Bolland skated, but you can tell he’s not 100%. Ebbett skated, I noticed him more because I didn’t recognize the skater then for him doing anything that special. After the main practice, Toews shot pucks at Niemi for a while at one end. At the other end of the rink Ladd & Kopecky worked with Huet on stopping 2nd rebounds/pucks slipping through with goalie coach. They know it’s a weakness and are trying to fix it.

with anything 5th feather said…All I’m saying is that Q should give Niemi more starts than just spelling Huet on back to back games…the sky is not falling. we’re not fucked. we’re still going to make the playoffs…but just in case, giving Niemi a handful more starts than first anticipated might payoff if the worst occurs

Hawk bloggers making better, and more intelligent points than the paid “gurus” in the fairly major media outlets. These geniuses better remember, Huet isn’t Rex Grossman or Milton Bradley. Yeah, it’s fun to write the easier and sexier story to the audience of casual bandwagoners who love to bitch bitch bitch all the livelong day. But how about taking the position that requires some neurological activity rather than something like sending him to Rockford to “figure things out”.

And what the fuck is that, “figure things out”!? ‘Ya know, I went to Rockford and I figured out how to stop a puck! Holy shit! Look out NHL, here I come again!’ Huet is still an NHL goalie, he doesn’t need to “figure things out”, it’s not like Rockford is a rehab facility or a find-yourself retreat. We’re eight games into the Goddamn season…can the gurus please refrain from pressing…no, slamming the panic button for just a wee bit longer. Christ!

I’ll agree that Brouwer is better defensively than Buff, but I don’t see how you can possibly think it would be easy to part with the big man because Brou finally got a goal. Buff’s looked as good if not better than his playoff performance last year, and Brouwer certainly doesn’t provide the butt-in-the-goalie’s face presence that Buff does. Buff’s got more points, better hands (yes he does—Brouwer deserves the crap he gets for his stone hands), and has shown himself to be a force in the playoffs. Nothing against Brouwer, but why is everyone STILL so anxious to get rid of Buff?

I’m one of the ones giving Brouwer crap about missing open nets.

I have noticed him answering the call against Iginla, taking out 2 panes of glass so far and also being all over the ice physically.

Doesn’t mean I will excuse him for missing open nets though

Sassone’s perspective from one year ago provides perfect perspective. But don’t beat yourself up Sam. You guys can’t control the comments here, and even over there, you see panic-button pushers and even the obligatory swipe at Soup in the comments.

Plus, while the analysis is spot-on, and the farm report in-depth, where is the lighter touch? Where’s my Tallon planner? And nicknames: “Ham Sandwich” is not in the same league as the richly-allusive “Super Nintendo.”

Keep on truckin’ boys!

Madden is a stud (duh.). Skille had some serious snarl Saturday night. And I think I came up with a good idea for the goalie situation, play Niemi at home games and Huet on the road…until he gets his confidence back.

Yes, there is a Goalie controversy. Trying to teach a Goalie thats been around a while to re-learn technique and style at this point is a daunting task. Gotta balance the rotation and lean towards the streaking Goaltender NOW, not towards playoff time. Watch all oponents snipe his weak glove side over and over and also coax him into the inherent butterfly style that he will NOT shake anytime soon. Old habits….
Let’s get Niemi developed quickly and let the little fella gain some experience. Thankfully we have an offense that will overcome the netminders weakness on this squad.

But I view these sites as complimentary of each other, like salt and pepper, guns and ammo, cheerios and milk, breasts.

I don’t understand: If the Hawks can have Fraser & Skille under the Cap, then why can’t they have Ebbett & Skille up here and Fraser down @ Rockford?