I hope TT doesn't get the Ruutu treatment.

Tuomo Ruutu was a very very good player in his own right, but the expectations on him were well beyond what he could have possibly been. Hawks fans have to let him be him, not crush himunder the weight of what they want him to be.

I hope TT doesn't get the Ruutu treatment.

Tuomo Ruutu was a very very good player in his own right, but the expectations on him were well beyond what he could have possibly been. Hawks fans have to let him be him, not crush himunder the weight of what they want him to be.
- BINGO!

Best way to do that is to let him fully develop in Rockford so that when he arrives here, he's ready for the NHL.

I hope TT doesn't get the Ruutu treatment.

Tuomo Ruutu was a very very good player in his own right, but the expectations on him were well beyond what he could have possibly been. Hawks fans have to let him be him, not crush himunder the weight of what they want him to be.
- BINGO!

If they trade TT for a Ladd-type player and we win another Cup it will be all good.

If they trade TT for a Ladd-type player and we win another Cup it will be all good.


- DarthKane

...in all honesty, that trade worked out well for both teams. Both clubs got exactly the player they needed at the time.

Good point TC, and I suspect they grabbed Rundblad in that deal as a possible point solution on the power play. Let's face it, they've been "experimenting" there since (at least) since Campbell and Buff left town.

Thing is, WHY is this the kid's 4th organization by age 21?
- John Jaeckel

Partly because the Blues wanted Tarasenko more

Well JJ it basically means nothing except that from his body language I felt like I/you were on to something. We all know he has to do something and I think he enjoyed hearing all the ideas that we in the media put out there. It could be that I was really close or way off. It just caught my eye.
- Sensdems

Gotcha, thx

I hope TT doesn't get the Ruutu treatment.

Tuomo Ruutu was a very very good player in his own right, but the expectations on him were well beyond what he could have possibly been. Hawks fans have to let him be him, not crush himunder the weight of what they want him to be.
- BINGO!

Totally different situation.

Re: David Runblad



All that nice footage on the wide Swedish rinks means a bit more time to slide and edge and throw the pass over.

I have to answer you John with this:

TEAM 1) He got traded out of the first organization because Blues chief scout Jarmo Kekalainen (now the Columbus GM) had a giant woody for Tarasenko and we all knew that Tarasenko WAS at top four player that draft year but was a Russian.
The blues were going to do their best to acquire the pick...not a knock just aggressive trading becasue they were convinced HE would come over and be a dominant NHL winger.

TEAM 2) You can argue that Ottawa probably felt they had similar styled defenders while Runblad was there...and the sophmore Karlsson was lights out crazy offensively took over....and Runblad was somewhat lost defensively with the team and partners when he did get ice time. BUT AGAIN...I can argue Runblad got traded to Phoenix more because Ottawa saw an opportunity to acquire a young disgruntled second overall pick who was centre and wanted $ and ICE. Ottawa wanted to seals the deal and his trade did.

TEAM 3) Runblad expected more opportunities in Phoenix and asked to be moved because he felt like the chances he got in six games were not in his best interest.

TEAM 4) Blackhawks and their pecking order were expected but don't think Runblad will sit quietly in the pressbox if not offered opportunities TO fail.
What everyone is ignoring is that the right handed shot was used a lot on the left side as happens more regularly in the Euro game so the point man and can move and his paddle is closer to the net.
I have a feeling they are no cards hidden from him.

He either wins a job after they send someone packing or he loses it to Clendnening Johns Dalbeck contingent.
I said it a long time ago, this guy was a dominant player in Europe.

I certainly am glad that so many comments and opinions have been fostered and are now chiseled in as fact by many, kinda the reverse of the "Tevo fan frantic-sy."

I hoping he busts loose ala the Russian kid in LA Slava Voynov....
- wiz1901

Wiz,

Blues and Sens analysis is exactly how I feel about David. Phoenix truly has a log jam of the puck moving D. he isn't taking ice from OEL or Yandle. So where does that leave him? It seems like he has already been written off. If Leddy goes, I can see David being the 6th D who minutes basically consist of Powerplay time and favorable O-zone starts. Not a big risk but with some reward imho.

The only way he raises the chalice is in the Indian Head sweater. Can you photo-shop that into the pic?
- blackhawk24

Did you see how terrible that photo shop was done? No way does whoever did that have the skills to swap out the sweater.

Carcus

When are the blues going to get a consistent blogger? Cant seem to get two blogs in a month let alone a week.
- sycsam

maybe if you add mine and randall and we get a third person, lol.

Yeah, Halak was awesome 4 years ago. And Anderson was terrible LAST season.

And its always easy to say that any goalie would be good behind a certain D, this is way too simplistic of a way to look at it.
- Elbows15

After probably being the odds on favorite for the Vezina, prior to getting injured, the previous season.

And saying Anderson has been "wildly inconsistent" isn't simplistic?

Actually, if you look at the arc of his career, he's progressively gotten better, playing mostly for bad or at best mediocre teams. And people who scout and evaluate goalies for a living will tell you, he's gotten better through hard work and adjusting his style.

.915 save% for his career, playing largely behind AWFUL defenses: the 2004 Hawks, Florida, Colorado and Ottawa.

And we don't know how Corey responds under similar pressure, do we, because he's always played for at least very good teams.

Speaking of simplistic, OK, you tell me Osgood's stats weren't helped by playing behind Lidstrom. Simplistic? OK, whatever that means. True. Absolutely. It's common sense, as simplistic as that might be, that an average goalie can look fairly stellar statistically, giving up two goals a night (sound familiar?) behind a great defense. Happens a lot.

They see less shots and less quality of shots—which I know was a fact with Osgood. Pretty sure it is generally with Crawford as well.

maybe if you add mine and randall and we get a third person, lol.
- stljam

Are we using you now on the main site?

After probably being the odds on favorite for the Vezina, prior to getting injured, the previous season.

And saying Anderson has been "wildly inconsistent" isn't simplistic? Actually, if you look at the arc of his career, he's progressively gotten better, playing mostly for bad or at best mediocre teams. And people who scout and evaluate goalies of ra living will tell you, he's gotten better through hard work and adjusting his style.

.915 save% for his career, playing largely behind AWFUL defenses: the 2004 Hawks, Florida, Colorado and Ottawa.

And we don't know how Corey responds under similar pressure, do we, because he's always played for at least very good teams.
- John Jaeckel

JJ

Different goalies play better in front of different styles/environments. Some examples...Brodeur in the Devils system. CUJO in shot heavy systems. Osgood and Vernon in the Detroit system. Not all goalies play better facing fewer shots just like not all goalies play better facing more shots. Some guys play better when there is no pressure (yes looking at you Ryan Miller). Some guys play better when there is immense pressure (looking at you Patrick Roy).

As a Goalie, I truly believe the Goalie has to be a good fit on the team. He has to trust and believe in his team and they have to in turn trust and believe in him. How they interact and play together can be a factor in this. Just my 2 cents. I've seen good goalies turned terrible by good teams because they didn't fit well together and it spiraled. Again, just my 2 cents (not really related about Anderson who went to school in Barrington btw).

Are we using you now on the main site?
- John Jaeckel

Not to my knowledge but I think I have written almost as much as Randall or about the same in the last month or two. Hope to crank another one out on Monday. Been working about 7:30am until about 12:30am lately. Taking a sanity break right now in a lull. Worked until 9pm Friday, worked about 6 hours Saturday, 14 hours sunday, and antoher 15 hours yesterday. My brain needed a work reset so I figured I'd jump on here.

Back to the beer thing for a minute....Any of you guys had any Perennial Artisan Ales beer?

They have some crazy stuff and are originally from Chicago.

http://www.perennialbeer....er-lister/all_categories/

After probably being the odds on favorite for the Vezina, prior to getting injured, the previous season.

And saying Anderson has been "wildly inconsistent" isn't simplistic? Actually, if you look at the arc of his career, he's progressively gotten better, playing mostly for bad or at best mediocre teams. And people who scout and evaluate goalies for a living will tell you, he's gotten better through hard work and adjusting his style.

.915 save% for his career, playing largely behind AWFUL defenses: the 2004 Hawks, Florida, Colorado and Ottawa.

And we don't know how Corey responds under similar pressure, do we, because he's always played for at least very good teams.
- John Jaeckel

Go look at his SV%. It would indicate that wildly inconsistent is an accurate assessment.

And what he WENT into the season as is irrelevant. What he accomplished, or in this case, didn't accomplish, isn't.

JJ

Different goalies play better in front of different styles/environments. Some examples...Brodeur in the Devils system. CUJO in shot heavy systems. Osgood and Vernon in the Detroit system. Not all goalies play better facing fewer shots just like not all goalies play better facing more shots. Some guys play better when there is no pressure (yes looking at you Ryan Miller). Some guys play better when there is immense pressure (looking at you Patrick Roy).

As a Goalie, I truly believe the Goalie has to be a good fit on the team. He has to trust and believe in his team and they have to in turn trust and believe in him. How they interact and play together can be a factor in this. Just my 2 cents. I've seen good goalies turned terrible by good teams because they didn't fit well together and it spiraled. Again, just my 2 cents (not really related about Anderson who went to school in Barrington btw).
- stljam

Ha this I know, as did I, but has nothing to do with my admiration for him. His first agent is a good friend of mine (former pro 'keeper himself). That originally got me interested in Craig's career.

Go look at his SV%. It would indicate that wildly inconsistent is an accurate assessment.

And what he WENT into the season as is irrelevant. What he accomplished, or in this case, didn't accomplish, isn't.
- Elbows15

No, I have seen his numbers. He WENT into the season with the same stats as every other goalie in the league: nil.

He was ripping it up and probably could have coasted to the Vezina before he got hurt. Came back and played OK. And I think he still got a lot of votes.

I will grant you the injury thing with him. Beyond that, can't agree. He has progressively gotten better through his career. Bottom line, he's an underrated, under appreciated goalie. And most OTT fans love him BTW.

There is a reason that OTT gave him that three year deal to play over the great Robin Lehner. Not that Lehner sucks either.

Totally different situation.
- John Jaeckel

It is and it isn't. It seems to me to just be that the fans are hoping the very promising youngster is Forsberg this time as opposed to team management demanding him to be Forsberg

Not to my knowledge but I think I have written almost as much as Randall or about the same in the last month or two. Hope to crank another one out on Monday. Been working about 7:30am until about 12:30am lately. Taking a sanity break right now in a lull. Worked until 9pm Friday, worked about 6 hours Saturday, 14 hours sunday, and antoher 15 hours yesterday. My brain needed a work reset so I figured I'd jump on here.
- stljam

You have probably written more than him.

The Blues had a big offseason event, unveiling new jerseys. He wrote something short about it 10 days ago. Then he wrote his last blog about a bunch of prospects that likely will never make the NHL 8 days ago. You would think that he would post something more the day or two before. Maybe after talking about it/new jerseys.

****crickets****

And people wonder why there is no Blues traffic on hockeybuzz. It is not because there are not Blues fans. It is because there has been basically nothing worth coming on here in years when it pertains to the Blues. So Blues fans have stopped coming here.

No, I have seen his numbers. He WENT into the season with the same stats as every other goalie in the league: nil.

He was ripping it up and probably could have coasted to the Vezina before he got hurt. Came back and played OK. And I think he still got a lot of votes.

I will grant you the injury thing with him. Beyond that, can't agree. He has progressively gotten better through his career. Bottom line, he's an underrated, under appreciated goalie. And most OTT fans love him BTW.

There is a reason that OTT gave him that three year deal to play over the great Robin Lehner. Not that Lehner sucks either.
- John Jaeckel

Saying he went into the season as the odds on favorite for the Vezina is a bit different that comparing his stats to other goalies before the season starts.
He was bad last season as he tends to be in every other season. His SV% fluctuates .030 a year. that is not an indication of progression, to me. That is an indication of inconsistency.

It is and it isn't. It seems to me to just be that the fans are hoping the very promising youngster is Forsberg this time as opposed to team management demanding him to be Forsberg
- BINGO!

Most fans want him to be Kane, not Forsberg. For accuracy sakes. But then, most fans have only seen him play two games.

Leddy makes the most sense. will bring a decent return and i think can be replaced from within.
- SaskHawkFan

Sorry but I respectfully disagree. If this is a "cup run" year, Nick Leddy is needed.
He is 23 years old with experience and yes he makes mistakes. They all do, even Mr. Norris Trophy makes them. His legs and his contribution on the PP will be missed. You do not trade youth and speed IMO unless the return is great.
Cut bait with the older guys like Rosival and/or Versteeg if it's totally about getting under the cap. And as for moving Sharp ??? Same thought. Make a run this year
and the move next summer.

Sorry but I respectfully disagree. If this is a "cup run" year, Nick Leddy is needed.
He is 23 years old with experience and yes he makes mistakes. They all do, even Mr. Norris Trophy makes them. His legs and his contribution on the PP will be missed. You do not trade youth and speed IMO unless the return is great.
Cut bait with the older guys like Rosival and/or Versteeg if it's totally about getting under the cap. And as for moving Sharp ??? Same thought. Make a run this year
and the move next summer.
- Hawkytalk

If someone wants Versteeg and Roszival - not a sure thing until Versteeg shows himself 100% healthy - don't know what Roszival needs to show.

It's a lot of cap hit ($2.2) and real money ($1.75) for a 6/7 defenseman.

If someone wants Versteeg and Roszival - not a sure thing until Versteeg shows himself 100% healthy - don't know what Roszival needs to show.

It's a lot of cap hit ($2.2) and real money ($1.75) for a 6/7 defenseman.
- StLBravesFan

Not for one season, especially if you're short on defensemen in general and/or need a veteran dman to help your young guys.

I still think Rozsival to Detroit makes a lot of sense.