Controlled Chaos

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 15, 2010 -> 11:21 AM) Trading Sharp would be a huge mistake. He is not only a team leader, but is a much needed scorer. Steeger and BUff could be gone instead. This No way I would lose Sharp if I could move Steeger and Buff. That has to be the first moves they try to make. Getting someone to take Soupy would be great, but that ain't happening. Hammer is also a must sign IMO. Here's some numbers to ponder. Salary cap will force Hawks to shake up roster Stanley Cup winners have difficult choices to make in NHL financial environment By Chris Kuc, Tribune reporter 10:06 PM CDT, June 12, 2010 During their raucous tour of seemingly every drinking establishment in Chicago with the Stanley Cup in tow, the Blackhawks took some time to reflect on the sobering fact that not all of them will be back next season. "We had a few moments when all the guys were together the other night and we realized a lot of guys are going to be moving in different directions," said center John Madden, who will be an unrestricted free agent July 1. "(Salary) cap issues are going to be a problem. We have a good team, great guys and unfortunately we have to move on." The salary cap is expected to be around $59 million next season and with 14 players signed for around $57 million of that, the Hawks are facing a mathematical impossibility of remaining under the cap without some major subtractions. Added to the mix is the $1.3 million bonus captain Jonathan Toews received for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason MVP, a figure that counts against the cap. "We were going to try our best to win the Cup this year and we did that knowing all along there were going to be changes that had to be made," general manager Stan Bowman said. "It's just the business we're in right now. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out." During the shakeout, it's expected Bowman will have to move a key player or two and not re-sign some. Included in that mix is veteran goaltender Cristobal Huet, who became Antti Niemi's backup and has a hefty 2010-11 cap hit of $5.625 million. "The goaltending is where we're going to have to figure something out," Bowman said. There aren't many options to get Huet's salary off the books other than sending him to the American Hockey League, where he would get paid his salary but it wouldn't count against the cap. That would leave Niemi, who is a restricted free agent and is in line for a large raise from his current salary of $800,000, and Corey Crawford ($800,000) in goal. Options to trim payroll via trades may come from players who also could be considered part of the core group of Hawks. Forwards Patrick Sharp ($3.9 million cap hit), Kris Versteeg ($3.083 million) or Dustin Byfuglien ($3 million) could fall into that mix. Another possibility is Bowman finding a taker for Brian Campbell, who carries a whopping cap hit of $7,142,875 million through 2016 or fellow defenseman Brent Sopel ($2 million). Players who are unrestricted free agents and may not return next season are Madden, Adam Burish, Nick Boynton and Kim Johnsson. "I have no idea what the future holds," Madden said. "I'll be playing somewhere. … Who knows what's going to happen?" Another group of uncertainty includes restricted free agents Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Colin Fraser among others. If any of those players return, they likely will be in line for raises after helping the Hawks win the Stanley Cup. "I'd love to be here," said Ladd, who made $1.6 million in '09-10. "I can't imagine playing anywhere else but everyone understands it's a business." Here's a look at who will be back, who may be back and who won't be back: They're back: The Hawks signed Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith to long-term contracts and have hits of $6.3 million, $6.3 million and $5,538,462, respectively. Also part of the core is Marian Hossa ($5.275 million) and Dave Bolland ($3.375 million). At least two of Sharp, Versteeg, Byfuglien and Sopel should return and Campbell likely isn't going anywhere. Brent Seabrook, Troy Brouwer and Tomas Kopecky are signed through next season at affordable prices and are vital cogs. Niemi and Hjalmarsson are young players who deserve and will get raises. Current cap hit total of all players in this category: $51,973,003 million. They could be back: Ladd is a strong two-way player and Bowman likely will try to keep the veteran. Fraser, Jordan Hendry and Bryan Bickell are all restricted but won't demand significant money to return. Eager could warrant a spot if he doesn't expect much of a raise beyond his current $1 million deal and Burish ($700,000) is in the same spot. Current cap hit total of all players in this category: $5.1 million. They're gone: Madden ($2.8 million) will be too expensive to remain with the Hawks, as is Johnsson. Huet almost certainly will not be on the NHL roster in 2010-11 and Boynton is a veteran also likely moving on. 2010-11 cap hit total of all players in this category: $14,725,000.

Phenoms always blow up in their 3rd starts and no I do not have any data to back me up. Sox win 8-3

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jun 14, 2010 -> 09:46 AM) I've got an idea. Let's change the subject back to winning the Stanley Cup! Also, what's next? It's clear one of Steeger/Sharpie is going to have to go, and I pray it's Versteeg. Also, do the Hawks send Huet to Rockford to give the roster some flexibility or just buy him out outright? I'm on your side with hoping Steeger is the odd man out. Not sure what to do with the hot mess known as Huet. How bout the extra cap hit with Towes winning the Conn Smythe. That blows.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jun 14, 2010 -> 08:36 AM) No he doesn't. He was sloshed. He was hanging over the rails waiting for his chance to speak with his eyes half-closed. I am willing to chalk this up to being 21, but Kaner needs to work a bit on his image, and I'm sure that'll happen as he matures. Sounds like a lisp to me. I'm not saying he wasn't buzzed, but he wasn't sloshed...I see nothing wrong with what he did. hanging over the rails?? He put his head down on his arm...he's on no sleep, waiting in sauna temperatures with a hockey jersey on. His image is just fine for a 21 yr old kid. Can't believe this is even being discussed here.

Why is everyone assuming he was so sloshed. He has a lisp. He wasn't slurring and stumbling over his words. Just being a silly 21 yr old. He wasn't stumbling around on the bus. He was carrying the trophy around with no problems. What the hell is the definition of sloshed?

I don't know what your guys definition of sloshed is, but when I'm sloshed I'm not tossing a 35lb trophy over my head like it ain't no thing. He never wavered, he never almost lost it...he was in control...He was buzzed and having a great time. Good for him. This is a non issue.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 10, 2010 -> 09:05 AM) yeah, Kane curled around the back of the net and back towards the benches and started pumping his arms, and I thought to myself "why are the flyers standing still? what is Kane doing? He looks like he scored, but the crowd, announcers, and even the production wasnt acting like he scored? So what the hell is going on?" What a crazy moment, very unforgettable I didn't see the puck go in, but as soon as I saw Kane go around the back of the net like that I knew it was in. I jumped up and started goin nuts and for about 3 seconds everyone was just lookin at me. I'm glad Kaner didn't make me look like an idiot. I never did hear the announcers or anything because everyone was goin nuts...did they ever say Goal? Poor Doc, the dude goes nuts for every SOG and Kane pulls a fast one on him and ruins his moment to shine. STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!!!! I still can't believe it!!

QUOTE (knightni @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 05:04 PM) The new eye candy in Transformers 3 yuck. she looks good in like 2 of those pictures. In the others she looks like she was in the movie Mask.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 02:45 PM) Except for blind homerism, is there reason to think we'll win tonight? I bet 10 bucks on centsports.com on the Hawks and 10 more on the over of 5.5 goals figuring the game in Philly will more resemble the first game in Chicago. But is there any real reason to believe we'll go up 3-0 in the series and pretty much end it? Does tonight's game have Philly written all over it? Of course there is reason to believe. Hawks have won 7 road games in a row...clearly they're comfortable in another building. Also, for as much talk there is out of Philly that they 'outplayed' the Hawks....they haven't fricken won. The other side of that is the Hawks haven't come close to playing their best game yet. An early couple goals by the Hawks could be the end of Philly and their 'crowd'. An early couple by Philly could be enough to shut down the Hawks in their building too, but the Hawks won't quit. So I think it will be a battle. I like the over pick....I'm thinking a 4-2 game....and if Philly is going to win a game this series, it will most likely be this one, but their odds go no higher than 50% in my book. It's a crap shoot, a coin flip. Indian Head or Weird Flying P?? call it in the air.

And some kids were better because they worked hard at it. I would practice with the team for an hour and then with my dad for another 2. I wanted to be the best out there and busted my ass to do so. Other kids didn't want to play or didn't have the passion I had. What's next, banning extra practice, to keep everyone on the same playing field? When kids are old enough to know the game then they're old enough to know winning and losing. Hell my daughter turns 4 Saturday and she has known winning and losing for a year. I don't know why one day out of the blue she said "lets race daddy", but I let her win and she was all excited that she "won" I never even taught her what "winning" was, but there she was throwing her hands in the air jumping up and down. You can bet your ass the next race, I taught her what losing was. Now I beat her about 1/2 the time. The first couple times she cried and threw a tantrum and I had to do some 'GASP' parenting. Now when she loses she says good race daddy. Kids are exposed to winning and losing with tag, musical chairs, red light green light etc.... They know winning and losing at 4 years old. Competition is a part of life...better that they learn to deal with it.

Ladd skated today, but out for tonights game. If he is ready Friday, I think they sit Burish.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 11:33 AM) Its a great lesson for modern society. Don't succeed too much, or someone will say you don't deserve it, and you should be forced to give it to someone else. I see what you did there.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 02:25 PM) Eager is in the NHL to lay the wood on people. Nothing more. He does have a nice wrister though...if he scores that's usually how he does it. He's rarely in a shooting lane though.

This is an intro presentation on the site. Kinda like google on steriods. http://www.wolframalpha.com/screencast/int...lframalpha.html

Here's some waste from a few recent things I can remember.... http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-03...-toll-authority It's not fricken complicated. Blue is Ok. Red is Bad. Yellow is account low. If you don't know that...then you'll call the Illinois tollway and they will tell you. Simply as that...you'll never have the question again. How much will be spent on this?? http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-10...rkers-half-mile Totally uneccesary. Not only was every 1/2 mile sufficient, so is having these mile markers only in the median in the middle.

QUOTE (juddling @ May 28, 2010 -> 12:57 PM) you know when the Bears built their new field a while back I just couldn't figure out why they didn't go all out and put up a retractable dome so they could still play in 'Bear' weather (always hated that term) and then actually have a shot to get a Super Bowl in Chicago. i'm sure Chicago could always use the extra income that comes with hosting the Super Bowl. Because when it comes to stadiums Chicago seems to always get it wrong.

Wow pretty good debate here. I came in with the opinion cold weather is fine for a superbowl...then kinda changed it after reading some of Illini's posts...but then changed it back by the end of the thread. Football is not just about who can perform the best in optimal conditions. It has never been just about that. External factors have always been part of the game. Who can play through pain. Who can play through the fear. Whoc an play through the pressure. Who can play through the crowd noise. Who can play through the weather. Football is about overcoming obstacles in the toughest of conditions. That has always been the sport.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 27, 2010 -> 04:10 PM) Get real. "Get real" is the new "One Goal"

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 26, 2010 -> 09:39 PM) At the end of the day, I think one thing is obvious. We will see spinoffs. That is the one perfect explanation for all of the unanswered questions. The obvious thing to me is we all got mind-f***ed for 6 years. Some of us simply were satisfied with the ride and others are looking to get cuddled now that it's over. It's all good...everyone's different.

Happy Birthday Fellas!!

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 25, 2010 -> 08:53 AM) Sweet. I was gonna ask again too. I was thinking maybe the tomahawk breaking the wings on the end of the P...having them like bent and breaking off downward, but eating their P is good too. err wait a minute!!!!!!

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ May 24, 2010 -> 08:33 AM) I didn't see this, but I guess people threw things on the ice in the 3rd period? Thats such a cubbie/redwings thing to do. . . keep the ice clean unless someone scores 3 goals. That is all. Not a fan of it, but let's not act like they were throwing garbage or cups of beer after a loss. If it's ok/encouraged to throw your hat on the ice for a hat trick at any point in the year, it's certainly within bounds to throw a towel on the ice after an empty netter seals the sweep of the #1 ranked team and a West conf title. It was such a small thing, I can't believe anyone would even mention it.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 21, 2010 -> 09:22 AM) What's the point of these questions? Dan Bernstein asked the same thing, "what do you care more about, the Hawks winning the Cup, or the Bulls getting LeBron?" Completely stupid questions... we get it, you don't like hockey and you're only on the bandwagon for the hell of it. Some of us have been Hawks fans for awhile, and a lot of the new fans are greatly in love with this team. Let us have our fun and stop trying to minimize the importance of this season for a lot of us.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 18, 2010 -> 02:31 PM) I'm on it How's This? Or this.... BTW, Thanks for these man. Pretty cool.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ May 19, 2010 -> 02:35 PM) I think at the end of the day putting the puck in the goal has some luck involved. Right now Hossa isnt getting the bounces. What makes him worth 7.9mil is that even when he isnt scoring, he is still one of the most valuable guys on the ice. He is 4th in playoff scoring on the Hawks (11 points) and has the highest +/- rating for an offensive player at 6. (Hossa also lead in +/- in the regular season). Hes taken 44 shots on goal, but only 4.5% have gone in. Eventually that will even out. That's what I'm hoping for. In fact no more complaining out of me. I want to enjoy the ride!