Turco Signed (1Y,1.3M), Hawks walk away from Niemi.

[whalerhawk]

I would put Buff #1 on that list as well. Give me a guy who brings it in the playoffs every year over all those guys. Ladd and Versteeg were very valuable, but Buff is really the guy who has risen the level of play for the entire team the last two postseasons. To me, on a team built for the playoffs, that trumps any regular season accomplishments.

 

[Guest]

Not a chance. Give me the guy that shuts down the other teams top guys in the playoffs any day.



I would put Buff #2. Ladd hurts this team the most during the regular season AND playoffs IMO.



Checking line is MASSIVELY important.



Not to mention Buff is a guy that was inconsistent his entire career here and he knows it.

 

[roshinaya]

Ladd for me as well. The guy is the perfect 3rd liner. Works hard, defensively responsible, hits and can chip in some offence. Too bad he'll still be RFA when his deal expires, otherwise I'd like the Hawks to go after him again.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

[quote name="R K"]Not a chance. Give me the guy that shuts down the other teams top guys in the playoffs any day.



I would put Buff #2. Ladd hurts this team the most during the regular season AND playoffs IMO.



Checking line is MASSIVELY important.



Not to mention Buff is a guy that was inconsistent his entire career here and he knows it.[/quote]



Wait... is that a typo?



So you're saying:



Versteeg

Buff

Ladd?

 

[IceHogsFan]

[quote name="Kerfuffle"]

I had him second but pretty close to your assessment. Here's my list of the players we lost with #1 being the most painful.



1) Buff

2) Ladd

3) Versteeg

4) Sopel

5) Niemi

6) Madden

7) Eager

8) Burish

9) Frasier[/quote]



I laughed at Niemi being #5.



Put Huey in for the rest of last season and I guarantee you no Cup.

 

[roshinaya]

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]



Wait... is that a typo?



So you're saying:



Versteeg

Buff

Ladd?[/quote]



No, I think he mean to say that the LOSS of Ladd hurts the most.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

[quote name="roshinaya"]



No, I think he mean to say that the LOSS of Ladd hurts the most.[/quote]



Doh... gotcha!

 

[mikita's helmet]

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]



Wait... is that a typo?



So you're saying:



Versteeg

Buff

Ladd?[/quote]



No, he means Ladd, Buff, Versteeg.



Goaltending aside, my top three are:



Buff

Ladd

Versteeg





An earlier poster noted that Buff terrorized Vancouver and was the MVP of the San Jose series. I'd also add the when the chips were on the line, he showed up in games 5 & 6 of the Cup Finals. Big difference maker in this year's Cup run.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Eager by far the biggest off season loss.

 

[Kerfuffle]

[quote name="bubbleheadchief"]Eager by far the biggest off season loss.[/quote]

I get the humor but in all honesty I would much rather still have Eager than John Scott. Scott = Koci

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

[quote name="Kerfuffle"]

I get the humor but in all honesty I would much rather still have Eager than John Scott. Scott = Koci[/quote]



Yea but Eager is making 2x what Scott is so with Scott, you get 1/2 the player.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]



Yea but Eager is making 2x what Scott is so with Scott, you get 1/2 the player.[/quote]

Literally.



Mixed in my humor there is some actual remorse....Benny actually brought some umph, and at times showed some true skill on the ice....as did all the guys that got traded/let go. Unfortunately with the hard cap, and seriously some players being more integral parts to the future, you see this every year. C'est la vie, even with the losses and additions, the Hawks are still icing one hell of a competitive team.

 

[whalerhawk]

[quote name="bubbleheadchief"]

Literally.



Mixed in my humor there is some actual remorse....Benny actually brought some umph, and at times showed some true skill on the ice....as did all the guys that got traded/let go. Unfortunately with the hard cap, and seriously some players being more integral parts to the future, you see this every year. C'est la vie, even with the losses and additions, the Hawks are still icing one hell of a competitive team.[/quote]

Eager wasn't the best player in the world, but he was a very good skater for a 4th line guy who had a very good shot as well. He did score the game winner of the 2nd game of the Cup Finals with a wicked top shelf wrister over Leighton's shoulder.



Yes, he takes stupid penalties from time to time, but he was a very serviceable 4th liner. Its contributions from guys like Eager that people take for granted and I think those contributions will be missed at times this year.

 

[Guest]

[quote name="whalerhawk"]

Eager wasn't the best player in the world, but he was a very good skater for a 4th line guy who had a very good shot as well. He did score the game winner of the 2nd game of the Cup Finals with a wicked top shelf wrister over Leighton's shoulder.



Yes, he takes stupid penalties from time to time, but he was a very serviceable 4th liner. Its contributions from guys like Eager that people take for granted and I think those contributions will be missed at times this year.[/quote]





Problem with Eager is that his Physical game is gone. He is one concussion away from ending his career. IE Johnsson. He missed how many games at the beginning of the season directly because he could not pass the concussion test, and his game showed that the rest of the year.



I'm excited to see Bickell-Dowell-Skille, verses Eager-Frazer-Bolland. I think the new fourth line will have just as much if not more talent than the former.

 

[Guest]

[quote name="IceHogsFan"]



I laughed at Niemi being #5.



Put Huey in for the rest of last season and I guarantee you no Cup.[/quote]



With the replacement of Turco I don't have Niemi that high either. If they did not sign Turco his replacement would be more critical. Especially looking at Turco's apparent attitude to win verses Niemi looking for the pay day.



Sorry.

 

[Guest]

[quote name="Kerfuffle"]

I get the humor but in all honesty I would much rather still have Eager than John Scott. Scott = Koci[/quote]





Scott will NOT PLAY AT FORWARD!!!! Stan already said IF he plays it will be defense. Meaning 5 or 6.



And I'm not sure you've seen Scott play by that comment. He is far from Koci. Koci could not skate.



When did you start watching this team?

 

[puckjim]

I'm just sorry that I didn't spend two hours in line getting my John Scott autograph.



(I should have used purple nurple, huh RK?)

 

[Guest]

It would surprise me if he plays up here consistently.



Did he have an autograph line?

 

[LordKOTL]

[quote name="R K"]





Problem with Eager is that his Physical game is gone. He is one concussion away from ending his career. IE Johnsson. He missed how many games at the beginning of the season directly because he could not pass the concussion test, and his game showed that the rest of the year.



I'm excited to see Bickell-Dowell-Skille, verses Eager-Frazer-Bolland. I think the new fourth line will have just as much if not more talent than the former.[/quote]

So am I, but I think you mean Burish.

 

[Guest]

[quote name="LordKOTL"]

So am I, but I think you mean Burish.[/quote]





HAHA yea. Multi tasking 101