Who gets left of the NHL roster for Saad? Hayes, Bollig?
- Mr Ricochet

My guess is Hayes.

Changing the topic a hair, I get the feeling that the Hawks will now obtain Luongo (and I guess his handsome brother too) in the next few days. Gillis knows this albatross is lingering far too long. The sooner he cuts ties the better.

You will see Olesz and or Montador go the other way.

I get these hunches...go ahead and laugh in my face, berate me, etc...but after Nash Deal, the asking price has dropped and its time to end the speculation.
- TrueGrit

Amen brother .. our goaltending is only average , as much as I dislike LOU , I would rather have him than what we have ... Number one priorty on this team going forward is goaltending ... Hard to believe that our precious GM doesn't see it that way ....

bolland can't win face-offs. it is a must for a shut down center, especially when killing power plays. Plus who knows how long Bolland's back will last.
- Topshelf2010

It sure hasn't seemed to affect it that much. He still is one of the top guys in the league today.

I will say this for your hunch. I think Mike Gillis' price will have to go down a bit now—if he wants to deal Lu before the season starts.

The Nash thing proves that a player with a NMC can affect the market for his services. Gillis has few suitors, fewer still if Lu vetoes a deal.

All that said, I think, in fact I'm 95% certain, there's going to be a lockout and play will not take place before 12/1.

I will not be surprised if Luongo goes to the highest bidder on 2/25 or thereabouts, and by then there could be numerous bidders.

The Hawks would have to pay a higher price than any other team for Lu and that's why I think Bowman will continue to talk about how happy he is with his team rather than improving it.
- John Jaeckel

You may sadly be right on lockout, but even so, given the public knowledge of Lou's desire to move on and teams desire to make it happen, the negatives far outweigh the positives as far as having him hang around.

The best case is you may get more for him later, but the cost of that may be the distraction around the locker room/organization until then.

The only wild card is if there is something in the new CBA which provides exceptions/concessions for the type of contract Luongo has. All things being equal, I move him along the sooner the better.

Like you have said, they could do a lot worse than Lou in net. A change of scenery is what this guy needs.

Get us Lou or Geztalf Stan.....give us something to get excited about!!

Strength, hands, quickness, low center of gravity all factor in. Some faceoffs are like sword play with rapiers, some are like jiu jitsu or sumo.
- John Jaeckel

Not to mention linemates. That seems to always be forgotten in it. Most faceoffs are the 50-50 kind. Having the right plan in having wingers jump in play a role

Faceoff 101

1. Determine where you want the puck to go, and more importantly not go.

2. Evaluate opponents strengths and tendencies.

3. Decide to go for clean win or tie up.

4. Communicate with wingers, who know where to go

It is not always cleanly winning draws, but tying up guys and keeping the puck out of the slot, or losing clean. That is critical in dzone draws.

Anyhow, I love taking draws...

Well you won't find that on this roster.
- Walky

+1

Apparently, Doan has given Phoenix until Friday to move forward with the sale or he his moving on.

Apparently, Doan has given Phoenix until Friday to move forward with the sale or he his moving on.
- hawks2010

No offense, but this makes me laugh. Who does he think he is the sheriff Glendale?

Apparently, Doan has given Phoenix until Friday to move forward with the sale or he his moving on.
- hawks2010

I don't trust any of this conflict in Phoenix. I have a feeling that Bettman has agreed to something under the table, and Doan staying there was part of the sale agreement.

Move the DARN franchise already.

Funny, all this Gagner talk.

The guy I want from Edmonton (and Bowman could probably get him—again, if he were willing to part with an overhyped prospect) would be C/LW Teemu Hartikainen.

A bottom six guy, but a guy you win with, parks himself in front of the net, strong as an ox, super competitive. Equal parts Tomas Holmstrom/Tomas Kopecky/Tuomo Ruutu.

Not a big scorer but can get hot at times and like I say, a warrior, especially down low and around the net.
- John Jaeckel

Put him with Kane and Hossa and watch his stats skyrocket
How difficult is it to go to the net and redirect shots or knock in rebounds. Kane needs protection and this guy sounds like just the ticket as long as he can keep up skating.

It looks like E. Kane has received a big contract offer.... 6 yrs=$29 mill.

If he doesn't sign the deal he must really want out of Winnipeg.

I'm not basing it on points, I'm basing it on watching him play offense. He just looks unsure with the puck in the offensive zone and tends to lose the puck or shoot it right into the goalie if he isn't putting back a rebound. Now Kruger isn't exactly a shoot first guy, but he has vision and knows how to dish the puck.

Havlat and Ladd were on the third line with Bolland if I recall correctly. With scoring talent like that on the third line, goals should be pretty easy. Remember the 3rd line usually matches up against the top offensive unit for the other team. Usually these units will create lots of offense but be lacking in defense. This is a luxury the second line does not have.
- Walky

A shut down center on a scoring line is super impressive. Jordan Staal is really the only other one who puts up points and plays in a true shut down / 3rd line role.

Also see reference made to Bolland and Hossa excelling before Bolland rattled his brain and Hossa picked up an injury.

I have never gotten the impression he doesn't know what he is doing in the offensive end. He rarely gets time there, but I disagree he is clueless.

Faceoff 101

1. Determine where you want the puck to go, and more importantly not go.

2. Evaluate opponents strengths and tendencies.

3. Decide to go for clean win or tie up.

4. Communicate with wingers, who know where to go

It is not always cleanly winning draws, but tying up guys and keeping the puck out of the slot, or losing clean. That is critical in dzone draws.

Anyhow, I love taking draws...
- TrueGrit

Why I say, rapier sword fight or jiu jitsu/sumo

Put him with Kane and Hossa and watch his stats skyrocket
How difficult is it to go to the net and redirect shots or knock in rebounds. Kane needs protection and this guy sounds like just the ticket as long as he can keep up skating.
- molly2522

He's not a fighter. Right now, he'd be a depth guy who eventually you could use situationally in your top 6. But he's just the kind of guy the Hawks can use.

Why I say, rapier sword fight or jiu jitsu/sumo
- John Jaeckel

My son has been doing Jiu Jitsu for about 8 months...Quite the workout.

He's not a fighter. Right now, he'd be a depth guy who eventually you could use situationally in your top 6. But he's just the kind of guy the Hawks can use.
- John Jaeckel

JJ If they are committed to Kane at center they need a proven nhl winger to protect him and go to the dirty areas of the ice. He doesnt have to be a fighter but someone who can answer with the willingness to either use the fists or more importantly a finishing check to the other player















i

bolland can't win face-offs. it is a must for a shut down center, especially when killing power plays. Plus who knows how long Bolland's back will last.
- Topshelf2010

48.4% last year wasn't terrible. His back is either fine or it isn't. He is a pretty good bargain for the 2 years left on his deal. Kruger is no better in the dot, McNeil and Danualt are not at all ready. Doubt there is a better option available for less than gross over payment.

Not many players in the league can shut down Thornton, the twins, Richards or any of the other leagues best like he can, especially in the playoffs.

He is one of those guys you will be sorry to miss not dissimilar to Andrew Ladd.

As a season ticket holder who has unfortunately already paid for my tickets I just cannot believe that all the other teams are improving and Bowman does nothing. Does anyone want to buy my tickets?
- Maggie

Hey Maggie where are your tickets? I would be interested in buying some.

48.4% last year wasn't terrible. His back is either fine or it isn't. He is a pretty good bargain for the 2 years left on his deal. Kruger is no better in the dot, McNeil and Danualt are not at all ready. Doubt there is a better option available for less than gross over payment.

Not many players in the league can shut down Thornton, the twins, Richards or any of the other leagues best like he can, especially in the playoffs.

He is one of those guys you will be sorry to miss not dissimilar to Andrew Ladd.
- fattybeef

I think his faceoffs have gotten worse after back surgery and only if he tunes things up can Bolland be over 50%...he probably can't get down low enough.

That said, there is absolutely no reason why another Pk/faceoff center hasn't been brought in....Unless the GM feels he is already in good shape.

My son has been doing Jiu Jitsu for about 8 months...Quite the workout.
- Al

A lot of the top MMA guys either came out of jiu jitsu or use it heavily in their training

48.4% last year wasn't terrible. His back is either fine or it isn't. He is a pretty good bargain for the 2 years left on his deal. Kruger is no better in the dot, McNeil and Danualt are not at all ready. Doubt there is a better option available for less than gross over payment.

Not many players in the league can shut down Thornton, the twins, Richards or any of the other leagues best like he can, especially in the playoffs.

He is one of those guys you will be sorry to miss not dissimilar to Andrew Ladd.
- fattybeef

Bolland should be a Blackhawk for life in my opinion, he's a special class of hockey player who's value goes beyond stats. Maybe he moves to the 2nd line or may he stays on the 3rd.

Bollie already has some chemistry with Shaw, why not try a 2nd line of Shaw-Bolland-Hossa? Its a very similar line combo to the Ladd-Bolland-Havlat third line (not the same but similar type). Sharp, Toews and Kane could be reunited and Kruger could slot into the third line with Frolik and Bickell.

A lot of the top MMA guys either came out of jiu jitsu or use it heavily in their training
- John Jaeckel

I really started noticing how effective it was with Gracie ...

Local place/vg instructor has a bunch of people rolling around a couple of times a week....When finished my son's gi is so soaked it must weigh 20lbs....

I think his faceoffs have gotten worse after back surgery and only if he tunes things up can Bolland be over 50%...he probably can't get down low enough.

That said, there is absolutely no reason why another Pk/faceoff center hasn't been brought in....Unless the GM feels he is already in good shape.
- Al

That's because they have Brandon Saad now playing center.