I think if Game 7 was a regular season game Seabrook would have been in the dressing room well before it ended...He got popped in the opening minute by Upshall when the glass broke and was hit hard again.
- Al

It was Backes and that was a very heavy hit. I also think that 90 second delay to fix the glass helped ease the nerves of the Blues. Hawks had zone time and a SOG with a shaky rebound by Elliot, glass breaks and the long delay and when the puck finally dropped, 7+2 were not ready to play....1-0

It was Backes and that was a very heavy hit. I also think that 90 second delay to fix the glass helped ease the nerves of the Blues. Hawks had zone time and a SOG with a shaky rebound by Elliot, glass breaks and the l'ong delay and when the puck finally dropped, 7+2 were not ready to play....1-0
- EnzoD

Yes I think later was Upshall.

was carter acquired from Columbus same year Kings won the cup?

I get yoru point, just pointing out the revolving door issue on bottom 6.
- SteveRain

Yes on Carter but he didn't skate top line for LA...But he was a big reason they won.

I agree.

I don't like any of the tweaks that have been suggested: increasing the size of the nets, changing the shape or making nets bigger, etc.

The game is fine--just call the rules that are in the freaking book: call the holding, clutching, grabbing, and interference. After the rules were adjusting as a result of the last lockout, they are still calling the hook pretty consistently, which I'm fine with. My pet peeve this year was the defensemen getting away with obstruction when the offensive team dumps the puck in. Call interference when the offensive player is held up, for God's sake, that alone will increase scoring.

I like Al's idea about the downsizing the trappers as well, because it doesn't negatively affect goalie safety.
- MartiniMan

There's also a lot of holding around the net by defenders. Calling that could be huge if combined with enforcing other rules

When Hawks say they are fine for #4D, does TVR really have upside? I've watched hockey, mostly since '09, and I don't find TVR to be an overly athletic defenseman. Can he increase his closing speed on the puck, or is that just by reading the game better?

When Hawks say they are fine for #4D, does TVR really have upside? I've watched hockey, mostly since '09, and I don't find TVR to be an overly athletic defenseman. Can he increase his closing speed on the puck, or is that just by reading the game better?
- phantasmo

IMO: adequate/minus skater

Good positioning instincts. He's certainly NOT the worst skater we've seen. Would say it falls on him (and I suppose the staff) to push for improving his skating and movement on his edges. Speed IMO is less than average but good positioning makes up for a lot. Not explosive like Keith nor fast and smooth like . . .

I think if Game 7 was a regular season game Seabrook would have been in the dressing room well before it ended...He got popped in the opening minute by Upshall when the glass broke and was hit hard again.
- Al

Q is full of sh$t all around on the injury front. Seabrook missed 9 straight minutes in the 2nd period of Game 7 after those hits.

Also, Shaw was banged up pretty bad in one of the games before the regular season ended. He was hurting going into the series. And how about Hammer - how many shots did he block and basically crawl off the ice after. Where did he go after every game - Lourdes or the Mineral Baths of Jamaica?

And Hoss, everybody knows he was playing with a knee issue from 6 weeks before.

Yes on Carter but he didn't skate top line for LA...But he was a big reason they won.
- Al

more I think about it more I think Bowman may deal off 50.

Checked the cap site and Panarin has same 2.575 cherry for next year in bonuses as this year, which he hit. So if he hits again + his raise to say 5 AAV, which isn't unreasonable given his production and talent, that's an increase of 7.5+ million JUST to him before trying to extend Shaw past the 1 year friendly deal.........

Amazing no beat writers went down this road....actually not surprised, but this just doesn't look like a 1 year issue but a 2 year issue AND good ole 86 is a RFA at end of next year as well.......

No wonder those bags under SBs eyes continue to get larger.......

Q is full of sh$t all around on the injury front. Seabrook missed 9 straight minutes in the 2nd period of Game 7 after those hits.

Also, Shaw was banged up pretty bad in one of the games before the regular season ended. He was hurting going into the series. And how about Hammer - how many shots did he block and basically crawl off the ice after. Where did he go after every game - Lourdes or the Mineral Baths of Jamaica?

And Hoss, everybody knows he was playing with a knee issue from 6 weeks before.
- RickJ

Heard Shaw has a reoccurring back injury that can limit him from time to time. No where near as bad as Bolland.

CC had a concussion and Blues targeted it numerous times.

81 had a grade 1 MCL sprain (2 week recovery but not really 100% until given longer time off, and reaggravated it when he went knee to knee before regular season ended)

Those 3 I heard about....Seabrook looked to either have bruised sternum or rib based on his breathing after being slammed into boards 2nd time in game 7

Based on Teuvos unwillingness to go to corners and missing a practice/skate have to assume shoulder area.

They had some dings, but they are always guarded about their injuries for whatever reason.

Kruger didn't sound 100% confident his wrist will ever feel right about. Explains him giving way to draws not on his dominant side.

The door swings both ways on the Toews comment...He was ecstatic when they picked up Ladd but bottom line-Those type of moves hardly ever lead to a Cup win.

The last time a top line player or top pairing dman was dealt at the deadline and they won the Cup the same year....Was Billy Guerin in 2009 and before that I think it happened in the 80's.

Today's interview...
Blackhawks summer outlook http://chirb.it/8k57sL
NHL Radio-What will Stan Bowman do? TT-Shaw-Kruger
- Al

Larmer 94?

Yes I think later was Upshall.
- Al

Scottie Upshall had a damn good series, IMO. Scored a big goal or two and was VERY physical for a average sized man. Heck he may even be considered small by NHL standards. He layed some serious body checks throughout that series. He always was an underrated player and was certainly an under-the-radar pickup for STL last summer. I liked Upshall's game a lot in this series.

Chris Hine ‏@ChristopherHine 3m3 minutes ago
One of my big takeaways from today (1/2). Fans are crying out for 4th D-man, but Hawks seem satisfied w/ where they're at on the blue line.
- pdx2ord

I'm taking a break from my exile...

Referring to the quote above: The organization will issue blanket statements like this so that they don't reveal their intentions or they are not sure yet. With that said MY prescription is:

Trade (primary piece)
Crawford

To Calgary for (primary piece):
Hamilton

Additional pieces probably/maybe ... not sure but that would get us a really solid Defense for years to come.

I'm taking a break from my exile...

Referring to the quote above: The organization will issue blanket statements like this so that they don't reveal their intentions or they are not sure yet. With that said MY prescription is:

Trade (primary piece)
Crawford

To Calgary for (primary piece):
Hamilton

Additional pieces probably/maybe ... not sure but that would get us a really solid Defense for years to come.



- gifman

The 2 most intriguing things I took away from this press conference today are:

1. Teuvo.

Q saying he wasn't please with his inconsistency all year and not taking advantage of the opportunities.
Bowman saying Teuvo did everything that was asked to do for a young player.

Sounds like some different trains of thought here........

2. Shaw

Bowman saying they would like him back but wouldn't talk further about it.
q calling him irreplaceable.

As stated here before, his versatility is what Q loves most. Guy can slide into wing or center and you don't lose a beat. Knows his role...team guy, and most important can play and produce with highly skilled guys OR lower skilled guys and is a gamer.

If people can't see the disconnect here, I dont' know what else to type........
- SteveRain

StanQ: Teuvo did everything that he was asked to do for a young player by being inconsistent all year and not taking advantage of the opportunities.

Well at least thats not the KOD like Saad..."he is not going anywhere"
Stanbow speak = we will listen to offers cuz we have no chips to pay with

>BTW for the record, I am a very big Toews fan and supporter -- but there are things he knows he can improve in
- SnapitUpstairs

Care to elaborate? Very curious.

I don't think it is a question of blame or scapegoating or get rid of this guy or that guy as addition by subtraction.

Insanity, however, is doing something the same way over and over again and expecting a different result.

If, as expected, the Hawks are fairly close or hard up against the cap, what do they do? Just get rid of the "worst" guy and expect to get Bobby Orr in return?

They have no Marko Danos left to trade. The farm is stripped. You can't deal Hossa, Kruger DOES have a NTC next year according to General Fanager (FWIW). And even if he didn't, there is almost no way they deal a guy after just signing a new deal with him.

I still maintain, unless they really luck out and unearth a d-man overseas, they will likely have to cut some salary somehow (either in a trade or a buyout) and possibly deal one of a small handful of NHL assets that have value to another team. That's where TT's name comes in.
- John Jaeckel

agree with all your points...but as I said TT "dump" helps you little with your cap...ya have to find some else to play for about the same $$...

salary cutting indeed...and the other GM, once again, are going under bid a deleveraged stanbow...

as we all know all of a sudden they have new (72) $4 mil LW next year and that price goes up after that...

Here's the roster of cap casualties, and I haven't included too many of the spare part players. Obviously, Kopecky and Stalberg are 4th liners, but still....

Note: The first salary (BH) is their contract with us. Then I give the team name and the next contract or contracts.

Forwards:
Saad (BH: .894167; CBJ: 6M)
Sharp (BH: 5.9M)
Bolland (BH: 3.375M; FLA: 5.5M)
Ladd (BH: 1.55M; ATL: 4.4M)
Versteeg (BH: 3.083M; FLA: 4.4M)
Frolik (BH: 2.333M; CGY: 4.3M)
Richards (BH: 2M; DET: 4M)
Brouwer (BH:1.025M; WSH: 2.35M; 3.666M)
Kopecky (BH: 1.2M; FLA: 3.3M)
Stalberg (BH: .875M; NSH: 3M)

Defense:
Byfuglien (BH: 3M; ATL/WPG: 5.2M, 7.8M)
Campbell (BH: 7.142857M)
Leddy (NYI: 5.5M)
Oduya (BH: 3.375M; DAL: 3.75M)

Goalies:
Niemi (BH: .826875; SJ: 3.8M; DAL: 4.5M)

Total on Next Contract after BH Contract: 68.5M
Total on Current Contracts: 73.2M

This is absolutely insane. Our past cap casualties, when put together onto one team, are over the salary cap on their current contracts. Granted, some of those contracts were terrible at the time they were handed out, but sheesh... We still need 3 more forwards, 3 more D, and a backup goaltender!!!!!

Heard Shaw has a reoccurring back injury that can limit him from time to time. No where near as bad as Bolland.

CC had a concussion and Blues targeted it numerous times.

81 had a grade 1 MCL sprain (2 week recovery but not really 100% until given longer time off, and reaggravated it when he went knee to knee before regular season ended)

Those 3 I heard about....Seabrook looked to either have bruised sternum or rib based on his breathing after being slammed into boards 2nd time in game 7

Based on Teuvos unwillingness to go to corners and missing a practice/skate have to assume shoulder area.

They had some dings, but they are always guarded about their injuries for whatever reason.

Kruger didn't sound 100% confident his wrist will ever feel right about. Explains him giving way to draws not on his dominant side.
- SteveRain

I believe when this settles down we will hear that Seabs was dealing with a significant injury for quite a while (not just a game 7 issue). For the whole playoffs, and back into the regular season, he almost completely stopped hitting anyone. Something shoulder or back or chest (ribs, etc). He was definitely playing in pain.

StanBo: Hey Jimmy its Stan Bowman. How would you like to play on a line with Toews and Kane AND be adored by millions of die-hard Hawks fanatics with 300+ consecutive sellout crowds and a chance to play for the Cup every year?

Vesey: Where do I sign!?
- EnzoD

^^^ EXACTLY!

I heard/interpreted Toews' quote as him believing they weren't even given a chance to develop chemistry or team morale because of the number of changes. To me, that says he wasn't happy with the rapidity with which decisions about players were made, number of call-ups/send-down back-and forth for some players, constant line changes instituted, etc. Can't imagine it's easy for the Captains to keep the players' spirits up and get the "all for one. . ." thing going when they are watching others get yanked around. Develops the opposite - self-interest/self-protection.

Quite possible I'm interpreting it that way because I have that opinion, but I do think Stan/Q can do something about that piece by not (unrealistically) expecting a new guy, whether new or veteran, to immediately fit into his "system" and/or the role they were given or be sent down again or sat in the press box. Risk is much lower early in RS to let things gel in this manner.
- pdx2ord

I don't think you're just interpreting it that way. I wish I could find the clips now but early in the season both Hossa and Toews made comments about how the revolving door at 1LW was making it impossible to develop any chemistry, and Toews said something to a similar effect on another occasion around the same time. Like you mentioned earlier, Toews is so cautious about PR, and even back then I thought he was voicing irritation with Q. Now I definitely think he is

Here's the roster of cap casualties, and I haven't included too many of the spare part players. Obviously, Kopecky and Stalberg are 4th liners, but still....

Note: The first salary (BH) is their contract with us. Then I give the team name and the next contract or contracts.

Forwards:
Saad (BH: .894167; CBJ: 6M)
Sharp (BH: 5.9M)
Bolland (BH: 3.375M; FLA: 5.5M)
Ladd (BH: 1.55M; ATL: 4.4M)
Versteeg (BH: 3.083M; FLA: 4.4M)
Frolik (BH: 2.333M; CGY: 4.3M)
Richards (BH: 2M; DET: 4M)
Brouwer (BH:1.025M; WSH: 2.35M; 3.666M)
Kopecky (BH: 1.2M; FLA: 3.3M)
Stalberg (BH: .875M; NSH: 3M)

Defense:
Byfuglien (BH: 3M; ATL/WPG: 5.2M, 7.8M)
Campbell (BH: 7.142857M)
Leddy (NYI: 5.5M)
Oduya (BH: 3.375M; DAL: 3.75M)

Goalies:
Niemi (BH: .826875; SJ: 3.8M; DAL: 4.5M)

Total on Next Contract after BH Contract: 68.5M
Total on Current Contracts: 73.2M

This is absolutely insane. Our past cap casualties, when put together onto one team, are over the salary cap on their current contracts. Granted, some of those contracts were terrible at the time they were handed out, but sheesh... We still need 3 more forwards, 3 more D, and a backup goaltender!!!!!
- DMChi2010

Interesting and realistically-- are ANY of those players considered as irreplaceable as the Hawks core 19-88-2-7-81 and the next 4-50-65 and now 72-15?

I still think there needs to be some type of cap exception for players that a team drafts / develops so that all the time and money put into developing a player (like Buff -Saad or now Shaw) allows a team to be rewarded for home grown talent development--

In this scenario hawks would likely still have some incredible homegrown players in Bufygulien and Saad --- how great would that look?

Most disturbing take away:

Center Marcus Kruger on his injured left wrist: "It might never be as good as it was."
#Blackhawks

I don't think you're just interpreting it that way. I wish I could find the clips now but early in the season both Hossa and Toews made comments about how the revolving door at 1LW was making it impossible to develop any chemistry, and Toews said something to a similar effect on another occasion around the same time. Like you mentioned earlier, Toews is so cautious about PR, and even back then I thought he was voicing irritation with Q. Now I definitely think he is
- maria_wyeth

I assume all the players will have a sit-down with Bowman, and I wonder if StanBo finds Q lost the room because of his shenanigans with the lineups.

Sure, there were a lot of new faces. But why can't every experiment with a lineup last 5-7 games. That's like, 2 weeks. If a particular line starts out all gangbusters, then you have a few games to wait for the regression to the mean. If they don't produce for a few games, give 'em a few more to see if it was just too small of a sample. If after 5 games there are still no goals... then try the next experiment. You don't throw Teuvo out there for 1.5 periods, then Dano, then Garbutt, then...

I assume all the players will have a sit-down with Bowman, and I wonder if StanBo finds Q lost the room because of his shenanigans with the lineups.

Sure, there were a lot of new faces. But why can't every experiment with a lineup last 5-7 games. That's like, 2 weeks. If a particular line starts out all gangbusters, then you have a few games to wait for the regression to the mean. If they don't produce for a few games, give 'em a few more to see if it was just too small of a sample. If after 5 games there are still no goals... then try the next experiment. You don't throw Teuvo out there for 1.5 periods, then Dano, then Garbutt, then...
- DMChi2010

The reason Quenneville cannot wait for this kind of thing is because the difference between making the playoffs and missing them is very slim in the Central division. The Hawks reeled off a 12-game win streak this year, and if not for that burst they would have been battling for their playoff lives. Now, I certainly think Quenneville has room for improvement in a few areas(including the one you mention here), but I'm just being the other side of the coin here.

Interesting and realistically-- are ANY of those players considered as irreplaceable as the Hawks core 19-88-2-7-81 and the next 4-50-65 and now 72-15?

I still think there needs to be some type of cap exception for players that a team drafts / develops so that all the time and money put into developing a player (like Buff -Saad or now Shaw) allows a team to be rewarded for home grown talent development--

In this scenario hawks would likely still have some incredible homegrown players in Bufygulien and Saad --- how great would that look?
- jb3333

Some guy commenting all over Mark Lazerus' twitter is saying we need to trade Panarin and Anisimov for hugging Tarasenko in the handshake line. Says they should have been devastated and crying and the fact that they weren't shows they don't care at all about losing

ETA: he's actually running around to comment that on all the beat writers' twitter accounts

I love that idea for adjusting the hard cap