This is not a commentary in support of Kevin Hayes abilities or anything. All guys are trying to have a career. Sometimes being a bigger fish in a smaller pond will provide some with a better chance. If a player has that leverage, then he is a fool to not use it to his advantage.

If he or anyone believes his fastest path to the NHL is not in Chicago, then all the other stuff is sentimental hog wash. We are now going to degrade his character and suggest he is just entitled because he is actually smart is a bit silly to me.

Said another way, hey, we you can take that road straight for 10 miles and get to your destination, or you could pull off, go over that hill, cross a raging river, cross through a field of land mines and have to hike the last 3 miles through a swamp to get to the same place.

Hayes is an idiot for opting for the first route?
- TrueGrit

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

RIP Mr Fels..........

Did he help Sam write the Committed Indian I buy each time I go to the Hawks?

Sobotka is not worth $3M.

People say that Armstrong could have budged and just paid him the additional $300k, but the same could be said about Sobotka. NHL.
- carcus

I don't know who's worth what anymore, but Sobotka is no one trick pony. An elite faceoff man, a gritty guy who is an elite puck battler, very good speed, seems to understand his role and excel at it, tenderizes opposing Dmen and has to be accounted for near the crease cuz that's where he sets up shop once pucks are about to get to the net........... No the points ain't there (3rd-4th line duty and no PP time will reflect that), but he does every other possible thing well. This is a heart and soul guy, so 3 mil doesn't sound out of bounds.

carcus, refresh my memory. Didn't some combination of Steen, Backes, Shattenkirk and or Pietrangelo take a home town discount? Point is do the Blues expect this out of their players?

Just follow the code of conduct. What's the problem in that?

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/rules.php
- EKolb13

"2. Please keep threads on-topic
Try to keep things on-topic"

"5. Respect the HockeyBuzz Bloggers
....If you want to disagree with them, that's OK"



Above are two examples of things that are clear as day ALLOWED to happen according to the almighty code of conduct. Yet posters have been banned for talking about other things than hockey, and have been banned for questioning, and/or disagreeing with JJ.

I think John is a big boy and can handle someone disagreeing with him or questioning him, whether it be here or on twitter or whatever.

Think everyone needs to lighten up and have some fun again. This place used to be the best on Hockeybuzz, now its not as fun because we arent allowed to say ANYTHING controversial.

I don't know who's worth what anymore, but Sobotka is no one trick pony. An elite faceoff man, a gritty guy who is an elite puck battler, very good speed, seems to understand his role and excel at it, tenderizes opposing Dmen and has to be accounted for near the crease cuz that's where he sets up shop once pucks are about to get to the net........... No the points ain't there (3rd-4th line duty and no PP time will reflect that, but he does every other possible thing well. This is a heart and soul guy, so 3 mil doesn't sound out of bounds.

carcus, refresh my memory. Didn't some combination of Steen, Backes, Shattenkirk and or Pietrangelo take a home town discount? Point is do the Blues expect this out of their players?
- Mr Ricochet

All i know is that the Blues are worse off without Sobotka and while I'd rather the Headhunting gongshow Steve Ott not be taking runs at the Hawks 5 times a year..they are still a worse team with Ott instead of Sobotka so I'm happy

This is not a commentary in support of Kevin Hayes abilities or anything. All guys are trying to have a career. Sometimes being a bigger fish in a smaller pond will provide some with a better chance. If a player has that leverage, then he is a fool to not use it to his advantage.

If he or anyone believes his fastest path to the NHL is not in Chicago, then all the other stuff is sentimental hog wash. We are now going to degrade his character and suggest he is just entitled because he is actually smart is a bit silly to me.

Said another way, hey, we you can take that road straight for 10 miles and get to your destination, or you could pull off, go over that hill, cross a raging river, cross through a field of land mines and have to hike the last 3 miles through a swamp to get to the same place.

Hayes is an idiot for opting for the first route?
- TrueGrit

It's his prerogative. Though in congruity if he's allowed to pick the path of least resistance to the NHL, it's only fair to be able to pick the same path in questioning his character...as well as brains, unless he's suffering from some sort of irritable bowel disorder we're unaware of.

If not, he's an idiot for not having a better emergency bathroom backup plan.

People keep calling for Steve Larmer's number to be retired.

His stats are great and he was a great Hawk, but his numbers are a product of the era he played in where offense was rampant across the league. If he put up those numbers in an era like todays NHL, he should no doubt have his number retired, but I dont think he should be with the other greats because he played in a time where offensive players had the edge

For example:

Larmers career high in goals was 46 in 1984-85, he finished in a three way tie for TENTH in the league in goal scoring that year (23 players had 40+ goals)

Larmers career high in points was 101 in 1990-91, where is finished in TENTH in the league (26 players had 81+ pts)
- FourFeathers773

Point total aside - though I can see your 'point' - Larmer was also a very good 3-zone player and good on the kill. He was better defencively than most 40G/100pt guys.
I can still remember to this day the shorty and GWG he got in the old Checkerdome on the first of a back-to-back weekend, 3/16/91. The following night was the Manson/Stevens brawl, St Patty's day 1991 in CHICAGO STADIUM

RIP Mr Fels..........

Did he help Sam write the Committed Indian I buy each time I go to the Hawks?
- Mr Ricochet

Adam was ombudsman for CI and did write for them. I think he moved to Columbus for awhile. Not sure how involved he was after that.

All i know is that the Blues are worse off without Sobotka and while I'd rather the Headhunting gongshow Steve Ott not be taking runs at the Hawks 5 times a year..they are still a worse team with Ott instead of Sobotka so I'm happy
- EnzoD

Me too! Thanks Blues FO.....! Yes!

"2. Please keep threads on-topic
Try to keep things on-topic"

"5. Respect the HockeyBuzz Bloggers
....If you want to disagree with them, that's OK"



Above are two examples of things that are clear as day ALLOWED to happen according to the almighty code of conduct. Yet posters have been banned for talking about other things than hockey, and have been banned for questioning, and/or disagreeing with JJ.

I think John is a big boy and can handle someone disagreeing with him or questioning him, whether it be here or on twitter or whatever.

Think everyone needs to lighten up and have some fun again. This place used to be the best on Hockeybuzz, now its not as fun because we arent allowed to say ANYTHING controversial.
- BlazinMike

Spot on

Just my opinion, but based on some evidence:

US college hockey has improved as it seems more junior eligible players are going that route, as has the USHL as an option for younger players (17-18 year sold).

But . . . BIG difference, CHL is marginally more physical (no full cages). Former Hawk Jim Cummins said it best when talking about the jump from NCAA to pro. In the NCAA "guys run around like they're ten feet tall because they wear full cages."

Also IMO, CHL is reffed more loosely as far as the rough stuff.

I have also heard from guys who've played (and made it or not made it) the difference form CHL/NCAA to pro is speed AND physicality.

So, IMO, I think CHL prepares guys a bit better for the jump to pro (AHL or NHL) because it is more physical.
- John Jaeckel

I think the bigger positive, aside from play, is that players get more years to develop by taking the college route. Especially with players being take to waivers after their ELC. Most junior players are done between 19-20 years old while college players can play until they are 22-23. Which, with the new waiver rules, a CHL player would be put on waiver whether is 22-23 while a college player would be put on 25-26.

Tough day.

I have gotten to know the folks over at CI very well. McClure and Sam. Odds are I had met Adam face to face and never remembered. I enjoyed his posts and the respectful banter back and forth. Spoke to him a few times through PMs. Tough day and I pass along condolences to Sam and the rest of the Fels family.

How is Hayes' situation any different than our other first round picks? Why haven't Teravainen, Hartman, McNeill, and Danault done something to get into the NHL quicker? Hayes is entitled to do whatever he wants, that doesn't make this course of action right.

If I were his Dad I would tell Hayes he needs to view his hockey career as a marathon and not a sprint.
- DarthKane

PLease,
Tweet kevin and tell him exactly that.

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

PLease,
Tweet kevin and tell him exactly that.
- wiz1901

There is NO point in tweeting Kevin Hayes. Nobody will change his mind. Time to accept it and move on. All he can do is retweet them and make everyone look stupid. Just like the beat writers do.

You've got some imagination.


- Ogilthorpe2

How so Ogs ?

There is NO point in tweeting Kevin Hayes. Nobody will change his mind. Time to accept it and move on. All he can do is retweet them and make everyone look stupid. Just like the beat writers do.
- SteveRain

Agreed. The recommendation to tweet him is silly, no matter how esteemed the poster recommending it.

There is NO point in tweeting Kevin Hayes. Nobody will change his mind. Time to accept it and move on. All he can do is retweet them and make everyone look stupid. Just like the beat writers do.
- SteveRain

I just want him to know WE CARE.

I would have some imagination if I thought we could sway him.

I just think your opinion does more good if he sees it. We all have taken a stand on how we feel. Telling me or us is nice, but why let him off easy - if he's locked to wherever, I like to think if we say "You sure?", that maybe doubt crepts in.

I just don'y think any NHL team is giving away jobs...they are earned.

PLease,
Tweet kevin and tell him exactly that.
- wiz1901

I just want him to know WE CARE.

I would have some imagination if I thought we could sway him.

I just think your opinion does more good if he sees it. We all have taken a stand on how we feel. Telling me or us is nice, but why let him off easy - if he's locked to wherever, I like to think if we say "You sure?", that maybe doubt crepts in.

I just don'y think any NHL team is giving away jobs...they are earned.
- wiz1901

You can try but my guess is you'll get crickets. Depending upon what tone you go with he might retweet you and embarrass you or whoever sends him the note or tweet. Again, I just think it's pointless. It's Kevin Hayes. If he were the 1st overall pick, by all means. Franchise changing play. However, is Kevin Hayes that good?

I keep reading how you and John think he's acting like a brat (fair point) and not THAT good right now but then why burn him down on twitter?

It's like the idiot Bears fans on Monday burning down sports talk radio because their Al Bundy glory days makes them a football expert. No. NO it doesn't

These are athletes. They get paid and most don't give a crap 15 minutes after the game ends what the outcome was, as long as the paycheck clears.

Sobotka won 61.9% of faceoffs.

Ott won 59.7% for us.

Not that much of a difference there.
- carcus

Yeah I am a little surpised at the hug number of faceoffs Ott took in Buffalo (a reason for it there) and in St. Louis.

And Ott is an intimidator...

I think Sobotka in EVERY game I ever saw him played with his heart on the sleeve adn never quit engaging.

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.

Depending upon what tone you go with he might retweet you and embarrass you or whoever sends him the note or tweet. Again, I just think it's pointless. It's Kevin Hayes. If he were the 1st overall pick, by all means. Franchise changing play. However, is Kevin Hayes that good?

I keep reading how you and John think he's acting like a brat (fair point) and not THAT good right now but then why burn him down on twitter?


These are athletes. They get paid and most don't give a crap 15 minutes after the game ends what the outcome was, as long as the paycheck clears.
- SteveRain

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.

- DarthKane

Then silly I am !

Bad news:

yahoodi, a good dude and frequent poster here passed away over the weekend. RIP.
- John Jaeckel

Whoa. That sucks. condolences to his family and friends.

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

or rangers? or bruins?