JoeMorelli

(AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

From Adam at ChicagoBlackhawks.com: "Porter elected to become a free agent. Wants to go to a team without so many prospects."

From the Blackhawks message boards: Q: Adam do you know if Dale is actively trying to sign Porter or not? A: He has actively tried to sign him this summer, yes. Whether he is still actively trying to sign him... I don't have an answer to that. Adam runs chicagoblackhawks.com

Toews and Fabian

I was really hoping to see him in camp. I hope he finds a team to sign with. Unfortunately, with the addition of Lang and Perreault and the up and coming of Bolland and Kontiola, he wouldn't have made the team. Still would have liked to see him playing for Rockford. JT has been head and shoulders above the rest of the prospects. With and without the puck he looks great. The only thing slowing him down has been the poor ice conditions. If the Hawks don't give Seabrook the 'C' this year, JT will be wearing it by next year.

SiouxRube (Shattuck): Are you concerned that Chicago does not have a Red Pepper? No more Turkey Grinders? Jonathan Toews: Yeah, I'll definitely have to find another spot to go to... and I know there's no shortage of good restaurants in Chicago. But I'll definitely miss the Red Pepper.

Simon Schaubroeck (Winnipeg, Manitoba): You chose to play for UND instead of playing in the CHL, is university hockey in the states offering more opportunities to make it to the NHL than it did in the past compared to the CHL? Merci from a student of your former school CLR! Simon Jonathan Toews: I think it's different for everyone. For me personally it offered a way to keep playing hockey and get started on school. UND amongst a lot of other schools has a great reputation for producing players who are ready after some time in college, so for me it was a great to get ready for my dream to play in the NHL while living the same lifestyle I had at Shattuck.

FYI - he's live on: http://www.640toronto.com

Toews admitted Wednesday that he likely would not have made such a quick decision to leave the University of North Dakota two years early and sign with the Hawks on Tuesday had things not gone as well as they did for him in Russia as the only non-pro to play for Canada. "During the year I had a lot of people tell me I was ready, and you like to hear that, Toews said.

If Duncan was over-rated, he would have been drafted by the Maple Leafs. Kidding...but since he went undrafted, I think that shows he isn't over-rated. Maybe he should drop out, sign with the Hawks, and play on a line with JT. JT can keep covering for his ass and Duncan can score 30-40 goals/year. (is there a sarcasm font?) In the new NHL, I personally believe that Duncan has the potential to be another Dino Ciccarelli-type of player. As long as the NHL keeps calling penalties and Duncan keeps going to the net, he has the talent and shot to score 20+ goals/season. At the very least, he could become like Jeff Hamilton of the Hawks...a 4th line player and PP specialist.

On the plus side: UND shattered the myth that US colleges don't develop players for the NHL as well as Canadian Junior Leagues A whole new wave of Canadian prospects will be attracted to US colleges, and UND specifically UND will still win the Championship in 2008

It appears to have something to do with Eddie Van Halen...too bad his last post was edited by a mod

If he isn't being offered the max I hope he tells the Hawks to take a hike. The Hawks need him FAR more than he needs them. He can get the max with any team in the NHL but where are the Hawks going to find a 19-yr-old center with as much potential, maturity, leadership, grit, etc. as him?

Except for that brief period in 1987 http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/4185/1987undbm2.jpg

Nope, I'd never speak on his behalf...just passing on info. Is it possible that JT's agent worked out a deal with the Hawks and is just waiting for JT's approval? On a side note, is there any chance that Duncan will be invited to an NHL team's rookie camp? And would he attend even though he is returning to UND next year?

Me?!? Eklund never reveals his "sources"...more from Eklund:

The saga continues: "If this reporter wants to email me at eklund@hockeybuzz.com I will gladly speak with him to verify with him this story." -Eklund

Not that his word means anything but: "Jonathan Toews Signs With Chicago (e5) Today @ 6:34 PM ET | Comments (0) Heard from a trusted source in Canada it is a "100% done deal."" -Eklund http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=7550 $100 says his "trusted source" is the Torchetti quote.

Or, Chicago realizes that none of the top UFA's they are targeting will sign with them so they are going with a youth movement.

Or...he was signed but it's not been approved by the NHLPA/NHL or whoever gives it the final OK.

Thanks. His game worn jersey is going for $1375 Canadian: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...em=150119503543

Toews led all players by winning 63.01% of his face-offs http://live82.ihwc.net/english/statistics/...17_85F_1_0.html

Doan comments on JT after the game: http://broadband.tsn.ca/tsn/?vid=7658 "He's such an incredible talent. He's gonna be...he is an incredible player and he's gonna be such a great player. Chicago is so lucky to have someone like him and, you know, in Phoenix, we're jealous of that type of guy."

Pics of the goal: http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/6959/jt1mq9.jpg http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7919/jt4wm3.jpg http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/9097/jt2fp1.jpg