Grade incomplete. If he shows up in the playoffs again, and the Hawks go deep again...totally worth it. With the cap going up, $4.0 is the new $2.0. He could have easily gotten more elsewhere. If he just wanted to sit back and count his coin, he would have gone for the bigger pay day somewhere else. I'll reserve judgement until June.
- Ogilthorpe2

And who replaces him? And at what cost? FFS Clowe got 5 and Clarkson 5.25 and I rather Bickell over either of those two.

Hard to imagine, but maybe, just maybe, if you're dealing with the right team desperate for Blue Line help, but with high picks/prospects to offer....maybe you turn one valuable asset into two or more? Get someone to trade their future away for a chance to win now. Yandle still makes more sense though.
- Ogilthorpe2

Maybe Ogi. I would think OEL is a building piece but what do I know. LOL

And who replaces him? And at what cost? FFS Clowe got 5 and Clarkson 5.25 and I rather Bickell over either of those two.
- Elbows15

Agreed...Ott on the other hand

to Stl and your Bickel comment.

That 3rd line has been out of sorts all season. How is Bickel suppose to get back in a groove and a defensive minded mode if he only plays 5mins a game? and be ready for the playoffs?

Changing up lines in the 3rd period - Q use to do it a lot, not as much recently. None of the top players played a gross amount of minutes. Plus you blame Bickel for the loss.

How about weak attempts in the SO by the superstars.

Remember again - SJ played the night before in Denver and traveled to Chicago. Back to Back on the road. But SJ were ready and played a great game. Did SJ play above average or the Hawks below average?

to Stl and your Bickel comment.

That 3rd line has been out of sorts all season. How is Bickel suppose to get back in a groove and a defensive minded mode if he only plays 5mins a game? and be ready for the playoffs?

Changing up lines in the 3rd period - Q use to do it a lot, not as much recently. None of the top players played a gross amount of minutes. Plus you blame Bickel for the loss.

How about weak attempts in the SO by the superstars.

Remember again - SJ played the night before in Denver and traveled to Chicago. Back to Back on the road. But SJ were ready and played a great game. Did SJ play above average or the Hawks below average?
- Topshelf2010

That is the reason they had 0 penalties.

So did Frolik!!!


- DarthKane

And, interestingly enough, sourpuss Alexander Salak.

There's the rub ! While winning at any level, should be the objective, Rockford has been a decent training ground for the likes of Crawford, Smith, Kruger, Shaw, Saad, Morin, Pirri and a few others.

I'm not a huge fan of Hogs' coach Ted Dent, but it seems like the Hawks' brass is happy with how's he been getting young players prepared to make their stab at an NHL career. Some have succeeded and STUCK better than others, but some credit must be given IMO to the apparatus in Rockford.
- philco28

The Hawks brass knows what they have and also know with Q. on solid footing that isn't a job in very high demand.

Lackluster Hawks fall to SJ 3-2 in a shootout. Bickell benched in 3rd period-
0n The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1dJ8YJ5

That is the reason they had 0 penalties.
- powerenforcer

I don't believe the conspiracy theories per se, but any time any team (including the Hawks who are among the least penalized teams in the league) goes 65 minutes without a single minor penalty called, I've got to call Bullpoop.

The Hawks brass knows what they have and also know with Q. on solid footing that isn't a job in very high demand.

Lackluster Hawks fall to SJ 3-2 in a shootout. Bickell benched in 3rd period-
0n The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1dJ8YJ5
- Al

Agreed, and good write up as usual Al. Is CapGeek a new Sponsor?

to Stl and your Bickel comment.

That 3rd line has been out of sorts all season. How is Bickel suppose to get back in a groove and a defensive minded mode if he only plays 5mins a game? and be ready for the playoffs?

Changing up lines in the 3rd period - Q use to do it a lot, not as much recently. None of the top players played a gross amount of minutes. Plus you blame Bickel for the loss.

How about weak attempts in the SO by the superstars.

Remember again - SJ played the night before in Denver and traveled to Chicago. Back to Back on the road. But SJ were ready and played a great game. Did SJ play above average or the Hawks below average?
- Topshelf2010

The Pirri/Morin/Leddy argument.

Bickel is averaging over 12 ATOI - time enough yo show Q what he can do? Would he have gotten more if he had done more? Chicken or egg: Q just give him as much rope as Bickel wants, or should Bickel do what's necessary - in however many minutes - to force Q to give him time?

Nobody blamed Bickel for the loss. I said that his poor play led to Q only giving him 5 minutes - which screwed up much of the game plan, forced double shifting, line changing, etc. Toews and Sharp needed to score in the SO, Crawford needed to make a SO save or two - yes, the direct cause of the loss. Can't let Bickel off the hook for his poor play.

Agreed...Ott on the other hand
- Ogilthorpe2

Mario Ott solves all our problems.

Mario Ott solves all our problems.
- Elbows15

Mel.

Mel.
- StLBravesFan

Good call.

Mario Ott solves all our problems.
- Elbows15

What about Brandon Pirri Lemieux or Jeremy Morin Modano?

Good call.
- rtang415

You left Chicago at the right time my friend....

Mel.
- StLBravesFan

Good point. We could always use another hitter.

Good call.
- rtang415

Hey tanger. How is the weather? LOL

MY thoughts on the lines and getting Pillow (Bickell) going....

29-19-88
10-16-81
20-65-32
52-26-28

Gives Pillow a chance to play with Toews and Kane again....now that Krugman FO's have improved put him up on the 2nd.....versteeg-shaw-saad give that live size grit and speed...and the fourth is ....well we will see. I expect a move to be made to improve that situation....Bollig in the playoffs scares me if he plays like he is now....

MY thoughts on the lines and getting Pillow (Bickell) going....

29-19-88
10-16-81
20-65-32
52-26-28

Gives Pillow a chance to play with Toews and Kane again....now that Krugman FO's have improved put him up on the 2nd.....versteeg-shaw-saad give that live size grit and speed...and the fourth is ....well we will see. I expect a move to be made to improve that situation....Bollig in the playoffs scares me if he plays like he is now....
- UnnamedSource

How about..............NO

How about..............NO
- Elbows15

you snarky bastage......

you snarky bastage......
- UnnamedSource

Agreed, and good write up as usual Al. Is CapGeek a new Sponsor?
- Ogilthorpe2

No...lol.

I have been using CapGeek for many years...If I have questions they give the right answers. I wanted to make 100% sure I had the correct understanding when I wrote about Khabby the other day and normally I would have credited their site then but it got long.

So I give them some props today...

Lackluster Hawks fall to SJ 3-2 in a shootout. Bickell benched in 3rd period-
0n The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1dJ8YJ5

What about Brandon Pirri Lemieux or Jeremy Morin Modano?
- UnnamedSource

That would be Jeremy Morin Hull. Modano was a centre.

MY thoughts on the lines and getting Pillow (Bickell) going....

29-19-88
10-16-81
20-65-32
52-26-28

Gives Pillow a chance to play with Toews and Kane again....now that Krugman FO's have improved put him up on the 2nd.....versteeg-shaw-saad give that live size grit and speed...and the fourth is ....well we will see. I expect a move to be made to improve that situation....Bollig in the playoffs scares me if he plays like he is now....
- UnnamedSource

You haven't seen enough of Brookbank at wing, so now you want to put Rozy there?

- Elbows15

You have to do something with Bickell and get more production on the 3rd.....just spitballin but maybe put Smith on the third to see if his energy can light a fire and let Bickell find his game on the 4th.