The bigger question is will hossa want to keep playing for the million a year in salary
- Abadseed

It's not a matter of wanting...he has a contract.
If Hossa wants out for ealy retirement, the hawks get penalized b/c the league made sure all the loophole contracted players would not be any easy retire out - a penalty comes with early retirement.

I bet when the front loaded deal was set up, there was talk about if do feel like Hossa wanted out early, he could scout, ambassador, hockey staff or front office for about that million...but the league added the penalty status to ALL the teams that set up these very long term front loaded deals as a punishment ----in other words the league was saying, "YOU signed him to play this many years, so you must have felt he was going to an affected player...you didn't sign him to quit early (even though you did), so no reason, he should quit ealry and if he does YOUR TEAM plays the early departure punishment.

I just don't think his deal was ever meant as one where he ever got traded again..he had those nomad years in Cup finals and wanted stability.
He was sought after by mnay teams, and the Hawks through Scotty Bowman made sure he was a life time player UNLESS he really wanted to play elsewhere.

But if you got to ask,and Stan had to be truthfully as opposed to diplomatic, he would say the team was hoping that the original (with punished early retirement) deal was in place so that the minute Hossa reaches less usefulness he could slip away quietly like Huet and anyone that they were done feeling love for...

The pens had rookies, but they were all growing in the minors for some time. It's not like they popped right out of college or juniors and contributed.

Pretty good and realistic piece. I think the assessments were generally spot on, maybe a bit optimistic.
- John Jaeckel

Is it just me or does Pokka's review sound a bit like Hjalmarsson when he was coming up. I am by no means saying that Pokka will be as good, just that they are described similarly.

I was just talking about the Hockey News yearbook issue and where they predicted teams would finish in regards to Buffalo.
Well, they had Buffalo finishing sixth in the Atlantic, so I they didn’t look like a playoff contender except their beat writer’s evaluation had them on the cusp to the playoffs as every homer beat writer would.

Believe me, I take little stock in most predictions and this Hockey News Yearbook has always been great at being incorrect also.

But for anyone interested in where they placed the Central Division teams differently than that list was put up here before.
Dallas
Nashville
St. Louis
Blackhawks
Winnipeg
Minnesota
Colorado

I probably would put Nashville behind the Hawks in four.

Is it just me or does Pokka's review sound a bit like Hjalmarsson when he was coming up. I am by no means saying that Pokka will be as good, just that they are described similarly.
- Chunk

I hope Pokka is as good as that review. I remember a comment on here a few days ago saying the team is high on him. It seemed like the reviews last year were less optimistic but then he made his national team so maybe he has something.

I was just talking about the Hockey News yearbook issue and where they predicted teams would finish in regards to Buffalo.
Well, they had Buffalo finishing sixth in the Atlantic, so I they didn’t look like a playoff contender except their beat writer’s evaluation had them on the cusp to the playoffs as every homer beat writer would.

Believe me, I take little stock in most predictions and this Hockey News Yearbook has always been great at being incorrect also.

But for anyone interested in where they placed the Central Division teams differently than that list was put up here before.
Dallas
Nashville
St. Louis
Blackhawks
Winnipeg
Minnesota
Colorado

I probably would put Nashville behind the Hawks in four.
- wiz1901

St. Louis is going to blow this year. Book it .

Dallas is a year older and still weak on D.

I like the Hawks and Nashville to be 1 and 2 , even with the Hawks holes at foreard their D corps is very very very good and Crawford is the best goalie in the division. Hawks will win a ton of 2 to 1 games this year.

Now as far as the playoffs go , cant see the Hawks winning 4 series with this group of forwards. However they could win a series or 2 with their D and G alone.

Cant wait

Is it just me or does Pokka's review sound a bit like Hjalmarsson when he was coming up. I am by no means saying that Pokka will be as good, just that they are described similarly.
- Chunk

From the start, Hammer was always bigger and a better balance guy on his pins and in his turns.
Pokka time has nice offensive instincts and is good in many phases of his defensive game, but his feet may continue to need a bunch more impoving, in my humle opinion.
Just remember I am the guy who continue to go after each and ever of the new hawk blog experts that keep having Olsen as the heir apparant to Seabrook, before seeing he had trouble in his pivots too.

The pens had rookies, but they were all growing in the minors for some time. It's not like they popped right out of college or juniors and contributed.
- drummer829

Exactly...that is why you have a patient farm team, and hope when they finally get their chance on the big stage, they excel.

From the start, Hammer was always bigger and a better balance guy on his pins and in his turns.
Pokka time has nice offensive instincts and is good in many phases of his defensiev game, but his feet may continue to need a bunch more impoving, in my humle opinion.
Just remember I am the guy who continue to go after each and ever of the new hawk blog experts that keep having Olsen as the heir apparant to Seabrook, before seeing he had trouble in his pivots too.
- wiz1901

Hammer is taller than Pokka but thinner. Pokka is thick.

Trading Frosling TVR or Pokka for what, a player who will need to make less then 1.8 mil a year smells of complete desperation .And would be just plain silly . You can never have to many solid young D man . In this flat cap era the draft and college FA and Veteran FA is the way to go . Sure it would have been wonderful to get Vessy ,but it did not happen . It is insane to keep harping that the HAWKS have no prospect and can't possibly compete if they play some young and not so young players . Rasmussen is what he is a big tough 4th liner Lundberg who knows but they are both 26 years old not raw rookies .Hartman McNiel Carrick 22 to 24 years old and are prime prospects . Schmaltz Motte are young but have high end talent . Get ready to learn a few new names this season .And I for one will be happy to watch them mature into NHL players, with the mentoring of some of the finest player around ..GO HAWKS !!!!

Hammer is taller than Pokka but thinner. Pokka is thick.
- 6628

Oh, he's a fireplug, but Hammer is granite framed.

All good to trade TVR, Pokka and young D Men
However

keep in mind our top 6 less TVR are not getting any younger

Keith
Seabs
Rosi
Hammer
Campbell

Is it just me or does Pokka's review sound a bit like Hjalmarsson when he was coming up. I am by no means saying that Pokka will be as good, just that they are described similarly.
- Chunk

I didn't read the review but a few things...

Hammer was excellent for his age as soon as he hit the ice in Chicago and he didn't play a long time in Rockford. I was at a practice right after Hammer was brought up and you could see then he was here to stay. I asked Q about him after a practice and he smiled quite a bit while bragging how he was impressed.

If Polka was of that ability he would have been up last year.

I'm not going to sell Polka short but right now I don't see a comparison with Hammer.

All good to trade TVR, Pokka and young D Men
However

keep in mind our top 6 less TVR are not getting any younger

Keith
Seabs
Rosi
Hammer
Campbell
- Colbyboy

TVR is not and likely never will be a Top 4 defender. And the Hawks are gonna have a rebuild at some point. Only a complete fool would shy away from going after a 4th Cup to hold on to the likes of TVR, Svedberg, Pokka or Forsling.

I didn't read the review but a few things...

Hammer was excellent for his age as soon as he hit the ice in Chicago and he didn't play a long time in Rockford. I was at a practice right after Hammer was brought up and you could see then he was here to stay. I asked Q about him after a practice and he smiled quite a bit while bragging how he was impressed.

If Polka was of that ability he would have been up last year.

I'm not going to sell Polka short but right now I don't see a comparison with Hammer.
- Al

Amen.

I didn't read the review but a few things...

Hammer was excellent for his age as soon as he hit the ice in Chicago and he didn't play a long time in Rockford. I was at a practice right after Hammer was brought up and you could see then he was here to stay. I asked Q about him after a practice and he smiled quite a bit while bragging how he was impressed.

If Polka was of that ability he would have been up last year.

I'm not going to sell Polka short but right now I don't see a comparison with Hammer.
- Al

Amen.

It seems those who were hoping for Hudler to the Hawks are going to be disappointed.

@Sonny_Sachdeva
Just spoke with Petr Svoboda, Jiri Hudler has signed with the Dallas Stars.
#Stars #NHL #FreeAgency #HudlerWatch

Per Svoboda, Hudler's deal with #Stars is for one year, $2 million.
#HudlerWatch #NHL #FreeAgency

Trading Frosling TVR or Pokka for what, a player who will need to make less then 1.8 mil a year smells of complete desperation .And would be just plain silly . You can never have to many solid young D man . In this flat cap era the draft and college FA and Veteran FA is the way to go . Sure it would have been wonderful to get Vessy ,but it did not happen . It is insane to keep harping that the HAWKS have no prospect and can't possibly compete if they play some young and not so young players . Rasmussen is what he is a big tough 4th liner Lundberg who knows but they are both 26 years old not raw rookies .Hartman McNiel Carrick 22 to 24 years old and are prime prospects . Schmaltz Motte are young but have high end talent . Get ready to learn a few new names this season .And I for one will be happy to watch them mature into NHL players, with the mentoring of some of the finest player around ..GO HAWKS !!!!
- oldduffman

Desperation to win, or desperation to believe the prospects are a lot better than what they are? I'll take Door #1 Monty.

It seems those who were hoping for Hudler to the Hawks are going to be disappointed.

@Sonny_Sachdeva
Just spoke with Petr Svoboda, Jiri Hudler has signed with the Dallas Stars.
#Stars #NHL #FreeAgency #HudlerWatch

Per Svoboda, Hudler's deal with #Stars is for one year, $2 million.
#HudlerWatch #NHL #FreeAgency
- L_B_R

We've got Hinostroza!! Onward to Moscow!!!!!

It seems those who were hoping for Hudler to the Hawks are going to be disappointed.

@Sonny_Sachdeva
Just spoke with Petr Svoboda, Jiri Hudler has signed with the Dallas Stars.
#Stars #NHL #FreeAgency #HudlerWatch

Per Svoboda, Hudler's deal with #Stars is for one year, $2 million.
#HudlerWatch #NHL #FreeAgency
- L_B_R

I just retweeted but I have never heard of the reporter.

I just retweeted but I have never heard of the reporter.
- Al

I haven't either, but Carolyn Wilke ( on twitter) is who I saw retweet it and she's good with reporting. They're both of Today's Slapshot.

It seems those who were hoping for Hudler to the Hawks are going to be disappointed.

@Sonny_Sachdeva
Just spoke with Petr Svoboda, Jiri Hudler has signed with the Dallas Stars.
#Stars #NHL #FreeAgency #HudlerWatch

Per Svoboda, Hudler's deal with #Stars is for one year, $2 million.
#HudlerWatch #NHL #FreeAgency
- L_B_R

that seems like it could have been affordable for the Blackhawks. oh well. next option?

that seems like it could have been affordable for the Blackhawks. oh well. next option?
- matt_ahrens

Pirri!!!!

I haven't either, but Carolyn Wilke ( on twitter) is who I saw retweet it and she's good with reporting. They're both of Today's Slapshot.
- L_B_R

Could be...But I had to put in a disclaimer.

Amen.
- John Jaeckel

I agree, and I'm not saying the two compare now (or even at this stage of development). I was just looking at some old reports on Hammer and they sounded similar to Pokka, although hammer was known to be a bit more physical.