Is there a young forward not named Crosby or Ovechkin you'd rather build your team around than Jonathan Toews? I don't think so.
Well deserved for a (finally once-again) great franchise. One has to wonder how many times we'll hear "Chicago model" this summer.
With that being said, based on what I've seen this playoffs, I've decided to finally go on record which way I'd go at 1st overall - Seguin. If there's a solid belief the guy could pan out to be a Toews-type with proper development, I want that player in my stable. Won't be upset with Hall one bit, but if you gave me the deciding vote, I'd take a bit of a chance and go against the 70% conventional wisdom. A two-way right handed center could be the centrepiece of a contender for a long time, and everything I've seen and read suggests Hall vs. Seguin is too close to call.
Finally, Andrew Ladd played with a fractured shoulder. If Chicago is looking to move players do to cap concerns, I'd take him on the Oilers in about 2 seconds - tough, can play against the better matchups, might be good for 20 goals a year - he'd help this team immensely.
And finally - the Leafs now hold the longest Cup drought at 43 years and counting. Point and laugh folks.
Was hoping for a Chicago win at home to blow the doors off that place, and you can't let that muffin in from, what, a 10 degree angle? Christ.
But Kane is the best in recent memory for being able to just rag the puck and nobody can get it from him. Jagr once upon a time, and Gretzky too. There ain't a bunch of them, that's for sure.
Smarmy Boss - I've got no issues with Hall and his performance, but I'm also of the belief we need to recognize that Seguin didn't exactly have the benefit of a loaded Windsor team to help him along.
It comes down to me for this - give me a choice between a guy whose ultimate upside is the Sakic/Toews family (Seguin) and one whose ultimate upside is the Iginla/Kane family (Hall), and I will choose the former, but wouldn't be exactly upset with the latter either.
It's like a parent expecting a child for me - regardless who MBS decides to go with on the 25th, I'm going to be thrilled. But if given a choice, I'm leaning ever so slightly in one direction.
HBomb: On the contrary, I don't know how anyone could possibly pick Seguin between the two if you were taking odds on 'most likely to become a Toews':
Toews: U17 Gold, 2 X U20 Gold, WCHA MVP, WC Gold, Olympic Gold, Stanley Cup
Hall: U17 Gold, 2 X U18 Gold, 2 X Memorial Cup, 2 X Mem Cup MVP
Seguin: U17 Challenge Gold, Ivan Hlinka Gold
Forget who plays what position. What matters is the better player, and Hall is it. That's all there is to it and I'll be disappointed if we go for the guy who has shown glimpses over the guy who has been winning since Bantam and maybe well before that.
27 NHL GMs tonight: "Steve, I'm trying to watch post-game coverage and then I'm going to bed. You can call me back tomorrow about how great Moreau is in the room."
Wow, it gives you some perspective. 4 cups in what, almost 100 years and here we sit with 5 in a few decades (and this close to 6). We might not win another one until 2100.
Smarmy Boss - I've got no issues with Hall and his performance, but I'm also of the belief we need to recognize that Seguin didn't exactly have the benefit of a loaded Windsor team to help him along.
Do Toews and the Datsyuks of the league become diminished being surrounded by great players?
No they shine with them and look all the better. So does Hall.
Hah. I've also posted a pic of Stan. My favourite player growing up.
Pretty damn excited when Kane put that in. And I know my old man is pretty happy right now. The last time they won the Cup was the week that he got married. He was twenty eight years old.
Now he's seventy seven. Married fifty years next spring. Crazy.
Hey Stan Bowman: Send Dale Tallon a SC ring, would ya?
I was thinking the same thing when they were interviewing John Madden and he spoke about sitting down with Dale and defining his role on the team. Most of this is his doing.
That wasn't Pronger that Kane beat on the game winner, it was Timonen.
As a Chicagoan and a childhood Hawks fan, this is really sweet.
Gotta think of my dad who suffered the worst sport-related pain ever when the Hawks lost to the Canadiens in Game 7 in 1971, and the huge smile he'd have right now...
That said, get to work Tambs and go Oilers!
Hopefully I'll see you guys raise that Cup for the 6th time before too much longer.
I am always astounded at how much arguing goes on re Seguin/Hall. They're very close as prospects, but it seems the Hall folks (especially) have a need to stamp out all positive energy headed toward Seguin.
I wonder what would happen if the Oilers select Seguin. Al Gore meltdown?
I watched the NBC feed. After the game during the cup raising, JR started crying in the booth. Dan Patrick asked him why. He answered "It's the Black Hawks......and I never got to do that (refering to raising the cup)".
Good job Chicago...long time coming.
ReplyDeleteso, are we back on the chicago model?
ReplyDeleteI keep waiting for Keith to tell Oake that there's gold in them thar hills.
ReplyDeleteIs there a young forward not named Crosby or Ovechkin you'd rather build your team around than Jonathan Toews? I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteWell deserved for a (finally once-again) great franchise. One has to wonder how many times we'll hear "Chicago model" this summer.
With that being said, based on what I've seen this playoffs, I've decided to finally go on record which way I'd go at 1st overall - Seguin. If there's a solid belief the guy could pan out to be a Toews-type with proper development, I want that player in my stable. Won't be upset with Hall one bit, but if you gave me the deciding vote, I'd take a bit of a chance and go against the 70% conventional wisdom. A two-way right handed center could be the centrepiece of a contender for a long time, and everything I've seen and read suggests Hall vs. Seguin is too close to call.
Finally, Andrew Ladd played with a fractured shoulder. If Chicago is looking to move players do to cap concerns, I'd take him on the Oilers in about 2 seconds - tough, can play against the better matchups, might be good for 20 goals a year - he'd help this team immensely.
And finally - the Leafs now hold the longest Cup drought at 43 years and counting. Point and laugh folks.
You know, I don't know what it is about him, but I think that Toews kid might be a player some day...
ReplyDeleteHey Stan Bowman: Send Dale Tallon a SC ring, would ya?
ReplyDeleteWinnipeg's smiling tonight on our two Chicago superstars.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Jonathan, Duncan and the entire Chicago organization.
"so, are we back on the chicago model?"
ReplyDeleteYeah, until we know who's winning the cup next year.
Does this mean Tambo can officially start making trades?
ReplyDeletecommonfan: Yes. I think he'll be busy.
ReplyDeleteDuncan Keith is from Winnipeg too?
ReplyDeleteJeez, this might be the closest thing to a Stanley Cup win that city has ever seen....
commonfan: Yes. I think he'll be busy.
ReplyDeleteLT I love your optimism.
HBomb:
ReplyDeleteBorn, not raised. I'll claim him though.
Bar Qu: I've been calling for massive trades since 2007, so it isn't so much optimism as muscle memory. :-)
ReplyDeleteyes we MUST build our team similar to the way the Hawks have. look at the results!!
ReplyDeleteGood one.
ReplyDeleteWas hoping for a Chicago win at home to blow the doors off that place, and you can't let that muffin in from, what, a 10 degree angle? Christ.
ReplyDeleteBut Kane is the best in recent memory for being able to just rag the puck and nobody can get it from him. Jagr once upon a time, and Gretzky too. There ain't a bunch of them, that's for sure.
Quick, can anyone not from Sweden pronounce where Nik Hjalmarrsson grew up?
ReplyDeleteI think it's pronounced 'Win Eh Peg'
ReplyDeleteSo hbomb when building your stanley cup team you wouldn't want the guy who won the junior equivalent of two cups and two conn smythes?
ReplyDeleteInstead you went for poise?
Congratulations to Chicago. I wanted them to do it.
@swarmy boss
ReplyDelete"the junior equivalent"
Smarmy Boss - I've got no issues with Hall and his performance, but I'm also of the belief we need to recognize that Seguin didn't exactly have the benefit of a loaded Windsor team to help him along.
ReplyDeleteIt comes down to me for this - give me a choice between a guy whose ultimate upside is the Sakic/Toews family (Seguin) and one whose ultimate upside is the Iginla/Kane family (Hall), and I will choose the former, but wouldn't be exactly upset with the latter either.
It's like a parent expecting a child for me - regardless who MBS decides to go with on the 25th, I'm going to be thrilled. But if given a choice, I'm leaning ever so slightly in one direction.
HBomb: On the contrary, I don't know how anyone could possibly pick Seguin between the two if you were taking odds on 'most likely to become a Toews':
ReplyDeleteToews: U17 Gold, 2 X U20 Gold, WCHA MVP, WC Gold, Olympic Gold, Stanley Cup
Hall: U17 Gold, 2 X U18 Gold, 2 X Memorial Cup, 2 X Mem Cup MVP
Seguin: U17 Challenge Gold, Ivan Hlinka Gold
Forget who plays what position. What matters is the better player, and Hall is it. That's all there is to it and I'll be disappointed if we go for the guy who has shown glimpses over the guy who has been winning since Bantam and maybe well before that.
With Tambellini in charge, I think we ought to be happy "as long as it's healthy."
ReplyDelete27 NHL GMs tonight: "Steve, I'm trying to watch post-game coverage and then I'm going to bed. You can call me back tomorrow about how great Moreau is in the room."
ReplyDeleteDid Tambellini ever end up making a choice between those two ties?
ReplyDeleteWow, it gives you some perspective. 4 cups in what, almost 100 years and here we sit with 5 in a few decades (and this close to 6). We might not win another one until 2100.
ReplyDeleteDorito-It is pronounced Ex-shjo.
ReplyDeleteTo say it properly involved watching tons of Muppet Show reruns.
Twisted my tongue in knots when I was there trying to pronounce Vejso.
Smarmy Boss - I've got no issues with Hall and his performance, but I'm also of the belief we need to recognize that Seguin didn't exactly have the benefit of a loaded Windsor team to help him along.
ReplyDeleteDo Toews and the Datsyuks of the league become diminished being surrounded by great players?
No they shine with them and look all the better. So does Hall.
Hah. I've also posted a pic of Stan. My favourite player growing up.
ReplyDeletePretty damn excited when Kane put that in. And I know my old man is pretty happy right now. The last time they won the Cup was the week that he got married. He was twenty eight years old.
Now he's seventy seven. Married fifty years next spring. Crazy.
Hey Stan Bowman: Send Dale Tallon a SC ring, would ya?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing when they were interviewing John Madden and he spoke about sitting down with Dale and defining his role on the team. Most of this is his doing.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat wasn't Pronger that Kane beat on the game winner, it was Timonen.
ReplyDeleteAs a Chicagoan and a childhood Hawks fan, this is really sweet.
Gotta think of my dad who suffered the worst sport-related pain ever when the Hawks lost to the Canadiens in Game 7 in 1971, and the huge smile he'd have right now...
That said, get to work Tambs and go Oilers!
Hopefully I'll see you guys raise that Cup for the 6th time before too much longer.
That Sharp goal and Niemi's win gave me 1st place in the Pool and a cool $1000.
ReplyDeleteThank you Hawks. I'm sure you'll enjoy this more than I. And with that said...
"...A round for the bar!"
Sweet.
ReplyDeleteno more cfp.
toronto! you are on the clock.
boston, you are on deck.
philly, ironically, in the hole.
i love that TO has the microscope turned up to 1000000000X now that Chicago hoisted the Stanley.
Good times.
cant wait till the 25th.
Mr Bugg: Honors have nothing to do with the ressemblance, it's the playstyle.
ReplyDeleteHall does NOT look anyhow to Toews or to Sakic, but much rather to a guy like Iginla.
fpv: I don't see the comparisons you're making. You've cited 3 very different players.
ReplyDeleteOf those 3 players I'd say Hall compares most favourably to Toews in his dogged boardplay and puck pursuit.
I am always astounded at how much arguing goes on re Seguin/Hall. They're very close as prospects, but it seems the Hall folks (especially) have a need to stamp out all positive energy headed toward Seguin.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what would happen if the Oilers select Seguin. Al Gore meltdown?
I wonder what would happen if the Oilers select Seguin. Al Gore meltdown
ReplyDeleteMore likely an angry facebook group dedicated to Milquetoast's ouster.
The momentum builds and builds as tens of thousands of angry Oiler fans rally online.
The culmination being a protest in front of the Gretzky statue where 3 fans, 2 winos and 5 seagulls show up.
I watched the NBC feed. After the game during the cup raising, JR started crying in the booth. Dan Patrick asked him why. He answered "It's the Black Hawks......and I never got to do that (refering to raising the cup)".
ReplyDeleteThen Mike Milbury hugged him.
It's JR's own fault for letting Van Damme stone him on that break-away in Sudden Death.
ReplyDeleteThe Cup was on his stick.
hjalmarsson is actually from a village outside eksjö called russnäs. population: 95. 40 from the hjalmarsson family.
ReplyDeleteForget who plays what position. What matters is the better player, and Hall is it.
ReplyDeleteBased on team accolades. That argument makes lots of sense.
The culmination being a protest in front of the Gretzky statue where 3 fans, 2 winos and 5 seagulls show up.
The highlight will be when a hobo shows up and starts arguing with the seagulls about the new arena.
goilers win the cup in 2100. book it! or 2011. book it!
ReplyDeletehopefully moreau's bottled head is not the captain in 2100..