JJ-agree with a lot of what you are saying. Ryan Murray being injured virtually all year has been huge. Wiz being out last night does not help either, although I agree with you that he is not a top 2 guy. For what its worth, I don't think either Skille or Morin will be on the CBJ roster next year. Boone Jenner is a top 6 guy, and there are others (like Kirby Rychel and Marko Dano) that will push those guys out. Just my opinion.
- Eric 1

Yep, I like Jenner and Dano, and man did Wennberg look dangerous at times. Bob would have helped las tonight maybe too.

An example of how you can not judge how Pirri and Hayes are doing because they are on a bad team reminds me of the old ABC line for the Hawks. The hyped prospects were all 20 goal scorers yet neither Arnason, Calder or Bell ever found a permanent home in the NHL.

The only thing I question is why do some young players seemingly get very few opportunities, while others continue to roll out game in and game out no matter how inept they are. It gives me the impression Q already has his mind made up. The Hawks have not traded away anything like Gretzky over the last two years, but some of those players could have been "experienced depth".
- kwolf68

kwolf, It's really a matter of where the Hawks are now what the expectations are and where a player fits in. Kruger and Smith have embraced their roles as 4th line forecheckers, solid D-zone players and penalty killers. When Carcillo puts aside the stupid, he provides energy, physicality and some hockey smarts and skills.

The expectations on a team like the Panthers or Columbus is much different than on a perennial contender like the Hawks. The players the Hawks traded away were flawed in some way for what the Hawks needed or expected.
Morin wanted to be a scorer, but didn't score, nor did he facilitate for anyone on his line. Not an outright defensive liability, but not great.
Pirri had some offensive skills, but was very poor in his own end.
Olsen average in his own end and just wasn't better than any of the other options.
Hayes (jimmy) was a big body who didn't skate all that great or use his size to his advantage
Skille was just a fringe NHL'er, dime a dozen player.

It's easy to say "experienced depth", but none of them were necessarily any more experienced than the next prospect, had flaws where the Hawks did not want to tolerate mistakes (defensive side of the game) and maybe had a lower upside.

Not sure who you think is rolled out game in and out who is completely inept? Runblad? Yes he is bad, but either the feeling is that he is still better than the other options in the minors, there are cap implications or lack of space, or they are just unwilling to expose him to waivers and lose an asset for nothing at this point.
Bickell? For all his apparent faults, and disregarding whether you think his salary is out of line or not, he is still way, way better than any other option currently available or since traded. Hayes doesn't hold his jock strap, neither does Pirri, Morin, Skille, etc.

JJ,
There was a great interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H two weeks ago that I'm reminded of when reading this blog. Guys on here might laugh at the idea of pro wrestling, but the major sports industries have borrowed heavily from wrestling. For example: intros for teams/players, video editing, promos, etc. But that's not the point of this post.
Wrestling is a work, of course, but in the interview, Triple H talks about how kayfabe is dead; Kayfabe being the portrayal of competition, rivalries, and relationships between wrestlers as being genuine and not staged. The major contributor to its death was the emergence (and dominance) of the internet. Fans are far more educated now and understand all the ins and outs of the business than ever before. They're no longer content with watching the show unfold before them. Fueled by the internet and its rumor sites, fans always expect more or think something should go a certain way based on what they're reading. It makes it much harder to book and write storylines for wrestling.
Of course wrestling is fake and hockey is real, but I feel there's a parallel to what's happening in wrestling to what's happening in major sports. I'll use the Hawks and this site as an example. Do you think fans are getting away from being able to sit down and let the game just happen and move on afterwards? If a guy has a bad game, it's because, "I read that there are locker room issues." Or, "I heard (insert player name) wants a trade because he doesn't like (insert coaches name) system and that's why his play has fallen off." Or, "This guy is mad at that guy and the front office and coaching staff don't see eye-to-eye anymore." Etc., etc., etc...
Rumors and speculation are fun. They can help fans get educated, informed or start conversations. I also think too much info and speculation can have a negative impact on the game as a whole.
I love the blog, and as journalist on it, I have you ever thought about this kind of stuff? I was just curious what your thoughts might be…thanks.

No new rumors, but I wanted be surprised if they pull the trigger on a deal of some kind after Versteeg gets back.

If not, then ya, Nordstrom or TT should go back.
- John Jaeckel

Any idea on what they're targeting, other than probably bigger bodies? Most likely lower line guys?

GOMAD
Dead lifts
Squats
Bench Press
Pullups

Repeat
- John Jaeckel

And non-light beer

Ummm problem 1 = lack of talent at the minor league level because the team sucked 10 years ago

Problem 2 = any talent ended up in the NHL right away: Keith, Seabrook, Bolland, Kane, Toews, Saad, Kruger, Shaw, Leddy, Hammer to a certain extent spent little or no time in the AHL - though Troy Brouwer scored a crap tone of AHL goals

Problem 3 = Because of one you get 2 and it is tough to build a group of players who are challenged and pushed if there isn't sufficient competition for the next call up.

Problem 4 = Now that there is some talent people are losing their minds over the next great thing. But a lot of these guys still need to learn the game not be rushed up as the next savior of the 4th line.

Soooo guys come up with little "pro" experience and are either flawed in some respect or haven't figured out how to be a professional.

Depending on who goes where next year, unless they sign a bunch of cheapo veterans, they're probably going to deplete farm again with call ups and will realistically be 2 full seasons away from having the hockey players up and down the line up that they have had the luxury of in recent history.

That is fine. But that is also predicated on Q understanding that he is going to have to give some games away and not ride his best players as hard as he would like (especially Hossa) and a massive understanding from the fan base that poop is gonna happen so don't get your underwear in a twist.

In summary, I think a lot of the prospects have been mismanaged from a GM point of view, not allowed to fail (because with this group they have needed to win now) from a coaching perspective and the next two years are going to be interesting.

JJ,
There was a great interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H two weeks ago that I'm reminded of when reading this blog. Guys on here might laugh at the idea of pro wrestling, but the major sports industries have borrowed heavily from wrestling. For example: intros for teams/players, video editing, promos, etc. But that's not the point of this post.
Wrestling is a work, of course, but in the interview, Triple H talks about how kayfabe is dead; Kayfabe being the portrayal of competition, rivalries, and relationships between wrestlers as being genuine and not staged. The major contributor to its death was the emergence (and dominance) of the internet. Fans are far more educated now and understand all the ins and outs of the business than ever before. They're no longer content with watching the show unfold before them. Fueled by the internet and its rumor sites, fans always expect more or think something should go a certain way based on what they're reading. It makes it much harder to book and write storylines for wrestling.

Of course wrestling is fake and hockey is real, but I feel there's a parallel to what's happening in wrestling to what's happening in major sports. I'll use the Hawks and this site as an example. Do you think fans are getting away from being able to sit down and let the game just happen and move on afterwards? If a guy has a bad game, it's because, "I read that there are locker room issues." Or, "I heard (insert player name) wants a trade because he doesn't like (insert coaches name) system and that's why his play has fallen off." Or, "This guy is mad at that guy and the front office and coaching staff don't see eye-to-eye anymore." Etc., etc., etc...
Rumors and speculation are fun. They can help fans get educated, informed or start conversations. I also think too much info and speculation can have a negative impact on the game as a whole.
I love the blog, and as journalist on it, I have you ever thought about this kind of stuff? I was just curious what your thoughts might be…thanks.
- Hank3Henshaw

Curious comparison, but an interesting take. Are you an NXT fan? I think that's the most interesting aspect of WWE right now.

kwolf, It's really a matter of where the Hawks are now what the expectations are and where a player fits in. Kruger and Smith have embraced their roles as 4th line forecheckers, solid D-zone players and penalty killers. When Carcillo puts aside the stupid, he provides energy, physicality and some hockey smarts and skills.

The expectations on a team like the Panthers or Columbus is much different than on a perennial contender like the Hawks. The players the Hawks traded away were flawed in some way for what the Hawks needed or expected.
Morin wanted to be a scorer, but didn't score, nor did he facilitate for anyone on his line. Not an outright defensive liability, but not great.
Pirri had some offensive skills, but was very poor in his own end.
Olsen average in his own end and just wasn't better than any of the other options.
Hayes (jimmy) was a big body who didn't skate all that great or use his size to his advantage
Skille was just a fringe NHL'er, dime a dozen player.

It's easy to say "experienced depth", but none of them were necessarily any more experienced than the next prospect, had flaws where the Hawks did not want to tolerate mistakes (defensive side of the game) and maybe had a lower upside.

Not sure who you think is rolled out game in and out who is completely inept? Runblad? Yes he is bad, but either the feeling is that he is still better than the other options in the minors, there are cap implications or lack of space, or they are just unwilling to expose him to waivers and lose an asset for nothing at this point.
Bickell? For all his apparent faults, and disregarding whether you think his salary is out of line or not, he is still way, way better than any other option currently available or since traded. Hayes doesn't hold his jock strap, neither does Pirri, Morin, Skille, etc.
- TheTrob

These are all good points, but I do not believe we have maximized the return on these players. Even Nick Leddy, who despite his limitations, had(s) immense potential merely got the Hawks one good prospect and two 'other guys'. Runblad was on his what? 3rd team when we traded a 2 for him. Pirri was moved for a 3 and a 5, you could get a 5th for basically bottom feeder depth. I didn't mind the Hayes trade so much because Versteeg was a decent flier (though last year he was atrocious, he has been good this year).

Still, other than Leddy none of those players seemed to get a legitimate chance. You are inferring they "wanted to be top 6 guys" and thus didn't accept their role as bottom 6 players. I can't dispute that, but I am not sure either.

I saw no more poor play from Morin than from Runblad. Poor in his own end? Runblad is the poster child for that and makes Leddy look like Scott Stevens. Yet, Runblad continues to hit the ice game after game after game..... Hey he is up to 3:30 a period now.

I am not "anti" Runblad here, but just confused why he (and some others) get so many chances while other players get virtually none. Again I can neither confirm or deny "bad attitudes" of players wanting a top 6 role, but I do know there WILL be openings in the top 6. Injuries happen. And next year at least 1 will be traded. I can't believe a Morin (who was a physical player) wasn't satisfied with working his way from a bottom 6 role up (assuming he could) to time in the top 6.

I agree with JJ's take on the youth, for the most part. I do not think that Q mishandles the prospects.

Consider the case of Leddy. He was initially given the chance to play on the second pair after Campbell was dealt. He obviously was not ready for that role. Ultimately they traded for Oduya to fill the need for a top 4 D. When they won in 2013, Leddy more than fulfilled a role on the third pair. He was pretty much the fifth D at that point, but I don't think anybody was going to argue that he could step into Oduya's skates that year or last year, either.

Fast forward to summer of 2014, and Oduya begins the recovery from the foot fracture. One of Oduya, Rozsival, or Leddy was going to be traded. Oduya had one year left, and it means any team interested knows that they get one year with a player after a pretty significant injury. Who would take on that full salary? How much value does Oduya have in the trade market? Probably not enough.

Not much needed to be said about Rozsival. Nobody was taking that contract off Stanley's hands. That meant Leddy was the odd man out. Is this whole story really an indictment on anybody? I don't think it is. Sure, it sucks to have to trade players due to cap constraints, but this was the reality. Do we even know the ultimate value of the players that came the other way in this deal?

The Hawks also had a pipeline of D prospects. Some are going to make it, most won't. That's the nature of any farm system. Chances are, they'll get someone out of the pool of prospects that becomes a legitimate NHL player. If they have enough confidence in how they scout and draft, they should have felt comfortable enough making this deal, even if it's one they probably wouldn't have done in a non-salary cap world.

Ryan Stanton is another guy who maybe should have been given an actual legitimate look. Yet he was discarded like a waste bin. Never given a real look. People talking about needing size, someone who can play tough in his own zone, that guy did. He isn't the flashiest or most dynamic player ever, but he plays a sound hockey game. Yet, was given no shot here. Runblad given months to prove himself...Stanton out with the trash. It is THIS that tells me something is amiss somewhere.

All Stanton did in Rockford was improve every year, every game (he took a real jump between 2012 and 2013, yet NOTHING)...if anyone deserved a shot at the big club it was him. He'll probably be a pretty solid third pairing D-man, who is cost effective, for a number of years up with the Canucks.

All this talk about these guys not getting a chance because the Hawks are just so good is hogwash. A team that can easily discard sound hockey players should be running over teams, not limping around in the middle of the conference despite having virtually no injury problems this year, especially compared to the competition.

Ryan Stanton is another guy who maybe should have been given an actual legitimate look. Yet he was discarded like a waste bin. Never given a real look. People talking about needing size, someone who can play tough in his own zone, that guy did. He isn't the flashiest or most dynamic player ever, but he plays a sound hockey game. Yet, was given no shot here. Runblad given months to prove himself...Stanton out with the trash. It is THIS that tells me something is amiss somewhere.

All Stanton did in Rockford was improve every year, every game (he took a real jump between 2012 and 2013, yet NOTHING)...if anyone deserved a shot at the big club it was him. He'll probably be a pretty solid third pairing D-man, who is cost effective, for a number of years up with the Canucks.

All this talk about these guys not getting a chance because the Hawks are just so good is hogwash. A team that can easily discard sound hockey players should be running over teams, not limping around in the middle of the conference despite having virtually no injury problems this year, especially compared to the competition.
- kwolf68

The Hawks liked Stanton a lot I think. If you remember the 2013 Cup parade/rally, Stanton was the only Black Ace that was acknowledged and introduced with the rest of the team in Grant Park...almost like they were making the fans conscious of him so when camp broke for the 2014 season and he was on the team (possibly at the expense of other known defensemen) the casual observer wouldn't have said "Who?" I remember watching with other guys and we all looked at each other trying to figure out why he was included in the proceedings. Then camp ended and he didn't have a spot and they had to chance waivers for him.

The Hawks liked Stanton a lot I think. If you remember the 2013 Cup parade/rally, Stanton was the only Black Ace that was acknowledged and introduced with the rest of the team in Grant Park...almost like they were making the fans conscious of him so when camp broke for the 2014 season and he was on the team (possibly at the expense of other known defensemen) the casual observer wouldn't have said "Who?" Then camp ended and he didn't have a spot and they had to chance waivers for him.
- PhatJoeSki

I agree. Stanton was a big loss to the Hawks that year. There wasn't a place for him at the time and they had to expose him to waivers (hoping he would slide through). Vancouver noticed and picked him up right away.

If he would have made it through I would assume he would be playing in place of Runblad and rotating with TVR this year until Rosy's contract was up. But wishful thinking I guess.

I was at the game last night, and have watched TT on TV like most of us... although you might not have been able to see on TV, TT was actually pretty impressive....real solid hands, good vision, made the smart play...

I would think TT gets the nod to stay and Nordy sent down....

Curious comparison, but an interesting take. Are you an NXT fan? I think that's the most interesting aspect of WWE right now.
- jam10sugar

You know, I've seen a bit. my buddies are big fans. They showed me the Neville-Zayne match last week. incredible. The wrestling is a lot better in NXT. I think Triple H has a whole plan ready to go with those guys once Vince steps down and he takes over.

I'm hoping they have that Zayn and Owens match at Mania instead of the NXT PPV. I think it would be good to use the Mania hype/large audience to help spotlight the talent down in NXT. Everyone prefers the talent down there to what's up in the "big leagues" of WWE.
Vince is the Bill Wirtz of WWE--stubborn, doesn't want to try new things, etc. While Triple H is the Rocky Wirtz of WWE--new ideas of how to transform and generate interest in the business.

JJ,
There was a great interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H two weeks ago that I'm reminded of when reading this blog. Guys on here might laugh at the idea of pro wrestling, but the major sports industries have borrowed heavily from wrestling. For example: intros for teams/players, video editing, promos, etc. But that's not the point of this post.
Wrestling is a work, of course, but in the interview, Triple H talks about how kayfabe is dead; Kayfabe being the portrayal of competition, rivalries, and relationships between wrestlers as being genuine and not staged. The major contributor to its death was the emergence (and dominance) of the internet. Fans are far more educated now and understand all the ins and outs of the business than ever before. They're no longer content with watching the show unfold before them. Fueled by the internet and its rumor sites, fans always expect more or think something should go a certain way based on what they're reading. It makes it much harder to book and write storylines for wrestling.
Of course wrestling is fake and hockey is real, but I feel there's a parallel to what's happening in wrestling to what's happening in major sports. I'll use the Hawks and this site as an example. Do you think fans are getting away from being able to sit down and let the game just happen and move on afterwards? If a guy has a bad game, it's because, "I read that there are locker room issues." Or, "I heard (insert player name) wants a trade because he doesn't like (insert coaches name) system and that's why his play has fallen off." Or, "This guy is mad at that guy and the front office and coaching staff don't see eye-to-eye anymore." Etc., etc., etc...
Rumors and speculation are fun. They can help fans get educated, informed or start conversations. I also think too much info and speculation can have a negative impact on the game as a whole.
I love the blog, and as journalist on it, I have you ever thought about this kind of stuff? I was just curious what your thoughts might be…thanks.
- Hank3Henshaw

It's a fair comment/question and I appreciate the non-pejorative tone.

The truth is . . . rivalries, disagreements, personality conflicts in dressing rooms and front offices are as old as time itself.

No question, the internet and the blogosphere have built a whole realm of speculation around it that wasn't there even 10 years ago.

Hockeybuzz, like so many other sites, is in business to provide insight and backstory. Is it right, is it wrong, is it better, is it worse? I don't know.

It is . . . what it is.

I do know that lots (millions actually in terms of page views) of people come here, to HB and to this blog, for the rumors.

I will tell you one very positive side effect of all this is that a lot of fans get smarter about hockey, what goes on on the ice, through participating here. i have no doubt about that. And I personally think the bulk of Hawk fans are a helluva lot smarter today, because of blogs and message boards and interaction with longtime fans and some people who actually work in the game (including some here), than they were even 5-6 years ago.

What frustrates me frankly is the "shoot the messenger" syndrome that goes with it. Some people come here, and if they don't like what my point of view or what I pass along that I'm hearing, I'm a bad guy. Or I'm challenged to reveal my sources.

Because of course, my sources will continue to give me information if I jeopardize their jobs by revealing them.

And I don't make it up. I would say about 10-20% of the trade rumors I report on actually happen (in some form). But the ones that don't generally don't because the number of conversations that GMs have far outnumber the number of actual trades. But some do. I have a higher batting average on injuries and free agent moves.

I have gotten some bad info. A few summers ago I was assured Mike Havliand would be offered the Jets' coaching job imminently. I blogged it. Didn't happen, went to Noel. I did a mea culpa and took my lumps.

But I've also been right a fair amount, and right a lot more than some bloggers who like to take shots—who have never broken a single story themselves. So I will just leave that at what it is.

But I can't, and be honest, take issue with the whole realm of backstory/rumors around sports. Because I would be a giant hypocrite. I do see what you're saying. it does exist, and it is a by-product of the internet.

So I hope that answers some of your question.

Ummm problem 1 = lack of talent at the minor league level because the team sucked 10 years ago

Problem 2 = any talent ended up in the NHL right away: Keith, Seabrook, Bolland, Kane, Toews, Saad, Kruger, Shaw, Leddy, Hammer to a certain extent spent little or no time in the AHL - though Troy Brouwer scored a crap tone of AHL goals

Problem 3 = Because of one you get 2 and it is tough to build a group of players who are challenged and pushed if there isn't sufficient competition for the next call up.

Problem 4 = Now that there is some talent people are losing their minds over the next great thing. But a lot of these guys still need to learn the game not be rushed up as the next savior of the 4th line.

Soooo guys come up with little "pro" experience and are either flawed in some respect or haven't figured out how to be a professional.

Depending on who goes where next year, unless they sign a bunch of cheapo veterans, they're probably going to deplete farm again with call ups and will realistically be 2 full seasons away from having the hockey players up and down the line up that they have had the luxury of in recent history.

That is fine. But that is also predicated on Q understanding that he is going to have to give some games away and not ride his best players as hard as he would like (especially Hossa) and a massive understanding from the fan base that poop is gonna happen so don't get your underwear in a twist.

In summary, I think a lot of the prospects have been mismanaged from a GM point of view, not allowed to fail (because with this group they have needed to win now) from a coaching perspective and the next two years are going to be interesting.
- fattybeef

Nailed it

Ryan Stanton is another guy who maybe should have been given an actual legitimate look. Yet he was discarded like a waste bin. Never given a real look. People talking about needing size, someone who can play tough in his own zone, that guy did. He isn't the flashiest or most dynamic player ever, but he plays a sound hockey game. Yet, was given no shot here. Runblad given months to prove himself...Stanton out with the trash. It is THIS that tells me something is amiss somewhere.

All Stanton did in Rockford was improve every year, every game (he took a real jump between 2012 and 2013, yet NOTHING)...if anyone deserved a shot at the big club it was him. He'll probably be a pretty solid third pairing D-man, who is cost effective, for a number of years up with the Canucks.

All this talk about these guys not getting a chance because the Hawks are just so good is hogwash. A team that can easily discard sound hockey players should be running over teams, not limping around in the middle of the conference despite having virtually no injury problems this year, especially compared to the competition.
- kwolf68

Stanton was a timing issue. In hindsight maybe you try and keep him around, but at the time he was the 7th/8th D-man with no options to send him back down. They had to expose him to waivers, and subsequently lost him. At the time, he was not better than anyone on the Roster, including Rosival and Brookbank, so they exposed him and lost. He was given a shot, he did notbeat out who he had to beat out. Hawks would have preferred to keep him and send him back down, they didn't get the chance.

Could they expose Runblad or Erixon to waivers with the intent of sending them down? Of course they could, but they would run the risk of losing them on waivers and be left with ZERO return on an asset. That's not smart business. If there was truly a MUCH better option in Rockford, they would be up. Dahlbeck, Johns, Cumiskey or Pokka at this point are not better players, they all have their weaknesses too.

You say the talk of the Hawks being so good is Hogwash, but which players are you replacing? Should Morin have played over Shaw, Bickell, Kruger, Smith? The answer is NO.

Kevin Hayes chose not to sign with the Hawks because he saw that there was a log jam of players in front of him, and a longer path to the NHL. The Rangers were able to provide him an opportunity the Hawks could not.

It's a fair comment/question and I appreciate the non-pejorative tone.

The truth is . . . rivalries, disagreements, personality conflicts in dressing rooms and front offices are as old as time itself.

No question, the internet and the blogosphere have built a whole realm of speculation around it that wasn't there even 10 years ago.

Hockeybuzz, like so many other sites, is in business to provide insight and backstory. Is it right, is it wrong, is it better, is it worse? I don't know.

It is . . . what it is.

I do know that lots (millions actually in terms of page views) of people come here, to HB and to this blog, for the rumors.

I will tell you one very positive side effect of all this is that a lot of fans get smarter about hockey, what goes on on the ice, through participating here. i have no doubt about that. And I personally think the bulk of Hawk fans are a helluva lot smarter today, because of blogs and message boards and interaction with longtime fans and some people who actually work in the game (including some here), than they were even 5-6 years ago.

What frustrates me frankly is the "shoot the messenger" syndrome that goes with it. Some people come here, and if they don't like what my point of view or what I pass along that I'm hearing, I'm a bad guy. Or I'm challenged to reveal my sources.

Because of course, my sources will continue to give me information if I jeopardize their jobs by revealing them.

And I don't make it up. I would say about 10-20% of the trade rumors I report on actually happen (in some form). But the ones that don't generally don't because the number of conversations that GMs have far outnumber the number of actual trades. But some do. I have a higher batting average on injuries and free agent moves.

I have gotten some bad info. A few summers ago I was assured Mike Havliand would be offered the Jets' coaching job imminently. I blogged it. Didn't happen, went to Noel. I did a mea culpa and took my lumps.

But I've also been right a fair amount, and right a lot more than some bloggers who like to take shots—who have never broken a single story themselves. So I will just leave that at what it is.

But I can't, and be honest, take issue with the whole realm of backstory/rumors around sports. Because I would be a giant hypocrite. I do see what you're saying. it does exist, and it is a by-product of the internet.

So I hope that answers some of your question.
- John Jaeckel

J1..J2..J3..J4

It's a fair comment/question and I appreciate the non-pejorative tone.

The truth is . . . rivalries, disagreements, personality conflicts in dressing rooms and front offices are as old as time itself.

No question, the internet and the blogosphere have built a whole realm of speculation around it that wasn't there even 10 years ago.

Hockeybuzz, like so many other sites, is in business to provide insight and backstory. Is it right, is it wrong, is it better, is it worse? I don't know.

It is . . . what it is.

I do know that lots (millions actually in terms of page views) of people come here, to HB and to this blog, for the rumors.

I will tell you one very positive side effect of all this is that a lot of fans get smarter about hockey, what goes on on the ice, through participating here. i have no doubt about that. And I personally think the bulk of Hawk fans are a helluva lot smarter today, because of blogs and message boards and interaction with longtime fans and some people who actually work in the game (including some here), than they were even 5-6 years ago.

What frustrates me frankly is the "shoot the messenger" syndrome that goes with it. Some people come here, and if they don't like what my point of view or what I pass along that I'm hearing, I'm a bad guy. Or I'm challenged to reveal my sources.

Because of course, my sources will continue to give me information if I jeopardize their jobs by revealing them.

And I don't make it up. I would say about 10-20% of the trade rumors I report on actually happen (in some form). But the ones that don't generally don't because the number of conversations that GMs have far outnumber the number of actual trades. But some do. I have a higher batting average on injuries and free agent moves.

I have gotten some bad info. A few summers ago I was assured Mike Havliand would be offered the Jets' coaching job imminently. I blogged it. Didn't happen, went to Noel. I did a mea culpa and took my lumps.

But I've also been right a fair amount, and right a lot more than some bloggers who like to take shots—who have never broken a single story themselves. So I will just leave that at what it is.

But I can't, and be honest, take issue with the whole realm of backstory/rumors around sports. Because I would be a giant hypocrite. I do see what you're saying. it does exist, and it is a by-product of the internet.

So I hope that answers some of your question.
- John Jaeckel

Rumors is what fuels the HB Fire. Several years ago I was googling hockey rumors and guess what pops up? Eklund

I could not agree more with your statement that blog sites have made me a smarter, more informed fan. Results a higher hockey IQ today than back then and when talking hockey outside of here a perception that I might actually know what I am talking about. So for that I say thanks.

I would hope most everone understands the rumor-kingdom. 90% + I'm sure never even get near the table of most GM's but keep on reporting what you hear and what the hell, toot the horn when you nail it.

Saw Columbus and LA last night in person. Some impressions:

Carter-Toffoli-King just dominant

Jared Boll beat the snot out of Kyle Clifford in a legit HW brawl. He is a TOUGH kid.

Alexander Wennberg has some real skill, dangerous all night

Jackets defense is dreadful up and down the ice
- John Jaeckel

Wennebeg is a player I was hoping could be had if/when the Hawks move Sharp during the offseason.

.

Not sure who you think is rolled out game in and out who is completely inept? Runblad? Yes he is bad, but either the feeling is that he is still better than the other options in the minors, there are cap implications or lack of space, or they are just unwilling to expose him to waivers and lose an asset for nothing at this point.

Scott Powers ‏@ESPNChiPowers • 41m41 minutes ago
David Rundblad leads the Blackhawks as a plus-16 and with a 57.6 Corsi percentage (min. 20 games).

Yes, Corsi has flaws, but the 4 guys behind #5 are Olympians and All Stars.

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Not sure who you think is rolled out game in and out who is completely inept? Runblad? Yes he is bad, but either the feeling is that he is still better than the other options in the minors, there are cap implications or lack of space, or they are just unwilling to expose him to waivers and lose an asset for nothing at this point.

Scott Powers ‏@ESPNChiPowers • 41m41 minutes ago
David Rundblad leads the Blackhawks as a plus-16 and with a 57.6 Corsi percentage (min. 20 games).

Yes, Corsi has flaws, but the 4 guys behind #5 are Olympians and All Stars.
- KingB

And Rundblad's pre-eminence in it proves it.

Another issue with the blogosphere: it's spawned a whole generation of hockey stats geeks, 99.9% of whom have not played any meaningful hockey. Corsi is helpful to see a player's impact offensively. Hence why Rundlblad looks so great in that regard. He's a purely one-dimensional player, and worse still a defenseman who can only play offense.

1/2 of hockey is about something other than accumulating points—it's about stopping the other team from doing so. Many who excel at accumulating points do so at the expense of the other part of the equation.

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Not sure who you think is rolled out game in and out who is completely inept? Runblad? Yes he is bad, but either the feeling is that he is still better than the other options in the minors, there are cap implications or lack of space, or they are just unwilling to expose him to waivers and lose an asset for nothing at this point.

Scott Powers ‏@ESPNChiPowers • 41m41 minutes ago
David Rundblad leads the Blackhawks as a plus-16 and with a 57.6 Corsi percentage (min. 20 games).

Yes, Corsi has flaws, but the 4 guys behind #5 are Olympians and All Stars.
- KingB

I gather that +/- doesn't tell the entire story, and I never heard an explanation for it in regards to Rundblad. Is it just a fluke of some kind, the benefit of being paired with Keith, what is it exactly? I don't have a problem with the criticism of him in his own end, though he seems better in that regard the last two games. One can only hope the fear of the forecheck can be drilled out of him at practice.

I sure like what he brings at the point, regardless. As I said on here numerous times, would it really kill them to put him on a power play unit?

Back to the younger player management issue, though. Does anybody think that bringing back Versteeg at half price for Olsen and Hayes was a bad trade?

Speaking of roster \ rumors \ what not

The Hogs randomly added a roster player. Perhaps eludes to some movement especially considering that with Versteeg coming back one would expect one or both of Nordstrom and\or TT to go down...