I can play goal if the refs stop the play every time the puck gets near me.

Hawks need size down the middle.. Not the wing
- CBHawks88

I bet you can convert Looch to play center.

niemi is saying alot NO tonight....

luv it mount Q erupts

Enough of this 1-0 garbage...

niemi is saying alot NO tonight....

luv it mount Q erupts
- bogiedoc

With help.

wise words from your former self

- CBHawks88

What does that have to with anything? I wasn't mad at the way Bowman handled the off-season. He did what was expected of him. He didn't have much cash to work with, and he addressed the elephant in the room by adding a 2C. His off-season was fine. Everything I said in that post is indicative of the standing of the team today. Plenty of talent. Not a lot of moves need to be made. One bad bounce away. And my personal favorite - "does this team need to get tougher? Yes. Is this team perfect, no." Wow! It's like I'm some sort of prophet.

You're grasping at straws here. The original point I was trying to make was that it hasn't been in Bowman's nature to make a drastic or rather, "impact-worthy" deal. He isn't one to break the bank, and it's obvious that the team isn't going to be making much noise at the deadline anyways - not that they need to. Any sort of activity would be shocking, really. But, again, minor moves to the NHL roster would be preferred ... not consistent shuffling of AHL talent.

Again, not sure what point you are trying to make here. You're comparing apples and oranges. The roster isn't being criticized here because there is nothing to criticize. Bowman isn't being criticized here either because we know exactly what to expect of him, and he just reinforced that opinion with his annual "we're happy" statement. That's not to say he's handled the team poorly. It's that he hasn't really done anything worth remembering either.

I can play goal if the refs stop the play every time the puck gets near me.
- powerenforcer

You won't see that call in the other end. Quick calls in San Jose's end along with the locker rooms on the other side of the ice are ways the League is conspiring to help them win a cup, so they aren't the only California team without one.

Where did TT go? Kane playing with Bicks and Shaws line

Where did TT go? Kane playing with Bicks and Shaws line
- ikeane

Traded?

Traded?
- powerenforcer

For Looch?

Where did TT go? Kane playing with Bicks and Shaws line
- ikeane

John Scott ate him at the intermission

You won't see that call in the other end. Quick calls in San Jose's end along with the locker rooms on the other side of the ice are ways the League is conspiring to help them win a cup, so they aren't the only California team without one.
- paulr

Now you see......

Now you see......
- powerenforcer

Beginning to.

John Scott ate him at the intermission
- CBHawks88

wait, what? No power play for that? With as lethargic as the Hawks PP is looking can they go on the PK?

wait, what? No power play for that? With as lethargic as the Hawks PP is looking can they go on the PK?
- ikeane

Eating is a "hockey play," just like running into a goalie's mask as the puck is arriving, or cross-checking a guy in the kidneys when your team is losing 4-1.

This is modern, Pacific Division hockey.

earlier Kuc was claiming Bickell would be scratched then updated he would play. Wondering if Stan is on the phones. Who knows but curiosity is there.

Outside of JJs rumor that is

earlier Kuc was claiming Bickell would be scratched then updated he would play. Wondering if Stan is on the phones. Who knows but curiosity is there.

Outside of JJs rumor that is
- ikeane

Kuc was eating a sammich and copy and pasted the wrong name. Nothing to see here.

earlier Kuc was claiming Bickell would be scratched then updated he would play. Wondering if Stan is on the phones. Who knows but curiosity is there.

Outside of JJs rumor that is
- ikeane

Do you think Bickell was traded then the trade was rescinded?

Do you think Bickell was traded then the trade was rescinded?
- paulr

Well the fax machine could have malfunctioned....

Kuc was eating a sammich and copy and pasted the wrong name. Nothing to see here.
- Elbows15

You never know, Kuc may be given the real time goings on of a Hawks deal?

Well the fax machine could have malfunctioned....
- powerenforcer

They don't use fax machines any more.

They don't use fax machines any more.
- paulr

I think Pulford is using one somewhere......

On a side note, just thought I'd analyze Bowman's transactional history a little further:

Trades: 38
NHL players acquired:
Nick Leddy
Nick Boynton*
Viktor Stalberg
Jimmy Hayes
Chris Campoli
Rusty Olesz
Steve Montador
Brendan Morrison
Johnny Oduya
Henrik Karlsson
Michael Handzus
Kris Versteeg
Peter Regin
David Rundblad
Tim Erixon

The players in bold are players that have actually contributed something to the team. Only two of those players are with the team today.

NHL Signings (excluding extensions):

Jassen Cullimore
John Scott
Marty Turco
Fernando Pisani
Ryan Potulny
Garnet Exelby
Ryan Johnson
Steve Montador
Jamal Mayers
Sean O'Donnell
Andrew Brunette
Dan Carcillo
Sami Lepisto
Ray Emery
Sheldon Brookbank
Michal Rozsival
Antti Raanta
Brad Richards?

As you can see, the signings have been fairly lackluster. Only a couple of those players made an impact.


Draft Picks - currently in the NHL:
Saad
Shaw
TT
TVR

Given the team's depth, it's not easy for young prospects to make and stick with the organization, and some prospects are always light years away from making it to the real club. I think that Stan's success is attributed to the draft, but prospects are just prospects. They are TBD until they make it to the club and stick. Until then they simply cannot be judged.

Bowman's biggest hit, I think, is the decision to match Hammer over Niemi, which allowed Crawford to get his shot and it proved to be the right call, as Hammer is one of the best defensive d-men in the league, and losing him would be as critical a loss as losing any of your vital pieces. Niemi proved to be expendable. Everything else, for the most part, has been him reaping the benefits of the squad that Dale put together. Bowman certainly deserves some credit, but as far as judging him as a GM goes, I don't think that it would be right considering the circumstances and the situation that he stepped in to. He has yet to leave a lasting mark on the organization in my opinion.

TT is back on the ice now

Raanta stopped a breakaway?!?!!