The most hated players in the Central Division: Blackhawk Up
Maybe he will get a victory tour like Mariano Rivera: NESN
Ducks lose Souray for 4-6 months: CBSSPORTS
Kadri is distracted just like most of his career in Toronto: TSN
Patrick Burke steps down as head of YCP: Sportsnet
Personally nothing beats the original: Puckdaddy
Though things around here have been quiet for over a month, with the Hawks retaining their key young restricted free agents in Nick Leddy and Marcus Kruger, it’s becoming more and more apparent that Stan Bowman’s actions in building his team are the exception and not the rule. Bowman got burnt badly in the past when the Niklas Hjalmarsson signed an offer sheet with the Sharks, and if a couple teams around the league aren’t careful, they might find themselves in a similarly compromising position with this year’s diminished cap.
Going on a Raanta: ESPN Chicago
Really?: PHT
Crow shows “da fire an da passion”: PD
Hopefully Q’s better with the flag than Lovie: SI
While I wasn’t paying attention, Hawks single tickets went on sale today. And it allows us to make fun of something that might not even be going on, which is fans complaining that they’re being priced out by what the Hawks are charging. Most people get it, though from my post outside Gate 3 during the season, I hear this a lot more than we do at the blog and on our twitter.
Hey, we’d all like to go to as many games as possible, and even finding tickets for that is hard, much less being able to afford them. But I think we’re all familiar with the idea of supply and demand. And after years and years of listening to people bitch that Cubs tickets cost this much and they win this much less, it’s hard to argue with the bang for your buck you get out of the money spent on Hawks tickets.
SLOW NEWS DAY!!
All around the world: CBC
All I can say is good for Dustin Johnson: ESPN
Because signing a franchise goalie is too hard: PuckDaddy
Can a lower budget help: Backhand Shelf
Steve Gerrard Gerrard! He’ll pass the ball 40 yards! He’s big and he’s fucking hard! STEVE GERRARD GERRARD!
Yeah, I could have put a picture of a player from a club that has any glimmer of hope of winning the Premier League this season. Or even finishing in the top four. But I didn’t, because I can. And because Steven Gerrard is all that is man (except when he really wants to hear Phil Collins at the nightclub). So there.
And yeah, I don’t have to be writing a soccer post today. But it’s my blog and I’m gonna. Because while some revel in preseason NFL in anticipation of the big kickoff in three weeks, while others just sit around and watch the wheel in the sky keep on turnin’ until October 1st, tomorrow is a big day for a minority of us with the start of the English Premier League.
Keep the line movin’ again…
what do you see as the single biggest obstacle to the Hawks repeating? – Mighty Mike D
Fatigue. That sounds arrogant, but honestly with the shortened offseason, the Olympics, and the general toll that playoff run takes on a team, it’s hard to envision anyone navigating it unless you’re a super team. Realignment softens the blow, because the Hawks aren’t going to have to scrape for a playoff spot this time (I hope) and probably can manage the division pretty easily unless the Blues don’t fall apart (which I still think they will). Other than that, the Kings will still be waiting.
Everyone is happy in Slovakia: CSN
Captain talking about how awesome The Hawks are: TSN Autoplay
All about the new playoff format from Ryan Lambert: Backhand Shelf
That didn’t take long: Globe and Mail
One guy that didn’t give up his ring to the Don of Boston Mob: Montreal Gazette
I’ll answer as many of these as I can before I pass out. Pick up where I left off tomorrow. Let’s kick this pig, Captain Dodge! Leave her squealin’ from the feelin’!
This may be a toughie: All time favorite bar in Chicago?
…and maybe a little less tough: All time LEAST favorite bar in Chicago. -fromheretoinfirmay
That is a toughie. I live at the Huttenbar here in Lincoln Square, but that’s too easy. Jake’s in Lincoln Park used to be a blast, but isn’t quite the same these days. Map Room during the week is a good time, but not on weekends. Let’s go with the Long Room, only because the guys who own it are the balls.
Worst? Barleycorn. It might not even be close.