- Ogilthorpe2

Now that I have some time to more properly respond to your "preach a lot" comment:

I have opinions, and I have ethics; if that does not conform to HB policy, please let me know.

The league should not be in the position of vigorously enforcing some rules and not others. LTIR a should be reserved for players with - yes - lingering injuries from some trauma that (a) could be further injured by playing, or (b) does not allow them to play effectively. It should not be used to allow Hossa to "rest" for a few games without a demonstrable injury - or to park a player to allow a team to temporarily get below the cap. We have read here that the Hawks should put any number of players on IR - Roszival, Versteeg, Oduya - without (except for Oduya, who apparently seems to be skating well) any apparent injury, to buy time to get under the cap.


Preachy? OK - just me trying to channel an old shtetl rebbe to the modern hockey world.
- StLBravesFan

why should profitable teams like the hawks have to be handicapped with a salary cap so i say if the team can afford to bury a player or two on LTIR let them. I want the hawks to be able to put the best product they can on the ice

if Bowman is shopping Rundblad because the hawks saw some defect in his skating, etc., then SHAME on them for not seeing that before coughing up a 2nd round pick for him. I think something's missing or inaccurate in that story, but . . .

As for the Hawks "making the judgement" on TT's readiness . . . ya think?

But let's face it, they DID when he had his little audition last Spring. And they chose not to keep him around for the playoffs. And the notion that they just didn't want to burn a year off his ELC is asinine.

If he could have legitimately helped a center-starved team at center, they would have kept him around. The truth is, he was too small, too inexperienced on NA ice, had not played at NHL speed and against NHL size. THAT, and that alone, is why they ended his audition, played the playoffs, then immediately went into "find a 2C" mode, first with Kesler and later with Richards.

It doesn't mean TT sucks or won't be good. It means playing in the NHL, much less as a top 6 centerman is no small task. And I agree with Snapper, it speaks volumes about Kane's talent and the ability to make the jump from junior in 2007.

But as I've said here before, and this is no "knock" on TT, Kane>>>TT

Patience . . .
- John Jaeckel

He said himself (tt) that he was feeling burnt out with all the travel and hockey he played last year.

Bottom line is today he may not be urgently needed but later in the season he could help out.

I'd like to see him razzle dazzle the rock first.

It will be an interesting year with the money that kicks in next year and the expiring deals coming up. I still strongly think sharp or even seabs are the best candidates to jettison. But well see.

This is why I think there is going to be a bigger deal than most are thinking. Include Sharp, and now it is not a salary dump, but a "blockbuster" trade. It's not a trade to get under the cap.
- powerenforcer

Still ok with salary dump

So, Kane is excited about playing with Richards.....
- carcus

120 points on the horizon

The Hype Machine rolls on as Hawk management and coaching pump TT's tires simultaneously inflating the expectations of the kool aid drinking fan base.

From yesterday's Herald:

http://www.dailyherald.co...0140918/sports/140918116/

120 points on the horizon
- fattybeef

Big things are in store for Kane this season, I can feel it. I think you can count on a career year or close to it.

If you caught some highlights from yesterdays scrimmage, Kane's shot seems to keep getting better and better. I know he's shooting against low-quality goaltending, but either way, a stable set of linemates can only benefit Kane's production.

New blog coming tonight
- John Jaeckel

From TSN.ca preview of the Hawks' season, a nice simple breakdown of last year, by quarter, showing what we've said here many times:

Scott Cullen's Analytics
Blackhawks 2013-14 stats by Quarter
Games GPG GAA SH% SV% SAF% PTS%
1-20 3.60 3.20 9.3% .913 57.0% .750
21-41 3.90 2.43 10.6%.914 56.1% .738
42-62 2.57 2.29 7.4% .928 54.6% .595
63-82 2.50 2.70 6.4% .903 55.4% .525
NHL AVG 2.67 2.67 7.8% .922 50.0% .562
Key: GPG= goals per game, GAA= goals-against per game, SH%= even-strength shooting percentage, SV%= even-strength save percentage, SAF%= score-adjusted Fenwick percentage (differential of shot attempts faced vs. shot attempts, excluding blocked shots, adjusted for game score), PTS%= percentage of available points.

Analysis:

Games 1-20: Dominant puck possession and finishing overpowered less-than-stellar goaltending as Blackhawks came out of the gate strong.

Games 21-41: Ridiculous, and unsustainable, shooting percentage, during a stretch in which Blackhawks had nine wins by at least three goals.

Games 42-62: Decline started, even with a boost in goaltending, as possession dropped a little and scoring pace slowed significantly.

Games 63-82: Struggled late in the year, with below-average percentages, but strong possession still made them competitive.

Looking at vids off the club site......seems Steeger is reborn. Q says he's in better shape and has more jump. Encouraging, but he'll likely regress into the same old turnover machine in no time.

at this mornings scrimmage Toews and Kane have scored and TT has scored twice..

at this mornings scrimmage Toews and Kane have scored and TT has scored twice..
- Glenman12

his first goal was filthy....they have a vid up of it already...and nice pass by McNeil I believe

In addition to this, why would a doctor possibly do a favor for a team and say a player is hurt more severely than he really is? And if a player is forced into LTIR by the team, wouldn't you think that the Players Union might file a grievance?

Anyways, is anyone who posts or lurks here a M.D.? I'd love to hear your input.
- EKolb13

Eli

Theoretically the Dr has an oath, medical board risk and potential civil legal liability/responsibility but there is so much gray area here depending on each parties objectives.

My cynical view of the PA is that they would look at it as legal double dipping. The LTIR gets paid as does the replacement player, one likely by the team through insurance and one by the team through real payroll. They might see it as a bonus. Of course the player being put on LTIR and his agent my squawk.

- Ogilthorpe2

where is the countdown photo?

sky treating you well?

The Hype Machine rolls on as Hawk management and coaching pump TT's tires simultaneously inflating the expectations of the kool aid drinking fan base.

From yesterday's Herald:

http://www.dailyherald.co...0140918/sports/140918116/
- HawkintheD

Wish I would have thought to post this when they made the Miller trade

How many PTO's make the big club? Maybe one or two in Calgary or Carolina. Not many I would think make contenders, can't hurt tho
- Cup-Bearer

Wasn't Ray Emery a PTO a few years ago?

You're making an argument that conspiracy to subvert LTIR is OK - you're right, they would probably get away with it. Doesn't make it OK.
- StLBravesFan

Wow! Is that what you arrived at? Funny.

Again, I write that a player with what could be considered a "lingering" injury like a shoulder or ankle that have varying and highly subjective recovery rates could easily be placed on LTIR legitimately and you call it cheating (subversion).

Since you obviously have no way to explain how your high ideals can be "vigorously enforced" you cop out - essentially calling me an advocate of cheating.

Once again, the reality is LTIR will be used for cap purposes. Legitimately. That is until science can produce a table showing the exact number of days/weeks/months required to recover from every injury (which means never). If some team tries to LTIR a guy for a hang nail, finds a doctor willing to endanger his career by providing an opinion that he needs long term recovery and is willing to test the league, the press, and their insurers we can talk about subversion.

@ChrisKuc: #Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg got married during offseason: "All married up. She's got me on lockdown."

@MarkLazerus: Kris Versteeg said he didn't want to make excuses, but said there's a big difference between a summer of rehab and a summer of training.

You're making an argument that conspiracy to subvert LTIR is OK - you're right, they would probably get away with it. Doesn't make it OK.
- StLBravesFan

How do you view what the Hawks did with Khabibulin last year? I'm sure the first injury was legitimate, but there was probably tons of pressure from the team to get the operation that shut him down for the season.

@ChrisKuc: #Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg got married during offseason: "All married up. She's got me on lockdown."

@MarkLazerus: Kris Versteeg said he didn't want to make excuses, but said there's a big difference between a summer of rehab and a summer of training.
- DarthKane

Good chance Steeger will be a much better player with a good off season of training. I expect this team to be very motivated to win the Cup and show the world they are a Dynasty. If that team wasn't so beat to schit in the 3rd and OT we win and take another Cup. I also expect a monster years from Saad/Kane. Cant wait for game #1 in Dallas!!!!!



Looks like Shaw is C Steeg and Bickell. Good line. I kinda think Benny Smith would be a better fit on the that shut down/3rd line. Also the vibe I get is Q is very high on Mashinter. Does he grab a 4th line spot? Mash Kruger Morin on line 4?

How do you view what the Hawks did with Khabibulin last year? I'm sure the first injury was legitimate, but there was probably tons of pressure from the team to get the operation that shut him down for the season.
- NewToHockey

And there was Doctor willing to perform it - you have to assume because it was needed. That makes it legitimate.

Not sure I agree that the team pressured Khabibulin. Seemed to me he knew he didn't have it any longer (certainly carried himself like it on the ice) and was also looking for the out.

Khabibulin was a good example though of the point. Rotator cuffs can be really tough to rehab and very easily re-injured. I was cleared twice on mine and ended up back in PT almost immediately. Aside from surgery, the only option ended up being PT and strictly avoiding strain for months. Khabi said it had been injured years earlier. He felt increased soreness - timing helped the team - doesn't make it "subversion".

How do you view what the Hawks did with Khabibulin last year? I'm sure the first injury was legitimate, but there was probably tons of pressure from the team to get the operation that shut him down for the season.
- NewToHockey

Being in a constant drunken stupor is kind of like being injured.

He said himself (tt) that he was feeling burnt out with all the travel and hockey he played last year.

Bottom line is today he may not be urgently needed but later in the season he could help out.

I'd like to see him razzle dazzle the rock first.

It will be an interesting year with the money that kicks in next year and the expiring deals coming up. I still strongly think sharp or even seabs are the best candidates to jettison. But well see.
- fattybeef

From what I heard at the time, TT either was painted a different picture or his camp took the message the wrong way. Hawks wanted him out of Europe as there was KHL issues involving his team and he came over.

TT may have thought he was brought here to play in Chicago and when he was sent down he couldn't wait to get home and didn't stick around as a Black Ace.
If TT was used as a regular in the playoff it would have indicated weakness as injuries would be the reason.

On a team with Cup potential really young players aren't brought in just before the playoffs and looked to be key players. Saad got a taste because of injuries and the team wasn't as good....Late last season wasn't the time for TT to get his feet wet.

Interesting editing at NHL Network...

Currently showing game 6 of the 2010 final. A commercial break at about the 7 minute mark of period 2, tied 1-1.

Return from break at about the 13 minute mark tied 2-2.

Thanks for that guys.