Who is our new 'Talent Guy'?

[Guest]

[quote name="Ton"]



Hey, you mean Dale didn't sign Kopecky and Hossa?! But RK, he was GM at the time, this is not possible.



-5min[/quote]



I never agreed with all of what Dale did here. Especially the first year, although I do give him a little leeway knowing Pulford called a lot of those shots. There was a point where Pulford was FINALLY moved aside. It happened late in that first season after the Lock out. Bill finally realized what was holding his team back and did something about it. No players wanted to come here so no MATTER who was the GM you were going to have to over pay UFA's. Was that Tallons fault? Not a fucking chance. It's easy to pick the bad out of an organization. But to blast one that just won the Cup with 3-4 examples, while there are 18 more that DID contribute in the manner they are touted too.



Again I just happened to be lucky at the time and heard a lot of the inter goings on at the time.

 

[Guest]

[quote name="Larmer83"]

A Hockey News Article from 7/31/2008.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/1 ... dia=videos



It is well-known new Hawks president John McDonough is not a big fan of either Tallon or Savard and that McDonough was the driving force behind the signings of unrestricted free agents Cristobal Huet and Brian Campbell.



In fact, industry insiders maintain Tallon didn’t want to sign either player July 1, but McDonough insisted the Hawks sign them as both hockey and marketing moves.



The Atlanta Thrashers had the inside track on Campbell in the first hours of free agency. He was reportedly about to accept Atlanta’s offer when McDonough apparently ordered Tallon to improve the Chicago’s offer to Campbell, who ended up signing with the Blackhawks for $56.8 million over eight years.



It was much the same with Huet. The night before free agency opened, the Capitals thought they had a deal done with Huet for $15 million over three seasons. But again, apparently at McDonough’s insistence, the Hawks sweetened their offer, adding another year and $565,000 per season.



ADDING ANOTHER FUCKING YEAR AND 500K PER. 7 MILLION EXTRA!!!!



Sorry about that.[/quote]



I think that article is only half factual. Campbell was coming before Mcdonough took the Job IMO. San Jose was just a stop to try and win the Cup before he became UFA. He never intended on staying there and Chicago was his ultimate destination.



Huet on the other hand, 100% Mcdonough. Spending the REST of the money to prove to fans they were serious about spending money. Had he not pushed for Huet and signed him I completely believe Ryan Miller would not have resigned in Buffalo and come to Chicago the following year. Tallons goal was to have Khabi/Niemi play last year and Miller/Niemi this past season. Ironically Miller resigned within a month of Huet signing here. There is an article out there where Zito states Niemi was told he'd play in the NHL, not Rockford. We'll the Huet signing fucked that all up. Sent Tallon on a spin after being told he HAD TO find a place for Khabi. NO WAY was Nick going to the KHL. I just happen to know him a little. Cause you know I talk out my ASS so much.



Good thing Tallon couldnt move Khabi or we'd never have gotten the playoff experience these guys needed LAST year for the CUP RUN this YEAR!

 

[5Minutes4Fighting]

Ron, you statement that Smith was basically done running the show when Keith and Seabs were drafted is clear proof once again that you make stuff up to support your position.



We all know that Scotty brought the Russian Five to Detroit which won them the Cup. So dumb ass Smith says, I can do that too. Only difference is, Scotty knew how to evaluate talent, and Smith did not. So Smith traded for boatloads of Russians and Euros, and drafted big zeros like Vorobiev, Yakubov, etc etc. In the same draft that Keith was picked (2002), the Hawks took Babchuk in the first round. Any body who knows Mike Smith and Hawks history knows that the Babchuk pick was Smith all the way.



And I remember the 2003 draft like it was yesterday. Besides Russsians/Euros, Smith also had some other fetishes at the time: Defensemen and captains. Wasn't it in 2002 when the Hawks were in playoff contention and Smith traded for Odelein and Fitzgerald? in the interview, Smith talked about those guys being captains and how important that was.



When it was the Blackhawks turn to pick in 2003 i was praying that Smith would take Parise. But it was well known that Smith had a hard on for defensmen at the time (based on success of other teams with studs on d, maybe wings and devils). Even the guys covering the draft said something like, "Well the Hawks really want to draft defensemen, but there are some great players they should consider." Smith took Seabs. And in that interview, Smith of course was talking about wanting defensemen and the fact that Seabrook was a captain of his junior team.



So Smith's fingerprints are all over the Keith and Seabrook picks and he was definitely running the show at the time. He was incompetent as a gm, but he did (by accident) get a few things right.



-5Minutes

 

[Guest]

I disagree and was much closer than you were. You believe what you want there Larry. You've made up crap all along here and Keiths own words were proof to a good extent of who was doing what by that time. Tallon was being groomed to be GM. Another thing I disagree with the organization about. Hiring someone with absolutely no experience, which was a trait of the "hiring from with in".



Again I am ashamed there are fans like you out there Larry. Oh well. Enjoy the Cup we just won, because you can not deny without Tallon it's not here and NONE of us get to see what we just did. I'll remember this conversation later this summer and CHUCKLE all over again. I'll take pictures.



-RK



PS and don't forget to reply to the other four people here that definitely don't agree with you. It's not just Ron.

 

[Maiden]

My only question for 5 MINs is if Tallon isn't afforded the credit for this teams upward spiral, WHO is in your eyes?



One other point for everyone to ponder. Mike Smith was the GM prior to Tallon.

Both men have been fired by CBH. Which one got a new GM job right away and which one writes columns for the Hockey News?

 

[Shredder]

Not to answer for 5 here, but we certainly don't win the Cup coming out of the 2006 and 2007 drafts with, say, Jordan Staal and Kyle Turris. We might conceivably have survived getting Backstrom in 2006, but what if we don't win the lottery in 2007?



The Penguins take Toews in 2006, the Flyers retain the #1 overall pick in 2007 and things start looking very different...

 

[Guest]

[quote name="Shredder"]Not to answer for 5 here, but we certainly don't win the Cup coming out of the 2006 and 2007 drafts with, say, Jordan Staal and Kyle Turris. We might conceivably have survived getting Backstrom in 2006, but what if we don't win the lottery in 2007?



The Penguins take Toews in 2006, the Flyers retain the #1 overall pick in 2007 and things start looking very different...[/quote]



There is Luck thrown into every winning Championship and how it's obtained. 18 players is a little more than luck. In your scenario what happens if they chose say Stahl or Turris? Or even Backstrom? There were choices in BOTH drafts other than the player they ultimately chose.



It works both ways but to dismiss all of it is just plain ignorance because one has an agenda. There is a reason Tallons name is going on the Cup and one could argue Dudley should be there as well.



We'll see just how much they learned with the development of Atlanta and Florida. Ironically pointed out by Maiden BOTH were sought after for their knowledge as GM's for OTHER NHL teams. Almost immediately after leaving the Hawks. Tallon did not get a vote for GM of the year because he was a "nice guy". Months after he was even the GM.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

http://cdn.nhl.com/futures/cssrankings/ ... rs_num.pdf



But but but... Shredder... THE EXPERTS!



http://cdn.nhl.com/futures/cssrankings/ ... katers.pdf



Oh and these are only the NA skaters.

 

[Ton]

Turris ranked #1, Toews was ranked #3 but remember Kessels stock was very high and him dropping down to #5 was heavily criticized and many people in Chicago actually really wanted Phil... there was plenty of debate over it. Toews/Kessel and Kane/Turris. There was also added pressure to trade the picks due to the lack of "Crosby/Ovechkin" type of picks where it wasn't so obvious who would go where.



All I have to say is thank God Dale didn't trade those picks for a quick fix and thankfully he also picked the CORRECT choices.

 

[Shredder]

Just thought I'd throw it out there, because it's fun to speculate. In retrospect, there's little doubt in my mind we got the two best players in those drafts.



It's a funny thing, the draft. Getting high picks isn't enough. You have to get them at the right time. Sometimes you've got six or seven franchise players at the top. Other times, there are no bonafide building blocks. Washington, Chicago and Pittsburgh have definitely walked away with a large haul of talent at the top of the draft. Teams like Florida, Columbus and Atlanta are still searching, mostly.

 

[Maiden]

[quote name="Shredder"]Not to answer for 5 here, but we certainly don't win the Cup coming out of the 2006 and 2007 drafts with, say, Jordan Staal and Kyle Turris. We might conceivably have survived getting Backstrom in 2006, but what if we don't win the lottery in 2007?



The Penguins take Toews in 2006, the Flyers retain the #1 overall pick in 2007 and things start looking very different...[/quote]



If IF's and BUTT's were tits and ..................well you know the rest.



The key for this teams consistent rise the past 3 years is who was named captain and when. Starts with strong leadership and setting an example on the ice. There isn't anyone in those 06 and 07 drafts with the leadership qualities of #19 of CBH. NOBODY!!!