Classic. IN all seriousness, amazing to me how much the Hawks TV booth protects this guy. For all the "stop it right heres" of Eddie O freeze framing a Kris Versteeg or Hossa of not being in the right position on the PK or protecting their point man, OR how shooters on the shoot outs dont' have the puck "in a shooting position" don't have a chance...you would think he may be willing to rip Keith for standing with his hip at the goalie and facing Hossa like they are playing catch at the blue line in warm ups? Especially on a critical 5 on 3 in the 3rd period of a game you are trailing?

Then again, these were the same 2 guys who blamed the infamous downward swing to Keith's game late in 2010 on a brand new pair of skates.....

Duncan Keith is a fine defenseman, but he is god awful on the point on a power play.
- SteveRain

I will say, i love Keith's athleticism and his overall hockey acumen...i just don't want him to be the go to TRIGGER MAN on the pp. I'm fine with him being out there on one of the units. I just don't want to see a high percentage of the shooting done by him.

Watch the King and Bruin series. I am not interested in two years ago. the whole team shat the bed against Phoenix. Oh and seems the coaching staff felt the same way about Leddy. His ass was stapled to the bench. Please, His age is no longer an excuse. Hammer was younger and playing bigger minutes in 2010. At the moment, Leddy IS a bottom pairing D-man.
- Elbows15

Didn't I say he had a bad playoff last spring? My goodness.

You hate Leddy. I get it. What I will leave you with is do you honestly think Leddy is a bottom pair guy on 90% of the teams in the league? The answer is No.

Oduya has grown on me....but Leddy is destined to be in that role next year. Yes, the cap hell part deux is coming unless the wonder twins take a hometown discount. Which the NHLPA will not allow.

God willing Bowman has those deals completed before training camp.

Watch the King and Bruin series. I am not interested in two years ago. the whole team shat the bed against Phoenix. Oh and seems the coaching staff felt the same way about Leddy. His ass was stapled to the bench. Please, His age is no longer an excuse. Hammer was younger and playing bigger minutes in 2010. At the moment, Leddy IS a bottom pairing D-man.
- Elbows15

Nester...

Tough to compare dmen that have such a wide span in age difference.

Oduya has been a God send for the Hawks as he was no more than a solid #5 before he got here.

Leddy has more tools and unless he hits a dead end he should achieve more than Oduya.

Calgary surprises Hawks 3-2. Goalie Reto Berra was vg but Flames caught the Hawks at the right time. My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/Hwurcf

YUP

Ha...ha....NO.

A certain major Canadian network on trade deadline day a few years back threw out this gem about the creator of this site:

"IF you want to go read about trades that will not happen...go read _"

Gotta be careful. I don't want to end up serving time.
- SteveRain

You could do worse than read and respond on sites like this.

You could watch grass grow rather than see the painful slow progress of the Cubs plan to develop all those prospects. Glad you have the winning Blackhawks, Steve Rain, because your Cubs are still a ways away from being over.500 ball love our teams

Didn't I say he had a bad playoff last spring? My goodness.

You hate Leddy. I get it. What I will leave you with is do you honestly think Leddy is a bottom pair guy on 90% of the teams in the league? The answer is No.

Oduya has grown on me....but Leddy is destined to be in that role next year. Yes, the cap hell part deux is coming unless the wonder twins take a hometown discount. Which the NHLPA will not allow.

God willing Bowman has those deals completed before training camp.
- SteveRain

Yes I honestly do think Leddy is nothing more than a 5th or 6th D-man. I don't hate him. I just don't think he will ever be more than that.
If Leddy is in that role next season, the Hawks are in trouble.

Didn't I say he had a bad playoff last spring? My goodness.

You hate Leddy. I get it. What I will leave you with is do you honestly think Leddy is a bottom pair guy on 90% of the teams in the league? The answer is No.

Oduya has grown on me....but Leddy is destined to be in that role next year. Yes, the cap hell part deux is coming unless the wonder twins take a hometown discount. Which the NHLPA will not allow.

God willing Bowman has those deals completed before training camp.
- SteveRain

If you were referring to 88 and 19, I was under the impression that they could not be negotiated with until this summer. Bowman could have promised to give them the moon and it wouldn't fly until this season's conclusion. With the cap hopefully going up, the 'cap hell' may not be too horrendous.

YUP


- philco28

isn't that Mayers behind Rocky??

Nester...

Tough to compare dmen that have such a wide span in age difference.

Oduya has been a God send for the Hawks as he was no more than a solid #5 before he got here.

Leddy has more tools and unless he hits a dead end he should achieve more than Oduya.

Calgary surprises Hawks 3-2. Goalie Reto Berra was vg but Flames caught the Hawks at the right time. My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/Hwurcf
- Al

I wasn't really comparing them Al. However, Hammer vs. Leddy at the same age? Who do you take? Their isn't mch difference in age between them.

YUP


- philco28

“Two million Chicago fans came out to Grant Park to celebrate bringing home the Cup,” Obama said. “Speaking of Grant Park, we were originally going to let Corey Crawford say a few words today, but we thought we’d keep this family event family-friendly."

Was Oduya bad against Phoenix? Sure. He was stellar in the playoff last year.
- Elbows15

I have no issues with Oduya, we need him on the team this season and next.

isn't that Mayers behind Rocky??
- Glenman12

Sure is...good to see Jamal soaking it all up too

“Two million Chicago fans came out to Grant Park to celebrate bringing home the Cup,” Obama said. “Speaking of Grant Park, we were originally going to let Corey Crawford say a few words today, but we thought we’d keep this family event family-friendly."
- prd797

YUP


- philco28

"If you like your Stanley Cup, you can KEEP your Stanley Cup. PERIOD!"

isn't that Mayers behind Rocky??
- Glenman12

Just watching the video on the club site and noticed Ray Emery passed his background check and is present in the background

I have no issues with Oduya, we need him on the team this season and next.
- DarthKane

I agree DK. He is playing in a system that is well suited for him. Truthfully, I wouldn't mind seeing him get some PP time.

I agree DK. He is playing in a system that is well suited for him. Truthfully, I wouldn't mind seeing him get some PP time.
- Elbows15

I like keeping Oduya for 5 on 5 and the PK. But at least he can get the puck on the net.

I wasn't really comparing them Al. However, Hammer vs. Leddy at the same age? Who do you take? Their isn't mch difference in age between them.
- Elbows15

Four years difference is a big deal especially for dmen...Hammer is just entering his prime and Leddy isn't close.

Hammer is a #2 on most teams and a #1 on some.

I wouldn't say the same couldn't be said for Leddy in 5/6 years but we will see.

I can say this for sure....At 22 you would take Leddy over Oduya at the same age and that wouldn't be close.


Flames surprise Hawks 3-2. Goalie Reto Berra was vg but Calgary caught the Hawks at the right time. My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/Hwurcf

If you were referring to 88 and 19, I was under the impression that they could not be negotiated with until this summer. Bowman could have promised to give them the moon and it wouldn't fly until this season's conclusion. With the cap hopefully going up, the 'cap hell' may not be too horrendous.
- prd797

They can be resigned on July 1...

Flames surprise Hawks 3-2. Goalie Reto Berra was vg but Calgary caught the Hawks at the right time. My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/Hwurcf

Ok, but consider all circumstances. For example, how much TOI each dman? Did each dman face equally tough, or challenge from other teams best players? Were some turnovers in games the team was sleepwalking through? Did many turnovers occur in one game or a stretch of a few games played, meaning that dman was basically much better the majority of gp?

That is a great stat you provide. I just would like to know if we could break it down farther.
- jhawk59

You raise some good points. That would be awesome to know, but would take a tremendous amount of time I think Oduya/Hjalmarrson are comparable considering their respective TOI is very close and they usually are paired together....

My point was: There is a prevailing notion on this board that Oduya is a "turnover machine" when in fact his giveaway numbers (including giveaways per game) are almost half that of Seabrook and Hammer over the past 3 seasons..

Four years difference is a big deal especially for dmen...Hammer is just entering his prime and Leddy isn't close.

Hammer is a #2 on most teams and a #1 on some.

I wouldn't say the same couldn't be said for Leddy in 5/6 years but we will see.

I can say this for sure....At 22 you would take Leddy over Oduya at the same age and that wouldn't be close.


Flames surprise Hawks 3-2. Goalie Reto Berra was vg but Calgary caught the Hawks at the right time. My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/Hwurcf
- Al

Hammer at 22 was playing top 4 minutes Al. Also was a factor in the first Cup win. I just don't see all that much upside from Leddy. I will gladly be wrong because it means good things for the Hawks. His only plus attribute is his skating.

Hammer at 22 was playing top 4 minutes Al. Also was a factor in the first Cup win. I just don't see all that much upside from Leddy. I will gladly be wrong because it means good things for the Hawks. His only plus attribute is his skating.
- Elbows15

Hammer had a great Cup year and wasn't good the following year. Interesting he was coupled with Leddy who was thrown into the fire for a few reasons...

He was bumped out of school and at the time the Hawks wanted him in Chicago rather than Rockford.

Considering Leddy went right into the NHL basically after his Sr. prom he has done well. He was playing top 4 mins early on too.

Hammer is the better all around player now...no doubt and imo he is much better now than when he was 22.

So I see a lot of upside in Leddy....Maybe that will happen here maybe not.

If he is used to his strength the Hawks would be wise to keep him.

I wrote after the Winn. game Leddy is taking more shots the last 8 games and is playing better defensively.

Also keep in mind whoever he has played with this season hasn't been as good as Oduya so that doesn't help Leddy.

My guess is he comes on this season and does well and Q finally uses him a lot on the PP.

If that happens Bowman figures out a way to trade Oduya this summer and pays Leddy to be Hammer's partner.

Flames surprise Hawks 3-2. Goalie Reto Berra was vg but Calgary caught the Hawks at the right time. My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/Hwurcf

You could do worse than read and respond on sites like this.

You could watch grass grow rather than see the painful slow progress of the Cubs plan to develop all those prospects. Glad you have the winning Blackhawks, Steve Rain, because your Cubs are still a ways away from being over.500 ball love our teams
- jhawk59

I hear the Cubs are looking at Kompon for manager: they've lost out on everyone else.

Paul Quenville, I should have figured it out. Paul you are a smart man, did you read what I said? Do you understand the context of what I am saying?

How was it successful last season? Same lines for 48 games. Ex a few injuries and subs here and there.

Say what you want, but this logic that because Hawks won 2 cups in 4 years vindicates Q as a genius. Well I drank carrot juice before each game they won last year...Does Carrot juice make the team better?

My point was about the difference in philosophy. I acknowledged it. I point out how annoying it is. YOu throw out the red herring that is works...that new guys are not doing their jobs...That is the best straw man I have heard. Point to game/situation where new guys are letting people down? Q must not be happy with the league high 12 or so olympians he has on his team.

How do we explain the 3 years he coached where we did not win the cup? IF he gets full marks for winning the cup, then does he not accept responsibility when they fall short? if it is his genius that got the guys to play their best, then he must have failed the other years.

Here is fact, and we can disagree, but lets deal with firm reality. That is you come off arguably your best game Saturday. You role out in the first period dominating the opposition, an average at best team, with a rookie goalie making a debut.

With 8 mins left in first, we get the line matchup churn and shuffle. That is your guys way...I get it, So I say, why in Gods green earth would you not, with all the talent/matchup advantages, get behind your guys and let the other coach worry? This is what he did last year when the team was so successful all year.

You would never see Babcock scrambling shift to shift all game trying to get Zetterberg "going", he knows his guy will get it going on his own, because he has proved it his entire career.

Nowhere do I say Q should be fired etc...I simply point out difference in philosophy. Remember last year in the finals when the genius was so sneaky splitting Kane and Toews to make it harder on the Bruins to defend, then in the end, when that failed, put them back together and allowed his boys to go out and out play the other teams stars? I think the ends of your moustache, which is nice by the way is obstructing your viewing reality.


- TrueGrit

There's some down right horrible logic in this argument. One, the carrot juice analogy is preposterous. You don't think the coach of a team has anything to do with its success? You're flat out wrong. Two, not winning every year isn't serviceable grounds to dismiss someone's point. Nobody is saying Q is perfect, but he appears to be getting better results than any of his competition, so maybe being that good is really, really hard. You say Toews and Kane should have been together for the finals, but then you preach line consistency, even though those two didn't play together for 50 games, so which is it?

I hear the Cubs are looking at Kompon for manager: they've lost out on everyone else.
- StLBravesFan

Heard my one of my childhood Little League baseball coaches got interviewed at his retirement home and passed up on the opportunity...That's probably why they've turned to Kompon.