I always use the "its the shirt and the angle of the camera" excuse
- vabeachbear

Jumping into 4x tees has done the job for my fat keister. They always appear "roomy." 3x's had too much of a stuffed sausage look. Afraid they would negatively impact my pacemaker blood flow.

Pretty cool - panel with several players reminiscing about 2010 and what made that team so special, what it was that led to the win:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6e5uAzj7VI&t=76s

So many great anecdotes, like Hoss and his parachute and Q using Versteeg as his whipping boy.
- pdx2ord

Best Line "Now that's what a 7 million dollar hockey player looks like" damn i giggled.

Pretty cool - panel with several players reminiscing about 2010 and what made that team so special, what it was that led to the win:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6e5uAzj7VI&t=76s

So many great anecdotes, like Hoss and his parachute and Q using Versteeg as his whipping boy.
- pdx2ord

that was alot of fun to watch...great stories...those guys enjoyed each other and carried to victory...sadly that team could not stay together...

if it wasn't for cap hell year after year maybe the hawks could have added a 4th or 5th cup..

I am in agreement with your order of those three players.

I bet with JC having been a center, irregardless where Sikura lines up there is much to like about how he contributed last season. The goals will come; he is not a choke artist. In fact if he gets enough TOI i believe that he could ring up 20 or more goals.

Perlini is on the clock and he is going to get an opportunity. He is invisible and mot contributing in other ways beside goals.....then i see demoted and not dressing ....maybe hegets a bus ticket to Rockford. Since he was part of a significant trade, i think he would get a second chance should he not exactly enthrall everyone. But if it was a game of Horse, he won't keep getting chances to play.

With Nylander he has to overwhelm with continued good outings. Good attitude, get some points in Rockford and then he will get at least a look. He is behind the other two as that is just how the cards play. Through past association on the team two of them get opportunity to start while the new kid in town will wait for an opening.
.
- jhawk59

By Stan's comments at Dcamp I think Nylander is ahead of Sikura. "He's a 200 pound man playing against boys and it shows..."

that was alot of fun to watch...great stories...those guys enjoyed each other and carried to victory...sadly that team could not stay together...

if it wasn't for cap hell year after year maybe the hawks could have added a 4th or 5th cup..
- bogiedoc

The problem with the "if there wasn't a salary cap" argument for possibly winning more Cups because they could have kept the team together is that the salary cap played a role in the Hawks getting Hossa. Remember the Wings had to decide between re-signing Franzen or Hossa because they couldn't afford both under their salary cap. They chose Franzen and Hossa signed with the Hawks. If their was no salary cap the Wings probably would have re-signed both Franzen and Hossa.

The problem with the "if there wasn't a salary cap" argument for possibly winning more Cups because they could have kept the team together is that the salary cap played a role in the Hawks getting Hossa. Remember the Wings had to decide between re-signing Franzen or Hossa because they couldn't afford both under their salary cap. They chose Franzen and Hossa signed with the Hawks. If their was no salary cap the Wings probably would have re-signed both Franzen and Hossa.
- EbonyRaptor

Definitely glad they chose to re-up with...The Mule.

By Stan's comments at Dcamp I think Nylander is ahead of Sikura. "He's a 200 pound man playing against boys and it shows..."
- rpeters01

I don’t think the issue ever was with Nylander playing against boys - he showed enough to be drafted 3rd out of Mississauga - it was (is?) when he plays against men in the pros that the problems show up.

Sikura has proven he can play against men.

I don’t think the issue ever was with Nylander playing against boys - he showed enough to be drafted 3rd out of Mississauga - it was (is?) when he plays against men in the pros that the problems show up.

Sikura has proven he can play against men.
- StLBravesFan

Sikura has proven he's way down the list of players on a team that sucked, which means he's proven nothing.

Sikura has proven he's way down the list of players on a team that sucked, which means he's proven nothing.
- rpeters01

Other than converting into the net - which he was able to do consistently at Rockford and Northeastern - he played a very capable 200 foot game for Chicago.

Sikura has proven he's way down the list of players on a team that sucked, which means he's proven nothing.
- rpeters01

This is incorrect.

This is incorrect.
- mohel

Listen Pallie, narratives are always correct!

This is incorrect.
- mohel

Only fans argue over the last player on the team...

Oh man. C’mon NHL. Get it together.

https://twitter.com/robin.../1160261832864608257?s=21

Oh man. C’mon NHL. Get it together.

https://twitter.com/robin.../1160261832864608257?s=21
- pdx2ord

That's really embarrassing.

Other than converting into the net - which he was able to do consistently at Rockford and Northeastern - he played a very capable 200 foot game for Chicago.
- StLBravesFan

Agree. I think playing a reliable 200 foot game constitutes being able to play amongst men. If they couldn’t hang with men defensively, they’d get dominated and mauled every shift.

Don’t see that with Sikura even though his weight and size stereotype precede him unfairly. He’s not dominating either but definitely has shown he can play in all zones and be pretty useful without the puck. He’ll improve over time, too.

Scoring goals but floating the rest of the game not so much. Relatively easier to pot a few goals but still get dominated all over the ice. And sometimes that domination is what renders an offensive prospect inconsequential.

The current team will be fighting to get back into the playoffs - no doubt.

But if all goes well - and that’s a big if - I think the high-end talent we have is certainly as good as we’ve ever had.
- TommyHawk

The key is a strong pro team that stays healthy and wants to compete every game, and it is difficult to say the hawks need a few teams "ranked" ahead of them to have back slides.

Nashville...The goalie is what 37?
And Subban was never a defensive stalwart they will miss him.
can Kyle Turris even attempt to be a decent 3rd line type centre, b/c I don't know teams will come calling to add him at his salary.
and even though they now really have a one two punch down the middle they have simple not put it together since going so far the one time.

The Jets...Yo think the goaltender will be able to overcome the loss of two big bodies defenseman? Will the "who is better duo?" sign or will the line up be missing Connor and Laine for a bit as they await the kinda greedy deals they are looking for (no harm meant for wanting the noon and asking for the moon, just business)

even the Blues...
easily cold have long series playoff lag and the kid goalie may see the teams in the Central having their goalie scouts looking for the openings...and again they were brothers in the win, but can they sustain....all need is too start looking past the business of winning in the stupidly long season, and thinking this "we can just get in, and put it together, we KNOW how to do that, and one two bad breaks tip ins rebounds, well you are out...we kiniow from the year LA eliminated us...or that bad Coyote series that one year.

Even everyone darling the Avs subtracted on defense (and I already saw writers pumping the brakes on uberwhiz Byram, now adjusting expectations he is a #2 as the lack of defensive IQ is absent) and Kadri and the Gruubby the goalie is gonna get them there?
One key injury and they are on the preifery scratching too.

There is a chance if the hawks just win together

Only fans argue over the last player on the team...

...well that ought to make Kyle Baun feel valued... even if it was valued several seasons ago.


and here I thought it was people with way too much time on their hands... who knew?

...well that ought to make Kyle Baun feel valued... even if it was valued several seasons ago.


and here I thought it was people with way too much time on their hands... who knew?
- SC116

They are often one and the same

This is incorrect.
- mohel

He’s proven he belongs in the top 9 of a playoff contending NHL roster?

Glad the kid tries hard on defense but he’s expendable and a fringe NHL guy until he consistently produces over an entire NHL season.

I don’t think the issue ever was with Nylander playing against boys - he showed enough to be drafted 3rd out of Mississauga - it was (is?) when he plays against men in the pros that the problems show up.

Sikura has proven he can play against men.
- StLBravesFan

What has Sikura proven? He can play 33 games at the NHL level on a bad team and produce minimal points? Nylander has played 19 NHL games. Neither has proven anything. This blind love for Sikura is a joke. He’s hasn’t even played an entire NHL season but he’s proven and should be in the starting lineup......

What has Sikura proven? He can play 33 games at the NHL level on a bad team and produce minimal points? Nylander has played 19 NHL games. Neither has proven anything. This blind love for Sikura is a joke. He’s hasn’t even played an entire NHL season but he’s proven and should be in the starting lineup......
- bhawks2241

Sikura is awesome, he should be on the wing with Toews and Saad.

What has Sikura proven? He can play 33 games at the NHL level on a bad team and produce minimal points? Nylander has played 19 NHL games. Neither has proven anything. This blind love for Sikura is a joke. He’s hasn’t even played an entire NHL season but he’s proven and should be in the starting lineup......
- bhawks2241

While I can understand why fans want to see a lot more from Sikura and I also generally advocate for the same thing, I don't think there is blind love for him either.

Sikura was a stand-out at every prospect camp he participated in, was one of the latter cuts in training camp last fall, played well in the AHL as a 0.75 PPG rookie, outwardly spoke about needing to evolve his game to be a reliable 3-zone player in the NHL, and showed a capacity to becoming more of a consistent impact player after his 2nd call-up of the season.

The difference between his initial stint with the Hawks and his next one was like night and day. His 1st stint was forgettable and he deserved the demotion. But upon his return, he was helping the team with a high compete level doing little things that don't dent the scoresheet but don't go unnoticed by coaches and teammates. When personal offense is in a drought, you have to contribute in other ways and Sikura did just that.

Can't say the say the same thing about Perlini. Or about Nylander given what I've read about and seen of him in videos from his Sabres/Amerks tenure. (Not saying you're comparing Sikura to Perlini or Nylander but these are 3 players competing for a spot this fall.)

What has Sikura proven? He can play 33 games at the NHL level on a bad team and produce minimal points? Nylander has played 19 NHL games. Neither has proven anything. This blind love for Sikura is a joke. He’s hasn’t even played an entire NHL season but he’s proven and should be in the starting lineup......
- bhawks2241

You are right. Sikura has not proven much yet, but with the top heavy construction of the roster, and the type of play the coaches are expecting he is a positive asset. You are going to need cheap players who can play on both ends of the ice.

He knows how and is willing to forecheck. Granted, he hasn’t been able to finish yet, but he has been able to create several chances. It’s not blind love, it is realizing that he can be a valuable, low cost player on a team that needs them.

You are right. Sikura has not proven much yet, but with the top heavy construction of the roster, and the type of play the coaches are expecting he is a positive asset. You are going to need cheap players who can play on both ends of the ice.

He knows how and is willing to forecheck. Granted, he hasn’t been able to finish yet, but he has been able to create several chances. It’s not blind love, it is realizing that he can be a valuable, low cost player on a team that needs them.
- Chunk

This team doesn’t need him. They have significant forward depth. He’s fighting for one of the last forward spots.... which was my entire point. He’s not some lock to make the team or and established forward. He’s a 24 year old prospect that showed some solid all around play in 33 games last year.