Official Rockford IceHogs Forum Thread

[STEAL]

I only question your ratings because, if you have all these A and A+ players, why did it take a shootout on the last day of the season to barely squeak into the playoffs in a very weak Eastern Conference? I dont watch the flyers much, was it just chemistry issues?

The hawks players are all A's or A+ and we played like them all year and almost won the much tougher western conference. IDK, thats just what im thinking


As for the bolded part,

With us winning, all the contract bonuses kicked in so we are operating with 4-5 million dollars less than the rest of the league.

Also, Huet;s salary will count against us until the season starts because we cant put him in rockford until the season starts.

Between Huet and the bonuses, thats 9-10 mill we lose automatically to spend this offseason

According to most people, we had major chemistry issues up until the Boston series.

“They’re not a seventh seed,” Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell said of the Flyers. “Everybody else in this room would say the same thing. They had a tough regular season with their chemistry and everything. Then they jelled together and got through some injuries.

“That’s something we all laugh about with the underdog thing and all. These are two teams that deserve to be here and match up pretty well against each other. We’re both fighting for every inch.”

http://www.nj.com/flyers/index.ssf/2010/06/philadelphia_flyers_look_like.html

Flyers on the Brink: No Depth, Chemistry, ‘Philly Tough’ Persona | The Hockey Writers

You're a fucking moron, I am sorry but there are so many problems with what you have said...

#1 You don't have the cap space for Nabakov or any of the top 4 free agent goaltenders right now.

#2 Our 2 man defense? Look at how much ice time Pronger had to play for you guys and you are calling our defense front loaded? I guess you also forgot the key roles Campbell and Hjalmarsson. I noticed you pointed out you have the best 6 man defense in the NHL, our top 4 is far better than your top 4 and those are the guys who get the most ice time... I can care less if you have a better 5th and 6th... also you have no idea what Lalonde is capable of.

Richards is an A+? Compared to who? He is a good young two way center with some grit but Toews, Crosby, Backstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kopitar, Stamkos, Sedin, Thornton are all better centermen (and those are players just off the top of my head, I am sure I missed a couple). I am not bashing Richards I like him as a player but he is a B+.

Carter and Gagne are A players? Yea they really showed it by doing nothing in the finals, your team was carried by Danny Breire... he was your team in the finals. His linemates looked good playing with him so they got credit as well but Briere was the catalyst.

Like someone pointed out... you made the playoffs by 1 point in the weak eastern conference and got some hot goaltending to carry your team into the finals. Our core team is intact and still far better than Phillys.

Ask yourself this honestly... would you trade your entire team for Chicagos? Sorry I don't usually rant but this guy is fucking moron and is overrating his team beyond belief.

Did you read the ratings in the quote? I gave Toews an A++. He's elite, much like Crosby, Ovechkin, Kopitar, etc.

Kane still has to develop, but as of right now, an A+ is all he deserves. Richards continues to prove his value in the league, and proved himself throughout the olympics, too. Were you not around for them? Richards and Kane both had 5 points, Richards going +5 and Kane +4. Kane had a much better season and had 5 more points in the post season, but hell I think Richards is A+ caliber. Carter and Gagne both rushed their recoveries to play in the playoffs, moron. Were the finals the only part of the playoffs you paid attention to? And to answer your question, I'd never trade the entire team to Chicago, but what true fan would.

Oh and regarding our defense... *cough* http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=533659 *cough*

 

[ClydeLee]

Nice points on Philly, I'm not going to be raging on them, but it took until the brink of elimination for them to gel together as all they could be. The Devils massively underperformed as some anticipated. So they deserve the respect of being able to do it when it counted... but whats to say they are going to be clicking going into next season, especially after the most of the squad remains that came up so short of the cup.

Obviously they can still be in question as much as the Hawks even if they keep a lot of that roster together. It was the majority of that roster taking the last game to make the playoffs. The Hawks may lose half of their roster almost, but that top half was the top half of the team a point away from a 1st seed and the cup champs.

To the point of the thread. Yes they have built a very reputable farm system at the moment, lol. If Jack Skille resigns but doesn't make the roster he sure could lead the Icehogs up to a good record!

 

[tbo41fan]

I want skille on the Hawks next year if Bowman doesnt sign somebody to take his spot

 

[stormbolter73]

I hate to break it to ya Dews but Greentree is no longer with the organization. He has joined the Capitals organization so he is going to be a Hershey Bear if he doesn't make the Caps. Also gone are Braken Kearns, Richard Petiot, Danny Richmond, Akim Aliu (obviously). Jassen Cullimore and Hannu Toivannen have resigned with the organization.

 

[tbo41fan]

Dews loves Greentree.....this will hit him hard....

 

[stormbolter73]

Got a twitter update from the Icehogs today saying that a number of signings will be announced over the next few weeks and that the tweets will be 24 hours ahead of the website announcement. I'm excited because the Icehogs could really be a hot spot for the high end AHL talent this year with the spots available on the Blackhawks. I'm hoping that the team has re-signed Cullen and we get some nice vets to go with all of the young talent that the organization has.

 

[stormbolter73]

The Icehogs have signed winger Wade Brookbank. In 68 games with the Wilkes-barre/ Scranton penguines, Brookbank had 3g 4a and 168 PIMs. Brookbank has a respectable number of games in the NHL and will provide the Icehogs with yet another physicl presence and keep people off of our young up and comers. Could be a guy that sees 4th line minutes with the Hawks if they run into some real injury issues.

 

[tbo41fan]

Yes! I missed not having storm's Rockford updates!

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Good having ya hear storm

 

[tbo41fan]

Good having ya hear storm

*here

:elephant:

 

[stormbolter73]

THe Hawks recieved C Jeff Taffe for Marty Reasoner. I'll post his stat line here because he has spent far more time in the AHL than the NHL. Last season, Taffe spent 21 games with the Florida Panthers scoring 1g and 1a. In 68 games with Florida's AHL affiliate the Rochester Americans, Taffe had 28g and 28a for 56pts. Seems like a solid fringe guy that does have significant NHL experiance (174 games for 4 different teams.) It will be intereseting to see where he might end up.

 

[tbo41fan]

If he is on the opening day roster, maybe he will be like Scott, play only some games in the event of injuries or if someone needs an off day

 

[Captain Iago]

This is how I see him right now. ^ Fringe.

 

[tbo41fan]

yep....i knew i knew his name somewhere, and i just saw he played for the coyotes I have actually seen him play a few times before

 

[Captain Iago]

Did the Hawks sign their yo-yo today in Brophey to a 2-way contract?

Brophey signs 2-way contract.

 

[stormbolter73]

I hadn't heard anything about that yet but if they did i'm happy. The stats might ot show it but he has progressed nicely as a 2-way player and has been pretty consistent for the Icehogs. Not mch of a chance at the bug club but then again, Bickell was in the AHL for 4 years on 2 different contracts and he is looking like a lock for the club this year. Not a bad depth signing if nothing else.

 

[N3]

Not sure if you heard/posted this yet Storm but Mark Cullen signed with Florida.

 

[tbo41fan]

Stupid panthers

 

[tbo41fan]

Evan Brophey signed

#nhl #blackhawks agree to terms with F Evan Brophey on a one-year, two-way contract CapGeek.com - NHL salary cap calculator, buyout calculator, free agents and more!

via capgeek

 

[stormbolter73]

I did see that Cullen signed with Florida. SUcks the 2 guys I was really hoping to get back were Cullen and Petiot and both are out. Ohhhhhh well, that's life in the AHL.