Did it occur to anyone who keeps saying Pirri is slotted for a top six position that he may in fact not be good enough for a top six position and doesn't have the type of game to be a bottom six forward? Kinda like a 4A baseball player.....

Let's look at the evidence.....

It's agreed by all parties Handzus will play no more than 40-50 games. If this is the case Pirri should be shoe-in for the extra forward position because that leaves 30-40 games for Pirri to play and hopefully emerge as the future 2C........and sure he was injured in preseason but he spent the full summer working out with the Hawks staff so.........(crickets).......(tumbleweeds)..........(crickets again)......

But hey if there isn't a spot on the top two lines for him because that's where he is slotted surely some other team would love to have a bonafide top six forward and hey....the hawks could move him for veteran depth on the bottom six or a draft pick or two...Bowman loves his draft picks.....this deal should be easy.....so.......(Crickets).....(tumbleweeds).......(Crickets again)


- UnnamedSource

That's my point exactly. The team views Pirri as a top 6 forward, but there are too many better options ahead of him.

Continuing my ramble about Pirri...


In order for him to get run out of town he has to make the team first....then show he has some value to the teams success.....that hasn't happened yet.

Also.....the window for Pirri being a Hawk player is closing...after this year it will be harder for him to secure a spot....

Based on what the Hawks brass has said TT is almost assured a spot on the team...probably 2C...next year....

Also a strong possibility Danault is on the team next year.....

Top 6..for argument sake...

Kane-Toews-Bickel
Hossa-TT- Sharp
Saad- Shaw- Danault
Nordstrom-Kruger- Bolling/Smith...

That's my point exactly. The team views Pirri as a top 6 forward, but there are too many better options ahead of him.
- DarthKane

My point is.....maybe they don't.....

He is the Hawks Felix Pie......

Was thinking the same that Brookstank may be a fit there. Didn't even think of Fiddler, nice call
- ikeane

Won't be until after tomorrow nite: Kuc says he's playing.

Won't be until after tomorrow nite: Kuc says he's playing.
- StLBravesFan

Forward or defence?

Edit: It also appears that Hayes in back in, he was skating with Shaw and Saad.

Forward or defence?

Edit: It also appears that Hayes in back in, he was skating with Shaw and Saad.
- DarthKane

Didn't say.

Soooooo what you're saying is Pirri's skill set is similar to Patrick Kane.....easily a top 10 scorer in the league......and because the Hawks feels it is unfair to have so much scoring on the top two lines they would rather plug the 2C with an aging Michael Handzus who is to slow for the Hawks transition game and give Pirri the opportunity to win a second AHL scoring title.....that darn Hawk FO...always trying to help out the league.

- UnnamedSource

Exactly...you read perfectly between the lines. I guess I assumed you are smarter than you are showing, but the concept of type casting guys should be easy to follow. Every team has those dynamic offensive guys. That was the Kane reference. See nothing in there says Pirri = Kane, just the style/type of player, which all teams have..otherwise there would be no scoring.

Two things

1. There was nothing Pirri or Leblanc or anyone was going to do to supplant Handzuis at 2 C until he either is hurt or team struggles. When Zus was re signed, it was not a two way deal. I still stand by that by Christmas, Zus = Mayers last year.

2. I am just going to beat this drum and be on record, so again, when time proves me correct, there will be plenty of documentation from all those that doubted.

I get that the union has already determined Pirri's fate and so much is invested in his failure that there just is no way to back off of it. So rather than playing nice, I would rather push the whole thing over the cliff. I mean there is no way conventional wisdom can be wrong.

Won't be until after tomorrow nite: Kuc says he's playing.
- StLBravesFan

Ughhhhhhhh

Exactly...you read perfectly between the lines. I guess I assumed you are smarter than you are showing, but the concept of type casting guys should be easy to follow. Every team has those dynamic offensive guys. That was the Kane reference. See nothing in there says Pirri = Kane, just the style/type of player, which all teams have..otherwise there would be no scoring.

Two things

1. There was nothing Pirri or Leblanc or anyone was going to do to supplant Handzuis at 2 C until he either is hurt or team struggles. When Zus was re signed, it was not a two way deal. I still stand by that by Christmas, Zus = Mayers last year.

2. I am just going to beat this drum and be on record, so again, when time proves me correct, there will be plenty of documentation from all those that doubted.

It's not the union as you say....it's the team pretty much saying it. You keep going back to the point of Zus playing 2c.......but with his age and body parts falling off he will not play a full schedule......and my point has been...with that being the case this should be the ideal situation for Pirri.......but the Hawks don't think so.....I mean I would like to think our suggestions are read and considered by management when they make the final decision on a roster spot (red font).....

I get that the union has already determined Pirri's fate and so much is invested in his failure that there just is no way to back off of it. So rather than playing nice, I would rather push the whole thing over the cliff. I mean there is no way conventional wisdom can be wrong.
- TrueGrit

[quote=UnnamedSource]


It's not the union as you say....it's the team pretty much saying it. You keep going back to the point of Zus playing 2c.......but with his age and body parts falling off he will not play a full schedule......and my point has been...with that being the case this should be the ideal situation for Pirri.......but the Hawks don't think so.....I mean I would like to think our suggestions are read and considered by management when they make the final decision on a roster spot (red font).....

Continuing my ramble about Pirri...


In order for him to get run out of town he has to make the team first....then show he has some value to the teams success.....that hasn't happened yet.

Also.....the window for Pirri being a Hawk player is closing...after this year it will be harder for him to secure a spot....

Based on what the Hawks brass has said TT is almost assured a spot on the team...probably 2C...next year....

Also a strong possibility Danault is on the team next year.....

Top 6..for argument sake...

Kane-Toews-Bickel
Hossa-TT- Sharp
Saad- Shaw- Danault
Nordstrom-Kruger- Bolling/Smith...
- UnnamedSource

His value, like the value of every minor leaguer or prospect is depth and potential.

Now we know that TT is guaranteed a spot? Wow missed that memo. I know guarantees, like predicting the weather, are great until 1 minute passes from when they are issued.

All of what you stated may be true. The only thing that we must remember, is that NHL teams only care about this year. Winning now. Lots can change.

Forward or defence?

Edit: It also appears that Hayes in back in, he was skating with Shaw and Saad.
- DarthKane

Trying to beef up the lineup against the big bad Blues? I'd like to see Brookbank moved for Fiddler...Kostka to me looks like a perfectly fine number 7 d-man. Fiddler could help out immediately on the third line, put Shaw at wing and Fiddler in the middle and all of the sudden the Hawks have returned to a very deep team while still playing some young guns part time. Fiddler as stated previously is adept on the PK so that can only help.

Seems obvious to work but that always means it WONT happen. Bummer

His value, like the value of every minor leaguer or prospect is depth and potential.

Now we know that TT is guaranteed a spot? Wow missed that memo. I know guarantees, like predicting the weather, are great until 1 minute passes from when they are issued.

All of what you stated may be true. The only thing that we must remember, is that NHL teams only care about this year. Winning now. Lots can change.
- TrueGrit

And if that's the case the great legendary Brandon Pirri should be playing for the hawks but he's not...because as you say NHL teams care about this year.... winning now.......and based on the evidence the Hawks don't feel Pirri can help them win Now....or this year.

That's my point exactly. The team views Pirri as a top 6 forward, but there are too many better options ahead of him.
- DarthKane

He is a top 6 forward ..... In Rockford!!!!

It's not the union as you say....it's the team pretty much saying it. You keep going back to the point of Zus playing 2c.......but with his age and body parts falling off he will not play a full schedule......and my point has been...with that being the case this should be the ideal situation for Pirri.......but the Hawks don't think so.....I mean I would like to think our suggestions are read and considered by management when they make the final decision on a roster spot (red font).....
- UnnamedSource

LOL, hey in the end, you may be proven correct.

All I am saying is that many will be surprised when Pirri is given a shot at some point, circumstances yet to be determined. I think it is a bit preemptive to draw all your conclusions and project those on the hawk brass, unless you have some Unamed Source feeding you information..

LOL, hey in the end, you may be proven correct.

All I am saying is that many will be surprised when Pirri is given a shot at some point, circumstances yet to be determined. I think it is a bit preemptive to draw all your conclusions and project those on the hawk brass, unless you have some Unamed Source feeding you information..

- TrueGrit

we shall see...

He is a top 6 forward ..... In Rockford!!!!
- paulr

BTW Paul we are doing our Rink of Dreams game in Tampa before Penguins game day after American Thanksgiving.

I have a top 6 roll available if you like.

BTW Paul we are doing our Rink of Dreams game in Tampa before Penguins game day after American Thanksgiving.

I have a top 6 roll available if you like.
- TrueGrit

Pirri could play....he is projected to be a top six....

Pirri could play....he is projected to be a top six....
- UnnamedSource

I already asked him, I think he is vending Beer that night at the UC. BTW, he says thanks for hooking him up. He is hoping display that two way vendor skill set you and the Brass want to see.

BTW Paul we are doing our Rink of Dreams game in Tampa before Penguins game day after American Thanksgiving.

I have a top 6 roll available if you like.
- TrueGrit

Only if I get top 6 money.

Beach in Sweden....from Chris Block....

http://thethirdmanin.com/...aying-in-sweden-and-more/

Have a feeling the brain trust are sending Beach 'over there' with the hope that he improves his skating on the bigger surface, like Bickell did during the lockout last year.

With all that ice and with an emphasis on honing stride efficiency, Beach might progress to become the player many hoped he could be. That being said, there's still the problem of his .5 cent head.

Won't be until after tomorrow nite: Kuc says he's playing.
- StLBravesFan

Brookbank is being showcased.

Brookbank is being showcased.
- DarthKane

In case of emergency , break glass.......

Thank you for making my point. We agree Pirri was not in the running for a bottom 6 role. This then supports my belief and assertion that the club sees him as a top 6 prospect. He is not being graded or groomed to be a bottom 6 guy. In the real world there are 10 guys that can do what bottom 6 requires to every 1 that has the offensive talent that Pirri does.

So I guess you would trade Pirri, a 2nd and Lalonde for Nordstrom?

By your logic, it would be safe to say that Nordstrom is a more rounded player than Patrick Kane, as Patrick Kane would never be a bottom 6 role guy and does not play a consistent defensive game.

Kane however gets paid 10 times the money that Nordstrom or Kruger will make because he can score goals and make plays. Going out on a limb...I believe that is how they have slotted Pirri....
- TrueGrit

I don't think it's talent that separates the two in terms of who made the team but it is hockey IQ that allowed Nordstrom to stick. Your bottom six you want to eat up minutes and not allow goals so your top six can stay fresh and carry the bulk of the scoring

With hanzus relatively fresh and healthy to start the year they don't need pirri right now. Twenty or more games in Zeus will need a break and he will get his opportunity

Just my $.02