Those 1st 2 goals were pretty soft
- BetweenTheDots

I didn't like the 2nd, he was all over the place, true. The 1st I don't mind, Pastrňák had tons of time. Besides, the early save on Krejčí, couple more in the 2nd period and especially in the 3rd to keep the Hawks in the game until the very end… overall, he was alright. But cool, let's agree to disagree, Ward isn't the hill I am willing to die on.

The problem with that pairings is that Gus looked much better overall with Keith, not a liability defensively at all and more confident in attack. It worries me that with Seabs he will revert back to being a hit-and-miss player and frustrating to watch. However, can Joker play on the left and survive alongside Seabs? If not, they should stuck with Forsling and Seabrook together and Joki can go to Rock.
- stonefire

I agree Seabrook and Gus aren't a great pairing. But Gus will get a lot of minutes on the PP without #7.

Another option is to go back to Gus - Joki & Keith - Seabrook.

Or, maybe there is another RD from Rockford to come up and play for Seabs

I really don't want Gus with Seabrook. Gus needs to play 22-24 minutes a night. I actually like Gus with Keith. The problem is Seabrook is washed up and whoever plays with him is pretty much screwed.

It's time to make a hard, maybe unpopular decision to take #7 off the ice. Sports is a business, you're there to win, loyalty can only go so far. The decision needs to be made, but I have zero confidence that JC will send Seabrook to the press box.
- kwolf68

I wonder if we're watching the last or second to last season for Seabrook. It sounded like he trained hard this summer but he looks worn out. He got choked up in his interview talking about his parents not being able to come watch this one in person. Maybe there is more going on than we know.

I disagree on Bickell.
You are not factoring in that the Hawks had next to nothing in the pipeline to replace Bickell's size/style of play. Was he inconsistent at times-Yes! Frustratingly so. However it is pretty easy to look at how things panned out and say that Bickell shouldn't have been paid his $. Can you for sure state that had he not suffered his debilitating disease. That he doesn't go on to earn every penny of his contract?
- camfor

The difference of 1.5 to 2 million less in his contract would be the difference of keeping players like Shaw and Tevo. Size is great but it's not the only thing you want in a player , just like saying he is the fastest skater but his contributions are meager.

Stan should have offered Bickell 2.25 and called it a day.

Last time, the CBA was going to cut the cap by several million dollars.

Without compliance buyouts, teams would be unable to get into - uhhh - compliance.

Won’t happen this time around - players won’t go for a reduction from a 50/50 split of HRR - cap won’t go down - noncompliance buyouts.

Unless, of course, gas goes back to $.25 per gallon and the Looney just tanks.

Just my humble opinion, of course.
- StLBravesFan

Paid $1.93 a couple of days ago.

The difference of 1.5 to 2 million less in his contract would be the difference of keeping players like Shaw and Tevo. Size is great but it's not the only thing you want in a player , just like saying he is the fastest skater but his contributions are meager.

Stan should have offered Bickell 2.25 and called it a day.
- Taylorst1

You don't offer a producing playoff PF 2.25. Its disrespectful and quite frankly would have been considered an insult to him and his agent. That's just not how a proper GM operates. You offer him what you research the market value to be and then you call it a day. You do not undercut a talent that you drafted, developed, and his hard work paid off for you.

I wonder if we're watching the last or second to last season for Seabrook. It sounded like he trained hard this summer but he looks worn out. He got choked up in his interview talking about his parents not being able to come watch this one in person. Maybe there is more going on than we know.
- matt_ahrens

Good question. Seabrook is a warrior, a champion, I feel he knows things for him are winding down. He's no fool, he knows how badly he is struggling and it has to do with him not being able to physically keep up anymore. Even when he does gain possession in the D-zone, he almost never makes a quality first pass anymore, he just flings it aimlessly off his stick. Seabrook used to have a wicked first pass. Things are just too fast for him now.

Paid $1.93 a couple of days ago.
- boilermaker100

it's down to $3.60 to $3.70 in the SF bay area

So you have a goalie whos 3-0 with a .957 save% this season, looks great, and you start Ward because he's a veteran he gets the start?
- BetweenTheDots

That’s how I interpreted the rationale JC provided when asked yesterday. I agree with the poster on here who suspects it was an FO or locker room call.

Yep. and it's also why Seabrook will play every game this year. Colliton doesn't have the stones to make hard calls, he's just so young. Ill gladly eat crow, but Not holding my breath. His ice time distribution is also mind boggling.

I guess the Hawks are playing better can be levied at the new coach, but I rather say its because instead of clods like Manning and Davisons on the ice, we now have Murphy and Dahlstrom, guys who seem to have a clue.
- kwolf68

He has kept Kunitz stapled to bench (to whom he personally has as much loyalty as the other aging, declining vets on the team), and he parked Manning soon after getting here.

Either he is worried about locker room dynamics or he’s receiving some direction from FO, or both re: roster decisions.

The playing time distribution is a bigger issue.

He has kept Kunitz stapled to bench (to whom he personally has as much loyalty as the other aging, declining vets on the team), and he parked Manning soon after getting here.

Either he is worried about locker room dynamics or he’s receiving some direction from FO, or both re: roster decisions.

The playing time distribution is a bigger issue.
- pdx2ord

He parked Manning because he was able to, as Murphy got healthy and they called up Dahlstrom. And it IS a much bigger deal to moth ball Seabrook as compared to Kunitz.

poopty as the season is, the team has looked better and it will be interesting to see what the Hawks do going forward

Forsling looks confused right now. Give him time he needs some more seasoning in the AHL
- BetweenTheDots

I wonder how much being paired with Seabrook is hurting his development.

Delia > Ward he can't let that get under his pads in close, hockey 101
- BetweenTheDots

Agreed, but starting Ward was the right choice. An outdoor game is a guaranteed loss for the Hawks. There’s no need to expose Delia to a loss like that so early in his career.

Darren Raddysh is another D-man who I think could be useful as soon as this year.
- kwolf68

I agree about Raddysh. Maybe have him play a game or two before Jokiharju returns to see what he can do.

ward didn't lose this game...actually he made several grade A saves through out in particular the first 10 minutes with the hawks usual sleep skate start and gus throwing hand grenade passes to nowhere.

that game could just as easily flipped 3-2 or 4-3 hawks; it was a good game to watch all around; the 3rd goal was the bruin 4th line out playing the hawks 4th line for 40 secs and getting a bounce

don't fool yourselves delia .950 save% won't last, certainly not with this team in front him...he will have his rough patches; he was 7-5 in rckfish and when he does many of you who praise him now will throw him under the nearest zamboni...

Darren Raddysh is another D-man who I think could be useful as soon as this year.
- kwolf68

I heard he has decent skill and is heady but is a poor skater, no?

Gus - looked really solid today by creating and SUSTAINING offensive chances all over the ice. If this guy can get to a point where he is consistently just mediocre in his own then the Hawks have a real gem.

Saad - He needs to be more confident carrying the puck, stop deferring to other players. Too many times he gains the zone and dishes off when he should barrel ahead towards the net.

Murphy - Looked great in his own end out there.

AA - At this point he doesn't really offer much that Strome isn't now bringing.

Forsling - While he has looked good at times, I think Stan should offer him as a sweetener to get a better return on moving a guy like AA.

it's down to $3.60 to $3.70 in the SF bay area
- matt_ahrens

Wow, paid $1.73 in Albuquerque yesterday

I didn't like the 2nd, he was all over the place, true. The 1st I don't mind, Pastrňák had tons of time. Besides, the early save on Krejčí, couple more in the 2nd period and especially in the 3rd to keep the Hawks in the game until the very end… overall, he was alright. But cool, let's agree to disagree, Ward isn't the hill I am willing to die on.
- stonefire

Don't mean to be argumentative, I'm more frustrated at the org is all. Sorry if it's spilling over

Paid $1.93 a couple of days ago.
- boilermaker100

Paid 1.83 with Marinos/BP $0.10 rebate at the pump. Still log for the day when pumping gas as a high school job a dollar would get you $0.45 (1 Gallon) of premium and a pack of Kools.

I heard he has decent skill and is heady but is a poor skater, no?
- Bjm84

Skating does grade as average and not physically that gifted, but is a very good hockey player, a dynamic passer with great vision. I'd like to give him a look.

Good question. Seabrook is a warrior, a champion, I feel he knows things for him are winding down. He's no fool, he knows how badly he is struggling and it has to do with him not being able to physically keep up anymore. Even when he does gain possession in the D-zone, he almost never makes a quality first pass anymore, he just flings it aimlessly off his stick. Seabrook used to have a wicked first pass. Things are just too fast for him now.
- kwolf68

So does it come down to how much he will make as an Ambassador for the rest of his life? I say make that deal.

Paid 1.83 with Marinos/BP $0.10 rebate at the pump. Still log for the day when pumping gas as a high school job a dollar would get you $0.45 (1 Gallon) of premium and a pack of Kools.
- riozzo

That buck would get us about 3 gallons of gas - enough for all the driving we’d do to no apparent purpose on a Friday or Saturday nite.

Camels were free (my Dad smoked them and always had a carton lying around).

It's really time to move Anisimov for futures and clear that cap space for FA this summer
- Stan_Bowman

Do you not remember the hot garbage you signed last time?

I would guess Forsling is the odd man out when Jokiharju comes back, also. I am not convinced that Seabrook is done. He can't carry a marginal partner at this stage of his career, but that doesn't mean time to send him to the press box, or time to ship him out with a sweetener or in exchange of another bad contract.

The Bruins did a good job containing Kane's line. I also liked how the Kampf line played most of the game. I would also say that it was a good effort against the Bergeron line. The real problem today was the PK.

As for deadline deals, there is little reason to panic here. They can let the market come to them. I think this group has earned a longer leash from the front office.