Khabby hasn't been any good. But it has been only TWO games. I'm certainly not going to rush to any judgements now.

What's more concerning is the D. Yes, Khabbi only stopped 18 of 22 shots. But those 22 shots were in less than a period and a half. That's terrible. And the worst offender is Brent Seabrook. and while it's "still early" this is coming off a sub par year last year for Seabs. He's certainly in jeapordy of missing team Canada which actually might be the best thing for him long term. But he has to remove head from rectum if the Hawks D is to be the Stanley Cup caliber it's known to be....
- yahoodi

Last night forwards were cheating, #4/#7 no great shakes and the team as a whole looked slow...Then Crawford came in, Toews took over and the Sens found themselves.

To your point not a sixty minute effort although Khabby was bad again.


Toews leads & Hawks win.
What to do about Khabibulin?
Nothing now except play better defense and hope:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/18CkfVh

@AlCimaglia

Good insight, Kabby is prone to injuries and that seems to be the trend when dealing with ageing veterans. I'm hoping he'll do everyone a favor: show some pride and hang em up if he truly can't hack it anymore. Kind of like Biron earlier this year. Any chance?
- reeder16

That would be great if he really falls off. I bet it wouldn't be any fun playing in the UC if he's really bad - maybe he would hang 'em up. I hope he stabilizes, though, and is at least a decent back-up. Then Raanta can be called on when he's ready, rather than when he's needed. The games he's been in have been like watching the Bears defense, though, eh?

Add an alleged 'abduction' to the Varlamov story

theScore ‏@theScore
ICYMI: Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov has been arrested on kidnapping and assaulted charges. http://bit.ly/1apwCL0

That would be great if he really falls off. I bet it wouldn't be any fun playing in the UC if he's really bad - maybe he would hang 'em up. I hope he stabilizes, though, and is at least a decent back-up. Then Raanta can be called on when he's ready, rather than when he's needed. The games he's been in have been like watching the Bears defense, though, eh?
- mohel

Im from just outside of Vancouver. Not really a Bears fan but I know what your saying. It seems to happen very quickly to old goalies. Rollison in TB comes to mind. Took them on a run a few years ago and the next year couldn't stop a beach ball

Add an alleged 'abduction' to the Varlamov story

theScore ‏@theScore
ICYMI: Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov has been arrested on kidnapping and assaulted charges. http://bit.ly/1apwCL0
- philco28

Also, Phil, one of those charges is a felony. Not good.

Also, Phil, one of those charges is a felony. Not good.
- mohel

Sounds like he's in big shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit

Im from just outside of Vancouver. Not really a Bears fan but I know what your saying. It seems to happen very quickly to old goalies. Rollison in TB comes to mind. Took them on a run a few years ago and the next year couldn't stop a beach ball
- reeder16

I should have noticed your location before using that analogy! It is a feeling of utter hopelessness that I was trying to describe. Hitters in baseball seem to go over that cliff, too, at least before steroids...

Sounds like he's big shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit
- philco28

Yep, big ol' Baby Ruth bar.

Yep, big ol' Baby Ruth bar.
- mohel

Wonder how/if this will sabotage the Avs' RED HOT start

Last night forwards were cheating, #4/#7 no great shakes and the team as a whole looked slow...Then Crawford came in, Toews took over and the Sens found themselves.

To your point not a sixty minute effort although Khabby was bad again.


Toews leads & Hawks win.
What to do about Khabibulin?
Nothing now except play better defense and hope:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/18CkfVh

@AlCimaglia
- Al

That Toews guy might have a future in this league
He's really come on in the last couple games after his traditional slow start

Wonder how/if this will sabotage the Avs' RED HOT start
- philco28

It'll be a good test for the leadership of the team and the coach. They haven't been the strongest team mentally over the past few years, but things seem different in those categories with Roy there. If they're able to withstand it, maybe they will become a stronger team?

It'll be a good test for the leadership of the team and the coach. They haven't been the strongest team mentally over the past few years, but things seem different in those categories with Roy there. If they're able to withstand it, maybe they will become a stronger team?
- mohel

Varlamov...7-1 ..1.76 GAA and .945 save %

Giguere...3-0 with 2 shutouts, 0.67 GAA and .981 save %

Varlamov...7-1 ..1.76 GAA and .945 save %

Giguere...3-0 with 2 shutouts, 0.67 GAA and .981 save %
- philco28

Not bad. I wonder if JS is ready for the LOAD if Varlamov is indisposed?

Not bad. I wonder if JS is ready for the LOAD if Varlamov is indisposed?
- mohel

J.S. is likely more ready than STIFF'bulin

J.S. is likely more ready than STIFF'bulin

- philco28

No doubt.

Young guys called up from Rockford have delivered a lot of hits.
- Al

And the Hawks haven't been controlling the puck as much the past several games.

No doubt.
- mohel

Wonder if Varlamov will be out on bail and be free to play before he goes to court ?

Wonder if Varlamov will be out on bail and be free to play before he goes to court ?
- philco28

He has enough money to post bail (he won't be held without bail unless it is extremely severe). One concern might be whether he can get into Canada to play games there. I know a criminal record makes it very tough, but I would guess there needs to be a conviction first. Whether he is free to play is up to the team and the league, though. That is probably a PR question and might depend on the severity. The NHL isn't known for consistency, so who knows?

He has enough money to post bail (he won't be held without bail unless it is extremely severe). One concern might be whether he can get into Canada to play games there. I know a criminal record makes it very tough, but I would guess there needs to be a conviction first. Whether he is free to play is up to the team and the league, though. That is probably a PR question and might depend on the severity. The NHL isn't known for consistency, so who knows?
- mohel

Quality response Mo....appreciate it

I think Khabibulin has been pretty darn bad the past two games he has played in, but it's not entirely his fault. There were multiple goals that couldn't have been prevented. Of course, he didn't really give up any true softies (except for the game winner to Martin St. Louis in OT).

In regards to the goal-tending situation as a whole, it needs to improve as a whole. The PK is currently the worst in the league sitting at a clip of just over 72%. That is beyond pathetic. That's equivalent to giving up at least one PP goal every single game (given an average of 4 PP opportunities of course). That has to improve big time (obviously). Once the PK improves, the team as a whole will improve because the Hawks won't be giving up 4 goals a night. Man I sure miss Frolik.

Also, has anyone else noticed how much more physical this team is compared to last year? Last year, the team was dead last in the league in total hits. This year, the team is above average at #12.

Crawford has been completely average thus far according to the numbers. I think he also needs to improve for the team to match last year's performance.
- TommyHawk

Frolik has literally nothing to with the new PK. Its the goalies' fault

Quality response Mo....appreciate it

- philco28

Thanks Phil, my pleasure.

I think we're selling Crow a little short here. Outside of a few softies in one of the early games he's been damn good. He's been the reason the team was able to make it to OT in many cases. All of this is coming from a team that clearly doesn't have its defensive stuff together for 60 minutes. I thought Crow was pretty darn impressive yesterday (coming in cold) and late in the Minny game. Whether he's a 6M man is certainly up for debate, but I don't think there's any doubt he's a big reason this team doesn't have more L's.
- Walky

He has a .916 save %. Nothing special. He's been AWFUL on the PK. He plays behind the best team in the league, he's a good goalie, wins very few games for them. It drives me crazy that everyone says the Hawks can't finish but any time Crawford makes a couple saves its a goalie win

He has a .916 save %. Nothing special. He's been AWFUL on the PK. He plays behind the best team in the league, he's a good goalie, wins very few games for them. It drives me crazy that everyone says the Hawks can't finish but any time Crawford makes a couple saves its a goalie win
- rollpards19

First one - sample size. Second one - awful is a wee bit strong, imo; makes you sound like an irrational, reflexive Crow hater, which I don't think you are. That best team in the league has had a few games where they've allowed way too many shots and quality chances. Crow gets a share of the blame on the PP issue, but 'awful' is way over the top I think.

If only Bobby Lou was here.

Think red font!

If only Bobby Lou was here.
- powerenforcer

Think red font!

Fixed