More condescending (is there something wrong with minimum wage jobs and those that have them?), and a personal attack. Nice.
- mohel

Not at all, if it's true i do feel bad for you. And i do feel bad for anyone who has to live off of so little. The good news is Florida just increased their minimum wage to $15 an hour

Along with more rats I'd like me some 2013 Bickell and 2019 Terrivainen please!

Thanks for the blog and clips Theo!

Not at all, if it's true i do feel bad for you. And i do feel bad for anyone who has to live off of so little. The good news is Florida just increased their minimum wage to $15 an hour
- BetweenTheDots

Right. I think your true colors are shining through.

I just want to thank you, T.

I don't know how long it to took ou to dig those mucking hi lights, but honestly I forgot the tenets of the course of events.

I think our minds just fill with our over abundance of hockey, and we all"remember the Cup road" but for me it was a holiday gift to see these again, as the are a distant past for myself.

I am not do sure they have drafted a Shawzie replacement yet...in last years class there were a couple edge / yappers who showed that dimension (forwards Ridly Greig & Jake Neighbours)...I bet that is not a roster puzzle piece that is at the top of their want list until they get back to a much more competitive level through the guys they are adding.
Then you go shopping for that new guy, who like Shaw, no one knew what to expect, until they were out there with him.
I also heard Bolland say."Sure, I could have stayed in the minors and developed and eventually been asked to play a higher offensive role as a top six centre but I was asked if I was willing to play a different style right now, so we can win now."

So you just have to have guys embrace the situations, and hitvthe correct combination, I guess.

Along with more rats I'd like me some 2013 Bickell and 2019 Terrivainen please!

Thanks for the blog and clips Theo!
- rpeters01

Wait a minute...

He wasn't on the Hawks last year.

Edit: Couldn't agree more about Playoff Bickell. Complete monster!

Right. I think your true colors are shining through.
- mohel

I am with Mohel here...There is no hockey for awhile and you have to go on a tangent RIGHT now that keeps us divided?

The thing I am trying to figure out is the Florida raise minimum wage to #15 part of these posts.

I wanna speak for Florida.

Where I live, you used to get a free evening newspaper if the sun wasn't out all day...b/c there were only on average three days a year where the sun wasn't bright above us.
That very same one party monopoly of state leadership has refused to fill the open spaces with solar...they basically spent years help the two energy companies with incentives and ignored it.
O\(Oh there was a group that were "good businessmen and did an end around to purchase an airway in South Florida that quickly afterward was designated a solar farm, and of course they were part owners.
Sites for MIDDLE income housing that past in legislation for years now have continued to be on the back burners,
So in a state were tourism has Fues nO state income tax the minimum wage is a nice afterthought, but basically they have the long term plan for the state (and who will succeed them in their current offices in place.)
People vote to allow all vote (and basically repel theist civil lwar aw voting law) and these same folks worked hard to STOP them.
900,000 people if they still even live in the State!

But WHAT / WHY / WHERE am I voicing this?

On a hockey website about the Chicago Blackhawks.

My above comment have no place here, and these squabbles just make a causal visitor feel like they escaped to the political buzz .com not a hockey site.

Hey, I can go with any and all about these things and throw insults as well, but the biggest insult is the real world and how forces are killing us...let's not beat up on each other here.

I've always enjoyed the Bollands, Shaws and Krugers of the hockey world. They're never going to be in the HOF but, are integral to team success.

Let's not forget the original "Rat" Kenny Linesman. Not a Hawk but, a PITA to play against.

Thanks to Theo for trying to keep us distracted with some hockey talk even with no pro games going on in N.A.

If you think about it, we're coming up on American Thanksgiving. The traditional time for NHL teams and fans to take stock on where their team lacks and excels. It least it would be in more normal times.

Great blog Theo! Love the topic. Have to go through and watch some of your clips but I can tell from the one you included Bolland blowing up Nyquist in the neutral zone which helped Seabs walk in unmolested for one of my all time favorite Hawk goals and moments.

It would be great if we had a few Rats in the system. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I liked what I saw from Hagel in his ONE game. Am hoping he is either on the club to start or gets brought up at some point.

Highmore's not bad but as you've alluded to here and before, Hagel brings a bit more offense.

Edit - Went back and watched the Shaw vs Roussel dust ups. Nicely done Shawzie.
- HawkintheD

That Seabrook goal is also one of my most favorite Blackhawks moments. The way he looks to the rafters and shouts out in excitement as his teammates mob him was classic.

That play doesn't happen without Bolland's bodycheck. Anything less than that may not have freed up the puck in a way to create a clean turnover. If anything, it creates a 50/50 board battle.

The hit that Bolland lays on Hamhuis is an example of the other team playing just a tad tentatively as they hear skates coming at them full throttle. That's when unforced errors occur.

In this case, it led to a perfectly placed turnover for Bickell to mail home.

Nice blog Theo, I remember the presser when Stan brought Shaw back, he mentioned not only he wanted to shake things up on ice, but also off ice, thought the locker room was too quiet. I also think that is another reason that Saad was traded, he never really was a leader in the dressing room.
- LAHawk

In the first draft of this blog, I had a sentence that talked about Shaw annoying his teammates as much as he does the opponent but couldn't write it clearly enough where it didn't sound like his own team hated him, too.

Definitely not the case and you articulated it a lot better than I tried to do. There's a funny clip of Shaw and Bickell razing each other in the locker room (Shaw had a bad haircut and Bickell had a swollen eye).

Adam Burish was another guy in that mold. A feisty irritating player to match up against with enough skill to contribute up and down the lineup when needed. More recently, Caggiula has some of that Shawzer type edge and ability in him too, though it’s looking like he might not be back.
- Ogilthorpe2

Good call on Burish. Even Fraser and Eager to a certain extent, too. They just had shorter tenures in Chicago than Bolland, Kruger, and Shaw.

Theo Nailed right on the head on what the hawks have been missing for years now. Plus those type of players balance out the lineup and have a big impact when it comes to the playoffs. You could also include burish and sharp as players that with a edge and got under the opposing teams skin. Need some of that rat mentality also on the defensive part as well.
- Scott1977

Yeah, I did notice that all players featured in the blog were forwards. You're right that a rat mentality would be welcome on the blueline as well. Zadorov perhaps brings a related style but another D-man or two wouldn't hurt.

The key, though, is being an effective player and offering more than just grit and sandpaper. The best rats are the ones who can back that up with solid fundamental hockey to be a multi-headed dragon.

Love rat hockey!

These tend to be some of my personal favourites and I agree Theo, more of this is needed in this new direction of the Hawks.

He's not a forward and a different animal entirely - but I think that's what the Hawks appear to be looking for by adding a guy like Zadorov.

Give me more "relentless buggers" (I term I thoroughly enjoy, Theo) on the Hawks and let them drive teams crazy so the Patrick Kanes', Jonathan Toews', and Alex DeBrincats' can drive the boat with more ease on offense.
- Tyler Cameron

Rat hockey needs to return to Chicago. High compete and commitment to defense is a huge part of the equation but a rat mentality does, too.

Agree on Zadorov bringing a rat element to the blueline.

Funny thing about the term relentless bugger is that I've been called that before during a rec league game. And not in a nice way. I think there was an expletive in there somewhere.

In the first draft of this blog, I had a sentence that talked about Shaw annoying his teammates as much as he does the opponent but couldn't write it clearly enough where it didn't sound like his own team hated him, too.

Definitely not the case and you articulated it a lot better than I tried to do. There's a funny clip of Shaw and Bickell razing each other in the locker room (Shaw had a bad haircut and Bickell had a swollen eye).
- Theo Fox

Several years ago I paid for a Hawks training camp experience. Basically a rat hockey game with Andrew Desjardins and Andrew Shaw as the coaches.

I got to pick my sweater number, #36 and my team was coached by Shaw.

The guy is a riot. Started out with him and Desi betting $100 on the outcome of the game. And his mouth never stopped the entire 90 minutes. Insulted the other team, the officials, the team he was coaching. Just a fun guy to be around.

Also, he's listed as 5'11". He ain't. I'm 5'-10" and we were eye to eye in street shoes.

The hope, if not anticipation, was that Bolland would be the #2 center. The 2009 Ladd-Bolland-Havlat line and the 2010 Ladd-Bolland Versteeg line were arguably the Hawks best lines those years. Bolland against Daniel Sedin in the playoffs was a thing of beauty. Bolland was one of those "sum is greater than the parts" kind of players with a hockey IQ off the charts. He was overshadowed by other players on the team but I don't think he was underrated by knowledgeable Hawks fans.
- EbonyRaptor

That 3rd line of Bolland centering Havlat and Ladd was the team's best most of 2008-09 as you remembered and I thought it was a great sign of things in years to come.

That line is a great example of how a 3rd line can still be a top line offensively and defensively. Havlat was almost a PPG player while Bolland and Ladd were almost 50 point players.

If Strome can improve his skating and play without the puck and be flanked with the right linemates, he can center a 3rd line that can still be effective at both ends.

Not to the tune of that Bolland-Havlat-Ladd line as that was a special one but it doesn't have to be a lost cause for Strome and the 3rd line.

Several years ago I paid for a Hawks training camp experience. Basically a rat hockey game with Andrew Desjardins and Andrew Shaw as the coaches.

I got to pick my sweater number, #36 and my team was coached by Shaw.

The guy is a riot. Started out with him and Desi betting $100 on the outcome of the game. And his mouth never stopped the entire 90 minutes. Insulted the other team, the officials, the team he was coaching. Just a fun guy to be around.

Also, he's listed as 5'11". He ain't. I'm 5'-10" and we were eye to eye in street shoes.
- Rota's Rooter

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

Although his shelf life as an impact player was razor thin, I actually had a deep appreciation for Desjardins. Despite his short tenure, reading articles about and quotes by him showed that he was beloved by his teammates and he highly respected Toews as a captain who truly gave him the time of day, and not just about hockey but just about daily life.

When the Hawks won in 2015, it was cool to see him being 4th in line (as a 4th liner) to lift up the Cup after Timonen, Vermette, and Richards.

I also heard Bolland say."Sure, I could have stayed in the minors and developed and eventually been asked to play a higher offensive role as a top six centre but I was asked if I was willing to play a different style right now, so we can win now."
- wiz1901

I totally forgot that Bolland was purposely asked to fulfill a different role than what he was projected to be. Makes sense.

This is a nice example of young players being willing to evolve and even redefine themselves whether they have growth ceilings that are much lower than anticipated or the team just needs something else in that moment in time.

Evolve or become expendable.

@RealKyper

The @NHLPA has a Ex board call 4pm today. 80-100 players expected to take part. Included is news per @NYP_Brooksie the NHL wanting to renegotiate economic terms of a 4 month old agreement.

Some hint the possible threat of @NHL cancelled season if changes aren’t met @Line_Movement

@SinBinNews

#BREAKING | The @ECHL has announced multiple teams have opted-out of the upcoming season.

@PuckReportNHL

ECHL North Division expected to cease operations for 2021 season. Includes: Adirondack Thunder (NJD), Brampton Beast (OTT), Maine Mariners (#NYR), Newfoundland Growlers (TOR), Reading Royals (PHI), Worcester Railers (NYI)

The Indy Fuel are still expected to start in early December with a brief training camp starting the day after Thanksgiving.

Bolland certainly deserves all the credit he gets. I also always remember just how great he was with hand-eye co-ordination, batting pucks out of the air at times. I think he had more skill with the puck than his point totals showed, just that it wasn't his primary focus. It's just too bad his career was cut short.

@RealKyper

The @NHLPA has a Ex board call 4pm today. 80-100 players expected to take part. Included is news per @NYP_Brooksie the NHL wanting to renegotiate economic terms of a 4 month old agreement.

Some hint the possible threat of @NHL cancelled season if changes aren’t met @Line_Movement
- Theo Fox

I suspect the 4 month old agreement was based on the idea that fans would be in the stands sometime in January. Without that, the math is very tight for quite a few teams. The Hawks and a bunch or big market teams can probably survive if they play without fans for this season, but they'll lose big money. Small market teams like the Wild, Preds, Yotes, Vegas, etc.? Tough sledding for them.

@SinBinNews

#BREAKING | The @ECHL has announced multiple teams have opted-out of the upcoming season.

@PuckReportNHL

ECHL North Division expected to cease operations for 2021 season. Includes: Adirondack Thunder (NJD), Brampton Beast (OTT), Maine Mariners (#NYR), Newfoundland Growlers (TOR), Reading Royals (PHI), Worcester Railers (NYI)

The Indy Fuel are still expected to start in early December with a brief training camp starting the day after Thanksgiving.
- Theo Fox

Man all these kids in youth sports and so on are getting raw deals with what's going on. Truly is a shame

@RealKyper

The @NHLPA has a Ex board call 4pm today. 80-100 players expected to take part. Included is news per @NYP_Brooksie the NHL wanting to renegotiate economic terms of a 4 month old agreement.

Some hint the possible threat of @NHL cancelled season if changes aren’t met @Line_Movement
- Theo Fox

I have faith both sides will work together to get a deal done.

It has to be frustrating though during these times all leagues are constantly negotiating with players associations

@SinBinNews

#BREAKING | The @ECHL has announced multiple teams have opted-out of the upcoming season.

@PuckReportNHL

ECHL North Division expected to cease operations for 2021 season. Includes: Adirondack Thunder (NJD), Brampton Beast (OTT), Maine Mariners (#NYR), Newfoundland Growlers (TOR), Reading Royals (PHI), Worcester Railers (NYI)

The Indy Fuel are still expected to start in early December with a brief training camp starting the day after Thanksgiving.
- Theo Fox

I've been saying all along, how can minor league hockey survive without any foreseeable source of income which could put more players practicing with NHL club?

I've been saying all along, how can minor league hockey survive without any foreseeable source of income which could put more players practicing with NHL club?
- rpeters01

It has been my understanding for years now that revenue is an essential element to a business plan.

It has also been my understanding that major league sports needs minor league/junior/kid level leagues to develop the players fans will pay revenue to watch.

As I mentioned a few days ago, it'll be interesting to see how development of Hawks draft picks progresses if they have eighteen months with little to no hockey. Some can play in Europe (which seems to be having a season somehow), which is nice. Interesting times.

Good job Theo. I can’t say enough good things about Bolland, if you look up winner in the dictionary you’ll see a picture of him. I don’t recall the year, however both Bolland and Sharp were out (playoffs)and a casual fan at work kept mentioning how much they needed Sharp. I tried to explain to him that Bolland is who they really missed, and sure enough Bolland came back that night and made a huge play to create a goal. The next day the casual fan understood what I was saying the previous day. I don’t want to undermine what Sharp did for the Hawks, but in a big game, if both healthy, I’d take Bolland everyday. Unfortunately his back issues hurt his success and longevity in the NHL.