(frank) those (frank)ing (frank)ers.
- Ogilthorpe2

In(frank)ingdeed.

I can't imagine what would make a person do that.......
- UnnamedSource

And you never will be able to US. Our minds don't function that way.

6-0 with 4 mins left in the 2nd. Ouch.
- DarthKane

Final 9-1. 6 PP goals for the Ducks, and three PP scores in a row in the second. Yikes.

So, we've got members from:

USA
Canada
Scotland
Germany
Oz
New Zealand (right?)
Finland

Any other "foreign countries" besides Florida?
- StLBravesFan

Chicagoan livin in Croatia...so that makes it 8 different countries

Chicagoan livin in Croatia...so that makes it 8 different countries
- captainserious

I also talked to another poster who lived/lives in Spain IIRC

I also talked to another poster who lived/lives in Spain IIRC
- prd797

9! 9 different countries....I wonder what the final number will be

9! 9 different countries....I wonder what the final number will be
- captainserious

First goal: double digits


Wow, Anaheim really crushed the Canucks. Would be great to see the Hawks slow them down and beat them at home.

This Ducks team is scary. They've got the skill, defence, goaltending and toughness/physicality to go all the way. I'm scared Friday in CHI
- Arjun_AJB

Be scared for June, not Friday.

Didn't see the game, but apparently Van kept trying to mix it up at the end a Ducks has a 7-minute two man advantage? Sounds like 1975.

Yeah, but Saint brings so much to the table.
- Elbows15

Chase girls? And miss a night on HB?

No thanks....

Be scared for June, not Friday.

Didn't see the game, but apparently Van kept trying to mix it up at the end a Ducks has a 7-minute two man advantage? Sounds like 1975.
- StLBravesFan

Tortarella is such an idiot. I can't for the life of me figure out what he is trying to do with this team of whiners, cry babies, finger biters, hair pullers and divers? They are a has been team with a has been coach.

If we look at it from a replacement value standpoint:

2C option 1: platoon of Hanzus, Pirri, Kruger, Shaw
2C option 2: TT

3W option 1: Bickell
3W option 2: Ladd

Ladd had 6 points in 19 PO games in 2010. Bickell had 17 in 23 this year. I don't see why this trade is even being contemplated.
- busmaster

Bus I see your what you're saying, no question Bickell had a phenom run last year, and he was put on a line with Toews and Kane at times, meanwhile Ladd was part of a shutdown third line in 2010. But you can't look just at points in Ladd's case - for one he's a Captain and brings a lot more to a team than just numbers. He comes to work every night and is willing to pay the price in the corners and drop the gloves if needed. He's going to get in your face (and he's won two cups).

Ladd obviously knows the system and the players here. I still think giving Ladd away sits bad with Bowman and he wants to correct it.

Make the deal now - shows the team you're not going to sit pat and that the goal is to win. Then you can look at a vet #2 center at the TDL.

Do you need leadership that much. You have so many players in your system that could do the same job. You need another mid experienced player with talent (defensive game).

Ladd would make more sens in Ottawa because we are young and inexperienced.

Wouldn't hurt Chicago though

Ladd's numbers overall are better than Bickells so if they can swing a trade without giving up TT why not make it. Bickell had a great playoff run but is he going to turn out to be a player that has long stretches of inconsistent play. Age is not a factor here either since Ladd is only a few months older than Bicks. I'm sure the first prospect every team will ask for is TT but that doesn't mean the Hawks have to give him up. Part of the benefit of having a strong farm system is having the resources to pull off a deal for a proven NHL player and the Hawks are in a position to do it. They just shouldn't include TT in that deal.

Would be trade, would be possible line which rivals the 2010 playoff line:

Krueger, Ladd, Versteeg. A dependable fourth center to play in place of Kreuger. Nordstrom, but he should receive some late season gp insofar as acclimation to the job at NHL level. Does that mean Shaw is the #2 center? And Saad with Kane and Shaw? Too much guessing involved. Just to figure how Chg re-creates a line similar to 2010 means a lot of headaches. I do not want damaged goods in Bickel if I am Winnipeg.

Another force in the 2010 playoffs?

If this rumor is all wrong and it is Big Buff instead, imagine his role.

I say the safest and best thing is to stop wasting time dreaming anything. Because we and John, too, really do not have any idea. Hearing a whisper or that two teams have talked means nothing. But it will create a lot of talk on boards.

So go ahead and dream about Ott too. Why not. It is plausible enough. Then after the trade deadline, how many hours and trade proposals did you come up with that came to no fruition. I should know better to even suggest a trade. Maybe it is just best to invest in a fantasy league where credibility exists yet usually nothing comes from NHL trade rumors. Lots of fun to guess but also a huge colasssal waste of time IMHO (emphasis added the entire last sentence).

I also talked to another poster who lived/lives in Spain IIRC
- prd797

That's me. Live and work with my wife in Spain during the summer. Have a small place in the northern wine country, so that counts, right? Watched game 6 until 6am in Barcelona this summer.

FWIW, I vote no on this trade. I thought Ladd was the biggest loss because he provided so many things for the Hawks as an ultimate role player (like Pippen was for the Bulls). But TT has too much promise to finaally solve the second line center to trade away now. Especially with Bicks and a first rounder.

That's me. Live and work with my wife in Spain during the summer. Have a small place in the northern wine country, so that counts, right? Watched game 6 until 6am in Barcelona this summer.

FWIW, I vote no on this trade. I thought Ladd was the biggest loss because he provided so many things for the Hawks as an ultimate role player (like Pippen was for the Bulls). But TT has too much promise to finaally solve the second line center to trade away now. Especially with Bicks and a first rounder.
- Kentxo

Would you be open to the deal if TT was not in it?

Bus I see your what you're saying, no question Bickell had a phenom run last year, and he was put on a line with Toews and Kane at times, meanwhile Ladd was part of a shutdown third line in 2010. But you can't look just at points in Ladd's case - for one he's a Captain and brings a lot more to a team than just numbers. He comes to work every night and is willing to pay the price in the corners and drop the gloves if needed. He's going to get in your face (and he's won two cups).

Ladd obviously knows the system and the players here. I still think giving Ladd away sits bad with Bowman and he wants to correct it.

Make the deal now - shows the team you're not going to sit pat and that the goal is to win. Then you can look at a vet #2 center at the TDL.
- DK002

Be Cheveldayoff. Do you risk taking an injured player who all things considered is going to be 100% healthy in Next Season, not this season? Maybe you do if you want TT bad. If they want to create two new forward lines, maybe Petan and TT are a big part of the solution. Moving E Kane and or Buff too is part of their overhaul?

Consider this following point in more detail: Moving TT is taking away the surest bet for our next core top six forward. Unless you are in love with Saad. I admit, I like Saad's future, but I really like more the skill TT has and his ability to make others better producers among top six forwards.

I know, lot of projecting there. But you have to do that, if you are trading maybe the best bet you will have in obtaining a top six forward in the next five years.

Drafting late each year and likely not going after a big time free agent any time soon, it is therefore accurate to believe no young forwards who fit into our top six are coming along in five years. Unless some future draft surprises and can make that jump. Because the other guys we have now, these prospects could become nice pieces but not top six forwards.

In five years Hossa is retired. Sharp on decline. Toews finished after too many concussions? You have Kane and Saad left in top six. Wow, the difficulty to secure a top six is going to probably be traced to the draft. Hope for a TT clone or just a top forward falls one draft year to us? Acquiring a top six forward through trade and f/a probably not happening given the many high salaries we have. Anyway, there is a paucity of big name for big name trades in the NHL.

I keep TT.

Would you be open to the deal if TT was not in it?
- jhawk159

Be Cheveldayoff. He would not be open to it He would shop Ladd or Buff or E Kane elsewhere.

All teams have some prospects. Even Calgary. You have a plan, you target someone, like TT. The other team wants to substitute a lesser, different type of player than TT. Are you nuts. I say no instantaneously if I am Cheveldayoff.

Saw this article on how Q is losing confidence in the 3rd line:

http://espn.go.com/blog/c...-confidence-in-third-line

Perhaps they change line to try to spark Bickell's confidence:

Bickell-Toews-Kane
Sharp-Kruger/Shaw-Hossa
Saad-Kruger/Shaw-Versteeg
Bollig-Handzus-Smith

Just a thought. My addition by subtraction is to get rid of Zues anyway they can....7th rounder from anyone? Nordstrom has been very noticable in Rockford. Bring him back up, at least that kid has the motor of a Ferrari, over the lawn mower engine Zues has.

IMO, Too many people are fixated on the heros of yesteryear. Ladd won a cup in Chicago, I get it, he'll forever be associated with the team that ended the drought. Everyone remembers their first. Special place in the heart of all fans of the Indan Head for sure. Although I liked the deal (a steal IMO), the requisition of Versteeg seems to have rekindled the fire for bringing back "the good 'ole days". I'm in favor of any deal that makes this team more likely to win more Cups, but every Championship Team is different. "Past performance may not be indicative of future results."

Live in the now folks. Onward and upwards.
- Ogilthorpe2

Your best post in a while. Let this be the answer to all those who think Zus is the answer.

The Ducks have done fine so far, but what will be there answer to Handzus. Gonna be a big matchup problem for them.

Again, Ducks another team emulating blackhawk 4 line good skating hockey, or rather, how the Hawks used to do it.

4th line of Zus, Bollig and Brookbank....now we are moving in the right direction...

Your best post in a while. Let this be the answer to all those who think Zus is the answer.
- TrueGrit

I don't think Zus was intended to be the long term answer. But he played his tail off in those playoffs.

Was updating my Yahoo Fantasy team and saw in the Dubnyk notes that Edmonton retained half of his salary in the deal yesterday. Confirmed it on Capgeek

In case anyone cares....

Would you be open to the deal if TT was not in it?
- jhawk159

Yes.

I'd be in favor of a smaller trade. Every TDL and OS since Madden left, I've pined for a 4th line defensive center who wins draw, kills penalties and skates. They have one now in Kruger, but he seems destined for the 3rd line. It would also enable us to sit Zeus and have a balanced 4 lines.

I doubt Jay McClement is available since Toronto is gonna be in it all year. What about Marcel Goc? His contract is up this year and he makes $1.7M. He could be had for prospects, I would think. Pirri for Goc? Or Kostka and a pick to make the cap work?

Sharp-Toews-Hossa
Saad-Shaw-Kane
Bickell-Kruger-Versteeg
Bollig-Goc-Smith
Handzus