here's the thing I keep getting back to......I don't know if TT is worth having up for the playoffs.

Hear me out...baring an injury where do you slot this kid?

23-19-81
10-80-20
65-91-29
11-16-13/42

Figure depending upon the matchup, Q will throw Bickell up with Toews/Hossa to offer the protection and hoping playoff Bryan Bickell comes out. that moves Versteeg down with Richards, who he has had a LOT of success with this season, and Shaw. This team will need Sharp to get going to have any chance of winning 8 games.

So again...I just don't see a spot for Teuvo come playoff time. As good as he looked last night, he looked very bad on Friday night against a playoff team he was pressured into a bad turnover and knocked off the puck. I just see more of the same coming against the Blues or Preds or whomever. Tons of potential but his body has to catch up to where his skill and mind are at. Unlike Kane, he hasn't been able to display the ability of avoiding checks or being able to contribute lacking physical immaturity.

Nordstrom or Carcillo on the bottom line would help this team IMO.
- SteveRain

I agree that TT needs to bulk up a little but he already seems to go to places on the ice that Kane has avoided his whole career ...

Looking back now with 24-hrs to absorb the whole thing it seems SB effectively replaced the guys lost from the '13 cup team.

Probably gonna take KT 8-10 games to get his legs and Vermette/DesJardin 4-5 games to start figuring out their spots. That's all good.

When I heard SJ was retaining 50% of the DesJardin cap hit, I figured another move for a defencemen was immanent. Guess that one fell through. Would like to have seen another defencive physical presence added to the mix.

All in all, it was a good last 72 hrs leading up to the TDL.

First .... Wanna bet Kane plays game 1 ... Round 1 ...

No mention of TT last night , might of been his best game all around ... Is it me or does TT look to be a better passer than Kaner ????
- HurriKane

It's not you, it's the crack pipe.

here's the thing I keep getting back to......I don't know if TT is worth having up for the playoffs.

Hear me out...baring an injury where do you slot this kid?

23-19-81
10-80-20
65-91-29
11-16-13/42

Figure depending upon the matchup, Q will throw Bickell up with Toews/Hossa to offer the protection and hoping playoff Bryan Bickell comes out. that moves Versteeg down with Richards, who he has had a LOT of success with this season, and Shaw. This team will need Sharp to get going to have any chance of winning 8 games.

So again...I just don't see a spot for Teuvo come playoff time. As good as he looked last night, he looked very bad on Friday night against a playoff team he was pressured into a bad turnover and knocked off the puck. I just see more of the same coming against the Blues or Preds or whomever. Tons of potential but his body has to catch up to where his skill and mind are at. Unlike Kane, he hasn't been able to display the ability of avoiding checks or being able to contribute lacking physical immaturity.

Nordstrom or Carcillo on the bottom line would help this team IMO.
- SteveRain

Nordstrom please, that kid keeps getting better and better.

It´s easy to judge after the season if Stan did press on right buttons or not. But even if Hawks won´t win Cup this year I give credit to front office for trying. They did they part and now it´s time for players and coaches to do theirs.
- MjulQvist

I am with you on this. I had my doubts on Bowman but really like the trades made. Hate to see Smith go but I understand the move and getting a larger physical player back that can play center is a + that will help during the rough Western Conf playoffs.

Unfortunately, we all know that several people will be jumping all over the front office if they don't win it this year. But at the end of the day what did they give up that would have helped them next year or even the year after? Certainly not the draft picks, Saved some money on Smith's contract which they desperately need, and Dahlbeck seems like a decent player but seems like they have a plethora of #5-8 dmen at this time.

Still not thrilled about Timonen. Last night didn't calm my fears about him
- BlazinMike

It was his first game back .... in ten months .... with a new team. Wow! Give it some time. Cross your fingers health is not an issue.

Still not thrilled about Timonen. Last night didn't calm my fears about him
- BlazinMike

Why? because he looked so-so in his first game of the season? Maybe step back a little bit and understand the situation.

here's the thing I keep getting back to......I don't know if TT is worth having up for the playoffs.

Hear me out...baring an injury where do you slot this kid?

23-19-81
10-80-20
65-91-29
11-16-13/42

Figure depending upon the matchup, Q will throw Bickell up with Toews/Hossa to offer the protection and hoping playoff Bryan Bickell comes out. that moves Versteeg down with Richards, who he has had a LOT of success with this season, and Shaw. This team will need Sharp to get going to have any chance of winning 8 games.

So again...I just don't see a spot for Teuvo come playoff time. As good as he looked last night, he looked very bad on Friday night against a playoff team he was pressured into a bad turnover and knocked off the puck. I just see more of the same coming against the Blues or Preds or whomever. Tons of potential but his body has to catch up to where his skill and mind are at. Unlike Kane, he hasn't been able to display the ability of avoiding checks or being able to contribute lacking physical immaturity.

Nordstrom or Carcillo on the bottom line would help this team IMO.
- SteveRain

Agreed, there is no fit for him in the roster this year (baring injury) He will get his chance up next year when we have to dump a bunch of salary due to high cap hits and people needing to get paid. Next year will be TT's year to play in the NHL.

I agree that TT needs to bulk up a little but he already seems to go to places on the ice that Kane has avoided his whole career ...
- HurriKane

Maybe TT was a little more aggressive and willing to go to the other areas of the ice because he didn't have to worry about the center responsibilities? I liked what I saw too, but I have to wonder how often he could do that against Winnipeg or St Louis in a playoff series.

Hawks have enough talent/depth to beat St. Louis in a 7 game series in Round 1... from there? It should be fun...

Everyone needs to relax on Timonen. Good God the guy hadn't played a game all year, and he's on a new team. Let him settle in, and then judge. When healthy (which by every single account he is), he's a fantastic bottom pairing defenseman.

I am reading more and more on how TT should not be on the roster for the playoffs... And I have to respectfully disagree:

The last thing I want is Desjardins and Carcillo playing for us in the playoffs.

Flat out, Desjardins is a younger, faster, stronger Carcillo. The Hawks are not structured to have more than one of these type of guys on the roster. We technically would have 3 (thinking playoff Bickell here) if the Hawks take TT out of the lineup.

While I wholeheartedly agree that TT is a very, very small guy, so was Kaner when he was in his first gigs in the playoffs. Kane has packed on serious size for his frame since.

That Bicks-Richards-TT line looked very good IMO last night. And while I am basing this off of one game, the chemistry looked strong, and that really is essentially a very solid 3rd line for many teams in the NHL.

Keep Carcillo off this roster, period. He is not the same guy that he ever was on the Flyers, and going forward will only cause more harm than good.

Maybe TT was a little more aggressive and willing to go to the other areas of the ice because he didn't have to worry about the center responsibilities? I liked what I saw too, but I have to wonder how often he could do that against Winnipeg or St Louis in a playoff series.
- MNHawk

I agree ... the kid needs more time to develop ... Playoffs probably not a good idea for him this year ...

Hawks have enough talent/depth to beat St. Louis in a 7 game series in Round 1... from there? It should be fun...

Everyone needs to relax on Timonen. Good God the guy hadn't played a game all year, and he's on a new team. Let him settle in, and then judge. When healthy (which by every single account he is), he's a fantastic bottom pairing defenseman.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Thank You. Because you can tell the bandwagon Hawks fans have no idea. Timonen plays one game and people are already done with him. He is better than the other 3 D we have been trotting out there (Ros, Run, and Exi). Once Oduya is back, the D gets deeper.

Thank You. Because you can tell the bandwagon Hawks fans have no idea. Timonen plays one game and people are already done with him. He is better than the other 3 D we have been trotting out there (Ros, Run, and Exi). Once Oduya is back, the D gets deeper.
- CaptainInsano

He is infinitely better than those other three. When healthy he's as good as any bottom pairing defenseman in the NHL. There's a reason he's been an All Star multiple times in his career.

Hawks have enough talent/depth to beat St. Louis in a 7 game series in Round 1... from there? It should be fun...

Everyone needs to relax on Timonen. Good God the guy hadn't played a game all year, and he's on a new team. Let him settle in, and then judge. When healthy (which by every single account he is), he's a fantastic bottom pairing defenseman.
- CaptainBlackhawk

This. Timonen plays one game in a new system and potentially played better than both Rundblad and Rozi yesterday. I'd easily take him over both of them even at his age. He's only going to start getting better from this point on to the remainder of the season.

Lets hope this stretch of 3 games in 11 days will help Vermette and Kimmo get settled in with the Hawks.

It's not you, it's the crack pipe.
- Dieselhead

Your objective critique is brilliant I must say ...

Thank You. Because you can tell the bandwagon Hawks fans have no idea. Timonen plays one game and people are already done with him. He is better than the other 3 D we have been trotting out there (Ros, Run, and Exi). Once Oduya is back, the D gets deeper.
- CaptainInsano

Amen. Rome wasn't built in a day

Why? because he looked so-so in his first game of the season? Maybe step back a little bit and understand the situation.
- Primetime2330

I understand it was his first game. I just have never really liked him all that much, then add in the fact that he's 40, and was dealing with blood clots earlier this season. I just don't have very high expectations for KT at all.

not trying to change anyones mind. I don't care what you guys think about him. Just my opinion is all

>Some good things that are happening:
>Toews starting to shoot upstairs more often -- think his SO goal against Howard showed he's been working on going roof when it's there -- JT's always been 5-hole money when it's open
>Sharp bursting without the puck at the right time -- at elite levels of play -- scorers know they can create an opportunity which "demands" the puck from their teammate -- Hossa was doing this every night during his "streak"
>Shaw's newfound freedom on the wing -- lo and behold the Hawks forecheck has re-emerged and it looks very good with #65 as a D-seeking missile
>Liked the speed of puck movement against the Panthers in Florida -- still another level of puck speed and "think-speed" the team can get to -- but trending in a very positive way
>Good moves by the FO -- good to see everyone in the room on the same page
>To JJ, Rainman, 66 -- gracias

here's the thing I keep getting back to......I don't know if TT is worth having up for the playoffs.

Hear me out...baring an injury where do you slot this kid?

23-19-81
10-80-20
65-91-29
11-16-13/42

Figure depending upon the matchup, Q will throw Bickell up with Toews/Hossa to offer the protection and hoping playoff Bryan Bickell comes out. that moves Versteeg down with Richards, who he has had a LOT of success with this season, and Shaw. This team will need Sharp to get going to have any chance of winning 8 games.

So again...I just don't see a spot for Teuvo come playoff time. As good as he looked last night, he looked very bad on Friday night against a playoff team he was pressured into a bad turnover and knocked off the puck. I just see more of the same coming against the Blues or Preds or whomever. Tons of potential but his body has to catch up to where his skill and mind are at. Unlike Kane, he hasn't been able to display the ability of avoiding checks or being able to contribute lacking physical immaturity.

Nordstrom or Carcillo on the bottom line would help this team IMO.
- SteveRain

TT on the 3rd line. SHAW. On 4th LW NORDSTROM OR KRUGER AT RW DESJARDINS AT 4 C

I agree ... the kid needs more time to develop ... Playoffs probably not a good idea for him this year ...
- HurriKane

This is what I have a question about. The organization stated a while back that TT needed time in Rockford to adjust to the North American game as well as to help him develop physically. If this was the case, why did/does he continually get called up?

I'm not ragging on him, it's a genuine question. If he needs time down there to develop, I'm wondering why he's usually the one called up (if not Nordy) when there are other guys who have spent significant time (some cases, years) and paid their dues, so to speak, in the AHL level. A lot have developed their game a physique and would seem ready for NHL action, just as much, if not more, than TT.

It makes me wonder what qualifies a guy as "NHL ready".

John Jaeckel: Did Stanley Press All The Right Buttons?
- John Jaeckel

JJ whats your opinion on the 5 headed center monster?...whos going to sit or maybe be moved to wing? Richards odd man out?

I understand it was his first game. I just have never really liked him all that much, then add in the fact that he's 40, and was dealing with blood clots earlier this season. I just don't have very high expectations for KT at all.

not trying to change anyones mind. I don't care what you guys think about him. Just my opinion is all
- BlazinMike

Guys your wrong hes very smart with the puck. His passes are crisp an normally tape to tape. Just give him a few games to get his timing back for crying out loud. He is in a class of defensemen that you want jumping up into the play. My god..........

Thank You. Because you can tell the bandwagon Hawks fans have no idea. Timonen plays one game and people are already done with him. He is better than the other 3 D we have been trotting out there (Ros, Run, and Exi). Once Oduya is back, the D gets deeper.
- CaptainInsano

Oh for sure....people that dont know his skill dont know hockey. With 20ish games left in the regular season that will be plenty to get him back to square.......this guy will be a huge help. Hopefully also Johnny O'Screwya...comes back a little fresher and hits the reboot button on his season as well.

When you say DesJardin isn't here yet, do you mean that he had not reported to Chicago yet? If so, how can it be that Ben Smith played for the Sharks last night and DesJardin isn't even here yet? Any Chance DesJardin ends up in Rockford?
- TheJerk

He is probably in Chicago right now. You forget, Smith gained two hours going West and Desjardins lost two hours going East yesterday