I think Bowman has learned that this doesn't usually work...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

What ex-Hawk that Stan brought back did not work? Campbell was more than adequate. Maybe Laad? Wouldn't say he was a bust. He certainly was not the reason the Hawks did not get past the Blues.

So again......... assume we're playing Edmonton in the WC Finals. You would be satisfied with Anisimov being our 3rd Line shut down defensive center against McDavid ? Probably not....... he certainly no David Bolland defensively.... therefore... it would have to be Toews playing against McDavid and I'm really not sure how that would pan out for us. Love JT but McDavid's speed is the best in the world and I'd rather have 19 playing offensive hockey on that 1st line in that playoff situation. As for Athanasiou's defensive skills, that's something that definitely can be taught if that is his primary focus and our game plan against McDavid. Shutting him down or at least limiting his creative space with our own speedy center would make it tough on Edmonton to beat us.
- Hawkytalk

No, It would be Toews any and all times, no matter who we had, but I am much more comfortable with Anisimov out there against their second best line over Athanasiou. He doesn't have a 2 way game. He'd come here and be a 3rd or 4th line guy. He has one dimension.

Not a chance! They got rid of him to get younger and faster on the D. They aren't suddenly going to reverse that thinking...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I thought the trade was made for more cap certainty down the road. Hammer only has this year and next on his contract. Murphy has this year and then four more years. I think if the Hawks are contending at the trade deadline that they would have interest in Hammer. It's getting him to fit under the cap where the problem occurs. Would be very tough. That said...Hammer would still be a huge...huge....upgrade over most of our defensemen. How can you not like Hammer?

http://www.nhl.com/stats/leaders

Cracks me up! Hartman for the win!

No clip, but it was knee on knee contact on the side of the Pens net. He went over to talk to the ref after the whistle.
- scottak

5:44 left in the second period - Crosby with an interesting move like interference or something.

Hawks replay now on chicago nbc sports

And yet Saad and Sharp are both are the team currently.
- L_B_R

Mere details.

I thought the trade was made for more cap certainty down the road. Hammer only has this year and next on his contract. Murphy has this year and then four more years. I think if the Hawks are contending at the trade deadline that they would have interest in Hammer. It's getting him to fit under the cap where the problem occurs. Would be very tough. That said...Hammer would still be a huge...huge....upgrade over most of our defensemen. How can you not like Hammer?
- onehundredlevel

Hammer is old and slow. No way I would want him over any defenseman we currently have. Not saying he wasn't great in his prime, but I think he is getting past his prime now. This is the true reason for him being gone, cap certainty was a secondary reason.

Was just a fun game to watch - both teams were going for fast hockey, Hawks were better and fresher and Pens were not helped by goalie's bad rebounds.
I was thinking last I enjoyed Hawks entertaining play was maybe 2014 circus trip or 2015 Toronto 7:2 home beating, and the rest recently mostly was snoozefest games won by goalies but this game was just fun and hopefully not one of a kind.

Hammer is old and slow. No way I would want him over any defenseman we currently have. Not saying he wasn't great in his prime, but I think he is getting past his prime now. This is the true reason for him being gone, cap certainty was a secondary reason.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

He's not what he once was, but I'd still take him on the left side of the second pair any day.

as a lot of people here like to say, never get too high after a good win or too down after a bad loss...in a 82 game season there will be quite a bit of both

I know their schedule is kinda nuts outta the gate, but something that we should all be looking at even more than their point total after the first 8-10 games is their play...

If they have a good game and just lose to a hot goalie like Carey Price so be it...you want to see them be very good in puck possession, and see if they can get their PK up their in the top 4-7 of the league

Let's face it, last years team was a good team in the regular season, but I don't really recall too many people being thrilled about the way they were playing...they were giving up tons of shots, and basically were a 1 to 1 1/2 line team...as long as the team jells and mistakes get cleared up game after game I think they will be fine and not need a huge trade early....and this is what I am hoping for, this way Stan doesn't have to pony up too much for another defensive forward and or top 4 dman

He's not what he once was, but I'd still take him on the left side of the second pair any day.
- JRoenick97

me too...the guy went to battle for the Indian Head...they don't win 3 Cups without Hammer ... hope he does well for AZ

me too...the guy went to battle for the Indian Head...they don't win 3 Cups without Hammer ... hope he does well for AZ
- captainserious

Don't get me wrong, I loved Hammer when he was here, but what I saw in the Nashville series last year, told me that him along with some of the other older defensemen we had were just not quick enough to pucks in the d-zone anymore, and not pushing the pace like they used to. IMO, this is the main reason why he was traded.

I guess I didn't think through the retread of Hawks players though, as I guess it has worked out to a greater degree for the Hawks. However, most of those brought back were jettisoned solely due to the cap, whereas the Hammer trade was different IMO. I don't think that Stan brings him back. I could be wrong though, and there has only been one game played so far, so it could change as the season wears on.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Hammer when he was here, but what I saw in the Nashville series last year, told me that him along with some of the other older defensemen we had were just not quick enough to pucks in the d-zone anymore, and not pushing the pace like they used to. IMO, this is the main reason why he was traded.

I guess I didn't think through the retread of Hawks players though, as I guess it has worked out to a greater degree for the Hawks. However, most of those brought back were jettisoned solely due to the cap, whereas the Hammer trade was different IMO. I don't think that Stan brings him back. I could be wrong though, and there has only been one game played so far, so it could change as the season wears on.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I don't think he's coming back, i just don'at agree he's old and slow, nor do I think all the D we have are worth keeping over him. I mean, I'd take him over Oesterle, Forsling, Franson, and maybe even Murphy.

Amazing. Back on page 5-6 of this blog, there were some questions as to whether Cyndy was possible not the greatest player in the world, ever. I'm shocked that three pages later there's no Penguins here defending his honor. The Penguin fans have a measurement of players that uses a scale of 1 to Crosby. No joke. The top of their scale is Crosby, and they discuss it like it is a factual measurement. Not possible in their minds to go higher.

did Cyndy even play last night? I barely noticed him.

Amazing. Back on page 5-6 of this blog, there were some questions as to whether Cyndy was possible not the greatest player in the world, ever. I'm shocked that three pages later there's no Penguins here defending his honor. The Penguin fans have a measurement of players that uses a scale of 1 to Crosby. No joke. The top of their scale is Crosby, and they discuss it like it is a factual measurement. Not possible in their minds to go higher.

did Cyndy even play last night? I barely noticed him.
- Cmonalready

I saw him when he got away with his usual 3-4 slashes a game.

can't wait to watch Saturday night's game. in response to a few people who have mentioned CBJ attempting to clog the neutral zone and make the Hawks dump/chase...I think this will be the biggest difference with this years team compared to last. the Hawks speed and size is going to be a huge difference maker when teams try to clog the center of the ice. saad/panik/schmaltz/hartman/hayden/sharp were absolutely relentless last night. I will take # 19s night all day, every day, if he can keep arguably the best player in the the world off of the score sheet.

last night was only one game against a tired Pitt team, but take any W when they can, and start banking as many points as possible. still a lot of hockey to be played between now and October 14th, but I can't wait to watch that game when Nashville is back in town.

hard to imagine what another big body with speed could do if inserted into this forward mix. hopefully stan will be able to find that piece when the time comes.

I saw him when he got away with his usual 3-4 slashes a game.
- riozzo

and his cheap shot of Kero

I don't think he's coming back, i just don'at agree he's old and slow, nor do I think all the D we have are worth keeping over him. I mean, I'd take him over Oesterle, Forsling, Franson, and maybe even Murphy.
- JRoenick97

These three are bottom pairing defensemen right now. I wouldn't want to pay a bottom pairing defenseman 4 mil. If salary weren't an issue, I for sure take hammer over Oesterle and Franson. I am still waiting on Murphy, as I still think he has some pretty good potential, and hopefully by a month or so, he is settled in and clicking.

How ya like me now suckaaaaas?

How ya like me now suckaaaaas?
- Stan_Bowman

- at least right now...come back in a week, it will probably be the opposite.

How ya like me now suckaaaaas?
- Stan_Bowman

Probably ok with you taking Nick Schmaltz instead of Robby Fabbri now

Amazing. Back on page 5-6 of this blog, there were some questions as to whether Cyndy was possible not the greatest player in the world, ever. I'm shocked that three pages later there's no Penguins here defending his honor. The Penguin fans have a measurement of players that uses a scale of 1 to Crosby. No joke. The top of their scale is Crosby, and they discuss it like it is a factual measurement. Not possible in their minds to go higher.

did Cyndy even play last night? I barely noticed him.
- Cmonalready

McDavid is the best player in the game today and it's not even close.

Hammer is old and slow. No way I would want him over any defenseman we currently have. Not saying he wasn't great in his prime, but I think he is getting past his prime now. This is the true reason for him being gone, cap certainty was a secondary reason.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

What evidence can you provide for claiming hammer is getting past his prime? I doubt he is older than 33, maybe age 30. His body takes lots of abuse due to the style he has played. So it is difficult to judge him when he usually is playing with one minor or worse injury. I suggest fans need to watch him in person, see what coaches a nd hammer himself might reveal about his health.

We know how much ability he has. He has not probably lost or is less the same talented player. Now due to the issue of playing together with teammates and in a new system plus with a dynamic pairing but many young forwards, I could imagine how he is blamed for a goal against. If he lost his man in coverage, do not assume he is now old and slow. Dig deeper and find out why he lost coverage. I don't buy your claim. I would listen to anything you want to document.

These three are bottom pairing defensemen right now. I wouldn't want to pay a bottom pairing defenseman 4 mil. If salary weren't an issue, I for sure take hammer over Oesterle and Franson. I am still waiting on Murphy, as I still think he has some pretty good potential, and hopefully by a month or so, he is settled in and clicking.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

You'd take Kempny right now over Hjalmarsson? Really?

Probably ok with you taking Nick Schmaltz instead of Robby Fabbri now
- bhawks2241

Let me just say this....while of course i hate the Blues and wish them nothing but the worst on the ice....it really, truly SUCKS what happened to Fabbri with those knee injuries. He's out for the season, after missing almost all of last season too. Hope he makes a full recovery and eventually gets back to doing what he loves to do.