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Since this would basically assure that if you are in a major conference and have a winning record you will make the tournament, I think teams would be a little less willing to play teams that can beat them non-conference. I think it was already mentioned, but either expand it to where all the teams make it or just leave it alone.

I dont think anyone ever really saw Reed as anything more than a platoon guy vs. lefties or a late inning defensive sub. there may not have been a lot on this board, there were a ton of stupid cubs fans wanting him to play against righties at several times during his cubs career. Reed Johnson had a lot of support from people I know to become an everyday player.

I think this puts the Hawks in the drivers seat for Kovalchek. If they want to go that route.

i think the mishandling of Wuertz started before Lou. Lou certainly has plenty of room for blame on this one though

Hey I am supposed to be saying that about my team!! Hawks are very good, rest of division..not so much

The thread title made me shutter!!

I think its cool that he still goes out and tries. It is clear that he is not a major league talent, yet he still shows up to play ball every year at the age of 38. Good for him. Keep delaying the everyday rat race as long as you can.

As much credit as the Red Wings get for being such a good team for so long, I think what New Jersey has done over the last 15+ years is pretty amazing. Broduer is their only constant player through those years. They have never been a big spender on players. They have changed coaches at least 3 times. They just bore you to death on a consistent basis for 15+ yrs.

What does Jeremy Roenick know about winning Stanley Cups? haha i was waiting for that I actually enjoy listening to Roenick some. He may not always be right, but at least he says something.

What does Jeremy Roenick know about winning Stanley Cups?

Detroit is still short 5 regulars(all of whom are better then Burish) and played very evenly. Not sure I would be too cocky yet. are all 5 of them better than bolland? Have to put some thought into that. At least 3 of them are.

Detroit is still short 5 regulars(all of whom are better then Burish) and played very evenly. Not sure I would be too cocky yet.

You make it sound the Hawks should be afraid. I'm sorry I can't get afraid of the Ducks, I simply can't. There is not a team in the West that the Hawks can't beat. And you could argue the Hawks could beat every team in the NHL. So you're statement, NUN, really should fall on deaf eyes. I don't disrepsect the Ducks, I, and I am pretty sure the Hawks players themselves will agree with what I am saying, just don't fear them. Well I was just trying to point out that the Hawks shouldnt be that down about losing to Anaheim. And also wanted to point out that Anaheim has PROVEN to be a real good playoff team in the last few years. But hey, if you want to believe the Hawks have already proven something, be my guest.

My brother who is a Giants fan and lives in teh bay area thinks DeRosa will end up being primarily a LFer. Yes I also snickered

Just to make a point about Anahiem. At this point last season they were about 10 points out of the playoff picture and looked terrible. They made some tweeks at the deadline, finished strong and were the 2nd best team in the Western Conference last year in the playoffs. I would be careful to say things like they are not as talented as teh Kings or that they suck. They are not a puck possession type team, so they will routinely be outshot and sometimes by plenty. They however are a very dangerous team that if I was a Blackhawk fan I would be praying they dont make the playoffs as an 8th seed.

He's actually been pretty good for the last month or so, but he was absolutely awful in the 3rd period last night. 4 of the 8 shots went in, and 3 of them should have been easy stops. He was awful last night. I just dont think he is so bad that the Hawks cannot win the cup with him. The Hawks are a good enough team they can win with an average goalie. Huets biggest problem is he is paid like a very good goalie.

Blackhawks are 2nd in NHL in goals allowed...not sure Huet is as bad as you guys think. He probably is just as good as Chris Osgood was a couple of years ago

Touche. I was trying to think of how I could say what I was trying to say was not the same as what Cowherd said there. But, sadly it is pretty much the same point. Though I dont think I was going to the stupid absurd that Cowherd was. I also was not clear in saying that I think Blyleven does deserve to get in(and Jack Morris does not). Really I think my point is that he was never preceived as an All-Time Great while he was playing. Like it or not, this does have almost as much to do with a players HoF chances as his overall numbers.

I don't think players should be punished for the prevailing stupidity of the media when they played. Worrying about how a player was viewed while he played is what leads to stuff like Catfish Hunter and Jim Rice getting elected. But it is the Hall of Fame. Really the title basically says it is based more on perception then statistical facts

so as part of Dawson going into the Hall I heard someone say that when Dawson retired only 2 players who hit over 400 career HRs were not in the Hall(Kingman and Darrell Evans). I agree that neither should be in the Hall, as neither one was considered a great player while they were playing. I make this comment because sometimes in later years we may pick out some career stats that we use to justify that a player should be in the Hall. I think part of being in the Hall is how you were considered when you were actually playing. So I say this because I was a young baseball fan most of Bylevens career. I dont ever remember anyone ever thinking he was a future HoFer. I actually would say that he probably was thought of the same way Evans was. A good consistent player.

Probably because Canada has had its own problems keeping franchises, as it was the move away from those smaller cities that couldn't compete that started the process of going south in the first place. A couple years ago people feared for the future of Edmonton. It's not a no-brainer. Suffice to say, IMO Phx and Atlanta are not long-term viable options to support NHL teams. I actually think the real solution is to contract. I think it is possible in the NHL because the owners have already proven that they are willing to do whatever it takes to win a labor situation. Bettman, however, has proven that he will not concede that Southern expansion was probably not a great idea. He thinks a salary cap will help these teams compete. Which it will help them compete, but it will not make the fans give a rip. On a side note similar to the subject. Less than 10 yrs ago there was talk of Carolina moving to Detroit. I think the local economy in Detroit makes that idea completely unthinkable now.

I posted this earlier, but I think it's pretty certain that the Hawks will resign Niemi and Hjalmarsson. Consider the defense first for the moment -- with the eventual signings of Hjalmarsson and Niemi included. The goalies and top two defensive pairings are set with Keith - Seabrook and Campbell - Hjalmarsson. The third pairing and depth aren't certain to stay. Barker and Sopel are both under contract for $3.1M and $2M, respectively. Hendry is an RFA. For an average of 13:30 and 14:15 of ice time per game, Barker and Sopel are overpaid (though Sopel is a strong PK asset) for your 5/6 pairing. Look for Barker to be traded and it is possible that both will be gone. Given the relative paucity of prospect D-men in system, Hendry will likely be resigned inexpensively and one or two depth defensemen (depending on Sopel) will be signed. You can easily save money here, but how much? It's tough to say what Hjalmarsson and Niemi will get. There are a lot of available of both top-line and back-up goalies on the market, and the going rate isn't that much. Call it $1M for Niemi. Hjalmarsson will get more -- probably $2-3M. In this scenario, the Blackhawks probably save a million or so. By your own admission Barker and Sopel are overpaid though. So what is their trade value going to be? I actually think Sopel may be worth keeping at $2M. Honestly it will be much easier to unload Sharp adn Versteeg then Barker. Hjarlmarsson will probably get up to a $4 million offer from somebody.

I think he is under contract for at least 2 more years. By then Huet will be off the books so there may be a chance to resign him

I think you guys are understating how much cap issues the Hawks are going to have the next couple of years. That is basically what the announcer was talking about. no, i understood what he was talking about, and i understand we're going to lose some guys. i was referring to the "blowing up" part. Blowing up may not be the right phrase, but I think Hawks fans should consider the situation Anahiem was in 2 yrs ago and Tampa Bay right after they won the Cup. Both teams seemed destined to be powers for years but were hit by the cap by overpaying some mediocre players. Both teams still have large pieces of the core group of players that they won the cups with, but lack the overall depth to be cup contenders now. pretty terrible comparisons How so?

Niemi is also a restricted free agent. How much can the Blackhawks afford to pay him if they make him the franchise goalie? I agree if the Hawks can keep producing productive 3rd line players they will probably be fine. Do consider this though, you are talking about trading Versteeg or Sharp or Barker or Byfuglin, or probaby two of them to just make it under the cap. You will certainly not be able to resign Madden unless he plays for league minimum. That is already 3 key depth guys gone. Also consider if some team offers Hjalmarsson 3-4 million which is a strong possibility. I think the Hawks would have to match but then probably couldnt afford both Ladd and Fraser. I think all of the potential players lost are not big in themselves. But you start adding up 4 to 5 guys and basically having to replace them with AHL players, that is what most of the rest of the league is talking about when they are saying the Hawks are in cap trouble in the future.