Time to paint the ice?
- EKolb13

In progress.

In progress.
- Beaver-Warrior

2 days until the start of training camp, right?

2 days until the start of training camp, right?
- EKolb13

Starts Friday i believe, first game is Tuesday against Detroit

From Verdi's Q&A with Dineen on the Blackhawks website:

Are you in charge of the power play?

That would be my prime responsibility, but special teams require combined effort. Joel is very secure in his position; he asks for opinions. Of course, in the end, he wins because he’s the boss. It’s good to work for a friend, but he didn’t bring me in because I’m a friend. I’m not going to jump on the tube and just float down the river.

This sounds more scary than promising...
- EKolb13

I agree! We've all jumped all over Kitchen and Kompon but I think Dineen's quote is gold: "he wins because he's the boss."

Again, I'm not saying fire Q and I give him his props for winning 2 CUPS. However, the stubborn ways of Q evidence themselves in the way of a PP that should be much more effective than we've seen (esp 5 on 3's) and a PK that is could be much better but seemingly waits to go hard after the puck all season. The pullback on PK is mystifying until one simply looks at Dineen's quote.

Could be he and Q will butt heads -- we'll see what happens as the season unfolds.

From Verdi's Q&A with Dineen on the Blackhawks website:

Are you in charge of the power play?

That would be my prime responsibility, but special teams require combined effort. Joel is very secure in his position; he asks for opinions. Of course, in the end, he wins because he’s the boss. It’s good to work for a friend, but he didn’t bring me in because I’m a friend. I’m not going to jump on the tube and just float down the river.

This sounds more scary than promising...
- EKolb13

Is it me or do Hitch and Q have some very serious similarities (ignore the goon concept)?

Is it me or do Hitch and Q have some very serious similarities (ignore the goon concept)?
- stljam

Having met Hitch and worked with him a bit, and having observed Q, hey, they're both winning NHL coaches, so yeah, there are gonna be some similarities.

Hitch, away from the game/arena, is about as nice a guy as you will meet, IMO. Q strikes me as a bit more intense, quieter.

I think Hitch has a threshold you don't cross where Q is maybe a bit more forgiving of guys.

Just my .02.

Having met Hitch and worked with him a bit, and having observed Q, hey, they're both winning NHL coaches, so yeah, there are gonna be some similarities.

Hitch, away from the game/arena, is about as nice a guy as you will meet, IMO. Q strikes me as a bit more intense, quieter.

I think Hitch has a threshold you don't cross where Q is maybe a bit more forgiving of guys.

Just my .02.
- John Jaeckel

Having met Hitch and worked with him a bit, and having observed Q, hey, they're both winning NHL coaches, so yeah, there are gonna be some similarities.

Hitch, away from the game/arena, is about as nice a guy as you will meet, IMO. Q strikes me as a bit more intense, quieter.

I think Hitch has a threshold you don't cross where Q is maybe a bit more forgiving of guys.

Just my .02.
- John Jaeckel

I've met both as well in various settings and would concur. Both seemed very nice though Q little more introverted than Hitch. Hitch is a lot more personable than I expected and is very down to earth.

When you get them in hockey settings, Hitch seems a bit more intense, not a lot but a bit which I think you nailed in the threshold comment. In that kind of spectrum the Blues had Murray>Hitch>Q>Payne. On a more social/personable side, Murray>Hitch>Q. Payne I wouldn't evaluate given the first few times I met him, his lack of experience in the situation seemed pretty apparent.

Murray was the ultimate task master with Hitch running second behind him. Even with Murray's task master personality, I saw him stay and talk to season ticket holders long after everyone left. He was not leaving the rink until he had a chance to personally talk to everyone in line that was waiting to talk to him. I was impressed with his dedication and personality. You truly got the sense that he felt lucky to have the head coaching job, that he appreciated the fans and organization and that he was going to do anything he could to win. It was easy to see other coaches desire to do anything to win and that they appreciate the fans and organization but nothing like the perception Murray gave off.

2 part question:

First, when is the official deadline for us needing to make that move to get under the cap? Is it right after the training camp festival and before the preseason? Is it after the preseason and right before the regular season? Im jus curious...

Secondly(and this is more of hypothetical "what if" type of question)....lets assume a few years from now TT is a star in the NHL(one can only hope), does anyone see him putting up 30-35 goals? Because from what iv seen he seems like the type of player that(if we're ever lucky to have him become this productive) would be getting tons of assists, but not nearly as many goals. Kinda like the Joe Thornton that we've seen with the Sharks(not that they're similar players, but im talking about the point totals). A playmaker first, and a goal scorer second. Having watched the world juniors I know he has amazing hands and can finish if he needs to, but i wonder if maybe he'll ever find a consistent goal scoring touch or if he'll just be a dominant assist man who occasionally puts up 15-20 goals....

2 part question:

First, when is the official deadline for us needing to make that move to get under the cap? Is it right after the training camp festival and before the preseason? Is it after the preseason and right before the regular season? Im jus curious...

Secondly(and this is more of hypothetical "what if" type of question)....lets assume a few years from now TT is a star in the NHL(one can only hope), does anyone see him putting up 30-35 goals? i wonder if maybe he'll ever find a consistent goal scoring touch or if he'll just be a dominant assist man who occasionally puts up 15-20 goals....
- SimpleJack

Don't worry -they will get it done - after other teams who are under pressure to get better and evaluate their group as "not getting to the playoffs" or have an injury or the prospcts they expected to be ready aren't, and they come calling.

Once TT is comfortable and ABLE to play at NHL pace, you have to think he is a playmaker first, but he does have a really deceptively quick release so I don't know if anybody can answer 30-35 goals for any prospect...
Could the Sharks sayLogan Couture was gonna be one?
I bet they would have liked to have thought it although the last couple of seasons he wasn't.
Hell, think about what you are asking...> Shaw scored 20...did any body really see that as a possible?

Don't worry -they will get it done - after other teams who are under pressure to get better and evaluate their group as "not getting to the playoffs" or have an injury or the prospcts they expected to be ready aren't, and they come calling.

Once TT is comfortable and ABLE to play at NHL pace, you have to think he is a playmaker first, but he does have a really deceptively quick release so I don't know if anybody can answer 30-35 goals for any prospect...
Could the Sharks sayLogan Couture was gonna be one?
I bet they would have liked to have thought it although the last couple of seasons he wasn't.
Hell, think about what you are asking...> Shaw scored 20...did any body really see that as a possible?
- wiz1901

I hear you, but Shaw plays a ton of time in the danger zone, cue Kenny Loggins

Most of TT's goals likely arent coming from 4 feet out like Shaws, while taking a pummeling.

I hear you, but Shaw plays a ton of time in the danger zone, cue Kenny Loggins

Most of TT's goals likely arent coming from 4 feet out like Shaws, while taking a pummeling.
- FourFeathers773

TT could very easily be a Kane lite and follow the same career path, just a bit lower. When Kane looks to shoot, he's very good at it. I could see TT being the same type down the road a few years.

What a mess in Columbus...

Johansen and his agent are a pair of arrogant deutsche banks.

What a mess in Columbus...

Johansen and his agent are a pair of arrogant deutsche banks.
- ArlingtonRob

I'm sure he'll be re-signed soon and all will be forgiven.

I'm sure he'll be re-signed soon and all will be forgiven.
- DarthKane

I'm sure he'll be signed. It's the the soon part I'm not so sure about. Sounds like they're still pretty far apart...like over $3.0 per year apart, and now they're starting to insult each other publicly.

I'm sure he'll be signed. It's the the soon part I'm not so sure about. Sounds like they're still pretty far apart...like over $3.0 per year apart, and now they're starting to insult each other publicly.
- Ogilthorpe2

It is getting ugly.

Glad the Blues aren't doing this with Schwartz. He probably isn't asking for double what the Blues are offering though......

TSN Headline:

WESTHEAD: NHL SAYS NO TO JERSEY ADS - AND $120M WINDFALL

But - the tone of the article is that eventually it will happen - none of the major North American leagues want to be first.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=461971

I concur.

So - when the time comes - what happens to the Indianhead, the Maple Leaf, the C/H, the blue note....

Leddy for Martin doesn't fit the the cap.
- EKolb13

But Bickell for Martin does...

I hear you, but Shaw plays a ton of time in the danger zone, cue Kenny Loggins

Most of TT's goals likely arent coming from 4 feet out like Shaws, while taking a pummeling.
- FourFeathers773

and TT hasn't scored 20 goals in one season in any level in North America....

But Bickell for Martin does...
- wiz1901

Paul Martin? He is good but around age 33. Is he on last year of contract.

I just do not see how you want to trade Bickel. Need his size; want to see him have his best season and try to repeat his Cup winning performance a second time. Well if Martin then either Oduya or Leddy leaves. Like Bickel, want to see Leddy get one more season to step up.

Imagine Bickel dealt leads to a second trade. Chicago "wheeling & dealing?''

But Bickell for Martin does...
- wiz1901

This sort of defeats the purpose but honestly I would make this deal . PF Playoff Bickell isn't worth the regular season $ . Just isn't. Plus if you dump Bickell you can keep everyone else.

TSN Headline:

WESTHEAD: NHL SAYS NO TO JERSEY ADS - AND $120M WINDFALL

But - the tone of the article is that eventually it will happen - none of the major North American leagues want to be first.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=461971

I concur.

So - when the time comes - what happens to the Indianhead, the Maple Leaf, the C/H, the blue note....
- StLBravesFan

Hope this'll never happen Because those jerseys with ads are freaking ugly One of the reasons i can't watch non NHL games.

TSN Headline:

WESTHEAD: NHL SAYS NO TO JERSEY ADS - AND $120M WINDFALL

But - the tone of the article is that eventually it will happen - none of the major North American leagues want to be first.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=461971

I concur.

So - when the time comes - what happens to the Indianhead, the Maple Leaf, the C/H, the blue note....
- StLBravesFan

Using sweaters as skating billboards would be just like having NASCAR on ice.

But Bickell for Martin does...
- wiz1901

Yeah, and it leaves a pretty nice cap cushion too. I guess I'm not in the camp that believes that Bickell is on the block - right now. However, I could see Bickell becoming a cap casualty next summer.

Using sweaters as skating billboards would be just like having NASCAR on ice.
- EKolb13

You might have found a new NASCAR gig for northern states, and they can race year-round!