Bummer - offside cancels the tying goal. I couldn't tell who the Avs player was but someone should let him know his laziness cost them a goal and maybe the series if the Avs can't come back.

Bummer - offside cancels the tying goal. I couldn't tell who the Avs player was but someone should let him know his laziness cost them a goal and maybe the series if the Avs can't come back.
- EbonyRaptor

I was looking forward to seeing a COL/STL conference finals, but... that’s not looking so good.

Rooting for the Sharks on this one. The Avs will be dominant for the next decade and this is probably one of the last few years the Sharks have to win it all!

Avalanche not going away here in the 3rd.

The more I watch - the more I want the Hawks to have nothing to do with Karlsson as a UFA signing.
- Chief4Feathers

Agreed, but you really Stan is totally signing him.

I want Cozens. Elite speed up the middle is too hard to pass. You can put him at wing to start as well. The Hawks top 6 needs a guy that has high end speed and skill.

Size speed and skill is the way the NHL is moving. Kane and Toews will start to slow down. Dcat is a solid skater but nothing special. Strome is an ok skater without much explosiveness.
- bhawks2241

We three all cheer for Cozins as if it was a familial thing

I'm now all-in for the Canes. I can't stand the Blues, Bruins or Sharks.

Agreed, but you really Stan is totally signing him.
- DarthKane

Of course... 7yrs/$8M with a NMC cherry on top.

Then pair him with Gustafsson and watch the magic...

I'm now all-in for the Canes. I can't stand the Blues, Bruins or Sharks.
- tvetter

I know as a Hawks fan I should root against the Blues, but with no Backes, Jackman, or any of the other clowns that were there for years - I find myself not really bothered by seeing them enjoy some playoff success.

But then I see Steve Ott behind the bench...

Of course... 7yrs/$8M with a NMC cherry on top.

Then pair him with Gustafsson and watch the magic...
- Chief4Feathers

More like 7 years @ $10 million per.

Three of the four teams left play a hard physical style.

The game has not changed. Especially where it counts the most - during the playoffs.

Blues and Sharks will go seven and beat each other up, while the Bruins will make it a short series, setting them up to be better rested against the tired survivor from the West.

I'm saying thanks to AEL & jhawk for answering my question last night. It was very much appreciated. I've been slow on news & not catching up at all on reading posts. I've missed a lot of playoffs games, more than I'm used to ...
- I Am The Breadman

You're welcome, Breadman. Glad to see you posting here and there the past few days. Hang in there as you finish up that education thing.

More like 7 years @ $10 million per.
- DarthKane

Right... and then we have to dump Strome and/or DeBrincat to stay under the cap, but its totally worth it.

Three of the four teams left play a hard physical style.

The game has not changed. Especially where it counts the most - during the playoffs.

Blues and Sharks will go seven and beat each other up, while the Bruins will make it a short series, setting them up to be better rested against the tired survivor from the West.
- Return of the Roar

Sounds about right. The only possible difference being the Blues eliminating the Sharks fairly quickly. Only reason I think that way is the netminding situation for both teams.

Younger D development - maybe, but they are ALL lightweights. Joki is the best of the bunch, and hes more of a puck mover. They need puck separators - a guy or two who can win board battles and clear the crease. I see absolutely zero D prospects in the system that fit that description.

Team needs to get tougher - not goon tougher - just harder to play against on the boards, in the NZ, and around the net.
- Return of the Roar

I agree that the team needs more puck separators, especially on the blueline but forwards as well. Not saying you said this but you don't need a big hit or a huge hulking body to separate the opponent from the puck. A bump of the puck handler at the right time can be just as effective.

There are different ways to create separation, including the vaunted stick checking method, and it's in the interest of the defenders to add as many of those tools in their arsenal that fit their overall playing style and physical attributes (or lack thereof) and learn when to use each tool.

As for Jokiharju in particular, IMO, he actually has shown the capacity to cause separation in ways other than delivering a hit or out-muscling the opponent. Definitely saw it in his Rockford games and saw a decent amount in his time in the NHL. He has the compete level and swagger to improve upon that and be an effective defender.

The other D prospects like Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, and Krys should learn from his example.

You're welcome, Breadman. Glad to see you posting here and there the past few days. Hang in there as you finish up that education thing.
- AEL_Fox

Thanks, I'm trying. Mostly hanging.

Wiz i have asked this question before if were in bowman position as gm of the hawks who would you pick at #3 provided hughes and kappo are taken 1 and 2?
- Scott1977

Sorry, I know it looks like I am a chicken to say...More and more I like the USA kids, love the potential of taking a BIG man and still want all the stuff I read on Bowen Byram to be true and he is Bobby Orr.

As a Hawk fan, I don't think I will be disappointed in any of those forwards long term so I take comfort in the fact that I want one, but...

I just feel there is far more chance of the defender at #3 slot being not what was advertised, and if I am correct, and he is not, well I just dunno when the hawks will be is such a great position to get such a high skilled forward.

I agree that the team needs more puck separators, especially on the blueline but forwards as well. Not saying you said this but you don't need a big hit or a huge hulking body to separate the opponent from the puck. A bump of the puck handler at the right time can be just as effective.

There are different ways to create separation, including the vaunted stick checking method, and it's in the interest of the defenders to add as many of those tools in their arsenal that fit their overall playing style and physical attributes (or lack thereof) and learn when to use each tool.

As for Jokiharju in particular, IMO, he actually has shown the capacity to cause separation in ways other than delivering a hit or out-muscling the opponent. Definitely saw it in his Rockford games and saw a decent amount in his time in the NHL. He has the compete level and swagger to improve upon that and be an effective defender.

The other D prospects like Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, and Krys should learn from his example.
- AEL_Fox

Good points. IIRC, Jokiharju made a nice play earlier this year on a streaking McDavid with his stick on the back check. That was impressive.

Agreed, but you really Stan is totally signing him.
- DarthKane

First they signed B Orr. He was at the end the very end of a career

Now Karlsson. Different body part. Might he get injured and be at the end.

Did it all hinge on a bad knee with Orr and a weak ankle for Karlsson.

In goal we might also have a weak link. Corey's head on his shoulders is whacked again.

Don't worry. Be happy. Pay for those.tickets. Bring Scott Foster back. What a bargsin he would be. Looks over the books daytime and is a number in.those books at night.

Sure. He will post a .8009 save percentage

Fans aren't cheering they are screaming in the stands
Anyone could supply a picture here

So with all these prospects moving along that means first only this:
Rockford Icehogs will be great. The other ice hockey team in that swamp outside of Chicago.

Here come Icehogs. Take the attack, we'll back you Ice...hogs


* the above claim is not subject to an early breakthrough by Boqvist.

Good points. IIRC, Jokiharju made a nice play earlier this year on a streaking McDavid with his stick on the back check. That was impressive.
- Chief4Feathers

I went back and looked up some new articles for that game. There was a lot of praise for Joki after that game from Q, Keith, and Seabrook. I'm still surprised that he got sent down as he was playing better than our rotation guys at the time, but hopefully that time in the Rock helped him work on the specific details needed to be a top pairing guy. He plays so calm and strong that I think he has the highest ceiling of the guys we have in the system right now. I expect his point total to really jump next year.

I went back and looked up some new articles for that game. There was a lot of praise for Joki after that game from Q, Keith, and Seabrook. I'm still surprised that he got sent down as he was playing better than our rotation guys at the time, but hopefully that time in the Rock helped him work on the specific details needed to be a top pairing guy. He plays so calm and strong that I think he has the highest ceiling of the guys we have in the system right now. I expect his point total to really jump next year.
- Chunk

I believe that the only reason he was sent down was to keep him below 40 games. That keeps him as an RFA for an extra year.

I believe that the only reason he was sent down was to keep him below 40 games. That keeps him as an RFA for an extra year.
- tvetter

Jokiharju wasn´t that great after 15-20 games and had issues in gap control and defending front of the net. He was outmuscled there a lot too. I think he wasn´t ready to play 82 games in NHL and it was right thing to sent him down atm.

I know as a Hawks fan I should root against the Blues, but with no Backes, Jackman, or any of the other clowns that were there for years - I find myself not really bothered by seeing them enjoy some playoff success.

But then I see Steve Ott behind the bench...
- Chief4Feathers

Read my mind. Ott is an especially big a-hole. But once the couple teams I like are out then I like to see a team that has never won the cup before win. So the west will have a rep that has never won. But how does one not like the Canes story. Best time of the year.

Sorry, I know it looks like I am a chicken to say...More and more I like the USA kids, love the potential of taking a BIG man and still want all the stuff I read on Bowen Byram to be true and he is Bobby Orr.

As a Hawk fan, I don't think I will be disappointed in any of those forwards long term so I take comfort in the fact that I want one, but...

I just feel there is far more chance of the defender at #3 slot being not what was advertised, and if I am correct, and he is not, well I just dunno when the hawks will be is such a great position to get such a high skilled forward.
- wiz1901

I see you have some kind of attitude problem with Byram? Makes me think how objective you can be on him? Those big forwards may bust too..who knows?