Besides calling our prospect pool garbage?

If you wanna throw poop at Feaster, fine, he wasn't a perfect GM by any stretch of the imagination. But don't try to insult the one thing he actually did very well at. Our current prospect pool, which doesn't even include Monahan, our crown jewel thus far, has been consistently rated in the top ten of the league. Hell, even TSN, who don't know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to the west, realize that we have some real potential coming up in our system.
- Saskabush

I just think they should have started earlier. The franchise was in denial.

Why does everything have to be an argument and name calling???

Too many kids on this site...

I feel so bad for Tavares. He is trying to be so loyal to the worst run organization in sports. They need to sell that team. Clear house. Reno the Barclays center so every seat looks at the rink and call it a day. Build that team around one of the best players in the world.
- tmurph

JT will be fine!!!

Wang is selling... they are moving!!!

Things aren't as bad as you think on the Island.

Finally some closure.

Once Wang sells... the rest will fall into place.

JT will be fine!!!

Wang is selling... they are moving!!!

Things aren't as bad as you think on the Island.

Finally some closure.

Once Wang sells... the rest will fall into place.
- jimmc7722

Im pretty sure all was going to "fall into place" when Spano "bought" the team. The good has to come eventually.

I just think they should have started earlier. The franchise was in denial.

Why does everything have to be an argument and name calling???

Too many kids on this site...
- jimmc7722

That's a fair point, and if you would have phrased it that way it would have been met with a fair response. But you didn't, so your uneducated dikhead comments had to be dealt with .

There's a reason why most Canadian teams wait too long, the pressure to win and win now is so high in these markets that teams often hold on to ageing assets for too long in hopes of making just 1 more push (Oilers, Flames, and now the Canucks).

Teams in large american markets, whose fans have other major league sports to distract them can afford to take a step back and restock their cupboards without facing much scrutiny. Chicago, St louis, and LA were all bad for a long time, and nobody really noticed/cared.


...And to many kids on this site? I'm not the one going over to other teams boards and trashing them, and believe me the Islanders are an easy target.

That's a fair point, and if you would have phrased it that way it would have been met with a fair response. But you didn't, so your uneducated dikhead comments had to be dealt with .

There's a reason why most Canadian teams wait too long, the pressure to win and win now is so high in these markets that teams often hold on to ageing assets for too long in hopes of making just 1 more push (Oilers, Flames, and now the Canucks).

Teams in large american markets, whose fans have other major league sports to distract them can afford to take a step back and restock their cupboards without facing much scrutiny. Chicago, St louis, and LA were all bad for a long time, and nobody really noticed/cared.




...And to many kids on this site? I'm not the one going over to other teams boards and trashing them, and believe me the Islanders are an easy target.
- Saskabush

That was a very well thought of, and well worded beat down of that lippy little sh!t. Bravo, my friend, bravo.

I just think they should have started earlier. The franchise was in denial.

Why does everything have to be an argument and name calling???

Too many kids on this site...
- jimmc7722

Don't worry every flames fan in this site will hate you if you don't agree with them

Don't worry every flames fan in this site will hate you if you don't agree with them
- Bigern4MVP

Nah...I get along fine with Whipper, Tits and Ass, and the OG just fine and I don't agree with any of the nonsense the spew.

Interesting, but I think you're looking into your data a bit too deeply. I think the cause is simply that GMs now think the minimum height a skilled player needs to be effective is 5'11" instead of 6'.

Don't worry every flames fan in this site will hate you if you don't agree with them
- Bigern4MVP

On the contrary, I like hearing other opinions. Personally, I just don't agree with whiny little trolls who come here solely for the purpose of trying to get a rise out of us. Talk hockey. Argue your opinion. But don't start crying when others don't agree or want to debate their own opinions a little bit.

That was a very well thought of, and well worded beat down of that lippy little sh!t. Bravo, my friend, bravo.
- Jeropotato

On the contrary, I like hearing other opinions. Personally, I just don't agree with whiny little trolls who come here solely for the purpose of trying to get a rise out of us. Talk hockey. Argue your opinion. But don't start crying when others don't agree or want to debate their own opinions a little bit.
- TandA4Flames

You tell him, Tits and Ass!

On the contrary, I like hearing other opinions. Personally, I just don't agree with whiny little trolls who come here solely for the purpose of trying to get a rise out of us. Talk hockey. Argue your opinion. But don't start crying when others don't agree or want to debate their own opinions a little bit.
- TandA4Flames

So the exact opposite of most people on this site

That's a fair point, and if you would have phrased it that way it would have been met with a fair response. But you didn't, so your uneducated dikhead comments had to be dealt with .

There's a reason why most Canadian teams wait too long, the pressure to win and win now is so high in these markets that teams often hold on to ageing assets for too long in hopes of making just 1 more push (Oilers, Flames, and now the Canucks).

Teams in large american markets, whose fans have other major league sports to distract them can afford to take a step back and restock their cupboards without facing much scrutiny. Chicago, St louis, and LA were all bad for a long time, and nobody really noticed/cared.


...And to many kids on this site? I'm not the one going over to other teams boards and trashing them, and believe me the Islanders are an easy target.
- Saskabush

Well this is the year the canucks should sell but it remains on what they will do. Personally I would sell the sister and Kesler. Keep everyone else. two years of losing then they can move forward making a push.

All those team had three years of suck (bottom 8). Flames are on year 2. Canucks are in year 1. Oilers I think are on year 5(I think?). To me the Canucks are in a really good position as they have assets they can turn around. The jets need to do something and I don't know what it is. They have a problem that they are the least appealing team to go to in the league (maybe the NYI).

I would like to point out these changes to income tax that will allow more players to come to alberta:
http://www.scribd.com/ful...pe=false&view_mode=scroll

Ugh not fair at all. However the hawks might start getting in cap trouble as they need to resign both Kane and Toews. They are both going to be around $9-10 mil per season.
- tmurph

You are very right and while the Hawks are loaded at prospects NONE (other than maybe TT) project as elite, bona-fide can't miss studs.

I do see Philip Danault in Chicago very soon as a bottom 6 checking center (this kid can skate, win draws, check, battle and is a superior character guy). I see Teuvo Teravainen as a top 6 winger, which given our talent there already could actually see him involved in major deal involving big L2-Center, though trading him scares me, because his skillset is dynamic, Patrick Kane-like.

So I'd hang onto our top prospect, build our bottom 6 with kids like Danualt, etc, while still considering making a move for a 2nd Line center (which fueled the Ryan Kesler to Chicago rumors)...and this is why the Hawks MUST trade from within the core to free up cap space. Toews and Kane are really untouchable and have to be resigned long term. Ditto for Seabrook and Keith as top pairing d-men are hard to find to say the least.

Hossa has a contract that few would consider and Bickell is a big body that we can't really ship out because we already are not very big with him. With Brandon Saad developing into a top 6 force, the logical trade chip is Patrick Sharp. His contract only has a couple years left, he is wing (position Chicago is loaded) and is shaping up to being a 5.9 million dollar third liner next year. He'd be a great addition to a team that needs that skilled veteran leader.

Nick Leddy and/or Johnny Oduya are likely candidates to be moved, freeing up more cap room, but this is only logical IF the Hawks can find cheaper alternatives in free agency or Rundblad or Clendening are ready for full time action in Chicago, certainly open for debate. Johns will also be in Chicago very soon, likely manning a defensive minded role on the third pair. We'll see how quickly he moves.

The Hawks continue to win at a very high clip sans 2nd line center. But perhaps Brandon Saad has become that guy. The mad scientist Q created the Saad/Toews/Shaw line on the fly for LA game 5 and it worked...further, Saad won 50% of his draws against a beast-mode faceoff team. Is Saad a true option at center? Possible and if so the Hawks have far less problems and would only need to fine tune the bottom of their roster (by saying so-long to gray beards Mike Rosival and Mike Handzus while also jettisoning the increasingly incompetent Kris Versteeg to whatever team is foolish enough to take him).

But to your point, the Hawks will be in Cap trouble because that's where we live and have lived since 2010. We've had a couple purges after both Cups...one was really ugly, the other not so bad (and we are still playing). But for his sometimes questionable moves, Stanley Bowman has managed to massage that cap and the Hawks have remained at the top of the league for 5 years now with 2 Cups and 2 other WCF since 2009, a position every team in the league (save LA if they win it all this year) would envy.

Pre-2004-05 lockout it was a different game. One where guys like Derian Hatcher could get away with clutching and grabbing the poop out of smaller guys, thus making it tougher for smaller players to be effective. But soon after teams started to realize that guys like Hatcher couldn't play and smaller players like Marc Savard, Andy Macdonald, Brian Gionta, Vinny Propsal, Simon Gagne etc... shot up the point leaders standings.

Some GM's refused to look at this and continued with old ways, while others realize that the league has changed so time to change the makeup of their teams.

I'm sure someone pointed this out already, but I ran out of time yesterday to post.

Pre-2004-05 lockout it was a different game. One where guys like Derian Hatcher could get away with clutching and grabbing the poop out of smaller guys, thus making it tougher for smaller players to be effective. But soon after teams started to realize that guys like Hatcher couldn't play and smaller players like Marc Savard, Andy Macdonald, Brian Gionta, Vinny Propsal, Simon Gagne etc... shot up the point leaders standings.

Some GM's refused to look at this and continued with old ways, while others realize that the league has changed so time to change the makeup of their teams.

I'm sure someone pointed this out already, but I ran out of time yesterday to post.
- Lahey

An Oiler Fan hates Hatcher? Never thought I would see the day ahahha

Feaster over saw a scout team that drafted.....

2011: Baertschi, Granlund, Wotherspoon, Gaudreau

2012: Seiloff and Gillies. Jankowski could be added to that list in a year or two.

2013: Monahan, Porier and Klimchuk

That's very close to top notch scouting.
- tomburton99

How the hell is that top notch scouting?

Not saying anything good or bad about the guy, but in what walk of life is something considered a success when there are no results yet?

An Oiler Fan hates Hatcher? Never thought I would see the day ahahha
- tmurph

I didn't mind him, but he was the perfect example.

Interesting, but I think you're looking into your data a bit too deeply. I think the cause is simply that GMs now think the minimum height a skilled player needs to be effective is 5'11" instead of 6'.
- KateUptongifs

5'8" for St.Louis, but he's probably 5'5" off skates.

I would like to point out that Boomer this morning got a little bit of information out Conroy in the morning

Boomer "So in your interviews do your guy and Trevilings guy have the same first name"
Conroy "No they don't (3 second pause). I'm not going to tell you that."

Let the rumors start!

I didn't mind him, but he was the perfect example.
- Lahey

Hhaha I remember the days in the late 90s where Hatcher just killed the Oilers all by himself.

How the hell is that top notch scouting?

Not saying anything good or bad about the guy, but in what walk of life is something considered a success when there are no results yet?
- Lahey

Well although I think his ceiling isn't very high Monohan did score 20 goals this year. That is something good. However, he was a high draft pick and the obvious choice.

I'm really curious if both Lindhom and Monohan were available who they would pick.

Well although I think his ceiling isn't very high Monohan did score 20 goals this year. That is something good. However, he was a high draft pick and the obvious choice.

I'm really curious if both Lindhom and Monohan were available who they would pick.
- tmurph

Sure, but how does one 20g season make the scouting staff top notch?

It might very well be top notch down the road, but you can't be making those claims now.

Interesting, but I think you're looking into your data a bit too deeply. I think the cause is simply that GMs now think the minimum height a skilled player needs to be effective is 5'11" instead of 6'.
- KateUptongifs

The game has changed quite a bit I think. Small(ish) players can dominate in the NHL these days, so I think the "fear factor" of drafting a smaller player and having him never make it out of the AHL has gone away (to some degree anyway).

I think it also has a lot to do with speed. Smaller players (for the most part) are faster skaters. Gives them a huge advantage in today's NHL and is a necessary skill set for a player of any size.

You are very right and while the Hawks are loaded at prospects NONE (other than maybe TT) project as elite, bona-fide can't miss studs.

I do see Philip Danault in Chicago very soon as a bottom 6 checking center (this kid can skate, win draws, check, battle and is a superior character guy). I see Teuvo Teravainen as a top 6 winger, which given our talent there already could actually see him involved in major deal involving big L2-Center, though trading him scares me, because his skillset is dynamic, Patrick Kane-like.

So I'd hang onto our top prospect, build our bottom 6 with kids like Danualt, etc, while still considering making a move for a 2nd Line center (which fueled the Ryan Kesler to Chicago rumors)...and this is why the Hawks MUST trade from within the core to free up cap space. Toews and Kane are really untouchable and have to be resigned long term. Ditto for Seabrook and Keith as top pairing d-men are hard to find to say the least.

Hossa has a contract that few would consider and Bickell is a big body that we can't really ship out because we already are not very big with him. With Brandon Saad developing into a top 6 force, the logical trade chip is Patrick Sharp. His contract only has a couple years left, he is wing (position Chicago is loaded) and is shaping up to being a 5.9 million dollar third liner next year. He'd be a great addition to a team that needs that skilled veteran leader.

Nick Leddy and/or Johnny Oduya are likely candidates to be moved, freeing up more cap room, but this is only logical IF the Hawks can find cheaper alternatives in free agency or Rundblad or Clendening are ready for full time action in Chicago, certainly open for debate. Johns will also be in Chicago very soon, likely manning a defensive minded role on the third pair. We'll see how quickly he moves.

The Hawks continue to win at a very high clip sans 2nd line center. But perhaps Brandon Saad has become that guy. The mad scientist Q created the Saad/Toews/Shaw line on the fly for LA game 5 and it worked...further, Saad won 50% of his draws against a beast-mode faceoff team. Is Saad a true option at center? Possible and if so the Hawks have far less problems and would only need to fine tune the bottom of their roster (by saying so-long to gray beards Mike Rosival and Mike Handzus while also jettisoning the increasingly incompetent Kris Versteeg to whatever team is foolish enough to take him).

But to your point, the Hawks will be in Cap trouble because that's where we live and have lived since 2010. We've had a couple purges after both Cups...one was really ugly, the other not so bad (and we are still playing). But for his sometimes questionable moves, Stanley Bowman has managed to massage that cap and the Hawks have remained at the top of the league for 5 years now with 2 Cups and 2 other WCF since 2009, a position every team in the league (save LA if they win it all this year) would envy.
- kwolf68

So what you're saying is the Hawks actually suck??