Cheer The Anthem - Latest Comments

Re: End of Season Reviews: Corey Crawford

John S — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:01:45 -0000

WEAK! Grow some thicker skin bro. Just because people disagree with you on twitter doesn't mean you need to block them! HAHAHAHAHA!

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Johnny Oduya

John S — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:00:45 -0000

No one really cares what you think. You need to grow thicker skin and stop blocking people just because they disagree with your opinion. Hop off your high horse bro!

Re: End of Season Reviews: Corey Crawford

Lord Tunderin' — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:54:04 -0000

Fair evaluation.

Still (relatively) young at 27, so a chance he bounces back with a better season. If I was betting man, I'd lay money on a slight positive regression.

Certainly an area the Hawks will need to improve, whether organically or through acquisition. Given his cap hit and the goalies expected to hit the market this summer I'd give him another year (assuming you couldn't sign a "Vokoun" for $1.5M)

Re: End of Season Reviews : Dave Bolland

dbcooper — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:26:47 -0000

I wonder if plays hurt a lot. Every time he steps on the ice he draws the attention of an opposing power forward. I think that is why so many breakouts happen on his watch. He is a top 3 checking center for sure.

Re: End of Season Reviews : Dave Bolland

hauss — Sat, 12 May 2012 03:44:36 -0000

Bolland's season starts in March.

Re: End of Season Reviews : Dave Bolland

Joe — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:25:39 -0000

Jim,

Excellent assessment and you are quite correct that just about every other Hawk blog out there has Bolland (along with Hammer) as likely trade bait. And I’m like you, I fear what the consequences might be to this team if the Hawks actually went ahead with it.

The “problem” with moving a player like Bolland are all of the intangibles he brings. For him, the numbers will never tell the story (and that’s why his salary, although a bit high for a third line center, can’t be looked at in isolation either). Would the Hawks have knocked off the Canucks in back-back series without him? No way. And look at how his return last year almost single-handedly allowed the Hawks to force a game 7 OT against those same Canucks (after the Hawks lost the first 3 games without him). He’s a special kind of player and while I like Kruger a lot, I just don’t know if he can, either now or even over time, ever replace Bolland. As you say it would have to be a calculated risk and only if the return was truly meaningful.

The flip side is that he just came off an injury-free season so his valuable is probably at peak. And I can’t think of any team (other than the Canucks and only because of the Rat’s comments earlier this year!) that wouldn’t want him. But then if you have a player that everybody else would love to have on their team….doesn’t that tell you something?

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Michael Frolik

Campbell32 — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:36:10 -0000

Should've had Walt Junior from breaking bad as the right side of that photo.

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Michael Frolik

'hawks58 — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:29:56 -0000

Only Sharp and Bolland were on the ice for fewer goals against per 60 minutes on the PK, and Fro was 4th (Mayers, Kruger, Hayes) among forwards 5 on 5, and he had the highest quality of comp and relative quality of comp among those 4 (highest and 2nd highest in among the top 10 forwards in GA/60).

So he's been a very good defender. He's a great 4th line guy (hard worker, smart defensively) and he has enough scoring ability for that role; too bad he's making over $2 million a year. I'd still take him on the 4th with that contract, so long as the 'hawks have the cap room for him.

Re: Blackhawks fire Mike Haviland

Russell Hilsky — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:29:18 -0000

Q's hook-up of kitch will prove to be his claim to fame when Chicago gets rid of Him. assistent coach firing only to direct attention to someone else . Shows His character

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Michael Frolik

Falkin3 — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:29:38 -0000

I don't know. I'm not so ready to give up on the kid because he is an enigma. The picture is perfect. What is he? I think he's been mis-managed and his performances in the playoffs make me want to see the kid get a real consistent chance at learning how to finish without his confidence being bounced around. He gets opportunities to score, he generally works hard and is defensively responsible for the most part. He just can't finish. But we said the same thing about Stalberg last year, did we not? And yes, he meets the eye test on the PK. Sometimes we quickly forget that most kids aren't going to step on the ice and be Toews or Crosby. They actually need to be developed. Q's doghouse works in weird ways and I never thought this kid deserved to be relegated to it yet somehow John Scott was OK to put on the ice.

Re: Blackhawks fire Mike Haviland

Daniel Beckman — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:58:12 -0000

Strange move. Q's defense of Kitch was even more alarming. I saw the white board in Kitch's hands before an epic PP fail not Havi's. Either the hawks are not buying into Kitch and Q doesn't like that or Q is hooking up a friend. This is much is certain; if the Hawks fail next season Q is a gonner by December and Kitch is too.

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Michael Frolik

Daniel Beckman — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:53:50 -0000

He has no shot. That sums up Fro. He scored a shootout on Corey shnieder because schnieder pulled his groin. Tow of his late goals against mike smith where poke in's I could have done. Good skater and puck getter though. Should be an official not a hockey player.

Re: Blackhawks fire Mike Haviland

Bobcoz2002 — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:55:27 -0000

HAVI S A CHARACTER GUY WHO WORKS WELL WITH YOUNGER PLAYERS,UNFORTUNATELY WHEN YOUR TEAM IS NOT DOING WELL ITS EASIER TO DUMP A COACH THAN A PLAYER.i SAY HAVI WILL NOT BE UNEMPLOYED VERY LONG,maybe a head coaching position is in the horizon.Goodluck Mike

Re: Blackhawks fire Mike Haviland

marc and mitch — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:26:40 -0000

mikes the best.......Q is an asshole

Re: Blackhawks fire Mike Haviland

Bill Thorpe — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:23:14 -0000

Although its a BIG suprise and a HUGE loss to the Blackhawks, we probably did him a HUGE favor. Havi deserves to be a Head Coach of his own team!! He wont be unemployed very long!!!!

Re: Blackhawks fire Mike Haviland

NoiseTheorem — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:05:17 -0000

maybe the canadiens came calling..

Re: End of Season Reviews: Patrick Sharp

Jeffrey Bartl — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:11:54 -0000

Well, that's pretty interesting, no?

Re: End of Season Reviews: Patrick Sharp

birdie — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:35:41 -0000

And Sharp is still going. He had a goal and four assists in Canada’s win at the world championships Monday.

Where he apparently rotated at center with Nugent-Hopkins ...

Re: End of Season Reviews: Andrew Brunette

Daniel Beckman — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:00:39 -0000

I agree I wanted to like him but what a horrible performance. It wasn't a surprise with his lack of speed. Hell they brought it up in his post signing interview. Should make Bowman's job easier this summer. No slow guys regardless of what else they bring..

Re: End of Season Reviews: Andrew Brunette

Old Hockey Dog — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:30:33 -0000

Amen, brother.

Re: End of Season Reviews: Andrew Brunette

KRE1 — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:02:35 -0000

"...like watching that guy with the crinkled dollar bill stand at the vending machine for 15 minutes." Classic line.

Re: End of Season Reviews: Andrew Brunette

JesusMarianHossa — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:52:19 -0000

Skille is terrible, no question. I take more issue with the length of the contract that Frolik procured from Stan after just a little over half a season in an Indian Head. He's a serviceable 3rd or 4th line player in the NHL that is solid defensively. Offensively he can't finish. He's not worth the $2.3M he'll make here this coming season and the next.

Re: End of Season Reviews: Andrew Brunette

Lord Tunderin' — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:09:35 -0000

Even weighing the outcome, I'd still maintain that the Brunette contract was a worthwhile gamble. In the end, all it cost was money (something the Hawks are currently flush with) and allowed them to leave guys like Pirri/Saad/etc. in the minors/junior for another year (the value of which cannot be overstated).

When assessing Frolik, have to take into account that he was dealt for Skille. Frolik certainly hasn't lived up to expectation, but at least he's a more versatile player than Skille.

Re: End of Season Reviews : Bryan Bickell

K Dog — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:04:54 -0000

I completely agree, Bickell really is a teaser. I felt the same way about Stalberg up until about mid-season, when he seemed to put it all together on a more consistent basis. Now I'm hoping Bicks will do the same.

Hilarious caption on the Bickell photo.

Re: End of Season Reviews: Jamal Mayers

Srf — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:32:27 -0000

They still need him for his hardnosed veteran leadership and loyalty. Plus his faceoff percentage was pretty darn good. Quality player at a great price. Like to hear you tell him you think he's too old.