I hear what you are saying but we can't have it both ways. If Bowman doesn't make the deal and Vermette goes to Minny or St Louis everyone would have been on him for not making the deal and holding on to a draft choice. So far the deal hasn't worked out like most of us had hoped but at least he did make a move. Hey you never know maybe Vermette scores the game winning goal in O.T. in game 7 of the finals.


- jhawk159

Good point.

Darling in the net tomorrow...

Q announced Darling gets the net for game 3

Word is out. Darling to start tomorrow.

Richards and Leddy have nothing to do with each other... The decision to clear cap space was between Leddy and Oduya.

And I'm guessing you haven't seen Leddy play in the playoffs this year... He has had 2 primary assists on Caps goals, one of which was the GWG last night. The guy is constantly shying away from contact and makes some very poor decisions in his own zone. Preds forwards would be eating him alive the same way they have Rozy and Timonen.

But I agree that Stan (frank)ed up majorly on D. Several serviceable d-men on the market, and he grabs the one that is washed up and hasn't played in a year... Bad choice.


- CBHawks88

Agree on Leddy.
For the great year he has had, Great for him.
But he has looked very much like the Nick Leddy that we were used to in these playoffs!

Big nite for Buffalo, Arizona, and the other losers tonite (LAK? No, let's not set PE off this afternoon).

Word is out. Darling to start tomorrow.
- z1990z

Hope there is some more announcements too - like Brad Richards is unavailable, committed to do Q's grocery shopping on Sunday afternoon. What a pantload this guy is on the ice.

Word is out. Darling to start tomorrow.
- z1990z

And the right move. Craw was given his 2nd chance, as the #1 guy....but did not deliver. Darling to start is the right message. Time to win is NOW. Not waiting to see who shows up, deliver or sit. Haws just need to win their 2 at home and they have control of the series Time to step it up boys!!!

Darling in and Hawks win the next three in a row

Time for hammer to make seth jones pay the next time he decides to take the punk end to end

Looks to me like the predators want no part of the third line when the puck is in the corners

Vermette scratched both games now. Guessing Hawks fans not thrilled with the way that move worked out either. I personally didn't like what Stan gave up for him, but also thought he'd have a much greater impact by now.

That's unfortunate.
- MnGump

Vermette sounded like a guy who'd rather have been playing golf with his buddies in AZ rather than playing for the Cup after he was traded. Hopefully he's more inspired than he appeared. He should be a significant add to the Hawks--hope we see it.

Darling in and Hawks win the next three in a row

Time for hammer to make seth jones pay the next time he decides to take the punk end to end

Looks to me like the predators want no part of the third line when the puck is in the corners
- molly2522

Add Josi, Wilson and Smith to that list. Hit 'em early and often.

Vermette sounded like a guy who'd rather have been playing golf with his buddies in AZ rather than playing for the Cup after he was traded. Hopefully he's more inspired than he appeared. He should be a significant add to the Hawks--hope we see it.
- grinder10

How so? Before the game yesterday he was basically talking poop about AZ... He said something along the lines of "last time I checked, the Coyotes aren't playing hockey."

And the right move. Craw was given his 2nd chance, as the #1 guy....but did not deliver. Darling to start is the right message. Time to win is NOW. Not waiting to see who shows up, deliver or sit. Haws just need to win their 2 at home and they have control of the series Time to step it up boys!!!
- hawk35

Couldn't the same be said about 32, 81, 23, 29 and 42? Q needs to wake up!

Yes, Darling in goal tomorrow, but why not 2/7, 4/27, and minimal time for the wretched refuse? Why the hell is Verstink in the top six and Sharp sitting on the 3rd line? Why are Vermette & DesJ sitting while Nordy and Verstink are stinking up the arena? When did Hossa turn into Versteeg?

20-19-88
10-91-81
29-80-65
11-16-86

How so? Before the game yesterday he was basically talking poop about AZ... He said something along the lines of "last time I checked, the Coyotes aren't playing hockey."
- CBHawks88

Interesting, didn't hear that. That's perhaps a good sign, though not for AZ I guess. He was noticeably unenthusiastic in his comments following the Hawks trade.

Interesting, didn't hear that. That's perhaps a good sign, though not for AZ I guess. He was noticeably unenthusiastic in his comments following the Hawks trade.
- grinder10

Yeah, his comments after the trade were questionable, but this is from yesterday:

http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...ying-positive-sitting-out

Cross-checks are sure getting consistently high in the Blues-Wild series. Minny is playing some good hockey right now.

Amazing stat just noted by the announcers in the TB-Detroit game:

Nine goalies have made their post-season debuts the the play-offs so far.

More than half the teams have used goalies in their first play-off situations.

Interesting, didn't hear that. That's perhaps a good sign, though not for AZ I guess. He was noticeably unenthusiastic in his comments following the Hawks trade.
- grinder10

I wouldn't read too much into that, I'm sure he had some mixed feelings about it, it's not necessarily an easy thing to go through, maybe still something of a surprise to him when he was quoted.

Think I jinxed Minny with my comments

I wouldn't read too much into that, I'm sure he had some mixed feelings about it, it's not necessarily an easy thing to go through, maybe still something of a surprise to him when he was quoted.
- RomanF

Noticeable to me I guess because hockey players seem to hide their emotions in those situations and offer up canned/vanilla statements. His stood out. But you're right, it may be nothing at all. Would have felt more reassured about the whole thing if he'd performed so far with the Hawks.

I agree with basically none of this.

Every single goalie in the league with a guy 7 feet from the goal post is going to sit on that post and go down. How he was able to waltz across the goal line. Look up, move the puck to the perfect patch of ice, then roof the shot is probably a bigger problem.

Richards has been all over the place and making some fantastic plays defensively. IF any center sits it ought to be Shaw (by way of Versteeg sitting on the bench). He has been awful at the dot and garbage up the middle. The silly delusion that this guy should be playing up the middle needs to stop now. Richards "dragging ass" or whatever and Vermette being mediocre is a significantly better option. It isn't even comparable.

Awful night for the 4th line. Yikes. Kruger, Nordy and TT all bad nights.

2-7 : 4 - 27 and stop trying to mix and match the defenders. Put the horses out there and push push push.

16 shots against in the first period against this team is inexcusable. Doesn't matter who is on the ice. Only 6 shots for the Hawks in the third and that is typically when they have been able to raise their level.

Aside from the Patricks there isn't a lot of offensive push. Is Hossa even playing? Talk about disappearing.

This should be very fixable. Put the best players on the ice. Toss loyalty out the window and do what is necessary to win these games. Not difficult.

Darling starting tomorrow. Just announced at the intermission of blues game. If they continue to allow 35 shots a night then the goalie really doesn't matter. Hopefully that gets some of these guys to pull their heads out of their asses.

Darling, vermy, desi, cum, and run.....in
Cc, nordy, Richie, rosi, and timmo.......out

The hawks have to take advantage of weber being hurt.... Cause they sure didn't last night.

Cc was brutal last night. That's 2 games in a row. He doesn't deserve net til darling can't deliver. First goal was horrible past night and set the tone for the entire night.

Good News (For Hawks):

Weber OUT for Games 3 and 4.
- CBHawks88

Bad news for the Hawks...their playing at the UC for games 3 & 4.

I agree with basically none of this.

Every single goalie in the league with a guy 7 feet from the goal post is going to sit on that post and go down. How he was able to waltz across the goal line. Look up, move the puck to the perfect patch of ice, then roof the shot is probably a bigger problem.

Richards has been all over the place and making some fantastic plays defensively. IF any center sits it ought to be Shaw (by way of Versteeg sitting on the bench). He has been awful at the dot and garbage up the middle. The silly delusion that this guy should be playing up the middle needs to stop now. Richards "dragging ass" or whatever and Vermette being mediocre is a significantly better option. It isn't even comparable.

Awful night for the 4th line. Yikes. Kruger, Nordy and TT all bad nights.

2-7 : 4 - 27 and stop trying to mix and match the defenders. Put the horses out there and push push push.

16 shots against in the first period against this team is inexcusable. Doesn't matter who is on the ice. Only 6 shots for the Hawks in the third and that is typically when they have been able to raise their level.

Aside from the Patricks there isn't a lot of offensive push. Is Hossa even playing? Talk about disappearing.

This should be very fixable. Put the best players on the ice. Toss loyalty out the window and do what is necessary to win these games. Not difficult.

Darling starting tomorrow. Just announced at the intermission of blues game. If they continue to allow 35 shots a night then the goalie really doesn't matter. Hopefully that gets some of these guys to pull their heads out of their asses.
- fattybeef

Preds are frequently bringing in three guys down low and outnumbering Hawks around the net. Hawks will have to make an adjustment to counter. Right now, the Preds are making it hard on the goalie regardless of who it is or how he is playing.

Tampa with a nice blitz...4-0

Unlike game 1...the score reflects the play today.