Good read as usual Al..I agree Oduya played well, I actually thought he played well against the Blues on Sunday too, which was kinda shocking..hope he can keep it up in the playoffs - captainserious
Thanks...
Oduya is a nice player but shouldn't be counted on to carry the load every night
I agree he has been better in the last two games.
Blackhawks continue to roll with a 5-2 win over Dallas - Power Play Woes & What's up with Dave Bolland??-FOX Chicago:http://bit.ly/ZuL8qx
I am not being argumentative or obtuse, but how do you feel about Mayers going after Torres, or should Hossa have handled that? - paulr
I really doubt that Hoss cared very much about that retribution, before, or after it happened. In the big picture, the punishment didn't fit the crime so it was insignificant.
i dont get the whole seabs fighting dude, why have him fight when there are others on the team who can for him ( bollig ) or have him risk injury, its more important to win than to risk dumb encounters, even tho the hawks seem to be a better road team it still would be huge to win presidents trophy and claim home ice, and for hjammer for ganger, simply just no
No one needs to be sorry. But I'm the one that said Seabrook taking care of his own matters was elemental to being a man. After that, the conversation seemed to turn to that sentiment being foolish... as it's being discussed again, today. My only assertion was that taking care of your own problems is more important than having someone else do it. In my old fashioned manner, that's part of being a man.
However, I did not assert that Seabs SHOULD feel the need to throw down or that it was wise.
I'm not offended by anyone's comments, just wanted to clarify.
(fixed) - DirkGraham
I was at the game. In the first period I think Seabs gave Roussell a crosscheck and Roussell skated away. Considering the flow of the game - hard to see where it would have made sense. I really would hate to see Seabrook - with his concussion history - take that chance.
I really think Q has issued some edict to the team because Roussell was crosschecking Bollig at some point and he barely responded. Earlier in the year Bollig would have been all over that.
Missed the last few seconds - took off for parking right when Hossa scored the empty netter.
Hossa will not play forever. When he is done, there will be a need for a top line forward who can score and play a sound three zone game. Many players will, by necessity, be "looked at" to replace Hossa as a top line player on the Hawks, and Saad is simply one of them. Saad may never be Hossa or even Hossa-lite, but that doesn't change the fact he will be "looked at" to replace some of what Hossa brings when the time comes. I'm afraid you read more into my point about Hossa's extraordinary character than was intended. - Baaaaaaannerman!
Hossa is under contract until 2021 (I believe).
The new CBA mandates either a compliance buyout within the next two years (which would basically mean walking away from one of the team's two best players—and allowing him to re-sign with a competing club), a very expensive buyout after that, or cap penalty for his retiring early.
A source close to hockey ops told me a few weeks back the notion that's been floated in a couple of blogs of Hossa being a compliance buyout is "not happening." If you have some other intel, feel free to share.
There certainly is an opportunity/cost, risk/reward argument that arises around biting the bullet and making him a compliance buyout. And certainly, there are some bean counters within the organization who would push for that—possibly accompanied by the argument that he wiil be replaced by the Great Brandon Saad. Problem is, he won't be.
You subtract a relaitvely healthy Marian Hossa from this team, and it is not as good. Period.
I'm willing to buy that Saad could be Hossa-Lite someday. But Saad is also benefitting hugely (in terms of psychology and production) by playing with, ironically, Hossa and Toews. Few, if any, rookies come into the league with that kind of opportunity. Is he making a lot of it?Yes, over the last 15-20 games , he has. You lose Hossa, you not only lose his production at both end of the ice, but other players (including Saad) are not as good, because he makes them better.
When Saad is a point a game player, or close to that—really no matter who he plays with— and called on defensively to shadow the likes of Pavel Datsyuk—then you can say he's replaced Hossa, a Hall of Fame player.
I really doubt that Hoss cared very much about that retribution, before, or after it happened. In the big picture, the punishment didn't fit the crime so it was insignificant. - DirkGraham
Location: ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL Joined: 09.30.2011
Apr 16 @ 2:47 PM ET
I was at the game. In the first period I think Seabs gave Roussell a crosscheck and Roussell skated away. Considering the flow of the game - hard to see where it would have made sense. I really would hate to see Seabrook - with his concussion history - take that chance.
I really think Q has issued some edict to the team because Roussell was crosschecking Bollig at some point and he barely responded. Earlier in the year Bollig would have been all over that.
Missed the last few seconds - took off for parking right when Hossa scored the empty netter. - tredbrta
Thou shall not leave the game early!!!!!!! Bet it was a good game to catch in person!!
Also, Gagner is an RFA at the end of the season who will want a raise. That seems hardly a fair deal for Hjalmarsson straight up.
Gagner + for Hjalmarsson could be a different story. - EKolb13
Would I trade Niklas Hjalmarsson for Sam Gagner? No, I would not.
Hjalmarsson has made himself a very valuable hockey player. He might in fact now be considered a "core" player who isn't going anywhere, possibly making someone else expendable.
The way Hammer is playing now that would be plain stupid. Hawks do not need another floating forward at that price. The way Hammer is looking they should be talking about extending him this summer.
You are doing the best you can to prove to everyone on this sight that you are a first class jerk. Hopefully JJ will realize that and cut you off - Maggie
Would I trade Niklas Hjalmarsson for Sam Gagner? No, I would not.
Hjalmarsson has made himself a very valuable hockey player. He might in fact now be considered a "core" player who isn't going anywhere, possibly making someone else expendable. - John Jaeckel
Hjalmarsson for Gagner straight up is not a fair trade. Gagner plus (either a pick or player of some type) for Hjalmarsson might be a fair deal.
The way Hammer is playing now that would be plain stupid. Hawks do not need another floating forward at that price. The way Hammer is looking they should be talking about extending him this summer. - tredbrta
What 'floating forward' do the Hawks currently have?
BTW, not sure if this is mentioned but LeBlanc cannot play for Rockford nor can he play for Chicago in the playoffs.
So they'll be monitoring his play during practices, but he doesn't think he'll see game time this year. Interesting to see how this goes from here. - prd797
I saw this floated in a thread a couple of days ago and thought it was correct. I did not know that he was ineligible for the AHL playoffs too.
By the way, did anyone see the cap hit that LeBlanc kid has?
Location: Where ever doesn't get me hit, IL Joined: 05.03.2012
Apr 16 @ 3:03 PM ET
BTW, not sure if this is mentioned but LeBlanc cannot play for Rockford nor can he play for Chicago in the playoffs.
So they'll be monitoring his play during practices, but he doesn't think he'll see game time this year. Interesting to see how this goes from here. - prd797
They pretty much just paid a small price to get the first look at him before the offseason
Its over when the season ends, and pro-rated its barely a couple thou. The Hawks had like 15 million in room when they signed him (pro-rated obviously)
