Stan For A Day: How Would You Change The Blackhawks?

Admit it….we all do it from time to time. We all play the role of General Manager of our favorite franchises. Today it’s Stan Bowman’s turn. Have a seat in his office, and let’s see what you would do with the Blackhawks for a day. Where do you begin?

For the last several years, the ‘Hawks have struggled to remain competitive. Much of this can be attributed to an epic run, with 3 Stanley Cup Championships in the last decade. At some point, the piper must be paid, and that’s where the organization finds itself now.

Big picture, the ‘Hawks are in a good spot. They are ranked 4th in franchise valuation (according to Forbes “The Business of Hockey”) in 2020 at $1.085B. As an original six franchise, their national popularity is high, and they are prevalent in national broadcasts and special events, such as the Stadium Series and Winter Classic.

They have a rabid fan base in a major media market, and they consistently sell out games at the United Center. They have everything working in their favor from a marketing perspective, and a fan base ready to reward success, so how do they get back to being a perennial playoff participant?

As President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Blackhawks, Stan Bowman is in a position to affect the entire spectrum of the on-ice product, and the hockey operations as a whole. But today, Stan is taking a day off, and we are taking his place. We have 24 hours to change the fortunes of the ‘Hawks, and there is a lot of work to do.

In our 24 hours, we are going to tackle several aspects of the hockey operation: The Coaching Staff, the Roster, and The IceHogs. I am staying away from the United Center and associated topics, just for simplicity’s sake.