I agree about lou. I always liked him as a person. He always seemed like a stand-up guy to me. I still think he is a great goalie. It was always that contract people didn't like most
- tomcat24

If Luongo had 3 year left on his deal instead of 10 he would have been traded last summer and he could have possibly won a Cup in Chicago.

would of loved to see bicks get the smythe but still im fine with kane
- royce19

My guess is if he had, Victor Stalberg would still be a Hawk and Bickell would be playing somewhere else because the Hawks couldn't have afforded him. I'm pretty glad it worked out like it did.

My guess is if he had, Frolik would still be a Hawk and Bickell would be playing somewhere else because the Hawks couldn't have afforded him. I'm pretty glad it worked out like it did.
- Baaaaaaannerman!

Fixed.

Fixed.
- NewToHockey

We're going to miss Frolik, he's been one of our better playoff performers. 4 points in the Cup Final and was a monster on the PK.

We're going to miss Frolik, he's been one of our better playoff performers. 4 points in the Cup Final and was a monster on the PK.
- DarthKane

I think Smith will fill some of what Frolik brought.

I think Smith will fill some of what Frolik brought.
- EKolb13

I sadly agree. Nothing against Smith, Frolik is just plain awesome.

I sadly agree. Nothing against Smith, Frolik was just plain awesome.
- DarthKane

Fixed.

I'll agree, for last season. Lest we forget, most of us had Frolik pegged as a 14th forward or worse before last season started.

Frolik was a needed part for last season. Hopefully he can carry his sucess to Winnipeg.

If Luongo had 3 year left on his deal instead of 10 he would have been traded last summer and he could have possibly won a Cup in Chicago.
- DarthKane

don't be suprised IF CC prices his self right out of here next summer & Lou"s situation is resolved this year and is available next summer & the Bowman's like him for the right price you could see a Lou & Raanta tandem in 14-15.
he is a quality guy , Raanta will not be ready to take the reigns yet. I'm not sayin??? just sayin!!
now all that goes out the door if CC's agent doesn't try to stick up the Bowman's. you know they never pay top $$ for goaltenders!
you have to pay up for 19&88, if Lou is bought out, he sign's here for reasonable cash for 2-3 years. by then Raanta will be well groomed like CC was prior.
also, right before the lock out rocky nixed a trade for Lou until he saw the perameters of the new CBA, (no lock out, Lou is a Hawk) so that tells me Rocky & John like the man also, especially on a more affordable deal they could sign off on aquiring him, then the kicker after this years cup hangover & early out next spring, He back stops the Hawks to another cup in 15 further jamming it right up Gillis's rear end!

I guess the Nashville Preds have a Keep the Red out plan to curtail the amount of Hawks fans that make the trip. Now you can't but a single ticket to a Hawks - Preds game without buying a ticket to another game.

Like this team? Absolutely.

They were hands down the best team in the NHL last season. The questions I have are these (and the subject of blog(s) to come):

1) replacing Bolland, Stalberg and Frolik with some combination of Smith, Morin, Hayes, Pirri.

BIG question.

Anyone assuming this is plug and play is probably fooling themselves. None of these would-be's brings physically what Stalberg and Frolik did. Not even close. None are or likely ever will be the difference-maker Bolland was at times.

The mitigating factor here is Q can, should and probably will expand the minutes/roles of Saad and Kruger.

To me, the question really is, who's your fourth line? And that's actually an important question in the NHL. A bunch of fringe guys who were top 6 in the AHL? Meh. Dunno. Maybe not a good NHL fourth line.You are right, though, Winchester could be a nice add here.

2) New goalie coach. How does Crawford respond? One thing he has going for him is complete continuity on defense and the defensive system.

3) Cup hangover? Did they get enough rest and recuperation? Do they come back with a more professional, workmanlike attitude this year than they did in 2010? I suspect so (at least on the attitude part).

4) Special teams. They will miss Frolik to some degree on the PK (although I think it is a nice opportunity for Saad to expand his game and usefulness). What about the PP though?With maybe a somewhat weakened PK, does the PP still suck as much as it did? Ugh.

Still, this will be one of the league's best teams, without a doubt. The answers to the above questions and health will determine if the Hawks are again the best.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, I could be wrong, but out of the 4 you mentioned, NONE of them will ever amount to those you need to replace, they all will be either buried in rockford or gone by spring, this years help will come from probably after Bowman see's such ,he'll look to sign a vet like Larose & mcneil & danault will vault pass them 4 on the depth chart!
I am also willing to bet coin that Brandon Pirri is no where near the 2nd line center picture come mid December! he'll be back with his beloved 5000 Icehog fans making P A's at the local bowling alleys out there. for the millionth time, Brandon Bochenski all over again!

don't be suprised IF CC prices his self right out of here next summer & Lou"s situation is resolved this year and is available next summer & the Bowman's like him for the right price you could see a Lou & Raanta tandem in 14-15.
he is a quality guy , Raanta will not be ready to take the reigns yet. I'm not sayin??? just sayin!!
now all that goes out the door if CC's agent doesn't try to stick up the Bowman's. you know they never pay top $$ for goaltenders!
you have to pay up for 19&88, if Lou is bought out, he sign's here for reasonable cash for 2-3 years. by then Raanta will be well groomed like CC was prior.
also, right before the lock out rocky nixed a trade for Lou until he saw the perameters of the new CBA, (no lock out, Lou is a Hawk) so that tells me Rocky & John like the man also, especially on a more affordable deal they could sign off on aquiring him, then the kicker after this years cup hangover & early out next spring, He back stops the Hawks to another cup in 15 further jamming it right up Gillis's rear end!
- wonthecup10

There's a good chance Crawford prices himself out of Chicago, I'm actually expecting it. But there's no way Stan will pay Luongo $5.3 million and let Crawford walk. If Stan is willing to pay around $5 million for a goalie Crawford will stay here.

I'd prefer to see Crawford stay for $3 - $3.5 million but if that doesn't happen I expect Stan will platoon Raanta with a goalie like Dubnyk, Reimer or Elliot. At most maybe Stan trades for Anderson but Luongo is too much.

Fixed.

I'll agree, for last season. Lest we forget, most of us had Frolik pegged as a 14th forward or worse before last season started.

Frolik was a needed part for last season. Hopefully he can carry his sucess to Winnipeg.
- EKolb13

Frolik IS awesome and I'm not one of the guys who had him pegged as the 14th forward. Frolik accepted his role and he was part of one of the best penalty killing tandems in the league.

I know the team will go on and be successful without Frolik and I'm looking forward to see what Smith can do. But I appreciate everything Frolik has done for the team.

There's a good chance Crawford prices himself out of Chicago, I'm actually expecting it. But there's no way Stan will pay Luongo $5.3 million and let Crawford walk. If Stan is willing to pay around $5 million for a goalie Crawford will stay here.

I'd prefer to see Crawford stay for $3 - $3.5 million but if that doesn't happen I expect Stan will platoon Raanta with a goalie like Dubnyk, Reimer or Elliot. At most maybe Stan trades for Anderson but Luongo is too much.
- DarthKane

Oh Jesus Christ are we in trouble if any of those guys you named as a replacement of CC wind up here. what I was saying that IF & only IF Lou is totally free of his current contract ( bought out next summer)& CC is gone, Lou could be an option ,but not for no F'n 5.3! Bowman will not pay that to ANY goaltender!

Oh Jesus Christ are we in trouble if any of those guys you named as a replacement of CC wind up here. what I was saying that IF & only IF Lou is totally free of his current contract ( bought out next summer)& CC is gone, Lou could be an option ,but not for no F'n 5.3! Bowman will not pay that to ANY goaltender!
- wonthecup10

I'd take Lou on a short term reasonable contract if Stan can't keep Crawford. Next summer will be interesting for our goalie situation.

I'd take Lou on a short term reasonable contract if Stan can't keep Crawford. Next summer will be interesting for our goalie situation.
- DarthKane

yep in the mean time let's just see how this season shakes out ! more importantly the #2 center role. I'm sayin that either danault or mcneil will have the upper leg come spring. 1 of them will find their way here at some point next year.

also, right before the lock out rocky nixed a trade for Lou until he saw the perameters of the new CBA, (no lock out, Lou is a Hawk) so that tells me Rocky & John like the man also
- wonthecup10

Oh Jesus Christ are we in trouble if any of those guys you named as a replacement of CC wind up here. what I was saying that IF & only IF Lou is totally free of his current contract ( bought out next summer)& CC is gone, Lou could be an option ,but not for no F'n 5.3! Bowman will not pay that to ANY goaltender!
- wonthecup10

So, which is it? Bowman had a done deal that Rocky vetoed or Bowman would never pay $5.3? You speak with great conviction about what's happening inside 1901 W Madison. Source?

So, which is it? Bowman had a done deal that Rocky vetoed or Bowman would never pay $5.3? You speak with great conviction about what's happening inside 1901 W Madison. Source?
- NewToHockey

Bowman had the frame work started with vanc. for a deal in which gillis was going to take some bad money back plus a youngin was allegedly going both ways. possibly Tanev coming this way. Rocky & co. then decided no deals of magnitude until the new CBA was in place.
as we all know it worked out great for us, CC righted the ship & we won the cup. so this is 1 that falls into the "best trades are the 1's you didn't make" catagory.
since then it became almost public knowledge that the Bowmans won't pay 5 mill for a goalie. whether that would be the case or not if Rocky had signed off on aquiring Lou, only the Hawk brass knows. so at this point it's just smokin mirrors, didn't happen, dead issue.
now if CC bolts & Lou is bought out next summer, I would have to say that the Hawks would kick the tires on him, ......maybe!

I sadly agree. Nothing against Smith, Frolik is just plain awesome.
- DarthKane

agree 100%

Frolik IS awesome and I'm not one of the guys who had him pegged as the 14th forward. Frolik accepted his role and he was part of one of the best penalty killing tandems in the league.

I know the team will go on and be successful without Frolik and I'm looking forward to see what Smith can do. But I appreciate everything Frolik has done for the team.
- DarthKane

They weren't the best pk unit on their own team. Luckiest maybe. Best goaltended, pretty sure yes

They weren't the best pk unit on their own team. Luckiest maybe. Best goaltended, pretty sure yes
- rollpards19

So you're saying Kruger and Frolik weren't the best PK tandem (forwards) on the team? Then who was? How were Kruger and Frolik better "goaltended" than other PK pairs in the team?

They weren't the best pk unit on their own team. Luckiest maybe. Best goaltended, pretty sure yes
- rollpards19

I would say Q thought they were. He seemed to rely on them the most. I still think there were times they weren't aggressive enough on the kill. Didn't challenge enough. But who am I to argue with success. Toews and Hossa are always good together. Now it looks like maybe kruger and Smith. Saad back with Zus on days he plays

So you're saying Kruger and Frolik weren't the best PK tandem (forwards) on the team? Then who was? How were Kruger and Frolik better "goaltended" than other PK pairs in the team?
- DarthKane

Toews and Hossa allowed a lot less shot attempts at the net (as a rate stat, not total), advanced the puck into the opponents zone more, allowed less goals. There's this thing called on ice save % and its not the same for every player. Crow/Razor had a worse save % with Toews and Hossa on the ice than their ridiculous .911 with Fro on the ice. Those are unreal numbers for goalies on the PK, especially when Fro was giving up more chances than Toews and Hossa. Toews was EVEN on the PK this year while playing the third most ice time of any forward. Think about that, the opposition couldn't outscore Toews with a man advantage. Were Fro and Krugs good, of course, but they were really backstopped by the goalies, while other players did a better job of preventing shots and creating chances of their own? yes.

I would say Q thought they were. He seemed to rely on them the most. I still think there were times they weren't aggressive enough on the kill. Didn't challenge enough. But who am I to argue with success. Toews and Hossa are always good together. Now it looks like maybe kruger and Smith. Saad back with Zus on days he plays
- tomcat24

Total agree, they weren't aggressive enough but the goalies bailed them out all year. Do you really think if you told Q he has 30 seconds to kill a penalty, and ice-time for the rest of the game isn't an issue, he ever sends out Kruger and Frolik over Toews and Hossa? Because I say no way. There's not one hockey situation where I would rather have Marcus Kruger over Jonathan Toews.

Well I haven't posted in a few weeks and now I remember that it just feels like I'm attacking people because there is so little to talk about. DK and tomcat, nothing personal dudes.

Total agree, they weren't aggressive enough but the goalies bailed them out all year. Do you really think if you told Q he has 30 seconds to kill a penalty, and ice-time for the rest of the game isn't an issue, he ever sends out Kruger and Frolik over Toews and Hossa? Because I say no way. There's not one hockey situation where I would rather have Marcus Kruger over Jonathan Toews.

Well I haven't posted in a few weeks and now I remember that it just feels like I'm attacking people because there is so little to talk about. DK and tomcat, nothing personal dudes.
- rollpards19

We're all splitting hairs with each other. Soon we can get back to what we do best - splitting hairs with Q and Stan.

i like that assessment. in the face of my kane love but u know what, there were a lot of great players. best conversation we could ever have really.
- jsabey

best conversation we could ever have!!!!!!!! u dont get it!!!!!!!!!!