Sharks Can’t Swim With Blackhawks
It took 40 minutes for the Blackhawks to wake up in San Jose, but the offense finally showed up with an explosion in the third period.
The host Sharks out-shot the Blackhawks 26-13 in the first two periods, but Corey Crawford stood tall – especially in the first period. He allowed only two goals, the second of which was redirected perfectly into the net by Brent Seabrook during a Sharks power play during the middle stanza.
Thankfully, some of the Blackhawks slumbering stars continued to wake up and the scoreboard reflected an awakened effort in the third.
Patrick Sharp scored a rare even strength goal in the first period, his first goal in 19 games. In the second, Duncan Keith broke an 18-game scoring draught with a power play marker of his own.
Chicago took it right at San Jose from the start of the third, and the blowout didn’t take long. Brandon Saad scored the game-winner, his 21st of the season, only 1:21 into the period. Less than four minutes later, Brad Richards made a nice play behind the net and found Bryan Bickell all alone in front for an easy snipe; the goal was Bickell’s 12th of the season.
After the Bickell goal, the game was out-of-hand for the Sharks. Sharp added a power play goal at 15:10, and Marian Hossa added an empty net goal at 17:44 to close the books on a six-goal performance for the Hawks.
Antoine Vermette picked up two assists in the game, his first two points as a member of the Blackhawks. He won only six of 19 faceoffs, however, and spent only six seconds on either special teams unit in the game.
Jonathan Toews won 15 of 26 faceoffs against perhaps his most hated rival, Joe Thornton. He picked up an assist on Hossa’s goal and was credited with one takeaway in the game as well.
The box score wasn’t kind to Andrew Shaw (one hit, one takeaway, minus-one in the game) but he had a strong game on the power play. He was parked in front of Antti Niemi for both of the Hawks’ power play goals, and skated 13:50 without taking the obligatory dumb penalty; staying out of the box was impressive for Shaw because the Sharks took their shots at him all afternoon.
Crawford finished with 33 saves and a .943 save percentage in another strong victory.
Former Shark Andrew Desjardins led the Hawks with two hits, but only skated 9:08 in the game. Ben Smith blocked two shots and picked up one hit in 11:28, and won seven of 10 faceoffs. Former Blackhawks… defenseman(?) John Scott got in the way of blocked three shots in the game as well.
Man, when’s the last time we were rolling like that offensively? I can’t even remember.
But I do remember the recent comments by Rufus, ripping on TT. “Good lord,” what a foolish bit of commentary. That kid can play. He’s a nifty passer, pretty solid defensively, and always making things happen. He’s getting better every game. I’m thrilled Q is giving him the rope he needs to grow–and he seems to be getting better every game.
RUFUS: You’re wrong. We’d be less of a team without him.
Go Hawks.
Richards little fake out shot and pass to Bickell was the mark of a real pro. Every Shark was focused on him and left Bicks wide open in the slot. Too bad Shaw couldn’t get assists on those screens because they were perfectly done. Even Crawford got an assist! Nice, still some chemistry, some excitment missing in our play but this was a good game for us. Starting to make our move.
Sharpie sighting and none too soon!
It was kinda iffy there in the first where their forecheck was hemming the Hawks in the d-zone and the Hawks were lucky to get out of the 1st period in a tie game. The 2nd period was a lot of the same, just not quite as one-sided.
But the 3rd period! That was fun. More of that please.
The Hawks came out exceptionally flat to start this game. Outworked, outplayed, out chanced. Crawford yet again with an exceptional performance to keep them in it. I thought the second period they played a lot better, despite only mustering 4 shots on goal. One place we got destroyed in was at the dot. Vermette especially, on the plus side that stretch pass to Sharp for the first goal was just wonderful.
This team seems to be improving. The defence looked incredibly sharp and there were stretches where they dominated the offensive zone. The shots on goal weren’t indicative of possession. That third period, albeit really good, seemed as though the Sharks had lost their drive. All in all it was a hard fought victory, despite the goal, Bickell plays like the softest 6’4 250 pound forward I’ve ever seen. I loved seeing 86 and his intelligence shine. Although his confidence is growing along with his ability I worry he might get eaten alive in a playoff atmosphere. 2 had a solid game, can’t talk enough about 4, and 27 seemed unnoticeable. Which I’ll take as a plus because he was negatively noticeable before his hiatus. 19 is such a boss along with 20, nice to see 10 on the scoresheet twice. Bounces finally going his way.
These next two games in NY will determine how ready we are for the playoffs.
Wow only four responses to the blog? My my my. Circumstantially, this tells us the majority of boozers (eh, excuse me bloggers) are out reveling pre St Patrick’s Day festivities or passed out soon after the game ended. Drink plenty of ice water all day tomorrow.
Blues lose and Preds are losing to the Kings with a tough back to back with the Ducks tomorrow. After tonight the Preds will have played two more games than the Hawks. Home ice for at least the first round looks a whole lot better than a couple weeks ago.
TT’s hands and vision are elite and he has a great two way awareness for a 20 year old. He made a couple of passes today that were really impressive. It will be interesting to see how he handles more physical play but he has made significant progress since earlier in the year.
It’s not just TT’s hands/passing/vision – which are all elite – but he has the knack for finding soft spots in the zone when he doesn’t have the puck. He thinks the game so well. He’s one of those players that sees where the play will go and get’s to the spot he needs to be. Yeah – gonna be fun watching him mature and get better and better. I think he has a good chance of being a top player in the league.
Thank you all = good comments…especially about Teravainen. I guess I believed the hype from the beginning because he was rated by about everyone 5th-to-11th (in “The Year of the Defenseman” draft)….it’s not like it was all Hawks PR. And, I’ve questioned all along how Rufus could assess/claim that he wasn’t a fit with the Hawks – offensive skill, IQ off the charts, and amazing (for a teenager at the time he was taken) attention to defensive responsibility/positioning. The only thing he lacked, lacks is size (and strength?). I believe he could develop into a Kane-like force – we’ll see…
Pretty good effort after the first 10 minutes. Ihope this means they’re starting to steamroll into the post season…GO HAWKS!!
Wow crazy to think that the hawks are still on the way up,with out Kane, and with some average new guys….. right ER
The Almighty says this must be a fashionable fight. It’s drawn the finest (people) posters tonight.
More TT love… On the PP- the kid is one of the few guys who can carry it in on his own.
On the 1st PP, Shark’s PK-had the idea- that they would simply attack ANY Hawk w/ puck near a board or blue line… so Rt. Point attacked, Rt. mid Half board attack, puck goes to TT low Right boards, TT calmly drops a pass to the MOST open area on ice – Center between the Circles- WHERE NO ONE IS!!!… Seabrook was lingering near the blue line between left point and limbo!!! Why is it that a 20 year old from Finland has a better idea of HOW to alleviate pressure from an attacking PK- than all of the other NHL/Hawks/coaches???? I have said it several times… Ya gotta ATTACK the Seams- in this case the SEAM was literally the Center of the Hawk’s O zone… Yet #7 – is having a lunchbreak near the Blue line???
Yes- the only question is/was TT’s Size and willingness to compete on Boards- Just like others before him- 25, 5, TT is learning to Keep his skates along the boards… so Kudos to the Coaches/players for helping develop this ability.
Laughable- TT had two steals on one possession in the Hawk’s O zone… yet- had none in the stats!!!
Shaw took another beating…
Bickelled- I came up with a new term- any time a players seems like he has or should have control of the puck- and the puck somehow Jumps away– BICKELLED!!!
In all serious – nice to see 29 actually try to go to the net on several plays (only took 60 games and a wearing of Raanta Jersey/benching- to get to the net)
Great game. TT is for real and this year. He played great and set up Saad on his goal and did great things the entire game. Some people just like to rain on the parade. That I think explains the prior unwarranted attacks on TT.
Didn’t see the game, just the highlights on this one, but I am not suprised to see positive comments about TT. Really, how could you not understand the obvious fact that this kid is going to be something special. To me he is a talent that has a little Kane, and a little Toews, probably more Kane but I suspect his defense will get better too, even as far as getting time on the PK where he could be really dangerous. Hawks are coming around, confidence seems to be growing and Corey Crawford is rounding into nice form just at the right time of the year.
Power play is still a mystery and I don’t expect it to get better any time soon unless, changes are made. Probably more change in strategy than personnel. To me it seems like the Hawks have no urgency on the PP, everything is so casual, perhaps there is more concern with getting burned and giving a shortie than on actually scoring with the man advantage. Most teams post a guy on the blue line(flanker) as on option for puck carrier and a distraction for the defender . It is a simple thing but when teams are lining up 4 across the blue line, it helps with the entry. Especially if you can figure out how to get one of the PK unit on a forecheck , then you only have 3 guys lined up, of which only two can stack the blue line. I realize this is all fluid but, just like in battle formation you have to out-flank your opponent, can ‘t understand why Hawks don’t employ this fundamental PP strategy. This flanking strategy could be a baseline formation and then you tweak and tailor, add a second flanker, put your quickest guy on the flank, dump it to that corner on occasion.
The PP should resemble an organized attack, have flexibility to keep the PK unit guessing and utilize personnel to match the strategy. Seems simple right? I suppose Q sees that the PP is not last in the league (14th)and probably gives up fewer shorties than most(5 so far, which is not great), so he can live with it – this the kind of thinking from a defensive minded coach that will hurt the team in the playoffs when special teams are so much more important. I guess the Hawks spend so much time grooming the PK that the PP probably suffers. Can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Strong win, great third period. Anyone happen to catch TvR’s performance in Rockford? Only his first game back but still curious. On a related note, does Tab or anyone know if the team can fit him under the cap during the regular season? Thanks.
Nice to see some goals, but the game was hardly a confidence booster from my point of view. Playing a team out of the playoffs with serious organizational dysfunctionality (Thornton/Wilson and reported locker room chasm), the Sharks owned the Hawks for 1st 60 minutes. Will take the goals, but was a bit reminiscent of many Hawks games where we own pace of play but game is tied after 1st/2nd period (in this case in the opposite manner), which was nice… CC looked good again and team is limiting 2nd chances, BUT- 27 SOG after 1st 2 periods (to Hawks 13)? Jeez.
As a TT skeptic, I am pleased to see growth in his ability to stay of feet while finding a way to make plays and will reserve judgement until playoffs. He’s clearly an asset on PP and if properly paired up (particularly with Kane out), he brings needed puckhandling skill on ST’s.
Would also like to continue seeing 10 on top line in hopes they start/keep going in for him, but HAD to get 23 off that line.
Happy to take the win and nice change to get one where the score does not necessarily reflect the games flow…
That’s “pleased to see TT stay ON his feet when making plays…”
Negzz- completely agree on 23 off of the 1st line…
either 10 or Saad – on 1st/2nd lines
23 can skate with 91 on 3rd lie… buy 91 some time to skate into the zone (late)
Guys I agree on 23. He is not a North-South/power forward player by any means and he was the replacement for 20. Shaking my head profusely over that decision. This coaching staff has made some strange line configurations.
Good question about fitting TvR in under the Cap or not. The comment was made that the Hawks needed the delta between Smith’s and Desjardins’ Cap hits ($750K), PLUS needed SJ to retain half of Desjardins’ salary in order to be able to keep TT and Nordstrom on the roster. Without Capgeek it’s not as easy to answer Cap related questions, but the Smith/Desjardins trade leads me to think there isn’t any/much Cap space left. I think TvR’s Cap hit is around $900K so a player or two would need to be waived to get TvR on the roster before the playoffs. There’s no Cap in the playoffs so maybe they just wait until then to add him to the roster.
Re: TVR cap hit: Let’s dump worthless Carcillo.
Negzz comments 100% accurate. Last 14 games kind of tough with back to backs and some very strong opposition. We need to get every point we can get of course. The team certainly has the potential to do real well during this period and that will be the best indicator for us fans how we do in the playoffs. I think we started to make our move but then again so has everyone else. Not sold on Timonen still, hope he has his legs and moves back for the playoffs, heck of a time to be going through conditioning but thats what we got. All those tanking teams are shameful and a disgrace to the NHL. Fans cheering for their team to keep losing. They got to fix that as its very sad to see a race to the bottom.
Very solid game . . .Teravainen is okay, ya gotta remember anyone you “insert” on the top two lines is going to do well for the Hawks literally anyone. Vermette is really good and he will learn the lines, and hopefully he does not get jerked around too much,I do like Krueger having protection on the 4th line in Desjardins so he can play a even more open and have his back protected. Krueger may be gone next year but his effort for me is always there and hate to see him get BEAT UP (hurt) with no protection. So much for the lame bloggers on Sharp? Again goals in front of the next and net front presence, seems SHAW gets that memo but still see lots of hawks drift to the corners and not in the slot and many pucks just slide across the slot and no one there for like 20 feet it;s a plague. Watch the Philly game they fill in the slot by habit, so if Hawks can get focused and draw straws for each line to dedicate one GUY be the net front presence they will do very well, but not sure we got those type of players, not that they cant but not in the DNA lots of passers and stick handlers, need some grit to win the cup.
I am another who is positive on TT…for those negative about him, how many 19/20 year olds can you cite in any organization over the years that have or had similar instincts, rink awareness, exceptional passing ability like his? The answer is very few I believe.
I echo many of the comments above…he sees the ice so well, anticipates innately , sees plays develop before they actually do, etc…sort of like a good baseball manager that has a game laid out several innings in advance.
In my opinion, those abilities already are 2nd only to 88 on the Hawks. He clearly has skills to set the table for linemates much beyond the average NHL player. He only can get better. Strength and a bit more grit will come, more confidence will as well. I think he will be an exceptional player in a year or two and deserves regular ice time now for that to happen. Down the line when both he and Kane are healthy, the Hawks will have two players with above described passing, table-setting talents. Most teams don’t have one…GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
TT does have elite passing skills-his quickness from receiving to passing just doesnt happen on this team, even with 88-his teammates and opponents are sometimes thrown by the pass and not ready.
Part of the fun of this team is watching unique skills-2 crossing over at the blueline, a 19 wrap around, 88 entering the zone with the puck and now 86 anticipating where the pass needs to go.
The Cups have been beautiful gravy.
Mike the Mook, first you say that other teams game plan is to give up 44 shots on goal the the Hawks and now that the Hawks should play more like Philly? I’m worried about you, friend.
Anyway, while the Sharks are all over the map in consistency, they came out absolutely blazing on Saturday. Maybe that was Doug Wilson’s intention? Or maybe he’s just an idiot that doesn’t know how good of a hockey player Joe Thornton is. His offseason solution to fixing the Sharks was stripping Joe of the C and signing people that can’t play hockey (looking at you, John Scott).
Corey Crawford, once again, earned that paycheck. Meanwhile, 2010 hero Antti Niemi has to wonder if another team is going to give him a contract for 2016. Not that he was to blame for much on Saturday, but he’s been pretty mediocre (his entire career).
P.S. Versteeg is posting the highest P/60 of any Blackhawk. While I don’t need him skating on the top line, I understand why he is. He’s been extremely productive this year.
I thought the Hawks played well simply considering that the Sharks going into the game were just 3 points out of a wild card spot. They came out aggressive and desperate. Usually that is a 10 minute surge but the Sharks made their desperation last almost 40 minutes. The Hawks (and Crawford) weathered the storm and played an extremely strong 3d period vs. a drained team.
My biggest beef with Versteeg is holding onto the puck too long, usually resulting in a takeaway or a bad pass. Where he slots in is a good question.
Nice to see Bicks and Sharpie (and even Keith) to pot goals. This might be that game people come back to as a “turning” point. Kane goes down and this is the moment we “figured it out” and got it rolling towards the playoffs. The preds are in complete free fall and the Hawks have 3 games in hand on them (back 5 points). I see no reason to believe we cant catch them.
I’ll even go out and give us more than a puncher’s chance at catching STL (Back 5, 1 game in hand 2 more games h2h). The next 2 days will be huge. As the first of 3 remaining back to backs, we need to show what we have. Also, the Rangers game marks the first game of the last “big” road trip. Man I love this time of year… Ready for tomorrow night!
The Preds record says “free fall”, but I watched their game against the Ducks last night and they play really well. Their speed and relentless forecheck and pursuit of the puck is impressive. They are as aggressive a forechecking team as I’ve seen and they work very well as a 5-man unit to do so. I’ve seen only a couple games during this swoon they’ve had and both games they looked like the better team only somehow lost the game. They remind me of Calgary in a way where the sum is greater than the parts and they’re very hard to play against. Whatever it is that is ailing the Preds lately is probably not going to continue – they’re too good a team to not get back on track.
I noticed the first time the Hawks played the Islanders this season, the Islanders had lost three in a row before beating the Hawks 3-2. The Islanders go into the game with the Hawks on Tuesday on a three game losing streak. Coincidence? I think not … I think it’s the karmic reset button being pushed – this time the result will be as it should be. :)
The Sharks are in disarray. The Hawks still gave up 35 shots on goal which continues that crappy trend. Weird to see this “core group” lean on goaltending so much.
Entertaining enough game to watch.
Aside from the New York teams and STL twice, the Hawks end the year with a favorable schedule.
Js ya missed no need to worry, but my point, all i am saying is I, like you watch a lot of hockey not just Hawk games, and indeed Philly is very good at getting to the net as are the KINGS as Rangers as a unit and “strategy” and they do it pretty consistently that is all and that is painfully obvious to any NHL. And sadly it is YES, teams can and do and will give the Hawks 35 or40 or 50 shots as has happened already and maybe give up one goal. ONLY because no screens, no net front presence and no one bringing the puck to the net with intention all perimeter play. SO YES 50 shots all from Fort Wayne or Milwaukee is perfect 50 shots at 6 foot 3 goal tender who can see it coming, GREAT but obviously PUCK POSSESSION is key to, so if ya give up 5o shots ya don’t have the puck much, So that is hockey 101, no traffic, all shots all clear to net easy to pick up, no screens, no rebounds, no big bodies in front so defense has to collapse, well that is not good, long term. That is all I am saying and it’s not new news at all. That also means Hawks have to play well with all 4 lines and play at a high level to get that “picture perfect highlight reel” goals, but in reality it the grease, the grind that wins longterm it’s just easier! amen brother
So i am clear on this board that i respect, when the Hawks lost BUFF they lost a net front tuffness, presence and skill set they never replaced. I am not saying we 4 lines that crash the net or even on but a player or two, but the more we don’t fill the void and ask Shaw to do so, who is doing it well, the more the Hawks will struggle and the more the time they will be to hold the puck , skate, pas, skate stick handle, deek, skate some more etc. It is Contagious to play that way, not in a good way, when you see a player get tuff, greazzzey and gritty in front of the net it also sets a tone too. I just miss Buff . . . I strongly feel Toews at times needs to step up on the offensive end, getting his body to the net more just to send a message to team mates? Otherwise Hawks make a simple game into a way tooo complex and silly fans see one hight light goal a month and get fooled. Go hawks, still one of the best teams out there.
I was 10 days in Ireland and had to resort to some condensed re-runs of the Rangers, Yotes, and Sharks games to get some connection. I am happy with the points being tallied on road games, and overall the Hawks remain in contention to get some home ice for the playoffs which is worth playing for. The Kaneless Hawks are still finding their way offensively, although until Sharks game goals have been tough to come by. CC is keeping the boys in games which is important, but I find opposing teams are getting too many quality scoring chances uncontested between the rings a continuing issue that needs to get resolved if this team is going to really get rolling.
Sharpy denting the net a few times vs Sharks is a good sign. Bicks MUST get to the net to be effective. Sorry to state the obvious there….Shaw meanwhile is willing to do so in just about every game and does a fine job of becoming a moving screen to block keepers vision of the puck. We need more guys to do this. Teuvo Teravainen continues to improve and this is a very positive trend moving forward down the stretch run and the playoffs. Good things can happen whenever the puck gets on his stick. He is the one guy that can really create offense similar to what Kane brings. Since I was on;ly able to watch condensed games via NHL GameCenter, I didn’t see what TT’s PP time was. I hope Q finds a way to get him more ice time in these situations if not just on the 2nd unit. The kid either finds guys that are open, or else he creates space for Hawks to skate into for scoring chances. All good things. It will only get better with this youngster IMO.
AJ, I agree our schedule isn’t bad down the stretch except for a very tough back to back Jets-Kings sequence and the last week. There are points there that could get us into 2nd place. Preds were due to fall back, so no surprise there seeing them flounder of late. Can the Blues keep the gas pedal down is the real question. First round playoff grid would make for interesting wager material. Standings are up for grabs down the stretch.
I am very excited to get back to watching live hockey tomorrow night at the UC. Feels like its been a long time. By the way, I am pleased to report through numerous quality checks that the Guinness in Ireland IS much than it is here in the States or anywhere else for that matter!
Lets Go Hawks!
2011 – Hawks 4th in the league in scoring.
2012 – Hawks 7th in the league in scoring.
2013 – Hawks 2nd in the league in scoring.
2014 – Hawks 1st in the league in scoring.
To be fair, at this moment they are 11th, but they spent most of the season at the very top in terms of scoring, even after a terrible start. We can reassess this towards the end of the year. Numbers would indicate that the Hawks should start scoring more frequently since most of them have lower than usual shooting numbers, even while generating chances from similar places to years past.
So I don’t know why the Hawks miss Byfuglien, someone that wants to play defense and not be a “net front presence” when over the course of a season, they have no problems scoring goals.
Re: Phil…great, now I have to go to Ireland to get a REAL Guinness! Thats the only brewski I like…in a big can with the little ball thingie inside to activate it…now have to think I’m missing out. To JS…thought much the same about the goal scoring and players production reverting to something more normal for us. Certainly hope that holds true and keeping my fingers crossed and hopes up…if it is we are in very very good shape…if the current trend continues we could be in for a rough go.
Phil, theres nothing like the original stuff. The 75% or higher red apples.
We do need to do better with the wide open shots against from the middle of slot, too many. Just need to limit as little as possible.
JS, whats also extremely important is the ga. Were top1or2 ga in 2013 and 2015 (and pk too). Got the numbers on those others yrs.
Mining, with more guys getting monkeys of now, they will be able to play more loose/grip sticks better.
Still no rufus sighting…. if TT continues to play well will he just leave the blog all together?
I’m sad to report that my wife informed me late yesterday of prior made St Pats Day family obligations at home which will deny me watching the game in person tonight. Sonofa….Happily though JS is going to sit in my seats to root the guys on. While I wish Nick Leddy well with his new team, I can only hope the Hawks light up the Isles tonight even though Leddy was recently injured and may not play. If the Hawks play a solid 2 way game they should grab the 2 points. Talk of Versteeg maybe sitting in the press box??
Lets Go Hawks!
Sigh. Lets be VERY clear on something. I do not disagree that Teuvo is a gifted hockey player. Skating ability, puck on his stick, maybe vision. But I will not deviate from my strong (and growing) opinion that he is an ill-fitting piece for the Blackhawks…now and into the future. He’s not going to cut it within the Quenneville system of play. And there is snowball’s chance in hell his game can develop and translate to the reality that is ruggedized Western Conference hockey. If it’s me? I trade Teuvo in the offseason. I don’t like him…and will not make any apologies for that. And it is tragic and idiotic if anybody try to draw comparisons to a Patrick Kane. Whoever would due that is a fu(king hockey idiot that simply looks at body type and puck on stick skills to make a very stupid, uninformed comparison. Which by the way is supremely dismissive and insulting to Patrick Kane.
Rufus T. Firefly
Dated: 3/17/15
Save for posterity sake and get back to me in a year
Gotta love it when somebody spells the word “do” as DUE and then calls other people idiots.
A long time ago, I learned never to speak in such ‘absolutes’.
I dont see Q hating on TT. I see Q treating TT like he has treated all the other top talent when they first surfaced like Saad, Shaw, even that silly Jimmy Hayes guy. But honestly, enough assumptions about TT for now, only time will tell. It is a bit early for such judgements, I think we will see Q give TT a solid chance as he deserves. The rest is up to TT and over the past 4 games, he has been doing just fine.
So TT would need to change his game to the reality that is ruggedized Western Conference hockey … hmmm … do you mean like the other Hawk players have? And here I thought the Hawks were a finesse team at a disadvantage against those rugged W.C. teams. OOPS, my mistake, I now realize it’s only TT that is a finesse wimp incapable of playing against the rugged players in the W.C. Quick – trade him ASAP to an Eastern Conference team before they get rugged and then he won’t be manly enough to play anwhere in the NHL and he will be just another wasted draft pick. Oh, this is so depressing. One minute I was envisioning a burgeoning great player and the next I realize he’s a 98 pound weakling barely strong enough to lift his hockey stick. Poor Teuvo. Poor us.
Not trying to incite anything, but Rufus, what makes you feel he doesnt fit? im just curious.
Im of the opinion he can be very valuable is paired right. Pairing with Vermette/Saad is a very good fit. I think he could (next year) also fit in as a LW for Hossa and Toews. Both hossa and Toews are all over the ice and are guys you cant leave open… and if teams do gravitate or try to bang TT, TT has the accumine to get 19/81 the puck and 19/81 will make teams pay. That would leave Saad/Kane to be centered by C2 (whoever it is next year).
This would also mean Sharp is probably out but i think is all but assumed by most… and if we are going to be in a cap issue anyway, TT used in this scenerio is one way of fitting TT in long term.
having one smallish top 6 fwd (Kane) does limit TT’s ability to be rostered because his talents arent a fit on a Grinder/energy/ “3rd” line and you probably wouldnt want TT and Kane on the same line. So that leave TT as a distributor/shooter for a fourth line and PP specialist or you need to play him in a top 6 role but opposite line from Kane. So move Kane to the top line or play TT on the top line.
The idea would be do 20/19/88, with TT/2C/81, but i think its been shown enough that Q likes to split his best two guys and play 81/19 over 88/19.
I do agree TT isnt a good fit for the Q Blender (as ive outlined, he has limit spots to fit) and thus I could see a reason to trade him if the right deal is there.
However, the Right deal will be hard to find. We will be up vs the cap as it is so if we trade him, we cant take cap back without being in the same problem. and getting back a valuable piece at a moderate cap hit wont happen because what team would trade a valuable piece withe a good cap hit to a top team… no one… The only deal would could probably swing is for a “just as young, just as unproven” prospect or a slew of picks. Sure maybe you could move him for a winger with more size like Erne or Rychel but they might be misses too long term (and Cbus/TB would have to “want” TT).
Maybe im boiling it down to much, but i feel its more realistic to look at what good he can provide in the short and long term, than figure out ways to see him out of town. Unless someone comes knocking, i dont see SB just selling him for the sake of selling him.
Tsk-Tsk Rufus, calm down a little, maybe have a snickers bar or something. You know I actually dared to compare TT with Kaner, understanding that I might have to bear the wrath of the ‘Omniscient RTF’. Despite your strong objections I will stand by my strong belief that TT is a special player that will do great things for the Hawks. Furthermore what a bunch of ‘baloney’ it is to say that TT will never fit in the Q’s system. Proof is in the pudding pal, Q is already using him on the PP, and giving him quality minutes. I humbly await the vitriol that you, ‘toute de suite'(little French Canadian for ya mademoiselle), will sling my way.
Hey Rufus, what about Morin?
What’s lost in the shuffle of all this Teravainen mud slinging is Bowman and Q were in lock step on this guy’s development. Bowman all along said it’d be a “process” when people were clamoring for him to play earlier in the year. He recently commented the staff thought TT might be a good trade deadline addition, meaning he might be ready to contribute at the NHL level by March after some seasoning in the minors.
They gave him a taste, sent him back down, and now he’s in the lineup. What remains to be seen is if he can contribute in a meaningful way as we go down to the wire and into the playoffs. He certainly is skilled and his vision is off the charts.
The issue is not if Teravainen fit’s in he does, his size limits his physical impact and he fits the Hawks profile, if he can score 25 to 30 goals a year Hawks will find a spot BUT Hawks size is really the ISSUE, something to address so all he does is add yet another “under sized” forward with mad skills. Seabrook has size and so does ye ole captain Toews but seldom do they play a physical game, ever. Teravainen is solid but hawks really need a one or two Grinders and Net Front Presence type of players. A “Scott Hartnell” type of player who has the DNA to get into the corners, finish checks and live for rebounds and loose pucks, sadly that STUFF is not really teachable, it’s heart it’s determination it’s havign to work harder to make a team a la Shaw. So yeah, Teravainen is pretty good ( too light for me i’d showcase him and trade him) but Hawks need more balance and next year we’ll be short a few more players. Hossa has a huge contract as does Seabrook. I think one of the Hayes Brothers might have been a better investment?
Crikey. Someone on this site suggests that Teuvo can be an option at…wait for it…LEFT WING. I don’t know what to say to that. Other than the quality of the posts on this site have gone to the crapper. Let me just say this. I would like for you boys and girls to watch tonight’s game and fix your singular attention on Teuvo’s movements on the ice. I’m not at tonight’s game as headed out of town in the early AM for business. But do me and WATCH. And I will give any of you a free cookie if you see Teuvo within 10 feet of the dasher boards or behind rhe net. And this against an Eastern Confernce opponent no less.