Detroit area got one in '21 in Sterling Hts and there's a second location scheduled for Livonia (home of Ryan Kesler), though there's no date yet.

The new owners announced they are planning 600 new locations over the next 25 yrs so maybe they put one in near you Lou.
- HawkintheD

I remember Portillos when it was the wagon on North ave in the parking lot. I grew up on Carms on Wolf road. But for a couple decades now it's Johnnies in Elmwood. Portillos changed their beef vendor when Berkshire bought them and it's not the same. So for local folks there's more than a few better options. But for out of town guys Portillos is probably the go to.
Oh, and Hossa was pretty good just to keep it hockey related.

It is funny how a person like me, who has no 9 to 5 job, has all this unused time and brain and I start thinking about hockey rumors I read and try and connect them to other situations.
Today I read that the Sabres were going to be mentioning winger Jack Quinn as a trade piece. He has been marred with injuries even before he was drafted but 24 goals and 58 points over his three seasons since being drafted somehow has them thinking he is more asset than answer there.

Well, guess whose unused time and brain started thinking is there a possible comparable in this year’s draft class, and I thought, NO!, but some might try and use Eiserman as a comparison since Quinn did have a 52 goal and 89 point season while in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s. Eiserman.

Please don’t.

It is difficult to ignore Cole's 97 goal, 154 point season while at ShattuckSt Mary's, and all the rest where the biscuit is in the basket.

Eiserman skates better, reads better and may not have that extra inch that Quinn has but Cole Eiserman is thicker and a load on the attack. The rest will come. Don’t believe the draft drop.
Ok, back to U-18

Bedard, Faber and Hughes have been nominated for the Calder trophy. I think we’d all agree that Hughes is the runaway favourite.

- dmnted

My quote efited by the moron

To be fair those teams had a lot of talent on them as well, and he did end up on the losing end of both those teams.

After we gutted the team in 2010, we were one and done in the playoffs. Sure Hossa was brutally blown up in one of those series but the other series he couldn't carry us past the first round.

When he played for Ottawa and then Atlanta his team didn't make it out of the 1st round 5 out of 7 years. As much as i like Marian Hossa, who's a great player, it takes 20+ players to win a SC.
- BetweenTheDots

Sure it's a team sport. I'm just saying, Hossa was solid at both ends, even if he wasn't always scoring goals, he was a huge contributor. I'm saying we never dropped any series where we can say Hossa wasn't good enough. He brought his game damn near every night and even when he didn't score, he was almost always a postive factor in the stuff that doesn't count on the scoresheet. Yes, he wasn't going to carry a team on his own, but that's true about anyone.

How about them Panthers

Hey Fatty we have Toronto's 1st round pick next year.

I think Toronto's mistake will always have been signing Tavares, it eliminated any flexibility and depth.
- BetweenTheDots

The fancy cats are a good team. And they did a lot of tweaking to get to where they are and when they've had cap casualties they've kept the right guys it seems like.

There was some outrage when Weegar got moved and Huberdeau after his career year. For TheChuck who some viewed as an entitled complainer for not signing with the team that drafted him. It was his fault Calgary couldn't take the next step forward. But now it looks like a steal for Floria at this stage.

The Tavares deal was a lot of desperation and if you look at the other Kyle's trade and signing history it is one egregious deal after another. He's doing similar work in Pittsburg which is fun for them. Treliving has a mess to clean up and it's going to be difficult with them not having a lot of futures or assets outside of their top 4 forwards.

What else:

If Saginaw Spirit comes back and ties London Knights tomorrow night, I am gonna feel certain that Zanye Parehk is putting enough scouts eyes on him go very high like the 4th slot I am stubbornly keeping him in, ahead of Levshunov, Sam RRichardinson, Buium, Silayev and Yakemchuk...

Hawks prospect camp June 30-July 5. Once again it will be one of those off ice team building/bonding affairs.

Tom Kurvers showcase tourney in St. Louis September 11-15.

Training camp starts September 18.

He’s going to want to play on a contender unless KD is willing to give him insane money on a two or three year deal. Can you imagine him playing off wing with Bedard?
- paulr

I think he'll sign for a moderate hit in Tampa for at least one more year. Hedman still looks good (under contract for one more year) and if they can stay relatively healthy I think they'll be decent enough next year.

I think they'll run it back until Kucherov's deal is done and then begin the fun rebuild process.

The fancy cats are a good team. And they did a lot of tweaking to get to where they are and when they've had cap casualties they've kept the right guys it seems like.

There was some outrage when Weegar got moved and Huberdeau after his career year. For TheChuck who some viewed as an entitled complainer for not signing with the team that drafted him. It was his fault Calgary couldn't take the next step forward. But now it looks like a steal for Floria at this stage.

The Tavares deal was a lot of desperation and if you look at the other Kyle's trade and signing history it is one egregious deal after another. He's doing similar work in Pittsburg which is fun for them. Treliving has a mess to clean up and it's going to be difficult with them not having a lot of futures or assets outside of their top 4 forwards.
- fattybeef

I don’t think the Tavares signing was one of desperation it was a signing without any foresight or plan. I learned in business planning there’s need and nice to have. Toronto’s biggest need when they signed Tavares was defence. And now six years later the Leaf’s biggest need is defence and they have an aging Tavares and three forwards taking up half the cap.

I love when folks start to see things my way, just never happens ...............until now

- vabeachbear

My wife always sees things my way. It's easy, I just ask her what "my way" is.

I am not so sure the Leafs back step will reflect a whole lot less points during the season, so that 2025 Leafs-> Chicago pick is probably mid twenties if they don't win a playoff series next year either.
Hmmm...Jakob Ihs-Wozniak with that pick?
A big Australian Swede (not a punter) who shoots right handed but plays both wings...

What else:

If Saginaw Spirit comes back and ties London Knights tomorrow night, I am gonna feel certain that Zanye Parehk is putting enough scouts eyes on him go very high like the 4th slot I am stubbornly keeping him in, ahead of Levshunov, Sam RRichardinson, Buium, Silayev and Yakemchuk...
- wiz1901

Have you heard about the possible passport issues where Russian players won’t be issued passports?

I think he'll sign for a moderate hit in Tampa for at least one more year. Hedman still looks good (under contract for one more year) and if they can stay relatively healthy I think they'll be decent enough next year.

I think they'll run it back until Kucherov's deal is done and then begin the fun rebuild process.
- fattybeef

TB can pay Stamkos 6.5 - 7M and then fill out the roster with a bunch of 1M guys.
My guess 2 x 7M.

Have you heard about the possible passport issues where Russian players won’t be issued passports?
- paulr

No, but any thing that disuades them from taking no edging Demidov is good news...

I don’t think the Tavares signing was one of desperation it was a signing without any foresight or plan. I learned in business planning there’s need and nice to have. Toronto’s biggest need when they signed Tavares was defence. And now six years later the Leaf’s biggest need is defence and they have an aging Tavares and three forwards taking up half the cap.
- paulr

Yeah throwing poop at the wall. Won't disagree with that.

Hossa!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P4VlWucGiY

Hossa!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P4VlWucGiY
- rpeters01

I can't believe someone put this together. Ha.

I don’t think the Tavares signing was one of desperation it was a signing without any foresight or plan. I learned in business planning there’s need and nice to have. Toronto’s biggest need when they signed Tavares was defence. And now six years later the Leaf’s biggest need is defence and they have an aging Tavares and three forwards taking up half the cap.
- paulr

If you recall, Mike Babcock was front and center pushing hard for the Leafs management to sign Tavares. Babcock, Brendan ShananaIhavenoplan and GM Dubas met with Tavares and his agent at some private location and negotiated all day until Tavares got everything he wanted.

And once that deal was done, Babcock decided he ran the team and Dubas was his cofffee boy. The only thing Babcock didn't get was Noah Hannifin, the Leafs drafted Marner instead.

My favorite Hossa clip. His game winner in OT against Nashville. A beautiful cycling play by the Hawks. Every player touched the puck before the goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vQ0bmNcRqo

My favorite Hossa clip. His game winner in OT against Nashville. A beautiful cycling play by the Hawks. Every player touched the puck before the goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vQ0bmNcRqo
- boilermaker100

Brent Sopel! Some say that on a quiet night you can still hear pucks being blocked by his shin pads.

To be fair those teams had a lot of talent on them as well, and he did end up on the losing end of both those teams.

After we gutted the team in 2010, we were one and done in the playoffs. Sure Hossa was brutally blown up in one of those series but the other series he couldn't carry us past the first round.

When he played for Ottawa and then Atlanta his team didn't make it out of the 1st round 5 out of 7 years. As much as i like Marian Hossa, who's a great player, it takes 20+ players to win a SC.
- BetweenTheDots

You will get zero people arguing this point with you.

From what I've read, Hossa didn't round out his game until he connected with Datsyuk. He then realized the benefit of playing all 200'. He scored a good bit more in his earlier years than he did winning cups.

Brent Sopel! Some say that on a quiet night you can still hear pucks being blocked by his shin pads.
- breadbag

April 24, 2010. Just over 14 years ago. How time flies.

I can't believe someone put this together. Ha.
- breadbag

Chicago radio guy.

I think he has a bright future, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if he's a 3rd pairing PP specialist (a la Brian Campbell).
- DarthKane

LD RichardINSON plays hard and strong defensely and takes care of business on the defensive side...he may grow a much stronger offensive side when he si a comfortable pro (same goes for KK) on growing his offense...I think Richardie is more ready for defending than attacking, and far better right now at readying and reacting than the offensively oriented KK.