Blackhawks Run Away From Coyotes
The Blackhawks faced Niklas Hjalmarsson as an opponent for the first time on Saturday night, visiting the Coyotes in Arizona. The homecoming wasn’t as emotional for Connor Murphy.
There wasn’t much 5-on-5 play in the opening 20 minutes because of a parade to the penalty box by both teams. Christian Fischer’s second of the year at 7:47 came at even strength but then things went off the rails quickly.
Kevin Connauton went to the box at 8:24 into the first and Chicago responded quickly. Richard Panik scored his fifth of the season off assists from Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews to tie the game 24 seconds into the power play – and 61 seconds after the Fischer goal.
After the Panik goal the Blackhawks started taking turns in the penalty box. At 11:10 Tommy Wingels was called for interference and Lance Bouma got caught hooking. The two simultaneous penalties put the Blackhawks down two men for two full minutes, a matter that was complicated even further when Jan Rutta was called for high-sticking 33 seconds later.
Rutta couldn’t start serving his penalty until the other two came to a conclusion (which, thankfully happened without Arizona scoring). Eight seconds after Wingels and Bouma left the penalty box, Seabrook went away for slashing. Thankfully for Chicago Max Domi was sent off at 12:55 for tripping.
When the dust settled from an ugly first period, the score was tied at one and Arizona held an 11-10 shot advantage. But during their extended two-man advantage, the Coyotes only managed one shot on net.
At 11:32 into the second, Toews sprung Patrick Kane and 88 converted for his fourth of the season.
With his second assist of the night, Toews now has two multi-point games in nine contests to start the new season.
Domi was called for the only penalty of the second period, giving Tommy Wingels a penalty shot at 17:24. It appeared that Wingels had scored to give Chicago a 3-1 lead, but it was ruled that Louis Domingue had touched the puck before Wingels got the shot off which wiped the goal off the board.
The Hawks held the lead for almost seven minutes until Clayton Keller found a loose puck on the doorstep and beat Corey Crawford for his sixth already this year.
Arizona held onto a 21-19 shot advantage through 40 minutes of action.
It took more than ten minutes for someone to go to the box in the third, but Panik tripped Keller at 10:04 and took a seat. The Hawks successfully killed this penalty but Arizona got two(!) shots on net during this two minute advantage.
With 4:24 left in regulation, the Hawks had their fourth line on the ice and they made an impact. Duncan Keith put a shot on net that bounced off a couple bodies and ended up to the side of the cage. Lance Bouma found the loose puck and put home his first goal in a Chicago jersey to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead late in the third.
With a minute to go and Domingue on the bench for the extra attacker, Wingels scored a goal they couldn’t take away and the Blackhawks took a 4-2 lead.
Wingles finished the night with a goal and an assist and led the Hawks with four hits while winning four of nine faceoffs.
Domi took a run at Ryan Hartman with 20 seconds left and was whistled for his third penalty of the night. Murphy didn’t appreciate his former teammate leaving his feet to take a cheap shot late in a loss and went after Domi, which earned him a sticktap on the ass from Toews as he left the ice for the showers with 16 seconds left in regulation.
Keith had two assists in the game and Bouma added an assist on Wingels’ empty net goal to give him two points in the game as well. Gustav Forsling led Chicago with four blocked shots in the game.
Crawford improved to 5-2-0 on the season with his 27-save performance.
Hjalmarsson blocked four shots in 22:05 for Arizona.
I wouldn’t say the Hawks “Ran away” from the Coyotes. More like snuck away, but they did get the two points.
Seems like only the Hawks are skilled enough to get two penalties at once – I’ve never seen it called on anyone else. 4th line was excellent – love the physicality that they bring. 3rd line was invisible.
The grit has been missing from Chicago hockey for the last two years. They had one or two guys doing all the hitting. Tootoo, despite alleged fans constantly on his case. This year, we have a lot of players who can bring the hits. This is the stuff that wins Stanley Cup’s. Speed, finesse, and grit. I love this brand of Blackhaws hockey.
How Bou dat
Sorry.
fourth line was great tonight, i‘d like to see 20-19-72 at some point!
sorry…20-19-12 of course
Tab, thank you for the summary.
It was AZ, but it’s a W and 2 pts. Agree with everyone (above) – the 4th line played really well. If they can keep this going, it could be a great thing – like the Islanders line of Matt Martin, Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas a few years ago(?).
Unfortunately, faceoffs are still a problem. I have no idea how they might fix this. (Vermette is gone…)
Things aren’t too bad — GO HAWKS!!
There are some who refuse to believe the Hawks suffered from the “Tommy Lysiak” effect where NHL officials unfairly called penalties on the Hawks to avenge Lysiak’s treatment of an NHL official. Whether it was league office mandated, or more likely, subconscious acts by individual officials, it went on for years. I bring this up now because some of the “Situation Room” decisions seem eerily familiar. Course, back then there wasn’t a Situation Room equipped with all the visual evidence needed to make the right call a very high percentage of the time, but now even with all the visual evidence at their disposal it seems the benefit of the doubt is more often than not going against the Hawks … either that or the Hawks are finding nuances within the rule book heretofore never seen before. I don’t know, it’s probably just me being paranoid.
ER, as a fan, it is natural to think your team gets the short end. BUT, the crap that the Blues got away with was incredible. I thought Hartman was especially victimized on what should have been a game misconducts……not once but twice in that game.
Not exactly dominant against a winless team.
At some point I would like to also see DCat play with 8/88 for a few games…
12 continues to set up 1-3 grade A chances… but line mates have no finish
And Hartman- excluding 1st game- has seemed to miss most of his chances
Plus- Dcat- way better set-up guy for Kane… Cat is closest thing to 72 as far as vision/and ability to hold puck… he is being wasted with 10/AA- imo
Rockford-
Hogs continue to play well… beat AHL champs Friday, and Milwaukee Sat.
Kampf and Hino and with a couple of goals… Highmore looked good on Friday nite
Hope they continue to play well…
A line with Hartman/Kampf/Hino would be a great 3rd line
Finally saw a PP worse than Hawks
Ebony – agree re: Lysiak theory as it applies to video review lately.
I have to admit, compared to Tootoo & Desjardins, Wingels & Bouma are the second coming of Trottier & Bossy.
Toews had another good game and had 2 assist…Captain has a great start if we compare to last 2 years .
Where is Schmaltz ??
What happend to him ?
There are a crap load of penalties being called. However, it seems as if the huge number of slashing calls has diminished in the Blackhawks games once the first 2-3 regular season games got out of the way. I wonder if teams are adjusting, or if the referees are scaling it back?
It looks like the faceoff infractions and guys being kicked out of the circle is still being taken pretty seriously.
Wall, I will agree with you on Debrincat with Kane.
Schmaltz had a good game. His back checking and ability to pick the puck off from behind is uncanny. The leak link on the line is Hartman. But what he brings does open up space. Not writing him off. But I’d like to see what 12-8-88 can do.
Demo.. This is what the NHL wants parity accross the league. The Preds lost to a pathetic Rangers club and St.louis lost to Vegas, any team can beat any other on a given night. No teams can play 100% for 82 games.
Faceoff infractions are pretty ridiculous. They’re gonna nitpick that but let Kassian go? Alright.
Watch the faceoffs. The linesmen are very slow initially to drop the puck. Yet the second time around…it’s almost instantaneous. Drop the damn puck
Schmaltz– I think he was fine… BUT- for sure has “slowed” down his attack/skating thru traffic… He did have one BURST that led to Grade A set-up for Hartman- who shot it into goalies chest… Good news- it is not Physical for Schmaltz– Cuz he blew by that D guy to create that 2 on 1… 8 is just trying to slowly acclimate himself again… after getting killed in first 2 games of year…
Hartman- is a good 3rd wheel… but would be better served on 3rd/4th lines versus lower comp… at the end of day- DCat – is way better passer/vision/IQ and would make 2nd line/Kane way better – IMO- especially if Schmaltz – is going to play in 4th gear instead of 5th gear (Not knocking Schmaltz- just saying kid has to Learn when to fly/and when to back off- before he ends up in Dark room)
AA- looks lost out there
Forsling- I was really worried/scared to see the kid play based on Pre-season…
Kid- has greatly improved… I hope Q starts to give Forsling some PP time… Kid has one of better shots from point- and was a Star- in U-20 cup from the point…
Tab- please defend that “Brain cramp” play by Seabrook- who had easy clear on PK- but chose to shoot back at Crow… A Physical mistake- yes– But worse Mental mistake!!!
Kampf- Is faster/Younger/ capable AA replacement for 1/5th the Capo hit…
Me hopes SB – can make AA go away- sooner than later- but he is playing so Meh-
I don’t know if there will be any takers… better at FO’s too
Iceman, I didn’t intend to imply the calls going against the Hawks lately are in anyway related to the Lysiak incident – that was so long ago I can’t imagine there being any connection today. Most likely it’s just me seeing things as a Hawks fan that aren’t really there. However, if there is some bias against the Hawks I would say it may be that some people think the Hawks caught a couple breaks along the way, such as Kane’s broken collar bone that allowed TDL pickups and then Kane coming back for Game#1 of the playoffs, and then recently the Hossa LTIR thing. As Hawks fans we know those are legitimate but I’d be surprised if some people don’t have their nose out of joint because of those things.
The 4th line has been the topic of many discussions lately and many would like to see Hinostroza of someone else tried there to generate more offense. Others don’t agree with the supposed need to keep a “tough guy” like Bouma in the lineup. I don’t disagree with either of those positions. However, last night the 17-57-40 line had a good game and I mean aside from getting 2 goals. We may not see the 4th line get 2 goals in another game all season, but they played their role well last night and that is what we need from our 4th line. Wingels is the better option over Kero at 4C and if that line can consistently play as it did last night (i.e. disruptive with lots of o-zone time), then the 4th line is no longer a problem.
Wall mentioned the Hogs win over Grand Rapids and then Milwaukee and Kampf, Highmore and Hinostroza are looking good. Some of the other guys are playing well too, such as Dauphin and Louis who each have 5 points in the first 5 games.
A couple other prospects with good starts to their season:
Sikura leads college hockey with 6 goals and 6 assists in Northeastern’s first 5 games.
Jokiharju has 5 goals and 9 assists in WHL/Portland’s first 11 games.
Wall – Agree that Forsling has been a pleasant surprise with his steady play. It seems that he has been instructed to focus on D as he has had little involvement in the offense. He definitely got stronger over the summer and while I expect ups and downs this year I like his long-term potential.
You can’t put Hinostroza on that 4th line. It does him no good in development. And he lacks the size necessary to be effective in Q’s 4th line role. He wants that line heavy, physical, and we saw all members on the PK.
Hinostroza is prime trade bait. Not because he’s not a useful player to have. But because others fill roles better.
I will add to Wall’s comment on Seabrook’s blunder. What made it worse was that after the horrible pass he stood there motionless for a couple of seconds. Most would be on a bus to Rockford for that.
I see Vegas will be without Fleury and Subban. Trade one of our goalies for SHEA THEODORE!!!!
Kampf has played 5 games. More Time is needed before it’s time to guarantee him ice with the big club. Is he even playing center in Rockford? I’d sooner see what Dauphin has first.
Seabrooks pass wasn’t a mental error. He missed his spot by 3 feet. If that puck is going the other direction it’s a non issue.
It’s funny, I watch these games thinking…wonder how wall is going to spin that. Completely blind to anything good that a few do.
Amazing how the game seemed pretty even back and forth and with 10 minutes left all of a sudden our Hawks just simply took over.
The Wingels penalty shot was a goal. If that had been Corey Crawford, they would not have reviewed it. Also the Wingels penalty to put the Hawks two men down was a clean a hockey as you will see. Later in the game Hayden got cross checked and boarded from behind. Nothing called. A very dangerous hit.
Good road win. Big picture = 5-2-1
This 8 defenseman thing is going to lead to some grumbling at some point. Remember that Kempny’s agent said he re upped with the Hawks after receiving assurances that he would be playing a bigger role this year. Also, Franson chose a PTO with the Hawks over other teams that offered a contract. Neither can be happy sitting.
8 is a crowd especially when each is a legitimate NHL top 6.
Craig, we’ve already seen the grumbling and speculation. People think Murphy could get traded and Q doesn’t like him because he was scratched. He was scratched because Franson needed to play. Had they known Rutta was going to be an NHL caliber demand out of the gate, much less a top 3…that phone call to Franson wouldn’t have happened.
Kempny was an RFA so he couldn’t just sign anywhere. It was NHL or Europe. His game has really calmed down. For better or worse. We don’t see him going for the big hit or pinching in the o-zone.
8D is usually not a problem. But that’s when there’s a distinct 5,6,7,8. They have 3 5/6 guys and 1 6/7 guy.
So what do they do. Do they stand pat at 8D or do they try to trade 1 with Hinostroza for someone else to play along side Kane?
8 Dman, that can play. Good problem to have. We want that every time.
Like the 4th line having the same type players, that makes each other better by playing the style/way. Like the 1st, same thing. 12 might make 2nd line better and 38 might make 3rd line better. Its better though for awhile to have those lines the way they are to get into the flow and for the 19old guy to see up close 10 and 15 play like true pros. Then when were into the flow and have dozens and dozens of games and team has settled in, that’s when you do 12/8/88 and 10/15/38.
Lets go now.
I agree wall, Hartman good 3rd line guy. For this reason, we need Saad to play with 8 and 88. Thius would give Kane a big winger like in 2015, 2013, 2010!!! Sharp looks healthy thus bump him up either on right wing or left wing with Toews and Panik, giving this line a shooter. Or else, they all become too predictable cycling in corners, chasing, dumping, etc..
Which leaves us and Coach Q to build a young 3rd line with Hartman on the right, either AA or Hinostroza, then maybe give Jurco a shot or Hayden. I porefer a left shot playing left wing.
Then, your 4th line can be DAUPHIN at centre with Wingels and Bouma .
MS, that’s why I get pissed at refs and league at times, even though your not allowed to talk about refs/calls, they do/have screwed us many more times then other team and it does not even out, ever. Maybe it does for most teams, and were not most teams.
I cannot remember how many times its been since 2010, I would say just like ratio of bullshit instant replay calls that are wrong and they go for other team, the letting the other team get away with a 2nd penalty just because their already getting on/or on one is about the same ratio. A ratio of 10-1 sounds about right for how many times it goes to other team compared to us.
Though when we do it, they call it and we are ok with it because we did do it. When its the other team they act like their suppose to get away with it, because they do regularly and looked shocked when they actually get called for it.
I like to see the other top teams/and teams that have won the Cup have to play with that like we do every yr. its not just the other team playing their best against us because were a dynasty team. Its the refs/league/instant joksters
Totti’s lines
10-19-14
20-8-88
Hayden/Jurco-15-38
17-Dauphin-57
Absent? Debrincat and Kero. He’d rather have Jurco and Dauphin. Dauphin….fine. Jurco over Debrincat….absolutely fucking not.
Top line will not be changing. So that’s not happening. Stop bringing it up. Switching 12 and 38 will happen at some point…because it’s Q. How permanent it would be…who knows. 3rd line is then 10/15/38…No complaints. I hope they trade Jurco so I don’t have to hear about him anymore.
Q has said the first guy up will be Hinostroza. Position dependant. But they’ve already had an injury in Schmaltz and decided it wasn’t going to be the 7 day ir minimum. They’re at the max with 23 on the roster.
I rather have Vinny Hinostroza (4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points) play at centre, call up Jurco (6 points and a natural left winger with size, skill and speed). When Vinnyn played centre lasy year during Toews absence you saw his potential playing with big wingers.
Nothing wrong with Debrincat going to AHL. We all know Vinny had a great camp and should have been on this team. Debrincat is a rookie who needs some seasoning but I guess Bowman and the HAWKS need some extra hype to get people like you excited about the season. Vinny deserves to be here. Debrincat is young and talented and can work on his dzone game. Any other player who coughs up the puck in his own zone that much would have been in Coach Q’s dog house, not the cat for some reason? As I said, talented play but a little soft and slow. Great hockey IQ though.
Dauphin has 5 points…. Doing well and eventually can be a 4th line centre. Kempf also having some success.
For know, we have AA who can play both 3rd or 4th line centre but at that price, he is a little over paid. Good trade bait at some point??? Maybe…cheers
The Hawks don’t need to sell tickets. There’s a 10 year waiting list for season tickets. Try to keep the ignorance to a minimum. He’s here because he’s better. What I saw of Hinostroza last year was great pace. He’s a helluva skater. But fumbled the puck far too often. His feet move faster than his hands. It works when competition is slower and you have space. It didn’t work here. I’m not saying he can’t. But that Debrincat looked like one of the better players last night. Something that was never said last year with Hinostroza. He had 14 points in 49 games.
You’re also the first one that characterized Debrincat as “soft”. He is unafraid to go up against guys that have 60 pounds on him. I guess you conveniently forgot his hit on Ian Cole.
Lastly, good article on the athletic on the Sikura’s family. The Sikura’s grandfather came to Toronto from Czechoslovakia. This was in the Mikita Era so he became a Hawks fan. Fandom that was passed down 2 generations to Dylan and Tyler. Some peace of mind for the Hawks on the leading NCAA scorer.
Ogie- Kampf is playing Center in Rock… I was at game friday nite…
Looked like he was winning more draws than losing…
Seabrook- pass- Seabs had plenty of time to clear that puck down ice… that would have been higher % play in my book!
You are in denial- if You don’t think 7’s contract is a stinker
…..maybe now the Blackhawks will become more efficient to kill penalties…they seemed to play to avoid penalties for a few years now and were consistently bashed and outhit every game without being able to take advantage of their powerplay..lol…love the more physical brand of hockey a traditional Canadian style of play….not sure if power play is improving either this season but both have been awful….
The phrase “so and so needs more seasoning” is too easily thrown around without qualification as a justification to send someone down to the AHL. Sometimes it may be true but it would be helpful to understand exactly what part of a players game is this so-called seasoning supposed to improve? Sometimes this idea of more seasoning is because the player seems unprepared for the speed of the NHL, or maybe the physicality. What exactly in DeBrincat’s game needs more seasoning? He’s certainly not wowed by the speed or cowed by the physicality. He makes plays in every game in all three zones that prove he is ready to play in the NHL. He would have more points if Anisimov and fumbled away prime scoring chances DeBricat set on a tee for him. I can’t think of one reason DeBrincat should be sent to Rockford … although I’m open to hearing other opinions.
Line change. Hence the drop. Let it go.
This is like the flyers fans booing Andrew MacDonald opening night. Hate the contract not the player. Is it rich. Yes. But… If you let him go UFA he gets that same money. And you have a massive hole. On a nightly basis, him being on the team right now helps more than it hurts. When the deal needs to go away…it will go away. It’s not that time yet.
Ogie- – when the deal needs to go away… like Bickell’s deal… at what cost???
TT- yes- the kid was soft… but skilled and High IQ hockey player… with terrible possession/board skills… what is kind of ironic… Hawks are transforming their team more to his style… Move the puck quickly – to open space – and less three man cycle- with no shots.
Cost- of missed Cap space- to sign another player- who could actually make a difference
Bickell had no value. Seabrook does. Hossa’s deal went away and it cost what? nothing. This deal while rich, isnt an albatross. Seabrook’s deal is cheaper and shorter than Shea Weber’s.
Teravainen has 2 goals in 6 games. He would have been lost to expansion and his deal would have been up. They got an asset back in the Bickell deal. The Hawks correctly identified him for what he is while everyone in the league was still high on him, That’s one thing the Hawks have been great at. They’re never too high on their own prospects. Clendening for Forsling is another.
I’d be interested to see what your team would look like if you went back 3/4 years. We all know you wouldnt have signed 7…or 19…or 50. So who would you have signed instead and for what cost? Throw out an idea besides Seabrook is overpaid. Toews is injured. what would Wall as GM have done the last 3 summers
I think we need to remind ourselves why Chicago lost in the first round of the playoffs the last two years but especially against the Preds. We do not have the size and speed we once had on each line. I like what is going on I Rockford. There seems to be lots of size and speed being groomed there.
Vortex- agree on Jurco… he skates well – but doesn’t have the strength to finish anything at NHL level… Only should be used as a “checker”… kid goes to the right places… just no finish
Even though a 3rd pick, it wasn’t a waste because we got a free 3rd pick by drafting up/down a few spots and still got the same player we wanted.
I donot think Jurco or Rundy were worth a 3rd and a 2nd. Bowman also has made brilliant moves like Clendening for Forsling and my favorite Morin for Panik. Bowman, you stallion you.
Going forward motto, tackle and go fast players, for farm and 23man.
Agree on Jurco. Good luck convincing Totti. More dense than the lead paint chips he gnawed off his crib.
Wow, I guess maturity is not part of your commentary. Team barely got out of Arizona, and you think Debrincat is the next Panarin???
Panik is no Hossa or Sharp, so what does that make the HAWKS, stronger than the past? And Debrincat? Seriously? We all love the kid’s IQ, but really? I hope he has a great career but you honestly think he can survive the playoffs???
And to give Bowman genuis status for Clendening for Forsling? Panik for Morin? And to always give him a pass for awful trades because of CAP issues that he always creates with bonuses and crazy contracts, then you need to remember DENIAL ain’t just a river in EGYPT!!!
Danualt for who?
Leddy for who?
Teuvo for who?
Sharp and Johns for who?
Daley for who?
And who drafted McNeil?
Contracts to AA, ROZY and Tootoo?
Move on.
On a brighter note, 10 19 14
20 8 88
13 47 38
17 15 40
Prediction: Bowman will trade AA to one of 3 teams, Carolina, Montreal or Winnipeg (always the same dancing partners) and get nothing in return.
Get well soon EDZO!!!
…..oh yeah, not to mention last year we played with KERO and KRUGER as our number 3 and 4 centre??? You mean Vinny could not have played ahead of Kero? Then our GM handcuffs himself by signing his free agent college kid. Why? Depth? Really? Coach Q has a conservative side at times especially when it comes to rookies playing centre. Then, a washed up veteran like Wingels shows up and becomes our 4th line centre because he’s from our hometown and responisble. THEODORE for DeBRINCAT!
I also think some trades, like the pick we trade with, has more to do with just that particular trade. Like the 2nd for Rundy, nothing against Rundy, as I think that helped us get 80 instead of other teams that offered same/more. We kind of paid our dues/or more like good trade relations.
Good trade relations are more then whats in just one trade, people think we overpaid or got hosed/salary cap dump for certain trades/and it does look like sometimes, what it is/part of is another trade, the real future considerations.
I’ve been critical on some of the moves Bowman made. I was critical of the 19/88 extensions. Mainly due to the notion that the cap was expected to jump. It didn’t. Tab bitched me out. Then the Canadian dollar tanked. I was critical of the 29 extension when not many were. He was paid for 1 playoff performance. A mandate was allegedly put on Bowman by McD to sign him. I was critical of the trade for Ladd, because at the time I liked Dano. Everyone seemed on board with that… and then all was silent when they got bounced. The Fleischmann/Weiss trade I didn’t like either. Mainly because Weiss was having a career year at the halfway point then came back to reality. Deadline deals rarely work. It takes time to build chemistry. Look at what happened in Minnesota last year. Lots of people thought that would put them over the edge. It wrecked team chemistry. And that allowed the Hawks to win the central.
Do not put words in my mouth. I never said Debrincat is the next Panarin. Different player. Different style. Different strengths. Different weaknesses.
If you fail to understand why Bowman got what he got for salary dumps, I can do nothing for you. You just don’t get how this whole leverage thing works. It’s funny though. You say we got nothing for Sharp and Johns… then say we got nothing for Daley…who came back in the Sharp/Johns deal. Stan wanted Roussel and Nill wasn’t having it.
You want Tallon Back? Fine…take Kyle Beach, Dylan Olsen, Akim Aliu, Igor Makarov, Shawne Lalonde, and Brandon Pirri with you.
There’s going to be blood in my stool later after mentioning some of those names. Apologies for mentioning KB. Not the good KB that wears blue on the north side either….
So … Tomas Jurco in and Alex DeBrincat out eh? Mercy!
Just to review: Tomas Jurco played 16 games for Detroit last season and scored ZERO points. Then he was traded traded to the Hawks where he played 13 games and scored ONE point … so that’s 29 NHL games for a grand total of 1 point. And that’s after playing parts of 3 other seasons in the NHL. In other words he wasn’t a 19 year old rookie last season like DeBrincat is this season. Meanwhile, DeBrincat has 4 times the amount of points in 1/3 the number of games and would surely have at least a couple more points if he wasn’t playing with Anisimov who somehow managed to lose the ability to use his stick blade to contact the puck in a shooting motion over the summer.
I liked getting those fws to make team stronger, I really did not like trading 24 since I always liked him from when we drafted him. Same as 86, I saw in Lake Placid and talked to Bowman there in summer of 12 about Teravainen. I thought it was a huge mistake when we traded 20 because of cap and I flipped out for awhile.
Nothing against Pararin, I like him, the make up of the team, 13fw/8d/2g was not good for playoffs style in 16/17 as it was 13/14/15 and 09/10 like 11/12. Thing is it wasn’t Bowmans or anyones fault though, you have to not keep everybody you want to when salary cap bottle neck. We were as loaded as we were those yrs, and will be again, then you cant keep it. The good thing is we keep reloading.
Bowmans not perfect, I think hes really good and wouldn’t want anyone else, sae for Coach Q. What I like is when we realize/or need to do something/correct something we do. When we suck like we did, and we had a good roster, thens theres no fucking around with stuff. I saw it in 12 and in recently 17.
Got good young guys coming/fast like other teams having speed because of younger guys. So as our younger guys get better each yr and during the 82 games were looking good going forward to having a deep roster again, and this time with speed and tackle ability.
The salary cap should nutter the teams that have a lot of good young players when they get contracts, so it will balance the scales for those teams, other top teams in recent yrs are not as good, and that’s where we will get better with another wave of younger guys. Also huge that we get good/very good fa from Europe for free. Huge.
“You mean Vinny could not have played ahead of Kero?”
Hinostroza played more games and had fewer points than Kero did last year. Kero was also +15. Hinostroza -1.
So there’s that…
I’m still waiting to try whatever it is that TOTTI is on when he comments… he appears to be having a much better time than many of us.
Paint chips.
It looks like Debrincat is here to stay for awhile and other than injuries or going to 8 D Hino staying in Rfd for now.
My biggest concern is getting the young Dmen 5.6, 42 & 44 to be more aggresive on the blueline and not let opposing carry the puck in so easy. This leads to alot of easy possession and shot attempts by the other teams.
My biggest concern outside of the blueline is the Hawks matching up against bigger tougher teams. They have already shown poorly against the Preds, Wild and Blues albeit a small sample. I’ll be curious to see how they play against the Flames, Kings and Sharks. Years past the Hawks could defeat them through their puck possession and cycle game. That has fallen flat over the last few years, which is why the Hawks have yielded way way too many shots. This team may be a contender by default but isn’t without many flaws.
This team has a lot of young players that need to learn the game at the NHL level. Their learning will only come with experience and making mistakes. If we as fans have to accept those mistakes, then that’s what we have to do. Those who don’t want to watch, turn the channel and watch another team. We’ll see how this year goes with the youth movement.
If you remember 2015 the Ducks getting about 50 shots a game and going stretches of the game where they outshot the Blackhawks 17-0 . That was a cup year and conference final and possession game looked to be in disarray, if they can limit the quality of opportunities they have shown they can withstand the quantity and be successful. Thats where being more aggressive on the blueline can be key not allowing quality attempts to happen to easy.
I wouldn’t go by anything from those games/maybe like first 2 as well, when we play those teams again I would imagine the sch. is normal/more normal then it was then and teams are up to speed. Theres too much hot/cold in the first 10 games by top and bottom 10 teams to look into too much.
I agree with what your saying and will be interested in how we look when we play those teams the coming couple/few times, sample size. Thing is we havnt been playing the exact way we are now/new look for yrs, those teams ar playing same way they have for yrs and could prob do it blindfolded.
Once we get more used to our new style and the lines gel, then we will see how good we are and how we match up against the bigger and physical teams. We know we are much faster then the recent couple yrs. Roles, lines, system, style are new/er and fresh.
Doing/playing good recent yr, I would expect teams like EDM/DAL to not do as good at first because every team is going to play a harder game against them now since they became good last yr. This happened with DAL/NAS and others the last few yrs. The yr those two teams had a really good record/30 over .500 I knew they would do as good the yr after.
Same thing for teams that are good and had rough yr/or bad stretch, like MIN/LA those kind of teams are out and taking names.
I havnt looked at any of those teams sch. to see which ones are getting helped and which ones are being screwed with for sections of their 82 games. Like to see who has the most back to back and more then 1or2 days off between games.
EDM not EDM/DAL.
SSHM- agree on Hawks versus Big boys… and Bouma/Wingels are bigger than kids at Rock (at least most)… Bouma/Wingels still ain’t gonna get it done versus The BIG D guys like the Blues have… that is why -imo- the Hawks should just go Faster/younger… with guys like Kampf/Knott/ Highmore (who actually have a little size- But are all Plus skaters with Hunger and a little finish)… yes- they need some maturing – in Rock
Friday- I saw Kampf make a terrible TO- on just a dumb play- But me hopes – in 20-40 games on Hog Farm… one or two of these kids are ready for call up
Hino- is another faster option- no size… but if he skated with right combo (AA/Hartman or Hayden/Hartman) who knows… Hino has had decent chemistry with Hartman in past….
Lastly- Sikura – is tearing up NCAA so far- and was best player in Camp ( way better than DCat)… But thin as a pencil… his skating- is Leddy/Kane like… can he avoid the big hit like Kane??? If he can- guy is gonna be a stud… but if not- still good- but kinda like Schmaltz after 2 big hits this year… a little more tentative
to Wall’s comment – Sikura & Dennis Gilbert are a couple NCAA prospects who could be on the ice in Chicago in late March/early April this year like Hayden was last year. There’s a lot to like in both.
Sikura has put on 13 pounds the last few months. He’s trying. Gilbert hits like a freight train.
Kane can’t touch Leddy as far as speed. I don’t think those two are that similar. Leddy and Schmaltz are more alike.
Prior to Hayden signing Tab disagreed with me that the Hawks could burn that first year and he referenced a reluctance for them to do so in years past. I countered with them burning the first year on Paliotta’s deal. I still think that was done as a means to sign him and assure him he’d be moved to a team lacking depth and avoid a still fresh Kevin Hayes repeat.
With Sikura and Gilbert, I don’t think they have to worry about that. Sikura grew up a Hawks fan. Gilbert grew up in Buffalo, but did play a year with the Chicago Steel. With the Sabres still suckling hard, I don’t think he’d go to the hometown team. He only has 1 goal in 5 games and missed the last game. He still has 1 year of eligibility left, so he doesn’t have to sign this year.
Dylan Sikura is having a great start to the season. He has 6 goals and 6 assists through the first 5 games for a 2.40 ppg average. The NCAA scoring leader last year had 63 points in 38 games for a 1.66 ppg (Sikura was 6th with 57 points in 38 games for a 1.50 ppg). Now, it’s only 5 games but so far – WOW!
I like these good reports. These guys are as good as they could be in 12mths/to play 40-80 games wise, would we go with 4 fast scoring lines where two of them can check. What would the lines look like, possibly here? Are these guys better or same as 64, as he was good at goals/pts.
Thank God tatonka sucks hard.
So you’re watching Debrincat play that first period tonight in Vegas? Was he actually there? Seriously…. he is not Brian Gionta nor Theo Fleury…. so what does he bring on that 3rd line??? NHL too much for him. That 3rd line is a wash….I repeat, Sharp is wasted there and HARTMAN is not a top 6 forward. Thus, SAAD who has been quiet for the last 4 games needs to play with KANE. Move Sharp alongside Toews and Panik because that line is too predictable with their dump, chase and cycle game. Prediction, another game where the HAWKS will be outshot on the road.
I woukld actuallu movce HAYDEN on right wing with TOEWS and PANIK on the left. Send your favourite Debrincat to AHL and have JURCO on the left with ANISIMOV and SHARP on the right side. SIZE and SPEED.
BTW, I understand, we all understand the cap issues every team has. GM’s are responsible for making decisions. The reality is BOWMAN gives you that end of the year press conference explaining why we need to make changes…..other teams have handled it much better, by not gutting their farm stsyem and also drafting much better. LOOK UP PENS and LA…..
I am still looking for Debrincat on the ice…
ALEX TUCH looks pretty good out there….size and speed to kill for VEGAS.
I agree, I like what the coaches are doing in Rockford. Players are playing their natural positions and playing with speed!!!
Good to see…
And, just a thought, is Richard Panik a 1st line player??? Not really… tells you where we are.
AA, Debrincat, Murphy, Knott for Evander Kane!!!!!!!!
Wow, Connor Murphy not one second on the ice to kill a 4 minute Vegas PP???
And on the ice for the 3rd goal, thx Stan!
Bash head against wall.
I think it is really just a question of lack of talent and depth. We do not have an elite top six at the forward position and an elite top 4 on defence. Kane will get to 75 points this year but it will be the toughest year in a long time. Toews remains a 50-60 point man. And then Saad will get to 50 as well, not more.
Unfortunately, we can all argue but we do not have the high end talent to carry us to the playoffs that we had in the past. Let’s hope we find something in Rockford in the near future.
Merci