I hear ya man but there's bigger fish to fry than 4th liners that signing won't make or break us.....
- southernhawk

Definitely won't make us.

JJ basically said the Nyquist, Brunnstrom and Smith were the Wings top prospects like it's all they had which is not the case. Brunnstrom was just a one year UFA signing and not even a prospect...and likely won't even be re-signed. Nyquist and Smith are the most NHL ready and good prospects but doesn't mean they will be the best from the Wings prospect system they have right now.

I said potential because it is all it is at this point and i'm not deluded to think most of them will even reach that potential but i also know that some could and some could exceed expectations just like Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen did. Nobody knows at this point...not me, not JJ and not even the Wings scouting staff and management. This is the deepest the Wings prospect group has been since the early 90's so sorry if most of us Wings fans aren't so sure (like JJ) that none of them will become a star in the NHL.
- dcz28

I can't believe he would have missed Teemu Pulkkinen...he's one of the more intriguing prospects the Wings have and I think may end up being a better all around player then Nyquist.

Vezina Con Smythe = Quick will see that does not happen!

Kings will rule over this Devil team!
- bogiedoc

I'll admit that the Kings look like they're on a mission. Still it would be if Martin Brodeur raised the cup one last time.

I can't believe he would have missed Teemu Pulkkinen...he's one of the more intriguing prospects the Wings have and I think may end up being a better all around player then Nyquist.
- andru2797

Jarnkrok and Jurco are also good prospects. That was my problem with what JJ said...he says none of the Wings prospects will be stars (might be true...might not). Nobody knows that...not even him so to say it like it's 100% fact is as crazy as if i said all of them are going to pan out for the Wings.

Nobody knew how good Datsyuk, Zetterberg and even Lidstrom would become before they hit the NHL, not even Wings scouts and management so nobody knows at this point what those Wings prospects will become (star to bust) at this point. Hell a lot of Wings fans were saying Howard wasn't good enough to be a backup before his first NHL season based on his AHL stats and play but look at him now. Franzen was projected to be a 3rd or 4th line defensive center by the Wings...not the case anymore.

Mayers? Really?
-1 for Stanbow.

Off to a great start re-signing the guy who was a healthy scratch for the two most important games of the year. Here we go with Q's guys. Brace yourselves for more Brunette and the return of John Scott.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ogie I generally I appreciate your posts and your perspective but this is (frank)ing ridiculous.

Mayer's was nothing but solid all year, despite a playoff benching and whoever issued it. I also recall you singing his praises a hand full of months ago. Save your hate for when Bowman blows some high calibre signings, because Mayers on the roster for another year is rock solid.

Definitely won't make us.
- Ogilthorpe2

And what 4th line signing will? (none). Jamal was standup all year.

I just hope there moves for top6 size & top 4d

Ogie I generally I appreciate your posts and your perspective but this is (frank)ing ridiculous.

Mayer's was nothing but solid all year, despite a playoff benching and whoever issued it. I also recall you singing his praises a hand full of months ago. Save your hate for when Bowman blows some high calibre signings, because Mayers on the roster for another year is rock solid.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

somebody else mentioned it I think...... But there are a lot of 4th liners on the hawks as is. Carcillo, Shaw, Bollig, Krueger, Bickell, Hayes, and now Mayers. I know you'll tell me Shaw and Krueger, maybe Hayes are 3rd liners...... maybe they are....... But isn't it better to push the guys slated for the top lines down rather than the bottom lines up? I.e. Stalberg and Frolik move from the second and first lines to the 3rd because of top line talent acquisition, rather than your plethora of 4th liners playing on the 3rd because there are too many of them to play the 4th. Hawks didn't need Mayers..... Seems to me like a pity signing because he played well at times last season so they owed him another year at his age.... Hopefully he works out.

We should've made a run a hartnel at the beginning of the season when he wasn't so hot

We should've made a run a hartnel at the beginning of the season when he wasn't so hot
- southernhawk

Heh. Now that you mention it...... He would be perfect on a line with Toews, Kane. Whatever line Hartsy is on excels..... Hartnell-Briere-Leino, Hartnell-Giroux-Jagr. Not sure how many players like Hartnell are out there but if the hawks can get their hands on one.... Watch out!

You would think Bryan bickell would step it up and be that kinda forward....

You would think Bryan bickell would step it up and be that kinda forward....
- southernhawk

agreed. I can't figure him out..... he definitely should not be as bad as he has been.... I've even wondered at times if he'd play well on the flyers had they'd acquired him.

My philosophy is the guy is either dumb as rocks and doesn't know where he needs to be on the ice or he's another product of a soft hawks system (the same system that tamed Carcillo for the most part).

agreed. I can't figure him out..... he definitely should not be as bad as he has been.... I've even wondered at times if he'd play well on the flyers had they'd acquired him.

My philosophy is the guy is either dumb as rocks and doesn't know where he needs to be on the ice or he's another product of a soft hawks system (the same system that tamed Carcillo for the most part).
- moylander

I think the latter ...there's hope in the system Rob Flick is one...but he's far from NHL ready ...some say Shaw but he's tiny...

Had to respond to this from the last blog. If saying Brunnstrom (as a Wings top prospect) was a joke then ok i retract my comment about you not knowing anything about the Wings prospects but if not then you truly are clueless to think a guy that might not even be re-signed is being viewed by the Wings as part of the Wings future.

I said in the comment you wrote this to that most of them might not make it. I never said any of them would be the next Datsyuk, Lidstrom or Zetterberg because nobody knows just like you can't say that none of them could become stars...you don't know either. I don't elevate any of the Wings prospects to the Hall Of Fame as you put it...all i said was there was potential in the Wings prospect system and if you can't even see that, then i feel sorry for whoever pays you to cover prospects.
- dcz28

Tell you what, you go back and read the thread that follows my comment, especially the one to one comparisons of Tvrdon, Tatar, Jurco and some similar Hawk prospects. And read Bill Placzek (Wiz) individual scouting on some of your guys. Like it or not, the Hawks have had 10 first and second round picks the last two years. TEN.

They have played rookies like Andrew Shaw (check out his numbers over 38 games) and Kruger (who the Wings had targeted in 09—and the Hawks nabbed before they could take him).

Point being, I am STILL not over the moon about the Hawks prospects. Ask anyone who comes to this board.

Again, whether you like the facts or not, that's what I deal in. The Wings, like the Hawks, have a lot of guys who appear to have an NHL future, but no one who looks like a future superstar (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom).

I will say if there's any guy from either prospect pool who looks like he could be a stud in the NHL, it's Brandon Saad. Again, look at the numbers. And I am far from "sold" on him. Again, ask anyone here.

My pointon this board over and over again has been that Stan Bowman should consider dealing some of his prospects because likely none of them will be able to "replace" Kane, Toews, Keith or Hossa down the line. And that'sthe samething I'm saying about all Detroit's brilliant prospects.

So call me a homer or say i don't know prospects because I don't buy your argument (which still lacks facts).

I still know how old Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Kronwall and Franzen are and I see no equal replacements on the Wings' horizon at present. And really no one else who views it objectively does.

Maybe that's why this pipe dream of signing Suter AND Parise keeps getting floated, like I said, like Hitler movingnon-existent armies around on the map in the bunker in April 1945.

Confused About headline. Bring In Melanby but does not want to coach? Seems to be more top brass, which the hawks have to many of these days. Is this a McD hiring or coach Q.

IMO The hawks need to focus on the golie position. Get rid of Waite and bring in someone who is eager to prove themselves. Like Eddie Who has been very outspoken about coaching in the NHL level. Waite never played in the NHL and should stick with his hockey camps. Teams are build through the center positions not the outside.
- fourfeathers

He's a Q guy. I think it's very possible it's about coaching. Remember, he left the St. Louis organization 2 days ago. Was it voluntary, involuntary? Was it because he wants to interview in Chicago, but needed to be out of St. Louis in order to do so? It is funny he said his heart wasn't in coaching, and that could very well mean this is not about coaching. I hear it is. But I will wait and see.

Is Marty LaPointe still with the Blackhawks?
- powerenforcer

I head last week he is going to Montreal for sure. Dunno if it's official yet.

JJ basically said the Nyquist, Brunnstrom and Smith were the Wings top prospects like it's all they had which is not the case. Brunnstrom was just a one year UFA signing and not even a prospect...and likely won't even be re-signed. Nyquist and Smith are the most NHL ready and good prospects but doesn't mean they will be the best from the Wings prospect system they have right now.

I said potential because it is all it is at this point and i'm not deluded to think most of them will even reach that potential but i also know that some could and some could exceed expectations just like Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen did. Nobody knows at this point...not me, not JJ and not even the Wings scouting staff and management. This is the deepest the Wings prospect group has been since the early 90's so sorry if most of us Wings fans aren't so sure (like JJ) that none of them will become a star in the NHL.
- dcz28

I did not say that.

I do think looking at guys who actually play in the NHL is a better measuring stick than some 19 year olds who were picked 25th or 50th.

Jarnkrok and Jurco are also good prospects. That was my problem with what JJ said...he says none of the Wings prospects will be stars (might be true...might not). Nobody knows that...not even him so to say it like it's 100% fact is as crazy as if i said all of them are going to pan out for the Wings.

Nobody knew how good Datsyuk, Zetterberg and even Lidstrom would become before they hit the NHL, not even Wings scouts and management so nobody knows at this point what those Wings prospects will become (star to bust) at this point. Hell a lot of Wings fans were saying Howard wasn't good enough to be a backup before his first NHL season based on his AHL stats and play but look at him now. Franzen was projected to be a 3rd or 4th line defensive center by the Wings...not the case anymore.
- dcz28

I did not say that. I did say/imply it is exceedingly unlikely—basically not going tohappen— any of them will be a Datsyuk, Zetterberg or Lidstrom. I will make it more clear, there could be a Franzen or a Kronwall in there. But there will be a talent dropoff, like it or not, because the first three guys are your team. Period.

And I am starting to get really tired of reading these posts.

Definitely won't make us.
- Ogilthorpe2

i think JJ said the hawks were high on Flick and he had a chance to center 4th line next season - maybe this is a way to split the time on 4th C? mayers is a great example for flick to follow

i think JJ said the hawks were high on Flick and he had a chance to center 4th line next season - maybe this is a way to split the time on 4th C? mayers is a great example for flick to follow
- dpard

Q likes him a lot, FWIW.

JJ what's your take on the Mayers signing and do you think bollig comes back or will flick be given a shot on the 4th line?

shouldn't we wait for Sharp to have an off year before his eulogy is written?
- dpard

He could play to his career average for the life of his contract and he's still overpaid.

Ogi - really?

an established player in his prime, really good wheels, 30+ goals/year, 30+ assists/year, plays on PP & PK. If his name wasn't sharp you'd be saying stan needs to go get a guy like this.
I'll agree his contract MAY be 1 year too long, but his salary is the going price nowadays for guys that produce those numbers, even at his advanced age.
He has shown zero slide in his ability. in fact, his production has gone up the past 2 years - yet many are predicting his downfall already? hilarious.

i think JJ said the hawks were high on Flick and he had a chance to center 4th line next season - maybe this is a way to split the time on 4th C? mayers is a great example for flick to follow
- dpard

I wouldn't cement Myers in a as a full time center...

somebody else mentioned it I think...... But there are a lot of 4th liners on the hawks as is. Carcillo, Shaw, Bollig, Krueger, Bickell, Hayes, and now Mayers. I know you'll tell me Shaw and Krueger, maybe Hayes are 3rd liners...... maybe they are....... But isn't it better to push the guys slated for the top lines down rather than the bottom lines up? I.e. Stalberg and Frolik move from the second and first lines to the 3rd because of top line talent acquisition, rather than your plethora of 4th liners playing on the 3rd because there are too many of them to play the 4th. Hawks didn't need Mayers..... Seems to me like a pity signing because he played well at times last season so they owed him another year at his age.... Hopefully he works out.
- moylander

Out of that group Shaw would be the only guy IMO that could play on all four lines. There are pieces missing on the top two lines and that is a power forward to play with 19 & 88 and a 2nd line center to play with 81&10. I don't have much hope that Stan can fill both those needs. If he can get a legit power forward to play with 19&88 I'd tell Sharpie that he's playing center whether he likes it or not. If he could be the 2nd line center on the Cup team why can't he be effective in that role again. It would be much easier to find a winger to play with Sharp and Hossa than a 2nd line center and possibly they could fill that role from the current roster.

I wouldn't cement Myers in a as a full time center...
- Al

What's your take on the 4th line Al?....will flick crack it..bollig is he coming back?