For Getzlaf?
- UnnamedSource

No, just in general. If you haven't heard, Lalonde signed a deal to play in Berlin.

Zhamnov really? He's the reason I got rid of my season tickets.
As a Hawk he was a big POS.
- gramps

sorry zhamnov came around at the worst possible time for hawk fans. you might have been right on in your timing to sell. but alex zhamnov was a top nhl player his whole career. defensively and offensively.

sorry zhamnov came around at the worst possible time for hawk fans. you might have been right on in your timing to sell. but alex zhamnov was a top nhl player his whole career. defensively and offensively.
- jsabey

I always thought he was a very good player. He was put in a very tough spot. Sort of set-up for failure. It was impossible to fill Roenick's skates. Those Hawk teams were really pathetic

I always thought he was a very good player. He was put in a very tough spot. Sort of set-up for failure. It was impossible to fill Roenick's skates. Those Hawk teams were really pathetic
- tomcat24

i know. you always basically say that which is the spot on. we have to keep coming back to this. it is ok. basically, the zhamnov haters, we all understand the russian thing....but people who really hate zhamnov just missed out on a really great player, very different type of player than jr obviously, nobody was like jr. zhamnov was an awesome player to watch and i feel bad for people who were to salty to appreciate his game.

The fact that Smith was chosen to play in game 3 against Boston speaks volumes. In addition to Smith having a one-way (low cap hit) deal this year. I know some of the rookies may be in and out of the line up this year, but if he's healthy I expect Smith to play a full season and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do.
- DarthKane

Just in case anyone is thinking this is not the case, right on the Hawks website. Look for 2 or 3 "young players for their formula". Stan said as much a week or so back and said all additional signings were for Rockford depth, think he was telling the truth.
http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=679020

i know. you always basically say that which is the spot on. we have to keep coming back to this. it is ok. basically, the zhamnov haters, we all understand the russian thing....but people who really hate zhamnov just missed out on a really great player, very different type of player than jr obviously, nobody was like jr. zhamnov was an awesome player to watch and i feel bad for people who were to salty to appreciate his game.
- jsabey

Thanks. So do you. And you are exactly right on all of this.

i know. you always basically say that which is the spot on. we have to keep coming back to this. it is ok. basically, the zhamnov haters, we all understand the russian thing....but people who really hate zhamnov just missed out on a really great player, very different type of player than jr obviously, nobody was like jr. zhamnov was an awesome player to watch and i feel bad for people who were to salty to appreciate his game.
- jsabey

No.

Yes. If old man Wirtz did anything right, he tried to take care of these kids of guys. Probie was clean for most of his time, but fell off the wagon at the end. He did try a stint in the radio booth (with Jessie Rogers I believe) while he was in rehab.

They tried the same with Theo Fleury.
- GoHawks63

Theo and Probie. Interesting tale. Theo was as sick as Probie ever was. Probie struggled with his demons right up to the end, still wasn't really clean at the end, then had that tragic heart attack. Today, Theo Fleury has his life together and helps thousands of people. Real inspiration.

sorry zhamnov came around at the worst possible time for hawk fans. you might have been right on in your timing to sell. but alex zhamnov was a top nhl player his whole career. defensively and offensively.
- jsabey

Guy had amazing hands and was a good two-way player. Really miscast as a #1 center but a very good #2 center.

Guy had amazing hands and was a good two-way player. Really miscast as a #1 center but a very good #2 center.
- John Jaeckel

Miscast as a Captain too.

Just in case anyone is thinking this is not the case, right on the Hawks website. Look for 2 or 3 "young players for their formula". Stan said as much a week or so back and said all additional signings were for Rockford depth, think he was telling the truth.
http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=679020
- vabeachbear

Morin, Smith, Hayes, Pirri.

As hard as I was on Saad last year. none of those guys brings the overall basic toolset of size, speed and two-way play that Saad did. Where you know even if he isn't scoring per se, he isn't hurting you.

I also have doubts about Pirri or Leblanc as 2C. Really wonder if that doesn't end up being Kruger and/or Handzus by the end of the season. But it's certainly worth trying.

Miscast as a Captain too.
- Ogilthorpe2

Meh, yeah. But I never heard that he was a bad guy or a "lazy" Russian like Karpovtsev or Mironov. Everything I ever heard was he was a good teammate and a good guy and dedicated to the game.

Morin, Smith, Hayes, Pirri.

As hard as I was on Saad last year. none of those guys brings the overall basic toolset of size, speed and two-way play that Saad did. Where you know even if he isn't scoring per se, he isn't hurting you.

I also have doubts about Pirri or Leblanc as 2C. Really wonder if that doesn't end up being Kruger and/or Handzus by the end of the season. But it's certainly worth trying.
- John Jaeckel

I think there's a good chance Pirri starts as the 2C buy Kruger finishes the season in that role.

I think there's a good chance Pirri starts as the 2C buy Kruger finishes the season in that role.
- DarthKane

There are so many variables it really doesn't matter who the number 2 center is, after all the Hawks won two cups with this as a concern. To me the important thing is that Pirri is provided an honest and fair chance to make the Hawks roster in recognition of his production last year. He may prove not be an NHL player but it is vital to the development system that everyone see he was given a fair chance to succeed.

What about the rest of us? Jerk.
- DarthKane

whats going on darth

No, just in general. If you haven't heard, Lalonde signed a deal to play in Berlin.
- EKolb13

Really? Had not heard..seems like a giant step back.

There are so many variables it really doesn't matter who the number 2 center is, after all the Hawks won two cups with this as a concern. To me the important thing is that Pirri is provided an honest and fair chance to make the Hawks roster in recognition of his production last year. He may prove not be an NHL player but it is vital to the development system that everyone see he was given a fair chance to succeed.
- paulr

Why? Who cares how many meaningless assists the guy picks up on a non-playoff AHL team? The message should be play your ass off both ways, and judging by people who watch the kid a lot, he doesn't do that. He's already behind Saad, who has shown he will always work hard at the NHL level. Pirri isn't entitled to anything and neither is any other prospect.

There are so many variables it really doesn't matter who the number 2 center is, after all the Hawks won two cups with this as a concern. To me the important thing is that Pirri is provided an honest and fair chance to make the Hawks roster in recognition of his production last year. He may prove not be an NHL player but it is vital to the development system that everyone see he was given a fair chance to succeed.
- paulr

All this 2C talk generating from the front office is a big marketing ploy to keep fans talking about the Blackhawks during the off season.

Is anyone tired of the same stuff over and over from the Blackhawks Convention? Yes, I think it is great that the Blackhawks get a chance to interact with the fans and thank them for their loyalty. I have grown tired however of hearing about the Patrick Sharp/Adam Burish pranks, seeing a Jonathan Toews/Patrick Kane dance off, and other cheesy things that go on. How many more prank stories can Sharpie come up with? How many more stupid questions can some of these fans ask? I don't know, maybe I am being too harsh, but some of the convention stuff has gotten stale for me. I do hope it does continue, but a little bit of a different format is used. Just my two cents, but not everything has to be made to be into not very funny humor and the same stuff all of the time.

Why? Who cares how many meaningless assists the guy picks up on a non-playoff AHL team? The message should be play your ass off both ways, and judging by people who watch the kid a lot, he doesn't do that. He's already behind Saad, who has shown he will always work hard at the NHL level. Pirri isn't entitled to anything and neither is any other prospect.
- rollpards19

Read my post over again. Nowhere did I say anything should be given to him. He deserves an honest assessment is what I said.

Is anyone tired of the same stuff over and over from the Blackhawks Convention? Yes, I think it is great that the Blackhawks get a chance to interact with the fans and thank them for their loyalty. I have grown tired however of hearing about the Patrick Sharp/Adam Burish pranks, seeing a Jonathan Toews/Patrick Kane dance off, and other cheesy things that go on. How many more prank stories can Sharpie come up with? How many more stupid questions can some of these fans ask? I don't know, maybe I am being too harsh, but some of the convention stuff has gotten stale for me. I do hope it does continue, but a little bit of a different format is used. Just my two cents, but not everything has to be made to be into not very funny humor and the same stuff all of the time.
- ChicagoHope

If you don't like it, why watch it? You seem to be up on all the activities yet you are complaining about it? You have a choice not to go, watch or listen to it. I don't care for it either but obviously many do.

Guy had amazing hands and was a good two-way player. Really miscast as a #1 center but a very good #2 center.
- John Jaeckel

Those who never got a chance to see him play live can't appreciate how smooth this guy was. Take him out of the clutch-and-grab era and put him into today's game and he would be a pretty decent #1C.

If you don't like it, why watch it? You seem to be up on all the activities yet you are complaining about it? You have a choice not to go, watch or listen to it. I don't care for it either but obviously many do.
- paulr

AND - it's excellent marketing for the team.

They don't need to "market" to us: we're here, buy the tickets, watch on TV, buy the sweaters under almost any circumstance.

Want the team - and the sport - to grow in Chicago? Have to market it to the people who eat the convention stuff up.

I wondered if Saad would so back to #22 now that Mayers is gone, but it appears he'll stick with #20.

Jimmy Hayes is #22 now that Khabby took his #39. Morin is #11, Danault is #24, McNeill is #15, Leblanc is #14 and Teravainen is #23. Last season at this time I wanted Shaw to change his #65 to his usual #15 but I'm happy he didn't.

Before you ask...yes, I am this bored that I had to post a message about jersey numbers.