I'll say it again...Drew Doughty plays with Muzzin. Keith plays with Seabrook.

Seabrook > Muzzin
Doughty > Keith

Wonder how much the gap would widen if Doughty had Seabrook and Keith had Muzzin?

It's ok.....Keith > Doughty at shirtless commercials whipping around the rope.
- SteveRain

I'd take Keith over Doughty...I still think Keith is a better d-man than Doughty...I also think a lot of your posts about Keith are overblown

How do you know this for a fact?
- golfbard

Nielsen made comments about wanting to play with a winner at the end of the season. He'd prefer the winner be the Islanders but is that happening any time soon? He may like Long Island but he would jump at the chance to move to a contender. He is 29 I think. Does he want to spend another 2-3 years in a rebuild?

Saying he isn't going anywhere is just a homer fan not facing reality.

more fans= more revenue = more money to spend near the cap...cap teams usually are more successful on the ice compared to non cap teams
- EnzoD

Well...the Kings are near the cap and had a small turnout at the parade.

The Leafs have the largest fan base in the NHL and they can't even make the playoffs despite being at the cap.

yes, having resources help, but it doesn't guarantee anything.

I see some of what you're saying but Toews was getting the Sharp treatment pretty good last year during that scoreless spell in last year's playoffs.

Seabrook is destined to be the most underappreciated player from this era of Hawk hockey.
- PhatJoeSki

I think this is very true....he isn't appreciated nearly as much as he needs to be...great all around player

I'd take Keith over Doughty...I still think Keith is a better d-man than Doughty...I also think a lot of your posts about Keith are overblown
- captainserious

That's fine. Your opinion.

Id' take Doughty over Keith today and not think twice. he is a complete D man.

You can believe what you want to believe. I have heard it from numerous people. Media as well as front office guys. he's a control freak. in ALL decisions. ALL.

Have JJ or Al tell you about the $hit storm that followed the Kane/Versteeg/Madden limo ride.
- SteveRain

YOU tell us, if you have the information: what decisions, what control?

There should have been a poop storm following that limo ride: people - especially veterans like Madden, but also other stars - need to understand the consequences of their actions - putting the team in a bad light. I have no problem with McDonough being pissed about that and laying some people out for it.

But again - what hockey decisions has he influenced, or forced, or forced not to be made? Otherwise, who gives a (frank) how controlling he is.

Specifics, not generalities - everybody knows stuff, everybody hints at things, no one actually says anything.

I would Be SHOCKED if they both don't sign by 7/1. Hawks may give up a little more to make that happen.

I don't question the center thing has legs. However, 19/88 are holding up so many other contracts that it doesn't make sense for the Hawks to drag them out or not be receptive to getting them done ASAP.
- SteveRain

The lack of a 2ne line center has been hidden by success...
Now the Hawks failed and the gap between them and everyone else has shrunk and will continue to do so unless they improve.

They will either add a 2nd line center, a power forward or a couple of strong vets for the bottom six because there isn't any choice.

The front office is well aware the bar is very high and the team is built to win Cups not just get into the playoffs....And the people committing a lot of money to season tickets expect the same.

Don't need any inside info to understand those points and demands by Kane are not needed to get some action this summer.

If Bowman stand pats he will be making his first huge mistake since becoming a GM and I can't see that happening.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Quite possibly.

Totally agree with the other part and think they are dumb arguments. Also, don't care if bandwagon/new fans want to join the party. The more publicity, $$$, and talk generated around the sport especially in Chicago is all good IMO.
- HawkintheD

I'll admit, I'm a bandwagoner (to an extent)

Depending when/where you grow up has a lot to getting on board early with hockey early. Growing up outside of Springfield, I got a lot of Blues stuff (i hate St Louis but refused to go that direction) and the only way you could get Hawks games is if you had Sportschannel, but the only way you could get that is if you had one of HBO or Showtime. We didn't. So it was tough to be a fan.

I always used to watch the Stanley Cup Final, since it was aired on ESPN or Fox, but that was the only time hockey was consistently on TV. I used to get free tickets to Hawks games when I lived in Chicago. First game was vs Detroit, circa 2001 or 2002...6 rows off the ice, goal line extended. FREE! That got me interested as a casual fan. Then the Winter Classic piqued my interest even more and finally the olympics in 2010 really pulled me in.

Everyone has a story of how they got in. I feel embarrassed at times when you guys are all talking about 1960's and 1970's Hawks facts. and I have nothing to add. Either you guys are savants, or just really, really old!

If you ever get the chance to ask anyone who has worked for the Hawks since 2007-08 OR does work for the Hawks now...who the biggest jerk in that office is, they will say John McDonough.

Tied in to Kane? Geez......kane is painted as an alcoholic and a loof.....had to have a "sit down" like a mafia member with his dad and Hawks brass. Wonder who called that meeting? The guy who has built a good portion of his marketing campaign around him?

Did you ever watch closely to the uncomfortable fake celebrations on the ice or in the locker-room with Hawks players/coaches and management? I suggest you do. The proof is there.
- SteveRain

Well...the Kings are near the cap and had a small turnout at the parade.

The Leafs have the largest fan base in the NHL and they can't even make the playoffs despite being at the cap.

yes, having resources help, but it doesn't guarantee anything.
- SteveRain

very true. I think we should be proud of the 3million last summer...i was there and it was one if the best days of my life...perfect day, hawks red everywhere and just an all out city-wide party...i think the early 90s teams influenced a growth in hockey around Chicago BC my dad got me into hockey when I was six and I was born in 91...i love the growth of hockey in this city and it will keep growing

That's fine. Your opinion.

Id' take Doughty over Keith today and not think twice. he is a complete D man.
- SteveRain

If they were the same age it'd be a more difficult decision, but given Doughty's youth, if you're starting a team today it's a no brainer to take him over Keith. Keith's friendly cap hit makes him an outstanding value though, and that's hard to ignore.

Kane will be happy with about $9-$9.5 mill per season... period.
He doesn't have to resign but with both big boys coming due at once....There isn't any real room to squeeze the Hawks.
On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

I still think $9MM+ is a squeeze. They would have to cut payroll in 2015-16 just to make room for these two contracts at that level.

Maybe 88 holds out to see what the 2C plans are and if they work out or not. He has no incentive at this time to sign a year sooner than he really needs to. To me, that is the indicator of what is really going on.

YOU tell us, if you have the information: what decisions, what control?

There should have been a poop storm following that limo ride: people - especially veterans like Madden, but also other stars - need to understand the consequences of their actions - putting the team in a bad light. I have no problem with McDonough being pissed about that and laying some people out for it.

But again - what hockey decisions has he influenced, or forced, or forced not to be made? Otherwise, who gives a (frank) how controlling he is.

Specifics, not generalities - everybody knows stuff, everybody hints at things, no one actually says anything.
- StLBravesFan

Not my place. Not my blog.

I'm not singling out you. You asked, I responded.

I'll let John go into those details.

You can believe what you want to believe. I have heard it from numerous people. Media as well as front office guys. he's a control freak. in ALL decisions. ALL.

Have JJ or Al tell you about the $hit storm that followed the Kane/Versteeg/Madden limo ride.
- SteveRain

Since you are privy to this information....why don't you share.

Nielsen made comments about wanting to play with a winner at the end of the season. He'd prefer the winner be the Islanders but is that happening any time soon? He may like Long Island but he would jump at the chance to move to a contender. He is 29 I think. Does he want to spend another 2-3 years in a rebuild?

Saying he isn't going anywhere is just a homer fan not facing reality.
- tredbrta

How does Brooklyn change that?

very true. I think we should be proud of the 3million last summer...i was there and it was one if the best days of my life...perfect day, hawks red everywhere and just an all out city-wide party...i think the early 90s teams influenced a growth in hockey around Chicago BC my dad got me into hockey when I was six and I was born in 91...i love the growth of hockey in this city and it will keep growing
- EnzoD

LOL. Wow, you're young. Posting to this point will teach you a thing or two about cynicism

- UnnamedSource

very true. I think we should be proud of the 3million last summer...i was there and it was one if the best days of my life...perfect day, hawks red everywhere and just an all out city-wide party...i think the early 90s teams influenced a growth in hockey around Chicago BC my dad got me into hockey when I was six and I was born in 91...i love the growth of hockey in this city and it will keep growing
- EnzoD

Yeah, the 5 million people in Grant Park was a sight to see....

Not my place. Not my blog.

I'm not singling out you. You asked, I responded.

I'll let John go into those details.
- SteveRain

but you opened the door.....now walk through it.

Or is this like a "search for attention" facebook post....

"So angry today"......"Sad".......

Since you are privy to this information....why don't you share.
- UnnamedSource

No thanks. I like sitting back and posting here. I also like having conversations with guys from time to time who are in the know and some of it I share, and some if I don't.

As I'm sure you do as well, Unnamed Source. ....

Not my place. Not my blog.

I'm not singling out you. You asked, I responded.

I'll let John go into those details.
- SteveRain

And I'm not singling you out: we just get a lot of generalities here, but never any specifics - don't know what to believe.

I'd take Keith over Doughty...I still think Keith is a better d-man than Doughty...I also think a lot of your posts about Keith are overblown
- captainserious

I too think Keith is the better defenseman, seems team Canada thought so also.

but you opened the door.....now walk through it.

Or is this like a "search for attention" facebook post....

"So angry today"......"Sad".......
- UnnamedSource

Nope....not a call to attention at all.

I could truthfully care less what a lot of people on here think of me. Not a popularity contest. I like debating, and sometimes I lose, and sometimes I know I am right but I have to walk away.

Look at Handzus...he's not retiring. John was told he was, and I'm sure his contact was sure of it, but as of now.....that's not the case.

I still think $9MM+ is a squeeze. They would have to cut payroll in 2015-16 just to make room for these two contracts at that level.

Maybe 88 holds out to see what the 2C plans are and if they work out or not. He has no incentive at this time to sign a year sooner than he really needs to. To me, that is the indicator of what is really going on.
- Return of the Roar

$9Mil would be sweet, I'm expecting the deals to be between $10-$11 mil per year for each of them (#19/#88).

very true. I think we should be proud of the 3million last summer...i was there and it was one if the best days of my life...perfect day, hawks red everywhere and just an all out city-wide party...i think the early 90s teams influenced a growth in hockey around Chicago BC my dad got me into hockey when I was six and I was born in 91...i love the growth of hockey in this city and it will keep growing
- EnzoD

I thought we had an age limit here - don't you have to be almost collecting social security to post here?