Training Camp Thread

[LordKOTL]

I agree on Seabrook, but I disagree that Hjalmarsson has regressed. I just think he hasn't improved -- not necessarily regressing but his development has been stagnant -- which to me is OK because I thought he was a good player to begin with. Yeah he doesn't hit a lot (never really did) but he is still a physical player in areas that don't show up on the score sheet (you don't get credited for a hit when you are battling someone in front of the net or along the boards) and I think he is overall just a good defender. He will never be a big hitter because his style is to play the angle and rely on positioning. Won't wow you but he quietly gets the job done (combined plus-22 in 2010-11 and 2011-12). I don't think his contract is all that bad anymore, and while I do wish he put up a few more points I also don't think that's a deal breaker because he seems to be pretty comfortable playing the role of defensive defenseman. All-in-all, Hammer isn't the perfect defenseman but he is definitely worth a top-four roster spot on any team in this league.

Last I checked, unless the player was wearing the "7" indianhead sweater, they avoided all battles mich like the french or italian armies.

 

[supraman]

I'm probably one of the few who would rather see Shaw stick on the bottom two lines. He's a hard working player, and I appreciate that, but I can't envision him as a top-six forward in his career.

same thing was probably said about Andrew Ladd. That's who I see Shaw as, a poor man's Andrew Ladd. Not good enough on pure talent but can be smart and brings hardwork to every shift.



But I'm okay with Shaw playing 3rd line, but I'm not against a line promotion if he is excelling offensively.

Thats why you don't evaluate talent? And I am a pure genius?



Shaw has already tied that idiots single season goal mark in his rookie year only playing 37 games. To me I see Shaw as much more than an agitator, seems to have the brains to get over the caveman shit that Carcillo pulls. That hit on Mike Smith is still one of the biggest over reactions to anything I have ever seen, guy got a lovetap with a helmet on, faked everything, and Shaw gets three games. Carcillo's been playing his goon reputation since his OHL days, in his AHL rookie year he had 311 PIMS....

That hit on Smith was incidental contact and Smith sold it. Carbomb has no control. The guy plays on pure emotion and it bites him in the ass.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Last I checked, unless the player was wearing the "7" indianhead sweater, they avoided all battles mich like the french or italian armies.

For real, the hit on Hossa has been getting a lot of replay on CSN and its tough to watch knowing how our team did jack shit.

 

[supraman]

And I hate Q for it. Q played old school hockey he should know that bullshit needs to be answered with fists in someone's face. Q got old and became a pussy.

 

[PatrickShart]

Even though Carcillo may be skating with Toews/Hossa...he won't be getting top 6 minutes.



He'll skate even strength with those 2. He goes to the net. He can skate/keep up with them. He'll battle in corners. He doesn't skate/try to do much with the puck. The guy is smart enough to get his linemates the puck...and go to the net. It's what he did last year with Hossa/Kane - and the reason why at the time...that line was good, the Hawks were tops in the league, and he was a +10



There's nothing worse than when a "role player" is put on a line with skill players...and he thinks he has to have the puck on his stick/try to be creative - when it's not what he's there to do. Carcillo doesn't do that.



Even though last year, he was on the "second line"...he was playing about 11min a game. And even though he'll be on the "first line"...he'll be getting around the same. He had a good amount of scoring chances last year, that he got robbed on a bit. If he plays his role/to his strengths...Hoss and Toews should have more ice, the pucks on their sticks, and there will be traffic around the net.



They will need to be able to have balance on all 4 lines. Not load up 2...and just hope the others stay "even". But looking at the lineup - all 4 lines should be able to score -

13/19/81 - Toews/Hossa obviously

10/36/88 - again...Kane/Sharp

25/65/29 - this will be the key line. Last year they went in with Bick/Bolland/Frolik line...which was good in the playoffs the previous year, but didnt do squat to start the year last year. These three together...could be the key again. On one hand, 25/29 are on the last year of deals. Sometimes as we all know, it can be a "motivator". But having Stalberg (21g), Shaw (12g-37gms) is pretty good for a 3rd line. Bickell is the enigma...but Frolik may be able to move up here if Bickell falters. Or Kruger between Stalberg/Shaw. But this line will be important to a balance.

52/22/16/67 - this line will be able to skate with a lot of lines in the league. All 4 guys will get gritty/work hard and there's a bit of skill here.



But having balance on 4 lines is going to be essential this year with playing what...48gms in 100 days

 

[LordKOTL]

same thing was probably said about Andrew Ladd. That's who I see Shaw as, a poor man's Andrew Ladd. Not good enough on pure talent but can be smart and brings hardwork to every shift.



But I'm okay with Shaw playing 3rd line, but I'm not against a line promotion if he is excelling offensively.







That hit on Smith was incidental contact and Smith sold it. Carbomb has no control. The guy plays on pure emotion and it bites him in the ass.

Every single time I re-watch that hit I see Smith spin to the ice with more angular velocity than Shaw was skating; and let's not forget that Smith clearly outweighs Shaw by a considerable margin. In other words, the only way that hit works without Smith selling it like he was Billy Mays is if the Laws of Physics are suspended while in the Trapezoid.

 

[Tater]

Every single time I re-watch that hit I see Smith spin to the ice with more angular velocity than Shaw was skating; and let's not forget that Smith clearly outweighs Shaw by a considerable margin. In other words, the only way that hit works without Smith selling it like he was Billy Mays is if the Laws of Physics are suspended while in the Trapezoid.

Too soon?

 

[LordKOTL]

Nah, South Park already lampooned him.

 

[roshinaya]

Carbomb will have a career year, is a fact.

 

[Ton]

Carbomb will have a career year, is a fact.

I would hope so... playing with Toews and Hossa would be a guaranteed 30 points for my grandma.

 

[MassHavoc]

Speaking of the Smith hit, Euro Football has recently really started to try to crack down on the diving issue throughout their big time leagues including reviews of game tape afterwards to make determinations and penalties I believe. I don't see why something like this couldn't be instituted in the NHL. It's won't stop them during very important games, but it may cut down on them overall. Or just make them much better actors. Either way, flops and dives being reviewed and blatant ones (the Smith one might not have been cut and dry enough honestly) could be given fines or suspensions as a detriment to the game? Thoughts? I'm talking the phantom gunman stuff we've seen the sudins pull and things of that nature.

 

[puterwiz53]

I agree that they need to clamp down a lot more on the diving and that is a great idea to do something like the European football league is doing. I think the Canucks are the worst team for diving.

 

[LordKOTL]

You won't get an argument from me. 1st things 1st though--make sure the refs can call diving as a stand-alone penalty. If the stick is nowhere near the player's feet and he goes down like a 12-year old girl at a hillbilly bachelor party, the ref should be able to cal diving and only diving.

 

[Ton]

Divers? Noooo... you don't say! They are the Vancouver Possums!

 

[MassHavoc]

You won't get an argument from me. 1st things 1st though--make sure the refs can call diving as a stand-alone penalty. If the stick is nowhere near the player's feet and he goes down like a 12-year old girl at a hillbilly bachelor party, the ref should be able to cal diving and only diving.

I agree, but the reason I suggested specifically after the play is there is so much bang bang ticky tack shit that goes on every day that while they should be able to call diving, I don't want any kind of instant replay system set up to kill the game experience. Let them call if it's obvious, if they miss it let them review it after the game.... AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... if they do call a player for diving it SHOULD NEGATE ANY PENALTY ON THE OTHER TEAM RELATED TO THE DIVE... I'm so tired of them turning a minor hook into a catastophe with a dive and them calling a dive and the hooking on both players.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

God I hate Vancouver.



How many dives did Lou have in the original Hawks Canucks playoffs in 09'?

 

[supraman]

PSR I gotta question. You have a braveheart avatar how can you not like Burish? he was in that movie. Ireland is his island.

 

[LordKOTL]

I agree, but the reason I suggested specifically after the play is there is so much bang bang ticky tack shit that goes on every day that while they should be able to call diving, I don't want any kind of instant replay system set up to kill the game experience. Let them call if it's obvious, if they miss it let them review it after the game.... AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... if they do call a player for diving it SHOULD NEGATE ANY PENALTY ON THE OTHER TEAM RELATED TO THE DIVE... I'm so tired of them turning a minor hook into a catastophe with a dive and them calling a dive and the hooking on both players.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

PSR I gotta question. You have a braveheart avatar how can you not like Burish? he was in that movie. Ireland is his island.

I like Burish...as a person. His story is great, seems to be a great guy, never heard a bad thing about him. I just think he's a crappy player, his first year me and Shoots he Scores had 7th row seats, we were wondering about this 'Burish' guy. Well we were playing Columbus, (the game Kevyn Adams was injured for the year), and after a whistle Burish put his sticks between some BJ's player and just raped him in the nuts. Left a bad taste in my mouth and other than being a great locker room guy he really only had a few good stretches for the Hawks. Adams, Fraser, Eager, Dowell did a much better job than he did.



In all, he played a handful of games in our cup year, thought we were better without him.

 

[supraman]

I get where you are coming from. For me Burish was a great fourth liner. Just enough skill to be a threat scoring in the sense that you had to defend him. Gave everything he had. And was a great morale guy. Always grinning ear to ear, seemed to keep the boys lose. Personally I thought we lost something when we let him go.



Was he ever going to be this big time scorer star? No, he mighta one day found his game and made it to the 3rd line but probably not.