Kane was a big supporter as well as the rest of the team. Look at the highlights from the beginning of the season. Every goal by Kane or Hossa had Carcillo with his toes in the crease in front of the goaltender. Oblivious, moronic Hawk fans that dont know the sport, are against Carcillo because of the Gilbert hit and the Pitkanen hit in arolina I believe. He is a huge asset to this team and IMO one of the few things Stanbo got right.
- nickmo2699

On July 1st and draft day, I thought Stan did fairly well (80/20 in favor) in free agency given the cap and nailed 8 of the 10 draft picks. In hindsight, he was about 50/50 with his moves.

I didn't like the Brouwer trade, lost one of the few forwards that could be physical. Hawks chose Danault with that pick, so all was not lost, but paired with the loss of Kopecky in FA, this loss was tough both in the locker room and on the ice. I was also pretty pissed when Stan chose Clendening over Jenner.

However, I loved the McNeill pick and I'm still amazed Saad dropped to our 4th overall pick in the draft. Would've loved to see Saad and Jenner on the same line, wow.

I was in favor of the Monty, Bruno, Lepisto, and Carcillo pickups, but didn't like Mayers or Emery and I hated the OD signing.

All in all, the draft was a huge success and if they let Q help decide on the personnel as he should be, this team could make some noise for quite some time, possibly even a reloading dynasty. Keep your fingers crossed.

Wasn't me. I'm of the opinion you beat the other team by scoring more goals than they do....OR

If you feel like a message absolutely needs to be sent I am also of the opinion you don't run at the guy immediately. It's kind of pointless to take out some 4th line bozo. You wait until the opportune time so you can make it look like an "accident" and you hit their best player across the wrists with a slash as hard as you can. Not anything to concuss someone, or ram their heads into the boards or smash their face up with your fists that can possibly end a career or livelihood... That's ridiculous.

But a bruised radius or ulna, maybe a fracture if they get hit just right with some yapping after sends a clear message. Would probably result in a lesser penalty than fighting someone or taking someone out.

Either way, whatever form of retribution is your cup of tea, I would leave the guy who did it alone and go after whoever is the best player on that team and make it known via trash talking or pointing or whatever why their best player is now injured as well. Gooning a goon is just foolish IMO.

Then if I was an owner I would hold a press conference and rip the NHL publicly anytime any of my employees missed time due to reckless and irresponsible plays Mark Cuban style.
- fattybeef

The best retribution is not one fight...

The best deterrent is to be able to consistently pound away at the opposing teams' skill players and defense. ...If one doubts that statement look who survives in the playoffs.

Only one of the tougher guys on the Hawks to do that, albeit it not well enough or often enough was Carcillo. ...and toward the end of the year Shaw.

Need more players on the same mission......

That has to be addressed this summer.

Patiently waiting for the next JJ article we were promised today....

Any of you guys ever think of Wheeler as an answer for size in the top 6? Personally, I love him as a player here but I think he'd suit the Hawks style to a T. Big body, very fast, puck possession guy, wins board battles and drives the net on almost every rush. Cap hit is very reasonable too. I'd bet he'd do some serious damage on a line with Kane (especially) and/or Toews.
Again, not a guy I want traded by any means but I got to thinking and it made enough sense to write this up.

Can't really focus just on Kane as the only weak physical specimen on the top six.

By using size/willingness/ability to be physical as the barometer to evaluate a player's expendability, you could easily make the argument that any of the Hawks' top four fall in that category. Toews and Hossa must now play a style of game that risks them less, and Sharp is not exactly a board beater/head knocker either.

And your crop of newbies - Stalberg, Kruger, Saad, Morin, McNeil - not a lot of grit in that group either.

The best answer is in adding the grit to what they have on the top six - not breaking it up.
- Return of the Roar

From my small sample of seeing McNeil play, I wouldn't say he was shy about digging in the corners for the puck.

From what I've seen of Morin and McNeill in Rockford, I'd disagree. Both of those guys are not afraid to play physically. From the little I've seen of Saad, I'd say the same thing too.
- EKolb13

I'm with ya concerning McNeil. The kid was in the corners and in front of the net working....

He's a guy I'd love to see here.

As for Fraiser, there are other guys I'd prefer to see here instead.
- EKolb13

First of all, it is Fraser. Secondly, why the (frank) people keep bringing up Colin F'in Fraser? He is a bum. Dude played in 3 playoff games during the cup year and was let go after that. I can think of 20 guys I'd rather have than Fraser.

The best retribution is not one fight...

The best deterrent is to be able to consistently pound away at the opposing teams' skill players and defense. ...If one doubts that statement look who survives in the playoffs.

Only one of the tougher guys on the Hawks to do that, albeit it not well enough or often enough was Carcillo. ...and toward the end of the year Shaw.

Need more players on the same mission......

That has to be addressed this summer.
- Al

Yes....

Any of you guys ever think of Wheeler as an answer for size in the top 6? Personally, I love him as a player here but I think he'd suit the Hawks style to a T. Big body, very fast, puck possession guy, wins board battles and drives the net on almost every rush. Cap hit is very reasonable too. I'd bet he'd do some serious damage on a line with Kane (especially) and/or Toews.
Again, not a guy I want traded by any means but I got to thinking and it made enough sense to write this up.
- beardface

I like the guy he's got great wheels but other than that I don't know much on him

WIth Bruno and Mayers gone where does Hayes Shaw bollig and carcillo going to play just don't see slots for everyone

WIth Bruno and Mayers gone where does Hayes Shaw bollig and carcillo going to play just don't see slots for everyone
- southernhawk

only shaw should play on any line other than the fourth

hayes needs to add bulk and aquire a physical game
i think hayes is another year away from competing for a top 6 forward

i still think sharp is the guy to trade for a big physical forward that can skate

wish i had more faith in this coaching staff to develop stalberg who has all the tools to be a beast

He's always like this.

I like the guy. I may not agree with him most of the time, but he stands by and formulates his own ideas.

I appreciate that.
- EKolb13

thanks kolb! some day we'll hook up at the UC, as far as some of the tips or thoughts, especially the latest1, the boston 1, if i put the cards out on the table and some one catches on, i'll never get another bit of inside crap! from anyone, anywhere, from any team.
hey, if i was the bruins, no way i trade looch. would love him here, but it's the old saying, you got to give up to get! if the bruins feel they lack goals but have enough ass then you can't blame them for trying to look into kanes availability, if there is any.but if you want to ask about kane, then stan bowman was absolutely right on asking about looch! all i'm saying is this one has some legs, thats all.
and for the sabres, i can't give you the name but your man regier recently inquired about kanes availability and stan bowman told him a starting point was miller & myers. end of story, don't know the rest of the conversation. probably not much, so kane won't be a sabre either.
you guys all think 90 % of this roster are coming back? i don't think so. someone vastly important is getting dealt to fill some needs. and god help us if we have to rely on some of the same clubfoots that were here last season! and god help us if bickell is still counted on for any of that stuff! period.
rask has some serious chicago ties here also and i could tell ya his name has come up around here more than once.
watch the jackets also........i said before i'd rather have brassard / nash than any other senario floated out there up till now!

1) He won't play again until he is 100%. That could be a fairly long time. LTIR might be a possibility. He could also be there 10/1. Impossible to say right now.

2) Hossa might have some bearing on Kane, I would think. I would not rule out the possibility of a Kane deal regardless. If an elite winger (Nash) came back and the Hawks want Kane gone, it could get done. In that event, Hossa's situation has no bearing.

3) I think upgrading defense is a likelihood. But I would not at all rule out changes in the forwards. You have only THREE legitimate centers on your roster and really nothing valid to fill in with in the minors. You have wings who can play C (Frolik, Sharp, Shaw). But the better situation is to have a glut of centers and some of them being forced to play wing. In fact, I believe one or two of Bickell, Stalberg or Frolik will be gone if kane is not dealt.
- John Jaeckel

JJ,

-Let's just hope that Hossa is ok, first and foremost.

-I wouldn't rule out a Kane trade either but I just have a gut feeling it won't happen this offseason. I've thought about this over the past week and although he may be a d-bag away from the ice, I just can't see the Hawks dealing a talent like Kane unless it's an offer they can't refuse.

-I'm sure there will be some moves with the forwards but I think their bigger issue is defense and if I had my way that's what I hope the Hawks would make their number one priority.

Mike Smith is such a baby.

Im glad its over.

Now the Coyotes can finally announce a move to Quebec

I thought Doan and Hanzel were MENTAL in the handshake line.

I thought Doan and Hanzel were MENTAL in the handshake line.
- mrpaulish

I almost feel bad for the guy (Doan)

Thoroughly enjoyed Phx's season come to crashing end tonight. How fitting to have the winning goal scored right after watching all their chirping and Doan going nuts over the Brown hit.

Poetic justice to have one of their players go down and then lose the game. Doan and the rest of them all had their ears and eyes covered and mouths shut after THEIR guy Torres destroyed Hossa....but now one of THEIR guys is alledgedly cheap shotted and ohhh there is he!! to play.

Brown did not go try to go knee to knee or leg whip Rosival. The offside whistle blew right at the time of contact. Browm should have been flagged for a chicken wing elbow....but what the he!!....brutal referring is a staple in all thses games.

Mike Smith is such a baby.

Im glad its over.

Now the Coyotes can finally announce a move to Quebec
- mrpaulish

And Torres stil has 13 games of his suspsension left!!

I thought Doan and Hanzel were MENTAL in the handshake line.
- mrpaulish

Really don't agree with this.

WIth Bruno and Mayers gone where does Hayes Shaw bollig and carcillo going to play just don't see slots for everyone
- southernhawk

Carcillo & Shaw will stick in Chicago. I'd think Bollig is here to stay as well. Unless the Hawks go out and get a different tough guy. Hayes will probably start the year in Rockford.

And Torres stil has 13 games of his suspsension left!!
- bogiedoc

That pisses me off.

It really should have been the whole playoffs plus the 25 games to start the season.

Mike Smith is such a baby.

Im glad its over.

Now the Coyotes can finally announce a move to Quebec
- mrpaulish

I thought their new ownership group is trying to keep them in Phoenix?

only shaw should play on any line other than the fourth

hayes needs to add bulk and aquire a physical game
i think hayes is another year away from competing for a top 6 forward

i still think sharp is the guy to trade for a big physical forward that can skate

wish i had more faith in this coaching staff to develop stalberg who has all the tools to be a beast
- molly2522

Hayes needs to add strength, not bulk, especially in his lower body and get much faster. With his size and skill around the net, he could be a very, very good NHL player. If he doesn't add some speed and get stronger on his skates, he could be the next Brandon Bochenski. Right now, it is hard to have him out in a lot of situations against a lot of teams.

Mike Smith is such a baby.

Im glad its over.

Now the Coyotes can finally announce a move to Quebec
- mrpaulish

I need Browns address so I can send him a case a beer and Mike Smike's so I can send him a case of Kleenex.

I need Browns address so I can send him a case a beer and Mike Smike's so I can send him a case of Kleenex.


- Lido_Shuffle

Where was all of their outrage when Torres may have ended a hall of fame career prematurely? This PHX team is nothing but a bunch of whiny punks. Starts at the top with their coach.

Mike Smith's numbers next year: .895 sv % and 3.10 GAA book it.