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

Interesting, I have been getting them too.

Just keep it hockey related, Penguin bashing is accepted so feel free to carry on with that topic but please refrain from the personal insults/attacks.

Thanks.

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.
- Cmonalready

Very true, but they also have the disadvantage of having very few NHL roster spots open in the next few years. If TT maxes out his ability, that'll be no problem for him. But guys like LeBlah and perhaps Carey are among a ton of pretty good players fighting for only a couple slots in the next few years. That would dissuade me from signing with the Hawks. It is the reason I'm interested to see what Johns does in the next weeks and months.

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

I'll agree to that.

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

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

Who ever said that you were not a "good fan?"

As for "not having an ear," that's solely based on your views and either how those views either make sense or not.

Interesting, I have been getting them too.

Just keep it hockey related, Penguin bashing is accepted so feel free to carry on with that topic but please refrain from the personal insults/attacks.

Thanks.
- canadianpenfan

Otherwise the red screen of death will visit you shortly !!

Interesting, I have been getting them too.

Just keep it hockey related, Penguin bashing is accepted so feel free to carry on with that topic but please refrain from the personal insults/attacks.

Thanks.
- canadianpenfan

Are MAF's sessions with the mental health coach gonna do the trick?

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

Hawks have to have 19 successful every nite in the play-offs: you can't win a championship without everyone playing his role as it should be played.

What?
- EKolb13

It's The Taxman.

I suggest this discussion ends - you don't want me getting involved in it.

Hawks have to have 19 successful every nite in the play-offs: you can't win a championship without everyone playing his role as it should be played.
- StLBravesFan

The Sage!

Kumbaya everyone........

Are MAF's sessions with the mental health coach gonna do the trick?
- mohel

One way or another we're going to find out. The defense as a whole should probably go to his sessions with him.

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

What happened to (and I don't remember the players) the TBL (I think) who hit the Leaf badly into the boards a couple of nites ago? Looking right at the numbers, he smashed his head into the glass.

Jones thought it shouldn't be suspendable.

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.

What happened to (and I don't remember the players) the TBL (I think) who hit the Leaf badly into the boards a couple of nites ago? Looking right at the numbers, he smashed his head into the glass.

Jones thought it shouldn't be suspendable.
- StLBravesFan

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

One way or another we're going to find out. The defense as a whole should probably go to his sessions with him.
- canadianpenfan

Yep, that's why they play the games. I give him credit for going that route to try to return to his earlier form.

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.
- powerenforcer

I get that. However, the league is more than just a game...it's a business. Given what's happened with the NFL relating to concussions (and lawsuits after the fact), the NHL wants to keep some sort of control over that - so they're not losing money in the process to medical suits.

Then there's the point that it's 4th on the list of major sports, and the rough stuff on the ice (among other gimmicks - like the shootout) keeps the possible fans in the peripherals of interest in the sport to keep coming and to keep watching in order to keep the money coming in.

The league has to keep some sort of balance between the two. I'm not advocating it, it just is what it is.

Yep, that's why they play the games. I give him credit for going that route to try to return to his earlier form.
- mohel

He's played really well this year but nobody will give him any credit until he does it in the 2nd season.

Here's to hoping.

What happened to (and I don't remember the players) the TBL (I think) who hit the Leaf badly into the boards a couple of nites ago? Looking right at the numbers, he smashed his head into the glass.

Jones thought it shouldn't be suspendable.
- StLBravesFan

That was the Alex Kilhorn hit on Paul Ranger.

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

It seems to me that the enforcement has decreased lately, and that the players have noticed.

Very true, but they also have the disadvantage of having very few NHL roster spots open in the next few years. If TT maxes out his ability, that'll be no problem for him. But guys like LeBlah and perhaps Carey are among a ton of pretty good players fighting for only a couple slots in the next few years. That would dissuade me from signing with the Hawks. It is the reason I'm interested to see what Johns does in the next weeks and months.
- mohel

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.

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.
- Cmonalready

Those, but also an organization that has an image (for the past several years) of being welcoming, player-friendly, accommodating, etc. AND willing to spend to support a winning team.

I suspect in hockey, these is more important than your other attributes.

And these are attributes that any team can have - it's all up to the front office.

Hawks have to have 19 successful every nite in the play-offs: you can't win a championship without everyone playing his role as it should be played.
- StLBravesFan

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

Are MAF's sessions with the mental health coach gonna do the trick?
- mohel

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.

I get that. However, the league is more than just a game...it's a business. Given what's happened with the NFL relating to concussions (and lawsuits after the fact), the NHL wants to keep some sort of control over that - so they're not losing money in the process to medical suits.

Then there's the point that it's 4th on the list of major sports, and the rough stuff on the ice (among other gimmicks - like the shootout) keeps the possible fans in the peripherals of interest in the sport to keep coming and to keep watching in order to keep the money coming in.

The league has to keep some sort of balance between the two. I'm not advocating it, it just is what it is.
- EKolb13

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).