It's simple than you make it:
That GM that
a) has a team that NEEDS help before the season starts b/c they look the same or worst than the year before when the sucked.

b) has a fan-base what has been promised a season where they make the playoffs with improvement/

c) really feels with a couple seasoned vets the team will really take off and the can make real noise.


Just looking at the returns on Versteeg (last time), Ladd, and Buff we all know what dismal returns the hawks got when then were REALLY UNDER A CAP CRUSH.

But if we are talking about trading NHL defender you are gonna find many teams interested with no barrels or Stan's head.
- wiz1901

I hear what you are saying but usually the pressure of A and B aren't felt until later in the year, after SB has to make a move to get compliant. Do any gms, not over the cap, really feel that much pressure to make a move in early October? I wouldn't think so.

LMAO, guess the Winston suspension might have mattered a whole lot

nice throw backup, lol.

ETA - OMG the running back fumbled the game away....what a turn of events

Oduya traded before Leddy
- TrueGrit

GD I hope not.

Keith and Sharp suck on the points. They suck real hard.
- Ogilthorpe2

So that is a reccommendation for Barker?!?!?

It must be altitude sickness...that makes you think that...

yep, another season with AR...cant wait Elbows..
- Glenman12

Taking a shot at the NHLNetwork for chopping 10 minutes, and 2 goals, out of a 2010 game 6 replay seemed rather obvious...

...but even that gets under Glen's skin.

OK then.

So Wiz barring a trade, what's your guess on the line combos ??

So Wiz barring a trade, what's your guess on the line combos ??
- z1990z

Dude..

Dude..
- Elbows15

Ummmm I'm interested in the bottom 6. Geezus

Or maybe we can hash the old trade sharp he sux thing again.

Ummmm I'm interested in the bottom 6. Geezus

Or maybe we can hash the old trade sharp he sux thing again.
- z1990z

Wiz doesn't do line combos. Oh great. Now Ogie will chime in.

Wiz doesn't do line combos. Oh great. Now Ogie will chime in.
- Elbows15

Hi 'bows...

Hope your "offseason" went well.

Hi 'bows...

Hope your "offseason" went well.
- ArlingtonRob

Hey Rob. It was okay. Hope your summer was good.

Hey Rob. It was okay. Hope your summer was good.
- Elbows15

Ehhh...it was ok. Fast as usual. I was thrilled the summer wasn't HOT. Not a fan...

Looking forward to NHL hockey. I have no clue how the ultra-competitive west will play itself out....the parity is stunning.

Gonna be interesting.

Hey phil!

I was just watching the entire Blue series last night and Versteeg was really active in most shifts but was basically fast when alreay in flight, and looked tentative when he had to make a move defensively.

Yeah, I watched all the Notre Dame footage too, and I saw what you did...that Versteeg was certainly a very skilled attacker and made me think twice about the hawks cutting ties with him.

As far as Barker goes- EVERY scout saw the offensive abilities of a young kid playing on World Junior Tourney after huge point totals in the DUB and a rocket point blast.

Every team thought if he's there and we draft him, we can teach him to a solid defensive players, since he WAS a defenseman.

From that first Hawk prospect camp when they paired him with Seabrook, it was easy to see that there was a issue with him making decisions in his zone and more than that handling the play after deciding what his responsibilty is on the play.

He NEVER seemed to get enough understanding in his stay on the parent club. So Bust is very appropriate.
Maybe he is older and better after his stay in Kazakhstan, or not.

And you were right the draft wasn't an easy draft to easily pull an impact franchise player, and my re-Draft shows you is if you are picking 21st, you get Versteeg, no more, and only FIVE dee-men panned out as solid players long term.

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2004/
- wiz1901

Hey Wiz.....Steeger has to prove in games that he won't gift wrap turnovers and hence dangerous counter attacks. That is priority number one to me with him. If he can do that, and show the speed he did pre surgery, he might hang around.

Ditto for Barker. Puck SECURITY is paramount.

With both, i'll believe when i see it.

Hey Phil hope you had a good summer as well as everyone else here...
here's some video of Versteeg chatting with the press at camp. I'm hopeful we'll see a renewed player this season a full year after the injury. He certainly looked tentative and floated a lot last season. Need to see the grinder/ mucker/ physical version back. Time will tell...can't wait for the Wings game Tuesday night which will be on here...

http://www.csnchicago.com...-struggles-are-behind-him
- DK002

Good stuff DK...thank you and hope you and all the brothers here had a good summer.

Great video too and agree completely with you that Steeger needs to mix it up and GRIND.

Very encouraged to hear him mention the Dineen connection. Dineen was an excellent hire by the Hawks. No nonsense, intelligent, taskmaster with a ton of street cred. Hopefully, he can get the best out of Kris and many others in his role with the Hawks.

Hey phil!

I was just watching the entire Blue series last night and Versteeg was really active in most shifts but was basically fast when alreay in flight, and looked tentative when he had to make a move defensively.

Yeah, I watched all the Notre Dame footage too, and I saw what you did...that Versteeg was certainly a very skilled attacker and made me think twice about the hawks cutting ties with him.

As far as Barker goes- EVERY scout saw the offensive abilities of a young kid playing on World Junior Tourney after huge point totals in the DUB and a rocket point blast.

Every team thought if he's there and we draft him, we can teach him to a solid defensive players, since he WAS a defenseman.

From that first Hawk prospect camp when they paired him with Seabrook, it was easy to see that there was a issue with him making decisions in his zone and more than that handling the play after deciding what his responsibilty is on the play.

He NEVER seemed to get enough understanding in his stay on the parent club. So Bust is very appropriate.
Maybe he is older and better after his stay in Kazakhstan, or not.

And you were right the draft wasn't an easy draft to easily pull an impact franchise player, and my re-Draft shows you is if you are picking 21st, you get Versteeg, no more, and only FIVE dee-men panned out as solid players long term.

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2004/
- wiz1901

Interesting that hawks did draft a bust, but in the redraft ended up with 4 first rounders

*sigh*
- Ogilthorpe2

For real

Nick Leddy can't spell "hi" let alone define it. Sup D?
- Elbows15

That dude is a (frank)ing Martian . True life space cadet. Can't wait to see Leddy move on

Quick poll...of those that are season ticket holders, how many of you will attend 2 or 3 preaseason games. This may be the first year in like 5 years that I actually attend 2 or maybe even all 3 home games.
- stljam

Zero preseason games.


Especially since we just got $150 for the Wings game

(2- 200 level seats with parking)

Oduya traded before Leddy
- TrueGrit

Don't talk like that.....

Ummmm I'm interested in the bottom 6. Geezus

Or maybe we can hash the old trade sharp he sux thing again.
- z1990z

The Lines are impossible to fill out right now with the exception of the 2nd line .

Until we know who is out we can't know line combos


Except the glory of Saad-Richards-Kane

Hey Wiz.....Steeger has to prove in games that he won't gift wrap turnovers and hence dangerous counter attacks. That is priority number one to me with him. If he can do that, and show the speed he did pre surgery, he might hang around.

Ditto for Barker. Puck SECURITY is paramount.

With both, i'll believe when i see it.
- philco28

Phillllllllcooooooo......

Versteeg has always and will always be a turnover machine.. The difference is he used to score goals too. Hopefully he has fixed himself enough to pot 15-20 this season.

I'm kinda hoping he scores 15 for someone else.....

Interesting that hawks did draft a bust, but in the redraft ended up with 4 first rounders
- vabeachbear

Rememebr who did the re-Draft...me...a Hawk fan.

Oduya traded before Leddy
- TrueGrit

would be a risky mistake if you wnat to win now.

But....one your minor pro defenders has to show in this camp, that he has ALL the makings of a pretty good pro.

Sure, you can elevate Leddy to the second pair, and go with the journeymen at the lower end but, have you solved the minor Cap issues (b/c that Cap will go up another 8 mil at very least NEXT year) at the expense of weakening you solid defense?

New blog is up.

hmmmm. I wonder how Eli the referee's espanol is? lol
- stljam

Google Translate. That solves most of the problems related to language.