Of course kwolf -- you can call me Elton or Bernie, just don't call me late for dinner!
- savvyone-1

Was he the great 200 foot player when he was scoring so much with Ottawa - or did he develop that game in Pittsburgh/Detroit/Chicago?
- StLBravesFan

Hossa developed into that complete player when he played for Detroit.

He said he really learned a lot about playing in all three zones watching Datsyuk play.

GP G A PTS
50 13 28 41

on pace for about 67
- bogiedoc

Yes, but I guarantee you Columbus is not paying him 6 million a year to be a 20 goal scorer.

Anybody following Ek's rumor chart? I got a hunch that the only move Bowman makes is that he will bring back Niklas Hjalmersson for a pick, then talk to his agent about signing a cap friendly deal. I am pretty sure Nik would think hard about it given the hell hole he spent this year in. This is basically a lost season for Nik. At this point he'd probably tell his agent, get it done, where do I sign?

Anybody following Ek's rumor chart? I got a hunch that the only move Bowman makes is that he will bring back Niklas Hjalmersson for a pick, then talk to his agent about signing a cap friendly deal. I am pretty sure Nik would think hard about it given the hell hole he spent this year in. This is basically a lost season for Nik. At this point he'd probably tell his agent, get it done, where do I sign?
- wonthecup10

i hope not, the BH nostalgia tour has been a failure: cambell, oduya, sharp, ladd...

hammy has year left and will be traded...but hawks should resist and not giveaway more picks...

Hossa developed into that complete player when he played for Detroit.

He said he really learned a lot about playing in all three zones watching Datsyuk play.
- dahawks8819

I think part of that is him being humble. Not saying he didn't get better or learn in Detroit but I think he was always a tenacious back-checker.

I think part of that is him being humble. Not saying he didn't get better or learn in Detroit but I think he was always a tenacious back-checker.
- breadbag

This.

67 Like you said.
- eagle50

Is that better than 37?

Justin Holl, slick good skating dman and a former Blackhawk draft choice, was recalled by the Leafs. The Toronto blueline was minus a few members due to various ailments.

Of course he scored in his first NHL game. Holl had 20 pts in 39 games for their AHL team.

Holl seemed to have fallen off the hockey map, and had been playing some wing when last in the Chicago organization. His unremarkable collegiate career did contain one highlight: a winning goal in a Frozen Four game.

Holl had played the past two years for Toronto AHL. An internet sight report said that Holl both moves the puck and skates well, but lacks a true scoring touch.

Holl is not related to Benny Hill, Bobby Hull
Or anyone else with a similar name!
FIGURE HE IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS HALF OUR Guys. Well maybe not quite but they all are about the same

i hope not, the BH nostalgia tour has been a failure: cambell, oduya, sharp, ladd...

hammy has year left and will be traded...but hawks should resist and not giveaway more picks...
- bogiedoc

Agreed.....unless it's for a Trouba/Hannifin type of young stud Dman that can be signed and fit into our cap for years to come. Youth, Speed and Size should be the focus moving forward.

I really like this team

Jurco is an extremely forgettable and replaceable player, but he has been serviceable on line 4 when he finally got into the lineup. I know you are joking but there's no way they can sell Saad at his lowest possible trade value. Would you trade Saad for Noah Hanafin?
- EnzoD

Funny you say that--I mentioned that exact trade on another post about a week ago--but I do not think the Canes would do that straight up.

I really like this team
- Stan_Bowman

Thought so.

Funny you say that--I mentioned that exact trade on another post about a week ago--but I do not think the Canes would do that straight up.
- RaleighHawk

Never a top young dman should be available. If you want Saad then you belong in a fantasy league. I mean cmon' Saad is a nice player but he is not a star or a motivated player all too often

I surmise when you say those two straight up, obviously thinking of the man child Saad not the quiet non entity which describes his performane this season

Would you generally subscribe to this reasoning: young promising dman playing well > than a young promising forward playing well. The > sign can be assigned the greater value designation.

I really like this team
- Stan_Bowman

They like you too.

I suggest one thing both Kempny and Gus could become: a sweetener

No not as in for coffee unless you are sipping your favorite brand in a trade talk conversation.

Oh man how sweet, indeed, to trade up in round one and either one of them put in as the sweetener: the trade is a "go"

Labeled under pay to play, a good prospect + Hartman + Gus or Kempny just to exchange first round picks. Sounds steep price to pay. Hmmm.....how often can you be in a position to trade for a Brady Tczchuk? Unless you draft a clone of him later in the draft but the catch is he is not the real deal developed strong player yet in junior.

Actually I notice Bob Murray has a collection case of power forwards or mobile dmen, so there is someone with an agenda when he picks 'em

The overriding expression is how the key pieces in a trade turn out for both teams. I am not wanting to trade a Hartman. But think this way: Tczchuk > our later first and Hartman. Can you see that?

Label Bowman in the pray and Let's play. If he doesn't add a power forward I then quote the famous line from that tennis guy John MacEnroe "you can't be serious."

I really like this team
- Stan_Bowman

At least for one game anyway

At least for one game anyway
- 6628

Will the Blackhawks solve Markstrom? Will the Sedin brothers solve our defense?

Will the Blackhawks solve Markstrom? Will the Sedin brothers solve our defense?
- jhawk59

Where's Daniel? Where's Henrik?

Will the Blackhawks solve Markstrom? Will the Sedin brothers solve our defense?
- jhawk59

Double post. They both shot the puck!

I posted this on the last thread during the bash Toews segment just before the new blog went up. Thoughts?



I don't watch a lot of other teams, but I watch about 90% of Hawks' games. I'm a huge Toews fan, and kind of an apologist, and I've been saying this for the last 2.5 years (in regards to a previous post about his wings not finishing). The year after Saad was traded, I can't tell you how many times I saw Toews set up a teammate (including Hossa) with a tap-in, only to see them shoot right into the goalie, miss the net or whiff on the shot.

Last year, he was hurt in the WCH, but when he finally got healthy, he went on a tear in Jan and Feb.

This year, I see it a little different, though. While his line is dominating possession, and getting plenty of chances, it just seems like something's off with him. Maybe it's his back. Maybe it's him trying to adjust his game. IIRC, someone posted a link to an interview where he said he something to the effect that he was trying to lose some weight to increase his speed. Since he doesn't really have any body fat, that means less muscle. That could explain why he doesn't look as strong on his skates, but remember when Tiger Woods redid his golf swing? It took him a while to get it right, but when he did, he came back MUCH better. Hopefully, if this is the issue, and Toews has another off-season to train, he can come back and be more of an offensive threat without hurting his 200-ft game.

OR, maybe he just hits the gym, and gains the muscle back.

Never a top young dman should be available. If you want Saad then you belong in a fantasy league. I mean cmon' Saad is a nice player but he is not a star or a motivated player all too often

I surmise when you say those two straight up, obviously thinking of the man child Saad not the quiet non entity which describes his performane this season

Would you generally subscribe to this reasoning: young promising dman playing well > than a young promising forward playing well. The > sign can be assigned the greater value designation.
- jhawk59

Agree--that's why the Canes would not do it. Not sure what it would take in addition to Saad...

I really like this team
- Stan_Bowman

Thought so.
- Justin Lowe

TELL ME WHO THE MOLE IS!

i dont know much about Sikura...all i read is that he will be on the team late season - is he that good?
- glennjpawlak22

Your guess is as good as anybody else's