Smith has a concussion history. Shaw doesn't. Shaw can play center. Smith really can't.
I will take the better player. Shaw is the better player.
- Elbows15

Doesnt Smith have a better faceoff percentage than Shaw?

EDIT: Thats all that matters to play center is faceoff ability right?

Again, we are talking about different things.
- Bjm84

No. we really aren't. Shaw is the better player and has more value than Smith. Seeing how Shaw is paid more, Hawks' management feels the same way.

Even over the long term. Smith is a bottom 6 player. A good one mind you, but in today's NHL bottom 6 players are replaceable. Shaw can and has played in the top 6. He is also an important part of the PP.

Doesnt Smith have a better faceoff percentage than Shaw?

EDIT:
- BlazinMikeThats all that matters to play center is faceoff ability right?

Shaw is better as of right now.

No. we really aren't. Shaw is the better player and has more value than Smith. Seeing how Shaw is paid more, Hawks' management feels the same way.

Even over the long term. Smith is a bottom 6 player. A good one mind you, but in today's NHL bottom 6 players are replaceable. Shaw can and has played in the top 6. He is also an important part of the PP.
- Elbows15

Yes. We really are. Smith is a bottom six player, Shaw is a bottom six player thrust into a top six role where he doesn't really belong. Shaw is the better player but Smith is the better long term investment because he present excellent value for his cap hit and has a better build to live out any type of long term commitment. Shaw poses a much higher risk.

Shaw is better as of right now.
- Elbows15

For the record i agree Shaw is the better/more effective player. I just thought i remember Smith having a better faceoff percentage. But ill take your word for it.

For the record i agree Shaw is the better/more effective player. I just thought i remember Smith having a better faceoff percentage. But ill take your word for it.
- BlazinMike

shaw has been above 50% the last 4 games.

Yes. We really are. Smith is a bottom six player, Shaw is a bottom six player thrust into a top six role where he doesn't really belong. Shaw is the better player but Smith is the better long term investment because he present excellent value for his cap hit and has a better build to live out any type of long term commitment. Shaw poses a much higher risk.
- Bjm84

Why would you want to sign a bottom 6 guy to a long term commitment? Makes no sense. I will take the better player. Shaw is better than Smith.

Why would you want to sign a bottom 6 guy to a long term commitment? Makes no sense. I will take the better player. Shaw is better than Smith.
- Elbows15

May wind up as who is willing to sign for less.

May wind up as who is willing to sign for less.
- StLBravesFan

Great way to build a team.

We FINALLY lose in regulation(2nd to last team to do so), after leading the league through our first 5 games in many of the major statistical categories, virtually dominating every period after about midway through the 2nd in Dallas opening night....and yet i see some fans calling for changes, calling out the coach, saying that we're unimproved from last year and other teams are better, Good lord...

Sharp, Toews, and Hossa will be just fine. Cant actually believe how many people sound legitimately concerned about those guys.

Bickell, Richards, and Saad looked pretty damn good the other night. They were our best line against PHI. Those guys will be fine as well WHEN IT MATTERS. But for now, during the regular season, u cant expect EVERY GAME to have EVERYONE clicking. Especially early in the season with a guy like Richards who is new to the team. He's probly gonna end up with 30-40 pts, and STILL be a noticeable upgrade over Handzus. That is the point, not for him to be dominant and scoring every game.

Anyone looking for Richards to be the old Brad Richards is out of their minds. He's here to improve the center depth BETTER than Handzus could, thats it. The last we saw of Handzus, the only time you could put him on the ice was the PK. He crippled any line he was on 5v5, even if it was the bottom 6. Richards has improved that situation, even though he has been underwhelming in general. Combine that with Carcillo looking great on that 4th line, giving us more speed than Bollig did, and TVR adequately replacing Leddy(if anything he looks more reliable defensively, not the same skater but still willing to join the rush), then id say this team come playoff time will be better than last years.

[quote=SimpleJack]
Calm down.

Yes. We really are. Smith is a bottom six player, Shaw is a bottom six player thrust into a top six role where he doesn't really belong. Shaw is the better player but Smith is the better long term investment because he present excellent value for his cap hit and has a better build to live out any type of long term commitment. Shaw poses a much higher risk.
- Bjm84

Shaw has more speed, more skill. That has to count for something.

Great way to build a team.
- Elbows15

CBA doesn't care about building teams.

Smith has a concussion history. Shaw doesn't. Shaw can play center. Smith really can't.
I will take the better player. Shaw is the better player.
- Elbows15

I like Smith a lot but Shaw ticks a bunch of boxes for things this team needs more of; particularly grit and net front presence in addition to being a decent skater with some skill.

Either way, 91 needs to be paired with a legit 25+ goal or 60+ point guy to truly assess if he is going to be a guy we need come playoff time. Don't expect him to pick up production if he continues to sit bottom six with other bottom 6 players

You give him an extended look with hossa/Kane/saad/sharp and he still does nothing, then you know a move needs to be made at the tdl
- FourFeathers773

Agree with all the guys saying it's too early to go off, but I agree with your post that sooner rather than later they need to know if Richards is going to be that 2nd center

[quote=SimpleJack]
Elbows said calm down, I'll say there is always room for improvement. For the 'Hawks, that's the first 82 games. It's the next 20 or so games after that which really count.

[quote=SimpleJack]
Amen

Elbows said calm down, I'll say there is always room for improvement. For the 'Hawks, that's the first 82 games. It's the next 20 or so games after that which really count.
- blackhawk24

20 or so games is right. I think we have all the pieces needed for another long run. I dont care if Richards is 2C, or 3C, whatever, or if Bickell loafs around for half the regular season, i just dont care. I know Richards is better than Handzus and i know Bickell will bring his A game when we need him. And the more i see from TVR the more im sure Leddy wont be missed, not as if we've ever relied on Leddy in the playoffs anyways.

See the flyers lost a couple D man , wonder if the HAWKS could move Rosival for something other then a bag of pucks .

See the flyers lost a couple D man , wonder if the HAWKS could move Rosival for something other then a bag of pucks .
- oldduffman

Just when maybe - maybe - the bottom pairing looks like it could be set - two pretty good games from them - they're gonna trade the experienced part of the pairing?

I think you get Bickel with Shaw and someone . He always seemed to play well when he is with a s=it disturber like Shaw ..
- oldduffman

At 6"4 225 ,HE should be the S--t disturber. The guy is a waste of 4 million bucks,same old story every year with him. I am curious to see his play tommorow night especially if one of the Blues takes a shot at 19 or 88. My guess is he"ll hide behind Shaw or Carcillo.

Agree with all the guys saying it's too early to go off, but I agree with your post that sooner rather than later they need to know if Richards is going to be that 2nd center
- 6628

They absolutely already know the answer - he's washed up and isn't ever going to be able to hang with the better centers in the Western Conference. Not only is he a turtle, he's a defensive liability.

Just when maybe - maybe - the bottom pairing looks like it could be set - two pretty good games from them - they're gonna trade the experienced part of the pairing?
- StLBravesFan

Oh sorry ,did not see the last game .And went to the game on Sat , was taking in the atmosphere (beer) may have clouded my judgment . I like Rosival but the last I had seen was not very good . I am hoping Rossy is good to go , TVR is a pleasant surprise .

They absolutely already know the answer - he's washed up and isn't ever going to be able to hang with the better centers in the Western Conference. Not only is he a turtle, he's a defensive liability.
- RickJ

If you're right it's a good thing he only has a 1 year deal. (at least I think he does)

Oh sorry ,did not see the last game .And went to the game on Sat , was taking in the atmosphere (beer) may have clouded my judgment . I like Rosival but the last I had seen was not very good . I am hoping Rossy is good to go , TVR is a pleasant surprise .
- oldduffman

Q gave Roszival 15 minutes (including some PK time) and TvR 13 minutes at Nashville - more in the Philadelphia blowout - at least a small measure of trust - which the bottom pairing didn't have with Rundblad.

And he played them together for the two games - leaving the top-4 pairings intact.

Only two games - maybe Rosvival collapses against St. Louis - but....