The Bowman Effect

With the deadline looming, Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman has the equivalent of nearly $15 million in cap space that is growing in size every single day.

Two and a half years after being hired in place of Dale Tallon, perhaps we can go back and piece together the puzzle that Bowman is attempting to put together. Adding Brendan Morrison last week only built Bowmans trade résumé, adding another clue to the search, but once you put all of it together the picture starts to become a little more clear that the direction Bowman may be taking could have provided enough smoke and mirrors to get away with a state of rebuilding.

(Listings are in order of time completion)

2010 TRADES

Cam Barker ⇛ Nick Leddy
Kris Versteeg ⇛ Viktor Stalberg, Philippe Paradis, Chris DiDomenico
Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel ⇛ Jeremy Morin, Kevin Hayes, Justin Holl
Colin Fraser ⇛ Mirko Hoefflin
30th pick 2010 to NYI ⇛ Ludvig Rensfeldt, Kent Simpson
32nd pick 2010 to TOR ⇛ Brandon Saad, Michael Paliotta
43rd pick 2010 to TOR ⇛ Jimmy Hayes
Andrew Ladd ⇛ Adam Clendening

2011 TRADES

Jack Skille, Hugh Jessiman, David Pacan ⇛ Michael Frolik, Alexander Salak
Troy Brouwer ⇛ Philip Danault
Brian Campbell ⇛ Cap Space, err Rostislav Olesz
Tomas Kopecky ⇛ Steve Montador *
Brian Connelly ⇛ Brendan Morrison

*In sending the negotiating rights of Tomas Kopecky to Florida for a conditional 7th round pick, the Blackhawks flipped the same pick to Buffalo for the negotiating rights to Steve Montador. In a nutshell, that pick was integral in both deals, connecting them together.

WAIVER WIRE

No additions that remain in the organization

FREE AGENTS (UFA, RFA)

Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, John Scott, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Bryan Bickell, Nick Leddy, Brandon Pirri, Dylan Olsen, Brent Seabrook, Jimmy Hayes, Corey Crawford, Byron Froese, David Gilbert, Alexander Salak, Steve Montador, Jamal Mayers, Sean O'Donnell, Andrew Brunette, Dan Carcillo, Viktor Stalberg, Sami Lepisto, Michael Frolik, Patrick Sharp, Ray Emery, Mark McNeill, Philip Danault, Andrew Shaw

Of course, the definition of rebuild is a loose term. No, I am not suggesting Bowman is going to dismantle this team or any sort of ridiculous notion that he will even remotely entertain the thought of trading any of his core players. However, it's clear to me that during most of his tenure, Stan has been in rebuild mode in a different sense. He's acquiring band-aids to fill the gaps until "his" players are ready to fit in the line-up. "His" players being all the youth he has acquired through the trade market. Luckily for him, unlike Dale Tallon, he has a fantastic core to hold the fort while these players develop and become NHL-ready.

The acquisition of Brendan Morrison was far from confusing when looking at his track record. Even last year with limited cap space, Bowman was able to swing a few deals to acquire Michael Frolik, Ryan Johnson, and Chris Campoli at the deadline in an effort to provide depth to the roster. Unfortunately, it didn't work, and Bowmans band-aid scheme failed for the first season. Given his circumstances, he was given a pass due to the contract demands of the prior summer forcing him to ship key players.

Over the summer, he continued the trend, signing 6 UFA's to 1-year deals. Perhaps further proof of Bowman's plan unfolding before our very eyes--almost eerily similar to Dale Tallon's approach during his first couple seasons. This time things would be different through the fan perception, the Blackhawks had plenty of cap space and the depth seemed to be stronger. I don't want to say it was wrong to think that, because the deadline has not passed yet and anything can happen. But all indications point to Bowman once again filling important roles with another band-aid instead of a solid solution.

Is it wrong? No. Does it give the Blackhawks the best chance to win right now? Probably not. But at some point the game has to change for Bowman, no longer should he be looking for deals to improve the future while patching up the present moment but shift the philosophy in realizing his window of opportunity might be starting as early as right now.

Perhaps this year is the wrong time for that change, maybe next year when Saad, Shaw, Hayes, Olsen, Smith, Pirri, Morin, are all ready to fill the shoes left behind by the old-timers will be the moment Stan changes his philosophy from "rebuild" to "this is the year". Because, lets be honest, if that is his plan then perhaps that truly is the best route to take if the Blackhawks want to carry the Cup through Chicago again. This isn't to say this year is lost, because it isn't. But perhaps more of an acceptance of what Bowman is trying to accomplish. The writing is on the wall, it's just a matter of perception.