Over on the Kings' blog, here was Matthew Barry's prediction for the Hawks:



Half of us here think they win in spite of their "great coach." Still, only six hours to go and we'll get to see for ourselves how this year will play out. Tick, tick, tick. Is it time yet?
- NewToHockey

Matthew's a little late. The PP vanished last year without Kompon's help.

Really. First taste of bad luck this season; I don't think there is anyway you can play near 100% with the flu. Hopefully guys won't be as eager to check him at least!
- nathanjf

Check me and I'll sneeze on you.

Matthew's a little late. The PP vanished last year without Kompon's help.
- HawkintheD

I figure the special teams can't be that bad again. One reason for optimism this year.

This blog is filled with innuendo, insinuation and speculation. No credible sources or names.
" A GM in the east.....People familiar with the organization....Othe GM's...." The list goes on.

If you forget, the hawks were in serious cap trouble after they won the cup. They had a goal to win the cup and new they would have tough decisions to make for the next couple seasons. Now I think they have done a helluva job keeping this thing together. Look at the last 3 drafts, outside of the top 5 picks each year, there are only a handful of players making an impact at this level. It takes a minimum of 4-6 years to start to grade a draft. As for player decisions, they had to dump salary, like Campbell to be within the cap. It is not possible for them to pay a #3 or 4 Dman top 1 or 2 money. I think Stan is one of the top GM's in this game.

Don't know about y'all...but it feels a bit like Christmas morning.

TOMAHAWK powers ACTIVATE !

to a memorable season for all the right reasons.
- philco28

Form of Cold Rust on Slush!

Ok, just kidding, Go Hawks!

I figure the special teams can't be that bad again. One reason for optimism this year.
- NewToHockey

I agree with you; they can't be that bad again, can they?

I just thought it was funny that Matthew thought they could be worse.

This blog is filled with innuendo, insinuation and speculation. No credible sources or names.
" A GM in the east.....People familiar with the organization....Othe GM's...." The list goes on.

If you forget, the hawks were in serious cap trouble after they won the cup. They had a goal to win the cup and new they would have tough decisions to make for the next couple seasons. Now I think they have done a helluva job keeping this thing together. Look at the last 3 drafts, outside of the top 5 picks each year, there are only a handful of players making an impact at this level. It takes a minimum of 4-6 years to start to grade a draft. As for player decisions, they had to dump salary, like Campbell to be within the cap. It is not possible for them to pay a #3 or 4 Dman top 1 or 2 money. I think Stan is one of the top GM's in this game.
- JohnTucker7

Based upon what? What has he ever done that would warrent that appraisal? JJ did a very good job of outlining the mediocrity of Stan's tenure. The only positive I saw that he left out was Stalberg.

There was a sound bite from the scrimmage the other night of Bollig and Mayers. I really hope that Mayers can teach Bollig and Shaw when and how to be a tough guy that doesn't hurt his team. As it stands I worry about both of them stepping up at the wrong times and taking bad penalties.

This blog is filled with innuendo, insinuation and speculation. No credible sources or names.
" A GM in the east.....People familiar with the organization....Othe GM's...." The list goes on.

If you forget, the hawks were in serious cap trouble after they won the cup. They had a goal to win the cup and new they would have tough decisions to make for the next couple seasons. Now I think they have done a helluva job keeping this thing together. Look at the last 3 drafts, outside of the top 5 picks each year, there are only a handful of players making an impact at this level. It takes a minimum of 4-6 years to start to grade a draft. As for player decisions, they had to dump salary, like Campbell to be within the cap. It is not possible for them to pay a #3 or 4 Dman top 1 or 2 money. I think Stan is one of the top GM's in this game.
- JohnTucker7

Very Brave of you!

This blog is filled with innuendo, insinuation and speculation. No credible sources or names.
" A GM in the east.....People familiar with the organization....Othe GM's...." The list goes on.

If you forget, the hawks were in serious cap trouble after they won the cup. They had a goal to win the cup and new they would have tough decisions to make for the next couple seasons. Now I think they have done a helluva job keeping this thing together. Look at the last 3 drafts, outside of the top 5 picks each year, there are only a handful of players making an impact at this level. It takes a minimum of 4-6 years to start to grade a draft. As for player decisions, they had to dump salary, like Campbell to be within the cap. It is not possible for them to pay a #3 or 4 Dman top 1 or 2 money. I think Stan is one of the top GM's in this game.
- JohnTucker7

I'm sure you have tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Stan one of the top GM's in the game - comparing with who? Don Maloney, Ken Holland, Ray Shero, Bryan Murray, Paul Holmgren, Peter Chiarelli??

I'd love to see Don Maloney running the Hawks, he gets more done with less than anyody in the league.

This blog is filled with innuendo, insinuation and speculation. No credible sources or names.
" A GM in the east.....People familiar with the organization....Othe GM's...." The list goes on.

If you forget, the hawks were in serious cap trouble after they won the cup. They had a goal to win the cup and new they would have tough decisions to make for the next couple seasons. Now I think they have done a helluva job keeping this thing together. Look at the last 3 drafts, outside of the top 5 picks each year, there are only a handful of players making an impact at this level. It takes a minimum of 4-6 years to start to grade a draft. As for player decisions, they had to dump salary, like Campbell to be within the cap. It is not possible for them to pay a #3 or 4 Dman top 1 or 2 money. I think Stan is one of the top GM's in this game.
- JohnTucker7

I'm with ya! Maybe not as a top 5 GM but not the worst either. If the Hawks start out strong, the same people who say we suck will be ranting about how great we are. Arm-chair GM's are just that.....

I'm with ya! Maybe not as a top 5 GM but not the worst either. If the Hawks start out strong, the same people who say we suck will be ranting about how great we are. Arm-chair GM's are just that.....
- moots

The Hawks are in a position to do very well this year only if several things go exactly right. A top GM would take as much of the uncertainty out of that as possible.

I'm with ya! Maybe not as a top 5 GM but not the worst either. If the Hawks start out strong, the same people who say we suck will be ranting about how great we are. Arm-chair GM's are just that.....
- moots

Season hasn't started yet - maybe all of the "ifs" will turn turn into contributors and the Hawks will be final four.

But - of the 23 man roster, based on NHL performance so far - not potential - who would you want on your Cup contending team:

Toews, Hossa, Kane, Sharp, Boland, Seabrook, Keith, Hjalmarsson - all on the Cup team three years ago - anyone else for sure?

Anyone that Bowman has brought in or drafted that you can say - yes, based on performance in the NHL, I want him on my team?

Any proven top-6 forwards / top-4 defensemen, top goalies? How many even proven "depth" players?

Can we stop all the female dogging for a couple of hours? It's gameday B!TCHE$!!!!! T-minus 3 hours 50 minutes!!

GO HAWKS!


- nathanjf

Folks have been yapping about the Hawks owners for the last 50 years, why stop now?

So - Rocky complains about the high amusement and parking taxes in Chicago.

He has a business in the 3rd largest TV and radio market in the country, a metro area of 8MM PEOPLE, which should allow him to get real good money from Comcast and WGN, not too mention making it easy to sell out the UC.

He can get $12 for a can of beer, $25 for parking, $27-450 for tickets - try getting that in Columbus, Phoenix, Charlotte, even San Jose....

And he has the balls to complain about taxes.

If he's not making money now, he never will.
- StLBravesFan

Depends on what the overhead is. The property taxes are pretty much free from what I understand but they have payroll tax, liqueur tax / license, salaries, sales tax, amusement tax (which if the two are combined equates to about 25%), parking lot tax apparently, depreciation on stadium stuff (chairs, TV's, ect), mortgage on the stadium, maintenance of ice, paying staff to clean stadium, electric bills, heating bills, upgrades to stadium....

There are a lot of costs that go into having a stadium let alone running a team, there are players salaries, administrative salaries, trainer salaries, doctor salaries, coaching staff, scouts...

That is a lot of cash going out... Unless you have intimate knowledge of their earnings and have seen their books it is kind ignorant to make an assumption about what the deterrents to being profitable are or are not.

Season hasn't started yet - maybe all of the "ifs" will turn turn into contributors and the Hawks will be final four.

But - of the 23 man roster, based on NHL performance so far - not potential - who would you want on your Cup contending team:

Toews, Hossa, Kane, Sharp, Boland, Seabrook, Keith, Hjalmarsson - all on the Cup team three years ago - anyone else for sure?

Anyone that Bowman has brought in or drafted that you can say - yes, based on performance in the NHL, I want him on my team?

Any proven top-6 forwards / top-4 defensemen, top goalies? How many even proven "depth" players?
- StLBravesFan

Off the top of my head, Rosival and Brookbank both have meaningful playoff experience and, I for one, am happy they are on our team - especially if we contend for a cup. Strangely, the much maligned, M. Frolik has been a proven playoff performer, so just to have his lightning in a bottle potential around suits me. Shaw and Bollig, a couple of gritty guys that you can't do without.

It will be interesting. Both the Kings and Hawks return most of their teams intact, which I think will be a huge advantage early in the season. How many of the Kings have been playing either overseas or in the AHL this fall? How healthy is Quick? How well will Toews play with the flu?
- NewToHockey

Quick is medically cleared but not at all tested. If they don't score 4 or more goals I will be irritated.

Jordan is all I have to say regarding the flu

This blog is filled with innuendo, insinuation and speculation. No credible sources or names.
" A GM in the east.....People familiar with the organization....Othe GM's...." The list goes on.

If you forget, the hawks were in serious cap trouble after they won the cup. They had a goal to win the cup and new they would have tough decisions to make for the next couple seasons. Now I think they have done a helluva job keeping this thing together. Look at the last 3 drafts, outside of the top 5 picks each year, there are only a handful of players making an impact at this level. It takes a minimum of 4-6 years to start to grade a draft. As for player decisions, they had to dump salary, like Campbell to be within the cap. It is not possible for them to pay a #3 or 4 Dman top 1 or 2 money. I think Stan is one of the top GM's in this game.
- JohnTucker7

Like a reality show with words...

Gotta keep ourselves entertained somehow brother

Folks have been yapping about the Hawks owners for the last 50 years, why stop now?
- Beaver-Warrior

Be my guest. I find there are better things to talk about - especially since the negativity has been beaten pretty phucking solid over the last 12 months. If you still need to be talking about that you're more than welcome. Consider my statement as an invitation to get excited about something - namely watching the sport that we're all so clearly passionate about!

GO HAWKS!!!

Depends on what the overhead is. The property taxes are pretty much free from what I understand but they have payroll tax, liqueur tax / license, salaries, sales tax, amusement tax (which if the two are combined equates to about 25%), parking lot tax apparently, depreciation on stadium stuff (chairs, TV's, ect), mortgage on the stadium, maintenance of ice, paying staff to clean stadium, electric bills, heating bills, upgrades to stadium....

There are a lot of costs that go into having a stadium let alone running a team, there are players salaries, administrative salaries, trainer salaries, doctor salaries, coaching staff, scouts...

That is a lot of cash going out... Unless you have intimate knowledge of their earnings and have seen their books it is kind ignorant to make an assumption about what the deterrents to being profitable are or are not.
- fattybeef

Well, Forbes said he had the fourth (IIRC) highest operating income in the league - implying profitability - I'm probably more ignorant than they are.

And Rocky himself mentioned city taxes in his Sun Times interview - not stadium expenses, not administrative or other non-player salaries (although he did say getting to 50/50 was important). I'm probably more ignorant than he is.

And I didn't say he was profitable: I said if he wasn't now, he never would be. Although my guess is that he has positive cash flow from operations that turns negative after paying back loans to companies he and his family owns.

The Hawks are in a position to do very well this year only if several things go exactly right. A top GM would take as much of the uncertainty out of that as possible.
- NewToHockey

You could say that about every team that has a chance for the cup!

The Hawks are in a position to do very well this year only if several things go exactly right. A top GM would take as much of the uncertainty out of that as possible.
- NewToHockey

Well said

I won't comment on exit interviews but I know for certain if the players were voting Haviland would still be here.
- Al

Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

Sometimes a "players coach" isn't the right type for some players.

Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

Sometimes a "players coach" isn't the right type for some players.
- pri$ey

Agree with this. Players and Coaches need not be best buddies.

Not saying Kaompon is a great choice but ya know.....

Agree with this. Players and Coaches need not be best buddies.

Not saying Kaompon is a great choice but ya know.....
- mrpaulish

Yeah, from most interviews, Scotty Bowman wasn't a well liked man personally.