Late to the party....
Anyone notice this from the 2OT period last night......

Rangers twice (once on the PP) had the puck in the LA zone with a broken stick on the ice - not 1 official picked it up.

Rewind to game 4 WCF - LA on the PP with the puck in Chicago's zone. A broken stick on the ice and a referee goes out of his way to pick up the broken stick while play is still going on.

I would say a stick on the ice is equal to 1/2 a man on defense, so I find it quite interesting that while LA was in their zone, the stick was left on the ice.

Anyone else notice the dig Bettman gave to Chicago while he was presenting the cup to LA? what an A$$hole.

Anyone else notice the dig Bettman gave to Chicago while he was presenting the cup to LA? what an A$$hole.

what did the little weasle say?

Also it should be noted that I beat exactly 11 people in the Bracket Challenge. Including some guy that picked the Sharks to win it all.

- InvisibleOrange

GD sharks

GD sharks
- mrpaulish

SJ Sharks.

Don't know what city is GD?

You know, if we'd kept Frolik instead if acquiring versteeg, we'd be celebrating a back to back cup win!
- fvineze

Frolik..Schmolik. How on earth could the Hawks win anything with Crawford in net?

Late to the party....
Anyone notice this from the 2OT period last night......

Rangers twice (once on the PP) had the puck in the LA zone with a broken stick on the ice - not 1 official picked it up.

Rewind to game 4 WCF - LA on the PP with the puck in Chicago's zone. A broken stick on the ice and a referee goes out of his way to pick up the broken stick while play is still going on.

I would say a stick on the ice is equal to 1/2 a man on defense, so I find it quite interesting that while LA was in their zone, the stick was left on the ice.

Anyone else notice the dig Bettman gave to Chicago while he was presenting the cup to LA? what an A$$hole.
- powerenforcer

Just heard some ass clown on NHL Network Radio declare that since last year was a shortened season, the Kings are basically back 2 back Cup Champs

What a knob.

I don't know, but I have to assume that he gets paid to figure ways around things like that, and if he can't, then he shouldn't be in that position.
- fvineze

You should change your Screen Name to "Stan...Argh"

and

We gave him up for a fourth round pick and because we needed the extra 500k to go to Bickel's contract or to sign a back up injury riddled goaltender for 2mil who is only going to play a minimal amount of games.
- Topshelf2010

Versteeg cost the Hawks $1,692,308 in cap space this year - $1,351,615 was made available because of LTIR. If Khabibulin, Kane, Bickell and Handzus didn't go on LTIR, they couldn't have made this move.

They didn't have the cap space to keep Frolik. Who did you want them to trade away instead that would cover his costs? Trading away Saad ($764,167), Shaw ($577,500) and Smith ($562,500) Would have cleared $1,904,167 - still not enough to keep Frolik ($2,333,333).


Khabibulin's cap hit was $1,700,000. Again, not enough to keep Frolik. Even a dirt cheap backup is going to cost at least $550,000, and that is no an option on a contending team.

Late to the party....
Anyone notice this from the 2OT period last night......

Rangers twice (once on the PP) had the puck in the LA zone with a broken stick on the ice - not 1 official picked it up.

Rewind to game 4 WCF - LA on the PP with the puck in Chicago's zone. A broken stick on the ice and a referee goes out of his way to pick up the broken stick while play is still going on.

I would say a stick on the ice is equal to 1/2 a man on defense, so I find it quite interesting that while LA was in their zone, the stick was left on the ice.

Anyone else notice the dig Bettman gave to Chicago while he was presenting the cup to LA? what an A$$hole.
- powerenforcer

Bettman would have rather been in Chicago last night. With the Hawks in the finals against the Rangers North American viewership would have been much higher without a doubt.

Late to the party....
Anyone notice this from the 2OT period last night......

Rangers twice (once on the PP) had the puck in the LA zone with a broken stick on the ice - not 1 official picked it up.

Rewind to game 4 WCF - LA on the PP with the puck in Chicago's zone. A broken stick on the ice and a referee goes out of his way to pick up the broken stick while play is still going on.

I would say a stick on the ice is equal to 1/2 a man on defense, so I find it quite interesting that while LA was in their zone, the stick was left on the ice.

Anyone else notice the dig Bettman gave to Chicago while he was presenting the cup to LA? what an A$$hole.
- powerenforcer

I don't want to get in to what ifs now... but is there some type of rule covering that? Are Refs supposed to remove sticks when possible??

Just heard some ass clown on NHL Network Radio declare that since last year was a shortened season, the Kings are basically back 2 back Cup Champs

What a knob.
- Ogilthorpe2

Don't know why, but Chicago seems to be the jilted ex lover with the media. The coastal teams are fawned over while Chicago gets a half nod. All this is extra motivation for Toews and Co. to come back with a vengeance. Just imagine had Boston won the Cup last year... OMG we would never hear the end of it. Not gonna take anything away from LA. They made it happen. Puck luck, lucky bounces... be damned. Effort creates chances. LA just had more in the tank when it counted. LA I can handle winning it. NY, SJ, Anaheim.... oh noooooooooo.

I have no doubts this team will come back next year. Just need some rest and a little roster help. (Stanley are you listening????????????????????)

The 'grass is greener' syndrome.
- paulr

Dumber is more like it.

Dumber is more like it.
- HawkintheD

You know, if we'd kept Frolik instead if acquiring versteeg, we'd be celebrating a back to back cup win!
- fvineze

Let me get this straight. You are now of the opinion that one guy is all we needed?

Weren't you the same guy in favor of dumping more than half the team about three or four weeks ago?

Which is it?

Let me get this straight. You are now of the opinion that one guy is all we needed?

Weren't you the same guy in favor of dumping more than half the team about three or four weeks ago?

Which is it?
- HawkintheD

Hawks were exhausted.

Hawks were exhausted.
- z1990z

I agree and LA was just a little bit better; but Fivvy wanted to blow up the team not too far back.

Now one guy would have made the difference and he didn't even go to the well for his whipping boy, CC.

The Hawks could win ten years in a row and he would still complain about something.

- Ogilthorpe2

The officiating did suck this year. The NHL is too stupid to conspire though.

For example: Why they would have Wes McCauley officiate a series where he had called 11 straight wins for one team and 5 straight losses for the other (which had a significantly higher winning percentage)... That is just pure incompetence.

They need to start applying more advanced sets of statistics to officiating choices and pairings. They also need to lose the "let em play" Walkom style garbage. That way those statistics will be more reliable. This current style of officiating is way too subjective.

On the other point. There is quite a difference in Bettman's demeanor last year to this year. No question who he was happier to see win based on the speeches. Could not help but notice how giddy he was last night compared to Boston last year.

2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtJR0UtZRdY

2014

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFsa5P58nic

The officiating did suck this year. The NHL is too stupid to conspire though.

For example: Why they would have Wes McCauley officiate a series where he had called 11 straight wins for one team and 5 straight losses for the other (which had a significantly higher winning percentage)... That is just pure incompetence.

They need to start applying more advanced sets of statistics to officiating choices and pairings. They also need to lose the "let em play" Walkom style garbage. That way those statistics will be more reliable. This current style of officiating is way too subjective.

On the other point. There is quite a difference in Bettman's demeanor last year to this year. No question who he was happier to see win based on the speeches. Could not help but notice how giddy he was last night compared to Boston last year.

2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtJR0UtZRdY

2014

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFsa5P58nic
- tredbrta

2013 was a difficult year - he was probably more relieved that it was over than anything else.

More, tho - this year he was presenting trophies in the home rink - with 20,000 fans going nuts - even cheering him - a much more celebratory atmosphere.

2013 was a difficult year - he was probably more relieved that it was over than anything else.

More, tho - this year he was presenting trophies in the home rink - with 20,000 fans going nuts - even cheering him - a much more celebratory atmosphere.
- StLBravesFan

This.

And that's the only reason I was rooting for NY last night. I'm jealous the Hawks haven't gotten to clinch on home ice...yet

Rags deserved at least one more win. Unbelievable OT it was

I agree and LA was just a little bit better; but Fivvy wanted to blow up the team not too far back.

Now one guy would have made the difference and he didn't even go to the well for his whipping boy, CC.

The Hawks could win ten years in a row and he would still complain about something.
- HawkintheD

Blow it up? Ehhhh. The 2010 roster was more correctly built in the traditional sense. Legit 4 C down the middle and they were a BIG team. Ladd, Brouwer, Buff, Kopecsky (sp), Eager.. The 13 team.. still don't know how they survived the Cup series. Boston was huge and pounded the hell out of them. Health played a huge part in the series as Hawks were hanging in there with 4 lines. Well Hoss was playing on one leg.. friggin warrior.

So they won 2 Cups with two very different teams. Lack of a consistent 3rd and 4th line was their undoing this playoff. I don't know if I want Sharp to go because he brings a lot to the team. But, the league is taking the style the Hawks are playing and improving on it. Possession/skilled teams with size to play the game either way. Ice really shrinks in the playoffs and the smaller/skill guys tend to have a hard time. So if a Sharp trade brings back a C/big W or both, then Im for that. Kane needs a another C besides 19 to play with for we know Q constantly moves 19/88 around with different line mates.

The Ladd/Slater trade is fantasy I know. Kadri/JVR would be the trade to do. Unknown if that is even a trade on the table, but with Toronto know talking about moving Dion, maybe they are blowing that team up to re-build around Kessel. Stan can move Rozy and hopefully Steeg to create more room, but if these rumors are true that a NEW #2 C will be in Chicago then a "core" piece might have to go.

We all thought the Bears would never get Cutler and wammmoo. It happened. Perhaps this is the year Stanley takes that big swing at the plate.

2013 was a difficult year - he was probably more relieved that it was over than anything else.

More, tho - this year he was presenting trophies in the home rink - with 20,000 fans going nuts - even cheering him - a much more celebratory atmosphere.
- StLBravesFan

Good points. I think he was being booed in LA last night just like Boston but Boston was definitely more hostile last year.

Blow it up? Ehhhh. The 2010 roster was more correctly built in the traditional sense. Legit 4 C down the middle and they were a BIG team. Ladd, Brouwer, Buff, Kopecsky (sp), Eager.. The 13 team.. still don't know how they survived the Cup series. Boston was huge and pounded the hell out of them. Health played a huge part in the series as Hawks were hanging in there with 4 lines. Well Hoss was playing on one leg.. friggin warrior.

So they won 2 Cups with two very different teams. Lack of a consistent 3rd and 4th line was their undoing this playoff. I don't know what if I want Sharp to go because he brings a lot to the team. But, the league is taking the style the Hawks are playing and improving on it. Possession/skilled teams with size to play the game either way. Ice really shrinks in the playoffs and the smaller/skill guys tend to have a hard time. So if a Sharp trade brings back a C/big W or both, then Im for that. Kane needs a another C besides 19 to play with for we know Q constantly moves 19/88 around with different line mates.

The Ladd/Slater trade is fantasy I know. Kadri/JVR would be the trade to do. Unknown if that is even a trade on the table, but with Toronto know talking about moving Dion, maybe they are blowing that team up to re-build around Kessel. Stan can move Rozy and hopefully Steeg to create more room, but if these rumors are true that a NEW #2 C will be in Chicago then a "core" piece might have to go.

We all thought the Bears would never get Cutler and wammmoo. It happened. Perhaps this is the year Stanley takes that big swing at the plate.
- z1990z

Blow it up? Ehhhh. The 2010 roster was more correctly built in the traditional sense. Legit 4 C down the middle and they were a BIG team. Ladd, Brouwer, Buff, Kopecsky (sp), Eager.. The 13 team.. still don't know how they survived the Cup series. Boston was huge and pounded the hell out of them. Health played a huge part in the series as Hawks were hanging in there with 4 lines. Well Hoss was playing on one leg.. friggin warrior.

So they won 2 Cups with two very different teams. Lack of a consistent 3rd and 4th line was their undoing this playoff. I don't know if I want Sharp to go because he brings a lot to the team. But, the league is taking the style the Hawks are playing and improving on it. Possession/skilled teams with size to play the game either way. Ice really shrinks in the playoffs and the smaller/skill guys tend to have a hard time. So if a Sharp trade brings back a C/big W or both, then Im for that. Kane needs a another C besides 19 to play with for we know Q constantly moves 19/88 around with different line mates.

The Ladd/Slater trade is fantasy I know. Kadri/JVR would be the trade to do. Unknown if that is even a trade on the table, but with Toronto know talking about moving Dion, maybe they are blowing that team up to re-build around Kessel. Stan can move Rozy and hopefully Steeg to create more room, but if these rumors are true that a NEW #2 C will be in Chicago then a "core" piece might have to go.

We all thought the Bears would never get Cutler and wammmoo. It happened. Perhaps this is the year Stanley takes that big swing at the plate.
- z1990z

Do you really think Kadri/JVR is any less of a fantasy than Ladd/Slater?