this stings, Habs gave up less to get Petry than we did to get Timonen

http://bleacherreport.com...vidends-for-the-canadiens
- pierregruska

Actually I think Bergevin picked up two Dmen - two more than Stan got...
loved the move for Vermette. But Bowman gets a big fat F in regard to the defense. My blood starts boiling when you look at who was out there at the TDL and who he got. Really hope it doesn't cost us the hardware.

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Versteeg. If this series proves to be more than TT is ready for at this time, Versteeg is a pretty nice option to have to inset in the line-up.

Lets not forget how well Versteeg was playing before he was injured. Kane just needs to sit him down and tell him, don't try to do what I do. lol
- Elbows15

Hey Elbows enjoying the wait for Round 3?

Have to agree on Steeger. He was playing some really good hockey until he broke his hand in the classic and hasn't been the same player since. If we can get him to just play north south maybe they get him back on track...we'll see how TT does.

Although after a couple of periods of Runblad I bet Q puts Verbeauty on defense...

Rozy out 12-16 weeks after surgery today. Will make it difficult for him to get a new contract anywhere

How funny would it be if the Blackhawks invited the Robertsons to a game? Hand out free duck calls? Shotguns optional?????
- powerenforcer

I hope this never happens.

Hey Elbows enjoying the wait for Round 3?

Have to agree on Steeger. He was playing some really good hockey until he broke his hand in the classic and hasn't been the same player since. If we can get him to just play north south maybe they get him back on track...we'll see how TT does.

Although after a couple of periods of Runblad I bet Q puts Verbeauty on defense...
- DK002

Hey DK. Not really but its a good rest for the boys.

I have a feeling we are going to be mildly surprised at Rundlbad. Its a golden opportunity for the kid. Its now or never to make his mark as more than a marginal NHL player.Don't underestimate his countrymen being there. I just have a feeling that Seabs is in his ear bolstering his confidence also.

Rozy out 12-16 weeks after surgery today. Will make it difficult for him to get a new contract anywhere
- Cup-Bearer

hate to see a guy's career end with an injury.

How funny would it be if the Blackhawks invited the Robertsons to a game? Hand out free duck calls? Shotguns optional?????
- powerenforcer

12ga, #7.5 should do it.

>Hawk keys to winning the WCF
>Start each game on time -- be fully dialed in from the first shift
>Have a team goal of winning every shift
>Be patient -- the less experienced Ducks will make mistakes
>Have a plan to defend plays that start below the Hawk goal line
>Play as a unit of 5 all 200 feet -- when a Hawk switches to defend someone, know where you need to be -- when cycling as a unit of 5, make the right play with the puck
>Take advantage of poor gap control between Duck forwards and Ducks D when gaining possession
>Play between the dots in both slots
>Make smart player changes on the fly
>When in the OZ, do not force puck back to the point when the Dman is covered -- when in doubt get the puck on net from anywhere

hate to see a guy's career end with an injury.
- Elbows15

I figured he was at least 50/50 on retiring after this season anyway, especially after the 'Hawks win it all.

>Hawk keys to winning the WCF
>Start each game on time -- be fully dialed in from the first shift
>Have a team goal of winning every shift
>Be patient -- the less experienced Ducks will make mistakes
>Have a plan to defend plays that start below the Hawk goal line
>Play as a unit of 5 all 200 feet -- when a Hawk switches to defend someone, know where you need to be -- when cycling as a unit of 5, make the right play with the puck
>Take advantage of poor gap control between Duck forwards and Ducks D when gaining possession
>Play between the dots in both slots
>Make smart player changes on the fly
>When in the OZ, do not force puck back to the point when the Dman is covered -- when in doubt get the puck on net from anywhere
- SnapitUpstairs

Nice points Snap. I don't think the Hawks will have the luxury of being cute this series. Going to be a grind and a helluva series. See this going 6 and the Hawks headed back to try and win their 3rd cup in 6 years.

12ga, #7.5 should do it.
- blackhawk24

Little small on that shot for ducks. I'd use a 3" 12-ga cartridge with #3 or #5 shot.

hate to see a guy's career end with an injury.
- Elbows15

Me too. Rosy has been held together with duck tape for the last couple years but despite declining capabilities he knew how to play the game. They will miss what a veteran defenceman who has been in the trenches before can provide.

Scotty always, always had an old fart defenceman like Rosy on his teams for the playoffs - Jimmy Roberts, Bob Rouse, Steve Duchesne, Mike Ramsey, Larry Murphy, Kjell Samuelsson. He always found a use for them.

Actually I think Bergevin picked up two Dmen - two more than Stan got...
loved the move for Vermette. But Bowman gets a big fat F in regard to the defense. My blood starts boiling when you look at who was out there at the TDL and who he got. Really hope it doesn't cost us the hardware.
- DK002

I think that at the TDL, Stan took a chance that Timonen had a little bit left in the tank and was also banking on maybe TVR being available again. If TVR had been able to regain some of what he had early in the season, then a rotation of Rosival and Timonen with TVR maybe gets you by. TVR and then Rosival getting hurt exposed the weakness. Rosival was heart-stopping a lot when he played, but he DID give a pretty solid 15 (guarded) minutes each game.

>Hawk keys to winning the WCF
>Start each game on time -- be fully dialed in from the first shift
>Have a team goal of winning every shift
>Be patient -- the less experienced Ducks will make mistakes
>Have a plan to defend plays that start below the Hawk goal line
>Play as a unit of 5 all 200 feet -- when a Hawk switches to defend someone, know where you need to be -- when cycling as a unit of 5, make the right play with the puck
>Take advantage of poor gap control between Duck forwards and Ducks D when gaining possession
>Play between the dots in both slots
>Make smart player changes on the fly
>When in the OZ, do not force puck back to the point when the Dman is covered -- when in doubt get the puck on net from anywhere
- SnapitUpstairs

Snap, I could see Q using your bullet points, you writing his locker room speeches now?

Nice points Snap. I don't think the Hawks will have the luxury of being cute this series. Going to be a grind and a helluva series. See this going 6 and the Hawks headed back to try and win their 3rd cup in 6 years.
- Dannyboy

>While hockey is obviously an adrenaline-fueled game, I think the Ducks rely on that "adrenaline-pump" more than most after scoring -- they ride that wave well and longer than most teams -- and helped them get their comeback wins
>Hence the importance for the Hawks to use their experience and championship pedigree to "wear-down" the Ducks mentally by putting together solid shift after solid shift -- and force Duck Dmen to make decisions
>Flames lacked the total team skill to move the puck lightning fast to players who were open and available to make plays -- Hawks will make those plays

Hey DK. Not really but its a good rest for the boys.

I have a feeling we are going to be mildly surprised at Rundlbad. Its a golden opportunity for the kid. Its now or never to make his mark as more than a marginal NHL player.Don't underestimate his countrymen being there. I just have a feeling that Seabs is in his ear bolstering his confidence also.
- Elbows15

Agreed 100% on this. Give the guy a freaking chance to redeem himself. I'd hate to have some of these posters on a parole board.

Snap, I could see Q using your bullet points, you writing his locker room speeches now?


- Cup-Bearer

>Thanks for the kind words
>But, thankfully, Q does not need any help from me
>Q is on his way to the HOF, and has been very, very good in this year's playoffs
>Loved how the Hawks carved up the Wild trap this year
>And with all this time off, Q will have some new things for BB to digest

Little small on that shot for ducks. I'd use a 3" 12-ga cartridge with #3 or #5 shot.
- Kentxo

They're really not very big ducks....

The Ducks Danish goalie has for two years been prone to (while the opponent is moves the possession eats to west) putting his weight on one foot/skate and then can't go back to the post side very well. It is not a little thing, he does it far too much, and if any team can capitalize on it, it is him.
- wiz1901

So how much is the 'Hawks staff stressing to the players to look for this and be patient. Very interesting thing to watch for WHEN EVER THIS SERIES IS GOING TO START !!!

Agreed 100% on this. Give the guy a freaking chance to redeem himself. I'd hate to have some of these posters on a parole board.
- darkman

We would never see the light of day, darkman.

I think that at the TDL, Stan took a chance that Timonen had a little bit left in the tank and was also banking on maybe TVR being available again. If TVR had been able to regain some of what he had early in the season, then a rotation of Rosival and Timonen with TVR maybe gets you by. TVR and then Rosival getting hurt exposed the weakness. Rosival was heart-stopping a lot when he played, but he DID give a pretty solid 15 (guarded) minutes each game.
- TheTrob

With Petry still on the table. I just do not get that one...

Agreed 100% on this. Give the guy a freaking chance to redeem himself. I'd hate to have some of these posters on a parole board.
- darkman

10 years for parking tickets...

seriously I hope the kid does some good and plays well, but we've seen his body of work this season...offensively he can bring something its in his own end that gets me queasy...

Let's just hope the top 4 has 8 more wins in them.

Agreed 100% on this. Give the guy a freaking chance to redeem himself. I'd hate to have some of these posters on a parole board.
- darkman

I have seen nothing to suggest Runblad can handle this. Golden opportunity like Elbows said. I'll try to keep an open mind, best I can do.

Game 1 Sunday

Don't tell anyone Wiz. Its the playoffs. The Ducks are about to find out the Hawks hit back in the playoffs.
- Elbows15

Yup. Dozer apparently doesn't read the event summaries.