Confirmed with Link: Nikolai Khabibulin returns to Hawks (1 yr deal)

[chicagoskycam]

Right, so why are you so damn persistent? Do you deny that it's easier to replace a #7 Dman than the team's top PKer?

I said that a few posts ago, and you continued to try and rationalize why trading Kruger makes more sense. It doesn't. Just pieced two and two together.

Kruger was part of the system. I don't consider him the team's top PK'r because that was the role he was relegated to.

I putting myself in the team's shoes and they are probably thinking along the same lines. Where is the depth. I don't understand how you don't see that. Carcillo, Bolliq, Hayes, Smith, Morin, ect, ect.

That being said it would be great to have Kruger right back where he was in last year. I just don't know if it's going to happen and where the hell did I say trade Kruger. I said I'd rather have Rosi over him before Rosi signed. So basically you're making **** up.

.

 

[madgoat33]

1.9 for kruger? ugggh

 

[HockeySauce]

Kruger was part of the system. I don't consider him the team's top PK'r because that was the role he was relegated to.

I putting myself in the team's shoes and they are probably thinking along the same lines. Where is the depth. I don't understand how you don't see that. Carcillo, Bolliq, Hayes, Smith, Morin, ect, ect.

That being said it would be great to have Kruger right back where he was in last year. I just don't know if it's going to happen and where the hell did I say trade Kruger. I said I'd rather have Rosi over him before Rosi signed. So basically you're making **** up.

.

Carcillo, Bollig, Hayes, Pirri and Morin don't PK. The only player in the system that could replace Kruger potentially effeictive is Danault, and he'd be a rookie Pro.

Chicago has Ryan Stanton, who the coaches like, ready to step up to the NHL and play sparingly as a #7. They do not have a forward ready to step in and be on the team's top PK unit.

Kruger was one of the team's better PKers last year to. He wasn't relegated to the top PK unit, Frolik was, and it worked wonderfully.

How am I making anything up? I responded to your post saying, paraphrasing, "maybe they'll let Kruger go". Then I posted a roster, cause you asked how they looked headed into the season, and said what they should do is trade Brookbank. You then went on about the depth at forward, this and that. No. The simplest solution is to demote Bollig and resign Kruger, who at the moment, is not replaceable from within the system. That could change as soon as next year, but it hasn't happened yet. The best solution would be to find Brookbank a team that will play him, trade Carcillo, promote Stanton and resign Kruger.

There is no situation where letting Kruger go makes the most sense. You're not going to get enough for him to justify trading him at this point and you'll make your team worse off next season.

 

[chicagoskycam]

^ I still never said trade him!!! That is a possible outcome if they don't reach a deal and I think it's a very real possibility they won't. From Kruger's perspective he's never going to be more valuable in that role to another team.

I don't agree that Kruger can't be replaced. He's good in that role but you're being ridiculous. Seriously. He's a 4th line PK guy that can't win face offs. If the Hawks go south without them well then.....

 

[Sevanston]

Kruger was part of the system. I don't consider him the team's top PK'r because that was the role he was relegated to.

I putting myself in the team's shoes and they are probably thinking along the same lines. Where is the depth. I don't understand how you don't see that. Carcillo, Bolliq, Hayes, Smith, Morin, ect, ect.

That being said it would be great to have Kruger right back where he was in last year. I just don't know if it's going to happen and where the hell did I say trade Kruger. I said I'd rather have Rosi over him before Rosi signed. So basically you're making **** up.

.

If the bolded were so capable of slotting into the PK since Kruger was just "part of the system" then why didn't they? Most of them are wingers, except arguably Smith and Hayes, neither of whom are ready to play center in the NHL like Kruger. Let alone kill penalties.

The PK's effectiveness is not just a matter of "the system," it's also a question of who's playing in the system. We know it works fantastically with Kruger, so there's no reason to consider walking away from him. He's a low-scoring forward that's an RFA; he's not going to break the bank.

If cap space was really an issue, just dropping Carcillo alone would free up plenty of space for Kruger. Carbomb barely even skated during the playoffs, so there's really no contest between picking him and the #1 center on the #1 PK.

 

[chicagoskycam]

^Carcillo should probably go. He hasn't been the same since the injuries.

 

[HockeySauce]

^ I still never said trade him!!! That is a possible outcome if they don't reach a deal and I think it's a very real possibility they won't. From Kruger's perspective he's never going to be more valuable in that role to another team.

I don't agree that Kruger can't be replaced. He's good in that role but you're being ridiculous. Seriously. He's a 4th line PK guy that can't win face offs. If the Hawks go south without them well then.....

You said, quoting, "I think maybe Kruger's gone".

Then you tried continually to rationalize why you think that. But it's pretty much been disproven. Maybe the Hawks do trade Kruger. We don't know what they'll do. But breaking it down, rationally, it makes waaaay more sense to trade Brookbank than Kruger.

I don't think Kruger is irreplaceable, but he is with what Chicago has in their system. If Chicago would prefer to let Kruger go and go out and get a veteran PK forward than that's their prerogative, but you're argument was centered around what the Hawks have in their system and they do not have someone that can effectively replace Kruger at this point in time.

Now, what's so hard to understand? Do we really need to continue to go on? I think all the bases have been covered.

/argument.

 

[chicagoskycam]

You said, quoting, "I think maybe Kruger's gone".

Then you tried continually to rationalize why you think that. But it's pretty much been disproven. Maybe the Hawks do trade Kruger. We don't know what they'll do. But breaking it down, rationally, it makes waaaay more sense to trade Brookbank than Kruger.

I don't think Kruger is irreplaceable, but he is with what Chicago has in their system. If Chicago would prefer to let Kruger go and go out and get a veteran PK forward than that's their prerogative, but you're argument was centered around what the Hawks have in their system and they do not have someone that can effectively replace Kruger at this point in time.

Now, what's so hard to understand? Do we really need to continue to go on? I think all the bases have been covered.

/argument.

You're undervaluing many of the kids ready to come up and make an impact. That's fine. We will see what happens. You act like Kruger was playing the PK all by himself out there. I must have missed that.

So if the Hawks let him go Stan is a complete idiot, right?

 

[HockeySauce]

You're undervaluing many of the kids ready to come up and make an impact. That's fine. We will see what happens. You act like Kruger was playing the PK all by himself out there. I must have missed that.

So if the Hawks let him go Stan is a complete idiot, right?

OMG, how am I undervaluing them? I have a lot of confidence in Morin and Smith, and I think one of Pirri/LeBlanc will come in and do a good job as the 2nd line centre. The problem isn't that I undervalue them, the problem is that you're misplacing where their value lies..

*hint**hint*, it's not in their defensive play or PK ability.

Kruger wasn't some pure offensive player in Sweden that the Hawks developed into a defensive stalwart, or that developed into a defensive player because he had no choice if he wanted to stay on the team.. Kruger has always been a good two-way player, wherever he's been and has now become one of the better defensive players on the Hawks roster. Q throws him out there in every key situation. You think he'll have that confidence in Pirri, Morin or Smith? Ha. No.

If Stan lets him go, I'm sure he'll have a plan. I don't expect him to let him go though, so I'm not worried about that.

 

[Sevanston]

You're undervaluing many of the kids ready to come up and make an impact. That's fine. We will see what happens. You act like Kruger was playing the PK all by himself out there. I must have missed that.

So if the Hawks let him go Stan is a complete idiot, right?

And you're acting like there's a player who will do just as well as Kruger did that's available for $3.99 at Wal-Mart.

 

[chicagoskycam]

And you're acting like there's a player who will do just as well as Kruger did that's available for $3.99 at Wal-Mart.

No, he's in the system. He will likely have to be.

 

[HockeySauce]

No, he's in the system. He will likely have to be.

You're absolutely right bro. Kruger's replacement is in the system. His name is Phillip Danault and he very likely will not be ready next year.

 

[chicagoskycam]

Stan saying they are close to signing Kruger, details being ironed out. Disaster adverted. We can compete for the cup again.

 

[HockeySauce]

Stan saying they are close to signing Kruger, details being ironed out. Disaster adverted. We can compete for the cup again.

Link? Pretty sure he said they were close yesterday.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I'm sure you'd quickly understand why if Crawford ever suffered a major injury. Hawks have been gambling on him staying healthy for quite a while, and losing Emery makes the situation more precarious (without Buli joining the fray)... and btw, we still lack depth in net.

I don't know how much deeper we could be in net. A solid veteran ahl backup? If your #4 goalie is seeing regular minutes you make a move.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Being a good penalty killer in the NHL is more than try hard. Its a talent.

There's a reason Stalberg isn't an elite PK guy, and it isn't effort.

 

[massivegoonery]

That's sweet, my Khabi Jets jersey just became relevant again.

 

[BronYrAur]

Hey look! Another thread devolves into a discussion about Marcus Kruger, 4th liner and PK'er.

 

[Stereo Dice]

Khabibulin will be a good backup for Crawford.

Can't really replace Emery, nor recreate him at Khabibulin's age.

 

[David71]

what number will he wear

 

[CS85]

Hey look! Another thread devolves into a discussion about Marcus Kruger, 4th liner and PK'er.

Welcome to the offseason.

 

[SLarmer28*]

This team has a glut of young forwards ready to step up, not so much for D.

If the Chicago Blackhawks believe that defenseman Ryan Stanton is ready to play in the NHL, there is no need to keep Brookbank if the salary cap for the 2013-14 NHL Season is an issue.

 

[Bubba88]

What are you, 5? Seriously.

The discussion about where the Hawks depth lies as far as prospects is fairly easy to understand. Even for someone with dimwitted comments. Brookbank is the 1st guy in if someone goes down. The Hawks can choose from a variety of forwards if Kruger leaves.

^ I still never said trade him!!! That is a possible outcome if they don't reach a deal and I think it's a very real possibility they won't. From Kruger's perspective he's never going to be more valuable in that role to another team.

I don't agree that Kruger can't be replaced. He's good in that role but you're being ridiculous. Seriously. He's a 4th line PK guy that can't win face offs. If the Hawks go south without them well then.....

No, he's in the system. He will likely have to be.

now tell me what player in the system can play this good and is a Center?

 

[chicagoskycam]

Hey look! Another thread devolves into a discussion about Marcus Kruger, 4th liner and PK'er.

Just because it was suggested he can be replaced if required. It's not the end of the world. Some people have their panties would up in a bunch.

 

[HockeySauce]

Just because it was suggested he can be replaced if required. It's not the end of the world. Some people have their panties would up in a bunch.

What are you, 5?

It was very rationally explained to you why Kruger is not the most easily, or sensible replacement, which you were trying to argue.. not that he was simply replaceable, which of course he is, and I fully admitted to.