Let me guess...you are a White Sox fan...

You don't really know if your prospects are clutch until you are in the playoffs and need them to be. Toews and Kane weren't proven clutch playoff players before 2010. I think with all of the top prospects they have, they will find a couple out of the bunch that will be clutch playoff players.
- ChadBot

Nope...see above.

If the Cubs couldn't win in 2004 and 2008 with loaded teams, I told myself to walk away and I did.

Been Cub free since 2008. Just hate to see people wishing on a star when it comes to the Cubs.

It's NOT gonna happen.....

Let me guess...you are a White Sox fan...

You don't really know if your prospects are clutch until you are in the playoffs and need them to be. Toews and Kane weren't proven clutch playoff players before 2010. I think with all of the top prospects they have, they will find a couple out of the bunch that will be clutch playoff players.
- ChadBot

Oops, a little late with this one...

I have a bet with a buddy. He bet the Cubs will win a WS in the next 5 years.

Nope. Wont happen.

1. You don't even know if all these prospects are PROVEN clutch playoff players. Do the Cubs have a Toews/Kane who rise up in regular and postseason?

2. They have lester on pitching staff and that's it.....still behind Cardinals, Nationals, Giants, Dodgers.

3. See 2003 when they hired a mellow Dusty Baker who ended up imploding. Same will happen with maddon.

Sorry.....the pressure to win will eat at this team and NOT every prospect will be a hit. If given 600 ABS, Javier Baez will K 400 times.
- SteveRain

I don't pay much attention to baseball anymore..I look up stats and standings just to see what is up, but haven't watched a game in a while....and I could give a poop about Lester, the Cubs,Wrigley, Theo...and baseball in general...etc...etc....I have my reasons to dislike baseball just like someone has reasons to really enjoy it...But to say they will crack under pressure...that Baez will K more than 50% of the time and to assume that they don't have a Toews/Kane type of player is pretty weak imo...Even the Hawks didn't know what Toews and KAne would do under pressure...when you look at it their learning curve was really short, something that almost NEVER happens in sports today...poop even Jordan and the Bulls got their asses swept by the Pistons in the conference finals, and it took them what...2....3.....4 chances to get by them? Just like every TT and Brandon Saad and whoever else, you let them play, and see what is up...you are right, not every Cubs prospect,Hawks prospect,Bears 1st round draft pick will be a legit player....but you also end up drafting a Keith in the 2nd round, a Kruger in the 5th...Jimmy Butler with the last pick in the first round etc...you never know what is gonna happen

The time to get Kesler was over the summer. Why would Anaheim do that deal now, especially when it helps the Hawks?

The Hawks don't need a "fighter." But Kesler would be great.

Not sure about your game plan theory either, because why hasn't that worked for the last several years, i.e. target 19 and 88?
- John Jaeckel

Every year a team like the Hawks is tested for weakness. Last year Seabs stood up big time with that hit on Backes. Everyone else went whoa! Dont need a fighter, but the edge must continually be sharpened. Ducks would see the deal as weakening the Hawks because the League doesnt yet understand how good Darling is.

Nope. I just hate baseball, after the Cubs choked in 2008 I gave up on the Cubs. If you notice, my screen name here, like the DH, was based off of a horrific Cubs reliever back in the mid 90s who I swear to god every time he came in, or at least when I watched, gave up a some monster homer.

Now, I just outed myself....my name is NOT Steve Rain.....
- SteveRain

Late 90's (actually 99 & 2000). But otherwise a pretty accurate description of a crap pitcher.

Nope...see above.

If the Cubs couldn't win in 2004 and 2008 with loaded teams, I told myself to walk away and I did.

Been Cub free since 2008. Just hate to see people wishing on a star when it comes to the Cubs.

It's NOT gonna happen.....
- SteveRain

Good for you... I mean it

Late 90's (actually 99 & 2000). But otherwise a pretty accurate description of a crap pitcher.
- TheTrob

He was bad....I feel bad for Bruce Miles. Like Tim S, I was a regular on his board.

Hope the Cubs win some day, but it'll never mean as much as it could have. Just couldn't take the annual kick in the nuts that the Cubs routinely do.

Nope...see above.

If the Cubs couldn't win in 2004 and 2008 with loaded teams, I told myself to walk away and I did.

Been Cub free since 2008. Just hate to see people wishing on a star when it comes to the Cubs.

It's NOT gonna happen.....
- SteveRain

I'm with you there. I did the same thing, gave up on them after those years. But it just seems like it is going to be different. Like EKolb said, I will wait until they are in the playoffs to get excited. Until then, all I'm thinking about is hockey.

I'm with you there. I did the same thing, gave up on them after those years. But it just seems like it is going to be different. Like EKolb said, I will wait until they are in the playoffs to get excited. Until then, all I'm thinking about is hockey.
- ChadBot

No that's fair. And again, I hope it does happen at some point.

I just get sick when I hear all these people assuming EVERY Cubs prospect will be good. Javier Baez looks B-A-D.

Oh well.....love the hawks and bears. sadly, the damn Bears are a circus now....

On another track, I see that Damian Brunner had his contract "terminated" by the Devils. Can someone please explain how that works? I know that he went unclaimed on waivers and is going back to sweden or finland or somewhere. My question is how can they just remove the cap hit?

Let me guess...you are a White Sox fan...

You don't really know if your prospects are clutch until you are in the playoffs and need them to be. Toews and Kane weren't proven clutch playoff players before 2010. I think with all of the top prospects they have, they will find a couple out of the bunch that will be clutch playoff players.
- ChadBot

Eh, Scotty Pods was pretty clutch in 2005 in about the most hilarious manner possible. Some guys are lucky and some are just tremendous talent. The Sox won that year because they got very lucky and their roster players performed well above replacement value.

The Hawks won in 2010 because they literally had the best team in the league. Stupid amount of talent. And generational players in Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith...

They won in 2013 again because they were deep but also got above replacement value from guys like Frolik, Kooga, Zeus, Bickell... their stars did what they do but their roster players were pretty huge.

They got bounced in 2014, barely, because they couldn't get the same production out of their replacement level players. Bollig was brutal, Zeus was awful, Rozy looked bad, Hossa was burnt out because someone thinks its a good idea to have him kill penalties and skate 22 minutes \ night in October...

Depth is pretty important and getting productive minutes out of those players is what pretty much wins Stanley Cups. Stars are going to do what they're going to do and its nice to have those horses to ride but rarely do you see a team with a grossly incomplete roster competing for the prize.

Ummm...Richards has been great as our 2nd line center once Q finally put him there...So what is your reasoning behind saying that he won't stay there...he has been getting better as the season has progressed (needed time to adjust to the Hawks style of play and figure out his role), so not sure where you are coming from.
- ChadBot

I would hate to get all the way to the SCF and have to rely on an exhausted Richards to chase around Detroit's second line C - Datsyuk!

What is up with this mumps thing going around...now Crosby might have it?? Didn't these guys get vaccinated when they were kids?

I can't believe that people thought vaccinations were the cause of Autism. Now look at what is happening as a result...illnesses that should be long gone are popping back up.

I would hate to get all the way to the SCF and have to rely on an exhausted Richards to chase around Detroit's second line C - Datsyuk!
- meta_puck_luck

What makes you think Richards is going to be exhausted come playoff time? He is only 2 years older than Sharp, and is younger than Datsyuk.

On another track, I see that Damian Brunner had his contract "terminated" by the Devils. Can someone please explain how that works? I know that he went unclaimed on waivers and is going back to sweden or finland or somewhere. My question is how can they just remove the cap hit?
- TheTrob

Brunner is heading for the Swiss League, if I'm not mistaken?

I'm not sure as to how terminating a contract works with the cap. I'd love to hear an explanation as to how that works.

I would hate to get all the way to the SCF and have to rely on an exhausted Richards to chase around Detroit's second line C - Datsyuk!
- meta_puck_luck

Seriously....trash talking now..in December...who knows what is going to happen....especially in the playoffs...

And btw I loooove Datsyuk...great player, love to watch him....

but last time he played the Hawks in the playoffs he had a grand total of 2 points against Michal Handzus....So if you think Datsyuk will have his way with Richards, or whoever is the 2nd line C of the Hawks or any other team in the playoffs is a given, I think you are a tad bit confused how playoff hockey can unfold

Seriously....trash talking now..in December...who knows what is going to happen....especially in the playoffs...

And btw I loooove Datsyuk...great player, love to watch him....

but last time he played the Hawks in the playoffs he had a grand total of 2 points against Michal Handzus....So if you think Datsyuk will have his way with Richards, or whoever is the 2nd line C of the Hawks or any other team in the playoffs is a given, I think you are a tad bit confused how playoff hockey can unfold
- captainserious

Plus, would Richards line be matched up against Datsyuk's? Wouldn't Q try to have Toews against Datsyuk?

Plus, would Richards line be matched up against Datsyuk's? Wouldn't Q try to have Toews against Datsyuk?
- ChadBot

Or Kruger's line?

I guess it depends on who is the home team and has the last change, right?

Plus, would Richards line be matched up against Datsyuk's? Wouldn't Q try to have Toews against Datsyuk?
- ChadBot

I'd assume the Toews line or Kruger's line

Just one problem...actually two. Cap numbers way out of whack for the Ducks on that trade. Plus the have Anderson and future star John Gibson in net. Why the hell do they want Crawford? Oh, wait...they don't.
- MartiniMan

She loved her some Lovie, that's why he stuck around past his time.

I'd assume the Toews line or Kruger's line
- captainserious

Don't throw logic at meta_puck, it doesn't fit his arguments very well. Besides, by that time Kesler will be 2nd line center for the Hawks and Crow and Sharp will be skating for the Ducks.......

Any update on Toews???

What makes you think Richards is going to be exhausted come playoff time? He is only 2 years older than Sharp, and is younger than Datsyuk.
- ChadBot

July 2, 2011 Richards signs for 9 yrs and $60 mill. Three yrs later he's shopping around the League hat in hand for a one year deal. OK Eli can act as notary on this. You're going on record right now that you would rather have Richards as your 2C than Kesler or Datsyuk!

July 2, 2011 Richards signs for 9 yrs and $60 mill. Three yrs later he's shopping around the League hat in hand for a one year deal. OK Eli can act as notary on this. You're going on record right now that you would rather have Richards as your 2C than Kesler or Datsyuk!
- meta_puck_luck

Okay, I'm not acting as notary on this...

As much as you, me, or anyone would love to have a Kesler, Datsyuk, or ________ as the #2C here, it is not going to happen. At least not this season.

Plus, would Richards line be matched up against Datsyuk's? Wouldn't Q try to have Toews against Datsyuk?
- ChadBot

Toews vs Zetterberg line. Datsyuk is Detroit's 2C