Great to hear from you big Mohel.
- just69sayin

Thanks, and Don't Stop Believin'.

You want something
- just69sayin

4K = Nick Boynton.

I think the only player to never play a regular season or pre finals playoff game and have his name on the cup???

Bettman already has Chicago getting the 1st pick, so really, why play the games? The series will go 4 games, just to give it an appearance that it wasn't fixed.
- powerenforcer

[quote=just69sayin]

The difference (to me) is coaching and Marian Hossa. The difference between Q and Colliton is insurmountable. Everyone bought into the system and players understood their roles which obviously isn't the case here.

19 and 88 are still very good players, but Dach, Kubalik, DeBrincat, Strome are a better group of forwards than Sharp, Versteeg, TT, Richards, etc. were.

We don't have Kruger-Desjardins on the fourth line completely shutting down oppositions, but we have some talented bottom-six players that could eventually (hopefully) blossom into being effective in a similar manner.

I think (when healthy) Murphy and de Haan form a very formidable shut down pairing - though nothing will compare to Oduya and Hammer. But KK/Maatta is better than any third pairing we've had during our cup years.

And this isn't including young players that could be very valuable like Nylander, Carlsson, Beaudin, etc.
- TommyHawk

There are some great candidates on the RTP roster who could create an excellent 4th line, i.e. Entwistle centering Highmore and Hagel.

Johnson, Soderlund, and Barratt are ones to watch, too.

Hagel and Barratt have higher ceilings, though, and could earn middle 6 roles if their pro development actualizes.

Drat. I was trying to fight stupidity with more of it.
- Chunk

he'll beat you with experience.

[quote=Rota's Rooter]
Good sir. I skated last night...we had a decent game...I apologize for being too smart and acting like a know it all.

The Top Six of those teams was far better than this Top Six (partly because of age). The Bottom Six of those teams was far better than this Bottom Six. The Top Four defenders of those teams was far better than the Top Four of this team. Goaltending is a wash.

If coaching could take a team from the bottom of the league to a Cup champion, Q's last couple of years would have been a lot better.
- mohel

You are right, it's not even close. Let's just look at the lines from the 2010 team.

Byfuglien - Toews - Kane
Brouwer - Sharp - Hossa
Ladd - Bolland - Versteeg
Eager - Madden - Burish

Debrincat, Kubalik , and Dach would be on the 4th line. Saad maybe on the 3rd. Strome wouldn't make the roster. Neither would Nylander.

There are some great candidates on the RTP roster who could create an excellent 4th line, i.e. Entwistle centering Highmore and Hagel.

Johnson, Soderlund, and Barratt are ones to watch, too.

Hagel and Barratt have higher ceilings, though, and could earn middle 6 roles if their pro development actualizes.
- AEL_Fox

You are right, it's not even close. Let's just look at the lines from the 2010 team.

Byfuglien - Toews - Kane
Brouwer - Sharp - Hossa
Ladd - Bolland - Versteeg
Eager - Madden - Burish

Debrincat, Kubalik , and Dach would be on the 4th line. Saad maybe on the 3rd. Strome wouldn't make the roster. Neither would Nylander.
- scottak

That 2010 team was the most talented team in the post lockout era. Stupid good. The Bolland line was better than many teams second lines and bad teams first lines.

Comparing other teams to that one is impossible. Kind of like the 90s bulls. To quote the great Stacy King "too big, too strong, too fast, too good".

That 2010 team was the most talented team in the post lockout era. Stupid good. The Bolland line was better than many teams second lines and bad teams first lines.

Comparing other teams to that one is impossible. Kind of like the 90s bulls. To quote the great Stacy King "too big, too strong, too fast, too good".
- fattybeef

Check out the forwards on the 2013 team.....

That 2010 team was the most talented team in the post lockout era. Stupid good. The Bolland line was better than many teams second lines and bad teams first lines.

Comparing other teams to that one is impossible. Kind of like the 90s bulls. To quote the great Stacy King "too big, too strong, too fast, too good".
- fattybeef

That doesn't even count the defense.

Check out the forwards on the 2013 team.....
- mohel

Not as good. That team went end to end with a shortened season and Crawford was lights out in the playoffs.

The 2010 team could have won with any roster goalie in the NHL.

Not as good. That team went end to end with a shortened season and Crawford was lights out in the playoffs.

The 2010 team could have won with any roster goalie in the NHL.
- fattybeef

I think you're underselling that group of forwards. The 2013 team was perhaps the best group of defensive forward in the modern era. That team was suffocating. Their top four was also at their peak and was the best of the bunch with Oduya in the mix.

I think you're underselling that group of forwards. The 2013 team was perhaps the best group of defensive forward in the modern era. That team was suffocating. Their top four was also at their peak and was the best of the bunch with Oduya in the mix.
- mohel

That probably goes to a Kings team

That probably goes to a Kings team
- fattybeef

Could be - close call. Anyway, the question earlier was whether the current Hawks roster was as talented as those Cup teams. I said not close. What do you think?

Could be - close call. Anyway, the question earlier was whether the current Hawks roster was as talented as those Cup teams. I said not close. What do you think?
- mohel

Not now - not yet.

Could be in a couple of years, if a good percentage of the young players turn out to have been prospects, not suspects.

How many will reach their potential?

I agree that their talent level has been going up, but the last ten years includes 3 Cup teams. I don't think they have more talent now than any of those teams.
- mohel

I think it depends on how we interpret the term "pure talent". I think the organization may have more breadth and depth than any year in recent memory. We have more young players and prospects that have a good chance of contributing at the NHL for several years (maybe not this year). But the top players on the cup teams are the difference. The cup teams had our the elite players in their best years. Kane, Toews, Keith, Hossa. We can argue whether Kane, Toews and Keith are still in their prime. I would say they may not be much past their prime. Of course we have no one that is near Hossa. Time will tell if the young players really become great players while Kane, Toews, and Keith still have some gas left in the tank. Goaltending could also be an issue. But no one thought Crow was a cup caliber goalie until he was about 28 years old. So maybe Crow has some gas left in the tank or maybe one of the young guys figure it out.

Not now - not yet.

Could be in a couple of years, if a good percentage of the young players turn out to have been prospects, not suspects.

How many will reach their potential?
- StLBravesFan

Hi, Sage. It'll need to be an awful lot of them to challenge the talent level of the 2009-2015 Hawks. So far they've got a 12th place finish in the Western Conference.....

I said above that the talent level is increasing, but it is a long way to shore....

Not as good. That team went end to end with a shortened season and Crawford was lights out in the playoffs.

The 2010 team could have won with any roster goalie in the NHL.
- fattybeef

Possibly. If Campbell didnt come back as soon as he did (collarbone break), forcing Big Buff to play wing...I'm not sure we win that series my man.

Hi, Sage. It'll need to be an awful lot of them to challenge the talent level of the 2009-2015 Hawks. So far they've got a 12th place finish in the Western Conference.....

I said above that the talent level is increasing, but it is a long way to shore....
- mohel

Yes, the rebuild is complete. It is. What else do you want? Of course these have to pan out to be world class players on a level against other world class players. I mean we have 5 high level d prospects. Kalynuk. Let's find another Hossa and Sharp (gamer, champion). Kubalik seems like a badass. Debrincat is a luxury and potential game breaker if he is healthy. I think the boys are in good shape. Big Crawford fan

Hi, Sage. It'll need to be an awful lot of them to challenge the talent level of the 2009-2015 Hawks. So far they've got a 12th place finish in the Western Conference.....

I said above that the talent level is increasing, but it is a long way to shore....
- mohel

Hawks - without Seabrook, Smith and Shaw - are the youngest of the 24 teams in this...tournament.

Overtime for the exhibition games and play-in series will be regular season format. Playoff format kicks in thereafter.

I prefer the playoff OT format for the play-in series.

I think it depends on how we interpret the term "pure talent". I think the organization may have more breadth and depth than any year in recent memory. We have more young players and prospects that have a good chance of contributing at the NHL for several years (maybe not this year). But the top players on the cup teams are the difference. The cup teams had our the elite players in their best years. Kane, Toews, Keith, Hossa. We can argue whether Kane, Toews and Keith are still in their prime. I would say they may not be much past their prime. Of course we have no one that is near Hossa. Time will tell if the young players really become great players while Kane, Toews, and Keith still have some gas left in the tank. Goaltending could also be an issue. But no one thought Crow was a cup caliber goalie until he was about 28 years old. So maybe Crow has some gas left in the tank or maybe one of the young guys figure it out.
- -Doh-

Crow isnt even close to being tired. He was in the minors/juniors for 4 years. He has spring in his movements!..dont you see it, I've never seen a goalie that mobile...come on. We need Crow. That is our deal breaker.

Watching Pens-Flyers in Toronto - I like the way they covered up the empty seats with some kind of boards so we’re not seeing just an empty stadium.

I’m surprise they haven’t sold ads for the coverings - maybe that’s coming.