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Chicago Blackhawks Blogger •
Here they are. I'm sure this will be the subject of much discussion. No D's or F's were given. This team exceeded expectation and made the Conference Finals. If any one or two guys had been that bad, I'm not sure they would have gotten that far.
So here goes:
FORWARDS
Toews - A
The 20 year-old captain was a natural. Showed guts and poise throughout the season. Is turning into a goal-scoring machine, in addition to his solid three-zone play. If there was any negative, takes an occasional (rare) dumb penalty.
Kane - B
Worked on his shooting in the offseason and it showed in greater goal production. Still has a lot of work to do, but a much higher ceiling offensively. Still a boy physically. MUST become more disciplined, not taking bad penalties and learnign to at least make a better effort at backchecking.
Brouwer - B+
Everyone expected him to be the scorer he was in junior and the AHL, and he wasn't. What he was wasn't bad, though. Outstanding without the puck, he hit, created space and played defense. He also never looked out of place as the physical winger on the top line.
Havlat - A
Big time player scored big time goals all season. Also was +30 most of the season, leading the team in points while playing on the third line.
Sharp - B+
Fought injury to a knee, but still had a productive season doing what he does best: scoring goals, many of them timely, and killing penalties. Doesn't get the press Kane and Toews or even Havlat does, but a very valuable player and a great teammate.
Bolland - A-
A- for effort and improvement. Arguably the Hawks' most improved player from October through the playoffs.
Ladd - A -
Great defensively and physically. Key part of the Hawks' best line.
Byfuglien - B-
Started slow, but came on strong toward the end of the season and especially in the playoffs as he seemed to really begin to understand and embrace his role.
Versteeg - B+
Fine rookie season. Calder finalist. Needs to play smarter.
Pahlsson - C/I
He was sick when the Hawks got him. Later got (and played) hurt.
Eager - B-
Difference maker as a 4th line player. Needs to avoid dumb penalties and yapping with refs.
Burish - B-
Ditto.
Fraser - B
Hardest of hard workers. Great on the pk.
DEFENSE
Keith - A
Rapidly becoming one of the league's top 5 d-men. One of the best pure athletes, pound for pound, on the planet.
Seabrook - B+
Was great in the playoffs 'til the Detroit series. Stepped up his game overall this year. Now one of the league's top 20-25 d-men.
Campbell - C+
Tough regular season, dealing with very high expectations. DID make the power play much better, which many fans take for granted. Also was the Hawks' best defenseman in the playoffs.
Hjalmarsson - A-/I
Two months out of the AHL and he was part of the Hawks' best pairing through three rounds of the playoffs. Steady, tough, mobile. Has a lot of upside too.
Barker - B-
Improved a lot. Played within himself more, but still makes bad decisions at bad times. His lack of mobility is a problem in his own end.
Walker - B
Tough kid, great teammate, surprisingly good on the PK. Very limited by his lack of mobility.
Johnson - C+
Nice pickup by Dale Tallon. Solid two-way d-man who can occasionally join the rush and play physically.
GOALIES
Khabibulin - B+
Overcame a tough situation by outplaying Huet and regaining the #1 job. Was very consistent. Suffered groin injuries in both the regular season and the playoffs.
Huet - C-
Also came into a tough situation. Had great stretches and not so great stretches. Won over a lot of fans and some in the organization with his amazing performance and solid demeanor after Game 4 and in game 5 of the Conference Finals.
Niemi - C/I
Showed flashes in a couple of appearances. Also looked overwhelmed.
COACH
Quenneville - A-
Came into a fluid situation and did a fine job. Had a great feel for in-game and between game adjustments. Really knows how to put lines together. Should have avoided the Game 4 meltdown in the Conference Finals.
Assistants - A-
Mike Haviland is a future NHL head coach. He has a great eye for talent and character and he is a great teacher. John Torchetti did a fine job as well. The Hawks' special teams were outstanding. But the line changes could have been more disciplined. I don't know the exact stats, but I would suspect, the Hawks were near the top of the league in too many men calls.
MORE TO COME IN THIS OFFSEASON OF FUN!
JJ
So here goes:
FORWARDS
Toews - A
The 20 year-old captain was a natural. Showed guts and poise throughout the season. Is turning into a goal-scoring machine, in addition to his solid three-zone play. If there was any negative, takes an occasional (rare) dumb penalty.
Kane - B
Worked on his shooting in the offseason and it showed in greater goal production. Still has a lot of work to do, but a much higher ceiling offensively. Still a boy physically. MUST become more disciplined, not taking bad penalties and learnign to at least make a better effort at backchecking.
Brouwer - B+
Everyone expected him to be the scorer he was in junior and the AHL, and he wasn't. What he was wasn't bad, though. Outstanding without the puck, he hit, created space and played defense. He also never looked out of place as the physical winger on the top line.
Havlat - A
Big time player scored big time goals all season. Also was +30 most of the season, leading the team in points while playing on the third line.
Sharp - B+
Fought injury to a knee, but still had a productive season doing what he does best: scoring goals, many of them timely, and killing penalties. Doesn't get the press Kane and Toews or even Havlat does, but a very valuable player and a great teammate.
Bolland - A-
A- for effort and improvement. Arguably the Hawks' most improved player from October through the playoffs.
Ladd - A -
Great defensively and physically. Key part of the Hawks' best line.
Byfuglien - B-
Started slow, but came on strong toward the end of the season and especially in the playoffs as he seemed to really begin to understand and embrace his role.
Versteeg - B+
Fine rookie season. Calder finalist. Needs to play smarter.
Pahlsson - C/I
He was sick when the Hawks got him. Later got (and played) hurt.
Eager - B-
Difference maker as a 4th line player. Needs to avoid dumb penalties and yapping with refs.
Burish - B-
Ditto.
Fraser - B
Hardest of hard workers. Great on the pk.
DEFENSE
Keith - A
Rapidly becoming one of the league's top 5 d-men. One of the best pure athletes, pound for pound, on the planet.
Seabrook - B+
Was great in the playoffs 'til the Detroit series. Stepped up his game overall this year. Now one of the league's top 20-25 d-men.
Campbell - C+
Tough regular season, dealing with very high expectations. DID make the power play much better, which many fans take for granted. Also was the Hawks' best defenseman in the playoffs.
Hjalmarsson - A-/I
Two months out of the AHL and he was part of the Hawks' best pairing through three rounds of the playoffs. Steady, tough, mobile. Has a lot of upside too.
Barker - B-
Improved a lot. Played within himself more, but still makes bad decisions at bad times. His lack of mobility is a problem in his own end.
Walker - B
Tough kid, great teammate, surprisingly good on the PK. Very limited by his lack of mobility.
Johnson - C+
Nice pickup by Dale Tallon. Solid two-way d-man who can occasionally join the rush and play physically.
GOALIES
Khabibulin - B+
Overcame a tough situation by outplaying Huet and regaining the #1 job. Was very consistent. Suffered groin injuries in both the regular season and the playoffs.
Huet - C-
Also came into a tough situation. Had great stretches and not so great stretches. Won over a lot of fans and some in the organization with his amazing performance and solid demeanor after Game 4 and in game 5 of the Conference Finals.
Niemi - C/I
Showed flashes in a couple of appearances. Also looked overwhelmed.
COACH
Quenneville - A-
Came into a fluid situation and did a fine job. Had a great feel for in-game and between game adjustments. Really knows how to put lines together. Should have avoided the Game 4 meltdown in the Conference Finals.
Assistants - A-
Mike Haviland is a future NHL head coach. He has a great eye for talent and character and he is a great teacher. John Torchetti did a fine job as well. The Hawks' special teams were outstanding. But the line changes could have been more disciplined. I don't know the exact stats, but I would suspect, the Hawks were near the top of the league in too many men calls.
MORE TO COME IN THIS OFFSEASON OF FUN!
JJ
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