PHIL, and WE couldn't have used MIKE RUPP? ( fricken bowman!)for as many goals as a stiff like bickell has scored, i'd rather see rupp & bollig on that 4th line against teams like SJ, with carcillo playing up a notch. hell rupp wouldn't hurt ya playin 3rd line minutes either. i hope this clarckson talk isn't just a bunch of shart . hope it has some merit.
- wonthecup10

We sure could have Cup. Wish we had more aggressive forecheckers. Anyone remember when the Chicago Blackhawks would staple the opponents d all night long ? Now we're the Charmin b-hawks. Bollig's doing his job well, but he plays sparingly. And Bickell, Stalberg and Mayers are so bloody inconsistent


Times are good though. The club has done a fantastic job of COMPETING and snaring a valuable early season haul of points. Just can't see the Mail Room Flunkie tinkering with this team too much given the early season success. Can't blame him either. Just wish we had 1 line that went out and Rocked and Rolled instead of going out with a dozen eggs and returning to the bench with 'em all intact.

E,Kane.......

I don't know about Stan. His short history has shown him to be overly cautious though.

And yeah, big bodies that can play are certainly a plus in the post season.

One thing though- are we forgetting about Carcillo? I know he's hurt now and I'm not as high on his game as a lot of people, but Carcillo for $850k or Brouwer for $3.6mil... I'm fine with Carcillo in that case. More of a risk(in more ways than one), but a very cheap risk and he's a bit tougher.
- AceRatbang

You make it sound like either/or. I would want both.

As far as acquisitions go, one guy that I don't believe has been mentioned here, and of course, it depends on how his team does, but you have to think Brenden Morrow might become available.

I think his style of play has started catching up with him, but just two years ago (2010-11), he put up 33 goals and 225 hits. He was sidelined multiple times by injuries last year, playing just 57 games, but still was credited with 130 hits.

He does have a NTC, but is in the final year of his contract. The Stars are re-tooling to a large extent, you'd have to think they'd consider asking him to move for some young assets.

To me, someone like that seems like a much more realistic possibility than Clarkson, O'Reilly, and some of the other names that have been brought up.

Definitely a guy who can create some havoc in front of the net, if healthy.

And for those lamenting our doldrums on offense, the mighty San Jose Sharks have netted 1 goal on 14 shots through 2 periods tonight against the Ducks.

And for those lamenting our doldrums on offense, the mighty San Jose Sharks have netted 1 goal on 14 shots through 2 periods tonight against the Ducks.
- MartiniMan

Ducks just tied it up.

JVR is untouchable at this point. You don't trade a guy so soon after acquiring him. He's a top 6 forward of the future for this team.

Our "core" right now would be: Kessel,Lupul,Grabovski,JVR,Kulemin,Kadri,Frattin,Phaneuf,Gardiner and Liles

We'll be sellers at the deadline, no doubt. These players will be available

Pending UFAs
Tyler Bozak
Clarke MacArthur
Tim Connolly (minors)
David Steckel
Colton Orr
Mike Kostka

Carl Gunnarssson, Cody Franson and Leo Komarov are RFAs. Mid-range value guys without risk of losing to unrestricted free agency
- t_leafs21

What exactly are you watching when you watch the blue and white? There are no untouchables on that piece of crap of a franchise called the Toronto Maple Leafs. And that includes JVR and Kessel. And if Nonis has a 'Not for Sale' sign on either or both of those guys, he isn't interested in improving his team. For the proper return, either or both would be traded.

And in case you haven't noticed, your #1 center Bozak has succeeded in setting up pure goal scorer Kessel for exactly zero goals this year. Bozak might work as our #4 C provided he can kill some penalties and chip in an assist or 2. But we don't need him because Kruger is at least as good.

The only guys I want off the Loafs are Leo Komarov or Gunnarsson. The rest of them are there to deliver a 12th place finish because losers lose.

JVR is untouchable at this point. You don't trade a guy so soon after acquiring him. He's a top 6 forward of the future for this team.

Our "core" right now would be: Kessel,Lupul,Grabovski,JVR,Kulemin,Kadri,Frattin,Phaneuf,Gardiner and Liles

We'll be sellers at the deadline, no doubt. These players will be available

Pending UFAs
Tyler Bozak
Clarke MacArthur
Tim Connolly (minors)
David Steckel
Colton Orr
Mike Kostka

Carl Gunnarssson, Cody Franson and Leo Komarov are RFAs. Mid-range value guys without risk of losing to unrestricted free agency
- t_leafs21

What exactly are you watching when you watch the blue and white? There are no untouchables on that piece of crap of a franchise called the Toronto Maple Leafs. And that includes JVR and Kessel. And if Nonis has a 'Not for Sale' sign on either or both of those guys, he isn't interested in improving his team. For the proper return, either or both would be traded.

And in case you haven't noticed, your #1 center Bozak has succeeded in setting up pure goal scorer Kessel for exactly zero goals this year. Bozak might work as our #4 C provided he can kill some penalties and chip in an assist or 2. But we don't need him because Kruger is at least as good.

The only guys I want off the Loafs are Leo Komarov or Gunnarsson. The rest of them are there to deliver a 12th place finish because loser lose.

What exactly are you watching when you watch the blue and white? There are no untouchables on that piece of crap of a franchise called the Toronto Maple Leafs. And that includes JVR and Kessel. And if Nonis has a 'Not for Sale' sign on either or both of those guys, he isn't interested in improving his team. For the proper return, either or both would be traded.

And in case you haven't noticed, your #1 center Bozak has succeeded in setting up pure goal scorer Kessel for exactly zero goals this year. Bozak might work as our #4 C provided he can kill some penalties and chip in an assist or 2. But we don't need him because Kruger is at least as good.

The only guys I want off the Loafs are Leo Komarov or Gunnarsson. The rest of them are there to deliver a 12th place finish because loser lose.
- RickJ

Big Leaf fan I see.

Ducks just tied it up.
- Beaver-Warrior

Ducks handed the over acheiving Sharks thier first loss in regulation. I suspect they will be in foul mood for the Hawks tomorrow!!

Ducks handed the over acheiving Sharks thier first loss in regulation. I suspect they will be in foul mood for the Hawks tomorrow!!
- bogiedoc

Yepppers, it just ended. 2-1 Duckies

OHH SHLIT! Sharks just lost, there gonna come out tommorow night with a big cases of "THE ASS", against us! probably gonna be some major drillin going on with no answer back by us! (thanks stan!), hopefully if tazer, kaner or hoss get screwed with someone will step up! can't count on our guys with size to do "none of that"! hopefully i'm wrong , but our first L comin tommorow night, 6-1 Sharks. 29 & 25 will TOTALLY dissappear once the boards start rattling! we'll see won't we! what ya think Phil?

As far as acquisitions go, one guy that I don't believe has been mentioned here, and of course, it depends on how his team does, but you have to think Brenden Morrow might become available.

I think his style of play has started catching up with him, but just two years ago (2010-11), he put up 33 goals and 225 hits. He was sidelined multiple times by injuries last year, playing just 57 games, but still was credited with 130 hits.

He does have a NTC, but is in the final year of his contract. The Stars are re-tooling to a large extent, you'd have to think they'd consider asking him to move for some young assets.

To me, someone like that seems like a much more realistic possibility than Clarkson, O'Reilly, and some of the other names that have been brought up.

Definitely a guy who can create some havoc in front of the net, if healthy.
- MartiniMan

Unfortunately Brendan Morrow is physically being held together with duct tape and bailing wire. But he's a terrific leader and hard nosed sand paper guy. You just don't know how many games he has left in that body. But he's the closest thing to Andrew Ladd that the Hawks would be able to get inexpensively. Pair him with Shaw and Bolland and that would be a nasty, annoying 3rd line.

Big Leaf fan I see.
- Beaver-Warrior

Ya, the only f'n team that hasn't made the playoffs since the 2004 lockout and their fans come on here and give you a long list of players who are untouchables. That team is made up of a bunch of dogs that don't hunt.

OHH SHLIT! Sharks just lost, there gonna come out tommorow night with a big cases of "THE ASS", against us! probably gonna be some major drillin going on with no answer back by us! (thanks stan!), hopefully if tazer, kaner or hoss get screwed with someone will step up! can't count on our guys with size to do "none of that"! hopefully i'm wrong , but our first L comin tommorow night, 6-1 Sharks. 29 & 25 will TOTALLY dissappear once the boards start rattling! we'll see won't we! what ya think Phil?
- wonthecup10

Cup....we've had a couple days off. Hope the boyz rested up. Bicks actually had one of his more physical games in that building. Would like to see an encore along long those lines. But with some of these ballerinas...you never know what you'll get.

Cup....we've had a couple days off. Hope the boyz rested up. Bicks actually had one of his more physical games in that building. Would like to see an encore along long those lines. But with some of these ballerinas...you never know what you'll get.
- philco28

phil, we think alike mostly when it comes to the "all over their ass" type play, but maybe i quit paying attention to that stiff so you see more than me. the happiest day of my hawk life will be (just like when dale finally had it with the other enigma, rene bourque) when i turn on the tube & hear 29 was traded today for????. shortly after that 25 will enter that same thought process of mine if he doesn't change his ken yaremchuk mentality out there.
those that want to trade for brouwer back....okay i liked him just as much as the next guy, but is he for real, can he play with anybody, he got 20 barely with 19 & 88, same with playing with 8 out in DC. take those guys away from him and can he get 20 and be dominent to warrant 3.6 or is he just another step & fetch. i think Q thought his skating wasn't up to par & he had trouble keeping up with those guys.
i thought brouwer was a great 3rd liner with dave bolland. wouldn't mind seeing him again in that role here but i doubt it for that kind of doe! but then again, who are we? just fans watching in a bar or in the seats, Q is up close every practice, every game!

Big Leaf fan I see.
- Beaver-Warrior

he's an even BIGGER Habs fan.

phil, we think alike mostly when it comes to the "all over their ass" type play, but maybe i quit paying attention to that stiff so you see more than me. the happiest day of my hawk life will be (just like when dale finally had it with the other enigma, rene bourque) when i turn on the tube & hear 29 was traded today for????. shortly after that 25 will enter that same thought process of mine if he doesn't change his ken yaremchuk mentality out there.
those that want to trade for brouwer back....okay i liked him just as much as the next guy, but is he for real, can he play with anybody, he got 20 barely with 19 & 88, same with playing with 8 out in DC. take those guys away from him and can he get 20 and be dominent to warrant 3.6 or is he just another step & fetch. i think Q thought his skating wasn't up to par & he had trouble keeping up with those guys.
i thought brouwer was a great 3rd liner with dave bolland. wouldn't mind seeing him again in that role here but i doubt it for that kind of doe! but then again, who are we? just fans watching in a bar or in the seats, Q is up close every practice, every game!
- wonthecup10