.....and this idea teams in the WC are gaining on the Hawks....let's look at the 7 play off teams...


San Jose......going into a rebuild mode

St Louis.....Brian Elliot is your goalie and still have no one who can put it in the net on a consistent basis....nice team but where are they better than the Hawks?

Minnesota.....Nice young team but they need to develop their own players....the Parise and Suter contracts will hamstring them in the future...and who's in net next year???

Dallas......bubble team....getting better....but do they scare anyone??

Colorado.....nice young team but no defense...and let's see if Varlymov can do two years in a row....and will Roy's "us against them" mantra work over and over again?

Anaheim.....Thin on the blue line....thin on the bottom six....and Bruce Boudreau is your coach come playoff time....

LA Kings.....the champions...lots of positives....great goalie...big and fast....still slow on the blue line and again......beat us in OT of game 7......they deserve credit but....let's not blow up our team.....

Some teams will get better and some won't.....is the margin getting thinner....maybe....with the Kings probably......but like I said...less is more....and there is only one team on the above list that scares me in a 7 game series.

Its our revenge for having to read all his negative post throughout the season.
- Elbows15

I was here all season and I don't think I was close to the most negative voice, and certainly NOT the most irrational or conspiratorial.

During the season it's stress central...off season is easy street...

Besides I generally don't b!tch and complain about the FO, it's the guys on the ice and behind the bench that win or lose games during the season.

ya da ya da - again what did Stan do to make the team better last season in order to win a cup. So was Versteeg the man to get the Hawks over the hump?

Don't get me wrong - Stan is doing a good job. Hard to argue with 2 cups. But there is a window and he has not messed up too bad. So the Hawks have a chance. But the Western Conference is no picnic.
- Topshelf2010

....


Yes...Versteeg was brought in to make an impact and .....he didn't

.....and this idea teams in the WC are gaining on the Hawks....let's look at the 7 play off teams...


San Jose......going into a rebuild mode

St Louis.....Brian Elliot is your goalie and still have no one who can put it in the net on a consistent basis....nice team but where are they better than the Hawks?

Minnesota.....Nice young team but they need to develop their own players....the Parise and Suter contracts will hamstring them in the future...and who's in net next year???

Dallas......bubble team....getting better....but do they scare anyone??

Colorado.....nice young team but no defense...and let's see if Varlymov can do two years in a row....and will Roy's "us and gets them" mantra work over and over again?

Anaheim.....Thin on the blue line....thin on the bottom six....and Bruce Boudreau is your coach come playoff time....

LA Kings.....the champions...lots of positives....great goalie...big and fast....still slow on the blue line and again......beat us in OT of game 7......they deserve credit but....let's not blow up our team.....

Some teams will get better and some won't.....is the margin getting thinner....maybe....with the Kings probably......but like I said...less is more....and there is only one team on the above list that scares me in a 7 game series.
- UnnamedSource

BLOW EVERYTHING UP! THEY MUST TRADE FOR A 2C WITH DISREGARD TO THE SALARY CAP!!

LET'S SEE IF STAN BO HAS SOME "STONES". DO IT NOW!

I was here all season and I don't think I was close to the most negative voice, and certainly NOT the most irrational or conspiratorial.

During the season it's stress central...off season is easy street...

Besides I generally don't b!tch and complain about the FO, it's the guys on the ice and behind the bench that win or lose games during the season.
- ArlingtonRob

Lighten up. I was messing with you. Sheesh.

What did the Kings do last off-season? Did they add anyone significant? Not that I saw. The Hawks don't need to make a huge move. Even another solid 3rd line center with some offensive skill who isn't a snail would be a nice addition. It doesn't have to be Joe Thornton or someone like that. Kane obviously wants a huge addition but it sounds like common sense is prevailing, there isn't a perfect fit out there. Perhaps if Statsny hit the open market he would be great, but the chances of us outbidding everyone? Zero. And you'ld have to trade Sharp to fit him in and probably Leddy as well, which that part is fine, but then you need a solid dman to replace Leddy's spot. ROR would also be great, but making an offer sheet would be very hard to do with how many players are making a good buck here. I'm sure they have explored the ROR idea, I guess there's no way it works, but we won't know until the first week of free agency ends and he gets no offer sheet or signs one with someone else.

Sammy (frank)ing Gagner.....Reunite Kane with his Jr bestie.
- Iggysbff

Why?

I was here all season and I don't think I was close to the most negative voice, and certainly NOT the most irrational or conspiratorial.

During the season it's stress central...off season is easy street...

Besides I generally don't b!tch and complain about the FO, it's the guys on the ice and behind the bench that win or lose games during the season.
- ArlingtonRob

Thanks for the info. I thought the pod people got you or you were self medicating.

Lighten up. I was messing with you. Sheesh.
- Elbows15

I'm light ...just sayin'

Thanks for the info. I thought the pod people got you or you were self medicating.


- HawkintheD

He may not be the most negative poster but he is in the (frank)ing team picture.



Ikeed I keed.

BLOW EVERYTHING UP! THEY MUST TRADE FOR A 2C WITH DISREGARD TO THE SALARY CAP!!

LET'S SEE IF STAN BO HAS SOME "STONES". DO IT NOW!
- CaptainBlackhawk

Based on where the other 7 playoff teams are....at this moment....why would people feel the need to make a big move?


Build up our bottom six.....strengthen the back end of the blue line and we are winning a cup next year....

He may not be the most negative poster but he is in the (frank)ing team picture.



Ikeed I keed.
- Elbows15

He's the guy sitting indian style holding the team sign bottom center....

Thanks for the info. I thought the pod people got you or you were self medicating.


- HawkintheD

The sand people.....

The sand people.....
- UnnamedSource

http://giphy.com/gifs/6jGPxZsoaVc64

Not working ... oh well! Posted the URL.
- CaptainBlackhawk

rats!


Rollpards where are you?????/

What did the Kings do last off-season? Did they add anyone significant? Not that I saw. The Hawks don't need to make a huge move. Even another solid 3rd line center with some offensive skill who isn't a snail would be a nice addition. It doesn't have to be Joe Thornton or someone like that. Kane obviously wants a huge addition but it sounds like common sense is prevailing, there isn't a perfect fit out there. Perhaps if Statsny hit the open market he would be great, but the chances of us outbidding everyone? Zero. And you'ld have to trade Sharp to fit him in and probably Leddy as well, which that part is fine, but then you need a solid dman to replace Leddy's spot. ROR would also be great, but making an offer sheet would be very hard to do with how many players are making a good buck here. I'm sure they have explored the ROR idea, I guess there's no way it works, but we won't know until the first week of free agency ends and he gets no offer sheet or signs one with someone else.
- Hemingways

Gaborik at TDL seemed to fill a need

Based on where the other 7 playoff teams are....at this moment....why would people feel the need to make a big move?


Build up our bottom six.....strengthen the back end of the blue line and we are winning a cup next year....
- UnnamedSource

Just to bring up something JJ has mentioned several times.

What of Kane's supposed desire/demand that the Hawks upgrade 2C...

...or he may consider leaving. If this is legitimate what do you propose the Hawks do about it? Just askin'

Perhaps the Hawks don't pursue the "top guys", but it seems obvious to me that improvement at center is a priority if the club hopes to stay near the top of the western conference.

Just to bring up something JJ has mentioned several times.

What of Kane's supposed desire/demand that the Hawks upgrade 2C...

...or he may consider leaving. If this is legitimate what do you propose the Hawks do about it? Just askin'

Perhaps the Hawks don't pursue the "top guys", but it seems obvious to me that improvement at center is a priority if the club hopes to stay near the top of the western conference.
- ArlingtonRob

I would be very surprised if Kane leaves the Hawks........

I would be very surprised if Kane leaves the Hawks........
- UnnamedSource

I agree...

...I'm not sure there's much to the rumor/suggestion that Kane is PO'd about the center depth, but improving the Hawks at center does seem like a no-brainer.

I agree...

...I'm not sure there's much to the rumor/suggestion that Kane is PO'd about the center depth, but improving the Hawks at center does seem like a no-brainer.
- ArlingtonRob

I think they will.....but if people are expecting a big name they will be waiting a long time. They don't need a big name.....remember the offseason when Brookbank was there only acquisition?......they won the cup the next season.

One thing I will find interesting this coming season is will Q stick with treating every regular season game like it's do or die. True, the Hawks won the cup leading the Conference wire to wire last year. The Kings took the cup from the 8th seed last year and this year from the 3rd seed in their division. The Hawks won their division in the playoffs after finishing third. Will Q maybe back off some during the regular season?

Just to bring up something JJ has mentioned several times.

What of Kane's supposed desire/demand that the Hawks upgrade 2C...

...or he may consider leaving. If this is legitimate what do you propose the Hawks do about it? Just askin'

Perhaps the Hawks don't pursue the "top guys", but it seems obvious to me that improvement at center is a priority if the club hopes to stay near the top of the western conference.
- ArlingtonRob

Real simple:

1) The Hawks know they won't lose Kane if they don't address 2C with a huge upgrade, and won't do so because they simply cannot afford to.

2) The Hawks don't care that they'll lose Patrick Kane, and won't address 2C

I highly doubt #2 is happening.

One thing I will find interesting this coming season is will Q stick with treating every regular season game like it's do or die. True, the Hawks won the cup leading the Conference wire to wire last year. The Kings took the cup from the 8th seed last year and this year from the 3rd seed in their division. The Hawks won their division in the playoffs after finishing third. Will Q maybe back off some during the regular season?
- NewToHockey

I don't know if there is a right answer.......

.....and this idea teams in the WC are gaining on the Hawks....let's look at the 7 play off teams...

St Louis.....Brian Elliot is your goalie and still have no one who can put it in the net on a consistent basis....nice team but where are they better than the Hawks?

- UnnamedSource

Jake Allen is our goalie. Brian Elliott is a good backup who can fill in if Allen doesn't work out.

The Blues are good, and will get better. Goaltending will be an issue though if Allen doesn't pan out, but he has a lot of potential.

The Blues & Blackhawks were very even in play in their series.

Love how JJ is back tracking from his "the hawks will have a new 2c come next season" to "it will be in house by committee" status quo

Nothing against JJ but I find this blog to be highly suspect in terms of rumor credibility anymore.
- FourFeathers773

First...you are looking for rumor credibility, really?

Second...things are always changing, right after the loss to LA the team could have been serious about a new 2C but after some time to cool off the situations is different.

Whatever JJ reports I trust that he's actually hearing it. But that doesn't mean I expect all or even most of it to come true.