W C Q F: (3) Phoenix Coyotes Vs (6) Chicago Blackhawks

[oldnews]

Two straight President's trophies, the second one while playing below their potential for the majority of the season, is not really a sign of decline... Get used to the Canucks contending, and Chicago telling themselves that they are better than they seem. Ego problems and outsmarting themselves is not going to produce results.

[DeNiro]

In regards to the Nucks chances diminishing going forward ? Of course they do, age and injuries coupled with a thin prospect pool isn't a formula for winning the cup. Last year was the year... came up just short and look at what happened this year...

The west isn't getting weaker going forward...

[unbridled_id]

Why would the Hawks have to rebuild already? Didn't you spend 10 years rebuilding?

If your prospects were as good as you think they are, a rebuild shouldn't be necessary.

Fortunately for the Canucks we have been spending time grooming our prospects until they're absolutlety ready. So our window will stay open because we'll be able to transition younger players into the lineup.

Shaw has been playing on adrenaline, he won't match that next season. Schroeder has boatloads more skill than Shaw, and will beat players with his speed and stick handling. As for Lalonde, who cares? Some AHL plug pushed him into the glass with a cheap shot and got a penalty. What a tough guy.

[Edler0023]

Two straight President's trophies, the second one while playing below their potential for the majority of the season, is not really a sign of decline... Get used to the Canucks contending, and Chicago telling themselves that they are better than they seem. Ego problems and outsmarting themselves is not going to produce results.

[unbridled_id]

Oh man, if only I had MG's number.

[unbridled_id]

This. How are we in decline yet another Pres trophy while honestly playing like utter crap. If I was a Hawks fan, I'd worry less about who has brighter prospects and more about goaltending and D.

[Edler0023]

7th game in the stanley cup to losing 4 games to one in the first round ? Ok, you are getting better and will continue to do so by infusing in less talented younger players ?

Hawks D is ok and with the trio of Keith, Seabs, and Leddy it's going to get better going forward. The gaggle of folks on your blueline is good...but not getting better.

[oldnews]

The Western Conference has a whole lot of teams improving much more rapidly than the Hawks - the Hawks future looks like a life and death struggle to merely make the playoffs. It won't be long before you can add Colorado and Edmonton to the teams they are chasing. LA is already a better team than Chicago. Chicago and San Jose are poised to join the Calgary Flames...

[DeNiro]

We won the cup, salary cap coupled with expiring elc contracts, guys like Buff, Ladd, and Versteeg on the cheap. In the era of the salary cap a team in order to stay competitive say like the Red Wings has to continually cycle in home grown talent... It isn't really a complicated formula is it ?

LaLonde is more than a plug and it showed Schroder folded like a cheap tent. Schrhoder has skill but won't have the space in the NHL to use it and his lack of size will be a problem.... Why will Shaw play with less piss and vinegar next season ?

[Ace_of_Spades]

I AM SO HAPPY THE YOTES BEAT THE HAWKS!!! No lie this actually took a tiny tiny minute bit of sting out of the nucks losing last night...(just a bit obviously I'm still crushed about our defeat but this makes me feel slightly better just the same)

[spliced]

Na na na na...

Na na na na...

Hey hey hey goodbye!

[Toews]

The Western Conference has a whole lot of teams improving much more rapidly than the Hawks - the Hawks future looks like a life and death struggle to merely make the playoffs. It won't be long before you can add Colorado and Edmonton to the teams they are chasing. LA is already a better team than Chicago. Chicago and San Jose are poised to join the Calgary Flames...

[unbridled_id]

Poor contract management is why you had to gut your team and practically blow it up. You can thank Tallon for leaving your team a shell of it's former self.

Maybe one cup is all Hawks fans want, but I want the Canucks to be able to challenge every season. Not be a one a done like the Hawks.

Okay, maybe Lalonde isn't a plug, but he's a long shot to make the NHL. And so what if he get pushed into the boards from behind with a cheap shot. That happens in the NHL. Doesn't mean a player is weak because they get cheap shotted.

Schroeder will use his speed and vision to create space on the ice. Don't worry about him, you'll get to know him next season.

[unbridled_id]

The Western Conference has a whole lot of teams improving much more rapidly than the Hawks - the Hawks future looks like a life and death struggle to merely make the playoffs. It won't be long before you can add Colorado and Edmonton to the teams they are chasing. LA is already a better team than Chicago. Chicago and San Jose are poised to join the Calgary Flames...

[miked1101]

Looks like L.A is a better than a few teams in the west huh . If I were the Nucks with the Lanch and Oil being in your division I would be worried about them... Aging stars and a parking lot puddle deep prospect pool = a dimming future.. embrace it for what it is and remember you always have game 7.

[oldnews]

Looks like L.A is a better than a few teams in the west huh . If I were the Nucks with the Lanch and Oil being in your division I would be worried about them... Aging stars and a parking lot puddle deep prospect pool = a dimming future.. embrace it for what it is and remember you always have game 7.

[unbridled_id]

The only team in the Hawks division that they are better than is Columbus.

You over-state the 'aging' of the Canucks. They have one player near retirement, and two stars who are 31. Luongo's age might be an issue if they didn't have an ocean of goaltending youth. The Canucks average age is 27.9 - Chicago's is 27.5.

You clearly don't have any idea what the Canucks "prospect pool" looks like - you keep referring to Schroeder but the Canucks are already very deep at center, and have excelllent goaltending prospects, a number of very solid young d-men, and a pair of blue chip wingers... More than they need actually.

They also have a whole lot of assets that delivered two President's trophies, and if they decided to get younger, would have absolutely no difficulty.

The Hawks on the other hand have a core (which even in their youth are declining) and a whole lot of average.

[TOMapleLaughs]

Chicago hasn't really been the same since Tallon left. Mediocre performance by a mediocre team. Cheers.

TOML

[unbridled_id]

Chicago hasn't really been the same since Tallon left. Mediocre performance by a mediocre team. Cheers.

TOML

[endtoend]

Mobile