yeah, when I read your original article, I did read it that way too...eg., you might mean that by playoffs a kids steps in, gets a chance and takes hold of it.
a lot to ask, a lot to hope for, but i like your thinking...that an unknown variable might just made us a better playoff team.
- wiz1901

I was on the Saad bandwagon last year for this very same reason.This year maybe it could be Danault?Hopefully we will be getting all we need from the guys we run with this season.I would love to see a young guy catch fire,but would prefer not to need it to happen.Lets hope for a healthy team.

My belief is Kane plays better with a road-grader on the LW: look no further than Brouwer and Byfuglien. Lacking that, his production seems to suffer.
- John Jaeckel

in a vacuum, the carcillo kane hossa line worked, but was very short lived.

more importantly, can you imagine if someone like frolik actually returned to 20 goal form?

whoa boy, now that would make the team interesting because is already a good two way player

You might well be right. But we have to always remember this about trades: it takes two to tango. Meaning. What other teams offer for Hjalmarsson on the one hand, or Leddy on the other could have some bearing on who gets dealt by the Hawks. Because it is quite possible the returns are not equal.
- John Jaeckel

I will say this, don't trade Hjalmarsson just to trade him. He's still cracks the Hawks top 6 defense as presently constituted. I would hope that they get a guy back that can help the team now.

What was the circumstances when Daniel Alfredsson was bought out and resigned by Ottawa?
- shruew

Don't remember that...

In the new CBA there is a provision whereby a player bought out can not be resigned by the same team.....Which makes sense.

Not sure why, if you were to trade him, the whole contract wouldn't go along with him, INCLUDING the AAV penalty.

However, isn't there also something in the new CBA about trading on a portion of a contract? Seems to mean that if you have a guy with one year / $5MM left, you could trade him and 50% of his contract - you would pay (and get a cap hit of) $2.5MM, and the new team would also pay (and get a cap hit of) $2.5MM.

I think.

How does that enter into the Hossa situation?

Does anyone in the NHL or NHLPA know either?
- StLBravesFan

Concerning the AAV "penalty" that stays with the original team.

And....Up to 3 players at any time can have up to 50% of their contracts absorbed by their original team and not count agains the cap.

At least I believe so...

in a vacuum, the carcillo kane hossa line worked, but was very short lived.

more importantly, can you imagine if someone like frolik actually returned to 20 goal form?

whoa boy, now that would make the team interesting because is already a good two way player
- FourFeathers773

It was short lived because of Carcillo's injury. Could Carbomb continue playing well? Its certainly possible, it would take a special type of player not to perform well with Kane and Hossa.

If Frolik returned to his 20 goal form that would answer a lot of questions for the Blackhawks and fill a lot of holes. But as long as Q is the coach that will never happen. Frolik makes one mistake and he's on the 4th line or in the press box. I'm not saying Frolik is without fault, but I don't think Q has done everything he can to motivate him properly.

Concerning the AAV "penalty" that stays with the original team.

And....Up to 3 players at any time can have up to 50% of their contracts absorbed by their original team and not count agains the cap.

At least I believe so...
- Al

Sites like gapgeek.com are going to become more and more important under the new CBA. It feels like you will need a business degree just to be a hockey fan!

It was short lived because I Carcillo's injury. Could Carbomb continue playing well? Its certainly possible, it would take a special type of player not to perform well with Kane and Hossa.

If Frolik returned to his 20 goal form that would answer a lot of questions for the Blackhawks and fill a lot of holes. But as long as Q is the coach that will never happen. Frolik makes one mistake and he's on the 4th line or in the press box. I'm not saying Frolik is without fault, but I don't think Q has done everything he can to motivate him properly.
- DarthKane

Agree and disagree. Carcillo, Brouwer, lots of other guys have enough hockey sense to elevate their games playing with elite players. Some guys can't because they don't seem to instinctively know how to operate as well within the flow of the play, they get in the way or they don't support the play the way that's needed.

It was short lived because of Carcillo's injury. Could Carbomb continue playing well? Its certainly possible, it would take a special type of player not to perform well with Kane and Hossa.

If Frolik returned to his 20 goal form that would answer a lot of questions for the Blackhawks and fill a lot of holes. But as long as Q is the coach that will never happen. Frolik makes one mistake and he's on the 4th line or in the press box. I'm not saying Frolik is without fault, but I don't think Q has done everything he can to motivate him properly.
- DarthKane

I think like Hossa, Carcillo is helped with time off to recover..

Don't buy the Q needs to motivate Frolik.. Frolik needs to motivate Frolik. Show the coach you should be playing.. So far, and I had high hopes for him, he hasn't show me squat.

I think like Hossa, Carcillo is helped with time off to recover..

Don't buy the Q needs to motivate Frolik.. Frolik needs to motivate Frolik. Show the coach you should be playing.. So far, and I had high hopes for him, he hasn't show me squat.
- victorymc98

I agree, but there is a point where the coach needs to help the player develop some confidence. If you punish the player every time he makes a mistake he'll play gun shy and you'll never see his best game. In a perfect world players would take care of themselves, but in reality that's not the case.

Sites like gapgeek.com are going to become more and more important under the new CBA. It feels like you will need a business degree just to be a hockey fan!

- DarthKane

You'll need a phucking physics degree.

I will say this, don't trade Hjalmarsson just to trade him. He's still cracks the Hawks top 6 defense as presently constituted. I would hope that they get a guy back that can help the team now.
- dan9189

I totally agree. Let's not forget that while the hawks may have 8 nhl dmen right now they still let up 238 goals last year and not all of them were on crawford. Only 2 WC teams were worse, Edmonton and Columbus, and I have doubts that brookbank and roszival are the solution here.

I think netminder is need#1. 2nd pairing Dman is need#2. 2C is need#3. Build from the net out. Within those skilled player additions they should look to improve team size and physicality. Jmo.

I agree, but there is a point where the coach needs to help the player develop some confidence. If you punish the player every time he makes a mistake he'll play gun shy and you'll never see his best game. In a perfect world players would take care of themselves, but in reality that's not the case.
- DarthKane

IMO, coaches #1 job is to put the best team for any sport on the field/ICe to win. Its up to the player to showcase to the Coach they deserve to be on the field/Ice. We also don't know what Frolik is like in practice that Q sits him.. I want him to succeed but how much does Q let him hinder the teams chance of winning?

I totally agree. Let's not forget that while the hawks may have 8 nhl dmen right now they still let up 238 goals last year and not all of them were on crawford. Only 2 WC teams were worse, Edmonton and Columbus, and I have doubts that brookbank and roszival are the solution here.

I think netminder is need#1. 2nd pairing Dman is need#2. 2C is need#3. Build from the net out. Within those skilled player additions they should look to improve team size and physicality. Jmo.
- moylander

Sooo.. A complete overhaul?

IMO, coaches #1 job is to put the best team for any sport on the field/ICe to win. Its up to the player to showcase to the Coach they deserve to be on the field/Ice. We also don't know what Frolik is like in practice that Q sits him.. I want him to succeed but how much does Q let him hinder the teams chance of winning?
- victorymc98

Its the GMs job to put the best players on the ice and it's the coaches job to get the most out of those players.

Like I said before, I don't believe Frolik is without blame in this whole mess. But I don't think Q has handled the situation well either. I'm a fan of both Frolik and Q, I'm not trying to rag on either of them but I think both of them could to more here. At the end of all this I don't think Frolik will do well here as much as many of us want him to. Personally I'd like to see him as the "skill" component on the 3rd line with Bolland and Shaw.

Sooo.. A complete overhaul?
- pri$ey

Not necessarily. Much like the flyers I think the hawks can win games with their sheer firepower alone.... But they will struggle to excel in the postseason until the net and d are upgraded. The hawks could use more physicality too. I see they have 25 roster players signed and only need 21. They also have lots of prospects. I'd start there rather than a complete overhaul.... And I'd start with package dealing the smaller players first... Leddy, Kruger, TT, Pirri, Shaw (already have carbomb) etc.... This way mgmt is less tempted to call up smaller players that can't protect Toews, Kane, and Hossa. Again... Jmo.

Leddy not on the NHL roster?? Pending trade ? I thought it looked like Leddy took a step forward atRockford this year.

Leddy not on the NHL roster?? Pending trade ? I thought it looked like Leddy took a step forward atRockford this year.
- mrpaulish

Isn't it exciting to actually be talking about the roster and over-analyzing the smallest details! It sure beats the lockout that's for sure.

I'm sure Leddy will be recalled to Chicago, I can't see him not coming to camp. Even if he doesn't make the team (unlikely) he will be invited to training camp. Or maybe he's been dealt and if that's the case then that will be exciting because I'm sure we'd get a decent return for him.

Would love to see something with the Jets, perhaps swapping Kanes and Leddy for Burmistrov as the key deal pieces. I know that was a pre-lockout rumor I read and it was discussed in length here. Just a thought
- ikeane

I agree with those targets. I really think burmistrov may breakout soon. Especially with someone like Hossa or Sharp. And Evander kane is the real deal. Just some questions about his attitude

Isn't it exciting to actually be talking about the roster and over-analyzing the smallest details! It sure beats the lockout that's for sure.

I'm sure Leddy will be recalled to Chicago, I can't see him not coming to camp. Even if he doesn't make the team (unlikely) he will be invited to training camp. Or maybe he's been dealt and if that's the case then that will be exciting because I'm sure we'd get a decent return for him.
- DarthKane

I'd expect the Hawks to carry 8 defensemen to start the season unless someone gets dealt. We could see Montador and Brookbank seeing minutes on the 4th line.

I'd expect the Hawks to carry 8 defensemen to start the season unless someone gets dealt. We could see Montador and Brookbank seeing minutes on the 4th line.
- EKolb13

I agree and Leddy would be defenseman number 8 on the roster (not necessarily the 8th defenseman).

Keith - Seabrook
Oduya - Hjalmarsson
Leddy - Montador*
Brookank* - Rozsival*

*can be inter-changed.

I agree and Leddy would be defenseman number 8 on the roster (not necessarily the 8th defenseman).

Keith - Seabrook
Oduya - Hjalmarsson
Leddy - Rozsival*
Brookank* - Montador*

*can be inter-changed.
- DarthKane

Fixed.

I'm sure Montador and Brookbank will be spelling Rozsival from time to time. They'll also be in rotation on the wing on the 4th line.

Goalie

But let me also say, this is in the context of an offer that might be made to the
Hawks . . . or might not.
- John Jaeckel

Please tell me it is notanother Kane for Miller rumor....

I totally agree. Let's not forget that while the hawks may have 8 nhl dmen right now they still let up 238 goals last year and not all of them were on crawford. Only 2 WC teams were worse, Edmonton and Columbus, and I have doubts that brookbank and roszival are the solution here.

I think netminder is need#1. 2nd pairing Dman is need#2. 2C is need#3. Build from the net out. Within those skilled player additions they should look to improve team size and physicality. Jmo.
- moylander

Crawford played well enough his first year, so who knows...it's possible he could bounce back. I'm not defending him or a huge fan of his, but it's in the realm of possibility.

For me, the paramount need is bringing in at least one center (any center) who can win draws besides Toews. That is a huge reason why both special teams were so terrible. I'll bet they had 100 2-minute powerplays last year that were a buck thirty-five or forty because the lost the draw and had to retrieve.

Agree and disagree. Carcillo, Brouwer, lots of other guys have enough hockey sense to elevate their games playing with elite players. Some guys can't because they don't seem to instinctively know how to operate as well within the flow of the play, they get in the way or they don't support the play the way that's needed.
- John Jaeckel

In a perfect world Bickell wakes up and decides to play with an edge and scores 30 with hossa and kane and goes on to get a big contract. Lets hope bickell decides he needs money