Technically he wouldn't retire, he would just be one LTIR until his contract ran out.
- DarthKane

Oh. Then that's not bad. Thanks for the clarification. But then the HAwks would still be paying the full amount of the contract and it doesn't count against the cap? Or would insurance pay for part of it?

Shall we start a Lurker Anonymous chapter? I've been lurking over there for awhile now.
- Beaver-Warrior

Maybe. I do post in there from time to time.

Only if the Nucks fans start up a Troll Reform program.
- EKolb13

They definitely have the most trolls. And everyone on HB goes after them.

Oh. Then that's not bad. Thanks for the clarification. But then the HAwks would still be paying the full amount of the contract and it doesn't count against the cap? Or would insurance pay for part of it?
- busmaster

To be honest I'm not sure who it would work, but I would guess that insurance would cover it.

I will say this again. It seems to go right by the heads of most as I say it over and over, but here is the key. Stop thinking in terms of 1st line, 3rd line etc...think along the lines of building 4 balanced lines.

That is the secret formula. Again I reference Team USA world Junior championship and again will cite last years Hawks team. Swarm and overwhelm all opponents who have less speed and skill and grit on all their lines. Put the onus on the opposition to attempt to out play you at your game, when in reality they are over matched.

Having Speed, Skill, Grit, and two way play on all lines is the formula. So from my point of view, it is irrelevant and a waste of time to focus on 2nd line, 4th line. In reality, last year the Hawks had 2 third lines, and in reality you could have called the Shaw, Bick and STal line as a second line on most teams.

Balance Balance Balance. I would not be surprised to see Pirri and Handzuis rotated and or Shaw centering 3rd line and Kruger 4th.

Just my 2 cents, but guys have to think outside the box a bit.
- TrueGrit

Balance works when you have proven players in Stalberg, Bolland and Frolik, but they don't have that kind of depth anymore. Scoring goals is really important, and you need to put the players most capable of scoring goals in the best position to do so. And if the lines were balanced, you'd play them all equally and that's just not smart. The Hawks won't have 2 third lines this year, the players simply aren't as good. There will be a fourth line. You know what won us the cup? Saying screw balance and putting our two best offensive players on the same line

Pronman's Top 10 Hawks prospects:

http://www.hockeyprospect...rticle.php?articleid=1587

A lot of points are made about the Hawks prospects that have been made here, but still worth a read if you have the time

Balance works when you have proven players in Stalberg, Bolland and Frolik, but they don't have that kind of depth anymore. Scoring goals is really important, and you need to put the players most capable of scoring goals in the best position to do so. And if the lines were balanced, you'd play them all equally and that's just not smart. The Hawks won't have 2 third lines this year, the players simply aren't as good. There will be a fourth line. You know what won us the cup? Saying screw balance and putting our two best offensive players on the same line
- rollpards19

Maybe. It also helps to have 2 halfway decent guys together like Sharp and Hossa. I think Morin, Smith, Hayes or any combination will combine for the same amount of goals they lost with Frolik and Stalberg. Granted Frolik played well on the PK. While with the Hawks Frolik couldn't score a goal to save his life. Well unless it was a penalty shot or an empty netter.

Pronman's Top 10 Hawks prospects:

http://www.hockeyprospect...rticle.php?articleid=1587

A lot of points are made about the Hawks prospects that have been made here, but still worth a read if you have the time
- prd797

Funny (but not really ha ha type funny) that the main negative listed for pretty much everyone except Hayes is the same....small.

Funny (but not really ha ha type funny) that the main negative listed for pretty much everyone except Hayes is the same....small.
- Ogilthorpe2

And they almost all could be 2nd line forwards.

And they almost all could be 2nd line forwards.
- StLBravesFan

I treat those predictions as ceilings...that might make more sense in terms of what he wrote. I'm just usually curious to read his pros and cons for each players.

I treat those predictions as ceilings...that might make more sense in terms of what he wrote. I'm just usually curious to read his pros and cons for each players.
- prd797

As stated before, everyone is small or projects to be a 2nd line guy. Looks like a cut & paste job to me.

Post of the year. Well done
- tomcat24

Thank you. I really think this organizational philosophy is what separates the team. It would be fun to do a statistical analysis on minutes played by players and lines. Think we will find a greater spread for Hawks.

Funny (but not really ha ha type funny) that the main negative listed for pretty much everyone except Hayes is the same....small.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yeah, it's a trend through all of the different team prospect reviews on his site. I don't think he trusts the ability of "undersized" players to stand up to the physicality of the NHL.

I mainly have read his rankings to familiarize myself with prospects around the league that aren't in the system I pay a lot of attention to, but every year I like to compare what he writes about the prospects with other sources that I read more often.

Balance, yes, but:

Even on this team, you have your top two lines being scoring lines - presumably populated with all 20+ goal scorers (most 30+), and your bottom two lines with no one who has YET scored 20 goals (I think).

It's important to have someone qualified between Hossa and Sharp (or Hossa and Kane, or however it winds up) so that they can continue to be 30+ scorers: last year, after the TDL, it wound up being mostly Handzus; this year, it will likely be Handzus a good part of the time.

Balance is great, needed, was a big factor in winning the Cup - as was the fact that they could expect about 2 goals per game from the top 6.
- StLBravesFan

IMHO, Zus was able to keep up etc, because he played with a guy Hossa, who was on one leg, and Sharp, who had 1 arm.

As stated before, everyone is small or projects to be a 2nd line guy. Looks like a cut & paste job to me.


- EKolb13

Fair enough assessment. Probably is tough and tedious to go through every team each summer and research prospects and come up with completely unique and different assessments for every single player.

Though wouldn't it be nice if all of our prospects panned out to be second liners. The elusive 2C might actually emerge and the search will be over!

As stated before, everyone is small or projects to be a 2nd line guy. Looks like a cut & paste job to me.


- EKolb13

Small AND projects to be a 2nd line guy.

IMHO, Zus was able to keep up etc, because he played with a guy Hossa, who was on one leg, and Sharp, who had 1 arm.
- TrueGrit

Well, old "one-arm" led the team in play-off goals, I think, and Hossa was on one leg only in the finals, I think.

Is anyone else starting to think that it's actually legitimately possible that the Nucks might miss the playoffs this year? I'm starting to feel like a meltdown of epic proportions is coming soon to Western Canada.

Well, old "one-arm" led the team in play-off goals, I think, and Hossa was on one leg only in the finals, I think.
- StLBravesFan

...and Hossa was tied for 2nd.

Top 5 Hawk Goal Scorers in the 2013 Playoffs...

Sharp (my guy ) 10
Kane/Hossa 9 each
Bickell 7
Shawzer 5

Is anyone else starting to think that it's actually legitimately possible that the Nucks might miss the playoffs this year? I'm starting to feel like a meltdown of epic proportions is coming soon to Western Canada.
- Ogilthorpe2

It's possible, but I wouldn't bet on in.

In the Pacific I think Anaheim, LA and SJ will lock up the top 3 seeds so they'll be fighting for a wild card. In the Central Chicago, St Louis and Minnesota will likely be the top 3 seeds. That leaves Vancouver to battle it out with Phoenix, Nashville, and Dallas for the the 2 wild card spots (realistically). Between those 4 teams I think Vancouver has a pretty good shot at taking a wild card spot.

However, Vancouver is only 1 medium to big injury away from falling out of this group. If one of the Sedins, Kesler or 1 top 4 d-man gets hurt for any significant length of time they are screwed. They're depth is really bad.

...and Hossa was tied for 2nd.

Top 5 Hawk Goal Scorers in the 2013 Playoffs...

Sharp (my guy ) 10
Kane/Hossa 9 each
Bickell 7
Shawzer 5
- Ogilthorpe2

Exactly, just think if our guys played with 2 arms and 2 legs, series would have been a sweep.

Thank you. I really think this organizational philosophy is what separates the team. It would be fun to do a statistical analysis on minutes played by players and lines. Think we will find a greater spread for Hawks.
- TrueGrit

They definitely play the 3rd and 4th line more than most. But, I still didn't think they played them enough. There were games where it seemed Bolland, Kruger, and Fro were on the ice for like 14 min. But it turned out to be 10. I do like what the front office wants and that is smart and skilled players. When you have that you can basically interchange any of them and not miss a beat when injuries happen or to give the other team a matchup hell. In a few years I think we can see 12 forwards play anywhere and produce

Is anyone else starting to think that it's actually legitimately possible that the Nucks might miss the playoffs this year? I'm starting to feel like a meltdown of epic proportions is coming soon to Western Canada.
- Ogilthorpe2

This doesn't make the Hawks better.
- EKolb13

That depends. What is the goal? To have the best possible success in the regular season? In that case, it does not make the Hawks better.

If the goal is to have the best chance for success in the playoffs, resting Hossa now and giving more NHL game experience to the kids could very well be to the Hawks' benefit.

That depends. What is the goal? To have the best possible success in the regular season? In that case, it does not make the Hawks better.

If the goal is to have the best chance for success in the playoffs, resting Hossa now and giving more NHL game experience to the kids could very well be to the Hawks' benefit.
- NewToHockey

It is a very long season and having him as strong as he can be for the playoffs is important. I still don't know how I feel about regular season success. The Kings won the Cup as the 8th seed and road team in every series, but I don't think we win the Cup this year without home ice, especially against Detroit and Boston