I'm heading up to Ptown to catch tonight's game against the Oil Kings. I'll be sure to say howdo for ya.
- Beaver-Warrior

Thanks, enjoy

Per Mark Lazerus, Bolland not on the ice again but Montador is..

To be honest I'm not sure.

What I can tell you with certainty is off the record comments have been made by Hawk players for many years.

I also know for a fact this hasn't been brought up as much in the past because only visting players were giving quotes and complaining.

I wrote about the ice a few weeks ago only because..... Quenneville made comments about the ice and it was the first time in 7 years any Hawk player or coach has publicly acknowlegded an issue to my knowledge.

I have brought up the ice issue in the past to off ice personnel on a few occassions. The response was either no admission of an issue or a defense of the ice quality at the UC.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

What is with the playing surfaces in Chicago? The grass on Soldier Field is horrendous, the ice at the UC is terrible, and Wrigley is played on a garbage dumb. At least the Sox have a great field.

Jeremy Rutherford ‏@jprutherford
#stlblues have placed McDonald on IR with left knee injury. Steen is day to day with upper-body injury, according to the team.

Interesting, nice practice!!

Per Mark Lazerus, Bolland not on the ice again but Montador is..
- Glenman12

Is Monty our new 2C??

Jeremy Rutherford ‏@jprutherford
#stlblues have placed McDonald on IR with left knee injury. Steen is day to day with upper-body injury, according to the team.

Interesting, nice practice!!
- droe411

With Hitch this is the type of $hit I expected would start to happen
I wouldn't be surprised if his team starts to slip away from his control...

The Blue Jacket Killer himself would surely be on their radar. Mr. Stalberg would be tough to see go the other way in a trade but I feel like he will be dealt by the year's end if they look to improve for the playoffs.

JJ - could these talks with the BJs just be a feeler to all teams by new GM, Jarmo Kekalainen? I'm assuming he wants to put his stamp on this team soon than later.
- TyCamScore

oh sure . . .

because we want them to!!!!
- eburgio

Well then let's have Stan get it done!

With Bolland healthy there is a hole in the L2-C spot. Bolland is NOT a L2-C. His fit is perfect as a checking L3-C what with his more defensive posture of playing and his inability to win draws. The last thing you want working a line with Pat Kane and Patrick Sharp is a player who constantly loses possession of the puck.

Trouble is, I don't know who the L2-C fit would be. Vermette is possible yes. I was thinking Peter Mueller from last year, but he is terribly injury prone. Bozak in Toronto is an absolutely beast on draws, but does he fit there? Anyone with a bigger name comes with a dynamic price tag in both terms of salary and resources traded.
- kwolf68

Agreed - Bolland not best at 2C.

Best fit IMHO is Ott. And his contract price of $2.9MM for the next two years is not a bank breaker. The rubber meets the road in what it would cost in trade value.

Jeremy Rutherford ‏@jprutherford
#stlblues have placed McDonald on IR with left knee injury. Steen is day to day with upper-body injury, according to the team.

Interesting, nice practice!!
- droe411

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot before playing the best team in the league.

Khabi hurt AGAIN....wonder what would have happened in the '09 playoffs had Nik not got hurt.

NHL Transactionist ‏@NHLTransactions
EDMONTON OILERS: Placed goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin on injured reserve; recalled goaltender Yann Danis from Oklahoma City (AHL).
- philco28

I'm pretty sure there was more to his removal in that series than just getting (being) hurt.

And the Hawks would have still lost the series. Goaltending was not the issue. In fact, Huet got the Hawks to OT singel-handedly in a brilliant Game 5. Cam Barker and Matt Walker as the third pair, bonehead plays by Versteeg, etc., were issues

Khabi hurt AGAIN....wonder what would have happened in the '09 playoffs had Nik not got hurt.

NHL Transactionist ‏@NHLTransactions
EDMONTON OILERS: Placed goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin on injured reserve; recalled goaltender Yann Danis from Oklahoma City (AHL).
- philco28

Still would have lost to Detroit: Huet played well in games 3 and 5.

As I recall that series, Detroit pretty much controlled each game (altho 3 went to OT).

I will only answer what I am fairly certain about....

For now, and he has been asked for a long time, Hayes doesn't play to his size and isn't a NHL power forward. Beach some of the same issues and others but the same conclusion.

If they were close....Would Bowman sign Carcillo for two more years while his bandages were still on from his 2nd knee surgery???

Stanton looks like a future NHL player to me same with Morin and Pirri. But I wouldn't bet any of them are future Blackhawks for any length of time.

JJ may know and Wiz probably has a few DVD"s on some of the others you brought up.
- Al

If it were simply about AHL production, St. Pierre would be up and Saad still in Rockford. But it's not. the Hawks are looking at other things—like projectable skills, which is why I think Hayes is still in Rockford, and maybe Pirri too. What roles does either realistically play at the NHL level and add value? Either or both could be up before the ned of the year but it would be due to injury at the NHL level and maybe quite a bit of it.

Still would have lost to Detroit: Huet played well in games 3 and 5.

As I recall that series, Detroit pretty much controlled each game (altho 3 went to OT).
- StLBravesFan

And Game 4, where I believe he gave up 4, was his first start in 6 weeks.

With Hitch this is the type of $hit I expected would start to happen
I wouldn't be surprised if his team starts to slip away from his control...
- prd797

What, only Hitch run practices result in injuries?

Andy Mac had another player fall on him and land on his knee. These injuries had nothing to do with the way that Hitch was running practice.

What, only Hitch run practices result in injuries?

Andy Mac had another player fall on him and land on his knee. These injuries had nothing to do with the way that Hitch was running practice.
- carcus

Fortunately for MacDonald it wasn't Hitch who fell on his knee. That would have been career ending.

And Game 4, where I believe he gave up 4, was his first start in 6 weeks.
- John Jaeckel

Went back and watched the hilites to many of those games....

-the infamous Soupy PHUCK UP in G2 in overtime led to a 3 on 1, GAME OVER
-game 3...Hawks overcome the DEMOLITION of Havvy by Kronwall and win in o/t after Pahlsson fed Sharp who buried into an empty net...Huet did play in relief of Khabi after coming in to start the 3rd

-game 4...Huet was O'lay....down early and often, phat rebounds galore, Hawks went to sleep early and lose 6-1 as Hossa went wild with 2 G and a helper

-game 5...Huet stands on his head with 44 saves, but Helm's goal 3:58 into the first overtime sends us packing

We were cruising through the first two rounds and when Khabi got hurt in Game 3, even though we won that game, IMO it really doomed us from winning the Detroit series.

Fortunately for MacDonald it wasn't Hitch who fell on his knee. That would have been career ending.
- RickJ

Heard Chi would be interested in Gionta.

Any truth to that??

Heard Chi would be interested in Gionta.

Any truth to that??
- soad_live

First i've heard of it ?

First i've heard of it ?
- philco28

ok

What is with the playing surfaces in Chicago? The grass on Soldier Field is horrendous, the ice at the UC is terrible, and Wrigley is played on a garbage dumb. At least the Sox have a great field.
- Dannyboy

One is easy....Soldier Field grass being bad is a function of the weather.

I have watched them resod that field.....It just doesn't have a chance to take hold when the weather is cold.

The real question is why they stick with real grass.....A bunch of conjecture from safety, to cost, to soccer also being played there....???

The UC is basically because of its size and multi use function.

ok
- soad_live

Others might know more....could be a legit rumor

Others might know more....could be a legit rumor
- philco28

You think?

Does Chi has a 2nd round pick left?

If it were simply about AHL production, St. Pierre would be up and Saad still in Rockford. But it's not. the Hawks are looking at other things—like projectable skills, which is why I think Hayes is still in Rockford, and maybe Pirri too. What roles does either realistically play at the NHL level and add value? Either or both could be up before the ned of the year but it would be due to injury at the NHL level and maybe quite a bit of it.
- John Jaeckel

Round pegs in square holes....usually doesn't work well.

Also the function of a good scout is to seperate top AHL players from those who can play effectively at the next level.