mmm, not so sure.

Sopel has been an "analyst" on the NBC news here locally -- honestly, he looks fit as a fiddle. Was never a great skater but knows the game and was almost always very good positionally.

I'll say this -- I'd take Sopes any day of the week and twice on Saturday and Sunday over Sheldon Brookbank (or Montador - yuck ) for my D pairings. Heck, I'm pretty sure Sopes would have been a good guy to have around Leddy (as Rozy was).
- savvyone-1

I might agree with you, if we were talking about Sopel from 5 years ago.

Two different disscussion....his contract is not that bad which means he would be attractive to someone looking for his type of skill set.
- UnnamedSource

He's also 28 and a proven talent.

Lets see if any of these prospects pan out before we just decide to deal a legit top 2 pairing d man.

Tell me you aren't advocating a potential top 4 of....Keith, unproven commodity, Hammer, and Oduya......

IMHO, Bickell isn't making it to FA in a Hawks' sweater. He is either resigning or being traded before then. I suspect the FO learned its lessons about waiting things out after 2010 and won't be caught with its pants down again.
- QStache

My entire point is it is highly unlikely he makes it to UFA because he wants to be in Chicago.

Malkin and Crosby are not team players. They have proven that on the ice the last 2 playoffs.

The way that team will win is surround those 2 with hard workers not other aspiring stars like Letang. Even then it is tenuous. Hard to believe they are favorites for the cup next year right now.
- tredbrta

Their D was poop and I think their goaltending needs upgrading for them to even be considered next year's winner. And I agree on Malkin and Cindy.

Remember kids...if you are going to kill somebody, best not spit out your blue bubblegum next to the crime scene.

Aaron Hernandez....what a beaut....

Remember When...


Remember when the Hawks streak was a mirage because they couldn't win like that in the playoffs?

Remember when Stan Bowman was the worst GM in hockey?

Remember when Stan Bowman never made significant trades or signings and didn't utilize the cap space from the 2010 dismantling?

Remember when this team wouldn't make a deep run in the playoffs against the bigger stronger teams of the West?

Remember when the core needed to be broken up and heads of the organization needed to be fired after going down to Detroit?

Remember when the Hawks had no shot against the big bad hard hitting Kings?

Remember when the Hawks had no shot against the bigger badder harder hitting Bruins?

Remember when going down only 2-1 to Bruins, the Hawks were too small upfront to contend in this series and big physical teams are always better than small finesse teams?

Remember?
- Bhawks35

No, because you're mostly putting words in people's mouths to redeem your apologist, hero-worshipping agenda. A favorite tactic of your ilk these days.

- DarthKane

Simmonds has a very reasonable cap hit of $4m thru 2020. Couturier is on his entry deal. Gives you a potential #2 and is only RFA in 2 years. You add space, youth and fortify top 6 forward depth along with subtracting salary, injury risk/age.

Not advocating this now just pointing out pros.
- tredbrta

I don't care what his cap hit is, he's a dirty player. Even if you LIKE dirty players, the zebras don't condone that crap with the Hawks ... anyone still think that Carcillo was a good acquisition?

Remember kids...if you are going to kill somebody, best not spit out your blue bubblegum next to the crime scene.

Aaron Hernandez....what a beaut....
- SteveRain

Nasty habit.

Hawks also talking to Edmonton.
- John Jaeckel

This is a pretty deep draft. We could get a very good player at 7. Nurse would be there. Maybe Sean monahan. He is a very interesting pick. They say he is a toews-lite. Not as good offensively but does all the little things

Seriously....

Anyone who disagrees....put yourself with in a situation, single, well known, worth millions, and have hot @ss women literally throwing themselves at you.....yeah, I'm sure those guys would just sip tonic water and walk away. Please.

All these gossip sites like TMZ, deadspin, make huge coin taking pictures and exposing guys based on claims.
- SteveRain

Also, the guys have had to be so DISCIPLINED with diet and lifestyle...i'm all for them safely kicking back and ENJOYING THEIR BEAUTIFUL REWARD and the perks that come with it.

On a side note...one thing I did during the Cup run that saved my already limited sanity...was to insulate against all biased, verbal diarrhea spewing, so called "hockey expert" literati. Didn't listen to ANY game day pre-game shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.....no off day hot air analysis......NONE OF IT.

I even turned the sound almost all the way down during games to save me from the CBC idiots. Highly recommend it to everyone if that type of stuff threatens your peace of mind

Remember kids...if you are going to kill somebody, best not spit out your blue bubblegum next to the crime scene.

Aaron Hernandez....what a beaut....
- SteveRain

Not only can you come here to talk hockey, you can also find useful tips on how to conceal a murder.

I love this place!

No, because you're mostly putting words in people's mouths to redeem your apologist, hero-worshipping agenda. A favorite tactic of your ilk these days.
- John Jaeckel

My post wasn't directed solely at you but also the opinions of some of the posters here as well.

But, since you commented...where exactly did I put words in anyones mouth?

Read your blog from game 3 of the series...it says pretty much verbatim my last point. You have repeatedly made those comments about bowman and the front office for over a year now. You have said a few times about the Hawks brand of play not being successful in the playoffs.

Exactly where did I say something that wasn't true?

I bet he doesn't have to use the line: hey I'm that guy from 2 and a half men! To pick up girls anymore...he can just say: I just won the Cup with The Blackhawks!!!!Woooooooo!!!!
- captainserious

They can celebrate however they want - but don't they get it yet that everyone has a camera on their cell phone, and every picture will be made public at some point?

Also, the guys have had to be so DISCIPLINED with diet and lifestyle...i'm all for them safely kicking back and ENJOYING THEIR BEAUTIFUL REWARD and the perks that come with it.

On a side note...one thing I did during the Cup run that saved my already limited sanity...was to insulate against all biased, verbal diarrhea spewing, so called "hockey expert" literati. Didn't listen to ANY game day pre-game shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.....no off day hot air analysis......NONE OF IT.

I even turned the sound almost all the way down during games to save me from the CBC idiots. Highly recommend it to everyone if that type of stuff threatens your peace of mind

- philco28

I like that...I'll try that next year....

Not only can you come here to talk hockey, you can also find useful tips on how to conceal a murder.

I love this place!
- EKolb13

Yep...read that and couldn't stop laughing. Had to read it a few times, to make sure I wasn't misreading it.

Only the NFL....

My entire point is it is highly unlikely he makes it to UFA because he wants to be in Chicago.
- John Jaeckel

Again, I won't be surprised if we are tipped off at rally that he's going to be a Hawk going forward.

Short of someone offering him 5 mil plus over multiple years, I have no worry that he is a Hawk.

I like that...I'll try that next year....
- SteveRain

Go for it Rain Man...i think you'll find the HOT AIR here much more to your liking

My entire point is it is highly unlikely he makes it to UFA because he wants to be in Chicago.
- John Jaeckel

I agree. My point was twofold: (1) Bickell will re-sign with the Hawks before 7/5; and (2) if for some reason Bickell doesn't re-sign with the Hawks before then, they will trade him, rather than let him reach unrestricted FA.

Go for it Rain Man...i think you'll find the HOT AIR here much more to your liking



- philco28

You may have saved me...Philco. You may have just saved me......

Imagine if the trade Bolland, and I stop listening to the talking heads....I may have to log in with a different name...

You may have saved me...Philco. You may have just saved me......

Imagine if the trade Bolland, and I stop listening to the talking heads....I may have to log in with a different name...
- SteveRain

I have to agree with Phil. I employed the same strategy starting around Game 3 of Detroit series. I pretty much avoided most media outlets, print or television, and came here for the level-headed commentary

Also, the guys have had to be so DISCIPLINED with diet and lifestyle...i'm all for them safely kicking back and ENJOYING THEIR BEAUTIFUL REWARD and the perks that come with it.

On a side note...one thing I did during the Cup run that saved my already limited sanity...was to insulate against all biased, verbal diarrhea spewing, so called "hockey expert" literati. Didn't listen to ANY game day pre-game shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.....no off day hot air analysis......NONE OF IT.

I even turned the sound almost all the way down during games to save me from the CBC idiots. Highly recommend it to everyone if that type of stuff threatens your peace of mind

- philco28

I swear they had me pining for Peni$ McGuire and the aimless meanderings of Doc; couldn't get NBC for game 6 because of the Detroit fireworks (stupid) and was forced to watch/listen to the CBC broadcast.

They were awful. On Toews goal: pretty much no credit to Toews but the crew spent the entire next few minutes bemoaning the incorrect call on a hand pass that didn't happen so the puck was dropped outside the Hawk zone. Thought I was watching the Boston Comcast feed; I bet they were more impartial.

My post wasn't directed solely at you but also the opinions of some of the posters here as well.

But, since you commented...where exactly did I put words in anyones mouth?

Read your blog from game 3 of the series...it says pretty much verbatim my last point. You have repeatedly made those comments about bowman and the front office for over a year now. You have said a few times about the Hawks brand of play not being successful in the playoffs.

Exactly where did I say something that wasn't true?
- Bhawks35

No one said a big team always beats a skilled team . . for example. There was (and is) a good deal more nuance to it. A skilled big team will always beat a skilled small team. That is the gist of what alot of people say.

And it's always been proven true.

But you (and Ace) turn that into the Hawks are a small team that won. No, that's not true. Taking Zdeno Chara out of the equation, the Hawks are basically the same size as the Bruins. Why did they win? When they started to play bigger.

Hockey is, was and always has been a physical game. I will freely admit, I underestimated how tough this team could be. But if you or "Ace" or anyone else thinks they won purely by skill—that they didn't win in large part because they got physical—I don't know what you were watching.

And I really don't know what your point is or why you feel redeemed or in a position to gloat.

What was proven in these playoffs is the NHL is a man's sport—and when a skilled team plays like men, they win.

I didn't read your whole post—really didn't feel like I needed to. The Hawks won because this front office and this coaching staff made some great moves. And no one is disputing that. Does it mean you and others were right to say they shouldn't have made trades? No, it doesn't mean that. They got Iginla, maybe they beat Boston in 5. There's no way to know!

It really "proves" very little about your "philosophy" or anyone else's. So, lighten up.

Would something like Bolland the hawks first rounder and Pirri be enough to get Tallon to fork over FLA's first rounder?
- goaler11

You people are (frank)ing ridiculous.

You may have saved me...Philco. You may have just saved me......

Imagine if the trade Bolland, and I stop listening to the talking heads....I may have to log in with a different name...
- SteveRain

I just havetoknow what this does to our Bollus Going Away party???

Here I'm thinking Bolland was either going to shank that puck OVER the cage or has been his MO, put it along the ice where Rask would have been credited with a "miraculous" save by reaching out withe the paddle and having 36 put it right into the fat part.

And then the best part as his stick and gloves were being held by Boychuk was Bolland pulling his hands out of the gloves after he scores!!!

I will still swear I've seen his mug shot at the local post office . . .