Hendricks for sure, not sure he centers, also good shoot out guy. Where does he slot and what do you give?

Clifford is auditioning on top line with Kings, he is not going anywhere. Same with the Zack Smith stuff, centering our 4th line.

Hendricks for Frolik? Boyle for Frolik?

A little irony as some want to add more size etc...yet Rangers after struggles last year are parting with those guys or at least sitting them. Rupp and Boyle.

AT the end of the day, you watch and wait. let your team come back down to earth a bit, see how they handle it and then add.

I don't get the whole add two power forwards thing. Hossa a power forward in many regards, Bickell has size and skates, Stahlberg ditto. Like the platitudes, just never here specific names or realistic names.
- TrueGrit

The power forwards you speak of, except for maybe Bickell, are more finesse types, I think we need bang and crashers, the kind to dump the puck deep and go and retrieve it when carrying and passing the puck through layers of traps aren't working. In my opinion the Hawks need that dynamic, to be a more balanced team that can play any style.

Lots of names have been thrown out there some unrealistic, others moreso.

Torres "manned up" cuz it was Mayers. If it was Bollig, he'd either run away like a pu$$y or turtle.
- blackhawk24

I actually think he would man up.It is just a hockey play after all.But than I am just going by what he said?

I think the missing pieces are 2 big power forwards.

If Bickell continues to play and doesn't become comatose again I don't think the Hawks have any other option but to sign him. I wonder if Shaw's presence on that line has motivated him?
- paulr

Bickell WILL become comatose again. It's how he has played, probably since mites. Now that he is "playing well", everyone thinks he has seen the light. After Bickell has a nice 6 or 7 game run he'll go back to hibernating again, per usual. The guy is not consistent and never has been. And for a guy his size he plays like a marshmellow.

I wish Bickell would get hot for a couple weeks and then we could trade him for something, anything and anyone. The guy could be a stud with his size, shot and reasonably decent skating ability, but he most often plays like a floating turd. The last few 'super duper games' from Bickell have done NOTHING to convince me Bickell is anything other than Bickell.

Move him for talent that will show up nightly asap if something thinks the world of him.

Bickell WILL become comatose again. It's how he has played, probably since mites. Now that he is "playing well", everyone thinks he has seen the light. After Bickell has a nice 6 or 7 game run he'll go back to hibernating again, per usual. The guy is not consistent and never has been. And for a guy his size he plays like a marshmellow.

I wish Bickell would get hot for a couple weeks and then we could trade him for something, anything and anyone. The guy could be a stud with his size, shot and reasonably decent skating ability, but he most often plays like a floating turd. The last few 'super duper games' from Bickell have done NOTHING to convince me Bickell is anything other than Bickell.

Move him for talent that will show up nightly asap if something thinks the world of him.
- kwolf68

Maybe, probably even, but never underestimate the power of the contract year.

Andrew Ladd
- furso27

How?

Just explain how...
and keep
Leddy
Stalberg,
Bickell.

Ladd make s 4.4 million a year now....

Maybe, probably even, but never underestimate the power of the contract year.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yeah...I thought it and didn't say it.

I have a friend who rather prejudiciously says that "every Russian is always GREAT in his re-up year and significantly horsecrap after.

You hope it is about belonging...feeling you can play and be successful at this level and want to attempt to do the job well night in and night out...

I'm heading to Saskatchewan for a vacay at the beginning of March...never thought i'd ever say or write that...but it's true. I'm going to see McNeill at least twice in PA...and I'll have a much better opinion of him after those games.

I'm a big fan of the kid and think he could be a Troy Murray type down the line.
- philco28

I think McNeill is tougher than Troy, but Murray was quicker once he arrived in the majors...

74 points?? or 74 penalty minutes??
- 67hawks

Your correct he is a 35 point guy

I am an idiot

At least with our PK the PIMs wouldn't be a big deterrent

How?

Just explain how...
and keep
Leddy
Stalberg,
Bickell.

Ladd make s 4.4 million a year now....
- wiz1901

The all sign 8 year deals for the league minimum.....duh!

Need a decent carrot to acquire him...but he and White are two solid role guys. Always liked Aaron Asham...and then there's Chicago native Mike Brown who did something recently that very few have....TKO Asham.
- philco28

With Spezza out there simply is no way Zack Smith is going anywhere...

How?

Just explain how...
and keep
Leddy
Stalberg,
Bickell.

Ladd make s 4.4 million a year now....
- wiz1901

This is where the scouts earn their keep, by 'finding' a guy who brings similar aspects to his game as Ladd did when he was in Chicago.

You do allot of analysis of young players and prospects, do you think Ryan White in Montreal and Marcus Foligno in Buffalo bring similar elements as Ladd, Byfuglien et all and more important elements not currently on the Hawk roster?

With Spezza out there simply is no way Zack Smith is going anywhere...
- wiz1901

Even with Spezza back in the line-up Smith isn't likely going anywhere. For the 4C role we'd need to look at a pending UFA on a non-playoff team. David Steckel?

Shaw is proof that scouts cant measure heart

Even with Spezza back in the line-up Smith isn't likely going anywhere. For the 4C role we'd need to look at a pending UFA on a non-playoff team. David Steckel?
- DarthKane

Steckel would get lapped by Emery and Crawford skating backwards in full equipment in a race once around the rink.

Yeah...I thought it and didn't say it.

I have a friend who rather prejudiciously says that "every Russian is always GREAT in his re-up year and significantly horsecrap after.

You hope it is about belonging...feeling you can play and be successful at this level and want to attempt to do the job well night in and night out...
- wiz1901

Your friend is a wise man. Few if any Ruskies will ever be considered value for the money. With them, its more like 'how can I make the maximum $ by doing the absolute minimum.' Hope never to see one in a Hawks uniform.

Maybe, probably even, but never underestimate the power of the contract year.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ogi. I have ALWAYS given respect to that contract year thing...big time. And if Bickell does parlay some amount of sustain success into a big payday I hope like hell we aren't the ones paying it, but I'll take the championship that his effort could assist toward.

I am not opposed to anything with Bickell other than resigning him long term. That's a terrible move.

Your friend is a wise man. Few if any Ruskies will ever be considered value for the money. With them, its more like 'how can I make the maximum $ by doing the absolute minimum.' Hope never to see one in a Hawks uniform.
- RickJ

You mean you didn't like Karpetsov?????

Shaw is proof that scouts cant measure heart
- molly2522

How many times did teams pass over Shaw in the draft? I'm a Shaw fan as much as the next guy, but you have to admit we lucked out with him. Shaw was passed over completely in 2 drafts then taken by us in the 5th round so I doubt the expectations were very high. Lucky for us that Shaw proved everyone wrong for passing him over.

How many times did teams pass over Shaw in the draft? I'm a Shaw fan as much as the next guy, but you have to admit we lucked out with him. Shaw was passed over completely in 2 drafts then taken by us in the 5th round so I doubt the expectations were very high. Lucky for us that Shaw proved everyone wrong for passing him over.
- DarthKane

His play in the 2011 Memorial cup is what got him on the radar.

His play in the 2011 Memorial cup is what got him on the radar.
- paulr

No doubt, but even then we drafted him in the 5th round. It's not often a 5th round pick makes the team the next year. Kruger game close, it took him one more year and even that is impressive.

Getting back to Shaw, if the scouts actually thought he could turn out like he did then he would have been drafted before Maxim Shalunov, Michael Paliotta, Klas Dahlbeck, and Adam Clendening that year. The scouts did a good job with Shaw, but if you ask any of them I doubt they'd say he worked out exactly as expected.

Your friend is a wise man. Few if any Ruskies will ever be considered value for the money. With them, its more like 'how can I make the maximum $ by doing the absolute minimum.' Hope never to see one in a Hawks uniform.
- RickJ

There is a reason why the hawks where the last team to draft a Russian,DNA.

Ogi. I have ALWAYS given respect to that contract year thing...big time. And if Bickell does parlay some amount of sustain success into a big payday I hope like hell we aren't the ones paying it, but I'll take the championship that his effort could assist toward.

I am not opposed to anything with Bickell other than resigning him long term. That's a terrible move.
- kwolf68

Agreed, but quite frankly I don't think giving him a big payday is in the cards no matter how well he plays this year...unless a significant salary is moved first. Just have to hope to maximize his last year at rock bottom $.

Got to ask you guys,
everyone including myself wanting a big center, no problem with brian boyle if he was even to play 3rd line plus some PP & bolland continue as #2.
but here are my questions:
1) why is he in torts doghouse? isn't tort the popular in your ass with fire type coach most people like?
2) is boyle even available
3) would he get complacent under Q?
4) what are we gonna have to part with?
i like the idea of the hawks adding a YOUNG kid with some SIZE and a bit of GRIT,
better option than most we have talked about.
the million dollar question is ,does SB like him ?
JJ,AL, Boys?????????????????????????????


oops, just read some ranger fans comments on levine's blog, not good re:boyle you guys tell me!

Got to ask you guys,
everyone including myself wanting a big center, no problem with brian boyle if he was even to play 3rd line plus some PP & bolland continue as #2.
but here are my questions:
1) why is he in torts doghouse? isn't tort the popular in your ass with fire type coach most people like?
2) is boyle even available
3) would he get complacent under Q?
4) what are we gonna have to part with?
i like the idea of the hawks adding a YOUNG kid with some SIZE and a bit of GRIT,
better option than most we have talked about.
the million dollar question is ,does SB like him ?
JJ,AL, Boys?????????????????????????????


oops, just read some ranger fans comments on levine's blog, not good re:boyle you guys tell me!
- wonthecup10

Read this earlier today


Rangers coach John Tortorella hopes Brian Boyle felt "miserable" up in the press box Thursday night.
"To be miserable," Tortorella answered when asked what he hoped Boyle got out of being a healthy scratch. "And hope that he never puts me in this type of decision again. Brian knows how he plays, he’s not going to pick up anything watching tonight’s game. He’s not playing and I know he loves to play and he will get another opportunity to play and I hope I don’t have to be involved in this type of decision again." Boyle is a minus-three with just one point on the year.

How bout a guy like Clifford from LA or one of the many muckers in Boston?

Hendricks in WSH?
- nickmo2699

If you are looking for trades....2 clubs have badly underachieved thus far, LA and Wash.

Kings made a deal and the Caps can't wait much longer. Can't keep changing the head coach...GM is well thought of, so that leaves players.

In a Dominant Effort, Blackhawks unhinge Coyotes - My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/11UkhKg