Not advocating the trades, just saying if I were the GM calls about 19 and 2 would be the only calls I wouldn't take
- rollpards19

Agree 1000%. Although I think Hossa, not DK, is the 2nd best player on the team (whatever that means, because comparing wingers to D men is apples and oranges), I think Keith is the 2nd most critical, unreplaceable player in Q's system.

Mad Max could be a good 4th line centre and replacement for Frolik on the PK. I've seen him play lots in Vancouver. He's the type of player you hate to play against but want on your team.
- DarthKane

Lapierre was the guy who started all the diving and embellishment shennanigans in Vancouver. The Hawks don't want or need that culture brought to Chicago.

The "play better within their system" is a loaded question. Its hard to say anybody because the team as constructed just won a cup, so we know most of them fit the Hawks system very well. But in terms of general hockey value, I think the only people they wouldn't get fair value for no matter what is Toews, all world number one center, dominant puck possesser and Selke finalist (probably the most valuable kind of hockey player, backed up by the fact he was statistically the MVP according to GVT) and Keith because teams who lose number 1 d-men suffer the greatest and most noticeable drop in winning. I think they could trade Kane and get similar value back, along with Sharp and Seabrook. Not advocating the trades, just saying if I were the GM calls about 19 and 2 would be the only calls I wouldn't take
- rollpards19

I'd listen to offers for Kane - but it would have to be a very, very special deal to make a move. You don't get offensive talent like that very often, even considering his lack of physicality and defensive issues.

Look what he did on the Bickell goal: skated through and around at least 4 Bruins before getting a decent shot on Rask, then helping pop the puck loose on the boards.

Toews would be the only real untouchable, but I can't imagine a deal that would work for Kane - Crosby? A younger Datsyuk?

The "play better within their system" is a loaded question. Its hard to say anybody because the team as constructed just won a cup, so we know most of them fit the Hawks system very well. But in terms of general hockey value, I think the only people they wouldn't get fair value for no matter what is Toews, all world number one center, dominant puck possesser and Selke finalist (probably the most valuable kind of hockey player, backed up by the fact he was statistically the MVP according to GVT) and Keith because teams who lose number 1 d-men suffer the greatest and most noticeable drop in winning. I think they could trade Kane and get similar value back, along with Sharp and Seabrook. Not advocating the trades, just saying if I were the GM calls about 19 and 2 would be the only calls I wouldn't take
- rollpards19

It is a vastly different era, but go back and look at the Islanders roster of the 'dynasty' years - Trottier, Bossy, Potvin, Gillies, Nystrom, Goring, Smith, Morrow and many more. A few bodies were added and subtracted every year but their coach and GM knew who to keep in place while they were in their primes and still hungry. The only mistake Bill Torrey eventually made was keeping too many guys for one year past their expiry date.

19 consecutive Best of 7 series victories - will never be duplicated.

Sharp being interviewed on the Score right now.
- Tugboat

Anyone have a link to this interview? I'd love to hear it.

Anyone else listen to any particular hawks talk, or any sort of post cup interviews? I need to consume all the Hawks media I can.

Anyone have a link to this interview? I'd love to hear it.

Anyone else listen to any particular hawks talk, or any sort of post cup interviews? I need to consume all the Hawks media I can.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

blackhawks.nhl.com has a lot.

If you didn't already have a man crush on the Captain, you did after Game 4
- eburgio

Had one on him since the nanosecond he was drafted

Word is that Vinny is looking for 5 years/$25 million.

If that's the case, you can cross him off the Hawks wish list.
- EKolb13

Vinny, we hardly knew ya

Shultz is a slug. He has the energy of ERic Daze. No thanks. Shaw is a lot more physical than Shultz.
- TrueGrit

He was also a healthy scratch in Washington for a majority of the season. There is a reason for that. He probably isn't much better or worse than Brookbank or Stanton. I say pass on Schultz.

Vinny, we hardly knew ya
- philco28

We can make an Irish drinking song out of that with that song title.

Have you guys seen/heard this?

its AWESOME, this guy goes nuts at the 4:00 min mark when bolland scores

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHcGlR4-dV0
- FourFeathers773

THAT is PHUCKIN' WICKED AWESOME....NICE FIND

We can make an Irish drinking song out of that with that song title.
- EKolb13

First, we drink...then we sing....DEAL

Lapierre was the guy who started all the diving and embellishment shennanigans in Vancouver. The Hawks don't want or need that culture brought to Chicago.
- paulr

I think Kesler and Burrows were pulling that crap before Lapierre showed up.

Not to take up Unnamedsource's mantle, but I don't think that he has said or implied that Leddy's intelligence is related to book smarts, but has suggested that he hasn't picked up Q's defensive schemes and makes the same mistakes repeatedly. Now, that said, I grew bored of this topic after a few posts, so I haven't examined all the posts about Leddy's intelligence to know whether that has been modified over the course of the last few days.
- QStache

Pretty much what I've been saying

I think Kesler and Burrows were pulling that crap before Lapierre showed up.
- EKolb13

Lapierre could be a solid 4C for about $1 million per season. He's only 28 so he's got a lot of tread left on his tires.

Stan keeps saying he's going to give some of the young guys a chance to make the team next season. But I think he'll need to sign an experienced centre.

Said it before...Toews' performances in Games 4 and 6 especially is the stuff of LEGENDS


- philco28

Mentioned this awhile back. Every team captain save one, who has lifted the cup multiple times is in the hall..

Lapierre could be a solid 4C for about $1 million per season. He's only 28 so he's got a lot of tread left on his tires.

Stan keeps saying he's going to give some of the young guys a chance to make the team next season. But I think he'll need to sign an experienced centre.
- DarthKane

I'm not against filtering some of the kids next season. However, there only needs to be a spot or two open for the Rockford rotation. The team will need some veteran role players.

Lapierre could be a solid 4C for about $1 million per season. He's only 28 so he's got a lot of tread left on his tires.

Stan keeps saying he's going to give some of the young guys a chance to make the team next season. But I think he'll need to sign an experienced centre.
- DarthKane

If we don't sign a solid center and let the young guys prove themselves, I'm ok with that. But, I think Bowman needs to keep a few million around in case we need somebody at the trade deadline 2014.

Huge difference between the NFL and NHL, though. The contracts aren't guaranteed in the NFL so it is a lot easier to restructure the deal to open up cap space.
- QStache

Learn something new everyday

Lapierre could be a solid 4C for about $1 million per season. He's only 28 so he's got a lot of tread left on his tires.

Stan keeps saying he's going to give some of the young guys a chance to make the team next season. But I think he'll need to sign an experienced centre.
- DarthKane

I just hope it's not this idiot. I don't want Chicago to have anything to do with a player who dives, embellishes and starts fights but won't drop them. The Hawks don't need the sideshow.

Mentioned this awhile back. Every team captain save one, who has lifted the cup multiple times is in the hall..
- Beaver-Warrior

Toes is a lousy captain and will never make the Hall

Toews would be the only real untouchable, but I can't imagine a deal that would work for Kane - Crosby? A younger Datsyuk?
- StLBravesFan

I wouldn't trade Toews for a package that included both Sid and a younger Datsuk. But I'd trade Kane for Sid right now, were this possible, which of course it's not.

Lapierre was the guy who started all the diving and embellishment shennanigans in Vancouver. The Hawks don't want or need that culture brought to Chicago.
- paulr

Burrows started it well before Lapierre. Lapierre just brought his own style to add to the menu of cheap that is the Canucks.

Toes is a lousy captain and will never make the Hall
- paulr

You're right. What the heck was I thinking.

Mentioned this awhile back. Every team captain save one, who has lifted the cup multiple times is in the hall..
- Beaver-Warrior

And the only one I think to do it at 25 was Gretzky