Stan Bowman In Big Chair
I just hung up the telephone after speaking to Stan Bowman, about three hours after his first news conference as the Blackhawks' general manager. He was thrilled about the opportunity, as you might imagine, but well aware of the challenges ahead.
The biggest chore will be making sense of the 'Hawks payroll, which he said was hardly unique. He pointed toward the Red Wings, who were forced to lose players off their roster in an effort to stay under the salary cap. If Sabres fans are hoping South Buffalo native Patrick Kane would somehow shake loose given the cap problems and wind up here, think again.
"No way,'' Bowman said when asked he would be traded.
Bowman knows he has some difficult decisions to make, but it's better than the alternative. It comes with having a successful franchise. GM Dale Tallon helped turn around the Blackhawks and get them into the Western Conference finals but with the success comes financial stress. Next summer will be particularly tough with Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith needing new deals.
Such decisions will be left for the 36-year-old Bowman, who was born in Montreal but grew up in Williamsville after his father was hired by the Sabres. Stan knows plenty about overcoming challenges. He twice has beaten Hodgkin's lymphoma and has been in remission for more than a year. Now the trick is winning the trophy after which he was named.
Look for my column about Bowman and his new gig in Thursday's editions of The News.
--- Bucky Gleason
