A Chris Neal is going to be the difference between the Hwks winning or losing the cup...give me a break...he as likely to cost you gmes with his brain farts!

I am not trying to be debbie downer on trd possibilities that could help. But again...the evidence is overwhelming no one player acquired at deadline with a month to go is going to be the difference: Wings 08, Pens 09, Hwks 10, Boston 11, Kings 12....tell me what trd pushed these teams toward the cup....NADA! They were grt teams and won with the players that got them there....did carter help the kings..yes...was he the difference...no...he sucked most of the time with them.
- bogiedoc

Didn't answer the question: do you think we can get there with what we have now, since you think trades at the deadline don't work? Not trying to be a Richard, just want to know if you see it happening or not.

Sorry...double post.

Not going to argue how important faceoffs are because they are, but how many are really won that cleanly? I know kruger lost that one cleanly that led to the avs 4th goal, but every player on the ice plays a role in a faceoff win, usually. I think it might be coaching the other players to know how to jump in and help the center
- tomcat24

I actually thought a lot were clean tonight, like an abnormal number. But on most nights you are right

Those are issues this team has every night. Tonight there is the additional issue of not pummeling dat guy who deserved it.
- Ogilthorpe2

One game....I don't believe this has been a problem this year....other things to focus on.

Didn't answer the question: do you think we can get there with what we have now, since you think trades at the deadline don't work? Not trying to be a Richard, just want to know if you see it happening or not.
- fourfeathers

May not have been directed to me but I think they can. Doesn't mean I wouldn't like it if they added a guy who can play on the 3rd or 4th line with some muscle and a bit of skill. As long as Sharp is back come playoff time, I'm not sure their's a guy available they can realistically get who is a legit top 6 fwd and I'm not sure that's what they need.

Trade deadlines in a month so the next few weeks should determine who the sellers are and who might be available.

I am with you, but do you want to be the guy that loses his cool and takes away the chance to come back and win? It is a point that is up for debate, but I for one believe the team has their identity and has embraced who they are.

They will stay poised and and handle their business. My biggest concern for the team is the ability to consistently score on the Power play. That will mitigate the stupidity of other teams. Not getting sucked into trying to be who they are not.

Anyhow, have a good night.
- TrueGrit

No in a close game no. But in a 5-1 game yes , I want the caveman to come out in the blowout games.

Didn't answer the question: do you think we can get there with what we have now, since you think trades at the deadline don't work? Not trying to be a Richard, just want to know if you see it happening or not.
- fourfeathers

I think they could as is. I think they'd have a better chance if they made a move.

you can talk and post about it all you want about trds....my question still stands....when do trd deadline actually make the difference between winning and losing playoff gmes.

They have weaknesses...helluva lot less of 'em than the rest of the league.... who they got now and the team they are will win or lose in the playoffs....
- bogiedoc

See I somewhat disagree here. I still see the hawks as the same team as last year, and really even the year before that for the most part. Sure they have had an incredible run and it's been fun to watch (but remember last season's 1st place record at the halfway mark). SB still hasn't shown me he can pull off a good trade. The team has been relatively healthy until now. Most odd is that up until tonight no one has played them 'physically' when the book on the hawks the last couple seasons was to hit them hard and hit them often. Hawks are a very good team... but they still have the same holes from last season and if other teams learned anything from watching the Avs tonight the hawks are going to have to better defend their star players. I think they need to address this. It'll be interesting to see how the players (and management) respond to the Sharp injury and this game. I'll be watching.

May not have been directed to me but I think they can. Doesn't mean I wouldn't like it if they added a guy who can play on the 3rd or 4th line with some muscle and a bit of skill. As long as Sharp is back come playoff time, I'm not sure their's a guy available they can realistically get who is a legit top 6 fwd and I'm not sure that's what they need.

Trade deadlines in a month so the next few weeks should determine who the sellers are and who might be available.
- HawkintheD

Was about to type this. Yes, they can win as is. Yes, a good trade will improve their chances of winning.

May not have been directed to me but I think they can. Doesn't mean I wouldn't like it if they added a guy who can play on the 3rd or 4th line with some muscle and a bit of skill. As long as Sharp is back come playoff time, I'm not sure their's a guy available they can realistically get who is a legit top 6 fwd and I'm not sure that's what they need.

Trade deadlines in a month so the next few weeks should determine who the sellers are and who might be available.
- HawkintheD

Was about to type this. Yes, they can win as is. Yes, a good trade will improve their chances of winning.

No in a close game no. But in a 5-1 game yes , I want the caveman to come out in the blowout games.
- mrpaulish

Accomplishes nothing.

Was about to type this. Yes, they can win as is. Yes, a good trade will improve their chances of winning.
- rollpards19

This was my point all along. Granted, I've had a few beers tonight, so I might not have been clear. I'm ready for the hype to die down, the bandwagon fans to jump off, and for us to make the moves that will win us a cup.

One game....I don't believe this has been a problem this year....other things to focus on.
- UnnamedSource

Well, it's not every night that one of your stars takes a blatant elbow to the head in a game that's already out of reach. If they're not going to respond under those circumstances, there's no reason to believe they ever will.

The PP and F/O issues are obviously more pressing in the grand scheme of things, but letting that punk get away with that is inexcusable late in the 3rd of a 5-2 game.

Didn't answer the question: do you think we can get there with what we have now, since you think trades at the deadline don't work? Not trying to be a Richard, just want to know if you see it happening or not.
- fourfeathers

Yes I did answer the question with my earlier post: "They don't need anybody....when is the last time some trade dead line deal helped a team in the playoffs and win a cup!

Trd deadline deals are way overrated..."

Accomplishes nothing.
- UnnamedSource

Exactly. And you don't punch guys if they don't drop the gloves. If someone did that to our captain we'd want them out of the league.

Well, it's not every night that one of your stars takes a blatant elbow to the head in a game that's already out of reach. If they're not going to respond under those circumstances, there's no reason to believe they ever will.

The PP and F/O issues are obviously more pressing in the grand scheme of things, but letting that punk get away with that is inexcusable late in the 3rd of a 5-2 game.
- Ogilthorpe2

point taken

Yes I did answer the question with my earlier post: "They don't need anybody....when is the last time some trade dead line deal helped a team in the playoffs and win a cup!

Trd deadline deals are way overrated..."
- bogiedoc

Thanks, and chill. Will have to agree to disagree. Need some protection for guys who obviously won't protect themselves. No harm no foul, mmkkay?

Well, it's not every night that one of your stars takes a blatant elbow to the head in a game that's already out of reach. If they're not going to respond under those circumstances, there's no reason to believe they ever will.

The PP and F/O issues are obviously more pressing in the grand scheme of things, but letting that punk get away with that is inexcusable late in the 3rd of a 5-2 game.
- Ogilthorpe2

Obviously.

Well, it's not every night that one of your stars takes a blatant elbow to the head in a game that's already out of reach. If they're not going to respond under those circumstances, there's no reason to believe they ever will.

The PP and F/O issues are obviously more pressing in the grand scheme of things, but letting that punk get away with that is inexcusable late in the 3rd of a 5-2 game.
- Ogilthorpe2

Obviously.

Accomplishes nothing.
- UnnamedSource

It would make me feel better and Landekog feel worse (concussed again hopefully), that's something.

Exactly. And you don't punch guys if they don't drop the gloves. If someone did that to our captain we'd want them out of the league.
- rollpards19

Not true.

Their "Captain" was doing well to establish himself but when he elbows your best D man in the back of the head its time to pummel said Captain.

Not the end of the world , we have face off and pp issues , but in a 5-1game you are not suppose to let things like that happen.

Thanks, and chill. Will have to agree to disagree. Need some protection for guys who obviously won't protect themselves. No harm no foul, mmkkay?
- fourfeathers

I am chilled...no problem!

Yes I did answer the question with my earlier post: "They don't need anybody....when is the last time some trade dead line deal helped a team in the playoffs and win a cup!

Trd deadline deals are way overrated..."
- bogiedoc

I'm sorry but you're wrong. The carter trade gave them more depth on forward, got rid of an underperforming Jack Johnson, allowed Voynov and Martinez to play more minutes, where they thrived. The previous year, Boston traded for Kelly and Peverly, two crucial depth players on that team (and the type of players this team needs).

Exactly. And you don't punch guys if they don't drop the gloves. If someone did that to our captain we'd want them out of the league.
- rollpards19

If our captain elbowed someone like that and then refused to drop the mits, I'd want him off of my team. It's a punk move. You throw an elbow like that, you give up your right to refuse to fight.

Okay. It's one loss. We've had worse. For me, it's the fact that they didn't look like what we've seen from them all year. 6 games in 9 days? No Sharp? Altitude? These are all great excuses, but they just didn't get it done tonight. Hopefully they'll rebound against the Oil on Sunday, and figure a way to do something -- anything with the second line.

Then we'll know.