That they did, and for that the new GM says we don't need you or want you around. You are toxic. Better that Foligno, Murphy, and Perry do all the leading.
- LAHawk

LOL! Yes that's exactly what he said.

Unfortunately alcohol is part of hockey culture. We had coaches sneak us cases of beer at various events when I was 6 and 7. Pro players have lots of downtime. I used to live near Borje Salming in the early 80s and he frequented a bar in the area. The owner set aside a room for him so he wouldn’t be bothered but we’d see him when he used the restroom or when he walked home. He was there almost every time I was. One of my good friends was drafted by the North Stars in the 80s and played pro in Europe tells me stories of drinking binges during the day of games.

I read an article the other day about Perry. Apparently he shunned the spotlight, there was the on ice Perry, the Worm, and an off ice Perry who by accounts is a decent guy. He lives in a relatively modest home in a small town outside Toronto. He drives an older pickup truck. And the apology letter shows he’s a guy willing to take on his responsibilities. Not taking away his responsibility, he (frank)ed up. But unlike many others he took responsibility and didn’t, or hasn’t, tried to appeal it.
- paulr

Good post. Also, fixed that fer ya.

KD is short, Napoleon was short. KD hasn't proved to be as good yet at winning as Napoleon, thus I now call him Little Nappi
- LAHawk

Napoleon was average height for that age. It was part of England's propaganda.

Imo we find out if little nappi is going to have the same status quo type off-season or doss he finally start bringing in top line players through free agency or trades. Time will tell so stay the course or get bold and get aggressive at putting this team on the path of playoff and Stanley cup contenders.
- Scott1977

Finally? FFS, wasn't going to drink today but may need to reconsider.

Finally? FFS, wasn't going to drink today but may need to reconsider.
- HawkintheD

You need a drink if you think the Hawks have ever brought in a top player.

And possibly $6 mil. more if Gibson gets traded.
- LAHawk

Is this a real possibility, given three more years at $6.4 mill per? Thinking it's retain half and third team brokers to make him more affordable, if a trade does happen.

You need a drink if you think the Hawks have ever brought in a top player.
- paulr

They got Bobby Orr that one time.

They got Bobby Orr that one time.
- HawkintheD

Yeah in the last century. Millennium

Yeah in the last century. Millennium
- paulr

What about Hossa for this millennium? I did like when Dale traded, what was it...Mark Bell and don't recall for Havlat. Maybe KFC does something like that during the season or over the Summer.

Like you've mentioned, seems like a waste of energy, etc. Maybe give the Napster the rest of this season and another offseason to see how he shapes the team vs getting pissed that he didn't push all his chips in to try and be competitive in a season where you knew they probably weren't going to be.

Wow, tough sledding here.

Guess its going to be that way for the next couple years.

I too am disappointed, even though they told me it would be a multi year plan and rebuild, I thought they were lying and young defenseman at 19 would be up and playing like Bobby Orr and Duncan Keith within a week.

I thought they would use all the cap space this past summer for multi year contracts for bad players.

I guess I just can't understand the angst, but to each his or her own.

Tough read every day.

Goaltending is a fickle position. Consistency is probably more valuable than flash in a pan.

Crawford wasn't ever going to be as good as Henry Lundquist at his best but the level of play he maintained over the course of his career on some pretty trash teams towards the end was pretty special.

Maybe they can find another guy like that.
- fattybeef

He made the saves when it countrd

Yes, the Edmonton model has worked out so well.
- LAHawk

Theyre starting to heat up

Theyre starting to heat up
- LFS

Like Toronto they’re going nowhere with that defense and goalie.

What about Hossa for this millennium? I did like when Dale traded, what was it...Mark Bell and don't recall for Havlat. Maybe KFC does something like that during the season or over the Summer.

Like you've mentioned, seems like a waste of energy, etc. Maybe give the Napster the rest of this season and another offseason to see how he shapes the team vs getting pissed that he didn't push all his chips in to try and be competitive in a season where you knew they probably weren't going to be.
- HawkintheD

You talk like Hossa was good or something.

How is the coach clueless?
- paulr

They have had a few entertaining and surprising wins for sure. When you watch the team do you consider them "well coached" in any aspect of the game?
Last weekend was a perfect example. Against the Leafs, who I consider to be very poorly coached, way to wide open an incapable of holding leads, the Hawks stormed back and got a huge win. Then against the Blues, who I think are very well coached, the Hawks never got an odd man break or any 2nd chances. Blues, a middle of road team, snuffed the Hawks out.

Hawks are 31st out of 32.
Coaches have last change at home. The Hawks have the least amount of points at home in the league.
Coaches get to design power plays and penalty kills. Hawks are 30th in PP and 21st in PK. They have 7 power play goals and 4 short handed against.
Hawks have scored first in 8 or 21. Teams that score first win 68%.

Last season, in a tank, through 21 games they had 16 points. Right now they have 14.

Many thought the Hawks "played hard" last season. With a couple of exceptions, they seems to be standing around a lot this season. They are not physical in front of their net. They don't tie up sticks. Don't need first half of first round talent to do that.

No question the roster lacks talent, but it seems they are opening it up too much. Even Q, in the glory days, had lines that played a 1-2-2 against top lines. Not seeing it. Worse, through roster construction and also coaching, the Hawks don't do much to change the momentum in game. My New Season Resolution was to stop blaming the coach. It is hard.

You need a drink if you think the Hawks have ever brought in a top player.
- paulr

Havlat was good while he was here and when healthy. Campbell really good and considered a top player at the time.

Hossa was phenomenal.

They have had a few entertaining and surprising wins for sure. When you watch the team do you consider them "well coached" in any aspect of the game?
Last weekend was a perfect example. Against the Leafs, who I consider to be very poorly coached, way to wide open an incapable of holding leads, the Hawks stormed back and got a huge win. Then against the Blues, who I think are very well coached, the Hawks never got an odd man break or any 2nd chances. Blues, a middle of road team, snuffed the Hawks out.

Hawks are 31st out of 32.
Coaches have last change at home. The Hawks have the least amount of points at home in the league.
Coaches get to design power plays and penalty kills. Hawks are 30th in PP and 21st in PK. They have 7 power play goals and 4 short handed against.
Hawks have scored first in 8 or 21. Teams that score first win 68%.

Last season, in a tank, through 21 games they had 16 points. Right now they have 14.

Many thought the Hawks "played hard" last season. With a couple of exceptions, they seems to be standing around a lot this season. They are not physical in front of their net. They don't tie up sticks. Don't need first half of first round talent to do that.

No question the roster lacks talent, but it seems they are opening it up too much. Even Q, in the glory days, had lines that played a 1-2-2 against top lines. Not seeing it. Worse, through roster construction and also coaching, the Hawks don't do much to change the momentum in game. My New Season Resolution was to stop blaming the coach. It is hard.
- stevefrmglencoe

Show me a roster starting 6 rookies, 4 on the blue line, and on some nights 7. I'll show you a team that is struggling to win games. Don't care who your coach is.

Unfortunately alcohol is part of hockey culture. We had coaches sneak us cases of beer at various events when I was 16 and 17. Pro players have lots of downtime. I used to live near Borje Salming in the early 80s and he frequented a bar in the area. The owner set aside a room for him so he wouldn’t be bothered but we’d see him when he used the restroom or when he walked home. He was there almost every time I was. One of my good friends was drafted by the North Stars in the 80s and played pro in Europe tells me stories of drinking binges during the day of games.

I read an article the other day about Perry. Apparently he shunned the spotlight, there was the on ice Perry, the Worm, and an off ice Perry who by accounts is a decent guy. He lives in a relatively modest home in a small town outside Toronto. He drives an older pickup truck. And the apology letter shows he’s a guy willing to take on his responsibilities. Not taking away his responsibility, he (frank)ed up. But unlike many others he took responsibility and didn’t, or hasn’t, tried to appeal it.
- paulr

I live in the same city as Perry, London Ontario. Which, is nowhere near “outside Toronto”.
I have friends that spend time with him when he’s down here and I know Perry from his days with the London Knights. (OHL team)

Dude has ALWAYS been a booze bag. He gets so maggoty when he’s here that he will take guys back to his pad and play ball hockey in his kitchen, absolutely destroy it, and then call people in the next day to repair.

You need a drink if you think the Hawks have ever brought in a top player.
- paulr

Forget 81 already?

Korchinski sure is struggling in his own end. Many times when there’s pressure he’s standing around seemingly unsure what he’s supposed to do. He also gets out of position easily. He gets the puck out of his own end very well, his passing is very good and he moves the puck around the point with confidence. He has a ton of work to do. I’m sure Richardson and Dean see what we do.
- paulr

Nobody knows if rushing Korchinski is going to ruin him.
Great skater and some offensive flair for sure.
Why is he here now?
The Hawks could have orchestrated a junior trade to middle of the road team so he would have had to work on his d zone play instead of always having the puck in Seattle.
He could have played World Juniors, a few games in Rockford and developed.
This would have pushed his next contract back a year. Good cap management.
He could have started next season in Rockford where they play games on the weekends so they can practice a lot during the week and develop.
Would have given him time to develop his game, get stronger and be hungrier for the charters, hotels and women.
NHL teams barely practice. And during the few practices I have watched this season are mostly flow drills and power play. Richardson stands in the corner.
This is not a development league as we can see nightly.

Show me a roster starting 6 rookies, 4 on the blue line, and on some nights 7. I'll show you a team that is struggling to win games. Don't care who your coach is.
- BetweenTheDots

This.

7 rookies is a lot.

They also have 6 guys that shouldn't be skating more than 10 mins a night at forward or relegated to the AHL because they aren't good. (thats half the lines)

2 pretty big underachievers in Donato and Raddysh. So almost 3/4.

Reichel has been bad. Kurashev is an enigma and Bedard is very very good. Folgino has played well but shouldn't be on the second or third line at this stage in his career.

Really not a lot to work with.

They need to play perfect and get excellent goaltending to win. Not gonna happen every night. Their record is 100% reflective of their roster.

Show me a roster starting 6 rookies, 4 on the blue line, and on some nights 7. I'll show you a team that is struggling to win games. Don't care who your coach is.
- BetweenTheDots

Fair point for sure. What do you think he is doing well?

Nobody knows if rushing Korchinski is going to ruin him.
Great skater and some offensive flair for sure.
Why is he here now?
The Hawks could have orchestrated a junior trade to middle of the road team so he would have had to work on his d zone play instead of always having the puck in Seattle.
He could have played World Juniors, a few games in Rockford and developed.
This would have pushed his next contract back a year. Good cap management.
He could have started next season in Rockford where they play games on the weekends so they can practice a lot during the week and develop.
Would have given him time to develop his game, get stronger and be hungrier for the charters, hotels and women.
NHL teams barely practice. And during the few practices I have watched this season are mostly flow drills and power play. Richardson stands in the corner.
This is not a development league as we can see nightly.
- stevefrmglencoe

He's here now because the lessons he needs to learn are at NHL speed and putting up 120 points in the WHL isn't gonna do a whole lot to get him ready.

This.

7 rookies is a lot.

They also have 6 guys that shouldn't be skating more than 10 mins a night at forward or relegated to the AHL because they aren't good. (thats half the lines)

2 pretty big underachievers in Donato and Raddysh. So almost 3/4.

Reichel has been bad. Kurashev is an enigma and Bedard is very very good. Folgino has played well but shouldn't be on the second or third line at this stage in his career.

Really not a lot to work with.

They need to play perfect and get excellent goaltending to win. Not gonna happen every night. Their record is 100% reflective of their roster.
- fattybeef

I'll be the first to admit it, i was encouraged with what i saw in the preseason but then the regular season started and realized wow those kids make a lot of mistakes. So i went from thinking before the season started between 7-12th draft place to getting smacked in the face with reality, top 5 pick easy.

Honestly there's nothing wrong with another top 5 pick this year.

He's here now because the lessons he needs to learn are at NHL speed and putting up 120 points in the WHL isn't gonna do a whole lot to get him ready.
- fattybeef

I know he can't be in Rockford yet, but do you think he would dominate that league? Korchinski is a very talented prospect but he is not yet a solid defensive player. This is not the place to learn those skills. Even Duncan Keith, who I consider a Hall of Fame type player, needed to learn these things away from the NHL. Keith spent 2 full seasons in Norfolk with Yawney coaching him hard.