I think you are underestimating the difficulty of playing the center position on any line period in the NHL for a kid or even a converted winger like a Shaw or Mayers, especially in the defensive zone without the puck. Dropping down deep in coverage, moving side to side backing up the Dmen, winning defensive zone draws etc. is alot of responsibility even if you are only playing 8-10 minutes a night on Line 4. And then your are supposed to help create some offence with the puck even though your wingers are, lets say, plugs.

John Madden extended his careeer into his late 30's because he could skate very well and was very good at all of the above from playing in the NJ system. But when the Minny Wild matched him up against Toews a year later, he couldn't handle him. Just like Mike Richards can't handle Toews either playing head to head.
- RickJ

I'm not underestimating the difficulty. That was my point. Shaw is a kid who is still yet to establish himself, why make him try and learn a new position at the NHL level. If Mayers can't, or doesn't have enough left in the tank, then an option would be to give someone like Pirri, with 3 years of playing the C position at the AHL level the chance.

I'm not underestimating the difficulty. That was my point. Shaw is a kid who is still yet to establish himself, why make him try and learn a new position at the NHL level. If Mayers can't, or doesn't have enough left in the tank, then an option would be to give someone like Pirri, with 3 years of playing the C position at the AHL level the chance.
- TheTrob

Pirri either plays where Bolland is playing now or he stays in Rockford until they move him for a needed part elsewhere. He can't do what Kruger does or play in a defensive 4th line role, he's an offensive talent who is in an organization with too much talent in front of him right now.

I'm not underestimating the difficulty. That was my point. Shaw is a kid who is still yet to establish himself, why make him try and learn a new position at the NHL level. If Mayers can't, or doesn't have enough left in the tank, then an option would be to give someone like Pirri, with 3 years of playing the C position at the AHL level the chance.
- TheTrob

How is Pirri on draws? Some of the best D that the fourth line played last night was 150 feet away from Emery. They pinned the Yotes second (I think) line in their own zone for almost a full minute at one point. If they can get the draws, the fourth line looks like it can chew up time in the offensive zone.

JJ, you need to get over to the 'Nucks blog and tell those guys that you can't get too high or low on opening weekend. It's a trolls paradise over there!

JJ, you need to get over to the 'Nucks blog and tell those guys that you can't get too high or low on opening weekend. It's a trolls paradise over there!
- nathanjf

That's just shooting fish in a barrel right now. Too easy.

Kruger is a pretty fine player all around and even showed some punch yesterday.

We can pick apart the line-up, but will look really fussy, since they have come to play at a high level and are very quick in all phases.

I am "sold" on what I saw on the ice...from all.

Each and everyone was excellent even with mistakes, save for Emery who fought the puck all game.

Anyone can attempt to pick apart Bickell Shaw, Stalberg, Kruger, Hammer or any of the defenders, but the bottom line they are all paying fast, with fast reaction, sticks and passes.

I think the very fact that they can suit up 13 forwards who all can score, and move and still have Mayers in the wings speaks choruses.

I tire of the "we need a centre" who all the dumb fans can look at his scoring stats in the lineup.

Any one who doesn't see who very very good Kruger is, or how very good Bolland is not worth arguing with...

Oh, and if you watched the NBC broadcast with the Phoenix based announcer (pete & repeat...did the one guy say anything with out coming back 5 minutes later to say it again?) well, I thought their "breakdown" of what caused the goals on the hawks to be almost "fantasy-like" and not what was happening on the ice, and if fact most of the play calling was descriptively inaccuate.

Rozsival has always been a solid player, but I really thought how from the start he seemed to have a familarity with Hossa. I am not sure if they played as youngsters but that it is a good thing...
- wiz1901

Paraphrasing what I have posted here in the past:

I love Kruger the way women love Lifetime Movie Network

Pirri either plays where Bolland is playing now or he stays in Rockford until they move him for a needed part elsewhere. He can't do what Kruger does or play in a defensive 4th line role, he's an offensive talent who is in an organization with too much talent in front of him right now.
- RickJ

It would have been interesting, if we had a full training camp this year, to see if Pirri would have had a legit chance to claim the 2C spot.

JJ, you need to get over to the 'Nucks blog and tell those guys that you can't get too high or low on opening weekend. It's a trolls paradise over there!
- nathanjf

I can imagine. No better time to float a Brandon Pirri for Corey Schneider straight up deal to them. Andrew Ebbetts can't cut it in the #2C position.

Pirri either plays where Bolland is playing now or he stays in Rockford until they move him for a needed part elsewhere. He can't do what Kruger does or play in a defensive 4th line role, he's an offensive talent who is in an organization with too much talent in front of him right now.
- RickJ

Fair enough.

hey, two wins on the road is a good thing. Yeah there were some things to be concerned about, but when you look around the league, ( Vancouver, Detroit, the Rangers, Philly) you have to be happy with where the Hawks sit.

Emery looks awful. And when you throw in the fact that he was awful for most of the second half last year, you have to begin to worry if he's finished. He simply can't move that well. That's a bad thing. Doubt he lasts the year.

Brandon Bollig can join the Icehogs while we're at it. 5 min TOI and 7 PIM's. Thanks for playin.

Liked the Kruger's play a lot. Which is odd because he was sort of lackluster during his stint at Rockford. But the biggest surprises have to be Leddy and Hjalmarsson. They've been solid. Don't think you can trade either one of those two the way they're playing right now...
- yahoodi

Evidently, this is going to be a season-long thing.

1) Hockey is a contact sport, not the Ice Follies
2) As such, guys who actually make contact, and do so in a meaningful way, affect the way the other team plays—creating opportunities for your skill players (a FACT lost on more casual hockey fans)
3) When Bollig mashes an opposing d-man in the opponent's end, see #2.
4) When Bollig takes on and beats their best fighter, ALL your guys play a little taller and heavier—5 of those PIM did not hurt the club at all

Not every guy on the ice can (or should) get oohs and ahhs from the Great Unwashed for his "skating." Bollig helps this team more than he hurts it. As he has since he came up last year.

Rozsival has been a solid NHL defenceman for a long time. I think the fans in New York ran him out of town because he had a huge contract at the time and they were expecting Nik Lidstrom. He is a much better defenceman than countryman Pavel Kubina (and Sheldon Brookbank for that matter). He"ll earn the $2M Stanley signed him for if he stays healthy. Wouldn't be surprised if Hossa influenced his decision to sign with Chicago.
- RickJ

Bingo.

Evidently, this is going to be a season-long thing.

1) Hockey is a contact sport, not the Ice Follies
2) As such, guys who actually make contact, and do so in a meaningful way, affect the way the other team plays—creating opportunities for your skill players (a FACT lost on more casual hockey fans)
3) When Bollig mashes an opposing d-man in the opponent's end, see #2.
4) When Bollig takes on and beats their best fighter, ALL your guys play a little taller and heavier—5 of those PIM did not hurt the club at all

Not every guy on the ice can (or should) get oohs and ahhs from the Great Unwashed for his "skating." Bollig helps this team more than he hurts it. As he has since he came up last year.
- John Jaeckel

Agreed.

Though he went in a little high on Vermette (?) on one hit, he's lucky he didn't get gigged on that one too.

Blackhawks never offered him a contract.
- nathanjf

Really? How do you know?

I had heard that too, so I asked him about it this summer and he told me he would have loved to come to Chicago but never heard anything from them.
- nathanjf

So that's how you know.

I would believe him if that's what he said. That might in fact be what happened and the Hawks were slow to get involved. I know they had interest in him going into free agency.

Let me add, I believe I heard he had no interest, and that form a good source (who reads here often, BTW), but that might have been part of a "rant" as far as the Hawks' inaction around that time.

I agree. I would also put Shaw as third line RW, and move Stalberg to first line LW. When Smith gets healthy, I would bring him up as 13th forward and send Saad back to Rockford. For the time being, though, you don't mess with what is working.

I'd also kick the tires on seeing if Dominic Moore wants to play this year; he's very good at the dot and is an excellent on the PK.

Did anyone else notice how well Daniel Winnik looked for Anaheim the other night? Too bad he didn't want to come here...
- hawks2010

Agreed. When Madden signed I knew the Hawks would go deep...almost as important as the Hossa signing that day. It is a small part, but ine that can pay dividends. Havig mayers fresh in the playoffs as a second option to take draws would be ideal if he is along side a, say, Greg Campbell-type. Moore, Steckel, Pahlsson, or anyone like that would be nice and take pressure of Toews to be in there for every important faceoff, especially in the defensive zone.

I for one am all in on another C for this team. I have a good feeling about Bolland at the 2C, but this team is in dire need of another center. You need someone who will play the PK and win some draws. And I for one am not going to trust Piri, or some other first dance player in that role. I want a trusted grizzled Pro 4th line center!

Evidently, this is going to be a season-long thing.

1) Hockey is a contact sport, not the Ice Follies
2) As such, guys who actually make contact, and do so in a meaningful way, affect the way the other team plays—creating opportunities for your skill players (a FACT lost on more casual hockey fans)
3) When Bollig mashes an opposing d-man in the opponent's end, see #2.
4) When Bollig takes on and beats their best fighter, ALL your guys play a little taller and heavier—5 of those PIM did not hurt the club at all

Not every guy on the ice can (or should) get oohs and ahhs from the Great Unwashed for his "skating." Bollig helps this team more than he hurts it. As he has since he came up last year.
- John Jaeckel

Thank you! If he can play a little hockey along the way he will be just what this team lacked last year. He will also learn from Mayers how to be a professional 4th liner and know when it's time to be nice...or when it's time not to be nice.

Thank you! If he can play a little hockey along the way he will be just what this team lacked last year. He will also learn from Mayers how to be a professional 4th liner and know when it's time to be nice...or when it's time not to be nice.
- Kentxo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTh5JzRziHE

Thank you! If he can play a little hockey along the way he will be just what this team lacked last year. He will also learn from Mayers how to be a professional 4th liner and know when it's time to be nice...or when it's time not to be nice.
- Kentxo

I'll just say this, the Hawks played more aggressively in these games than they did most of the last 2 years. Two things open up the ice: speed and big hits. Hawks have both (right now). Loved Hjalmarsson's hit on Sullivan last night too. Completely clean and really lined him up.

I for one am all in on another C for this team. I have a good feeling about Bolland at the 2C, but this team is in dire need of another center. You need someone who will play the PK and win some draws. And I for one am not going to trust Piri, or some other first dance player in that role. I want a trusted grizzled Pro 4th line center!
- droe411

What the Hawks need is a reliable second option (after Toews) for special teams faceoffs. Going by committee is likely the best choice for now.

Chicago have looked great so far scoring 11 goals in 2 road games.

I'll just say this, the Hawks played more aggressively in these games than they did most of the last 2 years. Two things open up the ice: speed and big hits. Hawks have both (right now). Loved Hjalmarsson's hit on Sullivan last night too. Completely clean and really lined him up.
- John Jaeckel

I'm hoping that hit is an indication that he's finally put his suspension behind him. He shied away from contact way too much last year IMO.

I'm hoping that hit is an indication that he's finally put his suspension behind him. He shied away from contact way too much last year IMO.
- NewToHockey

The way he hit Sullivan was how he hit guys when he first came up. He would get a little out of position by doing it but the reward seems to outweigh the risk, IMO. Gotta have mashers at forward and you have to have d-men who will light people up coming across the blue line.

JJ,I am curious as to your thoughts on Paradis?Is he a long ways off in his development?I like his size and toughness.

So that's how you know.

I would believe him if that's what he said. That might in fact be what happened and the Hawks were slow to get involved. I know they had interest in him going into free agency.

Let me add, I believe I heard he had no interest, and that form a good source (who reads here often, BTW), but that might have been part of a "rant" as far as the Hawks' inaction around that time.
- John Jaeckel

Specifically said he would have come to Chicago if offered a contract (money and term being equal).