Now that the farce that is the Olympics is almost over, I'm curious if anyone still thinks sending the NHL is worth it because of the fantastic hockey it produces? Was there even one game that was a "must see" from an entertainment standpoint? This tournament didn't even meet my meager hopes for quality hockey games, I can't imagine anyone with more lofty expectations than myself being stoked about what just went on in Sochi.
- Ogilthorpe2

I don't think anything would have led you to think it was worth it; which is of course your right. If you enter it expecting to hate it, you'll probably hate it; and the opposite is also true. I enjoyed the US - Russia game, the US - Canada game, and the Sweden - Finland game. But it wouldn't bother me if they had real amateurs either.

Yeah, they did that a couple of times...
- EKolb13

Once. Technically Sharp was playing 2C in the first run. But more along the line of what will we female dog and argue about.

Hey, maybe they can move Sharp......

Yet we continually preach patience where Leddy is concerned. I'm not sure what Pirri needs right now, but I think he will have a career somewhere in the NHL.
- NewToHockey

Pirri has 28 gp while learning, making adjustments, and surely sometimes tentative in certain moments due to Q_'s demands. A totally fair review would be now going forward. He has a grasp of what is expected of him. He can play and I react in a more natural setting. He is your offensive #2 center until someone else comes along. Can he be more than what he has shown defensively? I will answer that with another question: who is certain Handzus can repeat last playoff performance. Lastly, PM Bouchard and The other guy is practically a complete waste. Are they here for depth because Q will go with a veteran in playoffs which plays defense over a Pirri (assuming Handzys shows he is washed up)

We were this close. *sigh*

I don't think anything would have led you to think it was worth it; which is of course your right. If you enter it expecting to hate it, you'll probably hate it; and the opposite is also true. I enjoyed the US - Russia game, the US - Canada game, and the Sweden - Finland game. But it wouldn't bother me if they had real amateurs either.
- mohel

I go in hating that the NHL participates, but still hoping to be entertained. As long as they're going, I'm gonna watch...what else is there to do for 3 damn weeks? The games were boring to me. Most games were either a blowout, or low scoring snooze fests with little physicality, little passion, and little drama. Then there's the Olympics amazing ability to take something as bad as a shootout and actualy make it worse.

I go in hating that the NHL participates, but still hoping to be entertained. As long as they're going, I'm gonna watch...what else is there to do for 3 damn weeks? The games were boring to me. Most games were either a blowout, or low scoring snooze fests with little physicality, little passion, and little drama. Then there's the Olympics amazing ability to take something as bad as a shootout and actualy make it worse.
- Ogilthorpe2

You should have watched the curling, that was excitement.

You should have watched the curling, that was excitement.
- mohel

I do watch curling regularly, and I love it.

I do watch curling regularly, and I love it.
- Ogilthorpe2

The downhill skiing was good, too. Anything without judges. But I'll be glad to see the NHL again, too. Better product.

The downhill skiing was good, too. Anything without judges. But I'll be glad to see the NHL again, too. Better product.
- mohel

The snowboard cross was pretty wild. Most of the X-games sports while judged are pretty much easy to see who had the best run and it pretty much the one who wins.

Some one should check the water in the Netherlands. They dominated speed skating.

Hawks riding Zues to another cup.


Pirri will move on an be a solid NHLer somewhere else. Blackhawk fans have become the new Red Sox fans, that is the pompous know it alls myopic and arrogant...so be it.

All we learned from Pirri playing is that he is not the guy they want. That does not mean = he sucks and can't play. I know many like the path of least resistance intellectually, but, as I said all along, if you want to say that he is not the optimal guy they want as a support piece, would not argue that. If you want to point to his play, given his opportunity, and pick apart his play, he performed as would be expected for any rookie given his circumstances. Most importantly, he did NOT hurt his team at all in any game. I know that flys in the face of the narrative, so be it.

So in conclusion, before everyone gets all excited slapping their own backs on their assessment, lets clear up the semantics of the discussion.

Brandon Pirri did NOT show through his play that he was over his head in the NHL and could not hold his own up and down the rink. Visual evidence and statistics stare in the face of this conclusion.

Brandon Pirri simply is not the player the Hawks want to give the ice time too. Again this is their choice/decision.

No matter how many times some may want to repeat to the contrary, it just will not make it so.

In the mean time, unless some real alternative to Handzuis emerges, I would expect the Hawks to get out hawked by Colorado, St. Louis or San Jose in the playoffs. I know the Hawks won with Handzuis club will lecture me (based on the assumption the Hawks are just that good and so much better then everyone else) and they can carry Zues, I say, good deal, lets go back and add Nick Boynton to the squad, since he won a cup with us as well.

As a Hawk fan, I hope I am proven wrong, but I may be the only person here who objectively looks at other teams and recognizes the overall trends in hockey. And it is obvious that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and there are a handful of teams in the west that have adopted the Hawks style, while in some ways we have opted to move counter to it.

And the Olympics truly did suck this time around. Not just cuz US sucked, but the whole deal was so underwhelming. When TJ Oshie, who I love, his 4 shootout goals is the biggest story, then the costs of the injuries have far outweighed the other benefits.
- TrueGrit

You're the man dude. Congrats on being the smartest guy in the room, always a big honor.

missed???? Like i didn't see something....?

Rpards gets sensitive sometimes.....I just chalk your comments up to smoking to many seeds in your younger days
- UnnamedSource

Yeah, Eberle plus a good prospect like Klefbom, but really, the Rangers should really hang onto him and address scoring another way.
- Jeropotato

I'm biased? Toe drag at the blueline Eberle and a guy who's ceiling is far lower than McD's is getting traded for a top 15 defenseman in the league who's 24? There's no one on the Oilers roster that would get McDonagh.

I'm biased? Toe drag at the blueline Eberle and a guy who's ceiling is far lower than McD's is getting traded for a top 15 defenseman in the league who's 24? There's no one on the Oilers roster that would get McDonagh.
- rollpards19

Sure, that probably isn't enough, but then the a Rangers would have to add if they were Callahan for Eberle ...significantly .

Sure, that probably isn't enough, but then the a Rangers would have to add if they were Callahan for Eberle ...significantly .
- Jeropotato

Very true, don't love Callahan's game at his price. He's still a useful player, but the Oil could get 80% of the player for like 50% of the cost, makes no sense for them

Toews.

Toews.
- mohel

Carter made it happen. Did not appreciate the high stick by Kunitz on Krugs.

Great first period to watch. JT with the score and I think Krugs winning every draw an also playing PK and PP.

Carter made it happen. Did not appreciate the high stick by Kunitz on Krugs.
- Tugboat

Seemed an accidental high stick on Krugman. Excellent play by Carter. Toews has been all over the place - he is a leader among leaders. Thought I saw one big pizza by Oduya.

Great first period to watch. JT with the score and I think Krugs winning every draw an also playing PK and PP.
- MDGHawk

Yeah, 6 AM start here. I set an alarm clock to watch it. Canada very aggressive on the forecheck.... You wonder how good the Swedes would be if they had their whole team healthy: Franzen, the other Sedin and especially Captain Z. All three Blackhawk defensemen playing really well.

Great first period to watch. JT with the score and I think Krugs winning every draw an also playing PK and PP.
- MDGHawk

Krugman with a fine first period,most improved Hawk.

Seemed an accidental high stick on Krugman. Excellent play by Carter. Toews has been all over the place - he is a leader among leaders. Thought I saw one big pizza by Oduya.
- mohel

Oh I don't think the whack was on purpose or anything. He just needs to be more responsible with his stick, and it was OUR guy he whacked.... Kunitz is a great player, but he does have a history of getting frenetic.

... I didn't notice the TO by Oduya, but I don't see everything.

Oh I don't think the whack was on purpose or anything. He just needs to be more responsible with his stick, and it was OUR guy he whacked.... Kunitz is a great player, but he does have a history of getting frenetic.

... I didn't notice the TO by Oduya, but I don't see everything.
- Tugboat

Curious that there's no OEL for Sweden again.

Yeah, 6 AM start here. I set an alarm clock to watch it. Canada very aggressive on the forecheck.... You wonder how good the Swedes would be if they had their whole team healthy: Franzen, the other Sedin and especially Captain Z. All three Blackhawk defensemen playing really well.
- Tugboat

2 pm here now, good time for me

Also wondering why no OEL for Sweden and how good they would be with the mentioned players. But even though the team has been put together very good and looks pretty homogenous.

What a chance by Perry seconds ago...

Karlson is not good in his own zone.