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.
- RickJ

I think that is exactly what happened...nice observation

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.
- UnnamedSource

They just never seemed to get any key leadership it seems. They did so well for so well on tight budget, the Predators of the East, and then they spend some money, but mostly got 2nd tier stars. Guys who compliment great players, but never seemed to be able to take their teams to other levels. Speaking of Erhoff, Leopold, Leino...

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

OTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT !!!!!!!

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.
- RickJ

I agree with this.

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.
- UnnamedSource

Feels bad for the fans in Buffalo. They support all their teams, buy the jerseys and want a winner so bad. No corporate suits at the First Niagara Center, just hockey fans.

Problem started with signing Ville Leino to a fat contract, then Regehr, then overpaying Tyler Myers too soon, then Ryan Miller getting hurt and playing poorly ever since. And they have a 5'4" #2C and a 5'5" LW. It wasn't Lindy Ruff's fault, compsition of the team is terrible.

I agree with this.
- NewToHockey

+1.

They just never seemed to get any key leadership it seems. They did so well for so well on tight budget, the Predators of the East, and then they spend some money, but mostly got 2nd tier stars. Guys who compliment great players, but never seemed to be able to take their teams to other levels. Speaking of Erhoff, Leopold, Leino...
- TrueGrit

True. It also didn't help when their "super star" goalie never equaled his performance in the olympics.

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.
- UnnamedSource

There's a fine line my friend between success and failure...that's one reason why I'm no where near the crowd that claims the Hawks are the favorite for the cup this year. That is crazy talk.

The parity in this league is real and one unexpected point streak doesn't change that.

They just never seemed to get any key leadership it seems. They did so well for so well on tight budget, the Predators of the East, and then they spend some money, but mostly got 2nd tier stars. Guys who compliment great players, but never seemed to be able to take their teams to other levels. Speaking of Erhoff, Leopold, Leino...
- TrueGrit

Wow...now that guy is something. Talk about stealing money.

Leino should give back his salary and beg for forgiveness...

...now back to the real world.

There's a fine line my friend between success and failure...that's one reason why I'm no where near the crowd that claims the Hawks are the favorite for the cup this year. That is crazy talk.

The parity in this league is real and one unexpected point streak doesn't change that.
- ArlingtonRob

remember the year the hawks won cup......the 5-8 seeds in the east all advanced to the second round.

remember the year the hawks won cup......the 5-8 seeds in the east all advanced to the second round.
- UnnamedSource

Exactly...

...it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Feels bad for the fans in Buffalo. They support all their teams, buy the jerseys and want a winner so bad. No corporate suits at the First Niagara Center, just hockey fans.

Problem started with signing Ville Leino to a fat contract, then Regehr, then overpaying Tyler Myers too soon, then Ryan Miller getting hurt and playing poorly ever since. And they have a 5'4" #2C and a 5'5" LW. It wasn't Lindy Ruff's fault, compsition of the team is terrible.
- RickJ

Hopefully they can get a bunch in return for Miller if he is traded.

Feels bad for the fans in Buffalo. They support all their teams, buy the jerseys and want a winner so bad. No corporate suits at the First Niagara Center, just hockey fans.

Problem started with signing Ville Leino to a fat contract, then Regehr, then overpaying Tyler Myers too soon, then Ryan Miller getting hurt and playing poorly ever since. And they have a 5'4" #2C and a 5'5" LW. It wasn't Lindy Ruff's fault, compsition of the team is terrible.
- RickJ

Pegula has done a fine job of ruining that team.

I think that is exactly what happened...nice observation
- bogiedoc

Another thing about Andrew Shaw - I think he was shaken up pretty good by Stastny's elbow the head and a few games earlier when Wiz speared him in the gonads. But they are going to have to scrape his dead body off the ice to keep him out of the lineup. He's not giving his NHL job back to anybody easily.

OTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT !!!!!!!
- wonthecup10

I said it once, Ill say it again.

Trading for Ott makes sense on many levels.

C'mon Stan make it happen!

I said it once, Ill say it again.

Trading for Ott makes sense on many levels.

C'mon Stan make it happen!
- Hawkster

Hated him when he played in Dallas, but would love him if he played in Chicago. Bottom 6 C, gritty, good on the dot, PK, tough and can hit.

I said it once, Ill say it again.

Trading for Ott makes sense on many levels.

C'mon Stan make it happen!
- Hawkster

Love him and his name has always come up on these boards. He makes near $3M so who goes the other way? Or does Stan offer a load of prospects and deal with cap woes in the offseason?

EDIT: Imagine him in place of Saad and taking draws on the 4th line...

I said it once, Ill say it again.

Trading for Ott makes sense on many levels.

C'mon Stan make it happen!
- Hawkster

The one level it makes no sense and the reason it will not happen is his contract: one year left @ 2.9 mil and then UFA. Draft choices and prospects don't get it done. Salary/roster player has to go the other way. And I am not sure the Sabres are all that interested in trading him. What on the Hwks roster would interest them: Bicks or Stal both UFA's, Bolland? Similar point production to OTT but 4 years younger. I don't see Bowman trading Bolland during this season however!

I have been lucky enough to attend two blackhawks games in the past couple years. I went to a game in Ottawa during the magical 2009-2010 season when the Blackhawks lost 4-1 and the crowd was booing Huet. It was my first live Blackhawks game and I remember it hurt watching them lose but they were in the middle of an 8 game road trip. I was seated right behind the Hawks net for 2/3 periods and the Ottawa fans gave it to Huet all night mercilessly. I wore my Kane sweater loud and proud and although I did get some chirping from the locals it was pretty mild mannered.

Next year I got to see a game in Toronto, and I was wearing my Kane jersey again and I was surrounded by Leafs fans. The Leafs fans were all very respectful and we chirped eachother throughout the game and they were all great sports about it

To me part of the fun of going to a live hockey game is being able to get loud and emotional and chirp your fellow hockey fans. But it's all for good fun, and if anybody gets disrespectful or takes things too seriously the fun goes away pretty quick. I haven't been to many other NHL games so I cant really speak about the fans at other rinks but I never once felt uncomfortable in Ottawa or Toronto, I think the Leafs fans were used to having other teams fans come in and make fun of them anyways.
- Ballam

Dont try that at a flyers game unless you are a navy seal

Exactly...

...it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
- ArlingtonRob

Lets hope the egos at 1901 w Madison in the ivory tower see that as well. Instead of taking interviews to make fluff pieces that much sweeter.

April 4th we'll see where this team stands, and even more importantly, what teams have made improvements.

Dont try that at a flyers game unless you are a navy seal
- molly2522

If you're a navy seal you wouldn't have any trouble with flyers clowns. My pa was ex-air force and he always told stories about seals and their drinking habits when he went to seal hangouts in california. safe to say, those guys are beyond insane when it comes to alcohol. Hockey bullys don't have anything on them.

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

John Scott???

John Scott???
- DarthKane

Top d-man for the Sabres when this is all over

John Scott???
- DarthKane

Move him to 2nd line center......

John Scott???
- DarthKane

well, you can bring john scott back...............................only if he promises to just hang out with us fans in a bar who can't play and pound beers. i think that is the perfect place for him, right?