Yawn. Do we need to revisit this?

Let it lie. It was a good hit badly timed IMO. On a player/team who deserved it 10 times over.

What scares me next year is who on the Hawks counters Hitch's goon squad during the regular season. Does Q call up Bass and Mashinter? Will that even help?
- tredbrta

Exactly. Did they DESERVE he though? Maybe, but at the end of the day it's the Blues's game to get under opponents' skin and it was the playoffs. Temperaments rise on both sides.

Love the resurgence of Hawks/Blues rivalry. Best games to watch hands down.

oh come on, unclench! Admit it, if Backes does that same thing to Seabrook you are very, very satisfied...oh wait, Backes does that a lot.
- dsav123

Wrong.

If Seabrook's hit was "a good hit badly timed", then no one "countered" Hitch's goon squad THIS year - and the Hawks won four straight and the series.
- StLBravesFan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSNtMDkRjBA

What's comical is Steen screaming at either Keith or Toews to "Show some F-ing class."

Hey Al, look down at the crest on your sweater and realize who you play for.

It was a difficult year.
- StLBravesFan

Ok, I get this explanation. The rest, not so much.

Weird...

Mapricity petition to make the Ice Girls wear jackets and pants and stop the high heels and "stripper music" during the shoot the puck competition...

http://mapricity.tumblr.c...ime-for-a-hockey-petition



One day, political correctness may have the ice girls in shihab....
- tredbrta

Can we just change the petition to make the ice girls go away entirely? They shovel the ice like crap, clog the concourse, and are generally clueless about the team.

I was referring to next season. For now all that's needed is a minor move, for example trade Rozsival, recall a defenseman from Rockfors making less than $870,000 and roll with 22 players. Stan won't have any cap flexibility but it can be done.

However, for the 15/16 season we have 15 players locked up for about $65.8 million. Assuming the cap goes up $5 million to $74 million we have $8.2 million to sign 7-8 players. There's no way around it, big contracts will need to go. Amongst the notable RFAs are Saad, Kruger, Leddy and Rundblad while Oduya and Richards are UFAs. Saad will probably make at least $3.5 million and Kruger $2 million. Rundblad (if he stays) would likely sign for around $700.000. That leaves $2 million for 4-5 players. I fully expect to see Sharp go and I wouldn't be surprised if Bickell went too. But then again I'm having a major bout of insomnia and can't stop rambling.
- DarthKane

I agree with everything but the Saad at 3.5 mil. He's still on an ELC and will probably get qualified at 2 mil or so, whatever the CBO dictates.

Unless Saad is at risk of getting offer sheeted and the Hawks give him a contract beforehand.

I don't know how that would work either with the talk of salary cap restrictions and money being allocated too far in advance. What is that term again?

How is Backes any different than him? Goon squad. That is funny.

He deserved it.

You realize you are have a huge double standard, right? Tell me when Backes has knocked someone out on a bad hit, then taunted him as he is getting up? Who is the goon?

Let me answer that for you, neither.
- carcus

1) Seabrook didn't taunt him...Keith allegedly did the taunting.
2) off the top of my head (actually with the help of a Blues fan blog-I did remember McGinn and Stajen though), and while i don't remember much taunting, we really don't know for sure...
anyway, McGinn, Stajen, Holmstrom.

Won't apologize that his were not as effective as Seabrooks either!

Memo to self.... minimize postings that bring out the bats for the equine.....

or not

almost a week away..


I'm on pins and needles...no wait that was my foot falling asleep.

Ok, I get this explanation. The rest, not so much.
- carcus

Meatheads in every fan base.

1) Seabrook didn't taunt him...Keith allegedly did the taunting.
2) off the top of my head (actually with the help of a Blues fan blog-I did remember McGinn and Stajen though), and while i don't remember much taunting, we really don't know for sure...
anyway, McGinn, Stajen, Holmstrom.

Won't apologize that his were not as effective as Seabrooks either!
- dsav123

Oh! Silver Medals mean something? Maybe they should have handed out Silver Medals to Ray Bourque when he lost in Cup final after Cup final in a journey that way more difficult than the olympics. I didnt say he sucks, but he was manhandled, yes, manhandeled in the LA series. Shaw is a better option at 3c if you think Kruger should be there. Third line center is a role for a player who plays on the edge, not a cream puff swede. Kruger is a fourth line player with the Hawks and nothing more. He may win board battles and kill big penalties but your wrong if you think he is capable of anything more. I dont want to hear he is a good skilled guy, because if you look around the NHL they are all talented. Thats why they are playing at this level.
- nickmo2699

Silver medals mean something when you're selected to a high powered team like Sweden despite playing on a fourth line.

I can't really respond to any of the rest of your comment because you have made baseless unsupported statements and then said that Andrew Shaw is a better center on the third line because he's "not a creme puff." Which is absurd because Shaw is a better fit at wing, given his low faceoff percentage and penchant for getting to the net and providing a solid presence there.

oh come on, unclench! Admit it, if Backes does that same thing to Seabrook you are very, very satisfied...oh wait, Backes does that a lot.
- dsav123

To Seabrook, no. To say Matt Cooke, perhaps, ok definitely on at least some level. lol

- carcus

oh wait, you're right...the side to side emoji head clearly means he didn't cheap shot those guys.

My bad!

To Seabrook, no. To say Matt Cooke, perhaps, ok definitely on at least some level. lol
- stljam

haha...that's all i'm saying. listen, if the hit never happens i'm good. It certainly wasn't something i expected or wanted...but it happened, Seabrook got his 3 games, move on...

How is Backes any different than him? Goon squad. That is funny.

He deserved it.

You realize you are have a huge double standard, right? Tell me when Backes has knocked someone out on a bad hit, then taunted him as he is getting up? Who is the goon?

Let me answer that for you, neither.
- carcus

Look, the fact is, Backes has a reputation and a lot of people (especially here) feel like he got some sort of karma for his dirty play when he got KO'd. I don't think anyone (with a conscience) truly condones the hit or wants to see another player injured, and even Seabrook himself was a little dismayed about just how bad he clipped him. I know I was embarrassed by the shameful way some Hawks "fans" acted following the hit (I almost got into a fight with one of those assbags wearing the "Wakey Wakey Backes" shirts) because a lot of people simply don't realize the extent of something like that.

I believe Seabrook regrets what happened, and I think Backes probably forgives him, or will in time. That's really all that matters. Not an opinion on a message board.

I think the whole incident should just be left in the past.

haha...that's all i'm saying. listen, if the hit never happens i'm good. It certainly wasn't something i expected or wanted...but it happened, Seabrook got his 3 games, move on...
- dsav123

Not sure what suggests I haven't, I was just asking Ogi a question in a more creative manner.

If Seabrook and Backes are good with it, which by most accounts they are (though it wouldn't surprise me at all if they drop the gloves on 10/25), why the heck should I be worried about it. Stuff happens.

Frankly Backes loss should have been easier to overcome than similar but more devastating playoff losses of Pronger and Fuhr. Yzerman's laid a dirty hit on Pronger's knee that may likely have cost the Blues that series and Kypreos running Fuhr was a huge event.

I think the whole incident should just be left in the past.
- Sandus

I'm glad I will be at the game on 10/25 so I won't have to listen to all the announcer talk about it and all the replays.

Not sure what suggests I haven't, I was just asking Ogi a question in a more creative manner.

If Seabrook and Backes are good with it, which by most accounts they are (though it wouldn't surprise me at all if they drop the gloves on 10/25), why the heck should I be worried about it. Stuff happens.

Frankly Backes loss should have been easier to overcome than similar but more devastating playoff losses of Pronger and Fuhr. Yzerman's laid a dirty hit on Pronger's knee that may likely have cost the Blues that series and Kypreos running Fuhr was a huge event.
- stljam

Sorry, my statement was more of a generalization...not directed at you. Just using your post as a jumping off point. Was not my intent to single you out.

Look, the fact is, Backes has a reputation and a lot of people (especially here) feel like he got some sort of karma for his dirty play when he got KO'd. I don't think anyone (with a conscience) truly condones the hit or wants to see another player injured, and even Seabrook himself was a little dismayed about just how bad he clipped him. I know I was embarrassed by the shameful way some Hawks "fans" acted following the hit (I almost got into a fight with one of those assbags wearing the "Wakey Wakey Backes" shirts) because a lot of people simply don't realize the extent of something like that.

I believe Seabrook regrets what happened, and I think Backes probably forgives him, or will in time. That's really all that matters. Not an opinion on a message board.

I think the whole incident should just be left in the past.
- Sandus

How many times has Seabrook been on the receiving end of a dirty hit and been hurt. Like when Wisniewski ran him from center ice in Anaheim and when that POS Abdelkader ran him unnecessarily in the final game of the 2011 season. Anybody around here wringing their hands in grief about those hits and a few others he's received?

Seabrook knew what was going on when he hit Backes - somebody had to clock that jerk or he was going to run roughshod over any Hawk player that he could line up. And I doubt he feels a touch of remorse about doing it. It was what was necessary at the time and the Blues faded noticeably from there on.

Its a nasty game when big boys start playing for keeps. Backes finaaly got racked by a guy his size and he had it coming to him for a long time.

And to quote the great coach Ken Hitchcock - 'the way to approach beating a great team is to cut the head off their biggest snake".

Unfortunately for Hitch, his biggest snake got his head cut off. And Seabrook doesn't give a fiddler's f$ck about doing it.

oh wait, you're right...the side to side emoji head clearly means he didn't cheap shot those guys.

My bad!
- dsav123

He hit McGinn late, was a retaliation for earlier in that game. But it wasn't that bad, not blindside or headshot. Just caught him off guard because it was after the whistle. Hit him in his shoulder/front.

Stajen, I am assuming that you are talking about when he clipped him in OT. That was not dirty at all. Stajen tried to get around him and it ended up getting his knee, but Backes didn't stick out his leg.

This is what bothers me. When someone hits another with a bad headshot, and then fans compare it to plays that are nothing close to it and use it as reasons why it is ok/deserved.

I find it amusing that if a Blues player touches a Blackhawk, he is a goon. And when a Blackhawks player knocks out Backes with a headshot, it was a hockey play/deserved. Here is another emoji for you.

He hit McGinn late, 2) was a retaliation for earlier in that game. But it wasn't that bad, not blindside or headshot. Just caught him off guard because it was after the whistle. Hit him in his shoulder/front.

Stajen, I am assuming that you are talking about when he clipped him in OT. 2) That was not dirty at all. Stajen tried to get around him and it ended up getting his knee, but Backes didn't stick out his leg.

This is what bothers me. When someone hits another with a bad headshot, and then fans compare it to plays that are nothing close to it and 3) use it as reasons why it is ok/deserved.

1) I find it amusing that if a Blues player touches a Blackhawk, he is a goon. And when a Blackhawks player knocks out Backes with a headshot, it was a hockey play/deserved. Here is another emoji for you.
- carcus

Wow, so much to deal with in this post...

1) Others may have but i never called him a goon...fact is it doesn't take him running anyone on the Hawks for me to "hate" him, he's a Blue and therefore, i "hate" him!

2) And Seabrooks was justified by years of Backes being a dbag...again, it's a Hawks v Blues thing...Not sure about you but i love the fact that i can hate the Blues again. It's been a long time since the Federko, Sutter, Mullen era!

3) Wasn't using it for reasons why it was ok/deserved, just stating my opinion about Backes. and yes, Seabrook deserved, and got, 3 games.

I understand we're not going to "settle" this here but it's fun to have the rivalry juiced up again, no?

How many times has Seabrook been on the receiving end of a dirty hit and been hurt. Like when Wisniewski ran him from center ice in Anaheim and when that POS Abdelkader ran him unnecessarily in the final game of the 2011 season. Anybody around here wringing their hands in grief about those hits and a few others he's received?

Seabrook knew what was going on when he hit Backes - somebody had to clock that jerk or he was going to run roughshod over any Hawk player that he could line up. And I doubt he feels a touch of remorse about doing it. It was what was necessary at the time and the Blues faded noticeably from there on.

Its a nasty game when big boys start playing for keeps. Backes finaaly got racked by a guy his size and he had it coming to him for a long time.

And to quote the great coach Ken Hitchcock - 'the way to approach beating a great team is to cut the head off their biggest snake".

Unfortunately for Hitch, his biggest snake got his head cut off. And Seabrook doesn't give a fiddler's f$ck about doing it.
- RickJ

And Seabrook got 3 games for his hit.

Brookbank filled in fairly well, but trading Seabrook for Backes - good deal?

Don't think so.

Bad hit, stupid hit, not needed, could have wound up very bad for the Hawks.

The thing is, nobody deserves to be hit like that. Headshots should not be acceptable. Regardless if you think the guy on the receiving end is a dbag.

If/when Backes lays a headshot like was given to him, I would be saying the exact same thing. It was a stupid play. And I am sure there will be Blues fans that would cheer it (and they will also be idiots), and that will always remember Seabrook as a goon/dbag because of his hit. (even though he isn't a goon, it was just a stupid play)

Do you think you guys will take a run at MDZ for a cheap 1m contract if you are able to move Versteeg and Rozi? Or are you going with with Runblad on the 3rd pairing?

I find it weird Del Zotto isn't signed and it feels like hes waiting for a team like you guys or Boston to become cap compliant first
- DDM-Coga

No need for a young another young dman here who hasn't lived up to expectations... actually by quite a bit.
On Twitter@AlCimaglia

If Seabrook's hit was "a good hit badly timed", then no one "countered" Hitch's goon squad THIS year - and the Hawks won four straight and the series.
- StLBravesFan

Reread my post... I said "during the regular season". This team needs someone to slow down that sort of rough play thru an 82 game season. No room for retaliation in the playoffs. The challenge for the Hawks will be getting there in one piece.

IMO Bollig/Reaves type players no longer are needed in the playoffs and actually hurt your chances. We are not there yet though in the regular season. I would be happy with a Martin/Clifford/King/Chris Neil/Jammer type in the bottom 6.