I'm not going to defend the selections...

To me if you set a record and then finish 1st overall you win the Coach of the year.

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
- Al

Agree, especially with a team that changed very little from the one that exited from the first round last year.

Yup.... Bulls fans....
- mrpaulish

Nope - morons who wouldn't know a basket interference from a goalie interference - but some still live here.

Numbers don't lie... He is and always will be on the heavier side and never will be q shut down blueliner. However...he has put up serious numbers. Over the last 3 years he is top 3 in the entire NHL. Ignoring numbers = blindness. Yes

Where are the comments by his coach? Would be interested to read...
- ilinkhawk

I dunno, I really like Buff, but I think ignoring his weakness as a defender (especially in upcoming years as he gets even heavier) is also blindness, especially since he is a defenseman. On a very good team, he's a #5 defenseman and PP QB, but he's getting paid about $200,000 less than Duncan Keith. I don't think it is so unthinkable that his best hockey is behind him, given that he has shown little desire to commit to his craft in the off-season. It is certainly not so clear-cut as to call for the dismissive response you gave.

As far as quotes - don't know that there are any, but I may look later after the eating and drinking are over.

Oh, his trade value is not as high as it would be were it not for the weight, absolutely. it's a hyperbolic comparison to begin with, BTW. There is no comparison between Dustin Byfuglien and Alxander Karpovtsev. That's the point.

Untradeable? Lawless comes off as having an axe to grind. That is a dumb statement. Lots of teams would be and likely are interested in Byfuglien, weight or no.

I don't believe Winnipeg can pay part of his salary or retain part of the cap hit per the CBA. I could see another team moving a bigger contract for an "underachiever" for him. But it could also be a couple of players needing a change of scenery and both teams benefit.
- John Jaeckel

The new CBA allows teams to eat part of a contract in a trade and keep SOME of the contract of a traded player on their salary cap. (I knew I read this at the start of the season)

http://www.theglobeandmai...tem-works/article7033878/

I thought part of the new CBA allowed teams to send cash in trades. I even think there was one trade made near the beginning of the year that involved cash, but don't quote me on that.
- Hemingways

You are correct - JJ was incorrect there. My earlier comment linked to an article about it.

I dunno, I really like Buff, but I think ignoring his weakness as a defender (especially in upcoming years as he gets even heavier) is also blindness, especially since he is a defenseman. On a very good team, he's a #5 defenseman and PP QB, but he's getting paid about $200,000 less than Duncan Keith. I don't think it is so unthinkable that his best hockey is behind him, given that he has shown little desire to commit to his craft in the off-season. It is certainly not so clear-cut as to call for the dismissive response you gave.

As far as quotes - don't know that there are any, but I may look later after the eating and drinking are over.
- mohel

His weight comes up every year. He routinely is top 5 in the NHL in most every offensive category. I don't know how that can be just swept unde the rug. Can the guy be better playing lighter... Probably. Maybe...? But do we know what he has weighed putting up these all star numbers? 280? 270? 290? Who knows ... This warrants more attention if he wasn't producing. He is.

Again... Plenty of GMs in this league would pay his entire contract to play on their blue line IMO. Awesome shot. Flexibility to play forward on pp.. Hits like a train and yes he can skate. He isn't Nik Lidstrom. Although he did lead the league in takeaways with Thrashers for D....

No I am not taking a bloggers word that his deal is not moveable. Nonsense.

You are correct - JJ was incorrect there. My earlier comment linked to an article about it.
- mohel

lol. I just posted an update to my post with a link.

His weight comes up every year. He routinely is top 5 in the NHL in most every offensive category. I don't know how that can be just swept unde the rug. Can the guy be better playing lighter... Probably. Maybe...? But do we know what he has weighed putting up these all star numbers? 280? 270? 290? Who knows ... This warrants more attention if he wasn't producing. He is.

Again... Plenty of GMs in this league would pay his entire contract to play on their blue line IMO. Awesome shot. Flexibility to play forward on pp.. Hits like a train and yes he can skate. He isn't Nik Lidstrom. Although he did lead the league in takeaways with Thrashers for D....

No I am not taking a bloggers word that his deal is not moveable. Nonsense.
- ilinkhawk

His stats are far better than I thought, haven't kept up on him since he left. Interesting, this season had 28 points in 43 games and averaged 24 mins of ice time.


http://www.hockey-referen.../players/b/byfugdu01.html

I like the guy with the 2nd closest similarity score to Buff's career: 1 year and done Hawks coach Bob Murdoch.

At this point Hawks are focused in winning a cup

With the Cap being the Cap ....as drafted players improve ....teams like Chicago bring them into the lime light and then can no longer afford to pay them so they move on

Seems like the formula for success is to pay your core players the market price and hope your fringe players making $600 grand play over their head.

There are so many players we want to sign but in the end cannot afford

What a juggle

His weight comes up every year. He routinely is top 5 in the NHL in most every offensive category. I don't know how that can be just swept unde the rug. Can the guy be better playing lighter... Probably. Maybe...? But do we know what he has weighed putting up these all star numbers? 280? 270? 290? Who knows ... This warrants more attention if he wasn't producing. He is.

Again... Plenty of GMs in this league would pay his entire contract to play on their blue line IMO. Awesome shot. Flexibility to play forward on pp.. Hits like a train and yes he can skate. He isn't Nik Lidstrom. Although he did lead the league in takeaways with Thrashers for D....

No I am not taking a bloggers word that his deal is not moveable. Nonsense.
- ilinkhawk

I think you meant his weight GOES up every year!
I am not sweeping anything under the rug - he's been an excellent offensive defenseman. You don't seem to want to talk much about the other half - his corsi numbers put him between 54th and 88th among defensemen in the whole league and he is third or fourth on his own team. He was so bad on defense that his team tried to put him at forward (perhaps they lost their sight for a time) for a few games and switched him back when that failed. Most offensive defensemen are at least passable at defense - Buff isn't; his team was near the bottom in goals allowed and even they wanted to move him upfront. The main point to me is that he hasn't had great off-ice discipline and this will become more of a problem as he ages (even if he only weighs 280).

To sum it up, he's a very good offensive defenseman, he's not good at defense, and he has a history of poor training habits that are likely to cause him problems as he ages.

We'll see if they trade him, and if so, what they get for him.

As an aside - the blogger quoted in Lawless' article is Pete Tessier, the HB blogger for the Jets (and of course previously the Nucks). Don't know whether he'd make up a number, but maybe JJ can weigh in on his veracity.

Q's got his haters on here for sure and they are certainly entitled to their viewpoint but a close review of the record reveals that in

year 1: he led us to the Western Conference Finals where injuries to Khabby and Havlat undid an otherwise highly successful and entertaining playoff run

year 2: wins Stanley Cup, ending a 49 year drought for the club

year 3: with half the roster turned over, still leads the team to a 97 point season and we sneak in last day of season and rally from 3 games to none vs # 1 seed, come within one shot of SHOCKING THE WORLD...

year 4...lose in round 1, on 2 o/t goals Tracey Myers would have stopped

year 5...brilliantly manages club to a record shattering unbeaten streak to begin a season through a brutally road-heavy early sked...while guiding club to FIRST PLACE overall...and overcoming 3-1 series deficit vs arch rival and now he's got us 3 games away from a 2nd Cup in 4 years

In short...Q has been A PHUCK'N O.K. ...THE BOYZ PLAY FOR HIM NO MATTER WHAT...

- philco28

If I remember correctly in year one, he was named head coach like five or six games into the season so he didn't really have a training camp with the team to implement his system.

Here's a quick little stat for you guys...

• TEAMS WINNING GAME ONE HAVE WON THE CUP 54 OF 69 TIMES (78.3%).

Here's a quick little stat for you guys...

• TEAMS WINNING GAME ONE HAVE WON THE CUP 54 OF 69 TIMES (78.3%).

- SMU51

Yea that's been talked about a lot. On the other side to that, the Bruins went down 0-2 to Vancouver and won that series in 7. Bruins can easily steal game two and just like that, if they hold serve at home, the hawks could be in a 3-1 hole.

If I remember correctly in year one, he was named head coach like five or six games into the season so he didn't really have a training camp with the team to implement his system.
- golfbard

Very close GB...Q was named head coach on Oct. 16, 2008 after we got off to a 1-3 head start.

I think you meant his weight GOES up every year!
I am not sweeping anything under the rug - he's been an excellent offensive defenseman. You don't seem to want to talk much about the other half - his corsi numbers put him between 54th and 88th among defensemen in the whole league and he is third or fourth on his own team. He was so bad on defense that his team tried to put him at forward (perhaps they lost their sight for a time) for a few games and switched him back when that failed. Most offensive defensemen are at least passable at defense - Buff isn't; his team was near the bottom in goals allowed and even they wanted to move him upfront. The main point to me is that he hasn't had great off-ice discipline and this will become more of a problem as he ages (even if he only weighs 280).

To sum it up, he's a very good offensive defenseman, he's not good at defense, and he has a history of poor training habits that are likely to cause him problems as he ages.

We'll see if they trade him, and if so, what they get for him.

As an aside - the blogger quoted in Lawless' article is Pete Tessier, the HB blogger for the Jets (and of course previously the Nucks). Don't know whether he'd make up a number, but maybe JJ can weigh in on his veracity.
- mohel

I think you are exagerating his lack of skill on D. He isn't a great defender. But he isn't horrible either. I would say average defensive skills. You have to give some weight (no pun) to the fact that he hits with the best of them and can handle most anyone in he crease. And again.. He did lead the league in takeaways. So I don't think he is as bad defensively as you think.

Even so.... He is a monster offensively. Those numbers along with his size would be in demand. I don't think Winnepeg would want to deal him. So I won't be surprised ... When he isn't dealt.

I think you are exagerating his lack of skill on D. He isn't a great defender. But he isn't horrible either. I would say average defensive skills. You have to give some weight (no pun) to the fact that he hits with the best of them and can handle most anyone in he crease. And again.. He did lead the league in takeaways. So I don't think he is as bad defensively as you think.

Even so.... He is a monster offensively. Those numbers along with his size would be in demand. I don't think Winnepeg would want to deal him. So I won't be surprised ... When he isn't dealt.
- ilinkhawk

If there were no salary cap, I would love him on the Hawks. I think they can hide his weaknesses by playing him at forward and PP QB, but the teams that are good enough to do that can't afford (cap-wise) to do it. It's gonna be a weird off-season with the declining cap and compliance buyouts, so I won't be surprised if he stays, too. But I don't think it would be totally crazy for Winnipeg to want to trade him to try to re-tool. And it would be easier for them to do so if the other team believed that Buff is more dedicated to his craft.

Anyway - when the hell is Game Two gonna get here?!?!

Some really nice vids on the team site...nice sit downs with Toews re; winning the Selke and a cool sit down with Duncs and Seabs talking about their relationship.
Nice viewing on an off-day...highly recommend

I think you meant his weight GOES up every year!
I am not sweeping anything under the rug - he's been an excellent offensive defenseman. You don't seem to want to talk much about the other half - his corsi numbers put him between 54th and 88th among defensemen in the whole league and he is third or fourth on his own team. He was so bad on defense that his team tried to put him at forward (perhaps they lost their sight for a time) for a few games and switched him back when that failed. Most offensive defensemen are at least passable at defense - Buff isn't; his team was near the bottom in goals allowed and even they wanted to move him upfront. The main point to me is that he hasn't had great off-ice discipline and this will become more of a problem as he ages (even if he only weighs 280).

To sum it up, he's a very good offensive defenseman, he's not good at defense, and he has a history of poor training habits that are likely to cause him problems as he ages.

We'll see if they trade him, and if so, what they get for him.

As an aside - the blogger quoted in Lawless' article is Pete Tessier, the HB blogger for the Jets (and of course previously the Nucks). Don't know whether he'd make up a number, but maybe JJ can weigh in on his veracity.
- mohel

And I read Tessier. Here is his latest on the topic which you should read if you haven't already...
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...ff/161/52065#.UbvQv2S9Kc0

If there were no salary cap, I would love him on the Hawks. I think they can hide his weaknesses by playing him at forward and PP QB, but the teams that are good enough to do that can't afford (cap-wise) to do it. It's gonna be a weird off-season with the declining cap and compliance buyouts, so I won't be surprised if he stays, too. But I don't think it would be totally crazy for Winnipeg to want to trade him to try to re-tool. And it would be easier for them to do so if the other team believed that Buff is more dedicated to his craft.

Anyway - when the hell is Game Two gonna get here?!?!
- mohel

Fired up for 2. And taking one of my boys to 3 and 4!

Fired up for 2. And taking one of my boys to 3 and 4!
- ilinkhawk

That's awesome - a great experience for you both!! Have a great time!!

ps - I did see that HB post on Buff. I'm pulling for him - even if it didn't sound like it above.

Yea that's been talked about a lot. On the other side to that, the Bruins went down 0-2 to Vancouver and won that series in 7. Bruins can easily steal game two and just like that, if they hold serve at home, the hawks could be in a 3-1 hole.
- golfbard

Exactly. Hope hawks are taking tomorrow very seriously and come out flying and hitting. I don't think boston will be mentally killed by losing game 1. They still know they could be in a great spot winning tomorrow

Exactly. Hope hawks are taking tomorrow very seriously and come out flying and hitting. I don't think boston will be mentally killed by losing game 1. They still know they could be in a great spot winning tomorrow
- tomcat24

It's like that line they use when advertising investments - past performance is not a guarantee of future performance (or something like that). We got some bounces in Game 1 (as did they) and could have easily lost. I don't think we can tell which team is better after a 3OT game that could have gone either way. Gotta win four wars.

Exactly. Hope hawks are taking tomorrow very seriously and come out flying and hitting. I don't think boston will be mentally killed by losing game 1. They still know they could be in a great spot winning tomorrow
- tomcat24

Agreed. Any team that might have been demoralized by a 3OT loss has already been eliminated, and is not playing in this series.

It's like that line they use when advertising investments - past performance is not a guarantee of future performance (or something like that). We got some bounces in Game 1 (as did they) and could have easily lost. I don't think we can tell which team is better after a 3OT game that could have gone either way. Gotta win four wars.
- mohel

I think Chicago outplayed Boston 5-on5 During regulation. OT was another story. Boston was the better team and had much better chances. We looked like the more tired team even though they were down a forward and hardly played Thornton. The 1st 10 minutes of game 3 will be ugly. Must weather that storm

Agreed. Any team that might have been demoralized by a 3OT loss has already been eliminated, and is not playing in this series.
- Tugboat

Yeah I don't think either of these 2 teams would fold. But, usually in games like these it would be a lot harder on the home team. What a bad way to lose home-ice advantage.