From purely a cap perceptive moving Oduya and/or Bickell makes the most sense. Losing Oduya would clear up more than enough cap space for this season. If he's not in the team's plan beyond next season then moving Oduya makes more sense. If Bickell were to be moved Stan would need to find an effective physical replacement. Maybe a Bickell for Greening type of deal.

However, Stan can't (and likely won't) make his moves solely on the basis of a player's cap hit.
- DarthKane

he has one. Hayes, at league minimum

Even if Hayes does sign he might not be able to step in to replace Bickle.

Savvy I know you weren't aiming at me concerning Leddy I was just citing what I thought would have to happen IF Oduya was dearly departed.

and you are absolutely correct that when Hjarlmarsson was Leddy's present age he had only played about 112 NHL games. Hammer was a plus nine that year

When Keith was 23 he was in his first season as a hawk and a minus 11 accumulating 21 points.

This past year Leddy was a plus 10 and had 31 points.

All these stats and plus / minus don't tell the story of the entire roster/ partners or the entire team they are playing around.

So that speaks to your point about how Leddy was young when placed on an NHL roster, and had to learn on the job because he had skills that placed him above most prospects.

And I hate to repeat what JJ said but there are skills there that many others do not have, just as there are areas to work on.

Despite the way the year and post season ended, there was still an improvement in his game. I won't take it any further than to say whether we dissect it one way or another the coaching staff plays who they think are up to the shifts and areas they are asked to play in.
- wiz1901

Hey Wiz,
You are 1,000% correct in all aspects of your post above -- correct in that I was not aiming at you with my reply and you very nicely articulated what I was trying to say about Hjalmarsson and Keith.

Look, I love Hjalmarsson -- don't want anyone to mistake that either -- bought my 2 daughters each an official NHL sweater after his 1st yr here. So I as you aptly replied, I was not trying to compare today's Nik with today's Nick.

Same with Keith. I bash him for some things but wanted to make that comparison of #2 and #8 at same age.

And I understand why, on a CUP level team the staff would limit minutes or roles to what they believe best (not that I agree, but I'm not drawing a Blackhawk paycheck or standing at the podium answering questions after a game either).

Thank you Wiz, for your insightful post.

Interesting. There's a page on whitesox.com where the SOX themselves, evaluate their top 20 prospects. It's brutally honest. I mean, they pull no punches on where these guys need to improve, what their weaknesses are. And it's damn refreshing.

I caught myself asking, would the McDonough-run Hawks EVER do this? Answer: no.

What's funny is, I know very few longtime fans who "appreciate" being told how wonderful everything is. I think part of that is, these guys paid their dues for decades watching a garbage team (for the most part) and now they;re like you know what, thanks, I'll enjoy this, but please stop telling me how great everything is, because I know how bad it can get.

And I think part of it is a broader appreciation of the rest of the league, the players who've come and gone, and the ability to separate the hype from the reality.

There ARE some newer fans who really yearn for knowledge of the game overall and don't get sucked in as much. And there are some older fans who lap up everything the organization has been putting down the last 6-7 years.

But . . . generally speaking it seems to be the newer fans who love Bowman and McDonough no matter what.
- John Jaeckel

Interesting points, have to say I'm a long time fan (hit the big 5 - 0 this year) and remember being 7 when my dad and uncle took me to a game.

I'd say I honestly have a hard time hating the guys in charge now. Do I think Stan got the job because of his dad, yep, I do. Is he totally in charge of Hockey operations like most GM's, not really sure, but I don't think so.

Its easy to say that every trade deadline and summer FA period he should've done more (I do most of the time), but I think that's a bit naive to think. Cap exists, and trust me, he'd take as much heat on this board for who he traded away, vs. who he got back, no matter the trade.

I don't think he's a top 5 GM and hockey mind, but I don't think he's in the bottom 5 either. Somewhere in the middle.

On McCub, there is a part of him that's just smug and annoying, i can see why people would not care for him. From a strictly business and marketing pov, and lets face it, hockey standpoint, its hard to argue with the end product. I know he inherited a great situation, but trust me, in the business I'm in, I've seen a lot of people screw up a good thing and run things into the ground.

I'm not really a supporter, but its hard for me to argue with where they are now vs. when he took over from the business side. The blackhawks are a true success story and turnaround story that is written up and rightfully so all the time. Rocky needed to take over from the old man to allow any of this, but its difficult for me to say that, that all of the change and success happened in spite of McCub

For me, at the end of the day, its been much better the last 5 or 6 years than it was for the previous 35 years for me, and thats how I tend to look at it.

Oh and the whitesox are idiots for putting that on their website. The one point I will always argue with the people here who get on either of them for, is hyping the youngsters and building them all up to a point that is above where they really are as hockey players. What do you expect them to do, talk down and honestly about what they really think.

You build them all up and promote them all like they are all going to be all stars. Some day, that may help in a trade down the road. That's kindergarten GM'ing and I just can't figure out why people get so aggravated about that.

Interesting points, have to say I'm a long time fan (hit the big 5 - 0 this year) and remember being 7 when my dad and uncle took me to a game.

I'd say I honestly have a hard time hating the guys in charge now. Do I think Stan got the job because of his dad, yep, I do. Is he totally in charge of Hockey operations like most GM's, not really sure, but I don't think so.

Its easy to say that every trade deadline and summer FA period he should've done more (I do most of the time), but I think that's a bit naive to think. Cap exists, and trust me, he'd take as much heat on this board for who he traded away, vs. who he got back, no matter the trade.

I don't think he's a top 5 GM and hockey mind, but I don't think he's in the bottom 5 either. Somewhere in the middle.

On McCub, there is a part of him that's just smug and annoying, i can see why people would not care for him. From a strictly business and marketing pov, and lets face it, hockey standpoint, its hard to argue with the end product. I know he inherited a great situation, but trust me, in the business I'm in, I've seen a lot of people screw up a good thing and run things into the ground.

I'm not really a supporter, but its hard for me to argue with where they are now vs. when he took over from the business side. The blackhawks are a true success story and turnaround story that is written up and rightfully so all the time. Rocky needed to take over from the old man to allow any of this, but its difficult for me to say that, that all of the change and success happened in spite of McCub

For me, at the end of the day, its been much better the last 5 or 6 years than it was for the previous 35 years for me, and thats how I tend to look at it.

The one point I will always argue with the people here who get on either of them for, is hyping the youngsters and building them all up to a point that is above where they really are as hockey players. What do you expect them to do, talk down and honestly about what they really think.

You build them all up and promote them all like they are all going to be all stars. Some day, that may help in a trade down the road. That's kindergarten GM'ing and I just can't figure out why people get so aggravated about that.
- vabeachbear

Yes on hyping the youngsters, but in the last several years, who has really been hyped?

Saad - yes - seems to be working out, I think much sooner than many here would have expected.

Pirri - yes, to an extent, last year promoting him as the answer at 2C - didn't work out.

Leddy - yes, to an extent - he's been a starter for much of four years, more or less effectively, and (to many) still has the potential to become more.

TT - certainly - and, of course, the jury is still out.

Who else can you say was abnormally hyped?

I think we look at the one or two that got media attention before deserving it and assume that the FO has gone overboard on the publicity. Kuc, Lazarus, Meyers - they have to write stories every day - can't keep writing the same ones about Toews being serious or Kane growing up.

Even if Hayes does sign he might not be able to step in to replace Bickle.
- jhawk159

the way bickel plays most nights, anyone can fill his shoes.

Versteeg + Rosy out = 4.4
Cap deficit =2.2
Dahlbeck as replacement =600K

Skate with 13 forwards

You STILL have over 1.5 to make maneuvers. And that doesn't discount the possibility of an in-season trade involving any number of players.

This would be the move that says, "we are going for it".

Trading a Top 6 wing or a Top 4 D man is not. We can deal those guys next year.

Versteeg + Rosy out = 4.4
Cap deficit =2.2
Dahlbeck as replacement =600K

Skate with 13 forwards

You STILL have over 1.5 to make maneuvers. And that doesn't discount the possibility of an in-season trade involving any number of players.

This would be the move that says, "we are going for it".

Trading a Top 6 wing or a Top 4 D man is not. We can deal those guys next year.
- kwolf68

Couldn't agree more. I've been advocating just this scenario. Also lets TT stay down in Rockford for the year.

Versteeg + Rosy out = 4.4
Cap deficit =2.2
Dahlbeck as replacement =600K

Skate with 13 forwards

You STILL have over 1.5 to make maneuvers. And that doesn't discount the possibility of an in-season trade involving any number of players.

This would be the move that says, "we are going for it".

Trading a Top 6 wing or a Top 4 D man is not. We can deal those guys next year.
- kwolf68

Dream scenario but who's going to take those two players off your hands?

Versteeg is coming off a bad year...and a knee injury...one hopes he regains some form and hopefully some snarl to his game this season (as in now that he's a full year past the surgery hopefully he starts taking the body again). But I can't see anyone taking him.

Rosy is long in the tooth and shouldn't have been signed to a two year deal which is on Stanley. Not to mention his NMC..

You're probably looking at Oduya/Sharp/Leddy/Bickell...

Dream scenario but who's going to take those two players off your hands?

Versteeg is coming off a bad year...and a knee injury...one hopes he regains some form and hopefully some snarl to his game this season (as in now that he's a full year past the surgery hopefully he starts taking the body again). But I can't see anyone taking him.

Rosy is long in the tooth and shouldn't have been signed to a two year deal which is on Stanley. Not to mention his NMC..

You're probably looking at Oduya/Sharp/Leddy/Bickell...
- DK002

I've said it before and I'll say it again, got a 3rd rounder for Bollig.

If you don't care what you get back, you can get rid of anyone. Someone who is below the cap wouldn't trade a 7th rounder for both of them? Both in the last year of their deals.

Something occurred to me. Wouldn't a Bickel for Z. Smith trade clear about 2 mill and bring in a similar player?

Clear Versteeg and Rosy then pick up another depth forward.

Skate with 13 forwards

- kwolf68

Actually I thought this was one of the purposes of having a farm club close to Chicago.

If you have a guy go down in practice you tell and IceDog to drive on in.

If your on the road he flies out of Rockford or O'Hare and meets the team if you are on the road.


and they are going to have some wiggle room because Dahlberg, Johns & Clendening can be alternated in and out to fill a bottom spot limited minutes and get experience without commitment to any of the three as "regulars" just yet.

Too bad the Hawks didn't choose Jimmy Hayes as a keeper. He would have been the difference against the Kings and his brother Kevin, the next David Backes, swould arrive to fill ANY forwards departure.

Let them go Hawk fans.

and I am gonna say it now and never again:

I have listened to all Brad Richards smack, about not a true 2nd two, slow beyond slow, not the right fit, etc.

I think you will be very surprised who good he is going to look playing along side the other Hawks forwards.
Since so many have decided they understand and are experts on Richards' game, why not expound on his strengths here in a post.

If you know what he does, project it as part of our weaponry, and in terms of veteran who alll know can wins has won a Cup and whose addition makes the front better, I am
excited ... and not even downtown in my Hawks sweater.

Something occurred to me. Wouldn't a Bickel for Z. Smith trade clear about 2 mill and bring in a similar player?

Clear Versteeg and Rosy then pick up another depth forward.
- robhawks

Why would Ottawa want a similar player who costs more? It would have to be Bickell+ a pick or prospect for them to even return Stan's call.

Why would Ottawa want a similar player who costs more? It would have to be Bickell+ a pick or prospect for them to even return Stan's call.
- Ogilthorpe2

Bickel is the better player and has showed he can bring it in the playoffs. Just a thought to clear cap space while still getting a big body back.

What is the appeal of the convention? If you like to attend it why? It's an honest question not passing judgement I'm just curious. I understand if you are a kid or if you have something like an autograph collection but other than that I don't see the appeal. They are hockey players who are not playing hockey, just talking. Everybody pretty much says the same thing, they pat themselves on the back for all the good things and then say that last year was still a disappointment because Stanley isn't in attendance this year. What makes the convention fun for you?

What is the appeal of the convention? If you like to attend it why? It's an honest question not passing judgement I'm just curious. I understand if you are a kid or if you have something like an autograph collection but other than that I don't see the appeal. They are hockey players who are not playing hockey, just talking. Everybody pretty much says the same thing, they pat themselves on the back for all the good things and then say that last year was still a disappointment because Stanley isn't in attendance this year. What makes the convention fun for you?
- Quicky72

Yeah I'm not big on getting autographs, but I do like watching some of the panels on the Hawk's site. Some panels seem like a waste, but others are interesting. I hate crowds so I would never go there

Interesting. There's a page on whitesox.com where the SOX themselves, evaluate their top 20 prospects. It's brutally honest. I mean, they pull no punches on where these guys need to improve, what their weaknesses are. And it's damn refreshing.

I caught myself asking, would the McDonough-run Hawks EVER do this? Answer: no.

But . . . generally speaking it seems to be the newer fans who love Bowman and McDonough no matter what.
- John Jaeckel

I think a lot depends upon what is writtern and who the sportwriter uses as a basics for their source material.

Chief scout Mark Kelley is ALWAYS gonna site the original evaluation (just like when I throw all my past ones from prior to them being drafted.
He will throw some negativity in there in the form of generalities "...like all young defenseman he needs..."

After these early (and late) drafted guys start playing minor pro, I know they are continually evaluated not just interanlly but with lots of informal sit-downs about specifics in regards to past games and in general about areas they need to continue to improve.
If Kelly is the source for the Hockey News Futures issue, you get more glowing than not.

But after the kids are around, you and I have seen them at the 2010 Grant park party (Kyle Beach), the questions come to the pro team GM Stan Bowman with more regularity.
When Brandon Pirri wins the AHL scoring title, you know as he does the questions start coming more and more often.
Sure Stan is kept abreast of the improvements inside his farm, but he is never ever going to come out and say, "Pirri still is lousy in his end, and despite the hands the feet are STILL holdinh him back to make our veteran squad."

I just think he has no choice but state things about youngsters in only a positive vein.

Now back when they were a terrible team both in the standings, and drafting /developing, it would drive me crazy when they would devote a page in the program to FUTURE BLACKHAWKS" and have photos and cameos of guys who never ever got ot the bigs.

I think winning brings more fans, all experts.
The new fans bring desire to "know" the prospects and be able to articulate about their strengths as junior players and they neglect the fact the AHL & NHL game needs even more skill & strengths.

So you see many mnay more questions pointing to the farmhands.

(It didn't help that you developed Bickell after FOUR AHL seasons, brought in a Shaw after 66 AHL games, Saad after 30 odd AHL games)

Fans and media see that there is a pipeline and start seeing each guy as for sure, and when they "Beach-out" they cannot seem to understand why.

Believe me this is now a very slick worded organization and there is a coaching staff in place for even the smallest announcements whether it be by player or internal press releases. They don't state negatives, and are building an look of infallibility to their words.

But on the other end at a prospects camp, you see that the press ALL press have access to the prospects, and it comes from Danault's mouth that he needs to be better in the dot (while the hawks will play up his speed and ability to play fast.)

We saw after his selection, McNeill honestly thought he was going to work hard and MAKE the Hawk lineup in that Fall.

I heard Adam Clendening chime he was ready for the next step to the hawks last week.

I hears Stephan Josn take a philosophical leader type approach to his future touting his toughness.

And TT is being marketed as a skill guy with an NHL future-and why not? That is what he brought at the lower level and then again at the Euro pro level.

(Hey, the Wild marketed Grandlund the very same way for the past two seasons....no complete player there still or guy who has soldified a permannet rosetr spot.)

We all saw the hype on thsi evry board, avocating the hawks dropping players so TT could "have a spot" and win us something last Spring.)

I don't think the hawks actively promoted TT as much as the questions and interest was generated by this now exceedingly large and interested fan base that keeps beat writers informed and they keep asking...
TT's world junior didn't help slow the hype down either....

My point is it's ok to let the out of the know build interest in the kids, and I don't know refreshing or not if brutally honest evaluations are ever gonna be part of most major sport teams websites.


I wouldn't try and refute your opinon jj, without visiting http://chicago.whitesox.m.../y2014/?c_id=cws#list=cws

I did notice that IS the MLB site, and wonder if they are the ones spouting honesty.

because I am not in any form a baseball guy....but I read through these and they say things like "will be an average 3rd baseman."

To me that is similar to me saying if he makes it Danault can slide through the lineup with moderate ease, or That hartman's strength is toughness and good scoring touch but might be projected to a 3rd liner.

(Just playing at fake honesty vai hawks kids...)

So that is the rub John, are those really White Sox generated thoughts or from the body cavities og major league baseball's evaluation, or a combinastion of magazine/media stuff that is info from beat writers as the next winter ball or preseasons begin?

even if I am not around you can go to the finalized draft for each year
(http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/draft-history/2014/) and go to any team (like Phoenix) who has a "T" behind it and all trades in the round are listed.

The player is:

http://www.draftsite.com/...r/christian-dvorak/21059/


Believe me your curiosity is similar to mine, but mine goes ot the Nth degree.
I couldn't do it as the draft was going on because I was moving the players into the draft board with each pick. Later...
I went back and any trade made on draft day, live during the draft, where some team pulled out of a spot and dropped back for an additional pick I made a record of who pulled back and what players each team got.

Usually it amounts to NONE of the players being pro players or all have a cup of coffee as pros so it doesn't matter.

But someday, I am goona find one where a team jumps up and the team that jumps back gets two starters.

If you guys are haven't been following drafts for long, I gotta tell you I would get totally pissed because on almost all the past regimes prior to Rocky had GMs in charge who alwasys seems to manage to make tardes where they threw in second rounders...and it was ALWAYS when the drafts actually were thicker with lots of BETTER possibles than any years they acquired second rounders....
It was as if they were getting suckered each time.

It would drive me crazy, but usually the pick they traded was never an earth shattering pro.
- wiz1901

Thanks Wiz. I guess Rundblad for a 2nd rounder in a shallow draft isn't the worst thing. Your write up on Dvorak seemed to indicate offensive upside but needs to gain strength. Where he is at in 2-3 years will tell us if the trade made sense. On paper, the move made sense to me. We will see if Rundblad looks better in camp.

Saw a write up yesterday about the Ranger's targeting Kevin Hayes. Said that "draft experts" considered Hayes to be a 1st rounder this year somewhere between 14-25 and that the Rangers believed he would play in their bottom 6 this year. Do you agree? From what I saw in the IIHF worlds he did not stand out. Not even top 6. Hate to see them lose a big body though.

Interesting points, have to say I'm a long time fan (hit the big 5 - 0 this year) and remember being 7 when my dad and uncle took me to a game.

I'd say I honestly have a hard time hating the guys in charge now. Do I think Stan got the job because of his dad, yep, I do. Is he totally in charge of Hockey operations like most GM's, not really sure, but I don't think so.

Its easy to say that every trade deadline and summer FA period he should've done more (I do most of the time), but I think that's a bit naive to think. Cap exists, and trust me, he'd take as much heat on this board for who he traded away, vs. who he got back, no matter the trade.

I don't think he's a top 5 GM and hockey mind, but I don't think he's in the bottom 5 either. Somewhere in the middle.

On McCub, there is a part of him that's just smug and annoying, i can see why people would not care for him. From a strictly business and marketing pov, and lets face it, hockey standpoint, its hard to argue with the end product. I know he inherited a great situation, but trust me, in the business I'm in, I've seen a lot of people screw up a good thing and run things into the ground.

I'm not really a supporter, but its hard for me to argue with where they are now vs. when he took over from the business side. The blackhawks are a true success story and turnaround story that is written up and rightfully so all the time. Rocky needed to take over from the old man to allow any of this, but its difficult for me to say that, that all of the change and success happened in spite of McCub

For me, at the end of the day, its been much better the last 5 or 6 years than it was for the previous 35 years for me, and thats how I tend to look at it.

Oh and the whitesox are idiots for putting that on their website. The one point I will always argue with the people here who get on either of them for, is hyping the youngsters and building them all up to a point that is above where they really are as hockey players. What do you expect them to do, talk down and honestly about what they really think.

You build them all up and promote them all like they are all going to be all stars. Some day, that may help in a trade down the road. That's kindergarten GM'ing and I just can't figure out why people get so aggravated about that.
- vabeachbear

I can relate to that. I too will be the big 5-0 in December and my first game was attended by my father and uncle. I guess that was the thing to do 40+ years ago. Too bad I can't afford to take my son and his uncle to a game 50 years later.....

From purely a cap perceptive moving Oduya and/or Bickell makes the most sense. Losing Oduya would clear up more than enough cap space for this season. If he's not in the team's plan beyond next season then moving Oduya makes more sense. If Bickell were to be moved Stan would need to find an effective physical replacement. Maybe a Bickell for Greening type of deal.

However, Stan can't (and likely won't) make his moves solely on the basis of a player's cap hit.
- DarthKane

Respectfully disagree. Better to clear real room with a player that can bring a real return back. Otherwise you could be perceived as trading by necessity for some time. Sharp is the player they should move. Bickell is younger and they could use more physical players now even with Bickell on the team.

Bickell for Greening would be a terrible deal. Bickell was still playing with one knee brace in the playoffs. 2 knee braces during points of the regular season.

I wonder if this space could come from an LTIR or waiver move/s at the start of the season and then the actual trade/s could come closer to the trade deadline. If Bickell looks like last RS or Sharp looks like he did in the POs then letting them go may be easier -- though the return will probably be disappointing. OTOH, one or both may have strong starts and bring strong returns.

and I am gonna say it now and never again:

I have listened to all Brad Richards smack, about not a true 2nd two, slow beyond slow, not the right fit, etc.

I think you will be very surprised who good he is going to look playing along side the other Hawks forwards.
Since so many have decided they understand and are experts on Richards' game, why not expound on his strengths here in a post.

If you know what he does, project it as part of our weaponry, and in terms of veteran who alll know can wins has won a Cup and whose addition makes the front better, I am
excited ... and not even downtown in my Hawks sweater.
- wiz1901

Richards is also a point man on the power play who gets his shots on net. I've always seen him as a shooting center rather than a set up guy so a good fit with Kane. IMO anyone but Zus with Kane will be an improvement.

What is the appeal of the convention? If you like to attend it why? It's an honest question not passing judgement I'm just curious. I understand if you are a kid or if you have something like an autograph collection but other than that I don't see the appeal. They are hockey players who are not playing hockey, just talking. Everybody pretty much says the same thing, they pat themselves on the back for all the good things and then say that last year was still a disappointment because Stanley isn't in attendance this year. What makes the convention fun for you?
- Quicky72

I went to the first one.
and then I went to the second.

A guy like me isn't "glamored" by vampires or hockey players.

But I did go to have Bobby Hull sign some old programs and ask how he liked the turn of events to were he was now back in favor and limelight.

Same with Pierre and Stan and Abner, and was kicking myself it was too late to get a ticket (sold out) when they announced later that Glenn Hall was gonna be there.
I got to talk to my neighbor Tony O, and it was more comfortable than my continual drive bys his home hoping to catch him outiside to talk. (And he does't matter a factly spend long periods until his wife starts telling him he needs to get his chores done.)

So I guess that was younger self wanting to acknowlege that they were responsible to the love of the game I know have...and it is way past casual.

So here is me, this live long fan, and part of my reason for being there IS to bound with the others who wear the Indianhead on their heart.

Me this font of information and past history, and some converatsions with other fans had me feeling superior or of different opinions.

From the first convention on, I realized that so many were there to see the present team, and I have no grudge with that.

I too enjoyed seeing the young Toews and Kane and how much they have grown as public personalties...the convention does bring all fans closer to the players...how can you not like Andrew Shaw after a youngster asks him if if he could beat Chara in a fight, ad Shawzie says "Yeah i would win."

But there lies the rub...much time in these q & As is wasted my softball questions throw by younger fans.

Yeah that first convention when I twiced asked Stan "...how they were gonna compete for a cup with Huet never playing close to the amount of games necessary for a Cup run..." I rephrase no definitive asnwer just a chuck to the side.
At that first one there was far less security for the team dignitaries and I pushed past them and asked a third time for Stan to tell me, "Don't worry about it."

and that might be the biggest bug some have with Bowamn and the group of decision-makers, even when there is concern, they don't exhibit outward concern...it would make them weak?

The funniest thing is this young guy and I were talking, and he of course was a big time "Kanehead" and KNEW I sknew my stuff so he wanted my opinion, and I have never been one to hold back on negatives with the positives....when I finished, the young guy thinking about my critique, said you know part of it could be he is still getting acclimated after coming here from London.
I nicely explained it was London Knights in Onatrio that Kane was palying with and he was in fact an American.

Yeah and my friends still give me stuff becasue prior to the panel about the 1961 Cup team, I was there loud talking, remembering each moment like it was yesterday, and saying the catalyst was Dolly St.Laurent a deeman who they acquired from the habs because they were loads and he was a "Lady Byng" candidate in his approach to defense. He came out first against his former Montreal and was afreaking monster hitting everyone playing to higher level than we all could EVER imagine he could.

So the panel starts starts and after Bobby is finished hogging the mike, Pierre Pilote says, "...and back when there were only six teams, these teams were all tough and solid defensively, and we know everyone had to play better, their best and thsi one guy, he came out of nowhere to step up and lead..."
and at this point already excited, I jump to my feet and yell, "DOLLY ST. LAURENT, he played like a man possessed!" before Pierre could say it.
All the old Hawks just laughed and acknowledged me...they KNEW I was there and that past wasn't just their memory.
The moderator-asswipe said that they wanted to restrict commenst to the panel members, and could the audience (me) refrain from any comments.
Everyone laughed.
But my passion and love and memories remain as instense and will always spill out whenever I want.

So I blew my load and knew that any further conventions would just find a shrinking minority of one.

The Cup win in 2010 made so many more experts than me...everybody had a hawk website, and an educatued opinion from they paid too much for Oduya, or how Olsen and Beach were making the hawks a better team the next season.

But they all got ot see my Blackhawks grey/red baseball jersey, that no one else and.

Too bad my fat ass looks like stuffed sauage in it, so i guess it is gonan find a new owner via e-bay.
And speaking of buying...
you do get an opportunity at shirts and stuff that you would probably see again, so if you are a consumer of Hawkquarters stuff, this is you place to overpay to display the Indianhead.

I went to the first one.
and then I went to the second.

- wiz1901

Wiz, was there at the 2nd with my daughters -- def remember you at the panels because I commented to my girls about the guy with all the Hawk knowledge and the staff trying to shut you up!