Looks like Bobby Lu is looking for new ways to keep himself occupied after gillis can't make a trade and buries him in the ahl lol

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...-2012-145845604--nhl.html
- Wowo2282

Luser's butt-ugly brother finished better than he did, if I'm not mistaken.

Leddy with an extra 25 lbs? That will help slow him down.

Are we going to have to hear more about how everyone should put on 20 to 30 lbs so everyone can play like a "bully?"

Go watch wrestling if that's what you're looking for.
- EKolb13

Your obnoxious posts are tiring. Go argue with your wife

See my post immediately above. Kruger and Leddy, maybe they hit the lottery and get playoff Frolik in the regular season.

Kruger is a guy who could come in and help this team, depending on how much he's grown and trained physically. Bowman has to be hoping and praying.

But Al, seriously, while Oduya is probably a 4-5 guy, he has some skills (skates, blocks shot, makes a good first pass) and he and Brookbank are an improvement over Smilin' Sami and OD. How much remains to be seen, but definitely an improvement. We are talking about two productive NHL defensemen with some distinguishing skills versus two #7 guys. It's not much, but it is measurable.
- John Jaeckel

I still think Lepisto got royally screwed by his highness (Q). I don't think he's that far off talent wise from Oduya or Montador. Never got a legit chance. (frank)ing Q

Defense as constructed is pretty good and deep. Some teams are worse than Hammer-Oduya-Leddy 3-5. And remember very few teams if any have a better top pair chewing up 25=26 minutes a night. So overall, it's a good blueline.

Goalie?
- John Jaeckel

Completely agree. Everyone needs to get off the D a little. After Oduya was brought in, the defense was rarely ever lit up, and if they were, its because Crawford was trying to make saves with his eyes closed again.

The PK is the PK. that comes from better coaching and players willingness to put pressure on and get in shooting lanes.

The D im not worried about at all, and this D will be much more upgraded immediately with everyone healthy. Brookbank and Montador as the 6/7 dmen over o'donnel/scott/lepisto is a HUGE upgrade in both quality dmen and physicality

Completely agree. Everyone needs to get off the D a little. After Oduya was brought in, the defense was rarely ever lit up, and if they were, its because Crawford was trying to make saves with his eyes closed again.

The PK is the PK. that comes from better coaching and players willingness to put pressure on and get in shooting lanes.

The D im not worried about at all, and this D will be much more upgraded immediately with everyone healthy. Brookbank and Montador as the 6/7 dmen over o'donnel/scott/lepisto is a HUGE upgrade in both quality dmen and physicality
- FourFeathers773

I agree.

See my post immediately above. Kruger and Leddy, maybe they hit the lottery and get playoff Frolik in the regular season.

Kruger is a guy who could come in and help this team, depending on how much he's grown and trained physically. Bowman has to be hoping and praying.

But Al, seriously, while Oduya is probably a 4-5 guy, he has some skills (skates, blocks shot, makes a good first pass) and he and Brookbank are an improvement over Smilin' Sami and OD. How much remains to be seen, but definitely an improvement. We are talking about two productive NHL defensemen with some distinguishing skills versus two #7 guys. It's not much, but it is measurable.
- John Jaeckel

To be clear the defense is better I wasn't disagreeing there.
Oduya is a decent #5 on a good team...slotting him as #3 could be an issue although imo that will be Leddy.

But at forward and overall team play???

A lot of eggs being put in the Saad basket and the hope Shaw can translate his output last season over the entire course but....

There wasn't enough done to acquire a center who can win faceoffs, or a screen setter and those 2 points are beyond not finding a 2nd line center.

The Hawks last season couldn't hold onto the puck and when they clamped down on defense the offense was lacking.

Has enough been done to make a real difference???

I still think Lepisto got royally screwed by his highness (Q). I don't think he's that far off talent wise from Oduya or Montador. Never got a legit chance. (frank)ing Q


- Ogilthorpe2

I'll agree with you on Q jacking Lepisto around.

i hope not that would be an epic fail for him in my eyes
- molly2522

Who do you see Leddy becoming in 3-4 years? Cuz if its Seabrook, you'll be very disappointed.

Who do you see Leddy becoming in 3-4 years? Cuz if its Seabrook, you'll be very disappointed.
- blackhawk24

a poor mans Brian Campbell

To be clear the defense is better I wasn't disagreeing there.

But at forward and overall team play???

A lot of eggs being put in the Saad basket and the hope Shaw can translate his output last season over the entire course but....

There wasn't enough done to acquire a center who can win faceoffs, or a screen setter and those 2 points are beyond not finding a 2nd line center.

The Hawks last season couldn't hold onto the puck and when they clamped down on defense the offense was lacking.

Has enough been done to make a real difference???
- Al

Didn't you hear Al? Saad is going to play center. This will fill all these needs. Not to mention Kane will also be playing center! That'll sure fix everything right up!

a poor mans Brian Campbell
- FourFeathers773

If can score another 15 points per season in the next 3 years Leddy will be far from poor...

Didn't you hear Al? Saad is going to play center. This will fill all these needs. Not to mention Kane will also be playing center! That'll sure fix everything right up!
- Walky

When a 19 yr old kid come up from Jr's in the playoffs and plays a top six role....I would not be surprised at anything.

I still think Lepisto got royally screwed by his highness (Q). I don't think he's that far off talent wise from Oduya or Montador. Never got a legit chance. (frank)ing Q


- Ogilthorpe2

Disagree the guy was simply not a good player. Thats why hes not in the NHL. If Oduya or Montador (pending his head of course) were dropped they would be on an NHL team.

To be clear the defense is better I wasn't disagreeing there.
Oduya is a decent #5 on a good team...slotting him as #3 could be an issue although imo that will be Leddy.

But at forward and overall team play???

A lot of eggs being put in the Saad basket and the hope Shaw can translate his output last season over the entire course but....

There wasn't enough done to acquire a center who can win faceoffs, or a screen setter and those 2 points are beyond not finding a 2nd line center.

The Hawks last season couldn't hold onto the puck and when they clamped down on defense the offense was lacking.

Has enough been done to make a real difference???
- Al

Nope.
Coach relies too much on long minutes by a few players and the rest on rookies.
The balance we had in 2010 is not there and the results speak for themselves.
A good second line centre second and a better goalie would go a long way in improving our team.

Forgetting all the Saad nonsense. Bowman now has to pray that Kruger and/or Leddy have bigger years.

Kruger is a guy who could provide some internal/organic growth. We have not seen his ceiling yet.
- John Jaeckel

JJ...you seem to be high on Kruger and you've said a few times that he's not reached his potential. In your opinion what type of role (long term) do you see Kruger having with the team? Can Kruger be the 2nd line centre we need? Or his he better suited for the 3rd line?

Your obnoxious posts are tiring. Go argue with your wife
- molly2522

He should put on 25lbs first

I feel like eggs in the Kruger basket are the same as the Saad basket in terms of either being able to be a consistent high end contributor. Both could end up bit players (which is what Kruger is right now anyways).

What the hell ever happened to Ben Smith ?

I feel like eggs in the Kruger basket are the same as the Saad basket in terms of either being able to be a consistent high end contributor. Both could end up bit players (which is what Kruger is right now anyways).
- fattybeef

Well I mean, Kruger is consistently good on defense. Just needs to work a little on his offense and faceoffs. He has the sight but sometimes lacks the execution. I don't know why but I've noticed when watching him and Bolland, they both seem to have a paddle in their hands instead of a stick when they are in the offensive zone. I don't know why but thats the feeling I get when I see them touch the puck.

What the hell ever happened to Ben Smith ?
- mrpaulish

Brendan Smith. Also he's not very big and you can only have so many marginally skilled scrappy guys on a team.

He should put on 25lbs first
- fattybeef

Who, me?

What the hell ever happened to Ben Smith ?
- mrpaulish

Brains scrambled by a Det player (can't remember his name) during a pre-season game last fall. Don't think he's been the same since.

Brendan Smith. Also he's not very big and you can only have so many marginally skilled scrappy guys on a team.
- Walky

I like Ben Smith. What he doesn't have in talent he makes up with heart and a willingness to win.

He didn't look like he was all there when he came back from that hit. I still wonder if he'll have long term effects from that? He also had surgery on his hip, so who knows how close he is to being ready?

Well I mean, Kruger is consistently good on defense. Just needs to work a little on his offense and faceoffs. He has the sight but sometimes lacks the execution. I don't know why but I've noticed when watching him and Bolland, they both seem to have a paddle in their hands instead of a stick when they are in the offensive zone. I don't know why but thats the feeling I get when I see them touch the puck.
- Walky

Just needs to work a little on his offense and faceoffs. He has the sight but sometimes lacks the execution.

Kruger has great vision but he needs to work a lot on faceoffs and offense

He makes some slick passes but doesn't shoot enough....passes up prime scoring chances.

Kruger has a lot of guts and I love his attitude but unless he gets quite a bit stronger and learns how to protect himself he isn't going to be much better than he has been.

I wouldn't mind him at wing on the 3rd line.

Disagree the guy was simply not a good player. Thats why hes not in the NHL. If Oduya or Montador (pending his head of course) were dropped they would be on an NHL team.
- mvp0207

Whatever, his career stats are solid for a bottom pairing guy. Not saying he's going o be missed (how could he be missed when Q refused to play him?) just think he got screwed. John Scott should never (not even once) have gotten a start ahead of him. Who will be Q's whipping boy this year?