Everything Else

Once More Unto The Breach – Over The Mountain

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Anyone who expected the Avalanche to win the inaugural season of the newly aligned Central Division at this time last year is a damned dirty liar. Yet the Avs bested both the Hawks and Blues down the stretch only to be hilariously eliminated in the first round, in overtime of game 7 at home versus the Wild. Again.

Now the Avs will look to build on the success of last year with their young core despite losing their most defensively responsible center within the division, being on the ass-end of what is bound to be a hellacious numeric regression, and being run by two morons, one of whom is an ill-tempered dickwad behind the bench.

Everything Else

High On The Hog: Cue The Lights

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Photo Credit-Todd Reicher

Ladies and Gentlemen…your 2014-15 IceHogs

With some late roster moves coming down in the last few days, it would appear that the opening night roster is nearly set in Rockford for the 2014-15 campaign. As Norman Dale would say, let’s see what kind of hand we’ve been dealt here…

Everything Else

Once More Unto The Breach – The Committed Indian's Season Preview: So Now You Know Who Gets Mystified

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Continuing our spin around the Central, and today we’ll look at the Minnesota Wild who became a far more annoying playoff opponent than anyone thought they would. People forget just how good Crawford had to be in Games 5 and 6 to keep the Wild at bay (in those games where Peter Regin was among the best Hawks forwards and then was never heard from again). It could work out that way again.

Live From The Five Hole

Live From The Five Hole – Season Preview with Sean Gentille and Steve Lepore

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With the season beginning in earnest tomorrow and the Hawks fandom consumed by Carcillo and Leddy mania, it seemed like a good idea to get some outside perspective on the goings on elsewhere in the league. And with that we’re pleased to have had both Sean Gentille of the Sporting News and Steve Lepore of Awful Announcing join us for another edition of Live From The Five Hole. Enjoy.

 

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Everything Else

The Fallout

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Well now that it’s done, it’s probably time to figure out where the Hawks go from here.

But before I head any further, this seems like a good time for a disclaimer or at least a warning. Every judgement we make on the Hawks on this site is viewed through the prism that they demand you view them through, which is anything short of a parade in June is failure. This is the standard they’ve set and the one they’ve asked to be held to. So while issues on the third pairing being the biggest problem is a biggest problem a lot of teams would like to have, that’s not how most teams are judged. I realize the Hawks are very good, will finish north of 100 points and very well might finish north of 110. Believe me, we get it. That’s not really the point. Keep that in mind all season before you threaten to shit in my mouth, which I have to say is a first.

Everything Else

Bed A Little Lumpy, Stan?

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Because you’re lying in it now, aren’t you?

At the top of this, let’s lay out a positive scenario that’s more than possible. The Hawks are able to get another brilliant season out of both Hjalmarsson and Oduya, allowing Keith and Seabrook to take on easier assignments. After a couple rocky weeks or even months, the third pairing evens out through some combination of Klas Dahlbeck, Rozsival, TVR, Clendening, Rundblad, or even Johns with the easy zone starts and softball competition. Brad Richards goes back to playing the point on the second unit, something he’s done his whole career, and a reinvigorated Kris Versteeg is able to knock out some of the loss of Nick Leddy on that unit. Notice I didn’t write Kyle Cumiskey’s name, because he’s fucking terrible and an utter disaster waiting to happen. And you thought Leddy’s defensive work was bad. All of this could easily happen, and the trade of Nick Leddy today will become something of an afterthought, especially if Johns is able to nail down a spot on the second pairing next season.