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.
- philco28

I think this is the way the organization is taking care of the Beach problem. Loan him out to a club far far away from the organization, and let his contract run out.

That's what it looks like to me.

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
- molly2522

Maybe, but for that to happen Nordstrom is going to have to play his way back into the minors and Kruger & Shaw are both going to have to show that they cannot handle the job of skating in between Hossa & Sharp. Or there is going to be some type of injury(s) that necessitate the recall of Pirri to get his shot.

Don't count on the brief call-up just to give a player rest. If that's going to happen, someone either has to go back down to Rockford, or someone has to hit LTIR.

I think this is the way the organization is taking care of the Beach problem. Loan him out to a club far far away from the organization, and let his contract run out.

That's what it looks like to me.
- EKolb13

If that's what they thought of him why did they re-sign Beach in the summer? It's not as if they'd see something different in one more training camp.

Time for some games: only two in a week - too much time for us to contemplate angels on the heads of pins.

Time for some games: only two in a week - too much time for us to contemplate angels on the heads of pins.
- StLBravesFan

Three days off between games sucks form a fan perspective and I bet the players would like to play more frequently too.

At least the schedule starts to pick up after Wednesday.

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

On the contrary, it's you who keeps making my point. This all started because you said Pirri was the better more rounded player. If that were true, he'd be able to play 4th line minutes while waiting for his chance to get some top 6 time. He can't, so he's not.

On the contrary, it's you who keeps making my point. This all started because you said Pirri was the better more rounded player. If that were true, he'd be able to play 4th line minutes while waiting for his chance to get some top 6 time. He can't, so he's not.
- Ogilthorpe2

Agreed.

If that's what they thought of him why did they re-sign Beach in the summer? It's not as if they'd see something different in one more training camp.
- DarthKane

Why not re-up Beach over the summer? Here are some reasons:

1. At that juncture, the Hawks had more than enough spaces in the 50 contract limit.

2. The organization has invested both time and money developing him.

3. When Beach is actually using his head, I believe that he's got enough there to win a spot out of camp in the bottom lines and could possibly do more - something that the organization also probably saw.

4. Beach fits that power forward mold, which in some cases (ie: Bickell) takes a little more time to develop.

5. With reason #1, there is absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain (provided he panned out) by taking the risk of re-signing Beach.

Three days off between games sucks form a fan perspective because all we do is argue about (frank)ing Brandon Pirri.
- DarthKane

Fixed.

On the contrary, it's you who keeps making my point. This all started because you said Pirri was the better more rounded player. If that were true, he'd be able to play 4th line minutes while waiting for his chance to get some top 6 time. He can't, so he's not.
- Ogilthorpe2

So even though what you have stated, the scenario is so far outside the realm of reality, semantics proves you right?

So on balance you have Nordstrom graded out as a more dynamic prospect than Pirri?

Is there any oxygen in that cockpit?

So at the trade deadline last year, everyone was asking about Nordstrom and not Pirri right?

It's the crest. Put it on a solid white or red jersey with perhaps accent strips on the bottom and sleeves and pow! Instant classic look.
- Beaver-Warrior

I still can't get over those damn fake laces. Either put on real laces or don't.

I still can't get over those damn fake laces. Either put on real laces or don't.
- prd797

Agreed.

For the most part, the Nike set of sweaters for this Olympics are the worst I've seen, by far.

It gets to splitting hairs, but point was, you don't have a plus 11 on a non playoff team by accident.

Kind of confused by your second paragraph. I am a Nordstrom fan. I like his game and would not want Pirri on the team to take his place. I was just trying to put this whole thing in proper perspective. That is a player on Pirris track has a higher ceiling and more value than a bottom 6 guy. I am not saying this based on opinion, but rather as evidenced by how guys get paid. Check Cap Geek. Nordstrom can become a Max Talbot. Pirri a Derek Roy type. I speak of potential. Look what each is paid.

This is not to belittle what the bottom 6 guys bring to the team. Like all the physical talk on the board, last I checked, they still award the team with the most goals a win each game.
- TrueGrit

I bring up a conflict in the way you look at the +/-, and you want to toss it off as splitting hairs?

Come on.

I think this is the way the organization is taking care of the Beach problem. Loan him out to a club far far away from the organization, and let his contract run out.

That's what it looks like to me.
- EKolb13

Sounds plausible EK


Makes complete sense IF the org feel that

a) he is dispensable

and b) if they do plan on keeping him for the year, they don't want young kids on The Rock being exposed to this idiot.

Beach's stupidity is often a distraction for a front office that has had a paradigm shift toward EFFICIENCY and EXCELLENCE, since Rocky and McDonough linked up.

So even though what you have stated, the scenario is so far outside the realm of reality, semantics proves you right?

So on balance you have Nordstrom graded out as a more dynamic prospect than Pirri?

Is there any oxygen in that cockpit?

So at the trade deadline last year, everyone was asking about Nordstrom and not Pirri right?
- TrueGrit

No, but at this junction he's the more complete player. Next year, two years from now...who knows? I agree Pirri will likely eventually get his shot, and if he continues to produce and improve in RFD, he should. Right now Nordstrom is the better overall player even though his ceiling may not be as high. Nordstrom does lots of little things well, Pirri...one thing. Pirri is one dimensional, meaning not well rounded, not well rounded at all. If he were, he'd be here. Call it semantics if you like, you're the one who proclaimed Pirri better overall.

I bet Pirri would rather be playing 4th line minutes every night in Chicago than 1st line minutes in Rockford. Unfortunately for him he has no 2 way game, Nordstrom does.

Fixed.
- EKolb13

Truth.

Sounds plausible EK


Makes complete sense IF the org feel that

a) he is dispensable

and b) if they do plan on keeping him for the year, they don't want young kids on The Rock being exposed to this idiot.

Beach's stupidity is often a distraction for a front office that has had a paradigm shift toward EFFICIENCY and EXCELLENCE, since Rocky and McDonough linked up.
- philco28

I don't think the plan was to keep Beach once he was exposed to waivers. I posted as much when he hit waivers. Since he passed through waivers, the organization is forced to pay him. If you don't want him around, and he brings a bad attitude about it to the locker room, then who knows who Beach will corrupt?

It's much like the Vishnevskiy/Makarov situation a couple of seasons back. Vishnevskiy, who was traded to his third organization starts coming in with the attitude of knowing he has no shot at the NHL, starts talking to Makarov. Makarov, who doesn't speak a lick of English, has to listen to this wiener bellyache about how he'll never get a shot and he's headed back to Russia as soon as the season is over with. What is Makarov supposed to think? The only guy he can communicate with is talking all kinds of crap about Russians not getting a fair shake. Of course Makarov says screw it and heads back home.

I doubt the organization doesn't want the same thing to happen again. Safe play is to send Beach far away from the organization.

We need a game. Badly.

Over under on the first Blues cheap shot on Toews?
Who? Backes? Jackman?

We need a game. Badly.

Over under on the first Blues cheap shot on Toews?
Who? Backes? Jackman?
- Ogilthorpe2

Oshie, in the 2nd period, with an elbow.

We need a game. Badly.

Over under on the first Blues cheap shot on Toews?
Who? Backes? Jackman?
- Ogilthorpe2

Backes, for sure.

With the way Bollig has played in the first two games, I wonder if he'll get a shift or two with Toews/Kane? Especially when Backes is on the ice?

Maybe wiz is onto something? He said something about Brookbank on the 4th line for the Blues game last week.

Defenseman Sheldon Brookbank will make his season debut for #Blackhawks tomorrow night vs. Blues.

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) October 8, 2013

What do you guys think of Quick's gaffe last night:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...4&feature=player_embedded

What do you guys think of Quick's gaffe last night:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...4&feature=player_embedded
- DarthKane

That's one he won't ever forget.

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
- BlazinMike

Brookbank for Fiddler???? Done...

We need a game. Badly.

Over under on the first Blues cheap shot on Toews?
Who? Backes? Jackman?
- Ogilthorpe2

Backes has to be the front runner for that competition, but i wouldnt put it past any of the Blues. Ill say Stewart early on.