It's been one practice. Even if Q starts these lines against the Blues tomorrow night - so what - it's one game.
- EbonyRaptor

Seriously, a few guys get off to slow starts and the calls start coming for trades, and “we’re only getting a 5th rounder for him”.

Let’s let the season play out a bit.

Thanks Justin! Ward had at least 5 Grade A saves last night and got the Hawks a point in a game MN could’ve won in regulation. Fortin has game changing speed and Kane’s 2nd line with the Hawks 2 best skaters in 8+84 should be a challenge for STL to contain. Hayden can throw a mean right hand, but he has been pretty ineffective.

Kunitz is like Sharp last year, smart plays but over the hill. Doesn’t hurt you, but doesn’t help much either.


Message sending time for Q with Saad after doing virtually nothing in both the Pre and Regular Season thus far.

Maybe Davidson can lock down the 6D spot. He looked good in preseason and laid a few good hits.
- EnzoD

It is not a question of whether Saad has done anything. In point of fact Saad had a number of point blank opportunities against the Wild - he simply cannot finish and he needs desparately for 1 to go in for his confidence. He is holding his stick so hard it is ridiculous. Also his block lead to a winning OT goal.

While I certainly notice Fortin’s attributes nothing in his career as a pro gives any indication he can finish either. He broke in alone last game and did not score. Got 4 count’em 4 goals in 53 games in the AHL. Benched for entire play-offs by Colliton, who seems to have a clue. Played 1 play-off game - no points. Going into this season I thought it was important that Saad be a contributor. Messing with his head is not going to accompish that. Schmaltz hasn’t scored either - how does that work?

Montreal Canadiens Open For Business

Bob McKenzie said during TSN Insider Trading that the Montreal Canadiens are “open for business” when it comes to shopping some of their forward corps. He notes that the team feels things are about to get crowded.
- walleyeb1

Come on, Stan, fleece your good buddy, Bergy. Get Danault back.

Nick Shore to the KHL. Damn. Is this old news? Did Justin say this?

Come on, Stan, fleece your good buddy, Bergy. Get Danault back.
- I Am The Breadman

DeBrincat for Danault feels about right.

DeBrincat for Danault feels about right.
- DarthKane

I don't think that that is a bad value 1-for-1, but I don't want to pay it. I like Adb more than the fact that we need a good young center.

Plekanec and Danault are the only players I’d want from MTL. Hard not to see the upgrade to the second line either of those guys would be over Schmaltz.

As for Shaw - dude is not even close to the same player he was. Hard pass.

Plekanec and Danault are the only players I’d want from MTL. Hard not to see the upgrade to the second line either of those guys would be over Schmaltz.

As for Shaw - dude is not even close to the same player he was. Hard pass.
- Return of the Roar

I'm not against Droiun or Domi. I always liked them. It's just that I put Danault at the top of the list from what MTL has to offer. I hated losing him.

Regular-sized Kahuna is doing OK right now; he will be the Big Kahuna with 20 points or so. He is ready for where he is and will develop.

I think that Saad will be just fine and don't have an issue with moving him down to a lower line for a bit. Goals will come because effort was not lacking. He was there for the tip-in against Minn but it rolled wide - can't do anything about that.

Joki looks good and if Forsling is ready the "rebuild on the fly" is on. Was not expecting Joki to get there so soon. It is a good situation where vets can be moved once the kids can replace them. You might get just a handful of magic beans for the vets but that is OK if progress is made.

Bottom 6 scoring is not there and there are not a lot of options if the Blackhawks want to compete this season. Not really any answer for that except trading young guys that you aren't sure of yet.

There is a real conundrum because they already don't have slots for all the d-prospects and there are more on the way. (Next year - Boqvist, Mitchell, Krys, Ryczek, etc.)

Trades should be interesting this year, hope they keep the right ones and trade the rest. Going to be reallly hard to do.

Plekanec and Danault are the only players I’d want from MTL. Hard not to see the upgrade to the second line either of those guys would be over Schmaltz.

As for Shaw - dude is not even close to the same player he was. Hard pass.
- Return of the Roar

Danault should not be in the top 6 for a team with any depth at C. He is pretty much a 3C. Why would we want someone with less speed, skill, and talent playing with Kane? Danault isn't at that level offensively and doesn't have the other value someone like AA at least broughtt in terms of creating space and being a big body at the net.

Are we talking Plekanec now or Plekanec of 3-8 years ago? No way Plekanec of right now should not be top 6 on any NHL team. The guy was a healthy scratch the first 3 games for Montreal...couldn't even crack their lineup and is just now getting a game (it seems) on their 4th line.

I don't think that that is a bad value 1-for-1, but I don't want to pay it. I like Adb more than the fact that we need a good young center.
- I Am The Breadman

That's Darth's sarcasm...

That's Darth's sarcasm...
- SoftServe

The sad thing is I think Bowman would do it.

Also, I'm going to be told it's somebody's sarcasm probably 50 more times, which is also sad.

There is a real conundrum because they already don't have slots for all the d-prospects and there are more on the way. (Next year - Boqvist, Mitchell, Krys, Ryczek, etc.)


- totem

Don't forget Beaudin - who might be the best of the bunch in a few years.

Nick Shore to the KHL. Damn. Is this old news? Did Justin say this?
- I Am The Breadman

I mentioned it in the thread last blog.

Surprised he didn't stick anywhere.

I mentioned it in the thread last blog.

Surprised he didn't stick anywhere.
- Justin Lowe

Okay, haha. It sounded vaguely familiar and somehow traced it to you. Thanks.

That is weird no one took a chance on him.

Don't forget Beaudin - who might be the best of the bunch in a few years.
- EbonyRaptor

Sounds like Beaudin and Mitchell are ahead of Boqvist in readiness... but that could change by the start pf next season. Boqvist could really bloom in London.

Sounds like Beaudin and Mitchell are ahead of Boqvist in readiness... but that could change by the start pf next season. Boqvist could really bloom in London.
- Justin Lowe

I hope all those guys are watching Jokiharju and getting that motivation to take their game to an NHL level.

I corrected your comment. What else would you expect from a Wild team though - can't score a goal without the zebra's help (at least against Chicago)
- powerenforcer

and yet they won... strange.

I hope Keith scores tonight. I like the graphic they did up for this 1000th game.

Danault should not be in the top 6 for a team with any depth at C. He is pretty much a 3C. Why would we want someone with less speed, skill, and talent playing with Kane? Danault isn't at that level offensively and doesn't have the other value someone like AA at least broughtt in terms of creating space and being a big body at the net.

Are we talking Plekanec now or Plekanec of 3-8 years ago? No way Plekanec of right now should not be top 6 on any NHL team. The guy was a healthy scratch the first 3 games for Montreal...couldn't even crack their lineup and is just now getting a game (it seems) on their 4th line.
- breadbag

All Bergevin is doing is publicly advertising that he is holding a 'surplus forward sale' at his store which is mainly full of junk that nobody wants to purchase because the merchandise is either crap or overpriced or both.

Plekanec got another contract because he is at 998 NHL games and the organization wants to honour him when he hits 1000. Even with that Julien has scratched him every game so far because he can't play anymore other than to take faceoffs.

Danault - nice, very likeable player as a bottom 6 center who works his butt off. But that ship has sailed for the Hawks because he now takes down $3M + per season. The Hawks have Kruger on an expiring deal and he can essentially do what Danault does without the financial commitment beyond this season.

I'd take Gallagher in a heartbeat

Sure he's a smurf favorite of mine, but he plays the game like he's the size of chara

I hope Keith scores tonight. I like the graphic they did up for this 1000th game.
- breadbag

Awesome picture. Love the 1k. I was surprised Seabs hit the mark before Keith did.

I hope Keith scores tonight. I like the graphic they did up for this 1000th game.
- breadbag

John H. Steinmiller
@jstein1981

As Duncan Keith plays in his 1,000th @NHL game tonight, it’s also noteworthy that he and @NHLBlackhawks teammate Brent Seabrook will play in game #973 together as teammates, most among current players and 9th most in NHL history. #NHLStats #Blackhawks

I'd take Gallagher in a heartbeat

Sure he's a smurf favorite of mine, but he plays the game like he's the size of chara
- Stan_Bowman

Sledge-O-Matic wasn’t a bad routine the first couple of times you saw it...

John H. Steinmiller
@jstein1981

As Duncan Keith plays in his 1,000th @NHL game tonight, it’s also noteworthy that he and @NHLBlackhawks teammate Brent Seabrook will play in game #973 together as teammates, most among current players and 9th most in NHL history. #NHLStats #Blackhawks


- pdx2ord

Awesome stat. Thanks. Come on, catch those Sedin sisters!