Alot hinges on the continued development of Leddy and Monty being able to bring what he's supposed to to the table. I think that a top 5 of Keith, Seabs, Hammer, Leddy and Monty is as good as any corps in the league. That being said, show me a team that WOULDN'T miss a #1 or #2 dman from their lineup. Granted some may have more successful fill-ins then others, but who's to say...it's a crapshoot when that happens really. Last year the Hawks lost that crapshoot. This year may be different.

As for Crawford's inexperience, this is one case where having him play in the minors for so long has helped. He was a rookie last season, but by no means did he appear like one. He's very mature unlike a 20 year old kid just breaking into the league, and I think that will help him avoid the dreaded sophmore jinx. The kid is simply a pro in every sense of the word.

What I worry about is not defensive depth or goaltending. What I worry about is chemistry, and how it will be tested when the team faces adversity. That will make or break the Hawks this season. Can they make the pieces fit?

Monty is all hype from the Chicago PR machine. Buffalo fans couldn't wait to get him out of town. Just like flyer fans didn't care even a little to lose carbomb or SOD. Carcillo is already running his mouth at Vancouver instead of focusing on Oct 7 - oh wait - he can't play 2 games due to mouthing off at the refs DURING A PLAYOFF GAME. Makes me glad he's gone. SOD is a defensive liability .... I said it before and he showed it in the preseason - he gets beat often (due to his slow skating and age) and then he takes the penalty to stop the skater that blew past him. Enjoy SOD. Good riddance. Leddy = Chicago PR hype, again. He is not top 4 material and probably never will be unless you are reading Chicago blogs.

Hawks lost Brouwer and Campbell .... and got garbage back in return. No way they are a better team than last season. Flyers Bruins tonight..... the return of Jagr... and go flyers ;)

moy, I normally take what so-called experts say with a grain of salt, but you're pretty much the only person I've seen that doesn't think the hawks are a better team today than they were a year ago. I'm not saying they're an elite team, but to say they're worse is overstating the value of brouwer and Campbell acnd understating the value/potential of guys like frolik, leddy, smith, and even Kane.

Think about it...all other things being equal, which group would u rather start the season with:

Group A: Campbell, brouwer, kopecky, hendry, pisani, turco, Johnson, campoli, skille
Group B: montador, brunette, mayers, odonnell, lepisto, frolik, olesz, saad, smith, carcillo, emery

Posted by andru2797 on 10/6/2011 2:41:00 PM (view original):
moy, I normally take what so-called experts say with a grain of salt, but you're pretty much the only person I've seen that doesn't think the hawks are a better team today than they were a year ago. I'm not saying they're an elite team, but to say they're worse is overstating the value of brouwer and Campbell acnd understating the value/potential of guys like frolik, leddy, smith, and even Kane.

Think about it...all other things being equal, which group would u rather start the season with:

Group A: Campbell, brouwer, kopecky, hendry, pisani, turco, Johnson, campoli, skille
Group B: montador, brunette, mayers, odonnell, lepisto, frolik, olesz, saad, smith, carcillo, emery

Campbell and brouwer are better than all of group b.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. 

Group b is a bunch of schlubs .... none of them are good players.... just goes to show how bad the depth is on the hawks.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Let's double our bet, then.  You are so incredibly wrong it's laughable.  Our depth is incredible.

Hell, let's make it $500.  I dare you.

You won't accept it because you know you're wrong and just hating on us.

Yeah, I didn't think so.

Additional $400 says hawks don't finish reg season top 5 in the west.

Posted by mudbone1969 on 10/6/2011 6:08:00 PM (view original):
I wish, oh I wish, I could get more suckers like moy to offer to give me money.  The Hawks are easily a top 5 WC team this year, with no chance of missing the playoffs.

Not.  A,  Chance.

You said it.... "easily a top 5"

Posted by moy23 on 10/6/2011 9:14:00 PM (view original):
Additional $400 says hawks don't finish reg season top 5 in the west.

So let's get this straight....

$500 the Hawks don't make the playoffs

AND

$400 they don't finish in the top 5 in the WC?

For a total of $900?

I think the $400 bet is a Nudi-like hedge.