VERY VERY VERY nervous about the Minnesota series.....



I knew the Blues are their horrid goaltending would be in deep poop .


Minnesota is going to be an incredibly worthy opponent.

This is going to be fun .

It's definitely a thought, that's for sure.

One thing I noticed in the Hawks/Blues series from last season's playoffs is that the team was too one-dimensional - filled with guys who can only bang and agitate. However, it appeared to me that the Blues diversified to an extent, adding guys such as Statsny and Lethera, and the further development of Schwartz, Tarasenko, and Jaskin added to their scoring punch. Rattie might be able to add to that next season.

However, their goaltending hit the crapper. They could use some help there. In addition, what do Reaves and Ott bring that team in the playoffs?

Maybe the Blues are a couple of pieces away from really taking off in the payoffs and contending for a cup?

I guess if were up to me, I'd give their GM a stay of execution for another season.
- EKolb13

With the coach going? Let's say Hitch is gone. New coach comes in. And the GM gets a pass. What if the first one or two years under the new coach they don't make much progress. And much of that is tied to the roster itself. Then what?

It's just a guess for me but Blues ownership has to seriously consider starting with a new GM/coach combination, then work on a roster overhaul.

With the coach going? Let's say Hitch is gone. New coach comes in. And the GM gets a pass. What if the first one or two years under the new coach they don't make much progress. And much of that is tied to the roster itself. Then what?

It's just a guess for me but Blues ownership has to seriously consider starting with a new GM/coach combination, then work on a roster overhaul.
- blackhawk24

Agreed , its either coach and GM stay with new players or coach and GM both GO.

I hope GM and coach stay though

LOL Steve Ott. Sandpaper !! ! ! ! Hahahahahahahaha

HAHA

Vinny (powerenforcer) Conspiracy over there !
- mrpaulish

If Shaw did half the things Subban did, he would be hit with a suspension by now. Unreal how Ottawa got hosed in that series. Can anyone honestly thing there wasn't funny business going on in that series?

If Shaw did half the things Subban did, he would be hit with a suspension by now. Unreal how Ottawa got hosed in that series. Can anyone honestly thing there wasn't funny business going on in that series?
- powerenforcer

If you read Paul Stewarts blog on this site you have read that the NHL coaches it's on-ice officials to not get in the way of the game and stay off to the side just like that ref did on the quick whistle. And you would also have read that Stewy is dead set against that policy for the exact reason you saw last night. And there's no review on that kind of play. But the NHL swears they are all about getting it right. It would make sense that the on-ice officials (all 4) would be able to conference on a call like that. Even from center ice the back ref had to see that clearly. Tough break for Ottawa. The officials might have done the procedure correctly but it was a bad bad call. Hopefully the league addresses that in the very near future.

VERY VERY VERY nervous about the Minnesota series.....



I knew the Blues are their horrid goaltending would be in deep poop .


Minnesota is going to be an incredibly worthy opponent.

This is going to be fun .
- mrpaulish

Morning Mr P. have to agree Minni is going to be a very good opponent. A really tough series. And seeing as we've beaten them the last two times out - well I'm sure they have plenty of motivation.

Just hope Bowman's lack of adding on defense doesn't cost us the series.

Was listening to the post game on the Score the other night after the Hawks won and Zawaski was on there talking about how great the Timonen move was...egad. That it wasn't all about minutes and how he was a mentor to TT - well golly gee whiz ain't that grand.

On the plus side both Vermette and Richards really look like they've stepped up in particular Richards. Both were monsters at the dot the other night.

Going to be a long series and wondering if we see Kane/Toews/Bickell reunited at some point or the Saad/Shaw/Kane line that carved up the Kings last spring. I think this could be the toughest series the Hawks play should they make it back to the Finals. The Central is easily the toughest division in hockey.

Morning Mr P. have to agree Minni is going to be a very good opponent. A really tough series. And seeing as we've beaten them the last two times out - well I'm sure they have plenty of motivation.

Just hope Bowman's lack of adding on defense doesn't cost us the series.

Was listening to the post game on the Score the other night after the Hawks won and Zawaski was on there talking about how great the Timonen move was...egad. That it wasn't all about minutes and how he was a mentor to TT - well golly gee whiz ain't that grand.

On the plus side both Vermette and Richards really look like they've stepped up in particular Richards. Both were monsters at the dot the other night.

Going to be a long series and wondering if we see Kane/Toews/Bickell reunited at some point or the Saad/Shaw/Kane line that carved up the Kings last spring. I think this could be the toughest series the Hawks play should they make it back to the Finals. The Central is easily the toughest division in hockey.
- DK002

Top two seeds in the Central this year and last year gave lost in the first round: Colorado and St. Louis last year, St. Louis and Nashville this year.

VERY VERY VERY nervous about the Minnesota series.....



I knew the Blues are their horrid goaltending would be in deep poop .


Minnesota is going to be an incredibly worthy opponent.

This is going to be fun .
- mrpaulish

No ....St louis played a awful series and made Minny look better than they really are ...Hawks in 6 .. maybe 5 ... Hell Buffalo could of beat the Blues in that series ... Dubnyk gave up a lot of goals in a couple of those games too ...No worries

No ....St louis played a awful series and made Minny look better than they really are ...Hawks in 6 .. maybe 5 ... Hell Buffalo could of beat the Blues in that series ...
- HurriKane

I dont know about that Minny is playing very well, they have speed up and down that lineup and work hard for a full 60 minutes. I like our chances only if we play with that same determination and effort we cant afford to go down a couple of goals and then decided to wake up and play. Another way to help us win this series is that Verstink and Timmonen dont see the ice.

I dont know about that Minny is playing very well, they have speed up and down that lineup and work hard for a full 60 minutes. I like our chances only if we play with that same determination and effort we cant afford to go down a couple of goals and then decided to wake up and play. Another way to help us win this series is that Verstink and Timmonen dont see the ice.
- BGKarras

No ...where not losing to minnesota ...show some balls man ...

No ....St louis played a awful series and made Minny look better than they really are ...Hawks in 6 .. maybe 5 ... Hell Buffalo could of beat the Blues in that series ... Dubnyk gave up a lot of goals in a couple of those games too ...No worries
- HurriKane

14 goals in 6 games is a lot of goals? Hawks gave up 20+ to the Preds

14 goals in 6 games is a lot of goals? Hawks gave up 20+ to the Preds
- SotaPopinski

gave up 10 in 2 games .... You guys were waving the white flag on the elevator ride to the basement two months ago ... Sounds like pixie dust to me

depth guys HAVE to show up for this series

I don' think anyone can question anymore how good this guy is.
- John Jaeckel

never have and never will....sure he has his weaknesses (don't we all) but what competitors heart and this team is full of those...

when they want to....LOOK OUT...they shut down that team after craw came in classic hawk fashion..

keith skated and made moved the likes of which I have never seen from him...

No ....St louis played a awful series and made Minny look better than they really are ...Hawks in 6 .. maybe 5 ... Hell Buffalo could of beat the Blues in that series ... Dubnyk gave up a lot of goals in a couple of those games too ...No worries
- HurriKane

I disagree....that wild is alot better than the past wild team now playing with huge mo and confidence....

crawford will have to be the craw of the regular season or we will see darling quickly again...

Morning Mr P. have to agree Minni is going to be a very good opponent. A really tough series. And seeing as we've beaten them the last two times out - well I'm sure they have plenty of motivation.

Just hope Bowman's lack of adding on defense doesn't cost us the series.

Was listening to the post game on the Score the other night after the Hawks won and Zawaski was on there talking about how great the Timonen move was...egad. That it wasn't all about minutes and how he was a mentor to TT - well golly gee whiz ain't that grand.

On the plus side both Vermette and Richards really look like they've stepped up in particular Richards. Both were monsters at the dot the other night.

Going to be a long series and wondering if we see Kane/Toews/Bickell reunited at some point or the Saad/Shaw/Kane line that carved up the Kings last spring. I think this could be the toughest series the Hawks play should they make it back to the Finals. The Central is easily the toughest division in hockey.
- DK002

zawaski is wrong...we dont need dmen mentors for TT at this time of year....we need him to contribute and play 15-20 TOI.

tough to win series trying to hide your bottom 2 all the time....rosi played pretty well in the pred series....

note the dmen pairing on the winning goal: seabs and keith...

would like to see more of that but can't when you have a 5-6-7 dmen that need cover and their hand held

The trade dead line moves ...pleased the fan base...but as to who is actually playing and contributing....zilch.
Both were throw away draft picks. Had Bowman done nothing he would have been hung out to dry. However.... as things unfolded he should have done nothing
- Colbyboy

Both were throw away draft picks-If I was a betting man SB's hand was forced here collectively by the situation and management team, maybe even some team input

Had Bowman done nothing he would have been hung out to dry- Oh hell yes

as things unfolded he should have done nothing[ Maybe but I'll give a chance for 12 more wins before I call it a complete bust.

With the coach going? Let's say Hitch is gone. New coach comes in. And the GM gets a pass. What if the first one or two years under the new coach they don't make much progress. And much of that is tied to the roster itself. Then what?

It's just a guess for me but Blues ownership has to seriously consider starting with a new GM/coach combination, then work on a roster overhaul.
- blackhawk24

Talk on the Blues thread of hiring Babcock.
Might make them cup favorites but will never happen. That team is not spending $5m plus a year on a coach. I think Armstrong stays and Hitch goes. Hard to argue with Armstrong's drafting and the team he put together. Their flaws were in the style the team employed and Hitch's choices. Example: I believe Ott had more TOI in round 1 than Stastny.... at least through game 3.

You may be right about DA being gone eventually. If that roster doesn't make something happen the next 2 years Armstrong will only look worse - he raided the farm and his draft picks the last 2 years to contend (Miller, Ott and Michalek (at least he wasn't a rental)) and they have very little in the pipeline - ranked bottom 3rd of the league by most services now.

VERY VERY VERY nervous about the Minnesota series.....



I knew the Blues are their horrid goaltending would be in deep poop .


Minnesota is going to be an incredibly worthy opponent.

This is going to be fun .
- mrpaulish

Every move made by Minny during the offseason was to get over the Hawk hump. What looked to be an epic fail was solved when they found what the Blues could not. Goaltending. Home ice is going to be a female dog

Both were throw away draft picks-If I was a betting man SB's hand was forced here collectively by the situation and management team, maybe even some team input

Had Bowman done nothing he would have been hung out to dry- Oh hell yes

as things unfolded he should have done nothing
- Cup-Bearer[ Maybe but I'll give a chance for 12 more wins before I call it a complete bust.

The Timmonen trade was simply a sucker job by Hextall with Kimmo's cooperation. Watching him play - he knows he doesn't belong out there. He panics constantly - throws the puck up the boards just to get it out even if he has 2 men open.... Jumps on a player's back or does the stick wrap rather than fight for the puck. 2 2nd round picks?

I will say this though. At least Stan has a deep system to draw on. The college free agent signings and his drafts have produced some depth. How many long term contending teams could trade 2 of their top 4 d prospects in a year and still have the system depth the Hawks are showing? Maybe 3? He gets suckered occasionally (Rundblad and Timmo) but it could be worse (see St. Louis).

This OS will be huge for the Bowmans. System depth is nice. Maybe he packages it with Sharp and Bickell to replace some of the picks he traded? TWT.

Every move made by Minny during the offseason was to get over the Hawk hump. What looked to be an epic fail was solved when they found what the Blues could not. Goaltending. Home ice is going to be a female dog
- Cup-Bearer

Suter and Parise we're also dealing with personal issues (their fathers) the first half of the season. THIS is the Wild team I thought we would see all year. Their goaltending was absolutely awful the first couple months.

Improved chemistry (post father deaths and the whole goaltending fiasco), players developing (they have young guns that are fast fast fast), a goaltender that they have absolute confidence in (and they should), a coach who I think is underrated at times (Yeo has made his mistakes but is in the top half of the league), a defense with a guy everyone has heard of (Suter is the "top guy", but I don't think he's the best d-man on their roster) and a rabid fan base that makes playing in St Paul VERY tough. Add in the Hawks last couple of stinkers against them...

They are the only team I really had a concern on in the west. It's going to be a tough series.

EDITED TO ADD: And the Hawks have Rozsival and Timonen to counter that speed? I put the number of penalties/goals where they are directly responsible at a +/- of 7.

No ...where not losing to minnesota ...show some balls man ...
- HurriKane

LOL....

Never said we would lose. That wild team has Balls right now espacially how they are playing. What i said was No Verstink and No Timmonen on the ice and a Full 60 minute effort. Minny does make me nervous not gonna lie.

The Timmonen trade was simply a sucker job by Hextall with Kimmo's cooperation. Watching him play - he knows he doesn't belong out there. He panics constantly - throws the puck up the boards just to get it out even if he has 2 men open.... Jumps on a player's back or does the stick wrap rather than fight for the puck. 2 2nd round picks?

I will say this though. At least Stan has a deep system to draw on. The college free agent signings and his drafts have produced some depth. How many long term contending teams could trade 2 of their top 4 d prospects in a year and still have the system depth the Hawks are showing? Maybe 3? He gets suckered occasionally (Rundblad and Timmo) but it could be worse (see St. Louis).

This OS will be huge for the Bowmans. System depth is nice. Maybe he packages it with Sharp and Bickell to replace some of the picks he traded? TWT.
- tredbrta

Which brings me back to Petry. What happened in that potential acquisition? Anyone know? It seemed like the money SB saved in the Smith/Desjardins trade was a precursor to another move. Suffice to say, KT hasn't worked out well at all.

Suter and Parise we're also dealing with personal issues (their fathers) the first half of the season. THIS is the Wild team I thought we would see all year. Their goaltending was absolutely awful the first couple months.

Improved chemistry (post father deaths and the whole goaltending fiasco), players developing (they have young guns that are fast fast fast), a goaltender that they have absolute confidence in (and they should), a coach who I think is underrated at times (Yeo has made his mistakes but is in the top half of the league), a defense with a guy everyone has heard of (Suter is the "top guy", but I don't think he's the best d-man on their roster) and a rabid fan base that makes playing in St Paul VERY tough. Add in the Hawks last couple of stinkers against them...

They are the only team I really had a concern on in the west. It's going to be a tough series.

EDITED TO ADD: And the Hawks have Rozsival and Timonen to counter that speed? I put the number of penalties/goals where they are directly responsible at a +/- of 7.
- MNHawk

Manageable on home ice. Road? Not so much. By that I mean they can be paired together at home and keep 2/7 4/27 together. On the road, this almost screams breaking up the top two pairings. If Rozy can get to the 13-15 aTOI across the series, KT may not be as abysmal as we believe. It's going to take a lot of Q blender work though; forwards included.

So stubhub had the first and second games of the series on Wed and Fri. Times still TBD. Is this possible?