Ok, fine, better question, why shouldn't he be brought back? What did he cost the team. You can argue that his penalty in Oiler game contributed to a loss, but other than that, he brought way more positives than negatives. You can argue some of the recent flare up of pussitis the hawks have is related to him coming out of the line up.

He had no trouble skating with and moving the puck with any of the top 4. In fact, he made many many nice plays with passes etc, creating offense.

Again, equating him with Shaw is a mistake. Shaw has more offensive upside. I was one of the first to point this out when everyone compared these two. You need to compare him to Versteeg in many ways. Except Shaw is more disciplined in his own end and has some real toughness.
- TrueGrit

Now I see where you're going with the comparison thing. I agree, I do see some comparison to Versteeg. However, I do see comparison to Carcillo as well.

Is "pussitis" the same syndrome as "no-hit-itis?"

Sutton , Edmonton pylon-pass
Erskine , Washington #6/7 potentialHannan , Calg
Allen , Carolina one of my top choices
Clark , Tampa Bay rather have Kubina
Gill, Montreal awesome if he catches opposing forwards, which isnt a guarantee
- ikeane

The fact is the Hawks have the prospects/picks/salary cap space to acquire any one of them.

Kubina's not coming here and Allen likely isn't either. Hawks will not put forth enoughin an offer for either.

Agree on Gill, much more of a pylon than Sutton. Did you actually watch Sutton the other night? I think it is just wrong to say he would not help the Hawks. They don't need a superstar, just someone to give them stable minutes, low mistakes (Erskine here as well) and some physicality they're missing.
- John Jaeckel

Didn't see the game, but Sutton has always seemed to be slow of foot. Unfortunate the Hawks wouldn't get the needed #3/4 dman in Allen or Kubina. Much more mobile with a mean streak than Gill/Sutton/etc. Erskine is my consolation prize

In case anyone's interested, or needs something to pass the time till Colorado tomorrow, I wrote an article for my baby bro.

Anyway, while we wait, perhaps foolishly, for Stan to bring some help to this Blackhawk team, I give some advice to Coach Q...

http://www.secondcityhock.../2/4/2771695/dear-coach-q
- yahoodi

READ THIS AND YOU SHOULD WRITE MORE OFTEN

The fact is the Hawks have the prospects/picks/salary cap space to acquire any one of them.
- mrpaulish

The fact is the Hawks have the cap room. The gray area is whether or not they have the right prospects or picks, or willingness to pony up the right prospects or picks to make a deal.

Kubina's not coming here and Allen likely isn't either. Hawks will not put forth enoughin an offer for either.

Agree on Gill, much more of a pylon than Sutton. Did you actually watch Sutton the other night? I think it is just wrong to say he would not help the Hawks. They don't need a superstar, just someone to give them stable minutes, low mistakes (Erskine here as well) and some physicality they're missing.
- John Jaeckel

Sutton , Gill , Erskine all would at least run into someone . The Hawks have none of that now on the back end except for Seabrook

Must be Feb/March...for the 4th year in a row the Hawks are looking for a starting/playoff goal tender.

The teams ahead of them in the division are set playing very well defensivley.

Frigg'n Blues have 4 shoutouts in their last 8 games with 2 of the 1-0 variety.

Preds with Rinne look great and now they can score.

Wings are vulnerable if Howard starts slipping or is out for awhile.

So tomorrow is the battle of losing streaks. Aves have lost 5 straight all by 1 goal and well we know are beloved have lost 7 straight on the road.

The fact is the Hawks have the prospects/picks/salary cap space to acquire any one of them.
- mrpaulish

Sure, they do, but will they pay it. Rutherford is rumored to eb asking a LOT for Allen.

Five or so pages later, and i can still only think about Toews centering a co-kane line.
im not sure why that's so funny to me.
- InvisibleOrange

THEY SAY REALITY IS SOMETIMES THE FUNNIEST

I would do Kane and Crawford for Miller and Myers.
- John Jaeckel

sign me up for that trade.

READ THIS AND YOU SHOULD WRITE MORE OFTEN
- molly2522

Yeah, it's a good piece and I agree about having Sharp at 2C. It sort of seems to be trending that way anyway.

Here is one thing I believe Al pointed out...or somebody did, please take credit whoever you are.

That is in the face of all the current hysteria etc and all the criticism of what we did NOT do in the summer last year, lets look around the league at all the top gems that signed. Specifically Bufalo, Columbus etc. Sometimes the best trades or signing are the ones you do not make.

Point is, there was slim pickings then and same for now. And the idea that you will pay up to get crap is in hindsight stupid. So while there is ample criticism to go around, lets not get too carried away. I am waiting for someone to try to sign Cullimore again.

Anyways, the answer lies in a combination of adding guys and getting the rest of the group in order. The focus should be on the ladder, as Nick Boynton or his type is not gonna net you a Stanley Cup...

Sure, they do, but will they pay it. Rutherford is rumored to eb asking a LOT for Allen.
- John Jaeckel

If you plugged Allen into this team right now you're talking long play off run

My first thoughts on the McDonough/Q thing: p.r. move, telling the media (and maybe his boss!) that he is engaged and putting his brilliant hockey/business mind to work on the problem.
Why does he have to talk to Q in public at a practice? Sorry, not buying it. For public consumption.

- John Jaeckel

Makes me think of the time Jerry Helper shot the home movie of Rob Petrie giving The Redcoats fatherly advise. For you youngsters out there, he didn't actually say anything. Just went through the motions.

sign me up for that trade.
- furso27

AGREE TOTALLY

No hate.

I respect him as a promotions guy a great deal. But that doesn't make you a good hockey guy or team President in any sport.

I think his ego and management style have helped the team greatly off the ice, but actually hurt it on the ice.

He had almost nothing to do with the team's ascension on the ice until and including 2010.

He is almost completely responsible for what's happened (or not) on the ice while building and maintaining sky-high expectations with the fanbase, since then.
- John Jaeckel[/[/]quote]

Are you saying McD has decision making power over the Bowmans? I agree with you about the expectations and the marketing, but seems to me that StB (with ScB input) would have more on-ice power over coaches, players, etc. than McD.

I would hope....

Must be Feb/March...for the 4th year in a row the Hawks are looking for a starting/playoff goal tender.

The teams ahead of them in the division are set playing very well defensivley.

Frigg'n Blues have 4 shoutouts in their last 8 games with 2 of the 1-0 variety.

Preds with Rinne look great and now they can score.

Wings are vulnerable if Howard starts slipping or is out for awhile.

So tomorrow is the battle of losing streaks. Aves have lost 5 straight all by 1 goal and well we know are beloved have lost 7 straight on the road.
- bogiedoc

I hear you and do not discount defense, but like the trends in all major sports that demand great defense to win. You will hear before too long how Nash, STL, LA and even SJ do not have enough punch to off set an off night in net or a defensive slump.

Goalie envy is fine, but not the end all.

If you plugged Allen into this team right now you're talking long play off run
- mrpaulish

You're not getting Allen for a bunch of fringe NHL players though. At least right now, since 20 teams are calling about Allen daily. Rutherford probably is asking for Leddy or like a 1st and McNeill. Right now he can ask for a lot to see if anyone gets desperate. He has time to maximize his return on Allen.

i for one think this team is only 2 or 3 aquisitions away from being a frontrunner for the stanley cup

you only have today so i say go all in
you are only one hit away from a core player being retired

If you plugged Allen into this team right now you're talking long play off run
- mrpaulish

I don't disagree. I also seriously doubt they will meet Rutherford's price.