Carcillo is a loose cannon with decent 3rd line skills. The Hawks were missing that element when Burish and Eager left after the Cup win...I think he is a needed factor on this club.

Kruger has skills, but consistency and size will be the obstacles he has to overcome....he has potential, but so did Ken Yaremchuk. :-)

For you old school Hawks fans.

Image

:-)

Yes we know :-) :-)

For fans of hockey in the current decade:

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:-)

Mike you can get a photo with the Cup just not with Thomas.

Go Jets!!!! :-)

Sad news to hit the NHL again. Rick Rypen has passed away...

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=373855

RIP Ryper. You definitely had some personal demons but I witnessed your work first hand and you were one of the most fearless competitors I had ever had the privilege of watching.

Geezes. RIP Rick.

Very sad. R.I.P. Mr. Rypien.

:-)

To keep with the picture theme, I had to dig deep!!!! :-)
Image

Seems so weird. Remember last year when I posted this. He was troubled.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NrPP...e_gdata_player

Honestly this is bad and is really showing a serious issue within the sport. I just keep wondering if it will get worse before better. Think back in just over a year four guys who played the fighter and paid the price.

Potomski, Probert, Bougard, Rypien and I may be missing someone. All had apparent substance abuse problems and likely suffered repeated concussions which contributed to or caused death. I personally think the concussion depression link and substance abuse relation are all intertwined. Crosby is still having concussion symptoms. More needs to be done to protect the players brains. Clearly concussions are impacting the league like never before.

Sorry for being serious for a moment. Return to posting pictures of guys holding up the cup.

Mike, you give us something to think about. First of all, rest in peace Mr. Rypien, you were a worthy opponent.The concussion angle makes me think about Lucic as an enforcer and Bergeron and Savard as concussion victims. Kind of scares you that some very good players could be at risk because of hits in the head. Makes me glad that my daughter did not play the game. Thank you for the thoughtful post.:-)

Yes, RIP and I agree Mike, more needs to be done.

Its funny my son is young and has averaged a violent collision that made me very concerned both of his first two years. He has thankfully gotten a lot better this summer about skating with his head up as I have hammered on him about it. Whats sad is we get so used to yelling at the kids to get up when they go down. Its just part of the culture and I and everyone else is guilty of doing it. Its generally the first response. Then its, crap he might be hurt. The sport makes you tough I have seen this first hand with my son. Watched him get hit pop back up start to skate then start to cry and head to the bench with the wind knocked out. Its part of the game and deeply engrained in the culture to be tough and play hurt and not say when somethings wrong. That dudes a nancy etc. Its odd I was proud of him last year when he had his big collision and wanted to go back out after I got done checking him out. I didnt let him skate anymore that day even though he seemed fine.

Its definitely something I worry about a lot. The other day he said he wanted to play in yhe nhl when he grew up. I laughed and said he should play baseball or golf. As of late I wouldnt want him to ever play at that level.

Avery cleared of wrong doing in the battery charge. Hmmmmmmmm

Anyone watch the RDO Camp stuff? Interesting idea changes. Hybrid icing proposed seems possible. Curved glass by the benches so Chara cant try to kill anyone again. :-)

Bruins TV schedule is out and will be on National TV up to 20 games this season. :-)
I like the Versus broadcast crew :-)

I read that 12 is the maximum National games each team can get.

:-)

I guess not, with the flex could be up to 21 games :-)

14 Bruins games will be broadcast nationally in the United States on VERSUS (games marked as "non-exclusive" will also be televised locally on NESN). Three games will be broadcast nationally on NBC, with an additional four marked as "flex" games by NBC, meaning they potentially could become nationally televised games on NBC if the network chooses.