lol (frank)ing crybaby
- BINGO!

...and spot on accurate.

...and spot on accurate.
- ArlingtonRob

Not really, no.

He sounds like a Leafs fan.

Just gonna drop this into the thread...

Someone may have already linked to this Hossa screed, if so sorry for the redundancy.

http://www.barstoolsports...tch_id=439889271372411430
- ArlingtonRob

and why is this taking so long...this was announced in early July...the league has had over 2 months to make this evaluation...

its completely unfair to the hawks if they disallow this 10 days before the start of the season...but a bozo league does what a bozo league is...

I just thought that Luc Snuggerud looked like a bigger, and equally as mobile defenseman last night before his injury. For a 21 year old recent college player, Snuggerud was very impressive last night. Does anyone know what his injury status is?? I also think that Rutta and Kempny are bigger and more defensively responsible that Osterle. I don't see Osterle as a bad player, I just think there are better options who should make the Top 6D over him.
- EnzoD

Snuggerud obstacle is learning to play better defense. He is scheduled to do just that in Rockford. He learned a lot from watching all those D Keith tapes and has good offensive instincts anyway. It is the other parts of his ga me that need to improve.

So I expect that he will be the prime candidate for third pair next season.His smarts and ability, offensively, is too good to keep him down...just improve enough in those other areas. It would be sheltered minutes here this season, so let him stay in Rockford while others get attention at the NHL level.

Another prospect, R Press, fits into this category. Lots of ability, good size. Anxious to see him after one year AHL. At that time Raydish also should be a more serious candidate.

Secretly Samuelson and Q must be keeping fingers crossed that Ruuta will become an anchor. It is a lot to expect but he has the experience and size plus euro experience to pull it off.

Kempny will be better. How much so, that is the question. With Samuelson here and a real opportunity for this Czech I believe it is fair to say he will be ok. Maybe even kind of good by season end.

Now you have to wonder what do you get out of Murphy. He is the one you just know they are going to stick with him - lots of attention from Samuelson. If Q handles him right, which means live with his performance and do not make him feel a loss if confidence....Then he might improve. I am fairly certain he has the ability but he suffered in development playing in Phoenix.

Franson is the veteran you use on third pair and some p.p. . We hope his TOI will reflect so and not increase due to Q lacking trust in some kids.

The other guys are really just fill ins. Not long term answers. They have enough AHL and some NHL experience so therefore they qualify as the depth guys. Depth guys you do not really want to use. Be clear on that. Perhaps one of them may benefit somewhat if Samuelson gets them to incorporate some impediment obstruction and meanness into the their game

You know their names: Gus, Pokke, Svedberg. In this group we can include Osterle. I said earlier that my guess is Q can see a TVR comparison in that Oesterle does enough things well enough. Puck movement, smarts, poised well kind of cringe here because while that part is ok, his defensive game is his big wart.

I think it was an astute observation from an earlier blogger who mentioned that Q can choose the type defender to use among the group by judging the physical vs skating emphasis each opponent brings. Perhaps Oesterle is the new kid whom gets a look instead of other AHL guys.

I omitted Forsling because he really needs playing time and the best place is Rockford. There should be no need to rush him, he is very young. If he bounces back and forth I hope that while in Chicago at least in practice sessions our teacher extraordinaire [Samuelson] can help him.

You can trade for a veteran dman but when and if you do so is a matter of timing. When is the sort of dman who is an improvement avaiilable....and at what cost .....of course we await the league ruling which would free up Hossa money. So then do you wait until trade deadline to assess asking price variance for the veteran dman? And perhaps this player gets scooped up by some other GM.

Any way you look at depth on the blueline and a possible trade, it is a waiting game of one kind or another until the blue line crew improves. Yeah, I know Dahlstrom and Norell are lurking. Real dark horse if they step up in development under Colliton. Maybe one of them gets a look.

Is Keith the clear #1 Defenseman in the NHL like he was from 2010-2015? No. Is Keith still a Top 5 Dman in the NHL? Yes! I thought 2 was moving great last night and was a force every shift both with and without the puck. You are correct that the defense past 2+7 are a huge question mark, but I think there are enough NHL-ready options in Training Camp to fill out a Playoff-Caliber Defense. With big bodies Saad + Panik flying around on his wings, Toews SHOULD be a 70 point player again. If not, then 19 is the biggest concern regarding this franchise, not 2 or 7.
- EnzoD

Add to this the fact that our forward group is beginning to look better and better. Hartman looks great Schmaltz played awesome....and yes, even DeBrincat looked like he might even stick. IF....and it still is an "IF"....we can go into the season with
Saad-Toews-Panik
DeBrincat-Schmaltz-Kane
Sharp-Anisimov- Hartman
Any combo of 5-6 decent 4th liners......

Well, if we can make that work AND the Hossa money becomes available, it allows us the luxury of digging around for a D-man or two. Even ONE decent #3 or #4 D-man slots everyone down a spot and our defense suddenly looks pretty decent.
I see a lot of promise with this group. The youth bring energy and look to be progressing. Not Cup favorites yet, but in the West, definately capable of a Top 5-6 team.

Cat also did a good job of positioning himself in an open area of the ice in grade A scoring position. That's how goal scorers move about the offensive zone.
- scottak

This is the level where his critics have no more but this and but that and I'm one of them. The kid indeed showed in an NHL game, albeit a preseason tilt, he just has the instincts to put himself in position to be dangerous no matter he's an average skater. And when the puck gets to him he knows how to finish. Going far side on that goal was a goal scorers vision, feel and shot. ..... And we haven't touched on his vision/passing ability.

Said this before the thing that impressed me a bunch was after he was drafted, didn't make an NHL roster, sent back to jrs instead of sulking the kid lit the joint up for 65 goals and had his best yr ever with NOTHING to prove. Tells me he's the type that never finds his ceiling cuz he is never satisfied and will continue to work.

I count myself as a critic but he's winning me over. Really hope the Hawk depth will allow him a full yr down on the farm.

Semantics, then - I don’t know that AdB will be able to get to that slot or lower position in the Show without being “occupied” (if not muscled out of the position).

It’s too hard to beat a goalie who can see the puck - even if DSK moves the puck like the old Knicks - but we haven’t seen enough of anything yet to know one way or the other.

Is there any thought (if the consensus is that AdB belongs in Chicago immediately) to moving Saad with Schmaltz and Kane and putting AdB with Kane and Panik?
- StLBravesFan

Man, you're double-shifting Kane already?

L'shana tovah, Sage!

This is what I think, OTHER than the fact maybe Q needs to 'test him'...cut him and see how he reacts. If he goes to Rockford with his nose to the grind and lights them up for a couple weeks, bring him up if things need a shakeup in Chicago. Keep in mind, Fortin another talented prospect thought to have a real shot to make the team is most assuredly heading back to the farm. It's an embarrassing amount of riches the Hawks have to even suggest these guys be sent to the minors.
- kwolf68

Wolfy, he was drafted in 16 and sent back to jrs due to Major Juniors Indentured Servitude Clause. Look at his 2017 numbers with nothing to prove: http://www.eliteprospects.../player.php?player=231275

Now look at Iocapelli. Drafted in 14 when he set the USHL single season goals record. Didn't have the grades to play for Western Michigan in 15/16 and had to go back and play his 20 yr old yr back in Muskegon where he had nothing to prove: http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=145630

Guys that are forced back to jrs with nothing to prove more times than not have a yr like Iocepelli not like ADB. As mentioned that says much to me about ADB.

EnzoD thinks Jordon Oesterle has warts but I guess I don't see them and the hawks staff KNOWS guys with offensive zone presence lead to scores, and they signed him, right, for that side of his game, knowing if he is exposed to waviers he might go bye-bye.

My point is that I am not about to discount the new Czech and these two above and think the other guys young and old are locks including Franson's heavy point shot.

I think that they are trying to ADD and fill those Rosy, TvR, and Soupy spots with DIFFERENT types of defenders, so they can go heavy against teams some nights, and go with a strong attack push others.

I just watched and came to the realization, there were more TRUE candidates than I was considering and that me or you narrowing the field like we knew who , well, the obvious choices were that it was more like competition than we thought.
- wiz1901

I agree with this, Wiz. There is more "realistic" defensive depth and options than most thought. Add Ulf coaching the D that is another dynamic to the defensive questions.

I'm not saying all the defensive answers are in the system but the system is providing more possibilities than I thought there were.

Powers wrote a great article analyzing ADBs shifts and asking scouts about what they've seen. and think. It's a good outlook:

One scout said after the game, “I'm not saying he'll be as good, but think Brett Hull. Not big, not blazing speed, but great offensive instincts, knowing how to get open for shots and having a lethal ability to find the back of the net. DeBrincat has that same set.”



“Honestly, if he manages to play with Kane all season, he can be a Calder favorite,” a scout said.



As one scout said after the game, “He's looking very good. That goal is a lot of what you'll see from him. He's going to find those soft spots in coverage in and around the slot and fire it.”



The scout said, “I think that goal yesterday happens no matter who's on the ice. Certainly will get tougher when it's all NHL'ers, but I think he's going to get that chance. … What I don't get is everyone assuming he needs time in Rockford. If he keeps showing he's not out of place here and is scoring goals, there's no reason for him to go there. I think he makes the team out of camp and is given a chance to stay until he proves otherwise, and that's how it should be.”
- JRoenick97

Thanks for sharing this. No doubting his instincts or his ability to bury the thing at the levels he's played at so far.

I have a preference for young players with high potential getting their first pro experience in a lower league - in hockey that means Rockford - give him time there to get used to playing with and against some desperate pros in real game (not preseason) games. Have him learn how to get to his favorite position(s) as an Ice Hog.

But beyond that, I’m still concerned about a 12-8-88 line - who goes and gets the puck below the net? Who goes and sets screens at the net?

Maybe 12 and 8 learn that stuff over time - can three perimeter players succeed on one line - even if Kane is one of them?
- StLBravesFan

Agree with every syllable of this post. Add that line would probably see the oppositions very best shut down forwards and Dmen.

lol (frank)ing crybaby
- BINGO!

You don't read/watch much Barstool, eh?

Three best players o the ice ast night IMO:

1. (tie) Schmaltz and Panik
3. Saad

Not even close.

I am a believer in Schmaltz now. Just a much higher level of confidence. Still wish he would shoot more.

Panik is a beast, period. And he is gaining more and more confidence in his offensive ability.

Saad skated hard, caused trouble and was around the net all night.

This was a skeleton crew Detroit team, but those three players are a VERY good sign for this hockey team this year.

and why is this taking so long...this was announced in early July...the league has had over 2 months to make this evaluation...

its completely unfair to the hawks if they disallow this 10 days before the start of the season...but a bozo league does what a bozo league is...
- bogiedoc

They don't usually review LTIR until a team starts the filing process. It's been stated many time by many people (including Daly) that since the Hawks informed the league they wouldn't be doing that until the start of the season, the league was in no rush to do the review.

As far as we know, the league review is exactly on schedule as planned and Mirtle never said otherwise. People are reading to much into where he said something like "if the player(s) are deemed fit to play, it means the team could be denied LTIR relief" - this is not him saying the league is likely to deny them, just that it's possible if they find anything to suggest a team is lying. That's just a factual statement in general, not one specific to Hossa or even Lupul. Articles are popping up with click baity headlines because that's how the internet works.

I get people's concerns and the NHL is in general a bozo league, but it's not worth getting upset about when the 'report' didn't really say anything alarming.

Schmaltz has looked better against AHL competition - when real games start, AdB is going to get hit and muscled out of position every time he tries to get to the slot - yes, Kane is Kane but without an AA getting the puck down low and occupying the goalie....
- StLBravesFan

^^^^^^

But I think Schmaltz has elevated his game regardless. Otherwise, yes.

You don't read/watch much Barstool, eh?
- L_B_R

Don't read, don't watch, generally don't care.

But I did follow the link and I think his premise is correct. Hossa will be granted LTIR because the condition is legit.

Three best players o the ice ast night IMO:

1. (tie) Schmaltz and Panik
3. Saad

Not even close.

I am a believer in Schmaltz now. Just a much higher level of confidence. Still wish he would shoot more.

Panik is a beast, period. And he is gaining more and more confidence in his offensive ability.

Saad skated hard, caused trouble and was around the net all night.

This was a skeleton crew Detroit team, but those three players are a VERY good sign for this hockey team this year.
- John Jaeckel

Your thoughts on Murphy's game last night?

Your thoughts on Murphy's game last night?
- EnzoD

JJ in Q's voice: he was OK

This is the level where his critics have no more but this and but that and I'm one of them. The kid indeed showed in an NHL game, albeit a preseason tilt, he just has the instincts to put himself in position to be dangerous no matter he's an average skater. And when the puck gets to him he knows how to finish. Going far side on that goal was a goal scorers vision, feel and shot. ..... And we haven't touched on his vision/passing ability.

Said this before the thing that impressed me a bunch was after he was drafted, didn't make an NHL roster, sent back to jrs instead of sulking the kid lit the joint up for 65 goals and had his best yr ever with NOTHING to prove. Tells me he's the type that never finds his ceiling cuz he is never satisfied and will continue to work.

I count myself as a critic but he's winning me over. Really hope the Hawk depth will allow him a full yr down on the farm.
- Mr Ricochet

I always figured ADB would go to the Rock for a couple months at least, but the way he has played in the TC tournament, and one PRESEASON game, I wouldn't mind him staying with the big club for the first month or so.

Don't read, don't watch, generally don't care.

But I did follow the link and I think his premise is correct. Hossa will be granted LTIR because the condition is legit.
- John Jaeckel

I was mostly commenting on how Bingo called a Barstool guy a crybaby when that's kind of part of the shtick - they're almost always over the top with their takes of things. They're like a bunch of crude frat bros who live in this weird cross space of satire and douchedome. I'm not recommending them cause they can be awful at like life, but I just found it funny Bingo called them that since being "extreme fans" is kind of their thing.

I'll add, Chief is definitely the least problematic of the Barstool bros. Prone to hysterics about sports and shows like the Bachelor/Bachelorette, but generally seems smarter and nicer than the other dudes.

JJ in Q's voice: he was OK
- John Jaeckel

LOL and we all know what that translates to....

I was mostly commenting on how Bingo called a Barstool guy a crybaby when that's kind of part of the shtick - they're almost always over the top with their takes of things. They're like a bunch of crude frat bros who live in this weird cross space of satire and douchedome. I'm not recommending them cause they can be awful at like life, but I just found it funny Bingo called them that since being "extreme fans" is kind of their thing.

I'll add, Chief is definitely the least problematic of the Barstool bros. Prone to hysterics about sports and shows like the Bachelor/Bachelorette, but generally seems smarter and nicer than the other dudes.
- L_B_R

That was I believe the first time I've read anything at Barstool. Saw a link to the story and gave it a read. Not a fan of his style, but I agree with the points made.

Unless the NHL learns of a conspiracy between Hossa and the Hawks to fabricate a health issue...this whole "investigation" should be over, and Hossa should be on LTIR.

If Hossa's condition is legitimate, and to date we have zero reason for doubt, the NHL refusing LTIR status would be outrageous.

They don't usually review LTIR until a team starts the filing process. It's been stated many time by many people (including Daly) that since the Hawks informed the league they wouldn't be doing that until the start of the season, the league was in no rush to do the review.

As far as we know, the league review is exactly on schedule as planned and Mirtle never said otherwise. People are reading to much into where he said something like "if the player(s) are deemed fit to play, it means the team could be denied LTIR relief" - this is not him saying the league is likely to deny them, just that it's possible if they find anything to suggest a team is lying. That's just a factual statement in general, not one specific to Hossa or even Lupul. Articles are popping up with click baity headlines because that's how the internet works.

I get people's concerns and the NHL is in general a bozo league, but it's not worth getting upset about when the 'report' didn't really say anything alarming.
- L_B_R

appreciate the response...you are certainly correct about internet bait headlines...

but if he is deemed fit to play...then what..

he probably has not trained all summer, no camp...can't suddenly turn up on the roster..

so his contract is traded to some cap basement team ala datysuk and pronger

appreciate the response...you are certainly correct about internet bait headlines...

but if he is deemed fit to play...then what..

he probably has not trained all summer, no camp...can't suddenly turn up on the roster..

so his contract is traded to some cap basement team ala datysuk and pronger
- bogiedoc

Actually reports are saying Hossa has continued to train. Him training is why the Slovak reporter who is always doing stories on Hossa didn't think the report about Hossa not playing this year was correct originally.

Actually reports are saying Hossa has continued to train. Him training is why the Slovak reporter who is always doing stories on Hossa didn't think the report about Hossa not playing this year was correct originally.
- L_B_R