Hayden is PLAYING out there....brilliant pass to AA...lucky save
- kwolf68

Hayden and DeBrinCat are definitely in the top 12 best forwards on team. They both should make it on opening day. Gotta be Saad, Toews, Panik, Cat, Schmaltz, Kane, Sharp, AA, Hartman, Kero and Hayden. Not sure who the 12th forward is...but I kind of like Dauphin to be honest.

He's good for 1 egregious play a game. Nearly had a nice assist to the team in red.
- kwolf68

A few observations:
> Murphy has a LONG way to go to be considered a top 4 D
- very poor skating mechanics (makes up for it because he's lanky/tall)
- very poor on-ice positioning
- can't hold Hjalmarsson's jockstrap (either the young #4 or the "washed-up" #4)
- Hawks desperately need to use Hossa's LTIR $ to snare an actual D man
> Ville Pokka is NOT an NHL defenseman
- not now
- not ever
- slow, poor skating mechanics, thinks the game OK but slow to react

Some Jack Handy deep thoughts:
> wonder if Q had to do it over again whether he'd be so quick to run Leddy off?
> wonder if the Hawks will EVER see a dman with puck carrying capability?
> what happens when/if Duncan Keith totally loses interest or gets hurt?
> where is the "change in scheme/approach"?
> still seeing attempts at stretch pass and D holding on to the puck
> is this ultimately just Q's team? and it doesn't matter Ulf was brought in to run D?
> it will be a crime if Hayden doesn't make the big club

A few observations:
> Murphy has a LONG way to go to be considered a top 4 D
- very poor skating mechanics (makes up for it because he's lanky/tall)
- very poor on-ice positioning
- can't hold Hjalmarsson's jockstrap (either the young #4 or the "washed-up" #4)
- Hawks desperately need to use Hossa's LTIR $ to snare an actual D man
> Ville Pokka is NOT an NHL defenseman
- not now
- not ever
- slow, poor skating mechanics, thinks the game OK but slow to react

Some Jack Handy deep thoughts:
> wonder if Q had to do it over again whether he'd be so quick to run Leddy off?
> wonder if the Hawks will EVER see a dman with puck carrying capability?
> what happens when/if Duncan Keith totally loses interest or gets hurt?
> where is the "change in scheme/approach"?
> still seeing attempts at stretch pass and D holding on to the puck
> is this ultimately just Q's team? and it doesn't matter Ulf was brought in to run D?
> it will be a crime if Hayden doesn't make the big club
- savvyone-1

I think the D corp will be Keith, Seabs, Kempny, Murphy, Rutta, Forsling and Franson. F's will be Saad, Towes, Panik, Cat, Schmaltz, Kane, Sharp, AA, Hartman, Kero, Hayden, Bouma, Wingels and ????. G's-Crawford and Forsberg. I don't think Bouma and Wingels deserve a spot....but Bowman invested in them and will want to save face. Maybe they are the 13th and 14th forwards.

A few observations:
> Murphy has a LONG way to go to be considered a top 4 D
- very poor skating mechanics (makes up for it because he's lanky/tall)
- very poor on-ice positioning
- can't hold Hjalmarsson's jockstrap (either the young #4 or the "washed-up" #4)
- Hawks desperately need to use Hossa's LTIR $ to snare an actual D man
> Ville Pokka is NOT an NHL defenseman
- not now
- not ever
- slow, poor skating mechanics, thinks the game OK but slow to react

Some Jack Handy deep thoughts:
> wonder if Q had to do it over again whether he'd be so quick to run Leddy off?
> wonder if the Hawks will EVER see a dman with puck carrying capability?
> what happens when/if Duncan Keith totally loses interest or gets hurt?
> where is the "change in scheme/approach"?
> still seeing attempts at stretch pass and D holding on to the puck
> is this ultimately just Q's team? and it doesn't matter Ulf was brought in to run D?
> it will be a crime if Hayden doesn't make the big club
- savvyone-1

savvy...savvy...savvy

savvy...savvy...savvy

- bogiedoc

Hey Bogie,
Would love to know the answer to that, wouldn't you?

I watch Murphy and want to throw up. Hjalmarsson was one of my favorite players. In Q's world, Murphy is no better than a 3rd pair guy. Now whether he plays as a 2 or 4 might have more to do with the dearth of talent and/or Bowman. And maybe Q plays Murphy as a 2 just to prove to Bowman he shouldn't have made the trade. Who knows?

Beyond Murphy (and he's certainly not capable of being the guy), there isn't a single guy on the back-end capable of moving the puck out of the zone with their feet.

Keith can do it in limited amounts but never has been an end-to-end guy. Kempny WANTS to be able to do it but doesn't have the puck handling skill nor the speed or wheels (and no confidence either which doesn't help). Forsling COULD but doesn't have the wheels/speed and makes some very poor decisions without having the ability to catch up to the play when he makes a mistake. The rest? No way, no how.

Concerned because of all the talk about a new scheme but it looks like the same old same old to me.

Hey Bogie,
Would love to know the answer to that, wouldn't you?

I watch Murphy and want to throw up. Hjalmarsson was one of my favorite players. In Q's world, Murphy is no better than a 3rd pair guy. Now whether he plays as a 2 or 4 might have more to do with the dearth of talent and/or Bowman. And maybe Q plays Murphy as a 2 just to prove to Bowman he shouldn't have made the trade. Who knows?

Beyond Murphy (and he's certainly not capable of being the guy), there isn't a single guy on the back-end capable of moving the puck out of the zone with their feet.

Keith can do it in limited amounts but never has been an end-to-end guy. Kempny WANTS to be able to do it but doesn't have the puck handling skill nor the speed or wheels (and no confidence either which doesn't help). Forsling COULD but doesn't have the wheels/speed and makes some very poor decisions without having the ability to catch up to the play when he makes a mistake. The rest? No way, no how.

Concerned because of all the talk about a new scheme but it looks like the same old same old to me.
- savvyone-1

I’m sure Q would LOVE to have a true experienced top-4 veteran defenseman like Leddy - but when he was moved, IIRC, they couldn’t afford to resign him, and they won a championship with Oduya.

I doubt (don’t know for sure, but doubt) Q is unhappy with the way it turned out.

Holy poop...Vinnie with a masterful pass

Hey Bogie,
Would love to know the answer to that, wouldn't you?

I watch Murphy and want to throw up. Hjalmarsson was one of my favorite players. In Q's world, Murphy is no better than a 3rd pair guy. Now whether he plays as a 2 or 4 might have more to do with the dearth of talent and/or Bowman. And maybe Q plays Murphy as a 2 just to prove to Bowman he shouldn't have made the trade. Who knows?

Beyond Murphy (and he's certainly not capable of being the guy), there isn't a single guy on the back-end capable of moving the puck out of the zone with their feet.

Keith can do it in limited amounts but never has been an end-to-end guy. Kempny WANTS to be able to do it but doesn't have the puck handling skill nor the speed or wheels (and no confidence either which doesn't help). Forsling COULD but doesn't have the wheels/speed and makes some very poor decisions without having the ability to catch up to the play when he makes a mistake. The rest? No way, no how.

Concerned because of all the talk about a new scheme but it looks like the same old same old to me.
- savvyone-1

i'm withya on murphy...not good...and on hammy a dmans dman..

but you and leddy crack me up...q will forever be in your dog house

Hey Bogie,
Would love to know the answer to that, wouldn't you?

I watch Murphy and want to throw up. Hjalmarsson was one of my favorite players. In Q's world, Murphy is no better than a 3rd pair guy. Now whether he plays as a 2 or 4 might have more to do with the dearth of talent and/or Bowman. And maybe Q plays Murphy as a 2 just to prove to Bowman he shouldn't have made the trade. Who knows?

Beyond Murphy (and he's certainly not capable of being the guy), there isn't a single guy on the back-end capable of moving the puck out of the zone with their feet.

Keith can do it in limited amounts but never has been an end-to-end guy. Kempny WANTS to be able to do it but doesn't have the puck handling skill nor the speed or wheels (and no confidence either which doesn't help). Forsling COULD but doesn't have the wheels/speed and makes some very poor decisions without having the ability to catch up to the play when he makes a mistake. The rest? No way, no how.

Concerned because of all the talk about a new scheme but it looks like the same old same old to me.
- savvyone-1

new scheme: kieth and seebs plus the 4 musketeers or is that mouseketeers

i'm withya on murphy...not good...and on hammy a dmans dman..

but you and leddy crack me up...q will forever be in your dog house
- bogiedoc

Ha ha, so true, Bogie, so true.
Gotta see what Q can make out of this D corp.
Bowman looks like he really screwed Q with the Murphy/Hjalmarsson swap.
Would have loved to be a fly on the wall when that trade was told to Q.
I'll bet his stache was spinnin' about 1,000,000 rpm's with smoke rising from his ears.

I think they were looking for a center prior to the Wennberg signing, no? He and Dubinsky are their centers and they kicked Jenner out to wing I believe.

Again, it's not like it's going to happen so this whole thing is really moot anyway. I would be interested in seeing what they'd like for Anderson however.
- Assman22

Late reply is late but the only center they've been linked to is Duchene and that ask is for an established young d-man. The reports were specific that they were also looking for a offensive winger and Jenner was the trade piece because they would need to move a winger out. Ended up being Saad instead.

Either way, they were not going to be interested in an Anisimov-type unless the ask was for someone of similar value, like Dubinsky (who is older and costs more). They want someone who can be a 1A/1B with Wennberg, but their actual center depth is pretty solid. Dubois looks like he's going to be their 2C going into the year, Dubinsky slots more acceptably as 3C, and they have Sedlak who is a solid enough 4C.

CBJ is the favorite team of one of my co-workers, so I'm weirdly up to date on all their goings ons.

Ha ha, so true, Bogie, so true.
Gotta see what Q can make out of this D corp.
Bowman looks like he really screwed Q with the Murphy/Hjalmarsson swap.
Would have loved to be a fly on the wall when that trade was told to Q.
I'll bet his stache was spinnin' about 1,000,000 rpm's with smoke rising from his ears.
- savvyone-1

That trade is looking like a total dud. Yotes fleeced Bowman. They probably rejoiced to give up Murphy. Dude looks mostly awful.

Holy cow Murphy with another disaster play. Osterle bails him out. Hate to say this one, I think Tanner was right on this guy. Dude looks awful.

Gawt damn...ADB .... CAT

Holy cow Murphy with another disaster play. Osterle bails him out.
- kwolf68

that guy would be on his way rockford if he hadn't been moved for hammy and cap releif...every puck is a hand grenade

that guy would be on his way rockford if he hadn't been moved for hammy and cap releif...every puck is a hand grenade
- bogiedoc

I know it. I can't believe how brutal this guy is.

I know it. I can't believe how brutal this guy is.
- kwolf68

It would be (frank)ing hilarious (actually is very funny, in a very sad sort of way), how many complained about Leddy's gaffes here but want to overlook this oaf's horrific play. They are not that far apart in age or games played -- certainly not that far apart in salary. Murphy's only "redeeming" quality at this point appears to be his size and ability to play physical, although he is out of position more often than not so I'm not sure how much that matters.

He can't skate worth a crap. No speed to make up for his endless gaffes.
I would love for Q to send him to Rockford.
I guess Q would be on the bus with him though.
Bowman really (frank)ed Q with that trade.

(EDIT, heading out in minutes for my men's league game, will catch up tomorrow)

It would be (frank)ing hilarious (actually is very funny, in a very sad sort of way), how many complained about Leddy's gaffes here but want to overlook this oaf's horrific play. They are not that far apart in age or games played -- certainly not that far apart in salary. Murphy's only "redeeming" quality at this point appears to be his size and ability to play physical, although he is out of position more often than not so I'm not sure how much that matters.

He can't skate worth a crap. No speed to make up for his endless gaffes.
I would love for Q to send him to Rockford.
I guess Q would be on the bus with him though.
Bowman really (frank)ed Q with that trade.
- savvyone-1

Yea sad to say Murphy will start in Chicago. The guy looks brutal. Hawks will eventually replace him barring some unforeseen development.

And speaking of Leddy, that is another epic fail of a trade and we're left with one Ville Pokka, a guy I don't see having much more than a cup of coffee in the NHL.

I know it. I can't believe how brutal this guy is.
- kwolf68

I think you might be a little too hard on him or too focus on him. He's had some mistakes, but not any worse than say Hjammer around that age or say Oduya when he first came over and was learning a new system. The other new guys and Kempny all have some rough moments too. Kempny is having a rough game and Forsling's last game was really poop. Rutta's been the more solid.

I'm still optimistic, though Idk if Keith is the right partner for Murphy only because it's a different role than Murphy has played in the past. Hjammer also 'declined' when he was asked to switch roles. I'd rather have Hjammer, but I'm not ready to write off Murphy yet.

Yea sad to say Murphy will start in Chicago. The guy looks brutal. Hawks will eventually replace him barring some unforeseen development.

And speaking of Leddy, that is another epic fail of a trade and we're left with one Ville Pokka, a guy I don't see having much more than a cup of coffee in the NHL.
- kwolf68

But trading Leddy allowed them to keep Oduya who helped them win a cup. Would Leddy have been able to shoulder the load those top 4 guys did that run at that age? Would Q have trusted him to do so? He Leddy's really grown into a good player but I don't think so on either point. Not many people were questioning the move at the time either because "win now" has always been this teams motto.

I'm a pretty big Leddy fan because I like my d-men to transition well, and while the return now looks meh, it was the correct move at the time. I wouldn't trade the 2015 cup for a potential of cups in the future.

I think you might be a little too hard on him or too focus on him. He's had some mistakes, but not any worse than say Hjammer around that age or say Oduya when he first came over and was learning a new system. The other new guys and Kempny all have some rough moments too. Kempny is having a rough game and Forsling's last game was really poop. Rutta's been the more solid.

I'm still optimistic, though Idk if Keith is the right partner for Murphy only because it's a different role than Murphy has played in the past. Hjammer also 'declined' when he was asked to switch roles.
- L_B_R

For a guy going into his fifth year he has been terrible. I also don't agree Hammer was this same type player in his fifth year. Hammer showed consistent marked progression from year to year. The two are not even close to being comparable. I am focusing on him because he was a key player coming into the year. Now I think Q needs to seriously think about demoting this guy to the third pair (or lower) until he shows he can confidentially control the puck in his own zone without tossing it to the other team multiple times each game.

But trading Leddy allowed them to keep Oduya who helped them win a cup. Would Leddy have been able to shoulder the load those top 4 guys did that run at that age? He's really grown into a good player but I don't think so. Not many people were questioning the move at the time either because "win now" has always been this teams motto.

I'm a pretty big Leddy fan because I like my d-men to transition well, and while the return now looks meh, it was the correct move at the time. I wouldn't trade the 2015 cup for a potential of cups in the future.
- L_B_R

That is not the point. I understand Leddy needed and was going to be moved, but the absolute trash Bowman got for him defies logic. Maybe Bowman learned from that fiasco as he has been far more proactive in moving pieces before his hands are totally tied, such was the case with Leddy.

It would be (frank)ing hilarious (actually is very funny, in a very sad sort of way), how many complained about Leddy's gaffes here but want to overlook this oaf's horrific play. They are not that far apart in age or games played -- certainly not that far apart in salary. Murphy's only "redeeming" quality at this point appears to be his size and ability to play physical, although he is out of position more often than not so I'm not sure how much that matters.

He can't skate worth a crap. No speed to make up for his endless gaffes.
I would love for Q to send him to Rockford.
I guess Q would be on the bus with him though.
Bowman really (frank)ed Q with that trade.

(EDIT, heading out in minutes for my men's league game, will catch up tomorrow)
- savvyone-1

When Murphy is down to 10 minutes a night early in the season somebody will give him Trevor Daley's cell number so he can be prepared for what's coming next.

But remember something, his old man Gord wasn't a lot better or different as a player. But he's a buddy of Kevin Dineen's.

Late reply is late but the only center they've been linked to is Duchene and that ask is for an established young d-man.
- L_B_R

Technically, Connor Murphy is "an established young d-man".

Murphy for Duchene, anyone?

When Murphy is down to 10 minutes a night early in the season somebody will give him Trevor Daley's cell number so he can be prepared for what's coming next.

But remember something, his old man Gord wasn't a lot better or different as a player. But he's a buddy of Kevin Dineen's.
- RickJ

I'd love to trade him. I see little in this player. I hope he proves me wrong, but he hasn't played one single quality game yet. Hell, even in the stupid team scrimmage he made the weekend's absolutely worst play when Sharp picked him clean and scored a goal.