Late night early morning readers,

Who wins game seven between Washington and Tampa?!
Could it be a goaltender win?

Then Vegas wins the Cup. A storybook season. Bettman grinning ear to ear.
- jhawk59

I’m going with Wash, and hoping that Ovi gets his first cup. Also hoping the SC final goes 7.

Hey Z,
This is exactly the material I read. And I agree he is more a victim of circumstance.

I am switching topics now. We do not agree 100% on everything you write about the Ulf Samuelson system. But that is ok as this is just a bit d to express opinions. You do make your viewpoint sound sometimes like a be all and it cannot possibly be any other way. So you are passionate about your viewpoint. The thing this board needs to accept is to not be mudslingers if someone disagreed. And bloggers need to consult a thesaurus or whatever to find less offensive words when they disagree.

So I can say all that because I am not going g to get bent out of shape if we do not agree on everything you state about your discord over Ulfie

Now using that as a springboard or segway about an earlier post of mine about first round draft rating - wiz update - my thoughts on certain draft slots.

I have found it ironic that you happen to see a real skill guy whom might become a first round steal in Merkely ....he might be still available if we move up from #27. Failing to land him, and after reading Samuelson kid's review ....wouldn't you like to draft his kid.

He is acknowledged as the best of Ulfie's three sons. His one son has been signed now by Rockford and I think Chicago can bring him to training camp, maybe even the rookies camp. He may no longer have contractual ties to Arizona. He is a depth physical forward who might develop after all. Not perhaps up to his first round status as a top prospect. But there might be something to keeping him around.

Anyway draft Samuelson's kid if Merkely is gone. I tend to want to take Samuelson over Merkely because he is a giant and plays exactly how we need one our dmen to play. We might not easily get anyone like him in the following years. However, I understand Merkely could be a steal. He probably is gone earlier than you think. Some GM will draft him higher than wiz rates him.
- jhawk59

I obviously want the Hawks to do whatever is necessary to draft Merkley. Regarding Samuelson one concern I have is this - the Hawks are already overly loyal, in my opinion, to their coaches. If Ulf has 2 relatives in the pipeline does this affect how Ulf is judged? I make no bones about the fact that I only support the drafting of players with the highest skill, the highest skating ability. There are some commentators that suggest that Samuelson is only average in these areas.

He certainly does have size but size doesn’t necessarily translate to toughness. From reading a lot the Draft seems to have depth to me which means every position in the First Round could garner a good player, even spilling to the Second Round. Samuelson is certainly well in the mix.

I’m going with Wash, and hoping that Ovi gets his first cup. Also hoping the SC final goes 7.
- Chunk

All play-offs I have bern hoping this was Ovie’s year.

Delia has been lights on for most of the playoffs, Glass may get in for Game 4 if Tuesday's match doesn't go in favour of the good guys.

Forsling has been solid. His ice time/need has been suppressed due to the great play and production by Franson and Clendening.
- Justin Lowe

Clendening has made his personal situation interesting with the Blackhawks. He’s still an RFA and I’d be surprised if the Hawks don’t make a serious attempt to re-sign him. Clendening will likely have to take a near-minimum deal, but the Hawks can easily make it a one way contract.

Clendening has made his personal situation interesting with the Blackhawks. He’s still an RFA and I’d be surprised if the Hawks don’t make a serious attempt to re-sign him. Clendening will likely have to take a near-minimum deal, but the Hawks can easily make it a one way contract.
- DarthKane

Has he improved in what are his weak areas in his NHL game? Because it is altogether another story playing great in the AHL. He even has a smart experienced partner in Franson
Then, too, while you have a point and maybe the Franson pairing reasoning does not stand if Clendenning is strong no matter his partner.....what trump's Clendenning being signed is the sheer number of prospects Bowman has added. Each signed so they play somewhere or are released. Justin called out 459 dmen prospects or similar outrageous number of prospects heading toward Rockford; some may end up taking a turn off for a different NHL or minor league city.

It is uncommon to see rookies playing same pair and even two newbies is a lot on an NHL blueline. But I can imagine it happens. After the new CBA is signed two years down the road
.....in the next expansion year.

Bolts are dead if the refs wake up and call all the interference TB gets away with.
- powerenforcer

Its amazing, almost every play.

Glad Caps beat the poope out of them.

Found myself routing for the caps, not sure how that happened.

Not a fan of the Bolts, guess I have the negative thing for Yzerman, A) former red wing, and B) anointed the greatest GM of all time before he wins a cup.

Clendening has made his personal situation interesting with the Blackhawks. He’s still an RFA and I’d be surprised if the Hawks don’t make a serious attempt to re-sign him. Clendening will likely have to take a near-minimum deal, but the Hawks can easily make it a one way contract.
- DarthKane

That would be nice if he takes the next step, he's at about the 350 game mark?

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