Roussel can have a nice career as an agitator/4th line guy if he wants.
- John Jaeckel

Seabs should have beat his ass....it worries me that he didn't

JJ have you heard that the hawks are inquiring about Max Talbot?

and the only hawk defenseman we thought could handle himself-CAN'T!!!"

Don't read too much into it. Seabs can handle himself and the league knows it. That was a lucky punch by Roussell. Roussell was skating away from him in the 3rd period and I would not be surprised if Seabrook goes after him next game.

Quennville needs to use a tough lineup against the Avs. They were running everybody last game and no one responded until Bickell grabbed Landeskog in the 3rd.

The Hawks have had each others backs this year better than the last 2 but they need to get even better.

Seabs should have beat his ass....it worries me that he didn't
- southernhawk

Seabs' went in half-hearted...next time HE WON'T.

What happened to the AVS?
- UnnamedSource

That was one of the most horrible predictions I have ever made
Call me idiot boy!

What was I thinking

When Sharp returns the second line will be vastly improved


I suspect we will be adding 1 Forward in the 1 million dollar range
No idea who that would be but in two weeks or so we will find out

I would be shocked if any current roster players are moved
We have only 1 loss on the road all year....remarkable

Can't believe both the Rangers and Canucks may very well be scrambling for a playoff spot in the final week of the season
Hard to imagine

That was one of the most horrible predictions I have ever made
Call me idiot boy!

What was I thinking


- PEIHawkFan

Idiot Boy.

When Sharp returns the second line will be vastly improved


I suspect we will be adding 1 Forward in the 1 million dollar range
No idea who that would be but in two weeks or so we will find out

I would be shocked if any current roster players are moved
We have only 1 loss on the road all year....remarkable

Can't believe both the Rangers and Canucks may very well be scrambling for a playoff spot in the final week of the season
Hard to imagine
- PEIHawkFan

makes me so happy , hate those teams.

makes me so happy , hate those teams.
- Dojodan

You would think both coaches get the Axe if that happens!! That would be funny, and Torts press conference would also be a classic I would think!!

Seabs should have beat his ass....it worries me that he didn't
- southernhawk

Seabrook was too casual...Wrote same today.

Officials should have sent Roussel off for 10 long before....


Blackhawks run a clinic in Dallas, rollover the Stars 8-1 - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/ZiYfwM

You would think both coaches get the Axe if that happens!! That would be funny, and Torts press conference would also be a classic I would think!!
- moots

Would love Torts to coach the Hawks strictly for entertainment value...

I thought of a interesting way to pass the time......out of the following up and coming teams in the West, which one do think will be the greatest threat to the Hawks and other top WC teams for the next 5 + years.... Teams should be considered by talent, sustainability, and depth of organization. The teams are:

1- Wild
2- Avalanche
3- Oilers
4- Jets
5- Blues

I put the Blues in because they are still relatively young and last year was the first time they made the play offs in a while. You can also pick another team as well if you'd like.

My pick : Wild Good veteran and youth mix with great system of talent.

That was one of the most horrible predictions I have ever made
Call me idiot boy!

What was I thinking


- PEIHawkFan

We were all wondering.....

Seabrook was too casual...Wrote same today.

Officials should have sent Roussel off for 10 long before....


Blackhawks run a clinic in Dallas, rollover the Stars 8-1 - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/ZiYfwM
- Al

Real good write up Al, Seebs was a little slow on the draw and paid the price. Hope it was merely a flesh wound!

I thought of a interesting way to pass the time......out of the following up and coming teams in the West, which one do think will be the greatest threat to the Hawks and other top WC teams for the next 5 + years.... Teams should be considered by talent, sustainability, and depth of organization. The teams are:

1- Wild
2- Avalanche
3- Oilers
4- Blue Jackets
5- Blues

I put the Blues in because they are still relatively young and last year was the first time they made the play offs in a while. You can also pick another team as well if you'd like.

My pick : Wild Good veteran and youth mix with great system of talent.
- UnnamedSource

Well not the Blue Jacket's cause they will be in the East!

Well not the Blue Jacket's cause they will be in the East!
- moots

fixed

I thought of a interesting way to pass the time......out of the following up and coming teams in the West, which one do think will be the greatest threat to the Hawks and other top WC teams for the next 5 + years.... Teams should be considered by talent, sustainability, and depth of organization. The teams are:

1- Wild
2- Avalanche
3- Oilers
4- Jets
5- Blues

I put the Blues in because they are still relatively young and last year was the first time they made the play offs in a while. You can also pick another team as well if you'd like.

My pick : Wild Good veteran and youth mix with great system of talent.
- UnnamedSource

I'll go Blues. Good goaltending and the Wild will have cap issues that will make it tough for them to surround Parise/Suter with talent.

We were all wondering.....

- UnnamedSource

At least I am a good sport
New nickname is shortened to IB
Idiot Boy

More importantly we can all look forward to being in the playoffs and we have the potential for a long run

Of course if the Avs do get hot I will be back looking like a genius
For now I remain Idiot Boy

At least I am a good sport
New nickname is shortened to IB
Idiot Boy

More importantly we can all look forward to being in the playoffs and we have the potential for a long run

Of course if the Avs do get hot I will be back looking like a genius
For now I remain Idiot Boy
- PEIHawkFan

Avs have a good future just not this year.....Being in the same division as Chicago, Minnesota and St Louis should be interesting for the next decade.

Have you played full contact? Do you understand the toll hard hits take out of a team especially when your team doesn't really hit back to try to recapture some of that energy? You do realize there is a reason most teams do load up on size and physicality and will overlook talent to do so. It's not unrealistic to believe the Hawks team as now constructed could win against 4 physical opponents who won't be overly concerned with the Hawks powerplay, but it is also not unrealistic to believe the physical gauntlet the Hawks will have to face will wind up wearing the Hawks out physically and emotionally.

Due to the Hawks' having a very average powerplay it opens them up for much more than being hit. If a team with an off the charts penalty kill, like Boston, play the Hawks do you not think we'll see a repeat of the 2011 cup finals where Boston's physical manhandling eventually not only wore the Canucks down but rendered most of them totally ineffective?

So either the Hawks have to improve that power play or they need to add a physical dimension to offset other teams physicality.
- paulr

First, yes played plenty of check hockey. I am aware of all the values you and others mention. There is a big difference in my book between playing physical hockey as the game dictates and running around like fools and trying to take peoples heads off.

I have been one of the most consistent regarding the Hawks PP being a huge issue, going back over a year now. Especially considering the style they want to play.

While the Bruins are a tough team, they also have their hands ful matching up with the Hawks. Charra is similar to Pronger, in that once you get past him, you have an average defence and one that is slow of foot. Balanced scoring and skill make the Hawks tough to match up with. Charra cant skate the whole game and be effective.

Nowhere in any of my posts have I said don't try to improve the team or get tougher, but this straw man/dream world idea of adding all these "big" guys as though they are falling off of trees and actually blend in with your team game is for the most part fantasy land. That is why I have proposed guys like Hendricks and look for other specific type guys that add a little more character. Hendricks can do all Mayers can and more and actually skate up and down the ice with the rest of the team.

This idea that the Cannucks were totally outmatched and blown out of the rink is revisionist history. Tim Thomas won the series for the Bruins. He outplayed Luongo. Yes Sedins were quiet and there was the challenge to scoring, but to say they were just blown away and played a 7 game series is hyperbole in my book.

I get the whole grind thing and those that fear the Kings or Bruins, and we will lose our spirit mindset, I just think that is simply ridiculous. The way many talk about the Hawks as if they are just a bunch of weak bantam kids playing against men is another exaggeration.

I hear all the wish talk of getting that big guy or grinder or whatever, what I do not hear are names and what subtractions one would make to obtain these guys. In my opinion, much of the talk is akin to me sitting on my couch saying, man I wish I had a million dollars. Does not mean I am against improving the team or adding some toughness, but lets keep some perspective. And most importantly stop running away from being the team we are and how and why we are successful.

When Sharp returns the second line will be vastly improved


I suspect we will be adding 1 Forward in the 1 million dollar range
No idea who that would be but in two weeks or so we will find out

I would be shocked if any current roster players are moved
We have only 1 loss on the road all year....remarkable

Can't believe both the Rangers and Canucks may very well be scrambling for a playoff spot in the final week of the season
Hard to imagine
- PEIHawkFan

Sharp for Iggy. Win a cup, shed a loser of a cap hit, and avoid Salary Cap Hell Part II. Done.

I think you know, I'm messin' with ya. I think that low end teams, and in this case Washington, will be putting veterans with expiring contracts up for auction to the highest bidder. Hendricks' value may be a 4th and or a middling prospect but I have a feeling he will fetch more. SB has shown himself to be pretty conservative so do you think he would/should overpay for added depth?
- paulr

I believe they have a short list of guys and are prepared to pay a little premium to make it happen. If they are the targeted guys that is.

I'll keep on saying it, it's absolutely Kane can continue to put up points when being stuck with a turd like Bollus. This is a different Patrick Kane, and could be just the beginning of what this kid can become. The skill set has always been there, but now we are seeing him fully committed on and OFF the ice. it took Roenick a few years to figure out, and no reason why Kane can't be wearing an "A" in a year or two.

this team still needs a faceoff man. that can't be ignored because for every 8-1 win, they'll be a few losses where a face off win here or there would have been the difference.

Bowman is already in full spin mode saying if they don't make a trade "he's happy with his team". Of course he'll say that, but he better be proactive between now and April 4th, because a lot of other GMs will shorten the talent gap....
- SteveRain

http://video.blackhawks.n...,370&event=CHI618&lang=en

How on earth does Kane put up with that turd? Amazing.

Obviously not....100% agreed. Wearing an opponent's D men down is a very underrated variable. Look no further then 2008-09 when they took out Phaneuff. Why? Because they continually pounded the body. Hawks D men were pummeled non stop last spring against Phoenix, and it led to huge turnovers and timely goals for the Coyotes.

Guys can take a few hits to make a play, but getting hammered each and every night will take it's a toll...no question,
- SteveRain

My goodness, why should we even play another game this year if the other team might try to hit us.

You lost last spring because you carried the play and were 1 for 19 on the power play. That is why you lost. Regardless of CC's two soft OT goals, he kept his team in the game and gave them a chance to win.

The hawks by and large have done a nice job of finishing checks on the forecheck all year, you continue that and more importantly control the puck more often then not, on balance we win.

Roussel can have a nice career as an agitator/4th line guy if he wants.
- John Jaeckel

And I would take him to play with us. Has decent hands too.