Can't stop that Hayes boy.

No chance of that trade absent a Lindros type package.

If Edmonton offers the number 1 though pack your bags and GTFO.


- tredbrta

Fair enough.

Can't stop that Hayes boy.
- StLBravesFan

St Louis off to a good start....that series is a war.

Hope the Jets win one...

St Louis off to a good start....that series is a war.

Hope the Jets win one...
- TrueGrit

What he said

Yes-Yes...And if Oduya is gone, most likely and Rozsy-for sure, the Hawks defense takes a big step back...At least to start the season. Darling is going nowhere and it probably won't be the time to go into a season without a proven starting goalie.
- Al

I see that reasoning completely....

I still think the tell will be if Anders Nillsen is signed this off season. Based on his history Nillsen will need an NHL spot or real confidence of 1 to sign (and he probably deserves one). A Nillsen/Darling tandem competing for number 1 while the team re-tools and waits for the cap to fit the K/T deals. If Crow brought back a dman like Griffin Reinhardt (plus) I could see them taking the risk on Darling/Nillsen.

Any idea how long Nillsen is Hawks property? Have not been able to find that anywhere. This whole trade scenario could play out further down the line as well. Darling competing with Crow next season and then a move at the TDL?

Yes-Yes...And if Oduya is gone, most likely and Rozsy-for sure, the Hawks defense takes a big step back...At least to start the season. Darling is going nowhere and it probably won't be the time to go into a season without a proven starting goalie.
- Al

Stan has a plan I'm sure, but it will be interesting to see where the focus in the off-season gravitates to - offense? defense? goaltending?

Because if you're looking at subtracting a combination of: Sharp, Bickell, Shaw, Vermette, Richards, Oduya, Rozy, KT from the current roster... the re-tooling of those loses will have to be very calculated to maintain the Hawks current style/system.

They need to rebuild solid defense to get the puck to the forwards... but the forwards have to have the skillset to play a high transition game and finish.

Me thinks Stan will have to get lucky with some cast-offs or Brad Richards-esque type deals, as well as, hope some farmhands from Rockford can take a serious step up.

I see that reasoning completely....

I still think the tell will be if Anders Nillsen is signed this off season. A Nillsen/Darling tandem competing for number 1 while the team re-tools and waits for the cap to fit the K/T deals. If Crow brought back a dman like Griffin Reinhardt (plus) I could see them taking the risk on Darling/Nillsen.

Any idea how long Nillsen is Hawks property? Have not been able to find that anywhere. This whole trade scenario could play out further down the line as well. Darling competing with Crow next season and then a move at the TDL?
- tredbrta

Don't know. Some of those "rights" claims vary.

At any rate, I'm not going to even think about Nilsson until he signs. Even then, how good is he? He couldn't supplant the likes of DiPietro, Poulin, Montoya, ect. for a back-up job on the Isles a couple of seasons ago.

John,

Spot on with the observations.

Keith, Hjalmarsson and Oduya were very good. Seabrook a average game at best until the OT winner. Rosival held his own last night with no major mistakes and a few nice plays in the O-zone. Timonnen is just....well.....done, 12 very protected minutes in a 100 minute game shows the coaching staff just doesn't trust him. Only positive is that the top four of NSH were all 42+ minutes and their bottom PAIR didnt get much more time that Timo.

Vermette and Desjardins both with real solid games. You want ref complaints? Why no trip call on the Desjardins move to the net? 16/11/65 becoming a pretty effective line, not just shut-down.

Bickell's playing well. Still needs to SHOOT more when he has the chance, not a finesse player, stop trying to be one.

Versteeg the most frustrating player on the ice. Had a little snarl to start the game, but returned to his maddening self as the game went on. Q managed to bubble him down to the 4th line by the end of the game, maybe the next stop is the press box.

Give NSH their props. Rinne was excellent last night, and NSH comes hard forechecking for a lot of the game.
- TheTrob

Spot on Trob...I still don't get the move for KT...

Versteeg continues to be maddening...Looked like he finally got his game back after the injury and then since the Classic and the hand injury isn't the same player. Stop trying to be Kane light and take the body for God sake...stop floating...

Stan has a plan I'm sure, but it will be interesting to see where the focus in the off-season gravitates to - offense? defense? goaltending?

Because if you're looking at subtracting a combination of: Sharp, Bickell, Shaw, Vermette, Richards, Oduya, Rozy, KT from the current roster... the re-tooling of those loses will have to be very calculated to maintain the Hawks current style/system.

They need to rebuild solid defense to get the puck to the forwards... but the forwards have to have the skillset to play a high transition game and finish.

Me thinks Stan will have to get lucky with some cast-offs or Brad Richards-esque type deals, as well as, hope some farmhands from Rockford can take a serious step up.
- TyCamScore

It all depends on how a player like Danualt fits in ...He could be better next yr than Richards was this year. The savings comes from Oduya and Rozsy being replaced for 1/2 the cap hit....and most likely Sharp and Bickell dumped.

What are the Ducks thinking? They tied it up. They had the Jets right where they want them...the Ducks down a goal

Don't know. Some of those "rights" claims vary.

At any rate, I'm not going to even think about Nilsson until he signs. Even then, how good is he? He couldn't supplant the likes of DiPietro, Poulin, Montoya, ect. for a back-up job on the Isles a couple of seasons ago.
- EKolb13

Shouldn't you be writing a paper or something?

Shouldn't you be writing a paper or something?
- stljam

When am I not?

I see that reasoning completely....

I still think the tell will be if Anders Nillsen is signed this off season. Based on his history Nillsen will need an NHL spot or real confidence of 1 to sign (and he probably deserves one). A Nillsen/Darling tandem competing for number 1 while the team re-tools and waits for the cap to fit the K/T deals. If Crow brought back a dman like Griffin Reinhardt (plus) I could see them taking the risk on Darling/Nillsen.

Any idea how long Nillsen is Hawks property? Have not been able to find that anywhere. This whole trade scenario could play out further down the line as well. Darling competing with Crow next season and then a move at the TDL?
- tredbrta

I don't get all the love for Nillsen nor do I think if Crawford were dealt the Hawks go into the season with 2 goalies with so little NHL experience. Nillsen if signed could spend time in Rockford...just like every young goalie so far.

When am I not?
- EKolb13

Just like me working on my SEC filings

Better lay off the liquor until I get more done but I started and they started scoring and I'm a goalie and therefore superstitious so I can't change the luck.

I don't get all the love for Nillsen nor do I think if Crawford were dealt the Hawks go into the season with 2 goalies with so little NHL experience. Nillsen if signed could spend time in Rockford...just like every young goalie so far.
- Al

Darling and Raanta as the planned regular season tandem next year. The rest of the central likes that plan relatively speaking.

Darling and Raanta as the planned regular season tandem next year. The rest of the central likes that plan relatively speaking.
- stljam

If I'm betting it will be Raanta with a new address to start the season.

If I'm betting it will be Raanta with a new address to start the season.
- Al

Sucker's bet even if the new address is Rockford

Darling and Raanta as the planned regular season tandem next year. The rest of the central likes that plan relatively speaking.
- stljam

If CC gets traded, which I don't think he will, because his contract combined with not playing are the two big reasons, Id rather make a run at Niemi in free agency than promote Raanta.

I still think the cap room comes from the elder crowd and the forward crew. Corey is a stud who happened to draw the worst games the rest of the team played so far in the playoffs.

If CC gets traded, which I don't think he will, because his contract combined with not playing are the two big reasons, Id rather make a run at Niemi in free agency than promote Raanta.
- Return of the Roar

That would make sense as a fan but I can't see Niemi coming back to Chicago but I could be all wet.

Screw it. I stop drinking and the Wild score. Time to go back to drinking.

See it worked. I start and they score again.

Sucker's bet even if the new address is Rockford
- stljam

Lol...If I thought I could collect I would bet you.

The issue for the playoffs is Timonen, although a shadow of what he was still garners Q's trust much more than Rundbald or Cumisky et al.

If the top 4 and Rozsy break down because of a too many mins later in the playoffs the fault will lie with Bowman. Rozsy was what he was all year, and has played fine in the playoffs for the most part but he should be the #6 not the #5.

With a lot of cap space to utilize Bowman took a chance on a 40 yr old who hadn't played in 10 months...

The script until further notice is Timonen plays 10 mins per game...In a 5 period+ game last night he was only on the ice for about 12 minutes. We will see if sticking for the most part with 5 dmen from the beginning of the playoffs will work-Interesting choice especially considering the miles on Rozsival.
- Al

Al I don't get this considering what defensemen were available ...and I've continued to bring this up. Bowman has known since the Kings series the defense needed upgrading /retooling and all he did was salary dump Leddy at the very last moment instead of adding/moving guys at the draft or over the summer. And then at the deadline brings in KT instead of Michalek/Sekera/Petry...

Meanwhile your top 4 are playing heavy minutes in the first round. What are the odds we have another double overtime game tomorrow night?


Keith 46 minutes last night...
Oduya and Hammer both over 37...
Seabs 33 and Rosy 30. And we've just gotten through Game 4...

Lol...If I thought I could collect I would bet you.
- Al

You bet Chicago (excluding the Wolves, lol)? I bet the field?

I was thinking we both wanted the same side of the bet.

If CC gets traded, which I don't think he will, because his contract combined with not playing are the two big reasons, Id rather make a run at Niemi in free agency than promote Raanta.

I still think the cap room comes from the elder crowd and the forward crew. Corey is a stud who happened to draw the worst games the rest of the team played so far in the playoffs.
- Return of the Roar

Frankly...I'll be surprised if CC is traded too, but...

...just curious...so trade a 6M guy and sign Niemi for what?....5M?

1M is 1M, but that ain't much savings if you're worried about the cap.

And we have a ...rout...

...in Minnesota.