Needs to be good enough at puck retrieval and movement after a dump in. Repetition millions if time for some before they automatically know where to go, what to do with puck in that situation. This is one area of concern. But lots to like. If rosy or Brookbank is still here, Johnsvwill not be rushed. Also I bet that thevRunblad situation is resolved before John's ever plays a regular NHL shift (assuming no injuries). Do not be too surprised if Rundblad sticks around for a while. Just how often used and how effective is probably on Q shoulders as much as the player himself. Q is hard headed on defensively being sound. Something both Johns and are not. They may improve in this area but that happens better if they play regularly somewhere. Johns will in Rockford. Do not know ufvRundblad will go there happily or at all.
- jhawk59

The only way Rundblad can go to Rockford is through waivers. Not happening..or maybe it is.
What do you think?

I'm not your "bro" and it wasn't directed at you.
- darkman

Man.... Someone is overly sensitive tonight

Get a grip bro.

Top 10 talent? Maybe. Top 10 player? Only in Hawk's fans minds. I know he's being paid like an elite player, and he does have a great track record of producing in the Playoffs, but he's just not. He takes way too many games off and only plays in one zone to be considered elite.

Toews is overpaid by a little...Kane by a LOT.
- djamon

Name 10 players better

Name 10 players better
- BearsnHawks

Wait for him to go to nhl.com for the top 10 point scorers for the regular season and copy and paste it over.

The only way Rundblad can go to Rockford is through waivers. Not happening..or maybe it is.
What do you think?
- Elbows15

My memory is faulty but when they traded for him I was under the impression that they considered him a puck moving defense-man. When I hear Leddy or Oduya being shopped I think that they were hoping that he could be a low priced, 3rd pairing puck mover if Clendening wasn't ready.

Name 10 players better
- BearsnHawks

Stamkos
Crosby
Toews
Weber
Doughty
Datsyuk
Getzlaf
Tavares
Karlsson
Malkin

My memory is faulty but when they traded for him I was under the impression that they considered him a puck moving defense-man. When I hear Leddy or Oduya being shopped I think that they were hoping that he could be a low priced, 3rd pairing puck mover if Clendening wasn't ready.
- kissthecup22

For a 2nd round pick?

Stamkos
Crosby
Toews
Weber
Doughty
Datsyuk
Getzlaf
Tavares
Karlsson
Malkin
- RoloTahmasee

Rather have Kane over Karlsson, Getzlaf, Datsyuk, Malkin, and at this point, Tavares.
Weber and Doughty play different positions and really can't be compared fairly.

For a 2nd round pick?
- BearsnHawks

I don't get your point. Do you think that a 2nd is too much to give for a 3rd pairing defenseman or that they must think that he is a second pairing dman to give up that much ?

I don't get your point. Do you think that a 2nd is too much to give for a 3rd pairing defenseman or that they must think that he is a second pairing dman to give up that much ?
- kissthecup22

My guess is this.

Stamkos
Crosby
Toews
Weber
Doughty
Datsyuk
Getzlaf
Tavares
Karlsson
Malkin
- RoloTahmasee

Maybe I should say forwards (since it is hard comparing defensive/offensive players. However I would rather have Kane than Datsyuk, Getzlaf, Tavares, and Karlsson.

I think Malkin and Weber are pushes

I don't get your point. Do you think that a 2nd is too much to give for a 3rd pairing defenseman or that they must think that he is a second pairing dman to give up that much ?
- kissthecup22

I think Bowman will keep him on the roster, regardless, this year, since he traded a 2nd round pick. Now if they dont re-sign him next year, that is a possibility, but I think he will be given more of a chance, compared to any other fringe defender.

I think Bowman will keep him on the roster, regardless, this year, since he traded a 2nd round pick. Now if they dont re-sign him next year, that is a possibility, but I think he will be given more of a chance, compared to any other fringe defender.
- BearsnHawks

Yeah I remember reading when we got him that he was the 6th ranked player in the 09 draft but fell to 17th and had never quite lived up to his potential. I've always read that the Bowmans have a lot of contacts in Sweden and hope they have some insight into what he could become. Oduya has blossomed after coming here.

My memory is faulty but when they traded for him I was under the impression that they considered him a puck moving defense-man. When I hear Leddy or Oduya being shopped I think that they were hoping that he could be a low priced, 3rd pairing puck mover if Clendening wasn't ready.
- kissthecup22

Yes, that is correct. A real, true quarterback of a point man on PP and a puck mover at regular strength. Did you see highlights of him dangling with the puck and his scoring prowess on the clip someone posted on the board from his SEL days? (That video was posted right after Chicago acquired him).

The question with him is how sound or mistake free might he become once he gets confidance and playing time in preseason. Sort of a small sample size for Q to judge him. I think he needs to get pressed into service during the season due to injuries and then at that time play better than Q thought he would. Still some rough edges though. This would be a nice surprise to see happen. As well, it buys time for the prospects. I think that Fournier is a pretty good talent, too. Not just TVR and Johns at Rockford. The AHL watchers will surely inform the board of their progress.

Mostly because it is surprise to everyone in the entire hawk front office....
- wiz1901

Yep. And with a few offensive dmen now in Rockford plus Leddy and Rundblad being uncertain futures with the team, there is no way Bowman is trading for Myers. But maybe Detroit or someone else would. He does have a really astronomical cap hit, so some team has to really project him turning the corner with a new team.

The material the beat writers put in the daily papers is for the general fans. It is like the old NBC baseball announcers in game of the week stating the obvious known facts and history about a particular player. Those announcers seemed like PR guys that MLB threw out there. Annoying to listen to since they come across as company men.

That is basicly how these beat writers come across nowadays. Better mind your manners, else McDonough could banish you from the press box or make your access to players and the whole lot very difficult.

TT. Please. He needs at least two summers to strong enough so that he competes as he should. Kane was a weakling for how many years....just saying if he becomes a center we know it isn't happening overnight. But gee wiz that
beat writer can spin a nice looking story. Probably makes his mom proud.

Good Morning All,
Only several more days before the convention JJ or Al have you guys heard of any player movement to get us cap compliant?

Who goes and for what?

My guess its Oduya being the odd man out but i would rather have Sharp traded since he would bring back something of value not to mention saving about 6mil towards the cap.

How does Myers for Sharp solve the Cap crunch???

It saves 400,000 and the return is a defenseman who still does't understand his end.
- wiz1901

I remember a few years ago you were huge on Tyler Myers but now not so much. It's nice to see someone being objective around here and not locked on to their subjective opinions. Carry on Wiz.

Stamkos
Crosby
Toews
Weber
Doughty
Datsyuk
Getzlaf
Tavares
Karlsson
Malkin
- RoloTahmasee

No Giroux? 26 y/o, 52% career FO%, PPG+ player the last 4 seasons, 61 points in 57 playoff games signed for a now modest (thanks to Kaner) $8.275 x 8 yr contract.

Kane is a top 10 forward without doubt.... Maybe not worth $10.5 million but certainly a guy I'd want on my team.

Good Morning All,
Only several more days before the convention JJ or Al have you guys heard of any player movement to get us cap compliant?

Who goes and for what?

My guess its Oduya being the odd man out but i would rather have Sharp traded since he would bring back something of value not to mention saving about 6mil towards the cap.
- BGKarras

Keep in mind more teams probably could use a dman like Oduya than a scorer like Sharp. Improve the defense and the team should have opportunity to score more. But adding a scorer does not necessarily instantly mean the offense is much better. If the goaltending and or defensemen are below par, please refer to the Edm Oilers success the past two seasons.

Another point is that after the free agent signings and trades earlier this month, many teams are not in a position to add a higher salary like Sharp's. On the other hand, it is probable that more teams could find a way much easier to fit in the Oduya salary. Sharp is paid a lot and therefore the higher the salary, the more likely a GM drops out on Sharp's addition to their team.

Funny thing how that works out regarding Sharp being signed. Usually teams like acquiring someone who is signed long term, or at least for a couple more seasons.

There is one thing, maybe you might disagree...but it is not automatic that the blueline crew Oduya would join is as ideal a fit for him as Chicago has become. A team trading for Oduya would be wise to take that into consideration.

Well it is going to be interesting whom Bowman moves first. Oduya, Sharp, Leddy, other? And when.

I have suggested that Rosy is slowing down too much. But maybe the coaching staff doesn't believe he is enough slower to make a big difference in the job he can do. Fans see a slow Rosy but how often are injuries slowing him down or he is not in the best shape having sat often and having been injured for a stint or two.

I tend to believe he really has slowed down too much. But I think wiz is still in favor of retaining his service, so then I will go along with what wiz believes.

The only way Rundblad can go to Rockford is through waivers. Not happening..or maybe it is.
What do you think?
- Elbows15

As someone else commented a while ago - maybe a few blogs ago from JJ - Rundblad probably sticks around in Chicago for a while. Does he play enough mistake free hockey to keep Q happy enough? Is he the only real option? No, Dahlbeck should be here too, but not Brookbank. How often Rundblad plays will be affected by injuries to others and whether Oduya is traded. I bet Stan hopes Rundblad plays well enough so as there is no question of sending him down.

If I had to predict, then I would say I want to see how much confidance he plays with in the final games of preseason. Then too what if Q sits him a lot once the season is underway. Rusty, confidance takes a hit. Does Stan ask or tell Q to play him more so as Stan can determine what he might do with Rundblad - do nothing, release him? So I see him sticking until roughly Christmas. Rundblad is not likely accepting a demotion easily and may ask for his release if demoted.

That is as good an answer as I can guess right now.

I agree with you in regards to how hard it would be moving Sharp i just want him moved becouse it would get us out of the cap mess we are in and let some other GM or Team deal with that situation. I know wishful thinking . I like Oduya i think him and hammer make a great defensive pair i know when we fisrt traded for him people were shaking their head but your right our defensive stlye fits him but i also think him( Oduya) being paired with hammer has alot to do with his improved play. I would prefer either Rozi or maybe Versteeg or both go before Oduya our defense is our strength. Defense and Goaltending carries you a long way towards winning the cup.

He bad?

Funny how you hear things about these kids leading into the season and then it's crickets.
- eburgio

It's not that Svedberg is bad. It's more of the fact that he is what he is. He's probably no better than a marginal NHL depth on his best days, and more of a solid AHL or SEL player.

Man.... Someone is overly sensitive tonight

Get a grip bro.
- Dannyboy

LOL! All I could keep thinking of reading those posts!

It's not that Svedberg is bad. It's more of the fact that he is what he is. He's probably no better than a marginal NHL depth on his best days, and more of a solid AHL or SEL player.
- EKolb13

Is this his current level of play now or are your talking about his potential?