Cliche cliche cliche cliche.
- Blackstrom2

More like FACT FACT FACT FACT...the Hawks wouldnt have won poop if they had 4 patrick kane sized players in their top 6...board battles and physicality are a huge part of the game of hockey and if you dont know that then you probably never played past squirt or picked up the game in non-check mens league.

so you would argue that RNH and Yakupov were effective #1 overall picks? I would argue that while the Oilers depth has been equivalent to most AHL squads, the problem begins and ends with the small forwards up front that cannot defend in their own zone and struggle along the boards.
- EnzoD

Yeah, absolutely! Don't get me wrong, I don't think Nuge has been better than Landeskogg or anything, but his story is far,far from finished. Yak had a sophomore slump for sure, but Galchenyuk was not any better, nor is there any real evidence after 100 games that he will be either. Oilers still picked the BPA everytime.

We definitely needed more size up front, and I'm still baffled that it took this long to fix it, but let me put it to you like this. If you replaced Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent Hopkins and Nail Yakupov with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa...the Oilers still miss the playoff's by a wide margin.

Yeah, absolutely! Don't get me wrong, I don't think Nuge has been better than Landeskogg or anything, but his story is far,far from finished. Yak had a sophomore slump for sure, but Galchenyuk was not any better, nor is there any real evidence after 100 games that he will be either. Oilers still picked the BPA everytime.

We definitely needed more size up front, and I'm still baffled that it took this long to fix it, but let me put it to you like this. If you replaced Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent Hopkins and Nail Yakupov with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa...the Oilers still miss the playoff's by a wide margin.
- Jeropotato

while there is really no way of proving this very interesting theory. I would have to argue that Toews and Hossa are 2 of the top 5/10 2-way forwards(Toews top 3) in the NHL. And patrick kane is in the top 5 of playmakers. You, even as a die hard Oil fan cannot say that any of them (besides Hall) are top 10 in the league in either of those categories. Defense and forward depth are HUGE, but look at what Seguin and Benn just did for Dallas this year? Truly elite forwards can bring a team a very long way....

More like FACT FACT FACT FACT...the Hawks wouldnt have won poop if they had 4 patrick kane sized players in their top 6...board battles and physicality are a huge part of the game of hockey and if you dont know that then you probably never played past squirt or picked up the game in non-check mens league.
- EnzoD

What's a board battle?

while there is really no way of proving this very interesting theory. I would have to argue that Toews and Hossa are 2 of the top 5/10 2-way forwards(Toews top 3) in the NHL. And patrick kane is in the top 5 of playmakers. You, even as a die hard Oil fan cannot say that any of them (besides Hall) are top 10 in the league in either of those categories. Defense and forward depth are HUGE, but look at what Seguin and Benn just did for Dallas this year? Truly elite forwards can bring a team a very long way....
- EnzoD

I used those players because they are among the very best in the world (and no, I don't put the Oil kids in that category-yet) .Hard to prove, but do you think Chicago would still be successful if we swapped Jeff Petry, Andrew Ference, Justin Schultz and Martin Marincin for Keith ,Seabrooke, NH and Oduya?

What's a board battle?
- Blackstrom2

Thats what Steve Tambellini is still asking himself....

More like FACT FACT FACT FACT...the Hawks wouldnt have won poop if they had 4 patrick kane sized players in their top 6...board battles and physicality are a huge part of the game of hockey and if you dont know that then you probably never played past squirt or picked up the game in non-check mens league.
- EnzoD

I agree, but that was on the former GM to add, thank God he was fired. Mac T has added some bigger or more physical players in David Perron, Teddy Purcell, and Benoit Pouliot to mix and match into the top 9....and of course, we drafted Leon Draisaitl, who is a physical beast.

I used those players because they are among the very best in the world (and no, I don't put the Oil kids in that category-yet) .Hard to prove, but do you think Chicago would still be successful if we swapped Jeff Petry, Andrew Ference, Justin Schultz and Martin Marincin for Keith ,Seabrooke, NH and Oduya?
- Jeropotato

agreed 100% that championships are won by a complete team. but you said playoffs, and I think a Toews, Hossa, Kane led team could make the playoffs given ANY bottom dwellers depth...but Im a Hawks fan and I love those guys as if they were family.

Thats what Steve Tambellini is still asking himself....
- EnzoD

Wont argue with that. Possibly the worst GM in the history of the game. Did you know that aside from the drafted players, He did not add a single piece to the Oilers that is still with the team today, a mere 15 months after he was fired?


Edit: Justin Schultz is the single addition he made that might end up in the long term plans.

agreed 100% that championships are won by a complete team. but you said playoffs, and I think a Toews, Hossa, Kane led team could make the playoffs given ANY bottom dwellers depth...but Im a Hawks fan and I love those guys as if they were family.
- EnzoD

Haha...you would be wrong tho, it is the Western Conference.

I agree, but that was on the former GM to add, thank God he was fired. Mac T has added some bigger or more physical players in David Perron, Teddy Purcell, and Benoit Pouliot to mix and match into the top 9....and of course, we drafted Leon Draisaitl, who is a physical beast.
- Jeropotato

exactly, MacT has a direction and I love Pouliot as a depth guy. Perron was another great move for that bum Magnus Parjarvi (that move weakened the blues so win-win from a Hawks perspective). Purcell, idk, but he also has size and some skill. The oilers are trending up and they will definitely challenge for the 8 spot. I just dont see them better than Dallas, Minny, or Colorado...do you?

I agree, but that was on the former GM to add, thank God he was fired. Mac T has added some bigger or more physical players in David Perron, Teddy Purcell, and Benoit Pouliot to mix and match into the top 9....and of course, we drafted Leon Draisaitl, who is a physical beast.
- Jeropotato

The cliche comment was directed at the empty statement "get better in their own zone." A smaller offensive player needs to be able to stay with the puck against bigger players, and take it off bigger players. They need to be able to out skate, smart, or out strength a generally much stronger guy. They need to be able to lead a rush without getting bumped off the puck. They need to be able to stay strong on their skates with and without momentum. There's a lot of things smaller players needs to do, not just two tired cliches.

The cliche comment was directed at the empty statement "get better in their own zone." A smaller offensive player needs to be able to stay with the puck against bigger players, and take it off bigger players. They need to be able to out skate, smart, or out strength a generally much stronger guy. They need to be able to lead a rush without getting bumped off the puck. They need to be able to stay strong on their skates with and without momentum. There's a lot of things smaller players needs to do, not just two tired cliches, and offensive players have bigger fish to fry.
- Blackstrom2

that is not a cliche, it is a huge component of the game of hockey. and you basically just reiterated my statement.....so what are you getting at exactly?

that is not a cliche, it is a huge component of the game of hockey. and you basically just reiterated my statement.....so what are you getting at exactly?
- EnzoD

That they have a lot of other, more pressing, things to worry about than "work in their own zone" and "board battles".

edit; I wonder, do you think goals were scored against them because they lost a physical battle in their own zone, or did they lose the puck in the neutral zone or at the blue line? For Hall, it' has to be the latter. Does RNH routinely carry the puck on his line? I'd also imagine it's the latter. It's different for him, since he's a center, but the wingers really should never have to battle too hard in their own zone if the defenders and center are doing their jobs. Cover your point, get the puck out cleanly...don't turn it over and score. That's their job.

exactly, MacT has a direction and I love Pouliot as a depth guy. Perron was another great move for that bum Magnus Parjarvi (that move weakened the blues so win-win from a Hawks perspective). Purcell, idk, but he also has size and some skill. The oilers are trending up and they will definitely challenge for the 8 spot. I just dont see them better than Dallas, Minny, or Colorado...do you?
- EnzoD

No, not yet. Defense is much better, forwards are bigger, young players are a year older but our Center depth is still too weak for now, and we need that stud minute eater on the back end. This better be the year that we make big strides tho. I'm hopeful this will be like the Hawks 2007-08 season where they missed the playoff's but the world knew that they were gonna be great very soon. The boys gotta go out and do it tho.

Edit: We find a 2C to stop gap until Draisaitl is ready to be responsible for the duties I might be more optimistic.

Bringing back Troy Brouwer + for Sharp? Doubt the Caps will let Joel Ward go, and he would present an issue next offseason anyway as a UFA. Not sure anyone else on that roster makes sense as a return for Sharp - either too much cap hit or nowhere near the replacement of his production.
- bluenatic411

I've not heard that, and my info. is the Caps love Troy. At least as of a year ago they did. Not sure if anything might have changed since then.

The Hawks could use a guy like Brouwer though for sure.

What's a board battle?
- Blackstrom2

2-4 players working, digging, scrumming around the boards for a loose puck. Guy who comes out with the biscuit wins the "board battle." Just clarifying that.

Crap - Cimaglia and Kuc now are saying that Hayes won't sign with the Hawks.

Why didn't we hear about this earlier?
- StLBravesFan

This is sarcasm, right?

This is sarcasm, right?
- John Jaeckel

Yes - I think we've heard enough about a "never to be Hawk" for now.

I've not heard that, and my info. is the Caps love Troy. At least as of a year ago they did. Not sure if anything might have changed since then.

The Hawks could use a guy like Brouwer though for sure.
- John Jaeckel

I'd sure like Brouwer back.

I'd sure like Brouwer back.


- jhawk159

Just about everyone would...except for Q, which might be a problem.

Just about everyone would...except for Q, which might be a problem.
- Ogilthorpe2

Q seems to have a lot of patience with Bicks but it seemed like he had none for Brouwer.

Q seems to have a lot of patience with Bicks but it seemed like he had none for Brouwer.
- jhawk159

Maybe he hit on one of Q's daughters.

Of all of the post 2010 departures, his made the least sense to me.

Maybe he hit on one of Q's daughters.

Of all of the post 2010 departures, his made the least sense to me.
- Ogilthorpe2

that was a crazy summer ....but the bounce back was amazing in that it was basically a year. For fans who paid attention (not me) to what do you attribute the success of the secondary players? Drafting,/scouting, coaching, smart trades?

Pretty incredible that Ladd, Brouwer, Buff, Campbell, and the rest could so easily (it seems) be replaced in such short order.

that was a crazy summer ....but the bounce back was amazing in that it was basically a year. For fans who paid attention (not me) to what do you attribute the success of the secondary players? Drafting,/scouting, coaching, smart trades?

Pretty incredible that Ladd, Brouwer, Buff, Campbell, and the rest could so easily (it seems) be replaced in such short order.
- Jeropotato

A little bit of all of the above I guess, and a lot of luck.

If I had to put the focus on just one thing, I'd probably say drafting...especially later round drafting.

When you have guys not drafted in round 1 like Shaw (5th) and Saad (mid-2nd) being major contributors in a Championship run two years after being drafted...you're doing something right

Of course having a truly elite core to build around helps just a bit. Those Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith, and Seabrook guys are alright.