Which is why fixing the third line is SO im
- John Jaeckel[ortant. Gives Q a HUGE matchup advantage in the playoffs.

Funny how a bunch of guys who hang around other message boards (and bloggers on this boards, and a few here) knew more about Bollig ("he can't play, doesn't belong in the NHL" etc) than the Hawk front office and some others did. The guy is not Pavel Bure, but he is an effective, physical hockey player and he can shoot the puck.

Dude worked hard on his game and the results are obvious

So we finally get Pirri up to play with Kane and for some reason Q moves the defensively responsible and puck battle winning saad to the third line and puts the turnover prone versteeg on a line with Pirri and Kane. Plus Q tried to saddle Kane with Handzus and Shaw too. Why does Q hate Pirri and Kane?
- Walky

Saad probably can play on any line but .....Versteeg can play off a Kane better than Saad at this point.

Saad probably is better at doing more with a Shaw and the third line needs to get going.

Blackhawks explode with 4 goals in 2nd period and top Canucks 5-2. On The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eiPyeH

Very true. After losing Edler, Ehrhoff and Mitchell in particular, they have never been the same.
- Return of the Roar

Technically they still have Edler, although based on his play you'd think he left.

Technically they still have Edler, although based on his play you'd think he left.
- DarthKane

That was a joke you know.

That was a joke you know.
- Return of the Roar

I am still the victim of endless persecution.

Good news and bad news. I was able to work out a trade for McDonald. The bad news is that the Islanders fans want a full can of Pringles.

932

I just heard an interesting fact on the radio today. The teams which has the most shots on goal has won at a 51% clip this season.

Another fact is that about 1/8 of all games played end with a shut out.
- faustus1500

Heard the same segment on nhl radio as you. However, what amazed me is that the Hawks are 12 0 & 5 against the Pacific. Contrast that with their poor record against the Central.

Saad probably can play on any line but .....Versteeg can play off a Kane better than Saad at this point.

Saad probably is better at doing more with a Shaw and the third line needs to get going.

Blackhawks explode with 4 goals in 2nd period and top Canucks 5-2. On The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eiPyeH
- Al

Versteeg can score more off of Kane for sure, but I think that line really needs Saad to help win the puck back. Frankly I think Versteegs turnovers will kill Kanes production. Just looking at the possesion numbers for last night neither line was very good. The third line was down right horrible. The second line was outshot by the fourth. I would rather have just the third line be bad than have the second be hampered.

Heard the same segment on nhl radio as you. However, what amazed me is that the Hawks are 12 0 & 5 against the Pacific. Contrast that with their poor record against the Central.
- TexasFlood

I just heard another segment, seems that the team that scores the most goals is going to win the game. Interesting.....Thought they changed that....

Just kidding guys....

On a slow hockey day for Blackhawk fans, the Chicago Blues Festival has a good - if not hard core blues - line-up of some of my favorites this June:

Aaron Neville
Dr. John
Bettye LaVette

Not blues, exactly - good R&B.

Heard the same segment on nhl radio as you. However, what amazed me is that the Hawks are 12 0 & 5 against the Pacific. Contrast that with their poor record against the Central.
- TexasFlood

51% fact for this yr. illustrates a point I have made quite a few times over the years....

To all those who are blinded by analytics taking the most shots doesn't guarantee a win. Actually shots on goal are one of the poorest indicators of who is going to win the game ...

A 2% difference is not much at all...The NHL keeps stats the margin for error could probably greater even with shots on goal.

Blackhawks explode, 4 goals in 2nd period & top Canucks 5-2. Bickell out but 3rd line vg. On The Blackhawks-Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1eiPyeH

Versteeg can score more off of Kane for sure, but I think that line really needs Saad to help win the puck back. Frankly I think Versteegs turnovers will kill Kanes production. Just looking at the possesion numbers for last night neither line was very good. The third line was down right horrible. The second line was outshot by the fourth. I would rather have just the third line be bad than have the second be hampered.
- Walky

Possession numbers had the third line doing well a few games ago while they are on the ice for fewer shifts...I take that stat with a grain of salt too.

Saad is a north and south player and doesn't pass the puck that well.

I think it is more Kane could score more off of Versteeg...

I think that is the reason Versteeg is with Kane....But if Bickell was what he was paid to be both players would likely be on the same line which I wouldn't mind seeing.

Blackhawks explode, 4 goals in 2nd period & top Canucks 5-2. Bickell out but 3rd line vg. On The Blackhawks-Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1eiPyeH

Possession numbers had the third line doing well a few games ago while they are on the ice for fewer shifts...I take that stat with a grain of salt too.

Saad is a north and south player and doesn't pass the puck that well.

I think it is more Kane could score more off of Versteeg...

I think that is the reason Versteeg is with Kane....But if Bickell was what he was paid to be both players would likely be on the same line which I wouldn't mind seeing.

Blackhawks explode, 4 goals in 2nd period & top Canucks 5-2. Bickell out but 3rd line vg. On The Blackhawks-Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1eiPyeH
- Al

Versteeg laid a beauty pass on Hossa's stick for the first goal when the were doing their Harlem Globetrotter routine on the PP. But when protecting a slender lead, Steeger is one of the last guys I want to see out there. The man's judgement with the puck in dangerous areas is just brutal.

The Smith/Saad combo on the PK has been very effective.

People say the PK starting falling apart at the start of the season because we lost Frolik. But the PK actually started to slip before that. I don't have be stats but our PK wasn't good in the Final.
- DarthKane

what? it was incredible in the playoffs, i think they allowed only one goal in the first 3 playoff series. Maybe slipped a little during the finals, but not much. How does that compare to last in the league for half the season and last in the league in the prior season.
Also during that final, that fouth line got more playing time.
one other note: Frolik was second in the league as the best takeaway per time on the ice. That is where maybe Frolik might be an advantage over Versteeg. But they are different type of players, as Versteeg is definitiely taking more chances with the puck trying to create something. But sometimes smart and sound hockey is better.

Versteeg laid a beauty pass on Hossa's stick for the first goal when the were doing their Harlem Globetrotter routine on the PP. But when protecting a slender lead, Steeger is one of the last guys I want to see out there. The man's judgement with the puck in dangerous areas is just brutal.
- RickJ

Versteeg can be scary but he was in a checking role when they the Cup in 2010...which was surprising but Versteeg being able to do so gave Q. a lot of options.

Blackhawks explode, 4 goals in 2nd period & top Canucks 5-2. Bickell out but 3rd line vg. On The Blackhawks-Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1eiPyeH

So, Bieksa is out at least five games, through the Ogi break. Santorelli had shoulder surgery and is out for the year. Rough season in Van City.

So, Bieksa is out at least five games, through the Ogi break. Santorelli had shoulder surgery and is out for the year. Rough season in Van City.
- mohel

Yep....But they weren't going anywhere anyway...Not deep enough and too many key players having sub par seasons.

Blackhawks explode, 4 goals in 2nd period & top Canucks 5-2. Bickell out but 3rd line vg. On The Blackhawks-Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1eiPyeH

Versteeg laid a beauty pass on Hossa's stick for the first goal when the were doing their Harlem Globetrotter routine on the PP. But when protecting a slender lead, Steeger is one of the last guys I want to see out there. The man's judgement with the puck in dangerous areas is just brutal.
- RickJ

Agreed....he's careless and foolish with the biscuit and hasn't learned a phucking thing since his first go round with the Tomahawk.

For those of us who thought Crawford was overpaid:

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: Varlamov extension: 5 years, $29.5 million. An AAV of $5.9 M a year

For those of us who thought Crawford was overpaid:

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: Varlamov extension: 5 years, $29.5 million. An AAV of $5.9 M a year
- DarthKane

I was just about to make a very similar post. CC's contract will look pretty low soon. So will Bickell's, imo.

Age is a factor, but you have to figure in wear and tear and conditioning. I know that JJ has said it many times - Hossa is an animal in the gym. Perhaps Roszival isn't as disciplined in his own conditioning?
- EKolb13

Think Rozy has had a couple of knee surgeries Eli. It think its more to do with that than conditioning.

I was just about to make a very similar post. CC's contract will look pretty low soon. So will Bickell's, imo.
- mohel

This summer you have the likes of Miller, Brodeur, Halak, and Elliot becoming UFAs. The following summer it's Fleury, Niemi, Schneider, Anderson, Fasth and Bishop.

By the end of Corey's first year under his new contract he will already be a bargain.

Which is why fixing the third line is SO im
- John Jaeckel[ortant. Gives Q a HUGE matchup advantage in the playoffs.

Funny how a bunch of guys who hang around other message boards (and bloggers on this boards, and a few here) knew more about Bollig ("he can't play, doesn't belong in the NHL" etc) than the Hawk front office and some others did. The guy is not Pavel Bure, but he is an effective, physical hockey player and he can shoot the puck.

He is also a very smart hockey player JJ. He finds the open spots. He is probably the best Hawk forward positionally. He cover the D men. He doesn't get caught behind the net when Kruger and Smith are battling down low. He is exactly where he should be.