I am in no way worried about last nights game. They're playing .750 (by points) hockey, and we're 6 games in. Time to assess is 18-20 games. Right now I'm enjoying the 66-degree weather on my deck with a Lagunita's Imperial Stout.

As a Preds fan I was at he game last night. Midway through the 3rd period I asked my son "who is 91" ? I looked in my program to see that it was Brad Richards. First time I noticed him last night.

Bickell-Toews-Kane
Sharp-Richards-Hossa
.
- EKolb13

Agreed, posted that yesterday.

Solid game by the Preds last night and picking up Forsberg really has helped them along with Neal. Lavy's done a real nice job with them. They're a real threat no question. Rinne was his usual solid self.

Thought the Hawks PP looked solid though they didn't score.
Richards needs a goal to get going...let's hope he gets one soon.

Tomorrow night's game should be real interesting. First time the Hawks and the Blues have met since the Hawks eliminated them last spring.

I feel as though Smith plays the front of the net nicely, as well. There is no denying that Smith is stronger and more sturdily built than Shaw is, too.
- Bjm84

5'10 and +200 is a fire hydrant. Not the best skater but very good on the boards and seems to be in the right place more than not.

My biggest issue with the Hawks is the same system with basically the same players for the last few years are not surprising anyone. And with prominence of video analysis and advanced metrics I think most of the decent teams are going to find ways to at least slow down the hawks and steal points.

Hot goaltender in the playoffs could ruin hopes and dreams. See Detroit a few years ago (though that was more Babcock being Babcock), Phoenix (going to WCF), nearly giving a series away to Nashville in 2010 and running out of gas against LA.

Containing Toews and Kane and Hossa and Sharp and Saad for 60 minutes is a chore. But since there are ZERO surprises in terms of scheme, game plan and line up adjustments, the opposition has a better chance to effectively plan and steal a point or two as Nashville has taken 3.

A team this talented, that has experienced minimal turnover, should be able to string 60 minute performances together better than this IMO. And it all starts with the guy with the stashe.

I feel as though Smith plays the front of the net nicely, as well. There is no denying that Smith is stronger and more sturdily built than Shaw is, too.
- Bjm84

Honestly i don't know who is stronger. But for the hawks present window i think Shaw is more important and harder to replace. And i think neither of them will be locked 8 years-term.

As a Preds fan I was at he game last night. Midway through the 3rd period I asked my son "who is 91" ? I looked in my program to see that it was Brad Richards. First time I noticed him last night.
- wrister

Your team was lucky. Usually he's hawks no.1 star on the ice

FWIW- I too thought Raanta was fine, but he was the 2nd best goalie on the ice last night which is true for most opposing goalies when Rinne plays. The 3rd goal was more on the D-man than the Goalie. If Hutton had been forced to play like Raanta was the outcome would have likely been reversed.

Bickell is one of the most inconsistent players I have ever seen. So, let's put him on the top line. Makes sense.

I'd keep Smith over Shaw because a) better on the penalty kill and on the boards b) plays a more cerebral game and c) his game and body is built to last longer(stocky and strong at 5'11 200 lbs).

Shaw skates around like an animal, crashing and crunching in the dirty areas, which this team needs. However, he's 22 and his body can absorb the punishment now. But do you really think the 175-180 lb Shaw is going to be able to maintain that style of play as he approaches 30? No way. If Shaw were to stick around on a cap friendly deal then I would love to have him but some other team will overpay to get him.

The Hawks have players that can replace the Shaw's of the world in DaNault, Ross, Hartman, etc.
- Bjm84

Shaw is better than Smith. And not by a little.

5'10 and +200 is a fire hydrant. Not the best skater but very good on the boards and seems to be in the right place more than not.

My biggest issue with the Hawks is the same system with basically the same players for the last few years are not surprising anyone. And with prominence of video analysis and advanced metrics I think most of the decent teams are going to find ways to at least slow down the hawks and steal points.

Hot goaltender in the playoffs could ruin hopes and dreams. See Detroit a few years ago (though that was more Babcock being Babcock), Phoenix (going to WCF), nearly giving a series away to Nashville in 2010 and running out of gas against LA.

Containing Toews and Kane and Hossa and Sharp and Saad for 60 minutes is a chore. But since there are ZERO surprises in terms of scheme, game plan and line up adjustments, the opposition has a better chance to effectively plan and steal a point or two as Nashville has taken 3.

A team this talented, that has experienced minimal turnover, should be able to string 60 minute performances together better than this IMO. And it all starts with the guy with the stashe.
- fattybeef

Not that i know something about hockey but i think it's more about effort, desire to win, enter the postseason and excitement with new coach (from NSH side) than hawks not surprising someone. As you mentioned with prominence of video analysis and advanced metrics it's hard to surprise someone for any other team either. Everybody knows Laviolette's style and his players for example. Of course for some degree there is surprising element because of new coach after Trotz age. But Q shuffles his lines too and with better effort they almost tied that game.
OK i just wanted to say they should play better in the first
EDIT: don't forget NSH had 2 month longer vacations too

Not that i know something about hockey but i think it's more about effort, desire to win, enter the postseason and excitement with new coach (from NSH side) than hawks not surprising someone. As you mentioned with prominence of video analysis and advanced metrics it's hard to surprise someone for any other team either. Everybody knows Laviolette's style and his players for example. Of course for some degree there is surprising element because of new coach after Trotz age. But Q shuffles his lines too and with better effort they almost tied that game.
OK i just wanted to say they should play better in the first
- Uncheckable21

Sorry Bear. The only solution is.....


TRADE THEM ALL!!!!

Bickell is one of the most inconsistent players I have ever seen. So, let's put him on the top line. Makes sense.
- Elbows15

Maybe he catches consistent period of his inconsistency curve on the top line Anyways linerandomiser is ready.

Because there is at least one other line that isn’t exactly going great guns either, and that’s the top line of Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.

Ah I remember getting criticized for this exact notion a couple games back

For this being a "dominant" line, they sure aren't doing much outside special teams

The stubbornness to break up this line is coming at the cost of finding a spark on the other three lines.

Hawks have talent all over the place, but it's safe to say the lines arent quite living up to expectations. Hossa is still looking for his first even strength or pp point, Richards is getting a cast of second string talent to try. and find chemistry with, saad has already been demoted off that miracle chemistry second line with Kane and shaw, and bickell had another step back game last night IMO

Blackhawks to face a Blues team at an early season crossroads, after getting slapped by the Canucks, then their coach.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...s-this-is-a-wake-up-call/

Bickell is one of the most inconsistent players I have ever seen. So, let's put him on the top line. Makes sense.
- Elbows15

He's played successfully with the gold dust twins in the past. I remember a SCF against Boston like it was yesterday.

The top line has gotten into a habit lately of eating up a lot of time in the offensive zone running cycles, but it's all on the outside or down low, their shots are all coming from bad angles or the points

Not enough meat and potatoes taking it to the net and getting in the slot

Seems like hossa and toews maintain possession down low and on the boards and then sharp gets a shot off from the half boards or they kick it out to the dmen for an extremely. long point shot that barely gets through sometimes

He's played successfully with the gold dust twins in the past. I remember a SCF against Boston like it was yesterday.
- scottak

Yes. That's why the hope is here. But from the other side he was better than now without the twins too with Stalberg and Shaw. So it's controversy again

The League shows a lot of parity. It's how a cap system works. Hawks in my opinion have not made any personal improvements or have they? Richards to date is far from an upgrade.....things may change.
Saad was going to the next level ...let me know when. Bickel is Bickel.....Hossa's strengths are not on the score sheet but as two way player.



Hawks are a good team but lot's of teams have improved with the help of cap space. The Ducks adding Kesler are a lot better...Dallas is a lot better. Nashville is a lot better.
We lost Leddy...picked up Richards. TVR has been a delightful find but we are no better than last year at least on paper.

The West is tough ...nothing is guaranteed to anyone. I see the Hawks coming in at about 3rd in the division @ 100 points and 5th or 6th in the conference. Time will tell.

He's played successfully with the gold dust twins in the past. I remember a SCF against Boston like it was yesterday.
- scottak

And looked like crap last season. Bickell is not a top line player. He may do well in spurts but over the long haul? Nothing I have seen from him has shown me he can do it.

Ah I remember getting criticized for this exact notion a couple games back

For this being a "dominant" line, they sure aren't doing much outside special teams

The stubbornness to break up this line is coming at the cost of finding a spark on the other three lines.

Hawks have talent all over the place, but it's safe to say the lines arent quite living up to expectations. Hossa is still looking for his first even strength or pp point, Richards is getting a cast of second string talent to try. and find chemistry with, saad has already been demoted off that miracle chemistry second line with Kane and shaw, and bickell had another step back game last night IMO
- FourFeathers773

Guess you didn't see the game last night.

The League shows a lot of parity. It's how a cap system works. Hawks in my opinion have not made any personal improvements or have they? Richards to date is far from an upgrade.....things may change.
Saad was going to the next level ...let me know when. Bickel is Bickel.....Hossa's strengths are not on the score sheet but as two way player.



Hawks are a good team but lot's of teams have improved with the help of cap space. The Ducks adding Kesler are a lot better...Dallas is a lot better. Nashville is a lot better.
We lost Leddy...picked up Richards. TVR has been a delightful find but we are no better than last year at least on paper.

The West is tough ...nothing is guaranteed to anyone. I see the Hawks coming in at about 3rd in the division @ 100 points and 5th or 6th in the conference. Time will tell.
- Colbyboy

Both Dallas and Anaheim are still very suspect on the back end.

Guess you didn't see the game last night.
- Elbows15

I did, they ran a great pp

Early on in the game, same old stories, perimeter cycling

Then Q jumbled the lines all over the place

Sorry Bear. The only solution is.....


TRADE THEM ALL!!!!
- Elbows15

I did, they ran a great pp

Early on in the game, same old stories, perimeter cycling

Then Q jumbled the lines all over the place
- FourFeathers773

Which broke up the top line. And the Hawks dominate the 3rd period.