And a relatively easy two weeks of hockey, even with the six games - no travel between games, probably not much practice, they should all be home tomorrow with three says unti MSG.
- StLBravesFan

True. Sharp didn't play too much for sure. Keith seemed to play fewer minutes to my muddled eye. Toews had a heavy load, but the games seemed to have a more finesse style than playing six games against the Blues. Kruger played a lot (and well, imo), and Pizza Man and Hammer had a decent amount of minutes. But your point on not traveling and light practices is a very good one, I think. Three days off seems more than last time - again, to my muddled brain.

Now it's Q's demands that made Pirri tentative??? Give me a break. Funny how those demands didn't seem to frighten Krugs or Sadd...
- rtang415

Some players learn quicker and have experience through their past performance and previous coaching. Defensive coverage is repetitive, too, when the player automatically knows where to go, what his responsibilities are. Pirri was so one dimensional In his hockey career that he had to be broken to the extent he was to date through Q's message and on the job training this season (in practice or in the games).

Someone wrote earlier that Pirri had reacted and played much like any rookie would who has the pedigree and offensive background that he does. It remains to be seen if Pirri while with Chg or elsewhere develops an acceptable defensive effort. He may always be weak on the puck and too easily pushed around. I believe that the more Pirri overcomes his negative points, the better his TOI and opportunity to rack up points. Going forward: How bad does he want it and where is his opportunity aren't known. I do concur he is not the optimal center depth in Chg. But that has more to do with my strong belief to send out as good a skating team as possible.

True. Sharp didn't play too much for sure. Keith seemed to play fewer minutes to my muddled eye. Toews had a heavy load, but the games seemed to have a more finesse style than playing six games against the Blues. Kruger played a lot (and well, imo), and Pizza Man and Hammer had a decent amount of minutes. But your point on not traveling and light practices is a very good one, I think. Three days off seems more than last time - again, to my muddled brain.
- mohel

Don't make fun of my muddled brain.


It also helps that first game isn't until Thursday - wish there wasn't the Soldier Field game Saturday nite - let's get back to normal.

- Ogilthorpe2

Amen!

Hi Al - I enjoyed today's article, and it is good to see the Hawks news starting up again! One minor quibble on the Bulin LTIR thing. Having him is not hurting the Hawks' cap situation - it is helping it. Were he not on LTIR (and Raanta was back in the minors), the Hawks would need to send down or get rid of a player because they'd be $562K over the cap. And Regin wouldn't be enough, so it would have to be Kostka. They've been able to keep that 8th d-man because of Bulin's LTIR status.

Once Kostka is gone, they will have $837K in cap space that they wouldn't have if Bulin were not on LTIR. That is because the whole $837K is overage that is allowed because of his injury. They can pick up a salary of $1.65M if the other team keeps the maximum amount they can retain (50%). That goes to $2.4 if they dump Regin. So there's some room for a decent player to squeeze in, but only because Bulin is on LTIR. If not, they'd have less room to move.
- mohel

Kostka claimed by the lightning...

Hi Al - I enjoyed today's article, and it is good to see the Hawks news starting up again! One minor quibble on the Bulin LTIR thing. Having him is not hurting the Hawks' cap situation - it is helping it. Were he not on LTIR (and Raanta was back in the minors), the Hawks would need to send down or get rid of a player because they'd be $562K over the cap. And Regin wouldn't be enough, so it would have to be Kostka. They've been able to keep that 8th d-man because of Bulin's LTIR status.

Once Kostka is gone, they will have $837K in cap space that they wouldn't have if Bulin were not on LTIR. That is because the whole $837K is overage that is allowed because of his injury. They can pick up a salary of $1.65M if the other team keeps the maximum amount they can retain (50%). That goes to $2.4 if they dump Regin. So there's some room for a decent player to squeeze in, but only because Bulin is on LTIR. If not, they'd have less room to move.
- mohel

The amount of money dedicated for the LTIR it does make a difference in overall cap space....
At least that is what I thought when explained to me otherwise Hawks could have more prorated salary toward end of the season.

Remember our initial discussion as to why the cap space figure stayed stagnant on Cap Geek? at the time it was $1.1. mill and did not grow that is what I was referring to.

Toews & Canada capture Gold. Kane-Team USA vet leaders?? -Kostka on waivers, trade deadline thoughts: My Fox Chicago:

http://bit.ly/1nYqY4c

Hi Al - I enjoyed today's article, and it is good to see the Hawks news starting up again! One minor quibble on the Bulin LTIR thing. Having him is not hurting the Hawks' cap situation - it is helping it. Were he not on LTIR (and Raanta was back in the minors), the Hawks would need to send down or get rid of a player because they'd be $562K over the cap. And Regin wouldn't be enough, so it would have to be Kostka. They've been able to keep that 8th d-man because of Bulin's LTIR status.

Once Kostka is gone, they will have $837K in cap space that they wouldn't have if Bulin were not on LTIR. That is because the whole $837K is overage that is allowed because of his injury. They can pick up a salary of $1.65M if the other team keeps the maximum amount they can retain (50%). That goes to $2.4 if they dump Regin. So there's some room for a decent player to squeeze in, but only because Bulin is on LTIR. If not, they'd have less room to move.
- mohel

So we could make a list of players who fit in salary cap wise. Then we can deduce if a certain player would be available for our list. But really the biggest lift is Mr Bickel starts playing some good hockey!

Kostka claimed by the lightning...
- UnnamedSource

Not a shock now...He should have been sent down before the year started.

Who reported?

Toews & Canada capture Gold. Kane-Team USA vet leaders?? -Kostka on waivers, trade deadline thoughts: My Fox Chicago:

http://bit.ly/1nYqY4c

Some players learn quicker and have experience through their past performance and previous coaching. Defensive coverage is repetitive, too, when the player automatically knows where to go, what his responsibilities are. Pirri was so one dimensional In his hockey career that he had to be broken to the extent he was to date through Q's message and on the job training this season (in practice or in the games).

Someone wrote earlier that Pirri had reacted and played much like any rookie would who has the pedigree and offensive background that he does. It remains to be seen if Pirri while with Chg or elsewhere develops an acceptable defensive effort. He may always be weak on the puck and too easily pushed around. I believe that the more Pirri overcomes his negative points, the better his TOI and opportunity to rack up points. Going forward: How bad does he want it and where is his opportunity aren't known. I do concur he is not the optimal center depth in Chg. But that has more to do with my strong belief to send out as good a skating team as possible.
- jhawk59

All that is well stated, Hawk. The thing for the Hawks right now - and right now is what matters for this team currently - they need/want a center who is defensively responsible. They're happy to have scoring, but their style is to have defense cause offense rather than the other way around. I guess the bottom line is that right now it doesn't matter if he'll be good in the future (I hope he is, no matter where it is as I have nothing against the kid), it only matters whether he can help now.

Don't make fun of my muddled brain.


It also helps that first game isn't until Thursday - wish there wasn't the Soldier Field game Saturday nite - let's get back to normal.
- StLBravesFan

Yours isn't the muddled one, just borrowing a good line!

Kostka claimed by the lightning...
- UnnamedSource

The player to be named later...?

Not a shock now...He should have been sent down before the year started.

Who reported?

Toews & Canada capture Gold. Kane-Team USA vet leaders?? -Kostka on waivers, trade deadline thoughts: My Fox Chicago:

http://bit.ly/1nYqY4c
- Al

Dreger

Dreger
- UnnamedSource

Thanks

Kostka claimed by the lightning...
- UnnamedSource

Lightning strikes as far as Bowman may see things. Soon we learn if he has something he can act on.

I would just mention the following with the attitude of covering all bases, so to speak.

Should either Pirri or Morin play again t season in Chg, there is no way ever - even a lopsided loss - where those two play point on PP? They do in Rockford. But getting back when the flow goes the other way is sometimes a problem for these weak skaters,, right! It would be problematic to Q!

For classification use this: The tortoise = Hadzus, Pirri, and Morin; the hare is Regin. Not to be confused with a fellow named Reagan. I do not know if Regin can split logs but he shouldn't be splitting the roster by dressing for any games. He serves one purpose: either Q or Bowman do not want Pirri in if someone else who skates better and has defensive game can be plugged in. Regin could relieve Handzus too. But best case scenario is we are relieved when Regin is dropped. But who would take him? Some team unloading salary - like an aging veteran- takes Regin insofar as Chg cannot afford the newbie and Regin. Then Regin could be released or sent to the farm club where he belongs

Lightning strikes as far as Bowman may see things. Soon we learn if he has something he can act on.

I would just mention the following with the attitude of covering all bases, so,to speak.

Should either Pirri or Morin play again this season in Chg, there is no way ever - even a lopsided loss - where those two play point on PP? They do in Rockford. But getting back when the flow goes the other way is sometimes a problem for these weak skaters,, right! It would be problematic to Q!
- jhawk59

Well unless I'm completely wrong...Bowman has to have something cooking and a trade is about to go down.

Otherwise it makes no sense to put Kostka on waivers at this time in the season.

Toews & Canada capture Gold. Kane-Team USA vet leaders?? -Kostka on waivers, trade deadline thoughts: My Fox Chicago:

http://bit.ly/1nYqY4c

Kostka claimed by the lightning...
- UnnamedSource

Hmm...Steve Yzerman really likes his ex-Leaf players.

Would have liked to have kept Kostka in the organisation, but not the end of the world.

Edit: Also factor in that Kostka played on that Norfolk team that won the Calder Cup a few seasons ago. Jon Cooper (current Lightning coach) was Kostka's coach there, and I'm sure he must've liked Kostka's game.

The amount of money dedicated for the LTIR it does make a difference in overall cap space....
At least that is what I thought when explained to me otherwise Hawks could have more prorated salary toward end of the season.

Remember our initial discussion as to why the cap space figure stayed stagnant on Cap Geek? at the time it was $1.1. mill and did not grow that is what I was referring to.

Toews & Canada capture Gold. Kane-Team USA vet leaders?? -Kostka on waivers, trade deadline thoughts: My Fox Chicago:

http://bit.ly/1nYqY4c
- Al

Correct - the Hawks cannot accumulate unused cap space because they have none. Unused LTIR space does not accumulate.

This whole thing about pro-rating salaries at the TDL is not technically accurate. The player's cap space number doesn't change throughout the year (unless retained by a team in a trade) - it is the acquiring team's cap space that changes during the year. Every day (could be every game) that a team is under the cap, it adds a pro-rated portion of the annual cap to its pile. This increases the annual salary that they can take on at the TDL. The more a team banks all year, the bigger the contract it can assume (this is the reason for the Rockford Shuttle) at the TDL.

It comes down to this - on capgeek there is the "Deadline Space" number. This is the amount of the ANNUAL salary a team can take on. It is not some pro-rated portion of the salary of the acquired player. Let's take Crosby as an example. Assume his contract has a $10M AAV. Were he to be traded at ANY time during the year, the acquiring team would need that capgeek "Deadline Space" number to be $10M+ on the day of the trade.

So we could make a list of players who fit in salary cap wise. Then we can deduce if a certain player would be available for our list. But really the biggest lift is Mr Bickel starts playing some good hockey!
- jhawk59

Yep, that who we can look at without trading a guy on the roster (other than Regin). Bickell would indeed be a great addition!

The player to be named later...?
- StLBravesFan

Never mind - confused Islanders with Lightning.

Never mind - confused Islanders with Lightning.
- StLBravesFan

Now you're muddled!

All that is well stated, Hawk. The thing for the Hawks right now - and right now is what matters for this team currently - they need/want a center who is defensively responsible. They're happy to have scoring, but their style is to have defense cause offense rather than the other way around. I guess the bottom line is that right now it doesn't matter if he'll be good in the future (I hope he is, no matter where it is as I have nothing against the kid), it only matters whether he can help now.
- mohel

Also well stated.

Btw: look who played in the Olympics - Petri Kontiola. Bet he never plays NHL again. I bet RealWiz never had him on a fantasy team roster either. LOL

Now you're muddled!
- mohel

Mumble mumble jiborish jaberwockey muddled....

Mumble mumble jiborish jaberwockey muddled....
- StLBravesFan

Oh crap, I think I understood that....

Lightning strikes as far as Bowman may see things. Soon we learn if he has something he can act on.

I would just mention the following with the attitude of covering all bases, so to speak.

Should either Pirri or Morin play again t season in Chg, there is no way ever - even a lopsided loss - where those two play point on PP? They do in Rockford. But getting back when the flow goes the other way is sometimes a problem for these weak skaters,, right! It would be problematic to Q!

For classification use this: The tortoise = Hadzus, Pirri, and Morin; the hare is Regin. Not to be confused with a fellow named Reagan. I do not know if Regin can split logs but he shouldn't be splitting the roster by dressing for any games. He serves one purpose: either Q or Bowman do not want Pirri in if someone else who skates better and has defensive game can be plugged in. Regin could relieve Handzus too. But best case scenario is we are relieved when Regin is dropped. But who would take him? Some team unloading salary - like an aging veteran- takes Regin insofar as Chg cannot afford the newbie and Regin. Then Regin could be released or sent to the farm club where he belongs
- jhawk59

You must be a relative of either Pirri or Morin right???