[A] Blackhawks Re-sign Jamal Mayers

[PatrickShart]

Personally, no. My best friend played for him and remains friends with him as he lives in Chicago now. Has nothing but good/nice things to say about him.



Doesn't mean he's the right/wrong coach for the team...and the fact that other organizations passed him up, means the hawks front office/Q may not be complete idiots.

 

[Ton]

Personally, no. My best friend played for him and remains friends with him as he lives in Chicago now. Has nothing but good/nice things to say about him.



Doesn't mean he's the right/wrong coach for the team...and the fact that other organizations passed him up, means the hawks front office/Q may not be complete idiots.

It's still early, not even the off-season yet. The only team that has passed him up has been NJ and that was while he was still under contract last season. He was considered for a head coaching position, I'm sure most organizations would take him as an assistant in a heartbeat.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

***grabs popcorn***

 

[PatrickShart]

Didn't Winnipeg interview him?

 

[Ton]

Didn't Winnipeg interview him?

I don't remember... you might be right.



Either way, I do wonder if Mayers will be played on a nightly basis or if he will be in the press box most of the time. I just don't see where he's going to fit into the line-up unless there is an injury.

 

[PatrickShart]

I think there may be a 2 for 1 trade here or there...

 

[Ton]

I think there may be a 2 for 1 trade here or there...

I wouldn't be surprised. Frolik and Hjalmarsson rumors are bound to light up this summer. If they do get rid of a defenseman they are going to really have to do some work as right now the only guys signed (w/ NHL experience) are Keith, Seabrook, Leddy, Hjalmarsson, Montador, and Olsen.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I wouldn't be surprised. Frolik and Hjalmarsson rumors are bound to light up this summer. If they do get rid of a defenseman they are going to really have to do some work as right now the only guys signed (w/ NHL experience) are Keith, Seabrook, Leddy, Hjalmarsson, Montador, and Olsen.

Was going to say take a run at Del Zotto because the Rangers won't be able to pay him since his EL contract is up... but holy shit the Rangers are set cap wise for a couple years.



16 mil in cap space -- Gaborik/Richards/Callahan/Dubinsky are signed through 2013-2014 and Staal/Girardi/McDonagh signed until at least then.



What other free agent d-men are out there?

 

[Ton]

I'd love to see a guy like Matt Carle or Dennis Wideman if we are looking to fill that Campbell void, a guy who can eat minutes and contribute offensively, push the pace, good puck movement... Brad Stuart would be a smart choice IMO if they want that solid shut-down defenseman who can play with Leddy (who they probably expect to elevate his play to that of the Carle/Wideman type).



Other available defenseman to consider (in order): Kurtis Foster, Sheldon Souray, Joe Corvo, Filip Kuba



Of course the obvious choice of Ryan Suter is the cream of the crop but him aside, this class isn't too bad. It's really just a pick your poison type of deal, there are no complete defenseman, we can either help our PP with Foster, Souray, Corvo or we can get a guy like Stuart to help ourselves defensively, or get a real top-4 defenseman like Wideman or Carle to help take pressure off Keith/Seabs.



Suter helps all those areas for us, but a pipedream IMO.

 

[R K]

Didn't Winnipeg interview him?

Actually the Avs offered him a job. But seeing as your bestest is bestest's you probably know that.



Again you defend the coaching staff like Grimson flip flops teams. It is what it is. If you don't think there was confusion by watching the exit interviews, reading experts opinions, and the rest from the end of the season to now, I don't know what to say.



I usually agree with most of what you write but your defense in the Management of this Organization is unexplainable and quite baffling. I suppose Tallon/Dudley/Labrun and the rest don't have a clue what they are talking about.



I think Stan should keep Kane at Center. Was a great move.

 

[Ton]

Actually the Avs offered him a job. But seeing as your bestest is bestest's you probably know that.



Again you defend the coaching staff like Grimson flip flops teams. It is what it is. If you don't think there was confusion by watching the exit interviews, reading experts opinions, and the rest from the end of the season to now, I don't know what to say.



I usually agree with most of what you write but your defense in the Management of this Organization is unexplainable and quite baffling. I suppose Tallon/Dudley/Labrun and the rest don't have a clue what they are talking about.



I think Stan should keep Kane at Center. Was a great move.

Is this sarcasm or are you serious?

 

[R K]

I'd love to see a guy like Matt Carle or Dennis Wideman if we are looking to fill that Campbell void, a guy who can eat minutes and contribute offensively, push the pace, good puck movement... Brad Stuart would be a smart choice IMO if they want that solid shut-down defenseman who can play with Leddy (who they probably expect to elevate his play to that of the Carle/Wideman type).



Other available defenseman to consider (in order): Kurtis Foster, Sheldon Souray, Joe Corvo, Filip Kuba



Of course the obvious choice of Ryan Suter is the cream of the crop but him aside, this class isn't too bad. It's really just a pick your poison type of deal, there are no complete defenseman, we can either help our PP with Foster, Souray, Corvo or we can get a guy like Stuart to help ourselves defensively, or get a real top-4 defenseman like Wideman or Carle to help take pressure off Keith/Seabs.



Suter helps all those areas for us, but a pipedream IMO.

I'm actually not quite sure how much of a pipe dream that is but we'll see. I mentioned about a month ago the possibility and amazingly Jeakal wrote what I typed almost word for word yesterday. And no someone emailed me his article. I'm not a fan.

 

[R K]

Is this sarcasm or are you serious?

I'm being sarcastic. The GM and Coach were CLEARLY not on the same fucking page. Fact.

 

[Ton]

I'm actually not quite sure how much of a pipe dream that is but we'll see. I mentioned about a month ago the possibility and amazingly Jeakal wrote what I typed almost word for word yesterday. And no someone emailed me his article. I'm not a fan.

Maybe pipedream was the wrong word, it's possible, just not likely. Now if someone like Hjalmarsson gets moved, I can definitely see it happening.

I'm being sarcastic. The GM and Coach were CLEARLY not on the same fucking page. Fact.

Agreed.

 

[R K]

I think it's more likely than appears, but sure anything could happen from now until Sept.

 

[PatrickShart]

Sorry...my friend was friends with him



Didn't want to invade in your territory on knowing everyone

 

[PatrickShart]

And my 'defense if the organization'?



It just gets old for 3yrs now reading the same crap. If the players falter, it's ALWAYS the coach/front office. Never because the players fail or underachieve. Somewhere along the way, the players have to have a tiny little but if responsibility. Just a little, but I guess that's sacrilegious here



I guess I'm a not a hockey mind that needs to apply

 

[Ton]

And my 'defense if the organization'?



It just gets old for 3yrs now reading the same crap. If the players falter, it's ALWAYS the coach/front office. Never because the players fail or underachieve. Somewhere along the way, the players have to have a tiny little but if responsibility. Just a little, but I guess that's sacrilegious here



I guess I'm a not a hockey mind that needs to apply

It depends on the situation, doesn't it go hand and hand? Who puts those players on the ice? Who puts a RW at C? Why does it come down to that? Is that the players?



Playing devils advocate here, really I think both have to shoulder the responsibility. Sharp and Keith certainly are two of those players just as Bowman deserves the flack for all the holes. For what it's worth, looking back, Q did a good job this season for what he had. If a few more guys step up, we get past the Coyotes and into the 2nd round with no 2nd line C and a struggling core of defenseman.

 

[supraman]

No one said Q dislikes Mayers. How does this have "nothing to do with the front office?" Did Toews sign him to a contract? Did Mayers bench himself in the playoffs?



Although I liked Mayers, I'm not sure why they are bringing him back. We now have 21 guys under contract with around $6M in cap space. We need a defenseman and a center. On most nights, I would expect Mayers to be a scratch especially with Carcillo returning and the additions of Hayes, Shaw, and Bollig.

Well someone has to play when Carcillo is suspended.

 

[mikita's helmet]

Yet he was a healthy scratch in the playoffs for no reason. I like the signing but still think Blackhawks management is fucking clueless.

Defo could have used him in the Postseason