No no no, a 20 yr old kid who hasn't played a full year of professional hockey and hasn't lit up a rookie tournament is a BUST. A BUST I tell ya. just imagine red is raining all over that statement.
- Elbows15

It's comical....it's either 1 extreme or the other.....

A guy has 2 goals in 2 games, and he's the 2nd coming....
A guy doesn't show up and he should be shipped out of the organization TODAY because he has ZERO NHL future.

- Ogilthorpe2Just found this...turns out he's right!

You have way too much free time on your hands today.

It's comical....it's either 1 extreme or the other.....

A guy has 2 goals in 2 games, and he's the 2nd coming....
A guy doesn't show up and he should be shipped out of the organization TODAY because he has ZERO NHL future.
- SteveRain

Or the guy has success early, battles injuries and artificially high expectations due to managements's mis-handling of qualifying offers, is constantly derided as overpaid and useless, and has people planning parties to celebrate his inevitable trade, only to then score the cup clinching goal in game 6 of the Cup Finals. Hawk fans are brutal.

It's comical....it's either 1 extreme or the other.....

A guy has 2 goals in 2 games, and he's the 2nd coming....
A guy doesn't show up and he should be shipped out of the organization TODAY because he has ZERO NHL future.
- SteveRain

Like someone else mentioned, few players projected as power players walk into the league and set it on fire. He's 20. I think he has some time.

There's some serious crack smokin' goin' on here:

Bylsma: Fleury, Vokoun the 'best tandem in the league' http://wp.me/p14QU5-9CSa
Retweeted by Allan Walsh

You have way too much free time on your hands today.
- MartiniMan

Indeed. 3 hour layover...it's winding down now though.

Indeed. 3 hour layover...it's winding down now though.
- Ogilthorpe2

Drive safely.

Or the guy has success early, battles injuries and artificially high expectations due to managements's mis-handling of qualifying offers, is constantly derided as overpaid and useless, and has people planning parties to celebrate his inevitable trade, only to then score the cup clinching goal in game 6 of the Cup Finals. Hawk fans are brutal.
- Ogilthorpe2

I was waiting for that one....BUT....he was never a top 6 player. Those were the expectations I always had of the great Dave Bolland.

I'm going to see him on October 19th.....hopefully, he won't be hurt by then....

There's some serious crack smokin' goin' on here:

Bylsma: Fleury, Vokoun the 'best tandem in the league' http://wp.me/p14QU5-9CSa
Retweeted by Allan Walsh
- MartiniMan

Allan Walsh is an absolute bafoon. Don't even bother following him.....How many Octagon training camp pics did you get? HE's like a proud father pimping his kids all over the place....

Allan Walsh is an absolute bafoon. Don't even bother following him.....How many Octagon training camp pics did you get? HE's like a proud father pimping his kids all over the place....
- SteveRain

True, but it's Bylsma's quote, not his.

True, but it's Bylsma's quote, not his.
- MartiniMan

Anything to get the "flower's" confidence back up....and then he'll let in a soft goal, and go back to rocking his hat backwards on the bench....

Drive safely.
- MartiniMan

Always.

I am buyinfg if McNeil is for sale.

He is as thick as Seabrook a heavyweight who will need to adjust but there is a whole lot TO like. If I was to base the Hawk future around the performances in the London Tourney, I might start worrying long term about about the Hawks, not buying the fought back to tie company line they are giving on their site.

I like McNeill.
Too much there to not like.
Not ready for the NHL but not ready for the trash pail either.

He hasn't played a full AHL schedule. He really isn't an AHL pro in term sof following the schedule getting to work on areas for improvement.

and I will also take up Drew LeBlanc's cause too. If only for the fact he is also just getting started as a pro.

How about the coaching staff in rockford find starting points and we see how these p[layers start and handle them.

Funny I wondered if the big Swede was going look fast enough in the AHL from what I saw.

Allan Walsh is an absolute bafoon. Don't even bother following him.....How many Octagon training camp pics did you get? HE's like a proud father pimping his kids all over the place....
- SteveRain

I would think the best tandem would be Broduer and Schneider. Vokoun many be one of the better backups, but Fleury is no longer one of the better starters.

I follow Walsh on Twitter and he's good for some entertaining tweets. He does pump up his client's via Twitter, but there's nothing wrong with that. I did call him out a while ago for not tweeting about Frolik, now he does a much better job of that.

ladies and gentlemen....every one sit down. The great talent evaluator has spoken.
- UnnamedSource

Screw you
- Ogilthorpe2

Eli is the crankiest and you're the most jealous!

Eli is the crankiest and you're the most jealous!
- DarthKane

Hey, don't try to pick a fight between Ogie and I.

Hey hey Eli! How are Da Hogs doin'?

Ready for a new season?
- captainserious

I don't know how they're doing. They are in Hawks camp starting today.

I'm looking forward to the new season.

I am buyinfg if McNeil is for sale.

He is as thick as Seabrook a heavyweight who will need to adjust but there is a whole lot TO like. If I was to base the Hawk future around the performances in the London Tourney, I might start worrying long term about about the Hawks, not buying the fought back to tie company line they are giving on their site.

I like McNeill.
Too much there to not like.
Not ready for the NHL but not ready for the trash pail either.

He hasn't played a full AHL schedule. He really isn't an AHL pro in term sof following the schedule getting to work on areas for improvement.

and I will also take up Drew LeBlanc's cause too. If only for the fact he is also just getting started as a pro.

How about the coaching staff in rockford find starting points and we see how these p
- wiz1901[layers start and handle them.

Funny I wondered if the big Swede was going look fast enough in the AHL from what I saw.

It will be interesting to see both McNeill and Leblanc do in Rockford, along with the other Hawks kids.

The Hawks finally getting some love from air traffic control...



...had a few intersections on one of the O'hare arrival procedures re-named in their honor.

The Hawks finally getting some love from air traffic control...



...had a few intersections on one of the O'hare arrival procedures re-named in their honor.
- Ogilthorpe2

I'm glad the hawks didn't have you decide Keith, Bickell, Crawford and Shaw were all busts because none of them came screaming into the scene as 18 year olds.

McNeill's work ethic has never been an issue. His issue is playing consistantly game in and game out. Lucic has that problem too you know!
- paulr

Paul, I have seen the lights go on in young guys, and I it is good to see that you nd I have pronounced judgement on McNeill.

I think it is too funny how SO MANY HERE have TT as the can' t miss and McNeill already painted as the worst chance as performing in some role in the nhl.

You don't have to look far to see teams who think going big & thick is how to win.

I just keep thinkinbg about the high number of 2009 forward draftees (TWO entire years OLDER than McNeill) with various teams who are in their pro systems but as of yet haven't cracked the NHL level.

You know in most drafts after that first half dozen or so, you get a crack at developing eighteen year old kids. The level of excellence of the NHL means not all whippersnappers are even close to ready.

I am much more willing to have a McNeill play in the system and attempt improvement than many many of the young players I see teams elevating, sticking with in NHL on the job training scenarios with the players and their representatives trying to force giant sums of money in second contracts.

I just think it is pointless to try judging the kids.

We get to judge the players who the hawks bring in, because they will be allowed the chance to actually fit and we will see that body of work at this NHL level.

Someone didn't decide NOT to take MCNeill as a the replacement player on the World Junior team.
There must be SOMETHING to like.

and I did like the Bickell comments...because so many had Bickell on the SELL List from the early chances he got in the pros on through a couple seasons.

When Bickell was McNeill's present age, he finished that pro AHL season with 10 goals and 15 assists.

So is that an adequate mark to gauge McNeill at the end of the seaosn?

and even if it was, it still is what MCneill does from the end of THIS AHL seaosn until he achives success as an NHL player right?

Or not.

But clearly your blowing wind for us to spend time grading him now.

Way too early to have definitive opinions on many of these rookies who for the most part have yet to even skate in Rockford, or in some cases (notably T2 and Antti 2.0), North American ice.

They are kids of 18-20 years old who have not finished physically growing, growing up mentally, let alone learned professional level hockey.

About all that can be said at this point is that the Hawks have a crapload of prospects - some who have shown some potential to be more than a prospect at some undefined point.

I am most concerned if the coaching staff in Rockford has what it takes to develop these guys.

Sure would be nice to see Svedberg wear the Indianhead though....6'7" with wheels and good offensive upside.

I am buyinfg if McNeil is for sale.

He is as thick as Seabrook a heavyweight who will need to adjust but there is a whole lot TO like. If I was to base the Hawk future around the performances in the London Tourney, I might start worrying long term about about the Hawks, not buying the fought back to tie company line they are giving on their site.

I like McNeill.
Too much there to not like.
Not ready for the NHL but not ready for the trash pail either.

He hasn't played a full AHL schedule. He really isn't an AHL pro in term sof following the schedule getting to work on areas for improvement.

and I will also take up Drew LeBlanc's cause too. If only for the fact he is also just getting started as a pro.

How about the coaching staff in rockford find starting points and we see how these p
- wiz1901[layers start and handle them.

Funny I wondered if the big Swede was going look fast enough in the AHL from what I saw.

I think just about everyone here agrees Wiz. Its way too early to determine whether McNeil is a bust or not. He hasn't even begun his professional career.

Hey, don't try to pick a fight between Ogie and I.
- EKolb13

Let's you and him fight....