They didn't play with a purpose for 60 TG...that's the problem. The record's great and hopefully we make history, but these cardiac 3rd period performances are troublesome. We have to close these games out a lot stronger.
- philco28

While I share your angst about this, the "glass 80% full" piece is that only twice (that i can recall) have they given up a bad late 3rd period goal that tied or gave the opponent the lead - the last minute goal that put Cal Gary ahead, and the late goal Anaheim scored to tie the game.

My view on hossa...is hes almost the best player on the ice every game we play the guy is a beast almost never looses a puck battle can score has a laser beam shot and a phucking monsterin his defensive zone....he may be the glue that is holding this team together....

While I share your angst about this, the "glass 80% full" piece is that only twice (that i can recall) have they given up a bad late 3rd period goal that tied or gave the opponent the lead - the last minute goal that put Cal Gary ahead, and the late goal Anaheim scored to tie the game.
- StLBravesFan

The Ducks game and today's game were too tight for my liking, especially when we nearly blew a 3 goal lead today. Also, the home opener...where St. Loo outshot us 16-9 in the 3rd and we just hung on. Seems like the white knuckle 3rd's have been mostly at home.

How about

10-19-81
20-36-88
- jhawk159

if they flip wings I rather see
20-19-88
10-36-81

Kane and Toews are always good together, and Bolland and Hossa have looked good together in brief stints in the past.

My view on hossa...is hes almost the best player on the ice every game we play the guy is a beast almost never looses a puck battle can score has a laser beam shoot and a phucking monsterin his defensive zone....he may be the glue that is holding this team together....
- southernhawk

Toews

if they flip wings I rather see
20-19-88
10-36-81

Kane and Toews are always good together, and Bolland and Hossa have looked good together in brief stints in the past.
- Ogilthorpe2

I still think Saad should be moved down and Stalberg up. I like Stals speed on the top line. I think #20 has earned his spot on the team with his play, just not top line worthy.

Toews
- rollpards19

True. But to me Hossa is Toews at 34.....or should I put it like at 34 Toews will be like Hossa a true pro....

Respect him, great player..but i'll never love 81.
- philco28

WTF are u guys talking. Hossa works his tail off all game and is a force out on the ice. Goals and points don't make a player. Incredible u find something to complain about with 0 loses.

I still think Saad should be moved down and Stalberg up. I like Stals speed on the top line. I think #20 has earned his spot on the team with his play, just not top line worthy.
- UnnamedSource

Saad hasn't contributed much to the score sheet, but looking at the stats, having an aggressive, big, two-way forechecking winger seems to help Toews and Hossa to be on track for the best +/- of their careers...

That is, not having a liability that floats around the blue line waiting for that outlet pass ala Kane could also be a good thing...

I was initially thinking Montador and Rusty would both be bought out this offseason and that still might happen. However if only 1 of them is then there's a real chance that Hossa might be bought out after 2013-2014.
- dan9189

Ah yes..Montador...you to have some empathy for him. Almost a full year out with concussion symptoms. Strictly business and $$$ he looks like goner. I don't think the Hawks will risk another lost year with him. With him Olez thats close to $6 mil with the $4 mil of cap space they already have...that would give them flexibility with Krugs, Bick, Stahl, Leddy, and Emery.

But Montadors buyout cap hit is not all that favorable $1.1 mil for 2013-14 and $1.6 mil for 2014-15!

Saad hasn't contributed much to the score sheet, but looking at the stats, having an aggressive, big, two-way forechecking winger seems to help Toews and Hossa to be on track for the best +/- of their careers...

That is, not having a liability that floats around the blue line waiting for that outlet pass ala Kane could also be a good thing...
- busmaster

Saad hasn't contributed much to the score sheet, but looking at the stats, having an aggressive, big, two-way forechecking winger seems to help Toews and Hossa to be on track for the best +/- of their careers...

That is, not having a liability that floats around the blue line waiting for that outlet pass ala Kane could also be a good thing...
- busmaster

The plus/minus stat is misleading to begin with but even if you look deeper into the stats you will find it isn't quite what you think it is.

WTF are u guys talking. Hossa works his tail off all game and is a force out on the ice. Goals and points don't make a player. Incredible u find something to complain about with 0 loses.
- Boisy12

I havt to agree ...+1

While many have you have your ongoing side bar debates 1.) about whether Saad should be on the top line or not or 2.) about Hossa's production

Consider this after 15 games, the Hawks

1. have only been behind by 2 goals once and they won that game vs the Sharks.

2. back-up goalie is 5-0, 2.17 GA, .930 SV% and turned in one of the best goalie performances in years vs Calgary to allow for the Hossa heroics with 3 seconds to tie it.

3 starting goalie is 2nd in the league in wins with 7 with a 1.65 GA and .935 SV%

4. Patrick Kane (the guy on everyones immature list who needed to be traded) has 21 points good for 2nd in the league and he has had golden opps for at least 4-5 more.

5. Allowed more than 2 goals in regulation only 2x and won both...Sharks and Coyotes.

6. PK has been outstanding: at least 2 5 on 3 kills, the 2 Richards blasts dropped them to 89% kill for 3rd in the league with only 2 PP goals allowed on the road...only 6 through 15 gmes!

7. Rolling 4 lines and 3 D-pairs and not missing a beat while skating circles around most teams.

and on and on it goes. We should be doing whole alot of this

My guess the Saad and Hossa side bars will go on all year but what the Hawks as a team are accomplishing now will not. They will have some rough patches ahead but now the expectations are so high given this opening record breaking strk they are on nothing short of the cup victory will be acceptable. Its been blasted all through the media that all the teams that had great starts like this....won the cup...the pressure is on now.

Ah yes..Montador...you to have some empathy for him. Almost a full year out with concussion symptoms. Strictly business and $$$ he looks like goner. I don't think the Hawks will risk another lost year with him. With him Olez thats close to $6 mil with the $4 mil of cap space they already have...that would give them flexibility with Krugs, Bick, Stahl, Leddy, and Emery.

But Montadors buyout cap hit is not all that favorable $1.1 mil for 2013-14 and $1.6 mil for 2014-15!
- bogiedoc

I thixnk the amnesty is different then the buy-out: no cap hit for 2 amnestied players this summer only (or is it one player?).

The level of complaining is unreal. Team has had a historical franchise start and knocking on the door of the best start in the HISTORY OF THE NHL and people are crying about poppycock. Wow. Just wow.

I thixnk the amnesty is different then the buy-out: no cap hit for 2 amnestied players this summer only (or is it one player?).
- StLBravesFan

It´s two and they will count against the players' share, but not the cap.

Guys on this site make note of the loss of Buff and Ladd when comparing the cup team to this team and they all make good points. But the one thing I have never seen anyone suggest is a 4th line I would like to see. The cup team had Eager on the 4th line. Eager was a 1st round draft pick due to his speed coupled with his size. He would be the first one in and disrupt the breakout and force a turnover. Burrish would go for the puck and throw it at the net. Weak side guy would read and react, go to the net when it was time or help with the backcheck. No other team had a 4th line like that. And lets face it, Eager didn't scare anybody and he could finish a little. I would like to see them put Stahlberg in Eagers spot, Frolik in Burrish's spot, and Bollig or Mayers the weak side guy. Especially against a team with a big slow defense. And going back to when they acquired Hossa I said Bolland is not the center for him. Need a lefty. I think Krueger is coming along and should be tried with Hossa.

It´s two and they will count against the players' share, but not the cap.
- MjulQvist

Which creates all sorts of math anomalies:

Hawks pay of two players.

ALL players have their salaries effectively reduced to cover the payments.

29 other teams save the money from the overall reduced salaries.

So: Hawks lose, players lose, all other ownership wins.

Thinking about that Chelios trade after the comments he made about Detroit still hurt even today.

*Shudder* back in the dark days of this franchise I never would have imagined starting a season with a 4 game point streak, let alone a 15-game point streak several years removed from a Cup win...
- prd797

The worst part is if you talk to those guys they knew it was coming and they felt like they had a really group of players and could have made another run or two if kept together.

Big mistake to measure everything by statistics in this game.

Lots of guys will score more goals than Hoss in a season. But would you trade him for a Patty Marleau or Jeff Carter or Daniel Sedin? Not likely.

And how many points would he have if Kane was his winger instead of a rookie like Saad. Probably a lot more than he has right now.
- RickJ

Kane from left side = no bueno

Marleau plays the left side...

I'm not mesuring everything by stats...as I've already said, he's obviously one of the best all around, 3-zone players in the league.

Fact: The year before he came to the Hawks, (and several years before that) he was a 40/30 player. I didn't watch a lot of Detroit games that year, am I wrong to assume that while he was scoring those 40+ goals and adding 30+ assists he was the same, solid, all around player that he is today?

All I have said is that I expected a little more offense from the guy. Given his contract and past history, I don't think those expectaions are all that unreasonable.

As far as having Saad for a linemate, you may be right, but you could just as easily make the case that if Hossa would pass the puck to him once in while maybe Saad (and Hossa by way of assists) is off to a better start. Personally, I'd like to see Hossa and Bolland together, as they've had some success together in the past.
- Ogilthorpe2

34 Years old...

He should continue to be a PPG player or close but to not expect a decline is silly.

I think he has just hit a schnide and will start scoring again in the next game or two.

He is shooting 13% which is his career average +/-. Get him a few more shots per game and I think the scoring starts to go up. Also weird yesterday there were times he was giving the puck to Saad which were on plays I would expect him to shoot... Hossa is the last player on the team to be worried about.

Nice to see Keith getting his legs back.

Bolland ?? and $$$ will be the big topic of banter all next year. They hold onto Krugs who is RFA after this year. I doubt both Bicks or Stahls are back..both are UFA's. Leddy is RFA. They have some $$$ allocation issues staring them in the face. Emery is also UFA. Can Hwks really afford Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabs and Bolland all making $5 mil plus in 2014-15?
- bogiedoc

Ha, Bolland will make 4 or just over max... I would expect 4/16

Leddy will make whatever PK Subban made (3 or a lil less) mmm market value, someone thank Montreal for that one.

Emery, if healthy and welcome back wont garner a huge raise. Not sure how many other teams roll the dice on him.

Bickell, Stalberg and Kruger... Whelp either they blow up and get big money or they continue to be solid grinders and get paid as such. Maybe somebody offers Stalberg big money but I cant see Bickell or Kruger getting a massive deal.