The Hawks were a flawed team last season, scarey at times both awesomely and shameful.

Did the Hawks have enough in sheer will to tie up the series? yes.

Did they fail miserably in depth, not being able to hold on to multi two goal leads? unfortunately yes.

LA had the answer to the Hawk team game and were the better team, no argument, they brought it when they had to. The Hawks,Ducks and Sharks did not. All had chances.

There was an obvious void in the #2 center position and within the bottom 6 forwards. Richards for now is the affordable answer at #2. With the human Bowling ball gone, there is a chance for bottom 6 improvement. The season will dictate what happens to Vsteeg/Bic/Rozy/Leddy. The boys will get their shot and that should include TT later this year.

The real question is what happens on the PK, as Darth alluded to. It was a strength and Zeus was a big part of that. The guy who steps up and fills that vacancy will be our full time bottom 6 guy.

So SB, like the way he has performed or not, has some choices within the cap, it all comes down to the players performances and injuries. The Hawks should be the favorite this year for the cup but there still are some real questions, was Hayes a huge mistake? Can Richards be that guy for Kane? Does SB move the right piece(s) before/during/after the season.

Dead time of year but it is the unknowns which have kept the summer blogs interesting. Looking foward to what is to come.
- Cup-Bearer

This is a serious concern of mine. I'm not saying the existing personnel can't step up, but we just don't have many proven penalty killers. While we know Toews and Hossa can do the job I would rather they didn't.

no use crying over spilled milk at this point, but we got hosed pretty bad in game 7 with both an offsides AND a high stick on the carter goal. one that should have never of counted...



- FourFeathers773

(frank)ing A!

This is a serious concern of mine. I'm not saying the existing personnel can't step up, but we just don't have many proven penalty killers. While we know Toews and Hossa can do the job I would rather they didn't.
- DarthKane

Lots of guys coming to training camp looking to stick with the big club somehow. A player that can fill a needed role like penalty killing could stick ahead of a player who might be more talented overall.

I'm looking for one of Rasmussen, McNeill, Nordstrom or Regin to impress enough in camp that it causes a huge argument between Q and Stanley B on who to keep.

no use crying over spilled milk at this point, but we got hosed pretty bad in game 7 with both an offsides AND a high stick on the carter goal. one that should have never of counted...



- FourFeathers773

Can't get this wound to stop bleeding now that you have gone ahead and ripped the scab off.

AND gave up a 2 goal lead AND gave up a lead with 7 minutes left....
- StLBravesFan

And LA's immobile defense got away with more clutching and grabbing than I have seen in the playoffs in years. The officiating this year was a throwback. Haven't seen calls ignored like that since the middle of the last decade.

This (officiating) will be the major factor in determining the next dynasty. Much more than the Kings forward depth or improvements by the Ducks and Stars.

I would still take the Hawks defense over the Kings plodders BUT when the officials ignore interference and holding almost entirely in the playoffs it will give a huge advantage to the teams built with size like Anaheim, LA, and the Blues. LA and the Blues coach that clutch and grab style almost perfectly. Anaheim is still playing pretty wide open but has the roster to play it (maybe not the coach).

If we see more offensive oriented officiating like we saw post lockout in 13 then the Hawks will have a clear advantage as long as they can maintain their team speed and cycle game. Remember the way they called interference at the beginning of 13? That opened things up and then, this last year, Walcom and his pals completely reverted back.

Clearly, the shaping of the Hawks roster has been assuming a continued move towards a more open, offensive style in the pro game. I hope Scotty and Rocky are pushing hard to keep that trend going - we saw some comments from Scotty about it during the playoffs. I hope they lobby Walcom's ass back to reservation games in the arctic circle.

Lots of guys coming to training camp looking to stick with the big club somehow. A player that can fill a needed role like penalty killing could stick ahead of a player who might be more talented overall.

I'm looking for one of Rasmussen, McNeill, Nordstrom or Regin to impress enough in camp that it causes a huge argument between Q and Stanley B on who to keep.
- RickJ

I am hoping somebody steps up, in my opinion Regin is the most likely candidate. In the future I could see Danault in that role, but likely not next season. I would like to see Nordstrom succeed, but I'm just don't sold on him yet.

Lots of guys coming to training camp looking to stick with the big club somehow. A player that can fill a needed role like penalty killing could stick ahead of a player who might be more talented overall.

I'm looking for one of Rasmussen, McNeill, Nordstrom or Regin to impress enough in camp that it causes a huge argument between Q and Stanley B on who to keep.
- RickJ

If Nordstrom calms down and gets the right PK coaching he could be that guy. Rasmussen is obviously an unknown but if one of these guys can demonstrate a Frolik type ability to battle on the boards during the kill then they will be fine. Dineen can certainly coach special teams and killing penalties is largely a "coachable" skill.

yeah.....breaks happen. The blown leads are what really pisses me off. Especially game 2....and if Seabrook scores to make 3-0, Hawks are probably heading to LA up 2-0 in the series.....

I still haven't watched game 7 again. saw it in person, and every time I see the highlight of the Kings jumping around I get pissed.
- SteveRain

I watched it in full about a week ago. I kno many games in that series could have gone either way, and there were games where the Kings were the better team(like games 3 and 4), but there is no doubt the Hawks should have won game 7 and were the slightly better team that game. Really hurts knowing just how close we were....just 1 bounce away....we'll never know....

I watched it in full about a week ago. I kno many games in that series could have gone either way, and there were games where the Kings were the better team(like games 3 and 4), but there is no doubt the Hawks should have won game 7 and were the slightly better team that game. Really hurts knowing just how close we were....just 1 bounce away....we'll never know....
- SimpleJack

Again, less about bounces and more about absent whistles on 2 offsides and finally on the last play. I take that last play as more of a standard non call or a call that could easily have not not been made but after all of the clutching and grabbing by the Kings not called during that game it has to be noted. When the Hawks grabbed that early lead you could almost sense the way the officials started to look the other way. Sickening and a black mark on the NHL.

Again, less about bounces and more about absent whistles on 2 offsides and finally on the last play. I take that last play as more of a standard non call or a call that could easily have not not been made but after all of the clutching and grabbing by the Kings not called during that game it has to be noted. When the Hawks grabbed that early lead you could almost sense the way the officials started to look the other way. Sickening and a black mark on the NHL.
- tredbrta

And there weren't any bad calls that went the Hawks way? No interferences, no trips, no hooks? No off-sides?

You almost seem to imply that the refs turned the game on purpose, which if only for TV ratings, the league wouldn't do: Chicago is a much better market for the national TV finals than LA.

I'll say it again - what cost the Hawks the series wasn't the refs, wasn't a bad bounce off of Leddy - it was the Hawks inability to hold a lead (or the Kings ability to keep coming back).

Let's not spoil a terrific Kings tournament by female doging about the refs - 3 game 7s on the road. That's something, and that's the story of the series against the Hawks.

And there weren't any bad calls that went the Hawks way? No interferences, no trips, no hooks? No off-sides?

You almost seem to imply that the refs turned the game on purpose, which if only for TV ratings, the league wouldn't do: Chicago is a much better market for the national TV finals than LA.

I'll say it again - what cost the Hawks the series wasn't the refs, wasn't a bad bounce off of Leddy - it was the Hawks inability to hold a lead (or the Kings ability to keep coming back).

Let's not spoil a terrific Kings tournament by female doging about the refs - 3 game 7s on the road. That's something, and that's the story of the series against the Hawks.
- StLBravesFan

Idk....the more i think about it the more it really did come down to a bounce. Had the Hawks won that final OT you could just as easily have said that the Kings lost because of their inability to hold leads in games 5 and 6. Neither team really showed any kind of ability to make you feel comfortable when they were leading, it was truly that close. I mean, all 9 goals scored in game 7 involved some sort of random bounce, or some form of luck. When the margin separating 2 teams is that thin it really does come down to nothing more than a bounce or deflection sometimes. I agree that the refs certainly weren't in on any sort of conspiracy and that both teams have to deal with bad calls.

And there weren't any bad calls that went the Hawks way? No interferences, no trips, no hooks? No off-sides?

You almost seem to imply that the refs turned the game on purpose, which if only for TV ratings, the league wouldn't do: Chicago is a much better market for the national TV finals than LA.

I'll say it again - what cost the Hawks the series wasn't the refs, wasn't a bad bounce off of Leddy - it was the Hawks inability to hold a lead (or the Kings ability to keep coming back).

Let's not spoil a terrific Kings tournament by female doging about the refs - 3 game 7s on the road. That's something, and that's the story of the series against the Hawks.
- StLBravesFan

meaning... Weak and inconsistent goaltending.

I am hoping somebody steps up, in my opinion Regin is the most likely candidate. In the future I could see Danault in that role, but likely not next season. I would like to see Nordstrom succeed, but I'm just don't sold on him yet.
- DarthKane

I really think McNeill could be the real deal and could fill the second line nicely in a year or two if he can build on an outstanding rookie pro season. I think he has a bright future.

Off-topic here and not sure if anyone has seen/discussed this here ....

but WOW what a goal by Ho-Sang (even if it doesn't matter):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLkmT-fxK90

I wish the Blackhawks took him when he fell at the time. Of course prospects are just that, but his ceiling is sky-high.

meaning... Weak and inconsistent goaltending.
- fvineze

Well, I didn't necessarily mean that - but you can interpret it as you wish.

I really think McNeill could be the real deal and could fill the second line nicely in a year or two if he can build on an outstanding rookie pro season. I think he has a bright future.
- flyerdude17

I agree 100%, but I don't think he'll see full time action until 15/16 at the earliest.

>JJ, am curious about your thoughts regarding Danault's speed
>Kruger is very, very fast from point A to point B defensively
>In my limited views of Danault, I thought his speed looked pretty average
>Thoughts?
>Eli -- your thoughts?
- SnapitUpstairs

Above average speed from everything I've seen, nice stride

>Thanks
>As mentioned, Kruger (to me) is one of the fastest skaters on the backcheck between bluelines and board to board
>Seems to get on the proper defensive side of the puck extremely fast
- SnapitUpstairs

Kruger is Clark Kent below the shoulders, Superman above, hence why he is so effective with limited athleticism. Though his hands are very underrated.

The personnel decisions are mainly Bowman's. I'm sure Q has input but resigning Bolig for 3 years at 1.325 and then watching Q chain him to the bench proves to me that Q didn't trust him, so Bowman jettisoned him to Calgary.

Same with Rozsival and Handzus. Bowman milked those 2. Handzus blew up in his face. Rozsival will blow up in his face this year if he's a regular in the lineup.

Versteeg....I have no issues here. Low risk, high reward. Does he make some bone headed plays? Of course he does...but he can be a very important guy for depth scoring. Something some other guys around here that are worshipped do NOT do.


PP...no argument. Hopefully that is fixed. Keith racks up the points, but I rarely see him create anything on the point. Most of his points are due to passing down and then Kane or Toews creates, or somebody knocks in one of his shots that are either blocked or air-mailed wide.

PK....this philosophy drives me bat $hit crazy. They try and block passing lanes and allow probably a league high back door tap ins because everyone is trying to block a shot. Meanwhile a guy is parked in Crawford and left uncontested.

Bickell......I'm on Bollus countdown 2 with this goof. Until he actually shows up in the regular season, I can't wait until this team develops his replacement. Arguably the laziest player they have on this team. Nobody peels off more checks in the regular season then Bickell. Nobody.
- SteveRain

Yes, Bollig was an SB guy.

Not a big supporter of Stanley as everyone knows, but I agree......I think he saw this coming and he had to make moves for the long term. See Versteeg.

I think he's exploring all angles to get this trade done and I applaud him for not rushing into anything and holding out for the best possible return.
- SteveRain

Agreed.

If they get a pick or two in return, would like to see it spent on a scoring forward over 5'10" and 160 pounds, and/or a quality goalie.

Is True Grit still alive? I miss the way him and UnnamedSource used to go at it. Always kept it interesting during times like these where theres basically no news to be reported and even the rumors are few and far between and even when they come, they are not really anything anyway.

I'm just bored. Need some entertainment
- BlazinMike

TG is still around on occasion.

gotta disagree with you...

LA won on a fluke goal in game 7 and for my money,

Richards + Morin/Regin/Rasmussen/my grandmother is way, WAY better than Handzus + Bollig.

Keep in mind all Richards has to do is assist on 30 Kane goals, and even without scoring a goal he would double Handzus's scoring from last year.
- dsav123

Only thing is, this team has lost a LOT of size the last two offseasons: Bollig, Frolik, Stalberg (who admittedly played pretty small).

But they were outmuscled by a Kings team that matched their speed and skill. What have they done to change that? Please don't say TT or Morin. I'll break out in hives.

Only thing is, this team has lost a LOT of size the last two offseasons: Bollig, Frolik, Stalberg (who admittedly played pretty small).

But they were outmuscled by a Kings team that matched their speed and skill. What have they done to change that? Please don't say TT or Morin. I'll break out in hives.
- John Jaeckel

Well they will add TT and Morin

Deja Vu...

@SNHockeyCentral: Report: Free agent Kevin Hayes' decision coming today; Bruins out @sportsnet http://t.co/iYyacUrqfJ

Off-topic here and not sure if anyone has seen/discussed this here ....

but WOW what a goal by Ho-Sang (even if it doesn't matter):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLkmT-fxK90

I wish the Blackhawks took him when he fell at the time. Of course prospects are just that, but his ceiling is sky-high.
- TommyHawk

Who would want another highly skilled undersized guy like that? I mean they don't work out in the big leagues with all the clutching and grabbing discussed earlier. Just look at 88 and the overhyped TT. insert red font here