Not sold on Jake Dowell. I think we can do better. He still seems awkward and a bit bumbly to me. I think he needs a little more time yet. It would be nice to have a new mover and shaker. It’s time the Hawks had a breakout superstar this season. To me that’s Bickell, but perhaps before anyone can say definitively we need to see these guys some more. Hmm…might be time to make another trip up to Rockford. ;)

Hey Cakes, thanks for your perspective. I really enjoy hearing your thoughts as a Rockford scout. Surely you can see things that the rest of us who don’t make it up to Rockford as much don’t see. Keep those excellent observations coming!

My vote goes to Jake Dowell. He is the most complete end-to-end player in Rockford, and seems to be more than ready for the NHL. He is not a goon, but he is by far the most physical presence on the Icehogs, and as a former teammate of Colin Fraser and Troy Brouwer, he could certainly help toughen up the image of the Hawks, something they are lacking without Burish this year.

Yes, I worry about the cap issue too. I wonder if/when the NHL is going to crack down on this “loophole” with these mega-long contracts which kind of end-around the cap. I don’t know what else they expect teams to do. The superstars of the game, like Toews and Keith, deserve what they get and more. So the cap can be unfair to them. If you go out there all the time and get your body pounded constantly for years and years, shouldn’t that be worth more? The other thing I wonder is why the Hawks have made it so tight. Is it really so hard to find hungry, up-and-comers who will play a season or two for a lot less so you can make the numbers work? Look at all the raw talent in Rockford with Jack Skille and Bryan Bickell alone. Don’t know about you, but I want to see these guys again!

And yes, I like the long contracts when they’re offered to the right players. Duncan Keith? Yes. Marian Hossa? Perhaps not.