Avalanche Dump On Blackhawks
At least the Blackhawks scored three on Saturday night?
Unfortunately, searching for a silver lining has become common after recent Hawks games. Chicago has lost five of six and has been doubled-up in all five losses, with even lineup changes making little difference in the end result.
Cody Franson and Michal Kempny joined the lineup on Saturday night in place of Connor Murphy and Jordan Oesterle.
In Denver in the second half of a back-to-back, the Hawks came out flat after a rough home performance against Nashville. Mikko Rantanen scored twice with a Nathan MacKinnon goal in between and the Avs stormed out to a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. Colorado’s second and third goals game on the power play and the Avs held a 13-8 shot advantage after the first.
MacKinnon and Sven Andrighetto stretched the lead to 5-0 in 6:44 to open the second and Anton Forsberg’s night was over. He allowed five goals against 20 shots before giving way to Corey Crawford.
Chicago showed a little bit of life after the change in net. Nick Schmaltz scored his third of the season to get the Hawks on the board 1:09 after Andrighetto’s goal.
Kempny and John Hayden picked up assists on the Schmaltz goal.
Artem Anisimov scored 6:12 later to cut the lead to 5-2, with assists coming from Alex DeBrincat and Kempny.
Production from Schmaltz and Anisimov were both good signs as the Hawks desperately search for secondary scoring, but the five-goal hole they were in made the uphill climb too much.
Rocco Grimaldi beat Crawford at 8:45 to make the lead four again and the Hawks didn’t have enough the rest of the way.
Ryan Hartman scored at 15:05 to close the books on the offense in a big fantasy night in Denver.
The Hawks put 21 shots on net in the third period but only Hartman was able to beat Jonathan Bernier, who had a good night for Colorado. He made 39 saves in the victory. Crawford stopped seven of eight in relief.
Jonathan Toews won 14 of 21 at the dot but failed to register anything in another statistical category. No assists, no shots on net, no hits and not takeaways in 20:27 on the ice. Patrick Kane put four shots on net but was minus-two in 19:49. Brandon Saad skated 18:13 with only two shots on Bernier.
Simply put, the Blackhawks need more from their big guns at this point.
DeBrincat had one assists, two hits and two takeaways in 12:12. John Hayden had an assist and two hits in 13:23. Schmaltz won half of his 14 faceoffs with a goal and two takeaways in the loss. Hartman scored a goal but picked up four more penalty minutes while skating only 8:30.
The Hawks power play continues to suck, going 0-5 in Denver. They rebounded to kill three of five penalties in the game, but the two power play markers for Colorado in the first were a back-breaker.
Brent Seabrook led Chicago with three blocked shots and put four shots on net in 21:51. Duncan Keith skated 28:36 and led the Hawks with five shots on net. The Hawks combined to block nine shots, with six skaters having one block behind Seabrook’s three.
Kempny had two assists in 19:24. Lance Bouma and Tommy Wingels had assists on Hartman’s goal.
The Hawks are now off until hosting Philly at the United Center on Wednesday. Hopefully they find something that clicks in the four days between games.
I’m out until the “core” shows up…a bit tired of defending the H……they looked really bad! see ya in 2018…ps thanks for the 3 Cups!
Hawks have plenty of bandwagon fans already Eric. No need of your services here. Enjoy 2017.
Ah, well are there any Debrincat fans out there tonight. Fact or fiction:?
Hawks have no offensive depth and after Keith and Seabrook, there defence is AHL and KHL calibre, which means not good. So, how many still like the Connor Murphy trade? Or the Philip Danault trade (2 goals, 2 assists tonight)? or the Teuvo trade? or the signing of Tootoo, Rozy, Wingels, Bouma, Rutta, Kempny, etc….. Anyone???
Bowman needs to go not Mike Kitchen…A very disrespecttful firing by the way. Another childish stunt.
Scmaultz looks good.
14 19 10
20 8 88
13 47 40
17 15 38
They should call up Jurco Hinostroza and Kampf. If they did that they won’t lose another game this year.
Go Hawks!
I was at the Philly- Leafs game last night in Toronto. The Flyers could really damage the Hawks! When I saw the 5-0 score (against the AVs?!) I knew it had been ugly early! In Q we trust….it’s gonna be a long winter, likely a long summer off too, at this pace!
I’m going to be a broken record here. Tired of making excuses for Toews over the last 2 plus years…injury, tired legs, a victim of long playoff runs and tournaments. Let’s stop. An amazing elite player for his first 10 years, but clearly on a rapid decline. Thank you for the memories.
I love all the posts blaming the fringe and rookie players on the team. Stars carry their teams!
Didn’t see the game and have no problem with D-Cat spending time, even the year in the AHL-(it’s a great league) but Totti if the problem is offensive depth taking an offensive player out means you have less of it-unless they have someone to replace him-
like the Hino up with the main club move-it’s time
Most good teams have a run like the Hawks do during the year-so if that’s the case calm is needed-
But the days of elite and Hawks together are done-they need to outplay/outwork most opponents and have the right bounces and solid goaltending. Is their system/style geared to outwork-outplay? (not to mention personnel)
The Flyers look good (improved) Hakstol seems to have them going in the right direction–I think you will start to hear the Q stuff if the season rolls in the wrong direction–even the great coaches have a shelf life and the message grows stale.
Demo- spot on again…
How many more times this year will we see the reaching (sign of slower) penalty on Toews… followed by that angry/grimacing face… as if the Ref is nuts???
To add- SB’s fault for signing these Mega deals/ too long/ NMC to boot!!!
Man, they all just suck. The “Core” the new guys, the Coaching, everything has gone South. Certainly there is time to turn it around, but you really don’t get that feeling with this group at all.
This team has played poorly. Especially on the special teams. Ill be curious to see what the coaching staff does over the next few days to make adjustments.
“Ah, well are there any Debrincat fans out there tonight.” (Totti) — WHY would anybody (including a World Class, first-ballot-HOF coach, hockey guru…deity) expect positive results playing DeBrincat, with his size and skillset, on a 4th (checking, grinding, energy) line? Maybe better results working with complementary line mates? Also, after working-in new line combinations, maybe sticking with them more than one game could be beneficial? But, “In Q We Trust”, right…
Toews tries hard. No complaints about his effort. But he certainly does not look like a #1 Center anymore. Kane, who absolutely loves hockey, appears disinterested/frustrated/even pouty. What happened to power forward Saad ? A complete non factor lately. Sharp = washed up. The nostalgia tour should be cancelled.
The positives : Hayden plays his butt off and is taking the puck hard to the net and firing it.
Schmaltz looks like he’s getting better and better.
Franson. He fires the puck from the point every chance he gets. We need that bullet of a shot from the point.
Not much else to write home about. Brutal Saturday night all told.
It was inevitable that at some point we Hawks fans would have to face the fact our team wasn’t good enough anymore to be a contender. While I don’t think we can say that with 100% certainty just yet, I do think we have can say that it’s looking more likely than not.
When the Hawks won their Cups, they had more elite players than most teams we had to beat in the playoffs. We had Kane, Toews and Keith in the top level of elite players, and we had Hossa and Seabrook in the next level and several other players in the better than average level.
Now, only Kane is in the top level of elite players. Every other player has regressed one level or more from where they were 2-3 years ago or they’re gone (Hossa and Hjalmarsson). Consequently the Hawks can’t out skill their opponent anymore, especially teams that will make the playoffs. Their road to success must be by out-executing the opponent and to do that they must pass well enough to play fast to keep the opponent from dominating them with a heavy forecheck game. So far they haven’t shown they can execute well enough to win even against non-playoff teams.
Sorry Noonan, but Debrincat is not an NHLer. If you want to defend Bowman for the lack of depth fiasco, go ahead, but the fact remains that he screwed up way too much the last few years. Danault, Teuvo etc…. Connor Murphy? Listen, Debrincat floats around waiting for an open shot, not happening. Getting rid of Desjardins, Kruger, or Tootoo but then going out and signing Wingels and Bouma? Why? They need speed, size and skill.
How was I defending Bowman? I was being a realist about what the Hawks are?
And certainly wish we had Danault–D-Cat is at least debatable-IMO he will one day be a good NHLer with the right top six guys.
I think I agree with a number of points made by Ebonyraptor and Craig Nigrelli above. I think that the skill level of the non-top line players on the other teams has increased in addition to the elite level of the Blackhawks maybe not being where it was a couple of years ago. I also think there is a mental aspect of initiating the team’s “push” in a game and repelling the opponent’s “push”. That was lacking some last year, even with all of the team points scored during the regular season. Consistency consistency consistency …. a big problem.
I continue to think that the play of the third and fourth lines is an improvement over last season. So many complaints (and rightfully so) about not being able to roll lines last year, and this is not as big an issue this year.
The PK has been okay, and I think the forum hated Anisimov is partly due to that. And I’m not hoping his improved performance leads to a trade. I wonder if he was ailing before the last two games. He’s been one of the better guys on the ice.
However, this team needs to stay out of the box! The PK having to be out there disrupts the flow of the Blackhawks’ game and of course leads to scoring opportunities for the foes.
Agree with earlier statement about Franson needed on power play with the heavy shot. You just don’t see the shots from Keith and Seabrook getting through from the point. Possibly because there are not the screens of the goalie up front! The deliberate nature of the Kane staying in one spot with the puck approach is not working on the PP.
I ain’t giving up on this bunch though. Some puck luck, hard play etc. can result in a turnaround and a streak. Last night was awful, but this team can definitely match up with the best. After the game against the Blackhawks, Nashville got dumped 6-2. It’s early in the season and some things are going to settle out and settle in all around the league.
Keeping the faith. Go Blackhawks!!!!!
I hate to say it but the Blackhawks may need to really regress to where they were a few before the arrival of current stars for people to appreciate what they have to watch today.
Is 12 games into a season too soon to do something drastic? And by drastic I mean switching gears to a rebuild plan. Yeah, 12 games is too soon, in my opinion. But waiting too long to do something that drastic would be worse. Very few teams are able to try and hang on to hope they still have a contending team when their record says otherwise and come out better off for doing so. The only possible exception to that is Pittsburgh who went 7 years between the 2009 Cup and the 2016 Cup, but they have two of the best players in the world who are still playing at an elite level and neither of those superstars signed salary cap crippling contracts like T&K did.
As much as I would hate for the T&K Cup contending era to come to a close, I would hate it even more to go the way of the Wings and wait too long to rebuild and end up in mediocrity for a decade or more.
“(Crosby & Malkin)…neither of those superstars signed salary cap crippling contracts like T&K did” (Ebony) — Crosby $8.7 mil cap hit thru 2024-25, Malkin $9.5 mil cap hit thru 2021-22. Toews $10.5 mil cap hit thru 2022-23, Kane $10.5 mil cap hit thru 2022-23. They’re in about the same stratosphere.
To me, it seems like a rebuild (any time soon) is unlikely. McDonough and Bowman want the Hawks to be in position to contend every year, so it might be a retool like the moves made this summer. It’s too early to determine if they were the right moves.
DD, my apologies for not looking it up and (mis)remembering that Malkin’s cap hit was the same as Crosby’s. But, still, the difference between them totals $2.8M and that $2.8M is the difference between a one $3M depth player and two $3M depth players of a $6M top-6 player.
But lest my main point get lost in salary cap discussion, the point is it’s better to trade valuable assets while they’re still valuable assets than hold up to them on the slim hope the team has one more championship run in them only to find out they didn’t and now those valuable assets are less valuable.
Excuse the poorly constructed previous post.
Tab, please tell me there will be an edit function someday.
OMB …reading some post here make me feel like i am in Montreal ,always complaining about the same players when they dont perform .
I think we should move Toews , Kane,Seabrook,D cat to montreal for Galchenyuk ..3 sticks and 2 bottles of water ( empty ). Then we would have a lot of capspace to sign a nobody for 750.000$ and get the first choice next drafts .18-19-20 and rebuild from there …euhhhh
Where you expecting to win another 4-5 stanley cups and the next 3 years ???.
This is what hapend when you have 31 teams 32 soon .
We had 3 cups and i am proud of the players we have now …let see how the Hawks will manage the Rockford players in the next months
I am really glad to see the Hogs playing really good Hockey these days
Maybe we will see the Hogs coaches with the Hawks soon …specialy if Q doesn’t win in the next 15-20 games …
Love my HAWKS ….and the HOGS .
Big Indian, things donot look good when we are shitty. Like you said the other teams get beat as well and by similar scores, not counting empty net stuff.
I would add now and sell at deadline if that made team better for now and going forward.
Were going to 4of5 games at times and were going to win 5 in a row as well. Problem is, with this bad stretch no matter how good we do in good stretchs everyone will think the same, were not good 1 or 2 seed in a division. Thing is we can win being a 3 seed, we have before.
Parity is water down after top teams do not have the depth they have had in past and teams without as many elite players have more good players for 2/3/4 lines.
Having to go through this could make the guys better and we could be laughing about this in a few wks from now.
Many GMs fall in love with their draft picks or their free agent college / KHL signings. Bowman is one of them for sure, until of course he trades them for nothing in return.
I think the veterans need to see some talented prospects pick up the slack because at the moment they have too much pressure to produce. They have given us 3 CUPs but Keith, Seabs and Crawford are over 30, Kane and Toews are approaching 30. The GM gifted them with money but not any upcoming elite prospects. Players that get them excited to play with and that have real top 6 talent. And that is the unfortunate reality whether we Hawks fans want to admit it or not. Signing bottom six players that are career 4th liners is a JOKE, period. If you do not want to give Vinny, Jurco or Kempf a chance then take a chance on players that have actually scored goals in the NHL or trade for a former high draft pick from another team that is struggling to make the NHL. Like the way the Islanders scooped Hickey away from LA years ago. Or like Tallon scooped Sharp away from the Flyers or like Tallon scooped Versteeg away from the Bruins. That happens when you have a RICK DUDLEY type pro scout working for you. These are hockey trades, gambles that may or may not work but much more visionary because the GM goes after scoring not 4th line players!
GO HAWKS
Like a lot of the rest of you, I’m sure, I watch pretty much every game on TV. There can be a lot of fluff in the pregame show, but occasionally you’ll hear something from Konroyd or maybe Adam Burish that make you think a bit.
In particular was a statement just before last game (or maybe the Predators game) from Konroyd, in that Bowman stated to him that he was happy with the lineup and that getting Sikura (see Tab’s earlier thread) seemed now like his idea for deadline deal.
Also, continued statements seem to be made about the Bouma/Wingels combo and what Q and the staff believe they bring to the lineup. And of course Hayden too.
Seems like for now that there is going to be some sticking with the lineup they have and using the Q blender approach.
I know there have been some calls for Jurco’s call up, but it seems like Bowman must have soured on him some, in addition to the coaching staff. Bowman had been really, really high on Jurco after last season, predicting him to break out in a fashion similar to how Panik did. Jurco, though, just didn’t get much game action in the preseason and ended up hitting the waiver wire. Obviously they think he’s worth having in the system but not at the big club.
I’m thinking we might see a send down, temporarily possibly, of DeBrincat, similar to what happened with Schmaltz last year. Not the exact same situation, but maybe send him down to work on a couple of things and get some confidence going. And in doing that perhaps they do bring up Hinostroza. Then Vinny can show what he can do and make things interesting.
Just my rambling thoughts ………
I agree that 19 has health issues affecting his play. That is unfortunate. However, his contract was appropriate at the time. If his play was elite, like Crosby, we would not be having this conversation.
Big Indian… Of course SB- Is happy with the line-up… what is he supposed to say???
He has Handcuffed/signed all of the deals… he can’t bitch/complain about HIS choices /guys… and Point out all of his bad decisions/contracts??? can he???
I loved what I saw from Sikura (best skater/talent Hawks have in “Prospect pool”) – but to think that a 165 lb. kid is gonna come in at end of season- and change the dynamics of this team… is laughable…
Once again- Bouma/Wingels are perfectly fine – when you consider Cap Hit… they “play the right way”!!! But- not difference makers… never were and never will be… They are NOT responsible for the PP- being one of the worst in the league…
They are not supposed to score Goals…
The “stars” are Not Playing like Stars… and NOT earning their Contracts— and it will only get worse— all SB
exactly what I was thinking Ian and Hawks2010. Yes the Hawks aren’t playing well right now but people forget or don’t remember the Grimson,Peluso, Vandenbushe days. Toews and Kane (along with Rocky) saved this franchise. BTW teams like Preds got pounded the next night as well (6-2) and the Pens were embarrassed again that’s 3 times they have been 10-1 to Hawks, 7-1 to Tampa and another 7-1 to Winnipeg.
The top/core players are not going to always carry the load every game. There are highs and lows to every season, this is an early low the Hawks are experiencing.
I have left the topic alone since the preseason for the most part, but I’ll return to it now — Bouma & Wingels are a slight upgrade from Desjardins & Tootoo last season, but that’s not saying much (i.e., 400 lbs woman loses 100 lbs, is she attractive at 300 lbs?). What separates the Cup contenders from the non-contenders is when the depth players pick up the slack for the elite players; having two passengers like Bouma & Wingels just doesn’t cut it. These were poor signings by Bowman, the top players high level of play before this cold streak simply masked this fact.
Of course, the core players have to raise the level of their play; that being said, listening to Q & Bowman discuss the “energy” “grit” “sandpaper” that Bouma & Wingels supposedly offer is like a kid telling a parent they are studying very hard for every one of their math tests, and the net result is the kid is bringing home an F or D in math.
Let’s be grateful that the Western Conference is no great shakes and essentially up for grabs. The Kings are playing way over their heads so far, their goalie is my only concern (he is playing at top form again) come playoff time. Crawford & Quick are the best two, proven goalies in the West, and one of them plays for the Hawks.
P.S. Bowman is not quick to pull the trigger on his mistakes — he eventually gets it, but since both Bouma & Wingels have to clear waivers, they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. It is fair to say they both had poor exhibition seasons, and if they had minor league, non-waiver options like Hinostroza, one of them for certain would have not made the team and been sent to Rockford instead.
Lastly, Kempny was one of the rare bright spots the other night. He played with pace, passion and confidence playing a regular shift. Let’s hope Q recognizes this and runs with him hereinafter no more scratches please Q.
I’m glad that every 3-game losing streak over the last 4 years has been because a) Bowman signs terrible deals, b) Bowman drafts poorly, c) Seabrook sucks, d) Toews is hurt and e) Q is stubborn/plays guys in the wrong spots. I could literally cut & paste the complaints about the Blackhawks from 2011 to today and they haven’t changed.
I don’t believe anyone has mentioned this yet (if they have my apologies).
Is there any correlation between the Hawks current struggles & the fact that Hossa is no longer playing?
Was he that important to the team?
Just some food for thought…
Joey – they miss Hossa, but the power play has been a dumpster fire for nearly a decade at this point and we’ve watched what? 3 coaches? try to fix it without much sustained success.
ICEMAN – which team’s 4th line players “(depth) players pick up the slack for the elite players? “Bouma & Wingels just doesn’t cut it. These were poor signings by Bowman” – who would have been better signings?
“the power play has been a dumpster fire for nearly a decade at this point and we’ve watched what? 3 coaches? try to fix it without much sustained success.” (Tab) — does anyone have an fix? It would seem the Hawks have enough talented players to assemble two PP units – but how do you get them to move the puck quicker, not waste time looking for the perfect play, get to and shoot from high scoring percentage areas? As Tab said, “a decade … 3 coaches?”
I get that there is a lot of repetition here Tab-but comparing 4 years ago to a team that is struggling to find some kind of identity and has won zero rounds in the playoffs in the last two years is like comparing apples to kiwis.
# 7 was still playing near the top of his game four years ago. and 19 was being mentioned as good if not better than 87.
Truth is the mighty Hawks are getting passed by and that’s natural after a great multi-year run. Can they re-invent themselves and get the right combo to surround 88, 2, and 19 who are not the dominate players they once were?-not that they aren’t really good-and 88 can still be a human hi-lite reel.
As I’ve said before they did us proud and as a true fan I’ll stick with them at the top or near the bottom or in-between. (and that’s not giving Bowman or the Coaching staff a pass) Go Hawks.
I didn’t compare the Blackhawks today to four years ago, Noonan. I said the usual suspects are blamed every time the Hawks look dead.
Maybe the Hawks should replace, Keith, Seabs and Sharp on the PP units. I understand those are “made” guys for Q but I mean these PP results have been extremely poor
Fair enough-
What frustrates me with the gripping of others, and everyone is allowed to do it if they want–
30+ teams want to win every year and tough decisions need to be made around cap/age concerns and some seem to think that the Hawks should be there each and every year–virtually impossible and yes bad choices are made (by every team.) A tough job for sure.
Hopefully the hunger to win is back for the Hawks.
The cupboard is far from empty; reinforcements are coming. And I think we’d be fools to write-off DeBrincat’s season because of 10 games. But the frustration is that the guys who have carried this organization for the last decade aren’t right now. They’re flat, and need to be better.
Was just in Edmonton and saw Stars game. Talked to some Oilers fans and their complaints were Strome is a bust should be moved, Russell sucks and so does his contract. Talbot not an elite goalie and overpaid, MacLellan playing players wrong McDavid and Draisatil shouldn’t be together, Nugent -Hopkins a better winger, Lucic too old and slow. Worst pk in the league etc. Just like I was reading posts here.
Mr Bush makes an appearance yet again, disguised as…well, he knows
Fitting article from yahoo today
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/sports/learned-chicagos-early-struggles-show-time-catching-165105078.html
Nicely said Wall!!! Sicura? ….I do not know which Hollywood scriptwrier is working for Bowman but to dare say SICURA at 165 pounds will be a difference maker is another installment of STAN Cry Baby Bowman’s film entitled, ” The College Hockey Smoke Screen”. What round was Sicura drafted in??? 5th? I wish him well and hopefully he can have a nice NHL career. We need size combined wih speed and skill on the wings, a centre and on defence. Please, stop the nonsense.
These veterans like Kane, Keith, Seabs, Crawford, Toews, and Sharp have given us great moments. They have produced in the past. Our GM has simply done a terrible job of producing players through picks to keep this thing going. The RED WINGS did it for years picking very late in the first or second or third round. And another day with Debrincat in the lineup exemplifies the arrogance and delusional attitude Bowman and Coach Q have towards the fans, some who may know a little about hockey. Yes Hossa is missed in the room and on the ice. This Hossa out for the year thing is still a little suspect anyway. Ask a few GMs what they think? Honestly, we miss HOSSA big time.
Wingels and Bouma? No reason why they are on this team. NONE. No one cares to see them on the ice. And Jurco can play in the NHL ahead of Debrincat and others on this team.
Well, hot start and a slump from a team with a lot of new and inexperienced players, who had… 3 back to backs in under 3 weeks, one of them road and road? I guess that’s thanks to last year’s record, but that scheduling is ridiculous. I blame Bowman.
We would not be having these conversations if we actually had the team to win a cup. Fact: We do not have a team on paper to win the cup so why sign Wingels and Bouma? Because they play the right way? They are an energy line? Please, this rhetoric is laughable. Develop prospects in Rockford and in Chicago to build a future. We gave Vinny a shot last year, but then Stanley Bowman signs washed up 4th liners to add depth? A visionary makes a good GM, not a chartered accountant!
Go HAWKS
SAAD SCHMAULTZ KANE
PANIK TOEWS SHARP
JURCO HINOSTROZA HARTMAN
IACOPELLI DAUPHIN HAYDEN
KEITH SEABROOK
KEMPY MURPHY
GUSTAFSON RUTTA
TRADE ANISIMOV, FRANSON
Totti, the Red Wings dominated for the most part prior to the addition of a salary cap to the NHL. The salary cap was started in the 2005/2006 season. One could argue that’s about the time they started their decline. Mike Babcock was quoted once as saying he missed the old days when they could just pay everybody more than other teams could. It got to where they couldn’t because of the cap.
so trade for Duchene? Toews for Duchene straight up?
Morin for Panik.
Jurco for Douchknee.
Okay, after reading all the posts and listening to my wife tell me to stop being so negative about the Hawks, I have decided to take the view of Q.
Let’s break down the season into (8) 10 game seasons. The first 10 games were clearly NOT what we thought they would be even after the great start. Things have to get better.
So let’s see where this goes after a 5-5 start, basically.
What I would like to see: Conor Murphy with more ice time. I know he makes mistakes but we need to see if he can be what everyone says he will be. Being in the press box is not going to help him develop. Let Schmaltz center the first line for 5 games. Let Toews, Kane and Hartman be the #2 line for 5 games. Switch Kero and Anisimov for 5 games.
The definition of insanity is : Doing things the same way and expecting a different result. Let’s switch it up.
This team is not as good as the game against the Penguins and it’s not as bad as the game against the Av’s. We just have to find some middle ground.
Let’s go Hawks!!!!
Ian – Well said!
I have neither the time nor inclination to peruse each teams various blogs etc..
But I would hazard a guess that each one is similar to this one & others like it…
It seems to be human nature that we are never satisfied…
Totti is overboard and a tad outlandish, nothing out of the ordinary, but he makes some salient points within his posts once the delusional comments are filtered out. I agree with him Kero, Bouma & Wingels are nowhere to be seen on his proposed lines, and I like his six D-men as well. Debrincat is bouncing around the lines like a superball, not good for him.
We’ll see how it all plays out.
If anyone is interested in seeing Dylan Sikura go to the Northeastern Hockey website. They have highlight clips of all their games. So you can see how he looks.
Here is my impression; he is very slender, playing against weak competition on a very big ice surface. Lots of 15 ft in uncontested shots in his/their highlight reel. I’ll put it this way after watching his clips I was less excited. Not that I was super excited, to begin with. I’ve seen him at the Hawks rookie camps a few times now. I am excited that next yrs camp will be at the new facility; Johnnys Ice house is a F’ing dump! I saw SB last time I was at Johnny’s but since he was watching his daughter in pre-hockey I didn’t want to ask him what he was thinking when he signed the Seabrook deal.
“…dare say SICURA at 165 pounds will be a difference maker” (Totti) – John Gaudreau 5’9″, 157 lbs.
I believe Murphy needs to play every game until the end if the season. He was traded for so he should play as the number 3 dman. Why not? His pedigree is higher then the rest of the bottom six Dmen. If by March he continues to falter badly, then trade him along with Debrincat to Toronto for JVR.
I am surprised Coach Q and management has not yet called up a player or two from Rockford to change it up.
It use to be unless a player Sikura’s size was a superstar there was no place on the roster. Now with teams looking for speed and quickness over size throughout their lineups, smaller players now have the opportunity to be a difference makers on 3rd libe lines by providing speed and quickness to give offense there as well.
Stanley Cup teams who have won this last decade do not have a bunch of small players in their lineups. I am not saying there is no room for such talented players but these teams have had one or two at most like KANE for the Hawks. Connor Sheary the Pens? The Kings….? The Bruins….? The Red Wings….? Not sure, right?
Maybe Sikura makes the NHL but the Hawks have a smallish superstar in Kane and unless the other one is just as good or close, why are we drafting a slow skating Debrincat or the other smurf Anthony Louis? Maybe Vinny Hinostoza can be that other guy because he as grit and elite speed??? Maybe not that close but he does bring something to the game.
…Oh I almost forgot, maybe Bowman can tell us which left handed defenceman he has drafted since the Hammer? Because he did not draft Keith? ….Carl Dahlstrom, 2nd Round right….why is he not on this team yet? Because no defenceman he drafts makes it anyway since the Hammer:?
And please, let’s not talk about Bouma and Wingels again, because they will nt score more goals then the great KRUGER, DESJARDINS, TOOTOO line!!!
cheers