yOU CAN DO THAT BEFORE gAME #1???
- hawk35

Just reporting what I read online. Someone else with knowledge can shed light on IR rules. Maybe there's a difference between IR and LTIR? I could be wrong but I believe putting someone on LTIR can't be done until after the season starts.

Nice work JL. This year I wanna see effort. I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm hoping the pride with the seasoned veterans shows. They need to be better on 5X5 and on the PP. Let's Go Hawks!

Just reporting what I read online. Someone else with knowledge can shed light on IR rules. Maybe there's a difference between IR and LTIR? I could be wrong but I believe putting someone on LTIR can't be done until after the season starts.
- AEL_Fox

Teams do it later because of how it affects the cap and relief, like what we did with Hossa.

My recollection from LY is that the NHL indicated that future expansion would be done the same as VEGAS.
- scottak

The new Seattle owners certainly wouldn’t accept less favorable terms than VGK got - they’re coming up with even more money than the Knights did.

JL, thanks for your efforts. I'm actually looking forward to a season where the expectations ( from the fans POV) are not that high.

Let's have a good season. Everyone, keep your sticks on the ice, and your heads up!.
- powerenforcer

I actually have high expectations, PE - not to contend for a Cup (or probably not even for a tournament spot), but:

I have high expectations that the likes of Schmaltz and AdB will take important steps toward core leadership for the next Cup run.

That the likes of Jokiharju, Hayden, Sikura, Johnson, Highmore, etc. will show that with development, we can expect them to be important contributors to future Cup contenders.

And that the likes of Saad, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Crawford show that they can have another couple of years of quality play and that their window is not shut tight.

In short, I have high expectations that this team can show us that we can reasonable expect Cup-contention play in two years.

I also have high expectations that Justin can keep up his high quality prose and leadership that will keep us ON-line and IN-line this season.

I actually have high expectations, PE - not to contend for a Cup (or probably not even for a tournament spot), but:

I have high expectations that the likes of Schmaltz and AdB will take important steps toward core leadership for the next Cup run.

That the likes of Jokiharju, Hayden, Sikura, Johnson, Highmore, etc. will show that with development, we can expect them to be important contributors to future Cup contenders.

And that the likes of Saad, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Crawford show that they can have another couple of years of quality play and that their window is not shut tight.

In short, I have high expectations that this team can show us that we can reasonable expect Cup-contention play in two years.

I also have high expectations that Justin can keep up his high quality prose and leadership that will keep us ON-line and IN-line this season.
- StLBravesFan

I will do my best.

Please no opinions from Tanner.

Watching ESPN's 30 for 30 on the 85 Bears. One of the best things I've ever seen. Probably the fifth time I watched it.

Just reporting what I read online. Someone else with knowledge can shed light on IR rules. Maybe there's a difference between IR and LTIR? I could be wrong but I believe putting someone on LTIR can't be done until after the season starts.
- AEL_Fox

Well, today is the first day of the season, even though they don't play a game...

Well, today is the first day of the season, even though they don't play a game...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

AZ should move Hossa to LTIR after their first game - correct?

For those who are into goalie mask designs, the Rink has two articles featuring Hawk goalie masks for the new season:

https://www.the-rink.com/...hawks-goalies-masks-pt-1/

https://www.the-rink.com/...hawks-goalie-mask-reveal/

As a parent of 3 young kids, I enjoy the Minions aspect on Delia's mask. Leighton does that too as I believe his kids even requested him to include Minions on his mask. Minions are welcome on masks. No to Caillou (that goalie would have bad karma for the rest of his career).

And as a former DJ for 25ish years, I like the tribute Forsberg is paying to the late DJ Avicii (and fellow Swede).

AZ should move Hossa to LTIR after their first game - correct?
- glennjpawlak22

I think a lot of guys are injured as well.

Wouldn't it be Luke Johnson over Hayden? Hayden and Martinsen were on the same line with Kruger and Johnson was out, groin related, but out.

If you want a break from the old nod, try Tim Allen going "Huh" from Home Improvement.
- I Am The Breadman

Luke Johnson should be playing in addition to Hayden. Johnson is centering the line and Hayden should take Martinsen's spot on the wing.

Luke Johnson should be playing in addition to Hayden. Johnson is centering the line and Hayden should take Martinsen's spot on the wing.
- DarthKane

Ok, now I got you. I agree, I just needed the clarification. I thought you had Hayden problems ... glad you're warming up.

We'll probably end up last in our division (again) and not make the playoffs.

Relics headed for Lotteryville.
- Jack Straw

Buffalo certainly knows what every nook and cranny of the lottery looks like. Like the back of your hand.....

I actually have high expectations, PE - not to contend for a Cup (or probably not even for a tournament spot), but:

I have high expectations that the likes of Schmaltz and AdB will take important steps toward core leadership for the next Cup run.

That the likes of Jokiharju, Hayden, Sikura, Johnson, Highmore, etc. will show that with development, we can expect them to be important contributors to future Cup contenders.

And that the likes of Saad, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Crawford show that they can have another couple of years of quality play and that their window is not shut tight.

In short, I have high expectations that this team can show us that we can reasonable expect Cup-contention play in two years.

I also have high expectations that Justin can keep up his high quality prose and leadership that will keep us ON-line and IN-line this season.
- StLBravesFan

Great post. I like the cut of your jib.

I actually have high expectations, PE - not to contend for a Cup (or probably not even for a tournament spot), but:

I have high expectations that the likes of Schmaltz and AdB will take important steps toward core leadership for the next Cup run.

That the likes of Jokiharju, Hayden, Sikura, Johnson, Highmore, etc. will show that with development, we can expect them to be important contributors to future Cup contenders.

And that the likes of Saad, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Crawford show that they can have another couple of years of quality play and that their window is not shut tight.

In short, I have high expectations that this team can show us that we can reasonable expect Cup-contention play in two years.

I also have high expectations that Justin can keep up his high quality prose and leadership that will keep us ON-line and IN-line this season.
- StLBravesFan

Same here.

Eichel named Sabres captain. I personally would have chosen someone with more maturity. Pominville makes the most sense especially as a Sabres veteran.

Canucks not naming a captain but will have 4 A's: Edler, Horvat, Tanev, and Sutter.

Justin Lowe: What You Can Expect This Season

There is already a lot of skepticism around this Hawks team being a playoff calibre crew this year.

While I'm disappointed myself that Stan didn't go do more this offseason, I'm going to remain cautiously numb to how this team will actually look when it hits the ice tomorrow.

It's going to be an interesting year, and if all else, it's a place where we can all congregate and kill some time when we should be working and/or listening to our spouses.
- Justin Lowe

Not hard to take the pulse of this Board. There is a lot of negativity, much of it very negative. Not me - the Hawks are going to be just fine this season. People forget how easily a record improves. The Hawks were 33-39-10 last season. Win just 3 more games the record is at .500 at 36-36-10. Win 5 more and the record is at 38-34-10 which is 86 points. Win 10 more and the record is at 43-29-10 which is 96 points.

Not surprisingly the Hawks lost lots of games at the very end of last season, when the games were totally meaningless, and the team just wanted the season to end. This negatively skews last season’s record.

Also the Hawks lost lots of games last year where they uncustomarily blew leads. Will be corrected this year. Also in many games last year the Hawks dominated play but ended up losing. Will also be corrected this year.

There were two major sources of chaos last year that would have destroyed any team. 1. The Hawks had awful, soul destroying goaltending. No team in the NHL, no matter how talented can overcome awful goaltending. Already saw it this pre-season when Ward was a sieve. Doesn’t matter what else the team does if the goaltending fails. Goaltending will be better this season, whether it be from an improved Ward and improved Forsberg or a returning Crawford or a promoted Delia.

2. Ulf’s Defensive “System” last year was ludicrous. It was not a Defence First System but actually was an Offensive “System” demanding obscene amounts of penetration in the O-Zone. The problem was the penetration was often non-sensical and not supported by game context. The penetration was often totally unsupportable from a defensive standpoint. The result - the Hawks gave up more odd-man breaks in a few games than other teams were giving up over months.

There seemed to be a change later in the season. It does not seem to be a confusing issue to penetrate when it makes sense to do so, given game context and when it is safe to do so from a defensive standpoint. During training camp there has been an acknowledgement that there were problems last season and steps have been taken to address those problems.

What we will see is that our D-Men are actually better than they seemed last year. Same for the goaltenders.

So what does Z3Hawk predict? Hawks will make the play-offs and will do so easily!

So what does Z3Hawk predict? Hawks will make the play-offs and will do so easily!
- Z3Hawk

I'll take that bet...what's the wager?

TOM
WILSON
GIVES
HEAD


shots

AZ should move Hossa to LTIR after their first game - correct?
- glennjpawlak22

I would think so...unless he was already put on LTIR. They could have done it before the season started, but they wouldn't get any cap relief, which they don't need, so don't know why they wouldn't just have done it prior to the season.

Not hard to take the pulse of this Board. There is a lot of negativity, much of it very negative. Not me - the Hawks are going to be just fine this season. People forget how easily a record improves. The Hawks were 33-39-10 last season. Win just 3 more games the record is at .500 at 36-36-10. Win 5 more and the record is at 38-34-10 which is 86 points. Win 10 more and the record is at 43-29-10 which is 96 points.

Not surprisingly the Hawks lost lots of games at the very end of last season, when the games were totally meaningless, and the team just wanted the season to end. This negatively skews last season’s record.

Also the Hawks lost lots of games last year where they uncustomarily blew leads. Will be corrected this year. Also in many games last year the Hawks dominated play but ended up losing. Will also be corrected this year.

There were two major sources of chaos last year that would have destroyed any team. 1. The Hawks had awful, soul destroying goaltending. No team in the NHL, no matter how talented can overcome awful goaltending. Already saw it this pre-season when Ward was a sieve. Doesn’t matter what else the team does if the goaltending fails. Goaltending will be better this season, whether it be from an improved Ward and improved Forsberg or a returning Crawford or a promoted Delia.

2. Ulf’s Defensive “System” last year was ludicrous. It was not a Defence First System but actually was an Offensive “System” demanding obscene amounts of penetration in the O-Zone. The problem was the penetration was often non-sensical and not supported by game context. The penetration was often totally unsupportable from a defensive standpoint. The result - the Hawks gave up more odd-man breaks in a few games than other teams were giving up over months.

There seemed to be a change later in the season. It does not seem to be a confusing issue to penetrate when it makes sense to do so, given game context and when it is safe to do so from a defensive standpoint. During training camp there has been an acknowledgement that there were problems last season and steps have been taken to address those problems.

What we will see is that our D-Men are actually better than they seemed last year. Same for the goaltenders.

So what does Z3Hawk predict? Hawks will make the play-offs and will do so easily!
- Z3Hawk

I agree!

TOM
WILSON
GIVES
HEAD


shots




- waitforawhistle

He got 20 games for it this time!