As far as Toews, he wasn't such a layup pick. There were reasons to take others, Toews had an off yr. at ND plus concussion issues....Kessel, who Wirtz wanted couldn't have easily been drafted ahead.

Also there would not have been any criticism by the media here if Tallon drafted JVR or Turis ahead of Kane.

- Al

I think I agree about the Kane / Toews picks as ones that were slam dunks.

In Toews year, THEY WANTED Staal, and were going to get a quality player at three, and that made the pick a good one, no scouts sweating etc. (I don't care who Wirtz wanted...and Kessel wouldn't have been considered a bust...maybe not Toews, but again , Pittsburgh helped decide the selection.

As soon as the Hawks won that first overall, the Hawks defered to the concensus and basically unanimous number one, Kane.

Pardon my update....

White Sox 2- Bluejays 0

YESSS !!
- ArlingtonRob

Minor League baseball fan eh? Not my cup of tea.

Dominic Moore?

I think his wife has a serious health issue...
- Al

Yeah, his wife is ill, and he is nice reasonable Cap hit with a personal burden that may impact his upcoming season.
I also think the mentions of Winnik, Hannan, and Moore, are simply patches band aids and in no way impact additions or difference makers to this club's chances to climb to a higher Cup level success.

No

EDIT: unless he wins a cup then he COULD be up for consideration
- southernhawk

If Lu wins 30 games per season for the next 5 seasons he will be 3rd all-time in wins. He already has a better career save % than Roy, Brodeur, and Belfour. I think he is well on his way there.

Sox? Cool.... Announcer? Not so much. Don't know why, but he's so polarizing to me. Guess the homerism is worse than any other ChiTown announcers.

Division is the Sox to take. It'll almost be a disappointment if they don't win it. DET IMO isn't going to make that big of a comeback. CLE sucks.
- blackhawk24

Sox only up 2 games...long way to go.

The fact that they don't suck has surprised me, everything else is gravy.

Minor League baseball fan eh? Not my cup of tea.
- Ogilthorpe2

Really Ogi...

You can do better than that...

Ahhhgreeed. Nice joint for a game. In my top-10.

Liked all the original six's famed places. Aud, Saddledome, Checkerdome & Spectrum are the rest of the top 10 for me.
- blackhawk24

Only been to the old St. Louis Arena aka. The Checkerdome...

..that was a rockin' joint for any big Blues-Hawks matchup.

Al also seems to think that E. Kane is available and that the hawks only had a passing interest in Marty. That may be but I have read a lot more about the Hawks interest in Marty and the offer they made than I have read about E. Kane being available or wanting out of Win.
- Tuke17

To be clear my speculation about Kane started in about January.... that he could be traded.

The Hawks nor any other team that I know of has been linked to Kane but...

I have heard he wants out and they are miles apart on a contract. The first issue is Kane has no real negotiating power....If they want to have a dissatisfied 21 yr od on the roster and can't put a deal together Chevy will keep him....For awhile.

The line of suitors for E. Kane would be a mile long. 21 yr old 30 goal scorers don't happen too often.

As far as your Brodeur comment...

I am certain you have heard more about the Hawks "inquiring" about Brodeur than E. Kane...Afterall the Hawks held a press conference at 7:30 PM on July 4th to make sure people like you would know they are "trying" to do something.

I heard the Hawks offered Parise a $14 mil signing bonus to come here but...
I did not hear one word about a Brodeur offer and funny thing is Bowman didn't say they made him a contract offer.

Brodeur accomplished what he wanted and squeezed an extra year and another $4 mill out of NJ.

Making a phone call an asking if Brodeur would sign here for a year, at let's say $3 mill is not making a serious offer and I don't know if the Hawks even took it that far.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

I think I agree about the Kane / Toews picks as ones that were slam dunks.

In Toews year, THEY WANTED Staal, and were going to get a quality player at three, and that made the pick a good one, no scouts sweating etc. (I don't care who Wirtz wanted...and Kessel wouldn't have been considered a bust...maybe not Toews, but again , Pittsburgh helped decide the selection.

As soon as the Hawks won that first overall, the Hawks defered to the concensus and basically unanimous number one, Kane.
- wiz1901

Kessel was Wirtz's choice and I have heard from people who would know.
I don't remember Kane being the overwhelming choice....No one in the media would have criticized taking JVR instead. I was standing next to our buddy Steve when he yelled look at the smurf he Hawks took 1st...

Both players were earmarked to be low picks no doubt... but the Toews pick especially could have easily gone to Kessel. I have to give Tallon high marks for standing his ground on that one as a rookie GM....Staal was earmarked to go before Toews.

Mr. W. thought the high scoring Kessel would sell more tickets...Kessel prbably would have gone higher if he didn't have some baggage and wasn't a dud of an interview.

As you say Kessel wouldn't have been a bust but I would rather have Toews.
No Toews....No Cup.

Yeah, his wife is ill, and he is nice reasonable Cap hit with a personal burden that may impact his upcoming season.
I also think the mentions of Winnik, Hannan, and Moore, are simply patches band aids and in no way impact additions or difference makers to this club's chances to climb to a higher Cup level success.
- wiz1901

A quality center who can play well defensively and can win faceoffs doesn't come cheap this summer....Gaustad got a nice fat contract to prove it.

bottom line regarding lack of movement by SB? could it be that they are waiting to see what shane doan does? once that is clear i got to believe SB has some other stuff laid out..........then again???????

bottom line regarding lack of movement by SB? could it be that they are waiting to see what shane doan does? once that is clear i got to believe SB has some other stuff laid out..........then again???????
- wonthecup10

The deadline in AZ is back until the 16th I think, and it is looking more likely the city council haggling could extend to the Nov. election. Doan set this Monday as his deadline to make a decision...

Doan can only wait so long and the Hawks shouldn't wait too long either way.

bottom line regarding lack of movement by SB? could it be that they are waiting to see what shane doan does? once that is clear i got to believe SB has some other stuff laid out..........then again???????
- wonthecup10

Lets hope so brother...if not.

were looking at more one and dones

good photoshop job


- 1970vintage

Thought yall might like more of this...

I thought it started at that 1991 All Star Game, in the middle of the first Persian Gulf war - wasn't it Wayne Messmer?
- StLBravesFan

No much before that....mid 80's I believe, in the playoffs.

People just couldn't wait to the end to start cheering.... and before you knew it the cheering started as soons as the song started to played.

The '91 ASG gets the pub because of the Perisan War etc but there were many times when the place rocked like it did that day.

Actually in the ASG a big part of the crowd were not Hawks fans...Every team got some tix back then.

Thought yall might like more of this...
- southernhawk

Thought yall might like more of this...
- southernhawk

I thought it started at that 1991 All Star Game, in the middle of the first Persian Gulf war - wasn't it Wayne Messmer?
- StLBravesFan

It was before that. Some think it started prior to 1985 in the conference finals against Vancouver (forget the year) Van went on to the finals to play the Islanders.

good photoshop job


- 1970vintage

LLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!

Thought yall might like more of this...
- southernhawk

Just wish they fakin do something! Sign somebody!

Luongo? Too expensive, too much baggage?
Bernier? Best option?
Kipprusof? Maybe?

This sitting around crap is killing me.

Hope we don't stay with soft goal Crawford cause we aint winning no cup with this guy.

Just wish they fakin do something! Sign somebody!

Luongo? Too expensive, too much baggage?
Bernier? Best option?
Kipprusof? Maybe?

This sitting around crap is killing me.

Hope we don't stay with soft goal Crawford cause we aint winning no cup with this guy.
- Hawkster

I would take LU

or kipper Bernier is more of an unknown than Crawford...but who knows...Luongo has at least 4 good years left maybe more, the last 2 years he's hasn't been used to much so he might have more than that....kipper has been rode like a 5¢ whore..so I don't know how much is left in his tank

Kessel was Wirtz's choice and I have heard from people who would know.
I don't remember Kane being the overwhelming choice....No one in the media would have criticized taking JVR instead. I was standing next to our buddy Steve when he yelled look at the smurf he Hawks took 1st...

Both players were earmarked to be low picks no doubt... but the Toews pick especially could have easily gone to Kessel. I have to give Tallon high marks for standing his ground on that one as a rookie GM....Staal was earmarked to go before Toews.

Mr. W. thought the high scoring Kessel would sell more tickets...Kessel prbably would have gone higher if he didn't have some baggage and wasn't a dud of an interview.

As you say Kessel wouldn't have been a bust but I would rather have Toews.
No Toews....No Cup.
- Al

Toews clearly the better selection over Kessel.

But right now I think if Kessel was on Toew's wing he would score 50-60 goals - true sniper.

Pat Kane will never score that many goals - he's a playmaker/passer first. Doubt Brian Burke would trade Kessel for Kane at this point in their careers.

In other news... I was able to trade Kruger + Picks for Steve Ott & Frolik + Picks for TJ Oshie on my NHL 12 GM mode...

Sharp/Toews/Hossa
Ott/Oshie/Kane
Stalberg/Bolland/Bickell
Shaw/Mayers/Carcillo

Keith/Seabrook
Oduya/Hjalmarrson
Leddy/Brookbank

It is quite beautiful.

In other news... I was able to trade Kruger + Picks for Steve Ott & Frolik + Picks for TJ Oshie on my NHL 12 GM mode...

Sharp/Toews/Hossa
Ott/Oshie/Kane
Stalberg/Bolland/Bickell
Shaw/Mayers/Carcillo

Keith/Seabrook
Oduya/Hjalmarrson
Leddy/Brookbank

It is quite beautiful.
- CBHawks88

I traded sharp + couple 1st founders for Lucic ,Morin Lalonde +picks for Getzlaf
And it is lovely

I traded sharp + couple 1st founders for Lucic ,Morin Lalonde +picks for Getzlaf
And it is lovely
- southernhawk