As far as Kevin Hayes goes......

1. How sending this kid tweets or pms or whatever else makes any sense is beyond me. If he were smart, he'd retweet the idiotic tweets and just make the hawk fan base look very stupid. Why waste the key strokes? There is 0.0% that anything anyone writes to him will change his opinion.

2. After staying in college, it's obvious he feels he is ready for the NHL. IS he? NObody knows. We can speculate but until the steps on the ice and competes it's all a guessing game. I hope IF he does go elsewhere we won't look back in 2-3 years and wonder what if.

3. Truthfully...I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often. Especially when the road to the NHL is blocked. Again you look at this Hawks roster and it's hard to fathom how any of these kids don't have some uneasy feelings looking at their future here. How long have we been hearing about Jeremy Morin?

4. I don't care what the agent says, I think Jimmy Hayes NOT being here sealed the deal. I wonder if Jimmy has bashed Q and his style. Or spoken badly about the Hawks in general.

Either way, if on August 16th Kevin Hayes isn't in the Hawks system, lets hope he doesn't turn out to be as good as he think he is right now
- SteveRain

So many words written about this guy, so much concern that he may turn out to be something very good - elsewhere.

Seems to me that it is all about a kid (and his agent) that thinks he is ready for the NHL knocking heads with a team with more talent than most who has a philosophy about developing their players in the minors, regardless of who he is. I'm sure the Hawks have decided they aren't exactly dealing with a petulant Mario Lemieux or Eric Lindros.

So go where you want Kevin, but just don't cry when you get that first punch in the face from a hard ass pro who doesn't care much for college punks with an unproven sense of his own ability.

so your saying that Florida or Calgary are going to win a cup in the next 5-10 years? bc that is the ultimate destination and it is FAR less likely he will EVER get there in a Panthers or Flames jersey
- EnzoD

I have no idea how good or bad he is. Sure it is every players dream to win a cup. But before that, his dream is to make a living playing hockey. Ben Smith and others are on record, just in the last few months about the path to a roster spot with the Blackhawks is much harder than many places. That is a fair assessment.

While the Hawks seem better positioned than most in having a chance to win a cup, there still are no guarantees they will win another in the next 5 years. I just don;t get the obsession with a guy that so many say is not that good and can not help the team, then in the same breath knocking him if he decides to take his skills somewhere else.

At the end of the day, he has the leverage.

The last thing I worry about at this point is being embarrassed by Kevin Hayes retweeting or answering my tweet. That goes on his resume.

I don't think I ever coveyed a BRAT was what I thought he was...
Maybe some of the things that are public that happend at BC helped form that opinion.
I just think the guy should embrace climbing the ranks.
Same reason why I envision TT as an Icehog, and attacked JJ's optimism about many hawk farmhands jumping up the bigs sooner than they were gonna be ready.

But I totally understand that the alure of free agency choosing your path and filling your pocket with a bigger bonus are not bratty alternatives - a prospect doesn't know if he has a bad injury that stops the progress and that bonus may be only thing they make going forward.

I am a Blackhawk fan and of course want him to try making it here where he has a pretty good chance to play with really fast smart players.
And of course, don't want him not seeing my opinion is the best one, so I am still wishing and fighting to make it so...

And I still find it difficult to think pro athletes take losing so casually b/c the got paid anyway. Difficult to think Cup winning teams walk away from losses casually.
- wiz1901

Measured and well said on many points. All pro athletes HATE losing. You can not endure the competition to get to that level and not hate losing.

RIP Yahoodi



Sad.


Toast your Brothers and friends fellas.


"We're not here for a long time , we're here for a good time..."

or rangers? or bruins?
- moylander

while they might be able to win a championship during his career, the path to the NHL would seem just as difficult on another playoff caliber team....

I have no idea how good or bad he is. Sure it is every players dream to win a cup. But before that, his dream is to make a living playing hockey. Ben Smith and others are on record, just in the last few months about the path to a roster spot with the Blackhawks is much harder than many places. That is a fair assessment.

While the Hawks seem better positioned than most in having a chance to win a cup, there still are no guarantees they will win another in the next 5 years. I just don;t get the obsession with a guy that so many say is not that good and can not help the team, then in the same breath knocking him if he decides to take his skills somewhere else.

At the end of the day, he has the leverage.
- TrueGrit

While it is completely within his rights to pursue free agency after 8/15 my point is that a true competitor wants to win championships and there is no team in the NHL with a better chance for Stanley Cups in the next 5 years than the Hawks (in my biased opinion). Sure the allure of playing in the NHL this season is tempting but I would think that the chance to play alongside Patrick Kane and/or Jonathan Toews would be some pretty strong motivation to sign with the Hawks. I just think that it is taking the "easy way" and it tells you something about the type of person he is and the type of competitor he is...

And I hate to take the chicken way out of the discussion but the BLUES paid OTT 2.6 mil , right?

The arbitrator said Sobotka is a 2.7 million dollar player based on the facts.
- wiz1901

Correct. I guess Ott is a value if you compare him to Cooke at $2.5mm AAV. I just don't understand certain contracts.

So many words written about this guy, so much concern that he may turn out to be something very good - elsewhere.

Seems to me that it is all about a kid (and his agent) that thinks he is ready for the NHL knocking heads with a team with more talent than most who has a philosophy about developing their players in the minors, regardless of who he is. I'm sure the Hawks have decided they aren't exactly dealing with a petulant Mario Lemieux or Eric Lindros.

So go where you want Kevin, but just don't cry when you get that first punch in the face from a hard ass pro who doesn't care much for college punks with an unproven sense of his own ability.
- RickJ

Again why is he entitled? Because he won't go down to Rockford when obviously there is word that if he DID NOT sign he could and probably will, make an opening night roster? Every guy on this board would take the exact same thing.

The hawks system is loaded and is blocking a lot of guys. Maybe next year a few more spots open up.

All I am saying is I GET why Kevin Hayes is looking at ALL options.

I'm pretty sure guys who have signed here out of college or Europe have put word in they wanted to be on the roster or would ask for a trade OR go back home.

I can think of one current player who did this a few years back. his game is still a nightmare at times.

While it is completely within his rights to pursue free agency after 8/15 my point is that a true competitor wants to win championships and there is no team in the NHL with a better chance for Stanley Cups in the next 5 years than the Hawks (in my biased opinion). Sure the allure of playing in the NHL this season is tempting but I would think that the chance to play alongside Patrick Kane and/or Jonathan Toews would be some pretty strong motivation to sign with the Hawks. I just think that it is taking the "easy way" and it tells you something about the type of person he is and the type of competitor he is...
- EnzoD

Disagree. There is no guarantee if he's a decent prospect he will ever get a chance. Look at the current top 6....where will hayes EVER fit in? Maybe if they trade Sharp? Or if Hossa retires in 6 years?

What I think is the biggest shock is that people can't comprehend how somebody doesn't want to go to this organization. I truly think it has a LOT to do with the way his brother was treated. Hayes was in town during the Kings series, I believe, and that may have been the Hawks last pitch and has a take it or leave it offer on the table with no assurances.

Measured and well said on many points. All pro athletes HATE losing. You can not endure the competition to get to that level and not hate losing.
- TrueGrit

I'll respectfully disagree. I'm sure 90% of this board takes a bad loss in November a lot harder then the team does. Most of these guys head out to dinner afterwards to get away.

Again why is he entitled? Because he won't go down to Rockford when obviously there is word that if he DID NOT sign he could and probably will, make an opening night roster? Every guy on this board would take the exact same thing.

The hawks system is loaded and is blocking a lot of guys. Maybe next year a few more spots open up.

All I am saying is I GET why Kevin Hayes is looking at ALL options.

I'm pretty sure guys who have signed here out of college or Europe have put word in they wanted to be on the roster or would ask for a trade OR go back home.

I can think of one current player who did this a few years back. his game is still a nightmare at times.
- SteveRain

Hayes has options and as a result can make a choice that most others turning pro don't have.

But the Hawks pipeline being loaded really isn't much of an issue. If Hayes really is that good, the big team will find a place for him on their roster and quickly.
That is the reality of every team in every pro sport - the best players wind up on the highest level team making major league money.

I'll respectfully disagree. I'm sure 90% of this board takes a bad loss in November a lot harder then the team does. Most of these guys head out to dinner afterwards to get away.
- SteveRain

To that end, it's a job for them and there is a reason we are called fans/fanatics. You would likely be the same.

As far as Kevin Hayes goes......

1. How sending this kid tweets or pms or whatever else makes any sense is beyond me. If he were smart, he'd retweet the idiotic tweets and just make the hawk fan base look very stupid. Why waste the key strokes? There is 0.0% that anything anyone writes to him will change his opinion.

2. After staying in college, it's obvious he feels he is ready for the NHL. IS he? NObody knows. We can speculate but until the steps on the ice and competes it's all a guessing game. I hope IF he does go elsewhere we won't look back in 2-3 years and wonder what if.

3. Truthfully...I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often. Especially when the road to the NHL is blocked. Again you look at this Hawks roster and it's hard to fathom how any of these kids don't have some uneasy feelings looking at their future here. How long have we been hearing about Jeremy Morin?

4. I don't care what the agent says, I think Jimmy Hayes NOT being here sealed the deal. I wonder if Jimmy has bashed Q and his style. Or spoken badly about the Hawks in general.

Either way, if on August 16th Kevin Hayes isn't in the Hawks system, lets hope he doesn't turn out to be as good as he think he is right now
- SteveRain

Tweeting Kevin Hayes is a horrible idea

Tweeting Kevin Hayes is a horrible idea
- eburgio

I tweeted Helen Hayes.

Disagree. There is no guarantee if he's a decent prospect he will ever get a chance. Look at the current top 6....where will hayes EVER fit in? Maybe if they trade Sharp? Or if Hossa retires in 6 years?

What I think is the biggest shock is that people can't comprehend how somebody doesn't want to go to this organization. I truly think it has a LOT to do with the way his brother was treated. Hayes was in town during the Kings series, I believe, and that may have been the Hawks last pitch and has a take it or leave it offer on the table with no assurances.
- SteveRain

His brother was given prime opportunities to stick with the big club but his marshmallow effort and slow skates kept him from sticking... Sorry there's actually talent on the team and walkons aren't guaranteed a spot in the top 6.

His prerogative to take it personally - I really don't care. Only thing he's entitled to in this city is the 50 different form of welfare we got going on.

I tweeted Helen Hayes.
- Elbows15

What about Willie Mays Hayes?

What about Willie Mays Hayes?
- eburgio

I tweeted him and told him his brother sucks.

I tweeted him and told him his brother sucks.
- Elbows15

But which Willie Mays Hayes...Omar Epps or Wesley Snipes?

But which Willie Mays Hayes...Omar Epps or Wesley a Snipes?
- eburgio

Took no chances and tweeted them both. I don't think they know they are related to Kevin. Some skeletons in that closet.

Took no chances and tweeted them both. I don't think they know they are related to Kevin. Some skeletons in that closet.
- Elbows15

Smart.

Smart.
- eburgio

I appreciate this sentiment.

Lost in all this is Hayes isn't that good. He is Joe Colborne, FFS.

Lost in all this is Hayes isn't that good. He is Joe Colborne, FFS.
- Elbows15

He probably will be better than Colbourne. How much better?

I'll respectfully disagree. I'm sure 90% of this board takes a bad loss in November a lot harder then the team does. Most of these guys head out to dinner afterwards to get away.
- SteveRain

Players probably take the longer view - knowing what it really takes to win the Cup - and it doesn't included winning every regular season - or even every playoff - game.

They also know that losing is inevitable for almost every team - only one team can win in a league of evenly matched teams.