***Is Dempster really going to start tonight ?? Are the Cubs mental ?? Keep him benched until trade time, If he pitches tonight in true Cubs fashion his arm will fall off***

Sorry for the Baseball mini spa out but the HAwks are making me kinda sick.
- mrpaulish

Good call, 3 run 1st for the RedBirds.

About Crawford:

Everyone from TSN to the Blackhawk faithful have been talking about how the Hawks need an upgrade in goal. I'm thinking this cannot be good for his ego. Let's face it, the kid needs some confidence.

And to stop soft goals.
- fourfeathers

Please people, you act as if CC or any player reads or cares what people think of them. You do not get to the level he is at by having confidence problems or having thin skin.

Every player believes they are the best player in the world and are capable of winning.

As most here forget or ignore, success is a process. Often you fail before you achieve. The all or nothing stuff is for movies. Everyone remembers the Bulls titles...but nobody seems to remember the 3 or 4 years of failures Jordan went through before breaking thru.

Those are your players who wear the letters.
- blackhawk24

I know.

Kane and Toews are the faces of this franchise. They're practically glued together for all marketing purposes and we all know how important marketing is to this organization. Lately, it seems like it's more important than the actual product on the ice.

Leaving Kane off a gigantic banner in front of a huge group of fans at the first public appearance following Kane's partying episode... you don't think that is sending a message? It absolutely is.

This is the same organization that played the song "With or Without You" during the home opener Stanley Cup presentation. You remember the scene...the cup winning roster was being cheered by the fans... WITHOUT several key members of that cup winning team present because they had been traded away. With or without you. Not exactly subtle.

Please people, you act as if CC or any player reads or cares what people think of them.
- TrueGrit

Hey, I agree that those guys don't read blogs like this. But I disagree when it comes to TSN and stuff like that. Those guys have to be just as interested in where free agents go, who's being traded where, what coaches land what jobs as the general fan base.

I would think that if you play hockey in the NHL, you are probably interested in what critics have to say--because if you aren't trying to improve your game, you may as well get the hell out. And in Chicago, I don't think that Q, Kitchen, Tampon, or whomever count as critics anymore.

JMO.

I would think that if you play hockey in the NHL, you are probably interested in what critics have to say
- fourfeathers

Disagree completely.

They're aware of it. But they're not interested in it. Two different things.

Hey guys!

How's the convention going?

Please people, you act as if CC or any player reads or cares what people think of them. You do not get to the level he is at by having confidence problems or having thin skin.

Every player believes they are the best player in the world and are capable of winning.

As most here forget or ignore, success is a process. Often you fail before you achieve. The all or nothing stuff is for movies. Everyone remembers the Bulls titles...but nobody seems to remember the 3 or 4 years of failures Jordan went through before breaking thru.
- TrueGrit

You must be real young and just read about MJ. He did not fail. I don't think MJ failed at anything until he decided to run a team. The players around him were not ready yet to get to the next level. To compare CC to MJ is a complete joke. CC got to the level he is at because the Hawks lost Anti. No if ands buts about it. If Anti stays a Hawk CC never is anything but a back up or AHL player. I know Ekolb will hate this but if the Hawks get LU(doubt it Ekolb so you can relax) CC will be either be a Hawks backup or a Canukle back up. Crawford had one good series and that was it! If the Hawks are going to win another cup they need a better Goalie then CC.

I know.

Kane and Toews are the faces of this franchise. They're practically glued together for all marketing purposes and we all know how important marketing is to this organization. Lately, it seems like it's more important than the actual product on the ice.

Leaving Kane off a gigantic banner in front of a huge group of fans at the first public appearance following Kane's partying episode... you don't think that is sending a message? It absolutely is.

This is the same organization that played the song "With or Without You" during the home opener Stanley Cup presentation. You remember the scene...the cup winning roster was being cheered by the fans... WITHOUT several key members of that cup winning team present because they had been traded away. With or without you. Not exactly subtle.
- AceRatbang

There are two giant banners, one on each side of the stage, and they are different. Might Kane be on the other one, I'm guessing?

I imagine Bickell will have a better year than last (he can't be much worse), but I don't see any kind of legitimate break out from him.

But holy smokes, what if he did suddenly play his size? If he could just legitimately bang bodies and provide some net presence on the power play... his impact could be big. He has a decent somewhat tricky shot and he's shown that he has a nose for the net every so often (at least he did in 2011).

Play big, work your way up to a top line and cash in at the end of the year. He has to know this, right?
- AceRatbang

Bickell has been walking the dog for years. He did it his whole time in Rockford. Someone on this thread (I can't remember who) said he did it all throughout junior too.

Counting on Bickell is like counting on winning Powerball every week.

Hey guys!

How's the convention going?
- EKolb13

Aren't you there cheering on the no shows? Well at least the no shows while it was live on comcast.

I know Ekolb will hate this but if the Hawks get LU(doubt it Ekolb so you can relax)
- PaulNewman

Luser isn't coming here.

Playoff Bickell and playoff Frolik could show up for the whole season.
- NewToHockey

Cup contenders don't begin a season with this kind of a wish list.

Aren't you there cheering on the no shows? Well at least the no shows while it was live on comcast.
- PaulNewman

Nope. Just got in from the movies with Mrs. Crankypants. I'm depending on you guys for updates.

Bickell has been walking the dog for years. He did it his whole time in Rockford. Someone on this thread (I can't remember who) said he did it all throughout junior too.

Counting on Bickell is like counting on winning Powerball every week.
- EKolb13

Oh yeah, I'm sure as heck not counting on it.

Just a combination of day dreaming and wondering what his problem is.

Cup contenders don't begin a season with this kind of a wish list.
- ArlingtonRob

Bingo!

I know.

Kane and Toews are the faces of this franchise. They're practically glued together for all marketing purposes and we all know how important marketing is to this organization. Lately, it seems like it's more important than the actual product on the ice.

Leaving Kane off a gigantic banner in front of a huge group of fans at the first public appearance following Kane's partying episode... you don't think that is sending a message? It absolutely is.

This is the same organization that played the song "With or Without You" during the home opener Stanley Cup presentation. You remember the scene...the cup winning roster was being cheered by the fans... WITHOUT several key members of that cup winning team present because they had been traded away. With or without you. Not exactly subtle.
- AceRatbang

Are you there? Or did you just see the TV shots I did? Cuz I don't know if there's other banners there.

Seabrook, Hossa & Bolland are also key players. Yes Kane & Toews do all those commercials and they are oft photographed together. But I'd like to get confirmation from those at the convention whether or not Kane is overtly left off.

If the only banners are of the players who wear the letters, then its a non issue for me. I think reading into that has a lot of potential error in a conclusion.

Oh yeah, I'm sure as heck not counting on it.

Just a combination of day dreaming and wondering what his problem is.
- AceRatbang

Bickell's problem is that he's (frank)ing lazy and unmotivated. End of story. It's been like that for years.

There are two giant banners, one on each side of the stage, and they are different. Might Kane be on the other one, I'm guessing?
- BDT36

I didn't see that one, but that would explain it.

Wonder who's on the secondary one ... Kane Seabrook Hossa I'd guess.

Thanks for ruining my super sweet theory

About Crawford:

Everyone from TSN to the Blackhawk faithful have been talking about how the Hawks need an upgrade in goal. I'm thinking this cannot be good for his ego. Let's face it, the kid needs some confidence.

And to stop soft goals.
- fourfeathers

If Crawford is that thin skinned, he'll never succeed. I want a guy who responds with some focused intensity/hostility towards those that doubt him, whether that's management, the media or fans.

Nope. Just got in from the movies with Mrs. Crankypants. I'm depending on you guys for updates.
- EKolb13

Sorry, not at the a$$ kissing fest.