Exactly...Frolik is just a guy...

...who was making too much cake.

There is nothing exceptional about his skill set. He was a max effort player who was great at the PK. If the Hawks can't replace him management should be questioned.
- ArlingtonRob

ah, Frolik was huge and will be missed greatly. He made Kruger better and the 4th line effective. His experience (especially playoff experience) and sucking up minutes on pk and in the 3rd period will be greatly missed. But the team would not have let him go if they did not think he could be replaced. Unforturtanetly we will not know until the playoffs or until some of the big boys get burned out or injured. It was a gamble, just like letting brouwer go and getting Brunette - sometimes it doesn't work out.

Plus Frolik was making 2.3, not insane like 4.1 mil for a power forward or 2mil for a backup oft injured goalie. For a solid 4th line guy is around 1 to 1.5 mil anyways, plus Frolik had alot more responsibilities. I just think we have a better chance for a cup with Frolik on the team. Note: i do like Nordstrom.

CC's GAA of 2.88 ranks hime 23rd in the NHL.

His save % of 87.5% puts him 34th.

$6 million doesn't get you the goaltender quality it used to.

CC's GAA of 2.88 ranks hime 23rd in the NHL.

His save % of 87.5% puts him 34th.

$6 million doesn't get you the goaltender quality it used to.
- scottak

A huge sample size.

If anyone is panicking about their team 2-3 games into an 82 game season, Id hate to see them during the playoffs. Same goes for anyone going absolutely nuts that their team is doing well the first 2-3 games into an 82 game season. Plenty of time for anything to go any which direction in this league.
- AvsAnonymous

Clearly, you didn't watch this board during the last playoffs.

CC's GAA of 2.88 ranks hime 23rd in the NHL.

His save % of 87.5% puts him 34th.

$6 million doesn't get you the goaltender quality it used to.
- scottak

String him up!!!! FFS. Maybe he waiting until he is actuslly earning 6 million to put up better numbers. Yeah that's it.

McNeill scores his first of the season.

If anyone cares, here are the lines/parings for Rockford tonight:

Morin - LeBlanc - Winchester
Mills - Pirri - A. Broadhurst
Mullane - Froese - T. Broadhurst
McNeill - Danault - Ross

Nightingale - Olsen
Dahlbeck - Clendening
Peckham - Svedberg

Simpson
- EKolb13

I will say this much Eli. IF Danault, McNeil and Ross ARE playing as a fourth line, Dent needs to go away and soon. I get its a balancing act down there, but development should be job 1. If these draft choices are as talented as we have been led to believe, they should win their fair share of games anyway.

PK wasn't particularly aggressive last year - seems they made their money by blocking shots and retrieving and clearing the puck after shots more than pressuring the puck, especially at the points. EDIT TO ADD: And, dare I say it, Crawford was better at stopping pucks thru traffic than he's been so far this year.

Washington's PP seems more patient than most, with more players having the ability (and patience) to get the puck to the net - G8, Green, Backstrom are terrific at that.I
- StLBravesFan

I agree. There were plenty of times last year I was yelling at the screen for them to be more aggressive on the pk. Especially kruger and fro.

I will say this much Eli. IF Danault, McNeil and Ross ARE playing as a fourth line, Dent needs to go away and soon. I get its a balancing act down there, but development should be job 1. If these draft choices are as talented as we have been led to believe, they should win their fair share of games anyway.
- Elbows15

As posted on page two:

For all we know, that might be Dent's 3rd line? I just posted them in the order he rolled them out tonight. The Pirri line went first last night.

As I posted earlier, there is usually a rotation of lines - even at the start of games.

Clearly, you didn't watch this board during the last playoffs.
- faustus1500

Especially when we were down in the Detroit series

As posted on page two:

For all we know, that might be Dent's 3rd line? I just posted them in the order he rolled them out tonight. The Pirri line went first last night.

As I posted earlier, there is usually a rotation of lines - even at the start of games.
- EKolb13

Got that. Its why I capitalized if and are. No biggie. just killing time between games.

>If the Hawks D-corp stays healthy, the Hawks will be tough to beat in the playoffs
>5-on-5, that D-corp put on a clinic last night on how to quickly exit your zone with the puck
>Regarding the PK, it's possible the Hawks have yet to win a PK D-zone draw this year -- and if they have -- doubt they have cleared the puck out of their zone to start the PK
>Personnel, aside, the PK last year had a nice combination of aggressiveness, anticipation, and guts -- guts are still there -- have yet to see the "a & a"
>Love how determined Kane is playing every shift -- great to see Saad and Shaw playing that same way
>Long season, it will be interesting to see if Q's line mixmaster creates something dynamic that no one can envision right now

Especially when we were down in the Detroit series
- CBHawks88

Or after game 3 of the finals.

Anyone get the feeling that the hawks might be trying to take it easy early in the season? It seems like they aren't really pushing the pace or giving everything, just trying to play a sound game and have fun. Could be that I'm just not used to seeing non-playoff hockey again. Or it could be they are trying to save some mileage and keep the guys interested. Or I could be crazy.

Are people really blaming Crawford already? I haven't really seen a goal yet that I can truly blame him for and hes made some pretty big saves.

From what I've seen so far this team will be just fine. Certainly some kinks to work out but they still look like that quality defensive team with a lot of scoring power on all four lines. As things shake out I'm sure they'll end up in the top 4 in the west. But lets be honest, I think these guys will be ok with not being number one in the reg. season. Playoffs are when it really matters.

ah, Frolik was huge and will be missed greatly. He made Kruger better and the 4th line effective. His experience (especially playoff experience) and sucking up minutes on pk and in the 3rd period will be greatly missed. But the team would not have let him go if they did not think he could be replaced. Unforturtanetly we will not know until the playoffs or until some of the big boys get burned out or injured. It was a gamble, just like letting brouwer go and getting Brunette - sometimes it doesn't work out.

Plus Frolik was making 2.3, not insane like 4.1 mil for a power forward or 2mil for a backup oft injured goalie. For a solid 4th line guy is around 1 to 1.5 mil anyways, plus Frolik had alot more responsibilities. I just think we have a better chance for a cup with Frolik on the team. Note: i do like Nordstrom.
- Topshelf2010

I can't believe how much people overrate Frolik on this board. He wasn't as good as his salary, so he got traded. He didn't do a better job at preventing shots or blocking them than anyone else, Crow saved all their butts on the PK, unreal PK SV%. What evidence on earth is there that he made Kruger better? That's a baseless claim

Anyone get the feeling that the hawks might be trying to take it easy early in the season? It seems like they aren't really pushing the pace or giving everything, just trying to play a sound game and have fun. Could be that I'm just not used to seeing non-playoff hockey again. Or it could be they are trying to save some mileage and keep the guys interested. Or I could be crazy.

Are people really blaming Crawford already? I haven't really seen a goal yet that I can truly blame him for and hes made some pretty big saves.

From what I've seen so far this team will be just fine. Certainly some kinks to work out but they still look like that quality defensive team with a lot of scoring power on all four lines. As things shake out I'm sure they'll end up in the top 4 in the west. But lets be honest, I think these guys will be ok with not being number one in the reg. season. Playoffs are when it really matters.
- Walky

They pushed the pace a ton last night, the played so fast I don't know what you're seeing. Regular season matters. Hawks don't lose series with home ice

CC's GAA of 2.88 ranks hime 23rd in the NHL.

His save % of 87.5% puts him 34th.

$6 million doesn't get you the goaltender quality it used to.
- scottak

After 2 games....4 GA down a man while the PK looks like shyt.

...and FYI his 6M deal doesn't start until next year.

One thing that came to light is that Kostka is a decent fill in for Rozsival ........... whereas Brookbank is a complete and total liability.
- RickJ

You know Q. likes him and wants to see what he can do otherwise there wasn't a real need to carry 8 dmen out of camp.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

ah, Frolik was huge and will be missed greatly. He made Kruger better and the 4th line effective. His experience (especially playoff experience) and sucking up minutes on pk and in the 3rd period will be greatly missed. But the team would not have let him go if they did not think he could be replaced. Unforturtanetly we will not know until the playoffs or until some of the big boys get burned out or injured. It was a gamble, just like letting brouwer go and getting Brunette - sometimes it doesn't work out.

Plus Frolik was making 2.3, not insane like 4.1 mil for a power forward or 2mil for a backup oft injured goalie. For a solid 4th line guy is around 1 to 1.5 mil anyways, plus Frolik had alot more responsibilities. I just think we have a better chance for a cup with Frolik on the team. Note: i do like Nordstrom.
- Topshelf2010

Bottom line is these days $2.3 mill is too much for a 4th line player who recently became a PK specialist.

If we are still bemoaning his loss for long, there are bigger issues.

Like I wrote today Bowman used the cap space to keep the defense together and Frolik wasn't the biggest reason the PK was great last year.

Sounds like Danault and Mcneill had good games. Team d is still a work in progress. It is really early and a very young team with a lot of new faces. Would not want to be an icehog goalie early on. I guess the new asst. Is a real good defensive coach. They said he is really innovative on D. Still don't know why they only have one asst coach?

Sounds like Danault and Mcneill had good games. Team d is still a work in progress. It is really early and a very young team with a lot of new faces. Would not want to be an icehog goalie early on. I guess the new asst. Is a real good defensive coach. They said he is really innovative on D. Still don't know why they only have one asst coach?
- tomcat24

...Barry Smith is there a lot and others...

So with only 1 asst. they save some money but that isn't the main reason....At some point, like last season too many hands stirring the pot isn't good.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Bottom line is these days $2.3 mill is too much for a 4th line player who recently became a PK specialist.

If we are still bemoaning his loss for long, there are bigger issues.

Like I wrote today Bowman used the cap space to keep the defense together and Frolik wasn't the biggest reason the PK was great last year.
- Al

Fro had about 135 regular season games with the Hawks and scored like 10 goals so his price tag vs production was pretty heavy. The Hawks sort of got repaid in the end by his play in the playoffs last year. Otherwise, there was better places to spend money and Bowman headed down a different trail.

...Barry Smith is there a lot and others...

So with only 1 asst. they save some money but that isn't the main reason....At some point, like last season too many hands stirring the pot isn't good.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Thanks. That makes sense. Still not sure about Dent, though. But I guess he is a company man.

Blues will play their typical 1st time we play the Hawks each year game, come out & kick the snot out of them physically, run Tazer, Reeves will smoke Bollig, yada, yada, yada, ect. Q will be on the post game trying to put a spin on it, but inside he's thinking " oh Stan Bo, find me a Milan Lucic type forward for games like this instead of guys that weigh a buck sixty soaking wet. games like this Brookbank, winchester,& theo Peckham all should be dressed so they could put a lid on the Blues bow crap once and for all. ...........or???????????

also who's in charge of the PK? Kompon?
I still say, SB will get some vet help somewhere when Hayes & Nordstrom play theirselves back to Rockford. Smith is gonna be alright, I think.

Thanks. That makes sense. Still not sure about Dent, though. But I guess he is a company man.
- tomcat24

....And he did sign an extension.