Bulin was clearly a miss by Stan. That's gonna happen to all GM's (for proof, see what happened to Shero after he won the TDL last season). I think Raanta's been fine in the back-up role, though. Thank goodness he had the decency to get injured or Crow would be near death by now. And Bulin's cap hit doesn't hurt because of LTIR - and Stan has used it to the max. But that was a bewildering signing, and many here said it at the time.
- mohel

Believe i had mixed feelings about Khabby, but was disappointed that Razor bailed for less money than Khabby ended up getting. And the rationale that Emery left to be a 'starter' doesn't pass the laugh test. Emery playing 40-50 games on that wonky hip ????


He's played in only 22 games this year.

That bounce was SO lucky. God I hate that team
- rollpards19

It sure was looked like the Jets were going to kill it, too. I'm sure the Blues would have won in a shootout anyway. I don't see any wild card team giving them any trouble.

Believe i had mixed feelings about Khabby, but was disappointed that Razor bailed for less money than Khabby ended up getting. And the rationale that Emery left to be a 'starter' doesn't pass the laugh test. Emery playing 40-50 games on that wonky hip ????


He's played in only 22 games this year.
- philco28

I don't blame Ray for wanted to take his shot at being a starter, plus he loved his days in Philly. He knew Corey was the man in Chicago and was going to get paid (he even called $6 million) so if he wasn't ready to be a backup then he had to move on to get a shot. I think it's clear now the Ray isn't a starter anymore, but he could be one of the best back ups in the league and even play more than the average #2. Who knows what will happen to Ray next season, he may find it difficult to get an NHL job.

That bounce was SO lucky. God I hate that team
- rollpards19

I have always hated them.

Believe i had mixed feelings about Khabby, but was disappointed that Razor bailed for less money than Khabby ended up getting. And the rationale that Emery left to be a 'starter' doesn't pass the laugh test. Emery playing 40-50 games on that wonky hip ????


He's played in only 22 games this year.
- philco28

I believe he has missed some time due to injury.

Pretty much...

In hindsight, Bowman would have been better off going with someone like Dan Ellis and saving a million dollars.
- EKolb13

He had a lot of options. Point blank. It was a bad move.

I have always hated them.
- Elbows15

So cheap and dirty. Wednesday will be a battle. Too bad we will have a battle the nigt before. I think the Blues lead the league in games against a team that played the night before

It sure was looked like the Jets were going to kill it, too. I'm sure the Blues would have won in a shootout anyway. I don't see any wild card team giving them any trouble.
- tomcat24

Some times a team puts so much focus into winning the President's Cup, they experience a bit of a let down in the 1st round. Not saying it will happen, but it could.

So cheap and dirty. Wednesday will be a battle. Too bad we will have a battle the nigt before. I think the Blues lead the league in games against a team that played the night before
- tomcat24

Take heart TC. In the biggest game of their lives, 3 of the supposed best players on that team were missing in action.

I have always hated them.
- Elbows15

You always need luck as well as skill to win it all....

Take heart TC. In the biggest game of their lives, 3 of the supposed best players on that team were missing in action.
- Elbows15

Petro wasn't exactly a hero for Canada either. Schwartz and Steen scare me though. Especially Schwartz, he's the real deal. Sobotka is good too. Backes can go kick phucking rocks

You always need luck as well as skill to win it all....
- UnnamedSource

Always meant since 1967. FYI.

Petro wasn't exactly a hero for Canada either. Schwartz and Steen scare me though. Especially Schwartz, he's the real deal. Sobotka is good too. Backes can go kick phucking rocks
- rollpards19

Easily the Blues best defenceman.

Petro wasn't exactly a hero for Canada either. Schwartz and Steen scare me though. Especially Schwartz, he's the real deal. Sobotka is good too. Backes can go kick phucking rocks
- rollpards19

Steen has always been a good 2-way player. Injuries have hampered his career. This season is an aberration as far as goal scoring goes.

Easily the Blues best defenceman.
- RickJ

Agreed. But is he good enough to be a #1 on a cup team? Discounting the team with the two best players in the world on it, the last #1 d-men to win are Keith, Doughty, Chara, Keith, Lidstrom.

That was a bad break for sure but there's more to the story. Holmgren did not properly develop defense prospects for the long haul. They finally began paying more attention to drafting defense with top picks. Before that, they rarely used 1st rounders on D and when they did, they missed badly. Instead, they relied on free agency to build the defense, which results in an expensive unit. The Hawks did an outstanding job developing Keith, Seabs, and Hjalmarsson, particularly Keith! One example: the Flyers passed on Maata in favor of Laughton in the 11 draft when they already had 5 or 6 centers. Laughton looks like a good prospect but Maata would have really helped.

It's not all bad news though as the Flyers have done an good job finding good forwards at the end of the first round (Giroux, Justin Williams, Gagne, Sharp & some others).

BTW: Kane would have looked good here had the Hawks not swooped in and won the 07 draft lottery 😰
- BOSS_TWEED

Some teams don't draft defensemen in the first round unless a can't miss. Rutherford in Carolina for the most part does the same and let's others develop them and then pays when he is more sure.

Hossa returns & Hawks regain form with a 4-1 over Detroit. On the Blackhawks-My Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1kC6eQi

Really, with what Bowman was willing to spend on a back up, was there any better choice on paper than Khabby at the time?
- EKolb13

For $2 mill he could have signed others but there wasn't many if any available that were starters throughout their career.


Hossa returns & Hawks regain form with a 4-1 over Detroit. On the Blackhawks-My Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1kC6eQi

Agreed. But is he good enough to be a #1 on a cup team? Discounting the team with the two best players in the world on it, the last #1 d-men to win are Keith, Doughty, Chara, Keith, Lidstrom.
- rollpards19

I don't see what all the hype is about. I am not saying he won't become a great player. Is he there yet? Not in my opinion.

Hi Reeder. Waivers is on the way down now. So the risk would be that he could be claimed when sent down. Once down there (and through waivers once) he could be brought back up without risk.
- mohel

Bowman won't risk losing a dman now....He took the chance with Kostka because he had Runblad on the radar.

Hossa returns & Hawks regain form with a 4-1 over Detroit. On the Blackhawks-My Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1kC6eQi

The first game the Hawks can play TT is next Thursday against Boston....if the Hawks remain lifeless then I can see them utilizing him....if they play like they are suppose to then it will be next year. Demoting Raanta is really the only option or LTIR Zus......I'm sure, just like Bulin there is something they can find thats wrong with him.....
- UnnamedSource

I still say the only way TT plays in the regular season is due to an injury.

If he does play otherwise it means things are desperate....

Hossa returns & Hawks regain form with a 4-1 over Detroit. On the Blackhawks-My Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1kC6eQi

Bowman won't risk losing a dman now....He took the chance with Kostka because he had Runblad on the radar.

Hossa returns & Hawks regain form with a 4-1 over Detroit. On the Blackhawks-My Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1kC6eQi
- Al

I have to wonder about that move. We have only seen a little of Rundblad, but he hasn't looked like an upgrade over Kostka so far.

Agreed. But is he good enough to be a #1 on a cup team? Discounting the team with the two best players in the world on it, the last #1 d-men to win are Keith, Doughty, Chara, Keith, Lidstrom.
- rollpards19

The Blues are as good as any team in the NHL behind the blueline. That includes the Hawks, Bruins, Sharks and they are probably better as a defence group than the Kings and definitely better than the Ducks.

Why they won't win the Stanley Cup is because they don't have enough talent up front. And if you doubt that, go back and watch #42 playing for Team USA against the best centers in the world. He never has and never will cut it against the likes of Getzlaf, Toews, Kopitar, Thornton, Datsyuk, Zetterburg, Krejci, Bergeron, Crosby, Malkin etc. And he is going to have to go head to head against more than a couple of those guys if the Blues plan on winning the Cup.

Schwartz is a very good winger, but losing Tarasenko hurts that team big time. Steen can be shut down, Sobotka is a gritty player but small. The rest of their forwards I don't worry much about.

I don't blame Ray for wanted to take his shot at being a starter, plus he loved his days in Philly. He knew Corey was the man in Chicago and was going to get paid (he even called $6 million) so if he wasn't ready to be a backup then he had to move on to get a shot. I think it's clear now the Ray isn't a starter anymore, but he could be one of the best back ups in the league and even play more than the average #2. Who knows what will happen to Ray next season, he may find it difficult to get an NHL job.
- DarthKane

Ray was free to pursue his whims...but he left a great situation for less money and hasn't accomplished much this season.

I still say the only way TT plays in the regular season is due to an injury.

If he does play otherwise it means things are desperate....

Hossa returns & Hawks regain form with a 4-1 over Detroit. On the Blackhawks-My Fox Chicago: http://bit.ly/1kC6eQi
- Al

With the way the cap sits, I would have to agree. It might be a different situation if Stan didn't have to make a roster move to allow TT to join the team. He could easily play in Rockford. Their regular season ends after the Hawks this year.

Also, Saad played in the playoffs in 2012 (granted on a less talented team) after spending his season in juniors. It would not be unprecedented for Stan and Q to roll out a high end rookie straight from juniors to the playoffs if the team struggles or needs a kick start.

The Blues are as good as any team in the NHL behind the blueline. That includes the Hawks, Bruins, Sharks and they are probably better as a defence group than the Kings and definitely better than the Ducks.

Why they won't win the Stanley Cup is because they don't have enough talent up front. And if you doubt that, go back and watch #42 playing for Team USA against the best centers in the world. He never has and never will cut it against the likes of Getzlaf, Toews, Kopitar, Thornton, Datsyuk, Zetterburg, Krejci, Bergeron, Crosby, Malkin etc. And he is going to have to go head to head against more than a couple of those guys if the Blues plan on winning the Cup.

Schwartz is a very good winger, but losing Tarasenko hurts that team big time. Steen can be shut down, Sobotka is a gritty player but small. The rest of their forwards I don't worry much about.
- RickJ

I agree with all of this. I also don't think Miller is a god or anything in net. He's playoff numbers are nothing to right home about and he was on a couple very good Buffalo teams that he couldn't get over the hump.