The playoffs are no time to give someone a shot. I wish they had brought him up for an extended look earlier this year, but it's way too late now.

With the Wild not exactly a bruising team, I'd give Cumiskey some time but I don't see it happening.
- RomanF

If they are ready they are ready. Roenick wasn't a bad playoff addition. Sam Bennett has looked great for the Flames this post season. Johns will stay in Rockford until their playoffs are through but, if he is playing that well, we might see him get a shot. I know the chances are miniscule but if there is any chance he is better than Kimmo or Rundblad...

This is the time of the season where Q's playing Rozy a lot of minutes during the season will pay off. It kept the minutes for the big 4 pretty reasonable throughout the season.

I have a feeling Rozy is going to have good series. Minny will attack his side of the ice. As they should. Its imperative that Rozy makes quick decisions with the puck. Rozy gets in trouble when he has flashbacks to his younger days. The guy still is a smart heady player. He just needs to keep it simple.

KT is a lost cause at this point. Didn't like the deal at the time and still don't.

About the Rockford boys.
Hawks fans are going to love Danault in the future. He is a puck hunter. Been a leader everywhere he has been. Will work his ass off to get better.'

Johns' injuries are probably what kept him on the farm all season. In a strange way I sort of like that they are keeping those boys together to experience some success together. This could be big for the Hawks moving forward.

Anyone looking for McNeill to be banger and crasher is going to be disappointed. That is not what he is. He is a smooth skating cerebral player who plays a very smart game. Could use to be more engaged at times but he will get his ass in there and stick up for team mates from what I have seen of him.

Give me more of these kids who are willing to trust their abilities to come to the Hawks' organization and earn their place. Good job by the front office.

The Hawks have snagged 4 of the most coveted UFA players who were either undrafted or from the NCAA in the last season. TVR, Kero, Baun and Panarin. That is a pretty good haul.

Guess the Hayes situation was overblown by some.

Some of these guys are definitely ready to get the NHL experience(Johns, Danault, Hartman)
- Bjm84

Two guys playing in Rockford right now that I would actually bet money on making the club out of camp next season are Danault and Johns.

As for Hartman - there's a lot to like, but let's see what he does at camp next fall.

Why do I keep thinking that Stephen Johns has been told to have his cell phone with him and on high volume ring at all times for the next month?
- RickJ

44/32 are the 2 holes on this ship that they can't plug. Especially 44. 32 can at least fight off the physical aspect and be somewhat tolerable against a lesser tiered checking line.

Timonen?

44/32 are the 2 holes on this ship that they can't plug. Especially 44. 32 can at least fight off the physical aspect and be somewhat tolerable against a lesser tiered checking line.

Timonen?
- SteveRain

M'eh. Rozy is for sure better than Sopel and Nick (frank)ing Boynton, SR. They won with those two.

M'eh. Rozy is for sure better than Sopel and Nick (frank)ing Boynton, SR. They won with those two.
- Elbows15

Disagree on Sopel. Sopel was positionally sound and EXTREMELY valuable on the PK with his ability to block shots. You didn't have to hide Sopel on special teams. Rozsival won't sniff a PK unless 1 of the top 4 guys are out and even then...he still may not sniff it if 2/4 are still available.

I'll give you Boynton.

Rozsival is very slow and very prone to moronic unforced turnovers in his own end with telegraphic passes from the half boards which get picked off. he can absorb a hit and check with the checking lines, but if he faces a skilled line......watch out. He's a turn style.

44....you and I are probably the only ones who were screaming about t his then and still haven't been proven wrong. This guy is NOT GETTING BETTER. He is done. Fact is he playing is BS and a sign that this team is relying on some stigma that his "experience" will pay off, meanwhile he takes bad penalty after bad penalty because he can't keep up OR is out of position.

Give me more of these kids who are willing to trust their abilities to come to the Hawks' organization and earn their place. Good job by the front office.

The Hawks have snagged 4 of the most coveted UFA players who were either undrafted or from the NCAA in the last season. TVR, Kero, Baun and Panarin. That is a pretty good haul.

Guess the Hayes situation was overblown by some.
- Elbows15

Hayes has looked pretty good for the Rangers and would be a nice cheap alternative to a guy say............like.......Bryan Bickell?

2 assists, 4 shots on goal from this enigma. Great. he threw his body around. Fantastic. Wonderful. Other then that.....he was bad against Nashville. The fact the Hawks continue to bank on his inconsistency is puzzling. Amazing what happens when a guy gets paid...........2 more months and he will be another team's head ache.

Hayes has looked pretty good for the Rangers and would be a nice cheap alternative to a guy say............like.......Bryan Bickell?

2 assists, 4 shots on goal from this enigma. Great. he threw his body around. Fantastic. Wonderful. Other then that.....he was bad against Nashville. The fact the Hawks continue to bank on his inconsistency is puzzling. Amazing what happens when a guy gets paid...........2 more months and he will be another team's head ache.
- SteveRain

He was inconsistent before he got paid.

Hayes made HIS choice. That is what I was referring too. Some were blaming the front office and Q claiming that young kids wouldn't want to sign with Hawks blah blah blah.

Give me more of these kids who are willing to trust their abilities to come to the Hawks' organization and earn their place. Good job by the front office.

The Hawks have snagged 4 of the most coveted UFA players who were either undrafted or from the NCAA in the last season. TVR, Kero, Baun and Panarin. That is a pretty good haul.

Guess the Hayes situation was overblown by some.
- Elbows15

How is it overblown when the Hawks lost the next Wayne Gretzky?

(I don't know how to do red font)

Disagree on Sopel. Sopel was positionally sound and EXTREMELY valuable on the PK with his ability to block shots. You didn't have to hide Sopel on special teams. Rozsival won't sniff a PK unless 1 of the top 4 guys are out and even then...he still may not sniff it if 2/4 are still available.

I'll give you Boynton.

Rozsival is very slow and very prone to moronic unforced turnovers in his own end with telegraphic passes from the half boards which get picked off. he can absorb a hit and check with the checking lines, but if he faces a skilled line......watch out. He's a turn style.

44....you and I are probably the only ones who were screaming about t his then and still haven't been proven wrong. This guy is NOT GETTING BETTER. He is done. Fact is he playing is BS and a sign that this team is relying on some stigma that his "experience" will pay off, meanwhile he takes bad penalty after bad penalty because he can't keep up OR is out of position.
- SteveRain

And if you recall everyone wanted to string Sopel up before he was injured. Rozy will be fine. He had some bad moments but his play was better than most realize. He earned his money by keeping the minutes down for the big 4. When the game is on the line he won't be out there.

How is it overblown when the Hawks lost the next Wayne Gretzky?

(I don't know how to do red font)
- RomanF

Got the sarcasm Roman. Would hayes have been a nice addition. Of course. Lets be realistic here though. He pretty much blew for his first 3 seasons at BC and had some serious character flaws, like most college age students.

The point is he took advantage of a quirk in the CBA to pick the place he wanted to play. I felt it was always more of that than anything the front office did or didn't do.

And if you recall everyone wanted to string Sopel up before he was injured. Rozy will be fine. He had some bad moments but his play was better than most realize. He earned his money by keeping the minutes down for the big 4. When the game is on the line he won't be out there.
- Elbows15

I hope you are right because if they have to keep riding the top 4 for extreme minutes, it's going to cost them unless Crawford can withstand 35+ shots a night and keep them to 2 goals are less.

He was inconsistent before he got paid.

Hayes made HIS choice. That is what I was referring too. Some were blaming the front office and Q claiming that young kids wouldn't want to sign with Hawks blah blah blah.
- Elbows15

Well, the difference there is that some of these guys will probably play right away next year or at least have the realistic chance to as the Hawks will be sending multiple guys packing thanks to Stanley's whizz at predicting cap numbers and balancing a budget..... Hayes didn't have that chance to play ASAP as the Hawks were pretty stacked. Guy took a chance, and has backed up with a pretty decent year for a team that is legit cup contender, if not the favorite.

Funny how all the McDonough puppets, especially Rozner are shockingly mute as cap hell part deux creeps closer and closer and without a whisper of negativity towards Stan. Nor was there any after Stanley pronounced his stance on offer sheets and then was slapped by one by Dougie Wilson which threw his 2010 budget off further. Amazing how these things work.....isn't it?

Oh well.....I'm just preparing myself for not stop #TeuvoTime articles this summer and early fall. Can't wait.

Got the sarcasm Roman. Would hayes have been a nice addition. Of course. Lets be realistic here though. He pretty much blew for his first 3 seasons at BC and had some serious character flaws, like most college age students.

The point is he took advantage of a quirk in the CBA to pick the place he wanted to play. I felt it was always more of that than anything the front office did or didn't do.
- Elbows15

With Zuccarello out of the lineup with a bad headache, we are going to see how really great young Kevin is going up against the likes of Laich, Backstrom and/or Johannson.

I sort of hope Brouwer or Tom Wilson plant him into the 6th row of seats.

How is it overblown when the Hawks lost the next Wayne Gretzky?

(I don't know how to do red font)
- RomanF

We have the next Gretzky......he's number 86 and from Finland.

Bure is an interesting comparison JJ, but no way this kid has THAT kind of speed. I didn't see it there, though not many breakaways in the clip. He has tools though and certainly enough speed to work.

With Zuccarello out of the lineup with a bad headache, we are going to see how really great young Kevin is going up against the likes of Laich, Backstrom and/or Johannson.

I sort of hope Brouwer or Tom Wilson plant him into the 6th row of seats.
- RickJ

Give the kid credit....he has balls. He walked from the Hawks, signed with the Rangers, has just as good as chance to win the cup, and has had a pretty decent year.

Guys with hands like that and his size are tough to come by.

Then again.....we have Bryan Bickell.

I hope you are right because if they have to keep riding the top 4 for extreme minutes, it's going to cost them unless Crawford can withstand 35+ shots a night and keep them to 2 goals are less.
- SteveRain

IMO, you are looking at the minutes in a vacuum. Look at the minutes every team's top 4 plays.
I agree about the shot totals. That is a function of the forwards to me. The Hawks have shown the ability at times to shut anyone down. The issue is will that team show up?

With Zuccarello out of the lineup with a bad headache, we are going to see how really great young Kevin is going up against the likes of Laich, Backstrom and/or Johannson.

I sort of hope Brouwer or Tom Wilson plant him into the 6th row of seats.
- RickJ

The Rangers were having trouble scoring even before that happened. I think the Caps are going to give the Rags all they can handle.

IMO, you are looking at the minutes in a vacuum. Look at the minutes every team's top 4 plays.
I agree about the shot totals. That is a function of the forwards to me. The Hawks have shown the ability at times to shut anyone down. The issue is will that team show up?
- Elbows15

Yes.

Book it.

Hawks in 5.

Give the kid credit....he has balls. He walked from the Hawks, signed with the Rangers, has just as good as chance to win the cup, and has had a pretty decent year.

Guys with hands like that and his size are tough to come by.

Then again.....we have Bryan Bickell.
- SteveRain

Got nothing against the kid. He's going to have to step up an be a player in this series, lets see how good he is.

IMO, you are looking at the minutes in a vacuum. Look at the minutes every team's top 4 plays.
I agree about the shot totals. That is a function of the forwards to me. The Hawks have shown the ability at times to shut anyone down. The issue is will that team show up?
- Elbows15

Very true.

I think a major reason why Q is looking at 86 in and 23 out, and I am a BIG 23 fan, is because of 23's tendency to turn the puck over high in the offensive zone and create rushes the other way. 86 seems to have a much better defensive hockey acumen then 23 and is more responsible.

If 23's offensive numbers aren't there, and so far they haven't been, then he doesn't have a solid argument to stay in the lineup.

The shots against trend is one that scares me. Minnesota has a lot more skill guys who will capitalize if they continue to get 30+ shots a game. Hawks forwards really need to help out in the zone and the coverage.

I also hate the passive box on the PK. Saw multiple Hawk forwards way out of shooting lanes high up in the zone against Nashville and allowing them to move the puck towards the net or down near the goal line and quickly back over to the slot. Wilson alone had at least 1 goal and probably 6 chances because of it.

Yes.

Book it.

Hawks in 5.
- Ogilthorpe2

Who are you and what have you done with Ogi?

The Rangers were having trouble scoring even before that happened. I think the Caps are going to give the Rags all they can handle.
- Elbows15

I like the Caps in a low scoring series.