Bowman named Senior Advisor to Blackhawks

[auxlepli 17]

Well I read Babcock bounced ideas of Bowman the last couple of years. So Bowman helped there. To say people's worries are misplaced is a bit extreme in my opinion.

[Jedi 1,865]

I can't say I blame Scotty one bit. You can't argue too much against a father wanting to be near his two sons, working with one of them, ESPECIALLY being there to support a child battling with cancer. I wish him nothing but the best, except for those 6 nights a year we meet!

Here's to you Scotty! Thanks for all that you've done through the years, behind the bench or in the front office! Detroit is the champion it is today because of you!

[wingfanatic4alltime 32]

Good luck Scotty (except against us) and thanks for everything

[Booster313 138]

I am sad.

Thank you, Scotty, and all the best to you and your family.

I'm still getting over losing Lang to them, and now this.

Are you a big Robert Lang fan?

[betterREDthandead 58]

As old as he is, I don't get why start something new.

Funny, a lot of people had the same questions when he took a new head coaching job at the age of 60.

All the best to Scotty. The guy coached our team to 3 championships. It sucks ten times over that he's leaving, but considering what he's done for the Wings and the fact that he's never really been tied down in one place, I'd say we owe it to him not to get angry that he's leaving.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Are you a big Robert Lang fan?

Well, he's the reason our young players got so much playoff experience in 2007. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any Cup in 2008.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Meh, what can you do. For those who might be suggesting Bowman is a traitor or whatever else, this isn't a passion/loyalty to your team first for some of these guys. That's not good, that's not bad, it just is what it is. This is a job for these people, this is a career. Sometimes that requires re-locating to a different city to do what is best for yourself or your family. The Red Wings aren't always going to be the final spot for people to finish their careers and stay here for 15+ years. Being with the same organization for roughly 15 years like Bowman was at is a pretty long time, so Bowman was definitely loyal to the Red Wings and Detroit for a long, long time.

I'm not familiar with his son/his situation or if he's been in Chicago for a long while or not. If he wants to be close to his son and help him deal with his cancer problem, how can you argue against it? I definitely would have loved to see Scotty Bowman stay within the Wings franchise but there is no good reason to be mad at him for leaving to Chicago given these circumstances.

I hope he enjoys his new position in Chicago and I hope his son gets better.

[LidsFan 68]

this is sad news indeed, I wish that he had stayed with us. It will be special for him to work with his son, and I am happy for him, but I won't wish him luck with Chicago. It's too bad that his son did not work for one of the Eastern Teams.

[TheUkrainian 49]

Does Scotty leaving free up any Cap Space??

/sarcasm

I wish him all the best, maybe he can convince the Hawks to move the Classic to Soldier Field, or at least give the Wings another 5-10 K tickets for the game..

[Yemack 1]

I don't blame Scotty and I'm happy for all that he has done for us. In fact, I wish him and his son the best.

Doesn't mean I like him now

[russianswede919293 95]

My question is that since Bowman was a member of the Wings organization do the Wings get compensation???

[wings5gal 0]

I can understand his reasoning for going there. The part that irks me is that he was saying he was happy where he was and wasn't leaving and all that. I guess I wouldn't be so upset about it and all if he just hadn't said anything about the whole thing after turning down other offers.

That being said, good luck with the family stuff Scotty. I won't wish you luck on the job though.

[jvxp 0]

Good luck Scotty unless it's against us. He was great for the Wings and I will always like him. I hate to see him go.........

[mustang051664 0]

Can't say that I wish the best for the Blackhawks, but I can't blame him for his decision. Just wish that he didn't wear that jersey at the press conference. Go Wings !!!!

[betterREDthandead 58]

My question is that since Bowman was a member of the Wings organization do the Wings get compensation???

No.

[Rivalred 630]

Wasn't there speculation about this a few weeks back?

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

William Scott Bowman built the Wings, as they currently stand. He molded the Players, including, (by proxy), the Players he never coached, and he created the system under which they currently play.

He knows every play, every move, every thought, every nuance, of every Player on the Team, every prospect in the system, every Coach on the bench, as though they were playing/moving/coaching, with HIS body/brain.

Losing Scotty is a huge blow to the Wings. Huge.

**Edit**

To clarify, it's not only about what the Wings have lost. It's also about what the 'Hawks have gained. They've just been handed the entire playbook, every available scrap of insider information, about the most successful NHL Franchise in the past 15 or so years.

Knowing every play, every thought and a playbook might mean something if Scotty Bowman were Bill Belichick and Hockey was Football. Anyone can look at the tape and figure out what the Wings do and how they do it, it's not brain science. The system doesn't work without the right players. Jim Devallano and Jim Nill have as much to do with the Wings success as Scotty did while he was on the bench. Scotty was a great coach and had a great feel for the game on the bench. He's no longer on the bench.

[Jedi 1,865]

Wasn't there speculation about this a few weeks back?

Yeah, a little over a month ago...

One source I saw for this rumor was Sports Illustrated's "Fan Nation, Truth & Rumors" page.

[Rivalred 630]

Yeah, a little over a month ago...

One source I saw for this rumor was Sports Illustrated's "Fan Nation, Truth & Rumors" page.

Thanks Jedi!

I thought I remembered reading about Bowman/Chicago that someone posted sometime back...

Best of luck to him in Chicago and do hope all goes well with the family - on a side note it will be interesting how the Wings vs Chicago series turns out...

Edited August 1, 2008 by Rivalred

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

He's what 75? I can't blame him for wanting to spend some time and mentor his son.

[FireCaptain 563]

[Duck Guy 86]

do not try to adjust your tv screens we have complete control welcome to the outer limits

[Doggy 130]

This does make me sad. Oh well.

[octopusonice 0]

If anything, I would have expected him to go to Buffalo or Toronto. I thought he still lived in Buffalo in the off season.

I am not particularly worried about the Wings' situation simply because Bowman left. Look at the San Francisco 49ers as an example. Lots of teams have copied the system they made popular, the West Coast Offense. All of Bill Walsh's assistants went on to other teams, but how many of those teams have won five Super Bowl rings, like the 49ers did, as a result? None, squat, Butkus*.

Knowing a system or copying it doesn't mean you can succeed with it. It's more likely that by knowing Detroit's system, the Blackhawks would be better prepared to defend against it than to duplicate it themselves.

Besides, as good as we are, we aren't going to have all the candy in the store.

* I know it's supposed to be bupkus, but when you faced Butkus, you got nothing.

Edit clarification

Edited August 1, 2008 by octopusonice

[55fan 5,133]

That photo looks photoshopped. Yes, I know it's real and I'm not questioning it.

It's just... Scotty... in a Blackhawks jersey. It's kind of like seeing your grandma in a bikini. Or at least my grandma. Yours may look just fine, but for me it's just wrong. Or your grandpa. It just doesn't ring true.

Perhaps his thinking is that if his son doesn't fare well health-wise, Scotty can step in whilst he makes his recovery. I do think he's right to put family first.

And, yes, I'm a Robert Lang fan. As long as he's not in a bikini.