Any opinions on a guy like Damian Brunner? Price to high? He can play center and is extremely skilled. Wouldnt mind seeing a guy like him centering Sharp and Hossa.

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

Your argument was 2 games! You said he undid the good fortune and they lost 2 games.

How about the whole season where Bickell played on the 3rd line and they lost 7 games all season? It was Q's tinkering that put Bickell on the top line in the playoffs to begin with. That kickstarted Kaner too.

Listen, he can be frustrating as all get out at times. The "too many men" penalties they piled up in the two previous (to this) seasons were maddening and a direct result of his juggling.

But c'mon man. It's like you'd rather be unhappy the Hawks won the Cup, because Q might've had a hand in it. You'd rather they lose in devastating fashion so the front office cans him.

A LOT of things have to go right for a team to win the Stanley Cup. It's a series of fortunate breaks, health, a balance deep roster, and coaching. Q might not be THE reason they won, but he's a HUGE part of it.

I agree. I was listening to XM the other day when they were announcing all of these signings and wondering why the lockout happened and whether it was worth it (it wasn't). David Clarkson at nearly $6M per. W...T...F? Obviously, these owners can't get out of their own way.

On one hand, I'm bitter. On the other, my favorite team has it's second Stanley Cup, so it's hard to get too bent out of shape.
- eburgio

I agree. And I'm also not convinced that the Hawks win the Cup if they are playing a full season or games in October. I'm fairly convinced that those extra three months did wonders for Toews and Hossa.

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

But you understand that they DID win, right? The Stanley Cup? So let's say we aaaall agree with your premise...still won 2 Cups. So Q is just the perfect moron who stumbled through random retardedness with a team of talented leaders who don't need a coach and would have won with ozzie Guillen as their coach?

But you understand that they DID win, right? The Stanley Cup? So let's say we aaaall agree with your premise...still won 2 Cups. So Q is just the perfect moron who stumbled through random retardedness with a team of talented leaders who don't need a coach and would have won with ozzie Guillen as their coach?
- Kentxo

Paws Up, baby!

Any opinions on a guy like Damian Brunner? Price to high? He can play center and is extremely skilled. Wouldnt mind seeing a guy like him centering Sharp and Hossa.
- nickmo2699

Thinking Brunner wants too much. I think I saw hawks have 2.5 in cap space without Kruger signed. No way Brunner takes a low dollar contract.

Your argument was 2 games! You said he undid the good fortune and they lost 2 games.

(1) How about the whole season where Bickell played on the 3rd line and they lost 7 games all season? (2) It was Q's tinkering that put Bickell on the top line in the playoffs to begin with. That kickstarted Kaner too.

Listen, he can be frustrating as all get out at times. (3) The "too many men" penalties they piled up in the two previous (to this) seasons were maddening and a direct result of his juggling.

(4) But c'mon man. It's like you'd rather be unhappy the Hawks won the Cup, because Q might've had a hand in it. You'd rather they lose in devastating fashion so the front office cans him.

A LOT of things have to go right for a team to win the Stanley Cup. It's a series of fortunate breaks, healthy, a balance deep roster, and coaching. Q might be be THE reason they won, but he's a HUGE part of it.
- eburgio

(1) Which goes right to my argument that they won all year while he refrained from line juggling.

(2) Again, that was a good thing, but he has a bad habit of "fixing" things when they prove to be FAR from broken.

(3) I'm trying to forget about those ...

(4) I'm very happy they won. This thread concerns next season, and this all started over another post stating that next season Q will line juggle even after hitting on a winning combination ...

P.S. Thanks for staying civil. I respect your opinion.

Any opinions on a guy like Damian Brunner? Price to high? He can play center and is extremely skilled. Wouldnt mind seeing a guy like him centering Sharp and Hossa.
- nickmo2699

If they manage to sign Kruger for $1.5 or so, they will have about $300K in cap space, so basically even an NHL minimum contract is too high of a price absent a trade.

Me thinks Stan and Co. are done until TDL next season.

Up yours. Once again, don't fall in with the rah-rah crowd's mandated opinions, the personal insults come out. I've had enough of this crap. You kids have fun crapping your plastic pants in the sandbox.
- Q...argh

Again with the promises to leave. Don't get our hopes up.

Are you 9 ys old? Or are you simply clinically insane? Honest question.

No.
- TyCamScore

Team 2014-15? He could. It´s hard to predict youngsters pace of the development. TT has all the skill in the world. Playing without a puck and getting more overall strength is the thing with him. Both that can be teached.

(1) Which goes right to my argument that they won all year while he refrained from line juggling.

(2) Again, that was a good thing, but he has a bad habit of "fixing" things when they prove to be FAR from broken.

(3) I'm trying to forget about those ...

(4) I'm very happy they won. This thread concerns next season, and this all started over another post stating that next season Q will line juggle even after hitting on a winning combination ...

P.S. Thanks for staying civil. I respect your opinion.
- Q...argh

[Psssst, I thought he was leaving us to play in our sandbox. Why is he still here?]

OK....so 16 million to sign 11 guys? Figure 14 million to sign 10 guys once Kruger signs....

So how do you fit the other 10 guys under14 million when potentially 3 WILL take up at least 10 million and probably a LOT more in Shaw...Crawford...and Hammer?

Maybe a newspaper guy should address this......AND...if that is the case...then what? Somebody with a BIG contract has to be getting moved....
- SteveRain

First off, you're reading the salary payroll not cap payroll on cap geek. The actually money being paid each year doesn't matter, the cap hit does. Second of all, next year is the year the top prospects are going to hit the NHL, so the combined cap hits of the like of Danault, McNeil, TT, and Clendening are going to be about 4 million for four skilled players. So that would give them about 12 million for 7 players, with the only significant raise coming to Hammer. So call it 7 million for six players, all of whom will be press box or bottom 6 guys. That works under the cap no problem, and I didn't even factor in the likely raise of the cap. Its not doom and gloom every day

He's a clown....

National broadcasters always call for and expect coaches to "mix it up" when teams aren't producing...the years he points out...the Hawks weren't producing....You don't stay with the same thing OVER and OVER again when it isn't working...

Wonder if True Grit is on suicide watch or bought his #25 Predator jersey yet...I'll be shocked if he isn't bought out or traded before that deal is up...
- SteveRain

What???? He NEVER gave anything TIME to work! AAMOF, half the time he'd REJUGGLE the lines halfway through the first period, and often continue doing it throughout the game. How is THAT conducive to production? You need chemistry.

Clown out.

(1) Which goes right to my argument that they won all year while he refrained from line juggling.

(2) Again, that was a good thing, but he has a bad habit of "fixing" things when they prove to be FAR from broken.

(3) I'm trying to forget about those ...

(4) I'm very happy they won. This thread concerns next season, and this all started over another post stating that next season Q will line juggle even after hitting on a winning combination ...

P.S. Thanks for staying civil. I respect your opinion.
- Q...argh

The point is, you're not giving credit for putting Bickell on the 3rd (reg season) or 1st line (playoffs) to begin with. I'm sure if everyone was in tip top physical shape heading into the Boston series, you would've seen Bickell flanking Toews and Kane. The usually-tight lipped Q said as much right after the game in his interview w/Philco's boy, Pierre McGuire.

In the end, his line juggling worked. At times, I have doubted this franchise and the people running it since the Cap-purge of 2010. I didn't think they got the right value for the players leaving and there were times I thought the coaching staff was a little...void of a clue. But I have also realized they all know far more than me, so I'll defer.

Two Cups is hard to argue about. Every coach would like an all star roster. You want to talk about knuckleheads, check out the guy in Pittsburgh. He had the hockey equiv to the Globe Trotters and see what that got him. For argument sake, I would LOVE to see what Q would do with that team.

Thinking Brunner wants too much. I think I saw hawks have 2.5 in cap space without Kruger signed. No way Brunner takes a low dollar contract.
- ikeane

How bout letting Kruger walk and unloading Brookbank and throwing it at Brunner. He is a young Center and has the skill and ability to really come into his own flanked by Hossa and Sharp. I know it's not likely but this monday has been awful.

If they manage to sign Kruger for $1.5 or so, they will have about $300K in cap space, so basically even an NHL minimum contract is too high of a price absent a trade.

Me thinks Stan and Co. are done until TDL next season.
- Return of the Roar

I rend to agree, but simply move a Carcillo or a Morin to the minors and you have room for a cheap energy guy...who with every hit and every blocked shot and every exhausting penalty kill keeps Toews, Kane, Hossa, and Sharp from having to absorb punishment. Smithson @750k?

IMO, the success of the team hinges on Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. When they play like superstars, top forward top pairing Olympic type guys, this team thrives. When they don't, the team overall struggles and is pretty middle of the road. If Kane has gotten somewhat more consistent and Keith's minutes are kept down so we can play at a top level, this team can play with and beat any team in the NHL

How bout letting Kruger walk and unloading Brookbank and throwing it at Brunner. He is a young Center and has the skill and ability to really come into his own flanked by Hossa and Sharp. I know it's not likely but this monday has been awful.
- nickmo2699

Gotta trust in Scotty Bowman. He thinks Kruger is special, and looking at this year, Kruger is one of those that plays a lot bigger than he is and appears to have hockey IQ off the charts

Not to retread on already well-worn ground, but it is fairly hard to truly understand the impetus of the lockout. I mean, yeah, I get that the owners wanted a bigger slice of the pie, but why fight so hard over a reduced cap for one year. Is that $7 MM per team difference really worth the hundreds of millions the league lost in games last year? Still blows my mind that a resolution couldn't have been had sooner.
- QStache

i think the only way to wrap your head around it is to first understand that this is the most poorly run league of any major sport. while it is most of our favorite sports to watch, you only need to look at how it is run to understand how something like that happens.

i was astounded how poorly organized and pathetic the draft was. at least it was televised on the NBCSN but you have presidents/GMs/etc with no format as to how they are to announce their picks and proceed... commissioner talking to his audience like they are a group of 12 year olds... 'i have a trade, do you wanna hear it??'... just announce it and do your job you phucking azz clown.

Gotta trust in Scotty Bowman. He thinks Kruger is special, and looking at this year, Kruger is one of those that plays a lot bigger than he is and appears to have hockey IQ off the charts
- ikeane

Yes sir!

I rend to agree, but simply move a Carcillo or a Morin to the minors and you have room for a cheap energy guy...who with every hit and every blocked shot and every exhausting penalty kill keeps Toews, Kane, Hossa, and Sharp from having to absorb punishment. Smithson @750k?
- Kentxo

Isn't Smithson slow? I like the faceoffs factor he brings, but someone mentionned Halichuk. Every time I remember seeing him play for the Preds, he was buzzing around, not afraid to throw the body, and had a decent shot, would not mind him at all. Still hoping no one signs Larose and he takes a minor 1 year deal with Chicago. Little speedster who plays with his heart on his sleeve

How bout letting Kruger walk and unloading Brookbank and throwing it at Brunner. He is a young Center and has the skill and ability to really come into his own flanked by Hossa and Sharp. I know it's not likely but this monday has been awful.
- nickmo2699

No

Gotta trust in Scotty Bowman. He thinks Kruger is special, and looking at this year, Kruger is one of those that plays a lot bigger than he is and appears to have hockey IQ off the charts
- ikeane

I wouldnt say that. You have to love his compete level, but I do not think Krugs will ever be a top 6 guy. He has played a checking role mostly, but I havent seen that much skill on display at this point. Maybe he can replace Bolland, but IMO if he is our second line center of the future we are in trouble.

No
- Sconnie

Thanks for contributing your insight.

IMO, the success of the team hinges on Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. When they play like superstars, top forward top pairing Olympic type guys, this team thrives. When they don't, the team overall struggles and is pretty middle of the road. If Kane has gotten somewhat more consistent and Keith's minutes are kept down so we can play at a top level, this team can play with and beat any team in the NHL
- rollpards19