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.
- John Jaeckel

I don't know who worked with Scott last year in the offseason on his skating,but the same person should work with Hayes...Even though Scott still isn't all that fast,his skating when compared to before is night and day in my opinion...hey there JJ! New blog today?any new news?

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.
- furso27

Im sure he will have another good year playing in that system just like bryzgalov, now if he leaves for another team he probably will come back down to earth. How many times did we see him in the playoffs down and out flopping like a fish and NOBODY could finish a shot. Probably because the entire phoenix team surrounded the net to prevent any outside shots from getting through. Mike Smith is a good goalie, but personally think he is overrated and benefits from the system he plays in. He was pretty darn arrogant as well for having one good year in the NHL as well

Seems Phoenix used Vancouver's method to win a cup but flopping crying and
B|tching won't win a championship

Im sure he will have another good year playing in that system just like bryzgalov, now if he leaves for another team he probably will come back down to earth. How many times did we see him in the playoffs down and out flopping like a fish and NOBODY could finish a shot. Probably because the entire phoenix team surrounded the net to prevent any outside shots from getting through. Mike Smith is a good goalie, but personally think he is overrated and benefits from the system he plays in. He was pretty darn arrogant as well for having one good year in the NHL as well
- Wowo2282

Yeppers

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

Yeah cant really argue with that

Cal clutterbuck is one I would love to see on our 3rd line

I don't know who worked with Scott last year in the offseason on his skating,but the same person should work with Hayes...Even though Scott still isn't all that fast,his skating when compared to before is night and day in my opinion...hey there JJ! New blog today?any new news?
- captainserious

My old coach Kevin Delaney. Knows his stuff.

We were better with him in the line-up than without. Thats how I evaluate.
- nickmo2699

They also did play a soft schedule if I recall corretly in the 1st 1/2 of the season.

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.
- Assman22

Health will be a big factor again and I think they need at least 2 veterans not past their prime.

They drafted athletes for the most part the last 2 drafts. No real barn burners but guys that project as "NHL Players" to one degree or another. Kind of an interesting strategy.

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.
- John Jaeckel

How does one add speed? I understand the rest of your point..

How does one add speed? I understand the rest of your point..
- victorymc98

With strength comes speed. Power cleans for example will add a tremendous amount of explosive strength which will in turn create more forceful strides and higher activation of fast twitch muscle fibers.

They also did play a soft schedule if I recall corretly in the 1st 1/2 of the season.
- victorymc98

This isnt the NFL or the NBA, this league has a salary cap so this is not a legitimate response to a teams success anymore. Was their schedule tougher down the stretch? Yes, but the NHL is competitive and Dan Carcillo was more of an asset then Bruno, O'D, Bickell, Frolik, etc.

With strength comes speed. Power cleans for example will add a tremendous amount of explosive strength which will in turn create more forceful strides and higher activation of fast twitch muscle fibers.
- Wowo2282

Box jumps, weighted and unweighted, snatches, uphill sprints . . .

And he should work on his skating stride and form. He looks like a bag of cats right now.

Box jumps, weighted and unweighted, snatches, uphill sprints . . .

And he should work on his skating stride and form. He looks like a bag of cats right now.
- John Jaeckel

A bag of cats

Box jumps, weighted and unweighted, snatches, uphill sprints . . .

And he should work on his skating stride and form. He looks like a bag of cats right now.
- John Jaeckel

So your saying this is how he looks moving up and down the ice?

Top 100 Players ranked by the bleacher report

http://bleacherreport.com...layers-right-now/page/101

Ryan Smyth offered 2yr/$2MM per by Oilers. He wants $2.5-3.

Is he Bruno 2.0, or a worthy FA acquisition at 2.5-3?

Might look REAALLLY good on LW with 19 and 88.

Last year's numbers:

19 G, 27 A, 53 hits, 31 blocked shots. Played all 82 games.

Ryan Smyth offered 2yr/$2MM per by Oilers. He wants $2.5-3.

Is he Bruno 2.0, or a worthy FA acquisition at 2.5-3?

Might look REAALLLY good on LW with 19 and 88.
- Return of the Roar

I don't know man....hes getting on up there in years

Ryan Smyth offered 2yr/$2MM per by Oilers. He wants $2.5-3.

Is he Bruno 2.0, or a worthy FA acquisition at 2.5-3?

Might look REAALLLY good on LW with 19 and 88.
- Return of the Roar

Would love that. That might be the move to make to bring in Veteran talent. Did Q have him in Colorado?

Box jumps, weighted and unweighted, snatches, uphill sprints . . .

And he should work on his skating stride and form. He looks like a bag of cats right now.
- John Jaeckel

Thanks to both for this.. always thought speed was a something you are born with.

With strength comes speed. Power cleans for example will add a tremendous amount of explosive strength which will in turn create more forceful strides and higher activation of fast twitch muscle fibers.
- Wowo2282

You can only add so much speed by lifting and power skating. Most of it comes down to the genes youre born with.

I've heard you can improve your speed...adding speed is not so easy like stalbergs speed is God given....and so is Jon Scotts you got it or you dont

Ryan Smyth offered 2yr/$2MM per by Oilers. He wants $2.5-3.

Is he Bruno 2.0, or a worthy FA acquisition at 2.5-3?

Might look REAALLLY good on LW with 19 and 88.

Last year's numbers:

19 G, 27 A, 53 hits, 31 blocked shots. Played all 82 games.
- Return of the Roar

He's been pretty adamant about staying in Edmonton and the Oilers know that, hence their lowball offer

Ryan Smyth offered 2yr/$2MM per by Oilers. He wants $2.5-3.

Is he Bruno 2.0, or a worthy FA acquisition at 2.5-3?

Might look REAALLLY good on LW with 19 and 88.

Last year's numbers:

19 G, 27 A, 53 hits, 31 blocked shots. Played all 82 games.
- Return of the Roar

Smyth has some positive attributes but I don't want any part of him.

Last summer he got the Kings too accomodate his request to be traded "back home" because his family wanted to live in Edmonton. Lombardi accomodated the request and then he had to deal with receiving an injured player in return.

Now Smyth is quibbling over $500K or so? Screw him!

Ryan Smyth offered 2yr/$2MM per by Oilers. He wants $2.5-3.

Is he Bruno 2.0, or a worthy FA acquisition at 2.5-3?

Might look REAALLLY good on LW with 19 and 88.

Last year's numbers:

19 G, 27 A, 53 hits, 31 blocked shots. Played all 82 games.
- Return of the Roar

Pass. I want a true power forward on the wing or centering the second line. I don't want an over-the-hill vet to fill a vital spot in the top 6!!!