The guy has no business playing. I was stunned to see him in the lineup.

He has an above average shot....that is all. The non stop oogling over him by the radio team as I drove home yesterday was puzzling. For on apparent reason. I thought Saad competed. that was about it. I didn't see anything special from Rundblad other then his typical Simple Jack breakdowns in his own end.
- SteveRain

Everything he does in his own end is an adventure. I'm no expert but his skating style has changed so much from those clips from Sweden I'm starting to think they used a double.... and we now have to watch him for the indefinite future absent a move. If Oduya is a shoulder he could be out longer than a few weeks. Oduya may have just decided that it's time to rest until his next contract.

Everything he does in his own end is an adventure. I'm no expert but his skating style has changed so much from those clips from Sweden I'm starting to think they used a double.... and we now have to watch him for the indefinite future absent a move. If Oduya is a shoulder he could be out longer than a few weeks. Oduya may have just decided that it's time to rest until his next contract.
- tredbrta

if you look up the definition of unforced turnover, his picture is next to the meaning.

If it is a shoulder for Oduya, yeah....he could be out 3-6 weeks depending upon the severity. Obvious the original diagnosis Q was told postgame was off. A few games to a few weeks is a big gap.

Ok...I was just puzzled why you were so quick to defend that trade. It's still a 2nd round pick they gave up for a guy who can't crack a NHL lineup on a horrible Phoenix team and a Hawks team that has some defensive depth issues.
- SteveRain

The result sucks but I still understand the rationale. Just wish they had scouted better and chose to move the pick for another older prospect in a similar position. The organization failed to do the leg work scouting him last year... that is for sure. Rundblad did play in 12 games for the Yotes - not a huge sampling but did anyone even bother to look?

Super update. Thank you.

Disgruntled roulette... I'll play:

1) Sharp (last years rumor and now on 4th line 1/2 the time)... popular enough in the room to stir some muck.

2) Shaw. Just shut up since you got your contract and decided you were a skill player that doesn't need to hit.

3) Crow. However, I'd reverse this one a bit. I doubt there are many in that room that truly believe he is a quality keeper but know he is getting paid elite money.
- jjcbeme

CC gave up 4 goals in 32 minutes on 14 shots. Raanta who has played a handful of games in 6 months came in the game cold and gave up 2 goals in 28 minutes on 16 shots. For my money the guy making $750k did a better job than the guy making $6m

I think the loss of Oduya for a month is being understated on this board today. Our bottom 3 was already weak with a mediocre Oduya this year...how bad is it going to look with Rundblad, Rosival and Cumiskey


if a trade for defensive help wasnt a need before, it is certainly a priority for the FO now....

Hilarious. People care what social media says. THe people who reacted to that trade dont look at the big picture. WE NEED CAP RELIEF!!! We get back a center and someone who weighs more than 40 pounds. I find some people hilarious. Every person on twitter making comments is probably 40 years old and sitting in their moms basement. Im not to worried about it.
- nickmo2699

We need cap relief, but you don't give away a legit top 6 forward and the only top 6 projected prospect in the system for a guy who is at best an average 3C (even if he came with additional pieces). PIT in general is a bad trading partner because their needs are similar to our in that they want an upgrade at 3C (because shocker: they don't think Sutter is cutting it) and on defense.

I think the loss of Oduya for a month is being understated on this board today. Our bottom 3 was already weak with a mediocre Oduya this year...how bad is it going to look with Rundblad, Rosival and Cumiskey


if a trade for defensive help wasnt a need before, it is certainly a priority for the FO now....
- EnzoD

Oh I am with you. I had a should have been red font post a few pages back.

This defensive unit is about to get REAL bad. 2, 4,7 will be physically exhausted come playoff time if Bowman doesn't acquire a decent guy by next Monday.

You would work in the word "beats" in there wouldn't you!
- paulr

Happy accident?

I think the loss of Oduya for a month is being understated on this board today. Our bottom 3 was already weak with a mediocre Oduya this year...how bad is it going to look with Rundblad, Rosival and Cumiskey


if a trade for defensive help wasnt a need before, it is certainly a priority for the FO now....
- EnzoD

Agreed. This is a terrible injury. I know he wasn't playing well this year but would you rather have him or CumBladZivalRixon?

I think the loss of Oduya for a month is being understated on this board today. Our bottom 3 was already weak with a mediocre Oduya this year...how bad is it going to look with Rundblad, Rosival and Cumiskey


if a trade for defensive help wasnt a need before, it is certainly a priority for the FO now....
- EnzoD

What's the gripe w Cumiskey. Ithought he was pretty good. might see him in top 4 while 27 is out.

Oh I am with you. I had a should have been red font post a few pages back.

This defensive unit is about to get REAL bad. 2, 4,7 will be physically exhausted come playoff time if Bowman doesn't acquire a decent guy by next Monday.
- SteveRain

I think there needs to be a fundamental change in philosophy from the GM. This team should be in a "Win now at all costs" type of mode. 2, 7, 81, and 10 are Elite players NOW. The prospects the Hawks have are not "game changers" and project as a bunch of depth pieces. Trade that "future depth" for impact players and try to win at least another cup this year or next. After these big salaries are gone we can sign UFAs to fill out the depth. I just think Bowman is too focused on the future and not focused enough on winning NOW while the cup window is wide open.

What's the gripe w Cumiskey. Ithought he was pretty good. might see him in top 4 while 27 is out.
- nickmo2699

Cumiskey sort of reminds me of Oduya Lite back when JO first came over. Smooth skating, lefty that depends more on his feet than his brawn. I have no idea if he can handle an increased work load or not but I think I would rather see what he can do there than the other options.

What's the gripe w Cumiskey. Ithought he was pretty good. might see him in top 4 while 27 is out.
- nickmo2699

I wasn't overly impressed with him and even if he was decent, do you really want him playing top four minutes?

What's the gripe w Cumiskey. Ithought he was pretty good. might see him in top 4 while 27 is out.
- nickmo2699

Highly doubt it, mainly because you HAVE to have someone with speed (Cumisky) with the ancient warrior Rozsival. Keith's speed/quickness is being used to cover for Rundblad's total lack of skating ability and speed.

And the Hjalmarsson and Seabrook pairing is now your shutdown pair, with #4 moving back over to the left side. Makes total sense.

Although, because I'm a real jag, I would really love to see Rozsival/Rundblad paired for an entire game. That might be more fun than a barrel full of monkeys.

Some of the ideas being thrown around today are absolute nonsense. Trade Keith you say?

Yes. Let's trade a top pairing d-man who has won 2 Norris trophies and is making 5.3M/YR.

I totally forgot the 31 year old Keith is way past his prime because historically top talent D-men usually burn out around 34
Also, don't forget he is leading pretty much every advanced stat for d-men.

What's the gripe w Cumiskey. Ithought he was pretty good. might see him in top 4 while 27 is out.
- nickmo2699

He's too small. Guys can just protect the puck and post him up and he has no abilty to win a physical battle and get the puck back. Good hockey player in terms of skating, puck control,ect..but too small to be a dman on a championship NHL team...

I wasn't overly impressed with him and even if he was decent, do you really want him playing top four minutes?
- golfbard

Meaning you'd really like to see Rundblad get top 4 minutes with Keith?

Holy (frank)!

Bernstein going in on Sharp, saying if he was in the Hawk FO his first move would be getting Sharp out of that locker room.

I posted this not because I think Bernstein has any hockey acumen whatsoever but rather because he does know people that know things and the way he said it made it sound like Sharp is a problem. Just trying to connect the dots back to JJ's statement about one player being an issue.

Just parroting what he said on the radio, not saying I agree or that Sharp needs to move. Just thought it was curious for him to say that, he never usually opines on anything as far as hockey roster moves.

Bernstein going in on Sharp, saying if he was in the Hawk FO his first move would be getting Sharp out of that locker room.

I posted this not because I think Bernstein has any hockey acumen whatsoever but rather because he does know people that know things and the way he said it made it sound like Sharp is a problem. Just trying to connect the dots back to JJ's statement about one player being an issue.

Just parroting what he said on the radio, not saying I agree or that Sharp needs to move. Just thought it was curious for him to say that, he never usually opines on anything as far as hockey roster moves.
- PhatJoeSki

Regardless of rumors, the on-ice results and his cap hit dictate that he should be traded. Whether that happens now, or this summer, remains to be seen. All I know is that alternate captains should not take offensive zone retaliation/stick infraction penalties as often as 10 does.

Regardless of rumors, the on-ice results and his cap hit dictate that he should be traded. Whether that happens now, or this summer, remains to be seen. All I know is that alternate captains should not take offensive zone retaliation/stick infraction penalties as often as 10 does.
- EnzoD

Maybe move him after the back to back with Florida. Florida could use Sharp on the first or second line....no matter what the Panther fan's have said here in the past.

Meaning you'd really like to see Rundblad get top 4 minutes with Keith?

Holy (frank)!
- savvyone-1

No read what I wrote further above. People are underestimating Oduya being out so for those who think that, I hope they are ok with a combination of Rundblad/Cuminsky/Erixon/Rozival

Maybe move him after the back to back with Florida. Florida could use Sharp on the first or second line....no matter what the Panther fan's have said here in the past.
- MNHawk

The reason Tallon wants Sharp is the same reason that the Hawks promoted him so much to the fans, he is a pretty face. Sharp sold millions of dollars in Hawk's merchandise to female fans that love his pretty face. Florida has the worst fanbase in the league (maybe Arizona is worse), and a pretty face to go along with a rising on ice product could be a nice marketing tool in South Beach. Plus he is pretty good at hockey...i know its been a while since Hawk fans have seen it from #10 so you may have forgotten....

Bernstein going in on Sharp, saying if he was in the Hawk FO his first move would be getting Sharp out of that locker room.

I posted this not because I think Bernstein has any hockey acumen whatsoever but rather because he does know people that know things and the way he said it made it sound like Sharp is a problem. Just trying to connect the dots back to JJ's statement about one player being an issue.

Just parroting what he said on the radio, not saying I agree or that Sharp needs to move. Just thought it was curious for him to say that, he never usually opines on anything as far as hockey roster moves.
- PhatJoeSki

I know you are just the messenger...I gave up listening to that arrogant blowhard many years ago.

What the hell does mr. duke (smartest guy in the room) know about this?? Please explain??

Does the NHL crush the creativity of its players? - Puck Daddy
From Larionov: If you look at the coaches in Juniors and minor league hockey, many of them were not skill players. It’s a lot of former enforcers and grinders who take these coaching jobs. Naturally, they tell their players to be just like them...

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...iacontentstory&soc_trk=tw

No read what I wrote further above. People are underestimating Oduya being out so for those who think that, I hope they are ok with a combination of Rundblad/Cuminsky/Erixon/Rozival
- golfbard

this team better start scoring goals...they are going to need them or its look out below...