Actually, you need to pay attention. I said nothing about being a "major" player in free agency. I was saying a decent deal with Toews and Kane may give them the flexibility to address some issues in free agency. Mainly depth for the bottom 6 but maybe surprise us with a quality free agent that wants a real chance at a cup. Iginla did it with the Bruins.
- steelhead

Is that what you meant when you said "sign Toews & Kane to deals that will allow them to make more moves in free agency?".........um okay

Maybe a soft serve ice cream cone?
- DarthKane

with a blow up doll on the back

Crow still sits too deep in his net. He could learn a thing or two from Raanta about being more aggressive in coming out to challenge.
- philco28

Trouble is as a drop and block goalie you can't come out of your crease too far or you have no way to recover in the event of a rebound. Raanta doesn't immediately drop to his knees and when he does drop he is right back up so he can play more aggresively. I'd like to see CC play more of a hybrid style like Raanta

Trouble is as a drop and block goalie you can't come out of your crease too far or you have no way to recover in the event of a rebound. Raanta doesn't immediately drop to his knees and when he does drop he is right back up so he can play more aggresively. I'd like to see CC play more of a hybrid style like Raanta
- paulr

Crow's a big dude and covers a lot of net with his natural size, but look how deep he is on the winner the other night. Way deep. Granted, he didn't have a lot of time to react because Duchene made a brilliant and sneaky quick feed to Barrie, but too often he's hanging too deep in the blue paint.

It is the perception of some posters who marry themselves to a prospect who is more or less a fringe player at this time. You will see comments about them not being a "Q guy" or Q doesn't like them when in reality they are not playing up to expectations of a coach who has won two stanley cups in 4 years.....during this time Q has played and given opportunities to several young players as you've mentioned. Some have stuck and others have been inconsistent......and as others have mentioned this is not a team that gives out chances....this is a team that expects to win and if you can't cut it...then you will be in RFD.
- UnnamedSource

This I'm not sure why it always has to come down to with some that it is a personal issue and that the decision solely lies with Q. Commentators and others including those in the business have given kudos to the Hawks organization for being one of the best at evaluating talent and scouting players. What is so hard to grasp here? If a player is not up with the club it is because a number of people came together and, for better or worse, made the decision.

This I'm not sure why it always has to come down to with some that it is a personal issue and that the decision solely lies with Q. Commentators and others including those in the business have given kudos to the Hawks organization for being one of the best at evaluating talent and scouting players. What is so hard to grasp here? If a player is not up with the club it is because a number of people came together and, for better or worse, made the decision.
- rtang415

Right on....

Then I would take him tomorrow. That said, I agree with the notion of not getting all nostalgic about guys that have left the Hawks. But Frolik was here just last year, is not old, and fits a need. It would not, though, remove the need for a center.
- mohel

I think unnamed source was trying to say it will never happen and laughing at those of us who suggested it but said the only way it could would be the Jets having to hold back salary. I am starting to understand some of the animosity here towards him.

I think unnamed source was trying to say it will never happen and laughing at those of us who suggested it but said the only way it could would be the Jets having to hold back salary. I am starting to understand some of the animosity here towards him.
- steelhead

I think he was just asking my opinion. The reason he talked about the Jets keeping salary is because Frolik would put the Hawks over the cap.

It is the perception of some posters who marry themselves to a prospect who is more or less a fringe player at this time. You will see comments about them not being a "Q guy" or Q doesn't like them when in reality they are not playing up to expectations of a coach who has won two stanley cups in 4 years.....during this time Q has played and given opportunities to several young players as you've mentioned. Some have stuck and others have been inconsistent......and as others have mentioned this is not a team that gives out chances....this is a team that expects to win and if you can't cut it...then you will be in RFD.
- UnnamedSource

Hard to question Q. His record deserves respect. Shaw and Saad obviously prove he will give chances to the right players.

If a rookie is not playing up to Q's expectations then he is obviously not "Q's guy". Q's guy is obviously Zus who he is allowing to play thru some real struggles. Would seem to be more strategic to give a little more rope to a younger player like Morin. Either to see if he can really contribute or, if not, increase his trade value. Zus will be there for him to use barring injury.

This I'm not sure why it always has to come down to with some that it is a personal issue and that the decision solely lies with Q. Commentators and others including those in the business have given kudos to the Hawks organization for being one of the best at evaluating talent and scouting players. What is so hard to grasp here? If a player is not up with the club it is because a number of people came together and, for better or worse, made the decision.
- rtang415

But if we just agreed with Q, Bowman and each other what fun would this board be??

Think we have a good tandem for sure that compliment each other well.
- philco28

I'm just thankful we are past the Bulin worries. We know Raanta is a serviceable back up if not a future starter. With only vodka boy we were looking at hell with Crow down.

I'm just thankful we are past the Bulin worries. We know Raanta is a serviceable back up if not a future starter. With only vodka boy we were looking at hell with Crow down.
- steelhead

Yeah, I think it was a pretty big deal for the team to find that shoulder injury; it helps with the cap situation, especially if it were possible that he'd return.

I'm just thankful we are past the Bulin worries. We know Raanta is a serviceable back up if not a future starter. With only vodka boy we were looking at hell with Crow down.
- steelhead

Exactly.

And again, I think it's important to note that last year they went to OT 16 times, winning 11.

This year - 15 times to OT, winning 4.

That's just to offset the belief that somehow this team just rolled thru the regular season last year - it didn't - 1/3 of the games went to OT. They just won more after regulation than this year.
- StLBravesFan

Flip that OT record around including one of the SO losses against the Blues and we're talking about sitting pretty 3 weeks from the Olympic break (10-pt division lead even with the 4 Blues games in hand).

I'm not worried about the 'Hawks right now. They're getting chances, they're leading a lot of games. Its a matter of upping the killer instinct about 3 months from now.

Crow's a big dude and covers a lot of net with his natural size, but look how deep he is on the winner the other night. Way deep. Granted, he didn't have a lot of time to react because Duchene made a brilliant and sneaky quick feed to Barrie, but too often he's hanging too deep in the blue paint.
- philco28

Sorry, I didn't explain myself very well. I agree about CC playing deep in his net and the reason for that is because of his style of dropping to his knees very eary. If he plays aggressively at the top of his crease or higher and drops to his knees and there is a rebound .... he is (to borrow your term and spelling) PHUCKED!!!

CC has to play deep to have a chance at any rebounds, unless he adopts a more hybrid (standup/butterfly) style like Raanta.

Bollig?...Who in Rockford can replace his skill set for small dollars?
- Al

He's at 575K. He'll probably want a 2-3 year deal. I bet he gets close to 750K, maybe 800K. He's proving to be more then just an upper cutting swinging goon, regardless of what the CI wants to paint him as.

But if we just agreed with Q, Bowman and each other what fun would this board be??
- paulr

I get that. But at some point and time it becomes old and everyones time might be better spent looking in another direction. Eventually credibilty is lost with the argument.

Is that what you meant when you said "sign Toews & Kane to deals that will allow them to make more moves in free agency?".........um okay
- UnnamedSource

Yes. Signing Kane and Toews to deals in the 9-10m range versus some of the wild numbers being floated should give them added flexibility to sign other quality free agents - depth signings. Maybe more if the cap goes up enough. I certainly hope no major splashes are in the future. Did any of the big signings pay off last off season - Clark? Horton?

"More moves in free agency" meant more moves than the last few seasons (which were basically none). Did you see some other words there like "major" or "high profile"?

I know seeing things can be a problem for some. In fact, every time I see you post today I see the letters "POS". Not a problem so far. Do you want to make it one?

Versteeg was traded about 3 weeks after Tallon's statement that players who didn't want to be there would be dealt. I doubt he was shopped that long.

Bickell has had some other decent stretches. The reason the Jets would want him would be TT or the rest of the package they would get along with him. Chevy may also look at Bickell as a piece to move for even more picks/prospects down the road.

Really cannot see it happening. SB will stand pat and look for another push next year with a healthy Bickell and TT potentially joining the lineup.

I hope they can extend Kane and Toews as soon as the window opens at a price that will allow them to make some more moves in free agency the next few off seasons.
- steelhead

Read the LeBrun article...he was shopped.

Bickell has little value right now. He's injured. At least 1 bad leg, maybe 2. He's also being paid like a top 6 and....isn't a top 6. That is a very bad deal, and I'll bet anyone here Bickell isn't in Chicago when the last check for that contract is cut. Baring a complete 180 and new commitment.

Read the LeBrun article...he was shopped.

Bickell has little value right now. He's injured. At least 1 bad leg, maybe 2. He's also being paid like a top 6 and....isn't a top 6. That is a very bad deal, and I'll bet anyone here Bickell isn't in Chicago when the last check for that contract is cut. Baring a complete 180 and new commitment.
- SteveRain

Or final healing of his injuries.

Read the LeBrun article...he was shopped.

Bickell has little value right now. He's injured. At least 1 bad leg, maybe 2. He's also being paid like a top 6 and....isn't a top 6. That is a very bad deal, and I'll bet anyone here Bickell isn't in Chicago when the last check for that contract is cut. Baring a complete 180 and new commitment.
- SteveRain

Sorry, didn't see the article. I did see some pieces after the trade (I think Dreger or McKenzie) saying they thought the Canucks or another club would have paid Tallon more than he got with the salary hold back.

Agree with you on Bickell. I hope he doesn't become our John Druce. Don't think he will but this season from him has been a real let down.

If you want to play cap wizard...start at 10 million a year for Kane and Toews. That's been reported by a very reputable and connected person....McKenzie.

Even then, you have NO current comparables for either guy. Especially if Kane has a huge points year, and Toews starts to pump a few more in....Imagine if they win another cup, and 1 of them gets the Conn Smythe. Bowman may crawl in a corner and cry.

Lets flash forward to 2015-16...when you have Saad, Kruger, and Leddy all coming off the end of their contracts. As of today....I gotta think Kruger is the last of those 3 to be of importance. The Hawks learned a very valuable lesson with Bolland and I don't see them paying Kruger anywhere close to 3 million a year unless he can show he can play top 6 minutes....which Shaw has proven, and Kruger hasn't.

I'm not as worried about the cap thanks to the Canadian TV deal... but I will say you just can't assume 19&88 are signing here for 10 million. The ideal situation for Bowman is he can lock them up this summer, announce it at the convention so McDonough gets his "big pop" and then move on to looking at what Saad, Leddy, and Kruger will want.

Sorry, I didn't explain myself very well. I agree about CC playing deep in his net and the reason for that is because of his style of dropping to his knees very eary. If he plays aggressively at the top of his crease or higher and drops to his knees and there is a rebound .... he is (to borrow your term and spelling) PHUCKED!!!

CC has to play deep to have a chance at any rebounds, unless he adopts a more hybrid (standup/butterfly) style like Raanta.
- paulr

agreed Crow isn't the quickest of cats at the best of times so sitting deeper somewhat compensates for his general lack of quickness. I submit that he can come out a little further especially on shots taken from above the dots. He doesn't need to camp out on his goal line.

Or final healing of his injuries.
- StLBravesFan

Ok..but again...what did he prove before his current injuries? I'll give you the playoff run, but I'll also rain on that a little with the carrot of a new deal hanging in his face, which if you want to believe or not, played a MAJOR role.

Before that? 17 goals in 2010-11. he's paid because he's big and the Hawks are praying that the playoffs is the bickell they'll get and not the regular season one.

They did the same thing with another guy who is now being moved back to F up north somewhere.....

agreed Crow isn't the quickest of cats at the best of times so sitting deeper somewhat compensates for his general lack of quickness. I submit that he can come out a little further especially on shots taken from above the dots. He doesn't need to camp out on his goal line.
- philco28

I also think that hip/groin is still giving him a lot of problems....You see him dropping his 1 leg down, and not going into the full butterfly? LIke Ray Emery, or Kelly Hrudey? That Olympic break is going to help him and Bickell the most to get rested up....and god willing...healthy.