Just heard this from a Hawk source re: the hawks plans for the COnvention and dealing with fan disappointment at NO MOVES:


"They will do their best to keep selling Saad, And for that matter all our "amazing prospects" There will be a ton of Hossa talk and how well he is supposedly doing.

There will be talking about how the team got tougher, and a full year with Carcillo, Shaw, Bollig, will help "tremendously"."
- John Jaeckel

I have a couple of more marketing ideas to help Stanbow appease the rabble at the Convention and convince them of how the team is going to be improved and the favourite to win the Central Division:

-Large posters of Bill Wirtz, Andrew Brunette and Sean O'Donnell burning in hell.

- Handout photos of Nik Lidstrom, Roberto Luongo and Ryan Suter giving Ken Holland, Mike Gillis and David Poile the middle finger salute as they walk away from their home arenas.

I have a couple of more marketing ideas to help Stanbow appease the rabble at the Convention and convince them of how the team is going to be improved and the favourite to win the Central Division:

-Large posters of Bill Wirtz, Andrew Brunette and Sean O'Donnell burning in hell.

- Handout photos of Nik Lidstrom, Roberto Luongo and Ryan Suter giving Ken Holland, Mike Gillis and David Poile the middle finger salute as they walk away from their home arenas.
- RickJ

I disagree on Bruno and OD comments. They are what we thought they were! At least for me. Now, dollar Bill? And you want a large poster of him? OK, how 'bout him AND his father burning in hell, with a large poster of the Golden Jet standing next to the fans & the Stadium, giving the father the finger. Never forget 6/27/72.

Am I the only one who thinks this whole race to get a deal done to save the Winter Classic and therefore save the season is a bit overblown? The Winter Freaking Classic? Really? So they'll scrap the other 500+ games leading up to the Winter Classic no problem, but saving this one game is going to be the savings grace of the season? Must save that great New Years day tradition called the Winter Classic. If they miss it this season, that would be the first time in nearly a 1/5 of a generation that they didnt play that game. Horror!


I'm not buying it.

I disagree on Bruno and OD comments. They are what we thought they were! At least for me. Now, dollar Bill? And you want a large poster of him? OK, how 'bout him AND his father burning in hell, with a large poster of the Golden Jet standing next to the fans & the Stadium, giving the father the finger. Never forget 6/27/72.
- blackhawk24

Stanbow is going to be very desperate, he is probably in PR training this week. Anybody is fair game including Bruno and OD. (Surely you must have not seen Bruno in action before he was a Hawk?)

I like your inclusion of #9 into the picture.

Stanbow is going to be very desperate, he is probably in PR training this week. Anybody is fair game including Bruno and OD. (Surely you must have not seen Bruno in action before he was a Hawk?)

I like your inclusion of #9 into the picture.
- RickJ

I hope you're wrong on that, and I think you might be, based on all the backing out he's done with deals.

We shouldn't overpay, and while everyone else is considering packing and trading away good chips for over-the-hill has-beens as we've done the last two years... I hope he's learned his lesson.

I don't want to see Luongo, Arnott OR Doan here. One is a mental midget and two are too old. If we trade good p[rospects for a cup of coffee with Doan or Arnott, thats a terrible decision. Maybe if you really feel good about a playoff run in the early spring then you do it then.

Play the chips you have, including Saad if he's good enough. Then after 2-3 months but well before the trading deadline, trade from a position of strength.

Am I the only one who thinks this whole race to get a deal done to save the Winter Classic and therefore save the season is a bit overblown? The Winter Freaking Classic? Really? So they'll scrap the other 500+ games leading up to the Winter Classic no problem, but saving this one game is going to be the savings grace of the season? Must save that great New Years day tradition called the Winter Classic. If they miss it this season, that would be the first time in nearly a 1/5 of a generation that they didnt play that game. Horror!


I'm not buying it.
- Ogilthorpe2

It's about money, plain and simple. Many of the owners, particular in the U.S., merely break even or operate at a loss in October and November. Meanwhile, the Winter Classic is a massive cash cow for the league in every conceivable way, and it is also the centerpiece of their NBC contract as well as their HBO deal for 24/7. Regardless of what you, me, or anyone else thinks about that game, it is the league's #1 regular season priority in every business metric - and rightfully so.

You can bet Donald Fehr will exploit this to the hilt and try to call the league/owners bluff - i would not expect the NHLPA to make many, if any concessions, during the negotiations until they see how Bettman and the owners react to the potential loss of the Winter Classic. Should be fascinating.

Stanbow is going to be very desperate, he is probably in PR training this week. Anybody is fair game including Bruno and OD. (Surely you must have not seen Bruno in action before he was a Hawk?)

I like your inclusion of #9 into the picture.
- RickJ

I have a high level of confidence that they will make at least 1 signing before the weekend. MCD has to be popping blood pressure pills like Tic Tacs

Just heard Hasek on the radio... He sounds serious about returning to the NHL, maybe Stan should invite him to camp on a tryout basis. What could it hurt?

I hope you're wrong on that, and I think you might be, based on all the backing out he's done with deals.

We shouldn't overpay, and while everyone else is considering packing and trading away good chips for over-the-hill has-beens as we've done the last two years... I hope he's learned his lesson.

I don't want to see Luongo, Arnott OR Doan here. One is a mental midget and two are too old. If we trade good p
- busmaster[rospects for a cup of coffee with Doan or Arnott, thats a terrible decision. Maybe if you really feel good about a playoff run in the early spring then you do it then.

Play the chips you have, including Saad if he's good enough. Then after 2-3 months but well before the trading deadline, trade from a position of strength.

Arnott and Doan are FA ...we won't trade anybody for them...just money

It's about money, plain and simple. Many of the owners, particular in the U.S., merely break even or operate at a loss in October and November. Meanwhile, the Winter Classic is a massive cash cow for the league in every conceivable way, and it is also the centerpiece of their NBC contract as well as their HBO deal for 24/7. Regardless of what you, me, or anyone else thinks about that game, it is the league's #1 regular season priority in every business metric - and rightfully so.

You can bet Donald Fehr will exploit this to the hilt and try to call the league/owners bluff - i would not expect the NHLPA to make many, if any concessions, during the negotiations until they see how Bettman and the owners react to the potential loss of the Winter Classic. Should be fascinating.
- BreakoutHockey

So it's more important to play one regular season game than the almost 600 games that could be lost up to that point? I doubt it. Especially when you look at the long term ramifications of losing half a season.

Just heard Hasek on the radio... He sounds serious about returning to the NHL, maybe Stan should invite him to camp on a tryout basis. What could it hurt?
- Ogilthorpe2

I dunno ...his hip maybe ..

I hope they are prepared to deal with a well deserved shower of boos
- FourFeathers773

I hope fans will be prepared to deliver said shower. And I hope Rocky is listening.

I hope you're wrong on that, and I think you might be, based on all the backing out he's done with deals.

We shouldn't overpay, and while everyone else is considering packing and trading away good chips for over-the-hill has-beens as we've done the last two years... I hope he's learned his lesson.

I don't want to see Luongo, Arnott OR Doan here. One is a mental midget and two are too old. If we trade good p
- busmaster[rospects for a cup of coffee with Doan or Arnott, thats a terrible decision. Maybe if you really feel good about a playoff run in the early spring then you do it then.

Play the chips you have, including Saad if he's good enough. Then after 2-3 months but well before the trading deadline, trade from a position of strength.

I didn't mean desperate to make a deal or a signing. I meant on how he was going to handle the negative fan reaction.

I'm 100% with you on Doan, Luongo and that broken down plug Arnott, who is just another Andrew Brunette waiting to happen.

Improve the blueline and alot of good things will result.

So it's more important to play one regular season game than the almost 600 games that could be lost up to that point? I doubt it. Especially when you look at the long term ramifications of losing half a season.
- Ogilthorpe2

If the season doesn't start on time it could set the NHL back a long way in the USA ....and its popularity is just coming back from the last lockout...winter classic or not the loss of revenue will be felt for years.

Stanbow is going to be very desperate, he is probably in PR training this week. Anybody is fair game including Bruno and OD. (Surely you must have not seen Bruno in action before he was a Hawk?)

I like your inclusion of #9 into the picture.
- RickJ

Yeah I saw Bruno and yes he was better than last year. Then again, so were some of the 'Hawks other players here before Bruno; better than last year.

As long as we're talking dollar bill burning in hell, lets add these guys too: Tony-O, Stosh, JR, Eddie-the-Eagle & Cheli.

Interesting to see if SB wets himself Fri/Sat.

Just heard this from a Hawk source re: the hawks plans for the COnvention and dealing with fan disappointment at NO MOVES:


"They will do their best to keep selling Saad, And for that matter all our "amazing prospects" There will be a ton of Hossa talk and how well he is supposedly doing.

There will be talking about how the team got tougher, and a full year with Carcillo, Shaw, Bollig, will help "tremendously"."
- John Jaeckel

I don't think they have to sell Saad. The kid is a goal scorer at a time when it's become a lost art and I think he'll do well with the big club. They need to address the goaltending first and foremost. If the Hawks had just good goaltending last year, at worst they'd have been the 4 seed.

So it's more important to play one regular season game than the almost 600 games that could be lost up to that point? I doubt it. Especially when you look at the long term ramifications of losing half a season.
- Ogilthorpe2

Any work stoppage will hurt hockey, although losing the whole season is much worse than losing half of it.

Right now, negotiations are in the initial offer phase. I'll start to worry more if either side hasn't budged in mid August.

Hey, I'll still have hockey in Rockford.

I didn't mean desperate to make a deal or a signing. I meant on how he was going to handle the negative fan reaction.

I'm 100% with you on Doan, Luongo and that broken down plug Arnott, who is just another Andrew Brunette waiting to happen.

Improve the blueline and alot of good things will result.
- RickJ

With Oduya and now Brookbank
Keith,Seabrook
Oduya,Hammer
Leddy,Brookbank

That's not a bad blue line at all. If Luongo is in net with our offense and that blue line the hawks are a vastly improved team PERIOD

I don't think they have to sell Saad. The kid is a goal scorer at a time when it's become a lost art and I think he'll do well with the big club. They need to address the goaltending first and foremost. If the Hawks had just good goaltending last year, at worst they'd have been the 4 seed.
- dan9189

They obviously don't have to sell Saad onto you, you've already bought in on it.

Just heard Hasek on the radio... He sounds serious about returning to the NHL, maybe Stan should invite him to camp on a tryout basis. What could it hurt?
- Ogilthorpe2

Hasek, really?

He was over the hill 5 years ago.

As a coach maybe but other than that, never.

Incrementally they make less $$ / game the 1st 41 vs the 2nd 41. But any stoppage can set this league back a decade.

What's the new TV deal in the US? $2B/10yrs? That just started right, within the last season? What silliness to have any delay whatsoever.
- blackhawk24

I would hope the season begins on time.

Listen, maybe Saad wins the Calder.

More likely not.

And here's the reality of all this. The Hawks might be planning on there being no season or an abbreviated season, so the sense of Saad being a top 6 guy for this team, much less that impacting the team's fortunes, is a moot point. I have to believe that is really what they're thinking. There won't be a season or much of a season anyway, so this is all moot.

Otherwise, they are insane.

Let's face it, you play Saad in the top 6, he essentially replaces either Stalberg or I guess Carcillo. He can't do what Carcillo does.

He really is more like what Stalberg is, a big guy who is a skater and scorer. But he's 19. Will he even equal what Stalberg did statistically last year? Kinda doubtful, maybe. Will he make as many mistakes. He absolutely will. Maybe more.

How does this improve the team over last year? Even if he scores 25 goals? Are they more physical, better on the forecheck? No. Are they harder to play against? No. Are they better on the power play? Doubtful.

He can't play center. That's a joke. How does Brandon Saad in any way help this team defensively, which is the help it really needs (I can see the potential for him to hurt it defensively)?

So, my conclusion is they are really planning on no or little NHL hockey being played this year or this Saad thing is the last desperate grasp of a drowning front office.

I hope you're wrong on that, and I think you might be, based on all the backing out he's done with deals.

We shouldn't overpay, and while everyone else is considering packing and trading away good chips for over-the-hill has-beens as we've done the last two years... I hope he's learned his lesson.

I don't want to see Luongo, Arnott OR Doan here. One is a mental midget and two are too old. If we trade good p
- busmaster[rospects for a cup of coffee with Doan or Arnott, thats a terrible decision. Maybe if you really feel good about a playoff run in the early spring then you do it then.

Play the chips you have, including Saad if he's good enough. Then after 2-3 months but well before the trading deadline, trade from a position of strength.

Who here has spoke about trading away good chips for OTH has-beens? Some of the deals JJ talked about to some extent would have been OTT, getting Z. Smith for Hammer, a couple MTL deals involving Plekanic/Subban or getting Gagner from EDM. Most deals spoke to dealing Hammer or Leddy + someone else. Hardly has-beens coming this way in any potential deal.

You underestimate Doan's contribution potential. Yes I would agree a 4-year deal is too long but if the 'Hawks are serious, Doan at $20M for 3 years does wonders. Yes, other monies need to be moved. But they could do worse.

Also of issue is the thought other UFA's (tier 2 guys) don't want to come here. THAT is troubling if true.

I don't think they have to sell Saad. The kid is a goal scorer at a time when it's become a lost art and I think he'll do well with the big club. They need to address the goaltending first and foremost. If the Hawks had just good goaltending last year, at worst they'd have been the 4 seed.
- dan9189

How many NHL goals has he scored? The Hawks need to clone you for the convention.

He's 19. LOTS of guys put up big junior numbers.

They have to sell Saad because they have no other "improvements" to speak of. They've sold Saad to gullible fans for over a year now. So, technically, you're right. Some fans out there believe this guy is the next Gordie Howe—a guy who will lightup the scoreboard the minute he hits NHL ice—when there are lots of paid scouts who will tell you the jury is really out on him and there are holes in his game.

I don't think they have to sell Saad. The kid is a goal scorer at a time when it's become a lost art and I think he'll do well with the big club. They need to address the goaltending first and foremost. If the Hawks had just good goaltending last year, at worst they'd have been the 4 seed.
- dan9189

Stan...thats you isn't it...