Smith and Pirri have really done all they can at Rockford, so I can see why they would be pissed. But, like you said, who comes off the big roster to get them a shot? Hayes provides a different element because of his size. Perhaps they feel he's a bit safer in terms of playing at both ends, and gives them more options. I don't know, just making excuses for the front office.
- eburgio

Have done all they can in Rockford? Not so sure about that - how about making the playoffs for once and showing what you can do under that type of pressure in a real man's league. Those guys just happen to be 2 of Rockford's better players but obviously the consensus in the Hawks organization is that they don't fit the bill in Chicagoland - yet or maybe ever. Every NHL team has guys playing in the minors who never seem to get a chance. If our guys were so good, teams like Buffalo, NYI, Columbus, Calgary would be asking for them and would be willing to make Stanbow a fair deal in trade to get them - draft picks or a player off the NHL roster he could use.

They should just change the rules to you can skate anywhere any direction untill you shoot the puck. Thats going to be the new move of giving a snow shower to the goalie blinding him prior to shooting. Smart move not so sure its a sportsmanlike move
- molly2522

yeah...as shooters try to get more "creative" you get stuff like this...

as others have stated the frozen puck flip has to go...win lose or draw on the ice skating...

Per Hockeyinsiderr

Looks like the Bruins don't want to extend Horton. He'll either be traded or hit the FA market in the summer. Going to be a deep draft followed by a deep free agency.

Pirri is the guy who I think is ticketed for another organization.
- John Jaeckel

JJ...it sounds like you really disagree with Stan recalling Hayes over Smith, Pirri or Morin. Was the decision really that bad? In reality none of these guys will be a super star and at best they'll provide some lower line depth.

I agree that Pirri is destined for another organization. I hope for his sake he gets a shot at the NHL and if Stan can include Pirri in a package to bring back a solid return then it's a win/win.

Please do not use "showcase" as the concept as presented does not exist.

Once you are in professional sports, at any level, you have arrived. There is an old adage in minor league baseball. That is you are not playing to impress your manager and/or gm, you are playing for all 30 teams to see. It is the standard response all gms give to all agents when they lobby for their guy to get a promotion. They say, he is on the team and has a uniform. Meaning if your guy is as good as you think he is, then he just has to be ready for his opportunities.

If somebody sees something they like, they will likely keep it under their hat. If a team likes Hayes, the last thing they want is him getting on a stage and showing the other 28 teams what they may have missed, thus making their potential acquisition more difficult.

In reality, unless you are out of contention, all players are brought up strategically to help fill a teams need and serve a specific purpose. As to how well they will perform, well that is up for debate, but rest assured guys are being put in place as part of a plan for the purpose of improving the team.

The debate as to if he is right guy, well we can and will bat that around here all day. Ben Smith is a guy that adds depth to organization. I still think he is thought of highly. Has great hockey IQ and can play up and down the line up in just about any role you give him. Personally, I think Morin needs to be given a shot to play with Kane/better players.
- TrueGrit

When you get into telling other people what a they can or can't say and how they should say it, it takes away from the really good posts you contribute.

The media in most sports use the term 'Showcase' in reference to a team playing a specific player to get other teams to see how he plays in hopes of a trade. Maybe showcase isn't the correct term, but it's an accepted one and most people accept how it is used.

As for the Hawks 'showcasing' a player at this point in a season where they are serious contender, I doubt it. Hayes is up because Management and possibly the coaching staff feel he is the best player to fill the specific hole they are looking to fill.

So hwks now get a chance to be a strk spoiler...break-up the bluejackets: 8 str with points since losing to Hwks 1-0. Team has played a lot of 1 goal gmes. I suspect they will be all in to brk that long losing strk vs the Hwks..what is it 10 now.

Have done all they can in Rockford? Not so sure about that - how about making the playoffs for once and showing what you can do under that type of pressure in a real man's league. Those guys just happen to be 2 of Rockford's better players but obviously the consensus in the Hawks organization is that they don't fit the bill in Chicagoland - yet or maybe ever. Every NHL team has guys playing in the minors who never seem to get a chance. If our guys were so good, teams like Buffalo, NYI, Columbus, Calgary would be asking for them and would be willing to make Stanbow a fair deal in trade to get them - draft picks or a player off the NHL roster he could use.
- RickJ

I meant on an individual level.

Per Hockeyinsiderr

Looks like the Bruins don't want to extend Horton. He'll either be traded or hit the FA market in the summer. Going to be a deep draft followed by a deep free agency.
- teh_HAWKZ

Isn't this the BS txt'r/tweeter/facebooker ??

Then why wouldn't that apply to Hayes?
- John Jaeckel

You could say the same about Saad or Shaw as well.

I'm probably off base here but if Stanbow tells Q "I can give you Hayes, Pirri, Morin, Smith right away" then it becomes Q's choice short term because I'm sure he has watched all of these kids play.

Olesz and Ben Eager on waivers according to Fat Bob McKenzie

Per Hockeyinsiderr

Looks like the Bruins don't want to extend Horton. He'll either be traded or hit the FA market in the summer. Going to be a deep draft followed by a deep free agency.
- teh_HAWKZ

Using Hockeyinsiderr as a source is no better than asking a hotdog vendor for hockey rumors. Best to avoid that guy, he's a clown.

Olesz and Ben Eager on waivers according to Fat Bob McKenzie
- philco28

Do you think Fat Bob rides a Fat Bob?

You could say the same about Saad or Shaw as well.

I'm probably off base here but if Stanbow tells Q "I can give you Hayes, Pirri, Morin, Smith right away" then it becomes Q's choice short term because I'm sure he has watched all of these kids play.
- RickJ

I would hope the coaches are making the ultimate decision on who will be on the team.

Olesz and Ben Eager on waivers according to Fat Bob McKenzie
- philco28

Be nice now.

Do you think Fat Bob rides a Fat Bob?


- prd797

Use to work in and around him...but not with him...he's a fat, lazy, doorknob

Be nice now.
- paulr

He was nice. That was his G-rated version.

Use to work in and around him...but not with him...he's a fat, lazy, doorknob
- philco28

He is still an outstanding beer league player for a fat lazy doorknob.

Olesz and Ben Eager on waivers according to Fat Bob McKenzie
- philco28

wouldnt be surprised if CHI put a claim in on Eager to send Bollig down

Please do not use "showcase" as the concept as presented does not exist.

Once you are in professional sports, at any level, you have arrived. There is an old adage in minor league baseball. That is you are not playing to impress your manager and/or gm, you are playing for all 30 teams to see. It is the standard response all gms give to all agents when they lobby for their guy to get a promotion. They say, he is on the team and has a uniform. Meaning if your guy is as good as you think he is, then he just has to be ready for his opportunities.

If somebody sees something they like, they will likely keep it under their hat. If a team likes Hayes, the last thing they want is him getting on a stage and showing the other 28 teams what they may have missed, thus making their potential acquisition more difficult.

In reality, unless you are out of contention, all players are brought up strategically to help fill a teams need and serve a specific purpose. As to how well they will perform, well that is up for debate, but rest assured guys are being put in place as part of a plan for the purpose of improving the team.

The debate as to if he is right guy, well we can and will bat that around here all day. Ben Smith is a guy that adds depth to organization. I still think he is thought of highly. Has great hockey IQ and can play up and down the line up in just about any role you give him. Personally, I think Morin needs to be given a shot to play with Kane/better players.
- TrueGrit

Thinking from purely a business perspective, I think it's foolish to think that GM's never have the motiviation to showcase a player in a specific role to inflate possible trade value.

The perpsectives you give here are various. One of the player/agent relationship and its dialogue with a team, another of a coaches perspective in call-ups to fill a need. Those perspectives I understand and agree with, although I find them - to a degree - arbitrary to the whole "showcase" concept.

You also give an opposing GM's perpsective (bolded above) in not wanting a possible trade target to be noticed. In this logic, you are actually proving the effectiveness of a show-case by a team looking to shop a player/prospect. Presence and performance on a big stage can - right or wrong - create value. Hype is a powerful business tool.

To make a sweeping statement that "showcasing" players for the sake of increasing their perceived value does not exist is, in my opinion, too broad a generalization, and a touch naive.

While it may not be a priority of players, agents, or coaches, I can comfortably state that it is not completely ignored by the front office. Again, speaking from a business perspective (as that is my background), if something can be done to plausibly increase the value or perceived value of your product/commodity, and this increased value can grant leverage in a business deal, it will be at least dicussed behind closed doors. Not necessarily acted upon, but it will be talked about.

Will it be openly advertised? Certainly not - that defeats its purpose. But the possiblity of showing what your players can do on the biggest of stages in effort to plausibly increase interest and inflate return value cannot be completely be ignored by those paid to make personnel decisions. It would simply defy logic.

wouldnt be surprised if CHI put a claim in on Eager to send Bollig down
- FourFeathers773

Loved Benny! Who could forget the snipe in Game 3!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAYi2R1updU

Loved Benny! Who could forget the snipe in Game 3!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAYi2R1updU
- nickmo2699

I remember his crazy eyes when he fought Shane O'Brien back in 09 during the incident known as the Canadian Hair-Pulling Criss

I remember his crazy eyes when he fought Shane O'Brien back in 09 during the incident known as the Canadian Hair-Pulling Criss
- prd797

It was Kevin Bieksa

Loved Benny! Who could forget the snipe in Game 3!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAYi2R1updU
- nickmo2699

Game 2 actually but who was in front of the net on Hoss's goal? I'll let JJ answer that one.

It was Kevin Bieksa
- paulr

Whoops. In my mind a $hithead is a $hithead, got the two confused.

Whoops. In my mind a $hithead is a $hithead, got the two confused.
- prd797

How could you NOT get them confused when they were on the same team? Talk about a full bag of d!cks....