Pretty tired of this phrase. It's asinine, pointlessly belittling, and does little to give your argument credence. Highly doubt there's anyone who's going to tow the company line in all aspects on this thread.

Just as you are happy to voice your displeasure and construe that as an enlightening quality, being happy with how some things have been handled doesn't constitute being part of the perceived 'great unwashed.' Not suggesting you are arguing this notion, but it comes implicit with the 'kool aid' phrase.
- prd797

what else to call it then?
especially when I get called out by StL accusing me of not being a Hawks fan.
how is one to take this?

Give me another phrase that more succinctly says this . . . will happily use it.
Q gets his due for 2 CUPS but it doesn't mean he is infallible. How else to state this then?

Not that this will do any good, but the scenery was pretty good for Leddy last year: 16:22 minutes per game to show what he could - and couldn't - do.
- StLBravesFan

If you can get the replay of the 3rd Leafs goal you will see one of the main things Q and Bowman didn't like about Leddy and weren't confident he would improve at. Muscled off the puck in his own zone by a relatively small forward.

The Isles are exciting to watch but their defence is far from good enough. Teams will start to expose it more and more every night.

what else to call it then?
especially when I get called out by StL accusing me of not being a Hawks fan.
how is one to take this?

Give me another phrase that more succinctly says this . . . will happily use it.
Q gets his due for 2 CUPS but it doesn't mean he is infallible. How else to state this then?
- savvyone-1

The highlighted is a good start.

I don't blame him for pointing out the "Kool-aid" thing. It's becoming a cheap way to take a shot at someone.

With that, it's time to drop the argument. From both sides.

Yes. In fact going to Nashville to see them on Thursday.

Just because I don't drink the kool-aid or agree with everything Q doesn't mean otherwise. Did you happen to read the Trib this Sunday? The excerpt from Chelios' forthcoming (11/1) autobiography. Was quite revealing and should also give you some insight into how things are run in pro sports. Opened my eyes, that's for sure.

Loved Cheli as a Blackhawk. Hated him as a Wing. And moreso because of what I heard/read about him wanting out. Only to read that things didn't quite go down as we were lead to believe. Put a much different spin on his time here and how I viewed the guy.

I don't take pleasure in the Hawks being bad, regardless of what you might think of me. Q gets a measure of respect for what he's done but in no way do I agree with ALL he does. His reliance on guys over the hill and his in-game design for countering what is thrown at his team is puzzling many times to me.

My comments are more to the point of all those here who continued to shout me down essentially saying Nick Leddy was NOT what so many of you thought he was and I've been watching him step up. Whether it continues remains to be seen. Clearly he has the tools and so far has put it together. He might be one of the big surprises out East.
- savvyone-1

I thought the same thing about Cheli after I read the excerpts from his book. It seemed like they were hell bent on getting rid of him. The whole thing didn't put the Hawks FO in a flattering light. It seemed like he wanted to stay and retire as a Hawk.

what else to call it then?
especially when I get called out by StL accusing me of not being a Hawks fan.
how is one to take this?

Give me another phrase that more succinctly says this . . . will happily use it.
Q gets his due for 2 CUPS but it doesn't mean he is infallible. How else to state this then?
- savvyone-1

I've yet to see anyone suggest this. It seems at times that some equate being happy with a lot of what Q's done equates to worshiping him or whatever.

As far as an alternative to 'kool aid', frankly there shouldn't need to be one. It just isn't a concept that is consistent with the notion that this thread has been (more often than not) a place where passionate and 'savvy' fans come to hang out and have fairly intelligent discussion.

I guess I'm saying there's just no real need to undercut or trivialise someone, that surely won't make them change their mind. I'll get off the soapbox now.

If you can get the replay of the 3rd Leafs goal you will see one of the main things Q and Bowman didn't like about Leddy and weren't confident he would improve at. Muscled off the puck in his own zone by a relatively small forward.

The Isles are exciting to watch but their defence is far from good enough. Teams will start to expose it more and more every night.
- RickJ

Leddy walked by Peter fricking Holland..LOL

Bickell is showing signs of life...so far...

Bickell is showing signs of life...so far...
- EKolb13

Now, if only the rest of the club could find a pulse...

Bickell is showing signs of life...so far...
- EKolb13

Q threaten to put him in the press-box? Or on the trade block???

8-1 in shots so far...

...looks like another great night for advanced stats!

But Raanta may need to pitch a shutout to find 2 points.

Q threaten to put him in the press-box? Or on the trade block???
- savvyone-1

Really?

Really?
- powerenforcer

Had to be the latter, right? He scored after all!
Oh crap, just saw the replay, gdam Saad beat Bick's stick to the puck.

Q threaten to put him in the press-box? Or on the trade block???
- savvyone-1

Perhaps he's taking cues from Saad?


Oh look, Kane scored.

Had to be the latter, right? He scored after all!
Oh crap, just saw the replay, gdam Saad beat Bick's stick to the puck.
- savvyone-1

Didn't Saad's stick kind of shove Madon out of the way?

Didn't Saad's stick kind of shove Madon out of the way?
- StLBravesFan

IDK, did he/it?
It looked like it was Bickell's stick he got in front of to put the puck in???

Can we call this an official Bickell sighting?

Bicks!!!!,,good night Mason???

Can we call this an official Bickell sighting?
- EKolb13

Boys look really good tonight. All four lines.

Wonder when the Flyers will resort to their traditional cheap shots?

Bicks!!!!,,good night Mason???
- Glenman12

Alright, pull him off the trading block......at least for this game.

Can we call this an official Bickell sighting?
- EKolb13

Jeebus, there was no doubt about that one.

Q "must" have read Bicks the riot act.

Or . . . he could have just had a 5 hr energy cocktail

TVR showing that hockey IQ again.

I see Bickell turned up this evening.

And Saad. And even Richards.

Boys look really good tonight. All four lines.

Wonder when the Flyers will resort to their traditional cheap shots?
- TexasFlood

Hey, I'm good with sticking with these lines for a while.

Jeebus, there was no doubt about that one.

Q "must" have read Bicks the riot act.

Or . . . he could have just had a 5 hr energy cocktail
- savvyone-1

Whatever it is, keep giving it to Bickell.