I feel pretty good that Leddy will keep progressing. He's good and just needs to keep getting games under his belt.

I hope Saad can keep going. I'd hate to see an experiment at center potentially mess with his growth but then again, maybe he could flourish. I don't know.

I really hope Kruger can find the score sheet a bit more. Everyone who watches him knows that he has the other side of the game pretty nailed down. Seeing him pot 15 in a largely defensive role would be rad.

I'd have to think Smith has a roster spot that is his to loose coming into camp.
- EKolb13

Eli...has Smith ever played centre in Rockford? I wonder if he could platoon the 4C role with Handzus.

Dunno about that. Smith will have to get a lot quicker to be that effective on the forecheck. I mean, a lot.
- John Jaeckel

There's a UFA that played in my hometown who's fast and effective on the forecheck, he could likely be signed to a short cheap deal too.

Eli...has Smith ever played centre in Rockford? I wonder if he could platoon the 4C role with Handzus.
- DarthKane

He hasn't played much at center in Rockford, if any at all. I think he could line up at center, but only in an emergency.

I could be wrong, and maybe he could spot there. He has always left the impression that he is an energy type wing.

If he's finally SERIOUS...and that's a Kilimanjaro IF...Beach is my darkhorse. That # 12 sweater has been preserved...long PHUCK'N enuff
- philco28

philco, you're not far off, I'm hoping it Beach also, but if not, I'll take Morin.

Nobody is picking Hayes, watch him be the breakout player of the year. (Where's the red font button)

Nobody is picking Hayes, watch him be the breakout player of the year.
- DarthKane(Where's the red font button)

Fixed.

If Peckham is seeing a lot of ice time in Chicago, things have gone horribly wrong. Edm needs D and they didn't want him. Depth move for Rockford and that's all it will be. I can't bear to watch the 2.0 version of John Scott.
- Elbows15

no F'n way, that kid skates A lot better than John Scott, probably like some young guys, don't get it going just right with their first team, then move on and then figure it out & have a pretty good run with their 2nd team. Which would bode well for the Hawks. could possibly happen with Beach also, he'll move on & figure it out. the Hawks will seee that this isn't a short little 48 game jaunt so guys like peckham could be useful when it gets long & rough providing he want to seize the opportunity.
If anyone thinks the Hawks have an easy glide through coming up the next 82, then the cherry flavor taste awful good. Boston could have easily won that Stanley cup also if not for a couple of brain farts in game 6. they beat the sh lit out of the Hawks as evidenced by how many of them have had surgery following the series. They will be the hunted this year with every team bringing their "A" game on a nightly basis. So guys like Peckham and a few others could be useful.

Nobody is picking Hayes, watch him be the breakout player of the year.
- DarthKane(Where's the red font button)

Fixed.
- EKolb13

no F'n way, that kid skates A lot better than John Scott, probably like some young guys, don't get it going just right with their first team, then move on and then figure it out & have a pretty good run with their 2nd team. Which would bode well for the Hawks. could possibly happen with Beach also, he'll move on & figure it out. the Hawks will seee that this isn't a short little 48 game jaunt so guys like peckham could be useful when it gets long & rough providing he want to seize the opportunity.
If anyone thinks the Hawks have an easy glide through coming up the next 82, then the cherry flavor taste awful good. Boston could have easily won that Stanley cup also if not for a couple of brain farts in game 6. they beat the sh lit out of the Hawks as evidenced by how many of them have had surgery following the series. They will be the hunted this year with every team bringing their "A" game on a nightly basis. So guys like Peckham and a few others could be useful.
- wonthecup10

No.

John Jaeckel: Who's Your Breakthrough Baby?
- John Jaeckel

Krugman or Nordman, maybe both...and Kane pots 50 and wins the Ross, book it.

I like Leddies potential. I can see him taking a big step next year.

I like Leddies potential. I can see him taking a big step next year.
- vancity787

We have more than one Leddy on the team? When did this happen?

No.
- Ogilthorpe2

This.

no F'n way, that kid skates A lot better than John Scott, probably like some young guys, don't get it going just right with their first team, then move on and then figure it out & have a pretty good run with their 2nd team. Which would bode well for the Hawks. could possibly happen with Beach also, he'll move on & figure it out. the Hawks will seee that this isn't a short little 48 game jaunt so guys like peckham could be useful when it gets long & rough providing he want to seize the opportunity.
If anyone thinks the Hawks have an easy glide through coming up the next 82, then the cherry flavor taste awful good. Boston could have easily won that Stanley cup also if not for a couple of brain farts in game 6. they beat the sh lit out of the Hawks as evidenced by how many of them have had surgery following the series. They will be the hunted this year with every team bringing their "A" game on a nightly basis. So guys like Peckham and a few others could be useful.
- wonthecup10

Some of this may be true about needing depth. Peckham isn't it. He is a goon.

If Pirri, centering the second line ends up with the biggest breakthrough, Hawks will hit 100 points by February.

Leddy's ascension will be a little more gradual with growing pains because he's never going to be the defensive rock you kinda want your dmen to be. Still a Soupy clone isn't too bad.

My vote is for Saad to find another gear based on how he stepped up in the second half and got the best training one can ask for in the playoffs.

I'm about ready to give up on both of the Hayes boys as they are maddeningly docile for their size... I don't remember whom but someone on this board once mentioned Hossa and the younger brother in the same sentence... lol

Some of this may be true about needing depth. Peckham isn't it. He is a goon.
- Elbows15

give me a break with this goon sh it guys. every time there is talk on this site about a player playing toward the edge or a little rough he's called a goon. then what the F is andrew shaw? I love the way shaw plays. I wish more would play like him, especially those with some size & meat to them. that can't be taught I guess.
John scott was a good team guy, but couldn't skate worth a F uck to play in Q's system, I'll give you that. Danny Carcillo could but it was a #'s game with him here, no room. he'll do fine with Darryl Sutter. now Peckham, what the F? I haven't watched the Oilers all that muchto see where his game is at, but I do feel given his age & make up, if he is brought along the right way he could prove useful. unless he is a stone jag off in the locker room & the oil is glad to rid them selves of him.
right now it's a numbers game & with 8 D, he'll probably be a call up. but with trades ( and I am in the minority that our 2 center will come this way a little later) & injuries, it is good to have some extra guys. Hopefully Hayes can learn how to skate & not fall all the time to be a good solid 3rd line winger, same with Beach. JMO, that is all boys!

I picked Pirri last year and I'm going with him again. Give him that chance on the 2nd line and watch him put up Calder trophy candidate type numbers. He can bring what the Hawks really need now with his game. A lot of posters will be eating crow.

A guy I didn't mention in the blog but could factor in here is Leblanc. Total wild card. Definitely some questions about his size/speed/adaptation to the pro game, but apparently the organization likes him and he is a pure center.

give me a break with this goon sh it guys. every time there is talk on this site about a player playing toward the edge or a little rough he's called a goon. then what the F is andrew shaw? I love the way shaw plays. I wish more would play like him, especially those with some size & meat to them. that can't be taught I guess.
John scott was a good team guy, but couldn't skate worth a F uck to play in Q's system, I'll give you that. Danny Carcillo could but it was a #'s game with him here, no room. he'll do fine with Darryl Sutter. now Peckham, what the F? I haven't watched the Oilers all that muchto see where his game is at, but I do feel given his age & make up, if he is brought along the right way he could prove useful. unless he is a stone jag off in the locker room & the oil is glad to rid them selves of him.
right now it's a numbers game & with 8 D, he'll probably be a call up. but with trades ( and I am in the minority that our 2 center will come this way a little later) & injuries, it is good to have some extra guys. Hopefully Hayes can learn how to skate & not fall all the time to be a good solid 3rd line winger, same with Beach. JMO, that is all boys!
- wonthecup10

I will just say that Peckham's name came up a fair amount and more than once in trade discussions between the Hawks and Oil over the last couple of years. Not as a centerpiece, but as an add-in piece in some deals. Which means the Hawks have liked him and were willing to give some value for him.

So now they got him for basucally nothing.

If Peckham and Kostka play all year at Rockford, learn the Hawks' system, help the rooks down there and make that a better team, protecting Raanta in the process—because those guys will be very good AHL defensemen—and then provide some playoff depth for an already very deep Hawk blueline, that is ALL good for the Hawks.

I will just say that Peckham's name came up a fair amount and more than once in trade discussions between the Hawks and Oil over the last couple of years. Not as a centerpiece, but as an add-in piece in some deals. Which means the Hawks have liked him and were willing to give some value for him.

So now they got him for basucally nothing.

If Peckham and Kostka play all year at Rockford, learn the Hawks' system, help the rooks down there and make that a better team, protecting Raanta in the process—because those guys will be very good AHL defensemen—and then provide some playoff depth for an already very deep Hawk blueline, that is ALL good for the Hawks.
- John Jaeckel

Peckham and Kostka are decent depth guys who could fill in during an injury or two. Would I want either of then ahead of Rozsival or Brookbank? No. Maybe next season one of them can step up and be the 6th or 7th defenseman after a year in the system.

Signing these guys was a smart move by Stan. He had 2 NHL caliber defensemen in Rockford and solid candidates for the roster next year.

You know that he's not in the system any longer, right? Let alone that he's passed through a couple of teams systems now, and currently not a part of any NHL organization.
- EKolb13

Aliu was seen at my local pick up rec skate last winter... #notgood

Aliu was seen at my local pick up rec skate last winter... #notgood
- TyCamScore

So is some beer league team picking up his salary this season?

Peckham and Kostka are decent depth guys who could fill in during an injury or two. Would I want either of then ahead of Rozsival or Brookbank? No. Maybe next season one of them can step up and be the 6th or 7th defenseman after a year in the system.

Signing these guys was a smart move by Stan. He had 2 NHL caliber defensemen in Rockford and solid candidates for the roster next year.
- DarthKane

Brookbank is god awful. Just go back and watch game 4 vs LA, and watch how quickly he was chained to the bench...where even Nick Leddy saw ice time on the road, where as with Keith in the lineup, he hadn't.

Brookbank should have been dealt and allowed a younger kid to come up and play a platoon role with Rozsival, who can't be out there every night.

So is some beer league team picking up his salary this season?
- EKolb13

His beer league team has their finger on the waiver claim button for when Kyle Beach gets waived

#6'3beerleaguebeauties