The Man Who Ruined The Chicago Blackhawks Organization: Stan Bowman
Stan Bowman, the former general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, has come under fire in recent years for the trades he made that some argue have ruined the once-dominant franchise. The Blackhawks, who won three Stanley Cup championships between 2010 and 2015, have struggled to maintain their success in recent years, missing the playoffs for the past three seasons.
The Chicago Blackhawks had an absolute dynasty and the best roster in the entire NHL, where is it now? The Blackhawks have nothing to show for, no prospects that are at that 'superstar' level, and not a whole lot in general...
One of the most controversial trades made by Bowman was the trade of Artemi Panarin, a dynamic and talented forward, to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Brandon Saad, a forward who had previously played for the Blackhawks. Panarin went on to have tremendous success with the Blue Jackets, while Saad struggled to live up to expectations in his return to Chicago.
Another criticized trade was the acquisition of defenseman Olli Maatta from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Dominik Kahun and a draft pick. Maatta was seen as a slow and ineffective player by some, and his acquisition was seen as a misstep by Bowman.
Bowman also made the controversial decision to trade away young talent in exchange for veterans who were past their prime, such as acquiring forward Andrew Ladd and defenseman Johnny Oduya, who were both well into their thirties at the time of their acquisitions.
The trades made by Bowman have been criticized for failing to maintain the Blackhawks' success and for hampering the team's ability to rebuild. While some argue that he made these moves in an effort to keep the team competitive, the results have not been positive. The Blackhawks are now facing a long and difficult rebuilding process, and it remains to be seen whether they will be able to regain their former glory.
Several other trades can distinct how much he ruined the franchise, and as well as the entire situation with the scandal many years ago.
| POLL | ||
Is Stan Bowman the worst general manager in history? | ||
| Yes | 11 | 73.3 % |
| No | 4 | 26.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
