Excellent point Mohel.

See Pirri, Brandon...Hayes, Jimmy.....Olson, Dylan....etc.

Cream rises to the top. If TT, Morin, or anyone else for that matter shows that they belong, the roster will be adjusted accordingly. The names mentioned above did not show that going forward they could or would beat out what was either on the club already, or in the pipeline. Doesn't make then bad players, just means not here, not now, maybe not soon.
- TheTrob

Smith and Bollig are setting a great example for any prospect. Work hard, improve, play smart and you'll reside in CHI.

The most schizophrenic athlete in any sport?

Great today, terrible tomorrow, who knows next Tuesday.

I still remember his save with 1 second left against Detroit in 2009 - just got up, calmly moved over to his right, made the save, and ended the game.
- StLBravesFan

A common term in this type of situation. But I will submit that bi-polar fits better.

Hawks PK since Jan.1 is top 10 I believe,

LeBlanc signing could turn out to be not much of a berry.

He is signed to a 1 way contract next year so his address is likely to change this summer.
- Al

Since January 1: 81 for 92 = 88.0%.

That should be almost #1.

Only 11 goals given up in the last 28 games.

Smith and Bollig are setting a great example for any prospect. Work hard, improve, play smart and you'll reside in CHI.
- philco28

Hopefully Smith sticks around next season. Based on his play this year there is no reason he shouldn't, but whenever somebody is a free agent you never know what can happen.

Don't believe he even had a hearing. Seems to be the norm now that there isn't a Shanahan video every day.
- canadianpenfan

Can we personally insult the league office?

Smith and Bollig are setting a great example for any prospect. Work hard, improve, play smart and you'll reside in CHI.
- philco28

Love those examples. But for most of the prospects there isn't gonna be any room unless they are awesome. The roster is full for several years to come - unless I am a can't miss top six prospect, I'd choose another team if I could. Not because there's something wrong with the Hawks (they are an excellent franchise for many reasons), but because I'd want to maximize my chance to get to the dance.

What, no love for the guy opening the door each night wearing all that equipment
- TheTrob

He can have an off night - altho if he screws up opening the door, now we have a too-many-men penalty, don't we?

I can see your point, and as interest in the sport grows, more of that will fade away.

I guess I'm talking from a smaller community perspective, where the population is predominately blue collar and undereducated. That type of fan, who hasn't been exposed to the sport of hockey usually shows up for the fights and hits, and that's about all they have interest in. It used to be that way in Rockford - and it still is to an extent. It's gotten better as more people have been exposed to the sport over the last 15 years, but it still does exist.
- EKolb13

No doubt, and that is what the league struggles with, that balance between those different types of fans.

Can we personally insult the league office?
- StLBravesFan

Sure.

As long as that's not someone's user name.

I think it is the opposite - there are a lot of peripheral fans turned off by cheap shots (not talking about solid hits or even fights in the flow of the game), and I believe that stuff keeps the sport from growing further. I think that is the real reason for the safety crackdown in the past few years (potential lawsuits a factor, too).
- mohel

Problem with Hockey is the way that the players are brought up thru their developmental years. Teaching about respecting the head HAS to come at the youngest ages. Hockey is a physical sport, but proper hitting and the etiquette of doing so just is not emphasized enough at the younger levels. To many going for the knockout hits, and/or leaping and targeting the head and not enough policing of it.

A few years back I had a long discussion with an ex-pro who played professionally for 20+ years (NHL, AHL, IHL, etc) He said it had gotten to a ridiculous point that he couldnt even skate in warmups without a helmet, because the younger players paid no attention to where anyone was. Said they would let slappers fly from odd angles, so if they missed the net, the puck would come sailing into the lines of guys waiting to shoot. After getting beaned a few times, everyone just started wearing helmets all the time. He also said, elbows, etc were always up, and the number of hits on guys that didnt have the puck was increasing, and not just "finishing your check". He attributed a lot of it to the fact that everyone coming up now has played their whole youth careers with a full cage, so shots, etc off the head were never a big deal. They felt invincible.

A good clean hit is fine...like the one Keith put on Oshie the other day. Oshie's head was down, keith hit him shoulder to torso. NO leaving his feet or following thru with an elbow, just a clean leagal hit. Conversely, I saw plenty of high hits in that game, with sticks and elbows up.

Since January 1: 81 for 92 = 88.0%.

That should be almost #1.

Only 11 goals given up in the last 28 games.
- StLBravesFan

last week I think I saw on Twiitter like 5/6 and has improved since.

Problem with Hockey is the way that the players are brought up thru their developmental years. Teaching about respecting the head HAS to come at the youngest ages. Hockey is a physical sport, but proper hitting and the etiquette of doing so just is not emphasized enough at the younger levels. To many going for the knockout hits, and/or leaping and targeting the head and not enough policing of it.

A few years back I had a long discussion with an ex-pro who played professionally for 20+ years (NHL, AHL, IHL, etc) He said it had gotten to a ridiculous point that he couldnt even skate in warmups without a helmet, because the younger players paid no attention to where anyone was. Said they would let slappers fly from odd angles, so if they missed the net, the puck would come sailing into the lines of guys waiting to shoot. After getting beaned a few times, everyone just started wearing helmets all the time. He also said, elbows, etc were always up, and the number of hits on guys that didnt have the puck was increasing, and not just "finishing your check". He attributed a lot of it to the fact that everyone coming up now has played their whole youth careers with a full cage, so shots, etc off the head were never a big deal. They felt invincible.

A good clean hit is fine...like the one Keith put on Oshie the other day. Oshie's head was down, keith hit him shoulder to torso. NO leaving his feet or following thru with an elbow, just a clean leagal hit. Conversely, I saw plenty of high hits in that game, with sticks and elbows up.
- TheTrob

The real issue in hockey and other sports is many people who coach "youth" sports have no business doing so.

Off to tonights game...have a good evening everyone, let the music, politics or feline discussions begin.

The real issue in hockey and other sports is many people who coach "youth" sports have no business doing so.
- Al

+1000000000

So, SO, SO true a statement

The real issue in hockey and other sports is many people who coach "youth" sports have no business doing so.
- Al

Ahh...

The old "trying to relive your childhood through a bunch of kids" game. Some people just don't know when to hang it up.

Problem with Hockey is the way that the players are brought up thru their developmental years. Teaching about respecting the head HAS to come at the youngest ages. Hockey is a physical sport, but proper hitting and the etiquette of doing so just is not emphasized enough at the younger levels. To many going for the knockout hits, and/or leaping and targeting the head and not enough policing of it.

A few years back I had a long discussion with an ex-pro who played professionally for 20+ years (NHL, AHL, IHL, etc) He said it had gotten to a ridiculous point that he couldnt even skate in warmups without a helmet, because the younger players paid no attention to where anyone was. Said they would let slappers fly from odd angles, so if they missed the net, the puck would come sailing into the lines of guys waiting to shoot. After getting beaned a few times, everyone just started wearing helmets all the time. He also said, elbows, etc were always up, and the number of hits on guys that didnt have the puck was increasing, and not just "finishing your check". He attributed a lot of it to the fact that everyone coming up now has played their whole youth careers with a full cage, so shots, etc off the head were never a big deal. They felt invincible.

A good clean hit is fine...like the one Keith put on Oshie the other day. Oshie's head was down, keith hit him shoulder to torso. NO leaving his feet or following thru with an elbow, just a clean leagal hit. Conversely, I saw plenty of high hits in that game, with sticks and elbows up.
- TheTrob

Fully agreed. I do think it is a circle though; it would help the kids if those type of hits were consistently dealt with by the league. Kids emulate what they see on TV. Tough for the kid coaches to tell them not to do what they see on NHL On The Fly. I'm not calling for taking hitting or fighting out of the league - the game with the Blues was physical and fun to watch; but the laying in wait, take your head off because I can type hit should go, imo.

Off to tonights game...have a good evening everyone, let the music, politics or feline discussions begin.
- TheTrob

Felines.

A common term in this type of situation. But I will submit that bi-polar fits better.
- mohel

I think I may be schicophrenic.

NO YOU'RE NOT!

Yes, I am.

Felines.
- mohel

Hey now!

Any one get their invoice today.OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it is the opposite - there are a lot of peripheral fans turned off by cheap shots (not talking about solid hits or even fights in the flow of the game), and I believe that stuff keeps the sport from growing further. I think that is the real reason for the safety crackdown in the past few years (potential lawsuits a factor, too).
- mohel

Doc started talking about Bickell's fight with Simmons by saying something like "I know this won't interest a lot of you"....

I think I may be schicophrenic.

NO YOU'RE NOT!

Yes, I am.



- Q...argh

If this is the reason you've been who you are for the last few months - please, stay off your meds. You're much more fun to be around.

Off to tonights game...have a good evening everyone, let the music, politics or feline discussions begin.
- TheTrob

Thanks for reading all the wannabe music bloggers the riot act in the last blog. That was a pretty lame thread.

Any one get their invoice today.OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Puck13

This is why I'm glad I'm not a season ticket holder with the Hawks.

Love those examples. But for most of the prospects there isn't gonna be any room unless they are awesome. The roster is full for several years to come - unless I am a can't miss top six prospect, I'd choose another team if I could. Not because there's something wrong with the Hawks (they are an excellent franchise for many reasons), but because I'd want to maximize my chance to get to the dance.
- mohel

On the other hand: the franchise is getting a reputation of taking care of the "failures", not burying them in Rockford if they can play somewhere else, getting them to teams where they would have a good chance for ice time.

Signing here probably wouldn't hurt the career of a quality player who just didn't fit in here.