The big KarASS with his stimulating hockey talk. You are a big Northern Redneck. Go hangout with your Spit and talk about meat, your cousins and what 9th Defenseman might make Chi(town) pitiful defense better. You are a joke
- VopatsRash

No one gets spit roasted like you do, pumpkin.

I’ll eat just about anything once. Never had the opportunity to consume Lamb Eyballs though. What time should I be there?
- Ogilthorpe2

Festivities start at 9. They get ripe about noon when they pop out of the socket and dangle around.

With very few exceptions playoffs have always proven talent alone won't win the cup. True Grit laughed at the idea defense is still THE most important part of hockey and he also laughed at the notion old school coaches were still viable. Well defense, good coaching and hard work has a talented but unprepared Tampa team on the ropes. Unlikely they can win 4 in a row but they do have the talent pull it off provided they play the next 240 minutes like they did in tonight's third period.
- paulr

impressive display by the cbj's...bobro has been spectacular the last 8 periods...

i expected the bolts to pull this one out but not to be...can they extend the series...sure pure pride and averting humiliation should spur them on to get gme 4...
but would not be surprised if the jackets answer them...

not identical by any means but this series looks alot like nash vs hawks 3 years ago...

The big KarASS with his stimulating hockey talk. You are a big Northern Redneck. Go hangout with your Spit and talk about meat, your cousins and what 9th Defenseman might make Chi(town) pitiful defense better. You are a joke
- VopatsRash

dude...what is your problem...why is it so necessary for you to show up here and highlight your flippant immaturity and idiocy

does it help ya sleep better at night...**sheesh**

dude...what is your problem...why is it so necessary for you to show up here and highlight your flippant immaturity and idiocy

does it help ya sleep better at night...**sheesh**
- bogiedoc

No one gets spit roasted like you do, pumpkin.
- Elbows15

With very few exceptions playoffs have always proven talent alone won't win the cup. True Grit laughed at the idea defense is still THE most important part of hockey and he also laughed at the notion old school coaches were still viable. Well defense, good coaching and hard work has a talented but unprepared Tampa team on the ropes. Unlikely they can win 4 in a row but they do have the talent pull it off provided they play the next 240 minutes like they did in tonight's third period.
- paulr

Give a savvy NHL coach the opportunity to game plan for the same opponent up to 7 games in a row and most of them will find a weakness they can exploit.

But one thing that never goes away at playoff time - the need for great goaltending and big strong defenceman.

In what playoff series would you see Gus excelling in this year and being a positive difference maker? Not any of them that I have been watching.

Can the Hawks be legitimate Cup contenders with Seabrook tying up $7M in cap space? If we were to trade him and retain 50% - what cost would you be willing to pay to free up $3.5M?

Hypothetical - if the Hawks trade Seabrook and retain 50% and then take that $3.5M and sign Ben Chiarot - the Hawks would have the same salary cap commitment but would have Chiarot instead of Seabrook. That seems like a no-brainer win for the Hawks to me - the only question would be was the cost to entice a team to take Seabrook at 50% worth the difference between Seabrook and Chiarot.

SJ Making it interesting ..

Mark Stone is en fuego

Can the Hawks be legitimate Cup contenders with Seabrook tying up $7M in cap space? If we were to trade him and retain 50% - what cost would you be willing to pay to free up $3.5M?

Hypothetical - if the Hawks trade Seabrook and retain 50% and then take that $3.5M and sign Ben Chiarot - the Hawks would have the same salary cap commitment but would have Chiarot instead of Seabrook. That seems like a no-brainer win for the Hawks to me - the only question would be was the cost to entice a team to take Seabrook at 50% worth the difference between Seabrook and Chiarot.
- EbonyRaptor

Its the term. Still 5 years left to go on his contract. Maybe if there were a year or two but no one is taking him for 5 more years.

Have to hope for compliance buyouts in the next CBA. Not sure how that happens unless all the GM/owners want freebies for their mistakes, though.

Can the Hawks be legitimate Cup contenders with Seabrook tying up $7M in cap space? If we were to trade him and retain 50% - what cost would you be willing to pay to free up $3.5M?

Hypothetical - if the Hawks trade Seabrook and retain 50% and then take that $3.5M and sign Ben Chiarot - the Hawks would have the same salary cap commitment but would have Chiarot instead of Seabrook. That seems like a no-brainer win for the Hawks to me - the only question would be was the cost to entice a team to take Seabrook at 50% worth the difference between Seabrook and Chiarot.
- EbonyRaptor

Just what would you have to trade additionally with Seabrook? To even make a trade involving him, ask if it is worthwhile to even trade him. You play the role of the rival GM

. You hope to have a competitive team within the five years which remains on his elephant of a contract. Seabrook rakes in what - $8 mill/ yr. AND what is the cap hit. You take on that contract - really. If another GM has not hung up yet, they say give me your #1 2019 and Jokiharju?

I mean to say, unless you see it differently and can present a plausible explanation, we are stuck with Seabrook.

I don't know if there is a way to have Seabrook retire and then be able to avoid the protection spot he fills irregardless of retirement. I have advanced this idea previously. i have not yet seen a response .....so if anyone is in the know about finagling around the monstrocity of this contract, then please kindly enlighten the rest of us.

Its the term. Still 5 years left to go on his contract. Maybe if there were a year or two but no one is taking him for 5 more years.

Have to hope for compliance buyouts in the next CBA. Not sure how that happens unless all the GM/owners want freebies for their mistakes, though.
- Elbows15

There won’t be compliance buyouts in the next CBA.

Great piece you wrote.

I've watched a lot of the playoffs and it's been exciting and surprisingly fun.

Islanders and Columbus are the 2 dark horse surprises.

With coach Q signing in Florida, do you see Tallon making a call to Stan to trade for Seabrook?

Also the backend was awful , Keith and Seabrook I understand their contracts , but reality is father time has caught up with them and their salaries are making it difficult to build a supporting cast.


will Stan finally decide to ask them to waive their no movement clauses and trade them?

Great piece you wrote.

I've watched a lot of the playoffs and it's been exciting and surprisingly fun.

Islanders and Columbus are the 2 dark horse surprises.

With coach Q signing in Florida, do you see Tallon making a call to Stan to trade for Seabrook?

Also the backend was awful , Keith and Seabrook I understand their contracts , but reality is father time has caught up with them and their salaries are making it difficult to build a supporting cast.


- Taylorst1

If Charelli were still a GM there may be a slight chance the Hawks could unload Seabrook, should he agree to waive the NMC.

Unless the Hawks are willing to accept a bad contract in return Seabrook ain't going anywhere and even with a bad contrac in return why would Chicago accept some guy in return for one of the heroes of the cup run? will Stan finally decide to ask them to waive their no movement clauses and trade them?

Give a savvy NHL coach the opportunity to game plan for the same opponent up to 7 games in a row and most of them will find a weakness they can exploit.

But one thing that never goes away at playoff time - the need for great goaltending and big strong defenceman.

In what playoff series would you see Gus excelling in this year and being a positive difference maker? Not any of them that I have been watching.
- RickJ

Until proven otherwise give me the old school coach who understand the game. And give me a team that understands and can play defense.

I can see Gus excelling as a third pairing guy with limited 5 on 5 minutes who runs the powerplay. Q hid Leddy for the most part I'm sure Gus could be strategically used while hoping the Hawks don't ise the puck. However Gus' point totals are potentially going to command a first pairing contract at which point I hope the Hawks find a trade partner.

Until proven otherwise give me the old school coach who understand the game. And give me a team that understands and can play defense.

I can see Gus excelling as a third pairing guy with limited 5 on 5 minutes who runs the powerplay. Q hid Leddy for the most part I'm sure Gus could be strategically used while hoping the Hawks don't ise the puck. However Gus' point totals are potentially going to command a first pairing contract at which point I hope the Hawks find a trade partner.
- paulr

Seems to me that the problem with “hiding” Gus with low 5x5 minutes increases the load on Seabrook and Keith - aging skaters who should be reducing their TOI (especially the former).

You need to have approaching 240 minutes of ice time from the defensemen (depending on PP usage). You can only have so many bottom-minutes guys.

I’m still going with Boston from the East and the Blues out west.
- SimpleJack

Only problem there is I have to watch that Bobby Orr goal about 150 more times

I can’t believe how invisible Stamkos has been.

Such an important game, season likely on the line, no Kucherov, you figure he’d step his game up...
- SimpleJack

Not sure why, it happens every year, but don't let the narrative down, Yzerman is a genius that he got him to sign for only 9.5 unlike that idiot Stan who overpaid Toews and Kane at 10.5

Seems to me that the problem with “hiding” Gus with low 5x5 minutes increases the load on Seabrook and Keith - aging skaters who should be reducing their TOI (especially the former).

You need to have approaching 240 minutes of ice time from the defensemen (depending on PP usage). You can only have so many bottom-minutes guys.
- StLBravesFan

I think if you look at Rick's post that I was replying to we were talking in the hypothetical, how would Gus hold out in the playoffs given his lack of defensive acumen and his aversion to physical play.

Another reason why the Hawks have to evaluate Gus' on the team is exactly what you state. He's no better than a 3rd pairing guy on a team with no first pairing defensemen and only one true second pairing guy, Keith, who's deteriorating skills may have him sinking lower than that.

Not sure why, it happens every year, but don't let the narrative down, Yzerman is a genius that he got him to sign for only 9.5 unlike that idiot Stan who overpaid Toews and Kane at 10.5
- vabeachbear

22G, 29A, 51pts, -9 in 69 career playoff games

Not sure why, it happens every year, but don't let the narrative down, Yzerman is a genius that he got him to sign for only 9.5 unlike that idiot Stan who overpaid Toews and Kane at 10.5
- vabeachbear

It’s like blaming Panarin for the Nashville series when no one else scored either.

Point - 41 goals
Johnson - 29
Gourde - 22
Kucharev - 41


Only Gourde has a goal in the tournament - and Kucharev got himself suspended.

Vaseline (as Nester calls him) - .925 and 2.40 vs. .866 and 3.73.

Stamkos needs to step up more than he has - or has in the past - but this is a team failure in the face of a CBJ success.

22G, 29A, 51pts, -9 in 69 career playoff games
- Ogilthorpe2

Be interesting to see a break down of those goals and assists.

Must have been a bunch early on. Because I don't believe he scored against the Hawks, and it doesn't seem like he's scored much over the last 4 or 5 years.

Be interesting to see a break down of those goals and assists.

Must have been a bunch early on. Because I don't believe he scored against the Hawks, and it doesn't seem like he's scored much over the last 4 or 5 years.
- vabeachbear

0+1=1 against Chicago.

7+10=17 in the other 20 games that playoff season.

The big KarASS with his stimulating hockey talk. You are a big Northern Redneck. Go hangout with your Spit and talk about meat, your cousins and what 9th Defenseman might make Chi(town) pitiful defense better. You are a joke
- VopatsRash

LOL... Look who came out from his trailer.