I don't get people in twitter-land almost celebrating the hit as he will do anything to make the team. I don't see how destroying an asset accomplishes that. This guy was worse than Leddy, scared to death someone might forecheck him. Don't even get the invite, even from a depth perspective.
- Iknockuout

Anyone have a GIF of Barker's big oopsie in our own end from a few years ago? Or the hit on TT?

I'm a bit worried about the PK too, we've lost Frolik and Handzus over the past couple seasons and there hasn't been any specific replacements. Kruger will be fine and while Toews & Hossa can man the PK I'd rather see their minutes limited.

The PK is more of a reason to keep Oduya, he averaged just over 2 minutes of PK time per game while Leddy averaged 2 seconds.
- DarthKane

Until the Hawks have two players who are better at FO than Toews, JT will be a fixture on the PK. Since there are barely two guys in the league better at FO than Toews, I can't see Toews not being a part of the PK.

It could be a case of Toews taking the draw and heading straight to the the bench if the Hawks can clear the zone.

Do you guys do anything other than blow smoke? This entire blog is not much more than a fan simply saying "Toews and Kane are awesome! And TT is going to be pretty good too! Go us!"
- RobShouts

(frank) you.

(frank) you.
- Ogilthorpe2

The similarities between TT and Kane begins and ends with the fact they both wear numbers in the 80's. That is it.

PK was excellent the second half of the regular season and the first two rounds of the tournament.

As I recall, there were two bad games against LA - game 2 (third period) and one other. Much of the problem, IIRC, was lost FOs in the PK zone.

I think last year's performance meant it WAS an excellent PK after January 1 - something to build on for this year. Frolik's replacement was Handzus (who didn't get PK responsibility until late) - worked out well.

Now Handzus needs to be replaced.
- StLBravesFan

Simple, insert orange cone!

Does most of Oct/Nov and then from Dec1 on = until late?

JJ making me keep the thesaurus handy when reading the blog. Well done.

Trade Oduya and Keep Leddy!
- TrueGrit

Hey TG! Not sure if this is your new hot button issue for the season but thanks for keeping it brief for barely literate folks like me.

Think there is a case to be made for either, but I'd keep Oduya.

JJ making me keep the thesaurus handy when reading the blog. Well done.

Trade Oduya and Keep Leddy!
- TrueGrit

You would move 27 before 8??? Leddy doesn't play top 4 minutes, is prone to a lot of turn overs and has been on the bench a lot come playoff crunch time. 2, 7, 4 and 27 make up one of the best top 4 D groups in the league. Other moves can be made to adjust cap space.

Until the Hawks have two players who are better at FO than Toews, JT will be a fixture on the PK. Since there are barely two guys in the league better at FO than Toews, I can't see Toews not being a part of the PK.

It could be a case of Toews taking the draw and heading straight to the the bench if the Hawks can clear the zone.
- Elbows15

Pk 1- 19/20. Flip Regin for Toews after the draw.


Pk 2- 28/11 (Benny Smith is very Frolik like in his puck pursuit and on ice awareness)

Does Richards play on the PK?

Barker blows a pass and fumbles in our own zone (you know the one), career goes to hell, gets invited back and almost seriously injures our best prospect. I get him being a potential 7/8/9 D-man, but the guy is a walking accident. A jinx if you will.

Let's let a herd of goats graze at wrigley while we're at it.
- ZenlarTheRed

Kind of ironic that its Barker that got him...but it's not like TT's gonna never going to take a hit at this level...the kid needs some time down at the Rock to get some seasoning...

Meanwhile another day closer to moving someone.

http://www.csnchicago.com...day-day-upper-body-injury

Attended the scrimmages today and nordstrom really looked good and strong on his skates. I think he will be on the fourth line wing stating night. He also looked a lot bigger out there

Hey TG! Not sure if this is your new hot button issue for the season but thanks for keeping it brief for barely literate folks like me.

Think there is a case to be made for either, but I'd keep Oduya.
- HawkintheD

Well said.

Just throwing out a few items to test the new guys. Kind of baiting my competition.

To be honest, my concerns are not so much with the Hawks, I have no doubt they will be better. However, the Wild, Lanche and Stars have made big steps forward.

Right now it is all about health and Q playing more than 7 forwards all year.

Attended the scrimmages today and nordstrom really looked good and strong on his skates. I think he will be on the fourth line wing stating night. He also looked a lot bigger out there
- molly2522

He is wearing football shoulder pads......

I think the would you rather have discussion is a little unfair. With the amount of players that are needed to play every night is tough. One of the neat things about the NHL is that a team can't rely on just one awesome player. And that isn't a new thing either.

That being said I think Kane explodes this year. +100 points explodes if he stays healthy.

I really really hope they do a better job managing Hossas minutes. Cutting PK time absolutely needs to happen and keeping him and Richards around 16 minutes for the first part of the year may not be a terrible thing.

It'll be cooler when they get under the cap and have more fun things to talk about.

Do you guys do anything other than blow smoke? This entire blog is not much more than a fan simply saying "1) Toews and Kane are awesome! 2) And TT is going to be pretty good too! 3) Go us!"
- RobShouts

1. Well, duh. They pretty much are.
2. You just have not read this blog. Pretty much. In fact, I'm sure you don't. Seriously, some guy on twitter said the other day my "thing" is to rain on the TT Parade.
3. Yeah, ok. Seriously, I love it when I get posts like this after hundreds of tweets and posts lambasting me for being too negative. Guess I'm right where I should be. LOL

The similarities between TT and Kane begins and ends with the fact they both wear numbers in the 80's. That is it.
- Elbows15

Well that's been pretty much my point all along.

You would move 27 before 8??? Leddy doesn't play top 4 minutes, is prone to a lot of turn overs and has been on the bench a lot come playoff crunch time. 2, 7, 4 and 27 make up one of the best top 4 D groups in the league. Other moves can be made to adjust cap space.
- z1990z

If Leddy skated with Hamsandwich, I doubt anyone would notice Oduya gone. Oduya is a poor mans Andrew Ference. Just my opinion.

Count me out as one of the "lynch leddy for the puck bouncing off of him into the goal" crowd. For all of Leddy's shortcomings, he does many things with his legs and passes that Oduya does not. Plus 1 year from now, Oduya will be gone anyways.

I admire Hawk fan loyalty to the Froliks, Handzuis and Oduyas, but lets take a step back and look at the big picture.

Why did not Winnipeg hire someone who speaks Check so that Frolik could share his PK secrets? Why was he not a full time PK guy in the Peg?

And how on earth has Handzuis not been signed? Cuz he should not have played last year either.

Oduya, who I guess is a half step up on Leddy, AKA pizza guy most nights on the board. If you keep oduya, you make him your 5 or 6 guy. His trajectory is clearly down from here. Love the guy and what he brings, but his best days are clearly behind him.

My apologies for many typos in the blog, Sunday morning blur. Now all fixed.

If Leddy skated with Hamsandwich, I doubt anyone would notice Oduya gone. Oduya is a poor mans Andrew Ference. Just my opinion.

Count me out as one of the "lynch leddy for the puck bouncing off of him into the goal" crowd. For all of Leddy's shortcomings, he does many things with his legs and passes that Oduya does not. Plus 1 year from now, Oduya will be gone anyways.

I admire Hawk fan loyalty to the Froliks, Handzuis and Oduyas, but lets take a step back and look at the big picture.

Why did not Winnipeg hire someone who speaks Check so that Frolik could share his PK secrets? Why was he not a full time PK guy in the Peg?

And how on earth has Handzuis not been signed? Cuz he should not have played last year either.

Oduya, who I guess is a half step up on Leddy, AKA pizza guy most nights on the board. If you keep oduya, you make him your 5 or 6 guy. His trajectory is clearly down from here. Love the guy and what he brings, but his best days are clearly behind him.
- TrueGrit

Leddy did look good today and his speed allows him to keep the play in front of him and i also liked him paired with nick who also looked excellent today

My apologies for many typos in the blog, Sunday morning blur. Now all fixed.
- John Jaeckel

We are just grateful you gave us a new one!

My apologies for many typos in the blog, Sunday morning blur. Now all fixed.
- John Jaeckel

Always blame the keyboard.

Leddy did look good today and his speed allows him to keep the play in front of him and i also liked him paired with nick who also looked excellent today
- molly2522

His ability to chase guys down and close gaps in the nuetral zone, often, goes without notice. I recognize his struggles around the goal line, but from my novice eyes, he appears to be learning the tricks of the trade with poke checks and angles a little more. Like Keith, and Oduya for that matter, they are never going to consistently knock people off of the puck, it is their quickness and transition ability that mitigate the physical play and keeps the other team honest in respecting that ability.

Leddy was touted as a Phil Housley, when drafted and brought up, it is a different game, I think if worst case he can be a Brett Hedican from Cannucks I believe...then that is fine. Probably bad comparison, as I just recall Hedican being able to skate like the wind. He was bigger but less skilled then leddy.

If Leddy skated with Hamsandwich, I doubt anyone would notice Oduya gone. Oduya is a poor mans Andrew Ference. Just my opinion.

Count me out as one of the "lynch leddy for the puck bouncing off of him into the goal" crowd. For all of Leddy's shortcomings, he does many things with his legs and passes that Oduya does not. Plus 1 year from now, Oduya will be gone anyways.

I admire Hawk fan loyalty to the Froliks, Handzuis and Oduyas, but lets take a step back and look at the big picture.

Why did not Winnipeg hire someone who speaks Check so that Frolik could share his PK secrets? Why was he not a full time PK guy in the Peg?

And how on earth has Handzuis not been signed? Cuz he should not have played last year either.

Oduya, who I guess is a half step up on Leddy, AKA pizza guy most nights on the board. If you keep oduya, you make him your 5 or 6 guy. His trajectory is clearly down from here. Love the guy and what he brings, but his best days are clearly behind him.
- TrueGrit

*yawn*

*yawn*
- Elbows15

He's got a word document saved with this stuff, I swear.

*yawn*
- Elbows15

Still committed to your 5 standard positions and comments from last year? Was hoping you were going to develop your game a little more this offseason? I tried to keep the thoughts concise and clear...I guess too soon?