Just thinking - isn't now the perfect time to bring up Beach? He has no history with the league office, he can just go crazy (won't get suspended per league's repeat offender policy) and he can be the physical presence they need. If he does nothing to secure a win, what is lost?
- powerenforcer

He's out long-term with a shoulder injury I believe. Perhaps the rest of the season, not sure about that though.

Again, I'm trying to stick to the subject and because my opinions are different, they're called ridiculous, by someone who evidently didn't read my whole post.

What I said is that IF the rumors of the SB taking orders were true...IF.

As for what moves are hits: Jamal Mayers, Viktor Stalberg, Re-signing Brent Seabrook, Ray Emery as a backup for that price, Andrew Shaw, drafting Brandon Saad, Barker-for-Leddy, the trade, not the re-signing, of Frolik for Skille because it's better to take a chance on a 23-year-old who has scored 20 goals than one who hasn't...I believe all these were successful moves.

It's interesting that you just blew off my statement about Holland needing 4 years, then 6 to build Cup Winners when that is a fact.
- andru2797

It's a good point..

As I said a couple of pages back, NHL Gm's are almost always given 5 years to make a team their own.

I'm not defending Bowman here, just stating the ways of the NHL, (right or wrong)

You're the most sensitive on the message board!!!!! Congrats you win a box of kleenex and a bottle of wine.
- nickmo2699

ha ha ha

Right...I'm the most sensitive......
- andru2797

It's not easy to try and stay on the fence and wait for things to actually play out..

Both sides telling you you're wrong

and he replied "yes".

Think about why Rick Telander and Rick Morrissey (neither of whom have ever covered hockey I believe) are writing the only Hawk opinion pieces in the Sun-Times—and not Jahns.

I might be wrong but there could have been some sarcasm in Tim's response...

The second point is nothing new...

Beat writers blend in opinions at some point but that isn't there main focus the majority of the time...They report.

Featured writers have had the same MO here in every sport...And they are more interview/opinion focused.

They go where there is a hot story and write pieces...Now the hot Hawks story points to criticizing etc...becuse things have slipped so badly.
- Al

Al and JJ

Need a shot blocking D man, bring Brent Sopel over from the K league. No one does that better

It's not easy to try and stay on the fence and wait for things to actually play out..

Both sides telling you you're wrong
- pri$ey

I don't really mind anyone telling me I'm wrong or right...but the same way everyone else is allowed to present their opinions, I am too...of course I think the problem here is that my views are unpopular among JJ's readers, which is why they dislike me I believe.

Again, I'm trying to stick to the subject and because my opinions are different, they're called ridiculous, by someone who evidently didn't read my whole post.

What I said is that IF the rumors of the SB taking orders were true...IF.

As for what moves are hits: Jamal Mayers, Viktor Stalberg, Re-signing Brent Seabrook, Ray Emery as a backup for that price, Andrew Shaw, drafting Brandon Saad, Barker-for-Leddy, the trade, not the re-signing, of Frolik for Skille because it's better to take a chance on a 23-year-old who has scored 20 goals than one who hasn't...I believe all these were successful moves.

It's interesting that you just blew off my statement about Holland needing 4 years, then 6 to build Cup Winners when that is a fact.
- andru2797

Just to put things in context when Holland became GM of the Wings they were less than a 80 point team.

Al and JJ

Need a shot blocking D man, bring Brent Sopel over from the K league. No one does that better
- Maggie

While your at it grab ben lovejoy from pitt.

I like your line of thinking Rick. That is the type of player that is missing from this roster. It'd be nice to find 2-3 with some attitude and nastiness.

Remember the year before the Cup during the CGY series? Borque was taking shots at Kane all series. Then Burish broke his stick on a cross check to the shoulder/neck area and the nonsense seemed to stop from CGY?

Wasn't it the Cup year when Kesler was talking in the media, Ladd challenged him to drop em at the UC and promptly bloodied Kessler?

Or how about the Cup Finals when it seemed like Pronger was a force until Big Buff put Pronger through the boards with a fantastic hit.

Those types of responses and those types of players are what the Hawks need. It picks the team up and eliminates the nonsense from the other team.
- Dino_Sucks

I'm not an advocate of goon hockey but there never has been a successful NHL team that refused to engage physically or protect its star players, especially their Captain.

Conn Smythe - " If you can't beat them in the alley, you can't beat them on the ice." And his reference was not to have a team of bullies but to have a team that would not be intimidated by bullies.

This team assembled by Stan Bowman would get pushed around by a team in a ladies non-contact league. It is totally unacceptable.

Al and JJ

Need a shot blocking D man, bring Brent Sopel over from the K league. No one does that better
- Maggie

Sopel has stated he is there for the duration but the point is valid....He was never replaced.

Sopel has stated he is there for the duration but the point is valid....He was never replaced.
- Al

if he had a chance to come here to the team he loves and back to his family who stayed in the US, although not Chicago, he would be here in a mini minute if arrangements could be made to buy out his K league contract

I have heard McDonough already has eyes on his next position anyway. Believe me, this is getting really "not fun" for him.
- John Jaeckel

Yeah, he's gonna take over for Ted-I-got-you-your-stadium-Phillips on the lake front. Remember you heard it here first.

The only FO more f(u)cked up than the 'Hawks right now is the Bears.

I really had high hopes for him in that he'd do for the 'Hawks on the media front what he did for my Cubbies. Unfortunately it seems like the power really, really got to his noggin. And if its true, he must go.

EDIT: Oh, and if this is true and I interpret JJ's statement as McD may bolt one way or another, that in of itself may be the tonic the FO needs. Would MacIsaac get a pink slip too?

just saw via twitter that KEith is not practicing today. #'s 2, 4, and 5 remain out.

Also, Kane, Toews, Sharp reunited and Brunette for some reason skating on 2nd line with 16 and 81.

The line shuffling continues. At least in practice anyway.

just saw via twitter that KEith is not practicing today. #'s 2, 4, and 5 remain out.

Also, Kane, Toews, Sharp reunited and Brunette for some reason skating on 2nd line with 16 and 81.

The line shuffling continues. At least in practice anyway.
- Dino_Sucks

Does Brunette get to park in the Handicapped space?

Just to put things in context when Holland became GM of the Wings they were less than a 80 point team.
- Al

Not true...Holland became GM of the team in 1997 when he inherited the defending Champions. He then won the Cup in his first year as GM, then 4 years later in 2002 and then 6 years again after that in 2008.

if he had a chance to come here to the team he loves and back to his family who stayed in the US, although not Chicago, he would be here in a mini minute if arrangements could be made to buy out his K league contract
- Maggie

I miss him too but that ship has sailed..

There was a reason Sopel signed atwo year deal to play in Siberia....And I have a strong feeling it wasn't because he likes sub zero tempertures and ice.

Not true...Holland became GM of the team in 1997 when he inherited the defending Champions. He then won the Cup in his first year as GM, then 4 years later in 2002 and then 6 years again after that in 2008.
- andru2797

I had decades wrong and you are correct, as I thought he came on in 1987.

Al and JJ

Need a shot blocking D man, bring Brent Sopel over from the K league. No one does that better
- Maggie

'Hawks already have that guy and he wears #4. Besides Sopel is on record of honoring his contract. No story here.

Does Brunette get to park in the Handicapped space?
- nickmo2699

I think signing Brunette was a mistake, but, if you use him correctly, he can still provide some value. He's done well on the forecheck with other grinders who don't rely on speed (Mayers, Hayes, Shaw). Putting him with Hossa is just dumb. Complete waste of Hossa's speed.

and he replied "yes".

Think about why Rick Telander and Rick Morrissey (neither of whom have ever covered hockey I believe) are writing the only Hawk opinion pieces in the Sun-Times—and not Jahns.

I might be wrong but there could have been some sarcasm in Tim's response...

The second point is nothing new...

Beat writers blend in opinions at some point but that isn't there main focus the majority of the time...They report.

Featured writers have had the same MO here in every sport...And they are more interview/opinion focused.

They go where there is a hot story and write pieces...Now the hot Hawks story points to criticizing etc...becuse things have slipped so badly.
- Al

Why would a beat writer admit - in public - that he / she is afraid of being "punished" by the team being covered?

I had decades wrong and you are correct, as I thought he came on in 1987.
- Al

Yeah I had trouble believing it too...only 11 years as GM.

I think signing Brunette was a mistake, but, if you use him correctly, he can still provide some value. He's done well on the forecheck with other grinders who don't rely on speed (Mayers, Hayes, Shaw). Putting him with Hossa is just dumb. Complete waste of Hossa's speed.
- coldsteelonice

Other than playing on the fourth line he slows every line he is on down. He is old and is a waste of a roster spot.

Nice to see JJ is holding everyone up to the same standards...........

What exactly did I say that was SO terrible that you would see it as a "spin"?
- andru2797

Check your PMs. Everyone play nice.

Other than playing on the fourth line he slows every line he is on down. He is old and is a waste of a roster spot.
- nickmo2699

I think Bruno at 2 million on a 1 year deal is a good value. The problem, in my opinion, is this:

The ideal situation for him is to play 4th line 5-on-5 minutes and provide a net presence on the PP.

The problem is for any type of net presence to be effective, a power-play has to be a shooting power-play, which these Hawks are not. They like to pass the puck side to side a lot and look for the back door play, which makes Bruno completely useless. He scores most of his goals on tip-ins or from within the crease. For that to happen, you need a point man who can get pucks through on a consistent basis. The Hawks a) don't have a real shooter on the point and b) refuse to do it most nights anyway.

Other than playing on the fourth line he slows every line he is on down. He is old and is a waste of a roster spot.
- nickmo2699

Yes he is slow and old. Which is why playing with Kane, Toews, Hossa, and Sharp is dumb. However, he is one of three players that goes anywhere near the crease. (Kruger and Toews being the others). He has value if used correctly. He is not being used correctly.