Was in STL this week and happened to catch the entire Wild-Blues game.

Was not overly impressed with Wild. Granted they are having some health issues, etc.

Blues really took it to them, and Dubynk is starting to morph back into a pumpkin. Bad rebound control, etc.

Point is, with the added additions and IF the Hawks can stay remotely healthy really feel they have a very good chance of advancing deep. Sharks may hold the biggest challenge assuming they get out of the pacific.
- SteveRain

He was already being elevated to God-like status in 2015, then the Hawks proceeded to sweep the Wild. Again, I trust no team in the playoffs that is coached by Boudreau

He was already being elevated to God-like status in 2015, then the Hawks proceeded to sweep the Wild. Again, I trust no team in the playoffs that is coached by Boudreau
- teh_HAWKZ

For sure, he's the 2nd coming of Carey Price....

Campbell does not play his offside well - even with an excellent partner in Keith, Campbell played poorly on his offside. He even mentioned how he doesn't like to do it.

People need to stop looking at it as a Kempny vs TVR thing and more of a what pairings are best for balance. So, you either get Campbell-TVR or Kempny-TVR as your bottom pair. Campbell is currently better than Kempny, even if Kempny has more potential, so there you go.
- L_B_R

I hear ya and realize the lefty/righty problem we have. Anytime I get to jump on the TVR negative train I just can't resist. Can't we just call up Stephen Johns?? ugh

I still remember James Tanner predicting how bad the Hawks were going to be destroyed by the Ducks in that series. Epic fail.
- MartiniMan

That's because he is an epic fail. He bought that Kesler comment hook, line and sinker.

You'll have an easy win versus the Wings. I'm expecting Jurco to score. Q could rest Toews, Kane, Hossa, Panarin, Keith, Seabrook and Crawford and they'd still win. Wings are lousy. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
- gergeswillems

Almost painful to watch. As painful as watching 15,000 Wings fans at UC 10-20 years ago. But for a good 15-year span, DET was the model lotsa teams including my 'Hawks tried to emulate.

I love Hoss's face as he bumps fists with Breadman
- riozzo

Or wondering if Q will catch him with a back-hand.

8-19-14, 72-15-88, 13-67-81, 38-16-22
- EbonyRaptor

Love that energy line. Checking line remains to be seen.

I still remember James Tanner predicting how bad the Hawks were going to be destroyed by the Ducks in that series. Epic fail.
- MartiniMan

Tanner is so distraught right now having to cover the worst team in professional sports (the Yotes for those scoring at home), he is slipping in blogs on the Caps. I guess his back-up team from last year (Leafs) suck just bad enough to miss Tanners words of wisdom.

Love that energy line. Checking line remains to be seen.
- Assman22

I like these lines. As long as the 4th line gets a decent amount of minutes with Hartman on it.

Was in STL this week and happened to catch the entire Wild-Blues game.

Was not overly impressed with Wild. Granted they are having some health issues, etc.

Blues really took it to them, and Dubynk is starting to morph back into a pumpkin. Bad rebound control, etc.

Point is, with the added additions and IF the Hawks can stay remotely healthy really feel they have a very good chance of advancing deep. Sharks may hold the biggest challenge assuming they get out of the pacific.
- SteveRain

I tuned into that one as well and was happy to see the wild getting dominated in every area but I wouldn't look too far into that game. The wild were flat out awful and BB said it may have been their worst game all season. I totally agree about Dubynk he looked like he did when we swept them from the playoffs, very uneasy and lacking confidence. Still, I wouldnt write off the wild yet.

I hear ya and realize the lefty/righty problem we have. Anytime I get to jump on the TVR negative train I just can't resist. Can't we just call up Stephen Johns?? ugh
- 17SEC

Johns is having himself quite the sophomore slump - drug down Oduya's numbers this year like whoa. Will have to see if it's just an off year off this or not and maybe it'd be different if he'd stayed a Hawks. But I wouldn't take him over TVR at their current play.

He was already being elevated to God-like status in 2015, then the Hawks proceeded to sweep the Wild. Again, I trust no team in the playoffs that is coached by Boudreau
- teh_HAWKZ

Dubnyk gotten ridden hard that second half of the season and had a tough outing with an fairly offensive Blues team before that. BB doesn't have to worry about his job like Yeo did, so he's going to be better at giving Dubs the time off he needs down the stretch. The team in front of him is also much much better than they were in 2015.

I actually don't like the idea of Hartman playing with 2 offensively inept linemates.

I'd rather keep him with Kero and Hossa, and have Jurco, Kruger, and Desi/Tootoo be the 4th line.

Kempny is the d-man playing the best and he's still sitting. Krugs has already improved at the dot in the past few games and taking more draws. Keep up Biskit!
- Assman22

Totally agree !! There's no reason for Kempney to sit the way he's progressed.
Campbell could take several games off to get his legs ready for the playoffs.
Hopefully Q doesn't shatter the confidence that Kempney has recently acquired.

I actually don't like the idea of Hartman playing with 2 offensively inept linemates.

I'd rather keep him with Kero and Hossa, and have Jurco, Kruger, and Desi/Tootoo be the 4th line.
- SimpleJack

That's my preference, too. Something like:

38-67-81
11-16-70
Additional forwards: 13 and 22

Agree with you here Assman (just chuckled to myself typing that), but then you'd have to pry TVR away from Q's cold dead hands 1st.

Once again, you are either IN or OUT with Q. Regardless of the progress and great potential Kempny has shown, he will NEVER get to TVR "can do no wrong" status.

Dry cleaning?
Car detailing?
Shoe shining?
Knob polishing?

Mr. Kempny has not been properly indoctrinated.

I hear there's a new movie coming out: "The Wrath of Q."
- savvyone-1

The thing with this is the more we see of Kempny and the better he plays.The more money we have to pay him next year in a new contract. I don't mind the slow down in using him if it gets us 2 more years of Kempny at a reasonable price. Because if he was playing great and playing all the time you could just wish him good luck wherever he's playing next year, cause we won't be able to afford him!

He was already being elevated to God-like status in 2015, then the Hawks proceeded to sweep the Wild. Again, I trust no team in the playoffs that is coached by Boudreau
- teh_HAWKZ

-

specifically G7's @ home...**UGH**

Dubnyk gotten ridden hard that second half of the season and had a tough outing with an fairly offensive Blues team before that. BB doesn't have to worry about his job like Yeo did, so he's going to be better at giving Dubs the time off he needs down the stretch. The team in front of him is also much much better than they were in 2015.
- L_B_R

I mean, that's probably true on paper, but IMO I still see the same Wild team dating back to 2013. A team that has to outwork their opponents every game in order to be effective. I imagine that has to be tough to do in 4 best of 7's.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how the series would shake out if the Hawks and Wild meet.

I like this writer. He has TvR gone in the expansion draft:

http://www.usatoday.com/s...t-george-mcphee/98971856/

That's my preference, too. Something like:

38-67-81
11-16-70
Additional forwards: 13 and 22
- AEL_Fox

That's a pretty accurate representation IMO. Hopefully Jurco finds the twine tonight.

I like this writer. He has TvR gone in the expansion draft:

http://www.usatoday.com/s...t-george-mcphee/98971856/
- mrpaulish

Is there one that has Kruger going? If so, I like him better.

The thing with this is the more we see of Kempny and the better he plays.The more money we have to pay him next year in a new contract. I don't mind the slow down in using him if it gets us 2 more years of Kempny at a reasonable price. Because if he was playing great and playing all the time you could just wish him good luck wherever he's playing next year, cause we won't be able to afford him!
- moots

Good Point !!

I mean, that's probably true on paper, but IMO I still see the same Wild team dating back to 2013. A team that has to outwork their opponents every game in order to be effective. I imagine that has to be tough to do in 4 best of 7's.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how the series would shake out if the Hawks and Wild meet.
- teh_HAWKZ

Kings have won 2 cups doing that haven't they?

Not that they didn't have big time talent on those teams, but they certainly weren't "finesse" teams that killed you with skill

That's my preference, too. Something like:

38-67-81
11-16-70
Additional forwards: 13 and 22
- AEL_Fox

I prefer 38 playing with 81 too but I think Q is still trying to figure out what he has in Jurco. Plus, doesn't he need a few more games to be expansion draft eligible, assuming he resigns since he'll be an RFA?

Coach probably giving Kempny some extra rest. We got back to back games tonight and in Detroit tomorrow. I'd expect him and maybe even Rosi in the lineup tomorrow to keep these D-men's legs as fresh as possible with the mad rush of games coming up
- Savetheembers33

I'm wondering how much Rozi plays. I could see Q pairing he and Kempney and Campbell with TVR and going with the hot pair. Or maybe Rozi spells TVR every 3 to 6 games to keep him fresh. I wouldn't be surprised to see him playing a little more in the playoffs.