would always be willing to get together to rip on hatch, i come up to the metroplex a lot, will have to get your email so i can tell ya when i am coming up...
a little on the state of the stars, these next few days are like no other, so many ?'s
from dallasnews:
General manager Doug Armstrong faces difficult, telling decisions about the direction of the hockey team for years as well as months to come. Armstrong said the responsibility goes with the job.
"I don't find it difficult. It is what it is," Armstrong said. "We have to pick a direction and go with it. Our direction will be chosen by 2 p.m. Tuesday."
The Stars could still make a substantial acquisition, or they could stand pat or even trade key players to get younger.
from dallasstars.com
"There's also been a few injury problems creep up during the trip, all to very important players. First, Pierre Turgeon suffered a strained shoulder in Washington. Then, Ed Belfour suffered a sore back in Montreal. Finally, in Toronto, Richard Matvichuk received an injury in the foot area while blocking a shot.
Two-thirds of that group should be back and in action Monday in Chicago. Matvichuk, Wilson said, could very well play, while Belfour is definitely scheduled to go. Turgeon, however, is still in Dallas rehabilitating.
"Matty looks a promising go," Wilson said. "Pierre is definitely a no go. (Matvichuk) got the shot, and the next day you've got to see if it goes which way, so it's promising now. He'll still have to get it in his skate tomorrow, so we'll see."
"Organizationally, things could change," coach Rick Wilson said. "There's a lot of variables in that. Where my focus and responsibility is inside the [locker]) room with the guys who are here now."
Among the decisions facing Armstrong:
? The goaltenders. By virtue of Ed Belfour's experience and recent postseason history, coach Rick Wilson says he has the inside track to be the team's playoff goalie, although nothing is final. Of course, that's assuming Belfour is still a Star.
He becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1 and the Stars don't have any plans to talk to him about a contract extension until after the season. Backup Marty Turco is 10 years younger than the 36-year-old Belfour and boasts better numbers. But his next playoff game will be his first, and he struggled Saturday in Toronto.
The market for goalies is small. Philadelphia GM Bob Clarke has denied an interest in upgrading. A trade to a conference rival like St. Louis makes little sense.
The key may be how far the Stars feel Belfour can take them in the post-season.
? The three centers. The concept looked great on paper. With 15 games remaining in the regular season, it's still a work in progress. At times, the Stars have gotten one going, or even two, but never all three on three distinct lines.
The Stars haven't had the top wingers to compliment Mike Modano, Pierre Turgeon and Joe Nieuwendyk. Because Nieuwendyk is the only one of the three without a no-trade clause, he's the one who could be moved.
Nieuwendyk remains an integral part of the Stars and his trade would leave a void. He's their second-leading scorer, one of the best face-off men in hockey and a key leader in the dressing room.
? The need for a scoring winger. Despite Jere Lehtinen and Brenden Morrow, the Stars lack a big-time scorer.
That's why they looked at Florida's Pavel Bure, even though talks fizzled. That's why names like Washington's Peter Bondra have been floated, possibly in a swap for Nieuwendyk.
i find it hard to back a team with all this in the air..hawks also have a tremendous record in their first home game back off a road trip...dallas has had past success against the hawks, quite a fine record indeed and belfour has played well but that is all in the past---
