TT looking pretty good against the Russians, much more aggressive then I've seen him in a while.

TT looking pretty good against the Russians, much more aggressive then I've seen him in a while.
- vabeachbear

After being scratched, has something to prove. Seems to be a pattern. Also probably trying to show they should have kept him over Panarin.

After being scratched, has something to prove. Seems to be a pattern. Also probably trying to show they should have kept him over Panarin.
- pdx2ord

He came oh so close to scoring in their last game. I think Lundqvist just got a stick on it and it went off the post.

He came oh so close to scoring in their last game. I think Lundqvist just got a stick on it and it went off the post.
- breadbag

Wasn't able to catch that or this one. Good to hear he's getting his mojo back. Maybe the move will be a positive one for him.

After being scratched, has something to prove. Seems to be a pattern. Also probably trying to show they should have kept him over Panarin.
- pdx2ord

Well, good luck with that, Teuvo.

TT looking pretty good against the Russians, much more aggressive then I've seen him in a while.
- vabeachbear

Wonder if he'll take the ice when Emelin is out there.

Wasn't able to catch that or this one. Good to hear he's getting his mojo back. Maybe the move will be a positive one for him.
- pdx2ord

https://www.nhl.com/video...es/t-277350912/c-44768303

I'm not expecting much out of the Hawks this year. IMO, the Preds and Stars are already ahead of the Hawks, if not also the Blues, with Minnesota at their heals, and the Jets and Avalanche on the rise.
- howiehandles

The Stars have bad goaltending and took 2 big losses on D. They are worse than last year. Nashville may be slightly better puck movers, but a little worse on shut down defense minus Weber. Avs aren't going anywhere. Jets are a couple years off. Minny isn't much different overall aside form one Eric Staal who may or may not be regressing. You can't say the Blues are the same or better than last year. I don't think we are in that much trouble.

Wonder if he'll take the ice when Emelin is out there.
- John Jaeckel

Haven't heard Emelin's name once, by the same token, not ever hearing Panarin's name either.

Russians look bad. They need to win to get in, they don't really seem to care. Neither do the Fins really.

Starting to think no one really cares except for Canada, and the NA novelty team.

Haven't heard Emelin's name once, by the same token, not ever hearing Panarin's name either.

Russians look bad. They need to win to get in, they don't really seem to care. Neither do the Fins really.

Starting to think no one really cares except for Canada, and the NA novelty team.
- vabeachbear

I'm not sure what games you are watching. The hockey has been great. The US arguably looks the most disinterested.

Haven't heard Emelin's name once, by the same token, not ever hearing Panarin's name either.

Russians look bad. They need to win to get in, they don't really seem to care. Neither do the Fins really.

Starting to think no one really cares except for Canada, and the NA novelty team.
- vabeachbear

Russia is one of those teams, like when they beat Team NA, they can look bad for 55 minutes, but in the 5 minutes they score 4 goals and beat you. They always seem to score in bunches, like again today, two quick goals and Finland is chasing.

Hossa playing with Tatar correct?
- vabeachbear

I alluded to it last week. Tatar-Kopitar-Hossa was their top line for two of the exhibition games I believe. Looks like it could potentially resemble something in Chicago

I'd trade some D guys for him. Probably not enough, but what do I know...

Yeah, that Toews guy apparently can still play a little.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, everyone knows he is overrated and is not a top line center on a lot of teams. Benefits strictly from his teammates and not his own contributions. 3 cups, WJC, Olympic gold medalist, Conn Smythe, Selke winner... Definitely not elite in this league. (Red font) (lots of red font)

Toews great tonight...waiting on that idiot Coyote's blog about denigrating him.
- kwolf68

That was the first thought i had too...but I am a snob, who still thin ks there are very few fan blog writers in expansion market teams that actually know a lot about what players are really players.

JJ, everyone knows he is overrated and is not a top line center on a lot of teams. Benefits strictly from his teammates and not his own contributions. 3 cups, WJC, Olympic gold medalist, Conn Smythe, Selke winner... Definitely not elite in this league.
- 93Joe

I'm not expecting much out of the Hawks this year. IMO, the Preds and Stars are already ahead of the Hawks, if not also the Blues, with Minnesota at their heals, and the Jets and Avalanche on the rise.

Stan has gotten a pass from a lot of people, but let's see what the popular opinion is on him once the shine of 3 Cups wears off.

He had a chance to move TT for Drouin, as reported on this site, and that would have been a no brainer. Drouin still has a way to go, but certainly showed more during last years playoffs than TT did, specifically in heart. Expecting Stan to pull a rabbit out of his hat is an exercise in futility. Even when he makes a decent deal, Q seems to play his guys, and once you're a dog, you stay in the press box. Stan is usually either too cautious, or gets abused in deals, (with the Barker and acquiring Oduya his best deals) and his best moves seem to have been made in the draft, where at least he's been smart enough to grab guys who've fallen in the draft to him, TT, Saad, and Debrincat.

It was a great several years, but my hopes are not high at all this year. The depth is worse than it's been since 2009, and they're an injury to a significant player, from being an out of the playoffs team. Outside of some significant surprises from the kids, and I don't believe most are ready to play significant minutes, and my expectations are of a season watching the playoffs from the outside.

I would have loved to have seen another GM, and what he could have done, even with the financial constraints post Cup 1. Maybe he's been hindered by too my cooks in the stew, and he's been nothing more than a puppet for his dad, whose reign as the Buffalo GM wasn't all that great either.
- howiehandles

A pass for what? Only winning 3 Cups in 7 years? Rebuilding and retooling on the fly for the 2nd and 3rd Cups?

And if he's too cautious and always gets abused when making deals, then how do you explain the rebuild(s)?

JJ, everyone knows he is overrated and is not a top line center on a lot of teams. Benefits strictly from his teammates and not his own contributions. 3 cups, WJC, Olympic gold medalist, Conn Smythe, Selke winner... Definitely not elite in this league. (Red font) (lots of red font)
- 93Joe

After being scratched, has something to prove. Seems to be a pattern. Also probably trying to show they should have kept him over Panarin.
- pdx2ord

I´m sure he doesn´t think like that at all. He was better because he played with better players and Finland found right role for him. Teräväinen has been good but his coming team mate in Carolina Sebastion Aho has been even better.

I'm not sure what games you are watching. The hockey has been great. The US arguably looks the most disinterested.
- JRoenick97

Was mainly talking about this game, and of course as soon as I typed it, Russians scored twice

That 27 on the Russian squad sure seems to have some tenacity and GREAT hands.

I´m sure he doesn´t think like that at all. He was better because he played with better players and Finland found right role for him. Teräväinen has been good but his coming team mate in Carolina Sebastion Aho has been even better.
- MjulQvist

Very cool on the umlauts

After being scratched, has something to prove. Seems to be a pattern. Also probably trying to show they should have kept him over Panarin.
- pdx2ord

If getting scratched is what it takes to motivate you, you are in the wrong line of work.

Well, so long Team NA.

That sound you hear is ESPN executives vomiting as they realize without USA or NA, there will be very few eyeballs on the elimination rounds south of the 49th Parallel.

Have you heard a rumor about Ribero from Nashville ( I think I missed an I)

Have you heard a rumor about Ribero from Nashville ( I think I missed an I)
- bjphawkfan

Only place I've seen that is on Eklund's blog.