I think we will all be very happy and will willingly eat crow if the Hawks win because of his patience ... however if the team goes out quickly and the perception is he could have improved the club but didn't .... it will get ugly on this site!
- paulr

Of course! His job is to produce results, not hope and future happiness. The past has shown us what Stan will do, he will not sell the future of this team. That's both good and bad. I think the playoffs come down to match ups for the Hawks. Having to roll through 3 bruisers to get to the SCF will be hard. If some of these teams beat the snot out of each other, that would help the Hawks.

http://www.icehogs.com/news/icehogs/?article_id=3796

Thanks for the heads up. So which goalie is sick or injured? Emery or Crawford?
- EKolb13

Might be Emery because they said Crow was on the ice.

Hard to say without knowing what the cap number will be. There will be a one year adjustment then, if history is any indicator, it will start rising again fairly regularly.

Hawks cap situation is good, with value-priced kids like Saad and Danault and Kruger perhaps positioned to push a highly priced veteran or two out of town (not named Marian Hossa).

No guarantees of anything, but the Hawks are in a very good position going forward.
- John Jaeckel

If the league ends up finding success with hosting a series of 6 outdoor games, the cap could rise even faster. 5 years from now, the Perry/Getzlaf contracts could look like bargains.

Might be Emery because they said Crow was on the ice.
- teh_HAWKZ

Thanks for the info.

I have no info on Emery, but I would lean toward minor ding/rest. They are going to be extra cautious and err on the side of extra rest for ANY kind of injury at all to top guys. No reason not to.

Also this feels like a good soldier reward for Hutton.

I know we rip little Stanbow here a lot, but maybe he has made all the right moves? The last two years it could have been easy to sacrifice the future for another round in the playoffs. He stood pat, decided the depth players just needed time to grow. It looks like a good decision right now. Last year people were yelling for trades at the deadline, that would have cost us our first round pick TT. I must admit I ripped management too, maybe I was wrong.
- droe411

Finally ! Somebody wrote it.


I 2nd this

Finally ! Somebody wrote it.


I 2nd this
- philco28

Again,

there is ample evidence that is really not about Stan Bowman, good or bad

Hutton is probably a look-see if they want to re-sign him or not. Rosters have expanded so it does not necessarily mean Crawford or Emery are hurt.

I have no info on Emery, but I would lean toward minor ding/rest. They are going to be extra cautious and err on the side of extra rest for ANY kind of injury at all to top guys. No reason not to.

Also this feels like a good soldier reward for Hutton.
- John Jaeckel

For my sake, I hope Rockford gets Hutton back before tomorrow. The guy has been hot of late, and I'd like to see the Hogs make the playoffs.

JJ

You named a group of young promising players on the current roster who are contributing yet most of them have only tapped into the success they eventually should produce.

I am somewhat disappointed -- though not alarmed -- when two of the next set.of prospects do not get into the lineup during Rockford's playoff run. Both Danault and McNeill have been cited for strong defensive effort/role in the last WJC. Both are fast and skilled yet were willing to play in a different role not only in the WJC but have made the adjustment to playing a sound defensive game when asked to for a brief period.- of - time as.they advanced to the next level in their junior career.

Now we do see the 160 pound frame Nordstrom playing each game.during the Icehogs playoff run. His scouting report does say that he is a two way player with a.good skill set but not expected to be a big scorer. Nordstrom is good in face offs....so has Danault been in junior.

It has been said that Dent's orders come from Chicago. Dent has been known to play head games with his lineup omission one such example. Not knowing what this is all about, it is probably all going to come out later in the wash (as the expression goes). I do think first thought regarding this lineup Dent has been using....in playoff run not wanting to use three rookies, two fresh from junior. Nordstrom had been playing in an elite Swedish league which is a higher level of play.

Don't know what you have heard/your take on this. But this is not necessarily a bad mark on Danault or McNeill. They remain top prospects. I am wanting to see.that McNeill is a rugged all terrain player and doesn't' turn out to be an occasional grind and tough like Bickel. But I do believe that McNeill is a nice combination of skill and toughness/ hard worker until I hear otherwise.

I am hopeful each of these prospects could find a role in CHG by late next season, although that may be wishful thinking. Nordstrom obviously needs to add strength and some.weight.

On a side note about other prospects: TT also.needs to add muscle strength. Johns made full time conversion to defense late (after arrival at ND) so.I expect that he needs at least.one season AHL. And are you intrigued by Birch after the eye opening very impressive rookies.camp two summers ago (he did not participate last summer).

Hutton is probably a look-see if they want to re-sign him or not. Rosters have expanded so it does not necessarily mean Crawford or Emery are hurt.
- John Jaeckel

Wouldn't this be the wrong time to do this, especially with Rockford on the cusp of possibly making the playoffs?

Again,

there is ample evidence that is really not about Stan Bowman, good or bad
- John Jaeckel

But as a fan base there is a figure head. We will applaud or rip that figure head. We know based on your info that it is a FO which makes decisions as a group, or it is rumored that way. I guess we should say Hawks management, not Stan.

I think you hit on the biggest postitive...long term success is in place.

As much as we all would love to think this tweak or call-up insures this in the playoff, I don't think you can call an organization flawed if it is able to suit a team that looks to challenge for the Silver Cup, and having that many good pieces for the sheet is what you judge the organization, not a yearly we won the Cup.

Lot's of things must go right and players must be healthy and completely focused to selflessly bring it to win.

You know that 1991 North Stars series that each and every Hawk fan thought was a "gimme" first round match up says a lot about how emotion and over-emotion can confidence and over-confidence, and composure get called into the play fort the first face-off.

My seat was behind the goal where the Hawks shot twice. The club was filled with toughness, veteran leaders, and scorer.

From Belfour, JR, Larmer, Chelios, Presley, Goulet, Noonan. jocelyn Lemieux, Greg Gilbert, Steve Thomas, Doug Wilson and their captain Dirk Graham, they SHOULD have kept their heads and kept their hotheads (Chicken Stew Grimson, Charile Manson, Cam Russell) in control too.

People talk about the anthem during bush one's Desert Storm All-Star game as the loudest, but the atmsophere of the fans before game one at this one was higly explosive and loud an hour before the first game.

I remember it far too well. Dave McNab (Pete's brother, and a pro scout who was the one who was absolutely giddy that his NJ Devils were able to steal Parice late in the nashville draft) was sitting next to me, and before the game we figured out we had a mutaul acquaitance, a goalie Dave played with in San Diego...).

Anyway the building was crazy loud and what seemed to be in the first minutes when the Hawks threw the puck in behind the North Star net, Dirk Graham simply destroyed the North Star goalie Jon Casey, that was retrieving the puck outside the now trapezoid...and the Hawks started behind the 8-ball with that penalty. The Hawks had scored even earlier.

Belfour lost his cool right after Graham when he got scored on...

After that Shane Churla just decided to be Shane Churla MAX, and started running guys, and the it seemed like every Hawk got caught up in the emotion to enact return fire.
Think about the recent Blues-Hawks game and how the hawks stuck to their game and didn't get side-tracked. (Let's face it Chelios always played close to dirty with the elbows

Well the series just continued with momentum going towards the North Stars and the Hawks feeling it slipping. The lumberjack Wilkerson kept chopping down Hawks and Tinordi was no wussy either, clearly showing his affection for Hawk helmets.

THIS WAS A STRONG DOMINATING HAWK TEAM WITRH BALANCED SCORING AND TOUGHNESS.
BUT ... suddenly a few bad goaltending plays and standing around instead of getting to the pucks hurt them.
suddenly the series saw the Hawk player off and the just got off more and more with unnecessary retaliations and pims, and let's give the NorthStars credit ----they had injuries up to the February and got in stride and were a good club...that went on to the final.

Hey I forgot The Hawks coach was Adolph....and he probably didn't make the room and between games a picnic for every Hawk...remember this was very close drinking Hawk team that spent time out together at all hours after games...Keenan probably just added the pressure.

HEY!


I just found this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMzAQrFOutI

and to my surprise at 2:41 in there is fan camera pan and those are my friends I am nOT in the picture but about four people to the right and down a row....so funny!


Anyway, Dave McNab sat there the entire series, and his take was that Shane Churla got under the entire Hawk team's skin and you cannot have that happen..you have to focus on playing all phases and NOT start looking for ememy pay-back...
- wiz1901

Nice post Wiz


'91 was a DISASTER. Too many dumb, dumb, DUMB penalties. And Chelly was a COMPLETE ICEHOLE in this series tying Grimson for most PIM's in the series with 46 in just 6 games. He did have 8 points but just an utter loss of composure by 7. Wayne Presley also had 38 DUMB DUMB minutes in the sin bin.

Boyz learned a lesson though as they won 11 in a row the next year to reach the final before the ill-fated sweep vs Mario and co.

'91 and '92 still hurt like a b i t c h.

JJ

You named a group of young promising players on the current roster who are contributing yet most of them have only tapped into the success they eventually should produce.

I am somewhat disappointed -- though not alarmed -- when two of the next set.of prospects do not get into the lineup during Rockford's playoff run. Both Danault and McNeill have been cited for strong defensive effort/role in the last WJC. Both are fast and skilled yet were willing to play in a different role not only in the WJC but have made the adjustment to playing a sound defensive game when asked to for a brief period.- of - time as.they advanced to the next level in their junior career.

Now we do see the 160 pound frame Nordstrom playing each game.during the Icehogs playoff run. His scouting report does say that he is a two way player with a.good skill set but not expected to be a big scorer. Nordstrom is good in face offs....so has Danault been in junior.

It has been said that Dent's orders come from Chicago. Dent has been known to play head games with his lineup omission one such example. Not knowing what this is all about, it is probably all going to come out later in the wash (as the expression goes). I do think first thought regarding this lineup Dent has been using....in playoff run not wanting to use three rookies, two fresh from junior. Nordstrom had been playing in an elite Swedish league which is a higher level of play.

Don't know what you have heard/your take on this. But this is not necessarily a bad mark on Danault or McNeill. They remain top prospects. I am wanting to see.that McNeill is a rugged all terrain player and doesn't' turn out to be an occasional grind and tough like Bickel. But I do believe that McNeill is a nice combination of skill and toughness/ hard worker until I hear otherwise.

I am hopeful each of these prospects could find a role in CHG by late next season, although that may be wishful thinking. Nordstrom obviously needs to add strength and some.weight.

On a side note about other prospects: TT also.needs to add muscle strength. Johns made full time conversion to defense late (after arrival at ND) so.I expect that he needs at least.one season AHL. And are you intrigued by Birch after the eye opening very impressive rookies.camp two summers ago (he did not participate last summer).
- jhawk59

I think it may be that the guys who put Rockford in that situation to make the playoffs are being rewarded. Plus, who knows how much 2 rookies with no professional background would hurt that effort. Would it be nice to see them, sure.

Again,

there is ample evidence that is really not about Stan Bowman, good or bad
- John Jaeckel

JJ, the way you talk about it, it sounds like Stan is mostly just a figurehead for a larger committee. I hate to make the comparison, lest it catch on as yet another nickname for StanBo, but...The Queen of England?

Again,

there is ample evidence that is really not about Stan Bowman, good or bad
- John Jaeckel

Maybe JJ...but he is a key face of the franchise and is quite visible. I guess what i'm saying is...i don't dislike Stan as much as i sometimes let on in this space. He's not that bad a guy.

I am somewhat disappointed -- though not alarmed -- when two of the next set.of prospects do not get into the lineup during Rockford's playoff run. Both Danault and McNeill have been cited for strong defensive effort/role in the last WJC. Both are fast and skilled yet were willing to play in a different role not only in the WJC but have made the adjustment to playing a sound defensive game when asked to for a brief period.- of - time as.they advanced to the next level in their junior career.

Now we do see the 160 pound frame Nordstrom playing each game.during the Icehogs playoff run. His scouting report does say that he is a two way player with a.good skill set but not expected to be a big scorer. Nordstrom is good in face offs....so has Danault been in junior.
- jhawk59

I'm thinking the reason that players like McNeill, Danault and Ross have not seen much ice time is the push for a playoff spot. Dent's rolling his vets, young guys who have put in their time with the team and ex-NHLer's in order to win a playoff spot.

Nordstrom showed up and has been pretty solid of what I've seen off him so far. That's probably why Dent has still been using him every game. He hasn't given Dent a reason to rotate him out of the line-up.

John Jaeckel: A Culture Of Winning
- John Jaeckel

JJ, that was an outstanding breakdown. Really amazing how a legend like SB can influence an organization - even in retirement. I have seen this with some board members in companies I have worked with - and one in particular right now. Some people just command extra attention and respect due to their history and character.

Maybe JJ...but he is a key face of the franchise and is quite visible. I guess what i'm saying is...i don't dislike Stan as much as i sometimes let on in this space. He's not that bad a guy.
- philco28

The main thing I get PO'd about is the wasted cap space. 2 years of under cap space, which I think could have been used with out hurting this teams future. Two years ago they could have given a decent player a healthy 2 year contract, but instead wanted to wait until the trade deadline. Then the deadline follows with no use of that cap.

JJ, you must have a concussion! You contradict your own posts of the last year+ by praising not only Q but Bowman's scouting and drafting.

Got into a big argument with a buddy of mine (Flyers fan) who says Pens-Flyers is the best current rivalry in the NHL, I obviously countered with Hawks-Nucks, which IMO is just as physical, way faster, and a much higher quality of hockey rather than the cluster-f that is philly pitt. Wondering what you guys think is the best current one going in the NHL?

P.S. I wish we had a game tonight

The main thing I get PO'd about is the wasted cap space. 2 years of under cap space, which I think could have been used with out hurting this teams future. Two years ago they could have given a decent player a healthy 2 year contract, but instead wanted to wait until the trade deadline. Then the deadline follows with no use of that cap.
- droe411

Interesting..won't lie...all the cap stuff bores me and goes over my head most of the time.

Question ? How much blame, if any, does Stanbo deserve for the botched contracts to 'Steeger and 'Brow ?

JJ, you must have a concussion! You contradict your own posts of the last year+ by praising not only Q but Bowman's scouting and drafting.


- Hemingways

That's how it goes. Struggle into a low seed and lose in the first round your front office sucks. Have a great year, lock up the top spot, and hopefully have a nice playoff run then they are doing a good job.

Interesting..won't lie...all the cap stuff bores me and goes over my head most of the time.

Question ? How much blame, if any, does Stanbo deserve for the botched contracts to 'Steeger and 'Brow ?
- philco28

I know JJ had some insight on that. In the end the buck stops with the HMIC, that was Tallon. If the Hawks bomb out this year, the buck stops at Stan.

Interesting..won't lie...all the cap stuff bores me and goes over my head most of the time.

Question ? How much blame, if any, does Stanbo deserve for the botched contracts to 'Steeger and 'Brow ?
- philco28

Tallon took that bullet!