random note. Sage needs an avi. Let take a poll of the audience.

I vote yes.

But his youth, pedigree and promise make him an outstanding asset to deal.
- philco28

I guess it is a matter of what is accomplished because barring injury Leddy is in the NHL for the next 8-10 years.


Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL

Price showing up. Bad angle on the tying goal and swimming all over the ice on the 4th.
- Elbows15

Don't know why he was flopping on the fourth - should have been able to get back.

Third - couldn't see where the puck or shooter were.

He's elite.
- HawkintheD

Until he is not. When he is on, he is very good. The questions with Price has always been between the ears.

I never said Clendening would be as good as Leddy, nor did I make any claim that he would be a top 4 defensman. Then again, you didn't make the claim that I said he was a top 4 defenseman either. I'm just throwing that in there so no one else goes pointing a finger at me saying I said as such.

I am pointing out that if Leddy were traded this summer, Clendening could be viewed as a possible replacement for Leddy on the 3rd paring - if the Hawks are looking for someone who is an offensive minded defenseman.
- EKolb13

Correct but it is risky because Leddy is likely to get better and he is much better now at 23 than Clendening will be....That's my point.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL

random note. Sage needs an avi. Let take a poll of the audience.

I vote yes.
- Elbows15

I have no idea how to put one in.

Don't know why he was flopping on the fourth - should have been able to get back.

Third - couldn't see where the puck or shooter were.
- StLBravesFan

Not from the goal cam Sage. No one in front of him and you can clearly see the guy with the puck. Took a funny bounce off the ice though.

I have no idea how to put one in.
- StLBravesFan

Oh.

Very good win for Boston.

Don't know why he was flopping on the fourth - should have been able to get back.

Third - couldn't see where the puck or shooter were.
- StLBravesFan

Boston really likes the trailers. A lot. Gallagher lost his man. The Habs need to do a better job with that. A lot of the Bruins offense in generating off of that.

Up by 2 with10 minutes left and lose... That's how you lose Series....

Up by 2 with10 minutes left and lose... That's how you lose Series....
- mrpaulish

As the Leafs would know. Hiiiiiiyyyoooooooo

Not from the goal cam Sage. No one in front of him and you can clearly see the guy with the puck. Took a funny bounce of ice though.
- Elbows15

I'm mixing up goals, there were so many in such short period of time.

Fourth I think I'm right on - Price sliding over on his pads.

Which one bounced off the ice over his short-side shoulder?

Which was the slap-shot from the top going to his left with him going to his right? That's the one he couldn't see.

I'm getting too old to keep up with this.

I'm mixing up goals, there were so many in such short period of time.

Fourth I think I'm right on - Price sliding over on his pads.

Which one bounced off the ice over his short-side shoulder?

Which was the slap-shot from the top going to his left with him going to his right?

I'm getting too old to jeep up with this.
- StLBravesFan

The tying goal bounced off of the ice. The 4th Price was Phelping. Didn't see the other one.

The third goal to tie the game was the one that took a weird hop off the ice. That puck has to be stopped from that distance with no traffic in front of Price. Brutal goal. The fourth goal, I don't know what he was doing either, total mental collapse by the whole team but especially Price.

The way Montreal lost that game makes me think they're done in the series, they just completely collapsed with a chance to take two in Boston.

Winning the Conn Smyth last season pretty much indicated Kane not only shows up for the big games but for most big games.
- paulr

Who shows up in the playoffs, or in big games - both actually.

Let me repeat that.....who shows up, indeed.

Just reviewing the names JJ comes up with for the Blackhawks and also the fact that as John says, we have six opportunities to win three more games.

How difficult will that be? I would like to put this a different context than we may have yet to focus upon.

Who shows up for the Minnesota Wild in these big games? How many big time players do you count for them as compared to for us?

I do not say or know that the team with more of these special players is going to win. I do not pretend to insist that our big time players are so much better.

I do not have the absolute best perspective to answer because I suspect that if you were at the game you had unique view and perhaps a different impression than those of us whom merely watched from our easy chair at home.

I do believe that we have an advantage in goal - duh, who doesn't know that.

I do absolutely hate seeing slow skaters who will loose a race to the puck, so I am glad when Zus is not a #2 center. And while you can argue that Q living and dieing by the sword is a questionable strategy, he has nonetheless been successful whenever he shortens the bench.

This series, however, we probably will see new faces on the ice beside Nordstrom. Injuries dictate such. So does the fact that the playoffs is a marathon and eventually not only injuries, but strategy leads to lineup changes.

So while there are some lineup changes, the fact is that the difference makers are huge. If you were to compile a list of the big time players or difference makers from both teams, it would be interesting to see how many names are on each list.

A long time ago someone once told me, that a well balanced team with depth up and down the lines wins a lot of regular season games. But sometimes the team with more or with the greatest difference makers wins more often in the playoffs.

Certainly this playoff season Montreal hopes so as they acquired Vanek. Certainly St Louis was looking for the right add on and they failed.

Game one we had the difference makers who stood out. What will the remainder of the series look like. Look to the big time players.

Les Habitants are toast.

This series, however, we probably will see new faces on the ice beside Nordstrom. Injuries dictate such. So does the fact that the playoffs is a marathon and eventually not only injuries, but strategy leads to lineup changes.

- jhawk59

There hasn't been much of that yet through the first 7 games of the playoffs. So I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.

Les Habitants are toast.
- Canardhawk

Today they are but before this series is done they'll give the Bruins fits

>Hawks "game-thinking" was super-slow last night
>Far too many players skating several extra strides with the puck and then passing it, when their target was open with speed right away -- net result turnover
>Also, passing was terrible
>When Hawks move the puck quickly and precisely they reach a level few teams can play with
>Bollig turnover when he had crossed redline in a 2-1 game in Period 3 is the kind that sends some players to Siberia -- NO excuse not to dump that puck in
>I'm neutral on Bollig, but his play lately has not been good, at all -- don't really care about his hit count -- didn't see any Wild cringing from one of hits
>What's with the Hawks not having one forward high in the Wild zone on the forecheck -- lots of odd man breaks for Wild due to Hawk braincramps
>Crawford continues to look like one of the NHL's best -- hope he keeps rolling
>Nice to see Leddy floor Heatly -- that was payback for his cheapshot on Seabs
>When the Hawks did get into a 5-man Ozone cycle, Wild had no answer
>Kane's extra work in the offseason continues to pay huge dividends

>Hawks "game-thinking" was super-slow last night
>Far too many players skating several extra strides with the puck and then passing it, when their target was open with speed right away -- net result turnover
>Also, passing was terrible
>When Hawks move the puck quickly and precisely they reach a level few teams can play with
>Bollig turnover when he had crossed redline in a 2-1 game in Period 3 is the kind that sends some players to Siberia -- NO excuse not to dump that puck in
>I'm neutral on Bollig, but his play lately has not been good, at all -- don't really care about his hit count -- didn't see any Wild cringing from one of hits
>What's with the Hawks not having one forward high in the Wild zone on the forecheck -- lots of odd man breaks for Wild due to Hawk braincramps
>Crawford continues to look like one of the NHL's best -- hope he keeps rolling
>Nice to see Leddy floor Heatly -- that was payback for his cheapshot on Seabs
>When the Hawks did get into a 5-man Ozone cycle, Wild had no answer
>Kane's extra work in the offseason continues to pay huge dividends
- SnapitUpstairs

Great post ROOF DADDY

Correct but it is risky because Leddy is likely to get better and he is much better now at 23 than Clendening will be....That's my point.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL
- Al

I will just add a twist to your conversation.

I cannot see both Leddy and Clendenning playing on the same roster unless this was necessary due to injuries.

For them to play on the same roster, Leddy has to become better. Right now I want to say that I can see Leddy becoming better. I will not say this about Clendenning because I have my doubts as to his upside. But really I leave any forecast for Clendenning upside to EKolb to expound upon. Or anyone who watches the Icehogs regularly.

With Clendenning it has been said that the Blackhawks would have to live with the plus and minus points in his game as his role on a third pair. Actually Johns is the player I want to see more on that third pair.

To be fair and honest about it both would bring some exciting qualities as third pair dmen. But remember they would only be playing third pair minutes. And probably some powerplay.

There hasn't been much of that yet through the first 7 games of the playoffs. So I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.
- EKolb13

The Hawks did win yesterday, right? I don't think the Wild can play much better. The Hawks sure can. Teams that win an emotional game 7 usually play well in the 1st game of the next series.

What exactly did Nordstrom do to be removed from the line up?

>Hawks "game-thinking" was super-slow last night
>Far too many players skating several extra strides with the puck and then passing it, when their target was open with speed right away -- net result turnover
>Also, passing was terrible
>When Hawks move the puck quickly and precisely they reach a level few teams can play with
>Bollig turnover when he had crossed redline in a 2-1 game in Period 3 is the kind that sends some players to Siberia -- NO excuse not to dump that puck in
>I'm neutral on Bollig, but his play lately has not been good, at all -- don't really care about his hit count -- didn't see any Wild cringing from one of hits
>What's with the Hawks not having one forward high in the Wild zone on the forecheck -- lots of odd man breaks for Wild due to Hawk braincramps
>Crawford continues to look like one of the NHL's best -- hope he keeps rolling
>Nice to see Leddy floor Heatly -- that was payback for his cheapshot on Seabs
>When the Hawks did get into a 5-man Ozone cycle, Wild had no answer
>Kane's extra work in the offseason continues to pay huge dividends
- SnapitUpstairs

Bingo. Not a great game. Still won. Has to be demoralizing for the Wild to know they got the Hawks C games and still lost. 4th line was absolutely horrible. Wish Regin and Morin would get a shot.

Great post ROOF DADDY

- philco28

>Thanks, Phil
>Lots of ideas about what the Hawks do with their D-corp
>I would be surprised if they break up their top 4 -- as it is a significant advantage vs most of the league
>#4 and #27 have a chemistry and trust with each other that #2 and #7 have -- and Hammer is now in the fold for awhile -- think Hawks find a way to keep Oduya, too -- unless he wants big dollars vs being on the Hawks and having Hammer as a partner
>Leddy already paying big dividends on the PP -- he likely stays, too
>Think bottom six forwards and press box players would be in play first if cap relief is needed