One thing is for sure Jonathan quick is one hell of a goalie
- southernhawk

The guy has 1.3 GA with 9.46 save in road playoff games!! If this is the type of goaltending you need to get to the WC fior SC finals!! I don't see our guys Crw or Emery getting that done. They were at the bottom of the league during the reg season!!

Thoughts, questions and things that make you go hmmm.

Keith, Attendance, Hossa, Kane, Montador, CBA..

On My Fox Chgo: http://bit.ly/KOX2oa

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

"Hes absolutely a product of the phoenix system, if corey crawford were the goalie there he would look great too."

3 shutouts in the playoffs and 8 in the reg. season for Smith, vs 0 all year for the Hawks goalies combined- system or not, Smith is head and shoulders a better goalie.

Thoughts, questions and things that make you go hmmm.

Keith, Attendance, Hossa, Kane, Montador, CBA..

On My Fox Chgo: http://bit.ly/KOX2oa

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Thanks Al, good read as usuall. My question is do the Hawks have a medical guy that is kept abreast of Hossa and Montador? I would think that the front office is not in the dark.

Thanks Al, good read as usuall. My question is do the Hawks have a medical guy that is kept abreast of Hossa and Montador? I would think that the front office is not in the dark.
- Lido_Shuffle

I am almost positive the Hawks are very much in the loop.

Also every player has his own cutomized summer workout program which is monitored closely via the web for those who aren't here.

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

I doubt Smyth will leave Edmonton. Both sides are not that far apart. They'll end up agreeinging somewhere in the middle.

I doubt Smyth will leave Edmonton. Both sides are not that far apart. They'll end up agreeinging somewhere in the middle.
- EKolb13

I agree, if Smyth wants to keep playing he'll do it in Edmonton.

Besides that, I'd rather have Stan find a better solution than another near-retirement "bargain". No more Brunttes (they player not the hair color) or Pisanis please.

nice writeup
so trade kane to a team like boston that will surround him with big physical players and
- molly2522

I will go out on a limb and say that there is no way this trade happens.

I am almost positive the Hawks are very much in the loop.

Also every player has his own cutomized summer workout program which is monitored closely via the web for those who aren't here.
- Al

Ok, that's good. I would hope for guys like Monty and Hoss and that their physicians are sending along medical reports and having conversations with the teams doctors. The fact we have not heard boo regarding Monty is worrisome. I'm hoping he returns in good health and the team can utilize his talent. I forgot that he had been playing wing more then defense and I don't know how that graded out. Any thoughts?

Thoughts, questions and things that make you go hmmm.

Keith, Attendance, Hossa, Kane, Montador, CBA..

On My Fox Chgo: http://bit.ly/KOX2oa

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Nice write up again.

Given the health situation checking out, what's your thought on Monty going to camp as a winger on the 3rd or 4th line? I know placing a $2.75M cap hit in the lower forwards isn't prudent but short of him retiring or being traded, I gotta wonder if a winger is better suited for him, given the 'Hawks adequately fill the defence.

BTW were you meaning to write that Hossa would "retire" after '16-'17 instead of being bought out by the 'Hawks? A buyout June, 2017 would cost the 'Hawks nearly $20M.

"Hes absolutely a product of the phoenix system, if corey crawford were the goalie there he would look great too."

3 shutouts in the playoffs and 8 in the reg. season for Smith, vs 0 all year for the Hawks goalies combined- system or not, Smith is head and shoulders a better goalie.
- Sundevil

100+ points or not, the Hawks' system was head and shoulders below most playoff teams this season.

I just don't see Mike Smith, or any other top goalie for that matter, having a measurably better time of it than C2 did playing behind that soft forecheck and even softer defensive corps.

If Smith had to be as athletic as he was for Phoenix with a defense in front of him that blocked shots, took bodies off of the puck, and kept shooters on the perimeter, it tells you what an even bigger stretch it would be to play for the anti-that kind of team - da Hawks of 2011-12.

Ok, that's good. I would hope for guys like Monty and Hoss and that their physicians are sending along medical reports and having conversations with the teams doctors. The fact we have not heard boo regarding Monty is worrisome. I'm hoping he returns in good health and the team can utilize his talent. I forgot that he had been playing wing more then defense and I don't know how that graded out. Any thoughts?
- Lido_Shuffle

This is the blackhawk way. Remember Kim Johnsson? We're still waiting to hear what happened to him?

This is the blackhawk way. Remember Kim Johnsson? We're still waiting to hear what happened to him?
- djd

There's a lot of mysteries in the NHL....where is Kane's missing puck from game 6 in the 2010 Cup final? What is the status of Torres' appeal?

Nice write up again.

Given the health situation checking out, what's your thought on Monty going to camp as a winger on the 3rd or 4th line? I know placing a $2.75M cap hit in the lower forwards isn't prudent but short of him retiring or being traded, I gotta wonder if a winger is better suited for him, given the 'Hawks adequately fill the defence.

BTW were you meaning to write that Hossa would "retire" after '16-'17 instead of being bought out by the 'Hawks? A buyout June, 2017 would cost the 'Hawks nearly $20M.
- blackhawk24

No...

The reason for structuring a contract like Hossa's is that most of the dough is paid out before the last few years..Cap hit is always the same but not Hossa's salary.

So Hossa could be bought out easily after 16-17 becasue he has only about $4 mill left to be paid.

100+ points or not, the Hawks' system was head and shoulders below most playoff teams this season.

I just don't see Mike Smith, or any other top goalie for that matter, having a measurably better time of it than C2 did playing behind that soft forecheck and even softer defensive corps.

If Smith had to be as athletic as he was for Phoenix with a defense in front of him that blocked shots, took bodies off of the puck, and kept shooters on the perimeter, it tells you what an even bigger stretch it would be to play for the anti-that kind of team - da Hawks of 2011-12.
- Return of the Roar

I beat this horse all season...

What sysytem??....They need to define a system and get players who can fit.

This is the blackhawk way. Remember Kim Johnsson? We're still waiting to hear what happened to him?
- djd

My guess is there was more to Johnsson disappearing act than an injury...

There's a lot of mysteries in the NHL....where is Kane's missing puck from game 6 in the 2010 Cup final? What is the status of Torres' appeal?
- DarthKane

Kane's puck is either with a player not with the team any longer or was put into a bucket by a linesman and couldn't be identified.
...My guess.

Kane's puck is either with a player not with the team any longer or was put into a bucket by a linesman and couldn't be identified.
...My guess.
- Al

My guess is that it's sitting on Chris Pronger's fireplace mantel

This is the blackhawk way. Remember Kim Johnsson? We're still waiting to hear what happened to him?
- djd

Patrick Sharp F ck d his wife thats what happened ! !

I beat this horse all season...

What sysytem??....They need to define a system and get players who can fit.
- Al

Good point.

I guess we could probably argue about what another goaltender does on another team, but the bottom line is your goaltender needs to steal games when your defense/team defense is not at it's best. The Hawks seemed to average 1+ soft goals a game (thus 0 shutouts in regular season and the playoffs), I'm sorry but that does not always fall on the system or the D. I can tell you from playing myself there is nothing more deflating than working your butt off and the goalie let's in a softie.

Good point.

I guess we could probably argue about what another goaltender does on another team, but the bottom line is your goaltender needs to steal games when your defense/team defense is not at it's best. The Hawks seemed to average 1+ soft goals a game (thus 0 shutouts in regular season and the playoffs), I'm sorry but that does not fall on the system or the D. I can tell you from playing myself there is nothing more deflating than working your butt off and the goalie let's in a softie.
- Sundevil

True enough but it would have taken a Mike Smith like season to overcome the ineffective hockey played here for much of the year.

The goalie was an issue but the biggest problem was a poorly contructed team, starting last summer.

Patrick Sharp F ck d his wife thats what happened ! !
- mrpaulish

And now his fat new contract is gonna phuck the Hawks for years to come.

And now his fat new contract is gonna phuck the Hawks for years to come.
- Ogilthorpe2

Out of the "core" Id love for them to trade Sharp. What could the Hawks get for Sharp ? He's 30 , with how many years left on his contract ? To the Jets for EKane ?

Out of the "core" Id love for them to trade Sharp. What could the Hawks get for Sharp ? He's 30 , with how many years left on his contract ? To the Jets for EKane ?
- mrpaulish

Sharp to Boston for Lucic

No...

The reason for structuring a contract like Hossa's is that most of the dough is paid out before the last few years..Cap hit is always the same but not Hossa's salary.

So Hossa could be bought out easily after 16-17 becasue he has only about $4 mill left to be paid.
- Al

Then CapGeek is wrong.