So dont count on TT cuz we haven't seen him in NHL action.....but u can count on 2-3 defensive prospects who we haven't seen either to come in and fill out a D pairing?
- SimpleJack

And many have Rundblad penciled in for #5 next year. Ironic?

And many have Rundblad penciled in for #5 next year. Ironic?
- Elbows15

I don't.

Nor does the organization even if they traded defensive pieces for Kesler.

And many have Rundblad penciled in for #5 next year. Ironic?
- Elbows15

Brings what Leddy lacks in size and stature with less speed, but still offensive minded.

Yes. A free agent defensive player or two and possibly Clendening (who they like a lot).

You still have Keith, Seabrook and Hammer which is better than most every single NHL team.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Interesting....i sure hope if that happens(Kesler trade) that we can seamlessly just replace the bottom D pairing as easily as ur making it sound via prospects and free agency.

I'm not saying they didn't. I'm just not convinced it was really serious or that close to getting done. Then again, I don't really know who or what to believe.
- eburgio

To the point of this is what I am willing to move right serious I would say. If it works, fine. If not, I roll with what I have kind of thing.

Interesting....i sure hope if that happens(Kesler trade) that we can seamlessly just replace the bottom D pairing as easily as ur making it sound via prospects and free agency.
- SimpleJack

Dude in 2010 we had Sopel and Boynton....

But they played defense well when it mattered. See Sopel in 5 on 3 PK without a stick, on his belly, clearing a puck out of the D zone with his hand.

Interesting....i sure hope if that happens(Kesler trade) that we can seamlessly just replace the bottom D pairing as easily as ur making it sound via prospects and free agency.
- SimpleJack

Seeing they've accomplished that with the likes of Oduya, Roszival, Brookbank this year and in the past the likes of Campoli, Boynton, Johnsson, Sopel... really... it shouldn't be as difficult as you seem to believe it will be.

To the point of this is what I am willing to move right serious I would say. If it works, fine. If not, I roll with what I have kind of thing.
- Elbows15

I agree with that philosophy. And I'm sure that Stan is probably in the same boat...he doesn't NEED to make a move.

Brings what Leddy lacks in size and stature with less speed, but still offensive minded.
- Return of the Roar

Yeah. He is as unproven as TT at this point Roar.

Yeah. He is as unproven as TT at this point Roar.
- Elbows15

Big difference between playing #5 of #6 D and playing 2C. Plus Rundblad has been playing for the Yotes.

I agree with that philosophy. And I'm sure that Stan is probably in the same boat...he doesn't NEED to make a move.
- eburgio

Smart way to do business IMO Burgie. Desperate people make bad decisions.

Big difference between playing #5 of #6 D and playing 2C. Plus Rundblad has been playing for the Yotes.
- Return of the Roar

Big difference between playing #5 of #6 D and getting an elite/top of the heap/stud 2C. Plus Rundblad has been playing for the Yotes

*Corrected for you

Big difference between playing #5 of #6 D and playing 2C. Plus Rundblad has been playing for the Yotes.
- Return of the Roar

He has 50 games of NHL experience Roar. He is unproven no matter how you slice it or where he plays.

The Kane Kessler TT business seems easy for me to understand. But, I have had a lot of concussions so who knows. Here goes... If you think Kane wants to shop himself to highest bidder later on, try to please him by offering TT in exchange for Kesler. That makes it easier if not cheaper to sign Kane. Even if you try to sign Kesler and don't, maybe makes it easier to sign Kane because you showed your commitment by trying. If Kane plays hardball, see ya buddy. We've already drafted a guy who plays like you. Sure he's unproven, but we've gone out of our way to please you so we'll take our chances on the new guy. Hit the bricks. Have fun in Buffalo.

The Kane Kessler TT business seems easy for me to understand. But, I have had a lot of concussions so who knows. Here goes... If you think Kane wants to shop himself to highest bidder later on, try to please him by offering TT in exchange for Kesler. That makes it easier if not cheaper to sign Kane. Even if you try to sign Kesler and don't, maybe makes it easier to sign Kane because you showed your commitment by trying. If Kane plays hardball, see ya buddy. We've already drafted a guy who plays like you. Sure he's unproven, but we've gone out of our way to please you so we'll take our chances on the new guy. Hit the bricks. Have fun in Buffalo.
- DirkGraham

The Hawks did not remotely draft a guy "who plays like" Kane when they drafted TT. Please don't drink the kool-aide.

Perhaps you fans have missed the issues this team has had the few times Kane wasn't on the ice? Eh... just let him go.

I rarely say this, but read Ecklund's blog up now.

He took league won-loss records since December 1.

Hawks are 4th in the Central with 16-9-10=42 points in 35 games.

Kane, Sharp, Keith, Seabs, and Toews are basically like brothers at this point and with the cap going up the Hawks will be able to offer both Toews and Kane max or very close to max contracts. I just dont see him leaving to go to some bottom dwelling team that offers him 1 more mil per year
- EnzoD

Everything is cyclic.....bottom dwelling teams Usually don't stay bottom dwelling for long. And I would imagine that being apart of something new and leading a young team forward in your home town might have a certain sort of draw. Don't get me wrong though, I have my doubts that he would leave Chicago.

Big difference between playing #5 of #6 D and getting an elite/top of the heap/stud 2C. Plus Rundblad has been playing for the Yotes

*Corrected for you
- CaptainBlackhawk

Kesler is not elite. He is a very good 2C who puts up his best numbers playing wing. Would I like him on the Hawks, sure. And truthfully, I rather a proven NHL player over a prospect all day every day. However, the Bowmans at this point in time, don't.

I rarely say this, but read Ecklund's blog up now.

He took league won-loss records since December 1.

Hawks are 4th in the Central with 16-9-10=42 points in 35 games.
- StLBravesFan

Yeah. Saw that. Pretty much we all have been saying.

Seeing they've accomplished that with the likes of Oduya, Roszival, Brookbank this year and in the past the likes of Campoli, Boynton, Johnsson, Sopel... really... it shouldn't be as difficult as you seem to believe it will be.
- CaptainBlackhawk

And what happened to our team D after 2010 when we lost Sopel? how was our D in 2011? Its not like we replaced the D depth instantly. It took 2 full seasons till we got it filled out again with guys who aren't crap. Campoli was a joke.

I rarely say this, but read Ecklund's blog up now.

He took league won-loss records since December 1.

Hawks are 4th in the Central with 16-9-10=42 points in 35 games.
- StLBravesFan

I believe I read this somewhere...

The time between a team winning a Championship and starting the new season - the Hawks had the shortest rest period in professional sports history.

They've hit a lull no doubt about it. The hope is that they play as they did earlier this year and are capable of playing.

And what happened to our team D after 2010 when we lost Sopel? how was our D in 2011? Its not like we replaced the D depth instantly. It took 2 full seasons till we got it filled out again with guys who aren't crap. Campoli was a joke.
- SimpleJack

If you think that the Hawks issues in 2011 or 2012 were a result of bottom pairing defensemen you are VERY VERY badly mistaken.

If you think that the Hawks issues in 2011 or 2012 were a result of bottom pairing defensemen you are VERY VERY badly mistaken.
- CaptainBlackhawk

That had something to do with it. Our D was crap after Keith, Seabs, and Hammer.

That had something to do with it. Our D was crap after Keith, Seabs, and Hammer.
- SimpleJack

Keith and Hammer were also massively underwhelming compared to their form in 2010.

That had something to do with it. Our D was crap after Keith, Seabs, and Hammer.
- SimpleJack

It had everything to do with a lack of forward depth due to cap purging.