I wonder how Hjalmarsson feels about this.

http://www.chicagotribune...-20130225,0,2171383.story

Let me preface this by saying I LOVE Brandon Saad... but...

Am I the only one who would much prefer Dan Carcillo on the first line with Toews and Hossa?
- KingIndig0

Ummm, no.

I'm honestly speechless. I'll be back every game day blog now to listen to all of your reasonable comments. I don't even know what to say. You haven't made a negative remark about EDM. Such a change of pace.
- TheNugeIsHuge

Your coach also has an awesome name: a fusion of Ralf "The German Giant" Moeller and Marcus "Don't Call Me Paul Krugman" Kruger

Also, one of my favorite HB posters is an Edmonton fan

are the projected line ups in no particular order?(never read CHI blogs) Because RNH and Gags are the Cs on line 1&2 not Ebs n Harti.
- TheNugeIsHuge

Actually frequency of TOI over the last couple of games dictates it (for the opposing team). Thanks for the info.

way too early bro.
no question the best team in the league at the moment, but there's ebs and flows and some really good teams out there.
to count out boston, pittsburgh, vancouver, st.louis among a few others would be foolhardy. no one should be surprised if any of these teams win it all
- hugefemale dog77

Agreed

have you noticed that Hayes has been lighting it up since being moved to center? He is near 20 goals. Pirri and Morin are also near 20 goals.

Is there a possibility that Hayes could be a net presence like Big Buff was against Luongo? There is one game left against Vancouver and in this game someone should be stationed in front of the Canucks netminder. Hayes is just one possibility. Shaw has the guts to do it. Even an unlikely return by Montador.....so he could get an audition as a powerplay forward. He had some success with scoring on accurate shots from in close. Obviously his determination to take a beating if he was stationed as a net presence ....this would be a back up plan should Montador be willing let alone able to lace them up again. Is he like the EverReady bunny (not)!

Did you see where Kevin Hayes, a junior at Boston College, was suspended for breaking team rule? Will he turn pro?

I know some Blackhawk fans see or read/hear about the Icehogs exploits. Is Beach overcoming his balance on skates issue. Because he is no good if he looses all his board battles. He is more talented than you might have known. Yes, I heard that short Pr interview post game radio with Carney. He didn't reveal anything new but perhaps you can offer input. Last year I noticed that Beach does some little things which go unnoticed in a boxscore. He even skated backwards with the puck his blueline to the spot behind the net. Not such SKILL thing but how many forwards would help the dmen & confidant to do this?

Clearly this season he can be viewed as a candidate to do the Burrish role....even go off nuts and maul an opponent. Not that I support such action. But in the playoffs where players step up into a role or exceed expectations, you are not hurt to have a black ace in reserve when there are jerks like R Torres
around

I would really appreciate JJ's view on Lalonde's upside. And to the post whom asked about Brad Mills in Rockford.....he is a fringe NHL player with NHL experieince in New Jersey. A young guy with limited ability.

haha believe me, most canadians are not proud of our film industry nor watch any canadian films
- TheNugeIsHuge

Ward, aren't you being a little hard on Barry Pepper?

have you noticed that Hayes has been lighting it up since being moved to center? He is near 20 goals. Pirri and Morin are also near 20 goals.

Is there a possibility that Hayes could be a net presence like Big Buff was against Luongo? There is one game left against Vancouver and in this game someone should be stationed in front of the Canucks netminder. Hayes is just one possibility. Shaw has the guts to do it. Even an unlikely return by Montador.....so he could get an audition as a powerplay forward. He had some success with scoring on accurate shots from in close. Obviously his determination to take a beating if he was stationed as a net presence ....this would be a back up plan should Montador be willing let alone able to lace them up again. Is he like the EverReady bunny (not)!

Did you see where Kevin Hayes, a junior at Boston College, was suspended for breaking team rule? Will he turn pro?

I know some Blackhawk fans see or read/hear about the Icehogs exploits. Is Beach overcoming his balance on skates issue. Because he is no good if he looses all his board battles. He is more talented than you might have known. Yes, I heard that short Pr interview post game radio with Carney. He didn't reveal anything new but perhaps you can offer input. Last year I noticed that Beach does some little things which go unnoticed in a boxscore. He even skated backwards with the puck his blueline to the spot behind the net. Not such SKILL thing but how many forwards would help the dmen & confidant to do this?

Clearly this season he can be viewed as a candidate to do the Burrish role....even go off nuts and maul an opponent. Not that I support such action. But in the playoffs where players step up into a role or exceed expectations, you are not hurt to have a black ace in reserve when there are jerks like R Torres
around

I would really appreciate JJ's view on Lalonde's upside. And to the post whom asked about Brad Mills in Rockford.....he is a fringe NHL player with NHL experieince in New Jersey. A young guy with limited ability.
- jhawk59

NHL skating, size, aggressive, can run a power play. Problem for him has been responsibility in his own end and his psyche has been damaged by that and just some bad luck in Rockford. I agree with Chris Block that the best thing for his development might be a move to another organization.

Evans blue I say...
- southernhawk

Also the name of a pretty good present day alternative metal band

Just wait if Edmonton wins we'll see another "Oilers are winning the cup this year!" blog from Cloutier within the hour.

I wonder how Hjalmarsson feels about this.

http://www.chicagotribune...-20130225,0,2171383.story
- NewToHockey

He better not get on Krugman's bad side or you know what his meatballs will be made out of next . . .

Noticed Sunday vs Wolves that Ben Smith returned from injury.

Smith could help, could perform well if recalled due to am injury. As a collegiate Smith HAD rifle of shot from the shot. He is underated
forward who would provide depth. The playoffs is a war of the most fit and Smith is inexpensive forward position depth.

Pirri is the other forward whom could step right in and find success. Do not gauge his development by his point total. Pirri has accumulated a fair amount of points this season. But the important consideration here is that Piri has the knowledge where to go with passes and how to make plays. He could play with top line players and produce enough to retain a job. His skating has improved.

Four of the top six in the Conference are from the Central

Amazing

The way Vancouver played against a Wings team playing back to back was pathetic
NW division is week

It looks like there are no suiters for LU
Buffalo and Washington seem the obvious trade partners for everyone in the league

I will be interested to see how this years team plays against the young guns from EDmonton tonight

It was ugly last year

Little Pizza Joint/Bar in Cary right by the Metra Station called Galati's. I'm there for most Hawk games when I'm in town.

Dukes Ale House in Downtown Crystal Lake is good too.
- Ogilthorpe2

have you or Moots ever eaten here..great burgers..

http://www.tracksbarandgrill.com/index.html

Thats not true we have some pretty good films in Canada, but they are all in a language the USA can't understand.
- pker2theend

Proper English?

Four of the top six in the Conference are from the Central

Amazing

The way Vancouver played against a Wings team playing back to back was pathetic
NW division is week

It looks like there are no suiters for LU
Buffalo and Washington seem the obvious trade partners for everyone in the league

I will be interested to see how this years team plays against the young guns from EDmonton tonight

It was ugly last year
- PEIHawkFan

I think it is ridiculously impressive that Ottawa is winning with pretty much an AHL team at the moment. If they make the playoffs MacLean should probably get the Jack Adams.

- philco28

We come to talk hockey and find tons of value in the players and teams the Hawks play.

You have to remember, most of us have been through DECADES of bad drafting, coaching, trading, and team running.

We have had almost every possible slap as fans from no televised home games to having to pay to GO to the arena to watch the Cup Final.

We know first hand about how turnover and change and picking early CAN help a team turnover quickly.
and we still see the drafted seeds, budding as you will.

We like to fight with each other more than outsiders, but when wise guys with stupidy arrive, we ALL answer...

- philco28

We come to talk hockey and find tons of value in the players and teams the Hawks play.

You have to remember, most of us have been through DECADES of bad drafting, coaching, trading, and team running.

We have had almost every possible slap as fans from no televised home games to having to pay to GO to the arena to watch the Cup Final.

We know first hand about how turnover and change and picking early CAN help a team turnover quickly.
and we still see the drafted seeds, budding as you will.

We like to fight with each other more than outsiders, but when wise guys with stupidy arrive, we ALL answer...

have you or Moots ever eaten here..great burgers..

http://www.tracksbarandgrill.com/index.html
- Glenman12

That place has been there forever. You guys are talking JJ Country, BTW.

Something about these two teams gets me excited for NHL hockey. You never know what is going to happen.

I think it is ridiculously impressive that Ottawa is winning with pretty much an AHL team at the moment. If they make the playoffs MacLean should probably get the Jack Adams.
- fattybeef

He really did a lot with less last year, too. Agreed.

have you or Moots ever eaten here..great burgers..

http://www.tracksbarandgrill.com/index.html
- Glenman12

Frequently, but moreso in the summer, nice outdoor patio. And the Burgers are the best

Source: Bickell extension in the works, still ironing out some details.

We come to talk hockey and find tons of value in the players and teams the Hawks play.

You have to remember, most of us have been through DECADES of bad drafting, coaching, trading, and team running.

We have had almost every possible slap as fans from no televised home games to having to pay to GO to the arena to watch the Cup Final.

We know first hand about how turnover and change and picking early CAN help a team turnover quickly.
and we still see the drafted seeds, budding as you will.

We like to fight with each other more than outsiders, but when wise guys with stupidy arrive, we ALL answer...
- wiz1901

So true Wiz, so true...

Source: Bickell extension in the works, still ironing out some details.
- John Jaeckel

Hmmmmmm I will guess 5.5 millions over 3 years.