Snap: Do you think an NFL guy, other than the guy at the NHL now, would help the NHL? Or does the NHL need a major overhaul in it strategy?

Personally, I think the NHL needs to do like the NFL has done over the past decade or so - tweak the rules so that skilled players can make exciting plays.
- KingB

>That's a huge question -- I'll touch a few key bases
>Having different sets of rules for the regular season and playoffs is a big sport credibility problem -- and the pool of quality NHL refs is very small and needs to be fixed ASAP
>Versteeg getting tackled on his first shift in Game 6 was a blatant penalty right in front of the ref -- why the no call?
>Calling a penalty a penalty in the playoffs, regardless of "game" circumstances would lessen the need for rule tweaking -- enforce the rules that are in the rulebook
>If one team is demonstrably better than the other, why can't there be the appropriate number of penalties called on the weaker team to reflect that?
>Growth of USA amateur hockey players -- 1990: 195,125 registered, 2014: 533,172
>BUT, growth last 4 years: +1,200 players, -1,000 players, +9,000 players, +14,000 players -- has USA amateur hockey growth participation more or less peaked?
>AND nearly 50% of all USA amateur hockey players come from 6 states: Minn, NY, Mich, Mass, IL, & Penn (and those states are always the top ones)
>Hockey is difficult to play, expensive, time-consuming
>Getting kids without access on a free sheet of ice for a week or so is indeed a very good thing, makes everyone feel good, but falls far short of being the answer to expanded & continued participation (Is there an even better way to grow the game in the U.S? There is.)
>What is the NHL's understanding of its appeal or lack of appeal to U.S. sports fans?
>Does the NHL have a strategy to sell its game to all fans in ways that each level of fan can relate to?
>Or does the NHL think that milking the main markets and getting increased hockey-playing participation is the only answer? (How's that Arizona Coyotes franchise working out? 20yrs in AZ next year -- Ave Attendance: 13,345)
>NHL needs a total strategy overhaul from top to bottom
>It would help the NHL player as well (Jagr's salary in 1999-2000 was $17,400,000) -- top salary today (Weber) is still less

I bet the Hawks could keep Richards for 1.0 m even
- mrpaulish

Hell, he'll pay us to stay here. How about that?

The choice is, essentially, the same this summer as it was in 2010...its either Crawford or Seabrook. It was Niemi or Hammer in 2010 and we all know StanBo made the right decision then. I have faith in Stan (how can we not at this point??) and I belive he will trade Crawford now, while his value is as high as it will ever be.
- EnzoD

God how i hope you're right....

Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Saad-B.Richards-Kane
Wilson-TT-Shaw
Nordstrom-Kruger-Desjardans

Keith-Seabs
Hammer-TVR
Mike Reilly-Johns


Darling
Raantaa

A few IFs in there but that is one darn good roster after a Cap-Purge. Also, the size/grit/board ability of Wilson and Shaw should allow TT more time/space to learn the Center position at the NHL level...
- EnzoD

Ok.....but. ....where does CoryCrawford shake out in this? Idon'tsee RNH, Draisitl, Eberle or Halls name per say in your projected line up. Just asking.

Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Saad-B.Richards-Kane
Wilson-TT-Shaw
Nordstrom-Kruger-Desjardans

Keith-Seabs
Hammer-TVR
Mike Reilly-Johns


Darling
Raantaa

A few IFs in there but that is one darn good roster after a Cap-Purge. Also, the size/grit/board ability of Wilson and Shaw should allow TT more time/space to learn the Center position at the NHL level...
- EnzoD

This.

Love this roster, this is essentially what i posted a few threads ago that would be the best possible idea(only i didnt specify the new player coming back...i too like the idea of Wilson) to ice the most competitive team next season. No matter how you slice it, it involves moving Crawford.

I don't see things as dire as others

Quite happy to see Sharp Bickel Vermette down the road.
Adult will be missed but his career is on the back 9
As I see it we need to replace a line with EL contracts and a couple of DMan
We have Panerin coming in
Maybe Riley from the NCAA

Toews Saad Hossa
TT Kane Richards
Panerin McNeil Baun
Kruger Shaw Desjardins

Hammer
Keith
Seabrook
Riley
TVR
John's

Crawford
Darling
Might be a better team than this year

Ok.....but. ....where does CoryCrawford shake out in this? Idon'tsee RNH, Draisitl, Eberle or Halls name per say in your projected line up. Just asking.
- wonthecup10

I expect a package of picks/prospects that are close but not quite ready for NHL duty in 15/16 in return for Crawford..but who knows...my work week is finally over. good discussion today Hawks' fans. Thank you for the updates JJ and I look forward to the next blog. Happy Friday!! DYNASTY!!!!!

Back to Back Champions
- mrpaulish

And one Nick Leddy shoulder away from 4 straight...

"At $71 million, he(Crawford) likely stays this season."

....ill ask as I've asked multiple times to multiple fans....

Please show me a realistic Hawks roster(that fits under 71ish mil, let alone 68ish) for next season INCLUDING Crawford that has any kind of chance at all of winning/competing for a Cup....IMO its impossible. Even at 71mil this guy needs to go. Gotta move big money. As JJ and others have stated even in moving Sharp, Bickell, Versteeg, Oduya, etc....they will have to take back roster players, make other moves....if u wanna keep Crawford amidst all of that then guess what, this will be a 2 line team next season. Jus sayin....

Crow has to go
- SimpleJack

Maybe but they can't bring anyone else in to replace him. People compare this to the same as 2010. It really isn't. Neither Raanta or Darling are anywhere close to being known to the Hawks as Crawford was at that time. Crawford had already been in the Hawks' system for 5-6 years by then.

I have seen Anderson and Niemi mentioned by JJ as possibilities. Not sure either of thise guys are better options than Darling.

Anderson couldn't even beat out a AHL journeyman at the start of the playoffs until reality set in for Hammond.

Niemi is living off of winning the Cup in 2010 and is trending the wrong way.

Rumored asking price for Sharp - 1st round pick, A prospect, and a current roster player on ELC. Seems steep...

http://sportsmockery.com/...ported-for-patrick-sharp/

I don't see things as dire as others

Quite happy to see Sharp and Bickel Vermette down the road.

As I see it we need to replace a line with EL contracts and a couple of DMan
We have Panerin coming in
Maybe Riley from the NCAA

Toews Saad Hossa
TT Kane Richards
Panerin McNeil Baun
Kruger Shaw Desjardins

Hammer
Keith
Seabrook
Riley
TVR
John's

Crawford
Darling
Might be a better team than this year
- Colbyboy

I think Hartman and Danault have better chances to make the team than McNeill.

>That's a huge question -- I'll touch a few key bases
>Having different sets of rules for the regular season and playoffs is a big sport credibility problem -- and the pool of quality NHL refs is very small and needs to be fixed ASAP
>Versteeg getting tackled on his first shift in Game 6 was a blatant penalty right in front of the ref -- why the no call?
>Calling a penalty a penalty in the playoffs, regardless of "game" circumstances would lessen the need for rule tweaking -- enforce the rules that are in the rulebook
>If one team is demonstrably better than the other, why can't there be the appropriate number of penalties called on the weaker team to reflect that?
>Growth of USA amateur hockey players -- 1990: 195,125 registered, 2014: 533,172
>BUT, growth last 4 years: +1,200 players, -1,000 players, +9,000 players, +14,000 players -- has USA amateur hockey growth participation more or less peaked?
>AND nearly 50% of all USA amateur hockey players come from 6 states: Minn, NY, Mich, Mass, IL, & Penn (and those states are always the top ones)
>Hockey is difficult to play, expensive, time-consuming
>Getting kids without access on a free sheet of ice for a week or so is indeed a very good thing, makes everyone feel good, but falls far short of being the answer to expanded & continued participation (Is there an even better way to grow the game in the U.S? There is.)
>What is the NHL's understanding of its appeal or lack of appeal to U.S. sports fans?
>Does the NHL have a strategy to sell its game to all fans in ways that each level of fan can relate to?
>Or does the NHL think that milking the main markets and getting increased hockey-playing participation is the only answer? (How's that Arizona Coyotes franchise working out? 20yrs in AZ next year -- Ave Attendance: 13,345)
>NHL needs a total strategy overhaul from top to bottom
>It would help the NHL player as well (Jagr's salary in 1999-2000 was $17,400,000) -- top salary today (Weber) is still less
- SnapitUpstairs

Definitely need better reffing and a strategy overhaul.

What makes Bettman think that people in the Miami area, and some other southern locals, will flock to hockey when then don't go to baseball games, U of Miami football games, etc? There's a reason that LA has not had an NFL team for years.

Dallas can't compete with HS football on Friday night, college football on Saturday and the NFL on Sunday.

I think Hartman and Danault have better chances to make the team than McNeill.
- TTtime

Its really starting to look that way

I was just thinking today: Even though they're on the books for $21 million against the cap, how big of an effing value are Kane and Toews' contracts going to look like in 2-4 years when the cap starts taking off again?

And with 3 Stanley Cups? They're worth every penny and then some.

I think Hartman and Danault have better chances to make the team than McNeill.
- TTtime

Could be
Names were just for demonstration
Either way the Entry level guys come in and provide youth
We agree
It's still good

Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Saad-B.Richards-Kane
Wilson-TT-Shaw
Nordstrom-Kruger-Desjardans

Keith-Seabs
Hammer-TVR
Mike Reilly-Johns


Darling
Raantaa

A few IFs in there but that is one darn good roster after a Cap-Purge. Also, the size/grit/board ability of Wilson and Shaw should allow TT more time/space to learn the Center position at the NHL level...
- EnzoD

A real question for everyone to answer.... Can Panarin actually jump into the top line, or even top 6? Is this a realistic expectation to have?

Its really starting to look that way
- SimpleJack

It could be a huge off season for McNeill. I read something from Chris Block awhile back about prospect entering the last year of their ELC and their movement out of the organization. He seems to have all the tools to be a NHL player. Hope they have some patience. Its also on him to show them reasons for patience though.

A real question for everyone to answer.... Can Panarin actually jump into the top line, or even top 6? Is this a realistic expectation to have?
- HawksHype

Agreed. I highly doubt he starts off on the top line

Could be
Names were just for demonstration
Either way the Entry level guys come in and provide youth
We agree
It's still good
- Colbyboy

I'm not sure there are going to have options either way. Think its time for some of these prospects to sink or swim.

A real question for everyone to answer.... Can Panarin actually jump into the top line, or even top 6? Is this a realistic expectation to have?
- HawksHype

I doubt it unless he absolutely wows them in camp.

Agreed. I highly doubt he starts off on the top line
- ehawk

Or even top 6, IMO. I would give TT a shot up there first.

Agreed. I highly doubt he starts off on the top line
- ehawk

If he is responsible defensively, yes. He is what the Hawks are missing - a sniper, great shot, quick release, etc.

Panarin was signed to replace Sharp; Baun to replace Bick

I think Buffalo is about to make a huge mistake. Eichel will be a good NHL player. But I think there are better options, specifically Marner.

This.

Love this roster, this is essentially what i posted a few threads ago that would be the best possible idea(only i didnt specify the new player coming back...i too like the idea of Wilson) to ice the most competitive team next season. No matter how you slice it, it involves moving Crawford.
- SimpleJack

I am still betting on the Crawford decision being a year from now but the world of experts on this board say I'm crazy.

We will see soon enough

I'm not sure there are going to have options either way. Think its time for some of these prospects to sink or swim.
- TTtime

Agreed