RynoRules

Does that seem a like too many years to anyone else? Maybe I am being unrealistic, but wouldn't 3 years with a 4th year option make more sense given his resume?

TB is closer in style to Minny than they are to Anaheim or Nashville. Difference is that TB's top 3 lines are (arguably) much better than the Wild, and they are better 1-6 on defense (though Suter is better than any single D Man they have). I may be wrong, but I think Bishop is just the proverbial hot goalie. He can be had, as the Rangers showed in Game 6. Their offense really make me nervous though. Everyone knows Stamkos, but Killorn is solid and Fillpula drove us nuts when he was with the Wings. The triplets are very scary, Kucherov especially. He has a wicked shot and Saad/Kane type speed. When you are able to put Callahan ob your third line and Morrow and Boyle on your fourth, that's significant depth. So who is going to have to be particularly on? The 3rd and 4th lines will have to continue to dominate the possession and face-off battles. That's been an underrated key to how far they have gone, particularly after Q got his head out of his ass went with TT-Vermette-Sharp and Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw. And of course, Keith and Seabs have to continue to play at an all-world level. Keith in particular is playing the kind of hockey you get to see maybe once in a generation. He's actually underrated, IMO. Oh, and I want to give props to Richards. He's been solid against some very difficult competition, especially defensively.

I don't get this "loyalty" issue where the Bulls are concerned. They are hardly the first winning franchise to send a coach packing when it isn't working out or to experience strained relations between the FO and the guy on the bench. Just off the top of my head: - The Warriors just went through this with Mark Jackson and they are on their way to an NBA title. - Doc Rivers couldn't wait to get away from Danny Ainge. - When the Heat periodically struggled their were rumors that Riley was getting his whistle ready and would send Spolestra packing. - Krause and Jackson managed to win 6 titles while largely not caring much for each other. - Pat Riley - the guy these players all seem to want to play for - has burned bridges in both LA and NY (see also below) - Larry Brown and the Pistons - Rick Adelman and the Blazers - Etc, etc, etc..... The only "winning situation" I can think of where there hasn't been this kind of stuff is San Antonio, and one wonders whether that is because there simply isn't much media there to report it. Point is there are pretty much no "shangri la" situations out there. It would be nice if everyone in the FO and on the bench sat together, held hands, and whispered sweet nothings to each other, but the chances of that happening are slim to none. If LeBron and Wade really rejected Chicago because they perceived a loyalty issue or some other disfunction...well I guess I'd ask how they feel about that now after LeBron left and Riley fired off some shots at him in the press. Its fun for the media types to kick GarPax around some and spread rumors that none of the really good and cool players want to play here. They all want to go to Miami, where the weather is warm and the clubs are bouncing, or LA because they have delusions about being stars and part of the set out there. That's not something the Bulls FO can change, and in spite of it they do a very good job getting talent in here and keeping it. Before his knees imploded they re-signed one of the game's 5 best players to a longterm deal. Noah - with a personality and game that was/is absolutely perfect for a team like the Clippers (I love LA!!!) - also stuck around. Taj - who is from LA - stuck around too. They drafted Jimmy Butler, who was roundly panned through out the internet (including on this board, IIRC) as a meh talent. He's very likely going to stay when he could easily cash-in with one of the league's sexier cities. The Bulls FO has done a fine job under the circumstances. Have they done a fantastic job? Probably not, though you could legitimately argue that Rose's knees are the difference between Pax having 4 rings and 3.

Ha - I guess it isn't that unusual in our zip codes. Point is that it doesn't bother me that Gar and Pax were straight about what the problems were. JVG - troll that he is (double entendre) - even admitted that they supported him publicly through-out. His beef was that he thought they didn't support Thibs behind the scenes. So in other words, its possible no one would have known about the alleged lack of support had JVG not made a big deal about it during a game he was covering. And what did that alleged lack of support look like exactly? The only thing we have heard about is the minute limitations, which were based in objective data and scientific studies concluding that quality outweighs quantity and the cumulative affects of overuse is decidedly negative. What else is there? Don't make big, broad, nasty generalizations unless you are willing to back that up with specific examples.

You're correct that they are sensitive. But it is also fairly unusual to be attacked on national television during one of your games by a color guy who is arguably acting on behalf of your coach. That happened a couple of times and JVG took to the air again last night to take a few more shots at GarPax. I understand why they'd feel compelled to defend themselves.

That's the thing - it wasn't just the FO that had tired of his doctrinaire approach; the players were reportedly done as well. I admire Thibs work ethic and mind for the game. But he was also stubbornly attached to his approach, impractical, and not realistic about players and their physical and mental limitations. Firing him is not in and of itself an error. Let's see who replaces him.

Advanced stats from last night: http://war-on-ice.com/game1.html?seasongcode=2014201530326 Note that the third and fourth lines were back to kicking ass.

I think the Ducks can only sustain that forecheck for a period and a half before they wear down. We should expect things to be tight for the first 30 minutes or so and for Craw to have to make more saves in the 1st period. You could see the Ducks back that off in the third and the stretch passes became more available. Downside of course if that there will be turnovers.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4689316/blackhawks-rundblad-could-replace-timonen-in-game-6-lineup 8-[

The only must resign is Saad. They will probably be able to squeeze in Kruger with an affordable contract. Oduya is probably a near must sign, especially if we have to trade Seabrook. If we can cut ~6 mil by getting rid of sharp and 4m by getting rid of Bickell, we should be able to keep the rest. The hope is that Teuvo can replace Sharp, TVR can be a dependable blue liner, and we can make some smart bargin FA signings to fill the holes. I think its doable to remake the roster and remain a fringe contender, but I could also see a slightly stripped down roster having a difficult time after playing 10 or 11 of 12 possible playoff series over the last 3 years and struggling to make the playoffs a la LA this year. My guess is we are looking at two years as a wild card contender. They won't be able to move everyone they need to in one offseason and replace the production and skill. Assuming that Bickell, Sharp, Vermette and Richards are traded / departing and Saad, Krueger and Oduya (there aren't going to be too many better and affordable options out there, barring a trade) are returning, let's look at this line-by-line: 1st: Saad - Toews - Hossa 2nd: Kane - ? - ? 3rd: Shaw -? - Teuvo 4th: ? - Kruger - Versteeg (he's under contract - is he trade-able?) 1st: Keith - Seabrook 2nd: Hammer - Oduya 3rd: ? - ? That's a lot of significant gaps, including two up-the-middle. You clear nearly $10 million by moving Bickell and Sharp, and you started with about $6 million in additional room. But you have to figure that $7 - $7.5 million of that will be eaten by the Saad and Oduya deals. Therefore you have $8.5 - $9 million free to sign 2 centers, a second line wing, and probably one defenseman for the 3rd pairing. EDIT: Likely help from Rock-Vegas includes Johns, Hartman, Danault, McNeil, and Ross.

Kid is coming on; seems like everything he hits is driven to the gap in RF. He's going to be a stud.

Toews and Kane are getting deserved raises into uncharted territory ($10.5-million a season) and that’s going to create a brutal squeeze. They already have $65-million committed (to 15 players) on what’s expected to be a $71-million cap, and that’s with Johnny Oduya and Saad and Marcus Kruger and Brad Richards and Rozsival all needing new contracts or replacements.

Ugh - not this crap again.

The dump by Bickell was ugly. I have seen some speculation that he is hurt; I liked the way he was taking the body most of the game. But the advanced stats don't like him and he blew it huge on that last play (though he wasn't the only one to f-up at the blue line last night). My eye test fails; he may find himself benched tomorrow night...just hopefully not for Carcillo or Versteeg. Just win Game 6. Find a way. Come out firing those stretch passes out of our zone and take care of your own blue line. Then you can you roll out all the tricks in a Game 7.

This is just silly....I'll take it.

Hoss is still a very good two way fwd.

Sharp has been un-fun to watch all year. Saad is making me crazy with his hesitation.

Jesus Harold Christ - PLEASE KEEP THE FOURTH LINE OFF THE ICE

Anderson is saving their ass. I love what Sharp did just before the stoppage. Shoot the damn puck!

Seriously. He's electric tonight The advance stats (CORSI) love him too. He should be on the second line next season.

"Bad" is kind TT needs to be out there every other shift

What in fucks name was Saad doing at the end of that PP?! One time the [expletive] thing!!!!

No one could rationally blame Craw for the score. He's the reason it isn't 6-0. Its not just the 3rd pairing that needs to change, they need to get a new partner for Hammer and some help on the 3rd line. Shaw looks useless.

If they don't cut him within 48 hours I'm seriously going to shop for another team, and I'm as loyal as they come.