Yes, I was being sarcastic. The poster to whom I was replying basically thinks Quenneville can do no right and doesn't wish to acknowledge the positive contributions he's made. My apologies for not being more explicit in my sarcasm.
- QStache

no apologies. u know what i am saying. happy right now. bottom line. i am just happy as a hawks fan. i am going to stew in my happiness.

i've been hearing that Quenville is the anti matchup guy. tries to stay away from it. no?
- Fountain-San

When Bolland led a monster 3rd line from 09-11, Q chased matchups to get them out against the opponent's top line. The Hawks probably led the league in Too Many Men penalties during that period.

This year, all four lines were defensively responsible enough it was pretty much just a case of "NEXT" most of the regular season. Zetterberg prison raping Toews in the second round got him back to doing some matchup chasing.

Joy will be coming soon to Vancouver. Looks like John Tortorella may get an interview for the coaching job.
- RickJ

He and Gillis will be like the Penn and Teller of the NHL.

Torts is probably one of the few established coaches out there that will tolerate that cheap garbage and diving... Maybe even foster it like AV. Ruff would end it.

I know the hawks have played in some pressure situations, but nothing bigger than the Cup finals. Boston has 17 players from their Cup. Hawks only have 8. I'm worried about how this team handles the pressure. We need to win the 1st two at home. I hope this team doesn't have the jitters too much

Depends on the game. This year he has been rolling 4 lines and keeping a pretty set lineup in the RS. In the PO he has mixed and matched looking for his matchups - which in some cases (like the Wings) was trying to avoid certain opposing players on Toews mainly.

In 09-10 PO he was all over the place. He would throw out different combinations every period it seemed. He has been getting a little more frenetic about it later in the LA series.
- tredbrta

The 2010 team had the huge advantage of almost the entire roster had been there for a few years. Almost all of the top 9 (obvious exception being Hossa) had played with each other enough that they could gel rather quickly. That allowed the line shuffling to work.

Because they all think Pittsburgh was an actual contender because ESPN and NHLn told them they were.
- mrpaulish

This! Since Crosby is a God, and Penguins with him are the best hockey team in the world ("BHTITW"), and the Bruins beat the BHTITW, then they must surely be some measure better than BHTITW, and therefore better than the Blackhawks. Why is this so difficult for everyone to accept. It's simple math! I'm not sure why they are bothering to even play the series!

Just heard something from Tuuka Rask saying basically "I havent watched any tape on the Blackhawks and I'm not going to, because its a game of instincts".

If thats true and he comes out and shuts down the Hawks' like he did the Pens' then can we agree that Tuuka Rask is the greatest goalie in the history of the world?

This! Since Crosby is a God, and Penguins with him are the best hockey team in the world ("BHTITW"), and the Bruins beat the BHTITW, then they must surely be some measure better than BHTITW, and therefore better than the Blackhawks. Why is this so difficult for everyone to accept. It's simple math! I'm not sure why they are bothering to even play the series!
- Cmonalready

I heard they were going to cancel the series, but the scalpers threw a hissy fit.

Just heard something from Tuuka Rask saying basically "I havent watched any tape on the Blackhawks and I'm not going to, because its a game of instincts".

If thats true and he comes out and shuts down the Hawks' like he did the Pens' then can we agree that Tuuka Rask is the greatest goalie in the history of the world?
- BlazinMike

If Rask holds the Hawks to 2 goals in 4 games, just deify him now.

Everyone is going to be excited about this series until Crawford gives up his first "softie"


then everyone will be back to this:

I know the hawks have played in some pressure situations, but nothing bigger than the Cup finals. Boston has 17 players from their Cup. Hawks only have 8. I'm worried about how this team handles the pressure. We need to win the 1st two at home. I hope this team doesn't have the jitters too much
- tomcat24

Once the games start, while the game is being played - is there any more pressure than in a Conference Finals game?

Seems to me the 11 Hawk skater who haven't been to the finals saw pressure situations against Detroit and LA.

I don't know: I've never played in the SC Finals.

Ok, boys - let's go - let's get game 1.

Huh? TOMORROW nite?

Sh!t.

Once the games start, while the game is being played - is there any more pressure than in a Conference Finals game?

Seems to me the 11 Hawk skater who haven't been to the finals saw pressure situations against Detroit and LA.

I don't know: I've never played in the SC Finals.
- StLBravesFan

They definitely felt pressure before, but you have to think the Finals ramp it up all the way. This is what you play for: the Cup. You don't get many chances to compete for it. It has to really hurt to be so close and lose.

I'm a huge Viktor Stalberg fan. My appreciation for him is more or less what his elite speed does for the team. His speed helps the transition game, keeps the defense of the other team honest, and opens up the ice. It also helps create opportunities. Granted those opportunities do not always result in a goal but keep pressure on the other teams defense and goalie, thus changing the aspect of the third period because that other team most of the time is worn out. That being said if the Hawks lose the SC it won't be because Stalberg is out and Bolling is in. Fact is, he hasn't played well in the postseason and his ice time has been cut rather significantly.......
- UnnamedSource

Agreed and stalberg has nobody to blame but himself.

What really grinds my gears is him complaining openly about it. His team is in the cup finals and again he's whining. Happy trails victor and maybe he should
Have taken a page out of mayers, carcillos, boligs, and even brookbanks book....nobody else complained.

A complete and total selfish move by a very overrated and 1 dimensional player.

You just encapsulated the entire Canuck experience. Both fans and team.

Step 1) First step, as always, is to have a loss and/or playoff exit.
Step 2) Find a way to say "jobbed".
Step 3) WOULDA COULDA SHOULDA diatribe

step 4) make an entitled, indisputable prediction about a future outcome

Yawn.

Please go help Gillis interview more coaches he doesn't want to hire. Lil Ian is calling for your help.
- tredbrta

If you must know, MG interacts with the season ticket holder base quite regularly and i asked him personally to expand his search past the media darlings and to include some out of the box thinkers, guys who came into the league and have proven to be able to coach young players, veterans and win. A guy who deserves another shot is Guy Carbonneau, and another one is Ted Nolan. I think they should merit some consideration, though money is betting on Stevens out of LA or Torts (just to shake some people out of their malaise and hold people accountable).

Interesting tid bit..

We will continue our speed vs size debate. Our play our game vs try to be all things to all people game debate for another week.

For those of you sold on the "Stalberg out, Bollig in" strategy, let me introduce some uncomfortable facts.

I have read how the Hawks should use Maple Leaf tactics to play the Bruins, as they are the only team to have any success. First, note that what the Leafs did was try to play the Black Hawk style with less talent.

Second, Toronto struggled early skating Fraser Mclaren and the bangers early in the series, thinking it was good to try to match the Bruins. After losing 2 of 3, they quickly adjusted to playing with their speed and skill and kept the Bruins on their heals the rest of the way.

Second, and again I admit it is up for debate, but beginning the Detroit series anticipating a grinding game, Stalberg was sat in favor of Carcillo. Please do not respond with Stlaberg stats and generalities. Show me one shift, one thing he actually did in a situation in round one to warrant a demotion?

Moreover, what did most smart people believe was one of the keys to the hawks being so successful? It was the play of their third line. Again, I do not question Qs authority to make this decision, just the wisdom behind preemptive moves. When, after the dust settled, you can look at the last 63 games and find me the point where they played their worst? Can anyone connect the dots?

Am I endorsing Stalhberg as Lord Stanley? No, just doing a little detective work, some trouble shooting on what may have changed.
Well the answer is they played their worst at the beginning of the Detroit series. After mad shuffling etc.. (keep in mind, I have no beef with adjusting lines, it is the line up thing that bothered me), they got it together again and won.

Kings series, you go out with....guess....the same line up that had so much success the whole season, and like clock work, the boys did their job. Now here we go again. I would be making the same argument if he pulled out Bolland, Frolik, Saad, Leddy. My endorsement of the status qou line up is of the philosophy of if its not broke, do not fix it.

I know many of you got my point, and whether you agree or disagree, you at least get my point, but the amount of people that can't grasp the concept is a little perplexing. But then again, these are people ready to blow up the team if they lose a game, or trade a guy for having a bad shift. Perhaps it is my expectations that are out of whack.

Go away Troll, nobody wants you here
- Maggie

you don't even know what a troll is... and what I post isn't trolling. if it was JJ would banish me or point it out clearly. I'm not hiding the fact I don't like the hawks, but I do like reading what JJ has to say to get to know what's going on with the competition. it makes games more interesting and as a HOCKEY fan i derive enjoyment and entertainment from the exercise. Nobody can go away, because some others have found some merit in what i've written.

Can somebody buy me tickets to the HOF Ceremony in Toronto when Stalberg, Bolland, Saad all get inducted? I want to be there......

1 of those 3 hopefully will be back with this team in October.

Somebody find Aaron Rowand or Mark DeRosa to help prep Bolland for post Chicago worship life, and how to cope....
- SteveRain

You know what, it happens to be the night you are headlining at Second city. We would all rather be there, including Saad and Bolland. Vic is still on the fence.
- TrueGrit

Well thank you....if only I was so fortunate.
Ill be at 2nd city and you'll be on tsn breaking down coaching moves and tinkering with the lineup alongside Pierre and Eddie o.

If Rask holds the Hawks to 2 goals in 4 games, just deify him now.
- NewToHockey

I can see game 1 being high scoring because of nerves, but all the others real low scoring. Boston plays a very good team D. they just swarm you and quick to pressure. Don't give you a lot of room. Like they showed in intermission, they play in layers. You think you lost one guy another moves over and covers you

King, CLifford, Fraser, Lewis, guys who seemed to be killing guys for their last 6 series didn't really make much of an impact. That was more of what I meant. And since the Hawks were the ones that hurt Richards, I don't really give them a pass on that one.
- rollpards19

Richards was hurt against SJ in games 6 and 7. He came into the series already damaged along with a large complement of players.

Agreed and stalberg has nobody to blame but himself.

What really grinds my gears is him complaining openly about it. His team is in the cup finals and again he's whining. Happy trails victor and maybe he should
Have taken a page out of mayers, carcillos, boligs, and even brookbanks book....nobody else complained.

A complete and total selfish move by a very overrated and 1 dimensional player.
- SteveRain

Wow, Steve, can you share the interviews, conversations, maybe the texts and tweets he sent out supporting your claim?

Gosh in pro sports, you don't every want to see any fire or desire for a guy to play, especially when you can't point to any one ACTUAL thing the guy did to earn his demotion.

But here I go again with logic, its so much easier to create some straw man persona that we can knock down and blame everything on.

I played on a lot of teams at very high levels and had many guys I could not stand, but players always hated when coaches would eff with the Karma of a group. Now if a guy does something legit to warrant something, so be it, but in this case there is as much likelihood Q told him he was sitting because he wanted to do something else as opposed to him supposedly blowing up. If anything he blew up when he was told you are sitting and Vic says why, what did I do or what havent I done that you have asked? And Q has no answer for him.

At the end of my glorious dead horse beating, Remember, I want my team to be who they ARE and have been. To embrace their game and what has given them success, instead of trying to anticipate and change in anticipation of something.

Well thank you....if only I was so fortunate.
Ill be at 2nd city and you'll be on tsn breaking down coaching moves and tinkering with the lineup alongside Pierre and Eddie o.
- SteveRain

I like your chances compared to mine.

So what? The Hawks have 2 top 6 forwards with shoulder separations. At least 1 (Sharp) will need surgery. This time of year everyone has injuries.

If those injuries limited anything it was Kings offense and not their hitting and ability to "beat down" which is what the oedipallly challenged Nuck tribe member was implying they could not do.
- tredbrta

oedipally challenged doesn't apply when it's YOUR mother as in this case...

Interesting tid bit..

We will continue our speed vs size debate. Our play our game vs try to be all things to all people game debate for another week.

For those of you sold on the "Stalberg out, Bollig in" strategy, let me introduce some uncomfortable facts.

I have read how the Hawks should use Maple Leaf tactics to play the Bruins, as they are the only team to have any success. First, note that what the Leafs did was try to play the Black Hawk style with less talent.

Second, Toronto struggled early skating Fraser Mclaren and the bangers early in the series, thinking it was good to try to match the Bruins. After losing 2 of 3, they quickly adjusted to playing with their speed and skill and kept the Bruins on their heals the rest of the way.

Second, and again I admit it is up for debate, but beginning the Detroit series anticipating a grinding game, Stalberg was sat in favor of Carcillo. Please do not respond with Stlaberg stats and generalities. Show me one shift, one thing he actually did in a situation in round one to warrant a demotion?

Moreover, what did most smart people believe was one of the keys to the hawks being so successful? It was the play of their third line. Again, I do not question Qs authority to make this decision, just the wisdom behind preemptive moves. When, after the dust settled, you can look at the last 63 games and find me the point where they played their worst? Can anyone connect the dots?

Am I endorsing Stalhberg as Lord Stanley? No, just doing a little detective work, some trouble shooting on what may have changed.
Well the answer is they played their worst at the beginning of the Detroit series. After mad shuffling etc.. (keep in mind, I have no beef with adjusting lines, it is the line up thing that bothered me), they got it together again and won.

Kings series, you go out with....guess....the same line up that had so much success the whole season, and like clock work, the boys did their job. Now here we go again. I would be making the same argument if he pulled out Bolland, Frolik, Saad, Leddy. My endorsement of the status qou line up is of the philosophy of if its not broke, do not fix it.

I know many of you got my point, and whether you agree or disagree, you at least get my point, but the amount of people that can't grasp the concept is a little perplexing. But then again, these are people ready to blow up the team if they lose a game, or trade a guy for having a bad shift. Perhaps it is my expectations that are out of whack.
- TrueGrit

Alright.....should we get the black dude who translates for the school of the hearing impaired?

Future hof, stalberg, is....
-not a vital piece on the pp or pk
-has not produced given numerous chances in the playoffs
-has not physically asserted himself other then catching 1 guy off balance in game 1 vs la
-will NOt be a member of the 2013-14 hawks

So....based on his productivity and lack of physical play, horrible defensive zone coverage, and being prone to moronic, kris versteeg type neutral zone turnovers, he is being sat in favor of a guy who will generate more in the same amount of time.

Now, you could also say the same about saad as stalberg and you would be correct, but he's a piece of this thing and needs the ice time.

Richards was hurt against SJ in games 6 and 7. He came into the series already damaged along with a large complement of players.
- kaptaan

Quotes from the Kings

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr was scheduled for surgery Monday for a "bad arm," coach Darryl Sutter said.

Sutter didn't elaborate when he spoke to reporters on the final day of L.A.'s break-up meetings, but a Kings spokesperson confirmed Monday that Regehr was set to undergo elbow surgery. Los Angeles was eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.

"He played with a bad arm the whole playoffs," Sutter said. "We're getting multiple guys looked at and he's first on the list."

Kings captain Dustin Brown said Monday that he will not need surgery to repair a partially torn cruciate ligament in his knee, which he revealed after Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. Brown said it will take 4-6 weeks of rest and he will "probably have to wear" a brace.

Brown said it happened on his first 5-on-5 shift against the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of the conference semifinals.

"I hit [Dan] Boyle," Brown said. "It's a nothing play. I saw it on video. I continued to play the shift. I knew something was wrong, but I kept on playing. He was coming around the net and corner and [Trevor Lewis] kind of had him angled, and I kind of came down on an angle. I think my knee just kind of hit his thigh. He's a little smaller than me, so it's just the way it hit."

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (high ankle sprain) and forward Justin Williams (separated shoulder) also revealed their injuries after elimination.


Don't know whether it would have mattered although it may have made some of the games closer and possibly went 7.