why did he leave....someone hurt his feelings?
- UnnamedSource

He has feelings

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?


I read this am that they have concerns about his skating ability. I've never seen Forsborg play, but that's what I read why they were down on him.
- Earpaniac

Someone should tell Washington to scout better then........

He must be the new winner of "Q's Dog House".
- z1990z

Think he's been subletting there for awhile. I'm sure there is much more to the story than any of us know...but from the outside looking in...looks to me like Car Bomb is getting royally phucked.

This, to me, is the glaring issue going into the playoffs. Defense is good and deep. They helped the faceoff situation with Handzus. PP is middle of the road. Goaltending is probably fine as long as the D is. I just worry that opponents are going to punish the Hawks D more than the Hawks punish opponents D. There is almost zero physical presence on the Hawks' top 2 lines. Two of the Hawks' handful of "physical forwards (Bollig and Carcillo) are very limited TOI guys.
- John Jaeckel

Yep...100% agreed. And the few regular season games this year that mirrored playoff intensity, physicality...what happened? They got dominated shift by shift below the goal line and blew leads. It's not a coincidence.

Not to mention the space it woudl have created for the legit skill guys to have more room.....There is no Brouwer, Buff, Ladd outside of Bickell on the top 9..Guys who are going to grind away and create space, and cause chaos on the forecheck.

That's why a large skilled body, would have been nice.....Time will tell, but lasting another 28 games (at most) to win a championship with a small team, doesn't bode well.

Would love to hear from the peanut gallery the last small, skilled team that won a cup. Lets see...kings (no), Bruins (no), Hawks (no), Penguins (no), Wings (no), Ducks (no), Hurricanes (no).

Yeesh, that's a disgusting thought!

Now if it was Susannah you were talking about Phil
- savvyone-1

That's Savannah if you're Mr. T...

Politics aren't my deal on here. Just to be clear. I just try to keep it off.
- John Jaeckel

I was being facetious

Yep...100% agreed. And the few regular season games this year that mirrored playoff intensity, physicality...what happened? They got dominated shift by shift below the goal line and blew leads. It's not a coincidence.

Not to mention the space it woudl have created for the legit skill guys to have more room.....There is no Brouwer, Buff, Ladd outside of Bickell on the top 9..Guys who are going to grind away and create space, and cause chaos on the forecheck.

That's why a large skilled body, would have been nice.....Time will tell, but lasting another 28 games (at most) to win a championship with a small team, doesn't bode well.

Would love to hear from the peanut gallery the last small, skilled team that won a cup. Lets see...kings (no), Bruins (no), Hawks (no), Penguins (no), Wings (no), Ducks (no), Hurricanes (no).


- SteveRain

I don't think it is size. The Hawks are not small, it is the coaching staffs stick waving teachings that will hurt. Saad is not small, Toews is not small, Hossa is not small, also Sharp is not small. The team plays to the way the coaching staff wants them to play. Same thing on D, how many times do the Dmen take the body?

Think he's been subletting there for awhile. I'm sure there is much more to the story than any of us know...but from the outside looking in...looks to me like Car Bomb is getting royally phucked.
- philco28

Agree totally. His last two games hes been going full tilt. Getting in on the fore check and laying some lumber. Not a big fan of Q nor do I like the line juggling he does.

Understood, and like you I don't think Stalberg is going to worth the money....I think he is a 1 dimensional player, who still can't finish properly, and a liability defensively.
- SteveRain

I don't know if he is necessarily a liability, more in the line of "average". His speed is something to behold and he does, at times, make stuff happen, whether he finishes or not. With his size, skill and decent shot, he should be able to score more regularly.

The problem I have with Stalberg is I do not feel he is a very smart player. There are too many times where he makes ill-advised passes and bad turnovers at the Bluelines. Reminds me a lot of the mistakes that Versteeg made all the time, albeit Versteeg was a better finisher. Ill see Stalberg turn and throw pucks from behind the net to the slot when no-one is there, or skate from behind the net to the blueline and lose the puck generating transition for the opposiion, where in either case, cycling the puck back behind the net is the better play.

Given where his salary is now, and the numbers he has produced for his career, I think the $2.5 range is about the max I would go before I say bye-bye

Again with the 50 player negotiations list!

It is so interesting how fans are somehow seeing it as this huge part of everything---it isn't!


- wiz1901

The only person making a big deal about this is apparently you. I asked if JJ heard anything about a pending college signing since the Hawks cleared a contract slot. They may have done it because they really like the player they received in return but I felt a more likely scenario was because of the reasons I listed. Since Johns played for the NTDP prior to college I'm concerned about him becoming a UFA. If you know of another Defensive prospect that we have in the system that remotely approaches his skill set, I'd love to hear about them.

Agree totally. His last two games hes been going full tilt. Getting in on the fore check and laying some lumber. Not a big fan of Q nor do I like the line juggling he does.
- z1990z

His energy, effort and discipline have been very good lately but sounds like he'll be wearing a tie AGAIN tonight.

What's to say they don't get their extension after this season with the market currently being what it is.....a max signing bonus....and lifetime personal services contract when they retire with a percentage on revenue.....the hawks will not let kane and toews go.....plus there will be pressure from the league with the Hawks being the only definitive draw in the western conference.
- UnnamedSource

Yeah right, Bettman is worried about Chicago turning into another Phoenix fiasco if they can't sign Kaner.

This, to me, is the glaring issue going into the playoffs. Defense is good and deep. They helped the faceoff situation with Handzus. PP is middle of the road. Goaltending is probably fine as long as the D is.
I just worry that opponents are going to punish the Hawks D more than the Hawks punish opponents D.

There is almost zero physical presence on the Hawks' top 2 lines.

Two of the Hawks' handful of "physical forwards (Bollig and Carcillo) are very limited TOI guys.
- John Jaeckel

I have sooo much to do, but I just find that all these issues are almost classic new age hockey philosophies ones that I cannot help but discuss and address.

"zero physical presence on the Hawks' top 2 lines" I think about San Jose and how their bottom end had plenty, but still they move a defender, Burns there. So would you say they lack physical presence on the top 2 lines? Or are their top two line Sharks physical presence players? how has that worked out?

And it is too bad a player like Matt Martin wasn't there to scoop up but there wasn't. Would Martin have jelled onto a top two line this playoff or does the Hawk offense work, based on the familiarity of the skilled guys on those lines? Brouwer had difficulty playing there, right?
...and so, if you do not have physical forwards... you have to start drafting and developing them.

I thought that part of the Playoff championship team was able to get to the enemy defenders and rub on them, tire them...and then the next two playoffs were teams without that ability to even get down there at all.

I just don't think that is the case with the present club. They can engage, and more importantly they move.
The Al Secord wing type power player doesn't exist in that old form.
To me, power forwards have supplanted the physical power wing, only because the muckers of old now fit on the NHL clubs but not as top liners...and there are very few in existence.


power forwards have supplanted the physical power wing...
Hossa
Toews
Saad
those are your power players in the top two lines.
and then you add Handzus who will see minutes somewhere in the top 6.

Look at the Blues you see that power wing other than centre Backes?

and I think that the Hawks are truly hoping Hayes could play with a bit more punch because there are good hands in that big package, just not the right feet, and that os basically the crux and issue with team finding a big physical skilled quick skater with hands...they are rare.
(I think we all would agree say a guy like Eric Cole would get called a power with with physicality, right? but you look at numbers and they seem to never fit the use, salary and over-all dominance)

The interesting thing is Handzus will play a regular shift where he belongs with Kruger (taking faceoffs) and a pounder like Bollig or Mayers as a checker who gives out some punishment.
He will see lots of ice on face-offs on oall three lines in both offensive and defensive zones...it may be just 15 seconds and a waddle to the bench, but I think he is going to be asked to continually make contact after that face-off.
He will be asked to present a net presence.

Does he solve the problem that many seem to think exists that teh hawks are too "forgiving along the wall?"
Funny...thing is...they seem to have been winning a whole lot of those pucks in battle zones along the wall on the top lines, so I guess I am missing this idea they will be unsuccessful with out this "type."

I will call personal privilege, by virtue of having seem more years and round of playoff than anyone of you...and say
There is never one factor that determines who wins or loses a playoff series.

There has to be a combination of bad plays, glaring weaknesses, and the fact that sometimes the team you are playing just does as Ryan Getzlaf said, in the post game interviews after their last Cup win,....I played my balls off...we played our balls off."

Just like winning takes lucky bounces, big saves, tons of hard work and results from parts of the line-up you never expected it.

I just can't get caught up in all this concern....

His energy, effort and discipline have been very good lately but sounds like he'll be wearing a tie AGAIN tonight.

- philco28

I have no issues with Carcillo being the 13th forward. Right now he's not going to take away anyone's ice time. Maybe Q and Stan have different plans for Carcillo next season, maybe he'll be a regular fixture on the 4th line. Either way I'm not going to lose any sleep over Carcillo's playing time or lack thereof.

The only person making a big deal about this is apparently you. I asked if JJ heard anything about a pending college signing since the Hawks cleared a contract slot. They may have done it because they really like the player they received in return but I felt a more likely scenario was because of the reasons I listed. Since Johns played for the NTDP prior to college I'm concerned about him becoming a UFA. If you know of another Defensive prospect that we have in the system that remotely approaches his skill set, I'd love to hear about them.
- SDHawkFan

yeah, I apologize it is me....but in the last four blogs it kept getting mentioned an d mentioned and mentions...yeah it is me....

tired of it

non-issue

EVER

thanks for all the hard work around the deadline JJ!!

it made for some great debate here the last few weeks...

I don't know if he is necessarily a liability, more in the line of "average". His speed is something to behold and he does, at times, make stuff happen, whether he finishes or not. With his size, skill and decent shot, he should be able to score more regularly.

The problem I have with Stalberg is I do not feel he is a very smart player. There are too many times where he makes ill-advised passes and bad turnovers at the Bluelines. Reminds me a lot of the mistakes that Versteeg made all the time, albeit Versteeg was a better finisher. Ill see Stalberg turn and throw pucks from behind the net to the slot when no-one is there, or skate from behind the net to the blueline and lose the puck generating transition for the opposiion, where in either case, cycling the puck back behind the net is the better play.

Given where his salary is now, and the numbers he has produced for his career, I think the $2.5 range is about the max I would go before I say bye-bye
- TheTrob

Agree with most of what you said here, but want to add that the Stalberg have seen this year doesn't look much different/better than last year. He's fast for sure, but does that make him irreplaceable? Don't think so. Better to get something for him an just let him go. I'm guessing that the FO has some kind of plan, just hope it works out.

FWIW: Saw Elliot in goal last Saturday when visiting the fam in Peoria. Had a shutout, but from what I remember, he didn't face many shots. Seemed to me like he was struggling a little with his range of motion, but maybe I'm wrong. Hoping Crow is solid tonight.

Personally I don't think Kane is worth that, but he'll get it
- rollpards19

Only 23 more points and he moves in to top 20 all time Hawks (which will probably be hit with a playoff run).

Best player in the NHL right now. Should he continue at this level or dip slightly still kind of a big deal.

If he averages 70 points the next two years (assuming 0 more this year) that would put him as 9th all time Hawks and probably worth a big pile of paper portraits of past presidents.

The only person making a big deal about this is apparently you. I asked if JJ heard anything about a pending college signing since the Hawks cleared a contract slot. They may have done it because they really like the player they received in return but I felt a more likely scenario was because of the reasons I listed. Since Johns played for the NTDP prior to college I'm concerned about him becoming a UFA. If you know of another Defensive prospect that we have in the system that remotely approaches his skill set, I'd love to hear about them.
- SDHawkFan

Stephen Johns and Kevin Hayes both have another year of college eligibility. If they choose to leave school the Hawks hold their rights. Not sure what the NTDP has to do with anything. Both players are out of eligibility, so going back to Jr's is not an option. The Hawks would have to sign them to place them on any of their minor league rosters. Teams retain the rights to a NCAA player for 30 days after they leave school. My understanding of Clendening was that he was not cutting it academically at BU so he chose to leave school, at which point the Hawks gave him a contract.

I have no issues with Carcillo being the 13th forward. Right now he's not going to take away anyone's ice time. Maybe Q and Stan have different plans for Carcillo next season, maybe he'll be a regular fixture on the 4th line. Either way I'm not going to lose any sleep over Carcillo's playing time or lack thereof.
- DarthKane

Just don't see how Carcillo's experience of playing 300+ NHL games make him < than Bollig and his 35

Only 23 more points and he moves in to top 20 all time Hawks (which will probably be hit with a playoff run).

Best player in the NHL right now. Should he continue at this level or dip slightly still kind of a big deal.

If he averages 70 points the next two years (assuming 0 more this year) that would put him as 9th all time Hawks and probably worth a big pile of paper portraits of past presidents.
- fattybeef

This years Kane is worth a good amount of money. Last years Kane, not so much.

Just don't see how Carcillo's experience of playing 300+ NHL games make him < than Bollig and his 35
- philco28

Carcillo may be a better option than Bollig, but either way it's not a big deal if these guys are going to play 5 - 10 minutes per game.

This years Kane is worth a good amount of money. Last years Kane, not so much.
- droe411

Wha?..he carried us last year down the stretch when toews was out. I know he didnt light it up all year, but they moved him from c to w and back to c. He was on the short list for OUR mvp and certainly earned his keep.

I don't think it is size. The Hawks are not small, it is the coaching staffs stick waving teachings that will hurt. Saad is not small, Toews is not small, Hossa is not small, also Sharp is not small. The team plays to the way the coaching staff wants them to play. Same thing on D, how many times do the Dmen take the body?
- droe411

Completely agree. Few Hawk defenders play the body, occasionally we'll see it from Seabrook and even lesser from Hjammarsson.

The Hawks are not at all small. They're actually pretty average. They however don't have grinders with skill, guys who wear opponents our in their own zone or along the boards. I don't think this team can win a cup unless it ads a few of these types of players. Time will tell.

Only 23 more points and he moves in to top 20 all time Hawks (which will probably be hit with a playoff run).

Best player in the NHL right now. Should he continue at this level or dip slightly still kind of a big deal.

If he averages 70 points the next two years (assuming 0 more this year) that would put him as 9th all time Hawks and probably worth a big pile of paper portraits of past presidents.
- fattybeef

Sidney Crosby is in a class by himself.

Yes, this year's Kane is the Kane we as Hawks fans all hoped for. He's finally putting together a god given ridiculous skill set. He's doing the little things quite well (back-checking, defensive zone coverage). He's been amazing to watch.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Hawks announce both Kane and Toews, extensions at the Hawks convention....McDonough loves his large splashes...and honestly, 8 years and 8.65 is probably what both will get.

if they take less to allow for more quality depth, god bless them, but I am not going to expect either of them to.