One at a time JHAWK ! One at a time !

A lot more participants than normal , this is a good sign for our playoff bracket !

But duley noted on the 98
- mrpaulish

At least it will get us off the other topic

Kane for stamkos
- drummer829

Hey that's my conspiracy theory! Keep your hands off

Perhaps JJ had a lapse in judgement by posting this topic
- bhawk1s

or maybe really good judgment that this is an important topic about which there is a lot of passion from all perspectives?

Cap machinations aside....Pokka looked like utter shhhhhhhhhhhhat in the pre-season.

or maybe really good judgment that this is an important topic about which there is a lot of passion from all perspectives?
- matt_ahrens

Obviously this is JJ's blog, and he can post about whatever he darn well pleases. IMO, without any additional info, this topic is played out at this point. Frankly, and I almost hate this topic as much as this Kane fiasco, I'd rather hear more complaining about Bryan Bickell. I'm focused on this season, hopefully with a motivated Kane and the rest of the team to see if they can repeat. Let the stuff about future seasons go to the backburner.

(FWIW, if they get rid of Kane (provided he doesn't do anything else wrong/illegal) because of image reasons, it's extremely misguided IMO)

I would have thought it was Raanta
- vabeachbear

Raanta was at Yorktown Mall tonight doing a signing, big line of people ready to devalue their Hawks jerseys

22 Hours till PUCK DROP

Heard a lot of the XM radio today and there is a lot of "Out of Town" stupid going on regarding the Blackhawks .

The Blackhawks are the deepest team at Forward , I do believe the Ducks got better . But if you take away the game 3 that Q gifted the Ducks the Hawks were at least 2 games better than the Ducks last season .

I agree with most of you that the Blackhawks weakness is the #5-7 D men. But IF TVR can stay health than that is a pretty good top 5.

The Hawks are going to pile up the points thru January and then coast to the playoffs like they do every year , the seed and home ice does not matter to this CORE.

The only problem with banner night is that the players seems to be a bit wore out by the ceremony and then the 1st period is sloppy .

I really like the Hawks top 6 to do some serious damage .

Here is the update list for Blackhawks 1st goal :

ReOrganized :

Daley:
Paulish
ChicagoSean
Wiz1901

Kane:
Eagle50 from 72
Marlowe from 72
333inthe3rd
DaaaaHawkkss
Afro Pear
HawksBaby925

Bickell:
STLBravesFan
VaBeachBear
Nucker101

Hossa:
HockTocks
HawksHype
HankGreenberg
Trammelt
DaHawks8819
DannyBoy

Seabrook:
JJ
BogieDoc
Molly
GolfBard

Toews:
GnoSox1986
Burdah13
Walter34
Busmaster
Philco

Shaw:
IKeane
CupBearer from Daley
Powerenfircer
Hawks2010
Moots
35tonyO

Kruger:
Blackhawks30
Blackhawks24 (sh)
Spankey

Panarin:
Hawks3Henshaw
Moms2sense1puck
Gifman
JHawk159
SinBad69
PuckMaster

TT:
SunDevil
93Joe, PP
KWolfe
FourOrr
MNHawk
EHawk

Garbutt:
EliKolb
JB3333
Kentxo
Panarin27 , wtf ?
ArlingtonRob

AA:
Yikes
BetweentheDots
Darth

Keith:
Fredoxv
TheDoughBoy
BgKarras72
DK002

ChiefRunsBad:
Ye Old Duff Man

Desi:
Walleye
HankScorpio

TVR:
Ogi
EbonyRaptor

Tikinov:
TommyHawk
Matt Aherens

Hammer:
Qarghhh
HpK 90
6628


Baun:
4Feathers


Svedberg
AskMeAboutEggs
BeaverWarrior



22 HOURS AWAY FROM PUCK DROP , can you believe it ?



- mrpaulish

Pokka /Svedberg Who's ever on the roster tomorrow night.

Obviously this is JJ's blog, and he can post about whatever he darn well pleases. IMO, without any additional info, this topic is played out at this point. Frankly, and I almost hate this topic as much as this Kane fiasco, I'd rather hear more complaining about Bryan Bickell. I'm focused on this season, hopefully with a motivated Kane and the rest of the team to see if they can repeat. Let the stuff about future seasons go to the backburner.

(FWIW, if they get rid of Kane (provided he doesn't do anything else wrong/illegal) because of image reasons, it's extremely misguided IMO)
- hawkfan79

Indeed, this horse has stopped breathing for quite awhile now. For me, there will be a time to discuss it further, but its poor timing to discuss it now. I am also more interested in the upcoming season than rehashing topics and "what ifs" that have been well discussed over the last several months, particularly when there is no new info available and the season kicks off tommorrow. But its easy to just skip over the posts on this topic for the time being, just a bit of a distraction from hockey. Sad to say, this will wind up being a distraction we have with us going forward as long as Kane is a hawk.

I think the key for the Hawks for the first few months should be establishing that 3rd line and the 6th defenseman. Figure out those areas and then there really is no weak spot on the team. I think TT and Panarin will flourish in their roles given who they are playing with, their abilities to play a 200 ft game and their elite skills offensively. AA and Daley already look like they'll fill important roles on the team and fit right in. I like Garbutt and i know he'll contribute to the bottom 6, but beyond that there are questions after you get past Desi, Kruger, and Shaw. Hopefully Dano gets a chance, maybe others as well. I dont trust Bickell, Baun, or even Tikhonov yet if we're talking a playoff run. But i think we'll find those answers come time for the post season, and then we very well might be the deepest team at forward yet again....only with improved defensive depth this time.

Obviously this is JJ's blog, and he can post about whatever he darn well pleases. IMO, without any additional info, this topic is played out at this point. Frankly, and I almost hate this topic as much as this Kane fiasco, I'd rather hear more complaining about Bryan Bickell. I'm focused on this season, hopefully with a motivated Kane and the rest of the team to see if they can repeat. Let the stuff about future seasons go to the backburner.

(FWIW, if they get rid of Kane (provided he doesn't do anything else wrong/illegal) because of image reasons, it's extremely misguided IMO)
- hawkfan79

Yeah, I hear you. I just think the entire Kane situation is the elephant in the room. The Blackhawks organization is taking some heat about him. I just read a different blog from a female fan putting all of her Blackhawks gear in a box because "the Blackhawks don't care about rape." That's some seriously bad press!

On a personal level, I noticed as I was watching Kane in the preseason I just wasn't a fan of his anymore. He's a great hockey player but I'd rather cheer for anyone else on the team before him. Maybe that'll change when the legal stuff is behind him and we can hear from him directly (and McDonough and Bowman) and hopefully get a better understanding of what happened. But maybe not.

I think the key for the Hawks for the first few months should be establishing that 3rd line and the 6th defenseman. Figure out those areas and then there really is no weak spot on the team. I think TT and Panarin will flourish in their roles given who they are playing with, their abilities to play a 200 ft game and their elite skills offensively. AA and Daley already look like they'll fill important roles on the team and fit right in. I like Garbutt and i know he'll contribute to the bottom 6, but beyond that there are questions after you get past Desi, Kruger, and Shaw. Hopefully Dano gets a chance, maybe others as well. I dont trust Bickell, Baun, or even Tikhonov yet if we're talking a playoff run. But i think we'll find those answers come time for the post season, and then we very well might be the deepest team at forward yet again....only with improved defensive depth this time.
- SimpleJack

Totally agree. I think we'll see a few IceHogs getting a shot early in the season until someone establishes themselves.

I think the best time in sports you can say someone is clutch is like a free throw at the end of a basketball game. Maybe a free/penalty kick in soccer. Maybe a pitcher keeping his cool in the bottom of the 9th in the world series. Perhaps a shootout goal, but not so much. That's about it.

I think "clutch factor" in a player is an overstatement, I don't think being "clutch" is a good way to characterize and athlete. People call Eli Manning clutch for his super bowl victories. He rode an amazing D line and got a lucky helmet catch for one.
I don't think a player shooting a puck from the point in a hockey game is clutch. Sorry.
I think it's an overused, over valued, unquantifiable word.
- ezekial

Unquantifiable maybe. But certainly a real trait some have, and it's very desirable in an athlete. Ice water in the veins is another good description. It means you don't poop the bed in an important situation. It means you can execute with the same regularity as you do in practice or better.

All I'm saying is that the GWG is not a good measure of it.

I saw Cameron Bairstol today in a Bulls preseason game. I call him the human turnover. If he touches the ball, it's pretty much guaranteed it will get fumbled, intercepted or missed at the basket. Not clutch.

How can anyone take the accusations seriously after that laughable stunt the mother pulled?

Yawn--- lets talk hockey -- and let the judicial process take its own course-- to bring this issue up the night before the season opens and to create more speculation and what if scenarios with out any facts available is just as suspect and as any sensationalist media outlet capitalizing on a hot topic-- only thing is this is NOT a hot topic at the moment and begs the question-- why bring it up? Lets go Hawks!

Obviously this is JJ's blog, and he can post about whatever he darn well pleases. IMO, without any additional info, this topic is played out at this point. Frankly, and I almost hate this topic as much as this Kane fiasco, I'd rather hear more complaining about Bryan Bickell. I'm focused on this season, hopefully with a motivated Kane and the rest of the team to see if they can repeat. Let the stuff about future seasons go to the backburner.

(FWIW, if they get rid of Kane (provided he doesn't do anything else wrong/illegal) because of image reasons, it's extremely misguided IMO)
- hawkfan79

Bickell, oh how we hate him ....

Sorry if I'm repeating what someone has already said but there's 364 (frank)ing comments & only so many hours in a day!

Regardless of the legal outcome unless he serves time, I believe that the damage has been done in regards to the Blackhawks image. So anything they do now will only be passed off. Kane remains a Hawk, is playing & has played preseason & has not served any suspension. So there is no remediation that the Hawks can do now that will change anything.

I think you guys will struggle this season, & in doing so will need Kane playing at or close to his best. That will keep him a Hawk long time if he can do that. They keep him very low profile & he does some social work on the side & most importantly keeps his nose clean! If he doesn't play well or gets injured I think there will be a mini rebuild with Kane being changed into a couple of nice pieces that will better serve the Hawks.

Just thinking that surely management had a plan for Dano & TT & keep Kane when they traded Saad??

Cap machinations aside....Pokka looked like utter shhhhhhhhhhhhat in the pre-season.
- philco28

Sure did.

He didnt look like "he was almost there " he looked completley lost and scared sometimes.

But then again Inremember hating on Duncan Keithncusnhe was a turnover machine ! Ha . But at least back then everyone else was telling me Keith was going to be a star ,they were right .

Not sure about Pokka though

Sorry if I'm repeating what someone has already said but there's 364 (frank)ing comments & only so many hours in a day!

Regardless of the legal outcome unless he serves time, I believe that the damage has been done in regards to the Blackhawks image. So anything they do now will only be passed off. Kane remains a Hawk, is playing & has played preseason & has not served any suspension. So there is no remediation that the Hawks can do now that will change anything.

I think you guys will struggle this season, & in doing so will need Kane playing at or close to his best. That will keep him a Hawk long time if he can do that. They keep him very low profile & he does some social work on the side & most importantly keeps his nose clean! If he doesn't play well or gets injured I think there will be a mini rebuild with Kane being changed into a couple of nice pieces that will better serve the Hawks.

Just thinking that surely management had a plan for Dano & TT & keep Kane when they traded Saad??
- Aussiepenguin

Agreed.


Kane is a Hawk , ride or die.

The Hawks have to keep him. If He (frank)s up legally then thenHawks can void his deal a la Mike Richards , but you dont trade 88 . No matter what.

How is the Seguin deal wotking out for the Bruins ?

Bickell, oh how we hate him ....
- Hank_Greenberg

I love Bickell. I don't love his contract but, I'm a fan. Yea Bicks.

Sure did.

He didnt look like "he was almost there " he looked completley lost and scared sometimes.

But then again Inremember hating on Duncan Keithncusnhe was a turnover machine ! Ha . But at least back then everyone else was telling me Keith was going to be a star ,they were right .

Not sure about Pokka though
- mrpaulish

Heard some good things about him prior, but you're right Mr. P...he looked lost.
Standing still a lot, no pace to his game. Not especially good at clearing his zone. Thought he'd be more polished, but instead looks like a project.

Really happy for Svedberg in that he had a fine camp. Really disappointed (cap crud aside), that he's been shuttled across state.

Heard some good things about him prior, but you're right Mr. P...he looked lost.
Standing still a lot, no pace to his game. Not especially good at clearing his zone. Thought he'd be more polished, but instead looks like a project.

Really happy for Svedberg in that he had a fine camp. Really disappointed (cap crud aside), that he's been shuttled across state.



- philco28

I think he was at practice today
This was a cap paper shuttle and no player changed zip code
Tomorrow if rules allow Svedberg will be reassigned to the main roster and Pokka will be moved off the main roster IMHO
I think Svedberg starts tonight

I think he was at practice today
This was a cap paper shuttle and no player changed zip code
Tomorrow if rules allow Svedberg will be reassigned to the main roster and Pokka will be moved off the main roster IMHO
I think Svedberg starts tonight
- molly2522

Hope Steady'berg does stay up and gets a good 10 game look to start the season

Ok I see what you're saying. I'd agree, the term clutch is overused and it loses its real meaning.

My pet peeve is the overuse of the term Superstar. It used to mean the best of the best NHL players and now some people talk about team having three or four superstars.
- paulr

So, you're saying that all those awesome WWE SUPERSTARS aren't "really" superstars? You make that roster, you are a Superstar! Same for the Hawks ... David Rundblad ... SUPERSTAR!

Jesus Christ, superstar, who in the hell do you think you are ...

Agreed.


Kane is a Hawk , ride or die.

The Hawks have to keep him. If He (frank)s up legally then thenHawks can void his deal a la Mike Richards , but you dont trade 88 . No matter what.

How is the Seguin deal wotking out for the Bruins ?
- mrpaulish

This. And that Seguin trade. OMG, worse than Espo for Pit Martin.

I love Bickell. I don't love his contract but, I'm a fan. Yea Bicks.
- hocktock

As a hockey player, or as a pinup boy for "Teen Girls Love Puppy Cuddlers" magazine? Cause if it's as a hockey player, I don't quite get what there is to love. If Q were Bickell's mother, he'd hate him.