Yes, RP and BG were great to watch. I remember seeing over half the PK played in the defensive zone. Forechecking at it's best.
- powerenforcer

Yeah those 2 were great. And after them came my favorite pair a little later: dirk graham and brent sutter, a team had a lot of trouble just coming out of their zone with them. Very fun to watch work

And no Magnuson or Doug Wilson?
- Tugboat

I only saw Wilson play and , right now , I don't like Doug Wilson....

How do you not have Leighton on the Hawks Rushmore, he did let in a cheapie goal for the Hawks to win the cup.

As for "Anti" does it have to be an ex Hawk. Cause I would pick Pronger /Ciccarelli / Domi / Kessler

Other than Brendan Smith, bumhole-skater, and Cory Emmerton they don't have a single player under the age of 27. bumhole-skater is 26, as well.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Even Brendan Smith is 25 or 26. Wings koolaid drinkers need to spout that to feel better. They needed to grab some of the better free agents the last few years to stay elite. They didn't.

Kucera......my god.

Patrick Poulin, Adam Creighton, Sergei Krivokrasov gets a nod, but no carving into the stone...as he scored 2 big OT goals vs Colorado.

Joceyln Thibault.......

The main "star" i couldn't stand? Eric Daze....Saw him at a bar in Naperville on black Wednesday, 2000, he was trolling for chicks as the Hawks were getting smoked by San Jose. His agent was a royal d-bag. He also was shocked I recognized him, but how do you miss a crater face like that?

Eric Daze...the man who rode in a car from Montreal to Chicago, with a horrible back, and wondered why it flared up......
- SteveRain

Wasn't it because his back wouldn't allow him to sit in one place for the length of the flight between Montreal and Chicago?

Even Brendan Smith is 25 or 26. Wings koolaid drinkers need to spout that to feel better. They needed to grab some of the better free agents the last few years to stay elite. They didn't.
- tredbrta

Just to stay "good' they will have to land a top 6 forward and another D man.

Good Luck.

Detroit Sucks

Not that we would trade either, but maybe we should think about trading one? Top-4 d-men are really in demand now. I might lean more towards trading seabrook over hammer now. I heard a rumor Carolina is dangling their #5 pick for a top 4 d-man. Plus I'm sure we would have to add something else
- tomcat24

Seabs for a top 5 would be great. Would rather see top 3 though. Garth had something about the Sabres offering a massive package for the #1 including Myers, Miller, and last year's first rounder. Not really believable without Roy throwing adding more IMO.... Never know though. A team like that wants to excite the base again. We know they will be gunning for Kane in free agency.

Bowman needs to focus in on extending players early next year - Hammer, Toews and Kane... maybe Crow.

Don't how the boyz do it....gets itchy as heck.
- philco28

It's a way of life.

I've had a trimmed beard all playoffs, but there's no trimming for the final!
- DarthKane

Brother, that just sounds wrong!

Not that we would trade either, but maybe we should think about trading one? Top-4 d-men are really in demand now. I might lean more towards trading seabrook over hammer now. I heard a rumor Carolina is dangling their #5 pick for a top 4 d-man. Plus I'm sure we would have to add something else
- tomcat24

I'd seriously consider dealing Seabrook......

I think his value is sky high, and he has regressed. Injury history, and with Hammer's emergence, Leddy's growth, and Oduya actually playing very well....that clears a LOT of cap room.

Hawks should deal from their strength...which is D.

I don't want to see them buy out Hossa, as while he is a little older, etc, he still is a legit top 6 forward, and should be able to continue to net 25-30 goals for the next 2-3 years...Not sure Saad can do that....and even if he can...you are back to only 3 or 4 LEGIT top 6 players.

Wasn't it because his back wouldn't allow him to sit in one place for the length of the flight between Montreal and Chicago?
- Beaver-Warrior

Exactly, which is why driving from Montreal to Chicago was even more asinine....2 hours vs 8-10 hours.....

Yeah those 2 were great. And after them came my favorite pair a little later: dirk graham and brent sutter, a team had a lot of trouble just coming out of their zone with them. Very fun to watch work
- tomcat24

Wayne Van Dorp belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of Blackhawk nation. No question.

That face had character.

Seabs for a top 5 would be great. Would rather see top 3 though. Garth had something about the Sabres offering a massive package for the #1 including Myers, Miller, and last year's first rounder. Not really believable without Roy throwing adding more IMO.... Never know though. A team like that wants to excite the base again. We know they will be gunning for Kane in free agency.

Bowman needs to focus in on extending players early next year - Hammer, Toews and Kane... maybe Crow.
- tredbrta

Even at 5 we would get a great player ready to step in probably in barkov or the big Russian. But my plan would be trade TT and the #5 to either land the 1st or 2nd. I would love either jones or mackinnon. Other things would be added. TT and the #5 for the #2 and Matthias or Shore. We can throw in something else

Brother, that just sounds wrong!
- Beaver-Warrior

I guess it does. But I couldn't let my beard go wild and crazy for the entire playoffs, I do have to maintain a certain level of professionalism at work. But it's the final now, so the beard is set free! Needless to say my wife isn't too happy about it, but she understands.

Even at 5 we would get a great player ready to step in probably in barkov or the big Russian. But my plan would be trade TT and the #5 to either land the 1st or 2nd. I would love either jones or mackinnon. Other things would be added. TT and the #5 for the #2 and Matthias or Shore. We can throw in something else
- tomcat24

Seabs and TT should get the # 2. Maybe even TT, Bolland and the Hawks 1st. MacKinnon on this team would be scary. I think they would keep Jones in Rockford at least a year.

Thought the netting was suppose to be the cure for this sort of stuff. Thoughts are with the good doctor and family.

http://www.chicagotribune...0,6419657.story?track=rss

Just to stay "good' they will have to land a top 6 forward and another D man.

Good Luck.

Detroit Sucks
- mrpaulish

I didn't get this whole "we have a really young team" thing coming from Detroit. They don't.

I guess it does. But I couldn't let my beard go wild and crazy for the entire playoffs, I do have to maintain a certain level of professionalism at work. But it's the final now, so the beard is set free! Needless to say my wife isn't too happy about it, but she understands.
- DarthKane

Read "trimmed beard",mind floated down the gutter.

Read "trimmed beard",mind floated down the gutter.
- Beaver-Warrior

I just assumed your mind never left the gutter.

Read "trimmed beard",mind floated down the gutter.
- Beaver-Warrior

To be fair, you do have the word beaver in your username.

Seabs and TT should get the # 2. Maybe even TT, Bolland and the Hawks 1st. MacKinnon on this team would be scary. I think they would keep Jones in Rockford at least a year.
- tredbrta

Why trade Seabrook? I agree that MacKinnon would be great, but one of the main keys to the Blackhawks' success has been their defense. Granted, Seabs isn't playing his best hockey right now but you still don't trade him. TT, Bolland and a pick would be fine. Either this summer or next Bolland will be another salary cap victim anyway. But would Uncle Dale make that deal?

I'd seriously consider dealing Seabrook......

I think his value is sky high, and he has regressed. Injury history, and with Hammer's emergence, Leddy's growth, and Oduya actually playing very well....that clears a LOT of cap room.

Hawks should deal from their strength...which is D.

I don't want to see them buy out Hossa, as while he is a little older, etc, he still is a legit top 6 forward, and should be able to continue to net 25-30 goals for the next 2-3 years...Not sure Saad can do that....and even if he can...you are back to only 3 or 4 LEGIT top 6 players.
- SteveRain

I agree. Along with that, his work ethic and "low maintenance" or "no maintenance" personality would continue to provide an example to the kids on the team. He is a quiet leader who can continue to teach the kids a thing or two about playing a complete game.

Along with the captain, Hossa is my favorite player on the team.

Why trade Seabrook? I agree that MacKinnon would be great, but one of the main keys to the Blackhawks' success has been their defense. Granted, Seabs isn't playing his best hockey right now but you still don't trade him. TT, Bolland and a pick would be fine. Either this summer or next Bolland will be another salary cap victim anyway. But would Uncle Dale make that deal?
- DarthKane

And if he does, what's to say that the Avs wouldn't take MacKinnon first? Everybody expects them to take Jones, but I thought I read somewhere that they hadn't decided yet.

To be fair, you do have the word beaver in your username.
- Lash8

And being located in the Beaver State and a Oregon State Believer....

What is interesting......is that Hammer has pretty much moved himself into the 2nd position on defensemen depth, in regards to consistency and dependency.

Now....I think Seabrook is either have post concussion effects as his inability to skate and being wobbling would explain that...He looks eerily familiar to when he came back in game 6 vs Vancouver.

So with that said, how do keep Hammer and pay him top D man money (5-6 million+), absorb at least another 2-2.5+ million increase in cap hits for Kane and Toews for max deals, and keep Sharp, Hossa, and have to pony up for Leddy and Saad who should see high increases.

I heard Bowman on the score and when talking about the "core" he only spoke about Sharp, Kane, Toews, Seabrook, and Keith. No mention of Hammer or Hossa....for what it's worth.

I'm not advocating buying out Hossa, but IF they win a 2nd cup...have to wonder if that little ceremony they had for him earlier this year, was a tell of where they are moving.....
- SteveRain

Not to sound condescending and not meant directly at you but most fans are too critcal.

We don't know if Hammer was bothered with nagging inuries last year or the same with Seabrook this year. I thought after the Cup win Seabrook would have been considered the best of the group by now. I agree for whatever reason he isn't as sharp this year....he looks unaware at times.

The body of work of the six as a group tells me they are the best passers/puck movers in the NHL and most likely the best group period from top to bottom.

I don't want to get into player movement now but...

Hammer and Seabrook fill a skill set no one else has.

Leddy is going to be very good and a top 4 dman soon, probably could be now and on many clubs would be.

If you believe in sell high than Oduya has the skill set that can replaced by Leddy and is too expensive to keep as a #5.

No need for me to stir the pot on Hossa, I brought up the black/white issues quite awhile ago and from a risk standpoint the Hawks could be stuck.

Monty gets bought out for sure this summer....If one compliance buyout is kept in their pocket then you know there is a possibility it could happen next summer.

Blackhawks show depth, capture Game 1, 4-3 in 3rd OT - Game 1 opinions and recap- My Fox Chicago-Fox 32 News http://bit.ly/ZLWN83

On Twitter@AlCimaglia