The biggest rivalry during that time was with the North Stars. I had friends/business associates at that time who were tied into the Noth Stars franchise.

I would go up there 2 or 3 times a year for a game and one Sunday they came down here.

There was one guy who was loud mouth when he didn't drink, and when he did ....trouble.

I told them to not cheer too loud when the Stars scored, I also said the last thing to do would be to stand up after a goal.

They were sitting across from me in the Mezz in the opposite corner.

The Stars scored and the loud mouth jumped up clapping and laughing...

Within about 20 seconds he had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at him and numerous guys trying to take a shot at him.

They never stood up again and never returned to the Chicago Stadium.
- Al

We could all share our stories, which could go on and on, I know . . . . Those Blues and North Stars games from the '80s always had folks getting roughed up. I remember quite a fight in the second balcony for a North Stars game.

Speaking of "falling"--I was at a game when somebody shot a bottle rocket out over the ice, and then after being identified he took off running across people's laps (that's really what it looked like) trying to get away from the guys in the orange jackets, and he got above one of those vinyl "exit" signs (I know some of you know what I am talking about) in the Mezzanine, only to have somebody "help" him to the floor about ten feet below--where he hit his head and was out for awhile!

Wild, wild times there for sure.

I did wear a Blackhawks jersey to Philadelphia back in the spring of 1989--where, incidentally, I met Big Al Secord, who was playing for the Flyers (unfortunately--and he pretty much lost a fight to Bob McGill), and then also met Jeremy Roenick's grandfather and girlfriend because I was wearing the jersey (I don't think he had played 10 games in the NHL at that point). Roenick scored that day, but the Blackhawks got killed 7-2 or 7-1, and the Flyers fans were absolutely merciless.

Also wore a Cubs jersey to Shea Stadium back in 1985--wow, that was a mistake! People were throwing things relentlessly, yelling the whole game. . . .

They are probably trying to see if he can be that physical lower line guy they have been looking for. Also doesn't hurt that he is a "higher profile" Stanley find. Those guys get moved along faster.

And if I'm Ben Smith or Jeremy Morin, I want out of this organization ASAP.
- John Jaeckel

This past summer they signed Smith to a two year contract, two way this year and one way next. Unless he's not fully healthy yet, this is really puzzling.

I've been to Boston (Fleet Center), Long Island (Nasseau Coliseum), Newark (the Pru) with my Hawks jersey on and never had much problems. Boston got a little crazy at one point but I was with 4 brother-in-laws (all Bruin fans), so I said you have to get in line cause I have to fight all them first. I little humor always defuses a crisis! Bears jerseys in Boston for Patriots games and at Giant and Jets games. And Cubs Jerseys in Shea and Yankee stadium. Love to were the colors on the road!!!
- moots

Good stuff Mootsy....let me know if you ever do that in Philly

We could all share our stories, which could go on and on, I know . . . . Those Blues and North Stars games from the '80s always had folks getting roughed up. I remember quite a fight in the second balcony for a North Stars game.

Speaking of "falling"--I was at a game when somebody shot a bottle rocket out over the ice, and then after being identified he took off running across people's laps (that's really what it looked like) trying to get away from the guys in the orange jackets, and he got above one of those vinyl "exit" signs (I know some of you know what I am talking about) in the Mezzanine, only to have somebody "help" him to the floor about ten feet below--where he hit his head and was out for awhile!

Wild, wild times there for sure.

I did wear a Blackhawks jersey to Philadelphia back in the spring of 1989--where, incidentally, I met Big Al Secord, who was playing for the Flyers (unfortunately--and he pretty much lost a fight to Bob McGill), and then also met Jeremy Roenick's grandfather and girlfriend because I was wearing the jersey (I don't think he had played 10 games in the NHL at that point). Roenick scored that day, but the Blackhawks got killed 7-2 or 7-1, and the Flyers fans were absolutely merciless.

Also wore a Cubs jersey to Shea Stadium back in 1985--wow, that was a mistake! People were throwing things relentlessly, yelling the whole game. . . .
- AL SEC0RD

Great anecotes...THANKS for sharing

Surprise: Kellen Davis released! Just heard on 670-The Score
- blackhawk24

Never impressed w/ his football IQ

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

Would scoring an OT goal while being cross checked to the ice in the NHL playoffs qualify? How about being sent out on PK against the #1 PP in the league again in the NHL playoffs? I can agree with this point for Pirri or Morin, but not for Smith.

Good stuff Mootsy....let me know if you ever do that in Philly

- philco28

Philly is another beast all together! I think i would have to be with 20 people and it still might be a stupid move!!

This past summer they signed Smith to a two year contract, two way this year and one way next. Unless he's not fully healthy yet, this is really puzzling.
- NewToHockey

The only thing that might make sense regarding calling up Hayes over Smith is the idea of him screening the net on the powerplay.

Maybe the organization feels that Smith is not quite ready yet after returning from injury? The last couple of games I've seen him play, he looks just fine to me.

I guess we'll know more on Friday, Mike.

Not going to debate about your evaluation of Eager as an idiot etc...

By every physical hockey metric......I don't think there would be one GM picking Bollig over Eager.....Not close.

Eager has better hands, a better shot a much better and faster skater.

Bollig isn't allowed 8 mins of ice time now and Q. rolls his lines a lot more.

I have nothing against Bollig but Eager is a better hockey player.
- Al

There is a reason Eager was a first round draft pick. He never lived up to that, but the raw skills are there. Just look at that sick wrister in the finals that was linked a few pages back.

The only thing that might make sense regarding calling up Hayes over Smith is the idea of him screening the net on the powerplay.

Maybe the organization feels that Smith is not quite ready yet after returning from injury? The last couple of games I've seen him play, he looks just fine to me.

I guess we'll know more on Friday, Mike.
- EKolb13

For now I will boil it down to Hayes playing center....If not, simply put it is a front office decision.

Philly is another beast all together! I think i would have to be with 20 people and it still might be a stupid move!!
- moots

Went to a Cubs game in Philly in 2009...both me and my son were wearing Cubs jerseys..the father and son that went with us were Sox fans..(we would rotate trips every year)..they each bought Phillies hats and were cheering for the Phillies and against the Cubs..fans just thought it was two Cub fans with two Phillies fans..never had a problem doing this on any of our dozen or so trips..

There is a reason Eager was a first round draft pick. He never lived up to that, but the raw skills are there. Just look at that sick wrister in the finals that was linked a few pages back.
- NewToHockey

Yes.....I'm sure he would have rather been a goal scorer than a figher but his role was established throughout the OHL and AHL.

Athletic for a big man and not much fat on that frame.

Never impressed w/ his football IQ
- grinder10

He simply could not CATCH the football.

Philly is another beast all together! I think i would have to be with 20 people and it still might be a stupid move!!
- moots

I'd wager YES on that.

The only thing that might make sense regarding calling up Hayes over Smith is the idea of him screening the net on the powerplay.

Maybe the organization feels that Smith is not quite ready yet after returning from injury? The last couple of games I've seen him play, he looks just fine to me.

I guess we'll know more on Friday, Mike.
- EKolb13

Really looking forward to Friday. Hopefully he will be more noticable than when we saw them in December.

Edit: Also, Smith is around 5'11" and 205. I would think he would be tough to move out of the crease on the PP.

Really looking forward to Friday. Hopefully he will be more noticable than when we saw them in December.

Edit: Also, Smith is around 5'11" and 205. I would think he would be tough to move out of the crease on the PP.
- NewToHockey

Ben Smith.... In front of the net...

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MDQVd2sgYSQ

Going to the game against ANA on the 20th... I like our chances with Perry suspended if we aren't still playing like poop by then.

If they have to do something, it should be like the classic penalty shot.

Thing is guys keep trying to be creative and then there's the gimmicks, including a couple by Kaner. And that's where it really gets its labeling of a farce, BS, etc. Like the guy from OTT the other day, Bertuzzi-the-felon, and that jag lips now from the Nux.

Now all that said, I still believe I have a better option.

* Go right to a 3-on-3 SD OT & a 10-min period.
* Minor penalties yield a penalty-shot.
* Switch ends (long change just like per-2)
* No TO's, no shootout.

That will all but guarantee an actual hockey game winner. Put provision in for add'l 10-min SD OT. Switch ends again.
Start games 30 mins sooner to accommodate late-running games.
2 pts for a win, ZERO for a loss.

Now hockey steps up to the plate (pun intended) with the big boys and has just WINS and LOSSES. No ties, no OTL, ROW, SOW, all this f(u)cking-give-everyone-a-trophy-mindset BS that gives hockey just another black eye (again, pun intended).
- blackhawk24

+1
3 on 3 would be fun to watch
the everyone gets a trophy is an added bonus

Talked with an old friend who works in the Buffalo News sports department and he's heard The Sabres are about to blow it up. Take it for what it's worth.

Talked with an old friend who works in the Buffalo News sports department and he's heard The Sabres are about to blow it up. Take it for what it's worth.
- UnnamedSource

Awesome!

Awesome!
- EKolb13

It's a shame.....I really liked there team and thought they would be serious contenders for years to come. Shows how much I know......

Would scoring an OT goal while being cross checked to the ice in the NHL playoffs qualify? How about being sent out on PK against the #1 PP in the league again in the NHL playoffs? I can agree with this point for Pirri or Morin, but not for Smith.
- NewToHockey

I think the original comment was about Pirri and Morin, not Smith.

To me, Smith has had his spot with the Hawks 'stolen' by #65, which often happens in pro sports. The guy pencilled in for the job gets hurt and somebody like Shaw gets a chance, grabs the wheel and makes the most of it and isn't coming out of the lineup anytime soon because the coach likes him and the team is winning.

And you can be sure Andrew Shaw isn't spending a minute worrying about hurt feelings down in Rockford with Smith, Morin, Pirri or anybody else. It's a 'what have you done for me lately world' - up to Ben Smith to get called up and play well enough to stay.

Talked with an old friend who works in the Buffalo News sports department and he's heard The Sabres are about to blow it up. Take it for what it's worth.
- UnnamedSource

Not a surprise really...

Pegula's efforts so far have not worked. Throwing money around doesn't always yield results, but the fans there know they have a guy who's not hesitant to try.

Not a surprise really...

Pegula's efforts so far have not worked. Throwing money around doesn't always yield results, but the fans there know they have a guy who's not hesitant to try.
- ArlingtonRob

I figured they had some nice young talent that would keep progressing. Most of them came thru the organization together and BAM!......everything just fell apart.

Corey Perry gets 4 games.
- MartiniMan

that was a bad hit by perry...with a full 82 gme schedule he might have gotten 6 or 8....so he will miss the hwk gme and ducks see what their life with out perry will be like should decide to blow up their nice season and a chance for cup by trading him!