In a more subtle way Shaw was very good last night.
- Al

Its always very noticeable when #65 isn't in the lineup.

I disagree.

I'll agree to the idea that Leddy probably wasn't one of Q's favorites, but not the idea that Q ran Leddy out of town.

Leddy had been stuck on the 3rd paring for 2-plus seasons since Oduya arrived. But that doesn't necessarily mean that Q was holding him back or had some sort of agenda to do as such.

There should be some consideration for the idea that Leddy possibly had not done enough to unseat Oduya for a spot on the 2nd paring. I'm not trying to knock Leddy. He's talented and has some upside. But perhaps he's just not ready for a role like that yet, or there wasn't going to be the opportunity to step into that role in Chicago.

As for trading Rozsival, there are the arguments that another team would or would not be willing to take him in a trade. The problem is that trading Rozsival himself was not going to solve the cap problem.

In all, I don't believe that Q ran him out of town. If anything ran Leddy out of town, it's the hard salary cap. Getting under the cap ceiling for this season and the constraints that will come next summer (Toews and Kane's raises, Leddy's contract, ect.) led to Leddy being the odd man out.

If there was not a hard salary cap, I believe that Leddy would still be in Chicago.
- EKolb13

Q did a very good interview the other day and said the Leddy deal was more about how things stacked up here than him being disappointing in any way. To unseat Oduya...Leddy would need to be trusted against the opposition's top line and that wasn't happening. That's the job of Oduya and Hammer most nights and moreover Leddy wasn't going to get the ice time to prove he was up to the task.

Like I have been saying...The gap in talent between the Hawks and many teams has shrunk a great deal since 2010. That's why Q rides the best horses long and hard. That may have consequences down the road, and I think it did last year but that's the way it is for now.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Its always very noticeable when #65 isn't in the lineup.
- RickJ

Very much so and one more like him would make a big difference.

I could be mistaken, but i wanna say i remember seeing that line last season during the regular season and i wanna say i remember it not being good. Mainly because of Versteeg
- BlazinMike

No you're right. I remember that too, though im not sure exactly how many games they played together. But i wanna see if this years Versteeg can bounce back. If he can then that line could have some potential.

Wiz, it's Darryl Reaugh, @Razor5Hole on twitter.
- MartiniMan

How does a second rate goalie become a first rate kiss up?

Thanks,

Wiz

Q did a very good interview the other day and said the Leddy deal was more about how things stacked up here than him being disappointing in any way. To unseat Oduya...Leddy would need to be trusted against the opposition's top line and that wasn't happening. That's the job of Oduya and Hammer most nights and moreover Leddy wasn't going to get the ice time to prove he was up to the task.

Like I have been saying...The gap in talent between the Hawks and many teams has shrunk a great deal since 2010. That's why Q rides the best horses long and hard. That may have consequences down the road, and I think it did last year but that's the way it is for now.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

81 games left for the #5,6,7 d spots to sort out. IMO if any the current group not prove themselves look for Stan to pick up a vet rental. How long do you give them, 10 games each?

Its always very noticeable when #65 isn't in the lineup.
- RickJ

My fav was this spin around like I am off balance interference take down neat the far attack corner. An accident, not a violation, LOL.

How does a second rate goalie become a first rate kiss up?

Thanks,

Wiz
- wiz1901

I don't know, maybe just since I live in Dallas and see quite a bit of the Stars, I don't think he's any worse than most of the others. I think all the color analysts are pretty big homers. Panger in St. Louis (and Arizona before that), Tyson Nash for the 'Yotes, Drew whats-his-face in San Jose...I could go on. I have a theory that the smaller the market, the bigger the color analyst's homerism comes out....

Razor is actually very good when he does some of the playoff games for NBCSN when his team isn't involved....

I don't know, maybe just since I live in Dallas and see quite a bit of the Stars, I don't think he's any worse than most of the others. I think all the color analysts are pretty big homers. Panger in St. Louis (and Arizona before that), Tyson Nash for the 'Yotes, Drew whats-his-face in San Jose...I could go on. I have a theory that the smaller the market, the bigger the color analyst's homerism comes out....

Razor is actually very good when he does some of the playoff games for NBCSN when his team isn't involved....
- MartiniMan

Panger sucks. The two announcing crews in Columbus and Nashville, respectively, produce a pretty horrible broadcast. I think Razor is pretty good on most occasions, but not a fan of Ralph Strangis. Tyson Nash is a total clown boxer.

I actually like Drew Ramenda, who is no longer with the Shark. I think he just signed on with the Oilers. Poor bastage!

I would agree that the smaller the team/fanbase, the bigger the homers behind the mic, but there are some pretty good crews. John Forslund and Tripp Tracy are a good combo in Carolina. They call it pretty fair. The Lightning announcers are pretty good too

Q did a very good interview the other day and said the Leddy deal was more about how things stacked up here than him being disappointing in any way. To unseat Oduya...Leddy would need to be trusted against the opposition's top line and that wasn't happening. That's the job of Oduya and Hammer most nights and moreover Leddy wasn't going to get the ice time to prove he was up to the task.

Like I have been saying...The gap in talent between the Hawks and many teams has shrunk a great deal since 2010. That's why Q rides the best horses long and hard. That may have consequences down the road, and I think it did last year but that's the way it is for now.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Well said, but here is what is not said about how this all likely plays out. That is, while I do not disagree one iota about Q Oduya>Leddy, but what you did not mention is the fact that it is likely that Hammer and Oduya will spend many minutes apart because of the Leddy departure. I think that is a good strategy to help new guys adapt. I will be shocked if, once able to play, that Rosival will not = Handzus from last year.

Totally agree on the second paragraph. The gap is razor thin top to bottom and, as you said, and as I banged the drum all last year, the consequences of NOT trusting or playing guys may harm the "one goal" objective of the team.

81 games left for the #5,6,7 d spots to sort out. IMO if any the current group not prove themselves look for Stan to pick up a vet rental. How long do you give them, 10 games each?
- Cup-Bearer

Those positions not so easy to fill and would require a player or two to go...

81 games left for the #5,6,7 d spots to sort out. IMO if any the current group not prove themselves look for Stan to pick up a vet rental. How long do you give them, 10 games each?
- Cup-Bearer

Buddy, we have this current group, barring Long term injur, until Late January...get used to it...100 k will not buy you anything

Call me glass is half full, but that was the 1st game in which that Blackhawks team played together. Too many parts were missing/didn't make the trip/resting/etc. during the preseason. And 12 minutes of minors disrupts the ability to roll 4 lines. Dallas threw everything they had at them in the 1st 20, and came out trailing 1-0, and only generated 8 shots. The 2nd period was lost with all the penalties.

Morin - stupid rookie penalties are a good way to get your ass sent to Rockford. Or Buffalo
TvR - will be fine, especially after he gets 40+ NHL games under his belt. He's jumping straight from college, correct?
Richards - I liked him better with Hoss than with Saad and Kane
Rundblad - very marginal, and I expected his 'puck handling' at the blue line in OT to yield a break-away against
PK - not bad, and way better than the start of LY
PP - generated some good chances, Sharp was in a shooting gallery, he had 4 on one shift if I counted correctly

As a team, they need to shoot more and look for rebounds. Kane especially passed up 3-4 shots and ended up with nothing

Well said, but here is what is not said about how this all likely plays out. That is, while I do not disagree one iota about Q Oduya>Leddy, but what you did not mention is the fact that it is likely that Hammer and Oduya will spend many minutes apart because of the Leddy departure. I think that is a good strategy to help new guys adapt. I will be shocked if, once able to play, that Rosival will not = Handzus from last year.

Totally agree on the second paragraph. The gap is razor thin top to bottom and, as you said, and as I banged the drum all last year, the consequences of NOT trusting or playing guys may harm the "one goal" objective of the team.
- TrueGrit

Hammer and Oduya almost have to be split up when two new guys in lineup...Issue is how often will they remain split up.
When the going gets tough ...quickly the 5-6 guys sit.

Very much so and one more like him would make a big difference.
- Al

I'm hoping Garrett Ross could turn into that guy some day. I think he has the gritty agitator part down but he may not be as skilled as Shaw.

Oh look! The same argument we've heard about the Hawks since the 2008-2009 season.

4 WCF appearances later
2 Cups

... I think they'll be just fine.

I do not mean this comment in anyway to be a "dbag". I'm just stating this has been the argument for YEARS and the Hawks (next to the Kings) have been the most dominant NHL team now going on for about 7 years.
- CaptainBlackhawk

It's cool, man. I may have taken it in the wrong context, and I apologize. You know how the messageboards go, you're just trying to discuss some hockey and a guy will just say something to be a jerk. I took it that way, but your second response shows that you didn't mean it that way.

IMO, a team with speed and skill is always better than a team with size and not much of the other two. But a team that has all three is the brass ring. Which is why, to my mind, even with its imperfections, the 2009-10 Hawks were maybe the best team I've seen in the last 15-20 years.
- John Jaeckel

I agree and thanks for the response, JJ!

In a more subtle way Shaw was very good last night.
- Al

i loved when he broke his stick and just went to the slot and started setting screens

Call me crazy...but what do you think about giving Sopel another shot...hes like Chelios...keeps on ticking. Maybe give him a look?...he wants back to the NHL and might come cheap...he is the best shot blocker there is in my opinion. Hw might be good for the last pairing and killing penalties since he can stay home.....

Hammer and Oduya almost have to be split up when two new guys in lineup...Issue is how often will they remain split up.
When the going gets tough ...quickly the 5-6 guys sit.
- Al

Totally agree, just hoping there is a plan to try to ween the 2 new guys into more valuable minutes over time...

Had the Stars feed last night. Between 2nd and 3rd, Craig Ludwig was talking about Cannutan leaving the game leaving the Stars with 5 dmen. He said that is not a problem, since Hawks are only skating 4 in the first game. Kind of funny/ironic....but what will be expected for a while.

>Last night looked very much like last year's playoff games against the Wild
>Hawks better get used to every team following the Wild's forecheck plan: chase dumps-ins with a super-aggressive 2-man forecheck on the puck, cutting off D to D passes -- but if Hawks get time to start a breakout, immediately drop back into a trap
>Thought Hawks forward play without the puck was dreadful for the first 2 periods -- no one moving, too many forwards at same depth, no puck support
>And the Dmen need to carry the puck much more against soft traps
>Glad the Hawks woke up in Period 3 -- but I must say I was quite disappointed in the team's inability to handle the Stars combination of 2-man forecheck/soft trap for 2 periods -- why wouldn't the Hawks expect other teams to copy the Wild?

Buddy, we have this current group, barring Long term injur, until Late January...get used to it...100 k will not buy you anything
- TrueGrit

You're right - $100,000 now won't accumulate to much of anything by the trade deadline.

So Bowman will either have to trade a contract to make a move at the deadline or stand pat.

Or maybe he makes a deal within the next month to clear a little more cap space?

Call me crazy...but what do you think about giving Sopel another shot...hes like Chelios...keeps on ticking. Maybe give him a look?...he wants back to the NHL and might come cheap...he is the best shot blocker there is in my opinion. Hw might be good for the last pairing and killing penalties since he can stay home.....
- imissroenick

I saw Sopel play last week in Rockford. He's 38, and not close to the player he used to be.

>Last night looked very much like last year's playoff games against the Wild
>Hawks better get used to every team following the Wild's forecheck plan: chase dumps-ins with a super-aggressive 2-man forecheck on the puck, cutting off D to D passes -- but if Hawks get time to start a breakout, immediately drop back into a trap
>Thought Hawks forward play without the puck was dreadful for the first 2 periods -- no one moving, too many forwards at same depth, no puck support
>And the Dmen need to carry the puck much more against soft traps
>Glad the Hawks woke up in Period 3 -- but I must say I was quite disappointed in the team's inability to handle the Stars combination of 2-man forecheck/soft trap for 2 periods -- why wouldn't the Hawks expect other teams to copy the Wild?
- SnapitUpstairs

They took a hit in the skate it out department.

Call me crazy...but what do you think about giving Sopel another shot...hes like Chelios...keeps on ticking. Maybe give him a look?...he wants back to the NHL and might come cheap...he is the best shot blocker there is in my opinion. Hw might be good for the last pairing and killing penalties since he can stay home.....
- imissroenick

Crazy-no
Like Chelios-no
keeps on ticking- thats bone on bone
is the best shot blocker- maybe was our best one time, a looooong time ago.
Do like him tho, Sopes is welcome for life IMO

Edit-have Roenick play one shift to earn a ring