No Crow in goal (illness, Johannson called up) and no Hammer. Tonight's game will be v challenging.
- Marlowe

If some of the talk of Crow being moved in the summer is true, might as well give Darling a little playoff game atmosphere in February.

Then again, maybe Crow's illness and Hammer being out is a blessing in disguise. This team has always played a little "flashier" at home over the years. Extra passing, cherry picking up the ice, etc seem to happen at home when things are going well. With those two being out maybe the boys will resort to the road formula we always hear from them........keep it simple and don't overthink what's going on. Chip and chase if you have to, get pucks out of the zone even if it means icing. Should be an interesting tilt on the west side tonight as Foley would say.

And I can't wait to see the big, smooth skating and hungry Jurco in a Hawks jersey tonight.
- Mr Ricochet

Got the lube in hand already?

The question is, what does Dallas want in return??

Hopefully stan doesn't get fleeced again.
- Lido_Shuffle

For Oduya ???? Maybe Svedburg and McNeill..... Pokka and a pick..... some variation of that..........
None of our current rookie crop playing well. IMO

Got the lube in hand already?
- Assman22

This coming from a guy in Frisco who calls himself Assman???

Hearing this AM Hawk talks with Dallas have ramped up around . . . Johnny Oduya. Hjalmarssons health a concern
- John Jaeckel

If Johnny-O is healthy its an interesting idea. Any idea on what it would take to get him from Dallas??

""Edmonton showed again the formula for how you beat the Hawks. Push them around physically and force them outside."

JJ, if that same game was played the same way 10 more times the Hawks would win 9 out of 10. Hawks clobbered em in every way but on the scoreboard as McLellan himself said.

And the last two cups were won with smallish forwards getting pushed around. If the club can add some size, especially a player who can win some draws, without moving Hartman or Schmaltz I'll enjoy paying for my playoff tickets.
- Mr Ricochet

You mean like Frolik, Handzus, Bickell, Shaw and Saad? That's really not true.

And I will submit, as do others who know a lot more about the game than I do, push the Hawks to the outside, make them try to do everything on the perimeter, is the way to beat them.

Point taken on Edmonton. You can argue Talbott beat Crawford that night, but I did see a lot of Hawk shots coming from the perimeter, and a lot of Hawk forwards getting pushed around by Larsson and Gryba, as did someone else I know (at least, those were his words, not mine, I don't make poop up).

If Johnny-O is healthy its an interesting idea. Any idea on what it would take to get him from Dallas??
- z1990z

All I heard is the Hawks have apparently gotten a lot more interested in the last day or two. Or maybe they were and they kept it really, really quiet. But it kinda came out of nowhere by the sound of it.

JJ shouldn't Oduya's health also be a concern? Know he's back in game tonight, but...
- Marlowe

If he's playing, not that big of a concern, you'd think.

On a totally different topic, I see ESPN is really going gaga over the 40th anniversary of "Slap Shot". Big reunion in Johnstown, PA with all the trimmings. You'd think with the TDL 3 days away they'd have more rumors or just general stuff on who could get dealt etc. I love the movie too but how about some info on the real thing? Oh well, its ESPN.....what do I expect.

P.S. Like I said, I love "Slap Shot" but its no "Caddyshack"

Terry Frei: Scouts listed to attend last night’s Avalanche – Sabres game: Chicago Blackhawks (2), Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins.
- walleyeb1

Hawks talked with CO about more than Duchene. And something inside me says that Duchene deal will not be completely DOA until the deadline, or someone else gets him.

Buffalo? I hear things periodically about them and the Hawks, but haven't in a while. Never know.

Ramp up the trade rumors! I can already hear them now. Oh Crow is "sick" orrrrrr is he being traded for Dutch and blah blah blah. Brace for it gents.

Habs/Hanzal rumor seems more like a leak to get the price up from others. Will believe it when I see it for now.
- Assman22

Crawford will be a Hawk til the end of this season. 99.9% certain.

All I heard is the Hawks have apparently gotten a lot more interested in the last day or two. Or maybe they were and they kept it really, really quiet. But it kinda came out of nowhere by the sound of it.
- John Jaeckel

If he were to come back, there is little to no acclimation time. He's a plug/play guy who knows the system. Hoping Hammer is not down for long.

Messages coming fast and furious:

"To clarify... two things... Hawks will not overbid/pay against other teams interested i.e, Montreal. If (Oduya) is healthy and looks good, Hawks interest increases.

And FYI, Hawks taking calls in bunches today ..."

If he were to come back, there is little to no acclimation time. He's a plug/play guy who knows the system. Hoping Hammer is not down for long.
- z1990z

Sppcidically what I heard as the rationale, or part of it.

Just based on the amount (or lack) of activity, coupled with the amount of talking and "near deals," I think the buyers waiting out the sellers to lower their prices.

And the Hawks are still strong buyers. But they're gonna wait as long as they have to.

Just based on the amount (or lack) of activity, coupled with the amount of talking and "near deals," I think the buyers waiting out the sellers to lower their prices.

And the Hawks are still strong buyers. But they're gonna wait as long as they have to.
- John Jaeckel

Great stuff as always, JJ. Really appreciate the work you do on this.

Great stuff as always, JJ. Really appreciate the work you do on this.
- Hank_Greenberg

We all do JJ!

Oduya definitely meets the chemistry checkmark. Less time lost learning a new system/linemates

If Kruger is hurt (wrist) and still playing maybe they are hoping they can move him before the TDL as part of a package. If not, or if they cannot move him, they should rest him for a couple of weeks after the TDL and let him get 100% healthy. You can play Kero, Moose, Hartmann, Desjardins, Hino as the 4th line center for a couple of weeks. Kero and Desi can PK.

Another reason they could be playing him is so that they will not seem so desperate for a 3C. If Tampa or AZ feel they are desperate they may ask a little more for Boyle or Hanzal.

I would be very hesitant to trade for Oduya coming off an ankle injury. He might play well for a game or two before the TDL but then what?He might not be so mobile night in and night out. If he is not mobile his value goes way down. You would hate to give up a piece of our future for someone who might spend most of his time on the IR or who can only play every other game in the playoffs. I think there are other solid 4/5 Dmen available and cheaper without preexisting conditions.

Having bad mouthed ESPN in my last entry, I have to give them credit for Craig Custance' Insider mailbag today.

Interesting piece on the Blues and Shattenkirk. Talking with an NHL exec who goes over all the logistics in these type of situations nearing the TDL and the draft too. The real interesting part for me was when he talked about playoff money and how important even winning one series is to the bottom line for any team. Of course, we all knew that already because of all the discussion here on the board.

I guess we should just tell ESPN to hire JJ and then let them publish all of our missives and turn that into their Insider column.

We all do JJ!

Oduya definitely meets the chemistry checkmark. Less time lost learning a new system/linemates
- ikeane

Thx guys, fun time of year, hard to keep track of everything.

Having bad mouthed ESPN in my last entry, I have to give them credit for Craig Custance' Insider mailbag today.

Interesting piece on the Blues and Shattenkirk. Talking with an NHL exec who goes over all the logistics in these type of situations nearing the TDL and the draft too. The real interesting part for me was when he talked about playoff money and how important even winning one series is to the bottom line for any team. Of course, we all knew that already because of all the discussion here on the board.

I guess we should just tell ESPN to hire JJ and then let them publish all of our missives and turn that into their Insider column.
- ILGolfer

But worth mentioning again, this is why teams playing well like the Hawks don't ever stand pat if there could be a hole or two.

If Johnny-O is healthy its an interesting idea. Any idea on what it would take to get him from Dallas??
- z1990z

poop, they can have Svedberg or Pokka.

Having bad mouthed ESPN in my last entry, I have to give them credit for Craig Custance' Insider mailbag today.

Interesting piece on the Blues and Shattenkirk. Talking with an NHL exec who goes over all the logistics in these type of situations nearing the TDL and the draft too. The real interesting part for me was when he talked about playoff money and how important even winning one series is to the bottom line for any team. Of course, we all knew that already because of all the discussion here on the board.

I guess we should just tell ESPN to hire JJ and then let them publish all of our missives and turn that into their Insider column.
- ILGolfer

No, another blogger called me a "hack journalist" yesterday compared to the great hockey writers at ESPN. And he said all of my readers are stupid.

Just based on the amount (or lack) of activity, coupled with the amount of talking and "near deals," I think the buyers waiting out the sellers to lower their prices.

And the Hawks are still strong buyers. But they're gonna wait as long as they have to.
- John Jaeckel

Hope Lazar is on their to do list . Can't figure out what isn't working in Ottawa, possibly like Jurco, could be those kids just need a real NHL experienced head coach to work with them.
I am sure Toronto may be re thinking thePanik scenario, maybe they acted to quickly, much to our benefit so far.

If Kruger is hurt (wrist) and still playing maybe they are hoping they can move him before the TDL as part of a package. If not, or if they cannot move him, they should rest him for a couple of weeks after the TDL and let him get 100% healthy. You can play Kero, Moose, Hartmann, Desjardins, Hino as the 4th line center for a couple of weeks. Kero and Desi can PK.

Another reason they could be playing him is so that they will not seem so desperate for a 3C. If Tampa or AZ feel they are desperate they may ask a little more for Boyle or Hanzal.

I would be very hesitant to trade for Oduya coming off an ankle injury. He might play well for a game or two before the TDL but then what?He might not be so mobile night in and night out. If he is not mobile his value goes way down. You would hate to give up a piece of our future for someone who might spend most of his time on the IR or who can only play every other game in the playoffs. I think there are other solid 4/5 Dmen available and cheaper without preexisting conditions.
- -Doh-

They've tried, no luck so far anyway. I will be the first to concede, Kruger's superlatives are limited and specialized. Being 50%+ in the dot is one of them. Without that, he's basically a defensive winger who doesn't score. Who makes $3 million a year.