Brian Sandalow ‏@BrianSandalow 19s19 seconds ago
Crosby named captain of Team Canada, Toews and Shea Weber alternates.
- DarthKane

Did Sid ask Toews if it was okay this time?

Brian Sandalow ‏@BrianSandalow 19s19 seconds ago
Crosby named captain of Team Canada, Toews and Shea Weber alternates.
- DarthKane

just the way it should be

I find it interesting that everyone is talking about the North American based players but nothing has really come up about Lundberg. If he has some decent size and can skate good maybe there is something to him filling a lower line role?

Anyway. I was still under the impression that Hammer had a significant shoulder injury and Toews carried something most of the year.

That front office may know a bit more than we do about the guys they have and juggling some combination of Kane and Panarin across the lines I think adds some balance options. 30 points out of Kooga will be key as well.

Anyway, they won't be worse than the Sharks or Nashville and they should be faster this year as well. I think the Blues are worse off and the Ducks LOL. I think it will be a fun year for the Hawks as long as nothing crazy happens injury wise.

I'd like to see some kind of metric showing how well/poorly TDL moves have done over the years - both in terms of how well the buyer did in that year's tournament, compared to the cost.

I think the consensus said the Hawks won the TDL championship of 2016 - at a very high cost - and how did that work out come June? Uhhh - May - ok, end of April?

You can't count on a TDL deal or two to get you over the hump, and going into a season saying that you can, I think, is folly.

Put your team together in Octobrr, make a November move if a good one is available (better chance to strengthen your team then, I think, instead of the end of February), and go.
- StLBravesFan

I've found its the little moves that often pay the biggest differences. The big rentals often don't see to work out.

I think people take for granted how good those Hawks teams were. Rolling 4 lines is a luxury for a coach. A lot of people who say this now are the same people complaining about seeing Mash, Tootoo, Rasmussen, and friends on the ice.
- Antz96

Ok, fair enough. Respectfully, before you start throwing out conclusions without any sort of data, and for the record, I never said anything bad about Tootoo, Ras, and co. in the past. I was vocal about Mashinter in the past because he offered very little to the team in the playoffs. Especially when a guy like Weise is being scratched. Also, there are growing pains a coach us to live with it, adapt to, and teach, so not really a luxury, just something they implement.

Just wow.....
- southernhawk

Agreed, the kid has played one game in the NHL, ONE GAME
and the armchair GMs on this board have already decided he's going to fail. He may, but then again he may not. He was one of the highest scoring forward on the Hogs last year. The pessimism is unreal from some of you guys!!! Do you even watch Icehogs games? Before anyone asks...yes I do, as much as possible. All I'm saying is give him the benefit of the doubt.

Agreed, the kid has played one game in the NHL, ONE GAME
and the armchair GMs on this board have already decided he's going to fail. He may, but then again he may not. He was one of the highest scoring forward on the Hogs last year. The pessimism is unreal from some of you guys!!! Do you even watch Icehogs games? Before anyone asks...yes I do, as much as possible. All I'm saying is give him the benefit of the doubt.
- Murph76

I didn't see anything glaringly wrong with McNeil in his one game. Just a rookie who could use a few games seasoning before I make any judgement.

Agreed, the kid has played one game in the NHL, ONE GAME
and the armchair GMs on this board have already decided he's going to fail.
He was the 2nd highest scoring forward on the Hogs
last year. The pessimism is unreal from some of you
guys!!! Do you even watch Icehogs games?
- Murph76

It's a mentality about the minor leagues - if he doesn't play in the NHL he can't be all that good.

Most NHL fans don't know how tough a league the AHL is. And more importantly, how many NHL players actually have played in that league before graduating to the NHL. It is a high percentage. Not everybody is ready at 18 or even 21. And good General Managers want most of their young guys to gain experience down there.

Maybe I am the only one, but I think MM I going to make the Hawks this year and prove to be a bargain at his salary.

It's a mentality about the minor leagues - if he doesn't play in the NHL he can't be all that good.

Most NHL fans don't know how tough a league the AHL is. And more importantly, how many NHL players actually have played in that league before graduating to the NHL. It is a high percentage. Not everybody is ready at 18 or even 21. And good General Managers want most of their young guys to gain experience down there.

Maybe I am the only one, but I think MM I going to make the Hawks this year and prove to be a bargain at his salary.
- RickJ

Agreed on all of the above Rick, and I'm with you...I think (and hope) MM is going to realize that this is his "make or break" year and prove to be a valuable asset.

They did, to the tune of a Cup..
- Antz96

Splitting hairs, but he wasn't there for a SEASON.

No need to rip the guy's head off for being right, and you know what he meant. For whatever Daley didn't work out here, but you can't say he didn't look great playing for the Pens.
- Antz96

And I am telling you, as I told him, let's see how his entire full year as a Penquin defender turns out, ok?

And there were lots of contitributors to the Penquins turnaround. Not one, Daley.

I saw them against the Lightning live, and Daley was basically terrible but the Penquins speed bailed them out for a win.
I again saw Daley on the ice blowing plays that allowed crucial opposite gaols.

I am looking forward to seeing Daley as a Penquin, continuing to "play great."

They did, to the tune of a Cup..
- Antz96

Splitting hairs, but he wasn't there for a SEASON.

No need to rip the guy's head off for being right, and you know what he meant. For whatever Daley didn't work out here, but you can't say he didn't look great playing for the Pens.
- Antz96

And I am telling you, as I told him, let's see how his entire full year as a Penquin defender turns out, ok?

And there were lots of contitributors to the Penquins turnaround. Not one, Daley.

I saw them against the Lightning live, and Daley was basically terrible but the Penquins speed bailed them out for a win.
I again saw Daley on the ice blowing plays that allowed crucial opposite gaols.

I am looking forward to seeing Daley as a Penquin, continuing to "play great."

Mr. Crabbypants will always rip the lurkers you come here and "lecture."
I am the lecturer here.

JJ, no doubt Kruger can play better and needs to bounce back. Hossa's top linemates that year

Brunette - Kane - Hossa 11.64%
or
Sharp - Kane - Hossa 6.41 %
and
Stalberg - Toews - Hossa 5.57%
and
Sharp - Kruger - Hossa 5.46%
and
Carcillo - Kane - Hossa 4.36%
and
Brunette - Kruger - Hossa 3%
and
Shaw - Kruger - Hossa 2.94%

This was the year Kane spent a lot of time at 2C and the Hawks experimented a lot at that position with....

Sharp
Kruger
Morrison

Hossa and Kruger did get some time together, but Hossa played a lot with Kane, Sharp, and some with Brunette, Toews and Bolland. Kruger got a ton of time with Patrick Sharp.

Kruger has his role on the team now and I don't see much sense in trying to force him into a 2C role. Who will take the D zone draws? A rookie with little experience? AA who struggled at the dot?

Even going back to 2011-2012 with Kruger getting chances with good wingers, he still only managed 26 points. If he slides into 2C this season he gets what? 30 or 35 points? I really like Kruger, since his first game with the Hawks he was so good defensively and chasing down the puck, but he doesn't have 2C or even 3C offensive ability. Even in his best season, he didn't reach 30 points.

Kruger is a great guy to have, but he is what he is. He is not a 2C or 3C on a playoff team. He doesn't have the offense (never has) and the Hawks don't have anyone else to take his defensive role.
- breadbag

McNeill? Good in the dot, and pretty good defensively. Just saying, if he makes it, he HAS those attributes and it gives Q some flexibility.

I didn't see anything glaringly wrong with McNeil in his one game. Just a rookie who could use a few games seasoning before I make any judgement.
- JRoenick97

You can't (and shouldn't) judge anyone on their first NHL game. I have no idea how well McNeill will do in camp and if/when he makes the team. But he is somewhat tested and known, based on 2+ productive seasons in the AHL, where he also does some things that don't make the scoresheet.

McNeill? Good in the dot, and pretty good defensively. Just saying, if he makes it, he HAS those attributes and it gives Q some flexibility.
- John Jaeckel

McNeill is a solid physical body player, who will make contact no matter where you play him.

I think there are going to need a wall presence guy like McNeill, with Hossa Toews.
Even if it someone else they will have to work and skill up with them.
(Kruger)

I find it interesting that everyone is talking about the North American based players but nothing has really come up about Lundberg. If he has some decent size and can skate good maybe there is something to him filling a lower line role?

Anyway. I was still under the impression that Hammer had a significant shoulder injury and Toews carried something most of the year.

That front office may know a bit more than we do about the guys they have and juggling some combination of Kane and Panarin across the lines I think adds some balance options. 30 points out of Kooga will be key as well.

Anyway, they won't be worse than the Sharks or Nashville and they should be faster this year as well. I think the Blues are worse off and the Ducks LOL. I think it will be a fun year for the Hawks as long as nothing crazy happens injury wise.
- fattybeef

Great post as usual.

My info. is they see Lundberg making the team and contributing. What I hear is the guy is just tough and nasty to play against. Physically strong. We'll see because that's a scouting based on the context of the SEL and not the NHL.

But, because you are essentially swapping TVR out for Campbell and Kempny reduces the minutes of Rozy and likely eliminates those of Svedberg, the team should definitely be faster on the back-enbd, coming out of the zone, more good options for getting the puck up the ice. All good.

The other thing I see emerging is this. yes, they lost Shaw, but they have potentially added a lot of "miscreants":

Tootoo
Lundberg
Hartman
Add Panik in because he can deliver some big hits and agitate a bit
Even Campbell will occasionally light someone up, moreso than TVR anyway

I can actually see the lower lines being a bit nastier and tougher to play against than in some time.

McNeill is a solid physical body player, who will make contact no matter where you play him.

I think there are going to need a wall presence guy like McNeill, with Hossa Toews.
Even if it someone else they will have to work and skill up with them.
(Kruger)
- wiz1901

I can def see them trying McNeill there, only thing is most of his wing play, if not all, has been on the right.

It is 100% relevant.

So you are arguing that Shaw had NHL level skill that nobody saw in which he got passed over in the draft once and a few more rounds in the next draft, but it busted out down the line?
- hawkeytalkman

I'm not too familiar with Shaw pre draft, but it is evident he has NHL skill. He also split his first season between the Hawks and Hogs. So I would say yes, he had NHL skill that was overlooked.

Who says that Hartman cant show flashes of NHL skill down the line as well? Its naive to assume that Shaw could develop down the line into a real solid NHLer but Hartman can only regress from his 1st round pick status

I'm sure Hartman already shows flashes, but the Hawks need consistency to crack a cup contending roster. Shaw is already a solid NHLer, and I don't know where your last sentence came from. What I said was that your draft pick only matter in terms of your salary, you still have to bring it.

Ok, fair enough. Respectfully, before you start throwing out conclusions without any sort of data, and for the record, I never said anything bad about Tootoo, Ras, and co. in the past. I was vocal about Mashinter in the past because he offered very little to the team in the playoffs. Especially when a guy like Weise is being scratched. Also, there are growing pains a coach us to live with it, adapt to, and teach, so not really a luxury, just something they implement.
- 93Joe

My bad, I didn't mean that directed at you. I just meant it in general. I agreed with sitting Mash in favor of better alternatives. Not that I thought he was a detriment, but like you said he didn't bring much. We might not have better alternatives this year.

Splitting hairs, but he wasn't there for a SEASON.
- wiz1901

If I was a Pens fan and they cut Daley tomorrow and carry the hit, I wouldn't care. It's similar to how a lot of us felt about Kimmo.

And I am telling you, as I told him, let's see how his entire full year as a Penquin defender turns out, ok?

And there were lots of contitributors to the Penquins turnaround. Not one, Daley.

I saw them against the Lightning live, and Daley was basically terrible but the Penquins speed bailed them out for a win.
I again saw Daley on the ice blowing plays that allowed crucial opposite gaols.

I am looking forward to seeing Daley as a Penquin, continuing to "play great."

Mr. Crabbypants will always rip the lurkers you come here and "lecture."

- wiz1901I am the lecturer here.

It takes a lot of contributors to win the Cup. I never said it was just Daley. He scored 22 pts in 52 regular season games, and another 6 in 15 playoff matches. He created a lot of offense. They weren't looking for a franchise cornerstone, they upgraded from Scuderi, and in the end they accomplished their goal. I'd say if he could contribute this year that would be gravy for them.

theScore ‏@theScore 1m1 minute ago
Jared Bednar will reportedly be named new coach of the Avalanche. http://thesco.re/2bJ8mtK

Elliotte FriedmanVerified account
‏@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing NYR to sign Brandon Pirri. One year approx $1.1M

theScore ‏@theScore 1m1 minute ago
Jared Bednar will reportedly be named new coach of the Avalanche. http://thesco.re/2bJ8mtK
- DarthKane

Cool. Glad to see Dineen staying put.

Elliotte FriedmanVerified account
‏@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing NYR to sign Brandon Pirri. One year approx $1.1M
- DarthKane

The Rangers are really loading up.

Cool. Glad to see Dineen staying put.
- JRoenick97

Agreed. I thought he was a goner for sure.

The Rangers are really loading up.
- 67hawks

Their team is confusing. I honestly have no idea how they will do.

Bold move trading Brassard for Zibanejad. We'll see how that pans out.