Bananarchy

QUOTE (Tony @ Jan 10, 2016 -> 05:50 PM) 2010's Dream Team(That would actually make sense from a talent perspective). Sharp-Toews-Hossa Panarin-Anisimov-Kane Saad-Vermette-Versteeg Ladd-Bolland-Brouwer Seabrook-Campbell Keith-Byfuglien Hjalmarsson-Leddy Crawford Niemi Those top 3 lines would snipe, the 4th line would be grinders, and each defensive pair brings offense and defense. I hate that I can't think of a player to replace Versteeg, because I don't much care for him. Maybe Teuvo can be that guy, but the jury is still out on that, of course. I guess he's a "centerman" though.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 10, 2016 -> 03:21 PM) I miss Nick Leddy. He's so good now. Nick Leddy, Andrew Ladd for me are like the two I wish we had back.

We all knew Gase was gone. I have confidence in John Fox to hire the right guy to fill the OC position.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 12:47 PM) If you were Bears, would you trade down, get a couple more picks, and draft this guy late teens, early 20s? I think I would. I probably would, too. Pace appears to be a good judge of talent based on his last draft class. The Bears have so many holes, I would hope they would go ahead and fill as many holes as possible drafting.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 03:47 PM) Got it. Yep, I will be incredibly pissed if Groce is back next year. I dunno. Between the corrupt state, the carousel in the administration, misguided loyalty to a dead symbol at the expense of the school, and an all around disgusting athletic department highlighted by a terrible football problem, I can't find space to care about whether or not a generally classy coach still has his job.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 10:29 PM) Doesn't matter. A competent AD can see that this team isn't well coached and the program isn't moving in the right direction. Why doesn't it matter? The team is a shell of itself. He's still landing four star recruits, also. I'm not typically the voice of reason, but let's call it like it is. This team isn't what it was supposed to be due to injury. And while we're add it, what self respecting coach is going to come to that train wreck of a school and athletic department?

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 10:24 PM) Bryce Alford can be a weird player but that dude hits all the big shots it seems. Too bad his father is worse than dirt.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 09:25 PM) Not before the season is over but any AD worth a damn that they hire will fire him after the season is over. You think? The team's not healthy.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 09:17 PM) And Hill is a pretty darn good player. And the last of the Weber recruits.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 09:14 PM) The only four star guy that suited up today that wasn't a freshman was Malcolm Hill. I guess you're expecting quite a bit from JCL, DJW, and Jordan in their second Big ten road game against a top 10 team in the country. This is unacceptable, but let's not paint a different picture than it is. Agreed. The reality is, Groce isn't going anywhere because 1) The whole team is hurt 2) Illinois still hasn't hired his boss

QUOTE (Boogua @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 09:01 PM) He should probably just quit. I don't enjoy his coaching, but he has been insanely unlucky here. He should try to resurrect his career elsewhere. At least he would leave the program better than he inherited it. If you would have told me we would have all these four star guys and still be this bad, I would have said you were crazy. The Illinois basketball brand is holding on to relevance for dear life.

In "Former Hawks" news, Patrick Sharp has an 11 game point streak.

One catch all thread closer to our next WS Championship

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 01:19 PM) The Departed Heat other things I got 45 minutes into the Departed and honestly thought "This may be the best movie I have ever seen". Still really love it, just like Goodfellas better.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 06:14 PM) Panarin is skating with Patrick Kane on the second line. I'd call that infused into the core. Bickell is struggling to stay on the roster. I'd call that out of the core. When I say "infused" I mean Hawks have to pay him to stay as part of the core. He's a guy they need to have room for.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 06:07 PM) You do know Anisimov got a contract extension, right? 1.3 million raise from this season over 5 years. That explains why rotoworld and hockeyscap disagree.

QUOTE (Tony @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 05:37 PM) Right, and it goes against basically I said in my last post, but I didn't have a ton of expectations for this season, even with the core. This off-season was a little too close to the purge after 2010 with Sharp, Saad, Versteeg, Oduya, Vermette all being shipped out, along with all the miles these guys have on their legs. It was about the next wave being implanted with this team(who you mentioned above), seeing who is a keeper and who needs to be replaced. Things have gone well all things considered, and if they stay healthy, there is no reason to think another long playoff run isn't going to happen in 2016. Luckily, after next season the Hawks will have a good opportunity to infuse Panarin into the core of the team with the expiring Bickell (finally!) and Anisimov contracts. Does anyone have a good grasp on the retirement recapture rule? Edit: Got it. Not that he's going to do it now, but down the line Good thing is he's still a reasonably productive player. I just wish he could score a little more.

QUOTE (Tony @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 05:18 PM) Your Dallas Stars have made the playoffs once in eight years. When you root for a team like that, the regular season becomes much more important, I wouldn't expect you to fully grasp what people are trying to explain to you. It's ok, we understand. I like the Stars because they are fun. I love the Blackhawks because I have watched them since I was a kid. Seriously, stop with the Stars fan stuff. Yeah, I like the Stars. They're on TV for free. I didn't have the money to buy Game Center Live at the beginning of the season. I get it, you're the elder statesman Blackhawks fan. You're one of ten people who cared about the Blackhawks prior to 2009. In that case, we have something in common. I want the Blackhawks to win, but I'm scared of how good this division is.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 05:04 PM) Kopitar has 3 OT goals, Toews has 4. Not referring to Kopitar, referring to Toews, a better player, underperforming this season.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 05:00 PM) The only way the Hawks will realistically have the caproom for a big player is if one of their big time players ends up on LTIR. Hence the "whatever they can".

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:59 PM) Kopitar who has four more points than Toews who is apparently now "dying on the vine"? Seriously, thank God Toews plays in 3 on 3 OT games or it would be worse.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:52 PM) You, on multiple occasions have said the division is too strong and the Hawks are too weak to make the playoffs. So I guess we are taking pleasure in the regular season results while they are still playing. I still contend that I want management to do whatever they can to add a forward or defenseman before I go against the Kings or any Central team.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:49 PM) And if you look around at the other teams, who would you rather have in April? I would say the Kings because Kopitar is Toews kryptonite, but Hossa and (insert winger here) is already Toews kryptonite. But, seriously, the Kings look solid and (what do you know?) are adding defensive and center depth.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:47 PM) Yet we have the third most points in hockey You guys, on numerous occasions, have made it clear that regular season doesn't matter.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:41 PM) What discussion? All you do is talk about how the Hawks arent as good as some xbox team you invented in your head. Its hilarious. I bet you were super "comfortable" with the roster last year. That's your response?! Last year Bowman capitalized on the Kane injury by adding Antoine Vermette, or did you already forget? The Blackhawks were stacked going into last postseason. They aren't now. Toews is dying on the vine, Hossa can't score, Shaw can play, but he's a third line guy that can't finish on the first line. Which defenseman gives you enough confidence that we have at least 2 solid defensive pairings? We're seeing flashes now, but everyone here is all about "regular season doesn't matter". Nope. Don't improve the team. Doesn't work. We've never had to before. And don't be critical of the almighty Blackhawks because we're already engraving the 2016 Cup.