FYI Single game tickets go on sale Monday


- jhawk159

Shhhhhhhhhhh. I was trying to keep that a secret.

Fixed.

Lalonde signed in Germany. Also, where's Kruger?
- EKolb13

Lalonde was a joke throw in

Kruger is "Nightmare" on there

FYI Single game tickets go on sale Monday


- jhawk159

But if we want to see Nashville at the UC, we have to buy a ticket to another game....

Don't forget: with 1:15 left in regulation - after Bickell's tying goal - the most important 1:15 of the season, maybe - Q put the 4th line out there to make sure they got to overtime.

4th line, NOT Toews, Hossa, whoever else - 4th LINE.

They failed - didn't GET to overtime.
- StLBravesFan

Very well said!

But if we want to see Nashville at the UC, we have to buy a ticket to another game....
- StLBravesFan

I posted about that earlier. What a bunch of BS.

That's seeing the Hawks in Nashville, not seeing the Preds at the UC.

But if we want to see Nashville at the UC, we have to buy a ticket to another game....
- StLBravesFan

I dont understand?

I dont understand?
- BlazinMike

http://www.chicagonow.com...he-red-out-vs-blackhawks/

The Hawks are again the best team in the NHL top to bottom on paper.

They again have the most balanced blue line in hockey.

They clearly have capable goaltending.

Detroit got better but is in the other division and that could be an amazing Stanley Cup... Can you imagine that one... Wow.

Vancouver --- Will be an even bigger sh!t show this year
San Jose --- Same team and a year older
LA --- Same team, out a capable back up with a guy who has had major back surgery and an old decrepit blue line
STL --- Said it last year, beyond overrated then, still overrated and not good enough now
Anaheim --- Lost one of their top players and still have no depth
Colorado still has no D though they should be entertaining on and off the ice.

Really no one in the West has gotten significantly better, most of the top teams have/will regress more than the Hawks and I cannot think of a compelling reason --- aside from "Cup hangover" --- as to why the Hawks wont be in the finals again.

Very well said!
- Tugboat

And I just re-watched the Cup game from 2010. Right after Hartnell scored the tying goal with a few minutes to play you can see Q say Bolland. And he put that line out to calm the team down when Philly was all jacked-up. It is nice to have someone so reliable out there. That is why I'm really looking forward to Danault and also Hartman. Just 2 other really smart and mistake-free guys you know will usually do the safe thing: like Bolland

I posted about that earlier. What a bunch of BS.

That's seeing the Hawks in Nashville, not seeing the Preds at the UC.
- EKolb13

I believe what Stl said was meant to be in red.

I believe what Stl said was meant to be in
- Ogilthorpe2red.

Ok, that explains it.

You guys didnt have a chance in 2010. Simple as that, most confident ive ever been about a team i root for.
- BlazinMike

Yeah that 2010 Hawk team was just scary as hell. But Philly was really good, too. A lot better than their regular season record. I don't know why they barely made the playoffs that year. They really needed better goaltending. I thought leighton was very good AT Times, but he was their weak link

I believe what Stl said was meant to be in
- Ogilthorpe2red.

Yes.

I'll be at the home opener in 220 boys .

Who else is going ?

The Hawks are again the best team in the NHL top to bottom on paper.

They again have the most balanced blue line in hockey.

They clearly have capable goaltending.

Detroit got better but is in the other division and that could be an amazing Stanley Cup... Can you imagine that one... Wow.

Vancouver --- Will be an even bigger sh!t show this year
San Jose --- Same team and a year older
LA --- Same team, out a capable back up with a guy who has had major back surgery and an old decrepit blue line
STL --- Said it last year, beyond overrated then, still overrated and not good enough now
Anaheim --- Lost one of their top players and still have no depth
Colorado still has no D though they should be entertaining on and off the ice.

Really no one in the West has gotten significantly better, most of the top teams have/will regress more than the Hawks and I cannot think of a compelling reason --- aside from "Cup hangover" --- as to why the Hawks wont be in the finals again.
- fattybeef

1) LMAO

2) If I were a betting man I'd bet against the Jamie Kompon three-peat, but it's definitely possible. They had pretty good luck injury-wise last year. Sharp, Hossa, Rozsival, and Bolland missed some time, Crawford and Emery some games here and there (but never both at the same time). Basically, they suffered no major injuries on the blue line, and I think the chance of that happening two years in a row are pretty slim.

I think the real wild card in the west is Dallas. They may suck, but then again if Seguin and Benn can catch fire early they could be a force. Lehtonen needs to stay healthy for them. They could be one of those teams that finishes 4th in the conference or 12th, or most anywhere in between.

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

Duly noted. A fair argument, even if I don't agree with the extremity of some of your points. Thanks for making it reasonable and cogent.

THN interviews TT.

http://www.thehockeynews....-Blackhawks-prospect.html

And a THN top 10 list including a couple ex and one current Hawk...more fuel for the elite/not debate

http://www.thehockeynews....coming-back-to-Earth.html
- Ogilthorpe2

Actually a good list.

Let's all bear in mind, Crawford doesn't have to be great behind this defense. Just consistent. To me, the key is Khabibulin, how healthy he is and how regularly he can play. The 1A/1B system was good for both Emery AND Crawford last year. Not unlike the rotation in Montreal that helped Huet so much from 2003-2006. Less pressure, more rest. Also agree on Brouwer. His 48 game goal total projected out to 32 for an 82 game season. That's a huge year for him. He wil get his usual 20 goals/200 hits this year regardless.

The Hawks are again the best team in the NHL top to bottom on paper.

They again have the most balanced blue line in hockey.

They clearly have capable goaltending.

Detroit got better but is in the other division and that could be an amazing Stanley Cup... Can you imagine that one... Wow.

Vancouver --- Will be an even bigger sh!t show this year
San Jose --- Same team and a year older
LA --- Same team, out a capable back up with a guy who has had major back surgery and an old decrepit blue line
STL --- Said it last year, beyond overrated then, still overrated and not good enough now
Anaheim --- Lost one of their top players and still have no depth
Colorado still has no D though they should be entertaining on and off the ice.

Really no one in the West has gotten significantly better, most of the top teams have/will regress more than the Hawks and I cannot think of a compelling reason --- aside from "Cup hangover" --- as to why the Hawks wont be in the finals again.
- fattybeef

You have to look out for Winnipeg, they have an advantage because Byfuglien=2 guys.

Not saying you're wrong here, but can we pls just let it be?
- hscesq

I'm saying he's wrong. Fountain-San is a troll who CLEARLY has a personal axe to grind toward me and I guess the hawks in general. GOA88 took a personal shot. My saying he lacked facts and I wanted some from him is not "lashing out."

I will give you two reasons why the Blackhawks will not repeat as Stanley Cup champs:

Stephen Walkom,

He tried to derail the team last season while on the ice, but couldn't. Now that he will be closer to the war room, he can manipulate the games even more.

I will give you two reasons why the Blackhawks will not repeat as Stanley Cup champs:

Stephen Walkom,

He tried to derail the team last season while on the ice, but couldn't. Now that he will be closer to the war room, he can manipulate the games even more.
- powerenforcer

It's a conspiracy!

C'mon, don't you think you're reaching a bit with this train of thought? I get that Walkom is (frank)ing useless on the ice, but wouldn't you think things might just be better with him being in his new position? Somewhere where he can't botch a call on the ice?

Where's the other reason?

Really?

So tell me, Oh Great Enlightened One, how did the Hawks break the consecutive points record and win the Stanley Cup pretty much going away last year?

Teamwork and coaching? But not talent? Really?

How?!

And what is the difference between that team and this one? Tell me, and please use facts. Not a bunch of theory about the salary cap era.

You, my friend, don't deal in facts, or logic, but rather a bunch of smack talk, and "conventional wisdom."

I'm not saying the Hawks will repeat.I am saying it is in the realm of possibility based on something that happened in 2013. And not much has changed since then. So is Vegas. I guess they're delusional, too.

Please, give me some facts, not your likely totally Eastern Conference under-estimation of the talent level on the Stanley Cup Champs.
- John Jaeckel

John, Don't even waste good logic on an obvious TROLL. If he is not trolling, then he is certainly not much of an hockey observer.

He can SAY the Hawks are NOT stacked....but have him watch the Olympics....

Team Canada will have Toews...voted best forward at the last Olympics and Conn Smythe winner, as one or their top 2-3 forwards...they will have Keith, as their best or 2nd best D-man.

Team USA will have Kane, as one of their top 2-3 forwards...oh, and a Conn Smythe winner as well!

And there is Hossa who will be a star on his Olympic team...also Seabrook who will be an Olympic regular...

Yup...NOT stacked...I get his point....I guess 6-7 NHL teams can point to the same level of talent and skill.....

Gimme a break...let him troll...sad, sad Philly fan....don't know whether to laugh at him, or shed a tear in pity....

I will give you two reasons why the Blackhawks will not repeat as Stanley Cup champs:

Stephen Walkom,

He tried to derail the team last season while on the ice, but couldn't. Now that he will be closer to the war room, he can manipulate the games even more.
- powerenforcer

And I bet you think that the twin towers were and inside job! Take off the foil hat it's messing with your brain!

It's a conspiracy!
- EKolb13

C'mon, don't you think you're reaching a bit with this train of thought? I get that Walkom is (frank)ing useless on the ice, but wouldn't you think things might just be better with him being in his new position? Somewhere where he can't botch a call on the ice?

Where's the other reason?

Maybe it's too early. The 2 reasons - Stephen Walkom (it was trying to be funny). I see him closer to the war room as a chance for him to dictate the games more, because what is decided in the war room is what stands. There is a chance to override what the on-ice refs are calling.

And I bet you think that the twin towers were and inside job! Take off the foil hat it's messing with your brain!
- paulr

If Bettman was involved, then yes it was an inside job! I do not trust anything that man does.