Also, in case you missed it yesterday. I was told the following:


UPDATE: I just heard the Hawks are entertaining bringing Troy Brouwer back on a 1-year deal.

Also, Stan is re-engaging on some trade talks so it's possible he goes that route or brings Brouwer back on at least a PTO.
- Justin Lowe

DON'T MIND THIS...DON'T MIND NASH...DON'T MIND ALMOST ANYONE ON A one YEAR DEAL. (geez....how often I screw up the Caps lock....grrr)

THIS year will NOT be a Cup winning year, as long as Stan doesn't sell the young A+ assets, and he doesn't eat up FUTURE Cap space with long term, high cost players (like Patches or somebody for 7x7million....puke)....

Any one year deal to bring in a player or two or 3 is fine.

Brouwer won't increase our Cup chances, but he won't hurt us either....and gives us more options on just how much we want to play the young guys.

Go ahead....sign him up.....

DON'T MIND THIS...DON'T MIND NASH...DON'T MIND ALMOST ANYONE ON A one YEAR DEAL. (geez....how often I screw up the Caps lock....grrr)

THIS year will NOT be a Cup winning year, as long as Stan doesn't sell the young A+ assets, and he doesn't eat up FUTURE Cap space with long term, high cost players (like Patches or somebody for 7x7million....puke)....

Any one year deal to bring in a player or two or 3 is fine.

Brouwer won't increase our Cup chances, but he won't hurt us either....and gives us more options on just how much we want to play the young guys.

Go ahead....sign him up.....
- hawk35

I don't understand this line of thinking. He doesn't help, but he doesn't hurt, so sign him up? If he doesn't help the Hawks there is no reason to sign him. He is just an extra contract that does not provide value to the team.

What is he going to bring? Four line play and maybe some PK time? I'd be happier with one of the young guys doing that.

I don't understand this line of thinking. He doesn't help, but he doesn't hurt, so sign him up? If he doesn't help the Hawks there is no reason to sign him. He is just an extra contract that does not provide value to the team.

What is he going to bring? Four line play and maybe some PK time? I'd be happier with one of the young guys doing that.
- Chunk

I think it is more about having options if the young guys in mind aren't ready yet.

Norell departing the Hogs to play in Sweden. Not a big deal; this helps to reduce the large glut of defensemen in Rockford. From what I can gather, there are 11 on the blueline roster at this point:

Campbell (acquired in the Kruger trade)
Carlsson
Dahlstrom
Forsling
Gilbert
Hillman
Manning (Neil, not Brandon)
McArdle
Raddysh
Snuggerud
Tuulola

A few of them will go to Indy eventually. Then someone like Forsling, Hillman, or Dahlstrom may earn a call up to the Hawks sooner rather than later.

I don't understand this line of thinking. He doesn't help, but he doesn't hurt, so sign him up? If he doesn't help the Hawks there is no reason to sign him. He is just an extra contract that does not provide value to the team.

What is he going to bring? Four line play and maybe some PK time? I'd be happier with one of the young guys doing that.
- Chunk

Sign him on a PTO. If he plays better than one of the young guys, then he earns a 1 year deal. If he doesn't, then let him walk after camp. No harm in that.

Great blog JL, probably your best since you started here.

I agree, Hillman likely has a bright future as a shut down defenseman. I’ve said before that Hillman has a different skill set than the rope defensive prospects (Boqvist, Jokiharju, Mitchell, Beaudin and Krys). There’s definitely a place for him on the Hawks, but I think he’ll start the season in Rockford playing top minutes. Hillman will be the first d-man to get the call and I firmly believe he’ll finish the season a regular contributor.

I think fans need to be patient, as challenging as that can be. The Hawks have some solid prospects, especially on defense. Even at forward there are some good young players on the horizon. Hopefully guys like Toews, Keith and Seabrook can transition to veteran supporters while the next wave (Schmaltz, DeBrincat, Sikura, Hillman, Jokiharju, Boqvist and Mitchell) take the lead. There’s never a guarantee of success, but it’s what needs to happen.

I hope Stan keeps these young guys and doesn’t trade them away for a quick win.
- DarthKane

BEST POST ! Agreed !!

Rocket League is where its at
- SimpleJack

You know when you've gotten old?

When you don't know what Fortnite, Overwatch, or Rocket League even are

I swear I'm in 50s, act like I'm still 18, but never heard of any of them

You know when you've gotten old?

When you don't know what Fortnite, Overwatch, or Rocket League even are

I swear I'm in 50s, act like I'm still 18, but never heard of any of them
- vabeachbear

I thought it was players in and another name for the KHL

Rocket League is where its at
- SimpleJack

I was in-studio when G2 took out Gale Force in the Rocket League Cup last December. Pretty cool live.

I was in-studio when G2 took out Gale Force in the Rocket League Cup last December. Pretty cool live.
- L_B_R

Ha! You too? Cool? It was life changing. If only. I remember having Atari Pong as a kid.

Ha! You too? Cool? It was life changing.
- HawkintheD If only. I remember having Atari Pong as a kid.

I remember Foto-Electric Football.

Ha! You too? Cool? It was life changing.
- HawkintheD If only. I remember having Atari Pong as a kid.

The only video game I play is EA Sports NHL which (somewhat) satisfies my hockey fix year round....I don't see the appeal in the shoot-em-up video games most people play these days....

The only video game I play is EA Sports NHL which (somewhat) satisfies my hockey fix year round....I don't see the appeal in the shoot-em-up video games most people play these days....
- EnzoD

Rocket Legaue is soccer based. Just with cars.

Rocket Legaue is soccer based. Just with cars.
- L_B_R

interesting.....FIFA can be fun a game too.

You know when you've gotten old?

When you don't know what Fortnite, Overwatch, or Rocket League even are

I swear I'm in 50s, act like I'm still 18, but never heard of any of them
- vabeachbear

Fort nite night is a first person Xbox game. Over watch is a (professional) video game players league

Fort nite night is a first person Xbox game. Over watch is a (professional) video game players league
- Abadseed

Fortnite also has pro players / leagues, though it's mostly in it's infancy compared to some other games. There was a Fortnite celebrity vs pros event at E3 this summer and Epic Games has invested over $100m into making Fortnite the next big eSport phenom. ESPN was airing the Twitch streams live during their summer tournament series and they're planning a World Cup for next year iirc.

As for Overwatch, it's not just for pro players obvs. Anyone can play it. It wasn't developed to be a eSports game like Starcraft II was. They do have their own league created by Blizzard, their developer/publishing company, though.

Online streaming through Twitch, YouTube, or MLG.tv are still the primary way to watch these but a lot of broadcasting companies are investing huge money into them as well. ESPN and TBS are the bigger channgels to air (TBS has their own studios), but Disney and Viacom just invested a poop ton of money too.

I remember Foto-Electric Football.
- StLBravesFan

you that old....

you that old....



- bogiedoc

You know I am.

Never could complete a pass with those cards.

But the game I remember was just the offense and defense cards and the board on the box with the lightbulb under it. Don’t know what those spinners are for.

you that old....



- bogiedoc

Although not as old as that game, my brother and I had this growing up (we also had a Jordan vs Bird basketball handheld game):

Fortnite also has pro players / leagues, though it's mostly in it's infancy compared to some other games. There was a Fortnite celebrity vs pros event at E3 this summer and Epic Games has invested over $100m into making Fortnite the next big eSport phenom. ESPN was airing the Twitch streams live during their summer tournament series and they're planning a World Cup for next year iirc.

As for Overwatch, it's not just for pro players obvs. Anyone can play it. It wasn't developed to be a eSports game like Starcraft II was. They do have their own league created by Blizzard, their developer/publishing company, though.

Online streaming through Twitch, YouTube, or MLG.tv are still the primary way to watch these but a lot of broadcasting companies are investing huge money into them as well. ESPN and TBS are the bigger channgels to air (TBS has their own studios), but Disney and Viacom just invested a poop ton of money too.
- L_B_R

NBCSN also televised EA Sports NHL18 World Championships this past Spring

Although not as old as that game, my brother and I had this growing up (we also had a Jordan vs Bird basketball handheld game):


- AEL_Fox

There was also a baseball game with cardboard disks and a spinner. A separate disk for each player, with numbered sections around the circle - numbers corresponded to plays - 1 was a home run, 10 may have been a strikeout, 7 May have been a single, etc. Disks were based on real players - a home run hitter like Ruth would have a large #1 slot, a singles hitter like Cobb a large #7 slot....

You could play that one by yourself - I could spend hours playing as a kid.

Although not as old as that game, my brother and I had this growing up (we also had a Jordan vs Bird basketball handheld game):


- AEL_Fox

I remember those handhold games those were fun.

There was also a baseball game with cardboard disks and a spinner. A separate disk for each player, with numbered sections around the circle - numbers corresponded to plays - 1 was a home run, 10 may have been a strikeout, 7 May have been a single, etc. Disks were based on real players - a home run hitter like Ruth would have a large #1 slot, a singles hitter like Cobb a large #7 slot....

You could play that one by yourself - I could spend hours playing as a kid.
- StLBravesFan

you bet...all those guys from the 30's 40's and 50's: ruth, ott, dimagio, mantle, greenberg...

you bet...all those guys from the 30's 40's and 50's: ruth, ott, dimagio, mantle, greenberg...


- bogiedoc

Yeah - I forgot about the letters - great game.

NBCSN also televised EA Sports NHL18 World Championships this past Spring
- EnzoD

Yep! I knew I was forgetting a major network in there. I can't remember if they're who televised the Madden bowl stuff.