SMITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[howcho]

I thought this was HILARIOUS

 

[genefoley]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA



nevermind

 

[the canadian dream]

Ben Smith continues to steal someones job next year.



Can't wait to see how this kid reacts to a full NHL season. I know I have been getting way ahead of myself regarding Smith. But I am still going to pretend he would have been the rookie of the year had he been in the Hawks lineup for a full season.

Next year!!!



Honestly there hasn't been much to unlike about him so far. A couple mistakes here and there but not uncommon ones for a new NHLer. Felt bad for the goal that deflected off him against the Canucks tonight (his reaction speaks for itself). Looked a little nervous in his first playoff game...no big deal he still skated hard.



Good energy, good size, some good hands and has a nice little shot too. Plays with defense on his mind. Nothing to dislike so far.



Good for him for stepping up to the challenge.

 

[Tyralyon]

Yeah, at least I noticed him very early in the game, and was wondering why Q didn't put him out more. After his first goal he obviously played more, but some of our stars are looking tired and beaten. I hope Q try to limit their ice time a little more than he did in these 2 games, and let that Smith line see some more ice.

Getting Bolland and Kopy back would naturally help a lot, but I think in any case double-shifting our top line is not the answer.

Anyway, even if this turns out to be a short series, it looks a lot better for next year with Smith and others challenging for a roster spot.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

SMITH SUCKS!!!!!

 

[Pez68]

Yeah, at least I noticed him very early in the game, and was wondering why Q didn't put him out more. After his first goal he obviously played more, but some of our stars are looking tired and beaten. I hope Q try to limit their ice time a little more than he did in these 2 games, and let that Smith line see some more ice.

Getting Bolland and Kopy back would naturally help a lot, but I think in any case double-shifting our top line is not the answer.

Anyway, even if this turns out to be a short series, it looks a lot better for next year with Smith and others challenging for a roster spot.

They were supposed to challenge for roster spots this year. Instead, the Hawks wasted time playing guys like Pisani, Stalberg, Scott, Boynton, and Cullimore.



None of whom should have had a roster spot coming out of camp. Makarov, Smith, and Morin, outplayed all of those guys for spots up front. Fucking waste of a season, if you ask me. We saw glimpses of Smith and Morin, but really have no idea what we have in the rest of our prospects.

 

[R K]

They were supposed to challenge for roster spots this year. Instead, the Hawks wasted time playing guys like Pisani, Stalberg, Scott, Boynton, and Cullimore.



None of whom should have had a roster spot coming out of camp. Makarov, Smith, and Morin, outplayed all of those guys for spots up front. Fucking waste of a season, if you ask me. We saw glimpses of Smith and Morin, but really have no idea what we have in the rest of our prospects.

How many rookies did you want playing on this team?



Morin is a top 6 forward, not bottom.



How many games did you make it to Rockford? I'm guessing NONE, so you saw them how much?





You don't waste players on the 3rd and 4th lines in the NHL and blow their development. This is not some no check league you play in Pez, it's the NHL. The Best league in the World.



I'm not trying to knock you but the way you typed that you make is sound like all of those guys should have had a shot in Chicago?



Really? Our top six was solid. There was no where to put kids that haven't quite figured it out yet. And Morin got quite a bit of time here. He was not ready for that role CLEARLY.



As for the waste of a season. They had 97 fucking points.



It was not a waste of the season for the KIDS either. They didn't BELONG on an NHL team, whether or not we had cheap, lacking talented players here or not.

 

[Pez68]

With the coaching in Rockford, yes. I think it WAS a waste of a season. They have guys in Rockford that could have played the 3rd/4th lines with the big club, instead of Stalberg and Pisani. Smith should have been up all season instead of Pisani, playing on the third line. Leddy should have been up all season, instead of Boynton and/or Cullimore. Makarov probably should have bumped FAILberg out of his fourth line duties out of camp. Morin was one of the better top six options the Hawks had coming out of camp. Instead, they tried to ram Stalberg, Bickell, Kopecky, and Brouwer into those slots all season. Guys that are really just third or fourth liners. Really? Our top six was NOT solid this season. Far from it. Our top four was solid, sure. Past that, it was question marks all season long. We rotated five different guys through there, including fucking useless Pisani and Stalberg. You really think Stalberg is a better option than Morin, Pisani is a better option than Smith, and Scott is a better option than Makarov? Come on.



Morin did not have "quite a bit of time" here. He played nine games and had like 10-12 minutes a game. In that limited time, he put up two goals and an assist and was a +2.

 

[R K]

With the coaching in Rockford, yes. I think it WAS a waste of a season. They have guys in Rockford that could have played the 3rd/4th lines with the big club, instead of Stalberg and Pisani. Smith should have been up all season instead of Pisani, playing on the third line. Leddy should have been up all season, instead of Boynton and/or Cullimore. Makarov probably should have bumped FAILberg out of his fourth line duties out of camp. Morin was one of the better top six options the Hawks had coming out of camp. Instead, they tried to ram Stalberg, Bickell, Kopecky, and Brouwer into those slots all season. Guys that are really just third or fourth liners. Really? Our top six was NOT solid this season. Far from it. Our top four was solid, sure. Past that, it was question marks all season long. We rotated five different guys through there, including fucking useless Pisani and Stalberg. You really think Stalberg is a better option than Morin, Pisani is a better option than Smith, and Scott is a better option than Makarov? Come on.



Morin did not have "quite a bit of time" here. He played nine games and had like 10-12 minutes a game. In that limited time, he put up two goals and an assist and was a +2.

Not paying attention. He hurt himself at the Worlds. He was not ready to come back, and then he was concussed.



None of those guys you mentioned were ready. Again how many times did you see them? I would feel confident those with Season Tickets in Rockford would also disagree with you.



I would not waste kids getting 10-12 minutes a night in Chicago that will get far more in the AHL. Neither would MOST NHL coaches.



You had three rookies or fairly new players to the NHL already on this team this year. Not many other teams in the league, especially those with 97pts had half that.



And at times we had far more.



I don't think it was a waste of a season at all. It was about exactly what most predicted losing half the team. In my opinion those statements are flat out false.



And as far as Kopecky and Bickell, they had a season high in points. Kopecky especially. If he'd resign for what he's making now, I'd keep him.





Top six without injuries, and or coming out of the gate ws more than set. Toews-Kane-Sharp-Hossa-Bolland and then they had Morin/Stalberg...



So there was ONE open slot. Thats set. You missed training camp as well apparently.

 

[Pez68]

I'm 100% aware that Morin was hurt. He wasn't hurt coming out of camp though. Neither was Smith. The Rockford team sucked, mostly because of the coaching, so how the **** can anyone tell you who is ready or not?



You didn't say "set", you said solid. Big difference there Ron. Of course the roster was pretty much "set" going into the regular season. There was no way rookies and prospects were knocking Stan's acquisitions out of roster spots, even if they EARNED them in camp, by outplaying them. (Yes, I watched quite a bit of camp.) At the end of the season, I can safely say that at least two of those prospects should have bumped Stalberg and Pisani right the **** off this team. Stalberg is not a top six player, nor is he a bottom six player. Pisani is just fucking useless. We're a better team with both of those guys not playing. How can you argue that?

 

[R K]

Set and Solid.



Again how many games did you watch Rockford play? There was one open spot in the top six coming out of training camp. Two of the prospects, but once Morin was hurt, who was playing on the team how many were ready? Morin started the season with the Hawks.



I'm not arguing, just going on the assumption that you don't have a fucking clue what guys were ready or not. I agree Stalberg, a top 10 pick BTW, and Pisani were not the answer. Then again I did not see enough of Rockford, whether they sucked as a team or not, to guage any of the players on there hopping to the NHL. I'm betting you can't and didn't either. You are just typing to type. Now if on the chance you saw them 10 or more times this year forgive me. I'd bet money you didn't.



And I watched ALL of Camp and attended several days not open to the Public. The ONLY prospect earning a spot was Morin. I'm safe in saying I'm 100% on that other than Leddy, and maybe Lolande who soon fell far off the radar once he arrived in Rockford. Again ask some of those with STH that go to ALL or most of the games.



Excuse me if I'd rather not stunt the development of players by moving them to quickly. Even when they could, at some point in the season, be better than the Vets, and in Stalbergs case far from vets, are delivering.



I'm pretty sure Scotty Bowman who has his name on the Cup 12 or more times would completely disagree with you as well.

 

[winos5]

Don't see how Smith is not on the roster next year.

 

[R K]

Don't see how Smith is not on the roster next year.

I think he's the start of the retooling the 3rd line.

 

[winos5]

RFAs

Brouwer

Stahlberg

Dowell

Frolik

Crawford

Campoli



UFAs

Hendry

Pisani

Johnson

Kopecky

Turco



I'd bet on 4-5 of those bolded players not being here next season.



I'd like Kopecky back for sure and maybe Brouwer. Campoli and Crawford need to be re-signed. Maybe Turco, if he comes cheap again.

 

[Ton]

Honestly, Frolik has probably been one of the best Hawks in the post-season. Crawford, Campoli, Kopecky, Frolik, Brouwer, Johnson all should be re-signed, ordered from important to least important. The rest can go.

 

[R K]

At the start of the season I thought Dowell would pick up right were Fraser left off. Boy was I wrong. Guess I should have given Fraser more credit. In fact I guess I should have given that entire 4th line last year more credit.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

At the start of the season I thought Dowell would pick up right were Fraser left off. Boy was I wrong. Guess I should have given Fraser more credit. In fact I guess I should have given that entire 4th line last year more credit.

I thought the same thing.

 

[IceHogsFan]

At the start of the season I thought Dowell would pick up right were Fraser left off. Boy was I wrong. Guess I should have given Fraser more credit. In fact I guess I should have given that entire 4th line last year more credit.

I was always a supporter of Fraser and Burish for the enthusiasm and attitude that they brought on the ice, on the bench and in the locker room. It is a valuable piece of the puzzle that I think we missed this season.

 

[sth]

Loved Smith's toughness tonight. That hack Torres tried to blow his knee out. But he got right back out there on a PK to boot. That was no accident by Torres. Nice try dickwad but it didn't work.

 

[Rex]

Torres keeps giving us fuel!