I was talking on ice, Orr started in a 6 team league that grew to 12. I remember the day Gretzky was traded (really sold) to the Kings, because the Oilers owner needed the money, and the Kings owner liked shiny toys, until he ended up in the slammer commiting financial fraud.

Keeping the PK talk going, thoughts on the Dmen who can play some more PK minutes next season? Joki if able to, I hope becomes a top option. I think he will be more ready. If he is here and playing, I actually don't mind Koekkoek killing penalties. Keith and Seabrook need to play less of the hard PK minutes. They aren't young anymore and it won't get better watching them out there taking those tough shifts. I know they are paid to do it, but if they don't find more physical bounce back, I don't see it going well.

Dahlstrom, Koekkoek, Jokiharju to me could all see their PK roles increase if they work for it.

Keeping the PK talk going, thoughts on the Dmen who can play some more PK minutes next season? Joki if able to, I hope becomes a top option. I think he will be more ready. If he is here and playing, I actually don't mind Koekkoek killing penalties. Keith and Seabrook need to play less of the hard PK minutes. They aren't young anymore and it won't get better watching them out there taking those tough shifts. I know they are paid to do it, but if they don't find more physical bounce back, I don't see it going well.

Dahlstrom, Koekkoek, Jokiharju to me could all see their PK roles increase if they work for it.
- breadbag

I would hope that next year Seabrook basically only plays PK and second unit PP, keep his 5 x 5 minutes to a bare minimum.

I was talking on ice, Orr started in a 6 team league that grew to 12. I remember the day Gretzky was traded (really sold) to the Kings, because the Oilers owner needed the money, and the Kings owner liked shiny toys, until he ended up in the slammer commiting financial fraud.
- LAHawk

If some of the younger posters check out Orr on Youtube it will look to them like McDavid is playing against a whole league of Thorntons, Lucics, Seabrooks and Handzuis. Orr was so much faster and quicker than everyone.

If some of the younger posters check out Orr on Youtube it will look to them like McDavid is playing against a whole league of Thorntons, Lucics, Seabrooks and Handzuis. Orr was so much faster and quicker than everyone.
- paulr

In a museum somewhere, Handzuis 's ears are ringing.....today...

Both incredible players. Comparing defenseman to forward is difficult. Given the importance of the goalie, why not one of them?

Kruger lol
- bhawks2241

Schmaltz would still pass the puck

Orr not only played offensively at a very high level but he was solid defensively.

My favorite Orr Highlight was him killing a penalty, I'm going to say against the North Stars. The Bruins won the draw in the North Stars zone. Orr skated it back behind his net then took it all the way into the Stars zone. He skated it back to his own end then back to the Stars zone again where he was slashed on the hand and lost his glove. He skated it back to his end and back again and as he passed his glove bent over and pciked it up and put it back on all the while in control of the puck. I have never seen anyone play at a level beyond everyone else. It was like the proverbial men against boys.

I heard an analogy about the Orr against Gretzky debate and I think it fits. Clone Orr and Gretzky 20 times each, give team Orr and team Gretzky comparable goalies and play a 7 game series. It would be no contest because Orr could have stopped Gretzky, Gretzky could never have stopped Orr.
- paulr

I think that glove pickup game was against the California Golden Seals.

He learned those tricks playing on the frozen river in Parry Sound where 30 kids
would play until dark and if you couldn't skate you would never get the puck.

Greatest player ever. And that was with knees that were like those of an 80 year old.

Both incredible players. Comparing defenseman to forward is difficult. Given the importance of the goalie, why not one of them?
- mohel

Different Era, different positions. Orr's career was also effectively only 9 years because of injury.

Orr's numbers however are incredible. In 70-71 he had 139 point and was a +124 In 74-75, which was effectively his last season he had 46 goals, 135 points and was a +80. Orr was never a "-" in his career and averaged about +65.

Say whatever you want about +/- as a stat, but that is pretty telling about just how dominant he was.

Where did I ever say I loved Lucic?
- powerenforcer

I think it was Desi Arnaz that said that.

Different Era, different positions. Orr's career was also effectively only 9 years because of injury.

Orr's numbers however are incredible. In 70-71 he had 139 point and was a +124 In 74-75, which was effectively his last season he had 46 goals, 135 points and was a +80. Orr was never a "-" in his career and averaged about +65.

Say whatever you want about +/- as a stat, but that is pretty telling about just how dominant he was.
- TheTrob

He was also not a lavender sniffer, he beat the snot out of Magnuson in a fight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pbwEGFiVDA

Top 9
Kane
Toews
Saad
ADB
Strome
Kahun
#3C you acquire in trade or free agency

The last two spots are up for grabs. AA (if he is still here)? Sikura? Perlini? Hayden? Kampf? prospect? free agent?

Posters have said that AA moves after the Hawks pay AA his July 1 bonus. Wouldn't it be better to move him before the draft and eat the amount of his July 1 bonus? Dollars wise it would be the same for the Hawks and the team acquiring AA.
- -Doh-

By waiting until after July 1st the Blackhawks would pay his $2mil signing bonus the new team would be responsible for the remaining salary.

Don’t think there’s any way around that.

Kruger lol
- bhawks2241

Stalberg... Lol

Dylan Sikura back where he belongs in the AHL, finally.
- EnzoD

So you must be of the opinion that Colliton doesn't belong in the NHL either - seeing as how he played Sikura on the top line with Toews in these must win games to make the playoffs - correct?

So you must be of the opinion that Colliton doesn't belong in the NHL either - seeing as how he played Sikura on the top line with Toews in these must win games to make the playoffs - correct?
- EbonyRaptor

Dylan Sikura played 33 NHL games, with many on the #1 Line....ZERO goals and 8 assists. He belongs in the AHL as he lacks the required physical abilities to be an effective NHL Player. Sikura, along with Kunitz, Kruger, and Hayden all belong in the AHL. It is an indictment on the lack of talent and depth in the Blackhawks organization that Sikura was in the lineup for so long. Colliton continues to manage the worst Penalty Kill in the NHL since 1986.


I get it that Sikura is the new lovechild here. I am not saying he will never be an NHL player. He has some tools, just not enough of them. He is not an NHL player right now on a playoff team.

I'm old enough to remember. Which leads to the question who is the greatest player of all time? I say Bobby Orr hands down.
- paulr

G. Howe

He was also not a lavender sniffer, he beat the snot out of Magnuson in a fight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pbwEGFiVDA
- LAHawk

Nice move by Magnuson to pull the skates out from under the linesman to try to get one more swing at Orr. That would be an in-person hearing nowadays.

Both incredible players. Comparing defenseman to forward is difficult. Given the importance of the goalie, why not one of them?
- mohel

One could argue that Jacques Plante did more to revolutionize the game than anyone. I had a chance to see him play in STL after the expansion. Glenn Hall lead the Blues to the SCF, with Plante as his backup. Two HOF goalies on an expansion team.

Dylan Sikura played 33 NHL games, with many on the #1 Line....ZERO goals and 8 assists. He belongs in the AHL as he lacks the required physical abilities to be an effective NHL Player. Sikura, along with Kunitz, Kruger, and Hayden all belong in the AHL. It is an indictment on the lack of talent and depth in the Blackhawks organization that Sikura was in the lineup for so long. Colliton continues to manage the worst Penalty Kill in the NHL since 1986.


I get it that Sikura is the new lovechild here. I am not saying he will never be an NHL player. He has some tools, just not enough of them. He is not an NHL player right now on a playoff team.
- EnzoD

One could argue that Jacques Plante did more to revolutionize the game than anyone. I had a chance to see him play in STL after the expansion. Glenn Hall lead the Blues to the SCF, with Plante as his backup. Two HOF goalies on an expansion team.
- scottak

Glenn Hall was another that redefined his position. He was the first "butterfly" goaltender who dropped to his knees to make saves in the inverted V style.

In 68-69, at 40, Plante had a .940 save % and a 1.96 GAA in 37 games with the Blues.

I like this train of thought. His progress lately has been good and he may get that opportunity next year or the year after. I think the Hawks need more PK depth at forward. Top PK forwards for the Hawks this year in terms of total minutes were

Toews
Saad
Kruger
Kampf
AA

Next were Caggiula and Johnson each playing about 20 minutes PK time in somewhat shorter # of games.

The PK was brutal. One area that Schmaltz did pretty well at in his time here was the PK. Strome hasn't really played the PK, but the Hawks could use a couple more solid PK options. Even with his bounce back, I think it would be good if they could lean on Toews less for the PK faceoffs, especially with all the pressure to produce offensively.

Saad was pretty solid on the PK this year, something that folks love to overlook when doing the inevitable trade comparison. I'm not saying it is everything, but it adds value. While AA was also decent on the Pk, I think the Hawks should try to move him and pickup someone else they can trust to win those shorthanded draws.

Toews took the starting faceoffs the most, followed by Kampf/Kruger. AA has most of his PK time on the fly coming off the bench, which usually meant the Hawks got the puck out and were in a better position not to be scored on because they've already turned the PP back to get a change.

I guess to summarize, Kampf could hopefully do more. I don't know if Kruger will be back, but if not, it is another spot for a PK Center. If they don't fill that gap, then AA or someone else needs to take more draws or they exhaust Toews more on the defensive end. Sikura, like you say might be a good PK option. I think they need at least one more good PK guy to be added, in addition to probably finding a Dman to take regular PK minutes.
- breadbag

I haven't mentioned Cody Eakin for a day. He fits the need for a PK center.

Dylan Sikura back where he belongs in the AHL, finally.
- EnzoD

We mightve made the PO's had he only been brought up earlier

Top 9
Kane
Toews
Saad
ADB
Strome
Kahun
#3C you acquire in trade or free agency

The last two spots are up for grabs. AA (if he is still here)? Sikura? Perlini? Hayden? Kampf? prospect? free agent?

Posters have said that AA moves after the Hawks pay AA his July 1 bonus. Wouldn't it be better to move him before the draft and eat the amount of his July 1 bonus? Dollars wise it would be the same for the Hawks and the team acquiring AA.
- -Doh-

Have I ever talked about Cody Eakin? He would be a good 3C. Plays the PK too. 22 goals this year with Vegas.

Dylan Sikura played 33 NHL games, with many on the #1 Line....ZERO goals and 8 assists. He belongs in the AHL as he lacks the required physical abilities to be an effective NHL Player. Sikura, along with Kunitz, Kruger, and Hayden all belong in the AHL. It is an indictment on the lack of talent and depth in the Blackhawks organization that Sikura was in the lineup for so long. Colliton continues to manage the worst Penalty Kill in the NHL since 1986.


I get it that Sikura is the new lovechild here. I am not saying he will never be an NHL player. He has some tools, just not enough of them. He is not an NHL player right now on a playoff team.
- EnzoD

You side stepped the point I was trying to make - which is that those who think Sikura is not an NHL caliber player must then also think Colliton is not an NHL caliber coach because he played Sikura on the top line in games that were essentially win or go home games. Correct?

I'm not trying to convince you or the other Sikura haters that Sikura is good enough to play in the NHL - your heels are dug in and there's no point in wasting my time on that - what I'm trying to get you to admit is that you also think Colliton doesn't belong in the NHL.