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.
- Elbows15

Exactly. Worked last time, Minny will go hard at him again.

Q has been instructing Bickell to shoot his wrister more "even off the wings"... tells me the Hawks want to get DD moving and pepper him for rebounds, etc

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.
- RickJ

I agree. I just hate, not saying you are, people hating because he shunned this team. It is what it is in todays' NHL.

I can't sit here and say if I was Kevin Hayes, sure....I'll take less money, go sit in Rockford and MAYBE get a chance at the NHL this year even though another highly touted prospect is being pimped more then me so probably not....OR.....I go and sign with another original 6 team, get more money, and compete for a NHL job right off the bat and have the inside track.

It's not hard to understand. I don't see a LOT of size in this organization so him just leaving is still aggravating in that regard, and NOBODY knows except Kevin hayes and Bowman IF his brother's handling here made it impossible for Kevin to sign here.

I am waiting for Dubynk to turn back into a pumpkin. This is the same goof from Edmonton who regardless of talent around him, was just horrible when he faced the Hawks.

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.
- SteveRain

TT and Sharp had some mojo when played together. Versteeg got back to his bad habits when Kane was out. Maddening is what it is. Versteeg can and has been a good player in this league. He gets himself in trouble when he gets away from who he is as a player. Would like to sit him down and show an endless loop of videos of him playing smart hockey. He needs to play to his WHL roots and bring some edginess to his game.

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.
- EKolb13

What type of production on both sides can we expect from Johns? IE: would he be able to slide in next to Hjammarson as a 4D?

Exactly. Worked last time, Minny will go hard at him again.

Q has been instructing Bickell to shoot his wrister more "even off the wings"... tells me the Hawks want to get DD moving and pepper him for rebounds, etc
- grinder10

Yeah but now he has Keith next to him instead of Leddy. The forwards need to get their asses back to give all of the Dmen support. Not just Rozy. I get that I am more of a fan of Rozy than most. I think he will be fine. He played very well in games 3 and 4 in the last series. He was decent in 6 too. Matchups are crucial for him at this stage of his career. I really believe he will come through.

What type of production on both sides can we expect from Johns? IE: would he be able to slide in next to Hjammarson as a 4D?
- Bjm84

Johns ideal partner on the Hawks? Keith. If TVR comes back to the level before he was hurt will slide in next Hammer. OR Paliotta is he shows he is ready. IMO.

Johns ideal partner on the Hawks? Keith. If TVR comes back to the level before he was hurt will slide in next Hammer. OR Paliotta is he shows he is ready. IMO.
- Elbows15

So....

Keith Johns
Hjammarson TVR
Seabrook Paliotta ?

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

Johns cannot be called up unless a player gets injured or the IceHogs are eliminated from the playoffs.

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

Thought Rozy actually played pretty good as the series moved along. I'm not worried about him per se. 44 though, is out of gas.

Got TT in over Versteed, now if he would just give Cumiskey some time instead of 44, we'd be right where we should be.

So....

Keith Johns
Hjammarson TVR
Seabrook Paliotta ?
- Bjm84

Looks good to me. Pokka will make a run. There is going to be a lot of competition for spots next training camp.

Personally, I like the idea of having experience with youth. And who better to learn from than Keith, Hjalmarsson and Seabrook?

I think they will pick up some scrap heap vet to round it out. Or Rundblad. I am hoping Rundblad is moved.

TT and Sharp had some mojo when played together. Versteeg got back to his bad habits when Kane was out. Maddening is what it is. Versteeg can and has been a good player in this league. He gets himself in trouble when he gets away from who he is as a player. Would like to sit him down and show an endless loop of videos of him playing smart hockey. He needs to play to his WHL roots and bring some edginess to his game.
- Elbows15

That's the Versteeg I love. Scrappy...Show him a loop of his 2010 playoff run.

When he starts trying to have the offense run through HIM and controlling the puck far too often is a sign that Versteeg express has derailed.

Thought Rozy actually played pretty good as the series moved along. I'm not worried about him per se. 44 though, is out of gas.

Got TT in over Versteed, now if he would just give Cumiskey some time instead of 44, we'd be right where we should be.
- vabeachbear

Sharp, Vermette and TT could be a very problematic match up for the Wild. Sharp is playing very well. TT is nice and protected by vets and has a shooter to pass to.

Especially if they see 3rd pairs for the Wild. And they will. That leaves 16, 11 and 65 to wear down the other pairings and take some tough match-ups.

That's the Versteeg I love. Scrappy...Show him a loop of his 2010 playoff run.

When he starts trying to have the offense run through HIM and controlling the puck far too often is a sign that Versteeg express has derailed.
- SteveRain

Scrappy with good enough skills to be dangerous. He tries to do too much. When he does that he slows the pace too much. Get it and get you ass in a scoring position. Drives me nuts because when he does that he is a .5PPG player in the league. Which is a valuable asset.

I thought that 44 suffered a groin injury in his first game as a Hawk. If true I am sure that has slowed him down even more.

I like the Caps in a low scoring series.
- RickJ

Interesting. I don't see the Caps being much more than a bug on the Rangers' windshield.

Who are you and what have you done with Ogi?
- Elbows15

Who is this Ogi character you speak of?

Who is this Ogi character you speak of?
- MartiniMan

I don't know anymore.

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'm actually picking the Caps to win. Too many people, especially Rangers fans are looking at the fact that NY has owned the Caps the last few years which is true. But this isn't the same Caps team. Much better defensively, better coached, bigger and faster. I think the size/speed combo and their ability to win faceoffs which is a major weakness on the Rangers will be a difference. Rangers fans think their speed can overcome the size/speed combo but I think they'll pound the Rags smallish forwards and D which isn't physical either. And the loss of Zuccarello for the rest of the first round (one local NY paper reporting he's out the rest of the playoffs) will hurt their depth.

Damn the Devils needed that kid. But kovy was probably like….dude…don't. Although I'm sure we were never even on his radar and I bet Lou didn't even attempt at him.

Scrappy with good enough skills to be dangerous. He tries to do too much. When he does that he slows the pace too much. Get it and get you ass in a scoring position. Drives me nuts because when he does that he is a .5PPG player in the league. Which is a valuable asset.
- Elbows15

Agreed and proven commodity at a reasonable cap hit for a cap strapped team in the future.

Maybe this Q firing one across the bow to wake him up....again.

I'm actually picking the Caps to win. Too many people, especially Rangers fans are looking at the fact that NY has owned the Caps the last few years which is true. But this isn't the same Caps team. Much better defensively, better coached, bigger and faster. I think the size/speed combo and their ability to win faceoffs which is a major weakness on the Rangers will be a difference. Rangers fans think their speed can overcome the size/speed combo but I think they'll pound the Rags smallish forwards and D which isn't physical either. And the loss of Zuccarello for the rest of the first round (one local NY paper reporting he's out the rest of the playoffs) will hurt their depth.
- golfbard

Plus its the playoffs and Nash is doing his yearly disappearing act. Klein being back will help the Rags some but the little hobbit is big part of their team. He is a big loss for them. The Rags aren't a very good possession team. The Caps will get thei chances.

Plus its the playoffs and Nash is doing his yearly disappearing act. Klein being back will help the Rags some but the little hobbit is big part of their team. He is a big loss for them. The Rags aren't a very good possession team. The Caps will get thei chances.
- Elbows15

Agreed with everything you said. Good possession teams win in the playoffs and the size and speed of the Caps can wear them down. Plus we don't know how healthy Yandle is who played through an "illness" though some folks speculated it was a concussion. He's lousy defensively as we all know. Also Boyle has been largely bad all year and Klein overachieved and was a top four D-man until he got hurt. Let's see if he can play his way back to that high level.

He's with Veritas. Teravainen is with Acme I believe.
- Sandus

They make a damn fine anvil—that's fer sure

Thanks for including the Panarin stuff, John. I can't state enough how big of a deal this signing is. I really feel like this could end up being this decade's version of the Patrick Sharp "steal" that helps set the team up for (more) success. Different method (FA vs trade), but hopefully the same end result.
- BreakoutHockey

Source told me this morning it's how the Hawks feel—major coup