Blackhawks Implode In Third Period (Again), Get Crushed By Rangers
When the schedules came out for the 2019-20 seasoh, Wednesday night was supposed to be about young promise and remembering history. It became a seller’s night with a focus on players improving their stock ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.
The young promise could have been the headlines. Kaapo Kakko and Kirby Dach were selected second and third overall, respectively, in the 2019 NHL Draft. Each came into the game with 19 points on the season.
The history stirred emotion. Before the game former Blackhawks defenseman Jack O’Callahan dropped the ceremonial first pick. A few days shy of the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the member of the 1980 United States’ men’s hockey team that upset Russia came out in his USA sweater and dropped the puck between two of the best players in the game today from those two countries: Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin.
But the question of the evening was whether or not this would be the final appearance in a Blackhawks’ sweater by Robin Lehner. There were plenty of eyeballs there to watch the Lehner and others on the two struggling rosters who might be on the move in the coming days.
11 NHL scouts/reps listed for #Blackhawks-Rangers: BOS, CAR, COL, DET, MTL, NSH, PIT, STL, TB (2), WSH
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 19, 2020
One rookie made an impact early in the game. Kakko was credited with an assist on Filip Chytil’s goal 1:58 into the game that gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead. That would be the extent of the damage for New York in the first; the visitors put 12 shots on Lehner in the period. Chicago also put 12 shots on net but rookie phenom Igor Shesterkin was terrific.
Each team had a power play in the first. Neither did anything with it.
The Blackhawks tied the game less than three minutes into the second period. Duncan Keith set up Dominik Kubalik who made it count.
The helper for Keith was significant in his Hall of Fame career.
With an assist on Kubalik’s second-period tally, @DuncanKeith has recorded his 500th @NHL assist!#ChicagoRunsOnDuncan pic.twitter.com/X3hvBg6SpR
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 20, 2020
Chicago got two more power plays in the second period and wasted both of those advantages. This, of course, should come as no surprise. The Hawks were 0-14 on the power play on their recent five-game road trip and have been miserable with the hypothetical “advantage” for years.
The Blackhawks out-shot the Rangers 16-10 in the second period and the teams carried one goal each into the third period.
Would this be the final 20 minutes in red for Lehner?
If so, it didn’t start well for the veteran. He allowed a goal to Pavel Buchnevich (that he didn’t have much of a chance on thanks to the defense in front of him) at 2:33. Dylan Strome’s mom was in attendance to watch two of her sons – who took the night’s opening faceoff – and she saw Ryan Strome score a power play goal 4:01 into the third period.
The Blackhawks were getting out-worked all over the ice early in the third.
But, as they have done a maddening number of times this season, the Blackhawks showed a spark after digging a two-goal hole. Kubalik scored his second of the night and 25th of the year at 6:05 into the third to bring the Hawks back to within one.
Jonathan Toews and Drake Cagguila were credited with assists on the second Kubalik goal.
Would the Blackhawks find some momentum?
Hell no.
Chris Kreider scored 1:43 after the Kubalik goal and Panarin scored 53 seconds later to make the score 5-2 in favor of the Rangers. The goal gave Panarin 399 career regular season points.
And the United Center was dead quiet.
For a team talking like they needed to battle their way back into the playoff mix, another third period collapse reminded Blackhawks fans that this is a team headed for the lottery again this summer. Stan Bowman shouldn’t have needed additional confirmation beyond the team shitting the bed on the road trip that it’s time to sell, but the Blackhawks certainly helped ease the decision making of their front office.
However, the line of Toews, Kubalik and Cagguila kept battling. Less than two minutes after the Panarin goal, Toews made a pretty pass to Cagguila who scored his seventh of the year to cut the Rangers’ lead back to two.
After two goals were scored in 40 minutes, the teams combined to score six times in the first 11:39 of the third period.
The Rangers weren’t done.
Mika Zibanejad scored the sixth goal of the night for New York at 13:37 into the third.
Not a good look for Lehner, who should have a suitcase packed “just in case” between now and Monday. His defense wasn’t doing him any favors – Adam Boqvist, who was a scratch in the finale of the road trip, had another tough night. And the Blackhawks were getting out-shot 17-9 through 14 minutes of the third period. But Lehner would undoubtedly like a few of the Rangers’ goals back.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of the third period was the Rangers’ making a trade during the game.
For a goaltender?
OFFICIAL: Rangers acquire goaltender J-F Berube from Philadelphia in exchange for future considerations.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 20, 2020
The Rangers were already carrying three netminders and Shesterkin appears to be the future. Adding a fourth for… nothing? Sure, why not.
Cagguila went to the box with a little more than one minute left in the game and the Rangers finished the game on the power play.
Final: 6-3 Rangers.
Lehner allowed all six against 41 shots. The Blackhawks put 40 shots on net against Shesterkin but he stopped 37.
Erik Gustafsson’s showcase game in front of 11 scouts saw him lead the Blackhawks in ice time (22:46) and blocked shots (five).
Dylan Strome had a much better night in the box score. He put five shots on net in 15:32 and won 10 of 12 faceoffs. His brother won only three of 11 faceoffs but also put five shots on net and scored once.
Toews won 11 of 17 faceoffs and had two assists in 17:51.
Brandon Saad put a team-leading seven shots on net in the game. Kane was credited with five. Dach put three shots on net in 15:53 but didn’t take a singel faceoff.
Olli Maatta had a busy 19:29 on the ice. He was credited with four shots on net and a team-leading six hits. Connor Murphy was credited with five hits in 21:34.
2-6-2 since 10 day layover. Needed to go 6-6-2, then 9-2 to be +11 over .500 and in 7 seed position. Donot think were going to go 4-0/or 3-1 to get to that 6-6-2. We could though.
Good timing for, Selling, at deadline to go 2-6-2 when we needed to at least go 50/50 and we would be right there with the 6/7/8 seed teams, with a favorable sch coming up for 11 games, after the next 4 games.
TRADE on goalie—Saad—-Keith… then we Have a good start for nice rebuild.
So were right where we anted to be, in order to get three top 5 skill draft players. Not routing to lose/tank, though we need to not go 9-2 in games coming up (FLR game to BUF game) to stay around 5th pick.
Still need some help from ANA and SJ. MON making a strong move towards 5th pick-could keep us to 8th.
Sell: Strome, Dcat, Lehner, Kampf, ZSmith,
Trade any that makes sense and at least one goalie. Next yr deosnt matter, its the 5 yrs after next yr that do.
So donot worry about being thin for next yr, get good returns at all costs.
Is the guy who burned down the house going to be allowed to keep trying to re build it? And what about his companion (the green coach)?
Lol
The 3rd period effort was beyond pathetic. The only silver lining would be if it ends the JC experiment. Make deals for Gus and Lehner before Friday.
How do you have a breakaway and not get a shot? I guess we ask Kampf. If Keith can be traded then pack his bags, if nothing else to eliminate his turnovers. Trade both goalies for draft picks and anyone else that doesn’t want to play the game the right way.
I know lets have one more last shift bullshit focus on the blawkhawks convention or some other bullshit living in the past promotion so the fans will spend more money so we can have bullshit minor league players not win a game and play with no heart like they are there collect there checks and not give a shit if they dont fire bowman this team will go back to the dollar bill days when 1000 people where in the arena maybe thats what the fan base needs to back too to wake rocky up and hit him where it hurts pocket book stop pedaling bullshit hockey on the best fans in the nhl
Lehner was not stellar tonight. That was a foolish penalty he took as well. Roughing/cross check/both. It does not matter, it was undisciplined and right in front of everybody.
Lehner’s price tag should have gone down tonight as at least two of those goals were stoppable. Strome’s price stayed about the same, Kubalik’s went up, Caggiula’s stayed the same.
That third period was a disgrace. How’s that for a grasp of the obvious?
Not many of the scouts left the building licking their chops over Hawks’ players.
Can’t have weak AHL links like Cagg and Carpenter on this roster let alone playing top 6 minutes. JOKE! This once again is all on Mr. Stan Bowman and the coach!. The size and speed of the young Rangers was too much for guys like Murphy, Maatta, Cagg, Carpenter, Strome, Nylander, Highmore (how is this guy in the NHL?).
#6 & #5 are two over paid bottom pairing dmen on any other NHL playoff team. The HAMMER is still a better dman than both of these guys! Boqvist toooooooo small! Watch Evan Bouchard in Edmonton coming soon!
Dylan Strome can’t skate and handles the puck in the DZone like a hot potato. DCAT had a good game, he’s a keeper but needs a great center who can skate and move the puck.
So, the holes are plenty and the resources are few! Seriously, this GM spent money on Carpenter, an AHL / ECHL player at best and Lehner?
Did you see the size and skill of power forward Krieder man handle everyone on the Hawks (not as talented as HOSSA but just as strong and faster).
And where were the pro scouts when the Rangers stole Gauthier away from Carolina? 6’4″ of speed and 225 pounds of strength! Oh yeah, watching 2nd Div. Swedish hockey and looking at free agent NCAA players who are undrafted!!!
Again, I feel for 88, 19, 2, 7, 20 & 50 (who is still better than Lehner who was awful and lazy once again tonight). These guys deserve a playoff season with the HAWKS but this GM and Coach need to go tomorrow!
CLEAN HOUSE and FIRE them! Bring in LAVIOLETTE as coach before someone gets him. And either get Mark Hunter as the GM or bring back Doug Wilson!
NOTE: How did the pro scouts in Chicago miss the boat on Burakowsky who landed in Colorado from Washington?
Oh yeah , Carpenter much better! $5million for a backup goalie who will always be a backup goalie! Thx Stan.
And even we draft a player in the top 10, unless they have an NHL body like a Tkachuk, he will have no impact next season. Carolina got a former 3rd round pick dman for Gauthier…where was Stan? God knows we have a case of 24 beers of dman all over the place!
Tit sucking daddy GM won’t do anything.
1. He is asking for the heavens most likey for
Gus, Lehner, and (maybe) Saad, Keith, or AHL player on this NHL roster
2. Why would he move players when the Hawks Brass said this is a playoff team and can play against any team. Correct, you can PLAY against a team but differs from being competitive.
3. JC and Bowman will not be leaving. One major excuse will be not having a full roster due to injuries. But isn’t a GM suppose to fill spots through FA, drafts, or trades to not get into this predicament?!
4. Maybe Bowman can’t make any trades because he can’t get in touch with his daddy down in Florida.
Face it Hawks fans, Bowman has wrecked a great thing. Granted the Pens had a gap in between their cups but at least they made the playoffs. They knew when to cut the chord.
Looks like we will be starting in the dark ages when Mike Smith was GM for the next 5 years
Colliton: lots of beautiful hair, for certain.
Bowman: little to no hair, for certain.
These two opposites share one thing in common:. highly dense guys in their professions currently.
The team has quit on him. And he knows it.
Blame the players all you want but it’s pretty obvious if getting back to playoffs and making a cup run again soon is really what the organization wants. Then a new coach to start next season is a given, this team just doesn’t seem to want to play for Colliton and 23 new bodies on the bench isn’t going to change that. Until that happens, hard to see much more progress than we have seen in last year and a half
Kane and Toews are generational players and deserve one more playoff season next year but the next GM needs to sign free agents that are NHL proven and give these guys some real help….not the Carpenter, Cagg, and the Zach Smith of the world.
If any of 2, 7, 50, 19, 88, 20, 12 get traded at the deadline instead of Rocky firing Stan and the coach, then this organization will lose lots of respect from many Hawk fans. Especially 2, 88, 19, 7 and 50! They are not the problem, like Coach Q or Mike Kitchen or Panarin’s contract or the Hammer…it’s the bad trades and horrible drafting. Just think about it Joku in Buffalo, Beaudin will never be a top 4dman, Boqvist is too light and Mitchell will never sign with this team. So, Bowman and Kelley screwed up! Veleno, Walhstrom were avaible…Evan Bouchard was available…all players above 6 foot tall and strong on the puck!
TRADE Carpenter, Lehner, Smith, Cagg, and Maatta.
The Hawks played the 3rd period like an allstar game.Nobody checking anyone or being in the correct defensive positions.This game was a clear illustration of why you want bigger and stronger forwards.Gauthier has been with the Rangers for a few hours and already showing why he is going to be a force.Ask Maata and the Hawks defense about that.The Ranger forwards rag dolled the Hawks in the defensive zone.Toews lost his check on the go ahead goal,Strome coughed up the puck into the slot giving up another Ranger Goal.Boqvist was terrible all night.If the Ranger forwards were not skating around him they were out muscling him at the net for tap ins.Someone should let Coach Colliton know that it is acceptable to yank a young overmatched Defenseman off the ice.Boqvist has got to get harder on the body and puck.I do not know what to say about big forwards skating around him.I was told he has elite speed.The Hawks small forwards were kept to the outside.88,12,92,36 were non factors.After a performance like that, if I am Bowman,Im make an announcement to the room to keep your phones on because this aint working.
Well if Crow gets traded and not Lehner we will be screwed for the next few years .
Lehner`s game is …shall i say off …trade him while we can .
Keith has a no move clause …stop with the trade him b.s .
Gus and Matta log lots of ice time and could be hard to replace , the pipeline not really full of guys who can play 20 plus mins a game … Strome and D-cat have most certainly not helped us this season …will they next year ?
Please don`t shit the bed Stan .
Hawks defense seemed to revert back to early season form – I’m not a fan of whatever system it is that JC wants the players to use in the D zone – too much running around with the man to man
It had been better back there recently but at home they consistently have trouble defensively – one guy gets beat man on man and it’s a full on fire drill
For some reason the wheels started to come off at the end of the 2nd in the D zone and the Hawks just continued that in the third
Nylander played well – time to move him back to top 9
Strome at centre is where he needs to be – he was better tonight
Dcat still MIA
Maybe we ll wake up tomorrow (God willing), Bowman and his coach will be relieved of duties, Crawford (the asst coach) will take over interimly, the Hawks will go on a hot run winning ten in a row, make the playoffs and who knows what else thereafter w Crawford (the goalie) leading the way to their 4th Cup in the last decade.
Let’s think positive. I’m positive I’m dreaming……
Keep JC until year end to secure the best possible odds in the draft then hire an experienced NHL coach – if that means firing Stan first and hiring a new GM then so be it
Have to agree with Ian that this team will go nowhere with JC and you have to be careful who you ship out – a better coach I think would have gotten more from this roster – don’t trade Strome or Dcat until we see how they do with a good coach
Trade Gus and Lehner minimum, Maatta if you can, Smith if you can – we know what all those players are
just got out of a movie. was bowman fired after the game?
Lots of Rangers blue in the stands tonight. They weren’t disappointed. But the rest of us were.
Lehner kind of looked like he had just decided to not focus, lose composure as well, and end up mediocre at best. Defense was terrible but he should have stopped some of those. He may be brain weary of the Blackhawks by now, or by the front office.
I just go back to wondering again and again what kind of value the Blackhawks can get in return for their movable pieces. Wonder who the scouts were looking at? I know there is a long list of players that people on this board have as needed to be traded, but truth be told is that not a lot of them can bring any value. Some you would just be shedding to, well, be shed of them.
All the same, Stan (and his bosses) have to make some moves now that count.
This is such a simple game to play and the tools that you need to play it at a winning level are evident to all.You need CENTERS to control the play and get the puck to talented forwards in the right areas at the optimal time.You need at least 4 big physical forwards who can skate, that way there is 1 on the ice to breakup cycles and win puck battles most of the time.You need Defensemen that are very hard on the puck every play.You need a couple of those D men to be play killers that separate bodies from the puck.You need a structured system with layers that cover the center of the zone out to the boards.And finally,you need a goaltender that can get his stick onto the ice to deflect shots away from the slot and not kick them directly to opposing players.This teams management has a lot of work to do.
I agree go after Laviolett before somebody else gets him. With the trade deadline so close can you really dump Bowman right now?
What a sad display.
This team sucks big time.
You du man Stan.
Kampf: hands of stone.
Kubaliks a power forward ? Toews loves that kid .
We do have some special pieces, some great players for sure . …I think new coach sooner than later .
Kubalik is Saad 2.0 but with better hands …keep them both …!
@Hull65
Didn’t see Kubalik on your list of players to keep?
So many posters here think Stan Bowman needs to make this move or that move to get this draft pick or that draft pick.
STAN BOWMAN is the problem.
The next move to be made is him and coach Greg Brady being bussed out of town.
Bowman is the guy who fired Q and replaced him with a guy a playoff caliber team has quit on. See Tab’s post above.
Until Bowman goes, all other movement is bullshit.
Surely we know that, right?
Unless something monumental happens,
I am signing off everyone
Nothing left to see on the ice in Chicago.
I will be back when the hockey coronavirus that is Bowman and Brady is gone.
Hawks defense seemed to revert back to early season form – I’m not a fan of whatever system it is that JC wants the players to use in the D zone – too much running around with the man to man
Yea, we had a good run after first 20/30 games and went 12-5-2, then that 10 day layover out us back into the frist 20 game mode again.
After Hammer Q Buckaroo, this system doesnt work-for us. I know we need more players so that isint fully fair, but we need to clean house and trade several players and get the style were going to go with for the coming yrs.
Cannot F up this deadline draft summer, specifically deadline/draft. Being a not every yr deep draft and we have players that will get good returns-in a sellers market. Have to trade for a big return overall.
This is the way, right here.
WRAPAROUND
February 19, 2020 at 10:34 pm
Keep JC until year end to secure the best possible odds in the draft then hire an experienced NHL coach – if that means firing Stan first and hiring a new GM then so be it
Have to agree with Ian that this team will go nowhere with JC and you have to be careful who you ship out – a better coach I think would have gotten more from this roster – don’t trade Strome or Dcat until we see how they do with a good coach
Trade Gus and Lehner minimum, Maatta if you can, Smith if you can – we know what all those players are
This post is the way, to. Bowman cut and paste this post and do it.
TIM
February 19, 2020 at 10:45 pm
This is such a simple game to play and the tools that you need to play it at a winning level are evident to all.You need CENTERS to control the play and get the puck to talented forwards in the right areas at the optimal time.You need at least 4 big physical forwards who can skate, that way there is 1 on the ice to breakup cycles and win puck battles most of the time.You need Defensemen that are very hard on the puck every play.You need a couple of those D men to be play killers that separate bodies from the puck.You need a structured system with layers that cover the center of the zone out to the boards.And finally,you need a goaltender that can get his stick onto the ice to deflect shots away from the slot and not kick them directly to opposing players.This teams management has a lot of work to do.
My boy Kubilik, had his back since preseason. 25 goals with 20 games? to go. Nice.
We do have several good players that we need to keep. Just trade everybody we should and get the new system and new players-the ones Tim talks about.
Get whats missing.
For thsoe who didnt like or still donot like Kubilik. Yippee Ki Yay MF.
Top 9 FW on Cup deep roster.
A bit of perspective. For fans wanting to sell, this exactly what we wanted. No push near the deadline to make Stan a buyer, only to fall short of a wild card berth.
To Stan’s credit he gave this group 60+ games to prove they are a playoff team .
The road trip (1-4) and the clunker at home( much like the start in Finland ) shows they are not built for any type of run.
Great goaltending has masked real deficiencies with this group and now even that is crumbling. So when Stan sells Gustafsson between now and Monday and trades Lehner, nobody in that locker room can complain, because neither was coming back anyways.
Sakic said tonight he wants to make a move for goaltending. Perfect match in Colorado.
Others teams want a defenseman, Gustafsson is a legitimate #5 who can man a second power play unit. After all the trades this week. He might bring us a draft pick and a prospect.
No on Saad. 50 point, top 6 forward who back checks and has 2 Stanley Cup rings. This is not the deadline to give him away.
Just my 2 cents.
keep 19, 88, 20, 77, 12, 17, 8, 2, 7, 50
trade 40, 91, 15, 22, 95, 6,
give one more chance to 92, 56, 44, 5
fire Stan , JC, Kelley., Pierre Gauthier, McDO, Scotty,
Fire Marc Bernard, Derek King,
Hire Laviolette, Mark Hunter and Doug Wilson as President
I would not be surprised if Lehner is not with the Sharks by next year, the weather is far better.
Q wanted to leave the team. He saw it was getting old from the blue line back to CC and the CAP was killing keeping productive forwards. Age brings injuries and defense is his thing. Q’s job (NHL coach) is to put the player in a poison to win games not teach them the game. I guess JC is a teacher and that is an AHL coach’s job.
Most of you have been talking about getting a forward, what position? I think they need a second RW!
Here is a quote from a college coach as to what he would like in a defenseman, “I would love a six-foot-eight guy who can skate and make a play.”
You guys are fickled, you what the team in the playoffs. “IF” they would make it, then McD is right as stated, the team is learning the coach’s new system, and the GM is a winner. Yet you what to get rid of all three, which is it? Also, who do you really get to replace them?
I will go with that list 65 wrote. I would put 56 in the trade line thou and 27 in the keep line.
In trading both goalies it would give us more of a chance to catch SJ Ana NJ Ott. The ones that are out of reach could be only Det and possibly LA.
Boys! Here is one for you all.
GUS is heading to TAMPA, done deal! I do not know what we will get in return, any thoughts??
Stan traded Breadman might as well trade Kubalik.
Tab: “The team has quit on him. And he knows it.”
Indeed, that happened a long time ago. Actually I don’t think they ever gelled with JC. The hiring of and to date failure to can him shows how inept the front office is … they need to go too.
Lot of experienced coaches available …. why do we stick with an amateur?
Robs, I don’t think a couple of bad goals is going to lower value for Lehner or the desire for teams who have seen him play for the last two years. He lost his some of his energy, like the rest of the team. A new setting and he will get a bolt of energy-will it happen? Don’t know but if they can’t get him signed, and it looks like they can’t they should try to get something in return.
I do think someone other than Stan B. needs to be the change-but again it looks like he will make the decisions for this team, at least in the next months to come. We need some truth here in this organization.
For those of you that are looking for some kind of great return on a trade, think again. Every GM knows that the Hawks are desperate and, like most people here, know that the trade pieces are poor. The only way out of this hole is to get lucky in the later stages of the draft and find players that surprise.
Keith for what he is paid might be the best player per dollar paid. Nevermind the cap hit. Keith should only be moved if he requests it. I feel bad for him this teams situation is hardly his fault though keith has not been perfect what defenseman has?
Fun fact Panarins first game was against the rangers at the 2015 banner raising.
Loves the irony of the puck drop the Russian in red white and blue and the American in red.
Hard to say what to do with this team….no solid prospects…no depth to call up. Boqvist should be in the ahl playing top minutes just my opinion.
Once again players over picks…should they make trades for picks move them for top prospects. Toews and kane are playing great. No question their contracts tie up a lot of cap space but they appear to be mostly earning it. Where is the support???
I’d like to add its time for jc to go. Nice try bud but it’s not working and the team is pretty much stuck as far as roster changes go. Not a huge fan of any upcoming free agents….I can only name like four….of which I’d be interested in signing two….both of which are currently playing net for the Blackhawks .
Either at the deadline or this summer move draft picks for legit rookies prospects players who cant be taken by seattle.
Regarding return:
Robin Lehner is a terrific goaltender who has a dumpster fire for defense playing in front of him. The fact that he’s in a walk year at $5M makes him a tremendously valuable commodity. Bowman should be able to do well if/when he trades Lehner because he has the golden egg – expiring contract.
Wednesday The Athletic reported there were four (4) teams interested. While I think anyone believing the Hawks can get two 2nd round picks for him like LA did for Alec Martinez is on something, I do think the Hawks should be able to get a couple mid-round picks for him. Like Lehner, he has the golden ticket – an expiring contract – and he’s dirt cheap ($1.2M). Even teams up against the cap can entertain the idea of adding Gustafsson who, for all of his defensive deficiencies, still put up 60 points last year.
Agree with Nigrelli. Keep Saad.
Big Indian only way i would move Saad was if the intention was to go all in on Kreider. Doubtful that will happen.
If moving both goalies would have to be something like Lehner to Flames for Bennett and pick, take back Talbot contract to make it work, then move Crawford to Avs and go with Talbit and Delia in goal rest of the way. Havd an agreement in proncipal for one of Crawford or Lehner tp return in fa this summer.
If players not playing for Colliton, question is how do you take the asylum back from the inmates. Bringing in a new group of inmates or bringing in someone to take back the asylum. Easy answer it seems.
Why are Blackhawks anymore/less desperate then any other team in league selling players at deadline. Good players sell for similar price.
Only way I see that if we were at the cap and had no room, like we did before and TOR and TB and other teams were this summer, but we have 11m in cap space.
Honest, thats funny the 2015 banner raising was also K. Hayes watching that banner raising-the biggest mistake he will ever make in his career. He would have been a Cup champion if he wasnt a puus and a two pump chump.
@Tim @Center @BigBody @Ragdoll @BowenByram
OK, so I’m watching that game last night, and I’m just remembering all of Tim’s incessant posts about us needing another center and needing bigger bodies who can skate and lay the wood when the situation arises. Well, Tim was spot on again! Last night was just a microcosm of what is wrong with the way this Blackhawks team is constructed. One, we do not have a 2nd or 4th line center, and missing that ingredient is why we cannot score consistently. Dach is fine as a 3rd line guy and still needs to grow into a top-6 role. He is not physically ready to handle that role. Two, we do not have any big bodies that can move people, separate them from the puck, or strike fear into opposing players. The Rangers had several. Our toughest guy last night was Alex Nylander, and that should speak volumes about our teams physicality. Three, why was not Seeler on the ice last night against that big, bruising team? Instead, Coach Doogie Howser rolls out three ragdolls in Boqvist, Keith, and Gustafson and sends our toughest defensemen to the pressbox to meet and greet Rocky’s overweight neighbors and friends. WTF?
I would be fine trading Saad, Strome, and Lehner for Bowen Byram because we need a true #1 defensemen for the future, and the Avs already are set at defense. They need a GK and skilled and fast forwards with all of their injuries.
One more thing…Who the F traded Artemi Panarin away from the Blackhawks? Whoever was responsible for that trade should have been FIRED after that game last night! Imagine having four scorers on the ice last night with Kane, Panarin, Kubalik, and DeBrincat? If some GM didn’t give a 30+ year old defensemen a 6 year contract avg $7M/year, we would have been a juggernaut! F Rocky, just fire this idiot!
Good comments by people here. We have good players to build around and elite young wave players, with a 3rd coming this draft amounst other good prospects.
Like the idea of trading certain picks for good prospects.
I, think, the key is to get the right ufas and trade for certain type of players we cant get ufa or have 10 yrs to wait and draft for.
We do need more good players and the right kind of mix, but if we donot change half or more of the organization, were just spinning the wheels in the mud with no maxtrax.
GUS is on a flight to TAMPA. Not confirmed what we got in return. Hopefully we get something. Could be a good pick for Tampa. Can see him slot in nicely…
In the off season I would take a look at these players without paying outrageous prices.
Hall for 4yrs @ 8mil
Toffoli 4yrs @ 5.5mil
Vessey 3yrs @ 3mil
Gudas 3yrs @3mil
Nosek 3yrs @3mil
Haula 3yrs @ 4mil
Krieder 3yrs@ 7mil
Fast 4yrs @ 4mil
Galchenyuk 4yrs @ 5mil
Martin 2yrs @ 3mil
Shore 3yrs @ 1.5mil
Simmonds 1yr @2.5mil
Markstrom 3yrs @ 7mil
Can you believe it? Hull says to keep Strome after repeatedly saying he can’t skate. I agree he is a poor skater and can’t cover. Have been saying to trade him for an early to mid 2nd rounder. Everyone should be under consideration if the price is right, except 88, 19, 77, and 8.
Use the tdl to bring in assets from teams going all-in. Need to make up for the lost picks from the GM’s dumb trade for Shaw.