And once again Rob.....bite, bite, bite your tongue.
- ILGolfer

It's low hanging fruit my friend. How 'bout Vanek...?

...until Bowman impresses me this deadline, I remain a skeptic

Ho...hum...

DeBrincat with another 4 point game

46 GP 45 goals 51 assists

Despite his stature, he needs a very long look.

The only thing I heard for sure Paulish is that after the 11 years in St. Louis in 1998 he wanted to play for the Hawks but the Stars made him an offer "he couldn't refuse" so to speak and Dollar Bill Wirtz didn't want to match it....duh.
- ILGolfer

Not true.

Brett did not want to play here because of the history with his father and the Wirtz family.

Hey, old timers , with excellent 1990s knowledge of the Blackhawks , I was just a kid. The time Brett Hull was a FA I had heard the Blackhawks wwre almost a done deal to sign him. What happened ? Any truth to that ?
- mrpaulish

I remember everyone was saying the Golden Brett was coming here...but As Bogie mentioned Mr. P...Dollar Bill...enough said. The man that got rid of Chelios, Roenick and Belfour and others.

And there's #9's history with the Wirtz family...there was no way that would happen.

One can only imagine if Ilitch had owned the Hawks in that period...yikes.

I don't care if the Hawks catch the Wild...

...just happy to see them playing well and finding points.

100+ points and 2nd in the Central would be fine.
- ArlingtonRob

Rob my concern right now is the Blues who won again tonight in Montreal 4-2.
Yeo has got them playing and they've won 6 out of 7 or something like that.
I'd rather not go through both St. Louis and Minni if possible, but it seems probable.

Meantime the Hawks 5-1 on the trip - stellar. And now that they're starting to gel...here comes the bye week.

Not true.

Brett did not want to play here because of the history with his father and the Wirtz family.
- dahawks8819

I'm sure your sources were better than mine dahawk.....I stand corrected.

Add anyone to the top six who is LEGIT and this team roars forward.

Palat - yes
Duchene - yes

Vanek - no
Ignila - no

Boyle/Hanzal - good depth adds.

Just can't move Hartman or Fortin.

Really like how the TEAM play has elevated a tad during the road trip. There seems to be a sense of urgency owned by everyone - especially after this game tonight.

Rob my concern right now is the Blues who won again tonight in Montreal 4-2.
Yeo has got them playing and they've won 6 out of 7 or something like that.
I'd rather not go through both St. Louis and Minni if possible, but it seems probable.

Meantime the Hawks 5-1 on the trip - stellar. And now that they're starting to gel...here comes the bye week.
- DK002

Losing Fabbri for the rest of the season was a decent blow. Considering they were already without Backes and Brouwer after the changes they made in the offseason. Not nearly as deep or as dangerous at forward as they were last year.

Add anyone to the top six who is LEGIT and this team roars forward.

Palat - yes
Duchene - yes

Vanek - no
Ignila - no

Boyle/Hanzal - good depth adds.

Just can't move Hartman or Fortin.

Really like how the TEAM play has elevated a tad during the road trip. There seems to be a sense of urgency owned by everyone - especially after this game tonight.
- Return of the Roar

This ^

I don't care if the Hawks catch the Wild...

...just happy to see them playing well and finding points.

100+ points and 2nd in the Central would be fine.
- ArlingtonRob

Totally agree.....time for Q to rest some core vets down the stretch..
It's much more important for their legs to be ready for a long run.
Let's see how they come out of the break next week.

you basically listed every almost sure seller and every logically available player from those teams


#insider
- Ihateallofu

You basically don't know what you're talking about and have some kind of issue.

Let me add one thing I heard yesterday: Desjardins definitely on the block, Latta could be a call up soon for his role.

Hawks looking much more legit than earlier this season, win streaks be damned. Loved seeing Keith shut down McDavid.
- kinigitt

Yes.

Toews and Keith also looking a lot more" legit." Coincidence? I think not.

you basically listed every almost sure seller and every logically available player from those teams


#insider
- Ihateallofu

ahhh.....an Oiler's fan......bubble bursting?

Hey, old timers , with excellent 1990s knowledge of the Blackhawks , I was just a kid. The time Brett Hull was a FA I had heard the Blackhawks wwre almost a done deal to sign him. What happened ? Any truth to that ?
- mrpaulish

July 1, 1998. Remember it well, was driving from Grand Rapids to Toronto.

Hawks ended up singing Doug Gilmour for $6 million a year while the Brett was still on the market.

The rumor was Bill Wirtz still held a huge grudge against Bobby Hull, who at that time had also been (apparently) misquoted about some Neo-Nazi remarks in the Russian media.

Basically Dollar Bill is alleged to have said said: "We would have loved to have signed Brett. But (think about this in terms of the last 10 years) that would have meant having Bobby around."

Irony.

The hawks can't keep trading away picks for rentals. I like Boyle. He'd fit nicely but he's a rental option only. Pokka is a nice player. I think he'd be a horse for Chicago. Vanek has proven to be a bad gamble.

JVR although as stated already isn't available and even if he was, the Hawks don't have the available assets to acquire him, would be a nice fit. Affordable contract, young guy who would put up good #'s. A player of his ilk and contract would be a smart forward thinking move.
- Seanook

Umm, yeah, they can, but they won't unless it's a 2018 pick or later.

Forsling ineffective this evening. If they weren't shopping him, he'd be sitting i suspect
- etchtech

One thing I notice comparing him to Kempny is Kempny is physically moree mature, much stronger and more athletic.

Forsling has some definite skill, but I don't think physically he's NHL playoff ready or even close.

R


Thanks JJ

Not true.

Brett did not want to play here because of the history with his father and the Wirtz family.
- dahawks8819

That may have factored in as well.

Because Wirtz' comments may have been because the Brett spurned them. Might also explain why they chumped up so big for the Killer who really was not worth that kind of money, especially not in 10998 dollars.

It has everything to do with those two. The whole team play is elevated when they're on their game. All the guys on the bench get +1 like in a video game.

I completely agree JJ about the comparison between Forsling and Kempny, Forsling as of today is just too weak along the boards, unfortunately both players have a tendency to chase the puck, come playoff time I believe Kempny will be more effective than Forsling this year.

I also have to admit Schmaltz is really beginning to impress me, kid definitely has talent, he makes some nifty plays with the puck and has good vision, definite playmaker curious to see what his ceiling will be?

The best adjustment the Hawks made all year is on the power play, work the puck to the front of the net. Seems simple but so effective.

I remember the Brett Hull to the Hawks situatoon too on July 1. From what i recall they tried to sign both Hull and Gilmour. Not sure i that was accurate.

Nobody mentioned it yet, on the NHL Network replays last night, they showed Vanek leaving the ice with a knee injury. Got twisted when eh got rolled up on from the side and he went straight to the dressing room.

I haven't searched to see what the final result was, but he may be off the market if it's serious.

Hey, old timers , with excellent 1990s knowledge of the Blackhawks , I was just a kid. The time Brett Hull was a FA I had heard the Blackhawks wwre almost a done deal to sign him. What happened ? Any truth to that ?
- mrpaulish

What I recall was that in the 87-88 season, there were strong trade rumors of Brett coming to the Hawks for Trent Yawney per Calgary's offer but Pulford nixed the deal. The talk around the Old Stadium was that Pulford and Wirtz hated Bobby Hull so much they wouldn't consider it. That was well before the Brett Hull rumor he would sign with Hawks when he was a UFA.