Kool Aid Drinker!
- paulr

sssslurp
- EbonyRaptor

Joking aside, I like what I have seen of Sikura so far. It's a shame he doesn't have a goal or two considering his chances but there are many players who have struggled to get their first goal only to play with confidence after they've score it. Although many posters will disagree I think Sikura will turn out to be fine.

Philly, Colorado, Colorado, then AZ. Take all 8 pts and the Hawks are in pretty good shape but those last 4 games are brutal. Hope to the hockey gods that Blues, Jets, and Peg aren't playing for anything.

Joking aside, I like what I have seen of Sikura so far. It's a shame he doesn't have a goal or two considering his chances but there are many players who have struggled to get their first goal only to play with confidence after they've score it. Although many posters will disagree I think Sikura will turn out to be fine.
- paulr

I am an official card carrying Sikura Kool Aid fan club member. I think he can be an effective top-9 player on both sides of the puck and for a 6th round pick that's a pretty good deal for the Hawks.

Joking aside, I like what I have seen of Sikura so far. It's a shame he doesn't have a goal or two considering his chances but there are many players who have struggled to get their first goal only to play with confidence after they've score it. Although many posters will disagree I think Sikura will turn out to be fine.
- paulr

I think he's already playing with confidence. He just needs that first one to go in.

Proves the NHL has it in for the Blackhawks!

On a serious note. The obvious rule for hits to the head, hits from behind and then additional punishment if a player is injured as a result of the hit would be to have a standing rule in place. A Hit from behind or hit to the head is classified as minor, moderate, hard and dangerous. A defined suspension should be in place for the hit and the classification of the hit. Then add in in additional suspension time if the victim of the hit is injured. So a minor hit from behind may be one game but a dangerous hit is seven games. Then increment the suspension based on repeat offenders. So a second dangerous hit is 20 games, the third 50 games and so on.

The problem with the above and the only time I will get into conspiracy theories is what if Patrick Kane or McDavid had two dangerous its to the head in one season? Alexander Ovechkin has hit numerous guys from behind and many could be classified as dangerous, but he's managed to stay away from a long suspension. I think the reason the NHL will not put a defined suspension in place is to protect the star players from any team.
- paulr

Until the league starts to treat everyone on the same level when it comes to dirty play/hits then it will never stop.

Malkin gets a slap on the wrist for a stick swinging, Crosby has carved guys up numerous times with his stick with no punishment, Ovi has played on the dirty edge for years with a bunch of questionable hits and no lengthy suspensions. Marchand has kneed and slew footed guys with no deterrent (but lets get him for licking), Weber, Perry, Subban and a bunch of others regularly step over the line. Pronger was a master at it.

It's bad enough that the "non-stars" like Wilson, Torres, Gudas and the like are allowed to continually put players at risk, what message does it send when "stars" get preferential treatment and light if any suspensions for worse infractions.

Until the league starts to treat everyone on the same level when it comes to dirty play/hits then it will never stop.

Malkin gets a slap on the wrist for a stick swinging, Crosby has carved guys up numerous times with his stick with no punishment, Ovi has played on the dirty edge for years with a bunch of questionable hits and no lengthy suspensions. Marchand has kneed and slew footed guys with no deterrent (but lets get him for licking), Weber, Perry, Subban and a bunch of others regularly step over the line. Pronger was a master at it.

It's bad enough that the "non-stars" like Wilson, Torres, Gudas and the like are allowed to continually put players at risk, what message does it send when "stars" get preferential treatment and light if any suspensions for worse infractions.
- TheTrob

And dont forget Duncan Keith!!! He knows how to creep (or sometimes downright JUMP) right over that line!

I am an official card carrying Sikura Kool Aid fan club member. I think he can be an effective top-9 player on both sides of the puck and for a 6th round pick that's a pretty good deal for the Hawks.
- EbonyRaptor

I think he can be a top 9 guy while providing the secondary scoring and depth the Hawks deperately need.

Many fans jumped all over Sikura for that 2 on 1 miss with Perlini. What those same posters don't acknowledge was the great pass Sikura fed to Perlini for what should have been a tap in and the fact he made that pass instead of forcing a shot at the net to try to get his first goal.

No worries. Somehow I got the title wrong, despite picturing Belushi delivering the line.
- mohel

It was a Great movie though

I think he's already playing with confidence. He just needs that first one to go in.
- tvetter

Exactly hopefully he can get one into the back of net and get it out of the way. Then score in bunches!!

Joking aside, I like what I have seen of Sikura so far. It's a shame he doesn't have a goal or two considering his chances but there are many players who have struggled to get their first goal only to play with confidence after they've score it. Although many posters will disagree I think Sikura will turn out to be fine.
- paulr

Pffft. He's the cut from the same bolt of cloth as Fortin, but with out the speed.

And dont forget Duncan Keith!!! He knows how to creep (or sometimes downright JUMP) right over that line!
- hawk35

Keith usually jumped/jumps that line when he is provoked he typically is not the instigator.

There are a lot of s h i t stirrers in the league, guys like Roussel, Shaw and Burrows who play and sometimes step over the edge, but unlike Keith, they are usually the initiators.

Philly, Colorado, Colorado, then AZ. Take all 8 pts and the Hawks are in pretty good shape but those last 4 games are brutal. Hope to the hockey gods that Blues, Jets, and Peg aren't playing for anything.
- bhawks2241

Those teams will be playing to keep the Hawks out.

JC said it was, he said a couple days ago he's working out but doesn't know if he's been skating


- BetweenTheDots

Nice - thanks! I missed that.

Nice - thanks! I missed that.
- Justin Lowe

Do not let it happen again!

Just messing with you, Ty. You're doing a very nice job here, imo.

Pffft. He's the cut from the same bolt of cloth as Fortin, but with out the speed.
- Beaver-Warrior

Wow, thats a name out of the not so distant past - Fortin was the Shiny Penny at one time

Wow, thats a name out of the not so distant past - Fortin was the Shiny Penny at one time
- glennjpawlak22

And no one lamenting that Edsell is too slow.

I think he can be a top 9 guy while providing the secondary scoring and depth the Hawks deperately need.

Many fans jumped all over Sikura for that 2 on 1 miss with Perlini. What those same posters don't acknowledge was the great pass Sikura fed to Perlini for what should have been a tap in and the fact he made that pass instead of forcing a shot at the net to try to get his first goal.
- paulr

I think that many of us acknowledged that that misplay was more on Perlini than on Sikura. Even though I dissed on Sikura in he past, he is starting to grow on me. As his confidence increases you can see his skills start to show through.

Wow, thats a name out of the not so distant past - Fortin was the Shiny Penny at one time
- glennjpawlak22

If I'm not mistaken he's been playing in the bottom 6 in Rockford. Makes you wonder why he was up with the big club earlier in the year.... he doesn't have NHL skill except for straight line skating speed.

VAN in a position to tie with the Hawks tonight playing lowly OTT, but Hawks will have two games in hand.

Hawks need to go 7-3 minimum in their last ten for a shot, while most of the rest of the pack needs only to play .400-.500 hockey.

Tough tough mountain to climb. Frankly, I don't see them winning back to backs against COL. Most likely a split. That means they need to win two o ftheir last four games.

If I'm not mistaken he's been playing in the bottom 6 in Rockford. Makes you wonder why he was up with the big club earlier in the year.... he doesn't have NHL skill except for straight line skating speed.
- bhawks2241

.

That's all they had, no Strome, Perlini, Cagullia (figure Schmautz and Sikura cancels out, Schmautz didn't score either as he didn't shoot), Stan has done real well to add to the depth during the year.

Philly, Colorado, Colorado, then AZ. Take all 8 pts and the Hawks are in pretty good shape but those last 4 games are brutal. Hope to the hockey gods that Blues, Jets, and Peg aren't playing for anything.
- bhawks2241

This is nit picking a bit, but I would much rather that the last four games of the season are full-go, hard fought affairs. If they get in, I want it to be because they beat the best in the division playing at the top of their game. I just think that adds to the confidence of the team and lends more credence to the direction of the coach.

If we make playoffs, would prefer 8th seed and having Calgary win the Pacific.

Not sure I would want Winnipeg or Nashville, although Nashville would be a fun match up, not sure they overtake Winnipeg.

Calgary is good, but with little playoff experience and no clear number 1 goalie....

I am an official card carrying Sikura Kool Aid fan club member. I think he can be an effective top-9 player on both sides of the puck and for a 6th round pick that's a pretty good deal for the Hawks.
- EbonyRaptor

Looking at the 6 new forwards this season, all of who could be starters next season if they continue their current development:

A 6th rounder in Sikura who rose from being a lightweight nobody to one of the best in the NCAA to the top forward prospect (albeit still as a lightweight).

Two former 1st rounders in Strome (3rd) and Perlini (12th) acquired for a higher 1st rounder in Schmaltz (20th).

An undrafted collegian in Caggiula who was once sought by the Hawks before they were able to eventually obtain him for a sub-par D man who wasn't in the team's future plans.

Also two Euro free agents in Kampf and Kahun. I know Kampf isn't "new" this year but it is his first full season.

Then on defense there's former 1st rounder in Koekkoek who, like Caggiula, was received for another sub-par D man who wasn't in the team's future plans.

This is nit picking a bit, but I would much rather that the last four games of the season are full-go, hard fought affairs. If they get in, I want it to be because they beat the best in the division playing at the top of their game. I just think that adds to the confidence of the team and lends more credence to the direction of the coach.
- Chunk

Respectfully, getting in, no matter how, in this league is a full kudos accomplishment. There are no style points or moral victories. If they made it, from where they were in December, that is enough of a confidence boost...