USA v. Japan chicks on CNBC at 4:00pm central time today.
- mohel

That will be totally amazballs, can't believe I'm gonna miss it

That will be totally amazballs, can't believe I'm gonna miss it
- Ogilthorpe2

Need updates?

Need updates?
- Elbows15

I won't be be able to get them while I'm working, so I guess I'll just have to watch the replays tonight.

Some say we do not have enough net front presence, powerplay and other times inclusive.

So someone mentioned women's curling. Blazin Mike I think.

If we had women curlers standing in front of the net, you would be looking at:

A). Their beauty
B). Their muscles
C) trick question. Still looking where to shoot the puck

Though it is not impossible as a Blues fan let me say that Halak has long since lost the magic or at least the skill he had in Montreal.

First all you have to is score one goal and that shakes him.

Second high all night and any bit of a screen tends to allow a goal.

Most of his stats are derived from. Great team defense in front of him.

I wish i could say it was otherwise but alas Halak is no longer great. What shocks me is the amount of teams i have seen play the Blues and have great scoring chances and shoot low especially five hole. He had issues with it at the beginning of the season due to the shorter pads but when you can snap a shot high blocker side and beat him clean without a screen well... Also you can go high glove side and most of the time he will fail to catch it and it tends to give a great scoring chance on the ensuing madness it creates.

Hossa loses a lot his greatness at his age and the width increase of the ice sheet.

This all came to pass in the first game against the US.

What we have seen or heard is that Pirri is not strong on the puck. Not as good a skater as you want if he is playing #2 minutes. He has improved defensively and in the dot. So until the perfect center comes along, each player in the #2 slot can be judged not good enough?

The real crime is not playing an NHL calibre Pirri in the NHL. Just so you can expose him to evaluation at this level. With the game being based as much as possible on skating, it would be helpful if your centers each skate well. It helps but is not an end all if some of them aren't fast and agile skaters. That being said, we really have to concentrate on whom we surround our core players with....Pirri is not going to be a core player. So how much TOI would he get here in Chg -- Q will never keep him intact as the regular #2 center.

So the penchant to win as much as possible means using bums like Regin and Handzus as a fill in....just so we can have those veterans for the playoffs. We are hopeful Handzus can contribute more ....like he did last playoffs. And we minimalize Pirri's value. No sweat, we have more prospects in the pipeline, right. So it goes.
- jhawk59

Pirri has played 28 games for the Hawks this year; this plus the amount they've seen him in Rockford and at camps have given them a pretty good picture of what he is and is not as a hockey player. They also have a decent idea of what they need for a 2C. For now (probably for good) they've decided what they see in Pirri does not match what they feel they need. Could they be wrong? Sure. Could he be good with another team? Sure (but I doubt he'll be really good, myself).

They need a 2C. They gave him 28 games to fill the spot. Odds are very good they told him what they need from him. Despite all this, they feel better off with other options like Caboose and Elbows' buddy Regin (and other options in house). This tells us volumes about Pirri.

Also, I don't know about your comment about defense and face-offs. If he were as good defensively and at the dot as the Caboose, he'd be here and the old fart would be rotating in on the fourth line.

Thought it was cool the hottie from Britain went for the win. Nothing to lose in the prelim round.
- Elbows15

Yep, she showed a lot of balls there.

Though it is not impossible as a Blues fan let me say that Halak has long since lost the magic or at least the skill he had in Montreal.

First all you have to is score one goal and that shakes him.

Second high all night and any bit of a screen tends to allow a goal.

Most of his stats are derived from. Great team defense in front of him.

I wish i could say it was otherwise but alas Halak is no longer great. What shocks me is the amount of teams i have seen play the Blues and have great scoring chances and shoot low especially five hole. He had issues with it at the beginning of the season due to the shorter pads but when you can snap a shot high blocker side and beat him clean without a screen well... Also you can go high glove side and most of the time he will fail to catch it and it tends to give a great scoring chance on the ensuing madness it creates.

Hossa loses a lot his greatness at his age and the width increase of the ice sheet.

This all came to pass in the first game against the US.
- BluemanGuruu

So as a Blues fan are you happy enough with your other two goaltenders, or would you trade prospects like Jaskin, Rattie, maybe I Cole and even a draft choice to get Miller? Obviously this deal,or another one you have to move one of your netminders if you acquire Miller.

I won't be be able to get them while I'm working, so I guess I'll just have to watch the replays tonight.
- Ogilthorpe2

Fly safe sir.

Though it is not impossible as a Blues fan let me say that Halak has long since lost the magic or at least the skill he had in Montreal.

First all you have to is score one goal and that shakes him.

Second high all night and any bit of a screen tends to allow a goal.

Most of his stats are derived from. Great team defense in front of him.

I wish i could say it was otherwise but alas Halak is no longer great. What shocks me is the amount of teams i have seen play the Blues and have great scoring chances and shoot low especially five hole. He had issues with it at the beginning of the season due to the shorter pads but when you can snap a shot high blocker side and beat him clean without a screen well... Also you can go high glove side and most of the time he will fail to catch it and it tends to give a great scoring chance on the ensuing madness it creates.

Hossa loses a lot his greatness at his age and the width increase of the ice sheet.

This all came to pass in the first game against the US.
- BluemanGuruu

Just substitute "Crawford" for "Halak" and change the avatar and you'd fit right in here! Most fanbases like their own goalie the least. There's better goalies out there than Halak (and Crawford), but the Blues can win the Cup with him, imo. Will they? I hope not, but we'll see.

I didn't notice Hossa too much today, but I am not sure if that has to do with the sheet or the swarm he faced without a lot of help.

Does it feel strange rooting for Kane? It feels strange to me rooting for all the Blues on the US team.

Yep, she showed a lot of balls there.
- mohel

Gee, I (frank)ing hope not. She was a star in a couple fantasies.

Pirri has played 28 games for the Hawks this year; this plus the amount they've seen him in Rockford and at camps have given them a pretty good picture of what he is and is not as a hockey player. They also have a decent idea of what they need for a 2C. For now (probably for good) they've decided what they see in Pirri does not match what they feel they need. Could they be wrong? Sure. Could he be good with another team? Sure (but I doubt he'll be really good, myself).

They need a 2C. They gave him 28 games to fill the spot. Odds are very good they told him what they need from him. Despite all this, they feel better off with other options like Caboose and Elbows' buddy Regin (and other options in house). This tells us volumes about Pirri.

Also, I don't know about your comment about defense and face-offs. If he were as good defensively and at the dot as the Caboose, he'd be here and the old fart would be rotating in on the fourth line.
- mohel

So what we see is nothing we didn't already know about how talent is looked at in the NHL. Very few are superb skill wise to be top line while allowed to be maybe weak to poor defensively. Small set and a lot,of them are Olympians. To some degree the top forwards can offer some defensive responsibility when they feel like it. Pirri cannot break into that set. Not here, anyway, he is not whom they want as the #3 or #4 so he will have to try to fit in eventually on another team. So, yeah you are correct with your assessment. Pirri had his opportunity.

It kills me to see slow Handzus and no good Regin. But other kids are not ready.

The "other" Hayes brother, scoring lots in his final collegiate season, is much like his brother. He will maybe get an opportunity here eventually.

TT is the next top forward who could play significant minutes. But Bowman surely will not rush him. He has not played against men at the NHL level. He is playing against good competition but he cannot learn and grow on the job in the NHL. He has to apprenticeship for you'd think half a season at the Rock. Don't see how some can project his arrival sooner.

So what we see is nothing we didn't already know about how talent is looked at in the NHL. Very few are superb skill wise to be top line while maybe weak to poor defensively. To,some degree the top forwards can offer some defensive responsibility when they feel like it. Pirri cannot break into that set. Not here, anyway, he is not whom they want as the #3 or #4 so he will have to try to fit in eventually on so,eh other team. So,yeah you are correct with your assessment. Pirri had his opportunity.

It kills me to see slow Handzus and no good Regin. But other kids are not ready.

The "other" Hayes brother, scoring lots in his final collegiate season, is much like his brother. He will maybe get an opportunity here eventually.

TT is the next top,forward who,could play significant minutes. But Bowman surely will not rush him. He has not played against men at the NHL level. He is playing against good competition but he cannot learn and grow on the job. He has to apprenticeship for you'd think half a season at the Rock. Don't see how so,e can project his arrival sooner.
- jhawk59

TT? Don't get your hopes for him. He was too small when they picked him and still is. If people think Pirri doesn't win board battles, wait until they watch him play.

So what we see is nothing we didn't already know about how talent is looked at in the NHL. Very few are superb skill wise to be top line while allowed to be maybe weak to poor defensively. Small set and a lot,of them are Olympians. To some degree the top forwards can offer some defensive responsibility when they feel like it. Pirri cannot break into that set. Not here, anyway, he is not whom they want as the #3 or #4 so he will have to try to fit in eventually on another team. So, yeah you are correct with your assessment. Pirri had his opportunity.

It kills me to see slow Handzus and no good Regin. But other kids are not ready.

The "other" Hayes brother, scoring lots in his final collegiate season, is much like his brother. He will maybe get an opportunity here eventually.

TT is the next top forward who could play significant minutes. But Bowman surely will not rush him. He has not played against men at the NHL level. He is playing against good competition but he cannot learn and grow on the job in the NHL. He has to apprenticeship for you'd think half a season at the Rock. Don't see how some can project his arrival sooner.
- jhawk59

I think the highlighted sums it up very well, unfortunately.

TT? Don't get your hopes for him. He was too small when they picked him and still is. If people think Pirri doesn't win board battles, wait until they watch him play.
- Elbows15

We will see what kind of player he is once he arrives.

Kane was a weakling when he came aboard.

There are concerns with TT. But he is our top hope, not necessarily a great hope.

We will see what kind of player he is once he arrives.

Kane was a weakling when he came aboard.

There are concerns with TT. But he is our top hope, not necessarily a great hope.
- jhawk59

Kane is at least 3 inches taller. Hawks and european 1st round draft picks are a bad mix. TT will never get more than 35 points in the NHL. Hoping the Hawks can package him in the offseason to get something useful.

I think the highlighted sums it up very well, unfortunately.
- mohel

Don't lie. Regin is your boy. I know you already ordered the sweater.

We will see what kind of player he is once he arrives.

Kane was a weakling when he came aboard.

There are concerns with TT. But he is our top hope, not necessarily a great hope.
- jhawk59

Kane - AND Toews - didn't come into a team expecting to contend for a Cup: the team could afford to bring them along and develop them.

Not sure that can happen the same way with TT - or any other rookie such as Pirri/Morin/Nordstrom.

Don't lie. Regin is your boy. I know you already ordered the sweater.
- Elbows15

Nope, the guy with the initials is my boy. Now, if he ever gets called up and gets a number, then I can order the sweater.

Nope, the guy with the initials is my boy. Now, if he ever gets called up and gets a number, then I can order the sweater.
- mohel

You'll (frank) it up and get PBJ.

Team Canada game story....

Team Canada opens Olympics with a 3-1 win over Norway. Canada wasn't great but good enough: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1bQeEgV

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Kane - AND Toews - didn't come into a team expecting to contend for a Cup: the team could afford to bring them along and develop them.

Not sure that can happen the same way with TT - or any other rookie such as Pirri/Morin/Nordstrom.
- StLBravesFan

He isn't coming in with the burden of being the face of the team by the same token.

Though it is not impossible as a Blues fan let me say that Halak has long since lost the magic or at least the skill he had in Montreal.

First all you have to is score one goal and that shakes him.

Second high all night and any bit of a screen tends to allow a goal.

Most of his stats are derived from. Great team defense in front of him.

I wish i could say it was otherwise but alas Halak is no longer great. What shocks me is the amount of teams i have seen play the Blues and have great scoring chances and shoot low especially five hole. He had issues with it at the beginning of the season due to the shorter pads but when you can snap a shot high blocker side and beat him clean without a screen well... Also you can go high glove side and most of the time he will fail to catch it and it tends to give a great scoring chance on the ensuing madness it creates.

Hossa loses a lot his greatness at his age and the width increase of the ice sheet.

This all came to pass in the first game against the US.
- BluemanGuruu

2 points....

Halak was only great for a snap shot. In my view he is a small goalie who at is best is very good but he is often hurt or nursing an injury.

Hossa was still want of the top two players today for Slovenia and is having his best regular season as a Blackhawk.

Team Canada opens Olympics with a 3-1 win over Norway. Canada wasn't great but good enough: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1bQeEgV

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Nope, the guy with the initials is my boy. Now, if he ever gets called up and gets a number, then I can order the sweater.
- mohel

Oh. FWIW. He has a number. its 96.

Kane - AND Toews - didn't come into a team expecting to contend for a Cup: the team could afford to bring them along and develop them.

Not sure that can happen the same way with TT - or any other rookie such as Pirri/Morin/Nordstrom.
- StLBravesFan

I agree that the win-now stance changes things a bit, maybe a lot. But at the same time, Shaw and Saad (and Bollig and Krugman to a degree) were able to make the quick adjustment. They are in a position that substantial development in the NHL won't work, but not all prospects need that. This year's crop seems to need more time on the vine.

Edit - I keep forgetting Smith!