Well, now that that is settled. Score prediction for tonight?
- Rota's Rooter

6-5 Hawks

Both these teams score, both suck defensively, both have top PPs and crap PKs

This screams a shootout.

I thought he did have a trainer that was working him with that wasn't shown on the garage video? Maybe I am wrong.

I am a gym rat still as I age. I still play mens league and softball and my skill set diminishes more each year. I am arguably stronger then I was younger but mind vs body.....mind doesn't always win.

Seabrook didn't sign himself so I don't blame him for his deal.

My expectations of him and Keith are if this were a cup contender they would be 3-4 pairing at best. Seabrook is probably more of a 5 of 6. So that's why I just cringe whenever people keep thinking they are the same guys from 10 years ago.

If you could sell on both tomorrow, I would but Bowman gave up term and flexibility to Keith for a lower cap hit (and why Keith would be a STEAL and would net some decent return in today's market) and gave up the farm (term, aav, and flexibility ) to Seabrook.

I would love to sit with a GM off the record and get an explanation of how easy they give up NMCs. Some teams don't, but the Hawks sure as hell do......
- SteveRain

I'd be willing to bet no one that posters on here knows poop about what type of training these players do in the off season.

6-5 Hawks

Both these teams score, both suck defensively, both have top PPs and crap PKs

This screams a shootout.
- SteveRain

Need a legit regulation win. Dont want to give any points to the Avs. Gut says 4-3 Hawks.

Further on Saad....outside of 2015 playoff run when he was about to be paid, can anyone here say he's improved? Guy is 26 and probably hit the peak of his ability in a 3 month stretch. That's sad, and doesn't even come close to playing the hard minutes, matchups that other highly paid members on this did.

I would trade Saad tomorrow and not think twice. Heres hoping Bowman does this summer.
- SteveRain

Agreed on Saad's showing zero improvement. I think if you have a power forward type replacement he is easily expendable. I don't think he is anything special.

Toews definitely re-dedicated himself this off-season. I assume he spent a lot of time working on his skills.

We know Kane looks to improve every off-season.

No reason Gus can't be better in his own zone. That is largely effort and drive. He has the athleticism and skating to be good in his own zone. Clearly he has minimal desire to get better.

I think his close friend/trainer died within the last year. Pretty sure this summer he worked out alone mostly and had Goodman video in from time to time to help with workouts. To me that isn't much different then one of us waking up and hitting the gym for a couple hours each day.

That isn't going to cut it as a pro athlete. I read Kobe Bryant wrked out 6hrs a day 6 days a week in the off-season. Conditioning, strength training, and skill work.
- bhawks2241

You're pretty sure? Basically you have no idea.

I'd be willing to bet no one that posters on here knows poop about what type of training these players do in the off season.
- GPHawksfan

Ever heard of instagram? Players off-season regiments are pretty well known. Just read about how Kane moved away from weight training this past summer and focused on flexibility/full body movement work.

Toews has workout videos up all the time. Seabs did this past summer. Kampf post cross fit wrkouts all the time.

You're pretty sure? Basically you have no idea.
- GPHawksfan

Yeah pretty sure. I am not there with the guy. Its a blog dude. Pretty sure we can posts theories and opinions. Otherwise wtf are we going to post about?

You're pretty sure? Basically you have no idea.
- GPHawksfan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z-yJXjfAfE

For your viewing pleasure. Looks like I am pretty sure. Took a minute to find the video.

I'd be willing to bet no one that posters on here knows poop about what type of training these players do in the off season.
- GPHawksfan

LOL......Ive seen a few out of the uniform and they are built like tanks.

I also saw Sharp this year and was amazed at how small he was. He looked sickly, and I have ZERO knowledge of anything, just saying that in a general term.

1-0 Avs. Avs score a shortie. Hawks go 0 for 18 on the PP. We'll be back in the Hughes race in no time.

Agreed on Saad's showing zero improvement. I think if you have a power forward type replacement he is easily expendable. I don't think he is anything special.

Toews definitely re-dedicated himself this off-season. I assume he spent a lot of time working on his skills.

We know Kane looks to improve every off-season.

No reason Gus can't be better in his own zone. That is largely effort and drive. He has the athleticism and skating to be good in his own zone. Clearly he has minimal desire to get better.
- bhawks2241

100% agree on Gus.....that's a coachable thing. Either he is coachable and is willing to learn and adapt OR he will have a career in the NHL bouncing all around when he burns out his welcome and teams view his defensive woes outweigh his offensive upside.

No joke.....At what point do you just say become a F? Guy can skate, has very good vision. Id try that out before I'd move on.....Buff did it and excelled at it.

Not to be a nudge, but you can't just look at the WJC to determine what a player's ceiling is. Look at the entire body of work. Additionally, as has been stated endlessly, you can't really project what a prospect will do when the lights are on. you have to see them against the big boys and how they handle it. There is a huge mental aspect to being able to make the NHL

I'm intrigued about a lot of the players they have coming up: Kubalik, Mitchell, Joki, Beaudin, Boqvist, Entwhistle, Barratt, etc. But until they get on the ice against real competition, they are still just prospects.
- Chunk

Well I cannot disagree that they remain prosoects until they prove otherwise. That is the crux of what Steve Raun would say and why I suspect the reason why he doesn't get all excited about prospects

If you have followed tbe Cubs and Blackhawks since the 1970's you know well the disappointment quite often over poor drafting or a joke of a farm system. So the drafting in the past few years by Bowman has me pumped but of course it needs to be put in perspective.

To be totally fair the Blackhawks have made some good selections but from top to bottom rounds their drafting st times = brutal.

I look at some of the things people come up with on this board and can be open enough to admit I too have been wrong on some things over the years. I am fortunate too to have struck a friendship with wiz who tells me how wrong I have been.

You mention prospects whom intrigue you. On the present roster Perlini I am not expecting turns things around unless he plays AHL for a while.

On the other hand I believe Gus can play acceptable defense when he wants to.

He looks brutal sometimes but I think he can be better if he had better intention. He may never be really good but good enough to hold a regular job.

The thing I keep thinking about him is, he has been up before and on defense he was a rag doll. He wasn't putting up numbers but showed what a great pinpoint outlet passer he can be.

So at his age NOW I figure he has to go for it....post some numbers....get noticed...get some dollars with a new contract.

That being said, if his defense does not become better then down the road he is tradable once one or more prospects prove they can play in this league.

1-0 Avs. Avs score a shortie. Hawks go 0 for 18 on the PP. We'll be back in the Hughes race in no time.
- EbonyRaptor

You pot stirrer you......

LOL......Ive seen a few out of the uniform and they are built like tanks.

I also saw Sharp this year and was amazed at how small he was. He looked sickly, and I have ZERO knowledge of anything, just saying that in a general term.
- SteveRain

I saw Chellios in street clothes buying Bulls tickets at the Stadium a couple years ago. Never would have guessed how strong he is. He was a workout warrior from reports I have come across over the years.

...included AA, Crawford, Saad, Toews, and Kane too ....
- StutzBlackhawk

Yes...also Entwistle, Wise, Kurashev, Beudin and Mitchell.

But Stan snagged Strome, who was playing scrapheap minutes in a lower line role and now he is proving to be a LEGIT 2nd line center.


Man - Who woulda thunk that Strome's impact to this team would be so valuable. This board was littered with Schmaltz talk prior to the trade good bad and indifferent. Strome is a huge reason why they are playing the way they are and I'm thoroughly impressed so far and he will only get better. Strome and ADB could be the new Toews/ Kane light. This could be Stan's best deal and feel his moves during this season have been solid as he's not under any real cap restraints, he has more freedom to make trades that benefit the Hawks as a team. No more trades to free cap space and he has a different mindset.

Hope Stan has something else up his sleeve. They have too many 5-6-7 /AHL Dmen or they are still learning D on the fly and dealing with growing pains. I would like to see perhaps Stan package one of those dmen and one of the top kid D men for a top 2 Dman even if it is in the off-season. Too many holes and Keith and Seabs should be second and third pairings next year. It would be bold but feel they may have 1 young dman to be expendable.
- stan-ley-cups

I wanted the Hawks to trade up for Strome when he got drafted cause i thought Toews was playing too many minutes and needed a legit second option that had size.

The kid has unreal hands and incredible vision. That was fairly obvious especially with how he had his way with lesser competition.

Being able to be the other guy instead of the main guy has been good for him and spotting zone starts helped build confidence. Definitely a piece you can build around, too much skill and seemed like a good kid.

Well, now that that is settled. Score prediction for tonight?
- Rota's Rooter

Is Ditka in?

Is Ditka in?
- resqmed99

72-0

72-0
- z1990z

57 to -4 mein frien

Is Ditka in?
- resqmed99

Ditka vs a hurricane? But the hurricane is named Hurricane Ditka.

Ditka vs a hurricane? But the hurricane is named Hurricane Ditka.
- MNHawk

Depends if Da Coach pops a pill pre fight !

From Eklund:

Also Jesse Puljujärvi Having season ending surgery. This doesn’t mean however that he still could not be moved to a team who wants him long-term. I have been following New Jersey who has interest....

He also said that NYI "HAS" to respond to CBJ loading up. Why? They are leading their division and playing really well. That mindset always threw me for a loop.

Well I cannot disagree that they remain prosoects until they prove otherwise. That is the crux of what Steve Raun would say and why I suspect the reason why he doesn't get all excited about prospects

If you have followed tbe Cubs and Blackhawks since the 1970's you know well the disappointment quite often over poor drafting or a joke of a farm system. So the drafting in the past few years by Bowman has me pumped but of course it needs to be put in perspective.

To be totally fair the Blackhawks have made some good selections but from top to bottom rounds their drafting st times = brutal.

I look at some of the things people come up with on this board and can be open enough to admit I too have been wrong on some things over the years. I am fortunate too to have struck a friendship with wiz who tells me how wrong I have been.

You mention prospects whom intrigue you. On the present roster Perlini I am not expecting turns things around unless he plays AHL for a while.

On the other hand I believe Gus can play acceptable defense when he wants to.

He looks brutal sometimes but I think he can be better if he had better intention. He may never be really good but good enough to hold a regular job.

The thing I keep thinking about him is, he has been up before and on defense he was a rag doll. He wasn't putting up numbers but showed what a great pinpoint outlet passer he can be.

So at his age NOW I figure he has to go for it....post some numbers....get noticed...get some dollars with a new contract.

That being said, if his defense does not become better then down the road he is tradable once one or more prospects prove they can play in this league.
- jhawk59

I just try not to get overly worked up about them until they make the NHL. That's all....not everyone is a sure lock to become what they are hyped/forecasted to be slotted for.

outside of cap hell deals or Panarin, not many have comeback to haunt the hawks. Including Marko Dano who I recall had people on this board hating the Ladd trade.

For every elite prospect that makes it, there are the guys who implode.

Colorado 5-2.

Yeah pretty sure. I am not there with the guy. Its a blog dude. Pretty sure we can posts theories and opinions. Otherwise wtf are we going to post about?
- bhawks2241

Your theories and opinions are dumb, dude