When did i ever say to trade Kane I really always liked him and thought he probably came up huge the most, but I only thought of trading him because of the cap AND he has the most value. He would bring back a crapload. I would rather trade guys like Sharp, Hossa, and Bolland 1st
- tomcat24

There was a time during the Coyote series that I would have traded him for Ladd/Buff and a bag of pucks...

Glad I'm not the GM...

amazing how these high flying/non-physical hawks can grind out low scoring affairs on the road: BTB 1-0 road shutouts, oh and they can blow you out on the road to, 7-1 at the Joe or 8-1 vs the Stars.

Since losing to the Aves they are 6-1 on the road and have outscored the home team 26-9 and the one loss was that late fur ball cough up to the ducks..they have dominated on the road and play any game you want

not bad for those soft "don't finish their checks" hawks...
- bogiedoc

When ya control the puck all night, your opponent will be chasing and hitting you all night. Score several times, continue to hold possession and you'll be chased all night long.

Result is a win, but outhit by a significant margin...

...I'll take it every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

Go Hawks...!

I guess that would make the blank two up and coming power wingers.
- HawkintheD

Damn you guys know me too well. I always try to keep my audience riveted. Guess what movie that line was from? But you also have to mention how much I hate steroid-abusers

The play offs are better when Ovi is playing...
- UnnamedSource

Funny how all that talk of Ovi being done, unmotivated, returning to Russia, ect. has stopped...completely.

Washington will easily take the division and I wouldn't want to face them in the playoffs.

Wow...the playoffs in both conferences are gonna be great...

pity the poor preds and the grt pekka rinne with two 1-0 losses in 2 of the last 3 gmes.
7x they have been shoutout and scored less than 2 goals in 22 gmes!!!

Grit, forecheck, stud goalie and $13 mil/yr dmen at all its cracked up to be if you don't have anybody(s) who can play offense and score!
- bogiedoc

Nashville is thin on offense to begin with, and much of what remains is on IR. They're done for this season, but they'll be back next year to being the same pain in the keister team they are every year...

...only without Erat...Woo Hoo!

There was a time during the Coyote series that I would have traded him for Ladd/Buff and a bag of pucks...

Glad I'm not the GM...
- busmaster

I don't know I would still think about that trade. But only if Buff would have played up front, which he wasn't willing to do. But with toews, Hossa, and Sharp that is 3 high powered offensive guys that can score, what this team needs are a few bangers with top 9 skill who can score playoff hockey-type goals. But I guess you all knew I was going to say that

Funny how all that talk of Ovi being done, unmotivated, returning to Russia, ect. has stopped...completely.

Washington will easily take the division and I wouldn't want to face them in the playoffs.

Wow...the playoffs in both conferences are gonna be great...
- ArlingtonRob

Looks like my Isles are getting in!

Looks like my Isles are getting in!
- UnnamedSource

I'm happy for them and their fans, but I still would like the jets to get in. I hate the rangers, but they would have a good chance to upset the Pens with King henrik

Looks like my Isles are getting in!
- UnnamedSource

...and "my" Leafs are lookin' tasty at the moment as well.

Olecz: scoring in the AHL does not mean you are a tremendously skilled player. Those who saw him play would admit and be exciting if they thought he could help Chicago. Watch a few games on a feed or attend, then tell the board you've changed your mind. He helps Chicago best by not playing and risking injury. Therefore he qualifies as an amortized buyout.

To the blog who suggests that Nordstrom could become the #4 center in chg.: sure could happen but wonder if he needs first to put muscle & weight on his 160 # frame.

Philco said in a game he viewed: Danault & McNeil on same line. Interesting. Both green AHL rookies. Rockford in dogfight for last playoff slot.

Still believe Morin is better fit than Hayes. Smith & Morin could recieve if others inj. Hayes just falls down to much. Gets to his attempted check too late. Hayes plays in games where strategy includes limited # of shifts where he tries for goals near net -- he backs away from net & recieves pass from boards so he can get a shot on goal. That was the idea vs Coyotes last spring.

Olecz: scoring in the AHL does not mean you are a tremendously skilled player. Those who saw him play would admit and be exciting if they thought he could help Chicago. Watch a few games on a feed or attend, then tell the board you've changed your mind. He helps Chicago best by not playing and risking injury. Therefore he qualifies as an amortized buyout.

To the blog who suggests that Nordstrom could become the #4 center in chg.: sure could happen but wonder if he needs first to put muscle & weight on his 160 # frame.

Philco said in a game he viewed: Danault & McNeil on same line. Interesting. Both green AHL rookies. Rockford in dogfight for last playoff slot.

Still believe Morin is better fit than Hayes. Smith & Morin could recieve if others inj. Hayes just falls down to much. Gets to his attempted check too late. Hayes plays in games where strategy includes limited # of shifts where he tries for goals near net -- he backs away from net & recieves pass from boards so he can get a shot on goal. That was the idea vs Coyotes last spring.
- jhawk59

They haven't been seen much since....playoffs on the line and neither look impact enough SO FAR.

Crawford is having a really good year, but for me, Emery is my goalie. Seems much more mentally tough, and I don't know which CC is going to show up. The one from 2011, or 2012.
- howiehandles

Last season Crawford relied almost exclusively on positioning and was strictly a shotblocker, opponents figured it out and let him commit then made a move on him or shot it high. Earlier in this season Crawford was using positioning, athleticism and patience and was playing very well. Then something happened and he has reverted back to mindlessly becoming a predictable shotblocker again. I too feel more comfortable with Emery in net but i would like to see Crawford look back at the tapes from earlier in the year and play that hybrid style again.

Last season Crawford relied almost exclusively on positioning and was strictly a shotblocker, opponents figured it out and let him commit then made a move on him or shot it high. Earlier in this season Crawford was using positioning, athleticism and patience and was playing very well. Then something happened and he has reverted back to mindlessly becoming a predictable shotblocker again. I too feel more comfortable with Emery in net but i would like to see Crawford look back at the tapes from earlier in the year and play that hybrid style again.
- paulr

That's an interesting observation; hadn't noticed that but think he's playing reasonably well. Agree though. I'm also more comfortable with Emery in net.

Last season Crawford relied almost exclusively on positioning and was strictly a shotblocker, opponents figured it out and let him commit then made a move on him or shot it high. Earlier in this season Crawford was using positioning, athleticism and patience and was playing very well. Then something happened and he has reverted back to mindlessly becoming a predictable shotblocker again.
- paulr

Pretty accurate.

His positional play was always sound but once he's forced to scramble, that's when things go south in a hurry.

Last year he would get beat by redirections (great way to beat a positional goalie) or he'd lose the net while scrambling for pucks and get beat that way.

His movement/scrambling is better this year but lately he's lost the patience that makes him effective.

I don't know what his deal is. A bad goal or two seems to make him feel the need to change his play and that's concerning.

Great win last night!

I don't think this is a goalie controversy...it's an asset to have 2 guys who have the ability to play well. But I will concede Emery has been impressive and deserves the time he's getting. I don't even think it's a case of Crawford losing the job as much as it is Emery taking it.

Interesting to note: Out of the top 2 teams in each conference, 3 out of 4 (PIT, CHI, ANH) use both goalies considerably.

Also, after 2 years of wondering why Sharp just doesn't take faceoffs while playing LW, we finally saw it a little last night and I thought it worked very well. Having Toews-Sharp-Handzus taking draws makes what was a weakness of this team, now a major strength.

Its so nice to have another faceoff guy on the team not named Toews have a bad night at the dot and only be 1 under .500 for the night

Someone explain to me also why Sharp also only took the offensive zone faceoffs and Kruger took the d-zone ones? Why not sharp just take all?

Great win last night!

I don't think this is a goalie controversy...it's an asset to have 2 guys who have the ability to play well. But I will concede Emery has been impressive and deserves the time he's getting. I don't even think it's a case of Crawford losing the job as much as it is Emery taking it.

Interesting to note: Out of the top 2 teams in each conference, 3 out of 4 (PIT, CHI, ANH) use both goalies considerably.

Also, after 2 years of wondering why Sharp just doesn't take faceoffs while playing LW, we finally saw it a little last night and I thought it worked very well. Having Toews-Sharp-Handzus taking draws makes what was a weakness of this team, now a major strength.
- andru2797

DK's TOI is creeping up again. Nearly 25min again last night. Would like to see an extra shift out of all the 3-6 guys just to get DK down to 23min or less.

Even with 2 off days this week and 3 next week, there are still 3 back-to-backs, 4 games in 6 nights & 6 games in 9 to close out the season.

Its so nice to have another faceoff guy on the team not named Toews have a bad night at the dot and only be 1 under .500 for the night

Someone explain to me also why Sharp also only took the offensive zone faceoffs and Kruger took the d-zone ones? Why not sharp just take all?
- FourFeathers773

They could evolve that way. The Shaw/Kruger FO was a combined 2-10 (17%).

I was more concerned watching Sharp on the bench cringe a little after that hit. And I was far more surprise to see him go out and initiate a hit early on.

Olecz: scoring in the AHL does not mean you are a tremendously skilled player. Those who saw him play would admit and be exciting if they thought he could help Chicago. Watch a few games on a feed or attend, then tell the board you've changed your mind. He helps Chicago best by not playing and risking injury. Therefore he qualifies as an amortized buyout.
- jhawk59

I disagree with the highlighted.

Olesz is healthy (he is, for now), he should play. The Hawks are paying him, and should get whatever they can out of him.

Olesz is obviously putting up numbers on the scoresheet, and Rockford is still in the playoff hunt. Olesz helps Rockford in the idea of putting asses in the seats, and if Rockford makes the playoffs, he helps by pitching in to get the team there in order to give the kids some valuable playoff experience.

Also, his good numbers in Rockford just might entice some team to take Olesz off Bowman's hands. Admittedly, it's not likely, but not out of the realm of possibilities either.

Olesz also can be viewed as experienced depth for the playoffs. He's not necessarily an ideal choice to start spotting in the line-up should the injury bug hit the Hawks, but he does bring something to the table in regards to experience. I'd sooner throw him in the line up in a playoff game before I'd start Brandon Pirri. Olesz seeing time with the Hawks in the playoffs is unlikely, but he's not bad to have around in case of emergency. He's here, whether you like it or not, you may as well have him fill some role with the Hawks, even if it is something miniscule as using him in a depth role with the premise of "break glass in case of emergency."

Sure, Olesz will probably be a compliance buyout. Should he sit because of the risk of injury? No. Play him in Rockford, and if he gets injured, I'm sure someone in the organ-I-zation is going to find some way to stash him away on LTIR. The team is going to pay him either way if he ends up injured and on LTIR or if he's bought out.

DK's TOI is creeping up again. Nearly 25min again last night. Would like to see an extra shift out of all the 3-6 guys just to get DK down to 23min or less.

Even with 2 off days this week and 3 next week, there are still 3 back-to-backs, 4 games in 6 nights & 6 games in 9 to close out the season.
- blackhawk24

I don't mind it actually...he needs to get back up there because come playoff time, he'll be playing 26-27.

DK's TOI is creeping up again. Nearly 25min again last night. Would like to see an extra shift out of all the 3-6 guys just to get DK down to 23min or less.

Even with 2 off days this week and 3 next week, there are still 3 back-to-backs, 4 games in 6 nights & 6 games in 9 to close out the season.
- blackhawk24

Keith and Seabs ice time will start to creep up. Q should be matching up a little more to get ready for the playoffs, ramping it up now getting them used to a few more minutes.

When ya control the puck all night, your opponent will be chasing and hitting you all night. Score several times, continue to hold possession and you'll be chased all night long.

Result is a win, but outhit by a significant margin...

...I'll take it every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

Go Hawks...!
- ArlingtonRob

That hit stat is a bogus stat, based on what we discussed lat week.

I don't mind it actually...he needs to get back up there because come playoff time, he'll be playing 26-27.
- andru2797

I take it you're making the point of easing DK back into playing heavier minutes come playoff time.

If that's what you're getting at, I don't mind it either.

I disagree with the highlighted.

Olesz is healthy (he is, for now), he should play. The Hawks are paying him, and should get whatever they can out of him.

Olesz is obviously putting up numbers on the scoresheet, and Rockford is still in the playoff hunt. Olesz helps Rockford in the idea of putting asses in the seats, and if Rockford makes the playoffs, he helps by pitching in to get the team there in order to give the kids some valuable playoff experience.

Also, his good numbers in Rockford just might entice some team to take Olesz off Bowman's hands. Admittedly, it's not likely, but not out of the realm of possibilities either.

Olesz also can be viewed as experienced depth for the playoffs. He's not necessarily an ideal choice to start spotting in the line-up should the injury bug hit the Hawks, but he does bring something to the table in regards to experience. I'd sooner throw him in the line up in a playoff game before I'd start Brandon Pirri. Olesz seeing time with the Hawks in the playoffs is unlikely, but he's not bad to have around in case of emergency. He's here, whether you like it or not, you may as well have him fill some role with the Hawks, even if it is something miniscule as using him in a depth role with the premise of "break glass in case of emergency."

Sure, Olesz will probably be a compliance buyout. Should he sit because of the risk of injury? No. Play him in Rockford, and if he gets injured, I'm sure someone in the organ-I-zation is going to find some way to stash him away on LTIR. The team is going to pay him either way if he ends up injured and on LTIR or if he's bought out.
- EKolb13

I agree! Plus trading teams can now eat salary. Who says someone might like Rusty just not at his 3 Mill salary? What if someone takes him off your hands and you eat a small portion of that salary for say a draft pick?

I agree! Plus trading teams can now eat salary. Who says someone might like Rusty just not at his 3 Mill salary? What if someone takes him off your hands and you eat a small portion of that salary for say a draft pick?
- droe411

It's within the realm of possibilities.


Also, new JJ blog is up!