The defensive efforts vs Bos/Ana were excellent. The last 4 games not so much even though the team did only allow Minny 2 goals.

55 games in, these guys might just be bored of regular season hockey...after last season's whirlwind 48 in the reg and magical 23 in the playoffs.
- philco28

It's a long time until the play-offs (11 weeks) - they're probably all looking forward to the Ogi break - whether to be refreshed through a three-week holiday, or refreshed by playing on a different team in a different venue.

Waive Kostka and there's $700K prorated; waiving Brookbank cuts another $1.3M; waive Roszival and Zus and there's more money. And then what do you do with the money to improve the team?
- RickJ

And - what happened to your defense - now down to five skaters?

Not me....Fro over Steeger ALL DAY .
- philco28

I agree frolik is what this team needs and was good at and more importantly accepted his role. The hawks won the cup last year without verstegg. We got possibly a top six forward on the cheap who hasn't played to his skill level. Two if you count bickell who if he is hurt should've never been brought back until healthy

Can't believe what I've read these past three pages, Hawks are currently the best team in the West mired in a small slump. They are on a collision course with Anaheim ( I believe) and will probably represent the West for the Cup. Relax.
- OReilly24

You shoulda seen the roof falling in here a year+ ago and 4 years ago.

Chris Tanev, who's been playing fantastic hockey this season defensively is out for this game. This could get ugly. He and Hamhuis have been the Canucks 2 most reliable defensemen defensively.
- Nucker101

Nucker...the Hawks gave up 5 to Calgary. Team D is awful, and has been most of the season. Scoring won't likely be the Canucks problem.

But I'll grant you, this could be an ugly display of hockey tonight.

Waive Kostka and there's $700K prorated; waiving Brookbank cuts another $1.3M; waive Roszival and Zus and there's more money. And then what do you do with the money to improve the team?
- RickJ

Get Fro back

All this talk of doom and gloom gets a little ridiculous.

The team is going thru a lull. Every team has one (or more). The Blues went thru a stretch where they lost 4 of 6, the Ducks, Kings, Avs, Bruins, Penguins, etc. All of them have gone thru a stretch where they did not play well. It happens to every team in every season.

Reality is that teams CANNOT play at 100% for the whole season. The grind of 3-4 games a week wears on players and due to various health reasons, both physical and mental, they do not play every game at 100%. The schedule this season has not been beneficial to the Hawks either. They have played a higher percentage of back to backs and 3 games in 4 nights than a lot of other teams. It all adds up to wear on a team.

Regardless of how much drive a player like Toews or Hossa has there will be nights when they will go to the well and there will just not be anything there.

Not time to panic yet. You have a team of players, that for the most part know how to win when it counts.

It's a long time until the play-offs (11 weeks) - they're probably all looking forward to the Ogi break - whether to be refreshed through a three-week holiday, or refreshed by playing on a different team in a different venue.
- StLBravesFan

Rest will be welcome by the 8-10 not going to Sochi.

Can't believe what I've read these past three pages, Hawks are currently the best team in the West mired in a small slump. They are on a collision course with Anaheim ( I believe) and will probably represent the West for the Cup. Relax.
- OReilly24

Have you actually watched the Hawks play this year? I mean besides the one game at the UC against your Bruins?

This Hawks club isn't close to the team that won it last year...IMO.

And - what happened to your defense - now down to five skaters?
- StLBravesFan

That's the point. Complaining about the cap won't fix anything. The team is what it is - the crew in uniforms has to play better regardless of salaries. no help coming from elsewhere.

Get Fro back

- philco28

By no means do I think Frolik alone would be the answer the team needs, but god damn it would be good to have him back.

A third line of Versteeg - Shaw - Frolik would be frotastic!

Anaheim is the best in the West right now, St Louis is probably 2nd best - we're tied with 77 points but they have 3 games in hand. Even San Jose could pass us if they win their games in hand. Colorado would tie us if they win their extra games.

All is not lost, but this is more than a small slump.
- DarthKane

Because a small slump is 2/5 games they haven't been able to get that second or third goal since that stretch if games when they dropped five a game.last year when they couldn't score they had there d to fall back on this year not even close

By no means do I think Frolik alone would be the answer the team needs, but god damn it would be good to have him back.

A third line of Versteeg - Shaw - Frolik would be frotastic!
- DarthKane

His ENERGY and experience would be a huge asset down the stretch as a rental.

So why wasn't Stanton kept with the big club ?

So why wasn't Stanton kept with the big club ?
- golfingsince

Kostka got the 'franchise' tag slapped on him

So why wasn't Stanton kept with the big club ?
- golfingsince

I wish he was, but one Kotska, Brookbank, Rozsival and Stanton had to go. Unfortunately Stanton didn't clear waivers.

His ENERGY and experience would be a huge asset down the stretch as a rental.
- philco28

Rental my a$$, keep that mo-fro around long term. Dump Bickell and re-sign Frolik.

JJ says:

The truth is, the salary cap forced the Hawks (albeit to a much less severe extent than it did in 2010) to jettison some valuable pieces over the summer of 2013.

Are you kidding me, you blaming this on the salary cap.
SB gambled and lost. the Bickel contract was a bit too high. What were they expecting that Bickel would turn into a 4 to 5million dollar man or another Lucic. if they could save 500k on one of those contracts, leddys or Bickels - they could have kept Frolik.
i am not sure of Bolland's impact as he was hurt a majority of the time.
Stahlberg helped that 3rd line click - opened up tons of space which you don't see on the scoresheet. Plus that 3rd line was together for awhile.
but the 3rd line is really hurt - because you have a dman on the wing a majority of the time.
Was the Versteeg pick up really that good - he lost a step and is not the same Versteeg from 2010.

I wish he was, but one Kotska, Brookbank, Rozsival and Stanton had to go. Unfortunately Stanton didn't clear waivers.
- DarthKane

Pretty sure Kotska would have, or Brookbank.

Rental my a$$, keep that mo-fro around long term. Dump Bickell and re-sign Frolik.
- DarthKane

Let's see what Bicks we see in the playoffs....then dump him if his value regenerates after TANKING to this point.

That's the point. Complaining about the cap won't fix anything. The team is what it is - the crew in uniforms has to play better regardless of salaries. no help coming from elsewhere.
- RickJ

Yes - wysiwyg.

1. Ladd, there are 29 other teams that Ladd would be a solution with as well. It is akin to saying that other teams may be interested in adding Toews or Sharp.

2. Ben Smith has not hurt this team. The fourth line is as effective as last year, even more productive and I believe getting even more ice time. Smith has been fine on the PK, but is not as fast as Frolik. Beyond Froliks major role on PK last year, there is no fall off. It is my opinion that this hand wringing over replacing Frolik and Bollands 18 mins a game our of a total of 180 forward minutes is overdone. Like all good teams, just like in Phoenix series, when everyone wanted to crucify CC as the reason they lost, nobody wants to hold accountable the sacred cows. I know many are criticizing them here, but they too are human. They have slumped at a time where we are getting no third line activity or scoring. 1 extra goal a game every other game and the Hawks are 6-2-2. That margin is not that great.

3. Rockford has no answers. Really. Ben Smith has been great. Pirri, for 24 games, contributed to a team that was playing great hockey while he was here. Do we really need any of these guys to join Hossa, Toews, Sharp and Kane as superstars to carry the team? Morin won the come watch Sheldon Brookbank contest. Was given 0 rope to prove what he could or could not do. One thing was for sure, he brought more consistent energy and effort than Bickell.

4. Said it yesterday, every team, each year, has to replace at least 2 or 3 guys. This poor me stuff from Hawk fans about having to replace Stalberg, Bolland and Frolik, is a blunt illustration of how entitled Hawk fans have become. Bolland contributed nothing during the whole last season. And in the playoffs, was shuttled around and benched. If he does not score the cup winner, we do not even note anything he did in the playoffs last year. Stalberg, who I liked, has been replaced by a better hockey player, Versteeg, who will have more value.

5. Sure it would be nice to add a veteran who plays a solid game, but this team has plenty of leadership. These guys are not kids anymore. The solution, is allowing them to work through their problems and grow, not shuffle them around and make excuses.

6. Since I have already touched many third rails with a lot of folks, lets look at this. Let me pull this one out of my archives. When you have the horses, why in the hell do you worry about line matchups? Why when playing an obviously weak team do you strategically worry about matchups? Wouldn't it make more sense to let the other team react and worry about the issue? I understand at certain points in a game maybe, but chasing matchups early in the game looks foolish. Remember, after every break, or period of time where there are a lot of whistles, you are coming back with your 1st line an either your top or second pairing? All elite, olympic players...I don't know, guess I will never understand this.

7. I am hoping Pirri allows them to get the 4 line flow back. I will give it a couple of games. Though I did not get to watch the whole game yesterday, it is safe to say that Raanta put them in a hole early.

The team is going thru that necessary adversity, as Hawk fans, we have been spoiled and spared a lot of it. For better or worse, we will get an idea of how certain guys will or will not fit in to the scheme. Now that they are struggling, it will be easier to determine the impact and measure the real chemistry.

Couple things I see... they come out hot to prove they could repeat. I think the push at the start of the year has them gassed at the moment. I also think all of the guys headed to the Olympics should skip it. Stay home and rest. As a team owner, I would suggest that. We have multiple things going, exhaustion being one of them. Mental and physical. I also think Stanley painted himself into a corner with the big money he threw out. CC is an above average net minder... 6 million a year? Ummmm no. 3-4 sure. Bickell in my mind was a mistake. Hes so on/off. Why is it so hard for him to be physical? Or for any of them?? Toews is tired. And prolly hurt too. We still need a legit #2 C to help him out. (#10 could do it) Time to move some guys to free up some salary. We need a jolt. Frolik is missed without a doubt. He was built in the Madden style of PK Demonic. For now finish the trip as is. But if we come back after the Olympics and are still playing like this.. gotta do something. Cup windows don't stay open for long.