He sucked, but he'll be better this year and he'll be on the team. That cold beverage we'll share at the UC will be tasty....

Hope you're well, Maggie.
- mohel

He may be on the team but it won't be because he has earned it. Just Stan not wanting to admit he made a mistake. And good heavens they may lose him for nothing.

I heard on someone on NHL radio say that the East seems to be trending to the middle, meaning teams like the Sbres, Panthers and Islanders have improved while the likes of Boston, Rangers and Habs might not be as strong. In their opinoin they thought the west might be the stronger conf. for 15-20 years. Did everyone in the west improve? I have seen random opinions in here and elsewhere on HB. IMO the road to the cup in Chicago got much tougher. On that note do any of you guys have any insights? Slowest time of the year at work, just trying to get my hockey fix.

I heard on someone on NHL radio say that the East seems to be trending to the middle, meaning teams like the Sbres, Panthers and Islanders have improved while the likes of Boston, Rangers and Habs might not be as strong. In their opinoin they thought the west might be the stronger conf. for 15-20 years. Did everyone in the west improve? I have seen random opinions in here and elsewhere on HB. IMO the road to the cup in Chicago got much tougher. On that note do any of you guys have any insights? Slowest time of the year at work, just trying to get my hockey fix.
- Cup-Bearer

Bleacher Report just sent out their preseason rankings after the first week of free agency.
Summary:
1) Boston (due primarily to the fact that they play in the East)
2) Chicago (upgrade of Richards over Handzus)
3) LA (resigning Gaborik)
4) Pittsburgh (GM/Coach changes)
5) St. Louis (Stastny)
6) Tampa Bay
7) Anaheim
8) Dallas
9) San Jose
10) NYR
12) Minnesota
17) Colorado

How many 12 year olds remember Hogan's Heroes and Mayberry RFD?
- Canardhawk

he is a troll Mucks. Don't bother.

Leddy+ Hartman + leblanc for Huberdeau

It's rumoured that the Devils are about to re-sign Cory Schneider for 7 years at $6 million per season.

$6 million seems to be the going rate for a starting goaltender these days. For those that don't like Crawford's deal it seems like his contract (and cap hit) isn't bad after all.
- DarthKane

How isn't Schneider better than Crawford? That deal makes CC's look worse.

Leddy+ Hartman + leblanc for Huberdeau
- EnzoD

Is that a move to get a player or to get cap compliant? Not sure it does either.

I heard on someone on NHL radio say that the East seems to be trending to the middle, meaning teams like the Sbres, Panthers and Islanders have improved while the likes of Boston, Rangers and Habs might not be as strong. In their opinoin they thought the west might be the stronger conf. for 15-20 years. Did everyone in the west improve? I have seen random opinions in here and elsewhere on HB. IMO the road to the cup in Chicago got much tougher. On that note do any of you guys have any insights? Slowest time of the year at work, just trying to get my hockey fix.
- Cup-Bearer

Obviously the players and coaches/coaching systems determine the strength of a team and the teams determine the strength of the conference.

From my point of view, there wasnt enough of the Western conference players moved to the east in order to bring the East up to how good the West has been.

Below is a list of players who moved from the Western conference to the eastern, bolded players are supposed to have more of an impact ("on paper" as they say)

Tim kennedy
Mike Santorelli
Zak Stortini
Andrew Gordon
John Scott (east to west, makes west worse)
Matt Hunwick
Steven Kampfer
Taylor Chorney
Willie Mitchell
Jon Landry
Joey Mcdonald
Marty HAvlat
Stephane Robidas
Brad Malone
Mike Cammalleri
Cody McCormick
Tomas Greiss
Chris Mueller
Dan Boyle
Al Montoya

I could have missed some, but either way, that list of names doesnt exactly shift the power to the East in my opinion. However, as i noted, John Scott is back in the west now which takes away some points.

To your point about teams kind of trending to the middle, i would totally agree, but again its just on paper right now. Who knows which rookies or 2nd year guys are gonna have huge impacts on their teams this season.

Is that a move to get a player or to get cap compliant? Not sure it does either.
- bwarner929

toss in versteeg and our 4th for good measure

Don't forget - if he's being traded for cap reasons, can't get much back that goes on the big team's roster.
- StLBravesFan

Yeah but he's making almost $6. Plus if you include a Leddy or Oduya that's about $9 million. So you can take back a solid $3 million guy back and still have a lot of room

You are likely in for a really big disappointment.
When Kane makes it to opposition's net, BR might just cross the
faceoff dots in his own zone.
- StargateSG1

How many Hawks goals are scored on a rush vs how many are scored via cycling the puck in the zone?
I have every reason to believe that Richards will do just fine on a team that thrives on puck possession.

I see the Hawks making a few maintenance moves- Oduya for draft picks- to get under the cap then figuring out Toews and Kane extensions followed by "See you at the convention"……. But that's just me.
- yahoodi

...And usually all transactions are wrapped up by the Tuesday or Wednesday of Convention week....So about 8 days left.

He may be on the team but it won't be because he has earned it. Just Stan not wanting to admit he made a mistake. And good heavens they may lose him for nothing.
- Elbows15

You sound like you give him no chances to succeed. You come across as only wanting players who are a sure thing. Tell you what, you could be correct. But since an investment was made, he will get an opportunity. My view is that he will not be terrible, but maybe not good enough to trust in Q's mind. Make some mistakes? Improves his consistency of play the more ice he gets?

The answers come only if he is given enough time to improve and show what he could mean to the team. Is the exhibition season a long enough sample size for him to get his act together? Another question is if he could be nursed along, which means he has to be rotated in al least every few regular season games.

Q will ruin a player's opportunity by riding experienced players. Q probably would have a really tough time coaching a team with a greater percentage of younger players or prospects still developing.[/img]

You sound like you give him no chances to succeed. You come across as only wanting players who are a sure thing. Tell you what, you could be correct. But since an investment was made, he will get an opportunity. My view is that he will not be terrible, but maybe not good enough to trust in Q's mind. Make some mistakes? Improves his consistency of play the more ice he gets?

The answers come only if he is given enough time to improve and show what he could mean to the team. Is the exhibition season a long enough sample size for him to get his act together? Another question is if he could be nursed along, which means he has to be rotated in al least every few regular season games.

Q will ruin a player's opportunity by riding experienced players. Q probably would have a really tough time coaching a team with a greater percentage of younger players or prospects still developing.
- jhawk59[/img]

ah ok lol

How isn't Schneider better than Crawford? That deal makes CC's look worse.
- rollpards19

Schneider is very good, but he's only played more than 33 games once in his career (last season). He's never had the full pressure of being a #1 goalie.

I wasn't trying to compare Schneider to Crawford, I was just saying the going rate for a starting goalie (which Crawford is) is around $6 million.

...And usually all transactions are wrapped up by the Tuesday or Wednesday of Convention week....So about 8 days left.


On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Al, when is the convention?

Schneider is very good, but he's only played more than 33 games once in his career (last season). He's never had the full pressure of being a #1 goalie.

I wasn't trying to compare Schneider to Crawford, I was just saying the going rate for a starting goalie (which Crawford is) is around $6 million.
- DarthKane

Which, in the longer term will be a bargain.
The Hawks have given out a few contracts in recent history, that were met with a large amount of derision. In two years there is every likelihood that the contracts will be more than fair value. Dave Bolland at 5.5 per is only the beginning.

*principles, Mucks. I hope he isn't an educator. I am moving if he is.

Just kidding Q.
- Elbows15

Oh sorry, I forgot to put in "few".

Story and video on blackhawks homepage on Leddy.

Would they be trading him if he was front page story today?
- vabeachbear

They're showcasing him.

They're showcasing him.
- NewToHockey

did they show him coloring inside the lines?

They're showcasing him.
- NewToHockey

Their just trying to piss off Buttons.

Why would anyone hand out a 7 year contract to a goalie?

Ridiculous.

7+8+3=18
- Elbows15

I see you still haven't exceeded that 12 year old mentality.

Ya know...im really look forward to seeing kane with a legit center like Richards
- southernhawk

It's not only that. Kane has played a decent amount of time with Toews over the years. The problem was always that the opponent could stack their beset to shut down that line. Now, they face a choice. Do you put your best D lineup against Toews/Hossa/wing to be named assuming trade of Sharp or against Kane/Richards/Saad.

It's great for Q to have the option of loading up like he often does after a PK, but far better for him to have both barrels blazing full time.

I see you still haven't exceeded that 12 year old mentality.
- Canardhawk

It was a question that was clogging the thread.