Training Camp

[MassHavoc]

I don't know if it's going to be worse - and not sure how that can be said, without 1 game played as a unit.



It's going to be different, yes. The PK sucked last year with that group. They werent physical AT ALL. Cullimore and Boynton were on the team a good portion of last season...and they're worse now?



They lost mobility - losing Campbell and Campoli - but Lepisto can skate and a full year of Leddy won't be bad. Campoli is replaced, but a step back from Campbell for sure.



But they're much more physical as well. Take a look at last years hits and blocked shots out of the D -

Seabrook - 227/154

Keith - 45/149

Campbell - 28/101

Hjarllmrsn - 46/166

Campoli - 26/21 (99/91 combined)

Leddy - 26/46

Boynton - 50/74

Cllimore - 38/34



So Seabrooks 227 hits - were 32 less than the 259 the others had combined.



Losing Capoli, Campbell and Boynton/Cullimore (as a combined # 7)...the Hawks lost -

161gms - 7g - 43a - 50pts - 142 hits - 230 blocked shots - career combined - 12



But adding Montador, Lepisto and O'Donnell - (note, I only took Lepisto's stats from after trade deadline to be even with Campoli)

173gms - 6g - 43a - 49pts - 162hits - 238 blocked shots - career combined +140



Campoli is a career - 39, to where Lepisto is a career +20. This is an interesting stat. Now...I know, some will throw out - "+/- can be a factor if on a shitty team...." especially where Campoli was on NYI and OTT. (And Lepisto on PHX)...however, looking at their history...

Lepisto

NHL - 150gms - +20

AHL - 125gms - +53

FIN - 190gms - +37



Campoli -

NHL - 397gms - -39

AHL - 94gms - +2

OHL - 247gms - -1



Own zone coverage never seemed to be a strong point for him, or the 'minus' stat seems to follow him around.



Now Campbell...his transition game will be sorely missed, and hopefully Hjarlmarsson's game doesn't go south without him. However, at 7.14mil and he didn't play on the first PP unit...only played PK this year, and that was because there were no better options...is alot of money to spend on a 5 on 5 only player.



Montador won't be able to make up his transition game. Leddy will some. But hopefully Montador will be more physical, and improve a shitty PK - at a fraction of the cost.



So worse? I don't think so...but a different. It'll take a few games to find the pairings/roles...but may actually be a better group.

My cat's breath smells like cat food.













But you make a valid argument.

 

[Ton]

Never really cared for the addition of Montador mostly because I always thought of him as a journeyman who had trouble fitting on teams, I was pretty content with Campoli and hoped they had kept him.



Either way, I don't really think it's fair to question his worth to the team after a couple pre-season games, especially a new addition to the team.

 

[LordKOTL]

My case on the D being weaker is on the transition game. Overall your point is valid, but losing Campbell for the transition game is going to hurt. We will only have 1 proven transition in Keith, who (assuming he plays beter than last year) will also be a top shutdown D-man and we shouldn't be running him, or Seabs ragged. It's also a lot to place on Leddy's shoulders and as much as I'm pulling for him and think he's a great young D-man, it's like asking Adam Burish to be Bob Probert. If Leddy, Hammer, or Lepisto can't step into that role, something's gonna have to give for the worse--like playing more dump and chase.



Lepistopheles I'm actually not worried about at all. Montador I am. Right now I would have O'donnel, and possibly even Scott ahead of him in terms of play so far. The problem is that he also makes what? 4 times as much as either of them? You know also that management would love to play Montador not because he'd give us the best chance to win, but because they'd be wasting money if he didn't. If he can shake off the rust then great, but if not, it would be just like icing Boynton, Cullimore, or Zyuzin again.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Didn't know where to put this... good article on John Scott from today's Sun Times:



http://www.suntimes.com/sports/8002461-419/john-scott-in-valued-niche-as-blackhawks-only-heavyweight.html

 

[JOVE23]

Didn't know where to put this...

Your spank bank?

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

That's where it came from... I had to clean off my keyboard before posting that.

 

[dlrob315]

Didn't know where to put this... good article on John Scott from today's Sun Times:



http://www.suntimes....eavyweight.html

The online addition in the archives. The print edition with the fire wood.

 

[MassHavoc]

So, you don't know where, so you're going to post it everywhere huh... hahaa I keeed I keed.