http://www.google.com/url...ykng&ust=1382898612397117

This was sent over to me from Zus, Says thanks TG, finally somebody understands.

I am glad you came to the game but I guess you were looking thru your Hawks lenses saying there were more Hawks fans then Lightning. I have said on our board you guys represented and it was the largest opponent team turn out in a long time at the forum but it was still 70-30 Lightning fans - note that's nothing to brag about. We did drown you guys out every time you tried to chant, it was a very raucous crowd to be sure. But do note Tampa had the Bucs primetime game, a Luke Bryan concert, as well the University of Tampa had its fall dance and homecoming that night.

Also all the Hawks fans were the best opponents fan's I have dealt with they were all great and hockey fans not a bunch of goons like the Habs, Flyers, and Bruin fans. If you live in the Bay area you should come out and adopt the Lightning as your second team, their are tons of northern implants that do just that. I love hockey born in upstate New York a huge Rangers fan till my father moved me here as a child but now Tampa is my home and I root solely for them, I wish more of the transients who live down here did the same for the Bolts.

And by the way, your team is fricking awesome they were clearly the better team on the ice and controlled the game for 80% of the time, but we do have Stammer and Marty and an Offense that can score and I'll take the points no matter how they were obtained.

Good luck in the West this year.

Was at the game Thursday. More Hawks fans than Lightning in the arena. It was a nice, fast paced game especially being on the faceoff circle 11 rows from the ice. Habby looked like total garbage.
- Dannyboy

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. I am fascinated with the chasing your tail crowd, who talks about how over rated prospects are, how this guy or that guy can use 23, 38, 52 or 78 games in the A to become just the right fit for the Hawks. I have been lectured many times of the value of not rushing guys and letting them hone their skills in the A, to be better players later. Now, after the organization has set that in motion, and we have a handful of bonafide prospects, many from that same original crowd tell us, that those guys are not the answer and proof is, they have not earned a job yet. When in reality, no job has been available, and the organization has patiently allowed these guys to age and mature.

Philosophically, you have to do as Molly said, that is be sure that guys in the A, know that if they do what is asked and excel, that they will be given some opportunity. Without it, prospects and eventually your organizational depth wane.
- TrueGrit

Either you're the most paranoid young (?) man in Florida, or we really all ARE against you.

Not sure which yet....

If you put Beach and Cleary in an interview side by side...i swear to God i'd conclude that Beach was the Newfy.
- philco28

How so?

Either you're the most paranoid young (?) man in Florida, or we really all ARE against you.

Not sure which yet....
- StLBravesFan

Not young or paranoid. I simply am pointing out a conundrum I experience as we all debate over time what is happening.

I am trying to reconcile many arguments and thoughts I hear on here.

Just interested for anyone to comment on the meat of what I said, that is the last few years the team has let guys develop, (as so many here have called for), and now that they have, many point to the fact that they have not been given a chance as proof they are not good enough. When originally I thought we were getting guys the experience they needed to contribute.

I know it is early, but you know me, I like to be the challenge question each night.

This one really is not about anyone be fore or against me. It is just which is it thing. For the young players that is....?

Not young or paranoid. I simply am pointing out a conundrum I experience as we all debate over time what is happening.

I am trying to reconcile many arguments and thoughts I hear on here.

Just interested for anyone to comment on the meat of what I said, that is the last few years the team has let guys develop, (as so many here have called for), and now that they have, many point to the fact that they have not been given a chance as proof they are not good enough. When originally I thought we were getting guys the experience they needed to contribute.

I know it is early, but you know me, I like to be the challenge question each night.

This one really is not about anyone be fore or against me. It is just which is it thing. For the young players that is....?
- TrueGrit

I like the fact that they have gotten experience and think the revolving door early in they year will be for the best come Spring.

Kid has played more games in the NHL than ANY OF US...so he's doing something right.

#Blackhawks' Brad Mills remembers only NHL goal: "Marty Turco in this building, actually. This building hopefully is a good place for me."
- philco28

Philco it's not a question of how many games he's played it's the fact that he didn't make it past the first round of cuts and has been more or less journeyman his whole career....I hope they catch lightning in a bottle but I have low expectations......

Why all the chemicals that mimic what can be found in the natural world?
- Beaver-Warrior

Better living through the use of chemicals.

Besides how do you think a lot of that stuff starts out...compounds in nature.

Philco it's not a question of how many games he's played it's the fact that he didn't make it past the first round of cuts and has been more or less journeyman his whole career....I hope they catch lightning in a bottle but I have low expectations......
- UnnamedSource

Since when?

He'll keep them turning because he's OCD with juggling. I honestly think that he just can't stop.

He rolled 4 consistent lines last RS, set the consecutive win record, went into withdrawal against the Wings and his juggling almost cost us an early exit.

Some people get so stoned on the KoolAid they can't see the plainly obvious.
- Q...argh[/quote]


I don't know, 2 Cups in 4 years...wouldn't now be the optimal time to be drinking the Kool Aid? Tastes pretty good to me...

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. I am fascinated with the chasing your tail crowd, who talks about how over rated prospects are, how this guy or that guy can use 23, 38, 52 or 78 games in the A to become just the right fit for the Hawks. I have been lectured many times of the value of not rushing guys and letting them hone their skills in the A, to be better players later. Now, after the organization has set that in motion, and we have a handful of bonafide prospects, many from that same original crowd tell us, that those guys are not the answer and proof is, they have not earned a job yet. When in reality, no job has been available, and the organization has patiently allowed these guys to age and mature.

Philosophically, you have to do as Molly said, that is be sure that guys in the A, know that if they do what is asked and excel, that they will be given some opportunity. Without it, prospects and eventually your organizational depth wane.
- TrueGrit

Yes you are correct there wasn't a lot of chances for prospects to crack the team last year.....but with that being said because a guy spends "x" amount of time in the AHL means nothing in grand scheme of things. Teams continue to draft and bring in players who may be better than the ones brought in before. Some times those prospects hit a wall with their development and will never become the player they were thought to be. There are many reasons why a player who was once a prospect never becomes an NHL player. The bottom line is...if a kid can play, he will be given the opportunity. Q is not going to hold back the development of a kid like Pirri because he's stubborn. Q wants to win and will put what he thinks is the best team out on the ice. It's not up to the coach to give a kid a chance , it's up to the kid to create one......this isn't a Friday night beer league where you give someone a chance because he is a nice kid. These are multi million dollar revenue generating companies who have a goal to win a stanley cup and giving a kid "a chance" without merit will the piss of the players who came before who earned their way....my point is....if Pirri was a bonafide top six forward he would've been here already....just because he is one in the AHL doesn't mean that translates to top six in the NHL.

Since when?
- TrueGrit

Hey now....I had high hopes for Nordstrom....still do....Have them for Morin...I like the kid........but a 30 year old free agent who has only played in 31 NHL games doesn't give me goosebumps about his ability to be a shut down guy on the PK.....hope I'm wrong.....but

[quote=Q...argh]He'll keep them turning because he's OCD with juggling. I honestly think that he just can't stop.

He rolled 4 consistent lines last RS, set the consecutive win record, went into withdrawal against the Wings and his juggling almost cost us an early exit.

Some people get so stoned on the KoolAid they can't see the plainly obvious.
- HawkintheD[/quote]


I don't know, 2 Cups in 4 years...wouldn't now be the optimal time to be drinking the Kool Aid? Tastes pretty good to me...

Coach Q is a top 2 coach in the NHL, the only others I put at his level.....Babcock

Hey now....I had high hopes for Nordstrom....still do....Have them for Morin...I like the kid........but a 30 year old free agent who has only played in 31 NHL games doesn't give me goosebumps about his ability to be a shut down guy on the PK.....hope I'm wrong.....but
- UnnamedSource

The Mills thing is on a different plane. Cite the interview on BH.com He is here to kill penalties and bring a right handed draw presences. Credit team for getting creative. Even though he has not met the prerequistine games played or had the big phone in votes from BHnation.

Supposedly fast, decent size I believe. This move is about the PK.

Has nothing to do with our constant arguing....

Coach Q is a top 2 coach in the NHL, the only others I put at his level.....Babcock
- UnnamedSource

Any guy who has had the opportunity to coach the talent Q has would make the top 5 over the past 4 years. Its like giving a guy the most ammo and saying he is a great shot. Because he keeps shooting.

Does not mean I am calling for his head or anything like this. Or not even giving him his due, but this bowing at the alter of Q as if we can;t question anything he does is a bit of whackiness....

Philco it's not a question of how many games he's played it's the fact that he didn't make it past the first round of cuts and has been more or less journeyman his whole career....I hope they catch lightning in a bottle but I have low expectations......
- UnnamedSource

Don't need lightning - need some quality defensive PK play, 5 or 6 minutes consistent (mistake free) play on the 4th line.

He doesn't have to score or make spectacular plays - just play like a 30 year old experienced (even if almost entirely minor league) stability player.

Don't know if he can do it or not - but you're not looking for top-6 production.

Coach Q is a top 2 coach in the NHL, the only others I put at his level.....Babcock
- UnnamedSource

What about Elaine Veenyo?

I would agree with that; definitely top 5. You can argue that Q let Babs in his head that series but when he put Zus, Bick and Hoss together on one line and Toews, Kane and Sharp on another the Wangs had no answer.

Any guy who has had the opportunity to coach the talent Q has would make the top 5 over the past 4 years. Its like giving a guy the most ammo and saying he is a great shot. Because he keeps shooting.

Does not mean I am calling for his head or anything like this. Or not even giving him his due, but this bowing at the alter of Q as if we can;t question anything he does is a bit of whackiness....
- TrueGrit

Ridiculous argument......plenty of coaches have had fire power over the years equal to the hawks and he has managed to win two cups.....How many to Melrose win with Gretzky and those great teams in LA? How many has Pittsburgh won?

Not bowing at the alter of Q but the win in spite of Q crowd are just plain stupid.....

Any guy who has had the opportunity to coach the talent Q has would make the top 5 over the past 4 years. Its like giving a guy the most ammo and saying he is a great shot. Because he keeps shooting.

Does not mean I am calling for his head or anything like this. Or not even giving him his due, but this bowing at the alter of Q as if we can;t question anything he does is a bit of whackiness....
- TrueGrit

Two of the past four anyway. The other two where John Scott, Andrew Brunette, Fernando Pisani, Marty Turco and others were plug ins not so much.

Questioning moves is fine but denying or glossing over the success is just as whacky.


The logic from your first statement would suggest that AV and the Canucks should also have a few Cups in their trophy cabinet but happily...that's just not the case.

No
- UnnamedSource

White cane

Hey now....I had high hopes for Nordstrom....still do....Have them for Morin...I like the kid........but a 30 year old free agent who has only played in 31 NHL games doesn't give me goosebumps about his ability to be a shut down guy on the PK.....hope I'm wrong.....but
- UnnamedSource

Playing PK is different than "normal" (5 on 5) hockey - a much slower game, for instance.

Most (all?) teams set up on the PP and don't really use their speed trying to score: it's all passing, angles, net presence, some movement. PKers don't have to chase guys around the zone.

They need to win face-offs (not a concern for Mills), play positional hockey, block shooting and passing lanes, clear pucks they have a chance to get. Forwards don't need to muscle guys at the net - defensemen do that - they need to be concerned about position depending on where the puck is.

Don't know how much experience Mills had on the PK in his many minor league seasons, but if he's been any good at that in the A, he has a decent chance of succeeding in the N.

But - would all go for nought if (a) they keep taking 4 + penalties per game! and (b) don't win a lot more d-zone face-offs on the PK, ESPECIALLY the first one.

Ridiculous argument......plenty of coaches have had fire power over the years equal to the hawks and he has managed to win two cups.....How many to Melrose win with Gretzky and those great teams in LA? How many has Pittsburgh won?

Not bowing at the alter of Q but the win in spite of Q crowd are just plain stupid.....
- UnnamedSource

This.

Different sport but is seems like there are a lot of Bears fans on the board. Ditka won 1 but how many should he have with the team he had? Just because you assemble talent doesn't mean the championship is a slam dunk.

By that logic the Yankees should win every year no matter who's managing...which would be a glimmer of hope for Dusty Baker if he ever landed that job.

White cane
- Q...argh

Let's keep race out of this.

Just because we have the white "cane" doesn't mean Evander isn't a quality player.

Ridiculous argument......plenty of coaches have had fire power over the years equal to the hawks and he has managed to win two cups.....How many to Melrose win with Gretzky and those great teams in LA? How many has Pittsburgh won?

Not bowing at the alter of Q but the win in spite of Q crowd are just plain stupid.....
- UnnamedSource

The answer is always in the middle, would bet you a dozen pizzas that those guys you mentioned would still be top 5 in wins for the periods you described.

Again, I just ask, where else in the NHL would Handzus even have a roster spot? Yeah Yeah, I know, they won a cup with him on the roster...I know...but where else...?

I would rather see you and ELI platooned...

This.

Different sport but is seems like there are a lot of Bears fans on the board. Ditka won 1 but how many should he have with the team he had? Just because you assemble talent doesn't mean the championship is a slam dunk.

By that logic the Yankees should win every year no matter who's managing...which would be a glimmer of hope for Dusty Baker if he ever landed that job.
- HawkintheD

Ditka: not a fan at all, but hard to win SBs without a QB.

After 1985, rarely had one.