Thanks. Just what I was looking for. So the way I look at it, Hawks, due to their popularity of recent Cup success, have added a couple extra 2nd-4th rounders for free.

Or another way, they traded a 2nd round pick for Rundblat, and recovered that pick for free in the name of Carey.

Seems a bit unfair (but fine with me as we're on the positive end of that unfairness). Hawks have been gifted a couple extra mid-round picks over the last couple years. Probably more fairly done as in football. If a player becomes available outside the regular draft, teams have to bid a draft pick for him in a supplemental draft.

Thx again.
- Cmonalready

Not unfair at all. After not being drafted during his 2 1/2 years of eligibility he was a free agent. He was free game for ANY TEAM. Hawks were not gifted anything. They scouted properly, identified possible talent, and offered them enough to make their deals more desirable than what other teams were offering.

Better check with Trob and get the okay first...
- EKolb13

Not my call, but I seriously think a bunch of you need to re-read what is considered an acceptable post and what is On and Off topic.

Here's a two-fer:

Let me tell you how it will be
That's 1 for you 19 for me...




- Q...argh

What?

Has the league given up on the player safety thing? Neal is a repeat offender, and yesterday gave a deliberate cross-check to the head of a Wing. Got a small fine. Legwand gives a butt end to Malkin's nuts after the play left the offensive zone. Small fine.

Has the league given up on the player safety thing? Neal is a repeat offender, and yesterday gave a deliberate cross-check to the head of a Wing. Got a small fine. Legwand gives a butt end to Malkin's nuts after the play left the offensive zone. Small fine.
- mohel

I remember hearing something about the number of concussions being down this season. If that's the case, I'm sure the league has dropped off attention regarding "player safety."

If it isn't in the spotlight, the league really isn't going to do anything about it.

I remember hearing something about the number of concussions being down this season. If that's the case, I'm sure the league has dropped off attention regarding "player safety."

If it isn't in the spotlight, the league really isn't going to do anything about it.
- EKolb13

Which means it is all for show.

What?
- EKolb13

Tax Man. Rock and politics rolled into one.

Has the league given up on the player safety thing? Neal is a repeat offender, and yesterday gave a deliberate cross-check to the head of a Wing. Got a small fine. Legwand gives a butt end to Malkin's nuts after the play left the offensive zone. Small fine.
- mohel

Neal is on the Pens - Bettman's pet team. Malkin is Russian, and Obama is feuding with Putin. See , if you really think about it, everything makes sense.

Neal is on the Pens - Bettman's pet team. Malkin is Russian, and Obama is feuding with Putin. See , if you really think about it, everything makes sense.
- powerenforcer

This is a fresh load of crap.

Neal is on the Pens - Bettman's pet team. Malkin is Russian, and Obama is feuding with Putin. See , if you really think about it, everything makes sense.
- powerenforcer

Yep, clear as mud.

Which means it is all for show.
- mohel

To some extent, I'll agree with that. I think the league has a general concern about player safety, but it only goes so far.

Yep, clear as mud.
- mohel

You're laughing, and I'm shaking my head in disbelief.

I have been getting complaints about people throwing out personal insults to other posters when there's a difference of opinion. That wiil not be tolerated. Bans wiil be handed out. Keep it cool, folks.

This is a fresh load of crap.
- EKolb13

Have some fun.....

I have been getting complaints about people throwing out personal insults to other posters when there's a difference of opinion. That wiil not be tolerated. Bans wiil be handed out. Keep it cool, folks.
- John Jaeckel

No mercy JJ

To some extent, I'll agree with that. I think the league has a general concern about player safety, but it only goes so far.
- EKolb13

IMO, not far at all if an intentional butt end to the nuts and an intentional cross check to the head (by a multiple offender) are nothing, unless the other guy leaves on a stretcher. #windowdressing.

Have some fun.....
- powerenforcer

When am I not having fun?

IMO, not far at all if an intentional butt end to the nuts and an intentional cross check to the head (by a multiple offender) are nothing, unless the other guy leaves on a stretcher. #windowdressing.
- mohel

There's that. However, when the concussions start piling up and players like Torres are out head hunting, the league does step in and hands out some big suspensions from time to time.

I'll agree that Bickell has played very well in playoffs the last 3 years. Last year especially, but he played well in '11 and '12 also. The playoff style game seems to suit him better, although the enigma is why he can't/doesn't play that way all season.

All that being said, I would still not put him in the top 6 players the Hawks have to have to be successful in the playoffs. Kane, Sharp, Crawford and maybe even Saad would be bigger losses than Bickell.
- TheTrob

Thing is we have no one to do what Bickell does as well - thats why I put him in the group. Toews? Yeah but hes needed everywhere else and Shaw? Maybe but he's a meathead sometimes and has a skinny butt.

I have been getting complaints about people throwing out personal insults to other posters when there's a difference of opinion. That wiil not be tolerated. Bans wiil be handed out. Keep it cool, folks.
- John Jaeckel

Some sports boards include an 'ignore' function. Perhaps HockeyBuzz can supply this function.

It's a good way to keep irritating comments from driving readers away.

Some sports boards include an 'ignore' function. Perhaps HockeyBuzz can supply this function.

It's a good way to keep irritating comments from driving readers away.
- KingB

Good idea.

There's that. However, when the concussions start piling up and players like Torres are out head hunting, the league does step in and hands out some big suspensions from time to time.
- EKolb13

The message is highly inconsistent to the players, I think. It is too outcome-based rather than act-based.

Not unfair at all. After not being drafted during his 2 1/2 years of eligibility he was a free agent. He was free game for ANY TEAM. Hawks were not gifted anything. They scouted properly, identified possible talent, and offered them enough to make their deals more desirable than what other teams were offering.
- TheTrob

I think you and I mostly agree. Certainly some of your support is due to the fact you're a Hawks fan and on the right side of any unfair allocation of talent. But the Hawks aren't gaining these guys solely because of superior scouting and talent evaluation. They're also winning these free agent beauty contests at least partly because they have the best sweater in all of sports, a big market in Chicago, recent success, etc.

But I absolutely get your comment that the only reason these guys are available is that they went multiple years undrafted. That's a different (more worthy of free agent status) category than my example of a supplemental NFL player.

Some sports boards include an 'ignore' function. Perhaps HockeyBuzz can supply this function.

It's a good way to keep irritating comments from driving readers away.
- KingB

But then, good fans like me will never have an ear!

The message is highly inconsistent to the players, I think. It is too outcome-based rather than act-based.
- mohel

I have been saying that for a while, punish the crime, not the criminal. I don't understand how a flying elbow by a first timer is any different that a flying elbow from a repeat offender. The result could be the same.