I'm with you.....I'll take their standing but their are some glaring warts on this team that make me concerned come spring time. These are NOT nit picking.

Not only the Fs, but the D men try to front the play and either screen Crawford or fail to block the shot. Their PK system is just bad.
- SteveRain

What kind of system do they run? I've always been a fan of the Czech Press.

Loved seeing Roenick out there pregame. To me you retire 28, 27 in that order. Could care less about 7, and I'd retire 30 before 7. Roenick to me could play in any generation and put up similar numbers. A guy who bled Hawks while playing for a moronic owner....last night was another step in making things right, but if they are going to retire Magnusson who is NOT a hall of famer then you retire 28 and 27 as well.
- SteveRain

That was cool. Loved the montage clip for him. Definitely a dumb move by the owner letting him walk for what...a couple hundred thousand...500k a year?

I don't remember but letting Roenick walk was the first move of several that ushered the Dark Ages into the UC.

I don't think he was ever quite the same after Hatcher went knee to knee on him but he was definitely one of my all time fave Hawks.

Anyone notice on Van's 2nd goal, the new tactic that is being used? Seabs was tripped/interfered with by the guy who was lying on the ice. When are the refs going to wake up and start calling this?
- powerenforcer

So you mean Seabrook trips Baert and then falls over him and you want the call against the Canucks??

As if this is a common "tactic" for scoring??

That was cool. Loved the montage clip for him. Definitely a dumb move by the owner letting him walk for what...a couple hundred thousand...500k a year?

I don't remember but letting Roenick walk was the first move of several that ushered the Dark Ages into the UC.

I don't think he was ever quite the same after Hatcher went knee to knee on him but he was definitely one of my all time fave Hawks.
- HawkintheD

I remember when we got rid of Roenick for Alexei Zhamnov. I was crushed. Roenick was my first favorite player. I still own a Coyotes Roenick practice jersey (didn't want to get the real thing).

(frank) Derian Hatcher in his stupid (frank)ing face. The knee to Knee and flying double elbow are garbage plays. I hate that guy.

So you mean Seabrook trips Baert and then falls over him and you want the call against the Canucks??

As if this is a common "tactic" for scoring??
- Brooks_Light

Yes. Youtube it. I'm sure there's a video montage of this common questionable scoring tactic

So you mean Seabrook trips Baert and then falls over him and you want the call against the Canucks??

As if this is a common "tactic" for scoring??
- Brooks_Light

That's funny. Not agreeing that this is a tactic, but Seabrook did not trip anyone. Baertchi tried to jump behind Seabs on the move to dangle around him and thy clipped skates. It was a nothing play.

http://streamable.com/n4ty5

So you mean Seabrook trips Baert and then falls over him and you want the call against the Canucks??

As if this is a common "tactic" for scoring??
- Brooks_Light

LOL...Powerenforcer is ... don't argue with him about penalties and how it impacts the Blackhawks....

That was cool. Loved the montage clip for him. Definitely a dumb move by the owner letting him walk for what...a couple hundred thousand...500k a year?

I don't remember but letting Roenick walk was the first move of several that ushered the Dark Ages into the UC.

I don't think he was ever quite the same after Hatcher went knee to knee on him but he was definitely one of my all time fave Hawks.
- HawkintheD

I have a buddy who wrote Hatcher a letter after that happened, and Mrs. hatcher replied. If I can get a copy I'll post it here. It was classic.

Agree though #2 and his knee to knee was pure bush league. Roenick for Zhamnov and Ty Mills was awful.

LOL...Powerenforcer is ... don't argue with him about penalties and how it impacts the Blackhawks....


- kwolf68

LOL!! The matching hat for the cat is priceless!!

That's funny. Not agreeing that this is a tactic, but Seabrook did not trip anyone. Baertchi tried to jump behind Seabs on the move to dangle around him and thy clipped skates. It was a nothing play.

http://streamable.com/n4ty5
- JRoenick97

Watch the play again. Baertchi does not have the puck when he slides into Seabs. Now isn't it interference when an offensive player runs into a defender to make space for the puck carrier? It wasn't the initial contact that forces Seabs to the ice.
And the tactic is not just for scoring goals. Watch the games closely,anytime now a player is out of position falling to the ice is a play many players will use to "interfere" with the opposition.

Watch the play again. Baertchi does not have the puck when he slides into Seabs. Now isn't it interference when an offensive player runs into a defender to make space for the puck carrier? It wasn't the initial contact that forces Seabs to the ice.
And the tactic is not just for scoring goals. Watch the games closely,anytime now a player is out of position falling to the ice is a play many players will use to "interfere" with the opposition.
- powerenforcer

I wasn't saying Baertchi didn't give him a little push on the skates, i was saying Seabs didn't trip him. I think you need to be replying to the other guy. You are going to have a hard time saying it was interference when it was Seabrooks skate that caused Baertchi to fall.

LOL!! The matching hat for the cat is priceless!!
- Marlowe

LOL I know.

I have a buddy who wrote Hatcher a letter after that happened, and Mrs. hatcher replied. If I can get a copy I'll post it here. It was classic.

Agree though #2 and his knee to knee was pure bush league. Roenick for Zhamnov and Ty Mills was awful.
- SteveRain

Didn't help that Dollar Bill didn't want to pay anyone either..

Loved seeing Roenick out there pregame. To me you retire 28, 27 in that order. Could care less about 7, and I'd retire 30 before 7. Roenick to me could play in any generation and put up similar numbers. A guy who bled Hawks while playing for a moronic owner....last night was another step in making things right, but if they are going to retire Magnusson who is NOT a hall of famer then you retire 28 and 27 as well.

Again, faceoff stats tell me Toews back is still jacked up. until proven otherwise, I'm not buying the lip service hawks are delivering AND if it is...then Toews should skip the all star game and rest up. Tons of miles on his body with the Hawks, team Canada over the past few years.

Game wise....ugh. Nothing flashy. Hawks blew a 2 goal lead, got a lucky end bounce and pulled out a squeaker over a bad Vancouver team. The bounces come and go, but overall not their best and they continue to be up/down throughout each game. Not a ton of consistency.

Kempny again was off, and was chained to the bench Nick Leddy style.
Kero being out in the final minute with 19/81 shows how much trust he has gained from Q. Curious to see who is going down or making room when 16 comes back.

2 more winnable games before the Disney on ice 6 game jettison out west.

Skated on the UC ice a few times, and I'll take my mens league ice at Canlan in Romeoville ALL DAY over that debacle. No wonder guys take falls out there all day with all the rivets and for as much as a control freak McEgo is you would think he would find out what number it would take to lure the guy out of Edmonton south.....
- SteveRain

UC like all big multi use arenas is tough for Ice, and the Hawks have brought in a bunch of experts to look at it. Just the fact that there are the Bulls and Concerts/other events makes it tough on the ice, the single use buildings in the NHL are typically the better ice. Can't wait to see what Vegas brings. Crawford came out and said something to the effect that while the UC ice used to be horrible, it is now in the upper portion of the league. In terms of "Edmonton south", the ice in Romeoville has not always been too great. When it first opened they had all types of issues with the water, which caused the ice quality to be horrible. I addition, the rink to the far left (not sure what its called now) was furthest from the compressor and was very soft, while the one to the far right was super hard (being closest to the compressor) and chipped a lot more.

Didn't help that Dollar Bill didn't want to pay anyone either..
- 93Joe

Agreed but once Savard was traded for Chelios if you look up in the rafters there is a gap missing for fans for that time period. Roenick is arguably the best American born player ever.....Modano, Hull, etc but Roenick is in that discussion.

Again as the Hulls, Mikitas, and Tony Os get older, Hawks would be wise to jump on the Larmer, Roenick retirements soon.

Roenick wasn't 100% innocent when he left here, but seeing how much it meant when the Hawks beat the Flyers you could see he always aligns himself as a Hawk.

Agreed but once Savard was traded for Chelios if you look up in the rafters there is a gap missing for fans for that time period. Roenick is arguably the best American born player ever.....Modano, Hull, etc but Roenick is in that discussion.

Again as the Hulls, Mikitas, and Tony Os get older, Hawks would be wise to jump on the Larmer, Roenick retirements soon.

Roenick wasn't 100% innocent when he left here, but seeing how much it meant when the Hawks beat the Flyers you could see he always aligns himself as a Hawk.
- SteveRain

Doug Wilson was also a great Hawk for 15 years. Nothing like watching him wind up with that slap shot from the blueline. I know his SJ invlovement makes it tough to do it now, but he is more than deserving.

UC like all big multi use arenas is tough for Ice, and the Hawks have brought in a bunch of experts to look at it. Just the fact that there are the Bulls and Concerts/other events makes it tough on the ice, the single use buildings in the NHL are typically the better ice. Can't wait to see what Vegas brings. Crawford came out and said something to the effect that while the UC ice used to be horrible, it is now in the upper portion of the league. In terms of "Edmonton south", the ice in Romeoville has not always been too great. When it first opened they had all types of issues with the water, which caused the ice quality to be horrible. I addition, the rink to the far left (not sure what its called now) was furthest from the compressor and was very soft, while the one to the far right was super hard (being closest to the compressor) and chipped a lot more.
- TheTrob

Rink 1 is to the far left and that's been very good as of late. Rink 2 is their main rink where the Bulldogs, highschool games are played, college games, etc and that's their marque rink. Rink 3 is the one to the far right and they just redid the ice their last summer and it seems to be a lot better.

if you watch on TV, the bottom face dot on the west end is a disaster. There was ruts in there a lot, and not sure if they fixed it but usually you see a lot of guys "bite it" right there and closer to the blue line going back towards the east end.

Seven Bridges is horrible. Played a state tourney there last spring and was disappointed. Center Ice in Glen Ellyn used to be the best not sure how it has held up over time.

Rink 1 is to the far left and that's been very good as of late. Rink 2 is their main rink where the Bulldogs, highschool games are played, college games, etc and that's their marque rink. Rink 3 is the one to the far right and they just redid the ice their last summer and it seems to be a lot better.

if you watch on TV, the bottom face dot on the west end is a disaster. There was ruts in there a lot, and not sure if they fixed it but usually you see a lot of guys "bite it" right there and closer to the blue line going back towards the east end.

Seven Bridges is horrible. Played a state tourney there last spring and was disappointed. Center Ice in Glen Ellyn used to be the best not sure how it has held up over time.
- SteveRain

Best ice in the area used to be at Franklin Park, haven't skated there in a while though. 7-bridges ice hasn't been good for 10+ years, Addison has been bad, All seasons is hit or miss, Center ice is still pretty good. Too many rinks working on thin margins and they cut the maint staff thinking that anyone can drive the Zamboni, while there is a lot more to good ice than just the Zam.

Loved seeing Roenick out there pregame. To me you retire 28, 27 in that order. Could care less about 7, and I'd retire 30 before 7. Roenick to me could play in any generation and put up similar numbers. A guy who bled Hawks while playing for a moronic owner....last night was another step in making things right, but if they are going to retire Magnusson who is NOT a hall of famer then you retire 28 and 27 as well.

Again, faceoff stats tell me Toews back is still jacked up. until proven otherwise, I'm not buying the lip service hawks are delivering AND if it is...then Toews should skip the all star game and rest up. Tons of miles on his body with the Hawks, team Canada over the past few years.

Game wise....ugh. Nothing flashy. Hawks blew a 2 goal lead, got a lucky end bounce and pulled out a squeaker over a bad Vancouver team. The bounces come and go, but overall not their best and they continue to be up/down throughout each game. Not a ton of consistency.

Kempny again was off, and was chained to the bench Nick Leddy style.
Kero being out in the final minute with 19/81 shows how much trust he has gained from Q. Curious to see who is going down or making room when 16 comes back.

2 more winnable games before the Disney on ice 6 game jettison out west.

Skated on the UC ice a few times, and I'll take my mens league ice at Canlan in Romeoville ALL DAY over that debacle. No wonder guys take falls out there all day with all the rivets and for as much as a control freak McEgo is you would think he would find out what number it would take to lure the guy out of Edmonton south.....
- SteveRain

Interesting discussion on NHL Radio this morning. Behind the scenes in the NHL there are a lot of discussions about ice quality and disagreements between players, coaches and GM's on one side and Owners and team Presidents on the other.

The hockeys ops side want better ice and know one of the ways to improve it is to turn down the temperature in the arenas during the games. Owners and Presidents want the fans to be comfortable so they can sit in the stands without a coat or hat on which also means they will guzzle more beer and eat - can't do that when overdressed. As you know, the quality of the game isn't foremost, its the fan experience at today's ticket prices.

Interesting discussion on NHL Radio this morning. Behind the scenes in the NHL there are a lot of discussions about ice quality and disagreements between players, coaches and GM's on one side and Owners and team Presidents on the other.

The hockeys ops side want better ice and know one of the ways to improve it is to turn down the temperature in the arenas during the games. Owners and Presidents want the fans to be comfortable so they can sit in the stands without a coat or hat on which also means they will guzzle more beer and eat - can't do that when overdressed. As you know, the quality of the game isn't foremost, its the fan experience at today's ticket prices.
- RickJ

Commish NEEDS to get a major TV deal signed so that the owners still make money even if the arenas aren't filled.

Interesting discussion on NHL Radio this morning. Behind the scenes in the NHL there are a lot of discussions about ice quality and disagreements between players, coaches and GM's on one side and Owners and team Presidents on the other.

The hockeys ops side want better ice and know one of the ways to improve it is to turn down the temperature in the arenas during the games. Owners and Presidents want the fans to be comfortable so they can sit in the stands without a coat or hat on which also means they will guzzle more beer and eat - can't do that when overdressed. As you know, the quality of the game isn't foremost, its the fan experience at today's ticket prices.
- RickJ

they should invest in some kind of seat level heating system and keep the ice cold.

From JJ

Hearing Hawk "interest" in Michael Stone may be a diversion. Real targets Schenn or Connaughton who fit better under cap regardless.

From JJ

Hearing Hawk "interest" in Michael Stone may be a diversion. Real targets Schenn or Connaughton who fit better under cap regardless.
- mrpaulish

What's up with rumors about these D-men? Precursor to another move has to be answer.

From JJ

Hearing Hawk "interest" in Michael Stone may be a diversion. Real targets Schenn or Connaughton who fit better under cap regardless.
- mrpaulish

I don't see either of those guys being much of an upgrade.

Brayden Schenn would be nice, but who goes the other way? Gotta be a centre on the roster, right?
And, didn't Schenn just recently sign a long(er) term deal?