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[HawkWriter]

Ben Smith did a hell of alot more than Stalberg in the playoffs.

Stalberg shouldn't be a lock because he has speed.

Whoop dee fucking do. :dunno:

Stalberg is a lock (in my eyes) for a few reasons. One of the biggest being that his contract is a one way contract and whether we like it or not, that is a big difference from a two way contract. He is also a player that accepted his role in the bottom 6 and can play in the top 6, even though he didn't very well last year, because of yes - his speed. To me, Stalberg is the perfect 13th forward for this team. I would be absolutely shocked if Stalberg doesn't make the team.

He had 24 points last year, and if he does play another 75+ games (don't know if he will) I think we will see another decent season point wise. He definitely improved on his defense last year and his speed can be a weapon at times. He needs to know when to use his speed and when to slow it down though.

To me, it just sounds like a lot of people had some unrealistic expectations of Stalberg because of his speed.

 

[otunj20]

With a cap hit of 875K for Stalberg and cap space of $3.4 million, he is dispensable if needed. We'll see how the season goes. If he doesn't show anything throughout the coming months, we can trade, send him down, or release him.

I def think Ben Smith has earned being looked at very closely. Hoping he impresses during training camp. In only a short amount of time of playing with the Hawks, he gained thousands of fans.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Tony Salmelainen had speed too..how that work out?

 

[HawkWriter]

Tony Salmelainen had speed too..how that work out?

Pretty poor argument considering you can do that with any player, both good and bad, and with any attribute (speed, hands, size) etc.

Grabner had speed too...how'd that work out?

Tony Salmelainen had incredible speed. He was also 5'9" and didn't have a good shot at all. Stalberg is 6'3" and a much more complete player than Salmelainen ever was - Salmelainen couldn't play an ounce of defense. Salmelainen couldn't play in the bottom 6, he served no purpose - where as Stalberg can and actually adapted to that role pretty well.

Trust me, I don't think Stalberg is a god send or going to be a great player. I personally don't even think he will ever be considered a top 6 player, but he is definitely versatile and serviceable.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

I agree on Smith.

To me, the most intriguing player going into camp might be Kruger.

The Blackhawks brass certainly talks him up.

He started to look like he gained some confidence in the playoffs and he played very well in the world championships this offseason.

He is a natural center but might have to play wing to break into the NHL because of his size (even though it is rumored he has added on to his previous 172lb frame).

He is built for a top 6 role, but is he ready? I think the Blackhawks are crazy and high enough on him to put him in a bottom 6 role, just to have him ready. The best spot for him might be in the AHL, centering, on the first two lines.

A lot of storylines with just Kruger, in my eyes atleast. I'm really interested to see how it plays out in camp.

In my mind, Kruger is a top 6 center but isn't ready for that. I don't want him at 2C, but I also don't want him at 4C because he doesn't have the grit to play there.

About Smith, I think he will be better as a 3rd liner in the long run. The fact that he works hard and gets into the corners and has strength makes me think he'll be a bottom 6 guy.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

This pretty much sums up Ben Smith quickly. A realization that he's not a god and probably won't ever be like Toews.

 

[Capt. Serious]

What you see in Stalberg is what you get.

Hopefully another team calls the Hawks & they ship his garbage ass outta town.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

What you see in Stalberg is what you get.

Hopefully another team calls the Hawks & they ship his garbage ass outta town.

There was talk that the Hawks only signed him to use as trade bait during the season. I don't know how true that is, but that's what I heard awhile back when he signed. It's not a big contract though, so I don't really care if he's on the team. He helps a little. If Carcillo is suspended, Stalberg can play on the 4th line.

 

[southern_cross_116]

Tony Salmelainen had speed too..how that work out?

...so did Ken Yaremchuk and Tom McMurchy.

It isn't exactly unprecedented. :talktohand:

 

[southern_cross_116]

Contracts, though - I think are not nearly as predictable as a determining factor on Rocky Wirtz's hockey teams compared to Bill Wirtz's. If they decided to eat Huet's contract (which they have as everyone knows), then putting another much lesser contract where they decide they need it -wouldn't be surprising to me.

However, too - I will point out that no one was talking about Smith at this same point last season, and were talking about other young guys that had decent camps. Even up through the middle of the season, it was Morin this that or the other. My (rhetorical) question is - what any of that stuff real questions? Or was it just talking about the latest thing ( the ice is always bluer, maybe?). This isn't meant to point out anything other than, on boards such as this one, people will talk about players without really much grounding in reality.

I saw the other week, a list of the first round draft choices of the team - think it went back to the 70's --- there were a lot of guys on that list that made no impact on the team or the NHL whatsoever, yet none of that really diminished the hype. If a first rounder isn't an automatic, then it stands to reason that guys drafted later than that, as well as signed as an undrafted free agent - are pretty rare to find that have any use as well.

So it is pretty easy to talk up the latest young guy --- but how real is it? I saw it all the time in the 5 or 6 years I collected hockey cards -- eventually you realise that it was all one big sick joke.

Ben Smith... maybe he might be the next Mike Stapleton - but if so, who cares? Who should care? And is it hockey?

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Tony Salmelainen had speed too..how that work out?

hahahaha tony salmelainen

ahh memories