...Any opinion on goal keeper Garret Sparks....Local boy that may have a chance to play some say.
- Al

Yeah, the kid from Elmhurst...I don't think he'll play much, unless Gibson goes down other than a lead up game or two.

Usually there isn't an open audition at goal, when the tourney starts, unless no one looked better in the lead up to the games.

It is interesting that Sweden, USA, Canada, and Russia all seem to have a different thoughts on how to build their teams and win.

Everything points to decision coming from above as the front office would love to plug a hole with an inexpensive draft pick.
- Al

Wouldn't any front office love to plug a hole with an inexpensive (if not any) draft pick? To Wiz's point - I had asked myself the same question about whether it had anything to do with improving his skating. And at any rate, at least this experiment is happening at the AHL level and not at the big show.

Yeah, the kid from Elmhurst...I don't think he'll play much, unless Gibson goes down other than a lead up game or two.

Usually there isn't an open audition at goal, when the tourney starts, unless no one looked better in the lead up to the games.

It is interesting that Sweden, USA, Canada, and Russia all seem to have a different thoughts on how to build their teams and win.
- wiz1901

They get to carry three and maybe because of his age and that Sparks has played well this year, he could be the #2.

Wouldn't any front office love to plug a hole with an inexpensive (if not any) draft pick? To Wiz's point - I had asked myself the same question about whether it had anything to do with improving his skating. And at any rate, at least this experiment is happening at the AHL level and not at the big show.
- nathanjf

Obviously....But it shouldn't be by trying to fit square pegs into round holes which has happend all too often in the past two years.

The hole at center isn't a new discovery and most of the better players have played center at some point coming up through the ranks.

Maybe the Hawks will get lucky but playing center in the NHL is a tall task and a lot diferent than at the AHL level.

-Was surprised Ben Smith didn't make the Hawks last year on a full-time basis. Good to hear he's back on track.

- BestRapperAlive

He seemed to have a spot locked up until a nasty hit in the preseason left him with a concussion. From what we heard, he wasn't right all of last year.

Whenever the season starts the 2 best options for the 2C (barring a trade) role are Kane or Kruger. The longer the lockout goes and the more time Kruger has to develop could make him the more viable long term option.
- DarthKane

Sharp? Bolland? Q refused to give either a chance there last year.

Anybody out there like me that is completely fed up with the BS double talking coming out of both sides for days on end. I mean really the quotes attributed to Daly and Fehr are just assinine and juvenile. Better they just shut the he!! up than deliver up the garbage they are spewing for media consumption. Are there any adults left or has macho self importance hubris what matters most for these morons who continue to destroy their league for what?? Yeah I know power, control and $$$.

IMO Clendening is 2-3 years from being an NHL defenceman and if Bowman thinks otherwise, he is nuts. Only the absolute very best 19-20 year old D men make an NHL team and usually the team is a weak squad, like when Seabrook and Keith joined the Hawks.

Clendening is no Doughty, Pietrangelo or Karlsson. And he better find a way to pack on some muscle or he will be run out of town. Can you imagine him standing up to the type of forwards the LA Kings or St.Louis can throw at him shift after shift. A young boy against onery men on a mission.
- RickJ

RJ...best assessment of Clendening that i've read to date. Potential is there, but he's a project as far as the NHL is concerned.

Saad has very promising size, speed and hands.....but does he have the appetite to hit and be hit ? Sometimes a kid like him needs a few years in the A to really 'get it'.

Beach has been slightly better this year, but he should forget trying to be a tough guy. He will suffer a really painful knockout one of these days. His comments on the Hogs' podcasts and broadcasts suggest he is maturing and knows of the urgency required. He's shooting the puck very well this year, but with Ted Dent's clueless rotations and his own inconsistent play, it's hard for Beach to get into a flow.

Ben Smith is good at standing in front of the net, screening the goalie, looking for tips and rebounds, but the rest of his game is mediocre.

Rob Flick, (my boy) needs a haircut. His long Viking mane needs to go and he needs to completely focus on hockey and not being Rockford's calendar boy. His skating is NOT a weakness. He moves extremely well for his size and his shot is superb when he pulls the trigger. He's tough and gritty, but appears to be fighting scared as he makes the transition to fighting men. Still believe highly in this lad and hope he continues on the upward trajectory he is on this season.

Saad has very promising size, speed and hands.....but does he have the appetite to hit and be hit ? Sometimes a kid like him needs a few years in the A to really 'get it'.

Beach has been slightly better this year, but he should forget trying to be a tough guy. He will suffer a really painful knockout one of these days. His comments on the Hogs' podcasts and broadcasts suggest he is maturing and knows of the urgency required. He's shooting the puck very well this year, but with Ted Dent's clueless rotations and his own inconsistent play, it's hard for Beach to get into a flow.

Ben Smith is good at standing in front of the net, screening the goalie, looking for tips and rebounds, but the rest of his game is mediocre.

Rob Flick, (my boy) needs a haircut. His long Viking mane needs to go and he needs to completely focus on hockey and not being Rockford's calendar boy. His skating is NOT a weakness. He moves extremely well for his size and his shot is superb when he pulls the trigger. He's tough and gritty, but appears to be fighting scared as he makes the transition to fighting men. Still believe highly in this lad and hope he continues on the upward trajectory he is on this season.
- philco28

As far as Beach...

At some point you either are able to take resposnibility or not...

From what I have seen and heard is he plays with spark at times but it is only after being scolded or threatened to be a scratch.

As far as the rotations go that may not all be on Dent and so far Beach hasn't proved he is a consistent, responisble player.

Beach was the AHL player of the week but that came as he was almost a healthy scratch just before.

Now he has dropped all the way down to the 4th line at times and the Hawks pipeline is full of players who can do that job.

Saad has very promising size, speed and hands.....but does he have the appetite to hit and be hit ? Sometimes a kid like him needs a few years in the A to really 'get it'.

Beach has been slightly better this year, but he should forget trying to be a tough guy. He will suffer a really painful knockout one of these days. His comments on the Hogs' podcasts and broadcasts suggest he is maturing and knows of the urgency required. He's shooting the puck very well this year, but with Ted Dent's clueless rotations and his own inconsistent play, it's hard for Beach to get into a flow.

Ben Smith is good at standing in front of the net, screening the goalie, looking for tips and rebounds, but the rest of his game is mediocre.

Rob Flick, (my boy) needs a haircut. His long Viking mane needs to go and he needs to completely focus on hockey and not being Rockford's calendar boy. His skating is NOT a weakness. He moves extremely well for his size and his shot is superb when he pulls the trigger. He's tough and gritty, but appears to be fighting scared as he makes the transition to fighting men. Still believe highly in this lad and hope he continues on the upward trajectory he is on this season.
- philco28

Agree with you on Flick. He's the kind of player that needs maybe 3 years in the AHL to develop into s seasoned pro and then can move up as a solid 3rd or 4th line center on a very good NHL team and play a valuable role. I'm thinking like a Gregory Campbell, Manny Maholtra, Paul Gaustad, Boyd Gordon or maybe even a Steve Ott - that type of player.

As far as Beach...

At some point you either are able to take resposnibility or not...

From what I have seen and heard is he plays with spark at times but it is only after being scolded or threatened to be a scratch.

As far as the rotations go that may not all be on Dent and so far Beach hasn't proved he is a consistent, responisble player.

Beach was the AHL player of the week but that came as he was almost a healthy scratch just before.

Now he has dropped all the way down to the 4th line at times and the Hawks pipeline is full of players who can do that job.
- Al

If Beach hadn't been the 11th player picked in his draft year would we even be talking about him 4 years later?

Agree with you on Flick. He's the kind of player that needs maybe 3 years in the AHL to develop into s seasoned pro and then can move up as a solid 3rd or 4th line center on a very good NHL team and play a valuable role. I'm thinking like a Gregory Campbell, Manny Maholtra, Paul Gaustad, Boyd Gordon or maybe even a Steve Ott - that type of player.
- RickJ

My comment/question on his skating was due to a couple of instances on Saturday night—but who knows he might have been toward the end of a shift or out with faster players. Definitely like the way he mixes it up.

Saad has very promising size, speed and hands.....but does he have the appetite to hit and be hit ? Sometimes a kid like him needs a few years in the A to really 'get it'.

Beach has been slightly better this year, but he should forget trying to be a tough guy. He will suffer a really painful knockout one of these days. His comments on the Hogs' podcasts and broadcasts suggest he is maturing and knows of the urgency required. He's shooting the puck very well this year, but with Ted Dent's clueless rotations and his own inconsistent play, it's hard for Beach to get into a flow.

Ben Smith is good at standing in front of the net, screening the goalie, looking for tips and rebounds, but the rest of his game is mediocre.

Rob Flick, (my boy) needs a haircut. His long Viking mane needs to go and he needs to completely focus on hockey and not being Rockford's calendar boy. His skating is NOT a weakness. He moves extremely well for his size and his shot is superb when he pulls the trigger. He's tough and gritty, but appears to be fighting scared as he makes the transition to fighting men. Still believe highly in this lad and hope he continues on the upward trajectory he is on this season.
- philco28

Smith's hands are underrated. He's also pretty tough along the boards and in the corners. Not an un-useful player.

John Jaeckel: Calling the Hogs
- John Jaeckel

>JJ, I also really like Morin's potential
>In one very short stretch with the Hawks, he missed scoring 4-5 goals in two games by a total of about a foot
>In typical Q style, he then was sent down, got hurt, disappeared, languished and now seems to be getting it together
>I see him as a Brett Hull-type shooter who can do a lot of other things Brett couldn't do -- but of course, Morin's shot isn't Brett's and he has miles to go to be a player of that potential
>I'm still waiting for Q to prove that a young player can truly develop at the NHL level with him behind the bench -- not at all sold that the Hawks' brass knows how to help Morin reach his potential
>Thoughts?

>JJ, I also really like Morin's potential
>In one very short stretch with the Hawks, he missed scoring 4-5 goals in two games by a total of about a foot
>In typical Q style, he then was sent down, got hurt, disappeared, languished and now seems to be getting it together
>I see him as a Brett Hull-type shooter who can do a lot of other things Brett couldn't do -- but of course, Morin's shot isn't Brett's and he has miles to go to be a player of that potential
>I'm still waiting for Q to prove that a young player can truly develop at the NHL level with him behind the bench -- not at all sold that the Hawks' brass knows how to help Morin reach his potential
>Thoughts?
- SnapitUpstairs

Not sure he is in Hull's class as a shooter, few are. He can play, needs to get it a bit under control.

So how long does it take for the players to vote? Anybody hear anything?

If Beach hadn't been the 11th player picked in his draft year would we even be talking about him 4 years later?
- RickJ

No and also for me he was supposed to be the power forward that has been missing here since Al Secord.

Not sure he is in Hull's class as a shooter, few are. He can play, needs to get it a bit under control.
- John Jaeckel

Morin needs to avoid another concussion or serious injury, which means being more aware.

Unfortunately the same can be said for a few Hawks...

Brett Hull is a HOF player for a few reasons....He used his best asset, his shot better than most.

He also was smart enough to keep the game simple and realize succees comes from finding space.

Lastly, playing with Adam Oates didn't hurt ...

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Smith's hands are underrated. He's also pretty tough along the boards and in the corners. Not an un-useful player.
- John Jaeckel

Just not that quick afoot, in the crucial areas you really need him to be...

>JJ, I also really like Morin's potential
>In one very short stretch with the Hawks, he missed scoring 4-5 goals in two games by a total of about a foot
>In typical Q style, he then was sent down, got hurt, disappeared, languished and now seems to be getting it together
>I see him as a Brett Hull-type shooter who can do a lot of other things Brett couldn't do -- but of course, Morin's shot isn't Brett's and he has miles to go to be a player of that potential
>I'm still waiting for Q to prove that a young player can truly develop at the NHL level with him behind the bench -- not at all sold that the Hawks' brass knows how to help Morin reach his potential
>Thoughts?
- SnapitUpstairs

When I watch him play I just can't imagine him being anything more than a 4th liner.

Beach will suffer a really painful knockout one of these days.
- philco28

It already happened to him in junior...2007 one of the goaltender brothers I believe it was Chet Pickard was so pissed at Beach for all the interference the entire game, that,at the whistle, he took the goalie blocker and gave Beach solid chop to the jaw that left him concussed for a big part of the season.
He in fact as had more than one induced from fighting.

It already happened to him in junior...2007 one of the goaltender brothers I believe it was Chet Pickard was so pissed at Beach for all the interference the entire game, that,at the whistle, he took the goalie blocker and gave Beach solid chop to the jaw that left him concussed for a big part of the season.
He in fact as had more than one induced from fighting.
- wiz1901

Plus a serious season ending shoulder injury incurred while fighting last season.

When I watch him play I just can't imagine him being anything more than a 4th liner.
- nathanjf

You put him on a line with Patrick Kane and Toews he scores 30. He has no attributes to be a fourth line player. He is a goal scorer and a sniper. In my humble opinion, like Leddy and many others, he will play better with better players. He just needs the opportunity.

If Beach hadn't been the 11th player picked in his draft year would we even be talking about him 4 years later?
- RickJ

What makes the pick even worse is that the Hawks could have taken Tyler Myers who was drafted by the Sabres right after Beach was picked.