I have no problem with Tootoo on line 4 as he was a significantly better hockey player than I thought going into the season. He was a substantial upgrade to Mashinter the Hawks enforcer role and that jag-off Biteto on Nashville will never take a run at Patty Kane again after Tootoo beat his face in and franked up his shoulder in their fight.
- EnzoD

I'm not saying Rozy and Tootoo won't play. Just saying it is a small cap savings to have your 13th F and 7th D making a few less coins, while your youngsters are rotating through Rockford when they're not playing to keep getting experience.

That's.... not good.

E. Staal said the same things around the start of the 2014-2015 season about the previous year. He would have just been turning 30. Has had a bit of a bounce back, but really has never been the guy he was when he was carrying the Hurricanes on his back.
- BINGO!

Really you know "That's not good." Two different people. Let's wait and see.

Also Staal scored 28 goals, 37 assists, with TOI around 18 minutes, was a plus 17, 49% at the dot, with pretty good advanced stats, playing as a 2nd or 3rd line center last year. 29th in scoring in the NHL. He had only scored more than 70 points 4 times in his 14 year career, the last time was 2010/11 when he was 24 years old (and he was a minus 10 that year).

Really you know "That's not good." Two different people. Let's wait and see.

Also Staal scored 28 goals, 37 assists, with TOI around 18 minutes, was a plus 17, 49% at the dot, with pretty good advanced stats, playing as a 2nd or 3rd line center last year. 29th in scoring in the NHL. He had only scored more than 70 points 4 times in his 14 year career, the last time was 2010/11 when he was 24 years old (and he was a minus 10 that year).
- -Doh-

I get your sentiment, but pointing out that he only got over 70 points 4 times doesn't help much when Toews has only done it one time.

Really you know "That's not good." Two different people. Let's wait and see.

Also Staal scored 28 goals, 37 assists, with TOI around 18 minutes, was a plus 17, 49% at the dot, with pretty good advanced stats, playing as a 2nd or 3rd line center last year. 29th in scoring in the NHL. He had only scored more than 70 points 4 times in his 14 year career, the last time was 2010/11 when he was 24 years old (and he was a minus 10 that year).
- -Doh-

....70 seems a pretty arbitrary number considering he hit it 7 times and was at a point per game or better 4 times.

I mean, the dude hit 70+ points 7 years in a row and the only reason he didn't do it 8 was the lockout year where he hit 53 points in 48 games.

He had a good year last year, sure, but it wasn't at the level he used to be. Dude went head to head vs. Chara in his prime for 7 straight games and came out on top.

I'm not saying that they're the same guy, just that it was the same sort of talk Eric had when things started to go south for him in Raleigh.

That's.... not good.

E. Staal said the same things around the start of the 2014-2015 season about the previous year. He would have just been turning 30. Has had a bit of a bounce back, but really has never been the guy he was when he was carrying the Hurricanes on his back.
- BINGO!

You could thank Alex Edler for that when he gave Staal the very dirty hit at the World Championships that cratered his knee.

I get your sentiment, but pointing out that he only got over 70 points 4 times doesn't help much when Toews has only done it one time.
- JRoenick97

Between age 20-30 Staal had 711 points in 765 games.

Toews has 622 in 717 games in the same time period.

I do think they're pretty comparable, though Toews is clearly the better defensive player.

Between age 20-30 Staal had 711 points in 765 games.

Toews has 622 in 717 games in the same time period.

I do think they're pretty comparable, though Toews is clearly the better defensive player.
- BINGO!

I agree. Staal was a great player in his prime, and he's still very good.

You could thank Alex Edler for that when he gave Staal the very dirty hit at the World Championships that cratered his knee.
- RickJ

Yep. Hasn't skated the same way since.

Wonder if he regrets that. Pretty hard to turn it down when Team Canada asks you to be the captain though.

That's.... not good.

E. Staal said the same things around the start of the 2014-2015 season about the previous year. He would have just been turning 30. Has had a bit of a bounce back, but really has never been the guy he was when he was carrying the Hurricanes on his back.
- BINGO!

E.Staal also blew out his knee and that was the biggest factor in his rapid demise. Toews has had no serious injury like that.

I get your sentiment, but pointing out that he only got over 70 points 4 times doesn't help much when Toews has only done it one time.
- JRoenick97

My point was that the drop off for Staal happened 5 years or more before he changed his training regimen and not when he was 30. Then he more or less returned to form when he was 32. So his training regimen may not have been such a big factor.

....70 seems a pretty arbitrary number considering he hit it 7 times and was at a point per game or better 4 times.

I mean, the dude hit 70+ points 7 years in a row and the only reason he didn't do it 8 was the lockout year where he hit 53 points in 48 games.

He had a good year last year, sure, but it wasn't at the level he used to be. Dude went head to head vs. Chara in his prime for 7 straight games and came out on top.

I'm not saying that they're the same guy, just that it was the same sort of talk Eric had when things started to go south for him in Raleigh.
- BINGO!

My two points were.
1) Staal had his best years when he was 20 to 26. He also had a pretty decent year last year at 32 years old. To say that his changingof his training regimen when he was 30 did not fully account for his performance in the years in between.
2) Toews and Staal are different people. To say that changing a regimens will effect Toews the same way it did Staal is a leap. To say Toews' or Staal's good years or bad years are attributable to their training regimens without taking into consideration their health', their linemates, coaches, systems,etc.... is also a leap.

I agree. Staal was a great player in his prime, and he's still very good.
- JRoenick97

I agree. Both Staal (30) and Toews (29) are having great careers, with some gas left in the tank in both cases. They both play the game the right way. Their performance, like all other players is affected by linemates, coaches, health/injuries, length of offseason breaks, etc...

E.Staal also blew out his knee and that was the biggest factor in his rapid demise. Toews has had no serious injury like that.
- EnzoD

Staal had a MCL sprain, that did not require surgery. It was serious and effected his performance. He also had a sports hernia. Toews had back issues. It is hard to know how serious it was (is) and how much it has affected his performance. They both have had at least one concussion.

You could thank Alex Edler for that when he gave Staal the very dirty hit at the World Championships that cratered his knee.
- RickJ

Once a cheap-shotting Vancouver Canuck scumbag, always a cheap-shotting Vancouver Canuck scumbag ....

Let me add on this:

Whether it was Toews' getting back to near full health (as I was told) or Schmaltz, or both, almost doesn't matter.

Not many people would argue that Schmaltz is a better or equal 1LW (especially playing with Toews) than Brandon Saad is.

So just doing the math/logic, that is a VERY good sign for the Toews line (likely with Saad) in 17-18.

But if it does speak to Schmaltz maybe being a more effective LW than some (myself included) give him credit for, then maybe they throw him in the mix on Kane's left flank.

Just seems to me you want a finisher/pure shooter there, which Schmaltz isn't.
- John Jaeckel

To me it shows Schmaltz was able to be part of a very effective line vs top 4 Dmen/top 6 forwards as a 20 yr old rookie, with no defined role until going to Toews' line in games 50 thru 80 when he's used to playing 50 games or less his whole career of jrs and NCAA.

I'm not concerned as much what position he plays as much as how effective of a hockey player he'll be. Add he's showing 2 way instincts and there's reason to hope he develops into a top 6 regular.

Q apparently wild pitched at the Sox game tonight. Sorry we don't get the vid, but he talks briefly about his thoughts on upcoming season.

http://www.chicagotribune...ckhawks/94416307-132.html

To me it shows Schmaltz was able to be part of a very effective line vs top 4 Dmen/top 6 forwards as a 20 yr old rookie, with no defined role until going to Toews' line in games 50 thru 80 when he's used to playing 50 games or less his whole career of jrs and NCAA.

I'm not concerned as much what position he plays as much as how effective of a hockey player he'll be. Add he's showing 2 way instincts and there's reason to hope he develops into a top 6 regular.
- Mr Ricochet

What about Saad/Toews/Schmaltz?

What about Saad/Toews/Schmaltz?
- tvetter

I'm sure Q's line blinder will land on the combo sooner or later, but I would stick with Panik on Toews' right side, they seemed to work seem to work well together. Saad/Toews/Panik may not be the line that Saad/Toews/Hossa was, but it could still be a very solid #1 line.

Reports that Harvard captain Kerfoot to sign with Avalanche. They signed another college free agent Toninato last week. Good net gain after Butcher split.

Someone may have posted this in another thread but CSN Chicago projected the Hawks starting lineup which I think is about as realistic as it may likely be given the current options:

Saad - Toews - Panik
Sharp - Anisimov - Kane
Hartman - Schmaltz - Jurco
Bouma - Kero - Wingels
(Tootoo)

Keith - Murphy
Kempny - Seabrook
Forsling - Rutta
(Oesterle, Roszival)

Crawford
(Forsberg)

This may be the lineup to start but is most definitely not what it will look like by the quarter pole, mid-way, or at season's end.

Anyone be opposed to bringing James Wiisneski back on a pto? Besides Frason polka what other d man could the hawks look at to bring in on a pto ?

Anyone be opposed to bringing James Wiisneski back on a pto? Besides Franson polka what other d man could the hawks look at to bring in on a pto ?
- Scott1977

I don't know why. But, have been secretly watching Franson news kinda hoping Hawks took a flyer on him if cheap enough. His last 2 years in Buffalo have been awful, and maybe he is too slow for today's game. But in his previous 5 years with the Preds and Leafs he was an OK 5-6 kinda guy. I think maybe he still could be. I just like the Big body added to our D-man depth. What is he...6 foot or 6' 1" and around 225-230. As a 6th D-man, he might be OK....Hell, gotta be as good or better than Rosy....No????

Someone may have posted this in another thread but CSN Chicago projected the Hawks starting lineup which I think is about as realistic as it may likely be given the current options:

Saad - Toews - Panik
Sharp - Anisimov - Kane
Hartman - Schmaltz - Jurco
Bouma - Kero - Wingels
(Tootoo)

Keith - Murphy
Kempny - Seabrook
Forsling - Rutta
(Oesterle, Roszival)

Crawford
(Forsberg)

This may be the lineup to start but is most definitely not what it will look like by the quarter pole, mid-way, or at season's end.
- AEL_Fox

A EL, I think your spot on there, maybe Hayden and Fortin may push the envelope their way though.

I don't know why. But, have been secretly watching Franson news kinda hoping Hawks took a flyer on him if cheap enough. His last 2 years in Buffalo have been awful, and maybe he is too slow for today's game. But in his previous 5 years with the Preds and Leafs he was an OK 5-6 kinda guy. I think maybe he still could be. I just like the Big body added to our D-man depth. What is he...6 foot or 6' 1" and around 225-230. As a 6th D-man, he might be OK....Hell, gotta be as good or better than Rosy....No????
- hawk35

That's how teams stay in the middle. If you're going to suck give someone who has upside potential and can learn a taste rather than someone who has peaked and is on the back nine. Rozy helps off the ice more than on if they are going to sign guys who speak that language. Not a bad cantidate for an assistant coach someday.

Franson's agent seems to think he won't be going to a try-out and wiill be signing a contract (possibly with the Canucks) next week.

This is from this morning SpectorsHockey.net:
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Looks like Holland is betting Athanasiou will blink first in this stare down. The 23-year-old is coming off an entry-level deal so threatening to play overseas is the only real leverage he has with the cap-strapped Wings. I don’t believe the Wings GM seriously entertains the notion of trading the young winger, who could be seeking over $2 million annually on his next contract.
Trading Ericsson or Helm is easier said than done and I don’t see many teams willing to take on either guy right now. He could try to trade Riley Sheahan, who has a year remaining on his contract, lacks no-trade protection and has a more affordable $2 million cap hit. Another option could be demoting a player or two to clear sufficient room for Athanasiou once Franzen is placed on LTIR.
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reports Wings GM Ken Holland recently said he expected to deal with his cap overage during preseason. Khan believes the delay in Athanasiou’s new contact isn’t cap concerns, but rather because they don’t want to exceed the figure they have in mind for the winger so as to not disrupt their salary structure.
Even before the Cap, NHL Teams had concerns with what paying a certain player/position affected the group around him. As much as you wanna believe the players / agents aren't looking, it is always difficult especially if you are next player about to be up for a resign and you feel, "I KNOW I am better than HE is, so I deserve_______.
This was always the case under the old man Wirtz too. . . Even when you are dire need, you don't want an addition or signing that throws your salaries out of kilter.
There is market and there players / agent's perceived market, and like I said yesterday in my post the wings must feel the Greek Streak isn't as much of a stand alone attacker as his camp does.