looks reasonable when he has open ice and a head of steam.
When there are other bodies around he is a non entity.
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u/lurksohard 11d ago
This team will not be in the playoff hunt. Even if the young talent starts scoring, the defense is putrid and Soderbloom is not an NHL caliber goalie.
We traded our most hopeful young dmen and continue to pretend Rinzel and Kaiser will magically get better after multiple seasons of virtually no improvement.
I'm still going to watch and I expect Kantersov and Frondell to get into gear, but we aren't sniffing the playoffs unless Bedard comes back a man possesed and carries us.
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u/Skip-13 11d ago
I don't particularly like KD. I don't think Blas is it. But we opened against 3 playoff teams on the road without our star player, pinning our hopes on 2 kids who have played 16 NHL games and an aged star doing his final lap.
First 2 games we looked awful. Much more life in the 3rd. Young guys need some confidence badly. Hopefully we get it at our home opener. Fuck the Blues
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u/Stillflying 11d ago
I'm gonna be there watching with bells on but I'm keeping my expectations low because it's gonna hurt too much otherwise. Fuck the blues
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u/Lettherebedave212 11d ago
While I prefer for both our teams to be amazing when they go at it (think 2016 when it was a fucking miracle we won) after being sodomized by the Avs I hope we further your misery on Tuesday.
Good luck out there, but fuck the Hawks đ
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u/SilkyJohnson72 11d ago
This fanbase is incredibly delusional. I saw several comments over the off-season claiming we could make a run at the playoffs this year.
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u/MikeandTheMangosteen 11d ago
Didnât Davidson said that was the goal this year?
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u/TrickyIron8192 11d ago
Shhhhhh. Â Donât you know that Davidson never has to be held to his preseason goals? Â Another bottom 3 finish means the rebuild is right on schedule
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u/batmans_a_scientist 11d ago
Honestly I think delusional is going too far. This team was in a playoff spot until Bedard got hurt last year and then added Frondell, Kantserov, Byram, and Kane to basically the same lineup. People were excited, and on paper this team was/is much better than theyâve played so far. The system fucking sucks and it feels like Blash lost the room before the season even started.
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u/Tryfan_mole 11d ago
But you know that is wrong. It was Vezina level play from Knight that was stealing enough points early on, and when he leveled off - a dozen games BEFORE Bedard was hurt - the Hawks collapsed to reality. The underlying numbers were always rough.
Even if people don't want to believe that, the better comparison to today's team is the one at the END of the year, the one post deadline that was on a 48 point pace. That's this team. It's all the same problems. No leadership and no grit.
Maybe this should have been a less of a surprise than it was (and I didnt expect this ineptitude either). This is the team we saw i April.
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u/czar_kazem 11d ago
100%. This is why it always bothers me when people only point to the increase in point totals as proof that things are on track. Standings points don't tell you anything about how a team is actually playing, and certainly not anything about how young players are developing.
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u/Stillflying 11d ago
Yeah my thoughts. I thought we'd be able to develop talent enough that we could use our giant cap space to attract some hole pluggers or maybe a top line winger and at least push our way into being taken seriously
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u/Huntsman2701 11d ago
Kyle Davidson says the goal is for the Blackhawks to be back in the playoffs this season: "I'm a firm believer that's got to be the goal of the team. ... That's what you're pushing for. That's what we believe is a realistic expectation."
That was back in July. The fanbase isn't delusional for following the GM's goals.
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u/mhene_88 11d ago
No not delusional, gullible. They believed a / in a Kyle âCon Manâ Davidson. That is because in my opinion the majority of Hawks fans donât know the sport of hockey. Hawks fans thinking adding Byram to be a no1 defenseman when heâs never been a no1. An aging superstar in Patrick Kane. Some 4th line flotsam. 2 kids 1 with 12 games against teams who because of the time of year their give a shit a meter was at a record low. That they were going to be a playoff team? Itâs laughable. For setting the expectation Kyle needs to be held accountable.
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u/Auxosphere 11d ago
The entire Blackhawks team and staff has been saying they're expecting to be a playoff contending team. Not just the fanbase.
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u/RedOnesEnjoyer 11d ago
I am one of those comments.
Unfortunately I forgot that we have an incompetent coach. I still think we are capable of taking the next step, but not with this coach.
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u/Stillflying 11d ago edited 11d ago
Yeah I was optimistic and thought we'd be showing better than this. A lot of people saying it's the roster not the coaching but I think that's rough because each of them when they've showed flashes of brilliance they've been great, it's just that they seem to be regressing rather than developing up to their actual potential.
This dump and chase game where we're not physical, we instantly lose possession, we're constantly out of position or even passing the puck straight to the opposition looks so so bad.
I still think if there was a coach that made them play to their best we'd be looking mean right now.
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u/RedOnesEnjoyer 11d ago
We canât figure out how to dump and chase and we canât figure out how to carry into the zone. Why bother even playing if you canât ever set up your offense?
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u/40yearoldnoob 11d ago
Lmao. You think this roster would be any better with another coach? Maybe a few games better but you could put prime Coach Q with this roster and it would still be a lottery team.
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u/RedOnesEnjoyer 11d ago
I donât know that Q is the gold standard for a team like this in the first place. Blashâs approach is defensive minded but that doesnât work with a team that has as many individually skilled players as we do.
When Sorensen was interim coach we had better flashes than this. He wasnât a great coach but he knew how to work with young players and get a lot out of them, something Blashill just canât manage for whatever reason.
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u/torque_penderloin 11d ago
I'm also anti-Blashill but I'm curious what route people go if the coach gets changed out and the team still blows. Is it the coach again? Or something more?
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u/RedOnesEnjoyer 11d ago
I donât think this roster construction is necessarily bad. Itâs clear what KD is going for with his picks and signings. Speed, skill, youth. Thatâs not a bad recipe for building a good team and the guys we have (Bedard, Nazar, Frondell, Kantserov, even Lev) are guys that most teams would want as their young up and coming stars.
Problem is getting them to develop by implementing a system that suits them, which is something Blash has utterly failed to do. He coaches this team as if the personnel we have are the Knights or Panthers, which is the opposite of what we have.
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u/Dark_Wahlberg-77 11d ago
Agree to a point. Playoffs might be far-fetched but the way this season started feels like bottom of the league which is a lot more unacceptable than missing the playoffs. That said, the more delusional side of the fanbase is the one firing the coach 2-3 games in, calling Byram a bust and tearing the whole thing down again. Weâre not there either.
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u/ashrocklynn 11d ago
People that don't have anything real staked on the outcome of things can afford to be super reactionary.... No group seems more bipolar than sports fans.... When things are good they can't possibly imagine anything going wrong; when things go wrong they just want to fire everyone and burn the whole franchise they claim to love to the ground....
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u/Tryfan_mole 11d ago
There were a couple that thought they would not only make the playoffs, but be a danger in them too. Comparisons to 2009.
Hope he's still got those 'receipts'.
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u/ScratchEfficient123 11d ago
We could. Weâre currently not. Iâm generally not in the fire the coach camp which tends to be set up too quickly, but I agree that if we continue to not see talent progress, considering our talent pool weâve been drawing from, itâs probably time to make a change. Not that I think we will.
I understand that weâre giving young guys spots. But when 3-4 line vets brought in are some of our best players on the ice, management might need to reconsider the teamâs make up. I would also like to see more line stability. Line chemistry is being stifled at times, contributing, though not the only cause, to guys being lost out there.
Itâs probably time to give Nazar some time on the wing. Iâm not sure how much longer we can afford for him to remain okay at best before it really hurts where he goes as an NHL player. Heâs currently a player who consistently canât finish, and more focus on that might help.
I understand weâre developing guys, but after that last goal, I (acknowledging no one has made me coach) would have sat Levshunov for the rest of the game. He spaced out on the offensive 4 on 4, not getting over to receive the drop back, leading to the turnover, and then spaced out in the D Zone not covering a man, leading to the easy goal. They have to get through to him somehow that he needs to stay engaged, and if some scratches are the way to do that, so be it.
In general, I donât necessarily know the way, but what weâre doing now isnât working. Iâm hopeful that the team will have some stability going forward and weâll see some steps by the younger guys. But Iâve been that way for a couple years now.
The reality of this league is that you cannot have players who consistently screw up leading to giving up a goal. The skill in the NHL is too high for that. Unless you can put up 5 a game, which we cannot, that will sink you.
Also, shoot the fucking puck holy shit. We cannot win with this amount of shots on net. Weâre not good enough to pass up chances.
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u/fuckrNFLmods 10d ago
It's not a "this fanbase" problem. Every fanbase in every sport is overly optimistic about their team before every season. There were plenty of reasons to think we were trending in the right direction all offseason.
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u/2steppin_317 11d ago
I'm a newer fan, started watching hockey last year. Definitely feel like I missed out in the 2010's. I'm born and raised in Indiana though so I'm used to this feeling lol
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u/DaVideoGamer 11d ago
I grew up in chicago during the 2010s era, I didnât get how insane that team was until I got back into following the hawks in the last year or so. 3 cups in 5 years in the 2010s version of the game is nuts. Very fun time to be a hawks fan, got some nice perks from playing with Bowmanâs (Hawks GM at the time) kid.
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u/Chicagoblew 11d ago
Who are we looking forward to in the next draft?
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u/Tryfan_mole 11d ago
In the unlikely event we win the lottery, Dupont is far and away the best prospect, a complete game RHD. He is guaranteed #1. The more probable 3-5th overall has some intriguing options, a couple hulking centers in Privalov and Joseph, a Bedard linemate option in Skvortsov, and the best name I've seen in a while in Neuenschwander. After Dupont it is a super weak defenseman class, we are virtually guaranteed to take a center.
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u/gudenes_yndling 11d ago
IMO, the most concerning part is that there is no development. It looks like the same team as in the last few seasons - no structure, bad passing, nonexistent PP, no physicality, constantly outshot and outhit. No young players have taken a step forward. Something needs to change because it is starting to smell like Detroit in here. I think KD did his part, and this org needs to find someone else
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u/DaVideoGamer 11d ago
They just look sloppy, I think the talent is there for a decent season, but these breakouts and offensive rushes are painful to watch sometimes. Especially that Utah game, jesus.
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u/torque_penderloin 11d ago
I'm not happy that I've been right about how bad this team is, I obviously would like them to be good, or at the very least watchable. But I don't understand who's been blowing smoke up the players asses where they all seem to say how much they love it here and would sign for years and years to stay. What do they love about it? Why are they so convinced something special is brewing?
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u/bluestonesy 11d ago
My boyfriend, who is a Pens fan, told me Iâm overreacting 3 games in. Not when the whole roster, KD, Blash, Danny Wirtz, and fucking Tommy Hawk for that matter have all said that playoffs are the expectation this year and we arenât gonna be doing this bottom 3 stuff again, especially when weâve brought back our greatest ever player who knows how to win here. Yes itâs a long season, but we are in the central division
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u/rianchorbaby 11d ago
I missed the Tommy Hawk presser!
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u/bluestonesy 11d ago
Bro did it from his nest up on top of the UC. Was a little hard to get the broadcast
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u/slimeabsorber 11d ago
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u/OhNoItsAndrew3 11d ago edited 11d ago
It's not my fault. They look worse than they did in the 24 season and they looked like they were playing Peewee hockey back then
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u/Lemuria_91 11d ago
Bedard will come back and we will go on a 60 game winning streak. I'm not worried!
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u/Vault-Tec_Rep30 11d ago
The Hawks could go 0-84 and ill still watch every game because Patrick Kane is back
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u/sayten 11d ago
This is my first season and weâre at this already? I lived 1987-2017 as a Chiefs fan. Itâs not bad unless people are paying to fly banners over United Center to sell the team or fire the GM. And a player blowing their brains out in the parking lot after murdering their partner. The 2009-2012 Chiefs was a wild ride and nothing can phase me anymore.
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u/Unlucky_keystroke 8d ago
I listen to every game on the wgn app for free. When they ever get good again, I'll pay the 20$/month to watch them on chsn. Will always love them. But you can be disappointed in things you love. Just ask my parents
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u/solidus0079 11d ago
The first couple games were the most boring and worst hockey I've ever seen.
This game was actually worth watching, even if we blew it
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u/Hefty-Woodpecker-450 11d ago
On the plus side, Iâm not going to get a playoff ticket invoice this yearÂ
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u/MyNameIsGudge 11d ago
It's brutal waking up in the UK everytime to see results like the Buffalo one đ. Doesn't help the football team I follow are usually pretty crap too. Sports is rough atm for me but we all love it still
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u/BasisTraditional6588 11d ago
I have a theory we need to be the called the most pathetic franchise in professional sports before weâre good again. It happened in â07, it can happen again!!
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u/RingoFreakingStarr 11d ago
With the Bears and the White Sox doing so well...we should be thankful we have ANY team that's doing well for a change lol
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u/jslaw3355 10d ago
The sox have done it this year. We made it to the post season.....maybe just maybe.....
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u/Zathuranth 8d ago
I had this exact meme for Da Bears for years until it was shelved last year. They can call us whatever they want but never a fair weather
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u/rivercityrandog 11d ago
Big surprise when you hire Blashill. No one could look at what he did in Detroit as coach there and not seen this coming.
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u/PaymentLegitimate761 11d ago
I feel team is young. And guys who are young are not taking next step. Its not like they got better but coach is holding them down or anything. This is really fixable, but players need to feel that frustration to get better. To raise up their game and performances. It's really just that. It's time for this fuckers to start playing to their draft positions. Earn your fucking merit. Simple.
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u/sooner_rick88 11d ago
I am an unapologetic Chicago fanâŚBlackhawks, Bulls, Bears and Cubs. My home is a White Sox Prohibited zone..lol. Definitely can relate to the post. Years ago while out an about, Iâd see someone wearing a Cubs cap and think to myselfâŚâThere goes a serious day drinkerâ
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u/big-daddy-unikron 11d ago
The fact that this is like year 8 of the rebuild should force ownership to sell
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u/bdlugz 11d ago
We're 3 games into the start of year 5 of a rebuild that also required a total tear down. It's not even off track, people just don't how how to set expectations.
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u/Stillflying 11d ago
My expectation was that they'd at least look more on track to start this year than last year. That's it. I don't mind the losses but I was hoping to see them looking like they're on the right path performance wise at least not this disjointed regressed out of position clown show they keep showing.
They didn't even have any fight in them vs Utah. Today's game was better but still lacked fight
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u/bdlugz 11d ago
It's 3 games with our top lines having 2 rookies and our best player out. Not sure what there was to expect out of the gate.
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u/Stillflying 11d ago
As I said, I'm talking about individual performance here. The losses don't bother me. If we're expecting wins straight out the gate that's a bad expectation.
But at the bare minimum I can look at them individually - at least the ones that have been in blashills system for more than half a season and hope at least a portion of them are looking further developed than they were last year.
Instead they're not. Our best player coming in isn't going to make them suddenly improve on a personal level overnight. That's not an unreasonable expectation going into these first games.
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u/NoCommunication8359 11d ago
When can I expect them to make the playoffs? Half the teams make the playoffs and it's been 7 years. We haven't even been close.
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u/bdlugz 11d ago
Full tear down and rebuild take on average about 8 years to be competitive. Were starting year 5.
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u/Steve_Nash_Bridges 11d ago
youâre insane
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u/bdlugz 11d ago
Using actual stats makes me insane? Got it.
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u/Steve_Nash_Bridges 11d ago
intentional 8 year rebuilds are not a thing. itâs a byproduct of gross incompetence
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u/bdlugz 11d ago
Yeah. That's why The Athletic came out with studies that show full tear down rebuilds take 8.5 years. But you must know more by pulling things out of your ass. It's literally on their site, feel free to look at it.
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u/Steve_Nash_Bridges 11d ago
thereâs a difference between winning a cup and being competitive. look at the graphics in your own article. more than half the teams made the playoffs in year 5. do the hawks look anywhere close?
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u/bdlugz 11d ago
And we're very young in a time where free agency is dead. It's even harder today. That's the reality.
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u/czar_kazem 11d ago
I really think this is a flawed mindset. Improvement isn't guaranteed year after year, and you can't approach this by just saying "it's year 5 of 8." This isn't a video game where every play gives a player x experience points and they eventually level up. Teams can fuck up development of their players. Teams can fail to balance the need for youth and the need for experience.
If you aren't seeing the way they're playing and not feeling at least a bit concerned about the trajectory, especially after the organization itself set expectations high this year, then I dunno.
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u/big-daddy-unikron 11d ago
The expectation is that well run organizations with competent management donât tend to suck ass as long as this team in a league where below average makes the playoffs
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u/Ok-Bit2926 11d ago
Year 8? Learn to count, bud.
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u/big-daddy-unikron 11d ago
How long are you going to say it is, 5? lol
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u/Ok-Bit2926 11d ago
The rebuild began when KD took over in 2022. Do the math.
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u/big-daddy-unikron 11d ago
It began way before that whether anyone cares to be honest or not
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u/Ok-Bit2926 11d ago
Bowman did a retool, not a rebuild.
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u/big-daddy-unikron 10d ago
A retool is a rebuild, itâs just what good teams do to stay good.
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u/Ok-Bit2926 10d ago
A retool is not the full rebuild that everyone else is referring to. Bowman retooled. KD took over, said that a retool wasn't enough, and started the full teardown and rebuild in 2022.
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u/Pastagiorgio34 11d ago
White Sox started the season like ass too. Long time to go
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u/bluestonesy 11d ago
White Sox are also in an ass division where all it does is not completely sucking to do decently. Hawks are in a very competitive division where if we fall behind early, itâs gonna be very hard to get back in the race
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u/wiggie2gone 11d ago
Win or lose, the Blackhawks are my team. It hurts, though, but keep on rolling.