Yeah....

Hockey and baseball (although not really as much) are the only sports that celebrate their history - that recognize that there were great players before the current generation.
- StLBravesFan

Football and NFL films do a great job as well !

Football and NFL films do a great job as well !
- philco28

I guess - going back to the 70s.

You don't see references to the 30s, 40s, 50s like in hockey.

I guess - going back to the 70s.

You don't see references to the 30s, 40s, 50s like in hockey.
- StLBravesFan

I LOVE SPORTS !!!!!

You can'tgive topsix money to a player who is a fringe top six player. I'd like the Hawks to keep Stalberg too but not if it means going into cap hell to do so.
- paulr

There is only so much Bowman can do salary wise to keep a player like Stalberg. I think he will be willing to go to nearly $3M per year over 4 years, no more and that means Bolland and/or Frolik are heading elsewhere unless they decide to move the Patrick Sharp money. But he also may come to the conclusion that #25 is going to hit the jackpot as a UFA and focus his attention on a replacement on the open market with other free agents or deciding guys like Hayes or Morin are a suitable internal replacements.

If you see #25 re-sign at friendly numbers and then see Viktor on alot of IKEA or Idomo commercials you know that MacD stepped in with some extra fringe benefits that don't count against the cap.

Bickell might get north of 2. He's very valuable. He's a big body who can hit and skate and he's got a plus wrist shot. He's pretty high on the food chain of important Hawk forwards in my humble opinion.
- Baaaaaaannerman!

From someone else, sure. If Bickell is going to stay in Chicago, I would think $1.5 million would be the top Bowman should pay him.

From someone else, sure. If Bickell is going to stay in Chicago, I would think $1.5 million would be the top Bowman should pay him.
- EKolb13

It's pretty much a moot point bc I think JJ has reported that Bickell's deal is all but signed and sealed. Or did I misread that?

There is only so much Bowman can do salary wise to keep a player like Stalberg. I think he will be willing to go to nearly $3M per year over 4 years, no more and that means Bolland and/or Frolik are heading elsewhere unless they decide to move the Patrick Sharp money. But he also may come to the conclusion that #25 is going to hit the jackpot as a UFA and focus his attention on a replacement on the open market with other free agents or deciding guys like Hayes or Morin are a suitable internal replacements.

If you see #25 re-sign at friendly numbers and then see Viktor on alot of IKEA or Idomo commercials you know that MacD stepped in with some extra fringe benefits that don't count against the cap.
- RickJ

RickJ, you beat me to this point. I do not see why Stalberg cannot be one of McD's prime media pawn. He does have a face that would be attractive to the ladies. What I would add is this is what they have to sell to Stals to get him to sign a cap-friendly contract.

You have to better define top-6 money. He's worth every bit of what some GM thought Frolik was worth. Watch Bickell this whole playoff series and see if you don't agree.
- Baaaaaaannerman!

Bickell always runs hot and cold, though he is more consistant in the playoffs. I have friends who play ball (slo-pitch) in the summer with Bickell and he plays ball like he plays hockey, he takes many games off. My friends say if he wanted to Bickell could hit a home run every time he steps to the plate, yet seldom does. Now apparantly last year someone hit his truck with a ball and Bickell got mad and hit the ball out of the park each time he was up to bat. After the anger wore off he was back to his inconsistant ways.

If I'm Bickell, I want Troy Brouwer money. $2.35

If I'm the Hawks, I say he's not quite there yet, but we'd love to see him get there and offer $1.35.

Meet in the middle and call it a day.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...op/125/51301#.UYJv_7WG18E

Nice flying chicken wing elbow by him...ref looking right at it and bails on the call...why? prob cuz the leaf player jumped right back up! In this case Barry is correct!

I don't get it. The tv ratings have never been higher. The merchandise sales are through the roof. You figure sellouts wold be easy. Is it really the ticket prices?
- tomcat24

in regards to game one, i think the real problem was the release of the schedule very late on sunday night. that gave any of us who had tickets but couldn't go one and a half days to get rid of them. with that in mind, people panic and start a weird "battle to the floor" to try and get rid of them, dropping their prices to make sure they get rid of them.

i also have bulls season tickets and dealt with the same thing last year - the bulls were the #1 overall seed and they didn't determine the #8 seed until very late on the last night of the year. then they scheduled their opening game for two days later on a saturday at noon, so really i only had all of friday to dump my tickets IF i didn't want to go. i think i had class that afternoon, so i couldn't go and it was a nightmare trying to sell them. then the game itself was a nightmare (the d rose torn acl game)

If I'm Bickell, I want Troy Brouwer money. $2.35

If I'm the Hawks, I say he's not quite there yet, but we'd love to see him get there and offer $1.35.

Meet in the middle and call it a day.
- AceRatbang

JJ says Bickell and the Hawks have something in place. Maybe Bickell is banking on a big playoff to tear that draft contract up and cash in on a bigger payday, if not with Chicago then with someone else? Big guys with his skill and speed are in demand even if he only puts in an effort 20 to 25% of the time.

in regards to game one, i think the real problem was the release of the schedule very late on sunday night. that gave any of us who had tickets but couldn't go one and a half days to get rid of them. with that in mind, people panic and start a weird "battle to the floor" to try and get rid of them, dropping their prices to make sure they get rid of them.

i also have bulls season tickets and dealt with the same thing last year - the bulls were the #1 overall seed and they didn't determine the #8 seed until very late on the last night of the year. then they scheduled their opening game for two days later on a saturday at noon, so really i only had all of friday to dump my tickets IF i didn't want to go. i think i had class that afternoon, so i couldn't go and it was a nightmare trying to sell them. then the game itself was a nightmare (the d rose torn acl game)
- dr_boloney

You got Cubs tickets too bro ?

JJ says Bickell and the Hawks have something in place. Maybe Bickell is banking on a big playoff to tear that draft contract up and cash in on a bigger payday, if not with Chicago then with someone else? Big guys with his skill and speed are in demand even if he only puts in an effort 20 to 25% of the time.
- paulr

Until the ink hits the paper

RickJ, you beat me to this point. I do not see why Stalberg cannot be one of McD's prime media pawn. He does have a face that would be attractive to the ladies. What I would add is this is what they have to sell to Stals to get him to sign a cap-friendly contract.
- powerenforcer

Too big a line here to be a prime media pawn. Yet another reason he should move. He could be the main guy or one of them somewhere else. Look at Ladd. Someone is going to pay for his speed and potential. And if he keeps up what he did in game 1... The price will continue to rise.

Wow the Nucks trolls haven't showed up?

Wow the Nucks trolls haven't showed up?
- golfbard

They are feverishly trying to pry open that window of opportunity and make excuses for their heroes lack of effort.

Wow the Nucks trolls haven't showed up?
- golfbard

Sharks looked tough as nails last night. Love the Burns move to forward. They are going to be a rough out.

They are feverishly trying to pry open that window of opportunity and make excuses for their heroes lack of effort.
- paulr

Ian's working on the blog how the nuck players thought it was a preseason game and warm up for the playoffs.

Wow the Nucks trolls haven't showed up?
- golfbard

Lol. And a hahahahahahahaahahahahahah and a nice Lol

At this moment the Canucks have 9mm in aav tie as up at Goalie !!! Gillis is dumb. Hahahahahhahahahaha

Besides no one thought that Whales could beat Sharks right ?

Again, the whole Bollig vs. Player X argument is stupid.

Bollig is NOT the reason the Hawks were offside 40 times, the Wild took away the center of the ice, Harding was mostly brilliant. And those were the real problems.

I would just be glad the Hawks outhit the Wild and registered some big hits and that is mostly why Bollig is out there. If this series goes 6 or 7 games, and Suter plays 30 plus minutes a night, you will be glad for every hit Bollig puts on him.

How many more games will go to OT? probably at least a couple. Bollig is probably the strongest Hawk and one of the best conditioned. Energy was the difference in OT the other might.
- John Jaeckel

This is accurate JJ. But with that aside, in Game 1, he accomplished nothing by being in the line-up. He just doesnt look hungry. Not to compare, but Carbomb is a better hockey player. Accomplishes exactly what Bollig does except he can skate and bring some skill.

You got Cubs tickets too bro ?
- mrpaulish

No.

This is accurate JJ. But with that aside, in Game 1, he accomplished nothing by being in the line-up. He just doesnt look hungry. Not to compare, but Carbomb is a better hockey player. Accomplishes exactly what Bollig does except he can skate and bring some skill.
- nickmo2699

Obviously the coaching staff does not agree with you. They either have something against Carcillo, they don't like the way he is playing right now, or there is something with his conditioning or injury. You can argue all you want about not want Bollig in there, but it worked. The 4th line looked good! They were out there for shifts against the Wilds top line. I think Bollig is the right call, less of a chance of a stupid penalty. There will be a time for Carcillo, just wait and see he will play at some point. It's his job to take that chance and make sure the coaches see no other option than to dress him.

You got Cubs tickets too bro ?
- mrpaulish

I do. Need tickets?