Russian airplanes.
- StLBravesFan

Good answer.

The last two seasons I have seen Blackhawk free agent or invitee Johnny McGuire play against and for the Oshawa Generals in the OHL. This guy is insane! He skates OK has limited hockey ability but he is a throwback in terms of fighting. If anyone goes to the tourney in London expect to see this guy at the center of any scrum, if he hasn't in fact started it. And don't expect to see him hold on for dear life, he will be swinging, miss as many as he lands and will leave himself wide open to get clocked. Seeing as he will want to get noticed I expect one or more fights a games during the tourney.
- paulr

Here he is opening up big Jared Tinordi's head....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U66wZPizuM

The deal starts now but if TT plays 10 or fewer games his contract slides 1 year and then starts in 2014/2015. It would be good if TT's contract slide a year, it would expire the same time as Bickell and Sharp, so if needed, extra cap space could be had by letting one of them walk.

This is similar to Kruger, but he played more than 10 games so there was no slide.
- DarthKane

Thanks DK for the excellent, precise answer!

Ben Smith is still a huge question mark for me. His defensive lapses are especially troublesome. I certainly wouldn't put his name in ink on any lineup card.
- philco28

To me, it is his first 2 steps from a dead stop that hampers positional defense...and transition....no a factor as much in the A

My guess is that it does start now. And the reason they do this is to get TT his bonus now and possibly use TT at the end of the season and towards the playoffs. After his season ends. Similar to Marcus Kruger from a few years back. Obviously different players, but same strategy.
- TrueGrit

Grit did you get my PM ?

Are you truly occupied or can you make that October game?

Smith's either on the Blackhawks or with another organization IMO due to his 1-way contract.

They've committed to him giving him that 2nd year as a 1-way so they must see him as ready to contribute. He had a solid year in Rockford as well, he just needs to stay healthy!
- TyCamScore

It think you are total in sync with this and many of those new Rockford re-ups, that become one way deals in the second year...the Hawks are gonna need cupboard space on the 50 man roster and you are in giving these players those type deals or as players who seem to be mutually agreeing that if they can't win a spot in Chicago, they are gonna be let go, or given an opportunity to do so elsewhere.
I think Lalonde deal and Beach's are also written similarly.

With Hayes it's got to be a thought that he can develop into a true power forward, the way Bickell did after a few years of patience and frustration. . He just doesn't skate well enough, in my opinion. Would much rather see Hayes go somewhere else. McNeil is a guy in the system that could fill a prospect void if Hayes traveled.
- DirkGraham

A lot has been said about skating, balance, and acceleration.
LeBlanc, Beach, Morin, Hayes...

Every team has young fellas who are knocked about because the game just moves quickly and teams are served better when the units can be in position, part of the play and not picking themselves up, or late to the jump.

Tyler Tiffoli, the two Stone Bros., big Henrick Samuelsson (who I wanted the Hawks to take, but Teravainen drop into their laps), Danault's girlfriend, Dmitri Jaskin, and you could even add Bobby Ryan into that mix...and former Ducks, Kunitz, and Penner.

Unless you overcome that deficit or have strength in all other areas that are going to compensate and help, you do have to recognize that the skating is what you try and build on.

Many of the names above did.

Hayes is a big body that you can always find a team interested in investing in. The guy has good hands amd understands the area around the net well.
He has qualities that made him an easy choice as a callup.

The beauty of a strong parent club means each and every guy who plys/played in Rockford knows there's no gimme involved, that competition, hard work and improvement get you there....
It's a little but tougher for them to act Nino Niederreiter-sh, and spout foul by not instantly being Blackhawks, as Nino did, and decided he wanted out because he was sure he was NHL awesome and was making a whole lot less in the minors than in Switzerland.

If Morin is that bad a skater, how can he fit on your 3rd line, which is supposed to be primarily a checking line - seems to me you can't say he's ok if he has to have guys who can cover for him defensively, not on a third line.
- StLBravesFan

I don't think "bad" is the correct word. It's more about Morin's slow skating speed.

I don't know if anyone noticed, but the Blues did same thing as the Preds. You have pay two additional tickets to buy Hawks tickets......which I did. People are saying that the Preds and Blues are trying keep Hawks fans out. I disagree. I think they are profitting from the Hawks recent success. Single game tickets for Blues are released at 10 and the Blues have under 50 tickets left (when i called) for the Hawks game.Their plan worked. The rumor that the Preds and Blues were trying to keep Hawks fans out probably added to the interest in tickets.

With all of thag being said, I have been itching to Rockford for some games. I have been meaning to go but it is hard to convince my friends to do anything.

I don't know if anyone noticed, but the Blues did same thing as the Preds. You have pay two additional tickets to buy Hawks tickets......which I did. People are saying that the Preds and Blues are trying keep Hawks fans out. I disagree. I think they are profitting from the Hawks recent success. Single game tickets for Blues are released at 10 and the Blues have under 50 tickets left (when i called) for the Hawks game.Their plan worked. The rumor that the Preds and Blues were trying to keep Hawks fans out probably added to the interest in tickets.
- faustus1500

Couple of pages ago.

How many days till the opening faceoff?

A lot has been said about skating, balance, and acceleration.
LeBlanc, Beach, Morin, Hayes...

Every team has young fellas who are knocked about because the game just moves quickly and teams are served better when the units can be in position, part of the play and not picking themselves up, or late to the jump.

Tyler Tiffoli, the two Stone Bros., big Henrick Samuelsson (who I wanted the Hawks to take, but Teravainen drop into their laps), Danault's girlfriend, Dmitri Jaskin, and you could even add Bobby Ryan into that mix...and former Ducks, Kunitz, and Penner.

Unless you overcome that deficit or have strength in all other areas that are going to compensate and help, you do have to recognize that the skating is what you try and build on.

Many of the names above did.

Hayes is a big body that you can always find a team interested in investing in. The guy has good hands amd understands the area around the net well.
He has qualities that made him an easy choice as a callup.

The beauty of a strong parent club means each and every guy who plys/played in Rockford knows there's no gimme involved, that competition, hard work and improvement get you there....
It's a little but tougher for them to act Nino Niederreiter-sh, and spout foul by not instantly being Blackhawks, as Nino did, and decided he wanted out because he was sure he was NHL awesome and was making a whole lot less in the minors than in Switzerland.
- wiz1901

You mean he isn't the greatest thing coming out of Switzerland since the cuckoo clock?

I don't know if anyone noticed, but the Blues did same thing as the Preds. You have pay two additional tickets to buy Hawks tickets......which I did. People are saying that the Preds and Blues are trying keep Hawks fans out. I disagree. I think they are profitting from the Hawks recent success. Single game tickets for Blues are released at 10 and the Blues have under 50 tickets left (when i called) for the Hawks game.Their plan worked. The rumor that the Preds and Blues were trying to keep Hawks fans out probably added to the interest in tickets.

With all of thag being said, I have been itching to Rockford for some games. I have been meaning to go but it is hard to convince my friends to do anything.
- faustus1500

Check your PM's.

Couple of pages ago.

How many days till the opening faceoff?
- Beaver-Warrior

25 until Hockey.
38 until Hockey that counts.

39 until we next call for Kompon's head.

25 until Hockey.
38 until Hockey that counts.

39 until we next call for Kompon's head.
- Ogilthorpe2

I think you are overestimating our patience on that last one.

25 until Hockey.
38 until Hockey that counts.

37 until we next call for Kompon's head.
- Ogilthorpe2

Edited.

The Blackhawks are again doing an open practice/festival to kick off training camp. For some reason, they are having it on a Monday this year - September 16th.

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=90747

25 until Hockey.
38 until Hockey that counts.

39 until we next call for Kompon's head.
- Ogilthorpe2

Don't we need to call for his head during pre-season so we're in shape to do it for real starting 10/1?

The Blackhawks are again doing an open practice/festival to kick off training camp. For some reason, they are having it on a Monday this year - September 16th.

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=90747
- NewToHockey

Probably Monday because camp really opens the previous Thursday at Notre Dame. I'm headed there to watch one of the scrimmages on Saturday the14th.

Don't we need to call for his head during pre-season so we're in shape to do it for real starting 10/1?
- StLBravesFan

You're probably right. Hopefully everyone's staying in game shape this summer.

25 until Hockey.
38 until Hockey that counts.

39 until we next call for Kompon's head.
- Ogilthorpe2

2nd period of the 1st game.

2nd period of the 1st game.
- Beaver-Warrior

No.

After the first failed powerplay of game one.

The Hawks PP is crap!

No.

After the first failed powerplay of game one.

The Hawks PP is crap!
- EKolb13

Which will occur in the 2nd period.



EDIT: Have I ever mentioned how big a Kompon fan I am?

Which will occur in the 2nd period.
- Beaver-Warrior

That's if the Hawks first PP opportunity is in the 2nd period. I know I'll be calling for Kompon's head about two seconds after the Hawks PP craps the bed. That could happen in the 1st period.

That's if the Hawks first PP opportunity is in the 2nd period. I know I'll be calling for Kompon's head about two seconds after the Hawks PP craps the bed. That could happen in the 1st period.
- EKolb13

So the bet is: I say 2nd and you're calling 1st for the 1st Hawk PP?

So the bet is: I say 2nd and you're calling 1st for the 1st Hawk PP?
- Beaver-Warrior

I suppose it's shaping up that way.