Eli, humor me. If McNeil were to come up and replace Bollig next season what would be the downside, besides experience?
- Canardhawk

Assuming that McNeil can handle the defensive side of things, just what to do with Bollig's contract, IMO.

If sharp has a shoulder issue he might be better off at center. More contact along the boards for a wing, but face offs can take a toll as well. I totally agree about a right wing (like Hossa) needing a left handed center. Not sure how much it matters with Kane as he is all over the place.
- 6628

Please give me a break, all these comments about sharp and a bum shoulder are BS. did anyone see the video of him taking batting practice in Wrigley. the way he was swinging the bat no way he has anything wrong with his shoulder

Yes I know. Don´t know why you said so. I wasn´t suggesting trading Saad for Hanzal and was more of bringing options for 2C in Schenn and Hanzal.

Hanzal shoots left and has some mean side in his game. He had 40 points in 65 games last year. Also 200 hits, 54,5% in faceoffs and big 6´6 230 frame. Wouldn´t mind as a second line center between Saad and Kane.
- MjulQvist

Hmmm coulda sworn he played wing. Oops

Please give me a break, all these comments about sharp and a bum shoulder are BS. did anyone see the video of him taking batting practice in Wrigley. the way he was swinging the bat no way he has anything wrong with his shoulder
- Maggie

Yuck, Ogie beat me to it

Please give me a break, all these comments about sharp and a bum shoulder are BS. did anyone see the video of him taking batting practice in Wrigley. the way he was swinging the bat no way he has anything wrong with his shoulder
- Maggie

Just a bad post season then ?

Assuming that McNeil can handle the defensive side of things, just what to do with Bollig's contract, IMO.
- NewToHockey

Somebody out there must be dumb enough to take him. We took Kabibulin.

Yuck, Ogie beat me to it
- Maggie

This just gives Ogi a reason to go back to hating Sharp. He was getting soft for a while. Fool Ogi once, shame on you. Fool Ogi twice...that doesn't happen.

Sharp had a helluva season. He started off deathly slow in the Goals dept (Zus-like, slow) and picked it up. I'm convinced that he used the Team Canada stuff as motivation, not the repeat attempt. He said he was gassed after he came back from the Olympics...I think it caught up to him

Just a bad post season then ?
- mrpaulish

Looks like he blew his load in the regular season and he stunk in the playoffs. He basically stunk since being named to the Olympics.

Please give me a break, all these comments about sharp and a bum shoulder are BS. did anyone see the video of him taking batting practice in Wrigley. the way he was swinging the bat no way he has anything wrong with his shoulder
- Maggie

that was an eyeopener....maybe the injury was lower body (if at all)...who knows...what we do know he had sub par playoffs in all categories...he seemed to have awakened the last 3 gmes of the kings series but a bit late at that point

That parade was a $h!t show...

I did watch GoT. An episode without Danaerys is an episode lost for me. Otherwise pretty good!
- eburgio

Her handmaid too after last weeks episode.

Don't know if you've read the books too but looking forward to the finale next week.

Her handmaid too after last weeks episode.

Don't know if you've read the books too but looking forward to the finale next week.
- HawkintheD

Read? What's that? No, wife has the books on her kindle or whatever, but I haven't read them.

I'll be honest, I'm not into the story as much as I am the boobs and killing.

On this date in 2010 Kane scores in overtime of game 6 to give us our first Cup since 1961. That was a truly amazing day.
- DarthKane

My 2010 game 6 cup story. I live on the main drag of a suburb, and when Kane scored that goal about 2 minutes later there was a loud, strange noise coming from down the street. I went out front with my son who was 7 at the time, and there was a gang of about 30 high school boys running down the middle of the street at full speed, all of them with hockey sticks up over their heads shouting at the top of their lungs. That made an old hockey player, and lifelong Blackhawks fan pretty happy. My son will never forget it either, which is pretty cool.

Maybe not, but why not?
- Canardhawk

Because they just re-signed him to a 3 year deal.

Just a bad post season then ?
- mrpaulish

Bad is being pretty nice

Well, evidently Kane doesn't care that much. Haha
- John Jaeckel

And if Kane signs a long term cap friendly deal because of the Hawks getting Kesler, I doubt anyone else would care either.

Because they just re-signed him to a 3 year deal.
- DarthKane

That also makes him tradeable. Low cost for 3 years.

Read? What's that? No, wife has the books on her kindle or whatever, but I haven't read them.

I'll be honest, I'm not into the story as much as I am the boobs and killing.
- eburgio

That's awesome! I started reading them after watching about half of the first season. There are some slight variations from the show but the books are totally engrossing.

I flew through them and anxiously waiting for the next. Having read them I think gives some more insight into the characters...but sure the boobs and killing are great too.

That also makes him tradeable. Low cost for 3 years.
- Canardhawk

Given what Bollig offers I'd say his deal is fair at most, not low cost. I wouldn't doubt that Bollig will be dealt at some point, I just don't see that happening now. Unless for some odd reason another team specifically wants him.

Given what Bollig offers I'd say his deal is fair at most, not low cost. I wouldn't doubt that Bollig will be dealt at some point, I just don't see that happening now. Unless for some odd reason another team specifically wants him.
- DarthKane

That would be odd.

Eli, humor me. If McNeil were to come up and replace Bollig next season what would be the downside, besides experience?
- Canardhawk

How about:

Last year was his first full NHL season - he progressed very nicely from being nothing but a fighter into an actual hockey player - his line (with Kruger and Smith) was, arguably, for much of the season, the best line on the team in terms of productivity compared to expectations for a fourth line - he's a big body on a team without many of them - he gets his share of hits - he made some mistakes in the play-offs, particularly taking some bad penalties (but so did Shaw, who many want to make the long-missing 2C next fall) -

Not sure why everyone wants to let this guy go so badly.

How about:

Last year was his first full NHL season - he progressed very nicely from being nothing but a fighter into an actual hockey player - his line (with Kruger and Smith) was, arguably, for much of the season, the best line on the team in terms of productivity compared to expectations for a fourth line - he's a big body on a team without many of them - he gets his share of hits - he made some mistakes in the play-offs, particularly taking some bad penalties (but so did Shaw, who many want to make the long-missing 2C next fall) -

Not sure why everyone wants to let this guy go so badly.
- StLBravesFan

Not everyone Sage, not everyone...

How about:

Last year was his first full NHL season - he progressed very nicely from being nothing but a fighter into an actual hockey player - his line (with Kruger and Smith) was, arguably, for much of the season, the best line on the team in terms of productivity compared to expectations for a fourth line - he's a big body on a team without many of them - he gets his share of hits - he made some mistakes in the play-offs, particularly taking some bad penalties (but so did Shaw, who many want to make the long-missing 2C next fall) -

Not sure why everyone wants to let this guy go so badly.
- StLBravesFan

Bollig serves his purpose and won't be going anywhere and you're right, our 4th line was the most consistent last season. I would like to see Bollig to continue to develop as he did this season.

How about:

Last year was his first full NHL season - he progressed very nicely from being nothing but a fighter into an actual hockey player - his line (with Kruger and Smith) was, arguably, for much of the season, the best line on the team in terms of productivity compared to expectations for a fourth line - he's a big body on a team without many of them - he gets his share of hits - he made some mistakes in the play-offs, particularly taking some bad penalties (but so did Shaw, who many want to make the long-missing 2C next fall) -

Not sure why everyone wants to let this guy go so badly.
- StLBravesFan

Bollig at $550k is very nice and a great 4th liner. Bollig at $1.25M is a different story. If he continues to improve and adds more offense, then fine. TBD on that offense thing.

That's how I look at it. Not that he needs to go, per se...but rather, does he need to be at that cap hit?!?!

Bollig at $550k is very nice and a great 4th liner. Bollig at $1.25M is a different story. If he continues to improve and adds more offense, then fine. TBD on that offense thing.

That's how I look at it. Not that he needs to go, per se...but rather, does he need to be at that cap hit?!?!
- eburgio

And it depends on where next year's (2014-15) cap winds up.

I think they signed Bollig for the $1.25MM because they thought the cap would be at $71MM: if they knew it was going to be at, say $69MM, they probably would have played harder with Bollig.

How about:

Last year was his first full NHL season - he progressed very nicely from being nothing but a fighter into an actual hockey player - his line (with Kruger and Smith) was, arguably, for much of the season, the best line on the team in terms of productivity compared to expectations for a fourth line - he's a big body on a team without many of them - he gets his share of hits - he made some mistakes in the play-offs, particularly taking some bad penalties (but so did Shaw, who many want to make the long-missing 2C next fall) -

Not sure why everyone wants to let this guy go so badly.
- StLBravesFan

Maybe it's just me but I'm not seeing all that much improvement. Yes, Shaw makes mistakes but he also has the ability to make up for them by helping with scoring, I don't see that from Bollig.