If #25 didn't like the treatment he got from Coach Q, he will be mortified by the way Babcock deals with him when he starts turning the puck over in the D zone.
- RickJ

No Way! TG says Babcock is the best coach everand that he would never hurt a player's feelings.

Mr. FlyBy has amazing wheels no question, but for such a brilliant skater he's such a non-factor most of the times.

Good luck to him in Detroit if that's where he goes.
- kwolf68

Before the playoffs he was more of a factor for 130 games than the indispensable Bryan Bickell

Has to be.... 99', cripes im getting old.
- BooBoo997

If I recall correctly, the Hawks acquired Kyle Calder from Philly, then immediately flipped him to Detroit for Jason Williams. Not sure on the year. (2005/2006ish). That was the last deal between them, I believe.

Lots of talk about Leddy not be a smart player...I don't see much of that, especially considering he is 22.

Stalberg on the otherhand tries but reapeatedly makes the same mistakes...

Doesn't get into the correct position, takes the wrong angle when he breaks toward the net, plays with his head down, turnovers at the blueline etc.

Stalberg is someone who needs to be quicker above the shoulders and at his age that might not happen.

But if he goes to a team that will give him enough ice time and rope he could score some goals....and also give a few up as well.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Too bad Leddy didn't have Yawney to get him up to speed as he did with Keith.

No Way! TG says Babcock is the best coach everand that he would never hurt a player's feelings.
- paulr

You are right - just ask Ian White.

Lots of talk about Leddy not be a smart player...I don't see much of that, especially considering he is 22.

Stalberg on the otherhand tries but reapeatedly makes the same mistakes...

Doesn't get into the correct position, takes the wrong angle when he breaks toward the net, plays with his head down, turnovers at the blueline etc.

Stalberg is someone who needs to be quicker above the shoulders and at his age that might not happen.

But if he goes to a team that will give him enough ice time and rope he could score some goals....and also give a few up as well.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

I am not a huge fan of Leddy as many in here are, but I don't see lack of smarts in his play. I see lack of toughness, courage in his own zone. When you turn him he's a borderline NHL player...when he has the puck on his blade coming at you he is a superstar.

That's what makes Leddy so tough. He has some traits that are very suspect, then some traits where he's great.

But I never got the sense he wasn't thinking the game well (like Stalberg).

Dude have to disagree...

Put the home games on tv 40 years after every other team already has.
Bring back pat foley.
Market the crap out of the team.
Bring in a bunch of young guns and ramp up the Hawks website.
Tell the players they have to do all kind of signings and guest appearances get them involved like heck in the community.
Go to the old guard and ask them to come back now that Wirtz had finally passed.

The team was already ready to win - McD had nothing to do with it. I give you the Cubs Convention and the Hawks convention no question a masterstroke by McD.

...by the way what have the Cubs won? Nada.
- DK002

So marketing geniuses are supposed to help teams win now?


This bias against McD is so ridiculous it's not even funny. The man does his job, and he does it well. He's also the President of the Blackhawks, so of course he's going to have some input on players. But if you think he's the one that's making personnel hockey decisions, well then you are just plain wrong.

You can rip on McDonough all you want for being allegedly involved in on-ice hockey deals. Your note about anyone with a marketing degree could do this is hilariously wrong.

He's taken two moribund franchises and turned them around from a marketing perspective into highly desired destinations. There's a reason why he's widely regarded as a marketing genius.
- CaptainBlackhawk

In principle, I agree with you. The issue as I see it is the Cubs are no question the easiest club to market. We all know their attendance history before JM arrived there...

Dude have to disagree...

Put the home games on tv 40 years after every other team already has.
Bring back pat foley.
Market the crap out of the team.
Bring in a bunch of young guns and ramp up the Hawks website.
Tell the players they have to do all kind of signings and guest appearances get them involved like heck in the community.
Go to the old guard and ask them to come back now that Wirtz had finally passed.

The team was already ready to win - McD had nothing to do with it. I give you the Cubs Convention and the Hawks convention no question a masterstroke by McD.

...by the way what have the Cubs won? Nada.
- DK002

Certainly not a McCub jock sniffer, but to say he had nothing to do with the turnaround is just naive.

In fact you mentioned just a few of the changes in your own point against him. Point is, it didn't happen before. Very easy now to say it wasn't a big deal. Doubt at this time 6 or 7 years ago you could have ever guessed the Blackhawks and the organ-z-ation would be where they are today.

Have to give credit where credit is do, even if its begrudgingly.

@ChrisKuc: Source says #Blackhawks and restricted free-agent defenseman Nick Leddy are not yet talking about a new contract but likely will meet soon.

Before the playoffs he was more of a factor for 130 games than the indispensable Bryan Bickell
- rollpards19

I honestly can't argue with this rollpards...Count me in as one who would like Bickell back, but at a very affordable cost. If we overpay Bickell it's very risky given his history (from minors to now) of being woefully inconsistent.

And the argument that he's a "playoff performer" and so what he stinks it up in the season is a bit misguided when you consider we may NEED HIM in the season to MAKE the playoffs.

Too bad Leddy didn't have Yawney to get him up to speed as he did with Keith.
- paulr

Indeed!

Also Chris Kuc just tweeted the Hawks haven't talked to Leddy about a new contract yet, but will soon.

If true that means there won't be any deals involving Leddy this weekend.

I don't think Leddy is going anywhere but he really couldn't be traded before a new contract is signed.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

If I recall correctly, the Hawks acquired Kyle Calder from Philly, then immediately flipped him to Detroit for Jason Williams. Not sure on the year. (2005/2006ish). That was the last deal between them, I believe.
- hawks2010

Yup! Thats the last one...He had a couple of good swasons with the Hawks too...nice player!

Well the next time your job offers you a lower salary than you and more importantly, other companies feel you're worth, maybe you'll understand Bickell's situation.

If money isn't everything in this situation, it's a good 90% of everything.
- AceRatbang

I understand Bickell's situation fine. Thanks Ace.

In principle, I agree with you. The issue as I see it is the Cubs are no question the easiest club to market. We all know their attendance history before JM arrived there...
- Captain33Graham

And since he left, attendance has been steadily declining every year.

I am not a huge fan of Leddy as many in here are, but I don't see lack of smarts in his play. I see lack of toughness, courage in his own zone. When you turn him he's a borderline NHL player...when he has the puck on his blade coming at you he is a superstar.

That's what makes Leddy so tough. He has some traits that are very suspect, then some traits where he's great.

But I never got the sense he wasn't thinking the game well (like Stalberg).
- kwolf68

Well I can say this.....Years ago a common complaint was Keith and Seabrook weren't tough enough and got pushed around in their own zone.

It takes strength, foot work and experience to play that position at a high level.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

You can rip on McDonough all you want for being allegedly involved in on-ice hockey deals. Your note about anyone with a marketing degree could do this is hilariously wrong.

He's taken two moribund franchises and turned them around from a marketing perspective into highly desired destinations. There's a reason why he's widely regarded as a marketing genius.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Bingo

- Blackhawks Convention (note: Something he started with the Cubs and was the very FIRST marketing executive ever to hold a fan convention). That's more than a master stroke, it's marketing genius.

- Bringing hockey back to the youth of Chicago holding camps all throughout the city. This is major important as the youth are what is going to really drive the rebirth of hockey.

- Setting standards that everyone in the organization has to ahere to. Something this organization was seriously lacking.

- Heritage Nights, home TV, Pat Foley etc everything you listed - He still did those things! Mock it all you wish.. he still did it.

- Making this the model organization in the NHL where players want to play here.

The team, on ice, had components to win. The popularity of the product never happens without having someone that knows how to market the team - that just didn't happen overnight because of the players on ice.

The Cubs haven't won anything not because of how the team is marketed but more so because they have gotten the wrong players. And you know that.
- CaptainBlackhawk

reading JJ's latest regarding moving up in the draft and the cost for that move seems to be a choice between hammer and ledds and I think the easy answer would be losing ledds although that tells me the hawks think they are willing to deal from a point of strength. I also think that this may be a sign, if indeed a d man is moved, that a young defensemen in the system may be ready to take the next step most likely adam clendening or ryan Stanton.

New blog up lads

In principle, I agree with you. The issue as I see it is the Cubs are no question the easiest club to market. We all know their attendance history before JM arrived there...
- Captain33Graham

They are the easiest club to market NOW. Before his arrival they were a moribund franchise who had issues with attendance and no one wanted to actually play there.

To all those bemoaning the hawks for not signing Bicks earlier this year.....do you think we still see the same play in this years playoffs if he signs that deal earlier? Given his past performance, which is all we really have to go by, I'm not so sure.

Phil buddy simple reason for that Wiliam 'Dollar Bill' Wirtz was still alive...
- DK002

OK DK...but give Rocky credit for bringing in a man that has done an OUTSTANDING JOB IMO of improving the club's direction, image and MODUS OPERANDI.

And since he left, attendance has been steadily declining every year.
- darkman

I think, safe to say... Cub fans are gaining an expectation... Wrigley was selling out long before his arrival. He is I acknowledge a marketing genius. But he did have a selling machine in the Cubs.

[quote=nellie]

you cannot really argue about mcd's abilities to promote a winning franchise and behave like a big market team but you also can't really argue that the success of the team on ice is the result of the drafted core players, not Pat Foley.........mcd had virtually nothing to do with the on ice product and, note, that we are an attractive destination for ufa's because of that on ice success........when we were awful, we had to dramatically overpay free agents to get them here