Says the homer with Blackhawk colored glasses. In your opinion the guy you watch play every game is better than the guy you rarely watch, oh what a surprise. I can say the same thing about Letang, but only because I watch him play every game of the season. You on the other hand who watch him play 1-2 times a year are going to do nothing but bash him. But Letang is to the Penguins what Keith is to the Blackhawks and what Doughty is to the Kings. The Kings are known as a deffensive team but their best defenseman doesn't log effective minutes, ok that makes sense?
- Dcoms

Letang & Doughty are certainly very good defensive players. You're very wrong in stating that the combination of defense & offense that those two are on the same playing field as Keith. They aren't.

Mind you: Keith plays in both the far better Conference and one of the elite divisions in the sport.

I would say doughty is better than keith. Keith is great, there's no doubt about it. He's top tier but I think (and this is my personal opinion) people can overhype him sometimes. He played a phenomenal game last night, and he's played really well these whole playoffs minus a few bad plays early early on in the post season.
- benjichronic

After playing the amount if minutes he has? Remember, all the geniuses in the media and Ryan Kesler said he was supposed to be dead by now. It's not overhype, my dude.

Says the homer with Blackhawk colored glasses. In your opinion the guy you watch play every game is better than the guy you rarely watch, oh what a surprise. I can say the same thing about Letang, but only because I watch him play every game of the season. You on the other hand who watch him play 1-2 times a year are going to do nothing but bash him. But Letang is to the Penguins what Keith is to the Blackhawks and what Doughty is to the Kings. The Kings are known as a deffensive team but their best defenseman doesn't log effective minutes, ok that makes sense?
- Dcoms

Keith was the best defenseman on the best team in the world, Team Canada in Sochi. Which makes him the best defenseman in the world.

Keith was the best defenseman on the best team in the world, Team Canada in Sochi. Which makes him the best defenseman in the world.
- scottak

And Letang wasn't even on the radar for that team. Personally I thought Doughty was Team Canada's best defenseman in Sochi.

Can't believe there's any argument over Keith vs. Doughty. I live in LA and see too much of Drew Doughty. He's not in the same class as Duncan Keith. He's not as good in his own end and can't come close to playing the minutes Keith does without it affecting his game. Doughty is a really good player. Keith is a generational talent - best at his position and what guys like Fowler and Lindholm aspire to be when they grow up.

Having said that, the difference in this series is not Keith (or Toews or Kane or Saad or any other forward or defensemen). Crawford has been a little better through 6 games than Andersen. He's the reason there is a Game 7. If Hawks win the series, Crawford is your difference maker. If Ducks win, it will be because Freddy found a way to raise his game.

I think Despres' been mostly good. Vatanen is impressive. The four best defensemen on the ice have been Keith (by a wide margin), Oduya, Seabrook and Fowler.
- John Jaeckel

Funny thing about Fowler is that I played against him Bantam Major when he was on Honeybaked in Detroit and I played for Team Illinois. He was already 6'1" and was not heavily involved offensively. Fowler was probably the 3rd best player on the Honeybaked team and now he is a Top Pair NHL dman. Pretty amazing what several years onthe US National Development Team will do for a player

Letang is the new style "rover" type defensemen like Green, Leddy, Karlsson etc. Great offensively, great skaters, but not exactly defensive specialists.
- paulr

\

I'm a flyers fan, so im obligated to hate letang and all his buddies, but I don't think people give him enough credit for his defensive game. I think he's made the same kind of transition that karlsson has made as well. They both used to be pure offensive dmen, but both have balanced out their games.

I posted this in yesterday's thread just as a rough figure of things:

Shooting from the hip and just plugging in a few pieces (assuming Sharp and Bickell are cap casualties):

Forwards: Panarin, Toews, Hossa, Saad, Teravainen, Kane, Versteeg, Kruger, Shaw, Desjardins, Danault, McNeill, Nordstrom

Defensemen: Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, TvR, Johns

Goalie: Crawford, Darling

I figured in raises for Saad ($4.5 million), Kruger ($2.5 million), Desjardins ($0.850), and Nordstrom ($0.850).

With a cap ceiling at $71 million, there should be roughly $4.6 million left in cap space to sign 2 defensemen and 1 forward to complete a roster of 23.

Make what you will of it.
- EKolb13

I'd love to find a way to get rid of Steegs. Also, I think you could figure a way to include Hartman in there.

\

I'm a flyers fan, so im obligated to hate letang and all his buddies, but I don't think people give him enough credit for his defensive game. I think he's made the same kind of transition that karlsson has made as well. They both used to be pure offensive dmen, but both have balanced out their games.
- benjichronic

Their defensive game is adequate, neither is used in shutdown roles.

I would say doughty is better than keith. Keith is great, there's no doubt about it. He's top tier but I think (and this is my personal opinion) people can overhype him sometimes. He played a phenomenal game last night, and he's played really well these whole playoffs minus a few bad plays early early on in the post season.
- benjichronic

You could say that...but you'd be wrong.

Anaheim bubbled BURST

http://www.nicholsonhocke...ade-talk-for-sabres-myers
- FourFeathers773

Not at all. It was RUMORED Buffalo wanted Fowler. Murray said NO. Again, Fowler was NEVER a part of a trade proposal FROM AN ANAHEIM perspective.

I'd love to find a way to get rid of Steegs. Also, I think you could figure a way to include Hartman in there.
- HawksHype

And if you find a way to get Richards to take $1M again... you do it.

everyone ripping off the hawks twitter account today

Chicago Blackhawks @NHLBlackhawks · 15h 15 hours ago
Tonight's 3 Stars:

3. #KNEELBEFORESAAD
2. #SHOWTIME
1. #CHICAGORUNSONDUNCAN (ie Duncan Keith)
- FourFeathers773

Maybe Twitter is ripping me off? I've had that pic for a while, and posted it several times. Your're welcome Twitter.

Edit: thanks for the heads up Paulr

Nothing could be further from the truth. I enjoy the Chicago blog (fans very entertaining), but sometimes a comment is made that is pure fiction. Fowler was NEVER trade bait. EVER. Teams wanted him and were turned away. Once Lovejoy was traded (Fowler D partner last few years) for Despres, Fowler has never looked better. His defensive game has gotten only better. To suggest he's a "liability" is ludicrous. Even JJ acknowledges he's been very good.

Good luck Saturday. Predicted a 7 game series from the start. Time for the Ducks to put up or shut up as far as I'm concerned. Sure would love to have Keith on our team though.
- quackup

I have no idea whether Fowler was being offered or not but, unless you are Bob Murray or know him, you have no authority to make that statement. If Tyler Myers was being bid on then it is likely Fowler/Lindholm/Theodore were in the discussion.

And if you find a way to get Richards to take $1M again... you do it.
- HawksHype

He's currently signed for $2 mil. But yeah, if he'll sign for $1 mil, DO IT!

He's currently signed for $2 mil. But yeah, if he'll sign for $1 mil, DO IT!
- MNHawk

Agreed.

He's currently signed for $2 mil. But yeah, if he'll sign for $1 mil, DO IT!
- MNHawk

Haha.. oops.

Last night's game was absolutely HUGE for the Chicago Blackhawks, and I will tell you why. Until last night, ANA was the undisputed best team in the playoffs, not having lost a single game in regulation time, and often dominating teams for a full 60 minutes. Until last night ANA WAS the unstoppable object. Before last night, the Hawks were the only team in the playoffs giving the Ducks a hard time because of the massive character and talent on the Hawks, until last night the Hawks were the immovable object!

Then last night's game occurred and EVERYTHING in the Hockey Universe changed. The Ducks weren't just beat in regulation, the Hawks took the game to them basically only skating FOUR Defensemen! The penalties were not only even, but heavily in ANA's favour as they were given a goal that should not have counted, and were allowed to blatantly interfere and instigate skirmishes after the whistle without retribution. The fact is, for the first time in this series, the immovable object suddenly became the unstoppable force, and when the Hawks play like this (through all four of their incredibly deep lines), they are essentially unbeatable.

Over the last 2 years, the Ducks have lead playoff series 3-2, only to lose the final two games. Bruce Boudreau is a very good hockey coach, who has won championships in Jr. hockey and the AHL, but not in the NHL. In fact, Boudreau's teams are noted as starting fast, but not finishing. This season is the FIRST time that a Boudreau coached NHL team has made it to the conference finals. Up 3-2 to the Hawks, they got owned last night in CHI. The pressure is now ALL ON THE DUCKS and their HC to prove to anyone that they can win a conference championship. In a game where they had a chance to advance to the Cup finals, ANA's best players were their WORST! Getzlaf, Perry, Kesler, Beauchemin and Andersen were ALL BELOW AVERAGE when it counted the most! Why is that do you suppose? Just a coincidence?

The Blackhawks finally showed the Ducks that with a lineup that skates essentially 4 Defensemen, they can take the game to the Ducks for 60 minutes. That hasn't happened until last night and now the Ducks have something new to deal with, which is, what do we do to adjust to what the Hawks are doing!!! For the first time in the playoffs, what the Ducks were serving wasn't palatable and now they are thinking about the Hawks strengths, and not weaknesses. Add this to a team that simply DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO WIN THE BIGGEST GAMES and you have a serious problem in Anaheim right now!

For tomorrow night, the Hawks simply need to come out with 4 Defensemen, and play their game, and they will win. Yep, that's right, I am telling you (not even just suggesting it) that the Hawks will win. Because the combination of the Hawks character with now superior play is unbeatable. It won't matter what the Ducks do if the Hawks simply come out and play their own game again. The Blackhawks KNOW how to win the biggest games and the Ducks/Boudreau simply don't! Its Science!
- MexicoHawk

Perry/Getzlaf/Maroon/Beauchemin -3
Kesler/Palmeiri/Despres/Beleskey -2

That's the top two lines, not just minus, but significantly minus.

Andersen last three games SV%
Game 4: .875
Game 5: .857
Game 6: .818

I see a trend.

Not at all. It was RUMORED Buffalo wanted Fowler. Murray said NO. Again, Fowler was NEVER a part of a trade proposal FROM AN ANAHEIM perspective.
- quackup

Or Murray balked at the + part of a myers for fowler+

Murray was hard after myers for over a year, dont listen to your beat writers and what he spoon feeds the media

multiple credible sources say Murray had been knocking on the door for myers after a while.

Had BUF agreed to a fowler for myers straight up swap, it would have been a done deal. BUF was trying to load up and probably asked for Fowler and a 1st and some other crap, as evident in them getting bogosian and e.kane

I think Despres' been mostly good. Vatanen is impressive. The four best defensemen on the ice have been Keith (by a wide margin), Oduya, Seabrook and Fowler.
- John Jaeckel

Sam Fels broke down Despres possession stats last night in CI. Very good in 1-3... dropping like a rock the last few games. Looked weak last night IMO.

Interesting blog on adjusted save percentage. Makes me feel better about game 7.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...or-a-Non-Factor/179/68925

If they have Lovejoy instead of Despres they likely don't even make it this far. That whole organization should be calling the senile old Jim Rutherford every day and thanking him for giving them Despres for nothing. I know my skin crawls every time I think about what a monumental failure that trade was, it made no sense then and now it's infuriating. Rutherford is a buffoon and I can't wait to see who he trades the rest of our young d studs for. Olli Maatta for Mike Richards perhaps, Derrick Pouliot for Marty St Louis? It's terrifying times.
- Dcoms

Rutherford should be fired for that or someone should have vetoed it. No veto is why I believe there may be something to the report Despres had an attitude problem.

To trade Despres for Lovejoy (whom the Pens traded away for a 5th rounder) is just inexcusable. Should have demanded more or a mid level prospect back at least.

Ha, name them. I will concede Doughty is probably closest
- John Jaeckel

if i can start my team today, with any d man, just for 1 year, and not taking into account contracts, im still taking shea weber. and just in advance, i know he hasnt won a cup.

2 things mentioned on the other board.

1) Hossa did not see the ice the final 5 mins? I was at the game and really did not notice? Was he Hurt?
2) Bill Watters reported that the rift between Q and the the Bowmans' is so huge? I'm not sure how he would know, but it has been mentioned that they do not always see Eye to Eye. With the team having to go young next year you wonder how Q would do with that Team.
- kmw4631

Link?