Anyone know if the NHL has any rules about holding guys out of games just because? If I recall correctly the NBA fined the Spurs big time for holding out star players earlier in the year. I don't think the NHL would do anything given the shortened season and such but just curious....
- The_Councillor

Even if there was some sort of rule like this, the Hawks could slap on a vague "upper/lower-body injury" and they could rest whoever they like.

Yea, bet those first class flights are quite difficult. All that waiting in long TSA lines. They probably board with A,B & C boarding passes. Just imagine sitting next to a crying baby.
- hockey nut 28

Wow, all that cynical sarcasm and yet not one relevant hockey related point....i guess i should have known better then to attempt to talk hockey with yall.
- Whiskey-Tango

And this is over the line

Not trying to be disrespectful, but I have engaged in viewings, conversations, and actually heard real hockey analysts on the Sat. radio, and TSN say what I thought:

That Garrison was not able to be the catalyst of that powerplay that is currently 23rd overall in the NHL stats.

I will give you fact I haven't had the opportunity to see Garrison in the past weeks, but he has FOURTEEN POINTS,

TWO on the PP. (one in the last five games)

So my original comment about Garrioson not filling the void at PP, wasn't a knee-jerk fanboy opinion...it was based on viewings, and concensus, and I know sometimes it is difficult for any of us to see past our team bias.
- wiz1901

Agreed, but to say it was a bad signing is unjust. As stated before he is quickly becoming Vancouver's best defense man and frankly, il take the defensive zone stability over offensive numbers for the time being. The fact is he is underutilized on the power-play not under-performing, and with more time and opportunity he will improve upon those current numbers. He if plays like he has the last 20-30 games, keep an eye on him tonight for he may change your opinion.

Bingo!

You win...

This kid has made a real big jump in the last two, but core strength for battling and quickness sometimes take time to build.

It has taken Pirri time to make the abrupt transition go from an OJHL then RPI college player to 2 seasons.
Most guys picked 59th and later take time.
(Just look at all the guys from that draft year who were taken BEFORE him who haven't seen NHL ice with success yet.)

If the Hawks REALLY think he can play, they KNOW his Cap hit is $870,000 and that they may just NEED another budget freindly centre/wing if the current roster low CAP guys move on.

All this talk about his age and contract are poppycock part of the conversation...if they think he can play, he goes nowhere.
- wiz1901

Unless they have other guys they like better at his position. Otherwise, yes, no hurry.

Unless they have other guys they like better at his position. Otherwise, yes, no hurry.
- John Jaeckel

That just might be it. It will be interesting to see how that shakes out over the summer. Some of it may depend on who stays and who goes coupled with the reduction of the salary cap. Depending on who is kept, some lower salary guys in the AHL might have a chance to fight for a roster spot.

No sure where you pulled these numbers, but they're wrong.

Tied for 16th in Wins, 21 in Games played, 9th in GAA, tied for 5th in S%. Tied for 1st in shutouts, which is a bigger consideration than games played when judging a goalie, typically.
- micah555

Hey ole buddy...you gonna ban me for posting on my own team's page ?

FYI,

I have alerted several mods to be monitoring this thread the next 24 hours or so. I suggest ALL who visit here (Hawk fans and non-Hawk fans) keep it civil and polite.

Thx
- John Jaeckel

THIS

That just might be it. It will be interesting to see how that shakes out over the summer. Some of it may depend on who stays and who goes coupled with the reduction of the salary cap. Depending on who is kept, some lower salary guys in the AHL might have a chance to fight for a roster spot.
- EKolb13

I would think Smith will be given a shot to make the team next year. When healthy he can be very effective and he's on a one-way deal next year. He could easily start on the 4th line and try to work his way up the line-up.

Agreed, but to say it was a bad signing is unjust. As stated before he is quickly becoming Vancouver's best defense man and frankly, il take the defensive zone stability over offensive numbers for the time being. The fact is he is underutilized on the power-play not under-performing, and with more time and opportunity he will improve upon those current numbers. He if plays like he has the last 20-30 games, keep an eye on him tonight for he may change your opinion.

- Whiskey-Tango

I agree a good signing...whenever you can add a guy from the area, it puts pressure on hi, but he is a grounded kid, that can play.

I just think that although he will now have four seasons under his belt, the best hockey has yet to come.
Why when I started hockey watching Garrison's present age was when a "young" defenseman was finally getting that chance to see if they could cut the mustard in the six team NHL. More the norm that most two way defenseman were 27 yr old rookies.

So I am not trying to flatten your tires about liking him, just that the best may be yet to come...

God Bless HNIC...and though this is dated...it never fails to get me in the mood for some Hawks/Nucks hockey....
BRILLIANT JOB by the boys on Front Street in Tor'aw'na

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB9Cz6Tipu8

I would think Smith will be given a shot to make the team next year. When healthy he can be very effective and he's on a one-way deal next year. He could easily start on the 4th line and try to work his way up the line-up.
- DarthKane

"When healthy" is the key term for Smith. He had a hell of a run the last couple of weeks of the AHL season.

If Smith is healthy, I'd have to think he's got a better shot than most of the kids in the minors to make the team out of camp. Ideally, he's a guy who can play in the bottom six and spot in places throughout the line-up when needed.

That just might be it. It will be interesting to see how that shakes out over the summer. Some of it may depend on who stays and who goes coupled with the reduction of the salary cap. Depending on who is kept, some lower salary guys in the AHL might have a chance to fight for a roster spot.
- EKolb13

I would think Smith will be given a shot to make the team next year. When healthy he can be very effective and he's on a one-way deal next year. He could easily start on the 4th line and try to work his way up the line-up.
- DarthKane

To me the most comical thing about the rise to the Stanley Cup was the rise of all these websites and how after that successful three goal scoring spree Ben Smith had in the disatorous playoff, how each of those websites had marvelous reviews of him, and how he was a lock.

Interesting how a team can draft guys that end up leap-frogging the minor pros, it just makes the entire organization better...

Not trying to be disrespectful, but I have engaged in viewings, conversations, and actually heard real hockey analysts on the Sat. radio, and TSN say what I thought:

That Garrison was not able to be the catalyst of that powerplay that is currently 23rd overall in the NHL stats.

I will give you fact I haven't had the opportunity to see Garrison in the past weeks, but he has FOURTEEN POINTS,

TWO on the PP. (one in the last five games)

So my original comment about Garrioson not filling the void at PP, wasn't a knee-jerk fanboy opinion...it was based on viewings, and concensus, and I know sometimes it is difficult for any of us to see past our team bias.
- wiz1901

Garrison is very much a complimentary player. He's got a rocket of a shot, but he isn't a great passer and he needs someone to feed him the puck. The 2nd unit has been pretty non-existent with Kesler out and Roy hasn't really meshed with them yet.

Garrison for his part has been a very good player. The PP sucking is more a product of injuries and the Sedins not being as dominant as they have been in the past.

So yes, Garrison is a big shot and not a lot more on the PP.

"When healthy" is the key term for Smith. He had a hell of a run the last couple of weeks of the AHL season.

If Smith is healthy, I'd have to think he's got a better shot than most of the kids in the minors to make the team out of camp. Ideally, he's a guy who can play in the bottom six and spot in places throughout the line-up when needed.
- EKolb13

EK...i respect Ben but have always been down on him for giveaways. In your view...is he more responsible defensively these days or is he a Pizza Man playing forward ?

Interesting how a team can draft guys that end up leap-frogging the minor pros, it just makes the entire organization better...
- wiz1901

Good point.

Could Pirri be in the form of a Brian Noonan type? Dynamite scorer in Triple A so to speak, but not that great at the highest level. Some guys are very good one step below the pros, but can never seem to make that jump to the highest level. You see it in every sport, remember Micah Hoffpauir of the Cubs, that guy drove in over 100 runs one year in Triple A in less than 100 games, but never could make it to the majors on a consistent basis. If I am not mistaken, he is completely out of baseball now. I would love to see Pirri make it to the show, but my thinking is the Hawks have been in dire straits for a scoring second line center the last three years, and Pirri has not even been given a real chance. That honestly tells me what the organization ultimately thinks about him. Just my two cents, even more of a red flag, the Hawks had Kruger here at a young age like Pirri, and then just recently signed LeBlanc. I just think he must be missing something that the organization does not like, or we would have seen him given a chance by now.

I would think Smith will be given a shot to make the team next year. When healthy he can be very effective and he's on a one-way deal next year. He could easily start on the 4th line and try to work his way up the line-up.
- DarthKane

Smith and Bollig are on one way deals next year so something has to happen.

EK...i respect Ben but have always been down on him for giveaways. In your view...is he more responsible defensively these days or his a Pizza Man playing forward ?
- philco28

Dunno, but Johnny delivered a an XL double pepperoni behind the net the other night

Smith and Bollig are on one way deals next year so something has to happen.
- droe411

No one grounds the B52

Could Pirri be in the form of a Brian Noonan type? Dynamite scorer in Triple A so to speak, but not that great at the highest level. Some guys are very good one step below the pros, but can never seem to make that jump to the highest level. You see it in every sport, remember Micah Hoffpauir of the Cubs, that guy drove in over 100 runs one year in Triple A in less than 100 games, but never could make it to the majors on a consistent basis. If I am not mistaken, he is completely out of baseball now. I would love to see Pirri make it to the show, but my thinking is the Hawks have been in dire straits for a scoring second line center the last three years, and Pirri has not even been given a real chance. That honestly tells me what the organization ultimately thinks about him. Just my two cents, even more of a red flag, the Hawks had Kruger here at a young age like Pirri, and then just recently signed LeBlanc. I just think he must be missing something that the organization does not like, or we would have seen him given a chance by now.
- ChicagoHope

I think Pirri honestly needs a 20-40 game look at the NHL level before we decide to fish or cut bait with him. I like him. Great hands, fine shot, but as with most young guys...can he take care of the puck ?

Dunno, but Johnny delivered a an XL double pepperoni behind the net the other night
- John Jaeckel

he's good for at least one a night

EK...i respect Ben but have always been down on him for giveaways. In your view...is he more responsible defensively these days or his a Pizza Man playing forward ?
- philco28

I don't think he's any worse than anyone else in Rockford. I think he's improved, to an extent, but the true measure of that has been his lack of ice time do to injuries, which may have stunted his growth just a bit.

In all, if Smith is given some time in Chicago and this issue is still there, I think it's something Smith could work through and improve.

Smith and Bollig are on one way deals next year so something has to happen.
- droe411

No doubt some guys won't be back next year. Kruger and Frolik could easily handle 3rd line duties (or maybe 2nd for Kruger). If Bickell and Stalberg both go and Frolik and Kruger both move up then the 4th line is wide open.

I think Pirri honestly needs a 20-40 game look at the NHL level before we decide to fish or cut bait with him. I like him. Great hands, fine shot, but as with most young guys...can he take care of the puck ?
- philco28

If Pirri gets a 20-40 game look, either the Hawks are completely decimated by injuries, or Pirri is getting that much of a look with an organization that is desperate for offense.

Pirri gets pushed around way too much for my liking. In my opinion, he lacks the minimal physical and mental grit and toughness needed to survive in the NHL.