JJ, are you still really high on Kruger? He plays a great defensive game and can kill penalities with aplomb but at this stage in his career, wouldn't you expect a little bit more offensive growth or output?
- Bjm84

I am.

I am also wondering what might happen—seriously—if they had him center Kane and Saad for a few games. Or maybe Kane and Bickell or Shaw or even, seriously, Carcillo. Someone to do a little heavy lifting in the corners and separate some pucks.

Kruger has some offensive skill, and some hands. Shaw and Kane aren't really doing much right now.

I just think there could be some nice chemistry with Kruger and Kane and I don't think they've ever played together.

You could keep going worse than Shaw has been Saad overall.
Maybe Richards can play with Kane but I wouldn't hold your breath.
Q is stuck with Roszy for now but he doesn't like what he sees. If Rozsival can't kill penalties he shouldn't dress.
Sloppy game, worse effort of the year.
That said the Leafs could be in line for a real pounding tomorrow night.

On SiriusXM at 12:20 CST with Boomer today...
- Al

Saad...yep...but he seems to bring the effort...making poor decisions

definately a slopfest yet they get 2 after a descent effort and losing 1-0 so it goes over 82....

the hwks once again look very weak at center...TT time is fast appraoching

You could keep going worse than Shaw has been Saad overall.
Maybe Richards can play with Kane but I wouldn't hold your breath.
Q is stuck with Roszy for now but he doesn't like what he sees. If Rozsival can't kill penalties he shouldn't dress.
Sloppy game, worse effort of the year.
That said the Leafs could be in line for a real pounding tomorrow night.

On SiriusXM at 12:20 CST with Boomer today...
- Al

We're all kind of going in the same direction. Again, I would give Kruger a shot with Kane, power player on the other wing, more lunch bucket type guy. Just a feeling.

Maybe. One would think that a guy with his track record could adjust and be serviceable. Otherwise, I'd like to see people coming up with solutions instead of just complaining.
- Bjm84

Here's my solution short of a trade for Richards that won't happen. Put him on waivers immediately and healthy scratch him permanently and bring Peter Regin up from Rockford. He couldn't be any worse. At least he can skate.

Yup. I like him on that top line actually.
- John Jaeckel

I agree. If im not mistaken Q has put him up there in the 3rd period of many of our recent games. He's looked very impressive.

23-19-81
10-65-88
20/29-91-11
20/29-16-28

Id like to see that for our next game.

Be better off putting Rozsival at right wing to play with Richards and bring back Brunette to play the left side.

Its probably political but I don't know how much longer Q can tolerate watching that dead from the ass up Richards playthe game. It isn't learning a new system. It's more the fact that he is total incompatible with this team and therefore useless.
- RickJ

The excuse of Richards not knowing the system is a farce. This system is not unique and he has been playing in the league forever.
Rozsival played about 30 secs on the PK last night...Red flag is up on him.

Saad...yep...but he seems to bring the effort...making poor decisions

definately a slopfest yet they get 2 after a descent effort and losing 1-0 so it goes over 82....

the hwks once again look very weak at center...TT time is fast appraoching
- bogiedoc

Saad doesn't bring the right type of effort....needs to get to the net and use his strength and size,

Be better off putting Rozsival at right wing to play with Richards and bring back Brunette to play the left side.

Its probably political but I don't know how much longer Q can tolerate watching that dead from the ass up Richards playthe game. It isn't learning a new system. It's more the fact that he is total incompatible with this team and therefore useless.
- RickJ

yeah but he has said repeatedly over the last 3 gmes how much better Richards looks: skating better, pace to his gme...blah blah...

A year long Richards flat tire means big trouble....many projected him as 40 point guy and bumping up Kanes production....after 10 games...what a flop that projection is

Saad doesn't bring the right type of effort....needs to get to the net and use his strength and size,
- Al

ok I will rephrase as poor decisions with how he channels his effort

The excuse of Richards not knowing the system is a farce. This system is not unique and he has been playing in the league forever.
Rozsival played about 30 secs on the PK last night...Red flag is up on him.
- Al

Totally agree. Systems in hockey can be grasped in a matter of a couple of practices and games. It isn't the equivalent of handing a quarterback a new playbook on a new team the night before the Super Bowl.

All it requires is skating, hustling and picking up a man in the defensive zone. RIchards has done none of that.

We're all kind of going in the same direction. Again, I would give Kruger a shot with Kane, power player on the other wing, more lunch bucket type guy. Just a feeling.
- John Jaeckel

I don't know if that is the answer but every time they move Kruger it seems to create a hole they can't fill. Saad has to be better or whoever plays the other wing on Kane's line, if not...not sure how much the center will matter.

ok I will rephrase as poor decisions with how he channels his effort
- bogiedoc

Agree...Because he is pressing.

yeah but he has said repeatedly over the last 3 gmes how much better Richards looks: skating better, pace to his gme...blah blah...

A year long Richards flat tire means big trouble....many projected him as 40 point guy and bumping up Kanes production....after 10 games...what a flop that projection is
- bogiedoc

He's just putting lipstick on a pig. He's not going to tell the media what he really is thinking.

We're all kind of going in the same direction. Again, I would give Kruger a shot with Kane, power player on the other wing, more lunch bucket type guy. Just a feeling.
- John Jaeckel

Last post in last blog, didn't see the new one;

Is it crazy to think that they should try Richards at the 2C spot at least 1 period before everyone declares him done.

I just don't understand the rationale that you brought him in to play 2C, but then never played him even one minute at 2C???????

Its not like Shaw Kane Saad has recaptured the magic of the second half of the LA series.

I still think Bickell plays better on 1st line with Toews and Hossa

Toews Bickell Hossa
Richards Sharp Kane
Shaw Saad Versteeg
Kruger Smith Morin

Switch Bickell and Versteeg if you like

Give it a try, at least for 1 period

I don't know if that is the answer but every time they move Kruger it seems to create a hole they can't fill. Saad has to be better or whoever plays the other wing on Kane's line, if not...not sure how much the center will matter.
- Al

Unless they recall somebody from Rockford to play on the 4th line. They would either centre the line or play wing with Smith at centre. Maybe Nordstrom, Regin or Rasmussen get the call. First they would have to send Raanta or Darling to Rockford.

The excuse of Richards not knowing the system is a farce. This system is not unique and he has been playing in the league forever.
Rozsival played about 30 secs on the PK last night...Red flag is up on him.
- Al

What a shame nobody saw this coming!

I am.

I am also wondering what might happen—seriously—if they had him center Kane and Saad for a few games. Or maybe Kane and Bickell or Shaw or even, seriously, Carcillo. Someone to do a little heavy lifting in the corners and separate some pucks.

Kruger has some offensive skill, and some hands. Shaw and Kane aren't really doing much right now.

I just think there could be some nice chemistry with Kruger and Kane and I don't think they've ever played together.
- John Jaeckel

From watching Kruger since he came to the Hawks, IMO, he has about as much offensive skill as a brick.

Never seen him shoot enough to even know what it looks like really. Very stiff when puckhandling...IMO

yeah but he has said repeatedly over the last 3 gmes how much better Richards looks: skating better, pace to his gme...blah blah...

A year long Richards flat tire means big trouble....many projected him as 40 point guy and bumping up Kanes production....after 10 games...what a flop that projection is
- bogiedoc

The only time I noticed Richards in the two games vs Ottawa was when he stopped playing to whine to the referee allowing Ottawa a SH goal. I was at the game last night and he was invisible.

I agree, if he is the Hawks' 2C you guys may be in trouble.

Darling was assigned to Rockford as per my sources.

Darling sent to Rockford...

I don't know if that is the answer but every time they move Kruger it seems to create a hole they can't fill. Saad has to be better or whoever plays the other wing on Kane's line, if not...not sure how much the center will matter.
- Al

My observations:

1) Shaw misplaced on the 2nd line. He's perfect on 3rd or 4th and gets more favorable matchups when playing there.

2) Saad is just trying too hard. Over thinking and playing everything. Finished the year strong last season and maybe reading a little too much of his press? Needs to just go back to what got him there. Last night you could see he was really pressing. Hopefully am ugly goal will get him going.

3) Richards looks OK at times and lost at others. I will give him another 10-15 games before passing judgement, but GET HIM OFF THE POINT on the PP.

4) Rosival is Done. Just nothing left in the tank. I'm tired of watching him jump into the play in the Offensive zone and then be the last man back when the opposition is going the other way, and that's because he is not busting his ass back, not because he's slow. TVR has been fine, makes some mistakes as all rookies will, but has been pretty solid. Q doing a decent job of not exposing him when possible.

5) Bickell is Bickell. Looks good one minute, crappy the next. A turnover leading to a goal stapled his ass to the bench, and as good as Versteeg has looked at times he is always one of those passes from sitting right next to him.

We're all kind of going in the same direction. Again, I would give Kruger a shot with Kane, power player on the other wing, more lunch bucket type guy. Just a feeling.
- John Jaeckel

Respectfully disagree. IMO, if centering Kane, Kruger gives you what Shaw does, undersized guy, playing hard, but not dynamic enough. IMO Kane needs to play on line with Sharp, a shooter, and then the center will not be as important. You could get away with Shaw or Kruger there.

Don't get me wrong, I love Kruger's game. Bicks with Toews and Hossa is nice too.

My observations:

1) Shaw misplaced on the 2nd line. He's perfect on 3rd or 4th and gets more favorable matchups when playing there.

2) Saad is just trying too hard. Over thinking and playing everything. Finished the year strong last season and maybe reading a little too much of his press? Needs to just go back to what got him there. Last night you could see he was really pressing. Hopefully am ugly goal will get him going.

3) Richards looks OK at times and lost at others. I will give him another 10-15 games before passing judgement, but GET HIM OFF THE POINT on the PP.

4) Rosival is Done. Just nothing left in the tank. I'm tired of watching him jump into the play in the Offensive zone and then be the last man back when the opposition is going the other way, and that's because he is not busting his ass back, not because he's slow. TVR has been fine, makes some mistakes as all rookies will, but has been pretty solid. Q doing a decent job of not exposing him when possible.

5) Bickell is Bickell. Looks good one minute, crappy the next. A turnover leading to a goal stapled his ass to the bench, and as good as Versteeg has looked at times he is always one of those passes from sitting right next to him.
- TheTrob

Well said. I agree that Bickel and Versteeg have the same issues.

From watching Kruger since he came to the Hawks, IMO, he has about as much offensive skill as a brick.

Never seen him shoot enough to even know what it looks like really. Very stiff when puckhandling...IMO
- BlazinMike

Well, I'll disagree. More offensive upside than many realize. How much? Not sure. It's just what he's asked to do a this point.

The only time I noticed Richards in the two games vs Ottawa was when he stopped playing to whine to the referee allowing Ottawa a SH goal. I was at the game last night and he was invisible.

I agree, if he is the Hawks' 2C you guys may be in trouble.
- maaddmike

his notice-ables have all been bad...calling TT by Christmas