I wasn't trying to compare the two.I as well would seriously entertain the idea of giving Yashin a try!It appears that the Hawk brass isn't trying anything else and this will only cost money!If the Hawks are going to wait for their prospects then a stop gap may be in order!
- eagle50

If Bowman wants to sign Yashin, this is one occasion I want McD to step in with strong questions about the 'process and system' involved in the decision.

And after hearing the answer, he should use his own process and system to fire Bowman's ass right out of town.

What numbers are you referring to? The fact he hasn't played in the NHL in 5 years? Or he will be 39 this year? Or he probably hasn't played more than 50-60 games a season in the KHL and probably dogged it and slept walked thru 1/2 of those.

Hard and fast rule never to be broken: If the name isn't Malkin or Datsyuk - just walk away. Let them be somebody else's problem.
- RickJ

KHL numbers....of course.

Look, I'm not even advocating Yashin to the Hawks, or any other NHL club.

Someone commented that Yashin is looking for a contract in the NHL. The suggestion was made that Morrison = Yashin...all I did was suggest that Yashin would likely be more productive.

If the Hawks took a flyer on Yashin for one year I have no trouble with that, assuming they are planning nothing else instead.

Worst case...he's released and RW eats some cash...and the roster returns to what we now have.

Like I also said...Yashin to the Hawks for one year...meh, he might help, but he might not. Whatever....

Let's move on...

If Bowman wants to sign Yashin, this is one occasion I want McD to step in with strong questions about the 'process and system' involved in the decision.

And after hearing the answer, he should use his own process and system to fire Bowman's ass right out of town.
- RickJ

Rick,

Would you feel the same way if the Hawks offered Jason Arnott a one year deal?

Woud bringing Arnott in for a year upset your hockey sensibilities and leave you demanding SB be fired on the spot?

Rick,

Would you feel the same way if the Hawks offered Jason Arnott a one year deal?

Woud bringing Arnott in for a year upset your hockey sensibilities and leave you demanding SB be fired on the spot?
- ArlingtonRob

I don't want Jason Arnott either because he is past his prime, too slow, old and injury prone for a team like the Hawks. But taking a flyer on him I could understand just because he has played in the league without interruption on some good teams. Yashin has not.

I don't know what it takes here to see the picture Bowman has drawn - unless something totally unforseen happens, the center ice position this year will be filled by Toews, Kane, Sharp, Pirri, Bolland, Kruger, Mayers, Flick, McNeill, Danault. They aren't hooking up with FAs or wantabees from the KHL looking for one last contract.

If Bowman wants to sign Yashin, this is one occasion I want McD to step in with strong questions about the 'process and system' involved in the decision.

And after hearing the answer, he should use his own process and system to fire Bowman's ass right out of town.
- RickJ

Agree....Put that one in the desperate column if it were to happen....Which I highly doubt.

New I lost you at the beginning when I said book. You would have to read. Then to be insulted by a moron who says he did not read the first paragraph of my reply, but replied on the rest.

We have a winner for the biggest Hawk douche on the board. Congrats....You probably think Paul Newman invented salad dressing...
- TrueGrit

Still didn't answer what you said I was wrong about. again!

I was hoping for a new blog and come back to find Yashin's name being kicked around. Maybe we could coax Eddie O and Kons out of the booth and give Andrew Brunette one more shot. Wow!

I don't know what it takes here to see the picture Bowman has drawn - unless something totally unforseen happens, the center ice position this year will be filled by Toews, Kane, Sharp, Pirri, Bolland, Kruger, Mayers, Flick, McNeill, Danault.
- RickJ

StanBowPops&McD said no worries, Saad will help if need be!!..........Is Montador healthy? Q had him at forward last year for a spell, can he win a faceoff?

StanBowPops&McD said no worries, Saad will help if need be!!..........Is Montador healthy? Q had him at forward last year for a spell, can he win a faceoff?
- Mr Ricochet

Help me out with the relevance of your response. What has Montador have to do with the center position or even Saad?

Help me out with the relevance of your response. What has Montador have to do with the center position or even Saad?
- RickJ

Rick, I think he's being sarcastic.

StanBowPops&McD said no worries, Saad will help if need be!!..........Is Montador healthy? Q had him at forward last year for a spell, can he win a faceoff?
- Mr Ricochet

StanBowPops&McD said no worries, Saad will help if need be!!..........Is Montador healthy? Q had him at forward last year for a spell, can he win a faceoff?
- Mr Ricochet

But Monty needs 25 more lbs to be a relevant center

We all have ripped on the convention, but I wonder if it does have some positive benefits, too? The more I read the more I realize it sounded like a huge bonding thing that can build some good team chemistry. Maybe not coming out to high-fiving all the kids, but the panels always seem like fun

We all have ripped on the convention, but I wonder if it does have some positive benefits, too? The more I read the more I realize it sounded like a huge bonding thing that can build some good team chemistry. Maybe not coming out to high-fiving all the kids, but the panels always seem like fun
- tomcat24

I'm sure there are some players that like it ...seems like it could be fun for them....i mean what player wouldn't want people that love them to be around ....

I'm sure there are some players that like it ...seems like it could be fun for them....i mean what player wouldn't want people that love them to be around ....
- southernhawk

It seems like the young guys are all really close, especially Shaw, Bickell, Bollig, and Smith. Plus it seems like they are rubbing off on guys like Sharp, Kane, Toews, and Stalberg. It sort of reminds me of the Cup team. Chemistry-wise. Not talent-eise. Yet!

JJ,

In regards to filling needs - 2nd line center, goalie, added toughness are we to assume that nothing will be done via trade?

Have not heard anything in a long time regarding any potential deals or signings.

What is your take on it?
- Hawkster

I'm assuming the non response means nothing is happening?

With the current roster as it stands now, how would you build Hawks lineup for the next season? If there won´t be any roster moves I see good competition for the lower lines. This is the way I would build it:

Stalberg-Toews-Kane
Frolik-Sharp-Hossa
Bickell-Bolland-Shaw
Carcillo-Kruger-Mayers
Bollig/J.Hayes

Keith-Seabrook
Oduya-Hjalmarsson
Brookbank-Leddy
Montador

Crawford
Emery

I expect from names like Brandon Saad, Ben Smith, Jeremy Morin, Brandon Pirri, Kyle Beach and Rostislav Olesz along with Bollig and J.Hayes will make a close race for the last roster spots.

Help me out with the relevance of your response. What has Montador have to do with the center position or even Saad?
- RickJ

Nothing, that's the point. To a reasonable hockey mind Saad is still in the development stage and shouldn't be on an NHL roster yet let alone playing out of position, but StanBow is quoted as saying that Saad is willing to chip in at center at the NHL level.

Also wanted to mention in case folks had forgotten that Q was so enamored with his game day possibilities he had Montador skate up as a forward for a couple games.....

I guess that was his way of getting a point across at the expense of Montador's acclimation to the team/system and the wins column.

One of my friends was saying Hossa has been working out but allowed ZERO ice time. Any truth to that?

Training camp starts in a month and the preseason a few weeks after.

If there is any truth to the above statement this could end up being a big problem and explain why they threw so much cash at Parise.

Rushing back could bring about its own problems with nagging injuries and such.

Bigger, Faster, More Physical, More balanced, Much more depth, Better special teams.... and a better coach. Yes.... the hawks won it 3 seasons ago (congrats - i loved watching that hawks team play) and since then regressed.... flyers got stronger. Flyers today are a better team than in 2010... can you say the same for the hawks?
- moylander

Awesome.. And as I said before, you still have nothing to show for it..

And your ex captain and 2 biggest core pieces just won a Stanley Cup on another team.

I still feel that the Flyers have to win a Cup to justify those trades now.

I'm assuming the non response means nothing is happening?

- Hawkster

It means nothing is happening that I'm aware of.

You'd like to think that they can still make a move or two between now and training camp, but I am not holding my breath.

Awesome.. And as I said before, you still have nothing to show for it..

And your ex captain and 2 biggest core pieces just won a Stanley Cup on another team.

I still feel that the Flyers have to win a Cup to justify those trades now.
- pri$ey

OK. You are entitled to your feelings.

We are so past the Richie and Carts trades..... we've moved on and are still trying to improve the team. We are not trying to justify anything - we already know they were good trades. Acquiring Schenn and maybe Weber is a nice touch this offseason. If that falls through I'm sure Nash, Ryan, and plenty others will be on our radar.

I loved last season ..... everyone said the flyers won't score without Richie and Carts..... they ended up scoring MORE goals without them. Everyone said its a re building year.... in the playoffs after the Pitt series everyone thought philly was the team to beat. Most impressive was the perseverance of a team devastated by injuries.... our captain, unlike yours, only played 13 games this season and was one of 7 flyers to suffer a concussion (giroux, briere, schenn, MAB, jvr, read). Throw in multiple other injuries including broken feet (out 3-4 weeks)..... input a goalie that was 'lost in the woods' most of the season (and suffered his own leg injury).... at one point 12 rookies were on the roster..... the results? Pretty damn impressive. That's how I feel.

With the current roster as it stands now, how would you build Hawks lineup for the next season? If there won´t be any roster moves I see good competition for the lower lines. This is the way I would build it:

Stalberg-Toews-Kane
Frolik-Sharp-Hossa
Bickell-Bolland-Shaw
Carcillo-Kruger-Mayers
Bollig/J.Hayes

Keith-Seabrook
Oduya-Hjalmarsson
Brookbank-Leddy
Montador

Crawford
Emery

I expect from names like Brandon Saad, Ben Smith, Jeremy Morin, Brandon Pirri, Kyle Beach and Rostislav Olesz along with Bollig and J.Hayes will make a close race for the last roster spots.
- MjulQvist

Sharp Toews Stalberg
Carcillo Kane Hossa
Shaw Bolland Bickell
Mayers Kruger Frolik
Bollig

Seabs Keith
Hjalmarsson Oduya
Leddy Brookbank

Crawford
Emery

One of my friends was saying Hossa has been working out but allowed ZERO ice time. Any truth to that?

Training camp starts in a month and the preseason a few weeks after.

If there is any truth to the above statement this could end up being a big problem and explain why they threw so much cash at Parise.

Rushing back could bring about its own problems with nagging injuries and such.
- fattybeef

Chris Kuc's article in the trib this morning...

http://www.chicagotribune...-20120723,0,5491929.story

Panthers and Versteeg avoid arbitration, signs 4 year deal with FLA