Great read as always JJ...

I think Bolly and Fro will be missed definitely. Of course both were victims of the cap and the money allocated toward those slots on a team.

Fro really turned his game around this season and coupled with Kruger was fantastic on PK duty. Bolland is Bolland.

Still look at the depth that's here. Hawks will have cap space at the TDL and if a move or two is needed then they'll make them. Really just have to get to late March and keep everyone healthy or get folks back healthy at that point. Give the kids the opportunities here in the early part of the season and don't rush guys back from injuries.

No question this team knows what it takes to win come playoff time. I really think the toughest team they played in the playoffs last season was the Wings. They beat the crap out of the Hawks and pushed them to the edge. But the Hawks still survived. They're battle tested and have most of the team back unlike 2010.

Of course all of the east coast media will pick the Pens nothing new there. Should be another great season can't wait.

Don't wanna get in to the Stalberg Frolik thing again, but you see the hypocrisy in this statement right? When Stalberg hits the post, which he does a lot, he is a bad finisher, but when Fro does it, he's millimeters away from being a hero. Just something to think about.
- rollpards19

Don't recall Stalberg hitting that many posts - except for one shoot-out attempt - not last year - when he hit all 3 on one shot.

Don't wanna get in to the Stalberg Frolik thing again, but you see the hypocrisy in this statement right? When Stalberg hits the post, which he does a lot, he is a bad finisher, but when Fro does it, he's millimeters away from being a hero. Just something to think about.
- rollpards19

Ahhh....no.

Frolik is a complete hockey player more so then Stalberg. Stalberg is a guy who can skate really, really fast, thinks he's a top 6 player in the NHL, and has a far less superior skill set then Frolik.

Frolik was a 1st round pick, and morphed his game into fitting a role, and exceeding at it...greatly.

You also realize that Victor Stalberg..has all of ONE career playoff goals, right?

i guess.
i look at it as a well constructed team. not stacked. it may just be semantics. but again the 80's oilers were stacked. all stars all over the line up. the Bruins while not as good as the Hawks are built the same. to roll 4 effective lines. that doesn't make them stacked.
- Fountain-San

What's the point in comparing teams from the 80s to teams from today? The game has completely changed and the definitions for everything has changed. It's a pointless argument and it seems like you're just trying to take away from the Blackhawks accomplishments in 2013 and potential for 2013/2014.

The Blackhawks were the better team in 2013, but I don't take away anything from the Bruins, they were great too. If you want to argue that the Blackhawks aren't as good as some people are saying that's fine, but saying things like "the team isn't stacked like teams from the 80s" or blaming injuries then you don't make yourself look good and your argument is weak.

Don't recall Stalberg hitting that many posts - except for one shoot-out attempt - not last year - when he hit all 3 on one shot.
- StLBravesFan

Stalberg's 3 million a year salary is going to get a LOT of guys paid a LOT of money. I laughed out loud when I saw that deal come across twitter.

Damnit.....

Stalberg has 1 career playoff goal and 6 points in 32 games. Apparently he scored against Vancouver in 2011. I can't remember it......probably an empty netter?

Frolik has 7 career playoff goals and 18 points in 34 games...Frolik has scored at least 3 big ones.....PS against Vancouver in game 6 of 2011, tying goal against Phoenix in closing minutes of game 4 vs Phnx in 2012, and the PS goal in game 6 vs Detroit this past year.

i don't know about that.

the hawks style of play killed us. too fast. couple that with the Bergeron and Campbell injuries and we never had a chance in the long run.

but the games were all rather close.
- Fountain-San

I'm just curious do the Vancouver fans, come and taunt you, and belittle your championship from 2011? Because that series was closer then this past series, and I'm just wondering if that's where all this belittlement is coming from.....

Hawks were a stacked team. Stacked like the 1980s Oilers? No. Stacked compared to the rest of hockey? Ahh...yes. Look at the record from start to finish, and They went 11-3 after a wake up call vs Detroit in game 4.

Your best bet is to fold your tent, and go back to your thread and prepare yourself for the barrage of Penguins fans who think they are a shoe in once again for the cup this year. And the dillusional Flyer fan, which you can find here.....at any time...

Don't recall Stalberg hitting that many posts - except for one shoot-out attempt - not last year - when he hit all 3 on one shot.
- StLBravesFan

Break away in the detroit series when he hit the bottom of the crossbar, other times I can't remember, but I was just pointing the bit of hypocrisy in that line of thinking

The most comical post EVER on this site....

When somebody alluded to the fact that the Hawks locker-room was doomed because old Viktor was being scratched and not played......

Ahhh....no.

Frolik is a complete hockey player more so then Stalberg. Stalberg is a guy who can skate really, really fast, thinks he's a top 6 player in the NHL, and has a far less superior skill set then Frolik.

Frolik was a 1st round pick, and morphed his game into fitting a role, and exceeding at it...greatly.

You also realize that Victor Stalberg..has all of ONE career playoff goals, right?
- SteveRain

Yeah I do realize, you realize that Frolik has like 10 goals the past 3 seasons right? We've had this conversation before and its clear we disagree, which is pretty normal seeing as how sports are mostly subjective. Just agree to disagree. Watch how the great penalty killer Frolik does next year with Winnipeg's below average defense and goaltending, you'll see he's nothing more than a guy who gives up a pretty average number of shots on the PK.

Stalberg's 3 million a year salary is going to get a LOT of guys paid a LOT of money. I laughed out loud when I saw that deal come across twitter.

Damnit.....

Stalberg has 1 career playoff goal and 6 points in 32 games. Apparently he scored against Vancouver in 2011. I can't remember it......probably an empty netter?

Frolik has 7 career playoff goals and 18 points in 34 games...Frolik has scored at least 3 big ones.....PS against Vancouver in game 6 of 2011, tying goal against Phoenix in closing minutes of game 4 vs Phnx in 2012, and the PS goal in game 6 vs Detroit this past year.
- SteveRain

Game 2, 2nd goal of a 4-3 loss.

Really there is no comparison between Frolik and Stalberg in the playoffs. Frolik has proven to elevate his game and all capacities and Stalberg does the exact opposite. I hope Viktor turns things around in Nashville but I wouldn't count on it.

Yeah I do realize, you realize that Frolik has like 10 goals the past 3 seasons right? We've had this conversation before and its clear we disagree, which is pretty normal seeing as how sports are mostly subjective. Just agree to disagree. Watch how the great penalty killer Frolik does next year with Winnipeg's below average defense and goaltending, you'll see he's nothing more than a guy who gives up a pretty average number of shots on the PK.
- rollpards19

If you want to compare apples to apples you have to compare Frolik and Stalberg as teammates on the Hawks where Stalberg was deemed a spare part, was given only a semi reglar shift and benched for a number of games in the playoffs and Frolik was deemed important played a secondary shutdown role and was assigned top pk duties and never was considered for benching.

Yeah I do realize, you realize that Frolik has like 10 goals the past 3 seasons right? We've had this conversation before and its clear we disagree, which is pretty normal seeing as how sports are mostly subjective. Just agree to disagree. Watch how the great penalty killer Frolik does next year with Winnipeg's below average defense and goaltending, you'll see he's nothing more than a guy who gives up a pretty average number of shots on the PK.
- rollpards19

That's perfectly OK...I am fine with that. Not everyone is going to agree about everything.

But....you watch how quickly Stalberg ends up in Trtoz's doghouse when Trotz sees all those blue line turnovers, and lack of production...Remember, Columbus is in the east now...so who is Viktor going to score against?

That's perfectly OK...I am fine with that. Not everyone is going to agree about everything.

But....you watch how quickly Stalberg ends up in Trtoz's doghouse when Trotz sees all those blue line turnovers, and lack of production...Remember, Columbus is in the east now...so who is Viktor going to score against?
- SteveRain

BOSTON!

Don't recall Stalberg hitting that many posts - except for one shoot-out attempt - not last year - when he hit all 3 on one shot.
- StLBravesFan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXCafeCDdDU

If you want to compare apples to apples you have to compare Frolik and Stalberg as teammates on the Hawks where Stalberg was deemed a spare part, was given only a semi reglar shift and benched for a number of games in the playoffs and Frolik was deemed important played a secondary shutdown role and was assigned top pk duties and never was considered for benching.
- paulr

And the year before when Stals was top 6 and Frolik was a healthy scratch? I'll cherry pick that one to prove Stals is better. Apples to apples

Again, why are posters (trolls) allowed to take personal shots ("delusional") and the blogger is not allowed to fire back by saying you don't rely on facts (to this point)?

Why?

You, also, need to go back and read the thread. Then comment.
- John Jaeckel

I read the entire thread up until that point, and have since read your back and forth with the other poster that followed.

Here's the thing. This is YOUR house, and you are supposed to be above such behavior. So some guy hiding behind a keyboard calls you a name, who cares? You are a "public" figure (I use the quotation marks to indicate that this is still a community of sorts, but you are still highly visible) and as such will be subjected to more scrutiny (and abuse) than the average keyboard jockey, especially because you're discussing sports.

I've been reading your blog for years now, and while I don't always agree with you, I find that you are still knowledgable and prolific (if a bit sensational at times), in stark contrast to the majority of bloggers here, and therefore I keep coming back to read your thoughts on all things Blackhawks.

But when you react with contempt, which I have seen often, you completely undermine your own points and give them the very thing they want, negative attention, and you start a flame war that lasts several hockeyless pages. Remember that name calling is the last bastion of the uninformed (or something like that), and by doing so, the original poster completely derailed the discussion and deflected it away from your point that he was, in fact, wrong and could not support his argument.

Anybody remember what that argument was? Looks like his trolling succeeded after all.

And the year before when Stals was top 6 and Frolik was a healthy scratch? I'll cherry pick that one to prove Stals is better. Apples to apples
- rollpards19

Then look at their playoff performances against Phoenix:

Stalberg: 6 GP 0 goals 2 assists +/- 0 14:53 TOI

Frolik: 4 GP 2 goals 1 assist +1 17:22 TOI

I read the entire thread up until that point, and have since read your back and forth with the other poster that followed.

Here's the thing. This is YOUR house, and you are supposed to be above such behavior. So some guy hiding behind a keyboard calls you a name, who cares? You are a "public" figure (I use the quotation marks to indicate that this is still a community of sorts, but you are still highly visible) and as such will be subjected to more scrutiny (and abuse) than the average keyboard jockey, especially because you're discussing sports.

I've been reading your blog for years now, and while I don't always agree with you, I find that you are still knowledgable and prolific (if a bit sensational at times), in stark contrast to the majority of bloggers here, and therefore I keep coming back to read your thoughts on all things Blackhawks.

But when you react with contempt, which I have seen often, you completely undermine your own points and give them the very thing they want, negative attention, and you start a flame war that lasts several hockeyless pages. Remember that name calling is the last bastion of the uninformed (or something like that), and by doing so, the original poster completely derailed the discussion and deflected it away from your point that he was, in fact, wrong and could not support his argument.

Anybody remember what that argument was? Looks like his trolling succeeded after all.
- Sandus

There's a ton of history with Fountain-Sen, from back in the playoffs. He's been bounced from this blog a few times. So perhaps JJ could have acted differently (according to you), no one who frequents this blog really feels like JJ was out of line in his response to Fountain-Sen.

Then look at their playoff performances against Phoenix:

Stalberg: 6 GP 0 goals 2 assists +/- 0 14:53 TOI

Frolik: 4 GP 2 goals 1 assist +1 17:22 TOI
- DarthKane

I was pointing out roles, not production. Obviously Frolik is a better playoff player so far in the small sample size, but the difference is so big that Stals will likely never catch up. But if I need one of the two for 82 games, I'm taking Stalberg every single time, and that's what teams pay for

There's a ton of history with Fountain-Sen, from back in the playoffs. He's been bounced from this blog a few times. So perhaps JJ could have acted differently (according to you), no one who frequents this blog really feels like JJ was out of line in his response to Fountain-Sen.
- QStache

Fountain-San has a history with JJ - no other blogger and no other thread. He spends his time in Engels' thread with Habs fans 90+% of the time, so clearly he can get along with the "enemy". There's just a contempt that JJ and Geoff (that's his name) have for each other that will never cease, and that's that. Geoff should just stay away from JJ's thread and I will discuss that with him.

At this point, it's over and so let's all move on.

Avalanche sign Landeskog to seven-year extension ($39 million)

http://www.thescore.com/n...g-to-seven-year-extension

I'm just curious do the Vancouver fans, come and taunt you, and belittle your championship from 2011? Because that series was closer then this past series, and I'm just wondering if that's where all this belittlement is coming from.....

Hawks were a stacked team. Stacked like the 1980s Oilers? No. Stacked compared to the rest of hockey? Ahh...yes. Look at the record from start to finish, and They went 11-3 after a wake up call vs Detroit in game 4.

Your best bet is to fold your tent, and go back to your thread and prepare yourself for the barrage of Penguins fans who think they are a shoe in once again for the cup this year. And the dillusional Flyer fan, which you can find here.....at any time...
- SteveRain

Yeah, what he said.

I was pointing out roles, not production. Obviously Frolik is a better playoff player so far in the small sample size, but the difference is so big that Stals will likely never catch up. But if I need one of the two for 82 games, I'm taking Stalberg every single time, and that's what teams pay for
- rollpards19

Those roles were handed out by Q and he admitted after that season that he made some mistakes. Those mistakes were corrected in 2013.

I'm not saying Stalberg is a bad player, he fills the role of the "skilled forward" on the third line well. We all have our preferences, but I would take Frolik over Stalberg every time. Over 82 regular season games Stalberg may have more offensive output, but Frolik's value goes beyond points. If Stalberg's not generating offensive his value is limited.

And the year before when Stals was top 6 and Frolik was a healthy scratch? I'll cherry pick that one to prove Stals is better. Apples to apples
- rollpards19

Let's cherry pick some more ... This year with Frolik having an important role and Stalberg being a spare part the Hawks won the cup. Apples to apples ... after further cherry picking of course.

There's a ton of history with Fountain-Sen, from back in the playoffs. He's been bounced from this blog a few times. So perhaps JJ could have acted differently (according to you), no one who frequents this blog really feels like JJ was out of line in his response to Fountain-Sen.
- QStache

Except that Fountain-San wasn't the cause of the original comments, it was GOA88. So in essence, the bigger problem (according to you guys) only showed up when JJ lashed out.