Exactly how do you know how much time they spent on it? Even if they did, what else was going on? Hell look at the board for the last month..............................

So you think the other teams that didn't get him were embarrassed? I don't see a lot of posts of how embarrassed the Devils are, or the Pens, hey what about Nash and Buffalo, now there's embarrassed.

Don't see anything wrong with taking flyer on a guy they could get for cheap who might be an excellent player.

and Hudler is just a guy. Probably using the Hawks and a few other teams as leverage to get the most money he can. I get that they need more top line wingers, Hudler would help, but lets not make him into a savior either.
- vabeachbear

And doesn't he live in the Pacific northwest? Like in British Columbia? Vancouver makes sense geographically.

And doesn't he live in the Pacific northwest? Like in British Columbia? Vancouver makes sense geographically.
- MNHawk

Don't Seabrook and Keith live in BC?

Don't Seabrook and Keith live in BC?
- vabeachbear

Yeah, I think that's where all the talk started. They work out together or see each other in the gym all the time during the offseason. I can't remember all of the details.

The very best demonstration I've seen on how easily it is to make goalie equipment normal size, still protect the goalie and make the game so much better. I do however disagree with decreasing the stick length though. Scroll down to the second video. http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...t-delayed-2017-18-season/

We all have opinions and I respect that (maybe).

But I am getting a bug up my butt when I keep reading about "doing something about Marian Hossa."
I won't compare him to Jagr but his last two teams wished Jagr played at both ends and feet along with his deadly offensive prowess.

He seems to be a problem for some here.NOT ME.

Being one sick freak, I very recently watched the last two Blackhawk Stanley Cup marches in the Springtimes of 2015 & 2016.

Nowhere did I see any drop off,especially in his skating giddeee-up in Hossa.

There seems to be this agist attitude that he can't play, because he's old. I suggest you watch the example he brings with his intensity, commitment, and ability to continue to play a solid 200 foot game.

The hawks tried to pull a fast one on the league when they signed him and the league made sure the teams that set up contracts in the way his was, that there was less of an out as the player gets older and reaches a stage where he actually cannot play at a champions-level.
And a trade of Hossa hurts if he doesn't like the new surrounding and retires prematurely. The Blackhawks would suffer the CAP consequences not his new team.
BUT... with that said, and his cap hit remains the same, but his actually money drops to 4 million this season, and 1 million the remaining four years. The is how the team can pay out the the incentives if their other players reach them.
A lot can happen in five more seasons, but it hasn't happened yet in my humble opinion.
I just don't see anybody acquired in trades or brought in from the farm, applying the pressure to take his minutes / line position away. They have had plenty of prospects drafted who play RW.
So before you relegate his effectiveness, accept the fact so far no one has bested him.

Assuming nothing else changes, you can pretty much pencil in Desjardins, Panik, Rasmussen, Tootoo and Schmaltz. After that, there will be competition.
- John Jaeckel

Lundberg?

Jiří Hudler wants 2 million firm.


That is why there has been no movement.

Lundberg?
- Mr Ricochet

Yeah I think so!

And don't you think that both Schmaltz & Motte don't come in working their nads off to try and play there?

We all have opinions and I respect that (maybe).

But I am getting a bug up my butt when I keep reading about "doing something about Marian Hossa."
I won't compare him to Jagr but his last two teams wished Jagr played at both ends and feet along with his deadly offensive prowess.

He seems to be a problem for some here.NOT ME.

Being one sick freak, I very recently watched the last two Blackhawk Stanley Cup marches in the Springtimes of 2015 & 2016.

Nowhere did I see any drop off,especially in his skating giddeee-up in Hossa.

There seems to be this agist attitude that he can't play, because he's old. I suggest you watch the example he brings with his intensity, commitment, and ability to continue to play a solid 200 foot game.

The hawks tried to pull a fast one on the league when they signed him and the league made sure the teams that set up contracts in the way his was, that there was less of an out as the player gets older and reaches a stage where he actually cannot play at a champions-level.
And a trade of Hossa hurts if he doesn't like the new surrounding and retires prematurely. The Blackhawks would suffer the CAP consequences not his new team.
BUT... with that said, and his cap hit remains the same, but his actually money drops to 4 million this season, and 1 million the remaining four years. The is how the team can pay out the the incentives if their other players reach them.
A lot can happen in five more seasons, but it hasn't happened yet in my humble opinion.
I just don't see anybody acquired in trades or brought in from the farm, applying the pressure to take his minutes / line position away. They have had plenty of prospects drafted who play RW.
So before you relegate his effectiveness, accept the fact so far no one has bested him.
- wiz1901

Couldn't agree more, said 100 times, that last thing a Hawks fan needs to worry about is Marion freakin' Hossa.

Jiří Hudler wants 2 million firm.


That is why there has been no movement.
- wiz1901

We have the cap room for that dont we? On a side note, we could be looking at a 4th line of Lundberg, Moose and Tootoo. Not a bad physical/energy 4th line group. And maybe a 3rd line of Motte, Kruger and Schmaltz. Dunno... trying to stay positive with the cap crunch and available players.

I honestly don't thnk the Oilers are giving up on Yakupov yet.

If you deal TvR b/c you are losing him to Las Vegas, count on losing the return also....
- wiz1901

Plus Yakupov is a a RW, they should target Maroon who actually plays LW and would give them size in an otherwise very small top 6 with Hudler. He looked good playing on that Getzlaf Perry line.

Assuming nothing else changes, you can pretty much pencil in Desjardins, Panik, Rasmussen, Tootoo and Schmaltz. After that, there will be competition.
- John Jaeckel

With Kruger and Tootoots, I set the combined season goal total over/under at 8

We all have opinions and I respect that (maybe).

But I am getting a bug up my butt when I keep reading about "doing something about Marian Hossa."
I won't compare him to Jagr but his last two teams wished Jagr played at both ends and feet along with his deadly offensive prowess.

He seems to be a problem for some here.NOT ME.

Being one sick freak, I very recently watched the last two Blackhawk Stanley Cup marches in the Springtimes of 2015 & 2016.

Nowhere did I see any drop off,especially in his skating giddeee-up in Hossa.

There seems to be this agist attitude that he can't play, because he's old. I suggest you watch the example he brings with his intensity, commitment, and ability to continue to play a solid 200 foot game.

The hawks tried to pull a fast one on the league when they signed him and the league made sure the teams that set up contracts in the way his was, that there was less of an out as the player gets older and reaches a stage where he actually cannot play at a champions-level.
And a trade of Hossa hurts if he doesn't like the new surrounding and retires prematurely. The Blackhawks would suffer the CAP consequences not his new team.
BUT... with that said, and his cap hit remains the same, but his actually money drops to 4 million this season, and 1 million the remaining four years. The is how the team can pay out the the incentives if their other players reach them.
A lot can happen in five more seasons, but it hasn't happened yet in my humble opinion.
I just don't see anybody acquired in trades or brought in from the farm, applying the pressure to take his minutes / line position away. They have had plenty of prospects drafted who play RW.
So before you relegate his effectiveness, accept the fact so far no one has bested him.
- wiz1901

Agreed 100%. Hossa hasn't lost a step and plays as determined as ever. If the Hawks' biggest on ice problem this year is Hossa they will have a helluva year.

I think the conversation about Hossa revolves around where the money for Panarin will come from. There is no doubt Panarin can't be signed unless one of the core goes.

Panarin would be a core guy and the youngest of them. Hate to say Panarin is elite after only one season but he's trending that way and having the core get younger with him in it is very appealing.

But if the deck chairs can't be rearranged and Panarin has to go it's imparative StanBowPops&McD get full value for him. How good or not the Hawks are the next 5-6 years depends on either signing Panarin or getting full value for him.

Wiz, check out the link I posted a few up on the goalie equipment issue. Great video.

Yeah I think so!

And don't you think that both Schmaltz & Motte don't come in working their nads off to try and play there?
- wiz1901

If I had to bet a dollar today which of Schmaltz or Motte is more effective this coming year, just this one year, I think it will be Motte. He has the build and style to help more as an inexperienced NHL player.

North-south, low center of gravity and a style that isn't predicated on pure skill. Three years from now maybe a different story but this coming year IMO Motte, if he even makes the roster, will be more effective of the two.

With Kruger and Tootoots, I set the combined season goal total over/under at 8
- Sundevil

Bottom 6 has almost zero scoring punch and unless something changes with L1, we could see a repeat of the revolving door at L1-LW. Lots of pressure on the Kane line again. Its VERY obvious the team thinks there is a need at forward lest they wouldn't have gone for Vesey really hard. So I expect something to get done. It makes no sense to go from making a play for Vesey to the "oh (frank) it" lets go with these guys route. Although then again that wouldn't shock me in the least.

Agreed 100%. Hossa hasn't lost a step and plays as determined as ever. If the Hawks' biggest on ice problem this year is Hossa they will have a helluva year.

I think the conversation about Hossa revolves around where the money for Panarin will come from. There is no doubt Panarin can't be signed unless one of the core goes.

Panarin would be a core guy and the youngest of them. Hate to say Panarin is elite after only one season but he's trending that way and having the core get younger with him in it is very appealing.

But if the deck chairs can't be rearranged and Panarin has to go it's imparative StanBowPops&McD get full value for him. How good or not the Hawks are the next 5-6 years depends on either signing Panarin or getting full value for him.

Wiz, check out the link I posted a few up on the goalie equipment issue. Great video.
- Mr Ricochet

Well it doesn't come from Hossa, unless there is a career LTIR thing going on for reasons that have been documented a 1000 times here.

Realistically, if Panarin has another stellar year, you are looking at losing one of;

Panarin, Crawford, or Seabrook.

Which one will you pick?

Jiří Hudler wants 2 million firm.


That is why there has been no movement.
- wiz1901

He's worth every bit of 2 mil don't you think? Maybe it's term he's looking for? Still only 32 yrs old and points wise he's a career .6 per game guy who can skate top 6.

Well it doesn't come from Hossa, unless there is a career LTIR thing going on for reasons that have been documented a 1000 times here.

Realistically, if Panarin has another stellar year, you are looking at losing one of;

Panarin, Crawford, or Seabrook.

Which one will you pick?
- vabeachbear

Waaaaaay above my pay grade and critical thinking skills!!.... I will say this after the year I expect Seabs to have with the upgraded defense (no 3rd wheel rookie partner), a full summer of rest and hungry to atone for last year Hawk fans would be sad to see him go.

Chalk this up as another lackluster moment for Bowman. Not only did we over invest time in the Vesey sweeps and got embarrassed, we also will lose Hudler to a Canucks team no where near contending. Can't wait for this youth movement to lead us to another first round exit.
- falseprophet93

The Hawks because of the cap as well as several other teams we're trying to acquire what many believe to be a talented young player who would have been cost controlled for a couple of seasons. Unfortunately economics dictated this.

So I don't think they got embarrassed. Embarrassing would be resigning a crap dman like Rundblad while Johnny Oduya sat there hoping to come back (only to buy Runny out the following summer)...or getting taken to the woodshed moving Patrick Sharp...losing what amounted to three quality players and getting no cap relief. That cap relief along with a Bickell buyout might have allowed them to keep Saad who scored 30 last season for a bad Jackets team. The loss of Saad effectively crippled the first line last season. A player they were hoping Vesey would replace.

So if you want to be critical of Bowman there's plenty took at. But the Vesey attempt isn't it. It was a smart play. The kid just wanted to play with his buddy in the Garden.

Meanwhile Stan has improved the defense. And the goaltending remains top notch. Hudler would be a nice add at this point as several pointed out. The question then becomes if some of Stan's/FO's draft picks can play? Which I think we're all hopeful they can.

He's worth every bit of 2 mil don't you think? Maybe it's term he's looking for? Still only 32 yrs old and points wise he's a career .6 per game guy who can skate top 6.
- Mr Ricochet

Thanks for the link on Hudler's stats Mr. R. I feel same. The guy can certainly help the Hawks. The question must be term. Looking at the shot percentages wow...despite Cleary and Gaudreau.

Also completely agree with you and Wiz on Hossa who should be potting #500 very soon.

Could be wrong, probably am wrong, but wouldn't put it past them to stand pat, have a horse bleep season ,just to market that draft and get a top 5 or lotto pick next June!

Could be wrong, probably am wrong, but wouldn't put it past them to stand pat, have a horse bleep season ,just to market that draft and get a top 5 or lotto pick next June!
- wonthecup10

Well if they end going with a young lineup especially in the bottom 6 it could happen. The good news with that is the youngsters get all that experience. We may not be the juggernaut of years past, but this team is still dangerous and knows how to win. Alot depends on Q and how he adjusts the style of play with the roster he has. The added depth/skill on D should really help the 5 on 5 stats and the possession time.

#thinkpositivethoughts

Could be wrong, probably am wrong, but wouldn't put it past them to stand pat, have a horse bleep season ,just to market that draft and get a top 5 or lotto pick next June!
- wonthecup10

No way. They would have traded Crawford and/or other top players if they were looking to tank.

Could be wrong, probably am wrong, but wouldn't put it past them to stand pat, have a horse bleep season ,just to market that draft and get a top 5 or lotto pick next June!
- wonthecup10

They may do that - and go young - but at $2MM + per play-off home game, that would not be Rocky's/McDonough's first choice.

Or probably even be on the choice board at all.

They may do that - and go young - but at $2MM + per play-off home game, that would not be Rocky's/McDonough's first choice.

Or probably even be on the choice board at all.
- StLBravesFan

Eventually this will happen. All good things must come to an end. My hope is this core get 1 more Cup, within next 3 years I think is very possible. And then it will be time for a major rebuild.

Had you told me in 2008 ago the Hawks are going to win 3, let alone 4 Cups, within the next 10 years ago I'd have taken that without a thought. A fourth Cup gives the Hawks arguably the greatest team in post lockout era. The Penguins NOT THE KINGS could potentially break that up as they are just 1 Cup behind the Hawks in that same time and I think are a a better bet to win the Cup than the Hawks this coming year. Though in hockey you learn to not take bets.