I agree that a team's expectations should be taken into account. But I don't buy that first round loss by the Hawks is equal to a SCF loss.
- mohel

I never said it was....with each round they win, the less upset I'd get if they were to lose.

and historic drinking buddies.

Unreal how poorly this team was run with WWW and Pulford in charge.

I will give McDonough a lot of credit for getting on his pony and reaching out to all those that were back stabbed by those 2 goofs.
- SteveRain

No question about McDonough! Good to see the old timers back in the fold. How you could want ex-players not to speak fondly of your franchise after they leave is beyond me.. I don't have this hate for him or Stan like many on this blog. There were many years when the goal was just making the playoff's, with the free money that came with that.. At least now there is One Goal and it's not just getting to the dance...

Just gave 3 solid ones up above if you read...

hole 1: no 2nd line center
hole 2: no size..not meathead size who can't skate, but guys who can take the body and not hurt 3.
hole 3: a PP point man. Nice if they gave Leddy a shot, instead of forcing Keith. Keith is a talented D man, but offensively he's mediocre.
- SteveRain

Hole 1: We have a 2nd line centre, just not a great one. If Bolland is healthy he'll be fine in the playoffs

Hole 2: Stalberg, Bickell, and Handzus are pretty big guys. Bickell and Handzus take the body well. Shaw is another physical guy, although he's a bit smaller. These guys aren't Lucic or Brown type forwards, but they can get the job done on the third or 4th line.

Hole 3: I agree, Leddy should be given more of a shot. Sharp could be an option on the point too.

Every team has hole, or at least areas that can be improved. While I don't think the Blackhawks are unbeatable, the only real glaring problem is the PP. But if the boys can continue to dominate 5 on 5 in addition to being strong on the PK the impact of a weak PP is minimized.

i have ZERO issue with Danault/McNeill not seeing a lot of time in Rockford right now. Maybe I didn't make this clear enough in the blog, but it goes back to the question yesterday about Stanton. You will not see guys playing in Chicago anymore until they're more than ready or there are a rash of injuries at the NHL level.

Give these kids time to develop. No need to rush them as deep as the Hawks are at the NHL level.
- John Jaeckel

Agreed, The Det. model says "Bring them up over ripe"pg. 131 chapter 43. Besides it is better to bring up an AHL er with potential on a cheaper 2nd contract to see what they really have, than over pay because you NEED them.

Hole 1: We have a 2nd line centre, just not a great one. If Bolland is healthy he'll be fine in the playoffs

Hole 2: Stalberg, Bickell, and Handzus are pretty big guys. Bickell and Handzus take the body well. Shaw is another physical guy, although he's a bit smaller. These guys aren't Lucic or Brown type forwards, but they can get the job done on the third or 4th line.

Hole 3: I agree, Leddy should be given more of a shot. Sharp could be an option on the point too.

Every team has hole, or at least areas that can be improved. While I don't think the Blackhawks are unbeatable, the only real glaring problem is the PP. But if the boys can continue to dominate 5 on 5 in addition to being strong on the PK the impact of a weak PP is minimized.
- DarthKane

No don't say that!!!! How dare you think this teams problems aren't that glaring? LOL

J/K

Seriously though people here need to sit back, relax, and try and enjoy a good team. Save the female dogging for when/if they lose.

I think it may be that the guys who put Rockford in that situation to make the playoffs are being rewarded. Plus, who knows how much 2 rookies with no professional background would hurt that effort. Would it be nice to see them, sure.
- droe411

BINGO!


There is no wAy you sit guys that gave you their efforts all year long unless they are some cancer...
Danault & McNeill are there to learn, and they will be back their next September to learn and play (unless the board wants to canonize them already and make the Hawk regulrs without ever playing a game in the OHL....)

I never said it was....with each round they win, the less upset I'd get if they were to lose.
- SteveRain

My comment about that was in response to Blackhawk24 (I think) - I know you didn't say that.

So the refs hide their whistles, but the PP is key? People realize the Hawks excel at 5v5 right? Its when they easily play their best hockey, and they are substantially better than everyone in the league at dictating 5v5 play except the Kings. The Sharks may be 15-1 at home but they have less ROW than the Flames, and we beat them in their barn. Could Crawford play like he did against Vancouver in 2011? Yep. Did we handle StL on the road last week with their new additions? Yep. No one thinks the team is perfect but you insisting they can't win a second round matchup is ridiculous
- rollpards19

Ugh...regular season success means nothing.
San Jose is a very tough place to play, and if Niemi continues to play the way he has, they are dangerous on that alone. This Sharks team is better then last year's Phoenix team who damn near made the cup final riding Mike Smith.

Niemi has won playoff rounds...Crawford hasn't. So to say 2011 crawford, I know what you are implying, and for them to win the cup...he has to be that guy and better. However, 2011 Crawford still wasn't good enough to win a round.

Refs hide their whistles. Interferenc, hooking penalties seem to not be called as frequently. Why? Because they don't want to be a factor in the decision. However, when they do have a man advantage, they have to capitalize. So far, they are HORRIBLE considering their skill level. THE PP scheme is god awful, and just assuming it will correct itself is stupid on this coaching staff's part.

Hole 1: We have a 2nd line centre, just not a great one. If Bolland is healthy he'll be fine in the playoffs

Hole 2: Stalberg, Bickell, and Handzus are pretty big guys. Bickell and Handzus take the body well. Shaw is another physical guy, although he's a bit smaller. These guys aren't Lucic or Brown type forwards, but they can get the job done on the third or 4th line.

Hole 3: I agree, Leddy should be given more of a shot. Sharp could be an option on the point too.

Every team has hole, or at least areas that can be improved. While I don't think the Blackhawks are unbeatable, the only real glaring problem is the PP. But if the boys can continue to dominate 5 on 5 in addition to being strong on the PK the impact of a weak PP is minimized.
- DarthKane

Lets watch Kane's numbers....thats the ultimate sign. IF Boland cancels out Kane by trying to play defense 99.9% of the shift, then that puts a LOT pressure on guys like Stalberg, Bickell, Shaw to chip in or it's all on Hossa-toews-Saad.

Stalberg's biggest asset is his speed. Win the draw, chip it in, and let stalberg run it down and cycle the hell out of the opposition.

Imagine, how deadly this team would be with a top 15 PP......

Hello boys !!

Hope everyone is staying dry.

regular job is busy by of weather , side job busy because of weather, apologies in advance if this has been brought up before ....



On one of the PP units why can't Seabrook play in front of the net ? He is fearless , big body , ...

Kane
Hossa
Seabrook
Leady
Keith

On one unit.


I'm just so sick of getting zero accomplished on the power play. Shake it up do something.

Y'all keep dry now ya hear !

Ugh...regular season success means nothing.
San Jose is a very tough place to play, and if Niemi continues to play the way he has, they are dangerous on that alone. This Sharks team is better then last year's Phoenix team who damn near made the cup final riding Mike Smith.

Niemi has won playoff rounds...Crawford hasn't. So to say 2011 crawford, I know what you are implying, and for them to win the cup...he has to be that guy and better. However, 2011 Crawford still wasn't good enough to win a round.

Refs hide their whistles. Interferenc, hooking penalties seem to not be called as frequently. Why? Because they don't want to be a factor in the decision. However, when they do have a man advantage, they have to capitalize. So far, they are HORRIBLE considering their skill level. THE PP scheme is god awful, and just assuming it will correct itself is stupid on this coaching staff's part.
- SteveRain

You are contradicting yourself all over the place. Mike Smith had never won a playoff series before last year. If losing 4-1 is damn close then how close is a game 7? The Kings and Bruins were bad on the PP in the playoffs and they both won the cup. If regular season doesn't matter why did you cite the Sharks home record and say if Niemi keeps playing like he has they will be tough to beat? This Hawks team is leaps and bounds better than that Phoenix team last year.

We can agree the scheme is horrible. Why won't they try anything else?????

Edit: And for the whole, regular season doesn't matter, the Kings are the only team since the millenium to not finish in the top half of their conference and win the cup, and only one other team (Pitt) didn't win their division. So regular season is a pretty good indicator

Imagine, how deadly this team would be with a top 15 PP......
- SteveRain

A top 15 power play would only be 5 more goals for us, which isn't much...
How many have we scored right after the PP ended also?

About the PP. One play that Van. uses is a double post in front of the net, one low screening goalie & one in the middle of the 4 corners of the box. 1st; puck drops low corner looking for cross ice pass while moving up to dot. middle man does a timed screen on upper defender on the same side as puck as pass goes across. If mid man gets position in high slot shoot then boom 3 players have rebound op`s. The shot pass off the end boards or behind net as Det. does would be better than what is not happening now. Behind the net side to side has to an option we have the skill like Pitt. Why can`t the coaching staff do this? Do the Hawks own a camera do they know how to operate it? watched part of the 91 game Wiz sent they employed the same 1 3 1 moving to a 1 2 2 that Pitt Van uses periodically. Timing does`nt seem to be as critical doing this. Just the people moving to an area for the rebound when the comes thats got to be first prioity

Lets watch Kane's numbers....thats the ultimate sign. IF Boland cancels out Kane by trying to play defense 99.9% of the shift, then that puts a LOT pressure on guys like Stalberg, Bickell, Shaw to chip in or it's all on Hossa-toews-Saad.

Stalberg's biggest asset is his speed. Win the draw, chip it in, and let stalberg run it down and cycle the hell out of the opposition.

Imagine, how deadly this team would be with a top 15 PP......
- SteveRain

I don't think Bolland will cancel our Kane (or Sharp). But if Bolland becomes an issue on the 2nd line then we know Q will juggle the lines and either Shaw or Kruger will end up there. I'm not worried about the offensive depth of this team, the only thing they need to do is commit to a team defense mentality as they have so far.

You are contradicting yourself all over the place. Mike Smith had never won a playoff series before last year. If losing 4-1 is damn close then how close is a game 7? The Kings and Bruins were bad on the PP in the playoffs and they both won the cup. If regular season doesn't matter why did you cite the Sharks home record and say if Niemi keeps playing like he has they will be tough to beat? This Hawks team is leaps and bounds better than that Phoenix team last year.

We can agree the scheme is horrible. Why won't they try anything else?????

Edit: And for the whole, regular season doesn't matter, the Kings are the only team since the millenium to not finish in the top half of their conference and win the cup, and only one other team (Pitt) didn't win their division. So regular season is a pretty good indicator
- rollpards19

Especially when you add in goal differential - teams dominant in this stat tend to do well in the playoffs. I also recall seeing those graphics of all the teams with a great streak to start the season - something like 7 out of 8 of them won the cup. So, the regular season does indeed matter. To say it is irrelevant is nonsense; to say it is completely predictive (which I know you're not) is also nonsense.

I don't think Bolland will cancel our Kane (or Sharp). But if Bolland becomes an issue on the 2nd line then we know Q will juggle the lines and either Shaw or Kruger will end up there. I'm not worried about the offensive depth of this team, the only thing they need to do is commit to a team defense mentality as they have so far.
- DarthKane

Totally agree. To go along with that, I think they need to commit physically to the extent they did against the Blues recently. They don't need to fight, but if they don't shy away and do show the toughness to take a hit to make a play (especially the D-Men), I think they'll be okay.

Remind me how many stanley cups were awarded during the regular season?

Bowman is playing a dangerous game of chicken...In 2010 he won, when Niemi came through.
In 2011, 2012 he lost when his team flamed out in the 1st round...

Anything less then 16 playoff wins, with this team, is unacceptable and is blamed squarely on the shoulders of a GM who for the 3rd straight year thought he was smarter then the rest of the league.

Again, he wins...I'll glady give him credit..This team loses, I assume you and the others will run back to hiding...
- SteveRain

Who's hiding?...and I have no plans to look for a cave. Besides, my mischaracterization of the accomplishment (NOT WC champ, but reg. season pts. leader) doesn't change my positive feeling for what the Hawks accomplished up to this point.

I'm not going to apologize for being thrilled that the Hawks are the top seed in the west. It's your choice to remain pissed off that they haven't won 3 cups in a row.

In the playoffs, there are no "easy" series wins. There's no such thing. So other than maybe Dallas, who the Hawks skate circles around, I'm totally afraid of everyone. But the team I most fear is the Kings, if it comes to that before the SCF.

agreed. Nothing is a given, but I expect a deep playoff run.

PP really needs to get going...Would love to see Barry Smith get involved because Kompon proved last year in LA he cant run a PP.
- SteveRain

Oh yeah! That Barry Smith thing really went over well last year.

Better off having the FO authorize Q to identify an outside consultant to come in and help. Maybe a retired coach?

Especially when you add in goal differential - teams dominant in this stat tend to do well in the playoffs. I also recall seeing those graphics of all the teams with a great streak to start the season - something like 7 out of 8 of them won the cup. So, the regular season does indeed matter. To say it is irrelevant is nonsense; to say it is completely predictive (which I know you're not) is also nonsense.
- mohel

The Hawks have a lot going in their favor. Next to LA, I think you'd be foolish to say they aren't the favorites to get out of the west. A healthy 19, a better 16,25,65,88,4 and hopefully 50, this team is so much better than the last two years its amazing

Hello boys !!

Hope everyone is staying dry.

regular job is busy by of weather , side job busy because of weather, apologies in advance if this has been brought up before ....



On one of the PP units why can't Seabrook play in front of the net ? He is fearless , big body , ...

Kane
Hossa
Seabrook
Leady
Keith

On one unit.


I'm just so sick of getting zero accomplished on the power play. Shake it up do something.

Y'all keep dry now ya hear !
- mrpaulish

I think Steve is soaked from all the flop sweat.

Blues home vs Yotes with 5 of 6 at home; 3 vs aves and flames. They will be at least the 7th seed...don't see them blowing this.

Jackets vs LA: Have won 5 strt; can they win again in BTB in LA; running out of gmes only 3 left after tonight. They need a pt at least.

Wings are off tonight: 5 gmes to go with 3 at home; jackets get 2 pts tonight and the wings are in deep trouble; need at least 7 of the 10 pts remaining...they have the tiebreaker with the jackets.

Stars and yotes need to win out and need help. Meees think they are done.

At this point it looks like the jackets or wings! Unless Blues or Wild fall apart.

A top 15 power play would only be 5 more goals for us, which isn't much...
How many have we scored right after the PP ended also?
- moots

What about the idea that a bad PP gives opposing thugs the idea that it's OK to commit bad fouls because it's OK to be short-handed?

I'd be really scared to face the hottest team in west come playoffs

Especially when you add in goal differential - teams dominant in this stat tend to do well in the playoffs. I also recall seeing those graphics of all the teams with a great streak to start the season - something like 7 out of 8 of them won the cup. So, the regular season does indeed matter. To say it is irrelevant is nonsense; to say it is completely predictive (which I know you're not) is also nonsense.
- mohel

This whole argument about the value (or lack of value) of the regular season ignores one important point:

As a hockey fan - as a Blackhawks fan - I have certainly enjoyed a regular season that has seen the Blackhawks win as much as they have and play as well as they have.

They have more points than any team in the league. That may or may not mean anything come April 30 (?) - but it's something.

And I've thoroughly enjoyed watching regular season games involving other teams, as I do every year - perhaps too many east-coast games for my taste, but still.