Crosby is on line #1. A lot of charts I saw have Toews on line #2. So would you have getzlaf under Toews? That team is so deep it probably won't matter. They will all be pretty even TOI I would imagine. Where was Toews last olympics? I think he started on 4. By the end of the tournament I think his icetime greatly increased. Babcock said that famous line about his best line was the one with Toews
- tomcat24

I say the more the merrier for the Hawks and the Olympics...One of the reasons why the Hawks dominated out of the gate and all season last year was because of the number of guys who played in the AHL and overseas......could be a blessing in disguise....I know rest is a good thing but I will take a team of guys who've been playing and keeping fresh to a bunch a guys who will be sitting over two weeks...

You do have to let the players play....as long as the game is called even I have no issue....
- UnnamedSource

That's the problem. A penalty should be called a penalty. That is why all the confusion sometimes they call them and sometimes they don't. This is also why teams like LA, Blues, and Anaheim are so high in the standings. The playoffs are a lot worse. It really is a huge disadvantage for highly skilled teams

Crosby is on line #1. A lot of charts I saw have Toews on line #2. So would you have getzlaf under Toews? That team is so deep it probably won't matter. They will all be pretty even TOI I would imagine. Where was Toews last olympics? I think he started on 4. By the end of the tournament I think his icetime greatly increased. Babcock said that famous line about his best line was the one with Toews
- tomcat24

Yes I would. Without Toews last time, they wouldn't have made it to the gold medal game. Crosby had 1 point before his goal and did not play well at all.

No kidding. OEL is a nice player, but ffs Seabrook is so under valued here, its not even funny anymore.
- Elbows15

This...exactly this.

I say the more the merrier for the Hawks and the Olympics...One of the reasons why the Hawks dominated out of the gate and all season last year was because of the number of guys who played in the AHL and overseas......could be a blessing in disguise....I know rest is a good thing but I will take a team of guys who've been playing and keeping fresh to a bunch a guys who will be sitting over two weeks...
- UnnamedSource

That's a good point. I will hate to see the quality of the 1st few games coming out of the break. But, last year was only 48 games. We already would have played more at the break. Plus after the break is the big push for the playoffs and then the playoff grind. That is a lot of hockey. Plus I still get afraid for major injuries.

Gotcha, I thought maybe you had yourself a new gig as a paid spokesman.
- Ogilthorpe2

No but if you have any ideas for me let me know...

Interesting article..

On @CSNChicago -- The NHL has nearly doubled the NBA in terms of sold-out crowds. Let's look at the numbers: http://bit.ly/1gBjmDl

Petr Nedved added to Czech Olympic team...he played for Canada back in '94.

That's a good point. I will hate to see the quality of the 1st few games coming out of the break. But, last year was only 48 games. We already would have played more at the break. Plus after the break is the big push for the playoffs and then the playoff grind. That is a lot of hockey. Plus I still get afraid for major injuries.
- tomcat24

There is always a risk of injuries....and that will never change but hockey is a sport that allows an advantage to those who have been skating and playing.

Petr Nedved added to Czech Olympic team
- philco28

Didn't he used to review movies?

Looking at the sports page a lot, it seems that getting 2 powerplays a game is the most common. That is too low, too. If refs called true penalties there should be at least 6 or 7 a game. At least.
- tomcat24

Very inconsistent, and that is an issue.

Sometimes if you cough on a player it is boarding...Last night 2 bad hits happened by each club within 10 seconds and neither called.

Lackluster Hawks fall to SJ 3-2 in a shootout. Bickell benched in 3rd period-
0n The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1dJ8YJ5

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

That's the problem. A penalty should be called a penalty. That is why all the confusion sometimes they call them and sometimes they don't. This is also why teams like LA, Blues, and Anaheim are so high in the standings. The playoffs are a lot worse. It really is a huge disadvantage for highly skilled teams
- tomcat24

Agreed, kind of. They are good teams first and foremost, but they do benefit from the horrific officiating in the NHL. Teams like them know the refs won't call that cross check every shift, so they do it every shift and dare the refs to call it as much as they could...which they know they won't. For them the consistent physical beating delivered outweighs the occasional penalty called.

Petr Nedved added to Czech Olympic team...he played for Canada back in '94.
- philco28

Czech team like a fraternity....Not a lot of players to choose from.

Lackluster Hawks fall to SJ 3-2 in a shootout. Bickell benched in 3rd period-
0n The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1dJ8YJ5

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

There is always a risk of injuries....and that will never change but hockey is a sport that allows an advantage to those who have been skating and playing.
- UnnamedSource

Definitely out of the gates. But I wonder if it catches up to them at the end? Definitely liked the end result last olympics of course many teams will be in the same position as the Hawks. The Blues might have more playes going to the olympics

Absolutely brutal in extra time. Just concede the additional point and go home early.
- Ogilthorpe2

Just for your info: The Hawks were just average in the shoot out also last year. The major difference from last years team was the boys had 5 O/T wins and not one loss. That does not bode well for this years team.

Agreed, kind of. They are good teams first and foremost, but they do benefit from the horrific officiating in the NHL. Teams like them know the refs won't call that cross check every shift, so they do it every shift and dare the refs to call it as much as they could...which they know they won't. For them the consistent physical beating delivered outweighs the occasional penalty called.
- Ogilthorpe2

Exactly. A hell a lot of holds, too. They just clamp down. Plus they are great at team D and penalty killing so when they give up a few penalties they kill them off. Like you said it is the pounding they give that wears teams down.

Just for your info: The Hawks were just average in the shoot out also last year. The major difference from last years team was the boys had 5 O/T wins and not one loss. That does not bode well for this years team.
- spanky

Amazing really they have as many points as they do....But if they were as good as last year the Blues would be in the rear view mirror.

Lackluster Hawks fall to SJ 3-2 in a shootout. Bickell benched in 3rd period-
0n The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1dJ8YJ5

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

No but if you have any ideas for me let me know...

Interesting article..

On @CSNChicago -- The NHL has nearly doubled the NBA in terms of sold-out crowds. Let's look at the numbers: http://bit.ly/1gBjmDl
- Al

Detroit now leads in attendance (23,000) and capacity percentage (118%) - why did their attendance increase by about 15% ((3,000 per game) over last year?

So I'm scratching my head trying to figure that out (and how they could be 18% over capacity) when the obvious hit me: they're including the game at the Big House.

Doesn't negate the point of the article, tho: more NHL teams at capacity or getter than NBA teams.

Very inconsistent, and that is an issue.

Sometimes if you cough on a player it is boarding...Last night 2 bad hits happened by each club within 10 seconds and neither called.

Lackluster Hawks fall to SJ 3-2 in a shootout. Bickell benched in 3rd period-
0n The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1dJ8YJ5

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

The hammer cross-check at the end? That's exactly the problem. The shark just got away with a dirty hit and it looked like hammer was pissed and said to himself I guess they aren't calling it so I can do it. He did look frustrated to me

Just for your info: The Hawks were just average in the shoot out also last year. The major difference from last years team was the boys had 5 O/T wins and not one loss. That does not bode well for this years team.
- spanky

The shootout is a gimmick, I rarely even watch them anymore. The extra point is all well and good I guess, but if the Hawks blow a late lead and then "win" in a shootout, it still feels like a loss to me. I won't go so far as to say that I wouldn't care if they never won another shootout ever, but it's getting close. The OT stats are what trouble me.

I say the more the merrier for the Hawks and the Olympics...One of the reasons why the Hawks dominated out of the gate and all season last year was because of the number of guys who played in the AHL and overseas......could be a blessing in disguise....I know rest is a good thing but I will take a team of guys who've been playing and keeping fresh to a bunch a guys who will be sitting over two weeks...
- UnnamedSource

I'm the opposite. The more who stay home, the merrier for me. Plenty of time after the break to round into playoff form. If there's one thing I've learned in my job it's this: rest (eat & poop too) when you can.

Detroit now leads in attendance (23,000) and capacity percentage (118%) - why did their attendance increase by about 15% ((3,000 per game) over last year?

So I'm scratching my head trying to figure that out (and how they could be 18% over capacity) when the obvious hit me: they're including the game at the Big House.

Doesn't negate the point of the article, tho: more NHL teams at capacity or getter than NBA teams.
- StLBravesFan

What does Soldier Field hold?

Detroit now leads in attendance (23,000) and capacity percentage (118%) - why did their attendance increase by about 15% ((3,000 per game) over last year?

So I'm scratching my head trying to figure that out (and how they could be 18% over capacity) when the obvious hit me: they're including the game at the Big House.

Doesn't negate the point of the article, tho: more NHL teams at capacity or getter than NBA teams.
- StLBravesFan

I think it's great news for a sport that is widely considered a secondary sport. I was talking to the director of my sons hockey league over Christmas break and he was excited about the next wave of kids starting at the 5th/6th grade level that are playing hockey. Over the next half dozen years you will see more rinks being built, more high schools developing teams and as most parents walk away from little league football sports like Lacrosse and Hockey will continue to grow.

I'm the opposite. The more who stay home, the merrier for me. Plenty of time after the break to round into playoff form. If there's one thing I've learned in my job it's this: rest (eat & poop too) when you can.
- Ogilthorpe2

I think for some players...a Handzus, Bickell etc you are right...rest is good. But on the other side I think elite players need to play....I think the more a guy like Kane plays the better it is for the Hawks.

I think it's great news for a sport that is widely considered a secondary sport. I was talking to the director of my sons hockey league over Christmas break and he was excited about the next wave of kids starting at the 5th/6th grade level that are playing hockey. Over the next half dozen years you will see more rinks being built, more high schools developing teams and as most parents walk away from little league football sports like Lacrosse and Hockey will continue to grow.
- UnnamedSource

There was an article in the paper about how it is growing with girls, too. Plus with the women's team in a good position for Gold soon that will help a lot more.

What does Soldier Field hold?
- tomcat24

65,000, I think - lowest in the NFL (?).