Stan Bowman has been at the helm of the Chicago Blackhawks since July 14, 2009, and his track record of acquiring the proper pieces to round out Stanley Cup-caliber teams is nearly flawless. He's never been the kind of general manager that attempted to build the core of his team via free agency.
His approach to team construction is a bit different. Nearly all of the moves that he's made since 2009 have been to complement his cornerstone players. Bowman inherited Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, but that hasn't stopped him from building around these talented individuals both on and off the ice.
Bowman created a winning culture with this group and brings in players that fit the puzzle that's already on the table. He doesn't try to revamp the entire picture via trades or the open market. Everyone in Chicago knows what it means to be a Hawk. The team identity is clear, and the players that are brought in already fit the ideals of the franchise.
Chicago doesn't typically take pot shots on players in the trade market. They acquire with purpose and vision. It's the same mentality that ha ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Franklin Steele
How Stan Bowman Has Mastered the Art of Free Agency and Trades in the NHL
November 14th, 2013 by Franklin Steele Leave a reply »
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