NHL Thread

[Clausen2Kamara]

Great game last night. Crow showed up big time. It could have easily been 2 or 3 nothing in the first. The Hawks took their best punch in the 1st and hung around and made them pay in the 3rd just like great teams do. I don't think we should bring back Kimmo. I don't see the upside. He is way too slow to go against this team. Cuminskey actually played a pretty decent game IMO. If the Hawks go home with a 2 nothing lead then look out!

 

[IrishinSyria]

Great game last night. Crow showed up big time. It could have easily been 2 or 3 nothing in the first. The Hawks took their best punch in the 1st and hung around and made them pay in the 3rd just like great teams do. I don't think we should bring back Kimmo. I don't see the upside. He is way too slow to go against this team. Cuminskey actually played a pretty decent game IMO. If the Hawks go home with a 2 nothing lead then look out!

Yeah, no, is this something anyone's been asking for? Rundblad and Cumiskey have both looked great compared to 44.

 

[Wild Bill]

Yeah, no, is this something anyone's been asking for? Rundblad and Cumiskey have both looked great compared to 44.

And Van Riemsdyk is allegedly coming back this series (maybe even game 2, if I recall).

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

I've heard nothing about Bickell's injury. They keep a tight lid on that stuff in the playoffs.

Yeah, I could see Kimmo coming back. He's not really any worse than Rundblad, imo; both players are pretty major defensive liabilities. I think Rundblad is getting the nod because he's a better offensive player than Kimmo.

Cumiskey has been relatively good, I thought. Still a big drop off after top 4, but not terrible.

Just this. I think Kimmo needs to hang up the skates like yesterday. He's had a great career however and hope the Hawks win a Cup for him. I am also intrigued by the possibility of Trevor coming back. He was playing really well before he got hurt. I think he sees about 5-7 min by Game 3 if not earlier. Versteeg's newborn and rest has given life to his game again.

 

[Emcee77]

Just this. I think Kimmo needs to hang up the skates like yesterday. He's had a great career however and hope the Hawks win a Cup for him. I am also intrigued by the possibility of Trevor coming back. He was playing really well before he got hurt. I think he sees about 5-7 min by Game 3 if not earlier. Versteeg's newborn and rest has given life to his game again.

Yeah, TVR back would change everything. He's gotta come in for Rundblad, right? Even coming off an injury, no way he would be worse.

Does that work from a handedness perspective? I can't remember what side TVR plays.

 

[BobbyMac]

I've read that this is Kimmo's last go around regardless. Good thing is, he and Teuvo will be touring Finland next month with...

Daaaaa Cup!

.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Yeah, TVR back would change everything. He's gotta come in for Rundblad, right? Even coming off an injury, no way he would be worse.

Does that work from a handedness perspective? I can't remember what side TVR plays.

TVR is left handed. That would be 5 lefties and Seabrook but I still think you have to do it if he's ready.

 

[KPENN]

TVR is left handed. That would be 5 lefties and Seabrook but I still think you have to do it if he's ready.

He's a righty

 

[KPENN]

I've read that this is Kimmo's last go around regardless. Good thing is, he and Teuvo will be touring Finland next month with...

Daaaaa Cup!

.

He's already said it is. Read he's joining the flyers front office next year

 

[Emcee77]

Yahoo! Sports

Timonen and Versteeg will play tonight.

I like both moves. Cumiskey was bad in game 3. (And TVR was certainly an improvement over Rundblad.) Let's hope Timonen can rely on his experience and give us good minutes against these Lightning youngsters. As for Steeger, I like his speed and quickness against the Lightning; this isn't a series where we need Bickell's toughness and physicality as much.

A guy told me today he thought this Lightning team reminded him of the 2010 Hawks. I thought that was a pretty good analogy.

 

[Wild Bill]

Yahoo! Sports

Timonen and Versteeg will play tonight.

I like both moves. Cumiskey was bad in game 3. (And TVR was certainly an improvement over Rundblad.) Let's hope Timonen can rely on his experience and give us good minutes against these Lightning youngsters. As for Steeger, I like his speed and quickness against the Lightning; this isn't a series where we need Bickell's toughness and physicality as much.

A guy told me today he thought this Lightning team reminded him of the 2010 Hawks. I thought that was a pretty good analogy.

Versteeg makes me nervous but you're right, his speed and quickness may be needed right now. Bickell has basically been a non-factor so he's making it an easy decision for Q. I think I'd go with Cumiskey over Timonen but we're probably splitting hairs. Both are liabilities out there.

I can see the comparison with the Hawks team from 2010, both were young and fast, but that Hawks team was so much deeper.

 

[Emcee77]

Can't focus today. Too pumped for the game tonight. Hope the Hawks can close it out.

 

[Wild Bill]

Damn they're good.

 

[yankeeND]

That was awesome! Keith and Kane with goals and Crawford has 25 saves in a shutout of the biggest game of he year! Just an incredible team, and very resilient to boot!

 

[Fbolt]

Crawford pedestrian-No chance. Hawks win again!

 

[#1rish]

Bishop plays with a torn groin while a basketball player goes to the hospital for cramps.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Goo Hawks!!! So glad to see Kimmo go out on top as well as the core players to cement themselves and the team as a modern day dynasty.

On to the offseason where the #1 goal is to resign Saad at all costs, absolutely no way they can let him walk. Would love to see Richards and Vermette back as well but they'll both probably be looking to cash in on good playoff performances.

 

[bkess8]

Best thing was watching these two teams shaking hands at the end of a great hard fought series, that is Sportsmanship!

 

[IrishinSyria]

He's already said it is. Read he's joining the flyers front office next year

Must have loved Toews's hand-off of the cup.

 

[Emcee77]

Crawford pedestrian-No chance. Hawks win again!

Wow, he really stood tall when it mattered, didn't he?

I read this piece yesterday:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...sgood-of-a-blackhawks--dynasty-164638900.html

Say what you want about Crawford, I know he has his detractors, but when he is hot he is as good as anyone, and he always seems to get hot at the right time.

Goo Hawks!!! So glad to see Kimmo go out on top as well as the core players to cement themselves and the team as a modern day dynasty.

On to the offseason where the #1 goal is to resign Saad at all costs, absolutely no way they can let him walk. Would love to see Richards and Vermette back as well but they'll both probably be looking to cash in on good playoff performances.

Awesome, gritty series win for the Hawks. They were often outplayed in the Finals, their star players were mostly locked up and not producing, but they found a way to get the Ws. I love it, especially for guys like Keith and Vermette and Richard who did a lot of dirty work.

But yeah, we got major salary cap issues this off-season. With Kane and Toews's big contracts kicking in, I don't think we can afford free agent veterans like Richards and Vermette. We will have to cut most of our veterans loose, even some core guys like Sharp (due $6M next year; just not worth that at this stage of his career) and maybe even Crawford (same). It's going to be a much younger Hawks team in the fall; we'll see which, if any, of our young prospects is ready to start producing.

 

[#1rish]

I see Crawford as a Chris Osgood (Red Wings goalie in the 90s and mid-00s) type of goalie. He's not a spectacular goalie like Quick or Lundquvist, but he just plays very well when he needs to.

 

[pumpdog20]

Wow, he really stood tall when it mattered, didn't he?

I read this piece yesterday:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...sgood-of-a-blackhawks--dynasty-164638900.html

Say what you want about Crawford, I know he has his detractors, but when he is hot he is as good as anyone, and he always seems to get hot at the right time.



Awesome, gritty series win for the Hawks. They were often outplayed in the Finals, their star players were mostly locked up and not producing, but they found a way to get the Ws. I love it, especially for guys like Keith and Vermette and Richard who did a lot of dirty work.

But yeah, we got major salary cap issues this off-season. With Kane and Toews's big contracts kicking in, I don't think we can afford free agent veterans like Richards and Vermette. We will have to cut most of our veterans loose, even some core guys like Sharp (due $6M next year; just not worth that at this stage of his career) and maybe even Crawford (same). It's going to be a much younger Hawks team in the fall; we'll see which, if any, of our young prospects is ready to start producing.

Truth, but you'll also see the "LeBron" effect where serviceable veterans will be willing to take pay cuts to get that championship and to be with Toews and Kane.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Truth, but you'll also see the "LeBron" effect where serviceable veterans will be willing to take pay cuts to get that championship and to be with Toews and Kane.

See e.g. Richards, B; Hossa, M.

 

[KPENN]

Must have loved Toews's hand-off of the cup.

Legit almost lost my sh!t. <3 Kimmo

 

[ND NYC]

a belated congrats to all the Blackhawks fans on here.

a great Stanley Cup win! watched pretty much their whole playoff run, a very exciting team to watch.

was hoping it could have been NYR vs CHI for the Cup but we didn't hold up our end of the bargain this year.

ps that Tampa team sure is set up pretty nice for the future...lotta young talent.

overall some great playoff hockey this year!

 

[KPENN]

a belated congrats to all the Blackhawks fans on here.

a great Stanley Cup win! watched pretty much their whole playoff run, a very exciting team to watch.

was hoping it could have been NYR vs CHI for the Cup but we didn't hold up our end of the bargain this year.

ps that Tampa team sure is set up pretty nice for the future...lotta young talent.

overall some great playoff hockey this year!

Yep, they are loaded, plus they have some nice prospects too.

 

[blueNDgold44]

 

[Wild Bill]

Bruins making some moves, huh?

 

[BobbyMac]

Bruins making some moves, huh?

How bout it? Lucic to LA, SoCal doesn't need a football team, the Kings are basically the NFL on Ice. Thy have to win next year to draw even with the Hawks for "Team of the Teens." Their problem is the Ducks are big enough and talented enough to beat them. Lucic could be the difference. Ain't gonna lie, would LOVE him on the Hawks so I could quit hating him. He could be my Hossa 2.0.

.

 

[KPENN]

How bout it? Lucic to LA, SoCal doesn't need a football team, the Kings are basically the NFL on Ice. Thy have to win next year to draw even with the Hawks for "Team of the Teens." Their problem is the Ducks are big enough and talented enough to beat them. Lucic could be the difference. Ain't gonna lie, would LOVE him on the Hawks so I could quit hating him. He could be my Hossa 2.0.

.

I don't know man, he just isn't the same player he was on their cup run. If he can regain that he's 100% worth it, i just don't know if he will