Roster is set

http://www.chicagotribune...-20130117,0,7379273.story

Saad made the club...wow.
- philco28

You couldn't be too surprised after the performances of some others in Rockford this year.

Gomez ? I would rather they bring Huet and Turco back. Fact is I'd rather have the old San Diego Padres manager Preston Gomez than this hack. I can just hear Foley rippin this cat on our 8 game losing streak. WOW !!!

Gomez ? I would rather they bring Huet and Turco back. Fact is I'd rather have the old San Diego Padres manager Preston Gomez than this hack. I can just hear Foley rippin this cat on our 8 game losing streak. WOW !!!
- SHOOTDAPUCK

Cubs, too....

Thornton's an uber pus sy who is quick with the lumber and slow to shed his flippers...love the tuneup the Big E gave him a few years ago. Love to see a Tomahawk-authored encore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oobvmIY2iTQ
- philco28

Totally forgot Lindros played for the Rangers. Couldn't even tell who the Bruins were playing at first; those were some old or alternate NYR jerseys. So sad his career ended way too soon. Loved watching the Legion of Doom line. Except against the Hawks of course.

Whatever, I don't get all the venom towards this kid on this board.
- dan9189

Not a bad prospect at all. But he is clearly the pet of Bowman and the front office and probably being pushed along before he is ready.

The venom is more towards the arrogance of the club IMO. Not that I can speak for everyone but that frustration just gets projected to whoever gets brought up or in instead of a proven viable NHL solution.

Fool me once.........

Darkest moment of the season - you got that right! I think I recall flipping out on New to Hockey later that night but it may have been someone else.

Team allowed their captain to be abused and they all stood there and watched. I knew right then and there the Hawks were one and done in the playoffs. Just like I knew the Canucks were toast when they let that little puke Marchand abuse Sedin and did nothing about it.

I don't look for Bollig to be the undefeated heavyweight champion of the Western Conference, but he's in the lineup for a reason just like John Ferguson was there to look after Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer and a few others. If he can accomplish that, he's worth having on the team.

And I subscribe to the Gordie Howe memory bank theory - it doesn't have to be the next game or even next season but there will be a day to even the score. It took him 3 years to retaliate against Bobby Baun for a check he didn't like. And then he stood over Baun as he lay on the ice and said he considered the score settled and the case closed.
- RickJ

He can help kill penalties, occasionally pot a goal, hit people. No he might not destroy a guy like Westgarth like Scott did. But who cares. I GUARANTEE you this: Jordin Tootoo will never again take liberties with Hawk players while Bollig is in the building. Bollig is a hockey player who keeps other hockey players honest. Not a sideshow like Scott and Westgarth and Boogard (RIP). And Bollig's fights are fun to watch because he is a freaking savage!

The venom is more towards the arrogance of the club IMO. Not that I can speak for everyone but that frustration just gets projected to whoever gets brought up or in instead of a proven viable NHL solution.

Fool me once.........
- fattybeef

Bingo. Thx

He can help kill penalties, occasionally pot a goal, hit people. No he might not destroy a guy like Westgarth like Scott did. But who cares. I GUARANTEE you this: Jordin Tootoo will never again take liberties with Hawk players while Bollig is in the building. Bollig is a hockey player who keeps other hockey players honest. Not a sideshow like Scott and Westgarth and Boogard (RIP). And Bollig's fights are fun to watch because he is a freaking savage!
- John Jaeckel

Yeah Bollig can skate and he has a bomb and aside from an occasional penalty from taking liberties he doesn't strike me as being an idiot positionally or being to much of a headcase knowing his role. Meaning he can play +12 minutes / night and you shouldn't have to worry.

Totally just realized they are playing Phoenix Sunday.

Absolutely hate those 9pm starts.

Totally just realized they are playing Phoenix Sunday.

Absolutely hate those 9pm starts.
- fattybeef

but if you like football it should be on right after the NE/Balt game..

You know except those lines were smaller last year and the hawks handled st louis in the second half of the season pretty easily. You love talking about enforcers and big guys, but its an antiquated thought process and reasoning. Drop it
- rollpards19

How does undersize not physical players work come playoff time when you have to dump and chase?

Totally just realized they are playing Phoenix Sunday.

Absolutely hate those 9pm starts.
- fattybeef

Used to hate em too. But now i enjoy em bc the 9pm starts allow me to get everyone in the house asleep and i can watch the game in peace .....
....until the Hawks get only 1 shot on goal with a 5on 3 PP advantage .Then the peace is gone....

Totally just realized they are playing Phoenix Sunday.

Absolutely hate those 9pm starts.
- fattybeef

To be fair, I stream some of these games at around 3am my time

Totally just realized they are playing Phoenix Sunday.

Absolutely hate those 9pm starts.
- fattybeef

10 PM Eastern time. So you don't have it so bad.

If Q has issues with his bosses he won"t solve them by whipping his stars.He went that route in the past and it only put himself under the microscope.The team didn't fold on him last year, but it may have been close.If he can manage his players properly,he can deflect the heat upwards towards management.Let it just become about the results that the players given to him can get.The fact that lines must be rolled this year, may take some of the politics out of the coaching equation.
- eagle50

+1

Not a bad prospect at all. But he is clearly the pet of Bowman and the front office and probably being pushed along before he is ready.
- John Jaeckel

With the compacted schedule, an NHL club is going to probably need about 30 players. That means 9 defenceman, 3 goalies and 16-18 forwards.

Injuries and just aches and pains to the main roster will create opportunities for not only Saad but Hayes, Stanton, Pirri, probably Morin and Smith and maybe even Paradis. None of that is bad.

And putting Saad on the roster may light a fire under Frolik"s butt, make Stalberg and Bickell a little better and so on. And it also may mean one of those guys is headed out of town shortly.

How does undersize not physical players work come playoff time when you have to dump and chase?
- molly2522

So the kings have penner who is pretty much brian bickell, things worked out ok for them

So the kings have penner who is pretty much brian bickell, things worked out ok for them
- rollpards19

Are we saying the same thing?

So the kings have penner who is pretty much brian bickell with coaching, things worked out ok for them
- rollpards19

FIXED IT FOR YOU

FIXED IT FOR YOU
- molly2522

That was good

That was good
- rollpards19

I know players should be self motivated but my concern with bickell and stalberg is they get traded and go to a team that coaches them up and they become everyhing the hawks need in a power forward

i'm good with taking a flyer on gomez. could light a fire under his ass and play for a contract for next season especially if he has chemisrty with marion hossa. 2nd line centers don't grow on trees, maybe lil stosh may be on 2 something here. the kid's 33, if he plays decent for say this year & next it buys time for the youngins comin thru the pipeline.
what would you rather do? trade away players & picks for a 2nd line center, or see what gomez can offer for 48 games? i'll take the latter, it can't hurt. could be addition without subtraction.
gomez pans out ( if we sign him instead of vanc., or SJ) the D steps up & crawford can stop a beach ball ,i think will be in the hunt.
and other than shaw & kaner, i looked at the roster, everyone is 6"1,6"2, 6"3 & 2 bills,so they do have some size, hopefully they will play big!

Fro skates like the wind and has both a great motor and a great desire to involve himself. Wish he shot the puck better because his speed creates so many chances...but he is what he is.
- philco28

He's just not very good.

He's a good skating, defensively responsible forward with zero shot and really no vision to set guys up. He's an offensive black hole that potted a big penalty shot in the playoffs and scored 20 goals twice for Florida 3 years ago. Great resume.

Here's the thing though- If you watch his highlight clips, the vast majority of his goals are scored extremely close to the net... almost all of them low shots and rebounds. The reason he doesn't score with Chicago is because he's never ever in that position. He's usually back checking or digging defensively along the boards and when he does manage to get a rush, his speed puts him ahead of everyone and he just settles for a limp wrister.

To get Frolik going- get him in position down around the net. Dude is a poacher of garbage goals. Garbage goals are good. He's useless on the perimeter.

Edzo had a long layoff and seems to have rather different take on C2 in the playoffs: He stated C2 outplayed Smith during regulation!!

Now that last year was last year but really Mr..."for all you kids out there" what games were you analyzing. Not even close. My gosh the Hawks outshot Phoexnix with their passive rope a dope offense almost 2:1. Smith made saves I still see in my sleep. He won that series for them....period.