21 man roster?

[ken_valyi]

ESPN article

GM Mike Smith and coach Brian Sutter are seriously
thinking about going with a 21-man roster, although the NHL
allows teams to carry 23 men. Smith said he wants his young
players getting game time with the Hawks' AHL affiliate in
Norfolk (Va.) and that's it's easy enough to call up players as
they are needed. Curiously, two of the players sent down
(Steve McCarthy and Steve Dubinsky) have two-way contracts,
meaning the Hawks are saving big money by having them play
in the minors.

This the kind of cheap crap you'd expect from a small market club. Since when did Chicago (home to two successful baseball teams) become small market?

[Drew '97 Z28]

Chicago became a "small market" the day they decided to let their franchise players go and get nothing in return. Fans here are less forgiving of an owner and management which hasn't been serious about a cup run. Managment was/is more than content to just make the play-offs. Once that stopped, the fans quit coming. I can't remember the last time the Hawks sold out the United Center. JMO