Very true and that stuff doesn't happen only North of the Border....The Rangers could have handled Del Zotto in a smarter way.

Circus trip ends with impressive 5-2 win. Hawks are set up for a great December -. On The Blackhawks: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eDT6X6
- Al

You could argue Seabs' was tossed into the chum filled waters too but his CHARACTER saw him through those tough early years.

It amazes me constantly Ogi that some of these owners have successful businesses. Its like they get a sport franchise and forget the most basic business concepts. Although, the Wirtz family made a lot of money off the Blackhawks,
- Elbows15

You almost wonder if they treat the sports franchise as a play thing instead of as a business? How many times do we see meddlesome owners, who have no idea about the specific sport, try to micromanage those responsible for running the team?

You could argue Seabs' was tossed into the chum filled waters too but his CHARACTER saw him through those tough early years.
- philco28

After watching Seabs get Toews' head back in synch during the Red Wing series I don't think there is any argument concerning Seabrook's character. When they were drafted out of junior I wished the Hawks has managed to get Phaneuf instead of Seabrook, man I'm glad that wish hadn't come true.

After watching Seabs get Toews' head back in synch during the Red Wing series I don't think there is any argument concerning Seabrook's character. When they were drafted out of junior I wished the Hawks has managed to get Phaneuf instead of Seabrook, man I'm glad that wish hadn't come true.
- paulr

That 2003 draft was crazy....."The Princess" was the flavor of the month as far as d-men went....because Pete McGuire's lips were literally attached to Dion's middle leg.....

But looking back....damn, that first round alone was NUTZ


http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2003e.html

You almost wonder if they treat the sports franchise as a play thing instead of as a business? How many times do we see meddlesome owners, who have no idea about the specific sport, try to micromanage those responsible for running the team?
- paulr

They do that because it works (to a certain extent) in their main businesses.

They know their business - how to make the product, how to sell it - their employees are more or less interchangeable, even if a superstar salesperson leaves, the "next one up" is almost as good. They manage businesses where the product is independent from the employees a even in service businesses like accounting, law, or consulting. The employees don't have to be playing at their best all of the time - just good enough to get it all done. Most business owners could do every job in the place. (All of that is a bit of an overstatement, but not much).

So they by a professional sports franchise, where the product IS the employees (the players), where if the employee isn't playing his best at all times, the product suffers - and suffers in public. There is a fine line between success and failure - but the owners don't really understand that - let's just pay the guy a ton and plug him in. And most sports owners have no idea what it takes to be a professional athlete.

They don't understand that it's a completely different kind of business.

You almost wonder if they treat the sports franchise as a play thing instead of as a business? How many times do we see meddlesome owners, who have no idea about the specific sport, try to micromanage those responsible for running the team?
- paulr

To many owners, across all sports, that is exactly what it is. The problem is then compounded by them not getting the right people into responsible positions, ie. hockey people, baseball people etc. They then wonder why their franchise flounders,
become bored with the whole thing and then sell it to another who runs it the same way.
Rocky was smart enough to know what he had to do and that it did not begin and end with him. Rocky listened to people and not only his heart. He brought in McDonough to reinvent the Marketing side, Bowman Sr. to guide Stanbo on the on ice, scouting and player developement side and was astute and smart enough to listen to those who told him that Savard, God love him, was not the right fit as the coach and having the foresight to have Quennville in waiting. He also never hesitated when it was plain that Uncle Dale had run his course with the Hawks. There was no question about his eye for talent but plenty about his ability to handle a team in the Salary Cap era.
Hawk fans should feel very fortunate to have somone like Rocky as an owner. There are many other owners out there, we comment about them all the time here, who have decided that they are the show and everyone be damned about telling them how to run there business.

That 2003 draft was crazy....."The Princess" was the flavor of the month as far as d-men went....because Pete McGuire's lips were literally attached to Dion's middle leg.....

But looking back....damn, that first round alone was NUTZ


http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2003e.html
- philco28

Or as Dale Tallon once noted when he was colour man with Foley, his wee knee!!!

To many owners, across all sports, that is exactly what it is. The problem is then compounded by them not getting the right people into responsible positions, ie. hockey people, baseball people etc. They then wonder why their franchise flounders,
become bored with the whole thing and then sell it to another who runs it the same way.
Rocky was smart enough to know what he had to do and that it did not begin and end with him. Rocky listened to people and not only his heart. He brought in McDonough to reinvent the Marketing side, Bowman Sr. to guide Stanbo on the on ice, scouting and player developement side and was astute and smart enough to listen to those who told him that Savard, God love him, was not the right fit as the coach and having the foresight to have Quennville in waiting. He also never hesitated when it was plain that Uncle Dale had run his course with the Hawks. There was no question about his eye for talent but plenty about his ability to handle a team in the Salary Cap era.
Hawk fans should feel very fortunate to have somone like Rocky as an owner. There are many other owners out there, we comment about them all the time here, who have decided that they are the show and everyone be damned about telling them how to run there business.
- rtang415

Rocky has an advantage: he grew up in the business. Peter may have been more involved with the Hawks, but Rocky certainly was there for most of his life.

He could learn, over time, how it was different from running a liquor operation (or a politically connected hotel).

Or as Dale Tallon once noted when he was colour man with Foley, his wee knee!!!
- paulr

twitter word is.....SEGUIN IS OUT for tonight

That 2003 draft was crazy....."The Princess" was the flavor of the month as far as d-men went....because Pete McGuire's lips were literally attached to Dion's middle leg.....

But looking back....damn, that first round alone was NUTZ


http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2003e.html
- philco28

ridiculous that the ducks got Getzlaf AND Perry in the first, crazy draft class for sure.

twitter word is.....SEGUIN IS OUT for tonight
- philco28

The Hawks had better keep their heads up with Roussell out there. The guy seems to target the Hawk Stars and Kane in particular.

After watching Seabs get Toews' head back in synch during the Red Wing series I don't think there is any argument concerning Seabrook's character. When they were drafted out of junior I wished the Hawks has managed to get Phaneuf instead of Seabrook, man I'm glad that wish hadn't come true.
- paulr

Quite possibly the pivotal moment in last year's run. Seabs is the man, he should wear a letter IMO.

Quite possibly the pivotal moment in last year's run. Seabs is the man, he should wear a letter IMO.
- Ogilthorpe2

Would you take the "A" away from Sharp? Or Keith? i would say Sharp, but every time i get pissed at him he scores a bunch of goals, and hes been very chippy lately after whistles which i dont mind because not many other guys on the team are like that, besides Shaw

The Hawks had better keep their heads up with Roussell out there. The guy seems to target the Hawk Stars and Kane in particular.
- paulr

Roussell is a douchbag and I have a feeling he won't get away with it tonight.

You could argue Seabs' was tossed into the chum filled waters too but his CHARACTER saw him through those tough early years.
- philco28

Agree with this. Not quick or fast, but he plays within his limitations very well. Good vision, good hands. good teammate. I have only seen him struggle when they make him skate beyond his ability to do so. I also think Yawney might have had a little something to do with him being ready.

Quite possibly the pivotal moment in last year's run. Seabs is the man, he should wear a letter IMO.
- Ogilthorpe2

Its funny, the Hawks don't have enough letters for the guys that deserve one, and many other teams can't find enough that deserve the few letters they've got. One indication of how good a team the Hawks are.

Roussell is a douchbag and I have a feeling he won't get away with it tonight.
- rtang415

Who's gonna stop him? Bollig? We all saw what happens when he messes with a veteran journeyman heavyweight the other night. Bollig will go and he's got a great left uppercut. But if he can't have his way he's in trouble. The more he fights the shorter his career will be.

Who's gonna stop him? Bollig? We all saw what happens when he messes with a veteran journeyman heavyweight the other night. Bollig will go and he's got a great left uppercut. But if he can't have his way he's in trouble. The more he fights the shorter his career will be.
- 6628

McGratton is a super heavyweight and one of the best fighters in the league. Roussell is a cruiserweight and an irritant who can scrap. Bollig may not be in McGratton's weight and fighting ability class but he showed up. If Bollig isn't there to tune up the Roussell's of the world he won't have a roster spot for long.

Quite possibly the pivotal moment in last year's run. Seabs is the man, he should wear a letter IMO.
- Ogilthorpe2

I think the 'quite possibly' qualifier isn't needed. That moment WAS the pivotal moment of the series and ultimately the season. Toews had completely lost his composure and there was no reason to think anything other than Seabrook's 'talk' was going to snap him out of it. Leadership doesn't show up in the stats but what Seabrook did was more important than what the last 5 Conn Smyth winners did.

Who's gonna stop him? Bollig? We all saw what happens when he messes with a veteran journeyman heavyweight the other night. Bollig will go and he's got a great left uppercut. But if he can't have his way he's in trouble. The more he fights the shorter his career will be.
- 6628

Why does anyone think that fighting Roussell will stop him? No matter whether Bollig or Roussell wins, Roussell will still go after Kane (and others).

Way to get him is with several hits during the course of a game: take a penalty if necessary. And - go after their stars during the course of a game.

Probably, that won't stop him either: I've never been sold on the belief that you can intimidate a butcher into not going after your guys.

Who's gonna stop him? Bollig? We all saw what happens when he messes with a veteran journeyman heavyweight the other night. Bollig will go and he's got a great left uppercut. But if he can't have his way he's in trouble. The more he fights the shorter his career will be.
- 6628

No.

I think the 'quite possibly' qualifier isn't needed. That moment WAS the pivotal moment of the series and ultimately the season. Toews had completely lost his composure and there was no reason to think anything other than Seabrook's 'talk' was going to snap him out of it. Leadership doesn't show up in the stats but what Seabrook did was more important than what the last 5 Conn Smyth winners did.
- paulr

We'll probably find out they were like the catcher going out to talk to the pitcher: where are we going for dinner after the game?

But I agree - no matter what the conversation was about - it was a pivotal moment in the series.

Not as pivotal as Seabrooks goal in OT of game 7, of course: you don't get more pivotal that that.

Why does anyone think that fighting Roussell will stop him? No matter whether Bollig or Roussell wins, Roussell will still go after Kane (and others).

Way to get him is with several hits during the course of a game: take a penalty if necessary. And - go after their stars during the course of a game.

Probably, that won't stop him either: I've never been sold on the belief that you can intimidate a butcher into not going after your guys.
- StLBravesFan

I think you're largely right here. For the regular season especially, the best answer is a power play goal. Next best answer is to take a run at Benn, with appropriate commentary while skating past their bench. This option, though, takes the Hawks out of their game and is just what the douche wants to happen. Ignore him, protect yourself, and then score more phucking goals.

ridiculous that the ducks got Getzlaf AND Perry in the first, crazy draft class for sure.
- BlazinMike

Ducks' scouts get an A+++ for those two picks.

The Hawks had better keep their heads up with Roussell out there. The guy seems to target the Hawk Stars and Kane in particular.
- paulr

That situation should be ADDRESSED tonight...thanks for reminding


Timing has to be right though.