What's Stan been doing?

[gmalis1]

@ChrisKuc: #Blackhawks lines at practice. Remember, no Hossa: Bickell-Toews-Kane, Sharp-Handzus-Hayes, Saad-Shaw-Smith, Bollig-Kruger-Nordstrom

 

[gmalis1]

Coach Q after practice: Says it's "likely" that the #Blackhawks will break camp with 8 defensemen. Also, Hossa will likely skate tomorrow.

Hossa might skate...doesn't mean he is ready to practice.

I'm already worried!

 

[JBM73]

Thanks for the info!

 

[JBM73]

@ChrisKuc: #Blackhawks lines at practice. Remember, no Hossa: Bickell-Toews-Kane, Sharp-Handzus-Hayes, Saad-Shaw-Smith, Bollig-Kruger-Nordstrom

Once Hossa is back and bumps Hayes I'll like the lines, although I just don't see Handzus being effective playing 2nd line minutes over an 82 game season + playoffs.

 

[JBM73]

Coach Q after practice: Says it's "likely" that the #Blackhawks will break camp with 8 defensemen.

Hmmmmm....sounds like they're pretty unhappy with Brookbank.

 

[gmalis1]

Agreed 100%. Don't see Handzus holding up an entire season.

Have to keep your fingers crossed that Hossa can hold up as well.

Hossa on the second line. Hayes on the fourth. Nordstrom gets bumped.

Revolving door with Pirri, Morin and Nordstrom at Rockford and Chicago.

Brookbank is awful. Watch for a trade (maybe) and Stanton as the 7th dman, although Q says he wants 8 on the roster (2 healthy scratches?).

 

[gmalis1]

Although after second thought, Q loves Nordy on the PK. So he could be one of the 20 starters.

 

[Baseballnut77]

in the past Q has had no problem with having extra D-men up and even throwing them out their on the wing from time to time so it really shouldn't be a big surprise. At worst you have an extra defensive minded player out their on the lower lines from time to time and if someone goes down from injury then he can bring up a real winger who is not just languishing on a bench and is ready to contribute

 

[anotheridiot]

I dont know what the surprise is, Brookbank only played in 26 games last year and only one playoff game. I expected Olsen to be a back and forth guy though. It seems they have guys that have hung around long enough in Rockford that they really arent doing much, where being with the team practicing on a daily basis is probably where they should be.

 

[HockeyDoug]

Brookbank is a solid #6 or #7. I would rather take my chances with him rather than a rookie. Injuries will come and the rookies will get their ice time but I'm not ready to see them in the spring.

 

[JBM73]

Calling Brookbank a solid #6 is a bit of a reach, don't you think?

Hossa returns to ice, could play in opener - Chicago Blackhawks Blog - ESPN Chicago

 

[HockeyDoug]

Calling Brookbank a solid #6 is a bit of a reach, don't you think?

I don't want to see him play much if that's what you mean but I think he's an upgrade to most of the bottom pairs around the league. He's not a terrible defensive player, and can eat up some minutes against quality scoring lines and defensive situations without being a liability positionally or physically. His entire body of work (not just his playoff game) last year was solid for a bottom pair type. He's not a great skater but he positions alright away from the puck and for the last half decade I'm not nearly as scared with him out there as I've been with Boynton, Sopel, Olsen, Cullimore, Hendry, O'Donnell, Lepisto, Montador, Stanton, Lalonde, Barker, Walker, Johnson, and on certain occassions, even some of the better overall players in defensive situations.

If Q is going to roll out rookies on the 3rd and 4th lines this year, he's probably better off playing a Brookbank type over a Roszival type in most cases throughout the year since he'll pound some people and take the obligatory instigator after Kruger or Smith get smeared all over the place...again. (I'm half kidding about that part).

I consider him a NHL number 6 but I'm glad he's a 7 and not a 6 in Chicago. STL is the only team in the division that probably wouldn't have a spot for him in the top 6 right now. If Chicago had more holes, they would probably move him for a depth player elsewhere but I'm assuming they'll keep him since he can plug one of a few different needs if injuries pop up in the spring.

He sucked in the playoff game, but I don't weigh individual playoff performances for one game up to even 2 series, as heavily as most seem to.

 

[HockeyDoug]

BTW, I don't fault anybody that doesn't like his game. He can shoot a bit, but he's pretty much a one dimensional role player.

 

[JBM73]

BTW, I don't fault anybody that doesn't like his game. He can shoot a bit, but he's pretty much a one dimensional role player.

I think it comes down to this: a team with Brookbank as their #6 on the depth chart is probably not winning the Cup. I don't fault him for the one bad playoff game after an extended period of not playing, but even when he played in the regular season it was clear he's not a guy you want playing 82 games. He's a legit #7, although overpaid for that role.

 

[JBM73]

Not too many things make me laugh out loud, but watch the Bollig video (link in article):

Bollig creates buzz with Kane parody video - Chicago Blackhawks Blog - ESPN Chicago

 

[gmalis1]

Not too many things make me laugh out loud, but watch the Bollig video (link in article):

Bollig creates buzz with Kane parody video - Chicago Blackhawks Blog - ESPN Chicago

Kane's was sick. Bollig's was hilarious.

Love at the end when he tries to pick up the puck with his stick...can't...and then picks up the puck with his hand an lays it on the blade. I'm still laughing from that one.

Great production team and video work on both, BTW.

 

[HockeyDoug]

I think it comes down to this: a team with Brookbank as their #6 on the depth chart is probably not winning the Cup. I don't fault him for the one bad playoff game after an extended period of not playing, but even when he played in the regular season it was clear he's not a guy you want playing 82 games. He's a legit #7, although overpaid for that role.

I'm basing it on contending teams. LA had the underdeveloped Martinez and Boston had McQuaid. I take Brookbank over the 2010 Sopel or Boynton, and I think he's an ideal fit for Bylsma's 09' team and I even think he's better than Lebda, Chelios, or Lilja from the 08' Wings.

I don't really like him and I don't think he's an ideal fit for a puck possession system but I think he's a bottom pair type. Some people like the skill and upside of prospects and young players. I don't like the tradeoff for a contending team.

 

[gmalis1]

#Blackhawks' practice lines: Bickell-Toews-Kane, Sharp-Handzus-Hossa, Saad-Shaw-Smith, Bollig-Kruger-Nordstrom. 5th line: Morin-Pirri-Hayes

 

[HockeyDoug]

Raise your hand if you thought Nordstrom would be up.

 

[HockeyDoug]

Nordstrom only saw limited low line action in Rockford. I didn't think he had a shot to crack the roster this year. I didn't mean to imply I saw him making the last cuts.