Adam Banks has a shot.

cake-eater

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2007...tory?id=2894490

 

Will this sport last with Bettman at the helm? What a shame..

Well America is retarded, they'd rather watch any sort of bulls*** reality show before a very entertaining game 3. That game was phenomenal in terms of entertainment value.

I completely agree.

 

Some of my buddies are into American Idol, into Dancing With The Stars, etc. and it seriously bugs me that they'd rather watch that crap than a hockey game.

 

Why has the sport gone so downhill in America? Kids still play it now-a-days, don't they?

So Alexei Yashin got bought out by the Isles.

 

If Handzus leaves as expected, would the Hawks look at Yashin as a possible replacement on a short - term deal as that #1 center?

Well America is retarded, they'd rather watch any sort of bulls*** reality show before a very entertaining game 3. That game was phenomenal in terms of entertainment value.

 

It also hurts that some of hockey's biggest markets, ie Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal and to a lesser extent New York, have are continually not fighting for the Cup or, in Chicago's case, not even within spitting distance of the playoffs.

 

I'd like to see ratings for a hypothetical Rangers - Blackhawks showdown...

Someday I won't have to watch this presentation on TV.

 

Congrats Ducks, that's one hell of a roster.

 

Next up, the draft!

Wow...Ducks dominate. Way to go..QUACK QUACK QUACK.

 

Too bad hockey, which can be a very very fun sport to attend and watch is just in the absolute s***ter in business terminology (horrid ratings, no major tv deal....its just ugly right now).

It sucks, but as long as I can still see all the games and the quality of play is good...well, i'm starting to not care anymore about all the business stuff - or at least i try to ignore it. The playoffs this year were fantastic, no ratings/business bulls*** should ruin that for me.

COngrats to Anaheim

Emilio Estevez for Coach of the Year!!!

We can probably unpin this now, right? Although we'll have to make another thread for the draft and for when Tallon pulls another Havlat for mediocre-ness out of his ass this summer.

 

The Hawks have it narrowed down to three guys -- JVR, Patrick Kane and Kyle Turris. Turris and JVR are both going to college (Wisconsin and New Hampshiere, I want to say), but Kane, despite his size, will probably play in the NHL next year.

 

Personally speaking I want Patrick Kane. Maybe it's a little selfish, but I'd love to see Kane and Toews both on the ice next season, that'd be amazing. Then again, I won't be mad if they go with Turris or JVR -- I have total trust in Tallon.

After reading a ton of s*** on all three guys i'm pretty sold on Kane. I hope Dale just takes him #1 and doesn't trade the pick and we can go into summer, then camp minus a bunch of garbage including Ark (russia), Alexeev (not offered RFA), Bondra (UFA), Holm (UFA)

Edited June 14, 200718 yr by IlliniKrush

The Marty comment is that I don't think he is all that great any more (yes, at one time he was). Good/very good sure, but I wasn't surprised he gave up 6 goals either.

I'm not sure, but I think you are way off

Edited June 15, 200718 yr by IlliniKrush

Hawks traded Cullimore and Salm to Montreal for Samsonov. I would have liked to have moved Aucoin because he has 2 years left on his contract and for more money, but I'll take either of them gone at this point. Salm is a toy hockey player so no loss there.

 

Samsonov has talent and may be able to be a decent contributor with a change of scenery. Hopefully he doesn't bring his attitude problems to Chicago. To me this is a no lose deal, and could turn out to be a huge win if things play out right. Good start to the summer Dale.

 

Edit:

 

And minutes later we find out that Montreal has already bought out Cully's contract

Edited June 16, 200718 yr by IlliniKrush

IMO an awesome deal by Tallon....got rid of 2 guys who have no place on this team for a guy who could help big time... and if not he is gone in 1 year anyway...I likey

One turd gone....now time to get rid of another turd.

Awesome. That clears up some much needed room on the blueline. As of right now, I'd say the locks back there are Keith, Seabrook and Barker. Vandermeer and Aucoin will be on the team (for better or for worse) if they aren't dealt, leaving the last spot for Johansson or Wisniewski. I imagine they'll carry seven defenders, for a couple of reasons -- first, Wisniewski played a little forward last year, IIRC, so if they really want him on the ice, they can carry seven defenders a night and play him at forward for a few shifts. Also, Savard didn't seem hesitant to bench Aucoin, so if he continues to be inneffective, he'll make friends with the press box.

 

My hope is that a move like this might help convince Handzus to remain a Hawk. A motivated Samsonov is a decent second line player (as he was in 2005-2006 with 53 points). I could live with an offseason that just consists of resigning Zues and drafting whoever (Kane, Turris, JVR).

 

If the Hawks do draft Kane, though, I really hope they think about keeping Koci as a 13th guy on the roster. The Hawks are going to need somebody to protect the youngins a bit, and Vandermeer only dropped the gloves twice last season (didn't drop 'em once in the calender year of 2007).

 

This draft needs to come here SOON. I want something to talk about other than Chicago's crappy team on the southside.

If Aucoin or worse yet Vandermeer plays over Wiz, Savard doesn't have a clue. Wiz should be a lock back there IMO.

For anybody that cares...

 

TSN's Top 60 Draft Prospects

 

Apparently Tallon was on a radio station in Canada saying the Hawks already know who they're going to take first overall on Friday. I'm hoping it's Kane, but I'll only be slightly dissappointed if it's JVR or Turris. If it isn't Kane I'd guess it's Turris as the Hawks seem pretty confident in the UofW Badger hockey program (Skille, Burish, Dowell, Ford).

 

Either way I'm very excited, more excited about them than any other team I follow closely. The years of futility are finally paying off. All I really want is for the Hawks to land one top six forward this summer -- hopefully Handzus. Trading Aucoin or Vrbata would be an added bonus. In Dale I trust!

The Edmonton Oilers who have three first round draft picks in Friday's Entry Draft, are not expected to keep all three.

 

The Oilers select sixth, 15th and 30th overall and they are not expected to keep all three. There is a good chance that they could trade the sixth and 15th pick to move up in the draft. "I'm making a lot of calls, and if there's a premier player we can get for a draft pick, I'd consider it. We're not trading a first-round draft pick for an older guy with only one year left on his contract, though," said GM Kevin Lowe.

 

Now I would actually like to make this sort of a deal. Deal the 1st for the 6th and the 15th picks. And maybe try to work Joffrey Lupul into there somehow.

 

I think in the long run there won't be much difference b/w say Kane and Angelo Esposito or the Russian Prospect Cherepanov who may be better than anyone. Any thoughts?

I really want Kane.

 

No reason they cant trade someone else for a lower First round pick. We have bilge to trade.

I think in the long run there won't be much difference b/w say Kane and Angelo Esposito or the Russian Prospect Cherepanov who may be better than anyone. Any thoughts?

 

 

No way do I make that deal. JVR, Kane and Turris have separated themselves as the best of the bunch, and at this point, the Hawks need quality, not quantity. Kane is the consensus best offensive player -- let's hope he's donning the Indianhead in a little over 24 hours.

Robert Lang isn't going to get offered a contract from Detroit. If the Hawks decide that guys like Gomez, Drury, Briere and Handzus are costing too much money, I don't think Lang would be a bad option. The key would be getting him on, at most, a two year deal. He's getting up there in age, but he had a 52 point season last year (19 G + 33 A). He's not a first line center anymore, but he'd be our first line center, at least until Toews is ready to take over there.

 

In any case, there are plenty of options on the free agent market. I'm just hoping it's a center to push Toews to the second line and Sharp to the third.

 

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=211460&hubname=nhl

I think Lang would be a very good option for a 2 or 3 centre. Not too sure I would throw him on the top line but with Samsonov and Havlat up there he might not be too bad there.