both of those guys are better offensively than toews though. they arent really great comparisons because those 2 are very different than toews.
- flyershockey

And if the sun set in the west we would still call it sunset.

Yawn.

Red wins the rubber match 6-3 at today's Prospect Camp. #HawksProspects

HIGHLIGHTS: http://t.co/7c3HOc4ASm

Simple yet brilliant...and correct.
- ArlingtonRob

I always wonder why people aren't worried about Krueger's longevity. He takes more hard hits in bad positions than anyone in the NHL. They're both warriors.

No, just your absence.

Plenty of hockey talk on Metlzer's Flyer thread. He is a great blogger. Go there.

Get over the humiliation you felt being out debated and your pick outplayed in the WCFs, get over your Jaekel hatred, your hatred of Hawks posters here and go back with your own like Nurk.

Your agenda is obvious. This whole "I'm gonna post here to show how unfair the moderator and blogger are" thing is just juvenile and sad. You've been picking at John and others from day 1. Even when you weakly attempt to disguise it with the mention of something on topic.

You don't know the Hawks and your input here is worthless. Begone.
- tredbrta

no, i just cant stand when people slant things to fit their agenda, whether its a blogger, a radio host, a poster or whoever. you dont know my agenda, so please dont speak for me. ill let whoever needs to handle you.

Wiz, I usually agree with you but I really thinK Johns is going to turn in to a top NHL defenseman if he avoids injury. He's not just physical but is an excellent puck mover.
- Maggie

LOOK- I don't disagree at all with that assessment.
All through college he wanted to the net.
He actually had a bridle put on him and he controlled his sprints to the front, and slowed his jumps in as very many times, he led the rush to the front carrying the puck.

Since the USA developmental teams he has always been a physical edgy player.
So it's not like I haven't had multiple viewings and of course after the selected him took more interested in seeing what was what.

I am gonna tell outright, i have seen him turned inside out many an occasion.
I have seen him have to use his feet after taking a feint from a forward, biting and then double timing to try and angle the player off.

When this seasoned ended, I was pretty much convinced they were gonna for better or worse let him get a real long shot at winning the 6th spot job.
I was excited, but I already was hesitant that this might be a strain in his own end, and feared that it might send him backsliding.

Going back there were all these hype remarks about him being the Seabrook heir apparent, but Seabrook was a controlled world class skater before he ever hit the ice in prospects camp, and played tons of junior games in defensive roles.

Whether we talk about Jared Cowen, Karl Alzner, Michael Del Zotto, or Matt Dumba ----this should be the canvass you look upon before you predict someone is a TOP defender prospect.
They all can skate,give you some push back, carry the puck, but it takes plenty of experience and huge JUMP even after arriiving in the big leagues before they show prowess defensively.
If you can't play at a high level in your own end, your team will not have you out there in situations that might give you offensive chances.

So you think Johns was a top prospect and Stan Bowman threw a top prospect Dallas' way. To get RID of a contract.
Or was it to secure a signed NHL defender with a light contract?
You really don't think Dallas could have been offered Sharp for 4th round pick and they would say NO?
They had the money / Cap space, right? they signed Oduya to replace Daley...

So Stan could have taken a fourth Dallas would still have Sharp and Daley and Garbutt, with no need for Oduya...

Stan would have signed Oduya but didn't have a physical winger another area of need and where we all assume there will be room if Bickell is dispersed...and had Johns who was gonna be SO good waiting in the wings...

I just think you need to see the picture different.

I personally hope Johns eventually hope he fares better as an NHLer than Olson, Stanton, Clendening, and Dahlbeck, but so far it looks to me like Stan kinda knows who to discard...

I always wonder why people aren't worried about Krueger's longevity. He takes more hard hits in bad positions than anyone in the NHL. They're both warriors.
- tredbrta

Indeed...seems like every game there's a moment where Krugs is destroyed along the boards...we hold our breath...

...and he gets up and joins the play like it's a walk in the park.

It's hard to believe the not long ago many, if not most, NHL fans thought Swedish players were soft.

That mostly true because Toews has to play a shutdown role. I think Seguin and Kane could be on par with each other. Different skillsets, but similar PPG. I still think Toews has the edge by being as good as he is at shutdown work while still putting up 60+ per season.
- JRoenick97

wouldnt disagree with that on toews. i dont think hes as purely gifted offensively as the other 3 but his effort and desire make up for a lot of that. kane in shootouts is must see tv, as much as i hate the shootout.

If SB projected Johns to be a top NHL defenseman I'm sure he wouldn't have traded him. All $1.30 and a prospect ensures is I can get a medium coffee at Tim Hortons.
- paulr

...and a look at the green paint chips off Ryan O'Reilly's classic pick up truck.

Red wins the rubber match 6-3 at today's Prospect Camp. #HawksProspects

HIGHLIGHTS: http://t.co/7c3HOc4ASm
- southernhawk

Thanks for sharing southern!

Johns is the #6 dman.
- Dannyboy

The lights the lights are calling and none of them show ANY NHL team letting an unproven rookie (much less a Cup winning team) walk in and secure the 6th spot without EVER playing a game.

Curious thing when teams win Cups...all the fans suddenly are the best evaluators of talent.

My favorite was after seeing Kyle Beach at the rally in 2010 how so many fan sites had him on the team the next year, and Olson on the team the next year .... someone forgot to tell them that the hype at hockeyFuture and the position you get drafted doesn't win you a spot...solid play does.

Top 15 (in last years salary) remaining/unsigned UFA defenseman.

Player Position Shoots Team Age Cap Hit
Sergei Gonchar D Left MTL 40 $5,000,000
Lubomir Visnovsky D Left NYI 38 $4,750,000
Andrej Meszaros D Left BUF 29 $4,125,000
Christian Ehrhoff D Left PIT 32 $4,000,000
Eric Brewer D Left TOR 35 $3,875,000
Bryan Allen D Left MTL 34 $3,500,000
Cody Franson D Right NSH 27 $3,300,000
Jan Hejda D Left COL 36 $3,250,000
Bryce Salvador D Left NJD 38 $3,166,666
Marek Zidlicky D Right DET 37 $3,000,000
Jordan Leopold D Left MIN 34 $2,250,000
Ryan Wilson D Left COL 27 $2,250,000
Michal Rozsival D Right CHI 36 $2,200,000
John Erskine D Left WSH 34 $1,962,500
Mike Weaver D Right MTL 36 $1,750,000
- MNHawk

all garbage move away from the vehicle

The lights the lights are calling and none of them show ANY NHL team letting an unproven rookie (much less a Cup winning team) walk in and secure the 6th spot without EVER playing a game.

Curious thing when teams win Cups...all the fans suddenly are the best evaluators of talent.

My favorite was after seeing Kyle Beach at the rally in 2010 how so many fan sites had him on the team the next year, and Olson on the team the next year .... someone forgot to tell them that the hype at hockeyFuture and the position you get drafted doesn't win you a spot...solid play does.
- wiz1901

And don't forget Wiz...

...Q hates young guys.

wouldnt disagree with that on toews. i dont think hes as purely gifted offensively as the other 3 but his effort and desire make up for a lot of that. kane in shootouts is must see tv, as much as i hate the shootout.
- flyershockey

Toews could have 80 points every year if he wanted to. He is a team first guy and sacrifices his offense for always being on the right side of the puck. Most complete player in the game. Also, his career shootout percentage is a remarkable 50% which is better than Kane's career percentage.

The lights the lights are calling and none of them show ANY NHL team letting an unproven rookie (much less a Cup winning team) walk in and secure the 6th spot without EVER playing a game.

Curious thing when teams win Cups...all the fans suddenly are the best evaluators of talent.

My favorite was after seeing Kyle Beach at the rally in 2010 how so many fan sites had him on the team the next year, and Olson on the team the next year .... someone forgot to tell them that the hype at hockeyFuture and the position you get drafted doesn't win you a spot...solid play does.
- wiz1901

See: Alexander Daigle/Angelo Esposito

all garbage move away form the vehicle
- wiz1901

Garbage?

So Wiz...you may have mentioned it in prior posts, but who would you like to see the Hawks consider for depth on the third pair?

Garbage?

So Wiz...you may have mentioned it in prior posts, but who would you like to see the Hawks consider for depth on the third pair?
- ArlingtonRob

Roszival.

Roszival.
- Dunconn_Smythe

I'd prefer players with 2 legs.

Let's assume the Norris (Central) sends 5 teams to the playoffs again (as they have for the first 2 years of the reformed playoff system)....

I see Dallas as an "in" now, along with the Blackhawks and Blues... which means one from last year has to drop out.

WPG? MINNY? NASH?
- Katana777

If this team struggles to mesh early, it could very well be the Hawks!!!

My guess is Winnipeg drops out and Dallas is in. Either way, I see the Hawks finishing somewhere between fourth and sixth in the division next year.

Yeah i was about to rant earlier on when someone was discussing the "curious timing" of re-uppping ArtemII right away.

Curious Timing?

Our young player Saad who talked hometown discount to stay was talking through one side of his mouth while his agent (with his knowledge) was talking another...that equaled goodbye.
The veteran return was a guy ArtemII was a player whose point totals have never been commensurate his abilities, heart and energy.
A guy who has always be a team first player and who looks to be an excellent fit in that regard and plays a position BIG CENTRE that there was an opening.

You trade for Anisimov and he is totally thrilled to come be part of it and will do anything to win the silver, and he is not a FLY-BY NIGHT come over and threaten departure back to Russia...never played that card. Wants to play with the best against the best.
You know he's got a year left and Seabrook's gonna be a UFA so you do the smart thing, you sign him until 2021 at $4,550,000 when he is 33.
If anyone here thinks 4.55 million is a bad deal in five years, well you are fooling yourself. There are going to a dozen young centremen drafted early by Buffalo, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, etc asking for that as their BRIDGE money.

So the "curious timing" was more the hawks had a newly acquired vet who was thrilled and ready to stay. Why wait?
Because you refused Saad a CRAZY high bridge deal?
- wiz1901

Thanks Wiz. I've liked Anisimov for a long time. Plays hard, but clean game--seems a classy dude. Hopeful that he can indeed excel in the 2C slot--had seemed like a 2c/3c tweener to me, but a change in game tempo and linemates could be a boost for him

And if the sun set in the west we would still call it sunset.

Yawn.


- tredbrta

I don't get it, the sun does set in the west. Not a matter of if. Oh well better luck on the next one I guess.

Today's interview...

Hawks talk with Paul Edmonds-Oduya signing-Seabrook extension, Saad and Sharp trades and more...
TSN 1290 Winnipeg @TSN1290Radio
Podcast: @AlCimaglia discussed the #Blackhawks off-season on today's #RonaRoundtable with
http://t.co/BLiD5YbRlw

Anyone else surprised Oduya didn't sign for more than 2 years and at least $4 mill per??
- Al

Great interview Al. Those guys are going to be asking you back on to give your opinions on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Winnipeg Goldeye. Better get yourself a long fur coat - the windy intersection of Portage and Main is one of the coldest places anywhere.

so its better to have a hawk fan say stuff that is not true since saad isnt a hawk anymore than to actually say what happened?
- flyershockey

Go away troll - no one on this board wants to hear from you.

Hawks wind up facing Dallas in the playoffs, and in game 7 OT Daley rushes the puck through the neutral zone only to bump into Garbutt as they both fall down, causing a loose puck that gets picked up by Oduya who then sends Sharp in on a breakaway for the GWG.

Go away troll - no one on this board wants to hear from you.
- dahawks8819

When u say stuff like that they just feed off it. Either ignore them or sit back, laugh, and be entertained at how much time and effort they(nurk included) put into their incredibly lame and fake personas. Its quite amusing.

Hawks appear to have quieted down for now, or its snack time. Really thought once JO left, Stan would sign a dman like Erhroff. However if they need a #5/6, it is still early so maybe bicks/steeger get move for a dman. I know i mentioned i wonder if the habs trade one bad contract for another and take bicks for gilbert