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biittner77

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Everything posted by biittner77

  1. biittner77
    If the games were on WGN America that would be a different story. Then I wouldn't really need center ice though I'd miss seeing condensed reruns of the previous night's games.
  2. biittner77
    It's the lack of a competent QB on the other team. Any competent QB can hang 40 on these guys. The exception to that was Matt Ryan, who probably would have done the same if all his receivers weren't dropping passes. Miami had an average QB, but they also had an elite defense. Minnesota has a crappy QB situation and while their defense isn't bad, they aren't as good as Miami. Home team gets them 3 points, Minn. being bad gets 2. Thus Minn. getting 5. This is a sucker line and no one should even consider betting this game.
  3. biittner77
    Here's the scenario: The Cards need to win the last game of the regular season, they are the visiting team. In the top of the 23rd inning they score 9 runs. Then the home team scores 10 with a walk off inside the park bunt hit plus 3 errors. To me that would be much more satisfying them seeing them go 0-162. 0-820 is a different story.
  4. biittner77
    Who from that list that's making $3-4 million would you rather have than Crawford? Cory Schneider, maybe, but he isn't available and will make a lot more than Crawford on his next contract. Not sure which of those guys are FA but I'd guess that within 2 years Crawford is middle of the road in terms of starting goalie contracts. His contract is fair for his production. A better argument is why didn't the Hawks explore a trade for a goalie from what seems like a glut of defensive and wing prospects? That would have afforded them the opportunity to keep whomever they wind up losing by giving Crawford his contract. Maybe they tried but couldn't find a deal they liked. They still have that option of trading Crawford before his contract ends if they need the money that badly. There will still be takers for a cup winning goalie making non elite goalie money.
  5. biittner77
    It's also worth noting that they probably would have kept Niemi had it not been for the QO to Hjammer tying up that money. http://www.spotrac.com/rankings/nhl/average/goaltender/ Regarding Crawford, it's more like paying an "established closer" the kind of money that they get. The best ones are maybe worth it but they drive the market up for the next tier. If you have a cheaper, in house option, then it's not necessary to pay what they would demand. In the case of the Hawks, they had no one capable of starting at the NHL level and the FA market was garbage. in hockey you can't win in the playoffs without at least capable goaltending. Crawford may not be "elite" but he's been very good in the playoffs for the most part.
  6. biittner77
    It also depends on what constitutes a "serious cup run". Does that mean actually winning or does it mean making it to the WCF or better? It may very well take 2 years to overcome the impending loss of Sharp and Oduya. On the other hand, TVR is way ahead of where we thought the "young defenseman they we knew would make the team" could expect to be. Rundblad seems to be improving too. The Hawks will miss Sharp offensively but the Hawks don't lack for other players that can score. Defensively, Sharp isn't the two way player he used to be. It won't by any means be easy, but they can replace him. If they do trade Sharp, they ought to get someone very useful in return. They already have a lot of options on the blue line. If they don't make a "serious cup run" it will be because other teams have gotten better in a capped league.
  7. biittner77
    One of our rivals lost in the playoffs 2-1 in over time. Since they represent everything that is wrong with amateur sports, I take great joy in seeing them lose. Which got me thinking: if you had your druthers, how would you prefer to see your opponent lose? Which is more satisfying?
  8. biittner77
    When Teuvo is deemed ready, they can send Raanta down and bring up him and Darling.
  9. biittner77
    Taking a page out of the Red Sox playbook, the Hawks were drinking beer and eating fried chicken during the second intermission.
  10. biittner77
    99% sure Raanta is waiver exempt. Right, Myers was saying the other day Raanta does not have to clear waivers. Moot issue though, or at least it should be. I posed this on SCH. Why not send Raanta and Darling to Rock Vegas and bring up Leighton? Crawford is going to play most of the time anyway. Why not let these guys split PT there and see how things shake out later. Leighton is a veteran and seems like he'd be able to handle not playing much. He wasn't great as a starter but in front of the Hawks he'd make a capable back up.
  11. biittner77
    99% sure Raanta is waiver exempt.
  12. biittner77
    Raanta in the doghouse? I think it's more a matter of seeing what they have in Darling. He had a good training camp and I'd bet Q wants to see what he can do against the Ducks. If he could prove a decent backup (not that he can do that tonight but in the long run) they could perhaps trade Raanta which would free up some money. Not a lot but perhaps enough to bring up Teuvo. Darling had a nice game against the Sens but they have really only 1 dangerous line.
  13. biittner77
    Here's a fun exercise: Try to make the worst possible line combo using the forwards (no Rundblad at wing) currently available on the Blackhawks roster. I defy anyone to come up with one that doesn't do at least one thing really well. carcillo Richards versteeg Richards and Versteeg have both been 20 goal scorers. Carcillo is not John Scott out there. He's not even Dongballs. Which is not to suggest he should be playing but when he's not being an idiot he's not entirely useless. There's a lot of teams that would take that as their 3rd line.
  14. biittner77
    Here's a fun exercise: Try to make the worst possible line combo using the forwards (no Rundblad at wing) currently available on the Blackhawks roster. I defy anyone to come up with one that doesn't do at least one thing really well.
  15. biittner77
    Let's hope we see the Ty Raaant instead of Raanta Claus
  16. biittner77
    "In Russia, NHL problem has you." #yakovsmirnoff'd
  17. biittner77
    Is there really a team in the NFL that plays the Bears that doesn't already know that they can't stop the read option?
  18. biittner77
    It's funny, 2 years later and we still haven't completely adjusted to what October Hockey looks like.
  19. biittner77
    Yeah I've seen TB a lot too. Am I missing something? Well, the roster is young and loaded and Bishop had an excellent year in goal last year. They signed one of the top free agents in Stralman, Hedman made a huge leap last year. Jonathan Drouin is probably the best prospect in hockey and he'll debut this year, sophomores like Palat and Tyler Johnson should only get better. They'll presumably have a full year of Stamkos. I think they're the second best team in the East after Boston. Yeah, why not the Lightning in the East? Price could very well carry the Habs to the finals as well. What I don't get was the guys on NHL Network picking the Rangers.
  20. biittner77
    all time wins among NHL Coaches 1. Scotty Bowman -a lot since he coached for 30 years (1244 to be exact) 2. Al Arbor- 782 3. Joel Quenville- 700 (in 17 years) In 2-3 years Quenville becomes the 2nd winningest coach all time. If he really wants Carcillo that badly then it's worth giving him (gorilla Salad) the League minimum for a couple months to see.
  21. biittner77
    Leddy was necessary to get under the cap. I'm sure if they could have found a taker for Roszival they would have gone that route but no one, us included, wants him right now. I was hoping for more back from a Leddy trade but Pokka isn't a bad return under the circumstances. Signing Carcillo is puzzling but then the Hawks make one obviously stupid move every off season (like giving Khabibulin $2 million last year) If it's a choice between Mashinter or Carcillo sitting in the press box, who cares? IF it's a choice of Mashinter or Carcillo taking PT away from Morin, Carcillo is less bad at hockey though Mashinter is better at face punching. The Ryan Reeveses of the world aren't going to fight themselves so they have to carry somebody for that role whether we like it or not.
  22. biittner77
    That's the best case scenario
  23. biittner77
    For a bad team looking to win the draft lottery, or at least come in 2nd for the draft lottery, Rozsival would be a nice pickup. Such teams are probably operating near the cap floor anyway so the money isn't an issue. In Rozy they'd get a vet whocould teach the younger guys professionalism without doing something unexpected like helping them win too many games.
  24. biittner77
    There's no way they'd do it *four* times in a row, anyway... Reminds me of a line from Blackadder Goes Forth (which takes place in the trenches of WWI) "They'll never expect us to attack in the exact same place a 17th time." I'm in the hoping for 1, expecting zero camp.
  25. biittner77
    Counter proposal. Baez starts the season in Chicago and bats 6th or 7th but gets sent down once Russell is deemed ready if he hasn't made the necessary adjustments. LF Coghlan (unless they get someone else for this spot) SS Castro 1st Rizzo RF Soler 3rd Valbuena (assuming no Bryant until May) 2nd Baez CF Alcantara C Castillo Pitcher
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