We got eliminated by Mike "The Flop" Smith. You could have the Ice Hogs in front of him and we still probably would have lost

- CBHawks88

Hmmmmmm.........The Blackhawks cant be that good if they would lose to thier farm team by just replacing the Hogs goalie with Floppy Smith.

Hmmmmmm.........The Blackhawks cant be that good if they would lose to thier farm team by just replacing the Hogs goalie with Floppy Smith.
- blkhwkfn

Exaggerating, but he was lights out.

Exaggerating, but he was lights out.
- CBHawks88

I knew that!!!!

Al...

It was mentioned earlier that Saad is not in attendance. This surprises me, since I thought the organization would be promoting him as the future.

Any thoughts on the matter?
- ArlingtonRob

Not really...but I am sure he was not simply a no-show.

He was really good in game 6 but then again the hawks helped him look good. You learn in peewees how to lift a puck. Too many hawks didn't do that. The hawks outshot phoenix but how many quality chances did they really get? I think we were lucky phoenix is so bad offensively

Here is where you and I disagree. I put that square on Q's shoulders. IMO, he's created an environment where less than full effort is accceptable, or at least there are no reprecussions for the core when they're coasting.
- NewToHockey

I can see your point. I wonder how they would do under a coach like Sutter or Hitchcock? I still think it is sad that they can't motivate themselves and a lot of the core outside Toews can never play a full 60. Hossa can dominate but even he is too inconsistent. Plus I haven't been impressed with his playoffs yet. At least he knows how to backcheck

Let me add that I think Seabrook, Keith, and Bolland put forth 60 minute effort

Check out Car Bomb: http://sports.yahoo.com/b...erfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Maybe this piece from Tribune isn´t news to most of you, but it´s the thing I´m most worried about:

McDonough will celebrate his five-year anniversary leading the team in November and has begun taking a more active role in hockey operations.

"I'm trying," McDonough said. "When I say an active role from a decision-making standpoint, the only role I play is by the time they have reached the decision I ask how they've arrived at it. What was the thought process behind it? I just have to make sure there's a process and a system involved."

Oh please, say it ain´t so..

Meh x3

Philly has worse goaltending than we do. LA got hot at the right time and is far less talented. New York is just meh with a great tender
- CBHawks88

You are right, everyone else is meh, except the hawks....

Your hockey IQ is astounding.

We got eliminated by Mike "The Flop" Smith. You could have the Ice Hogs in front of him and we still probably would have lost

- CBHawks88

Which would mean the Ice Hogs were the better team.

Which would mean the Ice Hogs were the better team.
- StLBravesFan

I'm sure Olesz would have netted the winner.

Check out Car Bomb: http://sports.yahoo.com/b...erfeed&utm_medium=twitter
- Mr Ricochet

Is this what ever one was talking about Carcillo quotes ?? This isnt a big deal, the Flyers goalies both sucked in the 2010 finals, the Flyers goalies still suck. I dont have a problem with any player being honest. I wish we'd hear Toews say "If Kane goes out on one more bender Im going to f uck him up."

Is this what ever one was talking about Carcillo quotes ?? This isnt a big deal, the Flyers goalies both sucked in the 2010 finals, the Flyers goalies still suck. I dont have a problem with any player being honest. I wish we'd hear Toews say "If Kane goes out on one more bender Im going to f uck him up."
- mrpaulish

I could see that more from Seabrook. "Kane hits TMZ one more time and I'll show him a new use for his hockey stick."

I could see that more from Seabrook. "Kane hits TMZ one more time and I'll show him a new use for his hockey stick."
- NewToHockey

I could see that more from Seabrook. "Kane hits TMZ one more time and I'll show him a new use for his hockey stick."
- NewToHockey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VviAGmNX9qE

I'm sure Olesz would have netted the winner.
- NewToHockey

And Huet would probably not have let those 2 OT goals in.

Turco would have, however....

What a (frank)innn joke.
- mrpaulish

He'll be a decent 6D guy. RHS, play the kill a little, can dish 'em out & take 'em, plus drop the gloves too. Don't expect more than a 3rd pairing guy out of him and you'll be happy.

The 'Hawks defence IMO still needs another banger type guy. That's why I was on board with JJ's synopsis regarding a Leddy deal and backfilling his spot with a guy like Hannan. Hannan would be the other half of the 3rd pairing, plays a similar game like Brookbank, but is a LHS. 15min TOI for each guy and all of a sudden, BAMM !! The 'Hawks 3rd pairing is a WHOLE lot better than 11-12.

He'll be a decent 6D guy. RHS, play the kill a little, can dish 'em out & take 'em, plus drop the gloves too. Don't expect more than a 3rd pairing guy out of him and you'll be happy.

The 'Hawks defence IMO still needs another banger type guy. That's why I was on board with JJ's synopsis regarding a Leddy deal and backfilling his spot with a guy like Hannan. Hannan would be the other half of the 3rd pairing, plays a similar game like Brookbank, but is a LHS. 15min TOI for each guy and all of a sudden, BAMM !! The 'Hawks 3rd pairing is a WHOLE lot better than 11-12.
- blackhawk24

Are we sure that Stan is really in a win now mode? Much of what he's done would seem to be set up to make a play in a few years when Danault, Saad, McNeal, etc are ready.

The other side of that argument is, if this is the case, why did he keep the older Hossa instead of Ladd 2 summers ago.

First of all, the convention draws the happy fans...meatballs if you will...I would expect the most upbeat to make the effort to attend.

Second, if the crowd is going to cheer all the players, I would expect them to also cheer the coach.

Regardless of how posters to this site feel, a large majority of fans making the effort to attend the convention are there because they still luv THIS club and it's players...regardless of last years playoff performance.

Those that are unhappy with the results, or pissed at the direction the club is taking, will most likely blow off the convention.

Attendance will drop over time if the team continues to be mediocre going forward.
- ArlingtonRob

Don't count on it; convention attendance dropping that is. Remember who's in charge of that whole operation: The guy that ran it for the team at 1060 W. Addison St. Some 25-30 years now for the Cubs Convention and only this past year did the event not draw a huge hype. With Theo/Jed/McCloud in place now going on a year, they won't lose a beat.

McD, as long as he's part of the 'Hawks Org, things like the Convention will continue to draw because he knows exactly how to spin it, regardless of how many of us here on this board feel about the team's direction.

Maybe this piece from Tribune isn´t news to most of you, but it´s the thing I´m most worried about:


- MjulQvist

"McDonough will celebrate his five-year anniversary leading the team in November and has begun taking a more active role in hockey operations.

"I'm trying," McDonough said. "When I say an active role from a decision-making standpoint, the only role I play is by the time they have reached the decision I ask how they've arrived at it. What was the thought process behind it? I just have to make sure there's a process and a system involved." "

Oh please, say it ain´t so..

The word to fear the most here is: PROCESS

The GM-by-committee thing JJ spoke to previously. That is what's most scary. If he's just part of the FO that sees what's being done as it's being done, fine. But if there's any sort of vote going on or he has some veto power, then WE ARE SCREWED.

All those wondering what's wrong with the Hawks should read Andy Campbell's article posted today on the Bleacher Report. It's bang on!!!

Those who think sitting idly and relying on rookies is the solution to being cup contenders and think SB is doing a bang up job this article is for you.

Could not of said it better myself....hey Rocky W. you should read it as well.

Is this what ever one was talking about Carcillo quotes ?? This isnt a big deal, the Flyers goalies both sucked in the 2010 finals, the Flyers goalies still suck. I dont have a problem with any player being honest. I wish we'd hear Toews say "If Kane goes out on one more bender Im going to f uck him up."
- mrpaulish

You'll read from time to time that some would like the players to show more emotion, as it may make them more fan friendly and help sell the game. But hockey players from a young age, especially in Canada, are taught that it's a team game and individualism takes a backseat to the team. Not as rigid in thought as the old Soviet Red Army in that regard where the players were practically robotic, but team is stressed.

Public comments like Carcillos in this sport are frowned upon by many, especially about team members and it can make you a target, maybe even by the refs.

The concern from a Hawk fans/managements perspective about Carcillo's public comments is maybe he hasn't learned anything and will continue to make dumb plays like the one that ended his season and again be under the microscope of the refs, which hurts the team.

Leightonen not stopping pucks is different than a players off ice behavior hurting his game are much different things. IF it's thought Kane's partying is hurting his game on game day he needs to be pulled to the side by his captain and team leaders and spoken to.

Every player has physical failures and if teammates called each other out on them publicly the room would be a war zone.

Are we sure that Stan is really in a win now mode? Much of what he's done would seem to be set up to make a play in a few years when Danault, Saad, McNeal, etc are ready.

The other side of that argument is, if this is the case, why did he keep the older Hossa instead of Ladd 2 summers ago.
- NewToHockey

Can't say. Since I believe his definition of how to get there is different from ours. We all think there's some combo of tougher D men, better goalie, a real 2C and tough LW'er are what's needed to get to the point of serious contention. SB's thought from what I can see, believes they're closer right now that we think.

On Ladd vs Hoss, going into the capacalypse, the "core" list was defined and Hoss was on that list, Ladd wasn't. Also don't forget Hoss's contract was just a wee-bit bigger than Ladd's.

Don't count on it; convention attendance dropping that is. Remember who's in charge of that whole operation: The guy that ran it for the team at 1060 W. Addison St. Some 25-30 years now for the Cubs Convention and only this past year did the event not draw a huge hype. With Theo/Jed/McCloud in place now going on a year, they won't lose a beat.

McD, as long as he's part of the 'Hawks Org, things like the Convention will continue to draw because he knows exactly how to spin it, regardless of how many of us here on this board feel about the team's direction.
- blackhawk24

I agree to a point...but the Hawks-Cubs comparison has one big problem. The number of fans...

...I can only guess the size of each fan base, but I think it's safe to say that there are many, many more Cub fans than Hawks fans.

And I still believe the attraction of the convention will fade if the Hawks fade.