blues were 40-1 odds to win the cup last june and guess what the hawks are 40-1 this year...

expect alot of this next year...
https://bookies.com/news/...tanley-cup-bet-in-january


- bogiedoc

Can Stan have as good an off-season as Doug Armstrong had last summer?

ROR, Bozak, Perron, Maroon - add in bringing up Binnington and promoting Berube....

You just know Blowman will screw it up (with help from McD of course) and pick someone like Caufield.
- HawkintheD

blues were 40-1 odds to win the cup last june and guess what the hawks are 40-1 this year...


- bogiedoc

Both these teams should prove to a lot of people that the Hawks maybe are not that far off, with the caveat that a few things need to happen.

The Bruins iced a team that last won a cup in 2011, missed the playoffs 2 years straight and exited in the first round the next season. Their top offensive players, with the exception of Pastrnak are all in their 30's. Their Defense is led by a player who may be slower than Seabrook, albeit with a 20 foot wingspan. They have a bunch of smaller puck moving D-men. They are solidified when Rask is playing his best, if they win last night, Rask in the Conn Smythe winner.

St. Louis was in the crapper, they changed coaches and attitudes some, but what really carried them was Binnington. In a bunch of the games the Blues were totally outplayed and Binnington kept them in the games. Last night they were being dominated for large stretches of play except for the goalie.

For the Hawks to be successful they need the following:
1) first and foremost they need a healthy Crawford
2) They need to be better in their own end obviously, but barring the acquisition of a top 4 d-man, they need to play a system that alleviates pressure. Keep it simple like the Pens and in some cases the Bruins did. Just get pucks out and go from there. Forget the re-cycles, d-to-d, etc. Move the puck forward.
3) they need Toews & Kane to maintain their level and have guys like ADB, Strome and others continue to improve.

Can Stan have as good an off-season as Doug Armstrong had last summer?

ROR, Bozak, Perron, Maroon - add in bringing up Binnington and promoting Berube....
- StLBravesFan

Off seasons are so im[portant but It appears to me the pivotal move in the season was the coaching change. Not sure what Yeo was preaching but it fell on deaf ears.

Remember this trade on July 1; curious how many of you thought this trade was an extreme overpayment...

Ryan O`Reilly for

Vladimir Sobotka
Patrik Berglund
Tage Thompson
2019 1st round pick
2021 2nd round pick

Can Stan have as good an off-season as Doug Armstrong had last summer?

ROR, Bozak, Perron, Maroon - add in bringing up Binnington and promoting Berube....
- StLBravesFan

you forgot this one:

Ryan O`Reilly for

Vladimir Sobotka
Patrik Berglund
Tage Thompson
2019 1st round pick
2021 2nd round pick

Both these teams should prove to a lot of people that the Hawks maybe are not that far off, with the caveat that a few things need to happen.

The Bruins iced a team that last won a cup in 2011, missed the playoffs 2 years straight and exited in the first round the next season. Their top offensive players, with the exception of Pastrnak are all in their 30's. Their Defense is led by a player who may be slower than Seabrook, albeit with a 20 foot wingspan. They have a bunch of smaller puck moving D-men. They are solidified when Rask is playing his best, if they win last night, Rask in the Conn Smythe winner.

St. Louis was in the crapper, they changed coaches and attitudes some, but what really carried them was Binnington. In a bunch of the games the Blues were totally outplayed and Binnington kept them in the games. Last night they were being dominated for large stretches of play except for the goalie.

For the Hawks to be successful they need the following:
1) first and foremost they need a healthy Crawford
2) They need to be better in their own end obviously, but barring the acquisition of a top 4 d-man, they need to play a system that alleviates pressure. Keep it simple like the Pens and in some cases the Bruins did. Just get pucks out and go from there. Forget the re-cycles, d-to-d, etc. Move the puck forward.
3) they need Toews & Kane to maintain their level and have guys like ADB, Strome and others continue to improve.
- TheTrob

What both teams had lots of that Chicago lacks is defensemen both young and experienced and even some over the hill. The Blackhawks do not have the backline either of these teams have. Based on that I feel Chicago are a ways off yet.

Remember this trade on July 1; curious how many of you thought this trade was an extreme overpayment...

Ryan O`Reilly for

Vladimir Sobotka
Patrik Berglund
Tage Thompson
2019 1st round pick
2021 2nd round pick
- bogiedoc

Overpayment? What? On Buffalo's end?

Or a team from Canada wins the Cup....
- StLBravesFan

14 of them did last night.

They just had their geography mixed up a bit.

What both teams had lots of that Chicago lacks is defensemen both young and experienced and even some over the hill. The Blackhawks do not have the backline either of these teams have. Based on that I feel Chicago are a ways off yet.
- paulr

But there are promising blue-liners in the pipeline - and maybe another stud coming in 8 days.

you forgot this one:

Ryan O`Reilly for

Vladimir Sobotka
Patrik Berglund
Tage Thompson
2019 1st round pick
2021 2nd round pick
- bogiedoc

I did include ROR.

Can't be an overpayment if it helps bring a Cup - and a Conn Smythe winner is a help.

But there are promising blue-liners in the pipeline - and maybe another stud coming in 8 days.
- StLBravesFan

Yup

Can Stan have as good an off-season as Doug Armstrong had last summer?

ROR, Bozak, Perron, Maroon - add in bringing up Binnington and promoting Berube....
- StLBravesFan

and is another disgruntled OReillt type sitting there where his team will take a quantity of youth and vets for him?

Both these teams should prove to a lot of people that the Hawks maybe are not that far off, with the caveat that a few things need to happen.

The Bruins iced a team that last won a cup in 2011, missed the playoffs 2 years straight and exited in the first round the next season. Their top offensive players, with the exception of Pastrnak are all in their 30's. Their Defense is led by a player who may be slower than Seabrook, albeit with a 20 foot wingspan. They have a bunch of smaller puck moving D-men. They are solidified when Rask is playing his best, if they win last night, Rask in the Conn Smythe winner.

St. Louis was in the crapper, they changed coaches and attitudes some, but what really carried them was Binnington. In a bunch of the games the Blues were totally outplayed and Binnington kept them in the games. Last night they were being dominated for large stretches of play except for the goalie.

For the Hawks to be successful they need the following:
1) first and foremost they need a healthy Crawford
2) They need to be better in their own end obviously, but barring the acquisition of a top 4 d-man, they need to play a system that alleviates pressure. Keep it simple like the Pens and in some cases the Bruins did. Just get pucks out and go from there. Forget the re-cycles, d-to-d, etc. Move the puck forward.
3) they need Toews & Kane to maintain their level and have guys like ADB, Strome and others continue to improve.
- TheTrob

It just goes to show you that the difference between winning and losing a cup is razor thin. The Blues and Hawks were the worst teams in the NHL in January. No one on this website was speaking glowingly about either the Blues or the Hawks or saying they had a chance of winning the cup. Without adding significant pieces both teams improved greatly. I do not expect anyone from this draft to help the team this year. But a few minor personnel moves this summer, a full training camp, new assistant coaches and some progression by a couple of the many younger players could make up the razor thin difference between winning and losing.

you forgot this one:

Ryan O`Reilly for

Vladimir Sobotka
Patrik Berglund
Tage Thompson
2019 1st round pick
2021 2nd round pick
- bogiedoc

Boy did I bet on the wrong horse. I remember posting about the value of Sobotka and Berglund in particular. Obviously there were some things outside of hockey that factor in, but in retrospect this couldn't have worked out any better for STL.

People underrate players like Toews, Kopitar, Bergeron and ROR and say they are overpaid because they are generally only 55 to 70 point producers. But teammates, coaches and GM appreciate them. They are major factors in teams winning cups.
- -Doh-

This.

The mistake many fans make is looking at the list of scoring leaders and declaring them the best players. The guys you mention above (and others going back in time) do so many of the subtle things that help a team win but are not captured statistically.

I'm hoping Dylan Strome can develop into one of these kind of players with the proper coaching and personal effort.

and is another disgruntled OReillt type sitting there where his team will take a quantity of youth and vets for him?
- wiz1901

thats the point...i never like ROR...thought he was overrated and only cared about ROR.

i thought at the time thats alot to give up for that guy...not so much vets but the picks plus..

People underrate players like Toews, Kopitar, Bergeron and ROR and say they are overpaid because they are generally only 55 to 70 point producers. But teammates, coaches and GM appreciate them. They are major factors in teams winning cups.
- -Doh-

1000000% yes. There is way more to the game then just what ends up on the score sheet. Winning puck battles, possession, frustrating the opponent, faceoffs, etc..

So many little things that add value and help win hockey games.

What both teams had lots of that Chicago lacks is defensemen both young and experienced and even some over the hill. The Blackhawks do not have the backline either of these teams have. Based on that I feel Chicago are a ways off yet.
- paulr

Paul,

No, the Hawks do not have the backline of either of these teams. But they are not far off. A big part of the Hawks problem was playing Q's system that many of them are not made for, and then trying to transition, in season, to a system many of them clearly did not fully get. The Bruins have guys like Krug, Grzelcyk and McAvoy whose strength is skating and moving the puck out of their zone, not trying to play physical or put a body on someone. Chara is old, slow and a turnover machine, yet he still can play a role. John Moore is a journeyman on his 5th team, and average in his own zone.

St. Louis looked good some games, not great in others. Binnington made their D look a heck of a lot better than it was, kinda like Crow did for the Hawks.

For the Hawks you hope Joki takes the next step forward and can play in the top pair. Keith, for all the heat he takes on this board is still a #2 or #3 d-man. Seabrook needs to be protected, but can still offer effective minutes if used correctly. Gus is cheap next year and as long as he can put up those points you take the trade off, hope he improves a little in his own end and then make the decision whether to move him if any of Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Byram, etc. are ready to step in.

What both teams had lots of that Chicago lacks is defensemen both young and experienced and even some over the hill. The Blackhawks do not have the backline either of these teams have. Based on that I feel Chicago are a ways off yet.
- paulr

Not too many people on this site were touting the Blues D as being of cup winning caliber back in January. Things can change quickly. The right forwards, good goaltending, and a complete team effort committed to a 200' game can make a D look good. The reverse is also true. In that respect I can see the Hawks being significantly improved in team D next season.

Or a team from Canada wins the Cup....
- StLBravesFan

Raptors will try to do so tonight.

1000000% yes. There is way more to the game then just what ends up on the score sheet. Winning puck battles, possession, frustrating the opponent, faceoffs, etc..

So many little things that add value and help win hockey games.
- breadbag

Steve Yzerman - changed his game at the urging and demands of Scotty Bowman. And then the team results changed.

Paul,

No, the Hawks do not have the backline of either of these teams. But they are not far off. A big part of the Hawks problem was playing Q's system that many of them are not made for, and then trying to transition, in season, to a system many of them clearly did not fully get. The Bruins have guys like Krug, Grzelcyk and McAvoy whose strength is skating and moving the puck out of their zone, not trying to play physical or put a body on someone. Chara is old, slow and a turnover machine, yet he still can play a role. John Moore is a journeyman on his 5th team, and average in his own zone.

St. Louis looked good some games, not great in others. Binnington made their D look a heck of a lot better than it was, kinda like Crow did for the Hawks.

For the Hawks you hope Joki takes the next step forward and can play in the top pair. Keith, for all the heat he takes on this board is still a #2 or #3 d-man. Seabrook needs to be protected, but can still offer effective minutes if used correctly. Gus is cheap next year and as long as he can put up those points you take the trade off, hope he improves a little in his own end and then make the decision whether to move him if any of Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Byram, etc. are ready to step in.
- TheTrob

I was a big Q supporter but I also realized he had gone stale in Chicago and needed to go. Both of St. Louis and Boston played basically the game Q preached. Without the puck maintain postion, close gaps, drive the play to the boards, win puck battles then transition. If the new Hawk defensemen can't follow those basic fundamentals do you really think they are that close? Also there are too many questions regarding the prospects, will 2 or 3 of them make the NHL? And if they do how far away are they from contributing? Until both of those questions are answered we don't know if they are close to contending or if they have the right guys to contend.

I hope you're right and the team is very close.

Raptors will try to do so tonight.
- I Am The Breadman

Bandwagon Bball fan here, Go Raptors!! Next November I won't care.

Boy did I bet on the wrong horse. I remember posting about the value of Sobotka and Berglund in particular. Obviously there were some things outside of hockey that factor in, but in retrospect this couldn't have worked out any better for STL.
- Q-stache

Yeah I’m retrospect the Sabres got fleece.