2014-15 NHL Season

[WMR]

I don't know how I'm feeling right now. Bishop is by far the worst goalie of the ones my Hawks have faced so far in the playoffs. Last night we had two essentially wide open nets due to Bishop's injury and failed to put the puck in either. Easily could have won last night by 3 goals but instead we lost by one. At home.

Same situation as 2013, down 2-1 after 3 having lost game 3. I know that one turned out like I wanted. Someone really has to talk me off the ledge right now for this series though. I never want to lose, but to lose to what I still think of as an expansion team would really suck.

I still have faith. This organization has had a horseshoe up its ass for how many years now? (Not to mention awesome ownership and player management)... they're the anti-Reds.

Go Hawks!!

[Kingspoint]

What a flurry by Tampa Bay at the end. Them not scoring makes up for the post hits.

We're going to Disney World!

[Patrick Bateman]

What a flurry by Tampa Bay at the end. Them not scoring makes up for the post hits.

We're going to Disney World!

You're going to the game too?

[Kingspoint]

You're going to the game too?

I wish. Again, have fun. My sports travels this year will probably be limited to a trip to Arizona at Thanksgiving to see the Bengals.

[Joseph]

The Cup is back!

Sweet home Chicago!

[villain612]

Congrats to the Blackhawks.

I'm optimistic about Tampa's future but they just couldn't get it done against Chicago this series. That blunder by Bishop in game 5 for that empty net goal was a killer IMO, but Chicago definitely deserved the win.

[Patrick Bateman]

An unreal run for this group. Will be interesting to see the choices they make with the cap crunch. Am hoping they opt to do a larger retool than necessary and ensure they lock up the right guys for their prime years. I'd look at moving seabrook, sharp and perhaps Crawford if the offers are right. Obviously many other fringe guys will be on their way out too.

[Red in Chicago]

Just got home from the game. It was fantastic. The crowd was electric. Much better outcome that when I was at game 3 last week. So glad they clinched at home.

[Kingspoint]

Way to bring the Karma on the road PB!

[M2]

The Blackhawks have nerves of steel. Dynamite group of players, particularly Patrick Kane. He's the best in the game at creating offense when the stakes are high.

[WMR]

Reds and Bengals are never gonna win anything, thank God for the Hawks, my only pro sports absolution.

[Joseph]

Reds and Bengals are never gonna win anything, thank God for the Hawks, my only pro sports absolution.

I feel your pain and joy with that statement. Gave up on the latter, never likely to on the former though.

Back to the Hawks.

Dynasty.

There is nothing so exciting as watching the Stanley Cup playoffs. None of the other playoffs even come close, and when your team lifts that chalice....lots of joy.

[westofyou]

I feel your pain and joy with that statement. Gave up on the latter, never likely to on the former though.

Back to the Hawks.

Dynasty.

There is nothing so exciting as watching the Stanley Cup playoffs. None of the other playoffs even come close, and when your team lifts that chalice....lots of joy.

Yep, the feeling is sooo nice

[Todd Gack]

An unreal run for this group. Will be interesting to see the choices they make with the cap crunch. Am hoping they opt to do a larger retool than necessary and ensure they lock up the right guys for their prime years. I'd look at moving seabrook, sharp and perhaps Crawford if the offers are right. Obviously many other fringe guys will be on their way out too.

Why would they want to move Crawford? Probably the most underrated player on the team. The owner was right: The dude steps up in big time games.

[Joseph]

Why would they want to move Crawford? Probably the most underrated player on the team. The owner was right: The dude steps up in big time games.

Why?

Because he makes 6MM a year and the cap is barely moving. I don't want to move him, I like him, but Sharp, Crawford, Bickell, all could be gone due to raises that will be due to Saad and Kruger as well as filling out the rest of the roster.

[westofyou]

The Hawks are a Bowman creation, they will focus on defense and puck control as opposed to paying a lot for a goalie, the theory is limit the shots with those two aspects of the game and you don't have to pay out to a goalie as much. It's a good game plan and worked for the Red Wings for a long time, it's more pertinent in the cap era too.

[Patrick Bateman]

The Hawks are a Bowman creation, they will focus on defense and puck control as opposed to paying a lot for a goalie, the theory is limit the shots with those two aspects of the game and you don't have to pay out to a goalie as much. It's a good game plan and worked for the Red Wings for a long time, it's more pertinent in the cap era too.

Exactly. Plus there will be some decent goalies available for a reasonable price (ie. Niemi.. lots of supply on trade market).

[Joseph]

Exactly. Plus there will be some decent goalies available for a reasonable price (ie. Niemi.. lots of supply on trade market).

Which also might work against the Hawks for trading him. WOY is right though, this is the Detroit model that worked for them for years, and frankly if they revamp their D a bit likely will get them deep in the playoffs again soon.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this team is reshaped this offseason. Very possible to see Oduya, Richards, Sharp, Bickell, Crawford, Versteeg, and Vermette all in new sweaters next season.

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Pending Board of Governors approval, the NHL will head straight to three-on-three overtime in 2015-16.

It'll be three-on-three for five minutes, and then to a shootout if no goal is scored in 2015-16. Perhaps most interestingly it was the NHL Players Association was "adamantly opposed to AHL-tested model", which runs four minutes of four-on-four and then three minutes of three-on-three before the shootout. It seems the players simply want to end the game as soon as possible after regulation.

Source: Bob McKenzie on Twitter

- - - Updated - - -

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Pending Board of Governors approval, the NHL will head straight to three-on-three overtime in 2015-16.

It'll be three-on-three for five minutes, and then to a shootout if no goal is scored in 2015-16. Perhaps most interestingly it was the NHL Players Association was "adamantly opposed to AHL-tested model", which runs four minutes of four-on-four and then three minutes of three-on-three before the shootout. It seems the players simply want to end the game as soon as possible after regulation.

Source: Bob McKenzie on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

The 2015-16 NHL salary cap has been set at $71.4 million.


The floor is consequently $52.8 million. That's up from $69 million, but it's still less than what was being projected early in the NHL season. The likely reason for the decline is the Canadian dollar, which slumped in comparison to its American counterpart. That hurt the Canadian clubs, which pay out player salaries in American, but generate ticket revenues in Canadian dollars. The lower than initially expected salary cap has been anticipated for a while now and it's sparked the talk of Patrick Sharp being shipped from Chicago. We might see other veterans on contending teams moved as well as they work to stay cap compliant.

- - - Updated - - -

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

The 2015-16 NHL salary cap has been set at $71.4 million.


The floor is consequently $52.8 million. That's up from $69 million, but it's still less than what was being projected early in the NHL season. The likely reason for the decline is the Canadian dollar, which slumped in comparison to its American counterpart. That hurt the Canadian clubs, which pay out player salaries in American, but generate ticket revenues in Canadian dollars. The lower than initially expected salary cap has been anticipated for a while now and it's sparked the talk of Patrick Sharp being shipped from Chicago. We might see other veterans on contending teams moved as well as they work to stay cap compliant.

[Big Red Smokey]

Jackets!

Huge trade.

[Spitball]

The Bruins have made some moves, and I guess they were necessary. I am scratching my head at Zac Rinaldo, though. He has been pretty much my least favorite opponent.