I don't think he's any worse than anyone else in Rockford. I think he's improved, to an extent, but the true measure of that has been his lack of ice time do to injuries, which may have stunted his growth just a bit.

In all, if Smith is given some time in Chicago and this issue is still there, I think it's something Smith could work through and improve.
- EKolb13

Thanks Bro...appreciate this and hope you're right

No doubt some guys won't be back next year. Kruger and Frolik could easily handle 3rd line duties (or maybe 2nd for Kruger). If Bickell and Stalberg both go and Frolik and Kruger both move up then the 4th line is wide open.
- DarthKane

Just for a lark, go on Capgeek and play with the Hawks roster for next season. See what you come up with.

Anyone know if the NHL has any rules about holding guys out of games just because? If I recall correctly the NBA fined the Spurs big time for holding out star players earlier in the year. I don't think the NHL would do anything given the shortened season and such but just curious....
- The_Councillor

The Spurs did it earlier in the season not with a couple of games left before the playoffs..that being said I thought Popivich was totally right in his call of sending guys home. They were playing 5 games in 7 days or something. Stern got his knickers all in a twist because it was against the Heat on TNT...by the way the Spurs almost won that game which would have made Stern look even more foolish.

And as stated there's the upper body/lower body mystery injury that Q can go to if wished.

Just for a lark, go on Capgeek and play with the Hawks roster for next season. See what you come up with.
- EKolb13

I know...and I'm not saying both Bickell and Stalberg will go, I'm just thinking out loud here. I expect Bickell to stay and I'd like to see Stalberg stay too.

No doubt some guys won't be back next year. Kruger and Frolik could easily handle 3rd line duties (or maybe 2nd for Kruger). If Bickell and Stalberg both go and Frolik and Kruger both move up then the 4th line is wide open.
- DarthKane

Marcus Kruger . . .

I know I have been pumping this guy's tired for four years now—except for saying Bowman was anointing him 2C a little early on in 2011 . . .

I am continually AMAZED at how good he is along the wall, at barely 180 pounds, and still basically a boy physically.

It's easy to take for granted that he is what he is now that he's been around for two years. But there is still some upside here.

Thanks Bro...appreciate this and hope you're right

- philco28

No problem. I hope I'm right too.

Marcus Kruger . . .

I know I have been pumping this guy's tired for four years now—except for saying Bowman was anointing him 2C a little early on in 2011 . . .

I am continually AMAZED at how good he is along the wall, at barely 180 pounds, and still basically a boy physically.

It's easy to take for granted that he is what he is now that he's been around for two years. But there is still some upside here.
- John Jaeckel

JJ,

Being that Kruger is an RFA, what's your guess as to what Kruger's cap number will be when he's re-upped?

Esplen: I expect to see two teams tonight that will be looking to send a message to each other. Because of that I think you need to have Kassian with the twins for the full 60 minutes to discourage and minimize the cheap shots against them. I also like playing Kassian for 18+ minutes tonight in order to soften up Chicago. Put the puck in his corner and have him knock a guy through the boards every chance he gets.

Whooaa yes those big bad BlkHwk goons gunning for the twins...need sherrif Kassian to keep the peace!!

I know...and I'm not saying both Bickell and Stalberg will go, I'm just thinking out loud here. I expect Bickell to stay and I'd like to see Stalberg stay too.
- DarthKane

I'd love it if Bowman could find a way to keep Handzus on the cheap.

As for Stalberg, I'm willing to bet money that he's gone by July 1st.

Esplen: I expect to see two teams tonight that will be looking to send a message to each other. Because of that I think you need to have Kassian with the twins for the full 60 minutes to discourage and minimize the cheap shots against them. I also like playing Kassian for 18+ minutes tonight in order to soften up Chicago. Put the puck in his corner and have him knock a guy through the boards every chance he gets.

Whooaa yes those big bad BlkHwk goons gunning for the twins...need sherrif Kassian to keep the peace!!


- bogiedoc

Throw Carcillo or Bollig in with Toews and Hossa for a shift or two and see what happens there.

JJ,

Being that Kruger is an RFA, what's your guess as to what Kruger's cap number will be when he's re-upped?
- EKolb13

would 3.6 mil for 3 years (1.2 per) be fair?

he doesn't rack up a ton of points which works in the Hawks favour come negotiating time. plus he's a 5th round pick.

Esplen: I expect to see two teams tonight that will be looking to send a message to each other. Because of that I think you need to have Kassian with the twins for the full 60 minutes to discourage and minimize the cheap shots against them. I also like playing Kassian for 18+ minutes tonight in order to soften up Chicago. Put the puck in his corner and have him knock a guy through the boards every chance he gets.

Whooaa yes those big bad BlkHwk goons gunning for the twins...need sherrif Kassian to keep the peace!!


- bogiedoc

Them Hawks are a bunch of dirty players, I hear. Always throwing elbows and hitting anything that moves. Yup, sums up their game quite well.

would 3.6 mil for 3 years (1.2 per) be fair?

he doesn't rack up a ton of points which works in the Hawks favour come negotiating time. plus he's a 5th round pick.
- TyCamScore

I was willing to guess that it might be $1.5 million per for Kruger. I'm just curious as to what JJ thinks.

Throw Carcillo or Bollig in with Toews and Hossa for a shift or two and see what happens there.

- EKolb13

I am all for Carcillo being on that top line for a game like this

would 3.6 mil for 3 years (1.2 per) be fair?

he doesn't rack up a ton of points which works in the Hawks favour come negotiating time. plus he's a 5th round pick.
- TyCamScore

sounds abt right..maybe as high as $4-4.5 for 3 yrs

Please don't think I am comparing Pirri to Saad, but what if next season Pirri can get an opportunity to work with Hossa (and to a lesser extent Toews since both are centers) to "learn" the game. Saad has really grown this season playing with Hossa and Toews. Could not Pirri benefit from this also?

Rubber match, is this the first game with Kesler in the lineup for the Nucks against you guys? We'll need Schneider to be on his best tonight and play a sound defensive game (which hasn't happened lately) to win.

he's good for at least one a night
- philco28

The more physical the game the more 'deliveries' he seems to make. He is the one guy on the team that appears to me can be intimidated.

I was willing to guess that it might be $1.5 million per for Kruger. I'm just curious as to what JJ thinks.
- EKolb13

In that range.

Please don't think I am comparing Pirri to Saad, but what if next season Pirri can get an opportunity to work with Hossa (and to a lesser extent Toews since both are centers) to "learn" the game. Saad has really grown this season playing with Hossa and Toews. Could not Pirri benefit from this also?
- powerenforcer

Can Pirri be taught to be mentally and physically tough?

No sure where you pulled these numbers, but they're wrong.

Tied for 16th in Wins, 21 in Games played, 9th in GAA, tied for 5th in S%. Tied for 1st in shutouts, which is a bigger consideration than games played when judging a goalie, typically.
- micah555

Sorry, if you are going to use those metrics than Bobrovsky is ahead of Schneider by just about any measure. Higher win %, higher save %, lower GAA, and one less shutout, with a team in front of him not as good as Vancouver and that was an absolute crap team for half the season.

Niemi, Bobrovsky, Anderson, and a few others are ahead of Schneider, no matter how much you guys might try to pump his tires. And Anderson would have been the runaway winner had he not sprained his ankle.

In that range.
- John Jaeckel

Thanks JJ.

sounds abt right..maybe as high as $4-4.5 for 3 yrs
- bogiedoc

Maybe closer to $4 mil if over 4 yrs. Question is term length. That, I hear is the sticking point on Bickell's deal.

Thing is, Kruger's going to get better, Bickell probably isn't.

The more physical the game the more 'deliveries' he seems to make. He is the one guy on the team that appears to me can be intimidated.
- paulr

I wish Oduya was as mentally agile as he is physically. I marvel at his skating ability and smoothness on his blades and then recoil in horror when he feathers a blind backhand pass into our slot.

Maybe closer to $4 mil if over 4 yrs. Question is term length. That, I hear is the sticking point on Bickell's deal.

Thing is, Kruger's going to get better, Bickell probably isn't.
- John Jaeckel

If Stan can get Kruger for $4 million / 4 years that would be a home run for Bowman. I don't expect Bickell to get much better, he's a depth forward that plays his best hockey on the 3rd line. Another 2 - 3 would be good for him.