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.
- RickJ

Frolik found a niche and turned out to be a big contributor but let's not forget he was brought here to be a 2nd line player once upon a time.

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.
- wonthecup10

No......NO......NOOOO!

Blues will play their typical 1st time we play the Hawks each year, 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???????????
- wonthecup10

Yes - let's play guys who can't can't play hockey well enough to make the team because maybe - MAYBE - they'll provide protection from the big bad Blues.

Let's forget about the Hawks strengths and just play into the opponents strengths.

Let's forget that the Blues tried this last year and it didn't work - Hawks were 3-0-1 until the last mostly Ice Hog game. No injuries that I recall.

Again - Blues, Kings, Ducks, Bruins - all were supposed to run the Hawks out of the various buildings: it didn't happen. Hawks won the Presidents Cup, 16-7 in the Play-Offs, Stanley Cup - with fewer injuries than any team in the league.

Other teams know they can't intimidate the Hawks now - Hitchcock is a fool if he tries. If he does, the Hawks will handle it.

Frolik found a niche and turned out to be a big contributor but let's not forget he was brought here to be a 2nd line player once upon a time.
- Al

Exactly. The Hawks will be fine. A lot to like in the first couple of games.....5 on 5 play seemed dominate...lots of chances...PP looks more aggressive.....Kane looks like he's elevated his game......Seabrook looks like he is in shape...Oduya playing well....Kostka looked good..Bolling & Saad playing great..lot to dislike CC play up and down...PK eeh.....Kruger inconsistent.....but as stated before it's two games....Start be concerned with or excited for after 10 games....start being worried or ecstatic after 25 games....

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

Wow, an MIT math wiz. How is that sample size? Lets revert back to last year and take a gander. You know, for comparative sake.

Yes - let's play guys who can't can't play hockey well enough to make the team because maybe - MAYBE - they'll provide protection from the big bad Blues.

Let's forget about the Hawks strengths and just play into the opponents strengths.

Let's forget that the Blues tried this last year and it didn't work - Hawks were 3-0-1 until the last mostly Ice Hog game. No injuries that I recall.

Again - Blues, Kings, Ducks, Bruins - all were supposed to run the Hawks out of the various buildings: it didn't happen. Hawks won the Presidents Cup, 16-7 in the Play-Offs, Stanley Cup - with fewer injuries than any team in the league.

Other teams know they can't intimidate the Hawks now - Hitchcock is a fool if he


tries. If he does, the Hawks will handle it.
- StLBravesFan

Hope your right, just that the Blues are easy to predict, yet they are the supposed favorites to win the cup by the so called experts this year in an 82 game season.
Look I am as happy as the next person that we have 2 cups in 4 years but there are a sufficient number of fans out there that feels luck fell into the Hawks lap last year in the form of a 17 second brain fart by the Bruins, otherwise games 7 happens and the Bruins had the physical mojo to win the cup.
they had the Hawks on the ropes but luckily the Hawks hobbled across the finish line 1st & we had another parade !

A huge sample size.
- StLBravesFan

Scary...I just looked at your comment after doing mine.

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.
- wonthecup10

Boy, you just won't let that die huh. LOL. Just giving you a hard time.

Last I checked, the game is decided by team with most goals. We are in great shape with guys that can do this.

By the way, little side bet. While the blues will be phyical, you will see them be much more disciplined and less chippy. Because....because, in case you did not notice, they did not win the cup last year. More specifically, what I am trying to point out is that their style of hockey has not won anything, nor will it. Look for them to play tough, but without the run around. They are trying to evolve...like you should....from being a hockey cave man. I say that jokingly....

Hope your right, just that the Blues are easy to predict, yet they are the supposed favorites to win the cup by the so called experts this year in an 82 game season.
Look I am as happy as the next person that we have 2 cups in 4 years but there are a sufficient number of fans out there that feels luck fell into the Hawks lap last year in the form of a 17 second brain fart by the Bruins, otherwise games 7 happens and the Bruins had the physical mojo to win the cup.
they had the Hawks on the ropes but luckily the Hawks hobbled across the finish line 1st & we had another parade !
- wonthecup10

Yes - Hawks could have lost to the Bruins - could have lost to Detroit.

Point is - they wouldn't have lost due to intimidation - that doesn't work against this team.

Exactly. The Hawks will be fine. A lot to like in the first couple of games.....5 on 5 play seemed dominate...lots of chances...PP looks more aggressive.....Kane looks like he's elevated his game......Seabrook looks like he is in shape...Oduya playing well....Kostka looked good..Bolling & Saad playing great..lot to dislike CC play up and down...PK eeh.....Kruger inconsistent.....but as stated before it's two games....Start be concerned with or excited for after 10 games....start being worried or ecstatic after 25 games....
- UnnamedSource

Regarding PK, I mentioned this a thread or two back..or maybe two pages...but, lets not underestimate the adjustments teams will make against our PK. We can pick our guys apart, and deservedly so by the results, just have to figure out schemes and what teams are trying to do. There is a reason nothing stays the same. I am not great in examining pp schemes and Pk schemes. But I am sure there are some xs and os that are part of a strategy.

Scary...I just looked at your comment after doing mine.



- TrueGrit

We may disagree on just how good Crawford is - but we both agree that they can win another Cup with him.

We may disagree on just how good Crawford is - but we both agree that they can win another Cup with him.
- StLBravesFan

I am almost convinced we can win one with you in net.

Yes - Hawks could have lost to the Bruins - could have lost to Detroit.

Point is - they wouldn't have lost due to intimidation - that doesn't work against this team.
- StLBravesFan

yep! if teams try it again this year, I would just like the Hawks management to say enough is enough before someone gets hurt. we sign a guy who can play the game, has a ton of NHL experience and fits most check points of what could help the Hawks on the bottom 2 lines but yet, even after SB wanted Brad Winchester for 2 years they bury him in Rockford in favor of a guys like Hayes, who will be a bust, Nordstrom who probably needs a good weight gaining program & time in Rockford, and my feeling is Q don't care for smith ,pirri or morin either. Bollig & Winchester form a formidable duo who will keep teams in check when it comes to the Sh it! I was 1 that liked that signing the minute it happened .

I am almost convinced we can win one with you in net.
- TrueGrit

I would be a disaster, but with this team, you might be right.

Boy, you just won't let that die huh. LOL. Just giving you a hard time.

Last I checked, the game is decided by team with most goals. We are in great shape with guys that can do this.

By the way, little side bet. While the blues will be phyical, you will see them be much more disciplined and less chippy. Because....because, in case you did not notice, they did not win the cup last year. More specifically, what I am trying to point out is that their style of hockey has not won anything, nor will it. Look for them to play tough, but without the run around. They are trying to evolve...like you should....from being a hockey cave man. I say that jokingly....
- TrueGrit

I'll have my answer for you after Wed. True, how's Fla. these days? they still have faith in Dale? actually I would love to see that team move to Quebec or Seattle. the "hood" out here is just hangin on by a thread True,

Hope your right, just that the Blues are easy to predict, yet they are the supposed favorites to win the cup by the so called experts this year in an 82 game season.
Look I am as happy as the next person that we have 2 cups in 4 years but there are a sufficient number of fans out there that feels luck fell into the Hawks lap last year in the form of a 17 second brain fart by the Bruins, otherwise games 7 happens and the Bruins had the physical mojo to win the cup.
they had the Hawks on the ropes but luckily the Hawks hobbled across the finish line 1st & we had another parade !
- wonthecup10

Odds makers are odds maker and "experts" had the Kings and Bruins beating the Hawks last yr.

The Hawks are the biggest favorite to win their division that I can remember ever seeing, and are a big favorite to win the West as well.

Exactly. The Hawks will be fine. A lot to like in the first couple of games.....5 on 5 play seemed dominate...lots of chances...PP looks more aggressive.....Kane looks like he's elevated his game......Seabrook looks like he is in shape...Oduya playing well....Kostka looked good..Bolling & Saad playing great..lot to dislike CC play up and down...PK eeh.....Kruger inconsistent.....but as stated before it's two games....Start be concerned with or excited for after 10 games....start being worried or ecstatic after 25 games....
- UnnamedSource

Fire Q, bench Bickell, bring up Rusty (from NJ's farm system) and trade Pirri for Getzlaf!

Al, I'll be exstatic if we win again,I just worry about the grind of an 82 game season vs. a quicky 45 game jog and the grind it will have on guys like Handzus, Hossa & a few others. I can't see Q winning any cup with those 4 kids from Rockford, some of who I think privately he don't care for but plays them because that is all he has right now. all I am trying to say is every team will bring their "A" game and SB will have to add ress some of that. that is all.

Fire Q, bench Bickell, bring up Rusty (from NJ's farm system) and trade Pirri for Getzlaf!
- HawkintheD

you forgot John Scott & Wayne VanDorpe!

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.
- ArlingtonRob

Goaltender has to be your best penalty killer. Hasn't been ... so far.

Wow, an MIT math wiz. How is that sample size? Lets revert back to last year and take a gander. You know, for comparative sake.
- TrueGrit

Or we could go back 2 years. Do you remember those numbers?

you forgot John Scott & Wayne VanDorpe!
- wonthecup10

...and the rights to Lalonde...

...and the rights to Lalonde...
- EKolb13

I guess Enricco Ciccone would be a throw in also!

l, I'll be exstatic if we win again,I just worry about the grind of an 82 game season vs. a quicky 45 game jog and the grind it will have on guys like Handzus, Hossa & a few others. I can't see Q winning any cup with those 4 kids from Rockford, some of who I think privately he don't care for but plays them because that is all he has right now. all I am trying to say is every team will bring their "A" game and SB will have to add ress some of that. that is all.
- wonthecup10

48 games or 82 games luck is needed...

Q knows this will be a long, long grind.

Bowman could add at the deadline and Handzus could slide down to the 4th line....Shaw would be my first choice to play with Hossa and Sharp for now.

Someone from Rockford could surprise and Q is well aware he will need duck tape and glue to hold Roszy and Handzus together and Mr. Hossa could be missing a lot of practices and maybe some games as well.

48 games or 82 games luck is needed...

Q knows this will be a long, long grind.

Bowman could add at the deadline and Handzus could slide down to the 4th line....Shaw would be my first choice to play with Hossa and Sharp for now.

Someone from Rockford could surprise and Q is well aware he will need duck tape and glue to hold Roszy and Handzus together and Mr. Hossa could be missing a lot of practices and maybe some games as well.
- Al

I could go for that, but Shaw would be better on a wing,Sharp in the middle but that falls on deaf ears. as far as Rockford AL, nope, don't see it unless danault or mcneil get on the fast train. I think that kid Leblanc won't amount to anything either, there has got to be a reason he wasn't drafted, NHL scouts from 29 other teams can't be that dumb. JMO that kid isn't that big & he still looks slow.