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Who's Your John Druce?

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As is tradition around these parts before the playoffs, we ask you Who Is Your John Druce?

For those who don’t know, John Druce was a middling third-liner, only cracking 20 goals once in his career in the late 80s and early 90s. However, in the ’90 playoffs he exploded for 14 goals in 15 games, becoming the term for a player who shockingly becomes a playoff hero.

So who is it for this year? I hesitate to put Bryan Bickell on this list who has made something of a career of being a Baby Druce the past four years. Brandon Saad is already a star, so he can’t be on the list. But we’ll do our best. Who’s your John Druce?

 

Who’s Your John Druce?

Kris Versteeg
Marcus Kruger
Joakim Nordstrom
Teuvo Teravainen
Andrew Desjardins

Poll Maker

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One More Special Message To Go: Hawks at Avs Preview/Gamethread/Hornet's Nest Burning

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AltLogo vs. abom_bugs

FACEOFF: 8pm

TV/RADIO: WGN for both

ALTITUDE AND ATTITUDE: Mile High Hockey

I’m writing this as the Wild-Blues goes on and fully admit by the time you get to read this the result of that game will have rendered this one meaningless. If the Wild don’t claim both points, the Hawks will open at Nashville next week for Game 1, and I guess you could argue that’s what they’ve been angling for anyway. Or not. I don’t know. It’s probably the best of a bad bunch of matchups.

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Let The Bidder Beware: Drew LeBlanc A Free Agent Bust

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Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman, like a lot of other NHL executives, has delved into college hockey to bolster his organizational depth. Free agent players from the ranks of the NCAA have found some leverage at the high end of the talent pool in recent seasons. So much so that Bowman has found the need to sweeten the pot to get at some of that talent.
Has it paid off? Well, you got to see Kyle Baun Tusday and Thursday nights. I certainly don’t see him in an Indian head sweater come fall, but the former Colgate standout was able to parlay interest from a host of NHL teams into a cup of coffee in the show and a year burned off his two-year entry deal.

Time’s gonna tell on guys like Baun and Tanner Kero (formerly of Michigan Tech) as to whether or not they can someday break into an NHL lineup. However, the ship has likely sailed on a much-heralded player who, at the time of his signing, was seen by some as a potential top-six center.

I’m talking, of course, about Drew LeBlanc. Just so you know…he’s not.

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Almost There: Blues 2, Blackhawks 1

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Box Score

Event Summary

War on Ice

In the spirit of what’s going on around here lately (on the ice and on this blog), this won’t be your traditional wrap.

Let’s get one thing straight. It would be nice if the Hawks were winning these past three games 2-1 or 3-2. A bounce here or a bounce there, and it easily could’ve swung that way. The Hawks have played responsibly enough defensively and have gotten the goaltending. This is the most important takeaway from the past few weeks. Don’t forget that.

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Clowns To The Left, Jokers To The Right: Hawks at Blues Preview/Pregame Thread/Vanity Bonfire

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Hawk Wrestler vs. old_school_blue_l

FACEOFF: 7pm Central

TV/RADIO: CSN Locally, NBCSN not locall, WGN Radio 720

WRETCHED HIVE OF SCUM AND VILLAINY: St. Louis Gametime

WHERE WE’LL BE FOR IT: A.J. Hudson’s (Ashland and Grace here in the city)

Well, you tell me what we’re going to see tonight. It’s hard to imagine that the Hawks would just lie down for a game against the Blues. But then again it was hard to imagine them waving their hand at the thought of overcoming the Wild at home last out in the 3rd when a single point would at least lock them into 3rd. The Hawks aren’t out of danger of falling into the wild card slots, though it’s not clear if that matter or if they care about it. And I don’t know either.