And scoring the first goal. Nuts! I liked your earlier post on the Colliton era starting. Hahaha......maybe? Looks good for 3 games.

If they make the play-offs, Enzo has to say all hail Z3Hawk (bet that took place during the off-season.)
- I Am The Breadman

Good stuff Breadman.....love the STINGY D of late.

Delia (pride of Rancho Cucamonga, CA ) was RAZOR SHARP.

Shoutout Ray Emery in that Big Sky as the calendar closes down.

Good wins but either make to playoffs or finish in the bottom 5 of the league finishing the middle of the pack does help the hawks future. Still the improvement of play of late has made it easier to watch. Still be sellers at the trade deadline AA manning kunitz keith possibly need look at the big picture going forward.
- Scott1977

Would have to think that's the plan. Manning and Kunitz get you nothing at the TDL...maybe a conditional 7th. If so take it.

Finishing middle of the pack isn't optimal but disagree it doesn't help their future. Their future starts this season. For the most part, this is a really young team. Learning to close out close games, play defense, potentially work in a rookie goalie...all stuff that could help down the road.

Love Strome and big hope for Perlini. Schmaltz was a pylon.
- philco28

Ya, Agree, that was a good trade for Stan. If Strome improves his skating, it will be even better. Get him into that summer program with Dcat. (Something that I don't think Schmaltz ever did).

Loved Perlini's empty netter in Dallas, started even with those two Dmen, and blew by them.

Reminded me of a WR, if we're even, I'm leavin.

Murphy trade not looking to bad either. Didn't Stan get Entwhistle in that deal as well?

Side note, Anisimov is steadily improving his trade value.
- TommyHawk

Sure is. Still think we can at least trade him and a couple others while letting the kids play and pushing for playoffs.

Murphy trade not looking to bad either. Didn't Stan get Entwhistle in that deal as well?
- vabeachbear

With Entwhistle playing well in juniors and Colliton in Chicago now, I wonder if they'll start bypassing Rockford for some of the elite prospects like him, Beaudin and Boqvist?

Hawks on Back to Back
Check into the hotel at 2 am and deal with the Denver altitude- says something about their
Conditioning coach !!!!

Great game

C'mon. No reason to go there.

While I agree with you that the elbow to Murphy was bush/scary and the medical information of recent years is very important, I think a lot of folks like to come here and discuss the game(s) and Hawks.

Personally, I'm not looking to always have a heavy conversation regarding head injuries, etc. I know it's part of the game and we have a better knowledge than we ever did about lingering effects and post-career health, but I don't agree with taking the stance that you somehow care more about someone's health than others do.

Just because people don't want to go into depth conversations about injuries, does not mean they don't take it serious or care about it. I hope Murphy is OK, but I don't want to come on the board and have a speculative medical discussion about the damage potentially done.

You obviously don't need to be a doctor to know that stuff is bad, but it's a fast/physical game and the players (as well as us) know the risks. Not justifying anything, but it's part of the game - whether we like it or not.

Now lets go get Colorado!
- Hank3Henshaw

“No reason to go there.” Go where? What does that even mean?

I am not going to pretend that concussions/head injuries are not a completely interwoven part of hockey. Nor am I going to pretend that concussions/head injuries are not injuries to the brain.

I know I care more about head injuries than True Grit does. I only responded to HIS and only his absolutely immature and imbecilic rant where he called other posters “soccer moms” because they were concerned about potential concussions from “elbows” and “head shots”.

“Not justifying anything but it is part of the game - whether we like it or not.” No statement has ever been more wrong. Elbows to the head that can cause brain injuries are not “part of the game”. In the same way hits from behind are not “part of the game”. In the same way that viciously attacking an opposing player with a stick is not “part of the game”. Any action that can result in a penalty and discipline is by definition not “part of the game.”

Injuries that happen in the normal legal flow of the game are “part of the game”.

Ya, Agree, that was a good trade for Stan. If Strome improves his skating, it will be even better. Get him into that summer program with Dcat. (Something that I don't think Schmaltz ever did).

Loved Perlini's empty netter in Dallas, started even with those two Dmen, and blew by them.

Reminded me of a WR, if we're even, I'm leavin.

Murphy trade not looking to bad either. Didn't Stan get Entwhistle in that deal as well?
- vabeachbear

I want to say part of the Hossa dump. We got another kid in the Hammer trade that we ended up sending right back, Laurent Dauphin, in the Panik and Duclair trade.

Hammer for Murphy and Dauphin.
Hossa, Hino, and Oesterle for Kruger, Entwistle, Jordan Maletta, and Campbell.

Murphy trade not looking to bad either. Didn't Stan get Entwhistle in that deal as well?
- vabeachbear

History of CHI trades: http://www.nhltradetracke...team/Chicago_Blackhawks/1

I want to say part of the Hossa dump. We got another kid in the Hammer trade that we ended up sending right back, Laurent Dauphin, in the Panik and Duclair trade.

Hammer for Murphy and Dauphin.
Hossa, Hino, and Oesterle for Kruger, Entwistle, Jordan Maletta, and Campbell.
- I Am The Breadman

History of trades by Hawks' GMs: http://www.nhltradetracker.com/user/GM_list

History of trades by Hawks' GMs: http://www.nhltradetracker.com/user/GM_list
- Mr Ricochet

Thanks, Rico.

I still hate the Schmaltz trade and I still say that this trade comes back to haunt us.

BUT if I say "I love Strome. I love Strome. I love Strome. I love Strome." enough times, maybe I too can justify this trade in my mind.

OMG - I am sorry, Neurosurgeon Z3, I thought I was on the Hockey buz blog, I must have clicked on the wrong thread.

Nice straw man you created....that works with mindless lib sheep, but not here. See, follow the logic, I am not on the ice and do not effect the mental and general health of others in the NHL.

When Kruger and CC come to your house for Christmas Dinner, you can let them know how much better you are then many others because, as is the case with hybrid car owners, you CARE more than others...and after all, that is what matters.

Concussions are a occupational hazard for most pro athletes. Just a sad reality. That is why some, at some point, decide not to play on and risk more. There really is no way in legislating it out of sports. Many positive steps have been taken, but the risk will remain. No debate or bit of clever insight will alter this ultimate reality.

I am from an era of men, called cave men by today's emasculated populace, that accepted the risk of injury in sport and occupation and actually wore it like a badge of honor in quiet dignity.

So just to clarify before you attempt another "virtue signaling" post, I prefer to not look like a cat nor read other cat like posts, claiming to know what was in the mind of some guy in some split second moving 20mph on skates in traffic. And then projecting from that a whole lot of touchy feely stuff.
- TrueGrit

I actually considered being a Neurosurgeon but decided to be a Lawyer and published Fishing Writer instead. Your turn.

Also learn the difference between “affect” and “effect”, if you are going to attempt to wax poetic. Also if you say “others in the NHL” that implies that somehow you are in the NHL. Consequently there is actually no “logic” to follow but thanks for inviting me to follow it.

For the record the only chance of a hybrid vehicle being in my drive-way would be if I won one in a lottery - and it would only be there until I sold it.

You called all the other posters that were concerned with concussions from “elbows” and “headshots” “soccer moms”. You advised everyone to just concentrate on the wins. What unframed posters are hanging in your parents’ basement that spur you on to make such insultive, idiotic statements?

So you are a “cave man” are you? In today’s “emasculated populace” of men? I’ll agree with you that you are “cave man” intellectually. However, telling the world that you are just such a real tough guy only confirms that you are the absolute opposite - someone who is deferring, ineffectual and wilting in real life. Feel free to prove me wrong but you won’t. I mean you even chose True Grit as your name - please.

Do you understand the legal concept of “assumed risk”? Do you have some analysis deeper than pond scum? Of course you can’t legislate injuries, including head injuries, out of the NHL. Who suggested the NHL could, requiring you to make such a “bold” statement?

I’ll give you some other information about me so we understand each other. You seem to be less than subtly implying by your “lib sheep” comment that this would be my sphere of influence. As always you have absolutely no insight. I am at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum from sheep-like liberalism. Could not be more informed, could not be more independent of thought. So again nice try. Seems like you have a very serious problem with projection - you understand how I am using the word “projection” here right as your use of the word was clumsy at best.

I still hate the Schmaltz trade and I still say that this trade comes back to haunt us.

BUT if I say "I love Strome. I love Strome. I love Strome. I love Strome." enough times, maybe I too can justify this trade in my mind.
- 67hawks

Stan traded a future 70-80 point forward for a 30-40 point forward who can't skate and a 10-20 point forward with no hands. What's not to love?

Ya, Agree, that was a good trade for Stan. If Strome improves his skating, it will be even better. Get him into that summer program with Dcat. (Something that I don't think Schmaltz ever did).

Loved Perlini's empty netter in Dallas, started even with those two Dmen, and blew by them.

Reminded me of a WR, if we're even, I'm leavin.

Murphy trade not looking to bad either. Didn't Stan get Entwhistle in that deal as well?
- vabeachbear

Re: Entwistle and Mitchell Team Canada. It is early and I’ll admit I have not watched a lot of the pre-lim games but from what I have watched they look good and look that they belong.

Re: Entwistle and Mitchell Team Canada. It is early and I’ll admit I have not watched a lot of the pre-lim games but from what I have watched they look good and look that they belong.
- Z3Hawk

Evan Barratt looking good to in US prelims.

Stan traded a future 70-80 point forward for a 30-40 point forward who can't skate and a 10-20 point forward with no hands. What's not to love?
- DarthKane

This is a parochial way to look at things considering that its a team sport. You know very well that winning hockey takes a lot more that one forward's point production to win hockey games.

If Strome makes the team better in other areas then its a good trade. Time will tell.

Hawks could’ve had 4-5 goals tonight. Avs goalie absolutely robbed Sikura twice and Strome.

If Strome can just improve his skating a bit he’s a legit lower end 1 or high 2nd line center.

He just can’t get to some pucks bc of his lack of acceleration on his stop and starts. He goes to the blue paint and has great hockey sense. Reads plays very well too.
- bhawks2241

He generates a hell of a lot of scoring chances, for himself and his line mates. Thanks ARI!

Stan traded a future 70-80 point forward for a 30-40 point forward who can't skate and a 10-20 point forward with no hands. What's not to love?
- DarthKane

In 12 games Nicky is 4-6-10 -8 for ARI.
Dylan is 5-1-6 -4 in 14 Backhawks games.
Dylan has more goals, and a lower +/-. Plus the Hawks got a 2nd skater that appears to have some up side. It's early, but that's a pretty good trade.

In 12 games Nicky is 4-6-10 -8 for ARI.
Dylan is 5-1-6 -4 in 14 Backhawks games.
Dylan has more goals, and a lower +/-. Plus the Hawks got a 2nd skater that appears to have some up side. It's early, but that's a pretty good trade.
- scottak

Strome has some real hockey sense and chemistry with other guys, he's going to break out once he gets an off-season in the system and training.

Schmaltz was so one dimensional and if he wasn't next to Kane he was useless. He made nobody else better and he was invisible when he was on the third line

Strome actually forechecks hard, fights in the dirty areas and around the net. Schmaltz used to catch smallpox if saw a check coming

Strome has some real hockey sense and chemistry with other guys, he's going to break out once he gets an off-season in the system and training.

Strome actually forechecks hard, fights in the dirty areas and around the net. Schmaltz used to catch smallpox if saw a check coming
- Stan_Bowman

I'm really digging Strome's game as well. He looks more of a complete player than Schmaltz, even with the deficient skating. What's all that speed for if nothing comes of it? Sometimes it's not how fast you go...it's where and when.

For instance, last night Cat and Strome had a nice little give and go play. Strome fed Cat at the wing...Cat carried it low, essentially putting himself into a very low percentage shot. Strome could have easily kept coasting here, but he hit the breaks slightly and found a soft spot in the D in a very dangerous area...WANTING the puck and ready to shoot. Cat gave it back and if wasn't for a great stick check from a desperate defender, that puck was going in. It's a simple, heady play that you have to appreciate...and I'm not sure Schmaltz has it between the ears to make.

And i'll say, it takes a smart player to work with players like Kane and Cat. I like what I see.

In 12 games Nicky is 4-6-10 -8 for ARI.
Dylan is 5-1-6 -4 in 14 Backhawks games.
Dylan has more goals, and a lower +/-. Plus the Hawks got a 2nd skater that appears to have some up side. It's early, but that's a pretty good trade.
- scottak

So Schmaltz is contributing more to his team’s offence than the the two guys he was trade for combined. Plus, we all know +/- is an inaccurate stat so that means nothing.

I'm really digging Strome's game as well. He looks more of a complete player than Schmaltz, even with the deficient skating. What's all that speed for if nothing comes of it? Sometimes it's not how fast you go...it's where and when.

For instance, last night Cat and Strome had a nice little give and go play. Strome fed Cat at the wing...Cat carried it low, essentially putting himself into a very low percentage shot. Strome could have easily kept coasting here, but he hit the breaks slightly and found a soft spot in the D in a very dangerous area...WANTING the puck and ready to shoot. Cat gave it back and if wasn't for a great stick check from a desperate defender, that puck was going in. It's a simple, heady play that you have to appreciate...and I'm not sure Schmaltz has it between the ears to make.

And i'll say, it takes a smart player to work with players like Kane and Cat. I like what I see.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

JC took DeBrincat off Strome’s line and what happened? He started scoring again. Coincidence? No.

****Spoiler**** not hockey related at all.

To you rockers, I'm watching a doc on Jeff Beck called Still on the Run, awesome! I'd recommend it to anyone. He's one of my favorites.

Didn't mean to cut in between the great Schmaltz-Strome debate. Sorry.

Sure seems like the blue line settled down with Dahlstrom and Murphy in the line up. They form a nice shutdown pair with their size and strength.