I'm only just nudging 6' myself, and fairly lean, but I have long arms, and find I can hit a long iron further than a lot of people I play with hit their driver off the tee (I refuse to use a driver as my slice is shocking and I don't play often enough to fix it). Size isn't everything, but it certainly helps
- AusHawk

Agreed. Some of the smaller guys on tour really maximize their bodies power output.

It is always fun smoking a 3 wood or 2-3 iron further then your buddies drive lol.

I cant even believe we're discussing the Hawks being buyers.

If you're Bowman & Co you don't make any significant moves, unless they're long term...It's nice the Hawks have somehow found themselves in a playoff spot, and this team could potentially make a run if they had a solid defense but the Hawks don't.. I mean recently things have been coming together but the truth is that this team - as far as youth - are in a learning phase right now. They're learning the NHL, the system, what it takes to win, they're learning they can come back from the dead and win and they need to continue to learn that - which is why you don't make any significant moves at the TDL. If they make the playoffs that will be a victory within itself - a team victory, and if they win a round then even better. But none of that changes the fact that the Hawks are absolutely a legitimate defense (another legit top 4) away and perhaps a top 6 forward from being contenders again.

If I were Bowman, and Crow was ready for a return- the only players I would be shopping now would be Cam Ward and Anisimov... I believe Delia has EARNED a rotation spot in the NHL and he should stay up and keep playing ... Not only that but I think Ward might fetch a higher return than expected.. There is absolutely zero logic in sending Delia back to Rockford just to rotate Ward and Crow, Delia has nothing to gain from that.. And I do understand that Ward has a NMC, but I highly doubt he would refuse to waive it.. I believe Ward was given the NMC just to prevent him from being sent to Rockford... And this is nothing against Cam Ward - He's played way better than I expected, which of course is why I think he may fetch a nice return from a team looking for security in goal heading into the playoffs..

So if you're Bowman and you're going to make any trades at this point then trade guys you have no intent on bringing back next season, who aren't playing roles that can be filled by kids on the farm or the soon to be signed college players (tho under the right circumstances I would bring Ward back as a UFA this summer)... I mean yes I can see Kruger or Kunitz traded, but those guys are experienced players with Cup rings, who know how to win, who know how to come back from behind whom I believe are helping the younger kids - and you can see the improvement (to some extent)...

So if I'm Bowman I'm standing pat unless a GM blows me away with a trade offer I cant refuse, or if a GM proposes a Strome/Schmaltz type deal that affects the team long-term..

In speaking of the Schmaltz for Strome/Perlini trade - that was an excellent trade. The change of scenery for Strome was huge.. He wen't from being an almost bust (which I think is why Perlini was added) to a PPG player.....I was very skeptical at first - make no mistake Schmaltz is a very talented player who could be a PPG player himself, but I gotta admit that Bowman as of right now bent Chayka over the table, Well it wasn't that bad - Schmaltz was doing well until he ended up with his season ending injury..... Now the only problem I personally have with this trade is what I'm going to do with all the Schmaltz cards I bought over the summer? I mean between DeBrincat and Schmaltz I bought at least 250 combined cards (75% of the cards are DeBrincat tho) because I was sure Schmaltz was part of this teams future...... I suppose I will try to trade them for Dylan Strome, lol - that or put them on ebay and use what I make buying more Dylan Strome cards, but for now they've been moved from the "Nick Schmaltz" section in my Hawks collection, to my box of "Active Former Hawks"..

Did you say once you live in Australia? If so, have a question. I know the seasons are reversed so your "summer" is ending and you're headed into your "autumn". Just wondering how cold it gets there during your "winter" months... June, July, August?
- boilermaker100

Coming to the end of summer now.

Where I am (Southeast of the country) isnt too bad with winter temps. Usually mornings get down to about -2C or 28F and a max of about 10C or 50F. Somewhere about there anyways. Some of the mountain areas get a bit colder.

Agreed. Some of the smaller guys on tour really maximize their bodies power output.

It is always fun smoking a 3 wood or 2-3 iron further then your buddies drive lol.
- bhawks2241

Oh absolutely. Played a round with my brother in law and his mates a couple of weeks ago and there were a few polite giggles when I pulled out the 3 iron to tee off. Straight down the middle, just behind the longest drive of the group.
Proceeded to shank the approach into the bushes behind the green, but thats another story

Coming to the end of summer now.

Where I am (Southeast of the country) isnt too bad with winter temps. Usually mornings get down to about -2C or 28F and a max of about 10C or 50F. Somewhere about there anyways. Some of the mountain areas get a bit colder.
- AusHawk

Thanks. Appreciate the info.

Oh absolutely. Played a round with my brother in law and his mates a couple of weeks ago and there were a few polite giggles when I pulled out the 3 iron to tee off. Straight down the middle, just behind the longest drive of the group.
Proceeded to shank the approach into the bushes behind the green, but thats another story
- AusHawk

Like they say... drive for show and putt for dough.

Like they say... drive for show and putt for dough.
- boilermaker100

My short game lets me down massively. Will routinely hit a screaming drive, on the green in regulation, and then 3 putt for a bogey or worse haha

My short game lets me down massively. Will routinely hit a screaming drive, on the green in regulation, and then 3 putt for a bogey or worse haha
- AusHawk

Got to practice that short game to shave off the strokes.

The Hawks won't be buyers. The only deal they should do is one that brings in a long-term asset at a great deal for Chicago. There are too many holes to fill, and none of the moves made so far this year (including the draft) suggest they are thinking short-term.

But they have to show the fan base that they are contending...ticket prices are not cheap.

sports hernia? guy was training a lot this summer from what we saw.
- SteveRain

Sports hernias are the worst.

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

Saw DeBrincat on the lake front trail this summer. The dude is built like a fire hydrant. His calves are the size of my thighs and is big across the shoulders. The dude works out. I think Strome bring his roomie will be huge for the big guy.

Saw DeBrincat on the lake front trail this summer. The dude is built like a fire hydrant. His calves are the size of my thighs and is big across the shoulders. The dude works out. I think Strome bring his roomie will be huge for the big guy.
- fattybeef

Excited to see what Strome looks like next season. Hoping he workouts with Dcat all summer.

He is fearless, I agree. But he is easily knocked off the puck and struggles in 50/50 battles. Relentless, yes. Heart, yes. But if he can't win faceoffs, I'd rather have somebody that can win a faceoff and not be knocked easily off the puck, unless we're talking less than $1 million per year.

And guys, he doesn't bring much of anything on the offensive end.
- jrsamu

I agree with most of your assessment, "small" was just a poor choice of words, if any thing, he plays "big", now TT and, schmaltz, they played small.

Coming to the end of summer now.

Where I am (Southeast of the country) isnt too bad with winter temps. Usually mornings get down to about -2C or 28F and a max of about 10C or 50F. Somewhere about there anyways. Some of the mountain areas get a bit colder.
- AusHawk

Melbs?

Melbs?
- fattybeef

Correct you are. Been here about 6 years now. Originally from a small town about 4 hours NWest

miss eli

snapitupstairs
savvyone
wiz

damn.....I took a mental vacation and everyone vanished.
- SteveRain

Pre Mod? Sure. Post? Yeah, not so much.

On Seabrook, all the personal training recommendations are great and yeah, he should be working out religiously all summer.

That can happen and he is still carrying a load of time and minutes on that body. You can pick your poison - either Stan could not bring in capable d-men to rely on during the playoff push and playoffs themselves or Q would not play them and ran them off. Or some combination. It doesn't matter. Layer Olympic hockey and continuous playoffs basically relying on three guys (and only one of them was really physical) and this is where it winds up.

The Seabrook vitriol really needs to be re-directed. Winning consistently (and thank you for it!) combined with the inability to identify and develop defensemen who can actually defend save for Hjalmarsson has cost the organization.
- jrsamu

Wow, slow hand clap. That was, nice!

Saw DeBrincat on the lake front trail this summer. The dude is built like a fire hydrant. His calves are the size of my thighs and is big across the shoulders. The dude works out. I think Strome bring his roomie will be huge for the big guy.
- fattybeef

I think so too. Strome apparently is working out with his skating guy again and he is a huge hockey nerd like Kane and I believe AdB too.

Some are bigger these days. Tiger brought a lot more fitness and strength training to the game. But yes a lot of the smaller guys really get everything out of their bodies. So much lag and torque created. Guys like Rory and Justin Thomas just crush the ball. Beautiful to watch. I have a pretty low handicap and crush the ball. I'm 6'3" 200lbs and both those guys hit it as far if not further then me. Doubt either on is over 5'10" 175lbs.
- bhawks2241

Technique is more important than strength. This young gun, Cameron Champ, as a wicked lag, and generates some ungodly clubhead speed.

But, the difference between the web.com tour and the PGA, and between the regular PGA and major winners, is still short game & putting.

I’ve seen a half dozen web.com events in person the last few years, and lots of those guys can hit it a mile, but can’t putt to save their lives.

On Seabrook, all the personal training recommendations are great and yeah, he should be working out religiously all summer.

That can happen and he is still carrying a load of time and minutes on that body. You can pick your poison - either Stan could not bring in capable d-men to rely on during the playoff push and playoffs themselves or Q would not play them and ran them off. Or some combination. It doesn't matter. Layer Olympic hockey and continuous playoffs basically relying on three guys (and only one of them was really physical) and this is where it winds up.

The Seabrook vitriol really needs to be re-directed. Winning consistently (and thank you for it!) combined with the inability to identify and develop defensemen who can actually defend save for Hjalmarsson has cost the organization.
- jrsamu

I know some people like to lay that all at the feet of Bowman, but during the Builder's tenure, Hjalmarsson was the only dman he drafted that panned out.

Correct you are. Been here about 6 years now. Originally from a small town about 4 hours NWest
- AusHawk

Loved that place. Really liked the Fitzroy and Carlton area. North Melbourne and by the uni is cool. South Yarra had a killer Italian restaurant, 38 chairs i think its called.

The area down by the river is gorgeous. The Yarra Valley is killer. Took a ride out to port Campbell. The surf coast, wow. Really blew my mind how walkable and nice the city was but then how much amazing and vastly different outdoorsy things are within a few hours drive.

I can't believe i came back to be honest.

For those of us who think tanking is ok:

Ottawa has traded Duchesne - can’t play him obviously - I’m fine with them making a move to improve their team and cut their losses at this point in the season.

But they haven’t traded Stone and Dzingel - still on the roster - still healthy - still ready to play.

But NOT playing to protect against injury IN CASE a deal is in the works. Not playing their best roster against a team in a playoff fight.

If I were a member of Carolina - or even Buffalo, Philadelphia, or Montreal - or a fan of those teams - I would be happy about this decision.

At some point, ethics and fair play - play fair - have to be part of sports, at least.

Loved that place. Really liked the Fitzroy and Carlton area. North Melbourne and by the uni is cool. South Yarra had a killer Italian restaurant, 38 chairs i think its called.

The area down by the river is gorgeous. The Yarra Valley is killer. Took a ride out to port Campbell. The surf coast, wow. Really blew my mind how walkable and nice the city was but then how much amazing and vastly different outdoorsy things are within a few hours drive.

I can't believe i came back to be honest.
- fattybeef

Weren’t you afraid of being upside down all the time and maybe falling off of the world?

Weren’t you afraid of being upside down all the time and maybe falling off of the world?
- StLBravesFan

Yeah, and it's not only that - Australia is a big island and you got to worry about it flipping over if everyone were to go to one side.

Weren’t you afraid of being upside down all the time and maybe falling off of the world?
- StLBravesFan

The danger is what made it so exciting and fun.