Let me preface this by saying that this site has a HORRID track record when it comes to rumors, but you gotta think where there's smoke, there's fire.

http://habsolumentfan.com...-eller-sous-dautres-cieux

How would Lars Eller look in a Hawk uniform? Would you trade Stalberg or Bickell for him? Or maybe a 3rd rounder? That's what's being rumored as a return. He has yet to reach his potential, but is a lot like Hossa in the sense that he's a good two-way talent with great puck protection ability and defensive awareness.

Bieksa is a middle weight, and more often than not fights guys bigger and heavier than him, check his fight card, he's fought some tough guys...he's no Rick Rypien (no one was), but If a Euro (Stalberg) wants to play cheap/dirty, especially in a blow out game - well you can't teach stupid. Kev can throw'em.

Sorry, I don't know Bollig, but if he is anything like Scott - I would hope Bieksa stays away, he's a top 4 D, not some plug.
- PopCanBong

1) Better player than Scott, which isn't saying much. But can skate a shift 5 on 5 without killing you—hits people, and he has a very, very good wrist shot
2) More of a heavyweight than a super-heavyweight (like Scott or Boogard)
3) Cement jaw—will take another guys' best and just laugh
4) Fierce fighter, fears no one, has been trained as a boxer, and has power in both hands. Some tape I posted yesterday of a fight with MATT Kassian, where Kassian throws way more, has a low connect percentage, Bollig waits him out a la Probert, then starts hitting him with bombs. It's a credit to Kassian that his head didn't pop off. Bollig also almost tore Tootoo's ear off last year with a left hand.

Let me preface this by saying that this site has a HORRID track record when it comes to rumors, but you gotta think where there's smoke, there's fire.

http://habsolumentfan.com...-eller-sous-dautres-cieux

How would Lars Eller look in a Hawk uniform? Would you trade Stalberg or Bickell for him? Or maybe a 3rd rounder? That's what's being rumored as a return. He has yet to reach his potential, but is a lot like Hossa in the sense that he's a good two-way talent with great puck protection ability and defensive awareness.
- andru2797

So if my francais serves me, they're talking Bickell for Eller but Bergy wants Stalberg too (?).

I can see Bickell plus a prospect. Doubt they would do Bickell plus Stalberg.

The only lineup change I would like to see is at center. Kruger 2nd line, Bolland 3rd and Shaw 4th.

I just don't get the feeling that Bolland brings anything to the 2nd. You have Kane who's handling the puck like it's on a string, and Bolland has been pretty awful on the dots, and in turn the Hawks don't possess the puck as much when Kane is on the ice. Sharp has been cold, but he is streaky. Overall, I think the line only has one goal this year even strength.

The only thing I worry about is Bolland's mindset if he gets bumped back to the 3rd line. Seems like he wants the opportunity to score more on the second, but I think his value as a shut down on the 3rd line is greater.

Love the Sedin line.......

So you think that Keith deserved more than 5 games but Shanahan took the earlier Sedin hit into consideration when dispensing justice?

What I'm saying is that for you to say "Danny started it" sounds like kids on the playground. How many times has Bolland et al slashed, cross checked or otherwise harassed a Sedin away from the play and not been penalized for it?

I hope it doesn't become an issue, Bertuzzi showed us all how crime doesn't pay.
- 1970vintage

all fine, and respected. But to act out on this board like Vancouver is only on the recieving end of cheap shots is a disingneous, sanctimonious load of crap. Kieth and the Blackhawks paid for his crime. Sedin didn't have to. Torres didn't have to when he headshotted Seabrook. Both teams could go on and on, so stop acting like it's all on one side. That's playground stuff, ass you say.

So if my francais serves me, they're talking Bickell for Eller but Bergy wants Stalberg too (?).

I can see Bickell plus a prospect. Doubt they would do Bickell plus Stalberg.
- John Jaeckel

Eller would be a good pick up, but do we move stalberg already? He has been pretty good this year.

Enough about who will fight who

Keith can handle himself better than most

Despite the PK being remarkable the history with the Canucks is play them 5 on five and they are beatable

Take penalties and allow the Twins to free wheel on the Power Play and they can light it up quickly

Hawks stay away from the sin bin they win tonight but if not they don't

Enough about who will fight who

Keith can handle himself better than most

Despite the PK being remarkable the history with the Canucks is play them 5 on five and they are beatable

Take penalties and allow the Twins to free wheel on the Power Play and they can light it up quickly

Hawks stay away from the sin bin they win tonight but if not they don't
- PEIHawkFan

This, and the fact that the Hawks love to play in GM place! 5-2 Hawks

They only scored 8 buy they have only given up 7 goals over that same 4 (3-0-1) stretch. I take that as a massive positive for this line-up. I'm sure I could (won't) pull up a blog and message thread from late last season where we collectively piss and moan about how the Hawks need to win 2-1, 3-2 rather than 4-3 and 7-4. The team is finding ways to get it done as a team right now. That is what is dangerous about this years Blackhawks (to date).
- nathanjf

Since Q. got here the Hawks were not constructed to win 2-1 or 3-2.

The question now is if they can mix it up and accumulate points....So far so good.

Up until now when the defense was stronger the offense went in the opposite direction.

Glad to see that the Sharks are getting all the love. Better for Hawks to maybe get a chip on their shoulder. I do find it funny how everyone sings the praises of Sharks. Team is older and slower and will struggle versus Hawks....again.

Vancouver has bigger problems then chasing Keith around. When Andrew Ebbet and Dale Weiss are regular second liners...then lets be real about depth etc...Regardless of injuries.

all fine, and respected. But to act out on this board like Vancouver is only on the recieving end of cheap shots is a disingneous, sanctimonious load of crap. Kieth and the Blackhawks paid for his crime. Sedin didn't have to. Torres didn't have to when he headshotted Seabrook. Both teams could go on and on, so stop acting like it's all on one side. That's playground stuff, ass you say.
- DirkGraham

The Canucks didn't have their top scorer until the Kings series was already pretty much over. Daniel didn recieve anything from the league but he paid for his crime. I think most Canuck fans are upset that the Keith hit took out their best player and would love to see if the the 1st round exit would have been a little different if he was in the line up from game 1.

Well, if we go down that rabbit hole, where exactly did it all start? Come on.
- John Jaeckel

I don't want to go down any holes, this is why I'm saying it's all a little childish. Don't try to justify one action because of any previous actions.

Anyway, I doubt either team goes down that road tonight, hopefully we see a high paced game with great goaltending at both ends.

Stahlberg Toews Hossa
Sharp Kruger Kane
Bickell Bolland Saad
Bollig Shaw Frolik

Watch Burrows. Suckers Kane in the face like a puss, knees keith, Class is out the window when a guy like that plays on your team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3GkvozVxvI
- nickmo2699

Nobody can honestly argue that Burrows has even the tiniest bit of class, but video reminders don't hurt

What?????? Isn't Bertuzzi still playing? What penalty did Bertuzzi pay?

If I am misunderstanding you, I apologise in advance.
- powerenforcer

Do you think that if Bertuzzi had it to do over again he would change anything? Sure, he's still playing, but at the time of the incident, he was regarded as one of the top power forwards in the game and after... not so much. I believe that the civil litigation is ongoing as well, but could be mistaken.

I don't want to go down any holes, this is why I'm saying it's all a little childish. Don't try to justify one action because of any previous actions.

Anyway, I doubt either team goes down that road tonight, hopefully we see a high paced game with great goaltending at both ends.
- 1970vintage

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
Luongo on #Canucks facing #Blackhawks' Keith: "That stuff will sort itself out whenever the time is right but we're here to get the win."

This, and the fact that the Hawks love to play in GM place! 5-2 Hawks
- nickmo2699

I hope your right

I also hope they don't over focus in this game and come out flat Saturday against Calgary because 2 points are 2 points especially on a six game road trip

I would be happy with 3 points in these two games

Just sayin

So if my francais serves me, they're talking Bickell for Eller but Bergy wants Stalberg too (?).

I can see Bickell plus a prospect. Doubt they would do Bickell plus Stalberg.
- John Jaeckel

I would think Stalberg would fetch more than a possible 3rd line center.
But would Montreal trade a former #1 pick who they got for Halak for Bickell??

Only thing the trade would do is move Shaw back to the wing and Eller seems to be decent on draws.

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
Luongo on #Canucks facing #Blackhawks' Keith: "That stuff will sort itself out whenever the time is right but we're here to get the win."
- philco28

hmmm, that does not bode well.

Strength doesn not equate to being soft or not. They do not initiate contact. Thats the definition of soft.
- Gerk

Really?

Because it doesn't say anything about that when you look up "soft" in the dictionary...

The kid will be good at some point, but you can't continue to have him skating with Toews and Hossa and not showing up on the score sheet. That's a prime spot and this team needs productivity.

They are far too talented to leave a kid in that spot just because...and hope he grows. I don't know what the magic number is in regards to games played, but either he craps or gets off the pot.....
- SteveRain

Hahaha I pretty much said that. Not showing up on the score sheet has little to do with it. Hossa does not typically respect rookies or players who are less than elite. He will not give the puck willingly to Carcillo and did the same thing to Kruger last year at times. He (and Toews) seem to ignore the kid on the bench which strikes me as odd.

Hate to get repetitive with this but swapping Sharp and Saad or Kane and Hossa is really the only viable option to fix this unless you want him skating junk minutes which kind of defeats the purpose of having him there, especially with the team winning. The level of play really doesn't warrant a benching either. Give the second line someone who will go hard to the net and give Hossa someone he is comfortable playing with.

All the lines could be retooled but 5-0-1 is pretty self explanatory and unless that middle number changes from 0 to 3 or 4 in short order there isn't much justification for the staff to shuffle the deck.

Stahlberg Toews Hossa
Sharp Kruger Kane
Bickell Bolland Saad
Bollig Shaw Frolik
- RickyBear

I'd rather see:

Sharp/Toews/Hossa
Saad/Bolland/Kane
Bickel/Shaw/Stalberg
Bollig/Kruger/Frolik

Sharp would probably jump start the first line, and perhaps Kane's "magic" with the puck would help get Saad on the scoresheet. I don't think we break up our 3rd line as they've been playing very well so far, so if it's not broke, don't fix it! 4th line also clicking pretty well with some size, speed, and grit. Bollig isn't perfect obviously, but he's an upgrade over Scott or anything we've had there in a while, with all due respect to Mayers...

1. Our, as in the team from Our city that We cheer for. It shouldn't be too difficult to understand so i'll just give you a bit more time to process it.

2. Classy, as in donate time and plenty of money to various charities. I don't think he's ever had a major penalty in his career.

3. Of course it's diving, nobody would ever be guilty of an infraction of a top scorer in the league.

4. He has more goals than Kane or Toews, but maybe you didn't know that. It's gonna be hard to give all the credit to the Sedins seeing as how he has more points than Henrik. Yup, 1st line player.

5. Coming from the team that dressed John Scott in the playoffs?
- golfingsince

Spot on

I'd rather see:

Sharp/Toews/Hossa
Saad/Bolland/Kane
Bickel/Shaw/Stalberg
Bollig/Kruger/Frolik

Sharp would probably jump start the first line, and perhaps Kane's "magic" with the puck would help get Saad on the scoresheet. I don't think we break up our 3rd line as they've been playing very well so far, so if it's not broke, don't fix it! 4th line also clicking pretty well with some size, speed, and grit. Bollig isn't perfect obviously, but he's an upgrade over Scott or anything we've had there in a while, with all due respect to Mayers...
- nelli312

I'd put Kane with someone who can finish. Keep Kane with Sharp or Hossa.

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
#Canucks' Alexandre Burrows on #Blackhawks: "That's a team we dislike a lot."

Feeling's mutual.