Im still pretty pissed that the Hawks didnt make a move to even negotiate for Lombardi. Reminds me of how Vermette went to Phoenix and murdered us in that series.
- nickmo2699

You are forgeting Lombardi is probably done as a full time guy even on the 3rd line checking...granted he has spped, no O, but, the injury history is not history. Phoenix has a history with him and it fits for them over the other choices of trading, and overpaying for mediocrity you don't know as well.

I think it remains to be seen if they do, or don't, have glaring holes.

I would put my money however on a couple of areas that were holes last year being holes this year. Because nothing has been done to change them.

I will say you are in the minority, not just here, but really throughout the fanbase as far as blind optimism.

And I also think a lot of the posters here would lead the parade for Stanley and the front office if all the dominoes fall the right way—and the lack of moves ends up being the right strategy.
- John Jaeckel

Rather unfair to call my optomism blind, non? Let alone calling me optimistic....

Maybe I should go back and read you opening post ..I read the name, Scott gomez, and decided there was nothing else worth reading about him or acquistition..and went on to post.

Brutal, Phil, just brutal . . .
- savvyone-1

Sorry Savvy...had to go there

I hope they actually play Saad now, he should get top 6 minutes. If this can't happen then send him back to Rockford to play.
- DarthKane

How does this change the lines?

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Bolland-Kane
Carcillo-Shaw-Stalberg
Bickell-Kruger-Mayers
Frolik (13th forward)?

If Gomez is signed Could see something like this:

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Gomez-Kane
Carcillo-Bolland-Shaw <---really like the look of that line
Stalberg/Bickell-Kruger-Mayers
Frolik (press box)

Would make me think Stalberg would be shopped if that happened. Just spitballing.

Rather unfair to call my optomism blind, non? Let alone calling me optimistic....
- nathanjf

Oh, you're a Stanley supporter.

How does this change the lines?

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Bolland-Kane
Carcillo-Shaw-Stalberg
Bickell-Kruger-Mayers
Frolik (13th forward)?

If Gomez is signed Could see something like this:

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Gomez-Kane
Carcillo-Bolland-Shaw <---really like the look of that line
Stalberg/Bickell-Kruger-Mayers
Frolik (press box)

Would make me think Stalberg would be shopped if that happened. Just spitballing.
- ikeane

Putting Saad on the first line any time soon would be a mistake on the ice and in the dressing room. Period.

HUGE MISTAKE, unless he comes out of nowhere and really lights it up, which there is ZERO evidence he will do right now against the top players of the L.A. Kings and 24-25 oither NHl franchises.

'You want to lose a dressing room? Put the GM/front office's pet in above NHL veterans who have produced more as pros than Saad has. McDonough is none too popular in the dressing room already for meddling.

Acquiring Gomez is predictably the kind of idiotic, bean counter move you'd expect a non-hockey bean counter to make. Why not? After all the success that Morrison, OD, Pisani Lepisto, etc... have been for us.

What a chump. Both him and McD should be fired right now.

I get reamed for saying that if we were to bring up more prospects like Saad, Danault and Pirri, it would be a better alternative than the annual parading of over the hill journeymen has-beens...

Obviously if we had a competent GM who truly shoots for bringing in competent players instead of just pretending to, we wouldn't be talking about bringing up guys that aren't ready.

But at least guys like Morin, Saad, Danault and Pirri have pulses and high ceilings, and that alone make them the lesser of two evils.

Putting Saad on the first line any time soon would be a mistake on the ice and in the dressing room. Period.
- John Jaeckel

I agree, but isnt that where they put him last year? Does he slide in on the 3rd line LW?

Oh, you're a Stanley supporter.
- John Jaeckel

I'm a watch and wait supporter. I'm not necessarily in support of Stan as much as I am offended by knee jerk reactionist unjustly calling for blood. A sentiment you do a nice job of fostering, I might add.

How does this change the lines?

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Bolland-Kane
Carcillo-Shaw-Stalberg
Bickell-Kruger-Mayers
Frolik (13th forward)?

If Gomez is signed Could see something like this:

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Gomez-Kane
Carcillo-Bolland-Shaw <---really like the look of that line
Stalberg/Bickell-Kruger-Mayers
Frolik (press box)

Would make me think Stalberg would be shopped if that happened. Just spitballing.
- ikeane

I agree with JJ about putting Saad on the first line right away, maybe eventually but not on opening night (and lose Gomez).

Sharp - Toews - Kane
Saad - Bolland - Hossa
Bickell - Shaw - Stalberg
Carcillo - Kruger - Bollig
Mayers, Frolik

I agree, but isnt that where they put him last year? Does he slide in on the 3rd line LW?
- ikeane

Too bad he can't slide all the way back to Rockford......

JJ you mentioned that the hawks are kicking the tires on Karlsson. Do you really think that would be the answer to our goaltending concerns??? I in no way think the hawks will go anywhere with the tandem that they currently have. It just seems that stanbo is dumpster diving

I agree, but isnt that where they put him last year? Does he slide in on the 3rd line LW?
- ikeane

I don't know where they play him except maybe spotting him in place of Bickell, Frolik, Stalberg and sitting upstairs. That's how I would use him. Let him actually EARN a spot, which he hasn't exactly done with 21 points in 32 games at Rockford. If he opens on the first or second line against the Kings, PHX or STL—and isn't great and the Hawks don't play well overall— it hurts him and the team.

I'm a watch and wait supporter. I'm not necessarily in support of Stan as much as I am offended by knee jerk reactionist unjustly calling for blood. A sentiment you do a nice job of fostering, I might add.
- nathanjf

OK, whatever.

I'm a watch and wait supporter. I'm not necessarily in support of Stan as much as I am offended by knee jerk reactionist unjustly calling for blood. A sentiment you do a nice job of fostering, I might add.
- nathanjf

How much more waiting and watching do you need to do before you realize he sucks at being a NHL GM? Not one move over the past 2+ years has made this team better.

I don't know where they play him except maybe spotting him in place of Bickell, Frolik, Stalberg and sitting upstairs. That's how I would use him. Let him actually EARN a spot, which he hasn't exactly done with 21 points in 32 games at Rockford. If he opens on the first or second line against the Kings, PHX or STL—and isn't great and the Hawks don't play well overall— it hurts him and the team.
- John Jaeckel

If they're not going to use Saad on a regular basis then why have him in Chicago instead of Rockford?

I don't know where they play him except maybe spotting him in place of Bickell, Frolik, Stalberg and sitting upstairs. That's how I would use him. Let him actually EARN a spot, which he hasn't exactly done with 21 points in 32 games at Rockford. If he opens on the first or second line against the Kings, PHX or STL—and isn't great and the Hawks don't play well overall— it hurts him and the team.
- John Jaeckel

Yep. Not a necessary risk, IMO.

JJ you mentioned that the hawks are kicking the tires on Karlsson. Do you really think that would be the answer to our goaltending concerns??? I in no way think the hawks will go anywhere with the tandem that they currently have. It just seems that stanbo is dumpster diving
- captfrosting

Personally, I would say caveat emptor. That said, this is guy with great size and a very good scouting report. I would sign him and put him in Rockford with Hutton for now. In a NY minute.

Yep. Not a necessary risk, IMO.
- nathanjf

Fair enough. And you are consistent here between Danault and Saad, I might add.

I'm a watch and wait supporter. I'm not necessarily in support of Stan as much as I am offended by knee jerk reactionist unjustly calling for blood. A sentiment you do a nice job of fostering, I might add.
- nathanjf

Well, he's been jerking me off - uh, jerking my knee off - for three years now.

How much more waiting and watching do you need to do before you realize he sucks at being a NHL GM? Not one move over the past 2+ years has made this team better.
- furso27

Will blog on this tomorrow.

How much more waiting and watching do you need to do before you realize he sucks at being a NHL GM? Not one move over the past 2+ years has made this team better.
- furso27

I try to be on the more positive side of things, but I have grown impatient with Stan's lack of action. What I see is our window of opportunity closing of the next few years and Stan standing by idly and doing nothing. It's great to build your team around your prospects, but you have to supplement that with quality trades/free agents as well. Look our our cup winning team, where would we have been without Ladd, Sharp, Versteeg, and Hossa (just to name a few). I'm sure there are trades out there for Stan to make, but he needs to take a chance and make them.

Yep. Not a necessary risk, IMO.
- nathanjf

Isn't it somewhat of a risk to the career of a potentially good to very good player to be sitting most games instead of finishing his first pro year in Rockford?

Hey all, any insight on Saad, will he stick in the NHL this season, and if so where do you see him playing?