FRANK OFF.....JACKASS
- BGKarras

He's a third-rate troll. Ignore him and he goes away.

He's a third-rate troll. Ignore him and he goes away.
- Tanuki

FRANK OFF.....JACKASS
- BGKarras

Who's Frank?

And to think we felt sorry for you after the Crosby concussion years. Your aging and top heavy core will catch up with you as well. Good luck winning another cup when Crosby is eating his meals through a straw and Letang is in a full body cast.

I'm sure Malkin will stick around when the going gets tough, just like Datsyuk and Kovalchuk.
- ObeseOprah

- kwolf68

Spot on!

In what world does McDavid on the Oilers help the league? We sold put every game while in last place. We generate money gor the league no matter what. Unlike the bandwagon jumping hawks fans who had an empty arena while in the exact same position. Wouldn't it make more sense to put him in a small market if they were to rig anything? Or is that too much sensible thinking for you to handle?
- Ihatebrianburke

You do realize that the Hawks & Oilers were in two completely different situations, right?

- kwolf68

- j.boyd919

Crosby is likely one concussion away from retirement. If he goes down, your house of cards (poop defensemen, Malkin getting to play against second lines and second pairs, rookies playing out of their skates alongside Crosby, two goalies covering when the other is hurt) will collapse.

The Penguins have won their last cup for the next 10 years.

And this brought to you by a Cupless franchise fan who spends way too much time attempting to outline potential negative scenarios on the thread of the team he envies. Take off to the Preds thread. They are the team that eliminated the Blues this year.
- tredbrta

It you don't like people pointing out you are wrong, maybe do a little research before posting? Pointing out the Blackhawks used to be better than other teams isn't going to change anything.

Bleacher" report" VGK selections:

Eakin (Dal)
Haula (Min)
Leipsic (Tor)

and

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie

I would expect James Neal of NSH to be claimed by VGK in expansion draft, but remains to be seen how long he's there

'They are not anymore', yes they are dude. We still have 5-7 AHL guys filling out our ranks. The $3M going towards Kruger's ZERO offensive ability could be better used.

He's great at D, great on the PK, useless on offense. You don't pay $3M for 17 points unless it's a shutdown defenseman.

Put $1.5 towards two 3rd liners and we'll be in better shape.
- ObeseOprah

They do not have 5-7 AHL guys filling the ranks. I assume you're talking about the rookies from last year which includes Hartman, Schmaltz, and Kero - those are the only guys who would have been playing in the AHL. Maybe you include Hinostroza in that but I'm not certain he'll be on the team. You're not going to find too many 3rd liners for $750k that are better than some of those kids.

Not a dude, either.

Crosby is likely one concussion away from retirement. If he goes down, your house of cards (poop defensemen, Malkin getting to play against second lines and second pairs, rookies playing out of their skates alongside Crosby, two goalies covering when the other is hurt) will collapse.

The Penguins have won their last cup for the next 10 years.
- ObeseOprah

In Bentman world I predict:
1. Sid has to take a year off. Letang joins him.
2. Pens tank season
3. Pens get frozen ping pong ball and #1 overall
4. Pens draft second coming of McJesus
5. Sid and Letang are healed and return

Bleacher" report" VGK selections:

Eakin (Dal)
Haula (Min)
Leipsic (Tor)

and

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie

I would expect James Neal of NSH to be claimed by VGK in expansion draft, but remains to be seen how long he's there
- ikeane

With the Hossa news Neal to the Hawks would make a lot of sense. $5 million for one more season then Neal's a UFA. Neal certainly cannot replace Hossa overall, but the contract fits and he's good for 25 goals and would likely play with Toews.

i think your analysis is very fair and sensible...i am just incredulous that this never leaked out or even got rumored the last 12-15 months. There are reporters all over that locker room with guys undressed...
- bogiedoc

It did leak out. A long time ago. It never took off as a story. Brian Hedger discussed it. Lid was on though and was treated as "manageable" when actually Hossa was really challenged just to hit the ice each period.

Crosby is likely one concussion away from retirement. If he goes down, your house of cards (poop defensemen, Malkin getting to play against second lines and second pairs, rookies playing out of their skates alongside Crosby, two goalies covering when the other is hurt) will collapse.

The Penguins have won their last cup for the next 10 years.
- ObeseOprah

With the Hossa news Neal to the Hawks would make a lot of sense. $5 million for one more season then Neal's a UFA. Neal certainly cannot replace Hossa overall, but the contract fits and he's good for 25 goals and would likely play with Toews.
- DarthKane

not bad, just need to get the numbers to work as usual....

I see your logic, but I think you can find a 4C for $1mil, and not many 2Cs for $4.5mil. Now, if Anisimov gets you a young dman or young Top 6 forward in a trade package, by all means. I simply think Kruger, especially with his diminished skill set due to injuries, is replaceable for a cheaper price.
- EnzoD

Our difference of opinion is what Kruger is because I think he's 3C. The Hawks don't really have 3 offensive lines atm and it's hard to imagine they would next season currently. What they can have is two offensive lines, shutdown line, and energy line (which has worked well in the past). I think they would need more than a good 4C to replace Kruger, and now they have the flexibility to either look more or keep him.

Our difference of opinion is what Kruger is because I think he's 3C. The Hawks don't really have 3 offensive lines atm and it's hard to imagine they would next season currently. What they can have is two offensive lines, shutdown line, and energy line (which has worked well in the past). I think they would need more than a good 4C to replace Kruger, and now they have the flexibility to either look more or keep him.
- L_B_R

Kruger is a 4C. If the Hawks can move his out of whack contract they should do so in a heartbeat. A 3C should have no chance of going scoreless.

With the Hossa news Neal to the Hawks would make a lot of sense. $5 million for one more season then Neal's a UFA. Neal certainly cannot replace Hossa overall, but the contract fits and he's good for 25 goals and would likely play with Toews.
- DarthKane

I've honestly thought the same thing or even Bobby Ryan... both add a much needed grit/physicality/size that the Hawks are missing.

I'm still in the "deal Kruger" camp especially if a move like the above is the direction they go. Maybe I forgot to take off my tin foil hat this morning, but in reading the recent Kruger comments (mainly Powers' article) I am drawn to the choice wording and statements such as "Kruger will be a Hawk through Wed, but beyond that unknown"... as I understand it trades can't be 'announced' until tomorrow (Thursday) so I still see the Kruger deal going through as the wording was very deliberate much like it was with the statement on Hossa. Plus, giving the Hawks more breathing room would be nice for a change.

Any way things go, the next few days could be very interesting

Wrecks mine too, will send me to a whole different site and I can't go back to HB, I have to restart my browser. And its only on this site.

Anyways, non-Hawk fans who think losing Hoss is a blessing, I will say that I rather have cap problems right now with Hossa than having 5 extra mil to work with without him.
- purepone

I use the app Ad Block Plus (it's a free app) took care of all those issues.

With the Hossa news Neal to the Hawks would make a lot of sense. $5 million for one more season then Neal's a UFA. Neal certainly cannot replace Hossa overall, but the contract fits and he's good for 25 goals and would likely play with Toews.
- DarthKane

Maybe that is the compensation for leaving TVR unprotected and not trading him

I don't understand why people are blaming the 'hawks franchise?

The NHL allows this to happen. They allowed it with Pronger. They can't NOT allow it now.

Teams found a loophole and they are going to use it. Especially when the contract, when signed, was perfectly legal. Any other GM would do the exact same thing, even if they are currently peeved.

For years people on this board has been pointing to this year of $1M in salary as the time Hossa might "hang it up." It's not a shock and it's not a surprise.

It does suck though, because he was absolutely my favorite player and I don't think the 'hawks win 3 in 6 without him.

Hoss' statement says, the side effects of the drugs used to treat the disorder are the reason he can't play. Not the disorder itself.

FWIW, he's worth more to the team than money.

GO HOSS

- hocktock

While true he also said "While I am disappointed that I will not be able to play, I have to consider the severity of my condition and how the treatments have impacted my life both on and off the ice."

So I take it as a combination of both.

AGAIN WITH THIS!

We all get it. You have a thing for Panarin! Unfortunately hockey is a team sport. Teams with 1 good line get knocked out in the first round because they are 1 dimensional. Teams with 4 lines are more of a complete team with fewer holes that the defense must then account for.

In review: 4 lines = GOOD
1 line = MUCH LESS GOOD.
- Tuke17

Another thing that gets lost is Panarin doesn't seem to care about winning Cups in North America the way other players do. At least he hasn't shown it after the First Round losses. He then of course after being exhausted with the Hawks plays absolutely lights out for Russia. Also, unlike super-star Ovie, Panarin feels no responsibility to learn English or become part of the community. Panarin is also not a teen-agee - he needs to grow up.

They do not have 5-7 AHL guys filling the ranks. I assume you're talking about the rookies from last year which includes Hartman, Schmaltz, and Kero - those are the only guys who would have been playing in the AHL. Maybe you include Hinostroza in that but I'm not certain he'll be on the team. You're not going to find too many 3rd liners for $750k that are better than some of those kids.

Not a dude, either.
- L_B_R

As of right now, there are certainly 5-7 AHL guys filling the ranks. Hayden, Schmaltz, Kero, Hinostroza, Tootoo, Jurco, Forsling, Rutta, Glass, Motte.

I like these guys, but most of them have no business in a starting lineup at the NHL level. Certainly not in an important role.

Schmaltz, Forsling, and Kero might stick this next year.