Why is there this billion dollar franchise then?
- I Am The Breadman

Because Dale brought 3 Cups, dumb arse. Sheesh.

Because Dale brought 3 Cups, dumb arse. Sheesh.
- mohel

Hahahaha!!!

See, I warned you, I get lost in it all sometimes.

Hahahaha!!!

See, I warned you, I get lost in it all sometimes.
- I Am The Breadman

Here's the cheat sheet - look at the doom side for any fact relating to the Hawks, and there's your narrative.

Wiz has proven time and again he knows what the heck he is talking about... more often than not.
- riozzo

First thing I ever remember Wiz saying (might have been on the Daily Herald blog) was that Seabrook was a world class skater. He and I went round and round about that for a while and eventually agreed to disagree. But I think he might have gotten caught up in the Canadian old boys club scouting world at the time where Seabrook and Phaneuf were the golden boys according to them after the world junior tourney, and to suggest otherwise was blasphemy.

But I have always admired and respected Wiz's passion and the effort he makes in his research. And it was fun learning he and I had mutual acquaintance or two from back in the days of the Stadium. After being intensely involved in the game for decades I have cut back to being just a fan and not watching as closely or paying as much attention to all things hockey. Meanwhile Wiz is still a hockey maniac doing his thing. And I say good on him and wish him well. And I agree that he is probably more right than wrong in his assessments.

And there is no way in hell he uses spellcheck.

So with today's schedule we have a potential great Tank night with

Rangers at Wings
Vancouver at Edmonton

If we lose we are guaranteed Tanks points (hopefully with at least one 3 pt game above).

Dylan Strome's birthday today, maybe he will have a big game.

I seem to recall him being referred to as "Swoop" also. Perhaps in reference to the skating style you mention. A buddy of mine in high school had season tickets(his dad owned a restaurant), and I know he called him that all the time. Could swear Petit did on the TV broadcasts as well.
- BobP.

Yeah, Swoop, Nester, Pester em Nester, elbows all the same guy, here is some interesting info on Eric.

http://blackhawkslegends....6/05/eric-nesterenko.html

I know. Signing aging players isn't where the team is at is all I am saying.

Tanev would be okay for a bottom line role.
- Elbows15

Who would be your free agent targets? The free agents defense is not very good maybe Myers but need a veteran to stabilize the back end whether that's Myers, Coburn, Stralman or through a trade needs to be priority number 1 in the offseason.

So with today's schedule we have a potential great Tank night with

Rangers at Wings
Vancouver at Edmonton

If we lose we are guaranteed Tanks points (hopefully with at least one 3 pt game above).
- 67hawks

Last night Anaheim could have helped us.

they compared him to Kopitar?
- Elbows15

This is from the TV announcer of the Hamilton Bulldogs:
Comparable: If Mackenzie Entwistle can translate his offensive game to the professional level, his 200ft game combined with his size will remind many of Anze Kopitar. Able to play in all situations, understanding how to use the big frame to shield and protect as well as being a great skater for his size

Who do you think will have the best shot to get into our bottom 6 next season? Listing some of Stan's recent acquisitions and signings. (Not drafted by us)

Brandon Hagel
Reese Johnson
Mackenzie Entwistle
Jacob Nilsson
Dominik Kubalík

Kubalik would be my front runner based on skill/age, but would need a contract. (probably a clause to go back to Europe if he doesn't make the team)

Nilsson got 2 games this year as a call up, but didn't stand out in his 15 minutes of total ice time.

Hagel is having a solid Jr season, but no clue how he will do against professional players. Probably gonna need time in the AHL to see if he can make it.

Entwistle gained a lot of fans with the WJC with his role playing and goal scoring. Seems like he was a nice part of that Hossa deal, but again, it is a big jump to go pro. Maybe he would physically be able to handle it.

Reese Johnson is Hagel's teammate and I'd have to think he is AHL bound for next year. Seems like he could be some decent new blood for the Hogs at least.

Last night Anaheim could have helped us.
- powerenforcer

12 seconds

Question for Justin or anyone who follows the IceHogs. Does Derek King have the Hogs playing the same defensive scheme that Colliton coaches up? If not then why not?

Question for Justin or anyone who follows the IceHogs. Does Derek King have the Hogs playing the same defensive scheme that Colliton coaches up? If not then why not?
- FourOrr

Colliton has a defensive scheme? Is it:
A) Chinese fire drill?
B) Everyone chase the guy with the puck?
C) If a defender touches the puck the other 4 players exit the zone as soon as possible?

Who would be your free agent targets? The free agents defense is not very good maybe Myers but need a veteran to stabilize the back end whether that's Myers, Coburn, Stralman or through a trade needs to be priority number 1 in the offseason.
- Scott1977

I think free agents are best to plug holes in a lineup, not to build a lineup. A great example is the Hawks signing Hossa to fill a hole as a top 6 winger the ability to contribute on the powerplay and penalty kill as well as providing leadership and experience. The Hawks at this point aren't trying to fill holes they are trying to build a team. I'd prefer the Hawks wait and use Free Agency strategically and not as a short cut.

Colliton has a defensive scheme? Is it:
A) Chinese fire drill?
B) Everyone chase the guy with the puck?
C) If a defender touches the puck the other 4 players exit the zone as soon as possible?
- -Doh-

D} opposing player touches puck, 3 Hawk players rush to cover...2 of them realize, damn i left my guy...two quick passes and bam, Ward lets in a Goal....

D} opposing player touches puck, 3 Hawk players rush to cover...2 of them realize, damn i left my guy...two quick passes and bam, Ward lets in a Goal....
- glennjpawlak22

E) The Hawks don't have sufficient depth at forward or on defence so they are playing a run and gun game to be competative.

Who would be your free agent targets? The free agents defense is not very good maybe Myers but need a veteran to stabilize the back end whether that's Myers, Coburn, Stralman or through a trade needs to be priority number 1 in the offseason.
- Scott1977

I'd rather they build the team for another long playoff run in a few years. Those old guys might help next year a bit, but after that we'll be barking about the bloated contract Stan gave them.

E) The Hawks don't have sufficient depth at forward or on defence so they are playing a run and gun game to be competative.
- paulr

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.

E) The Hawks don't have sufficient depth at forward or on defence so they are playing a run and gun game to be competative.
- paulr

F) They live by the 3 second rule on offense in the NBA only in their defensive zone. If any defender is in the slot area more than three seconds they need to vacate immediately.

Question for Justin or anyone who follows the IceHogs. Does Derek King have the Hogs playing the same defensive scheme that Colliton coaches up? If not then why not?
- FourOrr

Anyone know where the players in Rockford are housed if they aren't in an apartment? Active shooter situation in Rockford as we speak at the extended stay Hampton.

I'd rather they build the team for another long playoff run in a few years. Those old guys might help next year a bit, but after that we'll be barking about the bloated contract Stan gave them.
- mohel

I'm only a little upset at the length of Seabrook's contract. 5 years probably would have been justified and still be a little high, but he deserved his payday as he was UNDERPAID for many years. Good on him and it is what it is. Keith has a fantastic contract. Kane and Toews deserved theirs and earned them and I have no problems with at all. CC is / was worth his money as well. Too many injuries, but wasn't injury prone prior to that. Anyone else's are not bloated at all. Every team should have a bad contract or two anyways. Not just the Hawks. They were forced to move players because of the cap and now Bettman finally raised it to higher levels that the Hawks were anticipating it to be years ago. They just guessed wrong and got burned.

Hossa did the Hawks an absolute solid as well by not retiring.

I'd wager that when teams scout the Hawks they quickly realize the Hawks are susceptible to "picks", more so than most teams. Picks, legal and otherwise, can be effective against any defensive scheme but especially so against a man to man defense - and even more so against a poorly executed man to man defense. The old Babcock run Wings teams were masterful at getting away with subtle "not quite legal" picks to free up opportunities in the opposing team's d-zone. That is one of the challenges of playing man to man defense - knowing how to and executing the counter measures to having our d-man lose contact with his man which then often will result in other guys trying to react to the breakdown and a Chinese fire drill ensues.

If the Hawks are going to play man to man effectively - they need to know how to handle pick plays, as a 5-man unit - not just the puck chaser. This can be learned and if played well can be better than zone defense - but it demands a lot of attention and effort from coaches and players. I'm not sure it can be fully implemented in a month of training camp - it may need to be a work in progress even after the season starts.

From today’s Craig Custance article in ‘The Athletic’, after Stan stated this is the 1st year in a long time that they have available cap space.

16. Bowman did acknowledge that any spending this summer will have to be done with the realization that Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat both need new deals after next season. They’re having huge seasons and that’s going to come with a significant cost. There are so many high end restricted free agents who need deals this summer, a situation that will help establish what the Strome and DeBrincat contracts will look like. That said, Bowman said he wouldn’t mind exploring talks with those two this summer, even before the market settles. That may depend on how willing the other side is to engage. In these situations, agents tend to like to wait and see if new deals push up the comparable contracts.

“There’s so many young players that have to get contracts between now and then, I think right now there is uncertainty. What is that amount going to be?” Bowman said. “We haven’t talked to the agents but we’ll have discussions in the summer. I don’t know if they’ll go anywhere or if we’ll wait it out.”

E) The Hawks don't have sufficient depth at forward or on defence so they are playing a run and gun game to be competative.
- paulr

Thinking that this is a conscious decision on Colliton's or the player's part is giving them too much credit. They might be trying to play man-to-man, but it looks like jet fighters in a scramble mode.