Questionable Moves by Stan Bowman During his Time with the Chicago Blackhawks

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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 06: Bryan Bickell #29 of the Chicago Blackhawks speaks to the media prior to the NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets at the United Center on December 6, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2011-12 Season

There were not any big trades or signings negatively during the 2011-12 season. Chicago brought in Johnny Oduya during the 2011-12 season, which is a big win for the team. Besides that, I could not find any bad deals that made me turn my head.

There is a trend here. When the team does not make a move, they often found a way to succeed a year down the road. Although Chicago did not get out of the first round in 2012, they had a year to remember in 2013 in large part thanks to the lack of moves in 2012.

2012-13 Season

June 30th, 2013 CHI receives 2013 3rd and 5th round picks from the WPJ for Michael Frolik

Frolik was an integral part of the 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks. His speed and worth ethic helped make him a player Joel Quenneville loved to have on the ice in any situation.

Yet the team traded him for basically nothing. The two picks received turned into John Hayden and Luke Johnson. No insult to Hayden or Johnson, but Frolik was worth more than that.

I really think Frolik was an underrated player in his time in Chicago. He was fast and was willing to play any type of role for the team. I think the one thing that lets me down here is Frolik did not get the team more.

July 1, 2013, Bryan Bickell re-signed for 4 million a year for 4 years

Bryan Bickell deserved a little pay raise after the successful year he had with Chicago. Bickell had to put up 17 points in 23 games during the Stanley Cup playoffs and even scored the game-tying goal in the final. However, that does not mean he deserved 4 million a year for 4 seasons. That is a ludicrous deal for a forward that never cracked the top 6 a year prior.

I need to emphasize one thing about the Bickell contract. It is not Bryan Bickell’s fault. I can not blame him for signing such a ludicrous deal that Stan Bowman presented him. It was unfortante that Bickell’s health fell of and he was no longer able to play in the NHL, however the team should not have given him this contract anyway.

When you look at Bickell’s stats over the course of the regular season I see no reason why he deserved a contract as big as 4 million a year for 4 years. I know he was a great player in one postseason run, but come on guys.

If Bowman did not hand out a contract this big to Dave Bolland we would not have faced some of the cap issues we did a year down the line.