I'd rather have an elite PK too. I don't think it's too much to ask to have that and a PP that's in the top 15 of the league.
- EKolb13

To be honest I am a bit concerned about the PK this season. Not becasue of the coaching but because of the players. We ragged on Zeus a lot but he was effective on the PK, who is going to take his PK time? Kruger should be on the 1st PK unit and I'd like to see Toews and Hossa play less. Who steps up his season? Regin? Smith? Saad? Somebody will need to.

To be honest I am a bit concerned about the PK this season. Not becasue of the coaching but because of the players. We ragged on Zeus a lot but he was effective on the PK, who is going to take his PK time? Kruger should be on the 1st PK unit and I'd like to see Toews and Hossa play less. Who steps up his season? Regin? Smith? Saad? Somebody will need to.
- DarthKane

I wouldnt mind giving those guys a shot at least. I know Saad is supposed to be top 6 now, but the kid is young and has great IQ and speed/talent to go with it. I have no problem with Saad being on the PK as long as the PK is aggressive. If he's going to be out there standing in front of Crow waiting to eat multiple slap shots a night then put someone less important out there because it wont be very effective no matter who is out there.

You could make an argument that Morin would be the same level of risk as Versteeg, but not the others. One day these guys may be solid NHLers but at this points only Carey has played in the NHL and that was a couple courtesy games at the end of last season. Versteeg has a poor 2nd half of the season, but previous to that he's had a very good NHL career.

So which is the bigger risk: An NHL caliber player who slumped (badly I will concede) last year or a guy who's never played in the NHL?
- DarthKane

That's the big question isn't it. While McNeill and Danault have not played in the NHL as yet I think there is a pretty good feeling about what their level of play is at this point. I think Morin and Regin are both more viable candidates than Versteeg at this point as well.

In a league with a Hard cap, I would rather give a Morin or Mcneill a regular shift at $800-900K than Versteeg at $2.2mil

To be honest I am a bit concerned about the PK this season. Not becasue of the coaching but because of the players. We ragged on Zeus a lot but he was effective on the PK, who is going to take his PK time? Kruger should be on the 1st PK unit and I'd like to see Toews and Hossa play less. Who steps up his season? Regin? Smith? Saad? Somebody will need to.
- DarthKane

Ideally I think you'd want it to be Smith

Smart player, strong down low, can win board battles, hustles his butt off, can take some draws if need be, and is a bottom 6 guy

That's the big question isn't it. While McNeill and Danault have not played in the NHL as yet I think there is a pretty good feeling about what their level of play is at this point. I think Morin and Regin are both more viable candidates than Versteeg at this point as well.

In a league with a Hard cap, I would rather give a Morin or Mcneill a regular shift at $800-900K than Versteeg at $2.2mil
- TheTrob

McNeill and Danault are two guys that are probably going to be counted on to compete for and to step into roles in Chicago next season. Leaving them in the minors for another season to get as much playing time as possible is the best thing for them and the team.

And there it is lol.

And there it is lol.
- biegs

If you're banned how are you posting?

Honestly, replacing Bollig with someone like Morin or Regin could have easily been the difference between winning the cup last year or not

Those guys actually impacted play on offense and who knows, they could have contributed an extra goal here or there. Certainly wasnt getting any benefit from Bollig playing 4 minutes of mindless minutes a night vs LAK
- FourFeathers773

Regin actually did impact the Kaner series ending goal in OT against MINN.
Funky bounce off glass on dump in, REGIN races for puck on the side of net Sutter ties him up going below the goal line. Kane picks up puck and buries it in the net IMPACT of the best kind

Better yet it was against the Cooke Haula Neeiderreiter line that caused a lot of stress during that series. Though it was during a line change

If you're banned how are you posting?
- Yeti1181

If he's banned...why?

If you're banned how are you posting?
- Yeti1181

Obviously, he isn't banned.

If he's banned...why?
- Ogilthorpe2

You missed the post that was deleted before so it doesn't make sense now.

Obviously, he isn't banned.
- EKolb13

That was kind of my point

McNeill and Danault are two guys that are probably going to be counted on to compete for and to step into roles in Chicago next season. Leaving them in the minors for another season to get as much playing time as possible is the best thing for them and the team.
- EKolb13

Agreed.

Just saying there are better options for Versteeg on the current NHL roster, Morin and Regin being 2 of them. If you are starting your "best 12", is Versteeg a better choice than either of them at this point?

They have more than enough talent to have both. Philosophies on both have to change. A few years ago when the PK was near the top they were much more aggressive in pressuring the puck and the points. Now they are passive and wait in the lanes. On the PP they have way too much offensive talent to be as un-creative as they are. Move some guys around, skate to open areas, force the opponent to move. It's fine to give the puck to Kane on the half-board, but move some guys around and let him use his elite passing skills to find the open one.

How much was coming from Q and what was coming from Havilland, Torchetti, Kompon?
- TheTrob

WAY too many point shots go in on this acount SIGH

You missed the post that was deleted before so it doesn't make sense now.
- Yeti1181

Stop deleting posts, then everybody can be included and no one will feel left out.

That was kind of my point
- Yeti1181

And my post was deleted again. There is my point once again.

Maybe - I guess we'll never know. I think it's easy to focus on the bad (and sometimes minor) issues too. Bollig is a MINOR issue. A 12th forward on your team is not going to make or break your season.

How about some things that he did that WON them cups? Buf on top line... Bickell on top line, playing an unproven goalie in Niemi, making needed adjustments and benching guys at the right time (ie. Brouwer in 2010), pairing a former scoring winger on the PK, Frolik with Kruger to form an elite unit. Oh and how about the fact that the players LOVE him for letting them rest with probably more extra days off than any other team in the league.

I'm by no means the biggest Q fan but I think he's done a good job and their could have been worse moves made. Just love how everyone likes to highlight his miscues but rarely focuses on some truly great things he's done.

Just like providing a different POV.
- TyCamScore

Ty, you definitely make solid points here -- and again -- I've given Q his due in past year's blogs. I think the things you point out ARE solid decisions by Q but the things I pointed out are those areas where I think he's really underachieving. No reason for Keith on 1st unit PP, no reason for the stupid drop passes, etc.

I guess like everything else in life, there's good to be had along with the bad and as long as the good outweighs the bad, we're doing OK.



Just wish Q would address some of the things on my list -- because I really DO think we'd have had b2b CUPS and at least 3 total right now if he had.

Ty, you definitely make solid points here -- and again -- I've given Q his due in past year's blogs. I think the things you point out ARE solid decisions by Q but the things I pointed out are those areas where I think he's really underachieving. No reason for Keith on 1st unit PP, no reason for the stupid drop passes, etc.

I guess like everything else in life, there's good to be had along with the bad and as long as the good outweighs the bad, we're doing OK.



Just wish Q would address some of the things on my list -- because I really DO think we'd have had b2b CUPS and at least 3 total right now if he had.
- savvyone-1

I wouldn't blame the last of back-to-back Cups on Q. Versteeg, Bollig and Handzus all tanked it during the LA series, Q was forced to roll with 3 lines and regardless of how much we love him Shaw is not the ideal 2nd line centre (neither is Smith). LA has the exact opposite happen, their 4th line stepped up big time, yet it still took them OT in game 7 to beat us.

Stop deleting posts, then everybody can be included and no one will feel left out.
- BlazinMike

I'm not deleting anything

I'm not deleting anything
- Yeti1181

Killed another thread, victory is mine.

- Beaver-Warrior

Great. My preparations for the zombie apocalypse has been a big waste of time.

Most of the "usual gang" don't hang here anymore...so spew away.
- Ogilthorpe2

pray tell, why is the usual suspect list so short nowadays?
I've not seen Unnamed here in quite some time - hope all is well with him?
Mohel? invisible orange?
I've been on the course all summer, hope they are too and nothing is wrong

That's what I'm curious about. If Dineen isn't given free reign and marching orders, does anything change?
- EKolb13

Dineen made me look like a genius with Canada's womens olympic team. I have seen him adapt when he needs to. If it's up to him and the PP is not successful he will switch it up until he's happy with it. Of that I have no doubt. And I tend to think he will not last if he is not given free reign, he will become a little frustrated. I always saw KD as much more demonstrative than Q when they were playing. I would expect the same as a coach. I think it's a good to great hire.

Dineen made me look like a genius with Canada's womens olympic team. I have seen him adapt when he needs to. If it's up to him and the PP is not successful he will switch it up until he's happy with it. Of that I have no doubt. And I tend to think he will not last if he is not given free reign, he will become a little frustrated. I always saw KD as much more demonstrative than Q when they were playing. I would expect the same as a coach. I think it's a good to great hire.
- 6628

I think it was a good hire as well. I'm just hoping that he can turn the PP around.