spare me the condescension BS...ok....i understand full well krugers play and contribution...

my point was in the era of of your top 6-7 players taking up 75% of cap space... your #9 forward is considred "essential"....
- bogiedoc

But again, bogie, this is numbering and labelling.

What do we know about the Chicago Blackhawks and the remaining 29 teams in the NHL?

One has won the Cup every other year for the last 6. The other 29 (sort of excepting the Kings) not so much. So the typical labels, tiers, levels, etc do not apply.

The truth is, while Kruger is not the "shiny penny" offensively that Dano or Panarin or TT are, he will likely be more valuable to the team this year for sure, and was definitely more valuable than TT was in these past playoffs. TT had some moments, without question, but Kruger was significant in the playoffs doing things seen, and unseen by most.

Looking at the likely bottom six, the ONLY guy I roughly equate with Kruger in terms of value this season is Shaw.

Once TT establishes himself as a C, assuming he does, then we have a different discussion. Maybe it's just me, but I think as a general rule, all else being equal, centers have a bit more value than wings, and right now, Kruger is the only true, proven C in the bottom 6.

Point is, whatever you want to "call" him or "slot" him as, he has a lot of value to this team.

Mex

In your opinion, would they have won the cup with Darling all the way in the net?
- Maggie

Its impossible to say as we don't know enough about Darling...but if he played like he did versus NSH, then YES! Its hard to know how he would have responded versus Tampa in the finals. Crawford stood very tall over the last 3 games of the series!

My last post on this, but I can't let this go:

As to Dukes of Hazzard, I rarely watched it: the only good thing about it was Waylon Jennings' theme song.

As to the rest: I am neither miserable, bitter, nor unhappy. I am NOT offended by the Confederate flag.

I AM offended by people who think it's ok to display that flag knowing the racism and anti-Semitism that it has represented through the years, and then justify it by pretending that the racist, anti-Semitic meanings don't exist.
- StLBravesFan

We are in agreement 100%. I will no longer post on this either.

The result of not pulling the trigger on a Sharp deal.
- MexicoHawk

Agree 100%.

Everyone kills Stan for what he did with Sharp, I hope the same people slam Bergevin, because if I'm a Habs fan, and I got Semin instead of Sharp, I'm pi$$ed.

I know the argument is they didn't have to give up anything, but that's not pushing them over the top.

We spoke of what Sharp would mean to a young team in the locker room, well, Semin would have to be considered the anti Sharp in this instance.

I get it, and I don't disagree with you at all, but no one seemed to have a problem with it being on the Dukes of Hazzard car for 35 years.

I won't speak to the Confederate flag specifically, but I will say that political correctness has gotten way out of control in our society.

There are a lot of miserable, bitter, and unhappy people around who apparently have nothing better to do than to try to make the rest of us bitter, miserable, and unhappy too, and finding things to be offended by has become there modus operandi. A week after they're done with the Confederate flag, now it's the fleur-de-lis that's offensive? Wait, what?
- MartiniMan

HUGELY popular program. Of course some of that had to do with Catherine Bach.

Then again there is a good sized portion of the same group - within days - took out after the stars and stripes. Where does it end? Trick question. It doesn't. Like you said in your modus operandi comment.

I learned a long time ago to filter out that stuff. Just like filtering out stuff from certain fans of certain teams who female dog about the 'Hawks....um like I dunno, the 1st round playoff competition this past spring.

Anyway I don't take sides on this stuff. There are too many more precious things to deal with at this time in my life. And unless actions by others have a direct and immediate negative impact on my Constitutional rights, I choose to ignore it. JMO.

Wow, of course they would have. The NHL is filled with good goalies, there are an abundance of them in both conferences. Crawford has played well in CHI but he has also had his lapses. Against BOS in game 4, Crawford's play almost cost us the series, but the Hawks scored a bunch of goals and won...against NSH this year he simply wasn't ready for what he knew was NSH's game and needed our rookie backup to come in and take back control of the series. Crawford is a GOOD goalie that still has some issues with his game, not unlike most NHL goalies. Q's system and Chicago's core is what has won us these cups...our goaltender has rarely been asked to be "the guy". How is this hard to understand? Crawford is NOT the reason why we have won these Cups, however, he was a KEY part of two of them as all GOOD NHL goalies are!
Again, read this line...we win because of Coach Q, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith first and foremost, and a great supporting cast around them! But without these three guys, WE DON'T WIN A SINGLE CUP!
- MexicoHawk

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^

Its impossible to say as we don't know enough about Darling...but if he played like he did versus NSH, then YES! Its hard to know how he would have responded versus Tampa in the finals. Crawford stood very tall over the last 3 games of the series!
- MexicoHawk

And this^^^^^^

My last post on this, but I can't let this go:

As to Dukes of Hazzard, I rarely watched it: the only good thing about it was Waylon Jennings' theme song.

As to the rest: I am neither miserable, bitter, nor unhappy. I am NOT offended by the Confederate flag.

I AM offended by people who think it's ok to display that flag knowing the racism and anti-Semitism that it has represented through the years, and then justify it by pretending that the racist, anti-Semitic meanings don't exist.
- StLBravesFan

THAT was one good point. However as someone just a few years younger than Daisy Duke .....

Outstanding clarification of your previous post. Greatly appreciated.

Agree 100%.

Everyone kills Stan for what he did with Sharp, I hope the same people slam Bergevin, because if I'm a Habs fan, and I got Semin instead of Sharp, I'm pi$$ed.

I know the argument is they didn't have to give up anything, but that's not pushing them over the top.

We spoke of what Sharp would mean to a young team in the locker room, well, Semin would have to be considered the anti Sharp in this instance.
- vabeachbear

Me too.

And totally agreed.

That veteran defenseman, any rumors in regards to a certain Christian Ehrhoff? (obviously it would have to be a short term, extremely cap friendly deal, not likely, but to play with a group like this?)
- Hossa1881

Third time I will report the numbers:
His agent is looking for 2.5 million per year
and he is a concussion away from long term IR.

Third time I will report the numbers:
His agent is looking for 2.5 million per year
and he is a concussion away from long term IR.
- wiz1901

How many are not???? Concussion is a vague and nebulous term.

I would think Gleason, volchenkov, or Schlemko
- BearsnHawks

I would think at the deadline better defensemen will be there.

No, the point was that you don't have to be elite to be a contender.
- djamon

But...you have to have a strong enough season to MAKE the playoffs...so the leafs are four eyars away from "contending."

Third time I will report the numbers:
His agent is looking for 2.5 million per year
and he is a concussion away from long term IR.
- wiz1901

So you're saying "in season cap space"

How many are not???? Concussion is a vague and nebulous term.
- blackhawk24

Is severe and nasty one less vague and "nebulous."

How about he's a dogarse defenseively too.

Not what you want as a fill.

So you're saying "in season cap space"
- vabeachbear

More like useless at the 2.5 mil pricetag,
as a defender,
and a good fit for a third pairing.

Agree 100%.

Everyone kills Stan for what he did with Sharp, I hope the same people slam Bergevin, because if I'm a Habs fan, and I got Semin instead of Sharp, I'm pi$$ed.

I know the argument is they didn't have to give up anything, but that's not pushing them over the top.

We spoke of what Sharp would mean to a young team in the locker room, well, Semin would have to be considered the anti Sharp in this instance.
- vabeachbear

I so agree with this, what a bad move.

Is severe and nasty one less vague and "nebulous."

How about he's a dogarse defenseively too.

Not what you want as a fill.
- wiz1901

I'd rather read this comment:

he's a dogarse defenseively

Than...

Is severe and nasty one less vague and "nebulous."

Then again do you mean severe and nasty as a grade 3 versus less vague as grade 1? They're like night and day.

I get it, and I don't disagree with you at all, but no one seemed to have a problem with it being on the Dukes of Hazzard car for 35 years.

I won't speak to the Confederate flag specifically, but I will say that political correctness has gotten way out of control in our society.

There are a lot of miserable, bitter, and unhappy people around who apparently have nothing better to do than to try to make the rest of us bitter, miserable, and unhappy too, and finding things to be offended by has become there modus operandi. A week after they're done with the Confederate flag, now it's the fleur-de-lis that's offensive? Wait, what?
- MartiniMan

Exactly! An active duty buddy sent me an email this morning. A photo captioned by "Good Morning America. What are we offended by today?". Political correctness is getting out of hand. Some idiots in Memphis yesterday tried to dig up Nathan Bedford Forrest's body. Ridiculous.

I'm as much an Arky/Razorback as a Chicagoan. Never been a big fan of some uses of the Confederate Flag but understood the meaning it held to local heritage - they saw it as a fight for independence not slavery and the casualty numbers were huge for the south. Like all flags, it has different meanings to different groups.

Get over it. The next flag they want banned will be the Stars and Stripes. They're already banning it on college campuses and high schools.

My last post on this, but I can't let this go:

As to Dukes of Hazzard, I rarely watched it: the only good thing about it was Waylon Jennings' theme song.

As to the rest: I am neither miserable, bitter, nor unhappy. I am NOT offended by the Confederate flag.

I AM offended by people who think it's ok to display that flag knowing the racism and anti-Semitism that it has represented through the years, and then justify it by pretending that the racist, anti-Semitic meanings don't exist.
- StLBravesFan

Yet you use 'Braves,' which is offensive to some Native Americans and most liberals.

More like useless at the 2.5 mil pricetag,
as a defender,
and a good fit for a third pairing.
- wiz1901

He can ask for whatever he likes, doesn't mean he'll get it.

Think you'll see a bunch of vets taking min deals come mid Sept.

My last post on this, but I can't let this go:

As to Dukes of Hazzard, I rarely watched it: the only good thing about it was Waylon Jennings' theme song.

As to the rest: I am neither miserable, bitter, nor unhappy. I am NOT offended by the Confederate flag.

I AM offended by people who think it's ok to display that flag knowing the racism and anti-Semitism that it has represented through the years, and then justify it by pretending that the racist, anti-Semitic meanings don't exist.
- StLBravesFan

Am I the only one that finds the irony in all this angst based on what your avi is?

You are more than likely correct in your assumption, but that flag also relates to some of us who are very resentful toward it
- Maggie

Some people resent the cross, the crescent, the nativity, the buddha, the US flag, and every flag in the world. The 1st amendment pretty much covers it all.

how you choose to view it is your choice
- Confederate

My view is the Heritage is slavery and you are embracing slavery a way of life, a Southern way of life, a slave based economy, os it is as much "viewing" or being ignorant to the what was inflicted in heritage, huh?

No need to answer I am done for today.

That flag and words put me off the site for today....

Hockey talk only, please!
- Jocelyn26

Done!