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Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN Plus (Ch. 201), WGN-AM 720
Undeserving of Eichel & McDavid: Copper & Blue, Oilers Nation
With the calendar now having turned to March, the Oilers are now entering month five of irrelevance as far as the Western Conference playoff picture is concerned. They will once again be in the running for the top overall pick, depending on how the lottery balls bounce. But in their only visit to the United Center this year, the Hawks can ill afford any pity on even such a revoltingly piteous group as the Oilers.
Just some notes to cover.
-We never did get around to analyzing the Smith-for-Desjardins trade, mostly because most of us here think it doesn’t matter in the long run. At least hopefully it doesn’t. If Ben Smith becomes the difference between winning a Cup and not, then there were probably bigger issues at play.
By now, everyone’s realized this is a cap move. Smith was signed for one more year, and there are alternatives for his 4th line/PK role next year. While Nordstrom’s past few strong games are hardly sample size enough to have convinced the front office to do away with Smith, it does at least offer hope that any gap will be made up pretty quickly. Looking ahead to next year, Nordstrom, Hartman, and/or Danault could all find themselves on the 4th line. If Garret Ross gains 30 pounds, he might even get a look too. (I also have this sneaking suspicion that if Tyler Motte were to leave Michigan after this season he’s going to be the kid who surprises everyone at training camp. But I doubt he leaves Michigan this year).
Desjardins is excited: CSN
Kimmo wants Stanley: ESPN Chicago
Bring back Thorne: Trib
Emergency goalies: PHT
You don’t talk to the other guy’s players: PD
The Rockford IceHogs went down to Texas and swept a pair of games from the Stars last weekend. To have done so in the face of the shake-up to the roster was impressive, indeed.
Recent call-ups and trades by the organization have really changed the landscape for the Hogs, who currently fourth seed in the AHL’s Western Conference. Rockford, just two points behind Grand Rapids in the Midwest Division, has responded well initially to this shuffling of the deck.
I wish I could remember the details a little better.
I’ve looked this up on HockeyReference.com, and I’m pretty sure it was December 20th, 1987 and a game against the Bruins. I know it was the Bruins for sure, and that would have made me six-years-old. I don’t remember if it was that night or the one previous that my father came home and asked my brother Adam if he wanted to go to the Hawks game that night. What I do remember is that about 0.8 seconds after Adam said he did, I piped up,
“I do too!” Because if Adam wanted to go, then I wanted to go. That’s how it worked on just about everything in my life then, and it’s pretty much remained that way.
Even Rozsi was +3 with 2 apples: Blackhawks
Cap space and a better Bollig for Smith: PHT
Deep middle: CSN
Hope it happens: ESPN Chicago
Flames extinguished: TSN
Full list of deals: SN
Kids say the darnedest things: PD
It is my hope that tonight represents the beginning of The Red Dawn. We won’t know that for a few game of course, but this is how you wanted the Hawks to respond on their New Toys Night (originally said by friend of the program Kevin, who used to be frontman of The Mannequin Men). The front office has said it’s time to get serious, and at least for one
