CC better remain tremendous.

With minimal offense and a dreadful PP, the Hawks will only go as far as Crawford can carry them.
- ArlingtonRob

tremendous in the same phrase with CC??....rob you utter a complete oxymoron for this board...

I would say GA under 1 might get the hawks to G7 in round 1!

The avg pp never bothered me in the past cuz they were the best 5 on 5 team...unfortunately 5 on 5 has dropped off the cliff and that places a huge premium on the pp. If the PK begins head south....look out!!

I have a hard time buying the idea that the league will just fold on 1/5 to 1/4 of its existing teams. How do you figure that 6-8 teams will be gone come the end of the next CBA?
- EKolb13

Sort of doubt that myself. However, some of the signs are pointing to more difficulties for some teams. Columbus shedding Horton like they did? Smart move. If it didn't happen would Jarmo have to shave that amount from his internal salary budget? If so, things are tighter their than they look and things look worse (at least in ticket sales) in places like Florida and Carolina. Rumors Carolina needs to shed salary now. I could see some relocations and/or possibly 1-2 folds happening down the line.

They should have kept the interference initiative in place to keep the game opening up. The result was visible and has been just as visible in reverse. I still can't help but think there was some issue over game length and the new TV deals that caused them to let it go. Like Al points out - there is a shallow pool of pro caliber officiating talent. Telling the current group led by Walcom to call less penalties is like giving a drunk car keys and a bottle of jack.

Sort of doubt that myself. However, some of the signs are pointing to more difficulties for some teams. Columbus shedding Horton like they did? Smart move. If it didn't happen would Jarmo have to shave that amount from his internal salary budget? If so, things are tighter their than they look and things look worse (at least in ticket sales) in places like Florida and Carolina. Rumors Carolina needs to shed salary now. I could see some relocations and/or possibly 1-2 folds happening down the line.

They should have kept the interference initiative in place to keep the game opening up. The result was visible and has been just as visible in reverse. I still can't help but think there was some issue over game length and the new TV deals that caused them to let it go. Like Al points out - there is a shallow pool of pro caliber officiating talent. Telling the current group led by Walcom to call less penalties is like giving a drunk car keys and a bottle of jack.
- tredbrta

At worst, I could see the contraction of two teams - tops. I would think that the league would try to relocate teams instead of folding them.

Sort of doubt that myself. However, some of the signs are pointing to more difficulties for some teams. Columbus shedding Horton like they did? Smart move. If it didn't happen would Jarmo have to shave that amount from his internal salary budget? If so, things are tighter their than they look and things look worse (at least in ticket sales) in places like Florida and Carolina. Rumors Carolina needs to shed salary now. I could see some relocations and/or possibly 1-2 folds happening down the line.

They should have kept the interference initiative in place to keep the game opening up. The result was visible and has been just as visible in reverse. I still can't help but think there was some issue over game length and the new TV deals that caused them to let it go. Like Al points out - there is a shallow pool of pro caliber officiating talent. Telling the current group led by Walcom to call less penalties is like giving a drunk car keys and a bottle of jack.
- tredbrta

Its a very big problem when every referee has a different interpretation of the rule book, with too many options.

Run into a goalie in the crease like Dustin Brown does every night and one game its a penalty, another game it's quite alright, no call.

The Kings are my favourite target - they get away with more crap away from the puck than any team in the league, plus charging and holding from their snail paced defence. But they are the Cup champs so they will get away with it until they aren't a Cup contender any longer.

And Mike Babcock has it clocked exactly right - interfere and hold and set picks as much as you want, the refs will only call a minority of them so you just kill off the ones you get nailed for.

At worst, I could see the contraction of two teams - tops. I would think that the league would try to relocate teams instead of folding them.
- EKolb13

Agreed. Even one team would be a marketing disaster for the league. Moving a franchise always makes more sense from that perspective.

When you have a team that is young, has speed , high skill set and a great defense, winning is the norm ( Hawks the last four out of five years). When a team has nine players over thirty, most of them playing a step slow, their skill set a tad less and your defense is in shambles do to injury, age, trades , winning becomes a lot harder. The Hawks, unfortunately are in the second phase. This team IMO, needs a medium shake up before next year. Sharp, Bickell, Richards, Oduya, , Car bomb and possibly Crawford need to be traded. Bring up 3 young guns and trade for a solid third line defender and two big forwards that are willing to park their but in front of the opponents net. By the way, Coach 'Q ' tenure might also be over if the team does not get out of the first round. You never know, there is a coach in Detroit whose taking his time about resigning. Remember, that is my opinion!

Its a very big problem when every referee has a different interpretation of the rule book, with too many options.

Run into a goalie in the crease like Dustin Brown does every night and one game its a penalty, another game it's quite alright, no call.

The Kings are my favourite target - they get away with more crap away from the puck than any team in the league, plus charging and holding from their snail paced defence. But they are the Cup champs so they will get away with it until they aren't a Cup contender any longer.

And Mike Babcock has it clocked exactly right - interfere and hold and set picks as much as you want, the refs will only call a minority of them so you just kill off the ones you get nailed for.
- RickJ

Subjectivity of officials is really something you just have to calc in. Particularly NHL officials. That is why it is a huge mistake to quietly reverse a public initiative against interference/obstruction.... Essentially telling this group of NHL officials to call less penalties. Crazy! It seemed to coincide with Walkom becoming head of officials. Though he was one of the worst at non calls and makeup calls I think it is bigger than him.

Babcock deserves credit for recognizing it. GMs like Chevy and Lombardi seemed to draft and form their rosters with it in mind - size helping obstruction or helping overcome it. The Hawks plans seemed to be based on an assumption offenses would continue to open up - thus skill/agility over size.

By the way, Coach 'Q ' tenure might also be over if the team does not get out of the first round. You never know, there is a coach in Detroit whose taking his time about resigning. Remember, that is my opinion!
- spanky

It's probable that Q could get canned in a 1st round loss, but I highly doubt it. Q would be on thin ice, but I believe that he still would be head coach. At worst, he'd probably lose an assistant and be forced to work with Barry Smith running the PP.

As for Babcock, my gut tells me he's either heading for Toronto or staying put in Detroit.

When you have a team that is young, has speed , high skill set and a great defense, winning is the norm ( Hawks the last four out of five years). When a team has nine players over thirty, most of them playing a step slow, their skill set a tad less and your defense is in shambles do to injury, age, trades , winning becomes a lot harder. The Hawks, unfortunately are in the second phase. This team IMO, needs a medium shake up before next year. Sharp, Bickell, Richards, Oduya, , Car bomb and possibly Crawford need to be traded. Bring up 3 young guns and trade for a solid third line defender and two big forwards that are willing to park their but in front of the opponents net. By the way, Coach 'Q ' tenure might also be over if the team does not get out of the first round. You never know, there is a coach in Detroit whose taking his time about resigning. Remember, that is my opinion!
- spanky

You know I actually think you might be right about the need for a shakeup, and all the more reason they had to take one last shot with this group, that or go into complete sell mode. Toews and Kane will remain cornerstones of the team, and as long as they have Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson, they'll have an at least decent defense, but even Keith has had a mediocre year and I wonder if he's showing any age. Beyond those guys, they need more than they're getting. Saad will stick around, so will Hossa for better or worse, and after that, is there anyone you'd really consider a key player moving forward, including Crawford? They need an infusion of youth and talent and I guess none of us are super enthralled with TT since he's another finesse type, in fact probably the most finesse of them all. Guys like Hartman and Nordstrom look like future third liners at best. They need a couple of big guys who are fast and skilled enough to keep up with Toews and Kane, meaning two really good players, but that's sort of what it will take to win another cup with the core I just mentioned. Everyone else is expendable, including Crawford, though I think he's not anywhere near the problem with this team.

I don't think Q is going anywhere but I wouldn't be shocked based on what I've read here and elsewhere.

Its a very big problem when every referee has a different interpretation of the rule book, with too many options.

Run into a goalie in the crease like Dustin Brown does every night and one game its a penalty, another game it's quite alright, no call.

The Kings are my favourite target - they get away with more crap away from the puck than any team in the league, plus charging and holding from their snail paced defence. But they are the Cup champs so they will get away with it until they aren't a Cup contender any longer.

And Mike Babcock has it clocked exactly right - interfere and hold and set picks as much as you want, the refs will only call a minority of them so you just kill off the ones you get nailed for.
- RickJ

That's Darryl Sutter as well as Babcock.

You know I actually think you might be right about the need for a shakeup, and all the more reason they had to take one last shot with this group, that or go into complete sell mode. Toews and Kane will remain cornerstones of the team, and as long as they have Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson, they'll have an at least decent defense, but even Keith has had a mediocre year and I wonder if he's showing any age. Beyond those guys, they need more than they're getting. Saad will stick around, so will Hossa for better or worse, and after that, is there anyone you'd really consider a key player moving forward, including Crawford? They need an infusion of youth and talent and I guess none of us are super enthralled with TT since he's another finesse type, in fact probably the most finesse of them all. Guys like Hartman and Nordstrom look like future third liners at best. They need a couple of big guys who are fast and skilled enough to keep up with Toews and Kane, meaning two really good players, but that's sort of what it will take to win another cup with the core I just mentioned. Everyone else is expendable, including Crawford, though I think he's not anywhere near the problem with this team.

I don't think Q is going anywhere but I wouldn't be shocked based on what I've read here and elsewhere.
- RomanF

Criticizing the defence corps is a bit difficult to justify when the team has given up the fewest goals in the league, started 3 different goaltenders and actually gave playing time (albeit small) to Cumisky, and Erixon, Dahlbeck and Clendening before shipping them elsewhere.

This isn't Keith's best season but I wonder whether he just gets frustrated and PO'd getting stuck with Rundblad too much and then Rosy. If Timonen gets into some kind of playing condition and stays healthy that will help Keith's game a bit.

Where the real problem lies is up front. Unfortunately like last year, the team is short at least one centerman that can make plays and that's giving Vermette the benefit of the doubt until he gets acclimatized. The $2M dog they signed in the offseason needs a seat in the press box for a few games.

Criticizing the defence corps is a bit difficult to justify when the team has given up the fewest goals in the league, started 3 different goaltenders and actually gave playing time (albeit small) to Cumisky, and Erixon, Dahlbeck and Clendening before shipping them elsewhere.

This isn't Keith's best season but I wonder whether he just gets frustrated and PO'd getting stuck with Rundblad too much and then Rosy. If Timonen gets into some kind of playing condition and stays healthy that will help Keith's game a bit.

Where the real problem lies is up front. Unfortunately like last year, the team is short at least one centerman that can make plays and that's giving Vermette the benefit of the doubt until he gets acclimatized. The $2M dog they signed in the offseason needs a seat in the press box for a few games.
- RickJ

Good points one and all.

Criticizing the defence corps is a bit difficult to justify when the team has given up the fewest goals in the league, started 3 different goaltenders and actually gave playing time (albeit small) to Cumisky, and Erixon, Dahlbeck and Clendening before shipping them elsewhere.

This isn't Keith's best season but I wonder whether he just gets frustrated and PO'd getting stuck with Rundblad too much and then Rosy. If Timonen gets into some kind of playing condition and stays healthy that will help Keith's game a bit.

Where the real problem lies is up front. Unfortunately like last year, the team is short at least one centerman that can make plays and that's giving Vermette the benefit of the doubt until he gets acclimatized. The $2M dog they signed in the offseason needs a seat in the press box for a few games.
- RickJ

ok...well actually 2nd in the league @ 154, habs (and the great carey price) @ 146. But of course your point still stands and is a great one.

The hawks net minding has been the strong suit this year next to #88. So when i hear stuff about the rest of the team being "tired" or "bored" and played "alot of hockey" over the last 6 years. Its been nice to see this hasn't applied to CC, Raanta and Darling. This team is south of the wild if not for that trio.

Forget the pp...there 5 on 5 puck movement/posession game has dropped off and that starts with the blueliners. They 4th in division and 7th in the conf in goals scored. pretty decent scoring stats....but this team just is not passing the eye or smell test...other than kane/goalies everyone seems to be having a sub par year in some respect...but hell we have been spoiled with this team

I have a hard time buying the idea that the league will just fold on 1/5 to 1/4 of its existing teams. How do you figure that 6-8 teams will be gone come the end of the next CBA?
- EKolb13

Here's one scenario - and the NHL has gone through this before: if NBC decided to walk away from the NHL because ratings are not strong enough to keep sponsors - the NHL would then be in a world of trouble. They would - for the third time - demand player's contracts be reduced - and lock them out until they give in. I doubt after giving in to this twice that the players union would go for it.

The NHL owners suggested a contraction of teams during the last lockout - I have to believe it would be considered again - only this time - there may not be a choice.

Here's one scenario - and the NHL has gone through this before: if NBC decided to walk away from the NHL because ratings are not strong enough to keep sponsors - the NHL would then be in a world of trouble. They would - for the third time - demand player's contracts be reduced - and lock them out until they give in. I doubt after giving in to this twice that the players union would go for it.

The NHL owners suggested a contraction of teams during the last lockout - I have to believe it would be considered again - only this time - there may not be a choice.
- dahawks8819

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the most recent CBA is a ten year deal expiring after the 21-22 season, so an owner initiated "lockout" is not legal until after that season. I don't believe the courts would allow it.

But yes, a lockout after the 21-22 season...sure why not.

Amen !

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the most recent CBA is a ten year deal expiring after the 21-22 season, so an owner initiated "lockout" is not legal until after that season. I don't believe the courts would allow it.

But yes, a lockout after the 21-22 season...sure why not.
- ArlingtonRob

If I am not mistaken - there are a couple of outs in that agreement - on both sides.

Yes, i agree we need to start scoring more, looking for gritty goals rather than the pretty passing plays(and we will), and we need to cut back on our SA(though its nothing outrageously bad, and our goaltending and GA have both been great all year).....

But ill say again what i said last night......we just went toe to toe last night against the best team in the East(arguably the entire league), took them to OT, won the possession battle, had a good amount of chances of our own, so on so forth.....with:

No Oduya
No TVR
No Bickell
A rusty KT
A rusty Vermette
A makeshift lineup with random new line combos and no chemistry
Our best player being a rookie
And, oh, btw, no PATRICK FREAKIN' KANE!

......id say Hawks fans should feel pretty encouraged about that effort last night all things considered. I think this team finds a bit more scoring touch, keeps up the great puck possession, PK, GA, and goal diff that we've seen all year, starts limiting shots by just a hair(especially when the D is in tact) and will have more than enough to get to the point where Kane returns in the playoffs.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the most recent CBA is a ten year deal expiring after the 21-22 season, so an owner initiated "lockout" is not legal until after that season. I don't believe the courts would allow it.

But yes, a lockout after the 21-22 season...sure why not.
- ArlingtonRob

And I just checked - the NHL has an out in 2019 - and in my original comment I said I could see another one coming in another 3-4 years - I was not sure when it would be legal - but it is there right around the time frame I originally predicted.

Here is another thing to think about - the NHL is desperate for new viewership. If you watch closely at the Hawks games - you see a lot of people in the crowd looking absolutely bored out of their minds. There is a new generation of fan attending games - but you can see they are not happy with the product (and it's not because of the Hawks play - it's because the flow of the game is unwatchable).

These 2 1/2 hour games of holding clutching, interfering and just general mucking up of games are NOT anything a fan wants to watch. And I can't believe this is happening only in the UC.

If the NHL does not get it fixed soon - they are headed for another costly lockout.

Call it crying? The data says otherwise. Memorize this...

http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-fatal-flaw/

Referees Are Allowing More Obstruction

Season Average Interference Minors By Team Per 82 Games
2011-12 29.76
2012-13 40.60
2013-14 30.98

I’ve included 2011-12 for a reason, even though it appears to buck the trend. The explanation for the numbers jump in 2012-13 is simple: coming out of the 2012 lockout, the NHL instructed its refs – literally – to call more interference penalties.

After your Wings get tackled out of the playoffs this year and next you can refer back to it and cry. The Wings do play the obstruction game pretty well but rely on quite a few similar "perimeter" style players that will suffer if the current trend continues. Many east teams have the size to take advantage of all of the non calls. We already know the West does.
- tredbrta

I enjoy reading jj but I'm just a little tired of the same theme appearing blog after blog so I made a single comment. maybe I'm just a naive wings fan but I enjoy almost all of the games i watch. The last wings/Hawks game was fantastic. I don't think the game is in dire straits. I didn't call anyone a whiner just finding these blogs repetitive. I'll keep coming back tho. Love to hate them Hawks

no! #10 needs to be with toews, they got to get him going. Sharp on the 3rd line with richards and carcillo is pathetic.

23...agree...that hand might be bothering him

PP=2/28 both Toews goals and 5/41 since for the last 13 games since that long home stand began with 11 of those on home ice
- bogiedoc

All the melodrama aside they've got to get Sharpie going. Just how snakebit is he right now? He should have had another goal last night and iron...

Versteeg has had a few goals since he's been back, but agree that his hand might still be something...Would much rather see Desjardins then the bomb at this point.

With the amount of talent this team has they should be able to overcome Kaner being out easily. But we've seen the numbers this season and Kane has been what almost 40% of the offense? We also know this team has played a ton of hockey over the last several seasons. Thankfully Crawford got you 3 out of 4 points this weekend by himself.

Meanwhile JJ has stated the painfully obvious...the Hawks continue to be a perimeter team and no one will go to the net. They continue to try to make the extra extra pass or pretty play.

The PP continues its slide... I think Q is a great coach no question - he's won 2 cups. But with an opportunity to bring in either Oates or Granato in the offseason to run the PP it was a no brainer. You've got how much offensive firepower out there? And nothing...

And finally its about the defense...the pairings continue to be in flux and that's everything to this team. I think we've got to hope at this point that Oduya and TVR can both play.Which puts Rosy/Timonen/TVR on that third pairing come playoff time. I still think Stan should have gotten a vet physical dman. We'll see what happens...

And I just checked - the NHL has an out in 2019 - and in my original comment I said I could see another one coming in another 3-4 years - I was not sure when it would be legal - but it is there right around the time frame I originally predicted.

Here is another thing to think about - the NHL is desperate for new viewership. If you watch closely at the Hawks games - you see a lot of people in the crowd looking absolutely bored out of their minds. There is a new generation of fan attending games - but you can see they are not happy with the product (and it's not because of the Hawks play - it's because the flow of the game is unwatchable).

These 2 1/2 hour games of holding clutching, interfering and just general mucking up of games are NOT anything a fan wants to watch. And I can't believe this is happening only in the UC.

If the NHL does not get it fixed soon - they are headed for another costly lockout.
- dahawks8819

That game was unwatchable last night? Or the Detroit game 2 weeks ago? Those were 2 excellent games IMO.

Maybe, maybe you are right about the new generation of fans going to the game - but before I agree with you, I'd like to get a some kind of test result on what these newcomers actually know about the game other than their favourite players wear #88 and #19 and drive Chevy's and they like to see a lot of goals scored by the home team.

The way the games are being called this season is open to debate, but most of that is considerably well above the knowledge level of these newbies at the UC.

And I go to at least 20 games a year there and am never surprised by some of the nonsensical crap I hear from some 'fans'.

And I just checked - the NHL has an out in 2019 - and in my original comment I said I could see another one coming in another 3-4 years - I was not sure when it would be legal - but it is there right around the time frame I originally predicted.

Here is another thing to think about - the NHL is desperate for new viewership. If you watch closely at the Hawks games - you see a lot of people in the crowd looking absolutely bored out of their minds. There is a new generation of fan attending games - but you can see they are not happy with the product (and it's not because of the Hawks play - it's because the flow of the game is unwatchable).

These 2 1/2 hour games of holding clutching, interfering and just general mucking up of games are NOT anything a fan wants to watch. And I can't believe this is happening only in the UC.

If the NHL does not get it fixed soon - they are headed for another costly lockout.
- dahawks8819

That game was unwatchable last night? Or the Detroit game 2 weeks ago? Those were 2 excellent games IMO.

Maybe, maybe you are right about the new generation of fans going to the game - but before I agree with you, I'd like to get a some kind of test result on what these newcomers actually know about the game other than their favourite players wear #88 and #19 and drive Chevy's and they like to see a lot of goals scored by the home team.

The way the games are being called this season is open to debate, but most of that is considerably well above the knowledge level of these newbies at the UC.

And I go to at least 20 games a year there and am never surprised by some of the nonsensical crap I hear from some 'fans'.

Yes, i agree we need to start scoring more, looking for gritty goals rather than the pretty passing plays(and we will), and we need to cut back on our SA(though its nothing outrageously bad, and our goaltending and GA have both been great all year).....

But ill say again what i said last night......we just went toe to toe last night against the best team in the East(arguably the entire league), took them to OT, won the possession battle, had a good amount of chances of our own, so on so forth.....with:

No Oduya
No TVR
No Bickell
A rusty KT
A rusty Vermette
A makeshift lineup with random new line combos and no chemistry
Our best player being a rookie
And, oh, btw, no PATRICK FREAKIN' KANE!

......id say Hawks fans should feel pretty encouraged about that effort last night all things considered. I think this team finds a bit more scoring touch, keeps up the great puck possession, PK, GA, and goal diff that we've seen all year, starts limiting shots by just a hair(especially when the D is in tact) and will have more than enough to get to the point where Kane returns in the playoffs.


- SimpleJack

Agree with every thing you say. I could nit pick the Vermette being rusty comment . He's played all season but he is I hope adjusting and I understand your comment.

For all the Slats critics out there......he has built a hell of a team in NY. The Columbus trade for Nash and supporting staff WAS a brave deal. Change the coach and built a strong D Core.
# 1 in the East and a Cup contender.

This board has thrown Crawford under the bus time after time. Over paid...not elite...blah blah blah blah blah blah.
Without Crawford this year .....the Hawks are chasing Minnie and Wpeg for a Wild Card Spot because the rest of this group minus Kane has been.... just OK.

I am sure the next time a shot bounces in everyone will come out of the wood work and demand the Hawks trade Crawford and go with Raanta and Darling. Thank goodness we the blog groupies aren't running this squad.

Agree with every thing you say. I could nit pick the Vermette being rusty comment . He's played all season but he is I hope adjusting and I understand your comment.

For all the Slats critics out there......he has built a hell of a team in NY. The Columbus trade for Nash and supporting staff WAS a brave deal. Change the coach and built a strong D Core.
# 1 in the East and a Cup contender.

This board has thrown Crawford under the bus time after time. Over paid...not elite...blah blah blah blah blah blah.
Without Crawford this year .....the Hawks are chasing Minnie and Wpeg for a Wild Card Spot because the rest of this group minus Kane has been.... just OK.

I am sure the next time a shot bounces in everyone will come out of the wood work and demand the Hawks trade Crawford and go with Raanta and Darling. Thank goodness we the blog groupies aren't running this squad.
- Colbyboy

Well said, glad we see eye to eye. Not that hard to understand the optimism if you ask me.