Jesusberg

Both, actually. I was waiting for the "Larkin's amazing, but he won't make the team. Useless veterans" and "See? Howard's already letting 'em in. What a bum" crowds. It's a little early, though. I'll give them until about 7-8 tonight to read over the scrimmage summaries.

I saw that, too. Figured we'd be piling it on a little bit too much

Michelle ‏@Slapshotg0al 55s55 seconds agoView translation Bertuzzi goal on Howard. Michelle ‏@Slapshotg0al 32s33 seconds ago Goose goal on McCollum. 2-1 Howe Edit: Michelle ‏@Slapshotg0al 15s15 seconds ago Abby goal on McCollum. 2-2

...and it begins.

I can't believe I'm advocating for Kindl, but in this situation... yes. Kindl's really solid on the power play. If he wasn't so horse**** in his own zone, I'd have more faith in him. If I'm picking between Kindl and Smith, strictly for their skill on the PP, I go with Kindl - overall, probably Smith. Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing Kindl-Marchenko as a pairing at some point. I think Kindl, if given the chance, can put up some offensive numbers. You know what you're getting with Kindl, an offensively-inclined, PP specialist. I'm not sure what Smith is, but he's decent at a lot of things, not especially great at one thing, IMO. Smith and Jurco might be happy about Babcock being gone, but Kindl probably went ape****.

The thing is, I can see some of the defensive improvements that Smith has made. I think he's better positionally than he was a few years back. He makes better decisions in terms of stick-checking and when to take someone out of the play. That said, he still can't seem to get the puck out of his own zone. It just seems like when he has the puck, his brain turns off. For the life of me, I don't understand it. You'll see him throw a bomb up the middle every once in awhile, but I swear he gets picked off more consistently than anyone else on the team. Like others have said, I think it's a mental issue more than anything. He's so jittery with the puck that I just don't trust him on the power play. I don't hate Brendan Smith, I just don't have faith in his abilities.

Now Michelle from WiiM is saying it was Nedomlel, not Verrier. Michelle ‏@Slapshotg0al 10s11 seconds ago Helm & Nedomlel just collided hard in practice. Both were down for a while, Helm standing now, Nedo being stretchered off.

Already...? Seems serious. Ted Kulfan ‏@tkulfan 30s31 seconds ago Violent collision between Helm and one of the junior players , Verrier, during drill. Helm is fine...the kid is not unfortunately. Edit: Ted Kulfan ‏@tkulfan 27s 28 seconds ago Stretcher on the ice for Verrier and players are off the ice

Vinnik? That was a fun ride from start to finish.

I guess that makes Richard Panik his Jurco? Hope the guy likes the fourth line and riding the pine. Also, how many games until Corporal Komarov is in his top-six?

I agree, but once Datsyuk returns, Glendening is likely to go back to that 4C spot. The fourth line will be Miller-Glendening-Ferraro, I assume. When that happens, if Jurco or Pulkkinen are in the lineup, I assume it's not anyone from the top-nine coming out. That means they're likely using Abdelkader or Sheahan with Helm. I assumed that Helm-Abdelkader were used more last season too, but I checked and they were together 1.8% of the time on the PK, while Helm-Sheahan were used 1.16%. After Glendening-Miller (38.22%), Helm-Andersson was the pairing used most frequently (9.67%), which I hope doesn't happen this season.

I agree 100% with the idea that Sheahan shouldn't be kept off the power play in favor of Smith, but is Abdelkader any more of a defensive forward than Sheahan right now? Not that he's not capable, but he's not exactly racking up time on the PK these days, and Sheahan's known for his two-way play. Glendening-Miller is the top PK tandem for sure, after that it's a little murky. I'm inclined to say that Helm-Ferraro would be solid, but what happens when/if Ferraro is scratched for Jurco/Pulkkinen? Could go Helm-Abdelkader or Helm-Sheahan - either one would do well, I think.

Arn Anderson

It does seem kind of crazy, but neither player is really suited for fourth-line duty. I think their best bet is when/if Andersson is scratched. Hopefully, Blash moves Glendening down to the 4C spot and one of them gets to play on that third line.

I wonder if that changes, though. Right now Larkin's between two NHL-bound players. Either AA goes to wing or Miele does. Edit: Or (and I think this would be insane) they push someone down as the fourth-line center out of Nosek or Miele.

We were close with most of the lines. The only real difference is that Helm and Franzen swapped spots. Interesting to see Larkin skating between Jurco and Pulkkinen.

I just don't see the room for Smith on the PP. At the start of the year, sure. Once Datsyuk returns, I just can't see it. PP Unit #1: Abdelkader, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen and Kronwall PP Unit #2: Sheahan, Nyquist, Richards, Tatar and Green Maybe you swap Mule for Tatar or Nyquist, but either way... where's the room? Sheahan serves as the NFP on that second unit - I can't see them without someone screening the goalie on the PP. Maybe if Richards falters? Then you have Pulkkinen and Jurco trying to get some PP time as well.

Well, yeah... that's why I said it's worked out well for him. Had the team not won two cups with him, he might feel a little different about being moved twice. It was less about me criticizing Chicago, and more about me wondering how other players view the situation. I always read about how Ken Holland's loyalty is a draw for free agents, but the 'Hawks "load and unload" method seems to be working out just fine. Also, not sure if you were talking about his recent deal, but he was signed as a UFA by the Hawks in 2009-10, then traded to Toronto after Chicago won.

I see a move like this and I wonder if it influences free agents at all? Versteeg has been moved twice now by the 'Hawks, both times after winning the Cup and due to a cap crunch. Worked out well for him, but what if it hadn't worked out? Would that deter players from signing in Chicago?

Not 11M? Hmmph.

Honestly, I think it's just a move to "keep the flies off" during training camp. Lot of young players and guys who play a heavy game trying to make a team - you see people take runs sometimes. Rechlicz hasn't played in the NHL since 2011-12, so I highly doubt it's anything more than keeping the other teams honest.

After the showing Nosek just had in TC (and the end of last year), I'm very optimistic about GR's depth down the middle. Yes, I would still prefer that AA-Larkin-Mantha line to stick, but really they are in good shape either way. As long as Larkin, Miele and Nosek are down the middle in the top nine, I think the team is going places.

I doubt any of those guys would play at center. Svechnikov has played center with Cape Breton, so I imagine it'll be either him or Miele between Jurco and Pulkkinen.

I realized how cheeky that first sentence may have read. "'She" would be correct - her name is Michelle." (Oh, you don't know Michelle? You should.) My bad

"She" would be correct - her name is Michelle. She writes for the guys over at WiiM, too. Following her on Twitter pretty much gives up-to-date details on the tournament. Not to mention, she usually posts .gifs of the goals before the highlight packages come out. https://twitter.com/Slapshotg0al