RainMan, you should listen to the podcast link PDX posted -- pretty good IMO -- sounds like a LOT of people are pretty well fed up with Mr. 19's cavalier attitude on things like training, working w/the younger players, etc. Thought that was most telling. Plus, a lot of heat over the fact that the guy, in spite of 3 pretty down seasons with no/little playoff time, apparently can't bring himself to play in the new summer pro league (Kane, Saad, Schmaltz and the Cat are in).
- savvyone-1

I will have to give that a listen. Nothing surprises me at this point regarding 19 or the other 2 older Canadians on this team. That 3 man clique is a MAJOR reason why they won, and a major reason why they haven't won a playoff series in 4 years.

His “attitude” problems have apparently involved his Guelph Storm GM and Coach Burnett. I improperly previously referenced Sarnia. Given that there have been some Coach-player problems this is a very good Coach report. It is interesting that internationally he does just fine defensively and attitudinally. Perhaps GM and Coach Burnett should worry less about Merkley and more about the fact that his team is bad and stays bad. Maybe Merkley doesn’t enjoy losing.

It is also important to remember that Merkley has already accomplished a great deal as a hockey player and is still only 17. He has a very high ceiling. You can’t teach skill - the things he does intuitively. Whatever shortcomings he may have defensively on a bad OHL team can be addressed and don’t appear against the best opposition internationally. I’ve watched videos - he seems like an excellent skater - he can make plays at high speed too. Weird reference to Ryan Murphy I thought.
- Z3Hawk

Murphy was a fine jr player. At the WJC U-18's he put up 13 points in 7 games although didn't play in the Ivan Hlinka Tournament for some reason.

I think the quote from a long piece on him sums it all up.

There is a tendency in hockey to focus on what a player can’t do, or how he hurts your team, rather than accentuating his positives. There is little doubt this is what is happening with Merkley, and maybe that’s justified because the problems in his game are very real.

Who’s willing to focus on Merkley’s positives? To fight the hockey instinct of seeing a player who takes too many risks on the ice, who has poor body language or an attitude problem as opposed to the player who can break a game wide open, who sees and thinks the game like few others in the world can?

Merkley was the second leading scorer on his team and the third most productive defenceman in the OHL with 67 points in 63 games. His talent is not in question by anyone. At some point in the draft, you go for pure talent. The question is, when?

No doubting his talent by anyone, no doubting his shortcomings on the ice as well and that's not mentioning any possible attitude/discipline problems, no doubting his high risk high reward nature, no doubting he'll be drafted, just a matter of where.

His “attitude” problems have apparently involved his Guelph Storm GM and Coach Burnett. I improperly previously referenced Sarnia. Given that there have been some Coach-player problems this is a very good Coach report. It is interesting that internationally he does just fine defensively and attitudinally. Perhaps GM and Coach Burnett should worry less about Merkley and more about the fact that his team is bad and stays bad. Maybe Merkley doesn’t enjoy losing.

It is also important to remember that Merkley has already accomplished a great deal as a hockey player and is still only 17. He has a very high ceiling. You can’t teach skill - the things he does intuitively. Whatever shortcomings he may have defensively on a bad OHL team can be addressed and don’t appear against the best opposition internationally. I’ve watched videos - he seems like an excellent skater - he can make plays at high speed too. Weird reference to Ryan Murphy I thought.
- Z3Hawk

Not to knock your strong desire for the Hawks to draft Merkley as I think he does have high end skill and is worthy of a 1st round selection, but the biggest knocks on him are his attitude and defense. I personally wouldn't say the GM or coach need to focus more on the team being bad than on Merkley's attitude issues. They should focus on both.

In a recent article Merkley even admitted that the coach has been great at putting him in his place and setting him on a better path. To his credit, Merkley does know that his attitude and defense need a lot of work so hopefully he just matures with age and with the right coaches and team leaders surrounding him.

That same article talked about how Merkley just seems bored on defense. This is just me, but if your team is bad, how can you get bored of defense if you're likely playing a lot in your own end. If you simply don't like playing defense whether your team is good or bad, then that's a problem.

Bottom line, with his high-end skill, Merkley should do just fine if he truly addresses his attitude issues and defensive weaknesses. And it does seem like he is trying hard to do both which bodes well for him if he sticks to it.

I like that last descriptor of Farabee being a firece competitor. It fits the stated desire by Q for the Hawks to be more relentless. At face value, I like that Q is saying that but it still remains to be seen what relentless means in a Q-driven system.

If the Hawks will truly be more relentless (i.e. fierce, competitive, playing balls to the wall), then one has to like the Nilsson signing as Colliton described him as such a player. Then there are players who we know can play this way like Martinsen, Hayden, Murphy, and Wingels (assuming he re-signs with the Hawks this summer). Add in potential trade or free agency acquistions as well as prospects like Johnson and Tyler Sikura. The question is whether they will be allowed to play that way consistently for an entire season.
- AEL_Fox

That's why I posted that, that he's a relentless competitor. As you add more names of players in the system who's compete is high we see a team in Vegas who went a long way on high compete.

Difficult in a hard cap world to role 4 lines that can score but as the saying goes more than one way to skin a cat. ........ The 4th line early in the season of Hayden-Wingels-Bouma was a highlight of the yr for this fan. Simply said they got after it every shift.

I like these options you lay out. I'd add Beagle to that list of potential guys to pursue and even kick the tires on Roussel as much as he's hated by everyone.
- AEL_Fox

He was impressive, especially on draws.

That's why I posted that, that he's a relentless competitor. As you add more names of players in the system who's compete is high we see a team in Vegas who went a long way on high compete.

Difficult in a hard cap world to role 4 lines that can score but as the saying goes more than one way to skin a cat. ........ The 4th line early in the season of Hayden-Wingels-Bouma was a highlight of the yr for this fan. Simply said they got after it every shift.
- Mr Ricochet

Count me in as a fan of that 4th line, too, before it got broken up. It was our best line for many games. Like you said, they brought it every game. Yes, they made some boneheaded plays here and there but so did the core.

My season is complete, Tanner being called out for this:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=87296
On his page...

My season is complete, Tanner being called out for this:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=87296
On his page...
- riozzo

But you know he will take credit for them winning. Gosh - the worst part about the Caps winning. Just go away Tanner!

My season is complete, Tanner being called out for this:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=87296
On his page...
- riozzo

yeah, he probably shouldn't have his own blog after that one. There has been some crazy stuff written on this site, but that takes the cake.

What happens first?

A. EK gets a trade rumor correct
B. Tanner provides accurate assessment of a player/coach/GM
C. World Peace

What happens first?

A. EK gets a trade rumor correct
B. Tanner provides accurate assessment of a player/coach/GM
C. World Peace
- PatShart

I'll have to get back to you on this one...….

What happens first?

A. EK gets a trade rumor correct
B. Tanner provides accurate assessment of a player/coach/GM
C. World Peace
- PatShart

C. World Peace

C. World Peace
- riozzo

Q changes up his lines...

I'll have to get back to you on this one...….
- SteveRain

Should I add...

D. Toews eats a hamburger

Plus, a lot of heat over the fact that the guy, in spite of 3 pretty down seasons with no/little playoff time, apparently can't bring himself to play in the new summer pro league (Kane, Saad, Schmaltz and the Cat are in).
- savvyone-1

Why is that a big deal? It seems like only players who spend the summer in Chicago are participating and if Toews is working out in Winnipeg or Montréal or wherever, who cares? As long as he doesn't spend all of the summer sunbathing somewhere on Carribean beach, of course. Isn't anyone (Rocky especially) worried about injuries in this new league? That must be a concern, unless it is strictly play for fun.

RainMan, you should listen to the podcast link PDX posted -- pretty good IMO -- sounds like a LOT of people are pretty well fed up with Mr. 19's cavalier attitude on things like training, working w/the younger players, etc. Thought that was most telling. Plus, a lot of heat over the fact that the guy, in spite of 3 pretty down seasons with no/little playoff time, apparently can't bring himself to play in the new summer pro league (Kane, Saad, Schmaltz and the Cat are in).
- savvyone-1

I kind of think it's why his name was "floated" out there in trade rumors that would never happen

Maybe show him he isnt quite untouchable

C. World Peace
- riozzo

C World Peace -Didn’t he used to be Ron Artest?

Why is that a big deal? It seems like only players who spend the summer in Chicago are participating and if Toews is working out in Winnipeg or Montréal or wherever, who cares? As long as he doesn't spend all of the summer sunbathing somewhere on Carribean beach, of course. Isn't anyone (Rocky especially) worried about injuries in this new league? That must be a concern, unless it is strictly play for fun.
- stonefire

Speaking for myself, I had hoped he join if only to bond more with the younger guys on the team in a lower-pressure environment.

It is supposed to be a no-contact league. Kendall Coyne, late of the USA gold-medal-winning women's team is joining one of the rosters. I'm looking forward to catching a few games.

Okay, Faulk and Darling for what?

Okay, Faulk and Darling for what?
- BINGO!

Okay, Faulk and Darling for what?
- BINGO!

You tell us Bingo, you know Carolina well. What are the Canes in need of / what parts on the Hawks roster would be a fair return?

I do feel like a Faulk/Darling trade would imply that Crawford is not healthy or he is and Stan is finding a new home for him (that he's pre-approved to go to).

C World Peace -Didn’t he used to be Ron Artest?
- StLBravesFan

I believe you are confusing World Peace with Metta World Peace...

Thanks for posting Walleye!

I'm starting to hear things could get very interesting in the next 7-10 days for the Hawks.

I'll report back if I hear anything specific.
- Justin Lowe

Q getting launched and replaced with Trotz is a good start.

You tell us Bingo, you know Carolina well. What are the Canes in need of / what parts on the Hawks roster would be a fair return?

I do feel like a Faulk/Darling trade would imply that Crawford is not healthy or he is and Stan is finding a new home for him (that he's pre-approved to go to).
- Justin Lowe

Bingo! wants Kaner

Q getting launched and replaced with Trotz is a good start.
- Dieselhead

Trotz...who Q schooled head to head while in the same division/playoffs?