Yes, he won't engage. But that's not the point. It's keeping him from pulling $hit with 19 & 81. Remember last season how he and others roughed up our stars. That'll stop right then and there if Jammer is put out there with them.
- blackhawk24

Using our best player and our captain's head as a speed bag is not acceptable.

I'm not sure Mayers scares many people anymore. He's slow as $hit. Putting him on the line w/Toews and Hoss may slow them down. So instead of messing with the lines, I think Q goes w/checking line against Vajay-jay Joe's line.
- eburgio

Not when you don't have the last line change, which is exactly what happened in SJ last season. Soon as 22 was out there with 19, pu$$ywimp 'jumbo-joe' BS stopped.

Using our best player and our captain's head as a speed bag is not acceptable.
- nickmo2699

We can hold Thornton accountable, but do it within the boundaries of the game and and don't make it the focus of your efforts.

We can hold Thornton accountable, but do it within the boundaries of the game and and don't make it the focus of your efforts.
- DarthKane

Don't forget Pickleface Vlasic and Beard Burns tried going after Toews and Hoss as well. I'm sure Stuart is looking forward to his re-introduction to the Patricks

Last time I saw Brad Stuart, I remember Stalberg, Kane and Sharp going around him like a turnstile. I would concentrate on that before I worry about whatever "retribution" Mr. Stuart has in mind...

If the Hawks did buy out Monty how much more cap space would the Hawks have ?
- mrpaulish

It depends on whether it would be one of the two "compliance" buyouts under the new CBA or a conventional buyout. If it is a compliance buyout, his entire $2.75M salary would come off the books.

But I'm not even sure if he can be bought out since he's injured. It would depend on whether his current condition is a result of an injury sustained during the lockout or not. My understanding is that players worked out or played at their own risk during the lockout. Maybe someone else can clarify?

Last time I saw Brad Stuart, I remember Stalberg, Kane and Sharp going around him like a turnstile. I would concentrate on that before I worry about whatever "retribution" Mr. Stuart has in mind...
- yahoodi

I should've clarified my sarcasm.

Don't forget Pickleface Vlasic and Beard Burns tried going after Toews and Hoss as well. I'm sure Stuart is looking forward to his re-introduction to the Patricks
- prd797

Is Burns playing right now? I watched last night's game and don't remember seeing him. If he was playing, he didn't do much

Is Burns playing right now? I watched last night's game and didn't remember seeing him. If he was playing, he didn't do much
- eburgio

No.

He has not played yet this year, and from what I have heard, is not even skating yet. Sharks have been very vague about what the issue is. I think he had surgery of some kind during the off season, and obviously there's been a pretty significant setback.

This is a bad matchup for the Hawks tonight. There won't be any monkey business in the way of fights, but there will undoubtedly be a lot of hitting - from the Sharks. Conversely, there will be very little hitting from the Hawks.

Rested or not, this Hawks team cannot withstand extended physical play unless Q uses his team's strength - speed - and adjusts his game to DUMP AND CHASE. If Q thinks his team can skate through a wall every night and be able survive the checking, let alone score, he is sadly mistaken. No amount of line juggling will give Q the answer to the core problem of failing to adapt their style of play to what the other team shows him.

4-1 Sharks tonight.

It's not a terrible matchup. The Hawks are a lot faster.

I'd love a competitive game tonight. Hawks won't win them all but would like to see them beat the good teams. Take a point tonight. More important will be seeing the top line score and getting more than 2 goals.

Yes, he won't engage. But that's not the point. It's keeping him from pulling $hit with 19 & 81. Remember last season how he and others roughed up our stars. That'll stop right then and there if Jammer is put out there with them.
- blackhawk24

Disagree 100%

About as much as it deterred Torres when Bollig was on the ice...

This is a bad matchup for the Hawks tonight. There won't be any monkey business in the way of fights, but there will undoubtedly be a lot of hitting - from the Sharks. Conversely, there will be very little hitting from the Hawks.

Rested or not, this Hawks team cannot withstand extended physical play unless Q uses his team's strength - speed - and adjusts his game to DUMP AND CHASE. If Q thinks his team can skate through a wall every night and be able survive the checking, let alone score, he is sadly mistaken. No amount of line juggling will give Q the answer to the core problem of failing to adapt their style of play to what the other team shows him.

4-1 Sharks tonight.
- Return of the Roar

I could see it being 4-1 Sharks or 4-1 Hawks, though I find the former more likely than the latter. I'm not convinced SJ has good Defense and despite all the love for the Sharks depth, outside of Marleau and Thornton, the other lines aren't filling up the score sheet.

My biggest concern is Niemi. The dude always gets a hard on playing his former team.

Montador won't be back........believe the time frame until it becomes official is a function of how his disability insurance is written......guy had a lot of heart and a very thoughtful, professional guy...........no idea what the cap hit is for permanent disability

if Sharks have their legs, we won't match up very well against them ....they will keep us on the boards and in a game of shinny.......

is there any decent team that isn't more physical than us?

I get what your saying and yes, Thornton can't be intimidated. But a Seabrook or Bollig or Mayers can finish a hit on him every time he is on the ice to let him know that his antics will not be tolerated with our top players.
- nickmo2699

Totally disagree with that. Here you are reacting to things. Weakness. Play the game, take what comes, win and move on. Running around like fools will take you out of your game, whether you get the big hit or not.

For those who like to listen....

Hawk talk on SiriusXM radio with Nick Alberga and Mike Lippa: http://bit.ly/11i64r2

Also, will be on today wth Boomer Gordon @ 12:05 CST.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

FACEOFF %
Chicago, 14th
San Jose, 2nd

Ew gross

Nothing like a great 930 start.
- fattybeef

I love them

This is a bad matchup for the Hawks tonight. There won't be any monkey business in the way of fights, but there will undoubtedly be a lot of hitting - from the Sharks. Conversely, there will be very little hitting from the Hawks.

Rested or not, this Hawks team cannot withstand extended physical play unless Q uses his team's strength - speed - and adjusts his game to DUMP AND CHASE. If Q thinks his team can skate through a wall every night and be able survive the checking, let alone score, he is sadly mistaken. No amount of line juggling will give Q the answer to the core problem of failing to adapt their style of play to what the other team shows him.

4-1 Sharks tonight.
- Return of the Roar

Bad matchup for hawks..LOL..San Jose never matches well with the Hawks. They are a slower plodding team, the Hawks speed makes the game a lot faster than San Jose wants to play. A solid start is key along with staying out of the box.

For those who like to listen....

Hawk talk on SiriusXM radio with Nick Alberga and Mike Lippa: http://bit.ly/11i64r2

Also, will be on today wth Boomer Gordon @ 12:05 CST.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Next to you and JJ, the Boomer is a favourite of mine. He's an Islander fan deep down. And he just loves slagging the Maple Loafs.

This is a bad matchup for the Hawks tonight. There won't be any monkey business in the way of fights, but there will undoubtedly be a lot of hitting - from the Sharks. Conversely, there will be very little hitting from the Hawks.

Rested or not, this Hawks team cannot withstand extended physical play unless Q uses his team's strength - speed - and adjusts his game to DUMP AND CHASE. If Q thinks his team can skate through a wall every night and be able survive the checking, let alone score, he is sadly mistaken. No amount of line juggling will give Q the answer to the core problem of failing to adapt their style of play to what the other team shows him.

4-1 Sharks tonight.
- Return of the Roar

In the Calgary game, for the first time this season, Q started to indulge his line juggling fetish. You know he's been itching to. I give him a ton of credit for pretty much keeping the opening day lines intact, but with the boyz dog tired and under relentless pressure in CGY....he started with that infamous tinkering.

That's my worry with Q. At the first sign of adversity, he starts to panic. The Sharks will come hard tonight. Hope the Hawks respond with a physical effort because as JJ says...this is a TONE SETTER. Get pushed around demonstrably tonight and it may well foreshadow the psychological dynamic between these teams for the rest of the year. SO STEP UP THE PHYSICALITY TONIGHT LADS !

The Crawford/Niemi dynamic is also fascinating to watch. Love the Antidote...just not vs us. Hope Crow keeps the good times rolling vs a Sharks' team that should be a little gassed after a tough encounter in Anaheim last night.

Should be another exciting Hawks game.... I'll be watching it right after I watch the flyers get shellacked by the lightning on national TV. Best part of having a pregnant wife is she goes to bed early leaving lots of time to watch hockey... Uninterrupted
- moylander

Till she wakes up and pines for a anchovy & pineapple pizza.

This is a bad matchup for the Hawks tonight. There won't be any monkey business in the way of fights, but there will undoubtedly be a lot of hitting - from the Sharks. Conversely, there will be very little hitting from the Hawks.

Rested or not, this Hawks team cannot withstand extended physical play unless Q uses his team's strength - speed - and adjusts his game to DUMP AND CHASE. If Q thinks his team can skate through a wall every night and be able survive the checking, let alone score, he is sadly mistaken. No amount of line juggling will give Q the answer to the core problem of failing to adapt their style of play to what the other team shows him.

4-1 Sharks tonight.
- Return of the Roar

Meh. I think they have gotten better at getting pucks deep this year, going to the net and keeping things simple. Really a big reason their record is as good as it is.

3rd line has been exclusively dump and chase and cycle (mmmmmm cycle). The 4th line doesn't play much even strength but that is all they do. The Hossa Toews line actually gets it deep. Really only issue is the 2nd line is ill equipped to do that but 95% of the time you want Kane racing through with the puck on his blade anyways.

If they can steal a goal or two in the first 10 minutes to maybe the end of the first period (I am assuming SJ flat from grind yesterday) then they should be fine with the way their D and PK has been.

Pretty convinced the Calgary game was their "game to not win" as it was a whole lotta muck and slop and garbage play from everyone. IMO they should be ready to go tonight.

In the Calgary game, for the first time this season, Q started to indulge his line juggling fetish. You know he's been itching to. I give him a ton of credit for pretty much keeping the opening day lines intact, but with the boyz dog tired and under relentless pressure in CGY....he started with that infamous tinkering.

That's my worry with Q. At the first sign of adversity, he starts to panic. The Sharks will come hard tonight. Hope the Hawks respond with a physical effort because as JJ says...this is a TONE SETTER. Get pushed around demonstrably tonight and it may well foreshadow the psychological dynamic between these teams for the rest of the year. SO STEP UP THE PHYSICALITY TONIGHT LADS !

The Crawford/Niemi dynamic is also fascinating to watch. Love the Antidote...just not vs us. Hope Crow keeps the good times rolling vs a Sharks' team that should be a little gassed after a tough encounter in Anaheim last night.
- philco28

you mean we aren't going with your boy Ray Emery between the pipes tonight?

In the Calgary game, for the first time this season, Q started to indulge his line juggling fetish. You know he's been itching to. I give him a ton of credit for pretty much keeping the opening day lines intact, but with the boyz dog tired and under relentless pressure in CGY....he started with that infamous tinkering.

That's my worry with Q. At the first sign of adversity, he starts to panic. The Sharks will come hard tonight. Hope the Hawks respond with a physical effort because as JJ says...this is a TONE SETTER. Get pushed around demonstrably tonight and it may well foreshadow the psychological dynamic between these teams for the rest of the year. SO STEP UP THE PHYSICALITY TONIGHT LADS !

The Crawford/Niemi dynamic is also fascinating to watch. Love the Antidote...just not vs us. Hope Crow keeps the good times rolling vs a Sharks' team that should be a little gassed after a tough encounter in Anaheim last night.
- philco28

you mean we aren't going with your boy Ray Emery between the pipes tonight?