{"id":38571,"date":"2018-12-04T09:39:12","date_gmt":"2018-12-04T14:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=38571"},"modified":"2018-12-04T15:21:11","modified_gmt":"2018-12-04T20:21:11","slug":"chicago-blackhawks-problems-start-with-stan-bowman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2018\/12\/04\/chicago-blackhawks-problems-start-with-stan-bowman\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Blackhawks Problems Start With Stan Bowman"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> problems are numerous this season. They have consistently played terrible<\/a> in their own end in front of their goalies. They continue to allow numerous “Grade A” chances to their opponents each game. Their special teams have also been absolutely terrible all season. They have the third worst penalty kill at 73.5% and their power play is dead last at 12.5%. Their record now sits at 9-14-5. They are currently sixth in the Central Division ahead of only the St. Louis Blues<\/a>. A week ago they were three points out of a wildcard spot, and now they are down seven points. Where did things go wrong<\/a> for the storied franchise?<\/p>\n

Blackhawks Problems Start With Stan Bowman<\/h1>\n

Stanley Cup Rewards<\/h3>\n

Blackhawks problems begin and end with the roster. While winning three Stanley Cups in six seasons General Manager Stan Bowman<\/strong> began giving out much deserved “Blackhawks for Life” contracts. These contracts all included non-movement clauses that hamper the franchise’s ability to make moves in later years. It’s a big part of doing business while chasing multiple Stanley Cups.\u00a0The hope is that the team locks up their core players and rides them as long as they can and builds around them to be an elite team every year.<\/p>\n

Successful franchises stay competitive every season by using long-term contracts for their core, selecting great draft picks<\/a>, and then signing productive free agents when needed. A solid franchise will draft players that will learn what it takes to play in the NHL and then sign them to entry-level contracts that help keep the team under the salary cap every season. Good teams have a solid mix of players on entry-level contracts and veterans. This requires that a team choose wisely<\/a> at the annual NHL draft and promote from within. Unfortunately for the Chicago Blackhawks Stan Bowman’s draft picks have been a major disappointment since he took over from Dale Tallon<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Listed below are the draft picks Stan Bowman made in the first or second round 2010-2017.<\/p>\n

1st and 2nd Round Draft History 2010-2017<\/h3>\n

2010<\/h4>\n