So Marleau at 1/2 price for Bickell and a few HOGS ? McNeil , Morin , Ross ? Is this a for real thing ?

No steel spikes to hold the net in place. Forwards barrel in with limited fear of injury and the goaltender absorbs the collision.

After slimming down pants and jerseys, another thing I would do is make the crease much smaller but penalize any contact within the crease initiated by the forward. But if the goalie leaves his crease he is open for contact.
- RickJ

Yep - good idea. Never liked that the goalie can go behind the net and essentially interfere because the opposing player can't touch him. If the goalie goes out to play the puck, then the same rules for hitting a player should apply to him. That should improve scoring one way or the other.

So Marleau at 1/2 price for Bickell and a few HOGS ? McNeil , Morin , Ross ? Is this a for real thing ?
- mrpaulish

That seems like an extremely unrealistic thing, actually....unfortunately....

So Marleau at 1/2 price for Bickell and a few HOGS ? McNeil , Morin , Ross ? Is this a for real thing ?
- mrpaulish

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Although Marleau would definitely fill the 1LW position and solve that problem. Plus, Marleau could be the guy Toews hands the Cup to next June.

Marleau at 50% for Bickell and Rundblad. Even steven.

Guy can handle the puck and skate, no doubt. Take away those extra inches on his catching glove, the inches in the length of his pads to where the stick has to cover the 5 hole pulling that right shoulder down opening space up top, the extra inches on the width of those shoulder pads, the size of the jersey and puffy pants and there is a lot more to shoot at when a guy his playing the sport on his knees.

Force these guys to play the sport on their feet and if not the blocking style will cover less, meaning more goals. Guys who can play the sport on their feet will pull closer/ahead of guys who can only block.
- Mr Ricochet

We may all miss the Electric Eel one day as we did Hasek.

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Although Marleau would definitely fill the 1LW position and solve that problem. Plus, Marleau could be the guy Toews hands the Cup to next June.
- EbonyRaptor

Figured as much but Wilson and Stan have done a handful of deals. Plus , was it JJ that mentioned that the SHarks have been all up in the HOGS grill as of late ? Or was that Eli ?

You don't have to take the time to show me. What I said was IF I remember correctly McNeill was thought to be the most READY NHLer coming out of that draft. Not who had the highest ceiling or what hindsight has shown.

Hell, I could be wrong that it was even said, hence IIRC. Thought it was said during the draft telecast.
- Mr Ricochet

You do recall correctly!

Marleau at 50% for Bickell and Rundblad. Even steven.
- SimpleJack

yeah they are going to move a decent player and tough contract for hawk crap and bad contracts....move along...

Glad Mashinter gets a called up, don't know why everyone is thinking he is a showcase for a trade. He's already a known commodity he's not a young prospect. He's getting called up because he's played really good in the A and he is a big physical body who will stand in front of the net and throw his weight around and drop the gloves to provide a spark or to stand up for a teammate. Give him 7 min a night and see what he can do. I'm surprised Desi is in the lineup he hasn't been good all year and is slow. I would have Garbutt or shaw on the line with him and Kruger.

Desjardins, Garbutt, Tikhonov, Bickell, Mashinter, Paille - all bottom of the roster wingers with little or no capability to provide offence. Way too many of those types playing in the Hawks system.
- RickJ

The 4th line is there to provide energy and not get scored on if they get us a powerplay or score it's a bonus. The problem with our 4th line so far this year they've been scored on and haven't added energy or points. Kruger especially has taken a bunch of bad penalties.

FWIW, I wore 32 inch pads in Junior (1979) and 34 inch in college (1980). They protected legs. Pants were protection for thighs and midsection, but it hurt like heck to take a hard shot on a thigh pad.
- scottak

Interesting, what kind of pants did you wear in college? I got a pair of Tacklas in 1990 and you could fire a cannon at the things and barely feel it, but I wasn't facing NCAA competition either.

Had low end Coopers growing up but those thigh pads would shatter, damn near cut you before the game was over. Had to use football thigh pads which sent a puck back out damn near as fast as it came in. Taped 4 football thigh pads to my arms too until I got high end Cooper chest/arm protectors in 90 as an adult as well. Could fire a cannon at the thing, and it weighed seemingly ounces, and again barely feel it, unless of course it found a seem.

The goalie being nuts in the head was true IMO up until 15-20 years ago. But, again IMO, with the advancement of the equipment he's the safest person in the building today, including the popcorn guy. Unless a puck finds a seam you barely feel it, anywhere besides the head.

No steel spikes to hold the net in place. Forwards barrel in with limited fear of injury and the goaltender absorbs the collision.

After slimming down pants and jerseys, another thing I would do is make the crease much smaller but penalize any contact within the crease initiated by the forward. But if the goalie leaves his crease he is open for contact.
- RickJ

Great point. That was near as scary as seeing a guy get a puck to the face, a guy running full speed into the goal while it was anchored by a 10 inch steel rod.

Those guys were certifiably nuts back in the day and they played for peanuts.

Interesting, what kind of pants did you wear in college? I got a pair of Tacklas in 1990 and you could fire a cannon at the things and barely feel it, but I wasn't facing NCAA competition either.

Had low end Coopers growing up but those thigh pads would shatter, damn near cut you before the game was over. Had to use football thigh pads which sent a puck back out damn near as fast as it came in. Taped 4 football thigh pads to my arms too until I got high end Cooper chest/arm protectors in 90 as an adult as well. Could fire a cannon at the thing, and it weighed seemingly ounces, and again barely feel it, unless of course it found a seem.

The goalie being nuts in the head was true IMO up until 15-20 years ago. But, again IMO, with the advancement of the equipment he's the safest person in the building today, including the popcorn guy. Unless a puck finds a seam you barely feel it, anywhere besides the head.
- Mr Ricochet

Pads were Thompsons, had them shipped down from CAN, the old horse hair filled ones. Pants were either CCM or Cooper. White Bauer skates, just like Bernie. I loved those skates.

Espo's guy made my mask. Pre cage, it was the old form fitting kind, looked just like the one JimCraig wore. Caught a puck in the eye my Soph year, ended my career.

- stljam

If the Gumper was 180 pounds I'll eat grits out of your cup.

Figured as much but Wilson and Stan have done a handful of deals. Plus , was it JJ that mentioned that the SHarks have been all up in the HOGS grill as of late ? Or was that Eli ?
- mrpaulish

Sharks have been on Rockford like you know what on poop. I also separately heard from someone who spoke with some Shark scouts at a Hawk game. They are talking.

yeah they are going to move a decent player and tough contract for hawk crap and bad contracts....move along...
- bogiedoc

My guess is the price for Marleau would be Bickell, a player like Shaw or TT and a prospect.

Which basically amounts to a player, a prospect and a problem (cap hit). If TT were included, the Hawks would probably get something else back as well, a pick probably.

Pure speculation. But something like that for Marleau or Marleau+.

It would be a move meant to fill a need with a predictably productive veteran and make another run this year and next. And it would be at the cost of some futures.

Not saying they will or should but it would also not surprise me completely.

The 4th line is there to provide energy and not get scored on if they get us a powerplay or score it's a bonus. The problem with our 4th line so far this year they've been scored on and haven't added energy or points. Kruger especially has taken a bunch of bad penalties.
- vandymeer23

Would anybody consider splitting up kane/panarin and putting panarin on the 3rd line to create more of a scoring third line? kane and panarin both have the ability to create for not only themselves, but others around them. i believe panarin on a line by himself could have a similar affect as kane did last year on the 2nd line.

if you did that, then you would have a first line of 19/81, a second line of 88/15, a third line of 72/86, and a 4th line of 16/65/11. on the top 3 lines you could then play around with the missing pieces to them. the hawks have maintained success for so long because of their depth on their bottom lines. eventually splitting up the highlight reel line might have a trickle down affect on the rest of the team. just my opinion. thoughts? GO HAWKS!

I like both Desi and Garbutt but the facts are facts:

Desi needs to score some, and Garbutt uses every opportunity to get in a very different level of cheap shot, maybe even a tad more snake in grass than Shawzie.

All three gotta score to, because we need it.

Mashinter gets a look as a reward and who knows maybe he gets some room for his 'mates and if he scores he gets some prop b/c the guys mentioned above aren't scoring...
- wiz1901

Two years ago, Garbutt potted 17 and added 15. THAT'S the kind of production we need from him.

Before the lockout: about 2.6 GPG for several years.

After: up to 3.08 the first year back, then 2.9-3.0 for a couple of years.

Then - a gradual decline to the 2.6 level again, along with a dramatic decrease in penalties leading to PPs.
- StLBravesFan

I don't disagree about the inconsistent officiating ...I have complained about it forever.

But I think any lasting increase in scoring happens because of making equipment smaller for goalies. I could say that it took 3 years for teams to get their defensive schemes together after the rule book tweak.

It has been a long time since a top power play team has won the Cup....Actually can't recall one in the top 5 ...Maybe have to go back to Detroit.

Make the catching glove smaller and there will definitely be more goals and it is not going to make a goalie any more vulnerable to injury.

Pads were Thompsons, had them shipped down from CAN, the old horse hair filled ones. Pants were either CCM or Cooper. White Bauer skates, just like Bernie. I loved those skates.

Espo's guy made my mask. Pre cage, it was the old form fitting kind, looked just like the one JimCraig wore. Caught a puck in the eye my Soph year, ended my career.
- scottak

Those pads might have come from Kenesky's in Hamilton, Ontario. Back in the old days a kid could walk in off the street to buy a stick and he might see Terry Sawchuk or Jacques Plante sitting in there with Pops Kenesky having a coffee and a smoke and talking goalie pads. The place is still there.

Glad Mashinter gets a called up, don't know why everyone is thinking he is a showcase for a trade. He's already a known commodity he's not a young prospect. He's getting called up because he's played really good in the A and he is a big physical body who will stand in front of the net and throw his weight around and drop the gloves to provide a spark or to stand up for a teammate. Give him 7 min a night and see what he can do. I'm surprised Desi is in the lineup he hasn't been good all year and is slow. I would have Garbutt or shaw on the line with him and Kruger.
- vandymeer23

If they need to call up Mashinter to strut his stuff then what is Desi doing on the roster?
He's up becasue Garbutt is out and he may deserve to be rewarded but I bet he is also here to show his stuff. The last thing this team needs is another 4th line player to cling to especially at 27.

My guess is the price for Marleau would be Bickell, a player like Shaw or TT and a prospect.

Which basically amounts to a player, a prospect and a problem (cap hit). If TT were included, the Hawks would probably get something else back as well, a pick probably.

Pure speculation. But something like that for Marleau or Marleau+.

It would be a move meant to fill a need with a predictably productive veteran and make another run this year and next. And it would be at the cost of some futures.

Not saying they will or should but it would also not surprise me completely.
- John Jaeckel

Marleau at $6.5 mill per for 2 more years...That's tough to swallow especially if they have to give up a really young player like TT. Don't think I would do it...

Doesn't sound right, but I thought I saw a blurb watching Habs and Pens saying this would be the first time Pittsburgh had won after being behind after the 2nd period since January, 2014: 0-37 until tonite.

Great point. That was near as scary as seeing a guy get a puck to the face, a guy running full speed into the goal while it was anchored by a 10 inch steel rod.

Those guys were certifiably nuts back in the day and they played for peanuts.
- Mr Ricochet

Some awful injuries happened because the nets wouldn't come off the pipes.