Alex DeBrincat Hat Trick Leads Blackhawks Past Sens
The worst team in the NHL came to the United Center on Monday night and the scoreboard felt like an all-star game in the 1980s.
Chicago looked like crap out of the gate. Bobby Ryan scored a power play goal at 2:06 and Rudolfs Balcers made it 2-0 Ottawa 34 seconds later.
Collin Delia looked shaky and the defense in front of him was nowhere to be found.
Thankfully Ottawa sucks.
At 3:54 into the first Alex DeBrincat scored his 30th of the season and first of the night.
The power play goal was historic on a number of levels.
First, for DeBrincat:
.@Brinksy97 joins a list of legends as one of the youngest in @NHLBlackhawks history to score 30 goals in a season. ?? pic.twitter.com/ohkoNNS8Cm
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) February 19, 2019
Then, for Patrick Kane, who had an assist on the goal:
Patrick Kane is one of only 2 active NHL players to record multiple point streaks of at least 18 GP (also 26 GP in 2015-16). The other:
Sidney Crosby (25 GP in 2010-11 and 19 GP in 2007-08). #NHLStats #OTTvsCHI pic.twitter.com/a7qpNkQzhU
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 19, 2019
And for the team:
The 2018-19 season is the fourth in the last 30 years in which @NHLBlackhawks have featured at least two 30-goal scorers through 60 GP.
1992-93 (Steve Larmer, Jeremy Roenick)
1990-91 (Steve Larmer, Jeremy Roenick)
1989-90 (Adam Creighton, Steve Thomas)#NHLStats #OTTvsCHI pic.twitter.com/DM3tb3KGL1— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 19, 2019
Oh, and we’ve just started this party, folks!
DeBrincat scored again 73 seconds later on his next shift.
Colin White gave Ottawa a 3-2 lead at 7:55 and that was it for Delia. He stopped seven of 10 shots and headed to the bench, replaced by Cam Ward.
Neither team scored for almost five minutes until Kane tied the game.
Less than 60 seconds later Anders Nilsson reached for a puck but not in time and Dylan Strome poked home his 15th of the season to give the Hawks a 4-3 lead.
Nilsson’s night came to an end after the Strome goal. He stopped eight of 12 shots before the hook came out.
Former Blackhawks goaltender Craig Anderson came into the game, making his 600th NHL appearance in his home town.
The Hawks weren’t hospitable.
Brandon Saad wanted to get in on the fun and reach the 20 goal plateau for the season, so he scored 90 seconds after the Strome goal to make it 5-3 Hawks.
Mark Stone scored for the Sens in the final three minutes and the first period came to a close with the scoreboard reading 5-4 in favor of the Blackhawks. Ottawa out-shot the Hawks 16-15 in the opening 20 minutes.
White scored his second of the game for Ottawa to tie the game 92 seconds into the second period. It appeared the ridiculous scoring pace would continue.
It didn’t, but almost seven minutes later DeBrincat scored his third of the night to complete his fourth career hat trick.
The DeBrincat hat trick put him into some elite company in Blackhawks history.
Career regular season hat tricks
career NHL games
6 Jonathan Toews 851
5 Patrick Kane 881
4 Alex DeBrincat 142 (Hat trick tonight)#Blackhawks— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) February 19, 2019
Three minutes later DeBrincat added an assist to his box score. Gustav Forsling was on the finishing end, giving the Blackhawks a 7-5 lead.
Perhaps the biggest news of the night was a penalty called at 15:10 into the second. Dominik Kahun got caught hooking Matt Duchene, his first penalty of the season. He served his first two minutes of shame without consequence, however, as the Blackhawks penalty killers did their job.
Neither team would score again in the final 9:29 of the second period but the shots kept coming. Chicago out-shot Ottawa 16-12 in the second period.
After 40 minutes of hockey, DeBrincat had four points, Strome had three and Duncan Keith had two assists. Saad and Kane had one goal and one assist each as well.
The Hawks’ fourth line didn’t have a point in the game but they were playing very well. John Hayden had a few huge hits early in the game and a couple good defensive shifts flipped the ice in favor of the Hawks, who scored soon after a line change.
Smoke ’em if you got ’em.
At 3:51 into the third Jonathan Toews decided it was his turn. The power play goal was set up by Kane and DeBrincat and gave the Blackhawks an 8-5 lead.
Thomas Chabot was able to draw a penalty but finished the play, beating Ward to cut the lead back to two with 11 minutes left in regulation.
With 5:17 left in regulation Chabot scored again. Ward made an initial save but Chabot flipped the puck over a yard sale in front of the net and a lead that should have been comfortable was no longer.
Slater Koekkoek took a brutal penalty with 1:40 left in regulation, his second penalty of the night. Anderson was removed by Ottawa for a sixth attacker with the Sens on the power play chasing one. Toews had a great look at the open net short-handed but hit the post with 60 seconds left in regulation.
With 30 seconds left Matt Duchene unloaded but Ward was up to the challenge. The shot was tipped by Keith’s stick and changed direction but Ward stayed put for the save. Chicago burned its timeout after the save and sent out Toews, Saad, Keith and Connor Murphy.
Keith was able to break up a pass in the closing seconds and clear the puck and the Blackhawks escaped the worst team in the league… despite scoring eight times.
Kane now has 40 points during his 18-game point streak and has the longest assist streak by an American-born player in NHL history.
Ward stopped 24 of 28 in the relief victory.
DeBrincat registered the first five-point game of his young career.
Brent Seabrook was a late scratch because of an abdominal strain.
Koekkoek led the Hawks with four blocked shots.
Toews won 14 of 22 faceoffs with two points in the game. Strome won four of 11 faceoffs with three points.
Please get a defensive defenceman
Crazyness.
Good thing we have top 5 OFF and top 3? PP in league. The most surprising thing this season is having by far the worst PP the last couple yr and then BANG! here comes Strome and its like the babbitt brothers kicking ass in Vegas.
Still right there for a top 6 pick and now two games behind 8 seed.
Defense requires all six players to participate. If forwards want to take off before the zone is cleared or give away the puck during a line change or turn the puck over at the blue line then you better hope to score a couple of field goals in order to win. By the way as someone posted after last game we miss Kampf defensively. Nice to see Forsling score, I forgot he has a pretty strong shot.
A lethal group of top flight forwards, and a pitiful group of lower tier forwards. Not a recipe for success. As Tab stated, good thing Ottawa sucks.
Fun game to watch.
Forsling slingshot of a slaphot.
Kampf was nowhere near the high end defensive prowess of Kruger back in the day. Nevermind that he has no offensive skillset, it’s not like he is a shut down center or Vermette Jr on faceoffs. On a good team, Kampf’s not on it. He’s on the Hawks pretty much by default — dire lack of NHL forwards.
Good evening.
That was the two worse defensive teams in the league battling it out for the dubious honor of having the highest GAA. The Hawks have given up 223 goals in 60 games (3.72 gpg) and Ottawa has given up 219 goals in 59 games (3.71 gpg). The only other team to have given up more than 200 goals in New Jersey with 204.
The defense and goaltending was equally bad for both teams but that sure was fun – wasn’t it? Yeah yeah yeah defense wins championships but offense is a lot more fun. Kane with 90, Toews and Cat both with 60 and Strome scoring at a point per game since coming to the Hawks. And there’s still 22 games to go. Yowza!
Scoring is up across the league this season – anyone have a reason why? Was there some rule change or goalie pads are smaller or something? Whatever it is – keep it going – I like it.
With all the offensive stars tonight getting their just due, I would like to sing the praises of Kahun. He is really a nice nifty and shifty player. He’s 5th in rookie scoring with 30 points, skates very well, good puck handling and vision and probably most importantly – he sticks his nose in there and competes. Maybe he eventually ends up as a 3rd liner but he’s doing just fine complementing Strome and Cat on the 2nd line. A very nice signing out of Europe by Stan.
Kahun is finding his game and place on the team. Good to see ER.
Happy the Dcat keeps scoring, but not trying to sound like a Debbie Downer – he turned the puck over 3 times in the first 25 minutes at our defensive blue line – AGAIN. Not acceptable. Don’t know if he is simply lackadaisical, careless or nervous under the pressure, but that needs to change. Would Q forgive the sins? If he wants $10m per year at his next contract, that tape will be run for him and his agent to watch, and there won’t be a problem finding plenty of tape.
My neck hurts from shaking my head no at our defensive efforts. But man, that is entertaining hockey! For a family taking kids to the game, I’m betting the kids had a blast.
Ottawa scored the first two and last two goals of the game and still managed to lose. Hawks scored eight goals and were up by three and still the game was in doubt. Did the two captains meet before the game and basically say forget defense, let’s just have some fun?
Kane had three points, extended his assist streak another game and finished the night two more points behind Kucharev in the scoring title race than he started? What a weird night.
Even as well as Kane is playing right now, DeBrincat could pass him for the team lead in goals scored again this year. That is crazy.
Fun game to watch, but this was not a playoff preview game. This looked like two teams playing on the pond until their moms called them in for dinner. Calling defense an afterthought tonight is being generous to afterthoughts.
I nearly peed myself when Pat said the wind is blowing out at Wrigley and then I actually did a little when Len Kasper texted Eddie about the 23-22 Cubs-Phillies game in 1979…
Don’t worry Hossahawk. Stan has been clearing cap space and will use it to land one or two good veteran d-men this summer, if not earlier. This buys time while our stud prospects start making their way to the parent team over the next 2-3 seasons.
ER, completely agree about Kahun playing well and showing a lot of skill. Pencil him into the team’s rebuild.
What a letdown to see Jeff Glass play as bad as he did at the beginning of the game. All good goaltenders have games like that. The real good ones can forget about it. Hopefully Glass can too. Whoops, that was Delia. He needs to tame that MASSIVE 5 hole. The posters on here seem to have enjoyed the game. I thought it was a joke.
What a howitzer shot by Forsling. I remember watching videos of him doing this in international play…. He stills need to get back to playing a more efficient game along with the rest of the defense. Out check, keep a tight gap, win the puck and get out of the zone….ohh and that was a one timer….
this playoff race is like watching your testicles descend to the ground to see which hits first
extend kahun’s contract before he notches 20 goals and/or 40 points. he fits competently on the 2nd line and excels on the 3rd line. buy low on him.
strangely really happy kahun’s penalty was a legit penalty. if it was some bullshit call i would’ve been really upset. but fair call, so no complaints.
Kahun can’t be extended until he’s in the last year of his contract which starts July 1st – same as DeBrincat, Strome, Caggiula and Hayden.
Yes the defense sucks but it especially sucks when the goalie has a bad game and Delia had a bad game. All three of the goals he allowed are supposed to be stopped by an NHL goalie. I realize only the very best goalies play at a high level almost all the time and Delia has not risen to that level, yet. But when a goalie lets in 3 soft goals on 10 shots he deserves criticism and Delia deserves criticism for the stink job he left on the ice tonight. I’m not exonerating the poor defense played in front of him because they stunk too – but those were bad goals no matter the circumstances. Hopefully he plays much better next time out.
Sikura – am I correct he’s a family friend of coach Q? Is Q still around or involved someway? Not sure how close the families are.
Ever hear about guys holding their stick too tightly? Sikura might want to start doing that. Anyway he’s looked okay as someone who hasn’t played much NHL hockey. If I was getting paid big bucks like that I would most certainly EAT RIGHT and hit the gym hard. I sometimes think players should be given time off during the regular season to work on some specifics; but what do I know?
Delia since his contract signing has been not stellar, but whatever every goalie goes through stretches. Look at this Blues goalie; something like 10 in a row; 4 shutouts? something like that. Whenever they really want to not have Delia around Ward a former playoff MVP and Crawford a player who could have been one then the team will send Delia down to eat more rubber in the AHL. For now so long as the organization thinks his time here is more valuable then so be it. Hopefully this pretty good offense, the power play in particular, the Blackhawks have is testing Delia in practice…..they can work on thier powerplay while they are at it…..
How about this Kucherov Kane race…..looks like it’s Kucherov’s to lose!
Defense definitely wasn’t better without Seabrook. Delia could be sent down to if Ward not moved for Crawfords return.
Seems like the start of the year again, gotta outscore other team in a blowout to win, lots room in front of the goalies for other teams. One point out of playoffs, go figure. See what this week brings, Detroit then Avs could be for a wildcard spot, plus tdl moves. Should be interesting.
One had to feel the game last night would be a high socring affair, but not to the point where the goal lights might burn out. First period was pretty crazy. Very disturbing to see the Hawks for the second game in a row at home come out completely flat and down a couple in just a few minutes. There is no excuse for this. Not for a team supposedly competing(?) for a playoff spot. Oh well, down 2 let’s get 3 and get the blood moving.
Delia had to be yanked. First and third Sens goals were sinkers. Once again opposing teams given ridiculously top quality chances over and over again. Even when Hawks keepers are playing fantastic they are barely able to win those games. Hawks team defense believe it or not actually appears to be getting worse. This is why sneaking into playoffs this year does not matter. The better teams in the conference can all play tight games when they want to.
This team is still short in the depth dept and it has to be addressed. Mark Stone would look really great in a Hawks sweater. Crazy to hear Duchene turned down 8 years at 64 million??
The Western conference is going to go down to the last few games for wild card spots. Hawks could get one, but they must tighten things up defensively, and frankly it does not appear they have the horses to get it done. Meanwhile that game at the UC last night was really, really fun to watch.
Let’s Go Hawks!
“Delia had to be yanked. First and third Sens goals were sinkers.”
Sorry meant stinkers…..
I was at last night’s affair. I had to double check and look at my ticket to make sure I wasn’t at the NBA All-Star Game. Or maybe the Training Camp Festival. Some pretty offensive plays but that was about it.
You gotta like the Hawks top 6 at this point. The bottom six needs about, I don’t know, 6 guys. Seriously though, they probably have about 3 guys that are NHL players in that bottom 6. The defense was friggin awful. You replace a fundamentally sound guy like Seabrook with Forsling, and the goals keep coming. They need 2 more defensive defensemen on that roster. Corey says he is ready, it will be interesting to see when they activate him.
Miro, Kaner goes up against Bobrovski gets 2 and Kucherov goes up against back up goalie get 5. Thats the difference. CLB play OTT 5 times and CHI plays OTT 2 times, thats the difference. Kucherov plays an easier sch. then Kaner does.
The only thing we won that game was because the Ottawa Senators won’t let their tire fire be outdone by anyone. Fun to watch, but also quite painful. It was like someone drugged the goalies before the opening puck drop.
All four goalies let in some questionable goals last night – how often can you say that?
Oilers waived Manning yesterday. How Stan signed him in the first place and then miraculously got Chiarelli to take him off our hands I’ll never know. Oil fans hoping Canucks might grab him, but with another year at 2.25 I doubt it.
Music to my ears:
“We want to be an elite team and we’re not in that group right now,” he said. “We’re going to build to that. So we want to try to make progress for the rest of this year, over the summer and the same thing with next year.”
Exerpt from the John Dietz article in yesterdays Daily Herald.
The key message in that quote, to me, is the last 7 words – “… and the same thing with next year”. Exactly right. He knows 2019/20 will also be a rebuild year regardless if they make the playoffs this season.
Morrison- I understand your point that Kucherov may have drawn the easier goaltender against Columbus in their last 2 games, but to say that TB has an easier schedule overall seems a bit ludicrous! TB is by far the best team in the league so far this year. They do not play against back-ups more often than the Blackhawks, who were bottom-dwellers for half the year. That goes against all logic…
Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story!
Kane is having an amazing season, averaging better than 1.5 points per game … and Kucherov has 9 more points than Kane. If “amazing” is the word to describe Kane’s season – what word should be used for Kucherov?
An argument is made that Kucherov has better players around him – hence to 70 assists he has but that argument is the chicken/egg problem and takes away some credit that Kucherov is due. I think there is another argument that can be made that doesn’t detract from Kucherov but makes the case that Kane could have even more points “if only”. The “if only” is if only the power play was better in the first 20 games of the season when it was the same old bad PP we’ve seen over the last couple years. Top scorers rack up points on the PP and Kane wasn’t getting those PP points early in the season. Kucherov has 39 points on the PP – Kane has 28 points on the PP. That 11 point advantage on the PP for Kucherov may be the main reason Kane is 9 points behind him for the scoring lead.
Young, your right is was just that game difference between CLB and the fact they plat OTT 5 times and we do 2. Otherwise prob similiar sch. Just that one game against CLB and 5 vs 2 agasint OTT can be difference.
ER, that article qoute, sounds a lot like what I said the other day/recent days.
FYI recent Hossa article in The Athletic is outstanding reading. Highly recommended.
Let’s Go Hawks!
Who was the genius here who said in 2015
…
Kucherov was way better than Stamkos???
I forget
writes down instance #1,473 of Wall patting himself on the back…
Jordyhawk, Stan has been on a roll of good trades. Hope he sells players not part of next year’s roster, such as Forsling, Perlini, Kruger, Hayden. Trading more significant players may be demoralizing to the team, now that there is a good chance to make the playoffs.
Tab, kudos on your choice for a cover photo for this particular thread.
Michelle McMahon is looking quite fetching in that blue sweater behind DeBrincat.
Just sayin’.
TRUTH, I happen to appreciate the opinions Wall expresses and don’t mind him at all.
@O6: yes agree, the Az and Edmonton trades were very good for us and if KK pans out Stan will have hit the trifecta. I’m gonna have to go ahead and disagree though on our playoff chances. As of today chances of making playoffs were Dallas 83%, Colorado 43%, Minny 26%, Vancouver 20%, Az 17%, and Hawks 15%. If one team gets on a real roll the odds will move towards them but six dogs for one bone is a big hill.
I am Not knocking Kuch at all, but he does play an easier sch. and on best team in league/but to me, jus tha fact that hes on a full roster team and Kaner is on a 3/4 roster team makes a big difference.
I will hold judgement of these two awesome players, best two players in league, until I see if Kucherov can score as many goals, assists and points when he is Kaners current age and maybe playing without a full roster and something like Kaner is a 3/4 roster. Then I can compare. And I doubt Koucherov will be as good as Kaner is when hes Kaners age/now.
For now/this season Kucherov at 25 = Kaner at 30.
Lets see how good Kucherov is at 30 (stats wise).
Everyone here has been, right, about lots of things.
and
Everyone here has been, wrong, about some things.
gday.
Jordy, you are right in that I should not have said “good chance” but rather “a chance”. Rethinking this, hope the teams with the greater chance become desperate buyers, with the Blackhawks willing to accommodate for a nice return of picks/prospects. Moves at the TDL should be all about the next few years.
that would be six dogs for 2 bones. MN, DAL, and CO schedule in March are brutal. It comes down to DAL/CO and Hawks for the final 2 spots unless MN makes a huge trade but should be sellers. VAN may still beat out Vegas unless they pick it up, The Hawks win tomorrow and they are only 7 pts behind Vegas who plays BOS and WIN the next two games.
You have to really like the position the Hawks are in for next year. What would you add? I think Panarin and Dcat are the same type of player and we are running two solid scoring lines. Pick a few PK and 4th line shutdown guys are what I see.
Kane/Toews/Cag
Cat/Strome/Kahun
Saad/AA or Kampf/Sikura
4th line anyone’s guess but could include Hayden/Perlini
keith/Boqvist
Henri/Gus
Murphy and either Seabrook, Dahlstrom, Forsling/Mitchell, KK for the 6/7 slots
Crawford/Delia
Dallas 83%, Colorado 43%, Minny 26%, Vancouver 20%, Az 17%, and Hawks 15%.
To me without looking at sch strength, I would rank the teams % in this order. This is based on who I think the better team/s is and how teams are trending.
This is for 7 and 8 seed/two playoff spots.
DAL 83%
COL 43%
CHI 43%
MIN 20%
VAN 20%
ARI 17 %
LA 15%
With MIN going down without a top player, that means were 50/50 chance with COL to make playoffs. They prob have deeper roster right now, so whatever.
I want good returns and about 20 season. Same as your saying.
Then 21 season and on, its on.
Mo, I agree. I said it about 2 weeks ago it will be between CO and Hawks. Chicago plays DAL and CO 3x more, AZ 2x, VAN 1X and MN zero.
The next 10 games for DAL will say a lot: NAS/STL/CAR all home followed by CHI/VGK/LAK/STL on the road followed by NYR/COL/CHI at home.
The next 7 games for CO: WPG (home); CHI/NASH B2B (Away); FLA/VAN (home) and SJS/ANA (away)
The Free Agent Market for top4 DEF to me is not that good. If the Hawks want M Johansson from NJD without giving up a lot I am ok with it. Maybe Hayden, another player, and a pick. Trade AA, kruger and get some much needed 4th line help. Hope that Henri can be the Top 4 DEF for this playoffs.
Yea, I found that 9% thing way off. But I didnt know what % DAL and MIN were at.
Those % from what site its from, must not factor in that we played a very hard sch (and fucked up sch., in how it way layedout) in the 1st 40 games and thats why (we earned to play) an easier sch./team wise now. Other teams already got their licks in against these teams that arnt as good.
Not saying we make it or anything like that. Just that DAL at 83% and COL & CHI at 43% is more like make sense. I still want a top 6 skill pick though, and want to load up best way for future (not only long term)(load up for as soon as we can be elite team deep moves).
I’m watching the Toronto/St.Louis game (2-0 Blues through 1). I really like Kapanen – the guy is tenacious and he can fly. Great shot, kills penalties. Stan – please try to get Kapanen to sign an offer sheet. He’s worth the 2020 1st round pick it would cost.
Plug him into LW with Toews and Kane – bigger, faster, better offensively than Caggiula and he’s just as tenacious. He may be able to be signed in the $5M-$6M range and Toronto would be hard pressed to match that.
I think if COL ‘plays’ they have better chance then us because their deeper. They are a 10 under .500 team since game 30. We are a 15-7-3 team since we made the moves/trades/tank ufas adjustments.
That doesnt mean DAL cant nosedive and we still get in.
After CAL got beat by SAN (that games should have been close and it wasnt) CAL hasnt been good. Its there wake up call and there still sleeping, realizing there not better then the other top teams in conference, they just had a better record until then/now. My point is CAL (not sure now if they shit themselves) or maybe SAN be 1 seed, we wouldnt have to play a top 3 team in round 1 and round 2.
With us being the 8 seed.
No matter what happens, its all about the 20 season, which isint transition anymore but still loading up season. Then we should be very good again for the 21 season and on. But there is no ereason to wait to add good ufas/no overpay too much, to get the pk defensove FW and some Defensemen to be on 23man for this season coming up/20 season. (we do NOT have to wait until 21 season just because we wont be full roster yet-even in 20 season)(Do it this summer. Do it. Do it.)
ER, I like that Kapanen idea. Just want us to add what we need. Theres no more reason to wait. We will not get another top 10 pick again (last/this yr) pron for another 10 yrs again.
With adding what we need, were back to elite team, in 2ys.
DCat and Strome are a pair that should stay together – but what about RW – is Kahun the long term answer, or at least good enough that it isn’t an area that needs to be upgraded? He’s got 30 points in 60 games as a rookie – a 0.5ppg. That ppg isn’t really good enough for a 2nd line winger, but what is he improves in his 2nd season? I think there’s evidence he has already improved since the beginning of the season. He’s making more plays and winning more of the physical battles than he was earlier.
Ideally Kahun could play center and be paired up with Saad on the 3rd line – but I’m perfectly happy for him to remain as the 2nd line RW next season.
Mo, Toronto wouldn’t trade Kapanen now because he’s a big piece of their team heading into the playoffs. But, if they don’t extend him before he hits RFA on July 1st – then offer sheet him and give up the 2020 1st round pick. We would have already selected our 2019 draft so we will get a very good player in the draft AND Kapanen in free agency to add to the 2019/20 team.
I am happy when we have 9 top 9 FW. Any way people want lines, ok.
kahun played good before, wasnt getting bounces/breaks. Maybe be better now, you said.
Anyone hoping for the playoffs is, sorry, being foolish. We are going nowhere. We barely beat the worst team in the league last night despite scoring 8 goals.
We will get slaughtered in the first round of the playoffs.
And for what?
We need to restock. Get some high picks while we can. Add in a few crafty signings to fill out the roster.
The middle is nowhere. The only desirable position is the top or the bottom.
Let’s start at the bottom so that in a couple years we can rise to the top.
ER – I think Kahun has shown me enough to warrant staying on the line with Dcat and Strome. I didn’t like him with Toews. as I didn’t think he was a dig and cycle guy like JT wants. Caggiula is more of that, but would like to see him with Kampf and Saad on third line as a shutdown and a scoring line when we are on the road and don’t get matchups. Our offensive hole is top line left wing. 4th line can be thrown together with what we already have, or a few scraps from around the league. I would actually welcome Krueger back next year.
I would like to see Forsling get time on the 2nd PP unit instead of Keith. If he stays with the team, I would see that as a role for him. He has a cannon and good vision. If he can get some offensive confidence going, perhaps his defense end will also get some swagger. Worked for Gus, whose defense has improved drastically. Confidence is everything to a high level athlete.
Thats smart, we use the top 10 pick for 19 draft and give them the 20 draft pick which prob is between 16-22 anyways.
Prospects:
Kurashev 1g 1a 11 of 19 fos
Hagel starts in half hour
Europe
Kubalik 1g shorthanded
Interesting comments from Bowman. Going to continue to build an elite team this season and over the summer and into next season. Talked about how important a playoff experience could be this year for the younger guys who never tasted it, couldn’t agree more annd have said that before.
He never indicated where he saw this team at the end of next season, if he thought or hoped they would be an elite team by then. Makes you wonder.
Kahun very capable on 2nd line, very responsible defensively which is needed, shows good hustle backchecking. Cagguila just keeping spot warm, for now on top line. I like Kampf but the problem with putting him in the middle of a scoring line is he doesn’t score with any consistency.
After watching him on 2nd pp last night, liked what Forsling did, seemed to make it more effective, if in lineup agree he shoukd get ice time there.
EB think Leafs find away to get Kapinen deal done, after Marners is signed.
Ian, I think the Leafs would rather have Kapanen than Marleau or Nylander but Marleau has a NMC and they made a verbal promise to Nylander to not trade him so those two option are probably off the table. Even if they manage to sign Marner for “only” $9M they will not have enough to sign Kapanen without gutting their team. They also have 3 of the top-6 d-men out of contract after this season. Maybe they find a way to be creative but maybe not and there’s an opening for the Hawks to sneak in with and offer sheet. Even if Kapanen wants more than what the Hawks are willing to offer him, I doubt Toronto wants to go through a holdout like they had with Nylander so they may end up trading him.
Silent spot that is why I mentioned Johansson, LW from NJD, The other option would be to get Stefan Noesen in the deal to solidify the 4th line. Ben Lovejoy would be good as well., Maybe we can trade them Seabrook. Wishful thinking.
I still cannot see what Perlini brings. He takes off up the wing, straight ahead with the puck, which is great. But as soon as he loses it, that’s it for his shift, he seems to either quit or float. I can’t believe he scored 17 goals last year and 14 the year before. He just does not appear all that eager to battle or compete.
TOR could trade Horton’s contract. trade Muzzin get a good return. Marleau is up there in age and again a team with a low salary cap could take on his salary. Not sure getting rid of those 3 players is gutting your team to secure a top 6 scorer.
DAL and MN down for the count tonight. 1 back of MN and 4 of DAL. Chelsea in the playoffs.
Carlo, please think about draft picks and playoffs
In 2017, The hawks drafted Henri 29th, only 8 players chosen before have played more nhl games.
In 2016, the Hawks drafted Dcat 39th, only 5 players played more games
In 2015, the Hawks picked 54 and probably a bust. Not sure anyone from that draft makes it. A big swing and miss.
2014, Schmatz drafted 20th and Sikura drafted (178)” 7 players drafted before schmatlz have played less games. Here are some Sikura stats: has scored more points than 3 first rounder, within a couple point on two more, and 122 others drafted before him. He is ranked as the 46 highest scorer in the 2014 draft. 46th,
Many people on this site call him a bust after 20 games. He only has 8 points.
2013 Hartman 30, Dahlstrom 51, Hayden 74, Luke Johnson 134, Hartman has played more games than 15 people drafted ahead of him. Half the first round picks. Only 10 first round picks have more goals and only 13 have more points. Hayden is 44th in points.
2012 Teuvo was draft 18th, I can go on with Danualt, Saad, Hayes,
The problem is not the draft picks in the first round/second rounds. The Hawks have done really well considering where they pick. Granted, getting a top pick almost always pans out. The Hawks keep hitting on free agents, European players, draft picks and a few good trades. The playoffs is where this Hawks team needs to be. My humble opinion of course.
Gave up on Perlini a while ago and said he is on his way to being waived, unless Stan can get a very late round pick for him. He is rarely where the puck is and makes bad decisions.
If there was any doubt whether the Wild will be sellers, the Ducks just helped them make that decision 4-0. Here comes a partial tear-down.
Well said Carlo.
Sign 2 real NHL free agents, trade AA and draft in the top 5-7. Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabs and Crawford deserve a better roster for the next two seasons.
if Seabrook is sidelined for a while they may want to pick this guy up for the playoff push. https://www.tsn.ca/sabres-beaulieu-i-m-pretty-frustrated-1.1260040
Hagel Chl 1g 1a late last night
2017-18 Averaged Salary Draft Pick Compensation
$1,339,575 and below No compensation
$1,339,576 to $2,029,659 Third-round pick
$2,029,660 to $4,059,322 Second-round pick
$4,059,323 to $6,088,980 First- and third-round pick
$6,088,981 to $8,118,641 First-, second-, and third-round pick
$8,118,642 to $10,148,302 Two first-round picks and a second and third-round pk
$10,148,303 and above Four first-round picks
It would cost the Hawks more than just a first round pick to sign Kapanen. He’s probably not signing for less that just north of $6 mil so that would be a 1st, 2nd, and a 3rd, pretty much killing the next draft for us. It’s another reason signing RFAs is hardly ever done in the NHL. A trade is much more likely result of Toronto determine’s they can’t fit him into their salary structure.
Toronto’s cap situation next season:
Forwards (8): Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, Marleau, Kadri, Hyman, Brown, Gauthier – cap hit = $45M
D-men (5): Reilly, Zaitsev, Muzzin, Dermott, Holt – cap hit = $15M
Goalies (1): Anderson – cap hit = $5M
Nathan Horton IR: cap hit = $5M (for 1 more year)
That adds up to $70M and they still need to re-sign Marner, Kapanen, Johnsson, resign/replace Lindhold and Ennis at forward, resign/replace Gardiner and Hainsey on D, and get a backup goalie.
They may be able to resign Marner for $9M, but probably $10M, Kapanen for $5M, but probably $6M, Johnsson for $3M, but probably $4M. So a conservative estimate to resign those 3 would be $17M, which now makes the running total $87M and they still need 2 more forwards to get to 13 on the roster so add another $2M for a couple “cheapie” forwards = $89m. Even if the cap ceiling is $83M – they’re $6M over and they don’t have a backup goalie and still need to replace Gardiner and Hainsey.
Trading Kadri ($4.5M) doesn’t get them there. Trading Johnsson ($3M?) doesn’t get them there. In other words, Toronto would have to trade 3 or more players off their roster in order to resign both Marner and Kapanen.
I would offer to take Horton’s contract off their hands as part of a trade package. That frees up $5.3M for them. It’s only 1 more year and the Hawks can swing that next season. Include Gustafsson in the trade which is a good replacement for Gardiner. Add in our 2020 1st round pick and in effect Kapanen becomes the 2020 1st round pick for us.
To Toronto: 2020 1st round pick and Gustafsson
To Chicago: Kapanen, Horton’s contract
Sure, paying less like Gus and a 2nd or Forsling and a 1st would be better but if Toronto can’t figure out a way to get it done and entertains offers for Kapanen the Hawks won’t be the only team bellying up to the bar.
Been away for a few days but read some of the previous posts-the one about Duclair was funny, especially when Torts just said about him-one of the best skilled guys who doesn’t know how to play hockey in the NHL-he went on the say he is the 4th NHL coach who is questioning his interest in playing anything but what he wants to do, when he wants to do it.
It may be Europe soon for him.
To Craig Nigrelli;
I see what you are saying about Perlini. He kind of reminds me to a certain extent of Fortin (speed without the apparent ability or confidence to finish) and to a certain extent of Saad when he’s one of his funks. Seems like the effort is there (I liked the way that Perlini chased the puck, moved his legs, got on the backcheck in the Ottawa game) but something is not clicking. Is he lacking the all important confidence factor. He’s scored goals before, and he should be in positions with the Blackhawks where he can again.
It looks like Colliton is wanting to stick with him for at least a while longer. Maybe if he could just get it in his game to go more North/South and charge the net when he gets loose on those breakaways …… he seems like a guy that “should” be able to provide some complimentary scoring.
Guys like Perlini, Sikura, Forsling, Dahlstrom and Koekkoek are rfas in summer. Probably playing right now to see how much interest they garner and an audition for next year too.
Don’t see Koekkoek and Dahlstrom both back next year, competing for one spot. Can’t see Forsling being around next year, unless Gus is moved that might open a 3rd pair spot.
Sikura be looking to see if he can be a 3rd liner where they said they wanted him to earn a spot this season. Perlini be more of a depth role right now if is back next year.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple of them gone by tdl, either.
Perlini deserves more minutes; win lose or draw to see what he can do. In fact all RFA should be dominating minutes played at this point sans any line Kane is on.
Thing sound really quiet or Blackhawks and trades for deadline. Is something brewing nobody knows/talked/leaked about. It has that feel to it, like nothing is going to happen, real quiet and then Bang!
At TDL trade off what we can and get picks back. Hopefully get back a 2 and a 3 for something. Those would be the two and three we can give to Toronto to be able to offer sheet Kapanen. I do not want to take on Horton money.
If I am not mistaken JR, picks required on offer sheets are the team’s original picks, not picks obtained. We cannot substitute a pick obtained for a pick we traded away or would prefer to keep.
I could be wrong.
The best scenario would be Seabrook finds the Fountain of Youth – unlikely. The next best scenario would be to find a trade partner willing to take Seabrook off our books. Even if the Hawks had to retain 50%, that would mean gaining back $3.4M in cap space over the next 5 years – also unlikely without having to include a huge sweetener. But what about buying out Seabrook’s contract? His cap hit is $6.8M and the term is another 5 years – so the buyout would extend over 10 years, but really only 2 of the first 4 years are a big cap hit and even they are less than the $6.8M that will be on the books if we didn’t trade him or buy him out. The 10 year buyout if twice as long as just letting it play out but the last 5 years are under $1M so it’s not as bad as it sounds. Here are the numbers to buyout Seabrook:
19/20 – $3.7M
20/21 – $6.7M
21/22 – $3.7M
22/23 – $6.7M
23/24 – $5.2M
24/25 – $0.8M
25/26 – $0.8M
26/27 – $0.8M
27/28 – $0.8M
29/29 – $0.8M
Another benefit of getting Seabrook off the roster is to open up a slot for one of the young d-men. Even on the 2nd and 4th year of the buyout when the difference between the buyout cap hit and Seabrook’s current cap hit is small, the cap hit of the young d-man on his ELC will be almost a wash on the cap.
It would be different if Seabrook played well enough to not be a liability, even as a low TOI 3rd pairing guy – but he is that now and it’s not going to get better over the next 5 years. The bottom line is that the Hawks need to work their young d-men into the lineup over the next few years and Seabrook is clogging up a roster spot.
Perlini has had ample time to show something, but, unfortunately, has shown very little. Cannot forecheck, loses puck battles, mostly away from the play, too often out of position, and doesn’t make good decisions with the puck. He will not be back next year.
KK and Dahl look pretty good. Like what I am seeing with KK. Hope Colliton gives him a long tryout. Dahl is improving. Let’s hope both can become a steady bottom pairing by end of season.
I think two other “K’s” will be gone in a few days: Kunitz and Kruger, both UFAs. May move Ward as well if they think Crawford can return next week.
Dals and Murf should stay until we deep on D. Like were these two are 3rd/4th pair because were deep again on D.
Leave Seabs alone. He will be Seattle’s Captain in 21. This way we will not have to carry anything after that. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?PC=U270&q=STARWARS+EMPEROR+%22I+HAVE+FORE+SEEN+IT%22&ru=%2fsearch%3fFORM%3dU270DF%26PC%3dU270%26q%3dSTARWARS%2bEMPEROR%2b%2522I%2bHAVE%2bFORE%2bSEEN%2bIT%2522&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=E8B12A64B0D38B56F8B2E8B12A64B0D38B56F8B2&FORM=WRVORC