Look at these second round picks in 2014 www.mynhldraft.com/2014-NHL-draft-results/round-2 and let me know which one you wanted. Not saying Runblad is any good but acting like Stan gave away the keys to the bank is a little overboard!
- moots

McKowen, MacInnis, Demko...

But all three were off the board by the time the Hawks traded pick came up. Of the guys from the third round... Brayden Point even though hes a little undersized... but your point is taken... there wasnt alot that was there.

Hey, at least there's someone out there who see's the light(aka truth/reason/logical, level headed and rather obvious reality), and is also bold enough to call out the site(actually meaning the majority of Hawks fans who post comments, not the site itself which im sure we all enjoy, at least somewhat)without fear of being labeled a "kool aid drinker" or even worse, banned. lol.
- SimpleJack

Says who?
You?
Again your read on the game/Hawks does not make it reality.
Nor does mine.
And don't go making it out like you and a few others against the masses.
I love this team and hope like all get out that they can either get it together or flip a switch for the remaining games. But more importantly the playoffs. And every other Hawks fan is hoping the same. But just because we don't want to ignore, poor play, effort, And disturbing, repetitive bad habits. Doesn't mean that we aren't cheering for The Chicago Blackhawks.
Now, go drink your Koolaid!

Says who?
You?
Again your read on the game/Hawks does not make it reality.
Nor does mine.
And don't go making it out like you and a few others against the masses.
I love this team and hope like all get out that they can either get it together or flip a switch for the remaining games. But more importantly the playoffs. And every other Hawks fan is hoping the same. But just because we don't want to ignore, poor play, effort, And disturbing, repetitive bad habits. Doesn't mean that we aren't cheering for The Chicago Blackhawks.
Now, go drink your Koolaid!
- camfor

Well said!
Couldn't agree more - there is nothing wrong with calling spade a spade. Or in pointing out that all is NOT roses. And it doesn't mean someone is NOT pulling for the team to turn things around. Nothing I'd like more than to have another parade in June.

Well said!
Couldn't agree more - there is nothing wrong with calling spade a spade. Or in pointing out that all is NOT roses. And it doesn't mean someone is NOT pulling for the team to turn things around. Nothing I'd like more than to have another parade in June.
- savvyone-1

Like when you said this team was a 6-8 seed in the playoffs or out? Or predicted their demise when they traded the great Nick Leddy? Or when you called sharp a POS and said he should be stripped of his letter?

Like when you said this team was a 6-8 seed in the playoffs or out? Or predicted their demise when they traded the great Nick Leddy? Or when you called sharp a POS and said he should be stripped of his letter?
- biegs

Yessir.
It is quite possibly shaping up to be that. And that was not my own personal prediction but one of my teammates. I shared it here, that is correct. I was skeptical at the time but looking like, unless the team gets its act together, they could very well be looking at a 6-8 seed. And they could be (but not likely IMO) out altogether.

And as much as you and others want to make fun of me re Leddy, he'd have looked damn good on our blueline all year. Certainly the pairings would have been much better than we've seen. It's sad when the narrative that he sucks trumps the reality of what he's proving on the Isle -- that he is a damn good D man, can play special teams and help make his team better.

EDIT: just saw you added the bit about Sharp. Well, that's proven to be true as well. He is a POS, has played like total crap all year. And will be voted off the island soon enough. And yes, what leadership is Sharp providing? Other than being a locker room distraction and likely thorn in the side of management because his agent has to go crying to the press about Sharp not being traded. Boo (frank)ing hoo. At least when Campbell was voted off the island, he accepted his fate with dignity. Sharp OTOH . . .

Tonight cannot come soon enough...
- EKolb13

Be careful what you wish for Eli...

Bowman continues to baffle me...I love the move for Vermette. Easily one of his best moves. But Stan isn't very often proactive which leads me back to last offseason. The time to repair and change was last spring...instead of bringing the band back.

Runblad without question is one of Stan's worst - a 2nd rounder for a guy who gets lost in his own end.

Sharpie...no question he blew his wad trying to make the Olympic team last season. He didn't have much at all left for the playoffs. All the same at this point they should do whatever they can to get him going. You're going to need him to score to get through the first two rounds here. I'd put him up with Toews and Hossa.
- DK002

Actually, if you look at Sharps numbers, from fancy stats to shot charts, he is getting the same chances just not getting the goals. Either super bad case of the yips, maybe some lingering upper body thing, or just plain bad luck. PDO obviously wayyyy down as well.

You'd like to think his shooting % would normalize at some point (hopefully in the playoffs) and hold them over until Kane comes back. His goal total is just as baffling as Calgary winning games at this point.

I also think that his lack of finishing has exposed some of the floating and zone jumping that some people (like this guy) have been complaining about the last 4 or 5 years. OK to criticize a guy when hes not finishing but untouchable when hes banging in 30 apparently. He's playing the exact same game he has been the last few years so aside from the lack of goals there isn't a lot that is new.

Hossa is having a really crappy year shooting % wise as well but is his usual dominating self in every other measurable statistic so the people who think he is declining are a billion percent wrong.

And on a different note...with Oduya coming back soon....would you rather see kimmo paired with Rosy on the 3rd line or with Hammer on the 2nd pair or is is kimmo and rundblad on the 3rd pair with kimmo
- southernhawk

I would rather see Oduya from two years ago, RundBAD in the press box, TVR without the knee injury, and Roszival launched right after the 2013 cup win.

Boychuk signs for 7 years and $42m.

Could be good news for the Hawks. If $6m a year is a hometown discount maybe we see Seabs at a similar price? I was afraid of Boychuk getting a $7-8m deal as a UFA and how that might impact Seabs ask....

That is only the case when talking about specific people/players, i.e. being critical of anything Q does.
- Vark37

Watched the Calgary game last light, they have got some plays on the man advantage WE might need to video for Q

"HIS" PP plays looks like a man disadvantage

Yessir.
It is quite possibly shaping up to be that. And that was not my own personal prediction but one of my teammates. I shared it here, that is correct. I was skeptical at the time but looking like, unless the team gets its act together, they could very well be looking at a 6-8 seed. And they could be (but not likely IMO) out altogether.

And as much as you and others want to make fun of me re Leddy, he'd have looked damn good on our blueline all year. Certainly the pairings would have been much better than we've seen. It's sad when the narrative that he sucks trumps the reality of what he's proving on the Isle -- that he is a damn good D man, can play special teams and help make his team better.

EDIT: just saw you added the bit about Sharp. Well, that's proven to be true as well. He is a POS, has played like total crap all year. And will be voted off the island soon enough. And yes, what leadership is Sharp providing? Other than being a locker room distraction and likely thorn in the side of management because his agent has to go crying to the press about Sharp not being traded. Boo (frank)ing hoo. At least when Campbell was voted off the island, he accepted his fate with dignity. Sharp OTOH . . .
- savvyone-1

Leddy would have looked good on the 3 rd pairing, with exception during injuries or Q blender times. We would not have been able to sign him and he would be gone, for nothing. Is he the key to the Cup, probably not, would he of helped more than Kimmo/TVR, probably. The fact is he was not resigning here any more than Hayes was. Until we bow out early or win it all cant judge this team regardless of the ups and downs of the regular season. Sharp should be upset at the personal attacks, as most here are when they are unfairly treated.

Boychuk signs for 7 years and $42m.

Could be good news for the Hawks. If $6m a year is a hometown discount maybe we see Seabs at a similar price? I was afraid of Boychuk getting a $7-8m deal as a UFA and how that might impact Seabs ask....
- tredbrta

Seabs is 30 at new deal my guess is 5 @7 or 6@ 6.5.

Should get more but hopefully he stays happy here

Still do not believe in Bettmen`s 80/100 mill cap (in 5/7 years), think that is just smoke and mirror stuff only good for the agents

Leddy would have looked good on the 3 rd pairing, with exception during injuries or Q blender times. We would not have been able to sign him and he would be gone, for nothing. Is he the key to the Cup, probably not, would he of helped more than Kimmo/TVR, probably. The fact is he was not resigning here any more than Hayes was. Until we bow out early or win it all cant judge this team regardless of the ups and downs of the regular season. Sharp should be upset at the personal attacks, as most here are when they are unfairly treated.
- Cup-Bearer

Leddy was an RFA. He wouldn't have been lost for nothing unless they allowed an arbitration to play out and chose not to sign him at the arb's number (like Niemi).

I agree they would not have paid him what the Isles did. Let's say they traded Sharp and kept Leddy and he played similarly to what he has done in NY proportionate to his minutes here. He could have been traded for a far better return and Stan would have had cap space to pay Hayes the bonus he wanted. I have yet to see anywhere in print where Hayes chose to not sign here over anything but money.

The choice/s were made to keep Sharp and/or Bickell and/or Oduya over Leddy and Hayes. Looking back it looks like a mistake. We get to do that as fans - second guess management. That said, it is done. Let's hope the FO learns from this and doesn't continue to sacrifice solid young talent in order to keep players like Sharp - no room for that sort of sentiment with a salary cap.

Seabs is 30 at new deal my guess is 5 @7 or 6@ 6.5.

Should get more but hopefully he stays happy here

Still do not believe in Bettmen`s 80/100 mill cap (in 5/7 years), think that is just smoke and mirror stuff only good for the agents
- Joe-snoopy-Cool

Boychuk is 31. I think Seabs will take a discount but ask for more term in return - 7 or 8 years. All depends on how long he wants to play but leaving 2-3 years on the table now would be a mistake IMO.

Hey, your not dumb...it's the McCasky clan that is the dumbest of them all!
- spanky

Or is it US for FEEDING THE MONSTER toooooo long

Think about it he has our money, we have ...

Leddy was an RFA. He wouldn't have been lost for nothing unless they allowed an arbitration to play out.

I agree they would not have paid him what the Isles did. Let's say he played similarly to what he has done in NY proportionate to his minutes here. He could have been traded for a far better return and Stan would have had cap space to pay Hayes the bonus he wanted. I have yet to see anywhere in print where Hayes chose to not sign here over anything but money.

The choice/s were made to keep Sharp and/or Bickell and/or Oduya over Leddy and Hayes. Looking back it looks like a mistake. We get to do that as fans - second guess management. That said, it is done. Let's hope the FO learns from this and doesn't continue to sacrifice solid young talent in order to keep players like Sharp - no room for that sort of sentiment with a salary cap.
- tredbrta

Well said Tred. As for a better return, I don't know Stan is still in Cap hell. Hayes in hindsight an upgrade over regular season Bic scoring wise. Sharp will snap out of the funk

Boychuk is 31. I think Seabs will take a discount but ask for more term in return - 7 or 8 years. All depends on how long he wants to play but leaving 2-3 years on the table now would be a mistake IMO.
- tredbrta

While I do agree the 7/8 year thing is what he will ask AND deserve where will
this Cap strapped team be "IF" Bettmen`s cap world is like his advertising skills

Maybe give Seabs the 8 @ 6+ with big money up front like the Dynamic Dou

Get behind the guys we have, hopefully they make a deep run......But I am gonna be soooo interested come draft day. I don't think 3-4 of these guys survive that day even if they get hot as a firecracker.... (10,29,???), but I also think that the only source of roster fill for next year will not come from Rockford. Hopefully Stan is /was laying some groundwork for a significant deal with the Oilers, rumor has it, and like I said "rumor", some of the names bantered around both ways were Raantta, TT , Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov ect. Plus maybe a Hawk veteran. I would love Taylor Hall on this team even if it costs Raantta, TT & Bickell, hypothetically speaking! If Stan could pull that off ?????!!!!

Watched the Calgary game last light, they have got some plays on the man advantage WE might need to video for Q

"HIS" PP plays looks like a man disadvantage
- Joe-snoopy-Cool

Yeah at this point I am all for declining penalties. Seems the opposing team usually gets a better short handed attempt then we get on the PP.

Jesus its beeeeeen a long time since there was a game
- mrpaulish

But the rest we are getting can only help for the long run

Getting back to game after game will help are MOJO and our play

Can`t really get in sync on a game a week plan

Tonight we had better be getting better as the game goes on
HOPE SOMEONE PRACTICED THE PP

LET`S GO HAWKS

Get behind the guys we have, hopefully they make a deep run......But I am gonna be soooo interested come draft day. I don't think 3-4 of these guys survive that day even if they get hot as a firecracker.... (10,29,???), but I also think that the only source of roster fill for next year will not come from Rockford. Hopefully Stan is /was laying some groundwork for a significant deal with the Oilers, rumor has it, and like I said "rumor", some of the names bantered around both ways were Raantta, TT , Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov ect. Plus maybe a Hawk veteran. I would love Taylor Hall on this team even if it costs Raantta, TT & Bickell, hypothetically speaking! If Stan could pull that off ?????!!!!
- wonthecup10

One would think Stan has a plan. He knows who was sniffing around and what the potentials are. Hope we are talking about that in June not April tho

Well said!
Couldn't agree more - there is nothing wrong with calling spade a spade. Or in pointing out that all is NOT roses. And it doesn't mean someone is NOT pulling for the team to turn things around. Nothing I'd like more than to have another parade in June.
- savvyone-1

Oh this is gonna be fun.....


Overreacting, and saying that the Rangers were clearly the better/faster team....is NOT "calling a spade a spade".

But hey, why would i expect u to know this?

U wanna know what is "calling a spade a spade".....EXPLAINING EXACTLY HOW THE GAME WENT DOWN, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID.......for about the 100th time.....

But no....noo.......NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


iM A "KOOOL AID DRINKERRRRRR"......for simply stating facts, supplying evidence to back them up, and stating all that is reality....iv somehow become a kool aid drinker who isn't calling a spade a spade???


And ive never once said that the negative nancys here dont actually truly like their team/want them to win.....its simply that they never act like it/show any faith/have any belief/any rational thoughts whatsoever......

Says who?
You?
Again your read on the game/Hawks does not make it reality.
Nor does mine.
And don't go making it out like you and a few others against the masses.
I love this team and hope like all get out that they can either get it together or flip a switch for the remaining games. But more importantly the playoffs. And every other Hawks fan is hoping the same. But just because we don't want to ignore, poor play, effort, And disturbing, repetitive bad habits. Doesn't mean that we aren't cheering for The Chicago Blackhawks.
Now, go drink your Koolaid!
- camfor

Not just me.

Its the truth.

The game was even.

U wanna keep goin?

U got any facts to prove to me that the Rags were "the faster" "more engaged" "more whatever" That u keep saying they were?

Cuz ill keep giving u facts(though you've ignored them multiple times) as to why the game was just about dead even....

u wanna see them again?

Yeah at this point I am all for declining penalties. Seems the opposing team usually gets a better short handed attempt then we get on the PP.
- Vark37

I was just thinking of how Richards WAS supposed to HELP the PP
Q pushed him into a point D man QB that we HAVE TO HAVE and when that idea went to back to U know

Mister shin pads should put the puck in the open sided like so many teams do, this will actually keep the odd man breaks down.

One thing Q should do is ask for help! As I yell and grab the goods

Bowman continues to baffle me...I love the move for Vermette. Easily one of his best moves. But Stan isn't very often proactive which leads me back to last offseason. The time to repair and change was last spring...instead of bringing the band back.

Runblad without question is one of Stan's worst - a 2nd rounder for a guy who gets lost in his own end.

Sharpie...no question he blew his wad trying to make the Olympic team last season. He didn't have much at all left for the playoffs. All the same at this point they should do whatever they can to get him going. You're going to need him to score to get through the first two rounds here. I'd put him up with Toews and Hossa.
- DK002

Got to admit a 60 x 85 space is big