Doesn't Runblad have the option to void his own contact? If so, hopefully he enjoyed being in closer to home he will just decide to stay there.

At least that what everyone in the Hawk organization is praying for.
- spudrock512

He does but why would he? He gets paid (more) by Chicago and gets to play closer to home.

Anyone on here familiar with Dallas? I'm headed there tonight and will be seeing the game on Saturday, and am taking any and all recommendations for restaurants, bars, and such!
- maria_wyeth

I hear there's an Al's Beef and a Gino's East up there. A bunch of us Chicago fans from Austin will be pre gaming at the Hard Rock in downtown Dallas at 4 o'clock on Saturday if you're interested.

I hear there's an Al's Beef and a Gino's East up there. A bunch of us Chicago fans from Austin will be pre gaming at the Hard Rock in downtown Dallas at 4 o'clock on Saturday if you're interested.
- ATXHawksfan

Thx Again, Mex.

Are you hearing what sort of potential returns for Ladd and Buff might be?

Would hate to see Buff with the Kings.
- tredbrta

Yes, the Jets will be nicely positioned come this summer to do a lot things if they wish.

I disagree. They have their rights, but thats about it.

For all intents and purposes, the Hawks dont control their contract situation or development at all.

Sure they can tell them things they want them to work on and host them for 1 week a year at prospects camp, but thats it.
- hawkeytalkman

They also cannot sign or practice with another team until the rights expire. That is control and that makes them a reserved prospective employee of the team that owns the rights.

If your definition applied why would teams bother drafting college or euro bound players? They would simply wait for all players to declare they were going pro like the NFL or NBA. Your interpretation may fit there. Not here.

There is not an NHL organization or prospect rating service that does not list unsigned draftees as prospects. I would agree that rights to a prospect alone do not have the same value as a prospect under contract. It doesn't change the NHL definition of prospect though.

They also cannot sign or practice with another team until the rights expire. That is control and that makes them a reserved prospective employee of the team that owns the rights.

If your definition applied why would teams bother drafting college or euro bound players? They would simply wait for all players to declare they were going pro like the NFL or NBA. Your interpretation may fit there. Not here.

There is not an NHL organization or prospect rating service that does not list unsigned draftees as prospects. I would agree that rights to a prospect alone do not have the same value as a prospect under contract. It doesn't change the NHL definition of prospect though.
- tredbrta

Fair enough

Anyone on here familiar with Dallas? I'm headed there tonight and will be seeing the game on Saturday, and am taking any and all recommendations for restaurants, bars, and such!
- maria_wyeth

Lived there for 30 years. Moved to S.F. last fall....

Restaurants - a few personal faves in no particular order.

FT33 - not far from the arena (Design District)
Uchi - sushi (Uptown)
Boulevardier - Oak Cliff, not near the arena, Uber there (Bishop Arts District)
Rapscallion - Boulevardier's new sister restaurant (Lower Greenville)
Clark Food & Wine - (Lower Greenville)
Mercat Bistrot - walking distance from the AAC (Harwood District)
The Old Monk - Belgian brew pub (Knox-Henderson)

PM me if you want additional info. Happy to help.

If she were a president she would be Babraham Lincoln
- daaaahawks

Hilarious Brotein Shake!!

So, the Kevin Hayes debate is something that comes up on this board pretty frequently, and I find it hypocritical..

When it comes to talented, younger players, who find themselves in bad positions (both personally and professionally) many guys on this board are quick to use the "he's young and these are excusable mistakes" defense. It's happened multiple times on here with Kane and most recently Drouin.

So, my question is, why wasn't the "he's young..." excuse applied to Hayes? Why was/is there all the heat for him--after all, he's a guy who played his cards legally and got picked up by another team. Which is what he wanted. In my opinion, what Drouin did was far more damaging to an organization and himself than anything Hayes did, and certainly more of a red flag moving forward.

Not stirring the pot, I'm just generally interested in why excuse seems to be applicable to some guys and not others.

He does but why would he? He gets paid (more) by Chicago and gets to play closer to home.
- DarthKane

Can someone explain to me how this works? The team he is playing for is paying him something? I assume that goes to the hawks and not him. Why wouldn't they have him play in Rockford and attempt to get his game back? There has to be some benefit for the hawks. That is what I'm getting at?

So, the Kevin Hayes debate is something that comes up on this board pretty frequently, and I find it hypocritical..

When it comes to talented, younger players, who find themselves in bad positions (both personally and professionally) many guys on this board are quick to use the "he's young and these are excusable mistakes" defense. It's happened multiple times on here with Kane and most recently Drouin.

So, my question is, why wasn't the "he's young..." excuse applied to Hayes? Why was/is there all the heat for him--after all, he's a guy who played his cards legally and got picked up by another team. Which is what he wanted. In my opinion, what Drouin did was far more damaging to an organization and himself than anything Hayes did, and certainly more of a red flag moving forward.

Not stirring the pot, I'm just generally interested in why excuse seems to be applicable to some guys and not others.
- Hank3Henshaw

The difference is mostly Drouin 》》》》》》》》 Hayes.


Hayes is a plug and Drouin can be a super star

How about yay for leading the western conference, how about yay for winning 12 in a row, how about yay with winning without your best center couple nights ago, tough crowd I tell you.

Forever in a day the constant complaint was we need a2nd line center, 3 cups later, now we need a #1 LW, it'd be nice but unfortunately they don't grow on trees
- BetweenTheDots

Toews - Sharp - Bolland - Madden up the middle was pretty legit. Why Sharp didn't stick there was beyond me. That is his "natural" position other than I suppose fly the zone and rip shots from everywhere.

Toews - Richards - Vermette - Kooga up the middle was quite stout and was instrumental to their success.

Toews - Zeus - Kooga - Bolland (or the shadow of what was Dave Bolland) was stacked defensively and Kane played at a level that it didn't matter who he was on the ice with.

So 1/3 they won with out a viable second line center option. 2 they were formidable up the middle.

Anyway, and I've beat this drum most of the season, this group has produced the most snoozers of any season since the old man died, except for maybe 11-12. Also, a lot of the underlying stats indicate that they may be overachieving and certain players may be regressing or having down years. This masked by the prodigious play of Kane and Crawford (Keith has had a quietly exceptional season) for the most part. Either could get the MVP to be honest.

Florida won 12 in a row as well and similarly on the back of spectacular goaltending so I am a little more tepid about that streak than some. Carrying play against the AVS in a dominating fashion was a step in the right direction and hopefully they can make a move or two to put (what I would consider anyway) them over the edge.

And this just in...


Bergevin has just contacted the Hawks regarding a specific player. Looking to add talent/youth and give up proven veteran ability.

Things are white hot around the league.
- MexicoHawk

Montreal is under the gun to do SOMETHING-- Maybe Scotty / Stan can school Bergevin?

Can someone explain to me how this works? The team he is playing for is paying him something? I assume that goes to the hawks and not him. Why wouldn't they have him play in Rockford and attempt to get his game back? There has to be some benefit for the hawks. That is what I'm getting at?
- kmw4631

He is under contract to the Hawks, so they owe him the monies his contract calls for. Having him "loaned" to a foreign team leaves more spots for other youngsters to develop at Rockford. The Hawks have determined that other players are better, or deserve the development time more than he does.

The Hawks have seen enough of his "game" and don't feel the need to see anymore.

Only real question is why Stan gave him a 2 year deal?

I do not know how everyone keeps bringing Leddy bounce. To me what stings most was Shaw missing wide open empty net on 59th minute of regular time of that game 7. Or Quick being more sharp that Crowford in that deciding game.
- vshun

that was an amazing series of hockey

The difference is mostly Drouin 》》》》》》》》 Hayes.


Hayes is a plug and Drouin can be a super star
- mrpaulish

I haven't seen enough of Drouin to make that call. But, I do remember guys thinking Hayes was the next big thing, and I think that's why everyone was mad--sour grapes.

Your statement about Hayes is in hindsight. At the time, no one said "he's young." That's kind of what I'm trying to say.

I haven't seen enough of Drouin to make that call. But, I do remember guys thinking Hayes was the next big thing, and I think that's why everyone was mad--sour grapes.

Your statement about Hayes is in hindsight. At the time, no one said "he's young." That's kind of what I'm trying to say.
- Hank3Henshaw

People were mad because he spurned their favorite team. A 1st round pick comes with expectations (whether realized or not) so when Hayes chose to take his talents elsewhere the felt "betrayed" more or less.

Lived there for 30 years. Moved to S.F. last fall....

Restaurants - a few personal faves in no particular order.

FT33 - not far from the arena (Design District)
Uchi - sushi (Uptown)
Boulevardier - Oak Cliff, not near the arena, Uber there (Bishop Arts District)
Rapscallion - Boulevardier's new sister restaurant (Lower Greenville)
Clark Food & Wine - (Lower Greenville)
Mercat Bistrot - walking distance from the AAC (Harwood District)
The Old Monk - Belgian brew pub (Knox-Henderson)

PM me if you want additional info. Happy to help.
- MartiniMan

What did you think of Truluck's? https://trulucks.com/ About 3/4 of a mile from the arena I think. Much of what we went to was in the Galleria area.

People were mad because he spurned their favorite team. A 1st round pick comes with expectations (whether realized or not) so when Hayes chose to take his talents elsewhere the felt "betrayed" more or less.
- TheTrob

Good point.

Was NHL.tv better last night or did it still suck?

Yes, the Jets will be nicely positioned come this summer to do a lot things if they wish.
- MexicoHawk

The tricky part will the Chevy convincing free agents to play and live in Winnipeg.

So, the Kevin Hayes debate is something that comes up on this board pretty frequently, and I find it hypocritical..

When it comes to talented, younger players, who find themselves in bad positions (both personally and professionally) many guys on this board are quick to use the "he's young and these are excusable mistakes" defense. It's happened multiple times on here with Kane and most recently Drouin.

So, my question is, why wasn't the "he's young..." excuse applied to Hayes? Why was/is there all the heat for him--after all, he's a guy who played his cards legally and got picked up by another team. Which is what he wanted. In my opinion, what Drouin did was far more damaging to an organization and himself than anything Hayes did, and certainly more of a red flag moving forward.

Not stirring the pot, I'm just generally interested in why excuse seems to be applicable to some guys and not others.
- Hank3Henshaw

Hayes leveraged the system to go where he wanted to play and max his bonuses. Nothing wrong with that. Defecating in a hallway was immature and cost him but no more so than his average play that year. Things worked out for him the next year. Good for him.

I do think some of that move was motivated by his brother's "treatment" and that deserves some contempt. Meh. It is what it is. He hasn't looked as good this year anyways. Who won the Cup his rookie year again?

Not really sure how Drouin damaged an organization. He damaged himself more than the team and what he did was probably his agent's doing since Walsh has now done the same with at least 3 players. I don't think Hayes was advised by his agent to poop in a stairwell. Drouin is also younger now than Hayes was the year of the stairwell bomb. Plenty of reasons to not write off Drouin completely. Particularly with that agent.

Hayes leveraged the system to go where he wanted to play and max his bonuses. Nothing wrong with that. Defecating in a hallway was immature and cost him but no more so than his average play that year. Things worked out for him the next year. Good for him.

I do think some of that move was motivated by his brother's "treatment" and that deserves some contempt. Meh. It is what it is. He hasn't looked as good this year anyways. Who won the Cup his rookie year again?

Not really sure how Drouin damaged an organization. He damaged himself more than the team and what he did was probably his agent's doing since Walsh has now done the same with at least 3 players. I don't think Hayes was advised by his agent to poop in a stairwell. Drouin is also younger now than Hayes was the year of the stairwell bomb. Plenty of reasons to not write off Drouin completely. Particularly with that agent.
- tredbrta

He has damaged the Organization by effectively lowering his worth. The return on a trade for Drouin will be less than it was before he decided to sit out.

Stall - Toews - Hossa--- all i can say is WOW!! This equals actually 2 1C's-- that shores up the middle behind anything we have seen on this Cup run--

To me that's worth a rental beyond anything else-- even better than Buf or Ladd--

I haven't seen enough of Drouin to make that call. But, I do remember guys thinking Hayes was the next big thing, and I think that's why everyone was mad--sour grapes.

Your statement about Hayes is in hindsight. At the time, no one said "he's young." That's kind of what I'm trying to say.
- Hank3Henshaw

I recall the K. Hayes situation simply...

...young, talented, player with potential decided to "run out the clock" with the Hawks and enter free agency...all within his rights per the CBA, but aggravating for the Organization and fans in that his value as an asset was lost with zero return.

See also Mike Riley and Justin Schultz.

K. Hayes' potential, and ultimate talent as an NHL player was unknown. I'm sure some guys thought he'd be great, while others were less optimistic...

...the same way all talented prospects are viewed.

And yes, drafted players who go the NCAA route are indeed prospects...and yes, they have a loophole to become FA if a narrow range of conditions are met...but few will ever take that path.