Everybody's Talkin' At Me
by SamFels on Jan 20, 2010 11:07 PM CST
118 comments
Just a quick note here. Anttii Niemi will get the start in Calgary tomorrow night, and for the first time Coach Q has pretty much admitted it's due to performance. While some of us would like to see Huet get the chance to fight his way out of his recent skid, I can't argue with Q here. Niemi is on a roll, and the Hawks haven't yet reached a point where points aren't vital (probably should have found a synonym for points in there somewhere. Ah well). And frankly, Huet getting a fair share of down time will only help later in the year, as he's never had to shoulder a major workload. Looks like he won't this season either.
But that doesn't mean someone isn't hitting the Air Raid Siren. Professional Bull-horn Jeremy Roenick was on whatever waste of time ESPN 1000 trots out in the morning, and I'll just give you his quote: "Their youth, their enthusiasm, the only thing that everybody says, and I'm going to have to agree with them, is the goaltending situation. Can Huet bring them 16 games (in the playoffs)? I say no, I think he can probably get you through two rounds," Roenick said. "To go 16 games, you need a goaltender that is going to stand on his head and is going to steal games."
Maybe this is why JR never won a Cup. It used to be your goalie got you out of your division in the playoffs, back when that consisted of the first two rounds. The Conference make up doesn't work that way any more. As far as JR's contention that your goalie needs to stand on his head and steal games to win the Cup, that's pure bullshit. Let me go back into the closet here and pull out Marc-Andre Fleury's numbers from last posteason: 2.61 GAA with a .908 SV%. Chris Osgood's playoff numbers from the previous two seasons are impressive, but how many are going to place the credit for the WIngs consecutive Finals appearances on Osgood solely? Any of you who wish to are welcome to our Bug Juice.
I feel like I might throw up in my mouth the next time I say this, but gone are the days when a goalie wins you the Cup by himself. I'm sure he still can with a virtuoso performance, but even those require more. Furthermore, the Hawks reached the Conference finals last year with a goalie who, aside from a couple periods, was the very definition of mediocre. 2.98 GAA and a SV% below .900. That's just not very good. Through extrapolation you can figure out where this much improved Hawks team could go with a goalie who's barely scratching good, something Huet's numbers are far beyond right now. Right, enough of this.
-Anyway, Sassone begins to wonder what the Hawks might do at the deadline, and not for the last time have we heard the name of Scott Niedermayer. Whereas I've gotten of the Kovalchuk train (he would take just too much for something the Hawks don't really need more of) I'm all for this. I know his numbers are ugly this year, but a lot of that can be pinned on some shoddy goaltending and no other Ducks D-man being worth a shit (yes I've just insulted the rightful descendant of Poseidon James Wisniewski, and I'll probably be stricken with rickets or something. Bite me). The Hawks are one injury away from being awfully thin on the blue line, and given a 3rd pairing role and reduced minutes an aged Nieds could still be a force. Plus he could take some PP time as well.
If Cam Barker is going to be this disaster in his own zone and not used on the PP at all, then I don't know what he's here for, and should be moved while some others around the league still value him (which is #3 draft pick status will ensure that they do, as well as game tape of last year's series vs. the Flames). It will take more than Barker to land Niedermayer, and I don't even know if the Ducks would be interested in having yet another struggling d-man who's a bit expensive. But we know they covet big bodies, you'd have to think Buff would be up their alley. Before you cry about chemistry and fucking up finely-tuned machine, ask yourself how much Buff contributes to it and the logjam that's coming when Bolland and Burish return. When Fabulous Weapon is back, can you really split up Daydream Nation from Troy Brouwer, who has flourished there? Wouldn't that put Sharp on one of Bolland's wings with Hossa on the other? That leaves Versteeg, Buff, Madden, and Ladd vying for the three spots on the checking line, and we know Madden centers that. Ladd might be the most suited to be on a checking line on the Hawks. So it comes to a question of Versteeg v. Buff. Neither one would seem suited for a 3rd line role, but neither have hurt the Hawks there yet either. One of them will have to go in the summer anyway, if not both. It's a question that will keep Stan Bowman up in his race car bed.
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Once again, a solid assessment
and once again, you show your Buff hate. But more on that later.
The last several games it seems like the Hawks haven’t played as dominantly as they did for most of this year. The defense, in particular, has been less than stellar far too often. To me, the simplest reason is that these guys are tired. They’ve played a ridiculously packed schedule and they’ve been THE team that each opponent is trying to prove something against. (And the scouting report on how to attack us now is to pressure our D-men behind our net. It seems to be working.) I think Huet is showing signs of fatigue as well. He looked slow against Ottowa—one announcer even asked if he was injured.
I think the Olympic break will give the majority of the team a nice rest and they’ll come out firing. Of course, the Hawks’ Olympians won’t get that break, and that does worry me a bit. But I don’t think Huet’s goaltending will be a cause for concern come playoff time.
The trade deadline is going to be interesting. I’d agree that a good D-man would be great, but I’d hate to see anyone go. I’m not as concerned with chemistry as I am with someone learning the Hawks’ system. We don’t need someone out of place on D. Though you’ve been trying to get rid of Buff for a while, Sam (and he IS inconsistent, I agree), he also seems to turn it on when he needs to. He certainly did in spots in the playoffs last year. And isn’t that where you want your guys playing their best hockey? At least with Buff we know what we can expect out of him in the playoffs.
Still, he may have to go for Burish and Bolland to have room. (And not to diminish Brouwer’s play at all—he’s been great!—but doesn’t ANYone paired with Kane and the Captain flourish? I think Brouwer may be the perfect fit for them, but I honestly think you could put Sopel on their line and he’d do well. (OK, that’s maybe a bit much…))
Overall, I think our boys will be fine when it counts most.
I hear you re someone coming in and learning our system, but I gotta say, if that someone were Scott Niedermayer, I have a feeling he’d adjust in about the time it takes him to watch the first game video on the plane ride up.
www.mjt.org
Madden
could help with the transition. “Hey remember how we did it in NJ? It’s sorta like that but we do this…”
The only Cup we can win is this years
by Johnny Lava on Jan 21, 2010 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
Dig it.
I’d sooner argue about death penalty abortions than get sucked into the Huet debate. Just gonna say he’s our #1, and he should be.
Also, I would love having Nieds here. He would work wonderfully with whomever Q decided to pair him with (Soupy, Catfish, Hjammer), and could pass on some invaluable hockey wisdom to our awesomely young D corps. I would also be more than willing to move Barks and Versteeg/Buff to get it done. The Hawks, if I’m not mistaken, have a few extra picks this year due to trades, so picks could be tossed in there.
Welcome to the Glibert Arenas Gun Show.
Oops
I checked out the fanpost before this and posted my comments there.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
2009 SCH Post Whore
2010 Troll Collector
lol
im glad someone agrees with me on the whole Scott Niedermayer thing. I think it adds a whole new level of depth to this defense and can help take the best GAA in the league down even further!
Drink it up!
if, as sam says....
Nieds would get a third pairing role with sopel, I’m 110% on board with that move. As I mentioned in your post, I was woried about the juggling of the top 2 pairs. If Niedermayer is willing to accept third pairing ice time, this would really be a great thing for the hawks.
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
I was thinking about this. I can’t imagine getting Niedermayer and only using him for third-pairing minutes. I have a feeling Hjammer would be down with Sopel, and Niedermayer paired with Campbell. Plus, Niedermayer would be first-unit PP, no question whatsoever.
www.mjt.org
agreed on probably not seeing Niedermayer there.......
but Sopel Hammer would be a brutally deficient offensive pairing. I know Hammer is getting better, and sopel will show you a brief flash of offense, but that pairing defenitely wouldn’t generate much offense and neither of them can skate their way out of trouble, which doesn’t bode well for anyone sporting a heavy forecheck.
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
I’ll agree with you but I’ll add: how much offense do you need from a third pairing? Barker and Sopel now, or Sopel-Hendry, aren’t used in that manner at all. All you want from that pairing is some solid defensive minutes with few turnovers, and both of them would do well in that regard. Hjammer, besides, is phenomenal with a first pass out of trouble.
www.mjt.org
"Top" 2 pair
Leave ‘em be. Marlboro 72 speaks for it’s self. Soupy/Hjammer work well together and I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
Now Nieds on a “3rd” pair would be good. All 3 pairs would be of such quality that they could take shorter/less shifts up to the playoffs to keep themselves fresher. And imo, it would be a fair spread of talent and skill.
Nieds is such a professional that his ego wouldn’t need to be stroked by putting him in a “top” pairing. Just look at Madden and his being on the “3rd line”
The only Cup we can win is this years
by Johnny Lava on Jan 21, 2010 11:08 AM CST up reply actions
Here's the thing with this
I realize it would be prorated for the remainder of the season but $6.75M for a 3rd pair defense? Doesn’t seem like money well spent. Sure he brings ALOT of playoff and Cup experience to the team.
I’m on the fence on this.I personally wish he would have retired when he won with Anaheim so i think my opinion is clouded. Just like i HATED seeing Bourque get his Cup in Colorado. That was the biggest scam ever
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
see, thats the mentality I think is bs
“Too much money for X”
how much they’re paid should matter to where they play. Those would be some fucked up lines and pairings if they were put together based on salary (this years).
The only Cup we can win is this years
by Johnny Lava on Jan 21, 2010 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
not
should not matter to where they play.
(edit option please!)
The only Cup we can win is this years
by Johnny Lava on Jan 21, 2010 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
i'm not saying based on salary
but you’re adding him basically as a rental at that to be another “experience” guy. While i haven’t searched it out there has to be someone cheaper that they could acquire that woldn’t cost as much.
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
I remember having a conversation with someone that pointed out brining in that much salary in someone that will be a FA next year has it’s own value because that opens up some cap room. I now think that is a good point.
So I think that, along with the (albiet diminished) skill of Nieds along with his playoff experience would make him a great addition.
The only Cup we can win is this years
by Johnny Lava on Jan 21, 2010 11:42 AM CST up reply actions
I get that
and I’m glad this isn’t like all the rest of the “you’re an idiot” talk about goalies and the like.
Here’s my thought though. If you can get someone with some experience that is a rental and cheaper than Nieds and only have to get rid of say Barker and a Pick. Is that better than getting Nieds but having to give up Barker, Steeger/Buff and a pick?
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
I would say no
More money now means more cap room next year. And moving 2 bodies instead of 1 opens roster space for Bolland/Burish.
Thats where I am with this idea right now. Things could change.
The only Cup we can win is this years
by Johnny Lava on Jan 21, 2010 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
the question here is
where do you get the most value for the players? We’re going to have to dump salary one way or another, so do we get the best value in a rental now or draft picks/prospects for later?
by chiblackhawks on Jan 21, 2010 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
value
that was part of the conv I refered to earlier.
Does trading in the offseason reduce the value in return due to other teams knowing we have to shed salary by a deadline?
The only Cup we can win is this years
by Johnny Lava on Jan 21, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
Someone get on the CB
with Stan and see what the consensus is.
I have no idea if you would get more during or after. I guess it would mainly depend on the player acquired and if there was other teams involved before the in season trade deadline
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
I just don’t know why you’d bury a Hall-of-Famer on a third pair with Sopel. I respect your opinion, but if this deal went down I just can’t for the life of me see him down there.
www.mjt.org
I don’t see it a burying. I think that could up the playing time of that line which would benefit the other 4. And that’s just till the postseason. At that time Q builds his pairings based on the matchups with the other team
The only Cup we can win is this years
by Johnny Lava on Jan 21, 2010 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
I agree with that
And also think it gives Hammer the opportunity to actually use any offensive skills he may be picking up more fully to prepare him for the years to come.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
2009 SCH Post Whore
2010 Troll Collector
Neidermeyer
has final say where he ends up. Maybe the Olympics will give Keith, Seabrook and Neidermeyer a chance to see how they coexist with one another.
Sucker! Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
I'm just curious
If any people who are more ‘in the know’ about Niedermayer than myself could speak to whether he could be the safety net for Campbell the way Hjammer has been this season. The guy seems to be ageless, but he IS older and I don’t know what level his speed/positioning game/etc. is at right now. Dude’s an all-star, so I assume it’s not a problem, but I was just looking for confirmation. RE: Sopel/Hjammer, I don’t think it could be worse than Sopel/Barker. Hjammer might not be able to skate out of trouble, but he also won’t get turnstiled night in and night out like Barker.
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 10:49 AM CST up reply actions
He’s as fast as he’s always been, and as smooth on his skates as Bouwmeester. Obviously he was better 10 years ago, but a player with that kind of experience, I think, would be truly invaluable in the playoffs. We’d easily be icing the single best defense in recent Cup runs.
www.mjt.org
Good enough for me. Tell Scotty to pull the puppet string marked ‘trade’ on Stan’s right hand.
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 10:56 AM CST up reply actions
You mean he let Stan have his own phone line? Next thing you know he’s gonna be sneaking out past his bedtime and meeting girls in the park to play Truth or Dare. They grow up so fast.
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 11:00 AM CST up reply actions
Dare to dream
I would buy a #27 Indian Head sweater in red in a goddamn heartbeat if this comes to fruition, in spite of it being an obvious rent-a-player situation.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a goddamn shame.
You can have
My Doug Gilmour sweater. A little cosmetic surgery, and voila…a Nieds sweater.
Welcome to the Glibert Arenas Gun Show.
by AirTrafficAJ on Jan 21, 2010 12:19 AM CST up reply actions
While I appreciate the offer, it’s probably a little short in the sleeve department for my gangly ass.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a goddamn shame.
Pretty sure
My 6’4" monkey frame could accommodate your arms.
Welcome to the Glibert Arenas Gun Show.
by AirTrafficAJ on Jan 21, 2010 12:21 AM CST up reply actions
there is another rumor
up on yahoo that the devils might be interested in Niedermayer… Oh and McClure did this idea just come to you, did you hear it somewhere from someone, or did you “steal” it from my fanpost??? LOL just curious actually me and my buddy were talking about it earlier today and I thought I would post it up here and see what anyone thought about it… Hell yea I would get a Niedermayer jersey if he came here!
Drink it up!
Niedermayer has been mentioned before your fanpost
He has been one of the more realistic trade rumors this season.
it's the good idea/universal consciousness thing
if you have a good idea, you can be absolutely, positively certain that someone, somewhere has the same idea floating around in their head.
if it’s your million-dollar idea, you gotta keep it sorta hidden from yourself, using double-think, in the side of your brain. tell no one, not even yourself, until you are ready to use it.
by DirkGrahamKnuckleSandwich on Jan 21, 2010 11:27 AM CST up reply actions
like the wizard of oz-dark side of the moon thing?
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
press play on the third lions roar
no, not like that. that’s more like you see something because you want to see it. the only part of that that lines up that i can remember is when dorothy is walking along the fence, and when “money” comes in at the exact same time as dorothy opens the door, and the movie turns to color…whoa, now that you mention it…
by DirkGrahamKnuckleSandwich on Jan 21, 2010 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
sorry, not trying to kill your buzz, hackerar
after i hit post, i kinda feel bad. i don’t smoke pot anymore, so i’m just bitter and jaded. might i suggest twisting one up, and watching “fantasia”? the battle between light and dark in that movie, represented by blue and black, is engrossing.
by DirkGrahamKnuckleSandwich on Jan 21, 2010 11:43 AM CST up reply actions
Of all of the trade scenarios out there
I would like to see us get Niedermayer here. As pointed out above, he could be a 3rd pairing d-man and get some power play time. I’m not sure what we’ll have to give up. I would assume Cam Barker would be part of it and maybe a prospect(s) and draft choice(s) I would have added Versteeg or Buff to the mix but I’m not sure that Bowman will pay that high of a price for a rental.
Sucker! Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
what about barker and skille
seems like a lot of people have soured on him and there’s a chance he won’t be brought back
We just need to execute better - Lovie Del Negro
I would make that trade (preferably Barker & Buf than Steeg).
We’re gonna lose some of them anyway – to shed about 10 mil in cap space, so getting something to help this year is a good idea by reckoning.
after watching
Versteeg try to deke three skaters at a time seventeen times a game, I’d much rather see Buff stay on this team. Yeah he’s kinda stone-handed and steak-headed, but Versteeg will get us more in return and i don’t think he’ll fit in the third line role which he’ll be relegated to when Bolland and Burish come back.
by Kevin Kujawa on Jan 21, 2010 10:00 AM CST up reply actions
But it’s a question of what the Ducks need to bolster their roster in return, and they’ve already got a bunch of smallish shifty guys in their forward corps.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a goddamn shame.
They Also
Have a pair of mongoloids in Getzlaf and Perry. The only thing we have that I think they would want would be Barker and some draft picks…
Welcome to the Glibert Arenas Gun Show.
by AirTrafficAJ on Jan 21, 2010 4:00 PM CST up reply actions
Going back to the goalie comments
I think there’s a misconception out there, namely that you HAVE to have a goalie stand on his head to win a Cup. If I’m not mistaken, the adage is “a hot goalie can carry a team”, not “you have to have a hot goalie to win”. No, I don’t have the stats to back it up, just my take, but…I think it’s more accurate to say that a team of above average talent could win a Cup with a hot goaltender stealing a game here and there when the team as a whole is outclassed. I don’t think the Hawks are that kind of team. Instead, I think they’re a team that’s got superior talent to practically everyone they’ll play, and therefore don’t NEED a goalie to steal a game as often as a handful of other contenders might. Will this team have off nights? Well, ummm….yeah, they will, because they aren’t machines. Will they be outclassed by anyone they meet in the playoffs? No they won’t, and as such aren’t going to be as reliant on the goalie stealing games for them.
Compare the Hawks to, for example, Buffalo. Miller is phenomenal, and consistently so, and rarely turns in a bad game. But you know what? They need him to do that because they’re not as talented top-to-bottom as some of the teams they play! Buffalo’s chances of winning a Cup are directly tied to how well Miller plays, and everyone knows it. The Hawks’ chances of doing the same are not directly tied to the quality of the goaltending they get regardless of who is in net….and everyone knows that, too.
If this Hawks team were a couple players short of who they are now, then perhaps we’ve got an issue. Assuming that injuries don’t come into play (knock on wood), we’ve seen too many occasions where either Huet or Niemi have been stellar to say that they’re not capable given the skaters in front of them. I say full speed ahead on the Niedermeyer deal, play the hot hand in goal the rest of the way, and allow the talent in front of the goaltender to do their thing. It’s a team sport, folks, and the whole should be more than the sum of the parts. On a championship team, it always is.
"Eighty-five percent of the fuckin' world's working. The other fifteen come out here." - Lee Elia
by TenMinuteMisconduct on Jan 21, 2010 12:48 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
It's "it takes a hot goalie to raise the Stanley Cup"
and is actually a paper published so long ago that the NHL only had 26 teams then.
Of course, it gets its notoriety (and all its exposure) from having such a provocative title. Everyone quotes it these days without realizing that:
- as demonstrated by the anecdote on the 1997 Red Wings, the “hot goalie” refers to someone who may not have had the better stats going into the playoffs (Mike Vernon) but is played during the playoffs in favor of the one who did (Chris Osgood) because he “became hot” sometime toward the end of the season
- part of the study involved looking at two other theories: the home ice advantage, and the dominant team effect, with the conclusion that home ice advantage is less a cause and more a result of the dominant team effect, and though the dominant team should be winning more than they do, perhaps the results are tempered by “hot” goaltenders
- there was actually no analysis on any Cup-winning goalies… just an assumption that, in the failure of the dominant team effect or the home ice advantage theories to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can predict who wins a Cup, the other factor that plays a part must therefore be the hot goaltender
And here’s the kicker: Mike Vernon (see career statistics)wasn’t even re-signed after he won the Stanley Cup. The Wings chose to retain Chris Osgood (and we know how well that worked out for both of them), acknowledging, according to the authors of the paper, the transient nature of hot goaltending.
by chiblackhawks on Jan 21, 2010 9:01 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Your posts are always great
Any dig at Osgood deserves a rec.
"All questions must be submitted in writing"
The last goaltending-related thing I have to say
Every single person here wants the same thing: a Stanley Cup in 2010. And I don’t give a damn who is between the pipes when that final horn sounds. The coaching staff and management are getting paid good money to push the right buttons to get that Cup. Let’s put our faith in them, and remember why they get a paycheck and we post on a blog with a beer in one hand and our junk in the other (well, at least me anyway.) Whichever guy is opening the door on the bench in that last game helped the Hawks get there too, and has just as much right to his turn to hoist the Cup as anyone else. One goal guys, one goal.
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 10:32 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Amen...
…and rec’d, despite the Rodney King sappiness. Big tent, people!
Neither Huey nor, obviously, Niemi has enough “cred” to lay claim to the job right now.
Hell, reigning Vezina winner Thomas, having a little better year than Huey, apparently doesn’t have enough “cred” to fend off mumbles about Rask (numbers eerily similar to Niemi’s.)
So, the decision will be based on a small sample size- 21 games in 42 days starting in March. In some ways, the compressed schedule works perfectly for a team with two ok goalies looking for a hot hand to emerge and likely comfortably in with one of the top seeds.
Here’s a list of top goalies in games played this year:
Player Team Games
Martin Brodeur NJD 46
Evgeni Nabokov SJS 45
Jonathan Quick LAK 45
Henrik Lundqvist NYR 44
Ilya Bryzgalov PHX 44
Miikka Kiprusoff CGY 44
Roberto Luongo VAN 42
Ryan Miller BUF 41
Niklas Backstrom MIN 41
Marc-Andre Fleury PIT 41
Craig Anderson COL 41
The compressed schedule will be a real pain for some of these teams. Even New Jersey and San Jose may have to sacrifice some points or risk a tired goalie in the playoffs. Good year for a Hawks-style goalie controversy.
JR (and maybe some older Hawk fans like me) are probably still scarred by John Casey, in an extreme example of the occasional “hot goalie” phenomenon, knocking the President Cup winning Hawks out in the first round and marching a shitty North Stars team all the way to the finals.
I, for one, don’t find it profitable to meditate on these “lightning striking” scenarios.
Excellent post, Sam!
If we get Neidermeyer
I think there should be a Bob Murray Heritage Night.
Sucker! Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
Love me some Bob Murray
because of that guy I got the rare chance to hoist the cup when the Ducks won.
BULLET-MAN!!!
"...about six feet from the moose's butt."
by The Fearless Freep on Jan 21, 2010 10:41 AM CST up reply actions
Who goes n who stays?..
At this point you can’t really make me beleive Burish isn’t expendable,..as he’s pretty much a one way player,.which buff isn’t,..and what about bolland?..tho i like him centerin that fourth line ,..his back troubles could be an indication he’s now on fragile ice,..everyone’s playin their ass off, and you can bet both burish n bolland see it. Both their times here could be in danger,..n defensively neidermeyer aint comin here,..trust me,..he’ll go play with his bro, i’d rather we keep bolland and let burish go..not a big l oss, especially with hjammerson kickin ass like he is.
You won't be getting rid of Burish
His contract puts him in a good position to stay put. More likley to See Kopecky or the Human Body Bag Frazer be let go than Burish. He kills PK’s centers a line and is decent face off man.
September 26, 2007 The day a Franchise was reborn.
and lets not
forget that Burish is TRULY an energy player. He may not put up the goals but I see him always giving 110%
For those of you that like that
This one is about Defense (or Defence for people from Canadia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOJwTUANQjU
"All questions must be submitted in writing"
We have been playing all season
and are one of the best in the league w/o our #2 center. Love it.
you're not comparing apples to apples
If you’re telling me you’d rather see Buff on the fourth line in the future rather than Burish, I’d have to disagree for financial reasons 1-2 mil vs. 3 mil. I wouldn’t want any permanent fourth line players making north of 1-2 mil. Bolland certainly isn’t going anywhere, we don’t have tons of depth at the true center position. Buff is the most expendable of the three. Now a Buff Versteeg debate is a worthwhile debate.
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
Geez Jeremy Roenick said something to get attention
Never heard that before.
I once heard him say I’ll be a Blackhawk for life. You were a good/great hockey player. We enjoyed watching you play the game, but as far as listening to what you have to say or do off the hockey rink, I stopped listening a long time ago. Go trash a hotel room with Brett Hull, etc. at the expense of the US.
Niemi – Huet, Huet – Niemi
I’m not entirely opposed to the start for Niemi, but does it really matter? One is slightly better in twice as few games
I hope it all works out to the benefit of this team. I have my doubts, but I’ll be pulling for Niemi (no pun intended here) as long as he is in the net.
Maybe it’s Niemi thats on the trade block to Anaheim………………………?
Neither Q nor I have ever won a cup, so who knows what is the right move regarding goalies. I’ll give the nod to Q on this one, for now.
Tonight should be a rough game.
Damn Flames!
"All questions must be submitted in writing"
Yeah. In addition to being a Professional Bullhorn, at least on this goalie situation
JR is a Human Weathervane. He’s all over the place, first saying the Hawks’ goaltending is weak, then backing off when pinned down on it. He did the same thing on Chicago Tribune Live last night (and why I watch that show at all is a question for another day). Any way the wind blows for JR, as long as it gets him some airtime.
P.S. — Sam, I understand that sunshine and Vitamin D help with rickets . . .
I'd love me some Nieds as well...
But really the only way I see it happening is if they take Barker from us, though to be honest I wouldn’t mind seeing a Sopel/Barker rotation in that 6th D spot—-I think if Sopel keeps it up he very may well kill himself before the season is up, and to be honest (I never thought I’d say this) he’s more valuable than Barker, who has become an absolute train wreck this season after a promising 2008-09. I agree w/ the sentiment that if Barker is not playing on the PP, where he was IMO the best PP defenseman on our team last year, he is pretty worthless, especially since he can’t play D as well as even Sopel can.
Looking at the probable lines come February, we likely will see:
Kane/Toews/Brower
Hossa/Bolland/Sharp
Ladd/Madden/Steeg
Byfuglien/Burish/Eager
Seabs/Keith
Campbell/Hammer
Sopel/Barker
Hendry (Odd men out—-Fraser/Kopecky)
Looking at these lines, I see that either Versteeg, Byfuglien, or Ladd are expendable. Let me be frank, I think that Ladd is the player best suited for the 3rd line, and probably the least valuable in terms of a trade, so I don’t see him going, and that leaves Steeg or Buff. Frankly, while Steeg is a nice offensive player, he’s a top-6 guy, and we don’t have a top-6 spot for him open (I believe those 6 guys are all under contract for at least 2 more years), plus he’s not even on the PP any more. As for Buff, well, it seems like Brower looked at what Buff did during the playoffs last year and has emulated that since being paired w/ Daydream, so Buff is pretty expendable.
But even if we trade no one and end up w/ the lines above, i like Buff on the 4th line—he seems to play well when not expected to do anything.
Shit
Sorry for hawks61-style. Didn’t realize it was so long.
I agree with Q that now is a good time to give Niemi
some starts – however, I would just like to reiterate one additional time that since we all want to see the Hawks win, getting on Huet every goal he gives up will likely not help the cause.
If its between Buff/Steeg, I’m taking Buff. I wouldn’t have said that up until a few weeks ago. But at this point, Buff seems to be more capable of filling a valuable role on this team than Versteeg – and I question when his hockey IQ will develop. He will likely score a couple of goals in the playoffs, but how often will his poor decision making cost us?
Plus, Byfuglien is running a Canadian prostitution ring out of Roscoe Village, and that neighborhood ammenity is too valuable to lose during these trying times.
Just because your friend says she saw me in the club with some other bitches,
sitting in V.I.P,
Smoking, and drinking, and kicking it.
** Before anyone says anything stupid
I know Buff is not Canadian. That reference will not make sense to anyone besides myself and the corner store guy, and he does not read this website, so it will only make sense to me, but writing it made me laugh, so fuck off.
Just because your friend says she saw me in the club with some other bitches,
sitting in V.I.P,
Smoking, and drinking, and kicking it.
Oh ya
Also, I agree with the Buff/Versteeg thingy. Buff brings more to the table in the long run. I like Versteeg, but it seems like every other shift he’s flat on the ice for some reason. Really, he’s always falling down.
www.mjt.org
This is true.
There’s a guy on every team, in every sport that matters, that prefers to play from the ground/ice whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Versteeg is that guy for us.
Just because your friend says she saw me in the club with some other bitches,
sitting in V.I.P,
Smoking, and drinking, and kicking it.
Agree %100
Steeger has had me tearing clumps out of my hair the past few weeks. I love the guy to death…but it may actually end in my death. My pulse goes up every time he tries to skate through an army of defenders.
Welcome to the Glibert Arenas Gun Show.
by AirTrafficAJ on Jan 21, 2010 4:03 PM CST up reply actions
Coach Q
I like that we have a coach that is proactive. Sitting Huet for this game and letting it be known it’s for performance is a smart move. It’s on the road and there is a nice break coming up soon for (most of) the team. That might be what Huet needs to clear his head, or pull it out of his ass, or whatever he needs to do to be able to stand on it.
If that doesn’t happen, Niemi should now know that he has the opportunity to run with it and take the job.
Good move Q. And nice post Sam.
The only Cup we can win is this years
I'll echo probable lines for February...
Kane/Toews/Brouwer
Hossa/Bolland/Sharp
Ladd/Madden/Steeg
Byfuglien/Burish/Eager
…this is where my head is at too. If Bolland can get into fighting shape quick enough, that line is going to be an absolute force.
As far as defense, wouldn’t it be great to get Neidermayer and play Hendry up with him and lose the third D pairing entirely? Fantasy at this point, but a young Hendry with 27 would be a boon, in my opinion, for the future of the D corps.
Agreed
However, I don’t think Buff is a 4th line player. First he has to provide energy, which I just don’t see with him…I dont see him grinding out the puck battles or hustlin to get a loose puck, I love Buff when he wants to play and how he “can” be dominating but on a 4th line? I’m just not sure. I don’t want to lose him either bc we saw in the playoffs that he can get in front of the net and not move!
As for the D, I’m all for just letting Barker right now sit for a game and putting Hendry back in the line up. He has proven that he can play with Sopel, but as someone said earlier he needs a few days off too, b/c he might be dead from taking too many pucks
See ya, Byfuglien
Quite frankly, I’m pissed that Buff only chooses to get his ass in front of the goalie during the playoffs. And I’m really tired of Q putting him at the point on the power play because he is absolutely AWFUL at keeping the puck in the zone.
"Another successful interaction with a man!" - Liz Lemon
you state a perfect case for why he should be the odd man out
I dont see him grinding out the puck battles or hustlin to get a loose puck
If he can’t consistently use his big body to do these things, then he isn’t worth a damn to this team. Brouwer is this team’s elite goalie screener these days anyway.
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
You can't kill Sopel
You can only hope to bruise him. “Pain don’t hurt”
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 10:36 AM CST up reply actions
you're really getting into your avatar, huh?
by chiblackhawks on Jan 21, 2010 10:36 AM CST up reply actions
Haha
I just like the way the guy has played this year. He’s done all he can with his declining skills, and he never shies away from taking a hit or blocking a shot. There’s something to say for a guy who knows the limits of his capabilities and plays within them more often than not, and does all that he can to help the team win.
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 10:41 AM CST up reply actions
Couldn't agree more
I know he takes a lot of flak here (especially when Barker is playing up to par), some in jest and some rightfully so. But for the most part I love what he’s doing out there, for all the reasons you mentioned above.
Sopel
Knows his own limits and adjusts his play accordingly, making him better than his abilities would suggest.
wait what?
The most impressive thing about Sopel this year...
…is that he’s generally paired with the knucklehead. We all know how that worked out for Soupy last year.
inside info
i have some inside info on big buff… From my intense playing of NHL 2010 on PS3. and getting pissed at barker and trading him away for cap room i know this. He is wayyyyy better on the 4th line with burish and eager, then he is being paired with Sopel like the game attempted to force on me. Therefore i believe he will be great on that 4th line. He can hit and grind pretty well, and thats what u want from that line. Thats all. I’ll try to continue to give insider info when i get more.
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on Jan 21, 2010 10:48 AM CST up reply actions
can't argue with that
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 10:51 AM CST up reply actions
I respectfully disagree
Buff was a man possessed on the 4th line during the playoffs, and if we’re choosing between Buff and Fraser/Kopecky…I can’t see how anyone would advocate for either of those 2.
an appropriate photo caption, guessing where the photo came from.....
“I can’t believe I let RuskieDueche pull that move off”
"In an ideal world I would have all 10 fingers on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching."
Race car bed
Do you think Stan’s roommates will get him a CB radio so that he can make trade offers to other race car beds?
by JKline3 on Jan 21, 2010 11:49 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
and some rims
so he can look ballin’ while he’s tradin’
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
Fuck the Tribune
for that dumbass bandwagon article. I love nothing more than laughing at the morons who think that “that Jonathon Toes(sic) guy is awesome”. Oh, and fuck the Sun-Times too for no particular reason.
the redeye had the same article yesterday, pretty much
They have something like the “big number”, or whatever, that’s supposed to really drive their point home. The “big number” the Redeye used to illustrate how awesome the Hawks are was: 50. As in how many shoot-out attempts the Hawks have this season.
by DirkGrahamKnuckleSandwich on Jan 21, 2010 12:14 PM CST up reply actions
Just looking at fluery’s and osgoods numbers is a bit over simplistic. While I kinda of agree with JR it is for a different reason. Both of the pens and scum had teams in front of them with vetern/cup experience. This is where the hawks differ from both these teams. Saying that we can rely on sub par goaltending to take us to the cup, because the pens and scum did it is not the same. All huet has to do is string along a couple of crap perfomances like he has shown in his previous playoff showings or even a few times this year and we are in the hole. Not a good position for a young team. I am not saying huet is complete garbage, but to say you know he will lead us there is foolish.
also i would love it if Scott Niedermayer came to chciago…Rent a D or not.
Pain is a good reminder you are alive
by Bad Ass Burish on Jan 21, 2010 12:43 PM CST reply actions
ehh...
well we do have some vetern and playoff experience players, Hossa, madden, and Ladd have all been there with 2 of them winning the cup. Plus this team went to the Campbell conference finals last year. so i’m not tooo afraid of this “we are to young and not enough experience” argument. Yes bring Niedermayer will be great and i would love to have him and dump off some cap space, cough cough barker, buff cough cough. And i’m not going back inot the huet thing. if u want talk about that go to the recap thread from yesterday.
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on Jan 21, 2010 1:02 PM CST up reply actions
Veterans
The Hawks made it to the WCF last season with virtually no veteran experience, something many pundits thought impossible. Now, they’re returning basically all those players, and we’ve seen all of them grow up a lot this year. You lost some experience with Pahlsson, but more than made up for it with Madden. Short of guys that have won a Cup, exactly how much more experience would you like to see?
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 1:03 PM CST up reply actions
dammit
Soupy pretty much beat me to it. But I’ve got you covered if you’re into the whole proper spelling and grammar thing.
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 1:06 PM CST up reply actions
I can't really say how much experience is needed...
i am not claiming to have all the anwsers either. I would hardly call one run in the playoffs alot of experience though. And doesn’t nearly add up to the experience the scum have or a team like the penguins which was my point when comparing the goalie situation.
Pain is a good reminder you are alive
by Bad Ass Burish on Jan 21, 2010 1:30 PM CST up reply actions
Point Taken
I just tend to not put a whole lot of faith in intangibles, because they’re in fact intangible. I’d rather chalk up a loss or a playoff out to something that I can quantify. The concepts of experience, team chemistry, and etc. are indeed real things, it’s just hard to say how much they contribute to a win or a loss without being able to measure them. I mean, on the flip side, if this Hawks team were to take out a team loaded with older veterans, it could just as easily be chalked up to hungrier guys with younger legs and more gas left in the tank. There’s always an excuse to be found. The main thing is talent level and proper utilization of it. The Hawks are covered in both.
...Feeding Rene Bourque his own dick since 11/19/09
by Hjammer of the Gods on Jan 21, 2010 2:15 PM CST up reply actions
Niedermeyer...
…is the first intriguing name to pop up amidst an ocean of pud-pulling speculation.
I’m generally of a “we like our people” mindest, but a major strategic challenge for Q this year is preserving Dunc, Seebs, and Campbell (all over 25 minutes again last night) for the playoffs, particularly with the compressed schedule.
Recall Keith faltering a bit last year, skipping practices etc.
The night in, night out deadliness of this team is its defense. That’s playoff hockey. Adding Nedermeyer (especially for Barker plus picks if that’s realistic) would be a bigger move for this team than landing a top-tier goalie (which, as we all know, is not within the realm of the possible.)
Not sure if Niedermeyer steps in to #1 PP right away though. This team has two fo the top-8 scoring D-men in the league.
by cliffkoroll on Jan 22, 2010 9:25 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
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