-Calder winner '83 (as 6th round pick)

-Canada Cup winner '91, scoring key goal in clinching game

-Stanley Cup winner '94, on ice in dying seconds as defensive stalwart

-884 consecutive games played, 3rd all time

-1012 pts in 1006 regular season games, 131 points in 140 playoffs games

- +203 for his career

-'the best player' Fozzie Bear Foley said he's seen come through Chicago

He wasn't a kiss ass though, to either the Hawks or the NHLPA he later rep'd

And yes, 28 should have been in the rafters yesterday
- philco28

Fair argument. Count me in on the Gramps HOF bandwagon.

Talk about outhouse to the penthouse...

...Ducks find a way, yet again...3-2 SO win over Habs.
- ArlingtonRob

More job security for BB

Last year's team wasn't overly fast either. I think the 2013 was faster.
- golfbard

Agreed. I love the 2013 team. 2010 was an offensive juggernaut, but '13 was a complete team from top to bottom.

Agreed. I love the 2013 team. 2010 was an offensive juggernaut, but '13 was a complete team from top to bottom.
- teh_HAWKZ

2010 was loaded. I mean the talent on that team was nuts. Ladd on line 3 if I recall. Buff was starting to make a name for himself before becoming an all star. Crazy.

Fair argument. Count me in on the Gramps HOF bandwagon.
- EKB13

Salute EK


Sadly though, his time appears to have passed. He might get consideration in a slow year, but he's a longshot now.

2010 was loaded. I mean the talent on that team was nuts. Ladd on line 3 if I recall. Buff was starting to make a name for himself before becoming an all star. Crazy.
- golfbard

And don't forget....we had Brent Sopel

Tampa, Washington, Colorado, Nashville...you can even make an argument with Minnesota.

Doesn't mean the Hawks can't beat them, but the team isn't the same young wide-eyed speedsters they were 6 years ago,
- teh_HAWKZ

Ya ok , they are fast . But Imo the HAWKS play a faster paced game when on , and their transition game is beyond reproach

Really name a team that play's a faster paced game then the HAWKS
- oldduffman

i don't know if faster...but right up there is the stars...
aves can skate but that's about it...
bolts have some gitty-up...

I think you meant 47.
- EbonyRaptor

oh no, I meant the AK45.

Century Arms Draco AK-45 Pistol, Semi-automatic, 7.62x39mm, Centerfire, 12.25" Barrel

the older brother of the AK47 semi-automatic rifle.

We are not even close to the fastest team in the league. Tevo, Kane, Pan are all above Avg and look faster because they have elite hands. our fastest player is Hossa endline to endline and he is 37. Keith never gets tired so his speed is better compared to most later in games and later in shifts. When you think about fast players its guys that D men try and get the angle on and check into the boards at the blue line but realize too late they cannot get in front of them. Stalberg, Saad, Come to mind.
- kmw4631

Agreed, the Hawks elite guys play very fast with the puck on their sticks, especially when sprung in transition. I don't think anybody on the team could keep up with Hoss in a goal line to goal line sprint.

It was fun watching an up and down game. The Wings are one of the few teams that like to push the pace like the Hawks.

Ya ok , they are fast . But Imo the HAWKS play a faster paced game when on , and their transition game is beyond reproach
- oldduffman

No disagreement there. I remember a quote from Stamkos after the first or second game of the Finals last year. He said something along the lines of "that's the fastest paced game I've ever played."

Ya ok , they are fast . But Imo the HAWKS play a faster paced game when on , and their transition game is beyond reproach
- oldduffman

Agreed and having the fastest team doesnt mean they are a lock tonwin the Cup. Look at the Islanders and Rangers the last few years or Ottawa. Similar to the size argument, teams can play fast and that doesnt mean skate up and down the ice like a track meet. An aggressive forecheck is a way to showcase speed. Using whatever speed you have against teams with a slower D (meaning playing the matchup which is Q's forte). Again, last year's team wasn't loaded with speed but they played the matchups well and their fourth line played fast with a heavy forecheck.

Have to agree...real nice game last night against the Wings who are another skating team. But we know when we get to the dance the West teams are going to stack the line and check the crap out of the Hawks. But we've heard this before from the Ducks...quack quack quack...lol...

Still with the depth this team now has its scary to think about. And if Ehrhoff plays like that Stan has made another shrewd move. Interesting that Weise will play his first game against the Bruins...

All in on Gramps getting into the Hall and having his number #28 hung from the rafters. We know Larmer would have a longer streak of games if Pulford hadn't been running the team.

Agreed, the Wings are a team that is going to try to play a pretty possession game and that plays into the Hawks' hands, maybe why the Hawks' record against the Wings is crazy good over the last five seasons or so.

Teams that are hard on the forecheck and jam up the neutral zone will present a problem for the Hawks, sometimes a stifling problem, until they adjust and go to a station to station game, dump and chase and bang. That's why Ladd and Wiese and Fleischmann are such good acquisitions, and getting Kruger back will help because he is good at going and retrieving pucks.
- John Jaeckel

I agree with all of this-- and surely this is why Stan choose to pick up players with more size that can dump it and go get it-- Ladd & Weise play that game well with finishing skill too-- and if they would have went with the pure speed guy in Boedker-- who does not bang and chase--but he sure can skate-- it would have made the Hawks easier to game plan against-- I think there is plenty of high skill on this team already--

Looking forward to seeing Weise in the lineup-- maybe tonight? I thought Ehroff was ok-- I can see why he didn't fit with the Kings and hope he can transition here in the games ahead-- at least he is a good option to have in a specific role-- as depth on D

And don't forget....we had Brent Sopel

- philco28

The Catfish. A nice read.

http://bleacherreport.com...ks-most-underrated-player

He also had the shot Hossa slammed home to beat Nashville in game 5 of the 2010 round against the Preds. Maybe the best game I ever went to at the UC.

We are not even close to the fastest team in the league. Tevo, Kane, Pan are all above Avg and look faster because they have elite hands. our fastest player is Hossa endline to endline and he is 37. Keith never gets tired so his speed is better compared to most later in games and later in shifts. When you think about fast players its guys that D men try and get the angle on and check into the boards at the blue line but realize too late they cannot get in front of them. Stalberg, Saad, Come to mind.
- kmw4631

Very much agree. And, in fact, Colorado gives us fits with their speed and I think our record against them is not too flattering. Very much like Minny to beat them out for that 8th spot.

oh no, I meant the AK45.

Century Arms Draco AK-45 Pistol, Semi-automatic, 7.62x39mm, Centerfire, 12.25" Barrel

the older brother of the AK47 semi-automatic rifle.
- Hossa2theHOF

I stand corrected.

When all the parts in are place, this team translates to a 4 LINE JUGGERNAUT

- philco28

Kinda what I was thinking last night. Stanley went out and got 3 forwards (including two left wings), one defenseman. Would I have liked to see one more reasonable quality NHL blue liner, absolutely.

But I have really felt, and still feel, the problem with this team's defense may have been its offense. i.e., keeping the other team more on its heels and stuck in its own end. Wiese, Ladd, Meat Man (the first two especially) all guys who can help do that.

They looked good last night, and really the last 5 periods against two good teams. Get a healthy rested Hoss sand Kruger back. Everyone else stays healthy, look out.

Totally, completely agree.

Rasmussen works hard (and was noticeable last night) but . . . he is at best an average skater and not great on draws. The Hawks don't want, in an ideal world or the playoffs, AA and Toews playing so much PK either.
- John Jaeckel

I think he is a decent enough 4th line player. Certainly NHL calibre. They could (and have) done worse. Kooga supplants him when healthy which is fine. Nice to have options though. #depth

Either way, the forward depth is ridiculous and there are 3 lines that look dangerous and have been driving play.

Q has to be all kinds of giddy right now. It is ridiculous that he probably won't win the Jack Adams with what he was able to get out of that roster.

Ya ok , they are fast . But Imo the HAWKS play a faster paced game when on , and their transition game is beyond reproach
- oldduffman

It was amazing on the power play when Detroit thought they had a chance to clear and how Seabrook took a hit got off a beautiful pass to the blue line and Kane buried it, it happened so quickly

Kinda what I was thinking last night. Stanley went out and got 3 forwards (including two left wings), one defenseman. Would I have liked to see one more reasonable quality NHL blue liner, absolutely.

But I have really felt, and still feel, the problem with this team's defense may have been its offense. i.e., keeping the other team more on its heels and stuck in its own end. Wiese, Ladd, Meat Man (the first two especially) all guys who can help do that.

They looked good last night, and really the last 5 periods against two good teams. Get a healthy rested Hoss sand Kruger back. Everyone else stays healthy, look out.
- John Jaeckel

This 1 and This 2....

about a week before the trades Q mentioned..we could use a few more forwards. Odd for him say that and at first I thought more forwards other than the glaring 1LW hole...no..need defense. As usual just a dumb fan!

They may have resolved, as you indicated, their def issues with the added forward depth. However they ripped at the dot last night which led directly to 2 goals and several other high quality chances. Craw is still facing to many sog's and many of the high quality variety.

Very much agree. And, in fact, Colorado gives us fits with their speed and I think our record against them is not too flattering. Very much like Minny to beat them out for that 8th spot.
- hawk35

I would love drawing the Avs in round 1. We'd manhandle them.

Kinda what I was thinking last night. Stanley went out and got 3 forwards (including two left wings), one defenseman. Would I have liked to see one more reasonable quality NHL blue liner, absolutely.

But I have really felt, and still feel, the problem with this team's defense may have been its offense. i.e., keeping the other team more on its heels and stuck in its own end. Wiese, Ladd, Meat Man (the first two especially) all guys who can help do that.

They looked good last night, and really the last 5 periods against two good teams. Get a healthy rested Hoss sand Kruger back. Everyone else stays healthy, look out.
- John Jaeckel

As I watched the second period unfold, I determined that Crawford, Keith, Seabrook and Toews (probably in that order) would be the folks you would least want to lose for a significant portion of the playoffs.

I think he is a decent enough 4th line player. Certainly NHL calibre. They could (and have) done worse. Kooga supplants him when healthy which is fine. Nice to have options though. #depth

Either way, the forward depth is ridiculous and there are 3 lines that look dangerous and have been driving play.

Q has to be all kinds of giddy right now. It is ridiculous that he probably won't win the Jack Adams with what he was able to get out of that roster.
- fattybeef

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this-- but TT seems to have regained some of his confidence with the arrival of the new players and back at center-- perhaps a combo of the obvious stamp of approval by the FO-- but also there is more room created for him by the style of players that have been acquired-- Fleischman adds veteran skill and they seem to connect and Desi opens up some space with his checking style-- I sense that Weise on that line will take that group further and look for TT to show off more of his skills-- Its not like he isn't still 'soft' in some areas-- he alligator armed a few plays along the boards last night-- its just is less impactful since there are other players who are taking that role-- one that he should never be expected to fill-- he will never be a banger-- Lets hope the Hawks stay healthy-- and we have a fun long run this spring--

This 1 and This 2....

about a week before the trades Q mentioned..we could use a few more forwards. Odd for him say that and at first I thought more forwards other than the glaring 1LW hole...no..need defense. As usual just a dumb fan!

They may have resolved, as you indicated, their def issues with the added forward depth. However they ripped at the dot last night which led directly to 2 goals and several other high quality chances. Craw is still facing to many sog's and many of the high quality variety.
- bogiedoc

Jason Lewis has a great write up about quality scoring chance stats. I know the stats say the Hawks are giving up more quality scoring chances, problem is my eyes don't agree except the first period against the Caps.

I guess there's a reason certain players make more money because they can either put the biscuit in the net or make great passes which lead to quality scoring chances, aka Kane to Panarin or last night Backstrom with a beautiful backhand pass to Ovechkin