Not So Golden: Hawks Comeback Comes Up Short
When many Blackhawks fans bought tickets to Friday night’s premiere of the Vegas Golden Knights at the United Center, undoubtedly the thought process was “we’ll see a first place team against one that’s struggling/in last place.” Not many expected that to be true – with the Hawks playing the role of the last place team.
Vegas came into Chicago after losing in St. Louis on Thursday. The Blackhawks hadn’t played on home ice in 18 days. Malcolm Subban got the call between the pipes for the visitors and Jeff Glass was back in the blue paint for Chicago. The only real lineup surprise from either side was a late scratch of Ryan Hartman; Richard Panik took his place even though Hartman took part in the morning skate.
Anyone hoping for the Knights to come in tired haven’t watched them play much this year. They blitzed the Blackhawks and absolutely dominated the first 18 minutes of the game. Alex Tuch gave Vegas a 1-0 lead at 4:44 and Jonathan Marchessault extended the lead to two 11 minutes later. Everything was pointing to a potential blowout loss for the Hawks.
But over the final couple minutes of the first the Blackhawks found their legs and started to generate some pressure. And at 18:01 Vinnie Hinostroza started what would be a big offensive night with his third goal of the season.
Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews picked up the assists on their linemate’s goal, and the Hawks had a little momentum going into the second period.
Vegas held a 21-10 shot advantage after 20 minutes. If not for Glass playing another strong period, the Hawks could have easily been chasing two or three more.
William Karlsson, who has been one of the stars of the first half of the NHL season, scored his 21st of the season at 5:54 into the second to push the Vegas lead back to two. But in the middle of the second period the Hawks put some tremendous pressure on Subban.
After a few terrific shifts in a row, Patrick Sharp scored for the second straight game to cut the lead back to one.
Panik picked up an assist on the Sharp goal, his first point in what feels like a couple years.
It took more than 11 minutes for either team to get on the board again but it was once again Hinostroza creating. This time, Nick Schmaltz was the recipient of a perfect saucer pass and he took care of the business end to tie the game.
Schmaltz’s ninth of the season gave Hinostroza and Saad two-point nights each.
Vegas outshot the Hawks 14-13 in the second period; Glass stopped 32 of 35 in 40 minutes.
The Blackhawks felt pretty good after Schmaltz’s goal in the final minute of the second and came out firing to start the third. Toews scored his 12th of the year 30 seconds into the third to give the Blackhawks a 4-3 lead.
Hinostroza picked up his second assist and third point of the night on the Toews’ goal.
Vegas isn’t leading the Western Conference for nothing, and they came back strong after the Toews’ goal. Cody Eakin tied the game at four five minutes later and Reilly Smith gave the lead back to Vegas at 13:53 into the third.
Glass went to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:54 left in the third period as the Hawks desperately tried to tie the game. Vegas’ defense kept the puck outside of the circles for most of the final couple minutes and the Blackhawks saw another comeback wasted in a regulation loss.
Toews had another strong night, winning 13 of 17 faceoffs with his two points and four shots on net. Saad had two assists and Hinostroza led Chicago with three points.
Panik played the game he needs to if he wants to stick in the lineup. He led the Hawks with six hits, blocked one shot and got himself to the front of the net consistently.
Gustav Forsling led the Blackhawks with five shots on net. Jordan Oesterle led Chicago with two blocked shots.
Glass did his best to hold the fort but the shots – and quality chances – were simply too many. He made 38 saves in the loss, his first appearance on United Center ice.
We were a little sloppy. Again though we came back in a game down 2 or 3 goals to tie or lead 3-0 CAL and 2-0/3-1 here.
They tied it at 4 right after the non 5 min ejection call for slew foot and guy hit back of head on ice. Refs have to make that non call changed the game.
Let the 5 min ejection penalty go and another boarding on 12 after that. One wrong call can be the difference in a game these were in this one.
Havnt talked about refs since the good job they did on the offsides in that MIN. or the cheap shot on 8 CLB.
We did good to get those 3 crap games back with a 2-0-1 to get our 5 game win streak back. Should have had a win or tie in this one. Now we need to settle in get this one back and then go on another run.
I can see a 7-2 streak coming.
Can anyone explain why our coaching staff has Murphy playing on the left side? We had 3 dmen who shoot left and it seems logical to pair them with 3 right handed shots? Murphy looks too slow ?
Happy to see Vinnie and Schmaultz performing so well. The Knghts play with lots of speed and we saw tonight how for real this team is. Relentless skating.
I think it might be time to sit Bouma and Wingels as well. They were overwhelmed by Vegas’s speed. Give other with speed a chance for a few games.
Cannot explain 5 on left side. Since hes been on left hes has played very well. Getting better as well.
Vegas is fast and relentless and structured and did I say fast and relentless. A very impressive team for one that has no quote-unquote superstars.
Yes, there was sloppy play and a few mistakes and it’s probably why they lost the game … but … I’m going to draw on some positive signs. Starting with the captain and his wingman – both Toews and Saad have played better and with more jump the last few games. Other than getting Crawford back, there isn’t anything more important for the Hawks success than Toews and Saad playing like they’re supposed to, which has been missing big time for most of this season.
Another positive is the play of Hinostroza – his speed makes a difference and now he’s having some offensive results. Same with Schmaltz – after the concussion in Game #2, it’s taken him a long time to get his play back up to 100% but he has done that over the past few weeks and it makes a difference.
Panik played well tonight – let’s hope he figures out how to do that consistently.
And Sharp – he always ran hot and cold streaky – so let’s hope this hot streak lasts for a while.
Vegas is for real.
The team fought for 60 minutes pretty much again. They climbed back up from 3-1 and it DOES suck to not see them get a point. But …. that was a pretty good hockey game against a really fast and impressive team. I’m not much one for the moral victories but I think the Blackhawks can take some positive things away from this one and we can too.
Go Blackhawks!!!!
Vegas plays how we ought to. Relentless is the perfect word. Also aggressive and risky. Very refreshing style of play in the modern system-and-trap NHL.
Ditto the positive notes above.
I’m really bummed that Murphy’s pinch is what led to the GWG. It was a bad pinch, but I hope the D don’t overcompensate and become too passive because overall we really seem to click when they jump in.
Wow. This one stings. 4 goals at home should win especially in an air tight race for a playoff spot.
Pretty much in any professional sport, you have to win your home games.
Once Toews scored, I really thought we’d lock it down much like against the Rangers.
Great to see Hinostroza and Schmaltz excelling offensively.
Sucks they lost but was a fun game to watch. Love the way Vegas plays.
Get them nest game boys.
April 22, 2017
“This was a tough, tough loss for us all to take,” Bowman said. “Standing here April 22 is not the way we expected our season to end. And it’s a complete failure when you measure it against the expectations that we have of ourselves. We did not come even close to reaching the standard we have set over the years here. And that’s not acceptable.”
Bowman declined to go into specifics on what changes he would make. Beyond Quenneville’s return, it sounded as if everything is on the table.
If Bowman wants to make big changes to the roster, he will have to get creative considering the Hawks have a significant amount of salary-cap space tied up in some big-money, long-term contracts — with most of those containing no-movement clauses.
Well Stan- nearing the half way mark we are dead last in the division ! I suffered in silence from 1961 until 2010…. looks like it’s going to re-occur!!
The forward lines seem to be jelling, getting AA back and maybe Sikura can help make them deeper. The defense that looked to be coming into their own seems to have faltered a bit, 5 and 7 had a rough night especially. Getting 50 back will be huge, Glass playing his heart out but the need for 5o is obvious.
The 2nd power play unit is thin with AA out but giving it to Franson to flip it in and having opponents D just slap it back out not getting it done. At least try a big slapper off the boards or something to get it going.
oh and bring up Tim Sunderland from the Swedish juniors- brilliant penalty killer AND scores short-handed goals by the buckets! Until Anisimov returns, put 40 centring 12 and 88! Big net presence and great corner guy!
And kill the Forsling experiment- it’s just NOT working- he’s brutal!
We commented on faceoffs here often just pointing out 2 goals last night followed lost faceoffs in defensive zone.
Travis-
not only did Murphy pinch on that goal but so to did Seabrook-both on the same play in a tie game?
With some next morning retrospect I too love the way Vegas plays-no stars, little ego–just a plan and execution. Relentless was a word used, and on the end of a back to back. So there is always hope but again who are the Hawks? (In every game you see both Jekyll and Hyde) Is that leadership, personnel, system, coaching-a combination?
19 great game by you!
Any word on Crow?
Hang in there 61 I get mad at games like this we deserved a win or tie even tough we need to be better with certain things. I get too much into sch and records but can see a pattern. That’s why I get angry when we should get win or tie and donot. Like the DAL DAL LA games we should have come out even not down 1 and this game even nit down 1 that’s 2 higher then 500 we should be at.
Interesting is that the teams at top of hardest division are still around 10 over as everybody else is now around 5 or so. Those teams donot go up to much you could have 7 teams very close for games 60-80. Not cool for 6th place team in hardest division has better record playing harder sch and doesn’t get in for a team with worse record and easier sch.
Can not overlook tazer and Saader coming on. We could be on the verge of having a really good 2nd 40. Have to remember how young some of our guys still are. Going to get better keep learning improving.
Ian did you notice on the faceoff before the icing goal the red slammed the puck down and it bounced off the ice able enough the stick before centers could react wtf.
Wow! Panik is back and Sharp can shoot again other spots than directly in a goalie’s crest I mean. And along with those incredible developments and I emphasize inceedible, Panik was not just good, he went from awful for like 15 games to excellent tonight. Hard working, looked fast, strong on the puck, and weirdest of all he looked confident in doing things with the puck. It’s really weird to see a guy struggling deeply for 15 games then suddenly making it look easy but Panik even did that one more notch. I mean it didn’t even seem like he was trying for 15 games so maybe we all need to give him a large apology as the most logical reason for such a dramatic difference in play is he was playing injured and pretty badly injured at that. Maybe back or pulled rib or intercostal muscles- the kind of injury that you can play with but every time you reach to do something you scream in pain and can’t do it. Maybe Saad was also playing with something because he suddenly doesn’t look super slow like he has for most of the last 15 games. Maybe blackhawks have been playing thru injuries more this year than previous years. I mean what else explains how for the first like 10 games Anisimov was deader than a doorknob, looked lost out there, even skating the wrong direction a few times before meekly handing the puck away. Very very different looking than the Anisimov that was leading the entire nhl in scoring for the early stretch last year. That Anisimov suddenly came back and for a month he was our best player save crawford culminating in his hattrick over his old nyr team. I hope he comes back like he was playing because with Kampf and Panik and Sharp and Hartman all playing near the top of their ability, we would suddenly have real depth in our forwards and add in Toews coming out of his slumber a bit and Kane still gearing up tp his high gear and we have potential to go on the kind of runs we will need to make the playoffs and even compete in them. The talent seems to be there. When the team executes and is all on board as they were for 45 mins tonight and for 55 mins against the nyr, the team starts to resemble past hawks teams (minus giving 40 plus shots a game which I think is not going to continue much longer). Forsling looked a bit more confident today, still rusty though. Give him 2 or 3 more games maybe against teams slower than vegas and edm and he will bring back the level he was reaching before losing his lineup spot. Hopefully Ruuta can do the same too if they keep refusing to actually let kempny play. Murphy is getting better by the week. Not his best tonight and not Schmaltz’s best tonight either but neither of those guys is our problem right now. They are on the upswing and still learning how to maximize their effectiveness with this team. Seabs had a tough one too and even Oesterle wásn’t as effective as he’s been lately. Give Vegas credit there but I think our D is well on the way to holding teams under 30 shots on a regular basis. Add crawford to that and a couple more pp markers, and we have a playoff team with a darkhorse chance at the cup. Dream on with me. One goal. Cup #4.
Mo it pisses me off on what seems to be very inconsistent discretion linesmen use on faceoffs. Not saying favoring one team over another but just seem all over the place sometimes.
Thats the spirit Reg.
Who in the world would want to buy a last place team.
I was simply baffled that the Hawks could come out so flat against a team that is leading the Western conference and has top down excellent skating skill. It was an assault by Las Vegas in the 1st that was something to see. The Hawks weren’t even remotely in the game until the last 2 minutes of the 1st. As stated by Tab and others this game easily could have been 3 or 4 to nothing after 1. There is simply no excuse to show up flat against a good team at home. Jeff Glass kept them in it, period. Hawks gave up, what 21-22 shots in the 1st. Brutal. Of course, it got better as the game went on, but going down by 2 goals against a really good team makes it very hard to come back and win. These slow starts by the Hawks have become a disturbing marker for this up and down season. Defensively last night the Hawks were just a hot mess. Seabs and Keith looked particularly unfocused in the 1st. Against a very fast Las Vegas team I am not sure why a slow footed Franson played over Kempny.
That said there indeed some positives. Toews line looking very good at last. The Cpt looks well motivated, Saad gaining some confidence(needs some goals), Vinny really fitting in well. Hinostroza had a notably great game last night. Schmaltz and Kane continue to put lots of pressure on opposition with their speed and deft passing. Forsling played better last night I thought, and that kid has a cannon shot when he cranks it up. Panik actually played with some real intensity last night. He has to bring that physicality EVERY time he plays. Sharp shooter finding the net at last.
This Hawks team is weird. It is as though they can’t find the clutch to shift to a higher gear, and then wham they find it and dominate puck possession. How to explain they basically skate the Rangers out of their own building and then come out and play like they’re drunk last night.
Yes, it turned out to be an entertaining game, but Hawks need points bad. Oil in tomorrow should be fast paced again. Need a win.
I am begging the Hawks to please stop with these stupid t shirt tosses right before pucks are getting ready to drop on face-offs. Zombie like fans are more interested in standing up waiting for a t shirt that ain’t coming their way and blocking the view of fans that actually want to watch a hockey game. Do the crappy t shirt toss at the beginning of a commercial break. How hard is this stuff?
BTW the ice at the UC looked much, much better last night because of the cold snap here in Chicago. Wish it was that way all the time, the ice I mean, not the frigid cold outside here…
Lets Go Hawks!
So the Hawks have 40 games under their belt. If my math is correct this is how the record looks:
First 10 games: 5 / 5
Second 10 games: 5 / 5
Third 10 games: 4 / 6
fourth 10 games: 5 / 5
So after the Vegas game I have come to the assumption that the Hawks, up until this point, are a 500 team. They sure play and look like it. So, if it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck and floats like a duck……………it’s not a Hawk.
Again, we talk about this ALL THE TIME, consistency is what is lacking on this team. Until the young guys can mesh with the old guys and we get some consistent production and consistent defensive efforts, we are a 500 team. Period.
Ya have to give some credit to Vegas as they are legitimate and quick but the Hawks should have won this game. The forwards had a great night, the D not so much and those pinches killed in the end. I agree with Mo on the slew foot but even more on the charge/hit from behind on 12 that was ridiculous. I was thinking great job NHL have your “little pet feel good story of the year team” a chance to come back in this game. I may be a bit bias as I missed the first period domination by Vegas but from second period until that bad pinch by 5 I thought the Hawks dominated
@Phil ^
I’m going to parrot my earlier posts of a couple of weeks ago, but you are right on Phil! Kill the damn T-Shirt toss and Zombie fans stay at home.
Earlier poster asked about Crawford’s return. TV Crew last night said it might be awhile beyond the minimum time (one week) for IR. This injury is listed as upper body, whereas his earlier trip to IR was due to hamstring/groin/leg issues. Wondering if he got dinged somehow and is the old concussion protocol.
Looking back this morning after last night’s game at least I’m seeing a trend of more effort. Gotta have the consistent back checking, though, and speed kills as Vegas showed. It’s kind of a coin toss as to which team we’ll see, but I’m hoping this trend continues.
Go Blackhawks!!!!
I like how the Toews line looked in the past three games. Toews looks like Toews, motivated and driven. Saad looks livelier too, though he seems to lack confidence in front of the net. I’d think it was the Hinostroza effect, except they (especially the Cap) looked very good on the 31st with Panik, too. Weird. I wonder if he played with injury and now he’s better…
On a less positive note, Kane and Debrincat don’t work on the same line. They were pushed around and completely outplayed last night. Kane needs a big guy on his line, not another tiny player.
Hello to all that will listen !!! I told all of u that knights are everything the hawks used to be ! Finally u got to see it again how they are Stanley cup ready ! Nobody in are conf will beat m 4 times and fluery wasn’t in Net ! Look at there players and cap. There coach has same look on his face as Q. GM did his home work ! And he’s now signing key players now that are UFA. Before season end. & I no he didn’t put no trade claus in m . They are have been embraced in Vegas. There practices stands are packed. There owner has done a masterful job like Rocky and outside the stadium is like wrigley field bars. Does that team mirror the old days. Unless Bowman pulls the trigger now on the usual suspects that eat are cap up and I named them. It will be 3 years before hawks look that close to knights and the players that need to be moved now will be useless at there age! We need to be back having half the team under 25. And they need to be Fast & relentless!!!! This needs to start happening now before dead line or u can enjoy watching hawks for the luv of game cause they r who they are now ! Dump 25 mil cap gets it only started. Then u find the kids to fill it in ! Karlsson has 21 goals and a center 24 old. Gets 1 mil. UFA There’s Toews replacement and u still have 4 to 5 mil left . Jets have cap space and there star center out ! Johnny there’s no place like home ! Kieth Seabs I’m sure can be replaced ! That frees 13 mil. Which u can get 3 D guys And this can be done ! To be great u have to think future and this team isn’t going no where! Anyone notice Kane did double shifts. Well you can all talk the same stuff after every game or let yours eyes show u the time has come to completely move the big 3.
Yes- put 40 with 12 and 88! He was a centre at Yale- big body in corners and front of the net! And he can set up the 2 scorers! Also, free him from Wingels and Bowma!
And WRT Crawford concussions- February 2013, March 2015?, March 2016?, December 2017? Not an easy recovery ….
@Slammer Hold your horses. Vegas are a good team, but they aren’t winning anything. Mark my words. They’ll crumble in the playoffs.
And if filling the team with kids were the answer, everyone in the league would do it and win the cup. Except it doesn’t work that way. The time for a full rebuild will come when Kane and Toews retire. And then you can have as many hungry youngsters as you want and hope that it won’t be another 50 years until we luck out into another Kane and Toews that will bring up 1 Cup, much less 3.
I wouldn’t touch the 4th line. Besides Crawford it’s the only consistently positive performer on a team that has serious struggles with consistency.
Noonan I didn’t notice Seabrook pinching on the GWG as well. That would make Murphy’s pinch particularly bad. But I don’t have a problem pinching late in a tie game in general.
Except you are taught in Atom hockey, when one pinches, the other stays back OR the centre drops back!! Seabrook flat footed again- not that his blistering speed would have caught the goal scorer. Still LOTS of mental mistakes, sloppy passing, poor clearing and not at all “tough on the puck” like Vegas!
Kim. I hate to remind u but knights have a 3 time cup holder in nets. And as u know he didn’t play. And if it wasn’t for Glass. It would of been a blow out. And they played the blues nite before. Cups are won with goalies and 4 lines. They rolled all 4 While Kane had to double shift !
One of the issues on the winning goal is that Murphy is a right hand shot playing the left side. Schmaltz tried to put it on his stick which forced the pass to be far more towards the center of the ice (than if there was left handed shot at the point) and allowed the Vegas player to get his stick on it. It was kind of a soft pass too. It wasn’t just one thing that went wrong on that play.
Neither Osterle nor Forsling looked especially solid to me last night. Still hoping for more Kempny, knowing it won’t happen.
@Slammer We have a two time cup holder in the net, too. So?
I think Kane can handle some double shifting. He has it easy otherwise: he doesn’t have to defend and participate in penalty kills, which is far more energy consuming than even strength and PP minutes.
Double shifting Kane was a mistake anyway. He and his line were extremely ineffective in this game.
Slammer Subban is a better goalie than Glass don’t even try to compare the two and I wouldn’t say he saved the Hawks (I didn’t see the first however) the 4 was a weak goal and the 5th a number 1 comes out further to challenge the shooter.
And not crouch and make themselves look small giving the shooter lots of room to shoot.
Kim. We found teuvo Panarin. So finding requires a GM and scouts to actually do there job. And I would never trade Crawford since Glass is r backup. But to hang on those 3 guys. Is 25 mil. U really think there going to play everyday like a 25 year old. As I pointed out a center already. And with those guys reminds me of vanc and the sendins hanging around for fans. To me winning 1st Sign autographs later. And call it what u want this was tallon team. And u can see craw toews Kane seabs Hossa who got m ! R hands been tied for years because of cap and are top dogs are getting old. ! 25 million think about what u can do. But if you don’t have it. You can’t even look for young talent and to say it’s not out there is crazy. And the long term contract no trade shit got to end.
Golden bladz. Never said once Glass is better then Suppan. But Glass did play with the best Canada junior team. If u go back to see who was on it. Glass has a great teacher in craw. And I keep him around ! And as for that game. Hawks had to step up there game to keep up. Don’t see them doing it day in & out. It was a good game to watch. Felt good to see hawks bust there ass !
I like 38 with 8 and 88 when he returns, he has more speed than 40. But when 15 returns 40 would look good with 15 and 12, more the line he can play his game on. But if Panik plays as hoped looked better last night, but needs to keep doing it, he may be with them. If Sharp can stay hot and healthy he gives good option until full lineup available. Kampf unless someone traded needs to make somebody expendable and force his spot on the roster. Seeing 14 play good may make him better trade bait for a team wanting help on the wings as he is no longer is needed to.play a top 6 role and cap space could come in handy either this season or next or both.
@Slammer
I think that one thought process out there, and it was mentioned by the ex-players that make up the Chicago pre and post game shows, is that Vegas is certainly for real … BUT …. next year could be a different story.
Yep. They’ve got guys having great, maybe career, years that are due for free agency. So, Vegas better do the whole shebang this year and get that cup, because their window may be pretty small. Next year may be a different team. With different expectations. They are doing it right and they are clicking. But again, success can be fleeting.
Fleury isn’t the end all be all of goalies. Vegas goalies have played very well and the team is fast and can score. They’ve got to do it for 82 games plus grueling playoffs.
I don’t think your post indicated they were a dynasty in the making, and you did rightfully mention that they have guys like Karlsson coming up for FA. But the grind of April, May and early June are a long way away. I like them, but I don’t see them in the SCF.
….bottom line Vegas is a better team than Blackhawks….although they are surpassing the majority of the other NHL teams as well….Vegas is doing it with superior coaching ….less talented but more team work.. excellent aquisitions from management and a positive attitude…..sometimes it’s easier to accomplish this in a short time in team sports to start from scratch then to slowly rebuild a championship team around an aging veteran core….Vegas Knights are definitely the team to watch!
….btw…Vegas is definitely the team to watch during the regular season ….however the playoffs is a different story….let’s hope the Blackhawks can emulate the 67 Maple Leafs…a veteran team averaging almost 40 years of age with an aging Johnny Bower r.i.p…..that managed to win their 4th Cup with the same core group….the problem this season though will be making the playoffs ….lol….Go Hawks!…
“relentless”,
“Vegas plays how we ought to. Relentless is the perfect word.” (Travis) — YES. Why is a bullshit/half-assed effort most games tolerated? Q? Stan? McD?
DD-it’s too simple to say this but it used to be tolerated because they could, in the past, just turn it on at will and simply outwork, out skate and out-talent teams.
Is it an old habit?-I don’t know but it does happen quite often- and that’s what frustrates fans because for short stretches they dominate.
We’ve seen them win with superior talent in the glory years, now it would be nice to see a team that outworks the opponent on most nights. Not just for one or two 10 minute stretch(es)
Vegas doesn’t have an on/off switch like most teams
It won’t happen this year, but every coach (and coaching staff) has an expiry date.
(also management)
Indian I same way they good now because of who they have and how ever many of them will leave as ufa. Then there not good like that and have good prospects and will be an expansion team like they should be from the start. Their record and EDM is what people that before season. EDM going to have better yr next yr they wont switch.
Whats better top 5/10 pick to go along with Jock or valuable playoff experience winning in playoffs for the younger guys.
Still think we add big ufa in summer with cap space and salary cap.
Hartmans ready 2nd line back intact. Panik on 4th.
@Big Indian. 100% right next year is anyone guess. But I go to every game here and they are so driven and I just wonder if fate is on there side ! Saints won after hurricane / Astro after flood / Yankees damn near pulled it off after 911. And now u have the massacre in Vegas which u just can’t comprehend! I think If they get past kings. They go to cup and Tampa is possible foe ! That would be a major feat and regardless who’s gone next season. And if not my Hawks. I couldn’t cheer for any other team to Represent Conf then the knights. As for players next year, nobody can say if they go or don’t work good deals to keep m ! No nhl team is a guarantee cup. And they are treated well here no diff then Rocky treated are guys. I personally talked to Bill Foley 3 Years ago and he said Chicago organization was the model he wanted to follow! He’s done a nice job so far ! Are GM got caught up in the cup craze and awarded long term high priced no trade contracts and traded away young guns to catch lightning in a bottle last 3 years. We need are cap cleared 25 mil to breath again and when a player like William Karlsson a center is available. He would look great in a Hawk jersey. For 5 years and is only 29 at the end of contract ! We’re cash strapped And it totally sucked for the last 7 years !!!!
And by the way they are 5 mil cap space. And cap going up next year so if they want to really go for it they can , without trading away draft picks. And if they pull a miracle out and Win the cup. they lose players next year who cares It’s all about winning a cup. 1/2 the teams that been around for so long haven’t done it and just ask the blues lol I marvel how pangs control there cap. And Bowman can’t
The Knights are like the 2016 Red Sox everyone having a career year at the same time and not sustainable. They will make the playoffs and lose and struggle next season and the novelty act will wear off in Sin City.
By your thinking the Pens should have moved one of Crosby or Malkin as the team struggled from 2009 to dec 2015 until Sullivan came along and wouldn’t have won the two cups
Noonan96 “it used to be tolerated because they could, in the past, just turn it on at will” — OK. Why is it being tolerated now? I assume nobody here would trade teams/rosters with LV (- I certainly would not!) – WHY don’t these players do that “relentless” thing? The three Cups entitles them to exert a 60 minute effort only once every 40 games? WHY is this tolerated by management, coaching staff, and to a much lesser extent the fans (whose only recourse is to not attend or watch)?
Until recently, I’ve actually believed that there is a lot of talent here. After 40 games, I have to admit this does not look like a playoff bound team…and even if they did manage to get in, I would doubt them even winning one series. McD and Bowman have some difficult decisions to make. If they decide to sell and rebuild, they are severely limited by all of the no trade/no movement clauses. (That should probably cost Bowman his job.)
Maybe Q should change his system? Maybe the older core can no longer make it work? I don’t have the answer – I’m just a irritated/frustrated longtime fan.
I don’t see the nmc clauses limiting them. Seabrooks contract whether or not he had a nmc or not would be hard to move, AA is only modified after this year like
Hammers was. As far 50,88,19 & 2 until approached and asked we don’t know if it means not moving or ability to control where they go as is usually the case when management were to indicate they wanted to move them and not be part of the team anymore. I think the biggest concern is bolstering the defence, we have had 44,7, 11 and 82 asked to play with Keith on top pair thus year, 44 a rookie not ready yet for that role, 7 not the answer anymore, 11 did what was asked of him he is just not a top 2 guy and 82 has been the best answer and played well at times but has never been able to be regular as a 3rd pair guy in this league until a couple month ago. There is a need for more consistency with other 2 pairs also. Some people say Kempny and he looks good at times but by putting him in is not giving them a better chance to win. Hopefully Jokiharju can help next year but he will be a rookie and expecting too much might be too much. If they go after a big signing this summer defensive help may be the biggest area of need, to me anyways.
In the moment I’m a long time fan and get frustrated but when I step back and use some perspective not so much-and it’s not just because of the 3 Cups. I get that many people don’t want to hear that anymore-it’s 2018!
But it also has a lot to do with parity/and the cap, so many teams and that teams have to transition, and take natural cycles–I take deep breath and watch what unfolds. You can’t get blood out of a stone and you can’t expect this team to be at the top for ten years–‘They are middle of a big pack now” with better teams in league, and perhaps more importantly teams with more future promise than the Hawks.
I think what I’d like to see is a new path and an honest 60 minute effort-win or lose!
Go Hawks.
Parity would be part of reason for not making playoffs. In 2011 we were what 19 over at game 81 got in at 18 over as 8 seed. Now league doesnt want any dynasty team forced down throat parity being in by far hardtest division and cambell conference the better conferenace again 8 seed might be 12 over. Big difference.
I want the same thing what ever we need to do to make roster better to be top 5 team. We have a lot of good young players and more coming just like 2009 and 2012. We do need to make what ever moves though to go along with the wave of depth coming and add more younger upside guys.
I am looking at the 5 coming yrs to get roster as good as it takes because we will have the speed and depth with the young guys and prospects like these other teams have now that sucked for the last 10 yrs ad now those teams can play with any team basically.
What do we do. 19 88 2 50 are part of a 4th Cup in my opinion. What is the most ideal players to go with them to get the roster we need for the 5 coming yrs not now or in 10 yrs without 19 88 and 2.
You bring up a good point Noonan about the effort and relentless play. Listening to coach Cooper of the Lightning talk about his team in his post game interview said his team has been playing with a sense of entitlement and got embarrassed by Ottawa and that team has won anything yet. Sport is can be frustrating at times
Ian with Jock and maybe another top 5/10 future top pair Defensemen pick by not making playoffs or make playoffs which I believe we will and win some rounds or get valuable experience for 5 coming yrs of one goal. We then get another gem like Jock with a 22nd pick or trade 22nd pick and trade up to another Jockeru.
Who are the best available ufa Defenseman and ones we could trade for. Adding ufa would not cost any assets then trade who we need to to make it work cap wise.
^ hasn’t not has
We finnish 8-14 in standings and get to conference finals to we pick 16-22 or 4.
Mo theres alot of good looking dmen in 1st half of draft, so if your piicking somewhere in middle of pack there still should a good one left. As for ufa s Karlsson ottawa the cream. Others there too who are availlsble Enstrom would look good.
ok this will be my crazy post for the year…. I’ve stated before a couple/few well placed powerplay goals would have the Black Hawks in a playoff spot and just shy of first place in the division lead(not too many points behind). Jagr is available……trade for him with nothing but conditional picks(stanley cup or bust-2ndrounder or no cup nothing). Calgary’s hands are tied and he’s going somewhere……or ….off the team anyway.
Let whiny, demanding Jagr know he’s going to be a powerplay specialist and come playoff time there is no guarentee for a playoff roster spot.
So we could get another good prospect like Jockeru even with 22nd pick by moving up and add a top notch Defenseman like that instead of getting a FW like 91.
What we these guys cap hits be. Better then 91.