1.) Winning cures all

2.) He's been very un-Q so far. Minimal tinkering so far, let's see what happens the first time the offense hits a dry spell. Will he let them try and work through it, or will the non-stop line juggling begin? Hopefully, this year, Q keeps his Pop-O-Matic Bubble random line generator safely stowed in his all closet.
- Ogilthorpe2

Agree 1000 per cent. I'm a big believer in familiarity, especially when it comes to forming lines on a hockey team. The idea to put 36 with 10 and 88 was a stroke of genius and through 2 games, the dividends are clearly apparent. Really hope the overly analytic Q leaves this triad intact for a good 10-15 games to see what's what.

1.) Winning cures all

2.) He's been very un-Q so far. Minimal tinkering so far, let's see what happens the first time the offense hits a dry spell. Will he let them try and work through it, or will the non-stop line juggling begin? Hopefully, this year, Q keeps his Pop-O-Matic Bubble random line generator safely stowed in his all closet.
- Ogilthorpe2

+1

The coaching staff also deserves credit for doing a great job distributing the minutes the first two games, especially on D. I forgot what it's like to not have 2 and 7 run into the ground.

Fair enough but what is plan B if Crawford pulls a groin and is out for 20 games

What then?

Did you see Emery last night .......ouch!
- PEIHawkFan

For immediate goaltending help you gotta look to Ottawa. They are the only legitimate team that can move a goalie right now. More options will open later as teams slip off the pace but seeing this team as I see it now there should be no hesitation in finding an upgrade for Emery that is capable of taking over the job. Bishop was grabbed for a 2nd rounder at the TDL last season and hasn't done much to raise his value since. I know Ottawa needs help on the back end, but unless they are willing to offer up Lehner or Anderson (I doubt either is available) then I can't see giving up a roster player.

Bishop for Olsen or Stanton and Beach or a 2nd in 2014?

1.) Winning cures all

2.) He's been very un-Q so far. Minimal tinkering so far, let's see what happens the first time the offense hits a dry spell. Will he let them try and work through it, or will the non-stop line juggling begin? Hopefully, this year, Q keeps his Pop-O-Matic Bubble random line generator safely stowed in his all closet.
- Ogilthorpe2

LMAO!

+1

The coaching staff also deserves credit for doing a great job distributing the minutes the first two games, especially on D. I forgot what it's like to not have 2 and 7 run into the ground.
- MartiniMan

Exactly, though 2 does a pretty good job of spinning himself like a top..into the ground with his exasperating retreat and cycle fire drills inside our own blue line.

You don't trade away 2 of your better prospects just in case your starting goaltender gets hurt. Most teams would be hurting if they lost their starting goaltender. There would be other options out there, maybe a trade with Ottawa or the Islanders. Emery had a rough game, but it was just his first game of the season, there's still no need to rush into a trade and overpay. I think it's a good idea to get a better backup, but I don't say that based solely on last night's performance. Closer to the deadline I'm sure somebody will be available for Stan (i.e. Giguere), whether or not he pulls the trigger is another story.
- DarthKane

I would trade prospects for a proven goalie and if Gillis would take prospects he would be gone by now

Having said that I hope your right about Emery but I have my doubts

Time will tell

Agree 1000 per cent. I'm a big believer in familiarity, especially when it comes to forming lines on a hockey team. The idea to put 36 with 10 and 88 was a stroke of genius and through 2 games, the dividends are clearly apparent. Really hope the overly analytic Q leaves this triad intact for a good 10-15 games to see what's what.
- philco28

Or was it Q saying to Stanbow "Have you seen enough already to convince you and McDonut that Kane can't play center"? And Stanbow responding "FU, you never ever think any of my ideas are any good Mr. Q. so therefore I am ordering you to play #36 up there because my daddy says it could work".

I have seen nothing from from Emery that indicated he will be better, not since day one when he was beaten by Salak in traing camp till now.

I've seen nothing from Saad either that says he's got the conditioning and the determination to hold up over 46 intense NHL puck-games. He can still change my mind, and that deflection showed some deft skill...

I'd like to see Kruger move up to 3c because Shaw's overhyped - all heart and little skill still won't get you real far.

Keith has been caught waving his stick a little too much, and if Hammer can start hitting like he did before the Pominville hit there would be no reason to get rid of him.

Other than that, real good start.

1.) Winning cures all

2.) He's been very un-Q so far. Minimal tinkering so far, let's see what happens the first time the offense hits a dry spell. Will he let them try and work through it, or will the non-stop line juggling begin? Hopefully, this year, Q keeps his Pop-O-Matic Bubble random line generator safely stowed in his all closet.
- Ogilthorpe2

Another plus from the coaches thus far is the special teams. They haven't been passive on the PK and are challenging the points again. The PP has been much better entering the zone. Also, movement and puck retrieval. Last year's PP was 20 seconds of perimiter passing, bad shot not on goal, chase back for the puck. This year they are putting more consistant pressure on the D with movement.

Im usually an optimist but the last two years we have lacked a consistent forecheck and a physical presence on defense. You need one or the other otherwise the boys on the backend will be under constant harassment (like the last two years)

we used to have Ladd, Byfuglien Versteeg, Burish etc who made a living in the corners, what a luxury, I thought i would miss DB the most but Ladd and Versteeg are two players that we havent replaced

but even though its been ok so far we dont have those dedicated types and with the short season it will be hard to keep up the energy day in day out

hope im wrong

Or was it Q saying to Stanbow "Have you seen enough already to convince you and McDonut that Kane can't play center"? And Stanbow responding "FU, you never ever think any of my ideas are any good Mr. Q. so therefore I am ordering you to play #36 up there because my daddy says it could work".
- RickJ

Not sure RJ...but i do wonder how the directives between Q and Jr. do work. Would hope that the head coach has total freedom to design line combos as he sees fit. But with an egomaniac like Scotty Bowman slithering around Chicagoland, i'm sure his influence on matters like this, surely falls under his purview.

Not sure RJ...but i do wonder how the directives between Q and Jr. do work. Would hope that the head coach has total freedom to design line combos as he sees fit. But with an egomaniac like Scotty Bowman slithering around Chicagoland, i'm sure his influence on matters like this, surely falls under his purview.
- philco28

With Q being the way he is, I'm guessing that Q received a directive to stop f'ing with the lines.

Not sure RJ...but i do wonder how the directives between Q and Jr. do work. Would hope that the head coach has total freedom to design line combos as he sees fit. But with an egomaniac like Scotty Bowman slithering around Chicagoland, i'm sure his influence on matters like this, surely falls under his purview.
- philco28

If Q goes 48-0 they will all take turns congratulating themselves on how management teamwork has never been better. Winning heals all wounds and hurt feelings.

With Q being the way he is, I'm guessing that Q received a directive to stop f'ing with the lines.
- Walky

If Q goes 48-0 they will all take turns congratulating themselves on how management teamwork has never been better. Winning heals all wounds and hurt feelings.
- RickJ

48-0 ? With Ray Emery in the fold ?

It would be pretty great to add his skill set. Really quality guy too.
- nathanjf

My source checked in, saw your comment. His info. was Winnik's agent told the Hawks Winnik preferred to stay on the West Coast, before any contract was discussed.

Ancient history regardless.

Oh deary me....where to start?

First off, I'm all for hitting. I love hitting. Al Secord is one of my favorite players. Scott Hartnell is my current favorite player. I love hitting. In fact I would say Niklas Hjalmarsson's hit was the most important part of the game. But I like guys that can hit and do more than hit. Hjalmarsson, you might have noticed, CONTINUED to play in the game. Bollig sat his ass down on the bench

Oh right, it's not like the Hawks played any bigger or any taller after Bollig had his staged fight with Biz Nasty. They simply played BETTER. It's not like they won the hit battle. They scored more goals because they had more skilled players on the ice.

40 minutes of grit and sandpaper my elbow. He played 5 minutes. 1,2,3,4,5. And a whopping 2 shifts after his fight. One of those shifts a whopping 8 seconds long. He's a slight tick above John Scott. Good thing that you have the current pulse of the team nailed. After Bolligs "terrible" performance last night the whole team went to q and said get this guy out of here!! Toews specifically asked for a more finesse team and to not add anymore tough gritty guys because they are useless. I can tell you that there is a whole team of hawks who are thrilled to have a guy like bollig in the lineup. And FYI so does the GM and coach. So get used to it skirt.

This won't be a year long discussion. Because he'll be replaced before then.
- yahoodi

Even though I am sick of the Lu soap opera

Florida will not pay the price and Lu has told Gillis he will veto a trade to Toronto

Chicago is on his short list and I say we offer up Duneault and McNeil

It's not that expensive for a goalie and if Crawford gets hurt we are in big trouble with Emery

Thoughts JJ
- PEIHawkFan

My info. is Chicago would be Lu's first choice(!0. But Giliis has told him that isn't happening. In light of the Nucks' start, and the Hawks likely still needing a G, I think it is even less likely.

Isn't part of the new CBA where in a trade part of the money can be shifted (meaning the trading team is still on the hook for some of the salary)? If that is the case, why not try to get him for 70% of the contract (where Van has to pay some of it).
- powerenforcer

Vancouver can try all they want, but why would anyone give anything when they would not have to and just wait a few months.

Vancouver will disappoint in my opinion this year...I was on record saying last year, that that if vancouver was done, you deal him then and get it over with. Now they have let it all linger to their own detriment.

My info. is Chicago would be Lu's first choice(!0. But Giliis has told him that isn't happening. In light of the Nucks' start, and the Hawks likely still needing a G, I think it is even less likely.
- John Jaeckel

Doubt Van would trade him to us, especially given the exclusive intra-conference, lockout-caused, scheduling.

Oh deary me....where to start?

First off, I'm all for hitting. I love hitting. Al Secord is one of my favorite players. Scott Hartnell is my current favorite player. I love hitting. In fact I would say Niklas Hjalmarsson's hit was the most important part of the game. But I like guys that can hit and do more than hit. Hjalmarsson, you might have noticed, CONTINUED to play in the game. Bollig sat his ass down on the bench

Oh right, it's not like the Hawks played any bigger or any taller after Bollig had his staged fight with Biz Nasty. They simply played BETTER. It's not like they won the hit battle. They scored more goals because they had more skilled players on the ice.

40 minutes of grit and sandpaper my elbow. He played 5 minutes. 1,2,3,4,5. And a whopping 2 shifts after his fight. One of those shifts a whopping 8 seconds long. He's a slight tick above John Scott.

This won't be a year long discussion. Because he'll be replaced before then.
- yahoodi

Therein lies the whole issue.

There are probably 20 guys in Rockford and the talent pipeline with more "skill" than Bollig. Why is he is in the lineup? Because Q et al are "meatheads" who don't understand the "finer points" of hockey like you do?


He's there because he does three things—on balance—better than anyone else in the organization: fights, hits, plays a passable 4th line LW, can help kill a penalty, might add a goal or two.

If he's going to be gone soon, why wasn't he gone when camp broke? Sure, he could easily go back to Rockford at some point, but he'll be back because no other forward down there does what he does—even if you don't think it's of any value. He is here now because the staff thinks it is.

It ain't brain surgery.

Depth is going to go a long ways this year if the Hawks seven defensemen can stay healthy. They have 7 proven NHL defensemen that can all play. I like Leddy a lot as our #5 and getting PP minutes. Right now that is where he can help the most. I would also like to see Kruger center the 3rd line. Put Stalberg on the left side and Shaw on the right side. A 4th line of Mayers at center with Bickell and Frolik on the wings looks pretty strong. Bollig can be the 13th forward and use him in games when you know that you are going to be playing tough physical teams such as LA and St. Louis.

20 - 19 - 81
10 - 36 - 88
25 - 16 - 65
29 - 22 - 67
52

2 - 7
4 - 27
8 - 32
17

50 - 30

And for my fantasy team...

Tarasenko is the real deal. That move the other night for his second goal against Detroit reminded me of Toews a couple years ago against Colorado. He will be a stud the Hawks will have to deal with for a long time!!
- hawks2010

I wrote a blurb about Tarasenko today..

Chicago Blackhawks follow the same script, continue to roll - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/V1JkTX

Therein lies the whole issue.

There are probably 20 guys in Rockford and the talent pipeline with more "skill" than Bollig. Why is he is in the lineup? Because Q et al are "meatheads" who don't understand the "finer points" of hockey like you do?


He's there because he does three things—on balance—better than anyone else in the organization: fights, hits, plays a passable 4th line LW, can help kill a penalty, might add a goal or two.

If he's going to be gone soon, why wasn't he gone when camp broke? Sure, he could easily go back to Rockford at some point, but he'll be back because no other forward down there does what he does—even if you don't think it's of any value. He is here now because the staff thinks it is.


It ain't brain surgery.
- John Jaeckel

And I say if he was so good at what he did, he'd be out there more than 5 minutes.

Depth is going to go a long ways this year if the Hawks seven defensemen can stay healthy. They have 7 proven NHL defensemen that can all play. I like Leddy a lot as our #5 and getting PP minutes. Right now that is where he can help the most. I would also like to see Kruger center the 3rd line. Put Stalberg on the left side and Shaw on the right side. A 4th line of Mayers at center with Bickell and Frolik on the wings looks pretty strong. Bollig can be the 13th forward and use him in games when you know that you are going to be playing tough physical teams such as LA and St. Louis.

20 - 19 - 81
10 - 36 - 88
25 - 16 - 65
29 - 22 - 67
52

2 - 7
4 - 27
8 - 32
17

50 - 30
- ChicagoHope

Carcillo was on the top line as protection for Toews and Hossa, but I doubt Saad will be able to do that. I'd try Stalberg back on the top line and move Saad to the bottom 6 for now.