David Haugh: Whether Blackhawks are right to keep status quo, reasons for decision are sound

Passion compelled typically mild-mannered Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman to proclaim from the podium that getting swept in the 2017 playoffs by the Predators was "unacceptable."

Bowman channeled that frustration by letting his heart overrule his head, making moves that helped change a 109-point team into one that missed the playoffs. He reacted emotionally by trading core players Artemi Panarin and Niklas Hjalmarsson, knee-jerk deals classified, in retrospect, as change for the sake of change.

One disappointing year later, Hawks President John McDonough just guaranteed nobody will accuse the organization of overreacting this offseason.