Winnipeg fell back this year, but they have a good reasonably young team with a rising goalie - if they put it together, who from the Central do they replace in the tournament?

There's always the possibly that Edmonton - another high pick, flexibly to solve some defensive problems thru trades, McDavid for a full year - figures it out, and Calgary made the play-offs two years ago - perhaps another Central team drops out.

Can't stand still in the West and hope to qualify for post-season.
- StLBravesFan

Keep an eye on the Flames. Plenty of talent on the front and back ends, lots of cap space to acquire a solid goalie and if they hire the right coach they will make plenty of noise.

Count me in the crowd that was dead wrong on Winnipeg this year. Liked em enough to bet em. IMO too much talent for this group to stay down and out. Looks like they go with rookie Hellybuck in goal next year so that can go either way.

maybe we can get Oduya back
- matt_ahrens

Yup, after next season.

Yup, after next season.
- blackhawk24

+ Campbell from FLA.

Keith-Seabrook
Hammer-TVR
Oduya-Campbell

CUP!

A fan would hope that Q is evaluated like anyone else. His out of the box, inside metrics, lineup choices did not work this season or playoffs.

The crowd, and I'm not talking about message board people, that thinks Q won with overwhelming talent got fuel for the fire this year and will each year as the margin for error (less talent) gets slimmer each passing year.

I'm a Q guy but not unconditionally.
- Mr Ricochet

Agreed. A Q guy myself but if the same stubborn mistakes are made and a power struggle ensues, I can see the coach going before the GM. If the team starts slow and he loses the room, Q could be kicking stones by Christmas. JMO.

Potential goalie signing? --
Blackhawks close to signing Swedish goaltender Lars Johansson, per report
http://www.secondcityhock...social&utm_source=twitter

And where did we get off thinking that the Hawks always beat the Blues in the play-offs?

Even Eddie incorrectly stated that the Hawks beat them a couple of times. No, actually we did not. Just once....in a year we did not win the Cup.

Four most recent times the Hawks played the Blues? Blues 3 series wins and the Hawks just one. (Though, in drinking from the firehose of irony, I think Q is 2-1 in those series.)

Blues have won 14 of the last 22 play-off games against the Hawks.

This issue moving forward is that the Hawks have taught a lot of teams how to win. (Nashville, St. Louis, and some could argue Dallas and Minnesota who kicked our asses all year playing for them what they considered playoff games - Winter Classic for example - which the Hawks simply considered regular season distractions on the way to the really important games.)

Moving forward it will still be hard to win in the Central play-offs now that so many teams know how to beat us.

- which the Hawks simply considered regular season distractions on the way to the really important games
- jimnhlnut

Arrogance - it will get you every time

Benn, Crosby, Kane are Hart finalists. Thought Holtby would have been there.

Daley requested a trade when Q had him down to 10:00 minutes a game. After being dumped he couldn't speak more highly of the team, the city and fans.

For those highlighting Q and StanBowPops&McD's accomplishments (cups) there are near as many, and that number is increasing, that winning with overwhelming talent isn't a true indicator of managerial skill. Unless of course YOU acquired that talent.

Admitting redundancy here but I liked Daley the day they acquired him, when he was here and will tomorrow as a #4 Dman at 3 mil per. He would have done for Q what no other #5 or #6 Dman did in the playoffs, eat minutes that the top 3 wouldn't have had to making them look at times punch drunk.

Playoff Minutes:

Keith 31:07
Seabs 27:09
Hammer 24:10
TVR 23:53
Gus 11:02
Sved 8:02

Assuming Daley ate 20:00 per game and that Gus/Sved took 10:00 at the #6 spot that's 10:00 per game that you can shave off the top 3's ice time any way you choose to slice it. Think it would have made a difference for Keith, Seabs, Hammer to skate 2-3 minutes less per game?

I'm fine with moving Daley or anyone else, just make the team better doing so. Q didn't want Daley in his area code, fine make it work. You had Rundblad and Gus on the ice in Game 7. You had the group you wanted.

You wanted Mash dressed fine, make it work.

Q didn't get stupid all of a sudden but IMO he failed in these playoffs and during the regular season with a team that goes further into cap hell as each season goes by.
- Mr Ricochet

Why not have the same breakdown about Toews and the season he had?

He didn't have his precious LW Saad this season? He demanded 10.3million which made Saad too expensive. He wanted the money...so make it work. Produce. He didn't in the regular season and he didn't in the playoffs. Toews is part of the reason they are in "cap hell" (as is Kane). Kane just won the Art Ross and probably the Hart. Toews had 58pts and 0g in the playoffs

If you have accountability for the guy standing behind the bench, why not have it for the highest paid player in the league with a stick in his hand 82gms a season?

Benn, Crosby, Kane are Hart finalists. Thought Holtby would have been there.
- pdx2ord

What's the difference between the Hart and the Libdsay (Kane, Benn, Holtby)?

What's the difference between the Hart and the Libdsay (Kane, Benn, Holtby)?
- StLBravesFan

Hart voted on by sportswriters. Lindsay voted on by the NHLPA.

(frank)ing Blues. Their goal today was pass deflection off a Stars' player, much like the Game 1 OT goal against the Hawks. Yeah they are a good team, but they're getting WAY too much puck luck this year.

Damn Brouwer is playing good.

(frank)ing Blues. Their goal today was pass deflection off a Stars' player, much like the Game 1 OT goal against the Hawks. Yeah they are a good team, but they're getting WAY too much puck luck this year.
- DMChi2010

and theres some more..that wasnt a pass to Brouwer, the guy fanned on his shot and it went to Brouwer who also almost fanned on his shot...got just enough for it to go in..

Damn Brouwer is playing good.
- 93Joe

So is Johns.

Damn Brouwer is playing good.
- 93Joe

Still love his game. High checks, low PMs. Hawks seemed to be chasing his type after they dealt him, every single trade deadline. Q and his damn doghouse.

and theres some more..that wasnt a pass to Brouwer, the guy fanned on his shot and it went to Brouwer who also almost fanned on his shot...got just enough for it to go in..
- Glenman12

I'd be ok with the Blues winning the Cup. I might in a a minority on that, but would rather see them than the Pens. Bolts would be fine with me too, and maybe Sharks in there. Plenty of good vets that would be cool to see celebrate with it.

Think because the Blue's guys on our board have generally been pretty cool, would be kinda neat for them to experience that. Then again, I started work at 5, so I'm probably a little loopy from being sleep deprived.

(frank)ing Blues. Their goal today was pass deflection off a Stars' player, much like the Game 1 OT goal against the Hawks. Yeah they are a good team, but they're getting WAY too much puck luck this year.
- DMChi2010

was just going to post this...yep getting 3 bounces for goals but they are playing well...they have outplayed and taken the stars out of their run and gun game...

hawks got their share of bounces during cup runs...

miserable 6 on 5 by the stars...played defense for most of it before stastny gets the enetter

I'd be ok with the Blues winning the Cup. I might in a a minority on that, but would rather see them than the Pens. Bolts would be fine with me too, and maybe Sharks in there too. Plenty of good vets that would be cool to see celebrate with it.

Think because the Blue's guys on our board have generally been pretty cool, would be kinda neat for them to experience that. Then again, I started work at 5, so I'm probably a little loopy from being sleep deprived.
- howiehandles

Bolts or Sharks. Though I think Jon Cooper is a bit of an arrogant SOB.

Bolts or Sharks. Though I think Jon Cooper is a bit of an arrogant SOB.
- DMChi2010

Bolts are a fun team to watch.

Still love his game. High checks, low PMs. Hawks seemed to be chasing his type after they dealt him, every single trade deadline. Q and his damn doghouse.
- howiehandles

To think Brouwer and a 2nd got the Hawks Fleischman and Weise (Brouwer to Caps for the 1st that was Danault)

To think Brouwer and a 2nd got the Hawks Fleischman and Weise (Brouwer to Caps for the 1st that was Danault)
- ikeane

Dont look at it like that.. Its depressing!

Potential goalie signing? --
Blackhawks close to signing Swedish goaltender Lars Johansson, per report
http://www.secondcityhock...social&utm_source=twitter
- Marlowe

Thanks for this, Marlowe. An 87, he'll be 29 in July, and is a normal size human at 6ft. Looks like a 2nd tier kid as a junior as he didn't see any time, 1 game, with the national team. Not a deal breaker though as Sweden breeds goalies. http://www.eliteprospects...om/player.php?player=4386

was just going to post this...yep getting 3 bounces for goals but they are playing well...they have outplayed and taken the stars out of their run and gun game...

hawks got their share of bounces during cup runs...
- bogiedoc

Thing that really stands out to me concerning the Blues is they've matured. They were being run ragged by the Stars' speed in the 1st turning pucks over, D break downs and were kept in it by Elliott. In the past they would have started their hack/whack/scumbaggery tactics but now they just stick with the plan and let it play out. They don't chase the game they let it come to them and trust the system and it's working.