I'm glad someone appreciates my humor.
- EKolb13

I see we have a new troll too.

Bouwmeester will play tonight, so the D-Pairings will be more like this:

Bouwmeester/Pietrangelo
Leopold/Shattenkirk
Jackman/Polak

This should be a measuring stick for the Blues, and while you can't expect Bouwmeester to walk in and gel instantly, it should be interesting to see how the new look defense plays together tonight. I expect this to be a hard fought game tonight, and all I can hope for is that Elliott is solid in net and we somehow get a point from this.

A bit unfair: if Handzus is as good on face-offs as advertised, an important add - on PK / PP, late in games in the defensive zone - can put him out there with Toews late in games in case Toews gets kicked off the dot (as he often does).

Wish they had done more, but they did do more than nothing.

Also, not sure which competitors made bold moves: not LA or Annie, CBJ did, Minn did, not sure who else. Don't care about the East right now - have to get thru the West.

I'm not apologizing for what they did or didn't do: wish they have done a couple more things. But - let's let it play out - we'll know for sure in 5 to 10 weeks.
- StLBravesFan

At least this year we can say that Stan filled a need. I'm willing to see how it plays out before calling for his head again. I am far from a fan of his, but I'll be patient for now.

If what JJ heard was true and the Stars refused a better offer from the Hawks for Jagr, then you really can't blame them for doing nothing.

The only trade that scares me is the Washington/Nashville one. Forsberg coming to the Central is NOT a good thing. That guy looked like a total stud in the WJC.

I think the point of him on wing is there is less responsibilty with and w/o the puck and it is easier to slide in and out of the open spaces and get opportunities...

I think Sharp thinks he would get hit less in the middle , and that part of the reason for the answer....
- wiz1901

This.

Yeah guy. Taking a sh*t out in bumblef*ck illinois must be the highlight of your day. I'm honestly surprised you have running water out there.
- Taynos

Wow. You signed up just to share this brilliant observation?

Wow. You signed up just to share this brilliant observation?
- NewToHockey

Good one. We Illinois-ians are nothing but backwater country folk. We just got Miami Vice on the television.
- teh_HAWKZ

Aww man you have Miami Vice? I am envious............

Bouwmeester will play tonight, so the D-Pairings will be more like this:

Bouwmeester/Pietrangelo
Leopold/Shattenkirk
Jackman/Polak

This should be a measuring stick for the Blues, and while you can't expect Bouwmeester to walk in and gel instantly, it should be interesting to see how the new look defense plays together tonight. I expect this to be a hard fought game tonight, and all I can hope for is that Elliott is solid in net and we somehow get a point from this.
- jpl0219

No here question bBouwmeester's excellent defensive play, and the transition to the Blues will be seemless.
It is the team being able to stay confident in Jake Allen and Brian Elliott that is the biggest concern.....

Fixed.
- EKolb13

Now you're just getting picky....

I heard from an angry knowledgeable fan, calling for Bowman's head.
His argument was Bowman had all the chance to use every non-roster asset (or even Stalberg, "because he is leaving…") RIGHT NOW.
The window IS closing.
Three more years on Toews and Kane before they BOLT as Unrestricted FREE AGENTS or resign and take up 24 million of the Cap Space in 2015-16.
Already the present RFA and UFA roster players are causing a re-build much like the one that took place after the Stanley Cup win.


- wiz1901

Lots of good points as usual wiz, but I keep seeing you say this and I have to say I disagree strongly. There is no chance they make 24 million combined. Inflation just wont increase the contracts that much. If (and they most likely wont because they are golden gooses of the organization) they do get to FA, 12 mil would still be ridiculous. Even 20 mil would be stretching it in my opinion.

Bouwmeester will play tonight, so the D-Pairings will be more like this:

Bouwmeester/Pietrangelo
Leopold/Shattenkirk
Jackman/Polak

This should be a measuring stick for the Blues, and while you can't expect Bouwmeester to walk in and gel instantly, it should be interesting to see how the new look defense plays together tonight. I expect this to be a hard fought game tonight, and all I can hope for is that Elliott is solid in net and we somehow get a point from this.
- jpl0219

Was the problem your D, or Elliot regressing and Halak being hurt?

Hey, running water is awesome. I've even got electricity and internet in my little tar paper shack here in BFE.

As for a little trash talking, what's wrong with that? That's ok, you can throw a temper-tantrum about it if it makes you feel better.

Enjoy Boumeester and his contract. I'm sure it will screw up retaining some of those prized RFA's the Blues are carrying.

- EKolb13

Seriously, why is a guy from Mizzourah talking trash? Must have run out of mayonaisse sammiches and needs something to do...

At least this year we can say that Stan filled a need. I'm willing to see how it plays out before calling for his head again. I am far from a fan of his, but I'll be patient for now.

If what JJ heard was true and the Stars refused a better offer from the Hawks for Jagr, then you really can't blame them for doing nothing.

The only trade that scares me is the Washington/Nashville one. Forsberg coming to the Central is NOT a good thing. That guy looked like a total stud in the WJC.
- NewToHockey

Throw him in Nashville and Trotz will neuter his offensive ability....

Now you're just getting picky....
- DarthKane

Hey, you gave me the name "Crankypants," so in turn I can be as "picky" as I want to be about things you post.

This.
- EKolb13

You may bet hit less along the sideboards, but playing center is much harder, both mentally and physically.

Seriously, why is a guy from Mizzourah talking trash? Must have run out of mayonaisse sammiches and needs something to do...
- eburgio

If he's eating "mayonaisse sammiches," there must be a squirrel shortage down in them parts...

No here question bBouwmeester's excellent defensive play, and the transition to the Blues will be seemless.
It is the team being able to stay confident in Jake Allen and Brian Elliott that is the biggest concern.....
- wiz1901

I'm much more confident in Allen than I am in Elliott. I can't say for sure, but i don't think Elliott would have started a game the rest of the year if not for Halak's injury. I believe they would have called Allen up after the Rosters expanded. That's really all it comes down to is trust in the goaltender.

Btw, I know I read Hossa is supposed to be back tonight, will Sharp be back as well?

You may bet hit less along the sideboards, but playing center is much harder, both mentally and physically.
- rollpards19

I meant "this" about the first part of Wiz's post. I guess I should have highlighted that.

I went back and fixed it.

Aww man you have Miami Vice? I am envious............
- droe411

Yeah - how come we get endless reruns of Dragnet and Adam 12 and Emergency, but no reruns of Miami Vice?

The only trade that scares me is the Washington/Nashville one. Forsberg coming to the Central is NOT a good thing. That guy looked like a total stud in the WJC.
- NewToHockey

It puzzle me to death....

There must be soem underlying reason on moving the kid, besides the idea of "now " help in Erat and "soon" help in Latta.

I wonder if the kid's agent is the same guy who made Calgary cough Tim Erixson to the Rangers?
To me, the Forsberg team must have told the Caps he was returning into the draft...or why would you you draft a guy and quit on him?

IF the Capitals where so hot to get warm bodies why wouldn't you use the "superstar" Russian Kuznetzov , who may never come over, or drop in for a cup of coffee and decide he wants big ruble and less commitment to three zone play????

(yeah like Nashville wanst to try another Russian forward on for size.)

I have a hard time figuring out why Bowman sits on all this cap space (real and pro-rated) but does not use it every year. If nothing else sign some bums in the off season and then use them to gain draft picks at the deadline. Calgary even got a pick for a waiver wire pickup.

Enjoy Boumeester and his contract. I'm sure it will screw up retaining some of those prized RFA's the Blues are carrying.

- EKolb13

No doubt Jay-Bo's contract allowed the Blues to trade for him relatively cheap. A mid-1st and some B level prospects. He is overpriced, that's for sure. But fills the gaping hole on the left side of the 1st pairing, logs 25m a game and has never really played with a good corp of puck movers on the blue line in his career. He doesn't need to be the best defenseman on the team. Tonight will be a tough test in a tough barn. Should be a playoff style hockey.

I wish the Hawks could have added a little more grit. But there isn't a trade that makes me mad and say "Wish we got him". I would have liked Brassard but I sure wasn't gonna give up Sharp to doit.... ( much to Ogie's chagrin....)

More than happy to let this record breaking team fight for the cup. To me it's all about getting Crawford as playoff ready as possible.
- yahoodi

Practically speaking, for the deal the Rangers got I'd have shipped Sharp right off...lots of issues get solved with that trade (L2-C and some size and grit). As a 'fan' I would love to see Sharp retire a hawk, but practically speaking he (and Stalberg) is a perfect trading option because the Hawks are LOADED at wing. You trade from a position of strength to fill a weakness.

One could argue this all changes if he is moves to L2-Center. If he goes there then he is at least as good as Brassard there (maybe better) and the chemistry of the team is not disrupted.

TDL is over. I am ready to get on board and root the team on.

It puzzle me to death....

There must be soem underlying reason on moving the kid, besides the idea of "now " help in Erat and "soon" help in Latta.

I wonder if the kid's agent is the same guy who made Calgary cough Tim Erixson to the Rangers?
To me, the Forsberg team must have told the Caps he was returning into the draft...or why would you you draft a guy and quit on him?

IF the Capitals where so hot to get warm bodies why wouldn't you use the "superstar" Russian Kuznetzov , who may never come over, or drop in for a cup of coffee and decide he wants big ruble and less commitment to three zone play????

(yeah like Nashville wanst to try another Russian forward on for size.)
- wiz1901

Good point. The NHL Network Deadline recap show made the same remark. Why trade the future (Forsberg) for the rest of this season and maybe next?

Lots of good points as usual wiz, but I keep seeing you say this and I have to say I disagree strongly. There is no chance they make 24 million combined. Inflation just wont increase the contracts that much. If (and they most likely wont because they are golden gooses of the organization) they do get to FA, 12 mil would still be ridiculous. Even 20 mil would be stretching it in my opinion.
- rollpards19

I would be naive to think that the PRESENT Patrick Kane could not get himself a balnk check back home to Buffalo...
....and ditto to Tazer and Winnipeg.

This was part of his argument...but I have to think based on Ryan Getszlaf's deal these guys can and will ask 12 mil in three years....