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

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
- southernhawk

I'd still want Winnik for 3L and Hannan for 5D. But IIRC, JJ said one, maybe both of those guys shunned the 'Hawks. Neither signed yet though.

In lieu of a 2C or a goalie upgrade or getting Doan with shedding other salary, I'd be OK going into camp if the 2 guys above were on board. They'd be MUCH more physical. The list you have above has only 2 bonifide physical guys. May get away with that until April, starting game 83? Not so much.

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.
- John Jaeckel

Evan Brophy put up a 100 point season in Plymouth. Where is he now?

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
- southernhawk

Is it better because you replaced Leddy with Oduya on the top 4? Uggh.. If the top 4d are asked to play 48 minutes a game, and Oduya plays 20-22, I'm not that enthusiastic. We need a big guy who can pound forwards along the boards and can take a hit. Special teams should be better, yes.

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.
- John Jaeckel

They shouldn't be selling it and after the convention, they'll know not enough will be buying it.

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.
- John Jaeckel

Trouble...

The first point about little or no hockey being played this season doesn't justify not doing anything to improve.

The second point is not giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling about the future either.

It isn't impossible a significant deal can be made but if it doesn't happen by Friday I think the odds go down a lot...

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Evan Brophy put up a 100 point season in Plymouth. Where is he now?
- EKolb13

Brett Sonne had a 100 point year in juniors. Who's he? Exactly.

Jeremy Morin had a huge year in junior. Rob Schremp. Angelo Esposito. Kyle Beach. It is a long, long list.

I'd still want Winnik for 3L and Hannan for 5D. But IIRC, JJ said one, maybe both of those guys shunned the 'Hawks. Neither signed yet though.

In lieu of a 2C or a goalie upgrade or getting Doan with shedding other salary, I'd be OK going into camp if the 2 guys above were on board. They'd be MUCH more physical. The list you have above has only 2 bonifide physical guys. May get away with that until April, starting game 83? Not so much.
- blackhawk24

That's where Luongo in net saves the day...

Brett Sonne had a 100 point year in juniors. Who's he? Exactly.

Jeremy Morin had a huge year in junior. Rob Schremp. Angelo Esposito. Kyle Beach. It is a long, long list.
- John Jaeckel

This!

Brett Sonne had a 100 point year in juniors. Who's he? Exactly.

Jeremy Morin had a huge year in junior. Rob Schremp. Angelo Esposito. Kyle Beach. It is a long, long list.
- John Jaeckel

I heard from a scout Tallon touted Brophey as a lock to be a NHL star.

Very hard to predict most times, the future of young hockey players.

Trouble...

The first point about little or no hockey being played this season doesn't justify not doing anything to improve.

The second point is not giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling about the future either.

It isn't impossible a significant deal can be made but if it doesn't happen by Friday I think the odds go down a lot...

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Agreed. And agreed.

I hold out hope htat they can make some moves before 10/1 and before the convention would be nice for them. What I am HEARING is nothing is imminent and the convention will be a game of P.R. Twister: take what little positive news you have and try to 'twist" it into something exciting.

Rotsa Ruck.

I heard from a scout Tallon touted Brophey as a lock to be a NHL star.

Very hard to predict most times, the future of young hockey players.
- Al

Playing with James Neal and Jared Boll helped Brophey immensely. Tallon had his whiffs, too.

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.
- John Jaeckel

Easy there JJ, I said I think he'll do well. My main concern is the horsecrap goaltending that everyone outside of Chicago knows is awful yet Hawks fans think 4th line tough guys are the answer.

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

and when Hasek slips a disk or breaks a hip then what...he would still be better than Crawford bum hip and all

That's where Luongo in net saves the day...
- southernhawk

Ok, ok...enough with the luser posts.

Playing with James Neal and Jared Boll helped Brophey immensely. Tallon had his whiffs, too.
- John Jaeckel

Jack Skille, Kyle Beach.

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.

Again, that worked so well last year and the year before.

Playing with James Neal and Jared Boll helped Brophey immensely. Tallon had his whiffs, too.
- John Jaeckel

Yep...

They all do and it is better to view young players with a cautious eye.

Another point, not to be forgotten is the young call up that had a huge impact last year, Shaw, was pased over a few times and didn't have a pro contract in place until January.

Easy there JJ, I said I think he'll do well. My main concern is the horsecrap goaltending that everyone outside of Chicago knows is awful yet Hawks fans think 4th line tough guys are the answer.
- dan9189

HEy now 4th line tough guys are the sh!t...if we had 4 lines of Carcillos out there that would be a fun team to watch

and when Hasek slips a disk or breaks a hip then what...he would still be better than Crawford bum hip and all
- southernhawk

Emery and his bum hip seem to be competing fine against Crawford.

Easy there JJ, I said I think he'll do well. My main concern is the horsecrap goaltending that everyone outside of Chicago knows is awful yet Hawks fans think 4th line tough guys are the answer.
- dan9189

I agree on the goaltending.

I think it is in both Saad's and the Hawks' best interests for him to spend a year in the AHL (minimum). But, like I said, probably moot as this and other signs point to very little NHL hockey being played this year.

The Saad thing is not really about Saad. It's about a front office that reverts to excuses and spin way too easily and insults the fanbase with it. Especially the longer term fans who have seen this garbage from this organization in years and decades past.

Again, I hold out some hope (faint, flickering) that they will meaningfully improve this team before 10/1.

But the amount of energy being devoted to creating the "impression" of improvement and what it is based on (yeesh) is very disconcerting.

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

- EKolb13

Its become far too fashionable to take JJ's cue and dog this guy around here; even in light of the unreasonable expectations the club has for him. If anything dog the ownership for putting him in this position.

JJ - I think the Stalberg comparison is quite fair - but I think what makes him Stalberg is in his head - he's got high end physical ability.

You can argue that Saad has the same physical ability for a 19yo. And I think you would even agree that he's already shown more of a commitment to defense than Stalberg has.

Ok, ok...enough with the luser posts.
- EKolb13

We owe a lot to Luongo down here ...when the BP oil well shít storm happened him and his (frank)ed up looking brother put there heads in the gulf and soaked up all the oil...Luongo even rubbed baby birds on his head to rid them of oil...true story

We owe a lot to Luongo down here ...when the BP oil well shít storm happened him and his (frank)ed up looking brother put there heads in the gulf and soaked up all the oil...Luongo even rubbed baby birds on his head to rid them of oil...true story
- southernhawk

I just spit coffee onto my laptop screen!

Good one Southie, good one!

Its become far too fashionable to take JJ's cue and dog this guy around here; even in light of the unreasonable expectations the club has for him. If anything dog the ownership for putting him in this position.

JJ - I think the Stalberg comparison is quite fair - but I think what makes him Stalberg is in his head - he's got high end physical ability.

You can argue that Saad has the same physical ability for a 19yo. And I think you would even agree that he's already shown more of a commitment to defense than Stalberg has.
- busmaster

based on what? the 2 games he played in the NHL last season?