Agreed up to a point. Crawford is fine. But to your point, how much can they pay him, or should they?

It is possible Raanta will stink like herring left out too long when he hits North America. But I'm betting, and I think more importantly, the Hawks are, he won't. The circumstances, trajectory and narrative is almost precisely the same as Niemi's. But this guy arguably has better credentials. And Niemi, I'm sorry, is a very good NHL goaltender, technical anomalies, rebounds and all. That guy is a talent and a winner.

By the way, he reads this blog, too!
- John Jaeckel

I'm not ripping Niemi but there was a very large difference at that point vs what may transpire by June of 2014.

1. Crawford was seasoned AHL goalie.
2. He battled Niemi in camp, and proved he could at least play at the NHL level
3. Raanta is neither proven or seasoned in the north America game.
4. So if they let Crawford walk, you save money, you still have to resign Raanta as he will be a RFA, and THEN bring in a patch work goalie that gives you a chance to compete in arguably your last year to win with the current roster, as bodies will have to leave with Toews and kane impending cap hit increases.

That's all I am saying. The Crawford saga will pan itself out very quickly....NO waite, see how he shows up in camp conditioning wise, and how his performance pans out.

I wouldn't bet against C2. He passed up for the likes of Khabibulin, Lalime, Huet, Turco, and Niemi.

Contract years have a funny way of playing themselves out....

Agreed up to a point. Crawford is fine. But to your point, how much can they pay him, or should they?

It is possible Raanta will stink like herring left out too long when he hits North America. But I'm betting, and I think more importantly, the Hawks are, he won't. The circumstances, trajectory and narrative is almost precisely the same as Niemi's. But this guy arguably has better credentials. And Niemi, I'm sorry, is a very good NHL goaltender, technical anomalies, rebounds and all. That guy is a talent and a winner.

By the way, he reads this blog, too!
- John Jaeckel

Hammer has to be priority #1.
From there, what Nick Leddy do they have? The good Nick Leddy, or the one who was exposed in the playoffs? That will have a lot to do with if they decide to deal an Oduya or Seabrook (if he completely bottoms out).

What I find interesting, is that they resign Roszival for 2 more years, and essentially bring back the same D corps...blocking the way for a Cleddening, Stanton, or Olsen getting time up at the NHL level. We all saw what Olsen can do...he can be an OK 6th D man....As far as Stanton or Cleddening? No proven track record.

yet on the flip side, Bowman is willing to roll out a completely unproven 4th line made up of Hayes, Morin, Smith, etc.....hawks are top heavy at both ends, but I'm shocked they didn't mix and match better on the D end and give a kid a shot of gaining some valuable time and seeing what they have.....

I'm reminded of the end of "Hard Day's Night" - Beatles are singing "She Loves You", and a little girl in the audience is just in tears, crying, screaming "George, George..." over and over.

Must be a Commonwealth thing.
- StLBravesFan

I wish. It's more of a teen or tween girl thing no matter where you are at. I do get embarrassed for them

>Goalies are a lot like relief pitchers -- very few give you year after year excellence
>Crawford did three things this year to make himself a much better goalie:
got out of his net much more quickly to pass the puck to an open Dman to start the breakout (still could be better, but much better than before), won the mental battle with the media who tried to make him a loser even though he won Game 4 of the Finals 6-5, and won the Cup
>Crawford has probably "doubled" his mental toughness this year
>Many athletes reach a career stage where they must make a tough choice --better money vs a better career
>Hockey is such a team game that your teammates matter and matter a lot
>Think the Hawks retain every key player they want to retain in the comng years

I thought the CBC announcers were very boring and really failed to capture the excitement of the two goals. Were they Bruin fans or what? The NBC feed was far, far batter.
- PitMartin7

The best by far was that Finnish guy calling the game. Couldn't understand a word but Bolland but damn was it exciting. Lol

The best by far was that Finnish guy calling the game. Couldn't understand a word but Bolland but damn was it exciting. Lol
- tomcat24

+1. I could understand "Dave" too.

Here's the Game 6 highlight pack from the Finnish broadcast. Awesome.

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

Both good. I just think the Canadian feed shows more interesting shots. One girl kept screaming and shaking after the bolland goal. I think part of bickell's group. It was funny
- tomcat24

If you watch both broadcasts closely, right after the bolland goal, a bruins fan in an olive green shirt comes down the aisle and angrily begins slapping his hand against the glass. Hilarious.

When the Canucks got knocked out by the Hawks in 2010, the postgame video of some of the Canucks fans sitting glumly in their seats refusing to leave is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. A couple guys are being prodeed by their girlfriends/wives to leave, and they wont get up. Awesome. Almost beats the video of the Bruins fans in 2011 dressed up like the Sedins (rollerblades, wigs and shinny sticks) and putting on a performance outside TD garden during the cup. Classic.

If you watch both broadcasts closely, right after the bolland goal, a bruins fan in an olive green shirt comes down the aisle and angrily begins slapping his hand against the glass. Hilarious.
When the Canucks got knocked out by the Hawks in 2010, the postgame video of some of the Canucks fans sitting glumly in their seats refusing to leave is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. A couple guys are being prodeed by their girlfriends/wives to leave, and they wont get up. Awesome. Almost beats the video of the Bruins fans in 2011 dressed up like the Sedins (rollerblades, wigs and shinny sticks) and putting on a performance outside TD garden during the cup. Classic.
- HealthyScratch1

I think that was Hawk Harrellson, looking for Derek Sanderson....

6M for Crawford?!? NO, NO, and NO....

...unless that's 6M for 2 years.

If you love someone set them free...and then find a less expensive alternative.
- ArlingtonRob

Uh... No. Hammer.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/ne...678667&navid=nhl:topheads

Looking forward to the Olympic games but good god, this Canada team is getting even better with the addition of Stamkos and maybe Lucic.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=678667&navid=nhl:topheads

Looking forward to the Olympic games but good god, this Canada team is getting even better with the addition of Stamkos and maybe Lucic.
- nickmo2699

Canada should be THE powerhouse every Olympiad - it's their game.

Like the US in basketball, once we began to take it seriously.

If you watch both broadcasts closely, right after the bolland goal, a bruins fan in an olive green shirt comes down the aisle and angrily begins slapping his hand against the glass. Hilarious.

When the Canucks got knocked out by the Hawks in 2010, the postgame video of some of the Canucks fans sitting glumly in their seats refusing to leave is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. A couple guys are being prodeed by their girlfriends/wives to leave, and they wont get up. Awesome. Almost beats the video of the Bruins fans in 2011 dressed up like the Sedins (rollerblades, wigs and shinny sticks) and putting on a performance outside TD garden during the cup. Classic.
- HealthyScratch1

Yeah I noticed that dork hitting the glass, too. I also liked the look on Bolland's face when Frolik runs at him to celebrate. The look of horror on Bolland's face.

Canada should be THE powerhouse every Olympiad - it's their game.

Like the US in basketball, once we began to take it seriously.
- StLBravesFan

Yet the U.S. beat them in Pool play and then lost in OT.

Yet the U.S. beat them in Pool play and then lost in OT.
- nickmo2699

To quote Reece Bobby, "If you ain't first, you're last". Canada won when it mattered

Hammer has to be priority #1.
From there, what Nick Leddy do they have? The good Nick Leddy, or the one who was exposed in the playoffs? That will have a lot to do with if they decide to deal an Oduya or Seabrook (if he completely bottoms out).

What I find interesting, is that they resign Roszival for 2 more years, and essentially bring back the same D corps...blocking the way for a Cleddening, Stanton, or Olsen getting time up at the NHL level. We all saw what Olsen can do...he can be an OK 6th D man....As far as Stanton or Cleddening? No proven track record.

yet on the flip side, Bowman is willing to roll out a completely unproven 4th line made up of Hayes, Morin, Smith, etc.....hawks are top heavy at both ends, but I'm shocked they didn't mix and match better on the D end and give a kid a shot of gaining some valuable time and seeing what they have.....
- SteveRain

Unless Seabrook or Leddy is god awful, Oduya is getting traded and Leddy is moving up to play with Hammer while Clendening replaces Leddy and Stanton is the 7th d-man. Olsen doesn't skate well enough to play the Hawks style

I'm not ripping Niemi but there was a very large difference at that point vs what may transpire by June of 2014.

1. Crawford was seasoned AHL goalie.
2. He battled Niemi in camp, and proved he could at least play at the NHL level
3. Raanta is neither proven or seasoned in the north America game.
4. So if they let Crawford walk, you save money, you still have to resign Raanta as he will be a RFA, and THEN bring in a patch work goalie that gives you a chance to compete in arguably your last year to win with the current roster, as bodies will have to leave with Toews and kane impending cap hit increases.

That's all I am saying. The Crawford saga will pan itself out very quickly....NO waite, see how he shows up in camp conditioning wise, and how his performance pans out.

I wouldn't bet against C2. He passed up for the likes of Khabibulin, Lalime, Huet, Turco, and Niemi.

Contract years have a funny way of playing themselves out....
- SteveRain

Raanta has been playing against men in Finland and quite honestly dominating. If he's good this year on small ice, it's basically the same situation as bringing Corey in in 2011.

Raanta has been playing against men in Finland and quite honestly dominating. If he's good this year on small ice, it's basically the same situation as bringing Corey in in 2011.
- rollpards19

Ahh...no. Wasn't there another guy everyone was pining about when they traded Skille to Florida? That goalie that everyone was in love with....where is he now?

Finland hockey doesn't hold a candle to the NHL. Sorry.

And a surprise to nobody......Jagr goes to the team with the best offer $$ wise. What a clown. All this guy wants is $$, and will be pawned off on some stupid GM at the deadline this spring.

Ahh...no. Wasn't there another guy everyone was pining about when they traded Skille to Florida? That goalie that everyone was in love with....where is he now?

Finland hockey doesn't hold a candle to the NHL. Sorry.
- SteveRain

But it does hold a candle to the AHL, which is what you used to say Corey was seasoned and ready for the NHL.

Unless Seabrook or Leddy is god awful, Oduya is getting traded and Leddy is moving up to play with Hammer while Clendening replaces Leddy and Stanton is the 7th d-man. Olsen doesn't skate well enough to play the Hawks style
- rollpards19

Let's see how much Clendening improves before penciling him in for '14-'15. Also, I tend to agree about Olsen at this point, however, I still think there is room for improvement there and he may get there yet.

Also, Dahlbeck could be in the running for a roster spot next fall. He's a kid to watch. He's a mobile defensive defensemen who will block shots.

Unless Seabrook or Leddy is god awful, Oduya is getting traded and Leddy is moving up to play with Hammer while Clendening replaces Leddy and Stanton is the 7th d-man. Olsen doesn't skate well enough to play the Hawks style
- rollpards19

This. However, I think you have to take a player like Olsen for what he is now, not necessarily what he can become. What he is now, I agree with you, he's not a good enough skater. However, guys like that certainly have the ability to change the landscape if they progress and continue to get better.

But it does hold a candle to the AHL, which is what you used to say Corey was seasoned and ready for the NHL.
- rollpards19

We'll see....lots of guys never take the next step from the AHL to NHL.

I'm not sold on Raanta until we see him in the preseason or he steps in for a hurt Khabibulin, which will happen...at some point.

We'll see....lots of guys never take the next step from the AHL to NHL.

I'm not sold on Raanta until we see him in the preseason or he steps in for a hurt Khabibulin, which will happen...at some point.
- SteveRain

And by hurt you mean hungover right

And by hurt you mean hungover right
- rollpards19

HA HA...or driving around with 0.23 BAA in his roadster......

Let's see how much Clendening improves before penciling him in for '14-'15. Also, I tend to agree about Olsen at this point, however, I still think there is room for improvement there and he may get there yet.

Also, Dahlbeck could be in the running for a roster spot next fall. He's a kid to watch. He's a mobile defensive defensemen who will block shots.
- EKolb13

Sounds like #4. I don't love Clendening, but if Rosy still has it after next year I think I'd be ok with him getting a shot under the protection of 32. Assuming he continues improving.