You know why it's on Q, Q doesn't play young players and Q plays not to lose .....
- paulr

Oh right I forgot.

Kruger - 24
Saad - 21
Shaw - 22
Smith - 25
Nordstrom - 22
Leddy - 23

Guy's a bum!

Oh right I forgot.

Kruger - 24
Saad - 21
Shaw - 22
Smith - 25
Nordstrom - 22
Leddy - 23

Guy's a bum!
- HawkintheD

These guys make Kane and Toews look old !

Oh right I forgot.

Kruger - 24
Saad - 21
Shaw - 22
Smith - 25
Nordstrom - 22
Leddy - 23

Guy's a bum!
- HawkintheD

Going back a few more years (2010 Cup)...and, yes, with some organizational pressure......

Toews - 21 and 3rd youngest captain in NHL history
Kane - 20
Hjalmarsson - 22
Versteeg - 23
Bolland - 23
Brouwer - 24

I think it's fair to say that Q usually needs to be convinced that youth can contribute but he has also proven that he can mix his roster.

Like you, I hope to see a younger mix in '14-'15.

Oh right I forgot.

Kruger - 24
Saad - 21
Shaw - 22
Smith - 25
Nordstrom - 22
Leddy - 23

Guy's a bum!
- HawkintheD

Too bad there's only one potential top-6 forward in that group (and I'm considering Shaw bottom-6 at this point) - and (according to many here) no potential 3/4 defenseman.

Too bad there's only one potential top-6 forward in that group (and I'm considering Shaw bottom-6 at this point) - and (according to many here) no potential 3/4 defenseman.
- StLBravesFan

Nothing wrong with bottom 6 players, as the Hawks found out this past season they are just as important to the club as a top 6 player.

Too bad there's only one potential top-6 forward in that group (and I'm considering Shaw bottom-6 at this point) - and (according to many here) no potential 3/4 defenseman.
- StLBravesFan

Kane - 25 Top 6

I don't know enough about the D-prospects other than what I read here and although it doesn't sound like you get your 3-4 dman tomorrow, could it possibly come from one of these?

Johns
Dahlbeck
Clendenning
Van Riemsdyk

Nothing wrong with bottom 6 players, as the Hawks found out this past season they are just as important to the club as a top 6 player.
- paulr

Depth players will most likely be infused from the minors and maybe a lesser acquisition in FA this summer. Hopefully a center in trade whether it's 2, 3, or 4C.

Depth players will most likely be infused from the minors and maybe a lesser acquisition in FA this summer. Hopefully a center in trade whether it's 2, 3, or 4C.
- HawkintheD

Depth was the difference last year and this year. I don't care how the Hawks infuse (nice word ) depth just as long as they address it.

Said it a couple times yesterday, not sure why this isn't a viable solution.
- vabeachbear

The problem is Q isn't going to keep Kane with Toews for an entire season much less for an entire evening. He changes lines constantly. Putting Hossa back on the 2nd line again without a vet center still has the same effect. This isn't anything new its been a problem for several seasons that Bowman has failed to address.

The problem is Q isn't going to keep Kane with Toews for an entire season much less for an entire evening. He changes lines constantly. Putting Hossa back on the 2nd line again without a vet center still has the same effect. This isn't anything new its been a problem for several seasons that Bowman has failed to address.
- DK002

I'm not so sure he failed to address it. They won two Cups despite it. Success enabled them to get away with this. Now the league is catching up to them so they can no longer hide weaknesses. LA exposed them and the rest of the West is getting better. So time to fix the weaknesses. If he doesn't address it this offseason then you can say he failed to address it.

I'm not so sure he failed to address it. They won two Cups despite it. Success enabled them to get away with this. Now the league is catching up to them so they can no longer hide weaknesses. LA exposed them and the rest of the West is getting better. So time to fix the weaknesses. If he doesn't address it this offseason then you can say he failed to address it.
- golfbard

Do you call losing the game 7 in OT being exposed? Had the Hawks won would they have exposed LA?

Do you call losing the game 7 in OT being exposed? Had the Hawks won would they have exposed LA?
- paulr

Did you watch the whole series? The Hawks lack of depth was clearly exposed and it starts at center. Why do you think the Kings one? Depth and their major advantage at center. Not saying the Hawks aren't talented enough to go toe to toe with teams but the gap has shrunk. They can't get away with what worked in prior years. If they did, we'd be talking about another Cup win.

Did you watch the whole series? The Hawks lack of depth was clearly exposed and it starts at center. Why do you think the Kings one? Depth and their major advantage at center. Not saying the Hawks aren't talented enough to go toe to toe with teams but the gap has shrunk. They can't get away with what worked in prior years. If they did, we'd be talking about another Cup win.
- golfbard

Think you're both right to a degree. Would the Hawks have been better off this year with another true center not named Zus? Yes.

The Hawks were one lucky bounce away from advancing to and possibly winning another SC, so exposed might be a bit severe.

Did you watch the whole series? The Hawks lack of depth was clearly exposed and it starts at center. Why do you think the Kings one? Depth and their major advantage at center. Not saying the Hawks aren't talented enough to go toe to toe with teams but the gap has shrunk. They can't get away with what worked in prior years. If they did, we'd be talking about another Cup win.
- golfbard

I agree the Hawks lacked depth and I think had they had Bolland and Frolik they would have won the series vs LA even without the second line centerman. Had LA lost, and considering how close the series was they could have happened what about them would have the Hawks 'exposed'?

Think you're both right to a degree. Would the Hawks have been better off this year with another true center not named Zus? Yes.

The Hawks were one lucky bounce away from advancing to and possibly winning another SC, so exposed might be a bit severe.
- HawkintheD

Maybe exposed their depth of which second line center is part of it. Teams who have a knack for coming back as often as LA did can attribute that to depth - for LA it was a strength and Chicago a lack thereof.

Neither have you. He isn't physical. He averages 30 hits a year. Screams physical to me. Or is this like he is over 50% at the dot and weighs 190? Because he isn't either of those. He is the same size as Kruger.
- Elbows15

Toews had 29 hits... He is kinda good down low...

Mornin' fellas...

Golf has a valid point. They still were able to win two Cups without a true #2...but since the first Cup (where they had Sharpie there quite a bit) they've been unable to fill that spot and while Zeus did admirably last season it's still been a revolving door with Stan evening anointing Kane the #2 center at one point.

The Kings again exposed the problem. I'd love it if they got two more decent centermen, but we'll see what happens.

And yes despite being outplayed they came within a goal of another Cup.

I'm really interested to see what the Bowmans are going to do here.

@SportsnetSpec: Hearing now that Ben Eager has signed in the KHL.

I agree the Hawks lacked depth and I think had they had Bolland and Frolik they would have won the series vs LA even without the second line centerman. Had LA lost, and considering how close the series was they could have happened what about them would have the Hawks 'exposed'?
- paulr

You guys are conveniently forgetting that in the 2013 tournament, they had a 2C - they got lucky with Handzus, and he contributed very well on that line.

In 2010, as I recall (and that was a long time ago already), Sharp did a fine job there.

So I think to say that they won 2 Cups without one is a bit exaggerated.

What happened was they lost 3 cups without one - 2011, 2012, and 2014.

[quote=DarthKane]@SportsnetSpec: Hearing now that Ben Eager has signed


Lol

You guys are conveniently forgetting that in the 2013 tournament, they had a 2C - they got lucky with Handzus, and he contributed very well on that line.

In 2010, as I recall (and that was a long time ago already), Sharp did a fine job there.

So I think to say that they won 2 Cups without one is a bit exaggerated.

What happened was they lost 3 cups without one - 2011, 2012, and 2014.
- StLBravesFan

And that's why they call him Sage.

You guys are conveniently forgetting that in the 2013 tournament, they had a 2C - they got lucky with Handzus, and he contributed very well on that line.

In 2010, as I recall (and that was a long time ago already), Sharp did a fine job there.

So I think to say that they won 2 Cups without one is a bit exaggerated.

What happened was they lost 3 cups without one - 2011, 2012, and 2014.
- StLBravesFan

They won it with guys playing the role of 2C. I wouldn't call Sharp a 2c rather he filled in admirably in that role but that's not his true position. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Handzus stepped up but we all know he's not a true 2c.

You guys are conveniently forgetting that in the 2013 tournament, they had a 2C - they got lucky with Handzus, and he contributed very well on that line.

In 2010, as I recall (and that was a long time ago already), Sharp did a fine job there.

So I think to say that they won 2 Cups without one is a bit exaggerated.

What happened was they lost 3 cups without one - 2011, 2012, and 2014.
- StLBravesFan

We have a winner!!!!!!!!!

They won it with guys playing the role of 2C. I wouldn't call Sharp a 2c rather he filled in admirably in that role but that's not his true position. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Handzus stepped up but we all know he's not a true 2c.
- golfbard

Both of those were "fill-ins" that worked - the "fill-ins" in 2011, 2012, 2014 didn't work.

If they don't get a true 2C somehow this summer, they're looking at another fill-in again for 2015 - Shaw - may work, maybe not - a Cup-contending team can't afford to keep trying chancy fill-ins.

We have a winner!!!!!!!!!
- powerenforcer

The trip to Bermuda?

Oh, I'm so happy - I'd like to thank....