How can you mention Bell and Calder without Tyler Arnason?
- powerenforcer

Reunite the ABC line.

Any major moves/trades this summer or at the draft will be based on the status of CC. Since it is likely nobody on the outside will know his status, it's impossible to guess what might happen. There's a huge difference in plans if they expect no CC going forward.
- RaleighHawk

My 300 level seats cost me $27.00 for the 1998 season. Since than we had an average of 10 % increase per year. Now the tkts cost me $84.00. The cost of the tkt and the play on the ice made it an easy choice not to renew for next year.

Same size as Denis Savard. One can dream.
- Rota's Rooter

Actually an inch taller than Savard.

Different era, different game.

Plenty of "small" guys succeed in the NHL, and 5'11" is closer to "average" than it is to "small". But push comes to shove you give me 2 players with similar skills,etc. I will take the 6'2" guy over the 5'10" guy every time.

Aren’t ticket prices up substantially since the $Bill days?

Makes a difference in how you make your decision.
- StLBravesFan

WAY UP. Our 100 level seats that cost $75 in '09 are going to be $245 next year

Enzo I agree with you 100% , For me It's Tkachuk or bust, they need to do what the Bears did regarding Mitch Trubiskey, do what ever it takes to move up to draft Tkachuk.
This fricken GM comes off arrogant and bullheaded ,you see his manorisms on TV, I talked to a bunch of season tix holders in my section, a group of about 30,and the general consensus is, we're in for 1more, he screws up this draft if either Tkachuk or Bouchard fall into his lap and he opts for some overseas pigme instead and they stink next year, then it's addios after next year. It's a shame because some others like myself were trying to get to the 50 year milestone STH club. I'll be at 47 this year. Here is where someone has to sit McD and Rocky down and point them in the direction of those 2kids. Kinda like a grade schol nun holding a 3cornered ruler over Bowmans Knuckles and a good whack if he screws this up.
- wonthecup10

Lets not lose sight that even if they do draft Tkachuk, he is still in school and could hold out and go the whole FA route like Hayes. Because they draft him is no guarantee that they can sign him.

Actually an inch taller than Savard.

Different era, different game.

Plenty of "small" guys succeed in the NHL, and 5'11" is closer to "average" than it is to "small". But push comes to shove you give me 2 players with similar skills,etc. I will take the 6'2" guy over the 5'10" guy every time.
- TheTrob

There’s an old sport adage that goes something like “quick small guys can beat slow big guys, but quick small guys cant beat quick big guys.”

I am with you 100 percent.

My 300 level seats cost me $27.00 for the 1998 season. Since than we had an average of 10 % increase per year. Now the tkts cost me $84.00. The cost of the tkt and the play on the ice made it an easy choice not to renew for next year.
- spanky

Being a weeny here: a 6% increase per year gets you to $84 after 19 years.

race to the bottom:

1. hawks currently 8th
2. range 2 pts ahead with oil 3pts and habs 4 pts behind

i dont see the oil or habs doing much winning and i don't see the hawks falling apart into the close..

hawks look to finish between 7 and 9.

depending on lottery results will stan try to trade up with his 2 number 1's?

Lets not lose sight that even if they do draft Tkachuk, he is still in school and could hold out and go the whole FA route like Hayes. Because they draft him is no guarantee that they can sign him.
- TheTrob

That's simply not true. He's in his first year at Boston University, and will only get to Hayes territory if he stays in college for all four years and for some reason doesn't want to join the NHL sooner than that.

From most accounts he's very NHL ready, similar to his brother. Obviously that can change but most players opt for the bigtime when they're given the chance. The sooner you can burn your ELC the sooner you can get your RFA years out of the way. The sooner your RFA years are gone the sooner you get to 'payday time' which usually hits in the age 26-29 range.

The Hawks hold his rights, guaranteed, until Aug. 15th AFTER his senior year. And if he were to walk after that, the Hawks get compensation based on how high of a pick he was.

My 300 level seats cost me $27.00 for the 1998 season. Since than we had an average of 10 % increase per year. Now the tkts cost me $84.00. The cost of the tkt and the play on the ice made it an easy choice not to renew for next year.
- spanky

those seats on the secondary were over $150 at the beginning of the season;
seasoners who participated in that market have gotten a very nice return over the last 8 years...

Lets not lose sight that even if they do draft Tkachuk, he is still in school and could hold out and go the whole FA route like Hayes. Because they draft him is no guarantee that they can sign him.
- TheTrob

Exactly. He still has 3 more years of NCAA eligibility left, grew up in St. Louis, older brother playing in Calgary. The few articles I glanced at gave no indication if he has his heart set on any one place. The only possible direction I got from what I read depends on where he is taken overall. If he's a top 3 he'll probably jump, anything lower and he just may stay in school.

race to the bottom:

1. hawks currently 8th
2. range 2 pts ahead with oil 3pts and habs 4 pts behind

i dont see the oil or habs doing much winning and i don't see the hawks falling apart into the close..

hawks look to finish between 7 and 9.

depending on lottery results will stan try to trade up with his 2 number 1's?
- bogiedoc

And Detroit (7 game losing streak) and Montreal (shutting everyone down who breaths), are tanking hard to fall into a top 5 position.

Hey Scott, haven't heard the status on any players specific over there but I know they have a lot of scouts over there and are looking at more options.

Victor Edjsell among others have been keeping them in Sweden and in touch frequently with Mikael Samuelsson.

Sounds like they may be trying to get Edjsell over as soon as his season is over to skate with the big club.
- Justin Lowe

Well it ended yesterday.

That's simply not true. He's in his first year at Boston University, and will only get to Hayes territory if he stays in college for all four years and for some reason doesn't want to join the NHL sooner than that.

From most accounts he's very NHL ready, similar to his brother. Obviously that can change but most players opt for the bigtime when they're given the chance. The sooner you can burn your ELC the sooner you can get your RFA years out of the way. The sooner your RFA years are gone the sooner you get to 'payday time' which usually hits in the age 26-29 range.

The Hawks hold his rights, guaranteed, until Aug. 15th AFTER his senior year. And if he were to walk after that, the Hawks get compensation based on how high of a pick he was.
- ObeseOprah

They hold his right for 30 days after he officially leaves college, doesn't matter what year in school. If at that point he is still draft eligible he can re-enter the draft, if he is older than 20 and no-longer draft eligible he becomes a free agent and as a first round pick the original drafting team would receive a compensatory pick.

My 300 level seats cost me $27.00 for the 1998 season. Since than we had an average of 10 % increase per year. Now the tkts cost me $84.00. The cost of the tkt and the play on the ice made it an easy choice not to renew for next year.
- spanky

Especially if the resale market is in the toilet - which it will be without a winning (or at least interesting) team on the ice.

Being a weeny here: a 6% increase per year gets you to $84 after 19 years.
- ObeseOprah

Which wouldn’t be a bad thing if the people buying the tickets were getting 6% increases in their take home pay for each of the last 19 years.

Especially if the resale market is in the toilet - which it will be without a winning (or at least interesting) team on the ice.
- StLBravesFan

oh its is the toilet now...those 3rd level seats are having a 50% sale in the $40-50 range for the last 2 months!

Lets play hypothetical. If everything works out with Sikura, Crow is good to go, and we bring in a reasonable top 4 D man via F/A, would people be confident in this lineup to make the playoffs next season? I know a lot hinges on which D man they can bring in, Corey's health and if Saad, Toews rebound and Seabs is a serviceable bottom pairing.

Saad Toews Kane
Cat Schmaltz Hayden
Sikura AA Vinny
???? Kampf Wingles

Keith Dahlin
Murphy Forsling
Rutta/Gus Seabrook

Crow
Forsberg
- SoftServe

I’m going all in hoping we get real lucky and get the luck of the draw and hit the lottery! Definitely not Sharp!

They hold his right for 30 days after he officially leaves college, doesn't matter what year in school. If at that point he is still draft eligible he can re-enter the draft, if he is older than 20 and no-longer draft eligible he becomes a free agent and as a first round pick the original drafting team would receive a compensatory pick.
- TheTrob

Ah you're right. My mistake.

It'd be pretty unheard of for Tkachuk to ditch out on the Hawks after being drafted by them.

Vesey and Hayes were guys who spent a couple years in college and were middle-6 ceiling players. Neither of them are exactly gamebreakers.

Lets not lose sight that even if they do draft Tkachuk, he is still in school and could hold out and go the whole FA route like Hayes. Because they draft him is no guarantee that they can sign him.
- TheTrob

Well, like the old saying when John McDonough comes in to play, he better have his A game going,“If bullpoop was electricity, then he’d be a powerhouse !” If they do get this kid which I highly doubt because of the arrogance of Stan Bowman, they better pull out all the stops. I would bury the hatchet and try to trade for his cousin Kevin Hayes also.

I don't feel bad for season ticket holders. If you have the expendable income for season tickets, then you cant really moan about increases year after year like you're struggling to keep up with payments or something.

If its too much and you don't want to pay it anymore, then F'ing don't and stay home or go to a bar to watch like everyone else.

My 300 level seats cost me $27.00 for the 1998 season. Since than we had an average of 10 % increase per year. Now the tkts cost me $84.00. The cost of the tkt and the play on the ice made it an easy choice not to renew for next year.
- spanky

Please check your Math. $27 increasing 10% per year for 20 years would be more than $150. I think 6.5% per year is more accurate. And during that time you saw 3 cup winning teams, President Trophies winners, Western Conference winners,. Now after a down year (and perhaps some rough years ahead) you are not renewing. I am perfectly fine with that. I respect that.

However if you look at the Bulls, they have been miserable off and on for several years and there attendance is still very good.

My guess is that some Blackhawk ticket holders will give up their seats and others will pick them up for the chance to see another 3 cup winners in the next 20 years.

I don't feel bad for season ticket holders. If you have the expendable income for season tickets, then you cant really moan about increases year after year like you're struggling to keep up with payments or something.

If its too much and you don't want to pay it anymore, then F'ing don't and stay home or go to a bar to watch like everyone else.
- BlazinMike

When I do that I can't follow it well with all the bullpoopting going on around me. I wish that wasn't the case (not that people bullpoop but that i can't concentrate) but it is.

Oh, and I wish it wasn't so expensive to go to a game too. The 200 level pays a 1000 per seat per year premium too and that hurts. My tix were 7,500 10 years ago and now just over 14,000 per set of 2. I keep a few games a year and partners take the rest. No stopping progress.

race to the bottom:

1. hawks currently 8th
2. range 2 pts ahead with oil 3pts and habs 4 pts behind

i dont see the oil or habs doing much winning and i don't see the hawks falling apart into the close..

hawks look to finish between 7 and 9.

depending on lottery results will stan try to trade up with his 2 number 1's?
- bogiedoc

If the Oilers could only hold on to their leads in games.

WAY UP. Our 100 level seats that cost $75 in '09 are going to be $245 next year
- TheTrob

As a former season ticket owner I do not think that is accurate. But if it was that would be a 16% annual increase.