I tend to agree. Casual fans usually end up going back to being fans of other sports. Not to mention the possiblity of injury. I'd like to see the Hawks' fans' arguments in favor of the NHL participating in the Olympics if one or more of the Hawks' contingent ends up knocked out for the rest of the season. Actually, I WOULD NOT like to see that...
- Baaaaaaannerman!

The only argument in favor of the Olympics is that you get to see some excellent hockey - when two good teams are playing, AND when the game is televised during a time slot when you can actually watch it.

I would favor playing the tournament when the Olympics are in North America, but not when they are in Europe, and CERTAINLY not when they are in Asia.

Although that probably would piss of the 25% of NHL players who are European.

Have to find a player who was making $1 mill or less to start the season from a bad team that wants a draft pick...

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo
- Al

Been awhile since I posted but wanted to chime in on the potential trade discussion. Why couldn't the Hawks throw in a Brookbank or Kostka just to be able to increase the size of the contract coming back. If they threw in Brookbank, and the opposing team retained the 50% max of the incoming player, the Hawks could target a $2.9MM salary player, if they threw in Kostka they could target a $1.65MM salary player.

This assumes the Hawks would be willing to run with someone like Theo Peckham as the emergency 8th Dman callup, come playoff time.

But I think the Hawks could very pull off something like Pirri, McNeil, and Brookbank (And waive Regin) for someone like Michael Grabovski (with 50% contract retained). Just illustrating that they can get creative without having to trade a lineup regular.

I dont think there are any
- BlazinMike

Well, SteveRain is one, unless you don't consider him a Hawks' fan.

Well, SteveRain is one, unless you don't consider him a Hawks' fan.
- Baaaaaaannerman!

The only argument in favor of the Olympics is that you get to see some excellent hockey - when two good teams are playing, AND when the game is televised during a time slot when you can actually watch it.

I would favor playing the tournament when the Olympics are in North America, but not when they are in Europe, and CERTAINLY not when they are in Asia.

Although that probably would piss of the 25% of NHL players who are European.
- StLBravesFan

Call me crazy, but I got up at 615 all 3 days to watch the USA team compete. Only saw a portion of the game vs Slovakia due to work, but watched the weekend games in the entirety.

I would be in favor of bringing back the World Cup play before the season, but injuries are always a concern....at least with this break you get playoff type hockey as guys are in shape, and their games are sharp. it's also nice for the guys not competing to rest....see Bickell, Crawford, and anyone else who has lumps.

Good for guys to get the big game experience, and I would bet that played off big for guys like Toews, Keith, and Seabrook who were all part of the 2010 Canadian team and HAD to win gold and ran the gauntlet......or maybe I'm crazy thinking that they leaned on that experience at all when down 3-1 to Detroit last year.

Players love it.....and if the players love it, then I'm in favor it.

Well, SteveRain is one, unless you don't consider him a Hawks' fan.
- Baaaaaaannerman!

Wasnt saying Steve isnt a Hawks fan, i was just saying the majority here probly arent in favor of the Hawks in the olympics

Been awhile since I posted but wanted to chime in on the potential trade discussion. Why couldn't the Hawks throw in a Brookbank or Kostka just to be able to increase the size of the contract coming back. If they threw in Brookbank, and the opposing team retained the 50% max of the incoming player, the Hawks could target a $2.9MM salary player, if they threw in Kostka they could target a $1.65MM salary player.

This assumes the Hawks would be willing to run with someone like Theo Peckham as the emergency 8th Dman callup, come playoff time.

But I think the Hawks could very pull off something like Pirri, McNeil, and Brookbank (And waive Regin) for someone like Michael Grabovski (with 50% contract retained). Just illustrating that they can get creative without having to trade a lineup regular.
- coldsteelonice

I would hope you are right but I don't see the Hawks making any sort of big splash. I don't buy the rumors of Jagr or god knows who else Eklund is speculating about.

Like many others, I think Versteeg was that splash at a retained salary, and the Hawks only have 215K of cap space today. Like Al pointed out, why mess with a very good 4th line? So that leaves the top 9 and I don't see anyone in that mix being dealt.

Now if an injury were to happen...another story. however, I think Bowman will look for a bargain and that's about it. I dont' agree with it, as the 2c is always a HUGE hole for this team...but he has 2 cups to show that they can navigate around it.

Wasnt saying Steve isnt a Hawks fan, i was just saying the majority here probly arent in favor of the Hawks in the olympics
- BlazinMike

I think it's more like a couple very vocal anti Olympic folks.

Wasnt saying Steve isnt a Hawks fan, i was just saying the majority here probly arent in favor of the Hawks in the olympics
- BlazinMike

I get it....people are scared guys will get hurt. Well, they can get hurt in the NHL just as easily.

I also find myself hating team Canada more and more with that arrogance brewing from them....

Tell you what Backes and Kesler can play for the Hawks any day, and I would ecstatic. Love watching those 2 guys battle and compete. Not impressed by Parise and Brown, and truth be told....I'm ecstatic Suter took the money from Minny instead of coming here. He hasn't stood out at all...NcDonough has been more impressive then Suter.

Call me crazy, but I got up at 615 all 3 days to watch the USA team compete. Only saw a portion of the game vs Slovakia due to work, but watched the weekend games in the entirety.

I would be in favor of bringing back the World Cup play before the season, but injuries are always a concern....at least with this break you get playoff type hockey as guys are in shape, and their games are sharp. it's also nice for the guys not competing to rest....see Bickell, Crawford, and anyone else who has lumps.

Good for guys to get the big game experience, and I would bet that played off big for guys like Toews, Keith, and Seabrook who were all part of the 2010 Canadian team and HAD to win gold and ran the gauntlet......or maybe I'm crazy thinking that they leaned on that experience at all when down 3-1 to Detroit last year.

Players love it.....and if the players love it, then I'm in favor it.
- SteveRain

I've watched all of the US games too - and the Russia game this morning - good that they're on at 6:30.

But as I said, I think the next two - including the (presumably) game against Canada - are on at 11 or 12 - going to be hard to catch those.

Not so sure the players will "love" going to South Korea in four years - don't forget, the last two games were in countries with a lot of NHL players - Canada and Russia.

I would certainly guess they won't go to Korea.

I've watched all of the US games too - and the Russia game this morning - good that they're on at 6:30.

But as I said, I think the next two - including the (presumably) game against Canada - are on at 11 or 12 - going to be hard to catch those.

Not so sure the players will "love" going to South Korea in four years - don't forget, the last two games were in countries with a lot of NHL players - Canada and Russia.

I would certainly guess they won't go to Korea.
- StLBravesFan

Agreed and to compromise you'll see the World Cup come back.

On the washing ton signing:

Touchy situation...the team and coach already had to make Ovi the captain or he would sulk...he is far from a captain and when you say team guy (in terms of play efforts etc) everyone says Syd, Taser and Kopitar...and all knowlegable hockey guys close to the game think Ovi and his inability to adjust understand and follow his reads on ice to help his team win game in game out.

Kunetsov is a ball ahead scorer with the same one man show stopping ability but unlike Ovi he wants the puck and dosen't like the other zones...and basically gets bored when his team is behind and it is unlikely he commits to working both ends.

This may be a very touchy situation and coach killer. The Caps need more than one guy but they DO need a spark.

I think the guy is better than the young Nichoslishin and Tarasenko still gets lost in what his job is in each zone.

It is funny how all three Russians are very different.
I would put Kutnesov ahead of the other two as a plug and play offensive guy. If they all started in Oct he'd have the most points now as he is a very polished attacker who can beat you many more ways than tarasenko can. I think he will be stromng on the puck and it won't be easy to stop him from taking ground and maintaining possession to use his shot.
Tarasenko is great on the OT shoot out and learning the ways of the smaller ice and has significant upside, and the big big moose in Dallas is totally raw...really didn't play much in the KHL, most in the lower MHL, and is the one with the cleanest EMPTY canvas in terms of adjusting to the NHL play.
If you wanted a guy to develop you take big Nich.

Capitals just got better

Top prospects at Rockford learning about 'the grind'

http://espn.go.com/blog/c...rs-learning-pro-realities

Wasnt saying Steve isnt a Hawks fan, i was just saying the majority here probly arent in favor of the Hawks in the olympics
- BlazinMike

I know. Just playing with you... and him.

I know. Just playing with you... and him.
- Baaaaaaannerman!

All good..buddy.

I don't take much personal on this board. It's all about opinion.

As much as I'd like USA to win gold, if the final is Slovenia vs Latvia I could care less. Means the Hawks players got an extra day or 2 of rest.

March 5th is a big day. Based on how bad Halak looked, I really hope STL can't land a goalie.

I think it's more like a couple very vocal anti Olympic folks.
- Beaver-Warrior

I'm done now.

Yeah Hayes has been very impressive...much more polished than the guy we saw when he got there.
Having little Johnny Gaudreau flying and swooping around certainly has to be part of it, but the skating, shot, on-ice vision and IQ, even physicality has shown a strong upward spiral.

I use a thermometer that starts by taking the pulse of the guy who was selected by the Islanders in the 30th overall slot (that the hawks traded to them), Brock Nelson.

The Islanders wanted the pick and tarded for it when they knew Nelson was on the board. They committed to developing Nelson and then brought him in this year and he has about 10 goals and 10 assists as there third line centre (but to be fair casey Cizikas had a cahnce to try and get it away from him, but lotst out...)

The Hawks drafted Kevin Hayes at slot 24. They traded that 30 overall to add picks (one was the blown Ludvig Rensfeldt pick and the other was to draft Kent Simpson)

So they must have felt long term that Hayes was a better package, hayes is at this juncture a tad taller but Hayes plays fast at high weight class.

This is going to be an interesting all career comparison between these two, and as a Hawk fan I am hopeful the big body guy can USE his size at a forward position and also put the puck in.

I wasn't all that confidnet until the last two months that we were gonna win this one and of course the jury is out...
anyway it will be fun.

Oh, and he is not the brother in terms of first step quickness, and stop / starts ...

On the washing ton signing:

Touchy situation...the team and coach already had to make Ovi the captain or he would sulk...he is far from a captain and when you say team guy (in terms of play efforts etc) everyone says Syd, Taser and Kopitar...and all knowlegable hockey guys close to the game think Ovi and his inability to adjust understand and follow his reads on ice to help his team win game in game out.

Kunetsov is a ball ahead scorer with the same one man show stopping ability but unlike Ovi he wants the puck and dosen't like the other zones...and basically gets bored when his team is behind and it is unlikely he commits to working both ends.

This may be a very touchy situation and coach killer. The Caps need more than one guy but they DO need a spark.

I think the guy is better than the young Nichoslishin and Tarasenko still gets lost in what his job is in each zone.

It is funny how all three Russians are very different.
I would put Kutnesov ahead of the other two as a plug and play offensive guy. If they all started in Oct he'd have the most points now as he is a very polished attacker who can beat you many more ways than tarasenko can. I think he will be stromng on the puck and it won't be easy to stop him from taking ground and maintaining possession to use his shot.
Tarasenko is great on the OT shoot out and learning the ways of the smaller ice and has significant upside, and the big big moose in Dallas is totally raw...really didn't play much in the KHL, most in the lower MHL, and is the one with the cleanest EMPTY canvas in terms of adjusting to the NHL play.
If you wanted a guy to develop you take big Nich.

Capitals just got better
- wiz1901

I have no clue what you're talking about Wiz, but its very detailed...

All good..buddy.

I don't take much personal on this board. It's all about opinion.

As much as I'd like USA to win gold, if the final is Slovenia vs Latvia I could care less. Means the Hawks players got an extra day or 2 of rest.

March 5th is a big day. Based on how bad Halak looked, I really hope STL can't land a goalie.
- SteveRain

Forget a goalie - pray they don't land...Callahan...

All good..buddy.

I don't take much personal on this board. It's all about opinion.

As much as I'd like USA to win gold, if the final is Slovenia vs Latvia I could care less. Means the Hawks players got an extra day or 2 of rest.

March 5th is a big day. Based on how bad Halak looked, I really hope STL can't land a goalie.
- SteveRain

Good thing too, otherwise we'd not be on speaking terms.

I have no clue what you're talking about Wiz, but its very detailed...
- BlazinMike

Washington signed Kutnesov

I get it....people are scared guys will get hurt. Well, they can get hurt in the NHL just as easily.

I also find myself hating team Canada more and more with that arrogance brewing from them....

Tell you what Backes and Kesler can play for the Hawks any day, and I would ecstatic. Love watching those 2 guys battle and compete. Not impressed by Parise and Brown, and truth be told....I'm ecstatic Suter took the money from Minny instead of coming here. He hasn't stood out at all...NcDonough has been more impressive then Suter.
- SteveRain

No Thanks

Been awhile since I posted but wanted to chime in on the potential trade discussion. Why couldn't the Hawks throw in a Brookbank or Kostka just to be able to increase the size of the contract coming back. If they threw in Brookbank, and the opposing team retained the 50% max of the incoming player, the Hawks could target a $2.9MM salary player, if they threw in Kostka they could target a $1.65MM salary player.

This assumes the Hawks would be willing to run with someone like Theo Peckham as the emergency 8th Dman callup, come playoff time.

But I think the Hawks could very pull off something like Pirri, McNeil, and Brookbank (And waive Regin) for someone like Michael Grabovski (with 50% contract retained). Just illustrating that they can get creative without having to trade a lineup regular.
- coldsteelonice

Peckham as the 8th defenseman? The guy is a heathy scratch every other game in Rockford.

Peckham as the 8th defenseman? The guy is a heathy scratch every other game in Rockford.



- EKolb13

Would rather see what Dahlbeck has to offer personally....

I haven't read that anywhere, but that's not to say you aren't right. Everywhere I read comments generically on contract and not when they were signed.

http://www.capgeek.com/faq/new-cba
- DarthKane

That's what I thought but...

A couple of weeks in Eliott Friedman's 30 things I thought he wrote it applies to only contracts written before the new CBA.

After thinking about it that would make sense for a few reasons....But haven't had time to research.