ahhhhh!!!! I jus saw the replay. Stamkos' lower leg snaps in half when hitting the post. Cant believe it. Just awful.....hope he comes back asap.
- SimpleJack

Stamkos - yikes
http://hfboards.hockeysfu...showthread.php?p=74211719

Kind of, but the PK can be fixed - if not by finding someone on the roster then a TD pickup. Same thing with backup goaltender. Can't wait too long on that though.
- tredbrta

Not sure if it is the personnel as much as the scheme. The success of the PK last year was the result of challenging players at the points and not allowing them to set up for high quality shots. Now they collapse down low, give the points away, and the opponents have time and space to set things up.

Saad, too.
- mohel

Yep, Saad is a beast

The only games we've shown good PK in have been against Winnipeg (twice). Calgary. Buffalo. Carolina. Florida. and Dallas. All those teams happen to be in the bottom 10 in PP in the league, many in the bottom 5-6. When we've faced teams with a better PP, like Wash, Stl, TB etc....we've been exposed, IMO.
- SimpleJack

Boy, you sure are a negative fan....Ok..they wont win the division conference or CUP...they suck....happy?

Stamkos - yikes
http://hfboards.hockeysfu...showthread.php?p=74211719
- Topshelf2010

Been watching live....poor guy...just the look on his face, you could tell it isn't good

Carcus = The Hockey Insider
- paulr

IMO not seeing much of Khabby is a good thing. Q knows when someone needs a rest and will sit CC when he needs a rest. I also believe Q thinks that CC will get a two week break over the Olympics.

I agree. The Central has three good teams that are still young - COL, STL and CHI. Gonna be good battles (and rivalries) for years.
- mohel

COL could give us trouble, speed always seems to give the Hawks trouble and recently the COL team has given the Hawks fits. I am not too worried about St. Louis. But if Halak plays steady, it could be a different story.

Steen isn't going anywhere.

Halak, I don't know exactly what they are thinking past this season. We will see. But the Blues window is not closing, it has just been opened up. They will be good for a long time.
- carcus

Worst prospect system in the NHL.

Roy, Berglund, Steen, Halak, Elliott all UFA.... Too much core turnover and Hitch has a 2-3 year shelf life with players like Tarasenko, Schultz and Oshie. Your window is this year and then it falls unless you lock in a long term answer at goalie. Halak will want Raask money.

Keep drinking that kool aid though.

Been watching live....poor guy...just the look on his face, you could tell it isn't good
- captainserious

Looks like it could be a few things and all appear serious long term injuries.

Awful....

Blackhawks overcome slow start and outlast Oilers 5-4: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/19Wcf6e

Stamkos taken to the hospital for x-rays...poor guy
- captainserious

The eastern conference just got a little bit worse now. Bummer, Stamkos is fun to watch

Carcus = The Hockey Insider
- paulr

Not an insider, just a fan of the game who happens to be a fan of the Blues.

You think you are really funny, and I am sure that there are some other guys on here that will find you comment funny as well.

The Blues are set up to be good for a long time. Sorry if that rubs you the wrong way. Should be fun with the new playoff format. Will likely match up against the Blackhawks several times in the next 5 years. Should be a lot of fun.

Looks like it could be a few things and all appear serious long term injuries.

Awful....

Blackhawks overcome slow start and outlast Oilers 5-4: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/19Wcf6e
- Al

Haven't heard or read anything...find anything Al? Any kind of udpate?

Boy, you sure are a negative fan....Ok..they wont win the division conference or CUP...they suck....happy?
- captainserious

Its funny cuz im actually one of the more positive fans you'll find. I was jus simply pointing out that until our PK does well against a team with a half decent PP unit, im still not impressed. As far as our team, overall, as a whole, i still think we're the best in the league. On pace for a repeat opportunity unlike ever seen before. Hows that for negative?

Not sure if it is the personnel as much as the scheme. The success of the PK last year was the result of challenging players at the points and not allowing them to set up for high quality shots. Now they collapse down low, give the points away, and the opponents have time and space to set things up.
- Return of the Roar

I remember feeling the same about last year quite often: the collapse, relying on the blocked shot, instead of being judiciously aggressive out to the points.

But - I am also one who things the PK isn't bad - is acceptable - mostly this year. Limit the penalties - and keep winning the own-zone draws - and it will be OK.

The eastern conference just got a little bit worse now. Bummer, Stamkos is fun to watch
- BlazinMike

Wow....how much worse could it get? So basically now its down to.....lets see here.....the Bruins....annnnnnndddd.....the Bruins.

Not an insider, just a fan of the game who happens to be a fan of the Blues.

You think you are really funny, and I am sure that there are some other guys on here that will find you comment funny as well.

The Blues are set up to be good for a long time. Sorry if that rubs you the wrong way. Should be fun with the new playoff format. Will likely match up against the Blackhawks several times in the next 5 years. Should be a lot of fun.
- carcus

Agreed, and I'm sure I'll be cursing the Blues many times - that's what rivalries are all about! Also thought the "insider" comment was a bit over the top, since I asked you for your opinion on the players' buy-in with Hitch.

Worst prospect system in the NHL.

Roy, Berglund, Steen, Halak, Elliott all UFA.... Too much core turnover and Hitch has a 2-3 year shelf life with players like Tarasenko, Schultz and Oshie. Your window is this year and then it falls unless you lock in a long term answer at goalie. Halak will want Raask money.

Keep drinking that kool aid though.
- tredbrta

Our prospects are down right now because just about all of our higher talented players are now on the team. We have a pretty young team still, and a lot of them are going to be with us for a while.

Elliott will be gone and replaced by Allen, who can play. Don't know about Halak. He will either be back or they will be signing another starter. Halak won't get Raask money. Doesn't play enough games in a year to get that kind of money. (actually, that is too much for Raask as well, so if someone wants to give Halak that much, have fun)

Roy is a fill in guy this year. I don't think he will be back, but that is not a big deal. Not part of our core.

Steen is going to be re-signed. End of story.

Berglund will also either be re-signed, or traded and we will get back someone in return. Also, he is going to be a RFA. So you are wrong again here.

So of your list, the actual guys on our core are Berglund (RFA), Steen (is not leaving), and Halak. Halak is the only one really in question right now, and that has a lot to do with how he performs this season and if he can stay healthy. Our core is actually already locked up for the most part. We will be good for a long time, sorry to burst your bubble.

Steen isn't going anywhere.

Halak, I don't know exactly what they are thinking past this season. We will see. But the Blues window is not closing, it has just been opened up. They will be good for a long time.
- carcus

Agreed.....Blues have a few goalie prospects as well. You guys have a nice young nucleus......I still hate you guys though

Not an insider, just a fan of the game who happens to be a fan of the Blues.

You think you are really funny, and I am sure that there are some other guys on here that will find you comment funny as well.

The Blues are set up to be good for a long time. Sorry if that rubs you the wrong way. Should be fun with the new playoff format. Will likely match up against the Blackhawks several times in the next 5 years. Should be a lot of fun.
- carcus

Good team now. Too many questions to guarantee that for years to come. Your number one center is a number 2 (in more ways than one). The goaltender you are riding will see major offers if he goes UFA. Hitch has had more talented teams get sick of him. Lots of ifs... New ownership has paid so far but the real test of whether you are a budget team will be this OS.... and I think you must be.

Hawks OTOH, barring injury and/or a major loss in UFA (highly unlikely), have a locked up young core when T and K re-sign, top 7 prospect chain (you are last), and an owner who can keep spending (assuming the dollar Bill gene doesn't re-assert itself).

Agreed, and I'm sure I'll be cursing the Blues many times - that's what rivalries are all about! Also thought the "insider" comment was a bit over the top, since I asked you for your opinion on the players' buy-in with Hitch.
- mohel

No big deal. Some guys just can't handle a fan having another team as their favorite.

Agreed.....Blues have a few goalie prospects as well. You guys have a nice young nucleus......I still hate you guys though
- UnnamedSource

Feeling is mutual.

Our prospects are down right now because just about all of our higher talented players are now on the team. We have a pretty young team still, and a lot of them are going to be with us for a while.

Elliott will be gone and replaced by Allen, who can play. Don't know about Halak. He will either be back or they will be signing another starter. Halak won't get Raask money. Doesn't play enough games in a year to get that kind of money. (actually, that is too much for Raask as well, so if someone wants to give Halak that much, have fun)

Roy is a fill in guy this year. I don't think he will be back, but that is not a big deal. Not part of our core.

Steen is going to be re-signed. End of story.

Berglund will also either be re-signed, or traded and we will get back someone in return. Also, he is going to be a RFA. So you are wrong again here.

So of your list, the actual guys on our core are Berglund (RFA), Steen (is not leaving), and Halak. Halak is the only one really in question right now, and that has a lot to do with how he performs this season and if he can stay healthy. Our core is actually already locked up for the most part. We will be good for a long time, sorry to burst your bubble.
- carcus

The big problem isn't the talent. The Blues have been talented going back to that awful Davis Payne.

I'd be worried about the Hithcock factor though. There's a reason this is his fourth team. Or is it fifth? Dallas, Philly, Columbus...Nope fourth. Anyway, he lasts three to four years. Another exit to the Kings ( Assuming the Blues win the division and the Kings win one of the wildcards....) could set a match to that team.

Of course, that's more hope than actual fact. The Blues are an incredibly talented team. But I question their poise. Until they do it, I just won't believe it. Them and the Sharks..... Yeah they're talented. But they've been talented before. Win something, then I'll take you seriously as a competitor.

Wow....how much worse could it get? So basically now its down to.....lets see here.....the Bruins....annnnnnndddd.....the Bruins.
- SimpleJack

Wastn Detroit supposed to romp through the eastern conference because they dont have to travel as much anymore?? Haha, they arent bad, but they arent romping either.

Good team now. Too many questions to guarantee that for years to come. Your number one center is a number 2 (in more ways than one). The goaltender you are riding will see major offers if he goes UFA. Hitch has had more talented teams get sick of him. Lots of ifs... New ownership has paid so far but the real test of whether you are a budget team will be this OS.... and I think you must be.

Hawks OTOH, barring injury and/or a major loss in UFA (highly unlikely), have a locked up young core when T and K re-sign, top 7 prospect chain (you are last), and an owner who can keep spending (assuming the dollar Bill gene doesn't re-assert itself).
- tredbrta

So, not locked up then, right?