moy, Campbell is untradeable thanks to his bad deal. The only way he goes anywhere is if the Hawks offer up a 1st rounder and a prospect with him for basically nothing. Hossa and Sharp are MUCH more valuable than Byfuglien because of everything they bring to the table. They can play the PP, PK, both wings, center & win faceoffs (in Sharp's case)...they're also good leaders and Hossa is one of the best two way players in the game. Byfuglien is a highly volatile unproven player that the Hawks couldn't financially afford to keep and take a risk on. That's why I believe they made the right choice. Yes it was a choice, but given the alternatives (look where NJ is), I think they selected the best possible option both for the immediate and long term health of the franchise.

Could he turn out to be a very good defenseman? Perhaps. Is he there yet? No. Could the Hawks afford to take the risk that he doesn't pan out? No.

Posted by andru2797 on 2/7/2011 10:14:00 PM (view original):
moy, Campbell is untradeable thanks to his bad deal. The only way he goes anywhere is if the Hawks offer up a 1st rounder and a prospect with him for basically nothing. Hossa and Sharp are MUCH more valuable than Byfuglien because of everything they bring to the table. They can play the PP, PK, both wings, center & win faceoffs (in Sharp's case)...they're also good leaders and Hossa is one of the best two way players in the game. Byfuglien is a highly volatile unproven player that the Hawks couldn't financially afford to keep and take a risk on. That's why I believe they made the right choice. Yes it was a choice, but given the alternatives (look where NJ is), I think they selected the best possible option both for the immediate and long term health of the franchise.

Could he turn out to be a very good defenseman? Perhaps. Is he there yet? No. Could the Hawks afford to take the risk that he doesn't pan out? No.

Hossa has been traded 3 times in 3 seasons. They could have dealt him and kept buff, ladd, and versteeg. The three of them are more valuable than hossa alone. If the hawks miss the playoffs will you still say they made the right choice? Even unloading campbells contract at any cost has value in it.... now and for the next 5 seasons. What's giving up a 1st rounder when it frees up cash to keep the team together for more than two seasons? The flyers haven't had a 1st rounder since .... well, I don't even remember. There are different ways to manage a team. The flyers also have 19 of 23 players returning next season and have made the playoffs some 13 of the last 14 years.

The hawks made a mistake giving up buff. They won't even redraft a player as talented as buff with the first rounder they got for him and ladd.

something doesn't make sense to me moy...you're sitting there criticizing us for refusing to admit the hawks made a mistake. you're sitting there calling us stubborn and narrow-minded. isn't crowning buff as a Norris trophy winner and franchise player and declaring the thrashers the winners of the trade after less than a season just as narrow-minded? trading Campbell is an impossibility unless another gm makes a terrible deal, and I think you know that. hossa has always been one of the top 10 2way players in hockey and having a player like that at a cap hit of less than 5.5 million in todays nhl is great. dustin byfuglien, as great as his FIRST HALF was, is unproven and still inconsistent (anyone else see his atrocious giveaway on nik kulemins goal tonight?). they simply did not have the money to risk on him, and make no mistake he is still a risk. remember when one great playoff/season got brian Campbell a terrible deal? the hawks could simply not afford another mistake like that.

also, like it or not this much is true: the deals and choices the hawks made would only end up being mistakes if this core group (toews, kane, Sharp, hossa, Keith, Seabrook) doesn't win another title. if they do, no one can say that they kept the wrong players. agreed?

Posted by andru2797 on 2/8/2011 12:10:00 AM (view original):
also, like it or not this much is true: the deals and choices the hawks made would only end up being mistakes if this core group (toews, kane, Sharp, hossa, Keith, Seabrook) doesn't win another title. if they do, no one can say that they kept the wrong players. agreed?

Sure.

Funny how its always the hawks have the best of everything. The best core. The best 2 way player. Two Top 10 nhlers like Kane and toews. The best defenseman in the world.... the list goes on.

Yet, they are sitting in 11th place after 53 games. You'd think a team with so many of the best players would be better than 3 spots out of the playoffs this late in the season.... and losing 4 of the last 5 is not encouraging.

Yes buff had a terrible play on def infront of the net. I watched the game. That was his only major screw up. The best blue liner in the game (Keith) gave up a breakaway goal and a late sh steal from a lazy pass on the blue line that thankfully Seabrook could break up. BTW- Seabrook is your best defender imo .... and I bet he signs elsewhere if the hawks miss the playoffs.

WOW a loss to the lowly, lowly Flames?

Andru....I thought you guys play better on the road?

The season is started to SLIP, SLIDE AWAY?  Better start winning soon.

Posted by moy23 on 2/8/2011 12:29:00 AM (view original):

Posted by andru2797 on 2/8/2011 12:10:00 AM (view original):
also, like it or not this much is true: the deals and choices the hawks made would only end up being mistakes if this core group (toews, kane, Sharp, hossa, Keith, Seabrook) doesn't win another title. if they do, no one can say that they kept the wrong players. agreed?

Sure.

Funny how its always the hawks have the best of everything. The best core. The best 2 way player. Two Top 10 nhlers like Kane and toews. The best defenseman in the world.... the list goes on.

Yet, they are sitting in 11th place after 53 games. You'd think a team with so many of the best players would be better than 3 spots out of the playoffs this late in the season.... and losing 4 of the last 5 is not encouraging.

Yes buff had a terrible play on def infront of the net. I watched the game. That was his only major screw up. The best blue liner in the game (Keith) gave up a breakaway goal and a late sh steal from a lazy pass on the blue line that thankfully Seabrook could break up. BTW- Seabrook is your best defender imo .... and I bet he signs elsewhere if the hawks miss the playoffs.

You're talking to the wrong guy...the only claims I'll make is that Hossa is one of the 10 best TWO WAY forwards in the NHL, Keith is one of the 10 best defensemen, and that their core group is also among the 10 best in the NHL. I don't think any of those statements are a stretch. As for Kane and Toews being top 10 players, I've already said I don't think that's the case. And you're right, the last 2 games have not been great, but that's been the story all season. 5 great performances followed by 3-4 lacklustre losses. That's where the loss of depth and team chemistry comes in.

I mean look at the Kings, who I thought were going to be near the top of the West. They're struggling. Look at the Sharks. Only lately have they been able to climb above 10th place. The reality is that we see 2-3 very good teams with very good players miss the playoffs every year in the NHL. That's no secret to any hockey fan. Parity is so tight that a night off usually means a loss, with the amount of hockey guys play these days, that's why it's so much harder to repeat for any team. Heck look at the Flyers last season. They needed a shootout point just to make the playoffs and this year they're on top of the league with virtually the same team.

I still think they'll put it together and squeak in to the playoffs. I still think they'll be a solid team for the next decade. And I still think that, whether they make it in in 8th, 7th or 6th, no team wants to play them in the first round except maybe Detroit, simply because no one can deny that Jonathan Toews can be one of the best clutch players in the game as he's proven on multiple stages.

Posted by andru2797 on 2/8/2011 9:03:00 AM (view original):

Posted by moy23 on 2/8/2011 12:29:00 AM (view original):

Posted by andru2797 on 2/8/2011 12:10:00 AM (view original):
also, like it or not this much is true: the deals and choices the hawks made would only end up being mistakes if this core group (toews, kane, Sharp, hossa, Keith, Seabrook) doesn't win another title. if they do, no one can say that they kept the wrong players. agreed?

Sure.

Funny how its always the hawks have the best of everything. The best core. The best 2 way player. Two Top 10 nhlers like Kane and toews. The best defenseman in the world.... the list goes on.

Yet, they are sitting in 11th place after 53 games. You'd think a team with so many of the best players would be better than 3 spots out of the playoffs this late in the season.... and losing 4 of the last 5 is not encouraging.

Yes buff had a terrible play on def infront of the net. I watched the game. That was his only major screw up. The best blue liner in the game (Keith) gave up a breakaway goal and a late sh steal from a lazy pass on the blue line that thankfully Seabrook could break up. BTW- Seabrook is your best defender imo .... and I bet he signs elsewhere if the hawks miss the playoffs.

You're talking to the wrong guy...the only claims I'll make is that Hossa is one of the 10 best TWO WAY forwards in the NHL, Keith is one of the 10 best defensemen, and that their core group is also among the 10 best in the NHL. I don't think any of those statements are a stretch. As for Kane and Toews being top 10 players, I've already said I don't think that's the case. And you're right, the last 2 games have not been great, but that's been the story all season. 5 great performances followed by 3-4 lacklustre losses. That's where the loss of depth and team chemistry comes in.

I mean look at the Kings, who I thought were going to be near the top of the West. They're struggling. Look at the Sharks. Only lately have they been able to climb above 10th place. The reality is that we see 2-3 very good teams with very good players miss the playoffs every year in the NHL. That's no secret to any hockey fan. Parity is so tight that a night off usually means a loss, with the amount of hockey guys play these days, that's why it's so much harder to repeat for any team. Heck look at the Flyers last season. They needed a shootout point just to make the playoffs and this year they're on top of the league with virtually the same team.

I still think they'll put it together and squeak in to the playoffs. I still think they'll be a solid team for the next decade. And I still think that, whether they make it in in 8th, 7th or 6th, no team wants to play them in the first round except maybe Detroit, simply because no one can deny that Jonathan Toews can be one of the best clutch players in the game as he's proven on multiple stages.

there is a lot I can agree with in there.

As to the last paragraph... I disagree more and more as each day goes by. I do NOT think they eke in the playoffs. They are playing soooo bad right now.... or to be more precise - so inconsistent on all cylinders throughout each game. I see brief glimpses of good stuff - but only glimpses - nothing sustainable. Time is running out for them this season and when they miss the playoffs the team goes in a downward spiral thereafter... beginning with Seabrook going to a contender in the offseason. Just like the flyers launched into a high confidence cohesive unit after a deep playoff run, the hawks will lose confidence with a playoff miss and I'm still not sold on their cap being in good shape. Leave the rest up to their management to f things up (like letting buff, ladd, versteeg, and 8 others go) and they do not excel over the next decade. Sure, they will make the playoffs but not as a top 3-4 team like they have the previous 2 seasons and no more stanley cups.

indeed...now we play the waiting game until April I suppose...still winning it last season takes a lot of the sting out of a bad season from a fans perspective. if we end up winning two more like the devils did after missing the playoffs following their first, ill be a very happy camper. as for seabrook, I think if he goes to July 1 unsigned hell get an offer sheet from someone duo they gotta sign him before the end of the year if they're gonna do it. the only reason I'm optimistic about the next decade is because unlike with previous hawk teams, the cupboard is not bare. there's morin, beach, olsen, lalonde, leddy, and a few other good young players with upside in the system, so if it takes an extra year to retool and reload then so be it. the future is still MUCH brighter than it was pre-rocky wirtz.

ps sorry for the lack of formatting and terrible spelling...I'm typing from my cell phone.

You ain't goin anywhere near another cup until you develope your own starting goalie??? Turco???.......who's next Raycroft? or Ray Emery?  Draft a Core Goalie and develope him............That is what Dynasty teams do.  Otherwise your team WON a cup (one cup).....But failed to repeat do to lack of a core GOALIE.

Side note.......And sorry to be Off-topic..

We had a POLICE STAND-OFF in my home town of 2,500 people today.  (SWAT team etc)  (schools locked down)

Lasted 9 hours, and ended somewhat peacefully??  Guy did not surrender, but he is alive, and he did not kill any innocents along the way........So Kudos to the cops and SWAT team!!!

TO You all who live in big cities.....I am sure this happens everyday....But for me.....This is the first time in my 17 years living here that we have had a standoff, and I live in a TOWN where  we have never had a murder in 34 years of the town's existance????

BIG EXCITEMENT.........BUT peaceful RESOLVE....................AMEN!!!

Posted by juskay on 2/8/2011 11:58:00 PM (view original):
You ain't goin anywhere near another cup until you develope your own starting goalie??? Turco???.......who's next Raycroft? or Ray Emery?  Draft a Core Goalie and develope him............That is what Dynasty teams do.  Otherwise your team WON a cup (one cup).....But failed to repeat do to lack of a core GOALIE.

Great news on the stand-off.

Last I checked, a core goalie wasn't a REQUIREMENT for winning a Stanley Cup. The Red Wings have won 4 Stanley Cups since 1997, with 3 different starting goaltenders, only 1 of which (Osgood) they drafted and developed.

Actually, of the last 20 Stanley Cup Champions, less than half drafted their starting goaltenders. So what, does that mean that every single one of those teams were lucky?

Hawks are a lock to make the playoffs.

Posted by mudbone1969 on 2/9/2011 6:45:00 PM (view original):
Hawks are a lock to make the playoffs.

If you beat the Oilers tonight that will prove that you are 100% correct.......Hawks are the best if they beat the oilers tonight.  100% lock to make the playoffs.