One of my favorite dinners are still my wife's Swedish meatballs, a recipe passed down from generations. Tasty.

Now Lutefisk on the other hand.....no thank you.
- stljam

The late Mike Royko, long time newspaper columnist in Chicago had a great article about lutefisk where somewhere he mentions that you could set the lutefisk out on the back porch so it doesn't stink up your house without worrying about some animal eating it because not even a dog would touch that stuff.

My worst experience with native Swedish delicacies is a thing called rootmoose, which is potatoes mixed with rudabagas and turnips. GOOD GAWD that stuff was awful.

Fair to WHO? Mitt Romney?

So figure he has $15-20 million banked. he will never have to worry about a thing financially for the rest of his days on earth.
- John Jaeckel

So, if he has made around $25 Million over his career, he doesn't have anywhere near $15-20 Million banked.

Taxes will take around half of his earnings.

Then expenses and likely some big ones, such as a house, a couple nice cars, etc.

Just sayin.

Does anyone know the exact date of this convention?

i think eli and tredbrta are the same person. would explain never being banned.

6. Respect your fellow HockeyBuzzers
- flyershockey

Respect is earned

Exactly......people hoping that Bickell plays "that way" all the time are wishing upon a star. Just like I am when you see good Versteeg show up. While those bursts show that the skill/consistency CAN Be there, history shows over a full season those same guys CAN NOT be consistent enough. Those are the players that are the most aggravating and confusing to coaches/gms.

I believe Mexico said it, and I 100% agree, it's all mental for those guys. The physical skill sets are there....but the ability to mentally prepare night in and night out and NOT take games or shifts off is what separates the pack.
- SteveRain

The good news is that regardless of what an NHL "insider" says, Bickell can be traded IF his knees pass their physical tests. Bowman could simply "buy him out" but the result would be an average annual hit of $1.5 million against the Cap for the rest of his deal...which would be tough to deal with. I believe that Bickell will be part of the big Package Trade I have been talking about, as it likely is the only way for Bowman to accomplish all of the things he still needs to do. Buying Bickell out is Bowman publicly admitting he made a blunder.

Respect is earned
- waitforawhistle

follow the code of conduct bro.

Sorry, there is no defence to this attempted argument. Athletes are ridiculously paid in a world of MASS INEQUALITY! Think about it, the finest teachers and scientific researchers make in a year what Oduya makes in a month...something is wrong with any society that is "okay" with that because there are VAST consequences of such inequality, such as perpetual violence! Inequality is the #1 cause of crime and violent crime!
- MexicoHawk

There is no doubt that there is inequality. The inequality does not prevent people from waking up each morning and making decisions that positively effect their lives. Society today wallows in victimization and lack of personal responsibility. An individuals investment in this philosophy is the greatest tragedy of our time.

Spending time..investing in yourself thru work and study is time tested way to improve your lot in life. More importantly this gives the individual pride and self worth. Being told you will be nothing and can't become anything is the biggest tragedy. Believing that BS robs millions of people of their destiny.

The same teachers you describe are paid by public tax dollars, which are funded by people who work and who pay property and sales taxes. University researchers too are funded by the public. The public education system and how it is managed and financed is not a model of free markets. Rather, it is a system created and managed by public policy.

My dignity is not dependent upon the size of my bank account, it is more a function of my ability to contribute to society and serve a useful purpose. Being able to look the man in the mirror and taking personal responsibility for me and my family are more relevant bench marks for me.

The good news is that regardless of what an NHL "insider" says, Bickell can be traded IF his knees pass their physical tests. Bowman could simply "buy him out" but the result would be an average annual hit of $1.5 million against the Cap for the rest of his deal...which would be tough to deal with. I believe that Bickell will be part of the big Package Trade I have been talking about, as it likely is the only way for Bowman to accomplish all of the things he still needs to do. Buying Bickell out is Bowman publicly admitting he made a blunder.
- MexicoHawk

yeah the buyout scenario passed when the deadline expired. If they try to burry him in the minors I believe they only save about 925K annually a year off his cap hit. I'll have to refresh my memory off the CBA.

I'm sure Bickell can pass a physical, but long term for what he gives vs what his cap hit is, that's a tough pill to swallow for a GM. Not a lot of return on that investment UNLESS you are trying to get to the cap floor.

Not really concerned about Sharp, and I really don't care what they get back as long as they don't retain any $$. I'd take picks and prospects all day. Hawks really don't need a NHL player coming back with a AAV. Free up that 5.9 and start fine tuning your roster. Then dump 29 sometime before camp to get cap compliant.

I will say this......if Bowman can get 27,16 and Erhoff all signed and only have to deal 10/29 that is a hell of a feat he pulls off and this team is probably BETTER then the team that just won the cup.

Yes I can. That is the definition of using a standard.

Also, please enlighten us as to how the gift horse proverb applies here, because apparently it doesn't mean what I think it means.
- Sandus

The quicksand is over your head and your still trying to argue the merits of blindly walking right into it...wisdom requires taking a step back and seeing the bigger picture! Sports are "serious" games that society requires (just like the Gladiators were to the Romans) so that the average citizen can lose him or herself within instead of seeing the bigger picture all around them! Would you like a hand out of the trap?

follow the code of conduct bro.
- flyershockey

Not your bro

Your right lets keep it to hockey. Would you rather discuss the Bobrovsky or Lindros trade?

Q seemed to really like Kyle Baun last year. I think he's in the top 10.
- matt_ahrens

Yes, exactly...Q liked that Baun went up and down his wing responsibly, in good position with a willingness to hit. It was a good start for the grandson of Bobby Baun.

Not your bro

Your right lets keep it to hockey. Would you rather discuss the Bobrovsky or Lindros trade?
- waitforawhistle

I'm not sure how they are even in the same sentence.

Yes, exactly...Q liked that Baun went up and down his wing responsibly, in good position with a willingness to hit. It was a good start for the grandson of Bobby Baun.
- MexicoHawk

Did you see they listed Dano at 6' 215lbs....and hes only 20! that dude is a miniature tank! very excited to see this forward group in the fall

@JayZawaski670: @JGomez68 @OneStopHabs @670TheScore Thanks for reading/sharing. FWIW, the source told me he doesn't believe Montreal is a suitor.

I'm not sure how they are even in the same sentence.
- nurk

those are the only 2 he is aware of, besides sharp for ellison.

Did you see they listed Dano at 6' 215lbs....and hes only 20! that dude is a miniature tank! very excited to see this forward group in the fall
- EnzoD

That is almost Jocelyn Lemieux like. I hope he hits like him. Obviously has better hands.

Tough blow for the Hawks...I'll be Stan winces every time he hears this name...
- MexicoHawk

They have known for a longtime LeBlanc wasn't going to be a NHL player. He played slow in the AHL...Not a good recipe for NHL success. They jumped at him and made a mistake-It happens but to pay a young guy $500k to play in Rockford is not a mistake Bowman will want to make very often.

I'm not sure how they are even in the same sentence.
- nurk

Yeah probably only the two worst deals your team ever made.

The good news is that regardless of what an NHL "insider" says, Bickell can be traded IF his knees pass their physical tests. Bowman could simply "buy him out" but the result would be an average annual hit of $1.5 million against the Cap for the rest of his deal...which would be tough to deal with. I believe that Bickell will be part of the big Package Trade I have been talking about, as it likely is the only way for Bowman to accomplish all of the things he still needs to do. Buying Bickell out is Bowman publicly admitting he made a blunder.
- MexicoHawk

Bickell can't be bought out.

It might not be the worse thing to keep him if they can't trade him. While people hate him, he still remains the only big/physical forward the Hawks have...and plays a role.

Hopefully, they're able to move Sharp and Versteeg for as minimum of a return salary wise as possible - announce Oduya, Kruger and get Erhoff (who I said weeks ago was a 1yr contract option) - and be done with the off season.

yeah the buyout scenario passed when the deadline expired. If they try to burry him in the minors I believe they only save about 925K annually a year off his cap hit. I'll have to refresh my memory off the CBA.

I'm sure Bickell can pass a physical, but long term for what he gives vs what his cap hit is, that's a tough pill to swallow for a GM. Not a lot of return on that investment UNLESS you are trying to get to the cap floor.

Not really concerned about Sharp, and I really don't care what they get back as long as they don't retain any $$. I'd take picks and prospects all day. Hawks really don't need a NHL player coming back with a AAV. Free up that 5.9 and start fine tuning your roster. Then dump 29 sometime before camp to get cap compliant.

I will say this......if Bowman can get 27,16 and Erhoff all signed and only have to deal 10/29 that is a hell of a feat he pulls off and this team is probably BETTER then the team that just won the cup.
- SteveRain

You really think after losing Vermy, Richy and Sharp, we would have a stronger team?

Looked more like "pawned" than "owned". If so, will you guys take them for rangerdanger? I know that's more of a trade....
- tredbrta

I had my run-in with him and got pretty bad, that I went on and found out everything about him, after, I felt bad and left it alone.
If he could just talk hockey and remove the homerism & doucheyness he's fine.
Which so far (with me) he has ....

A very short life time as a player. My earning work life is 40ish years. An NHL player averages something like 3 years. They bank about half of their gross, after paying agents, managers, taxes, etc. They deserve every dime they make.
- scottak

God forbid that they get an career threatening injury and have to get another job like the rest of us! You don't need to apologize for the modern athlete, they are fully capable of it themselves.

And remember, the Investment "scheme" (because that's all it's ever been) works only for those who possess large amounts of money to invest. They lend or "deposit" it in a bank for interest, who then magically lend the original amount out 9 times through FRACTIONAL RESERVE BANKING, which is mathematically not even possible but somehow made legal! And when they purposefully destroy the world economy by creatively STEALING money through complex derivative schemes and polluting the bottom lines of every nation on Earth the banks ask for no jail time and bail outs, and voila, they get it!

Yeah probably only the two worst deals your team ever made.
- waitforawhistle

First off, I'm a blackhawks fan.
Second off you couldn't be more wrong. Being a blackhawks fan I know that the Sharp deal was awful, depsite the circumstances around it.

They have known for a longtime LeBlanc wasn't going to be a NHL player. He played slow in the AHL...Not a good recipe for NHL success. They jumped at him and made a mistake-It happens but to pay a young guy $500k to play in Rockford is not a mistake Bowman will want to make very often.
- Al

There isn't much risk in signing him or others like him. Especially when they trade picks around the deadline. When people get so mad about trading 2nd's for Kimmo (for instance)....there's plenty of second round picks that never amount to anything

So signing any of the college FA's or Euro's....is as much of a risk as drafting anyone.

I look at Leblanc (or TVR, Panarin, etc) as very low risk players, same as if they drafted someone. Sometimes it pays off...more times than not, it doesn't.

Good luck in Europe, Drew.