I'm thinking the wrist is finally 100%.
- Beaver-Warrior

I always figured that was part of the problem last year.

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
Corey Crawford is first #Blackhawks goaltender off the ice in morning skate so it appears he'll start vs. Blue Jackets.
- philco28

Wonder if that means Emery will be in there tomorrow at home vs Detroit? Emery was 10-0-3 last year at home with 2.15 GAA and .917 SV%.

I'm thinking the wrist is finally 100%.
- Beaver-Warrior

Hope so...would like to see him mix up his target selection a bit. He usually tries to go top cheese and the scouting report probably reflects that...would like to see him alter that and go low stick, low glove and 5-hole a bit more. Mix it up !!!

We need to get this guy under contract soon!
- hawksbuzz

or shop him around

Wonder if that means Emery will be in there tomorrow at home vs Detroit? Emery was 10-0-3 last year at home with 2.15 GAA and .917 SV%.
- Assman22

Hawks beat writer Tim Sassone tweeted this earlier

Tim Sassone ‏@TimSassone
I'll be stunned if Crawford doesn't start Sunday as well. Short flight home and two days off after Sunday. #Blackhawks

but Razor's home stats you provide are impressive.

While I still would like a guy with Slater skills, I think q can't break up the chemistry of Kruger and Frolik or Stalberg and Bickell. Unless they get said center, lines are working for now as Q rolls 4. Shaw understands his limitations and is more apt to dump and get on the forcheck, which is nice to see. This mitigates some of his offensive inability at C while still making that line tough to play against. Hope Bicks keeps this up. We have seen him in the past have a few physical games only to disappear for a month.
- Kentxo

Think this has been pointed out here before but as a team they are doing more dumping and hammering the opposing D on the forecheck. From what I've seen they have been doing this consistently and picking their spots to carry the puck in. As a result opposing Dmen haven't been as successful standing the Hawks up at the line and the forwards have been able to generate some sustained pressure.

Apology to Q lineup starts right here...step on up mophuckers
- philco28

Think I'll wait until we're a little more than one week into the season before apologizing to Q. Or Crawford. Or Bowman. Or, well......you get the picture.

Hope so...would like to see him mix up his target selection a bit. He usually tries to go top cheese and the scouting report probably reflects that...would like to see him alter that and go low stick, low glove and 5-hole a bit more. Mix it up !!!
- philco28

Variety is the spice of life and snipers everywhere.

Think this has been pointed out here before but as a team they are doing more dumping and hammering the opposing D on the forecheck. From what I've seen they have been doing this consistently and picking their spots to carry the puck. As a result opposing Dmen haven't been as successful standing the Hawks up at the line and the forwards have been able to generate some sustained pressure.
- HawkintheD

Good point, just want to expand on the part in bold. With the league wide crackdown in effect on d-men holding up forwards on zone entry, i've been very impressed with how adept and smooth our d-men have been at adapting to the new rule change.

It's a bit like the 5 yard rule in the NFL where a db can't really touch a wr after 5 yards. Except with this rule in the NHL, the d-man has to be able ever so slightly engage the forechecker without truly impeding him or running interference so his mate can retrieve the puck without getting wallpapered.

Leddy and Hammer have been exceptionally athletic in pivoting to shadow forecheckers while not taking what is now an interference penalty.

Hawks beat writer Tim Sassone tweeted this earlier

Tim Sassone ‏@TimSassone
I'll be stunned if Crawford doesn't start Sunday as well. Short flight home and two days off after Sunday. #Blackhawks

but Razor's home stats you provide are impressive.
- philco28

Crawford was pretty stout vs Detroit last year. 3-0-2 with 2.12 GAA and .932 SV%. Either way I like the matchup. Need to win tonight's trap game first tho.

Think I'll wait until we're a little more than one week into the season before apologizing to Q. Or Crawford. Or Bowman. Or, well......you get the picture.
- Hal9000y2k

Scale says 'one at a time' Fatbastard


Just joking....yeah i know. Let's see where we are in late April, May and beyond before sincere mea culpa's are really due.

Variety is the spice of life and snipers everywhere.
- Beaver-Warrior

Random question, but who do you guys think wins in a race, 25 or 8? Personally i think they are 2 of the fastest 5 guys in the league
- rollpards19

Stalberg might win from goal line to blue line, or at least come close....

But from goal line to goal line my bet is Leddy.

@AlCimaglia

Crawford was pretty stout vs Detroit last year. 3-0-2 with 2.12 GAA and .932 SV%. Either way I like the matchup. Need to win tonight's trap game first tho.
- Assman22

Good stats for C2 as well i see


We usually roll in Columbus and i'm hoping that's the case again. Never want to look beyond tonight's opponent, but i'm interested to see how we matchup vs the new look Wings, sans Holmstrom and Lidstrom. Said it yesterday, but glad they are finally out of our PHUCKING HAIR.

Stalberg might win from goal line to blue line, or at least come close....

But from goal line to goal line my bet is Leddy.

@AlCimaglia
- Al

I'm right with you Al.

And if we were to include some E/W in addition to N/S, Leddy wins hands-down.

Haven't seen acceleration like that since the days of Bobby Orr. When Nick was a few strides past our blue line, approaching center ice, it's like the afterburners kicked in and he was gone. Never saw Campbell move like that. Or anyone else with the puck for a long, long time.

I'm right with you Al.

And if we were to include some E/W in addition to N/S, Leddy wins hands-down.

Haven't seen acceleration like that since the days of Bobby Orr. When Nick was a few strides past our blue line, approaching center ice, it's like the afterburners kicked in and he was gone. Never saw Campbell move like that. Or anyone else with the puck for a long, long time.
- savvyone-1

Best acceleration? From dead stop to top speed: #81. Terrific hockey player, great athlete.

Best acceleration? From dead stop to top speed: #81. Terrific hockey player, great athlete.
- John Jaeckel

Granted - for the forwards. And agreed Hossa is an amazing hockey player and incredible athlete.

Still think Leddy wins out. Which brings me to my next thought -- instead of the fan convention, they need to have skills contests to satisfy all of us goofs that argue about fastest skater, best acceleration, best lateral mobility, best vision, best puckhandling, most accurate shot (well, one thing I know is that Duncan Keith won't even be in THIS conversation!), etc., etc.

Sort of like the days of the Romans and the Gladiators showing off their skills

Good stats for C2 as well i see


We usually roll in Columbus and i'm hoping that's the case again. Never want to look beyond tonight's opponent, but i'm interested to see how we matchup vs the new look Wings, sans Holmstrom and Lidstrom. Said it yesterday, but glad they are finally out of our PHUCKING HAIR.
- philco28

+1

The Wings may be starting to play a bit better and they have Bertuzzi back. Even when those 2 were there thought we matched up pretty well the last few years. Totally agree though. They've always had a dangerous PP and it's definitely less effective without the Strom's. Enjoy your retirement; I know I will!

Best acceleration? From dead stop to top speed: #81. Terrific hockey player, great athlete.
- John Jaeckel

Hossa has a great burst and twitch speed I agree, but the the longer the race goes the more Leddy would be in front.

That said, when God made a hockey player he had Marian Hossa in mind.

Granted - for the forwards. And agreed Hossa is an amazing hockey player and incredible athlete.

Still think Leddy wins out. Which brings me to my next thought -- instead of the fan convention, they need to have skills contests to satisfy all of us goofs that argue about fastest skater, best acceleration, best lateral mobility, best vision, best puckhandling, most accurate shot (well, one thing I know is that Duncan Keith won't even be in THIS conversation!), etc., etc.

Sort of like the days of the Romans and the Gladiators showing off their skills
- savvyone-1

Glad you're not Leddy's agent Savvy.....then we'd really be over the cap

Granted - for the forwards. And agreed Hossa is an amazing hockey player and incredible athlete.

Still think Leddy wins out. Which brings me to my next thought -- instead of the fan convention, they need to have skills contests to satisfy all of us goofs that argue about fastest skater, best acceleration, best lateral mobility, best vision, best puckhandling, most accurate shot (well, one thing I know is that Duncan Keith won't even be in THIS conversation!), etc., etc.

Sort of like the days of the Romans and the Gladiators showing off their skills
- savvyone-1

The problem with Leddy and not all his fault...

He needs to show his speed and be more confident...Leddy was in the top 20 in points for dmen last year without any fanfare. If he gets more agressive and confident he could finish a lot higher.

While I still would like a guy with Slater skills, I think q can't break up the chemistry of Kruger and Frolik or Stalberg and Bickell. Unless they get said center, lines are working for now as Q rolls 4. Shaw understands his limitations and is more apt to dump and get on the forcheck, which is nice to see. This mitigates some of his offensive inability at C while still making that line tough to play against. Hope Bicks keeps this up. We have seen him in the past have a few physical games only to disappear for a month.
- Kentxo

I know shaw is young but i think he helps keep bickell motivated along with stalberg flying around the ice

Everyone looks like they are skating in slush because of the way stalberg is moving

Glad you're not Leddy's agent Savvy.....then we'd really be over the cap

- philco28

Nah, I'd want Nick to proudly wear the Indianhead and tell him to take a little home-town discount because this club gave him his big chance, put their faith in him and allowed him to get some incredible NHL experience even though he wasn't quite ready. Considering how few defenders really have all the NHL-level D man skills at 21, Leddy has not (greatly) disappointed (me at least).

I'd be telling him to get something good signed for the next several years so he can stay with the Blackhawks and not worry about a few extra sheckles.


Guess that's why I'm not an agent, right?!

The problem with Leddy and not all his fault...

He needs to show his speed and be more confident...Leddy was in the top 20 in points for dmen last year without any fanfare. If he gets more agressive and confident he could finish a lot higher.
- Al

Definitely think he should have the green light to be more aggressive, especially with Ivan Drago Rozsival to be his stay at home wingman. Plus, Leddy's speed allows him to recover better than most d-men in today's game.

Granted - for the forwards. And agreed Hossa is an amazing hockey player and incredible athlete.

Still think Leddy wins out. Which brings me to my next thought -- instead of the fan convention, they need to have skills contests to satisfy all of us goofs that argue about fastest skater, best acceleration, best lateral mobility, best vision, best puckhandling, most accurate shot (well, one thing I know is that Duncan Keith won't even be in THIS conversation!), etc., etc.

Sort of like the days of the Romans and the Gladiators showing off their skills
- savvyone-1

He could be if the accuracy was based on hitting an object roughly the same size and shape of a shin pad.