JJ? Any news on the trade front? This team badly needs a FO guy..And I mean badly...I didn't like the way Bowman said he would be happy with this group going forward...an addition or two is still needed...grit and Faceoffs...Do you think Bowman was just being coy? As to not show his cards? Or is it possible he and McDumbass believe this team is good enough as constructed to win the CUP?
- captainserious

It might be a true statement, but my guess is that it is posturing so teams don't ask for the moon or try to hold Chicago ransom when conducting a trade.

Hey, welcome back!
- John Jaeckel

Thanks, JJ!

Watching Kane and Toews play together on the same line last night was amazing. The chemistry they have is unreal
- hawks1921

Clearly a byproduct of their off-ice work on the Chevy commercials ...

Where anywhere did I say get rid of Seabrook? All I said was he isn't playing as well as the last two years.

Overreaction City. Population Wiz......
- yahoodi

No over reaction ...more like fan NIT PICKING, in my humble opinion....

Clearly a byproduct of their off-ice work on the Chevy commercials ...
- QStache

Oh, God. I loathe those commercials. What in Hades does it mean that I have to "come through us!" to get a freaking Malibu??

Bolland . . . Bolland.

-1 on the year, 45% in the dot. Kruger's FO% is higher (slightly). Kruger is now the first unit C on the PK. Occasionally, you see Bolland making a nice play. But I dunno how indispensable he is anymore. Is he really driving Kane's line as a playmaker? No. Maybe he's giving Kane some freedom because he covers him on the back-end. Maybe.

I think there is a valid debate open about Bolland and how indispensable he is.
- John Jaeckel

I have been for the longest time a big Bolland fan. I loved him in junior and love him since turning pro.

However, I completely agree with you JJ. I'm starting to question his worth as well. With the emergence of Shaw as a legit 3rd line centre, Kruger's ability to play... well whatever role they throw at him and Danault/McNeill/TT in the pipeline he might see his way out of Chi this summer.

With the third line playing as good as it is.. I would rather see Bolland traded.. and keep stalberg.
- wolverine19

Interesting decision to come

Watched the Flyers game too last night , If Max Talbot is actually a target of the Hawks id be cool with that

Clearly a byproduct of their off-ice work on the Chevy commercials ...
- QStache

"Let's do this."

I can just hear the director: "Jonathan . . . JT . . . can you give me one where you sound really, really dumb when you read the line?"

Watched the Flyers game too last night , If Max Talbot is actually a target of the Hawks id be cool with that
- mrpaulish

Oh yeah

I kind of like the Day Dream Nation Line version 2.0 last night. Saad Toews and Kane looked nice out there together.

"Rookie Jimmy Hayes might have gone a ways toward keeping a spot in Chicago with a nice move on the Hawks' first goal. Although that, like many other plays of late, was really made possible by the hard work of Dave Bolland, with terrific hustle on the forecheck."

Fixed.

Shaw continues to show he is a finisher
Might end up the 2c in the future with maturity added strength and continued improvement
What a steal he is and surprised mccub has not started marketing him

Bolland . . . Bolland.

-1 on the year, 45% in the dot. Kruger's FO% is higher (slightly). Kruger is now the first unit C on the PK. Occasionally, you see Bolland making a nice play. But I dunno how indispensable he is anymore. Is he really driving Kane's line as a playmaker? No. Maybe he's giving Kane some freedom because he covers him on the back-end. Maybe.

I think there is a valid debate open about Bolland and how indispensable he is.

The thing that bothers me about Bolland is that the team has given him a golden opportunity to grab that second line center position and he has yet to make it his own. Although he has a habit of taking the dumbest penalties at the worst possible time, my biggest complaint about him is his lack of effort on faceoffs. To me, it looks like he doesn't put much time or work into getting any better at it even though everyone knows it is one of this team's biggest needs. It's one thing to get beat on a faceoff where you battle and it's a 50/50 puck and the opposing team gets control of it but it's another thing entirely when you give a half ass effort and the opposing center wins the draw clean as if he was the only one at the faceoff dot. I seem to remember at least 2 or 3 occasions this year alone where he was beaten clean at the dot, the puck goes directly back to the blue line and seconds later it's in our net. I'm not even counting the times he was beaten clean and it didn't lead to a goal but just a good scoring chance for the opponent. Add to this his propensity to have a good game or two and then become a non-entity for the next ten (a point which I believe Pat & Eddie brought up at the beginning of the season) and his injury history, I have to agree with JJ and doubt just how much of a "key" he is to the Hawks after this year.

JJ,

Any chance they can move Frolik before the TDL and use that $$ to re-sign Stalberg?

Whilst praising Saad, I also want to point out that my faith in B52 appears to be getting rewarded. Yet another solid game last night. That line was all over Colorado in their end and came close a lot.

Someone, somewhere along the line has gotten into his head that he can be more than John Scott as a hockey player.
- John Jaeckel

Yeah where Scott never seemed to have the head to go with the feet, it is as if Bollig has been challenged to keep up with the high pace and is getting some jump.

I also am about ready to predict he is an improving player who was served a call-down to his old AHL team, and sometimes that acts as a big incentive to make more money in the bigs too...beside just wanting to win, and being "equal" to ypur linemates in terms of playing the style...

My .02

Seabrook was at the end of a shift, got caught flat-footed by a very fast player. It happens to the best of them.

Dennis, Leddy is a +15 because he is not exactly facing Rocket Richard every shift. If he had to do Seabrook's job every night, we all might be singing a different tune. I have ZERO problem with what Seabrook brings to this team.

Bolland . . . Bolland.

-1 on the year, 45% in the dot. Kruger's FO% is higher (slightly). Kruger is now the first unit C on the PK. Occasionally, you see Bolland making a nice play. But I dunno how indispensable he is anymore. Is he really driving Kane's line as a playmaker? No. Maybe he's giving Kane some freedom because he covers him on the back-end. Maybe.

I think there is a valid debate open about Bolland and how indispensable he is.
- John Jaeckel

John, not in total disagreement and certainly haven't advocated trading him. I just expect a lot more out of both he and Keith. It's like they almost feel they are better than the other players on the ice and they don't have to give it their full effort.

Not disputing they typically face the team's best but I have to say that Hjalmarsson is hands-down the Hawks best D-Man this year. That's not subject to opinion, the guy is doing it all. As for Leddy, when he is with Rozsival, he plays much more confident. Still, I wish we'd see out of Keith and Seabrook the fire we see with Leddy.

Again, Seabrook deserved the benching and it's a great lesson for the team. If a core player, one of the stalwarts on D can get benched, anyone can. Message received I'm sure and glad Q sacked up and did that.

As for Bolland, I'm in agreement -- I think he is shopped HARD this off-season. IMO, Kane has been "stuck" with the dregs for the year and still performed. If anything, Kane has done lots more of the backchecking and helping out in our zone than Bolland. Saw that again several times last night where he was instrumental in either breaking up the play or being back in the right spot to relieve the pressure. Absolutely LOVE what Kane is bringing to the team. And what a great example for the rest of the guys. This is really where I think the team would miss HOSS in the future if they should ever decide to buy him out or he retires early. Guy is a STUD and a great example of what a pro hockey player should do on the ice.

JJ,

Any chance they can move Frolik before the TDL and use that $$ to re-sign Stalberg?
- ChicagoDave

Possible. I have not heard lately that they are shopping Frolik and you'd have to get the right guy back. I don't care if Frolik misses 10 shots a game. He adds value to this club. That line keeps opponents stuck in their end and makes them work. And he is great on the PK.

Possible. I have not heard lately that they are shopping Frolik and you'd have to get the right guy back. I don't care if Frolik misses 10 shots a game. He adds value to this club. That line keeps opponents stuck in their end and makes them work. And he is great on the PK.
- John Jaeckel

Wouldnt you move Frolik for a 4th line PK center???

John, not in total disagreement and certainly haven't advocated trading him. I just expect a lot more out of both he and Keith. It's like they almost feel they are better than the other players on the ice and they don't have to give it their full effort.

Not disputing they typically face the team's best but I have to say that Hjalmarsson is hands-down the Hawks best D-Man this year. That's not subject to opinion, the guy is doing it all. As for Leddy, when he is with Rozsival, he plays much more confident. Still, I wish we'd see out of Keith and Seabrook the fire we see with Leddy.

Again, Seabrook deserved the benching and it's a great lesson for the team. If a core player, one of the stalwarts on D can get benched, anyone can. Message received I'm sure and glad Q sacked up and did that.

As for Bolland, I'm in agreement -- I think he is shopped HARD this off-season. IMO, Kane has been "stuck" with the dregs for the year and still performed. If anything, Kane has done lots more of the backchecking and helping out in our zone than Bolland. Saw that again several times last night where he was instrumental in either breaking up the play or being back in the right spot to relieve the pressure. Absolutely LOVE what Kane is bringing to the team. And what a great example for the rest of the guys. This is really where I think the team would miss HOSS in the future if they should ever decide to buy him out or he retires early. Guy is a STUD and a great example of what a pro hockey player should do on the ice.
- savvyone-1

Great insights on Hammer, Roszival/Leddy, Bolland, Kane, Hossa.

And I still say the notion of buying out Hossa is really stupid as long as he can think straight. This shoulder injury thingie is not a career-ender, so that's silly too.

He's pretty much won me over. Kid can play. Still has some rough edges in terms of decisions at high speed, but he's going to be a good player for years if he keeps the effort/intensity up (which has been a questionmark with him).
- John Jaeckel

His passing has really been a pleasure to watch lately and he is really looking to make that pass. My first and primary concern with Saad was whether he was a better defending Jack Skille, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all and it is great to see his confidence rising as the season goes on.

I'd like to see him drive the net a bit more beyond what he is doing on odd-man rushes, but that will come.

Shaw continues to show he is a finisher
Might end up the 2c in the future with maturity added strength and continued improvement
What a steal he is and surprised mccub has not started marketing him
- molly2522

When the spotlight shone on Shaw last season his game took a backseat to his celebrity. I'd prefer he was left out of the spotlight for the time being so he can focus on his ever improving game.

The thing that bothers me about Bolland is that the team has given him a golden opportunity to grab that second line center position and he has yet to make it his own.
- RetiredGoalie

I guess that what I have seened without even having to isolate on him, is a really aggressive fast player, and don't see this gaping hole that exists in the minds of the Hawk beloved. You are not finding outside replacements as good for less money, so i say to you what is the point?

I just don't think Dave Bolland got THIS FAR by not being a good player as all levels.

....you don't know what you got until it's gone...
isn't that what the song says?

The parking lot seems to be the continual rehashing / grading of him that many are simply stuck in the wet concrete.

Fixed.
- Ogilthorpe2

Know what, Ogi? I won't disagree with you. But Dan Carcillo can do the job you just described. So does Kruger. Outside of Toews and Hossa, I'm not sure there's a guy on the Hawks who's better along the boards than 178 pound Marcus Kruger.

I'm not here to bury Bolland.

Just saying. I think it is a valid argument as to how indispensible he is to this team at his salary.

Bolland is completely invisible almost every night, except when he misses opportunities that Kane sets him up for. As far as on the PK, Kruger and Frolik have surpassed him in importance and effectiveness.

have to wonder, is that back acting up again. He looks stiff and slow out there.