Over Quickly: Kings Easily Handle Hawks
Coming off a stunningly dominant win against Washington on Saturday – and the Monday afternoon trade of Michal Kempny to those same Capitals – there was some hope the Blackhawks could at least show some competitive hockey down the stretch.
Then they came out and got their doors blown off in the opening 40 minutes against the Kings.
In the first period, Chicago was out-shot 15-4. The Kings scored twice, first from Torrey Mitchell and the second from Andy Andreoff. Jonathan Quick wasn’t tested and the Hawks didn’t look interested in competing.
In the second period, Dion Phaneuf scored a power play goal while Lance Bouma watched from the box to extend the LA lead to three. When the dust settled from the second 20 minutes, Chicago had been out-shot 14-11 and were chasing three.
There was nothing about the Blackhawks’ game that resembled the team that competed on Saturday.
Chicago showed some push early in the third, though. Rookie defenseman Carl Dahlstrom, who has been impressive since he was recalled from Rockford, took a chance and attackede up the ice. His shot was on the mark and the loose rebound found Patrick Sharp… and Sharp actually finished.
The goal was Sharp’s first since Jan. 9 and only his seventh of the season. It was Dahlstrom’s second assist in the NHL.
Los Angeles was clearly on cruise control in the third period, getting out-shot and out-hustled by the Hawks but not appearing to be worried Chicago would score. And they didn’t after the Sharp goal. At 15 minutes into the third, the Hawks held am 8-1 shot advantage in the period but hadn’t found a second – or third – goal.
Coach Joel Quenneville pulled Anton Forsberg for the extra attacked with 2:53 left in regulation.
Chicago didn’t do anything but shoot the puck wide or pass in a circle with six skaters on the ice. And the game quietly ended with the Hawks back on the losing track.
It is worth noting, however, that Blackhawks fans who are ready to throw out the core need look only at the Kings’ captain for a prime example of a veteran bouncing back after an awful season. Anze Kopitar was “the reason” the Kings struggled last season as he endured a terrible personal season, but he’s come back with a strong 2017-18 season.
If the Kings make the playoffs, they have the best goalie in the West w/ Crawford on the shelf.
All three Kings’ goals man parked directly in front of Forsberg, w/ D-man behind the King forward doing nothing. Including Oesterle on the second goal. Oesterle is far luckier than the departed #6 was, he has gotten to play consistently despite his play regressing, sans the one game he was benched.
Hinostroza is consistently creating offense and havoc, yet hes playing every game the last few weeks with Kampf, Bouma, & Jurco. Nice utilization of him Q.
This version of the Hawks are snowflakes. Very weak in the tough areas along the boards and protecting the front of their net and getting to the front of the other teams net looking for greasy goals. Forwards in general are averse to contact. Too many of the same player. This is a poorly constructed team and that’s on Bowman.
That was more like the recent play of the Hawks-lots of turnovers and only flashes of inspiration.
Saad is having better shifts in general of late. But he still is less physical then Debrincat, which doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Agree with Iceman with the Oesterle comment-
Kopitar is playing well and you wonder if a coaching change/style change has helped.
I don’t know where Q is looking but I sure do not see the merit in Keith playing 27 minutes. Apparently the new doghouse resident will be Murphy judging from his 11 minutes tonight. Can we please get Hinostra on one of the top two lines and move Wingels and Anisimov. The Kane line was a -2 across the board tonight. Please can we sit Bouma and bring Hayden up there is no purpose for him being in Rockford. As proved by the first period tonight this team is done at least for this year. Apparently Duclair will not be suiting up on a regular basis so he’s in the same boat he was in with Arizona of course he can’t match the talent of a Bouma or Wingels. Well please pardon my rant but this season and this team have been so extremely frustrating!
There’s good news from the game tonight – the boys are back. I don’t know who those guys were wearing the red jerseys against the Caps the other night but thankfully they’ve departed and the boys we’ve come to expect this season are back. I use the word “boys” advisedly because it really was a contest of men against boys tonight. The big burly men of the LA Kings against the intimidated boys of the Chicago Blackhawks. I don’t expect the Hawks players to actually win physical battles against the Kings, or really any other team in the league for that matter, after all, I’ve seen them play and know all too well they are physically inferior to their opponent no matter who their opponent is that particular game, but I do expect them to compete, even knowing they will lose almost every battle. That’s the thing that is so disappointing. They don’t have a compete level even close to what they need to play a team like the Kings. The Kings rag-dolled them all game long. If a white jersey came in contact with a red jersey – the white jersey came away with the puck almost every time. What an embarrassment for the Hawks players. I saw more physical oomph from DeBrincat the 150 pound midget than I saw from the 230 pound Seabrook. What a pathetic display.
Other than the total lack of caring displayed by the Hawks tonight, we also had all the usual deficiencies on display tonight. The one thing I will say on a positive note is Forsberg didn’t give up any stinkers tonight. He gave up 3 but none of them were the “deflate the team” type goals. So … there’s that.
By the way, Saad showed again tonight that he may be even worse that Toews at controlling the puck on his stick. You’ve heard the saying “bang for your buck” – my question is who is a worse bang for the buck – Toews at $10.5M or Saad at $6M?
Regarding the Hawks carousel of d-man auditions this season, there seems to be a pattern emerging. The d-man comes in and has more positive then negative plays and I think maybe there’s a chance he will amount to something. But then he plays a bunch of games and the warts start showing. Forsling and Rutta looked pretty good early and then both turned into a pumpkin. Kempny showed flashes last year but Q decided he wasn’t what he needed so poof he’s gone. Gustafsson is back for another kick at the can and is proving he’s the same guy he was when he played before – decent offensively but more like a #7 in the d-zone. Oesterle is a little better in the d-zone but is still a featherweight who can’t defend if he’s touched by an opposing player. The jury is still out on Dahlstrom because he hasn’t played many games yet. He looks OK so far, but we’ll see if he’s a future pumpkin over the next few weeks.
And then there are the veterans, and I include Murphy in that group because he’s played a whole bunch more NHL games than the guys listed above. In a nutshell – between Keith, Seabrook and Murphy – what’s to like? Keith still makes great plays now and then but he’s notwhere close to a #1 NHL d-man anymore.
So, I’m telling ya – the Hawks just have to keep losing and get into a draft position to select d-man Evan Bouchard from the OHL London Knights (assuming Rasmus Dahlen will be picked ahead of them). Bouchard is 6’2″ / 190, shoots right, is the highest scoring d-man in the OHL, and is 10th in OHL scoring with 21 goals and 52 assists in 56 games.
Ebonyraptor, that post was dang depressing.
Regarding Tab’s comment on Kopitar, I’m one of those that is doubtful about the Hawk core being able to bounce back next year. However, I also remember Teemu Selänne looking dead for 3 straight years and then bouncing back for some great years. You never know and it sure would be nice.
ONE GOAL — the best draft picks possible.
The rebuilding of this team must start with the defense. Assuming Crawford can return next year ( and that is a big assumption at this point ).
The Hawks only have one legitimate top 4 defenseman in Duncan Keith.
Seabrook is a #5, Murphy will never get top 4 minutes with Q as Coach, it’s almost pointless to project him any higher than third pair.
Gustafsson is a 6 or 7, same with Oesterle, Dahlstrom is off to a good start but it’s tough to tell what he will become.
The thing is, Stan has to stop signing guys that Q does not want.
Not ever like not winning or tie. This is a weird situation but a good situation. Every game we win feels good to win and we deserve to. Every game we donot get win or tie its good for top 9 pick.
win win.
Now every game is a good thing. Good to win and good to get another top prospect that we deserve for sure.
I ll enjoy the games we play and the ones we play a full 60 because we ll wins those. The others, whatever we get that top 9 pick lottery draw its good for that.
Also the bitching and whining about every little fricking flaw doesn’t matter anymore so the trolls are meaningless now.
Going to watch the Hawks at the UC last night was a waste of time and money. This team flat out played like they didn’t give a damn in the first 2 periods. Even though the season is shot and losing hopefully lets them draft higher and add some strong talent, pro players playing at home need to at least show some willingness to compete. Only Bouma put some hurt into the Kings. Hawks core guys were all on cruise control. I don’t blame Forsberg for any of the pucks that got behind him last night. The effort in the 3rd was better, but when down by 3 what chance do you have to even tie against a team that plays pretty well defensively to begin with. Plenty of empty seats starting to appear BTW at the UC. Fans are fed up. Regulars in my section aren’t coming to as many games. I sold my seats for the Caps game. It is sad to watch this team slide hard into mediocrity and witness once proud players accept defeat.
Simply stated by others, this team up and down the lineup is not talented enough. The D corps seemed to show a glimmer of promise into early December and then the wheels began to fall off as the long season grind caught up with players with less experience. The real culprit through this developing season of pain has been the inability of this team to finish scoring opportunities and astoundingly inept power play.
Sorry Mo but this past 2 months has been a lot more about really bad than good. These guys get paid to play hard for 60 minutes and that has become the exception rather than the rule. The teams around the league that are playing for playoff spots will show this Hawks team no mercy as the season winds down.
Sorry, I will get off the bitch box, but I needed to vent. That was a particularly rough one to watch last night in the first 2 periods and it hasn’t sat well with me.
Lets Go Hawks!
Craig after the relatively big and slow forwards of the Kings exposed Seabrooks slowness I’m not sure he is really a 5 anymore-
Two keys are Crow’s health and his replacement in the next 2 to 3 years and 2 more top 4 defenseman, with a 1/2 as one of them. Can we get lucky and get a Duncan Keith out of the blue? Without those two developments it will be a lot of mediocre.
Two good outings in a row was too much to hope for. On the positive side, there was no racist incident at the game last night.
The big thing after the trade deadline is to try to get line combos and D pairings that may be a part of next year. Get some chemistry going and use that as a building block. Sign the guys to elc you can and get them some experience in Rockford with a playoff run there. See what place draft lottery brings end of April. Going to be some bad days with no playoffs to play for rest of season. Good point on the nit picking Mo.
Dickie D– good one!
Another goal– get Henrik Samuelsson to the Show…
Last night is a perfect example why Q should be fired immediately.
Every line up decision and every minute of ice time should be made with respect to getting better next season. Q skated Keith 27 min last night and Murphy only 12. How does that help the future besides grinding down Keith that much faster. Murphy needs to play and develop if he is going to be here. If you are “show casing” Bouma why skate him only 7 1/2 min, give him a chance to get noticed. Let him play or set him in the press box. Who has a better chance of contributing to the team next year Bouma or Duclair.
Q’s line up last night effectively benched SB bigger acquisitions Murphy, Jurko and Duclair. Some say that they are not playing Q’s scheme, are any of the Hawks currently playing Q’s scheme besides Wingle. There is a philosophical difference SB and Q which is retarding the development of this team. Murphy will be Kempny’s replacement in the press box and Duclair and Jurko are out of here so that Wingle and Bouma get more ice time. This is not the behavior of a big picture coach, only a spiteful one looking to show people he knows more on roster decisions than his GM. The trend is there.
There are those that say the NHL is not a development league. To those I say that if you do not have the talent for a legitimate cup run then you should develop the player to make a cup run. This team does not have the depth or talent for a deep playoff run therefore play the young player and see how they perform against NHL talent. Does winning the against the Kings on Feb 19 while being last in the Central really make a difference. The Hawks organization needs a coach who understands and looks at the bigger picture….and a GM that can recognize talent.
Please do not loose the message, I am not saying that Duclair, Jurko and Murphy are world beater, what I am saying is that the Hawks will have to make a decisions on these players and others during the off season without fully exercising their hockey abilities. Decisions should be made with as much data as possible.
Go Hawks
re: Wall’s “get Henrik Samuelsson to the Show” – need to sign him first. He’s on an AHL PTO right now. Does not have a contract w/ the Chicago Blackhawks.
Manson, Ebony Craig all spot on, Ebony nice assessment as to the D men situation.
HHNL solid post. Kudos. I had forgotten about Duclair, agree wth, consistently healthy scratched????
P.S. on the same note, Murphy 12 mins, Oesterle 24 mins. It should be the opposite.
@ HHNL
Agreed, the Hawks have all but been mathematically eliminated at this stage. The Org specifically Q and SB need to get on the same page with this roster and playing time. Regardless of Q’s feelings, he is under contract until next season. The whole line blender at this point is beyond stupid they have virtually tried every combination so that tells me it’s not a chemistry issue it’s a talent issue. Play the kids with a future. Speaking of future Winnipeg was kicking the tires on Hartman, I’d trade him. I don’t want the Hawks to pay him 4 million dollars are yr for the next 3 or 4 years. I don’t think he is a top 6 guy so try to get an asset back for him. As for the game more of the same. Patrick Sharp should be released or traded there is virtually no point in having him take ice time form a kid who might be in the teams plans.
Everybody had a bad night last night. Including the WGN TV Crew.
The on air personality in between periods was talking to Konroyd and said that one bright spot was the play of DOLL-TRIN. She then looked at her sheet and again asked Konroyd to talk about the play of DOLL-TRIN.
……. I never knew the name Dahlstrom was so hard to pronounce.
It’s just that kind of a year.
On to the draft and the Convention and next season.
On an upnote saw where Schmaltz was 7 for 9 on faceoffs last night and has been over 50% 0n draws in last 3 games. Plus his 68 takeaways are 2nd in NHL this season.
Yes it’s a talent issue. Talent …or lack there of…is why the Hawks will not hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2018, but the reason they won’t be one of the many teams playing for the Cup is pure LEADERSHIP…or lack there of. Leadership in the locker room and leadership behind the bench has been missing this season and during last year’s playoffs as well. Most fading great teams do so gradually because after the legs get old they still have the pride and character and leadership to get the job done many nights. How does Q not have this team ready to play on Monday? How does that “core” not have enough pride to show up Monday? And remember boys this is hockey which, like baseball, drafts 18 year olds most of whom never see the bigs. There is no 18 year old out there that can solve this.
Tab- thx for the correction there…
my point is- he is probably not a “difference maker” — BUT- it’s time to give “eligible” prospects a Look!
Tab or anyone- please clarify Liiga/SHL rights contracts for Hawk’s prospects playing there now… Tuulola, Carlsson, and Soderlund… can Hawks insert as early as next year (if they are worthy- of course)… OR are there hurdles regarding Euro/Contracts…???
In my eyes- they ALL would be upgrades versus Shit show skating now… especially on D side… IMO
Ogie- Besides Loving From’s skating… I am Optimistic on another nobody prospect…. Olofsson- size/skating/IQ kid- called that along time ago too
Connor Murphy has been in the NHL for 5 years. He has played 312 games in the NHL, longer than plenty of guys’ careers. This is not a development situation for him. He will not get better by playing more. What you see is what you get. He’s a 5-6 guy who plays physical and is not that great with his skates. None of that is going to change at this point in his career.
The other young guys, yes, Duclair for instance, you would need to see in different situations to see how he responds and develops. Bouma would only be playing a 4th line role for any playoff team, so it’s no problem that he is getting only 4th line minutes. He is still being showcased with the hopes of moving him for a pick. If he is taking ice time from Hayden or anyone else after the deadline, then I’d say we have a legit complaint.
Jurco is a tweener AHL/NHL guy. We gave up a 3rd to get him, which was a waste.
I agree with the notion that Q and Stan not being on the same page is at this point holding the team back from progressing. When our superstars were still superstars and we had so many of them, it didn’t really matter if a Pirri was forced on Q and Q didn’t play him and he floundered. Now, we don’t have the overall talent to mask guys not being able to contribute to the overall team and still win.
Not a fan of this reporter, but he does bring up a good point – What are the young guys learning from the “core”?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/ct-spt-blackhawks-veterans-losing-rosenbloom-20180220-story.html#nt=oft13a-12gp1
Fire Q now. Simple solution. This team needs a change in philosophy and direction. Q’s ways are over, and so is this team if they don’t jettison him before it’s too late.
There has been a conflict of interest between Q and Stan before, where Q places primary significance on winning the game at hand versus Stan’s objective to develop players for future success. Winning lessens the significance of the two competing objectives, until the winning stops. Now, the modus operandi of each side is brought into the light and the difference in objectives becomes more significant. Clearly, there is less value in winning each game if there is no chance to win a championship. That begs the question is Q the right coach for the position the Hawks now find themselves in? I don’t know because until now Q hasn’t been put in this position – until now the carrot of playoff success was there for the chasing.
We won’t know the answer to that question until after TDL, because the players in the lineup may be being showcased for potential trades. But, after the TDL, if players with no future with the Hawks, like Bouma, are in the lineup, then I would say that’s pretty convincing evidence that Q is still trying to win a meaningless game than develop players for the future.
Interesting stats on how the Hawks have played based on rest
Zero days of rest: 3-7-1 record
One day of rest: 13-10-6 record
Two days of rest: 7-3 record
Three or more days of rest: 2-5-1 record
Rest does, in fact, impact the Blackhawks’ fate. They play their best when coming off of two days of rest, and play simply atrocious when getting zero days of rest, or three or more days of rest.
https://thehockeywriters.com/will-rest-determine-blackhawks-fate/
SSHM very interesting, that’s what Mo has been telling us all season.
Ah yes, look at the kings for an example. Kopitar had a bad year last year, but now he’s back strong… and the kings aren’t in a playoff spot. Cool story. Trade 19.
I guess it is a question of if you really believe the Hawks window to win another Cup is closed, or not? I would say LA won’t win another without a major rebuild. And that is tough to do while you still have a few productive elite players on your roster.
Are we Detroit right now, stuck in the middle, or Pittsburgh, a few tweaks away and some brave trades to being back in Cup contention?
Interest ping southman. I would think that terrible first game back after long stretch between games (which we had 11 of the 82 games were after long breaks) made a big depifference. Most of the times we were playing good and winning games were right before those long breaks and then long break rusty takes 1 or 2 games to get up to speed. So that screwed our record, the other things/our problems/mistakes were true as well.
20-13 is isn’t that shitty for a normal sch. and then as you name it it went against or for the other team. We’re usually better then that on back to backs.
Those long breaks threw us off the tracks 2-5-1 times.
And I donot want to ever have to say it again please make a normal fucking sch.
Wall – I’ve liked Olofsson as well. Doesn’t have the numbers at the college level yet but wouldn’t be shocked if he signed this summer.
Southside-any stats that compare how the whole league does-does it mirror the Hawks?
Wall the way I understand the European leagues except Khl they have a transfer agreement that the players can sign an elc and come over when still under contract. They can play in the NHL but they would have an European clause most likely where they would go back there before going to Rockford.
Wall thinks guys he’s admittedly never seen play that are currently in Europe are better than whats on the ice for the Hawks.
Wall intuition. Should every team be so lucky!
Noon, be interesting to see record every yr since 2009 for those days between games. The sch. is tuff at certain times every yr but earlier in the yr/the first 20 games I said I think they got us. The sch. makers.
Prob also have to separate the division of when the whole league got fast because sine then there a lot more good teams then there was before.
FWIW, Hawks have 46 contracts. Need 1 for Sikura. Possibly 1 for Gilbert and Olofsson if they decide to go pro. I don’t think either one should be as highly thought of as they once were. Olofsson will be 22 in May. Still has a year of eligibility left. As does Gilbert.
I’d be more interested in some of the undrafted free agents that are available. Couple good ones on D. They European guys can be signed in the summer when you have more roster flexibility.
True Ernie if they signed after their season over there this year. It would likely be an AHL deal but if signed for next year, it wouldn’t matter when it was done.
Ogie- saw lots of Soderlund at Camp
and watched Tuulola- Play WJC u20’s… and commented on him thereafter as a player who impressed me
Mike – I agree that the next moves depend on the answer to the question “is the window open for a few more years”. Assuming the return of Crow and better years from 19 and 2 my answer is yes. The roster tweaking has to address our inability to adequately compete with physical teams like LA, MN, Dallas. I was a fan of Forsling but we can’t have 3 or 4 d that can’t handle heavy physical play. Perhaps Forsling can bring us a decent pick. Figuring this problem out has to be job one for the off-season.
Great posts by Southside. This is not a chemistry issue. It is a talent issue, mainly at D and G. Even core players can have difficult times, but I think they are still showing up most nights. Although many believe Q is playing oldies like Sharp too much, most of the youngsters are getting playing time. He wants to bring the less talented/experienced ones along more slowly. Most of them will improve next year. If SB makes the right trades (Kempny was a good move, as was Panik) and signings and can draft better (please), the Hawks are going to be back sooner than we think. How about some more size with talent, who can stay in front of the net?
Major moves which need to be made at the TDL:
1. AA for a 2nd rounder or prospect.
2. Seabrook for a 3rd rounder (who is willing to take on his contract?)
Tazer had a better yr, he was better then the last two. Him and Dunks can be better then this yr for the coming yrs. Those 4 guys are still good for these coming yrs to win another Cup. We need to whatever is necessary with moves to get what we need the most, like the thing you guys have been saying recently, so that when the young guys are in their 2nd and 3rd full yrs were ready.
We will have the cap space/and make more space if needed to add the type of players we need to do this. Make it happen. Bowman and crew have build around the core before, we just have more to add this time.
I do think it will happen a lot sooner then some people think and its good that we will the space, even when it doesn’t look like we have That much space because we will make more space when needed.
One thing is that Schmaltz is developing into an elite top 6 center that we never really had and takes a bit of the load ofc of Toews. Good group if wingers led by Kane and Debrincat. If Bowman can find an elite type dman to take the load of Keith, it would go a long way. Obviously having 6 defencemen who can contribute night in night out too is big.
The ability to make space available is there, but avoiding future cap crunches should be considered too. A few moveable bigger hits plus moving a young forward to get some defensive help may be a needed move also.
Hawks should have plenty of room contact wise
They have 28players signed through next season
20/8/19/15/64/88/12/2/82/63/7/5/50/
31/34/81
84/49/36/37/67/45/20/4/42/21/20/1
They have 6 restricted free agents
91/13/38/48/40/56
They have 12 unrestricted free agents
10/17/57/44/32/22/27/43/11/2/30 and didomineco
They have to make choices on ahl contact players
Raddysh,Bondra,Tompkins and press
Mo- I hope your right about #2 as he has started to drop off-he could always outskate certain mistakes–but he seems to be making more of them and his skating, while still pretty good, isn’t at that elite level and I only see that going in the wrong direction.
It’s nice to have him, and he can still be a 3 or 4, but at 35 next year he just can’t be counted on as the guy. The Hawks need a stud and a good, tough, minute eater.
Just read where there is quite a few free agents in the KHL this year who can provide help to NHL teams. With the heavy european scouting now, plus this year Bowman with cap room he can go after ones who aren’t just elc eligible. May be options there to sign to help in the off season.
On Dunks those things look that way. 19 adjusted his routine after two off yrs and was much better this yr. Adapting to league speed. Even though these two guys arnt in prime of prime yrs anymore they still have some regular prime yrs left (given there dynasty top 100 alltime players) its that league speed difference that makes it tuff on every player over 32ish (whatever age is that line).
Dunks can adjust like 19 did and that would help him out. Not having Hammer is a big difference as well as Hoss. Those guys are hockey God machines. We had have to get younger and faster to be one of the top contenders and that’s what happens when you go that route. No Hammer no Hoss. Takes a toll on 19 and 2.
Dunks could play the way he always has for not the whole game, due to league speed and play more safe for however much of game like every other defenseman in league has had to do while Dunks was Chuck Norris 5 times in 10 yrs.
Having a full roster deep roster with more good prime yr players like 24 and 15 and the yong guys in their 2nd and 3rd yrs (more established) and still getting better is what it takes to be that kind of team again. And I donot think there is any team in league as good as the top teams from 2008-2015 because of cap so we need to get to that point roster wise and be on the same level playing field. We donot have to have the kind of roster we had or other teams had during those yrs to win Cup. No other team will be as good as those teams as well, that’s why.
re: “Seabrook for a 3rd rounder”
[sorry, can’t stop laughing long enough to type anything of substance… that’s hilarious]
Interesting quote from Detroit GM Ken Holland. He said in a salary cap world it has become “a draft pick league”. So his goal is to sell and give his development staff as many players as he can.
I post this because this is a guy who came up the ranks and for many many years, Detroit bought the likes of Chelios and Larry Murphy. Now Detroit is preaching drafting and developing.
As for the Hawks : Franson should fetch a 5th or 6th rounder. Bouma might recoup our 4th rounder. I have a feeling Wingels stays.
My “upset”trade if you will Duclair gets moved. His game has quickly been a turnoff to Q. And as we all know, once that happens (see Connor Murphy and Michael Kempny, Thomas Jurco), once that happens it’s pretty much over.
Times have changed. You cant buy players like you could in an uncapped world. The fact it took Holland this long to figure that out is why people in Detroit are anxiously awaiting his termination.
The knock on Duclair before he got here…”absolutely no hockey sense”
Practice lines today:
20-19-57
13-15-88
91-8-12
48-64-38
Duclair-Schmaltz-DeBrincat … interesting. Hope Q sticks with it for mare than 3 shifts.
I like 12 with 8 those guys have lots of room to grow. Even though 8 with 88 is sweet Georgia brown. I like letting 12 and 8 grow together. Just image 8 taking it to another level (for the start of 19 season) because those guys were let grow at this time.
I would like to see that for lines/pairs guys that have enormous upside the chance to grow instead of staking lines for results. Well get even better results later by doing it this way.
For the 19 season we have some good top 6 guys, 19/88/20/8/12. Hope Saader get back to normal and Tazer keeps improving off this yr from last two again. Then were going to see some serious shit from 8 and 12 when this top 6 is playing.
Mark Lazerus is reporting Crow may be shut down for the year. Last week it seemed like he was close. Fair to say this is a set back or perhaps the Org has wised up towards the season.
As for the lines absolutely garbage, but who cares at this stage. Nobody wants Thomas Jurco, or Lance Bouma, where is Highmore, Fortain and anyone else close.
SB will hopefully be able to move a core 4 guy once Seattle has their expansion draft. Nobody is giving a 3rd for Seabroke. This team is not close. Hopefully they move Hartman to Winnipeg and pick up an asset.
My fondest memory of the Holland person was in Lake Placed during the summer of 13. I just had meet Bowman (talked to later at 2nd intermission for a bit) so I text my friends and told them. I sat at the upper end of bleachers were there was some scouts (most were on other side were no one else was allowed) and part of crowd. During the first 5 min of 2nd period my phone was blowing up with texts and calls. I have the Chelsea Dagger song for ringtone.
I then realized after seeing 5-10 guys look over at this guy every time ringtone played it was the DET guy. So I let it play for awhile/didn’t answer calls so the song played in full. After bout 10 times that DET guy got up out of his seat and left.
Beauty Clark.
@Morrison
+1 for the Christmas vacation reference
I’m not sure shutting down Crawford is the right thing to if in fact he’s completely recovered and ready to play – but – rushing him back would be the wrong thing to do, obviously. So, I’m kinda on board with keeping Crawford on the shelf until training camp next summer.
I think a big factor for next season will be Dylan Sikura. First, can they sign him and then second is he ready to play a top-6 role in the NHL next season? We kind of lucked out with DeBrincat being ready this year so his confidence will be sky high going into next season. Will we get lucky again with Sikura being ready for the NHL without having to marinate in the AHL for a year (or two)? Assuming he is signed and ready to play, there’s the top-6: 20/19/88/8/12 and Sikura. Not much size but lots of speed and skill.
There are lots of questions on forwards 7 thru 13/14 thought. Who among Anisimov, Hartman, Duclair, and Hinostroza will still be here? Will Hayden get a legit shot to make and stick with the team? Will any of Wingels, Bouma and Jurco be re-signed?
My colleagues here have captured our collective sentiments- so I’m still puzzled as to what SB and his mnmt team see that WE, collectively, see:
1. Hayden needs and deserves to be with the BIG club- end of story!!
2. The Jurco, Wingels and Bouma experiment is over! Deal them for picks, trade them for pucks, but DO something!!
3. Bring up more kids – showcase them and let them get their feet wet- no harm no foul! We are out of contention anyway
4. Plan for the worse if Crawford can’t go 100% of the way
5. Show Seabrook some of his own film highlights from this season – then ask him to waive his NO TRADE
6.Get Sikura and any other good young D
7. Keep invested in Saad!
At this point, does winning matter?
Since that answer is no. One can assume Crawford regardless of his health shouldn’t play. More losses equal more ping pong balls.
What does a bag of pucks get you when dumping Jurco? Nothing. So why dump him to recall Hayden, who we all agree is the better player…when the goal is to get more ping pong balls?
In addition to some good college D… there’s a few guys in Europe that will get signed. Lawrence Pilut a Swedish d who is undersized…but has 36 points in 45 games (leads team) and just turned 22 in December. Second most shorthanded time last year. Currently wearing an “A” for his SHL team….in his age 21 season. His teammate is Victor Ejdsell, who the Hawks went after hard.
EB there is a good group of young wingers. Tonites line of Duclair, Schmaltz, Debrincat could be a line combo next year. Hino and Saad have the best possesion numbers together of any set of Blackhawks wingers this year. They could play with Toews or put Kane up there. If AA still around Sikura maybe a winger with him and Hartman or Hino. Kampf and Hayden hold down the 4th. Hartman if him or any young forwards go to Jets lets hope its a package that brings a Trouba or a Morrissey back. Quality defensemen are needed, undrafted free agents are good depth players but probably aren’t going to fill gaps in your top 3 at the level needed. Agree 61 after Monday play for next year, decide who is a part of it.
Like Ernie, let everybody play. Even the guys most donot want to because we want to wins some games and we donot want to win some games. Were not going to get ahead of FLR and DET they suck. So does EDM I mean they really suck. Its teams like NYR, NYI, CAR, CLB and NJD (yes as good as people thought they were and started in the first 20). We want to be in the middle of those gourps of teams. That as us at 9 pick before draw. I donot think we can get higher then that so those teams in that 2nd group better win enough.