- L_B_R

Use Imgur instead of photobucket. Much nicer.

"The 'preview' tab is your friend."
- 35Tony0

Can you not see it? It shows up for me and I did check with preview.

Use Imgur instead of photobucket. Much nicer.
- JRoenick97

I used the one I have all my gifs on currently.

I used the one I have all my gifs on currently.
- L_B_R

The gif is just a picture telling you to update your account for 3rd party hosting.

Beau Bennett didn't stick, eh?
- JRoenick97

What happened to Ty Rattie? i thought he was supposed to be a pretty decent prospect once upon a time?

The gif is just a picture telling you to update your account for 3rd party hosting.
- JRoenick97

Ah, it's cause photobucket changed it's payment tiers. There's limited 3rd party hosting for anything but their $400 a year plan. I can see it because it's on my account. Oh well. I'll just have to keep to tumblr lol.

I think they are going to focus on getting the puck out and up ice as fast as possible this year. A bit of the Pens model the last couple of years. Although I love #4, not something he was particularly adapt at. Especially on his offside.

Maybe a 200ft game still but a little more emphasis on getting the puck up ice. Hawks have had some trouble getting pinned down in their own end the last few years. Hopefully that does not happen as much this year.
- bhawks2241

This sounds like a good plan.

Alright just want to go farther with how the team shakes out.

I just wonder how much you can lean on the core players that were here even before 2010. Lots of mileage on them. Sure, Kane is still tops. Saad is back and is a force to be reckoned with. But Keith and Seabrook should not be leaned upon extremely (emphasis on extremely). They are part and parcel, yet not to be used consistently 28 -30 TOI .

Production, plenty of TOI should come from other defensemen. Ideally that is what is they should do. Reality is....going to be played out and I believe any over - reliance upon Bouma, Tootoo, giving Osterle a big opportunity is going to get Q and Bowman roundly criticized. Maybe they will slowly see that kids need to play over them.

I want to see young kids moving in and playing more prominent roles. Samuelson can continue correcting defenseman on the bench during games.

I have not seen much of Osterle. But he is not your next steady sound 6th man on the blue line. If Q falls in love with this guy, he better be right. So far all I see is can play both side, appears ok puck mover. So Q thinks he has TVR replacement. TVR was not all that good.

I expect Ruuta plays regularly until he shows he does not belong. We can comment more upon DeBrincat after he has played a couple weeks. He could easily be going to Rockford by then. I agree with Rick on that.

Ah, it's cause photobucket changed it's payment tiers. There's limited 3rd party hosting for anything but their $400 a year plan. I can see it because it's on my account. Oh well. I'll just have to keep to tumblr lol.
- L_B_R

You could move your stuff over to imgur. Free and fairly simple to use.

Out of US's ass, right?
- tredbrta

Well, that escalated quickly

Well, that escalated quickly
- dpard

Should have thought about that before you ate ass popcorn.

Has anyone been carefully watching Wingels? I always like his game and thought he'd be a great lower line addition.

From what I have been reading looks like he is a fringe 4th line guy this year? I can't imagine keeping Bouma over him
- bhawks2241

I haven't been able to watch any pre-season games so what I know about Wingels this off season or prior is based on what I've read on these boards or in other online sources.

- From what I've gathered is that Wingels had an injury this summer so he is nursing that (is he fully recovered now?).

- Last year after getting traded to from the Sharks to the Senators, Ottawa head coach Boucher supposedly didn't deploy him correctly and it hurt Wingels' usefulness (some would argue Boucher did to Wingels what Q did to Weise).

- Regardless of whether the Senators coaching staff used him correctly, Wingels fell out of favor in San Jose so something wasn't going right for him last year and even the year before.

It would be somewhat unfair if DeBrincat makes the team primarily as a powerplay specialist. He needs to play on a top line. But some players on our third line are not terrible to play with. Nonetheless, Rockford is probably best for his development.
- jhawk59

DeBrincat is the type of prospect where he needs to play a narrowly defined role (i.e. scorer in the top-6) or else he's not of much value to the team. So I agree, if he's not playing in the Hawks top-6, then he needs to be playing in the Hogs top-6.

And being a special teams-only player shouldn't be a role for rookies. Veterans are fine, especially those near the latter part of their career and need limited minutes due to wear and tear. But IMHO, rookies need to play 5-on-5 to gain experience then add minutes as needed with PP and/or PK time if they have the skillset to play on those special teams.

DeBrincat is the type of prospect where he needs to play a narrowly defined role (i.e. scorer in the top-6) or else he's not of much value to the team. So I agree, if he's not playing in the Hawks top-6, then he needs to be playing in the Hogs top-6.

And being a special teams-only player shouldn't be a role for rookies. Veterans are fine, especially those near the latter part of their career and need limited minutes due to wear and tear. But IMHO, rookies need to play 5-on-5 to gain experience then add minutes as needed with PP and/or PK time if they have the skillset to play on those special teams.
- AEL_Fox

With the way the game is played now, 45 second shifts, rolling 4 lines, every shift played at top speed, can any team really afford to have a specialist sitting on the bench? I would think everyone dressed for a game would be needed and expected to play in all situations.

How does everyone have the bottom 6 spelling out? I like Sharp-AA-Hartman as a line. That could be a really good line. 4th line is harder to lay out for me. You've got Hayden pushing for a spot, which I think he's earned. Kero, Dauphin, and Kampf have all played well, but you've also got Wingels and Bouma who signed earlier and aren't waiver exempt. I'd like to see some combo of Kero-Kampf-Dauphin, but they are technically all centers, and 2 are basically rookies. Kampf and Dauphin have shown they hard to play against and tenacious. I haven't seen anything out of Bouma that warrants him staying on the team except the contract he signed. Wingels has been nursing an injury recovery, so it's hard to say. I think Tootoo stays based on what the team and Q have said about him. So, it's basically 3 of Hayden, Kampf, Kero, Dauphin, Wingels and Bouma if they give ADB a shot on line 2. If they send ADB to the rock, then I think Hayden slides to line 3, Sharp to 2, and then it's 3 of 5 of those guys.

I don't think there were teams that felt TvR was worthy of a top three defenseman exemption by the Vegas dispersal rules, for one.
BEFORE the expansion, teams weren't necessarily asking their competition to send their 2mil salaried defensive specialists to them BEFORE expansion draft.
Afterward, well. I bet Vegas went lookng for takers on many of their 13 selected defenders with few nibbles.

Stan used the Vegas disperals rules to free some space, and made sure Hartman and others didn't get picked.
That might have been a priority to keep a solid youngster in the stable with a STABLE low Cap hit...he is a guy who isn't going to not play pro and is a fit for the hawks.

Moving to the enxt topic:

I think Bouma and Wingles block a lot of shots and make a lot of hits.

PART of the new player contigent will be recruits who consistently fit the new coaching staff mantra: Our forwards and defensemen must attack the star players and make their attack zone possession difficult and attempt to make sure there is little open ice/room for them and they are very aware of the swarm is also going to rub you.

I think we will see if I am correct by virtue of which defenders "win" jobs...if three of the newbies (2 on defense) are guys that look to be asked to play heavy, I might be on to something...
- wiz1901

Yeah, these weren't, gee, "I guess I'll do something stupid today because I have a few million in cap room" moves.

Point being, while all the prospect gurus/talent evaluators on the interwebs are convinced that none of these veteran offseason signings will make the team over ADB, Forsling, Hino, Hayden, whoever, they may be surprised. Tootoo is another guy who will likely be on the roster. For the role he fills as a veteran player who does what he does.

This is all that needs to be said about the Bigot in Chief and anyone who is so blatantly prejudice and/or ignorant to still support him.

"Constitution of United States of America 1789 (rev. 1992)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

It's an open and closed case, NFL players are fully in their rights to kneel during the anthem. As much as POTUS would like an Authoritarian regime, this is still America, where freedom of speech and peaceful protest is still allowed. See 1st Amendment to the Constitution above for those "offended veterans".
- EnzoD

Easy there, Enzo. I hear ya, but keep it to hockey, please.

I'm feeling optimistic about this season. I like what Stan has done with the roster & coaching staff this summer. Lots of great story lines contributing to this feeling, lots of potential, lots of risks.

1: Kane being Kane - He's amazing on the ice and seems to have matured off the ice.

2: Toews, Keith, Seabrook - all of these guys seem to have had a tough time since the last Cup. If they are healed up this year and can regain some of their old form, this team is going to be improved.

3: Goaltending: CC looks like he'll snap into midseason form pretty quickly. Forsberg seems good enough; hope so.

4: Saad & Sharp, Part II - Saad helps that top line, Sharp seems improved post-surgery and is excited to be here. It isn't just their talent, it's that they have the history with the other core and Q. It improves the chemistry.

5: Panik, Schmatz, & Hartman - these guys all contributed last year, now they need to take the next step, especially come playoff time. They all seem ready.

6: Big questions on D - Murphy, Kempny, Rutta, Franson, Oesterlie, Pokka, Forsling, Snuggerud, etc. Are there four guys in that bunch to keep the Blackhawks competitive?

7: The young guys, who emerges? - DiBrincat tops the list, does he make the team? does he stick? does he get a call up? Hayden, Kero, Jurco, Kampf, Fortin, Hino, Douphin, etc. Who among them contributes this year?

8: Bottom 6 vets - AA, Wingles, Bouma, Tootoo - are they ready to bring some grit and "hard to play against" attitude?

9: Hossa's cap hit - will the NHL allow the Blackhawks to LTIR him? If so, what do they do with that money? Who do they sign? Can they swing a trade?

I'm excited about the season. Bring it on.

Interesting article on Rutta. Seems like he is all but a lock.
https://t.co/ixYP6kiDMP

You could move your stuff over to imgur. Free and fairly simple to use.
- JRoenick97

Oh man, I have like 12 GB of gifs and such on PB. It would kind of ridiculous to try to move it all. I break my gifs down into shows and then reaction types because I used to be on LJ and now tumblr a lot.

Oh man, I have like 12 GB of gifs and such on PB. It would kind of ridiculous to try to move it all. I break my gifs down into shows and then reaction types because I used to be on LJ and now tumblr a lot.
- L_B_R

Am I old? I don't know what LJ is and I feel like Tumblr is just for crazy porn.

Yeah, these weren't, gee, "I guess I'll do something stupid today because I have a few million in cap room" moves.

Point being, while all the prospect gurus/talent evaluators on the interwebs are convinced that none of these veteran offseason signings will make the team over ADB, Forsling, Hino, Hayden, whoever, they may be surprised. Tootoo is another guy who will likely be on the roster. For the role he fills as a veteran player who does what he does.
- John Jaeckel

John you say that Tootoo, wingels bouma are locks but the math says they are not. No one is going to claim Tootoo. Or do you think someone would? what about Jurco, Pokka or OST? the magic number is 23 14/7 or 13/8

There are 2 issues, one who is on the roster day 1 and who is on the roster day 2 assuming Hossa is allowed to go on LTIR.

lets so what players are on both which factors in waivers and talent
SAAD-T-PAN
Sharp-AA-KANE
KERO-HART (8)

then Locks on players that waiver exempt
Schamltz (9)

then possible guys that have to clear waivers: in the order I think they would not clear waivers?
Wingels, Jurco, Bouma, tootoo (13)

Then possible guys that do not have to clear waivers: in the order of likelihood of who makes the team:
Hayden, debrinct, Hino (16)

Tell me at least 2 maybe 3 and it what order is not going to make the team or get sent down having to clear waivers. For me its Debrinct tootoo, Hino

Now D locks non waiver
Keith-Murph
kemp-seabs (4)
Locks waiver
Rutta (5)
non waiver poss in order they would not clear
POKKA OST (7)
waiver Poss
forsling (8)
(I think Gus is a no for sure he can go down)
PTO
Franson (9)

1 to 2 of the above are not making it:
Forsling, and my second is a OST.

So when you factor in goalies, 4 of the above are not making the team:
I think Forsling, Hino do not make the team. I think Wingels, Hayden and Franson do.

So that leaves Debrinct (w) tootoo, bouma, Jurco, Pokka, OST so 2 of these listed do not. and other then debrinct they have to be exposed. For me it would be debrinct and Tootoo. in this situation we lose no one to waivers and give all the borderline guys some time to prove they are NHL players.

Yeah, these weren't, gee, "I guess I'll do something stupid today because I have a few million in cap room" moves.

Point being, while all the prospect gurus/talent evaluators on the interwebs are convinced that none of these veteran offseason signings will make the team over ADB, Forsling, Hino, Hayden, whoever, they may be surprised. Tootoo is another guy who will likely be on the roster. For the role he fills as a veteran player who does what he does.
- John Jaeckel

Do you see Tootoo, Bouma, and Wingles all making the team?

I have to say that personally, I don't get the Hinostroza love. He seemed pretty much expendable after last season. I felt that out of all the rookie forwards, he struggled the most defensively and he was yet another rookie who had a difficult time with faceoffs. It just seems like other guys have now leapfrogged him on the depth chart, I can't see him making the cut until there are injuries.

Do you see Tootoo, Bouma, and Wingles all making the team?
- bhawks2241

I hope not. That 4th line would get owned.

Could be a lot of roster activity between today and day 2 of the season for the Hawks.

Hossa LTIR? (not really official yet)
Rosi LTIR? (not really official yet)
Trade Hossa contract?
A few players without AHL options that won't make the roster. So they will be traded or go on waivers (and maybe claimed off waivers).
Future considerations on the Kruger trade? Maybe nothing?
Vegas probably going to move a dman or 2? (Unlikely to the Hawks)
Duchene could be on the move? (Very unlikely to the Hawks)
Maybe Hawks pick up someone off waivers?