Report: David Rundblad To Replace Kimmo Timonen
According to Chicago media on Wednesday morning, it appears Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville will make a roster move for Game Six.
David Rundblad, who lost his roster spot in favor of Kyle Cumiskey ahead of Game Two of the Western Conference Final, appears to be replacing Kimmo Timonen on Wednesday night. Rundblad stepped into the lineup for Game One of the series in the wake of Michal Rozsival’s injury, and skated 10:47 in Chicago’s 4-1 loss.
At least Rundblad can skate. Not sure why this is being done last minute when it was long apparent that the Kimmo project had failed, but I think this is their best band aid for the present, and lets see how Q rotates the six guys on and back end.
Lets Go Hawks!
Rundblad back in, best of a sub par lot I suppose. They are clearly grasping at straws since that’s all they’ve got.
Agree totally Phil. At least 5 could skate. However, still not happy with Q waiting until we are a game from elimination to make this move…last minute just like last year with Zus. He should have done it in games 3-4 when he had the last change with home ice and could control when 5-6 dmen were on the ice. Now we are down 3-1 in the series. Regardless of the outcome of this series, I believe Q made too many mistakes in this series. He is blessed with a great core that beats the heart of a champion. I still believe that core will overcome his mistakes.
Go Hawks!!!! Hawks 5-2 over the Ducks tonight. Andersen gets pulled… Crow has his best game of the playoffs. TT, Vermette, & Sharp get 2 or 3 goals tonight. Bickell has 10 plus hits tonight one of which makes Kesler miss a couple shifts…
There is no right answer. This is like picking your method of execution. Do you want to get killed by the old, slow guy or the faster one who panics every time the puck comes his way?
I may bring a set of these to the game tonight since this is likely to happen every time 5 hits the ice:
https://screen.yahoo.com/oops-crapped-pants-undergarments-elderly-000000402.html
Hopefully Q didn’t wait too long to make this change… And unfortunately for Runblad, he is being put in a high pressure situation…
Hopefully he doesn’t do something bad to cause everyone grief! If he does, is it really on him?
I’d rather see what Pokka can do, could not be much worse…
God help us,…an elimination game with Runblad and Cuminskey as your 5th and 6th against one of the deepest teams in the league.
Deep down I’m guessing Timmo is glad he’s scratched!
Hopefully the next time we see Kimmo is when someone passes him the Stanley Cup!
Glad the rumors about TVR didn’t come to pass. His possible future on this team is more important than risking any more harm to him, physically or mentally. Gotta play the cards you’re dealt. Hopefully the home crowd will give Rundblad the juice he needs to calm the jitters. Neither he nor Cumiskey needs to do anything but play safe and play smart. The rest will take care of itself. Hope that’s the message.
I wonder what the lines would look like. Something like this could work well.
2-7 (The pairing in the NHL)
4-5 (hjalmarsson on his forehand now)
27-26 (They seemed to show decent chemistry together)
IMHO, #29 played his best ever when teamed with Toews and Kane during the 2013 run to the Cup. Any chance of the 29-19-88 line being put back together this year?
SSHM, I was thinking the exact same thing you typed, Cumiskey and Rundblad as the Blackhawks 5-6 defensemen, wow. Rundblad gets a chance to redeem himself.
Their defensive depth was thinner than they thought, but it’s all up to the players now. Execute and win or go home.
half of one 6 dozen of the other
I hate to play what if, but what if the Hawks had kept Clendening instead of dealing him for a low level prospect. Months later that move is still a head scratcher.
No GM makes all the right moves but tonights lineup is scary. Hope Tab isnt righting the Hawks Obit soon but im very scared.
SSHM… I am sure Q will limit the ice time of Runblad and Cumiskey… He will ride the core 4 especially if things don’t go well…
This is do or die so… let them play and let us pray!
IF HAWKS can continue that wicked stretch pass that started in period 2, they will be fine.
…..the extreme coaching skills demonstrated have backfired so far…..Crawford has proven once and for all he is not an elite goaltender….the core group is under siege and the additional cast are barely visible…..sadly I see the season ending on a sour note…..quack,quack,quack…..
Boys…….I know this situation is tough on the entire team and the fan base. My guess is that you will not see Rundblad or Cumiskey change up “on the fly”. Q knows that they both can skate, but Rundblad’s best asset is his shot, so he will ONLY put him on the ice when there is an offensive zone faceoff and there is a chance that he can unleash his cannon at the net. They will NEVER be on the ice together, unless we are winning 7-1 with a minute left in the game…….and possibly not even then.
HOF…….you made a great statement when you said, “Rundblad gets a chance to redeem himself”. Wouldn’t it be fitting that he scores the winning goal and the Hawks move on to game 7? What makes this team so enjoyable to watch is that even the “non superstar” players contribute. Let’s hope that Rundblad and Cumiskey can contribute to a win, tonight.
GO HAWKS!!
I’m still a fbig an of Rundblad, he is only 24 years old a year older then TVR. He could develop over time his hard core defensive skills, he has to become much more physical and he is about the exact same size as TVR one of this guys will be here next year. Both are not physical enough for me, too much stick too much reach in we got enough of that in our core four we need, guys who own the wall, stand up and clear the crease, it’s a mind set not a body type! Both do not have the skills currently to help out or skate around or avoid such an aggressive ducks forecheck.
Rundblad to me has such an great upside on the offensive end. If he plays more than 10 minutes tonight he will SCORE.
Kimmo should not have been anywhere near this series. Not one minute on the ice his age is an issue and his size even in his Hey-Day, not my kind of guy. Kimmo is soooo slow and even technically he is just okay with his stick and body position.
Go hawks, lets win one the “mans way” regulation no more ot’s. Finish strong!
Keith and Sharp tonight!
whad up with Viktor Svedberg? Anyone see him play in Rockford? Seems like a good stay at home defender with extreme size . . . did i miss something here?
HELP!
SSHM I don’t know if Clendening would have been called upon, he was not up for Vancouver very long. And low level prospect, maybe, I really liked what I saw of Forsling at the junior championships last year. I would be shocked he is not here in Chicago within 3 years. Also when we do get to the finals this year, I won’t be surprised if TVR is deemed ready to play.
Two Rockford related comments …
SSHM – if Rundblad drives you nuts with turnovers and inconsistent play, you’d get that with Clendening in spades.
Mook, on Svedberg – He had a below average year salvaged by a good final month and playoff games in which he was paired with Stephen Johns. Bowman just talked briefly about him in the Insider Podcast … he has always been a project, as i said started playing better the last 6 weeks or so. I doubt he’d have been called up if Johns hadn’t broken his forearm.
Gustav Forsling isn’t a low level prospect. He starred at the world juniors a couple years ago. Also, Adam Clendening was sent Utica after playing some games for the Canucks, and did not skate in a playoff game for the Canucks.
Might be able to make the case for Dahlbeck, but then you dont have Vermette.
Agree MTM- 26 & 5 is not ideal but it is better than 44 anywhere near the UC. Cumiskey has improved with each game and his speed is very evident when the Ducks play the dump and chase. Unfortunately when they do catch up to him he is weak on the puck. 5 is a better passer than 44 so who knows maybe he will surprise us with a few pinpoint stretch passes. I think we win tonight and force game 7.
Our Rundblad
Who art on defense
Hallowed be thy shot
Thy game 6 come
Thy win be done
In Chicago as it was in Anaheim (second and third period)
Give us this day a savior on defense
And forgive us our cursing
As we forgive those who Bickell against us
Lead us not into overtime
and deliver us from elimination.
For thine kingdom is the playoffs and the campbell bowl
But the cup is forever
Amen
Chevrier… Very well done! LOL!
This is actually a pretty good move. Think about it, if the Hawks are able to advance to the finals 44 is still a liability.
If 5 & 26 can gain some confidence and just do their job & not get too fancy they are the best option at this point. If they are rotated in & paired with 2,4 & 7 I think they can give some serviceable minutes & give the top 4 d-men a break here and there.
I like this move as it shows they are thinking ahead if they should advance.
No doubt 44 is a warrior and has been giving his all, unfortunately this is a young mans game. I think deep down 44 knows his tank is empty.
Stick tap to Kimmo for giving his all, and I truly hope he is the second hawk to carry the cup, he deserves it!!
FR. Chevrier. God bless. Can you compose a prayer please for fair officiating by that sinner McCauley?
Wow Chevrier that was pretty awesome great job, that had me laughing, especially the Bickell part (don’t pull a Homer).
We’ll done Chevrier! Well done!
Bravo Chevrier! The Lord Stanley’s Prayer. I like it!
So far 5 has had just about every error wind up in the back of the net. Hopefully his luck changes, or rather, his teammates can bail him out, all depth players need to lean on their teammates from time to time. It’s pretty weird to watch how luck works in hockey, over the years we’ve seen Duncan Keith get bailed out time and time again after horrendous exit passes, whiffing on pucks, etc. By the way, if you think I’m comparing Duncan Keith to David Rundblad, kindly kill yourself. What I’m saying is the kid is going to make errors, everybody does, and his team needs to pick him up. If the Blackhawks decide to play three periods, and play their possession game like they have shown they can, they will be playing to 5’s strengths. And for crying out loud, you got to feel better having 44 out of the lineup in case a top 4D man has to miss shifts, that was my biggest head scratcher previously, and it might save the team an early time out. Very excited for the game, might have to pick up some oops I crapped my pants for myself.
HOFMEISTER thank YOU for the info on Svedberg . . . his shear size is impressive but that doesn’t = skill.
thanks again
Hawks1961 Agree totally on Cumiskey, he has quick feet and close in skills and he is actually improving each game which is amazing at this level, it’s not november! But your right the ability to hold the puck, for 2 seconds and stay on your skates with your head up is EVERYTHING, funny it’s actually easy to spot talent, the good ones are very easy the average ones can fool ya. Johnny O has had a solid series and is going un-mentioned. Maybe he lights it up . . .
Go Hawks
Go CROW
Big boys rules. Kaner and Hoss score goals. Bicks brings it.
Chev… lol
Hof- pretty spot on with both Svedberg and Cden… Cden was terrible in “mini” tryout for Hawks…. and is not a good skater…
Runbad… shows some great skating/shooting from time to time… but as someone said… most of his mistakes… end up in our net!!! Cross your fingers all!!!
Chevy – golden!
Rundblad was fine tonight which is saying a lot. 8 shifts, no gaffes, couple of good passes. Not on the ice for any goals against. That’s the most we can and should expect.