2014-2015 STANLEY CUP CHAMPION CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

[Banedon]

Haha autocorrect. Saad, obviously.

[Brian707]

A 4th line center? For $750,000 in salary cap relief? Also expiring contract.

 

 

Yep. Looks like a good deal to me.

 

Really? What about it looks good? They traded a decent young guy essentially for the right to not have to employ him next year. I guess if you think Smith is absolutely worthless then this could be perceived as good.

 

 

He is replaceable, as was said before they need to resign Saad. Smith was only useful on the PK, and they have Vermette now. They were not going to pay Ben Smith 1.5 million next year.

[Brian707]

Should we take the fact that the Hawks are going "all in" during a season where their best player won't return until the WCF as a sign the Hawks are going to be gutted in the offseason? Or just being creative with the extra $5 mil from Kane?

 

 

This summer won't be as bad as 2010, but they will lose someone like Sharp and or Bickell, depending on how much the cap goes up.

[jersey cubs fan]

He is replaceable, as was said before they need to resign Saad. Smith was only useful on the PK, and they have Vermette now. They were not going to pay Ben Smith 1.5 million next year.

 

Right, I get that but I just don't see that as being a good deal. It seems to me that they were always going to be able to give Smith away for nothing if they wanted, and that is what they did here.

[UMFan83]

Looks like the Blues are loading up too. Traded for Jokinen

[Banedon]

Also, apparently they're getting no takers on Raanta right now.

[Brian707]

He is replaceable, as was said before they need to resign Saad. Smith was only useful on the PK, and they have Vermette now. They were not going to pay Ben Smith 1.5 million next year.

 

Right, I get that but I just don't see that as being a good deal. It seems to me that they were always going to be able to give Smith away for nothing if they wanted, and that is what they did here.

 

 

I just saw that it now frees up space to keep Teuvo on the roster since the Sharks are taking on 50% of the salary

[biittner77]

Should we take the fact that the Hawks are going "all in" during a season where their best player won't return until the WCF as a sign the Hawks are going to be gutted in the offseason? Or just being creative with the extra $5 mil from Kane?

 

 

This summer won't be as bad as 2010, but they will lose someone like Sharp and or Bickell, depending on how much the cap goes up.

 

Between Richards ($2 mil) Oduya ($3.375) Roszival ($2.2) and Carcillo ($550,000) that pays for the increases to Kane and Toews. Increases to Saad could be as much as $3 million (he currently makes ~$900,000). Kruger likely gets about $.5 million more. Then they have to pay to replace those guys.

 

The most likely to go (by salary) Sharp ($5.9) Bickell ($4 mil) and Shaw ($2 mil)

[kujay]

Hey uh Toes is pretty good at hockey.

[kujay]

I have no idea how that is a penalty on Sharp. Especially since Ward went flailing like a bitch.

[Brian707]

Pretty good game tonight. Rosival a star of the game. I don't think that's happened since the Bush administration. The first Bush.

[kujay]

Timonen looked decent though understandably a little slow. Vermette made a rotten turnover in the defensive zone but otherwise played okay. Wasn't terribly noticeable.

 

Good win, though Carolina isn't top competition.

[apete6]

Timonen looked decent though understandably a little slow. Vermette made a rotten turnover in the defensive zone but otherwise played okay. Wasn't terribly noticeable.

 

Good win, though Carolina isn't top competition.

 

I thought the Sharp Vermette Saad line looked quite good. Sharp had an extra hop in his step last night, likely for obvious reasons

[biittner77]

Timonen looked decent though understandably a little slow. Vermette made a rotten turnover in the defensive zone but otherwise played okay. Wasn't terribly noticeable.

 

Good win, though Carolina isn't top competition.

 

I thought the Sharp Vermette Saad line looked quite good. Sharp had an extra hop in his step last night, likely for obvious reasons

 

Conversely, Versteeg looked out of place on the top line a lot of the time. That's understandable since they're used to Saad being there.

 

I still want Sharp, Vermette and Hossa to be a line so we can call them the VHS line since they're all old enough to know what a VHS is.

 

Timmonen was a lesson in correct positioning = no wasted motion.

[RynoRules]

Timonen looked decent though understandably a little slow. Vermette made a rotten turnover in the defensive zone but otherwise played okay. Wasn't terribly noticeable.

 

Good win, though Carolina isn't top competition.

 

If he just wins at the dot I am fine. He didn't do much of that last night.

[kujay]

Timonen looked decent though understandably a little slow. Vermette made a rotten turnover in the defensive zone but otherwise played okay. Wasn't terribly noticeable.

 

Good win, though Carolina isn't top competition.

 

I thought the Sharp Vermette Saad line looked quite good. Sharp had an extra hop in his step last night, likely for obvious reasons

 

Conversely, Versteeg looked out of place on the top line a lot of the time. That's understandable since they're used to Saad being there.

 

I still want Sharp, Vermette and Hossa to be a line so we can call them the VHS line since they're all old enough to know what a VHS is.

 

Timmonen was a lesson in correct positioning = no wasted motion.

 

Dead on re. Timmonen.

[brinoch]

I'm really happy with this set of deals, and the general positioning heading into the playoffs. The Hawks can score goals, though they've had their noticeable dips of late. Much of that, though, is related to the spotty defensive play. JenLC has done some really good work on this topic.

[biittner77]

Whichever line Sharp has been on has bled goals all season. Having a more defensively responsible center in Vermette will help that a lot. Shaw at wing allows him to chase the puck rather than try to figure out who he's supposed to take as center. It will be interesting to see what happens to opponents shot attempts once the Hawks have played some better teams after hopefully dispatching the Oil on Friday.

[kujay]

Desjardin is in for TT tonight.

 

Nashville is skidding, STL is treading water. This is a big game tonight. No excuse for not getting two points.

[Butterscup1679666578]

im annoyed and confused about this handling of Teuvo

[Guest]

vermette looks..... uncomfortable

[Butterscup1679666578]

bad defense is bad

[Butterscup1679666578]

2 points are nice

[UMFan83]

2 points are nice

 

Yes especially with the Wild nipping at our heels.

[Brian707]

Interesting

 

 

Nashville 89pts 66 games played

St Louis 85pts 64 games played

Chicago 83pts 65 games played

Minnesota 79pts 65 games played

 

 

Hawks can finish anywhere from 1st to 4th. Kane is out, but they appear to have the easiest schedule of the four teams. Plus they play St Louis twice in last week of season.