The regular season is important. The last two times the Hawks have won their division they've won the cup, when they've started on the road, they've gotten bounced. I hope Quenville never comes under criticism again from you guys using the TOI argument
- rollpards19

the regular season is important and the postseason is more important. when you're allocating your cap space and constructing your team, you need guys that can play a tighter/smarter game in the postseason. stalberg was a turnover machine and did not buy into playing a 2-way game. easily replaceable at his cap hit. you do realize they can't pay everyone, right?

I really don't know what you're watching. He almost never loses a puck on the boards at 175 pounds. That's ALL hands.

I'm really not interested in what people think about Kruger today or last year. This guy has unfulfilled potential and upside. Maybe quite a bit. Hockey people—scouts, coaches, personnel people—LOVE him.

And regardless, today, he's probably a more valuable player than Damian Brunner.
- John Jaeckel

Well isnt this a place where we can voice our opinions? I value your insight JJ. But my point is that I havent seen enough skill set to suggest that this guy can play top six. He is a fantastic grind guy that battles shift after shift. I watch every hawks game and played the sport for 20 years. He is in the NHL and is likely to be the next Bolland with maybe a little less snarl. But I am not going to crown him as our 2c when he hasnt had a 15 goal season.

Have to settle the Olympics issue first.
- StLBravesFan

Thanks STL

Well played!!! I just would like to solidify that spot by any means necessary. Pirri is not the answer. If he was he would have been last year. Krugs has a compete level second to #19. He is intrical with the loss of Bolland. But unless our draft picks develop quicker than anticipated, this was the one off season where there were a few centers that would have fit nicely. But of course money was an issue. Brunner wasnt bad last year. Had more points than Kruger. But the contracts that guys like Weiss and Clarkson and Ribero have gotten are blasphemous. Maybe not Ribiero because he was real good for Washington last year.
- nickmo2699

you have to see what these prospects have at some point. with our cap situation, it is imperitive actually. then if they struggle, you look to fill it at the trade deadline where you can acquire more costly veteran talent at a fraction of the cap hit. we can't afford to pay $4M right now for a 2C for the entire season.

Phillip Danault.
- DarthKane

Ditto

the regular season is important and the postseason is more important. when you're allocating your cap space and constructing your team, you need guys that can play a tighter/smarter game in the postseason. stalberg was a turnover machine and did not buy into playing a 2-way game. easily replaceable at his cap hit. you do realize they can't pay everyone, right?
- Sconnie

Oh yeah, I had no expectation/desire to keep Stalberg at the money he deserved and got on the open market, just like I pretty much knew Frolik was gone because he isn't worth his salary. The turnover machine thing is pretty harsh seeing as how he regularly out-possesses his opponents while on the ice, so his competitors must be even worse than he is, if thats possible. But you won't find many half a point a game players for under a million dollars, that much I promise you

As I've said, there are times they win IN SPITE of our mastermind coach. You try to disprove my entire premise, which is backed by 70 freaking games of examples, with ONE game???
- Q...argh

It's not though...Q kept the lines pretty much intact for a long stretch beginning the season and during 'THE STREAK'.

Well isnt this a place where we can voice our opinions? I value your insight JJ. But my point is that I havent seen enough skill set to suggest that this guy can play top six. He is a fantastic grind guy that battles shift after shift. I watch every hawks game and played the sport for 20 years. He is in the NHL and is likely to be the next Bolland with maybe a little less snarl. But I am not going to crown him as our 2c when he hasnt had a 15 goal season.
- nickmo2699

You may voice whatever opinion you like. I'm just saying, I think it's silly to argue over a guy's potential when he's not physically developed, playing a roie he's asked to, the way it should be played, and not pursuing individual glory. I have been following Kruger since he played in the World Juniors and with Djurgarden. He has more skill than you realize. Further, he doesn't need to score a lot of goals to be an effective 2C. He needs to set other scorers up. He has more ability there than you realize.

And he's a better player than Brunner (which was my original point in response to your suggestion).

Phillip Danault.
- DarthKane

From today's camp.

http://instagram.com/p/bhFFdACK4E/#

From today's camp.

http://instagram.com/p/bhFFdACK4E/#
- Beaver-Warrior

JJ Any word on contracts for Hayes, Johns, and Shalunov?

From today's camp.

http://instagram.com/p/bhFFdACK4E/#
- Beaver-Warrior

That's good skating from Johns, I like that. Maybe a little outside the dot on the initial pivot, but other than that its an impressive little clip of him (moreso than Danault, not through any fault, just kind of a simple play)

Probably the second best passer on the team, after Kane. Very good hands (see rebound/follow up goal on Rask—not many people in the world make that play) and good in space.

He is doing the job they ask of him. And like a lot of Swedes, plays it defense first by instinct—not for lack of ability.

The other thing is he is literally built like my 11 year old son from the waist up right now. When he matures physically, more of the game is going to come to him offensively. In fact, when he gets stronger he is going to be a BEAST along the wall, because he is very, very good there now on instinct and hands alone.
- John Jaeckel

Krugs was OUTSTANDING this year....would really like to see him SHOOT more in the coming years. He possesses a lethal snap shot and should use it more.

Thought the same thing.

Max will have his eye on making the jump from KHL to NHL but not sure if he'd be interested in KHL to AHL at this time. We'll see.
- TyCamScore

Perhaps I'm painting with a broad brush here, but I hope some (not all) of the Russians realize that it takes time to learn the North American game. I laugh that they think they are above the AHL, when so many good players polish their skills there. Yes, the KHL is the best league in Russia. I'm sure they have loads of skill throughout the league, but having success there doesn't guarantee success in the NHL.

I've gotten a wee bit of shyt over time about that. No big deal.



The Beaver Warrior....
- Beaver-Warrior

NICE

Ditto
- John Jaeckel

He's got the same motor and skillset as Frolik to attempt to replace him now... but do they want to put him in that position.

I loves me some Danault. He's gonna be a player!

JJ - I'm heading to the prospect camp again in London, ON in September. Would be happy to share my notes with you again.

Cheers,
Ty

My pick is Maxim Shalunov.
- Beaver-Warrior

Hope Shalunov comes to camp with confidence and hunger and not a mindset of stunned, culture shock. He's a terrific talent that reminds me a lot of Malkin. He's obviously EONS away from being Malkin, but he's good.

Hawks win the cup with or without Stalberg.....Hawks do not win the cup without their PK being so dominant. A PK that had Kruger and Frolik playing double shifts...an impact that cannot be measured.
- UnnamedSource

THIS


16 and 67 were PK ACES

From today's camp.

http://instagram.com/p/bhFFdACK4E/#
- Beaver-Warrior

Johns is a BIG DUDE

Tracey Myers ‏@TramyersCSN
Hartman had shoulder surgery about eight weeks ago. Should return to the ice in another 2-3 weeks. #Blackhawks

Tracey Myers ‏@TramyersCSN
Hartman had shoulder surgery about eight weeks ago. Should return to the ice in another 2-3 weeks. #Blackhawks
- philco28

Phil?

Bruins finalizing 8 year $60M deal for Rask. That will put them almost $2M over the cap... who is headed for a trade/buyout?

Phil?
- victorymc98

Yyyyyyyyes ?

Right now they have 16 million under the cap, if as expected the cap goes up to 70 million they will be over 22 million....if they trade Oduya you will have close to 26 million...is this really what worries you?
- UnnamedSource

It does because you have a lot guys coming up who are going to be signed to some large money deals.

88&19--9 million per year. Hometown discount? Probably, and it'll be for 8 years. With the way Girioux just got 8.25...88+19> 28.

You have Hammer who is arguably their most stable, best shutdown D...He'll want 5.5+, and worth every penny given Seabrook's roller coaster.

Crawford? Who knows...what we don't know is what Raanta IS. IF he pans out like Niemi did, then maybe he replaces Crawford, but can you honestly let 2 cup winning goalies and roll the dice a 3rd time? Not sure...Remember when everyone was all giddy about that guy they got from Florida? What was his name?

Shaw and Kruger are both going to be above 2 million...If KRuger was below 2 million, he'd be signed by now...Shaw is going to want the same, with better numbers then Kruger's.

Trading Oduya looks like nice, and maybe it happens....or maybe they deal Seabrook if he bombs out again....Or maybe they deal Leddy if he doesn't improve over where he is now.

Fact is, that cap situation isn't looking as friendly as it should be....that's my point. Lets hope Piri, Hayes, Morin, and Smith prove themselves...and I believe at least 2 if not 3, may be RFAs after next year as well......

It does because you have a lot guys coming up who are going to be signed to some large money deals.

88&19--9 million per year. Hometown discount? Probably, and it'll be for 8 years. With the way Girioux just got 8.25...88+19> 28.

You have Hammer who is arguably their most stable, best shutdown D...He'll want 5.5+, and worth every penny given Seabrook's roller coaster.

Crawford? Who knows...what we don't know is what Raanta IS. IF he pans out like Niemi did, then maybe he replaces Crawford, but can you honestly let 2 cup winning goalies and roll the dice a 3rd time? Not sure...Remember when everyone was all giddy about that guy they got from Florida? What was his name?

Shaw and Kruger are both going to be above 2 million...If KRuger was below 2 million, he'd be signed by now...Shaw is going to want the same, with better numbers then Kruger's.

Trading Oduya looks like nice, and maybe it happens....or maybe they deal Seabrook if he bombs out again....Or maybe they deal Leddy if he doesn't improve over where he is now.

Fact is, that cap situation isn't looking as friendly as it should be....that's my point. Lets hope Piri, Hayes, Morin, and Smith prove themselves...and I believe at least 2 if not 3, may be RFAs after next year as well......
- SteveRain

A lot of it comes down to how much Toews and Kane take. They could really save the team by taking anything under 8

Daniel Carcillo ‏@CarBombBoom13
Sunday July 14th from 12-3pm. Lord Stanley will be at the King City Arena with yours truly. Come one, come all #KC #Boom