Back home after a wonderful trip to 'Hicag.

Lifetime Bears and Hawks FREAK and got to see my first ever games at SF and UC.
Loved walking into the Soldier Field on a beautiful fall day, alongside thousands of 'my people'...all heading into the same cathedral. Tremendous natural high.

Soldier Field is obviously magnificent. It was everything i hoped for and more...the tough loss aside. The tributes to the veterans, the beautifully-choreographed flyover by two WW2 planes, the passionate fans and all the SWAG they were wearing.

Saw so many cool fashion statements by said fans. Jerseys, jackets, hats, shirts, hoodies, HOLY SHHHHHHHHHHHIT...Bears fans LOVE THAT TEAM.
Had nosebleeds way up in section 431...row 33...needed oxygen to make that hike...but the view was super.

Didn't drink much at the football game...had one hot chocolate that came with a shot and that was it. The hike down from our seats to fight washroom lines was not appealing.

Got to the UC around 5 pm when the doors opened. Major shoutout to RickJ for hooking me up with a pair. And as he touted...the buffet dinner at the Stadium Club was DEE-LISH'OUS. Thanks Rick



Got to the seats in the 200 level to the left of Oil goal with about 10 minutes left in the warmup. Sound system was blaring rocking stuff during that.
Cornelison was BRILLIANT as usual, but that team history piece that runs prior to the anthem had me in tears. All the HISTORY, ALL THE NAMES...many i rooted for...and visuals were very moving. THAT'S MY TEAM...OUR TEAM...encapsulated beautifully....all...with the stitching of The Chief emblem woven throughout. I'd seen it before, but in that setting...it was very emotional.

Game was solid, except for the Hawks being pretty poor defensively. They got lucky Edmonton didn't take advantage of several good chances or it could have easily been a loss.

Few observations.

-Toews and Andrew Ference had bad blood, probably dating to the Cup Final last year. Tazer gave the Oilers' captain a pretty good shove after one scrum early in the game. And later, wisely declined an invite from Ference to throw down late in the 3rd.

-Kaner's PRETTY GOOD...kid has the biscuit on a string...a LOT. So glad we never traded him, especially when many including myself advocated it. He's a beauty.

-Keith had several more point shots blocked. He was teed up beautifully from about 20 feet out and appeared to miss high AGAIN...might have gone off the crossbar. I was cursing his futility as a shooter most of the night, but it was nice to see him get off the schnide and score what i think proved to be the GWG.

-Lastly, the Hawks organization is a tightly run ship to be sure and that is evident also in the HIGHLY FREQUENT appearances of the between whistles ice cleaning crew. Ice Girls are HOT but that crew probably came out 3-5 times a period and it seemed it a bit much.....until i realized...that a fast, puck possession team like ours, truly benefits from the cleanest sheet they can get. Pretty smart thing actually.
- philco28

There is a more effective effort to clean the ice in the last few years ...More guys involved....But those are all choreographed by the NHL as far as when and how many.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Also agree with this. At some point (hopefully now) it may be more beneficial for Morin to just be with the big club and be around guys like 19, 81, 7, and 10 day to day weather he's playing or not. Not everything a young player needs to learn takes place during games.
- Ogilthorpe2

You are pretty darn agreeable today - wtf?!?! Actually I would have agreed with all the same points, and with Savvy's kudos to Brookbank for taking a look in the mirror and making his game better. It seems this happens more on the Hawks than on most other teams; I would guess it is leadership by example by the team's core players.

I am hoping Q is just sending a message to Morin, for whatever reason that may be.

When Handzus is healthy I expect Morin will be sent back down to Rockford. If that happens I hope Kruger gets more playing time. He's picked up his game a lot recently, especially on the dot. I'd like to see a third line of Bickell/Kruger/Shaw.
- DarthKane

I lean this way because I think he'd be sent down if the team thought he needed work in a particular area. My WAG is that the message has more to do with mental approach or consistency. Really have no idea, just my own reading of the tea leaves.

You are pretty darn agreeable today - wtf?!?! Actually I would have agreed with all the same points, and with Savvy's kudos to Brookbank for taking a look in the mirror and making his game better. It seems this happens more on the Hawks than on most other teams; I would guess it is leadership by example by the team's core players.
- mohel

Coming off of 3 days off. Well rested. Back to the grind today...so mind your damn P's and Q's

I lean this way because I think he'd be sent down if the team thought he needed work in a particular area. My WAG is that the message has more to do with mental approach or consistency. Really have no idea, just my own reading of the tea leaves.
- mohel

If nothing else, you'd think that Q IS giving Morin a chance to "show his stuff" when they practice. Morin has 2 choices:

1. prove to the coaching staff and to Q that he DESERVES to be in the lineup
2. hang his head, put his tail between his legs and not bother because no matter what he does, it won't matter, he will never get out of Q's doghouse.

Would have to think Morin is taking approach #1, otherwise, there is no other reason to think Q would keep him around in Chicago, practicing with the big club.

Now given the fact that he's been sitting, none of us have any idea of exactly what Q is looking for. And if Morin has any smarts at all, he will approach Q privately ("hey Coach, can i chat with you privately for a few minutes when you have time?") and ask what he needs to do, what is Q looking for, what does he have to work on/demonstrate to prove he's ready to be put back in the lineup.

Just saw the Hawks extended Shaw two more years

Just saw the Hawks extended Shaw two more years
- Fooseshark

I just saw that too, I couldn't be happier. Shaw is the type of guy we need to keep around for a while.

Anyone hear what the numbers are?

Just saw the Hawks extended Shaw two more years
- Fooseshark

Just saw that too...no details though.

Just saw that too...no details though.
- Ogilthorpe2

Over or under 1.5 mill?

Over or under 1.5 mill?
- Fooseshark

Over...and worth it.

If nothing else, you'd think that Q IS giving Morin a chance to "show his stuff" when they practice. Morin has 2 choices:

1. prove to the coaching staff and to Q that he DESERVES to be in the lineup
2. hang his head, put his tail between his legs and not bother because no matter what he does, it won't matter, he will never get out of Q's doghouse.

Would have to think Morin is taking approach #1, otherwise, there is no other reason to think Q would keep him around in Chicago, practicing with the big club.

Now given the fact that he's been sitting, none of us have any idea of exactly what Q is looking for. And if Morin has any smarts at all, he will approach Q privately ("hey Coach, can i chat with you privately for a few minutes when you have time?") and ask what he needs to do, what is Q looking for, what does he have to work on/demonstrate to prove he's ready to be put back in the lineup.
- savvyone-1

Morin took the lazy way out on the goal by Glencross 2 weeks ago. That's the last time he donned a jersey for a game. Right or wrong, coach of a winning team has that option with young kids. Babcock, Sutter, Fatso in St.Louis, Julien would do exactly the same thing.

And Q is probably very impressed that Brookbank is willing to do whatever it takes for the team, which might even include taking Q's wife grocery shopping.

Over...and worth it.


- Ogilthorpe2[/quote


Agreed, I'm thinking 1.5 to 2 million.....glad to see the kid signed

Back home after a wonderful trip to 'Hicag.

Lifetime Bears and Hawks FREAK and got to see my first ever games at SF and UC.
Loved walking into the Soldier Field on a beautiful fall day, alongside thousands of 'my people'...all heading into the same cathedral. Tremendous natural high.

Soldier Field is obviously magnificent. It was everything i hoped for and more...the tough loss aside. The tributes to the veterans, the beautifully-choreographed flyover by two WW2 planes, the passionate fans and all the SWAG they were wearing.

Saw so many cool fashion statements by said fans. Jerseys, jackets, hats, shirts, hoodies, HOLY SHHHHHHHHHHHIT...Bears fans LOVE THAT TEAM.
Had nosebleeds way up in section 431...row 33...needed oxygen to make that hike...but the view was super.

Didn't drink much at the football game...had one hot chocolate that came with a shot and that was it. The hike down from our seats to fight washroom lines was not appealing.

Got to the UC around 5 pm when the doors opened. Major shoutout to RickJ for hooking me up with a pair. And as he touted...the buffet dinner at the Stadium Club was DEE-LISH'OUS. Thanks Rick



Got to the seats in the 200 level to the left of Oil goal with about 10 minutes left in the warmup. Sound system was blaring rocking stuff during that.
Cornelison was BRILLIANT as usual, but that team history piece that runs prior to the anthem had me in tears. All the HISTORY, ALL THE NAMES...many i rooted for...and visuals were very moving. THAT'S MY TEAM...OUR TEAM...encapsulated beautifully....all...with the stitching of The Chief emblem woven throughout. I'd seen it before, but in that setting...it was very emotional.

Game was solid, except for the Hawks being pretty poor defensively. They got lucky Edmonton didn't take advantage of several good chances or it could have easily been a loss.

Few observations.

-Toews and Andrew Ference had bad blood, probably dating to the Cup Final last year. Tazer gave the Oilers' captain a pretty good shove after one scrum early in the game. And later, wisely declined an invite from Ference to throw down late in the 3rd.

-Kaner's PRETTY GOOD...kid has the biscuit on a string...a LOT. So glad we never traded him, especially when many including myself advocated it. He's a beauty.

-Keith had several more point shots blocked. He was teed up beautifully from about 20 feet out and appeared to miss high AGAIN...might have gone off the crossbar. I was cursing his futility as a shooter most of the night, but it was nice to see him get off the schnide and score what i think proved to be the GWG.

-Lastly, the Hawks organization is a tightly run ship to be sure and that is evident also in the HIGHLY FREQUENT appearances of the between whistles ice cleaning crew. Ice Girls are HOT but that crew probably came out 3-5 times a period and it seemed it a bit much.....until i realized...that a fast, puck possession team like ours, truly benefits from the cleanest sheet they can get. Pretty smart thing actually.
- philco28

Philco, glad to see you enjoyed the trip. I know I'm biased but I have traveled all over and Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the world.

Over...and worth it.


- Ogilthorpe2

my guess is $1.65 million.

I just saw that too, I couldn't be happier. Shaw is the type of guy we need to keep around for a while.

Anyone hear what the numbers are?
- DarthKane

Really happy to hear, Shaw works his arse off night after night. Extension is deserved.

Really happy to hear, Shaw works his arse off night after night. Extension is deserved.
- prd797

As per Bob McKenzie the cap hit is $2 million per season, Well deserved and a fair deal for both sides.

my guess is $1.65 million.
- DarthKane

Reported to be $2M per year. That's next year and the one after - as usually happens it will look damn cheap by the end.

As per Bob McKenzie the cap hit is $2 million per season, Well deserved and a fair deal for both sides.
- DarthKane

anything over 1.5 is an overpayment.....why negotiate now?

As per Bob McKenzie the cap hit is $2 million per season, Well deserved and a fair deal for both sides.
- DarthKane

Just saw that. Pretty good term and cap hit for this year's hits leader. Shaw's one tough kid, and IMO is one of the more underrated agitators in the league right now.

As per Bob McKenzie the cap hit is $2 million per season, Well deserved and a fair deal for both sides.
- DarthKane

I was gonna guess 1.85-2.0. Very fair at $2.0...nice job Stan.

As per Bob McKenzie the cap hit is $2 million per season, Well deserved and a fair deal for both sides.
- DarthKane

This sucks; we'll never be able to sign Toews and Kane...

anything over 1.5 is an overpayment.....why negotiate now?
- ChicagoDave

Fixed.

This sucks; we'll never be able to sign Toews and Kane...
- mohel

I clearly get your sarcasm....however....

we also have Kruger and Pirri to resign.....not to mention others....

2mil for the guy who is centering our very effective third line? I'll take that all day. If he hit FA he probably could have gotten at least another 500K. He's an important guy on this team on an off the ice.

I clearly get your sarcasm....however....

we also have Kruger and Pirri to resign.....not to mention others....
- ChicagoDave

Kruger is signed through next season and Pirri is coming off an ELC. Anyone else that might make more than 1.5 is already locked up through at least next season as well. This offseason will be finding a backup goalie (whether its Raanta or someone else) and extending Kane/Toews.