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- Ogilthorpe2

damn video not found -would ahve been good to see

Matt Kassian?
- DarthKane

Lots of Wild fans here in Duluth, MN are mad Kassian was waived

Lots of Wild fans here in Duluth, MN are mad Kassian was waived
- ikeane

Why? I don't know much about him so any insight would be appreciated.

ESPN.com with an article on NHL having the highest average ticket price increase last year to this year of te major pro sports leagues: 5.7%.

NHL average attendance up 1.1% over last year.

NHL has second highest average ticket price to NFL.

WHAT lock-out effect?

http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...e-surpasses-other-leagues

What about a trade of Sharp for O'reilly straight up?

would this be fair to both sides?
- molly2522

ease up there big fella...Grit wants all comments, observations, and opinions run thru him first before they can be posted

The 2010 team had Sopel and freaking Boynton on defence and Hammer was basically still a rookie - Roszival and Brookbank are at least their equal. Ladd missed 3 games in the final series, Colin Fraser and Burrish didn't even dress. Most of their playoff success came from Buff playing out of his mind; John Madden coming in and giving the team a veteran 4th center who could skate, kill penalties and check; Brouwer banging defenceman, even Ben Eager contributed significantly in spots etc.

This isn't the finished version of the team for 2013 IMO but it looks to me like their plan is to replicate a squad with similarities. But that means Stalberg has to be Versteeg, Bickell has to be Ladd, Kruger has to be Madden, Bollig or Carcillo have to be Eager. There is clearly no replacement for Buff & Brouwer is badly missed at playoff time.

It's easy to say they need 2 young, cheap, fast power forwards but that's near impossible to acquire without spending a king's ransom in youth and draft picks. Let me know if there is a Jordan Nolan out there for cheap, otherwise that leaves Jimmy Hayes, Ben Smith and Morin as internal solutions.

The West won't be easy to win. Although I don't see the Ducks as serious contenders overall, last night they showed they can play and have some excellent personnel. Vancouver will continue to drift upward in the standings when Kesler comes back and they keep playing those horrible dog teams in their division.

I see it boiling down to Vancouver vs Chicago to win the West. It will be interesting.
- RickJ

I agree with most of this, but there is one minor factual issue here...

I don't remember how many games Burish dressed in the finals, but I know he played in at least one.


http://www.youtube.com/wa...ture=youtube_gdata_player

Why? I don't know much about him so any insight would be appreciated.
- DarthKane

Of the fans I talk to, Kassian has good wheels, good size (6'5" 240lbs), willing to drop the gloves. Not much on offense but he is a great 4th liner to drop the gloves. Outside of Clutterbuck, the Wild fans I talk to think there is a shortage of that on their team. I've had limited exposure to him, but you know when he is on the ice in the games I saw him in last year

I agree with most of this, but there is one minor factual issue here...

I don't remember how many games Burish dressed in the finals, but I know he played in at least one.


http://www.youtube.com/wa...ture=youtube_gdata_player
- Ogilthorpe2

He contributed a boarding penalty in Game 1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...tanley_Cup_Final#Game_One

Of the fans I talk to, Kassian has good wheels, good size (6'5" 240lbs), willing to drop the gloves. Not much on offense but he is a great 4th liner to drop the gloves. Outside of Clutterbuck, the Wild fans I talk to think there is a shortage of that on their team. I've had limited exposure to him, but you know when he is on the ice in the games I saw him in last year
- ikeane

We don't need a goon, we need a guy who can play first and foremost, can win puck battles, can get in on the forecheck and force turnovers and if necessary drop drop the gloves in unstaged situations. Kassian isn't that guy.

Of the fans I talk to, Kassian has good wheels, good size (6'5" 240lbs), willing to drop the gloves. Not much on offense but he is a great 4th liner to drop the gloves. Outside of Clutterbuck, the Wild fans I talk to think there is a shortage of that on their team. I've had limited exposure to him, but you know when he is on the ice in the games I saw him in last year
- ikeane

I like the idea of adding toughness, but after the John Scott experiment I worry about getting a big guy just to get him.

If we claimed Kassian who's roster spot does he take?

6 extra-time games out of 13: can't get much closer to losing in regulation than that.
- StLBravesFan

When at any point in the third period did you think they would lose in regulation? Did the Ducks have one decent scoring chance after the game was tied? I watch the games I'm aware of the games that have gone into overtime and other than Calgary none of those games posed a huge threat to lose in regulation

Wowzers you guys are harsh!

I am critical of the team and certaintly don't think they are perfect, but was anyone actually confident they would win this game? Luck?? Yeah Hawks got lucky, so did the Ducks. Ducks are a good team who played hard and got 2 pts out of it.

Biggest problem is the PP if you have to pick out a deficiency. Otherwise, what are you guys yapping on about? Need 2 more forwards, need this and that... like it's so easy to just go out there and trade for exactly what you need to make your team perfect.

The Hawks have not lost a game in regulation through 13 games and looked pretty darn good aside from the Calgary game.

I certainly don't drink any Kool Aid and sure the PP woes could come back to bite the team, but for Christ's sake enjoy it and settle yourselves down!

When at any point in the third period did you think they would lose in regulation? Did the Ducks have one decent scoring chance after the game was tied? I watch the games I'm aware of the games that have gone into overtime and other than Calgary none of those games posed a huge threat to lose in regulation
- rollpards19

When it's tied in the third, any deflection could win or lose it for you.

I've seen the games, too - I never thought in any of those 6 games that they WOULD lose (or win) but that they certainly COULD lose any of them.

The Ducks could have scored two or three in the last ten minutes - they dominated play.

The later the games go tied, the more 50/50 the outcome becomes - to say, in effect, "never a doubt" they would lose in regulation is absurd.

Jets get Eric Tangradi for a 7th round pick in 2013

Of the fans I talk to, Kassian has good wheels, good size (6'5" 240lbs), willing to drop the gloves. Not much on offense but he is a great 4th liner to drop the gloves. Outside of Clutterbuck, the Wild fans I talk to think there is a shortage of that on their team. I've had limited exposure to him, but you know when he is on the ice in the games I saw him in last year
- ikeane

Kassian vs Bollig

http://www.youtube.com/wa...feature=player_detailpage

Do I appear to be unmeasured? I for the most part have refrained from naming specific players because there are too many variables, salary, cap hit, what goes the other way etc. So I have used general terms of what I think the Hawks need. I also have an idea of the roster player I believe are expendable in a trade situiation.

Do I say anything negative about SB?

As far as what I have said about the 2010 team, I have and will continue to use that team as a benchmark for what I believe the current team needs to do to be serious cup contenders. Namely I think they need two young big forwards who are physical can skate and play and who have reasonable contracts that can be accomodated by the Hawks. The reason is to give this team the same diversity and balance to allow it to play any type of game.
- paulr

No man, I meant no offense, I was just pointing out why I get a little nuts. I was not taking any direct shots at you, just trying to give you some context on my position...that is all.

ease up there big fella...Grit wants all comments, observations, and opinions run thru him first before they can be posted
- dpard

Dude I am not even on the ice and I am in your head...whats up....I backed off and let the boys play some no check...

As most know, I think Sharp should never have been extended in the first place, but to buy him out now would not do Stan any favors when he's trying to re-sign players in the future. If you are #19 and you see Sharp get bought out one year after signing, how do you trust anything Stan says in your negotiations?

For better or worse, for richer or richer, in injury or in health...Stan is stuck with that contract for the foreseeable future.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ogi you are a ton smarter than entertaining the idea that Sharp gets bought. My goodness, I look to you for insight and leadership...Cmon man....

Kassian vs Bollig

http://www.youtube.com/wa...feature=player_detailpage
- DarthKane

Bollig ate a lot of punches in that fight. Good scrap over all though, Kassian is a big customer.

I agree with most of this, but there is one minor factual issue here...

I don't remember how many games Burish dressed in the finals, but I know he played in at least one.


http://www.youtube.com/wa...ture=youtube_gdata_player
- Ogilthorpe2

Yes Ogi you are correct. I guess I got mesmerized by all of the other 0's that are posted in his stats for that playoff year.

Bollig ate a lot of punches in that fight. Good scrap over all though, Kassian is a big customer.
- prd797

You have to give Bollig credit in that fight, he was smacked a lot but he didn't back down and he kept chucking the knuckles too! After I right like that I bet the Hogs were more jacked than the Aeros, I'm sure Kassian wouljd expected to handily win that fight, but he didn't.

You have to give Bollig credit in that fight, he was smacked a lot but he didn't back down and he kept chucking the knuckles too! After I right like that I bet the Hogs were more jacked than the Aeros, I'm sure Kassian wouljd expected to handily win that fight, but he didn't.
- DarthKane

The other thing too is to consider this was from a little while back, and I think Bollig has improved as a fighter since then. Kassian still threw a few bombs though. Seems Minnesota has put out several big, tough-guy types in the past few years. I still don't see where Kassian fits in this lineup over other players who are in similar roles.

Could the Hawks claim him and then try to send him down on waivers again, or is that likely a waste of their spot in line for waiver claims?

When at any point in the third period did you think they would lose in regulation? Did the Ducks have one decent scoring chance after the game was tied? I watch the games I'm aware of the games that have gone into overtime and other than Calgary none of those games posed a huge threat to lose in regulation
- rollpards19

What about the horrible call in Columbus?

Dude I am not even on the ice and I am in your head...whats up....I backed off and let the boys play some no check...
- TrueGrit

dude, not in my head - just calling a spade a spade - feeelin like ya got the small man syndrome?

Much to the chagrin of many of you, I believe that the team has already done this, and fans should get on board and that is embrace who you are and what you are as a hockey team.

And while anyone looking at a nice house could find something they would change, the carpet, paint etc..it still is a nice house. While the theme of blaming depth and bad supporting cast will always be the first point of attack with any failure, I firmly believe that this teams core has to lead and get the job done, in particular on the power play.

This team did not lose to Vancouver 2011 because we were not tough enough, CC played out of his mind and the team failed to score on PP in overtime in game 7. You win that game, you move on.

Last year same thing. All the hullabaloo about not enough size or toughness etc, and a few bad goals. Those bad goals never happen if you score a ppg...just 1 freaking PP goal....

Since 2010 all you hear about is second line center...same stuff different year. Would it be nice to have a great guy there...of course...but its not the end all. Point again is every team has their weaknesses, but this is not fantasy land, it is reality. And the concept in life that everything has to be perfect to achieve great things is absurd. Guys step up and get it done. Ben Smith hero in 2011.

Would I like a Hendricks guy down the stretch, yes no doubt, am I gonna play roster roullette based upon asinine assumptions? No thanks.

I will close with this, when you have more talent, horses and speed then others, you feature that and dare other teams to beat it. More times than not, when the talent is committed, talent wins. It is that simple. This is who we are. This, from my distant eyes appears to be the change in Q, and the players love it, that is let us be who we are and do it better than everyone else. Let us swarm and overwhelm, and not every single night you will win, but you will win more than you lose and so long as you are willing to pay the price and step up and support one another (see Keith, Bickell...) then you have some thing the guys can rally behind. And that is what is happening. Enjoy it and keep wasting your time looking for style points and justify every detail...you will miss out on some excitement and fun.